Chapter 5

Chapter 5

[Episode 01] Solo Infinite Tutorial (5)

[Next news. A post uploaded to the Explorer community yesterday has become a topic. A post claiming the death of Unique-grade Explorer Kang Hyuk...]

A familiar screen was coming out on the TV.

The Explorer community post format I had looked at all day yesterday.

Kang Hyuk’s smiling photo that had been uploaded on the post also came out on the news screen.

Then, Dad, who was scooping doenjang-guk from the side, frowned and muttered to himself.

“Was it because of this...”

“What is?”

To Mom’s sharp question, Dad avoided his eyes and answered.

“...Nothing.”

“Honey.”

“...That...”

In the end, Dad confessed honestly.

Yesterday afternoon.

It was said that KOSPI had crashed.

Not only leading stocks like Samsung or SK, but all the miscellaneous stocks as well.

All stocks hit the lower limit in a group and the circuit breaker was activated, it was said.

And a similar thing had occurred this morning as well, it was said.

“...So 60% disappeared overnight?”

“Precisely about half...”

“······.”

A heavy silence settled on the dining table for a moment.

[The Management Bureau’s official position has not come out yet. Netizens’ concerns mixed with...]

Only the sound of the news broadcast echoed emptily.

I quietly glanced around and emptied the rice bowl.

“I ate well.”

As I cleared the dishes and headed to the sink, Mom sighed deeply and said.

“It can’t be helped. Something like this is no different from a natural disaster. It’s not your fault.”

“Honey...!”

“Anyway, you invested with your ‘allowance’, right? It’s not like you borrowed money to do it.”

“Of, of course. I’m doing a little with a small amount. A little.”

“Then it’s fine. My insides sting a bit but...”

Suddenly, the stock screen Dad had shown last week came to mind.

It was an allowance.

Instead, it was an allowance he had saved tightly for over 10 years, so the size was a bit large.

‘It was about 60 million won, I think?’

Was it +300% or +500%.

Dad’s words that he had invested steadily like a savings account every month and that this was how asset management was done came to mind.

Eyes overflowing with confidence.

That appearance at that time contrasted with Dad sitting at the dining table like a sinner now.

“I’ll go in first.”

“Go ahead.”

Still, Dad’s sacrifice was not entirely meaningless.

‘That was close.’

Thanks to Dad creating an excuse, I was able to naturally escape from the dining table.

‘Dad, hang in there. I’ll earn as much as the loss you took.’

Entering the room, locking the door, and quickly finishing preparations to go to the dungeon.

Putting on leather armor and shoes, holding the Ice Crystal Staff, and waiting.

10 minutes later.

[You have received an invitation from the Dungeon.]

[Tutorial is starting.]

Along with the familiar notification, the light swallowed me.

I immediately checked the choices on the altar first.

[Sword / Shield] [Bow / Arrows] [Wand]

‘Is it Normal grade.’

While the community was burning fiercely due to the matter of Explorer Kang Hyuk yesterday, I diligently memorized the strategy and then challenged the 4th Floor.

The result was a great success.

Three skinny goblins or so were no longer my opponents.

‘It was easier than the Rare-grade Tutorial.’

Basically, those guys were more agile in body movement as they were muscular.

The reduction in skill casting delay as Mana Sensitivity rose also played a big part.

‘Now, a Normal-grade Tutorial or so is no different from a piece of cake.’

Of course, I intend to do my best.

Because I had already learned from experience that if I let go of tension in actual combat, I might lose my life.

I chose a sword and shield set among the weapons on the altar.

[Changing class to Warrior (Normal).]

[You have acquired the skill ‘Power Strike’.]

The newly obtained class and skill.

Just in case, I checked the Status Window, but as expected, the existing classes and skills were all intact.

The reason I chose the sword and shield was only one.

‘Unlike the wand, they buy it for 1 million won.’

Because it becomes money.

Purely that one reason.

The Warrior’s class skill was a kind of bonus.

‘Good.’

Father.

Among the losses you took, 1 million won has been recovered.

“Mm.”

The value of 1 million won in cash was heavier than expected.

Probably because my Strength was only 4.

Fortunately, in the Tutorial, there was no need to walk for that long.

I quickly walked the corridor, executed one goblin, and completed the clear.

[You have cleared the Normal Dungeon (1st Floor).]

[Salvation Points are being settled.]

Having safely returned to the room, I carefully put the sword and shield down on the floor.

The newly obtained 5 points.

‘Shall I raise Strength or Agility to at least the average?’

It was not a simple impulse.

Anyway, stats were overflowing.

If I invested 5 bonus stats into Mana Sensitivity which had already hit 60, the difference would be minimal, but if I invested into Strength which was only 4, it would become a full double.

The effect itself was different.

‘I don’t want to imagine it, but there is also the possibility of engaging in hand-to-hand combat with monsters.’

The current me was confident that I would lose perfectly even if I engaged in hand-to-hand combat with a goblin.

To not die a dog’s death from one mistake, raising the physical specs to about the average would have a higher survival rate.

This was not simply my own thought alone.

Minimal investment in the physical ability stats of Strength, Agility, and Stamina was something recommended even in national education.

[Strength value has become 9.]

“Oh?”

The effect was amazing.

The muscles of the whole body tensed as if cramping, and then intense power was felt.

‘Th, this is... an ordinary person’s strength?’

It was vitality I was feeling for the first time in my life.

The feeling that I could really do anything.

With a feeling of no way, I lay down on the floor and tried push-ups.

When I lowered my arms like that.

“!!”

It works.

Bending my arms was not hard at all.

Height 175cm, 75kg.

In the case of a normal muscular man, it was an extremely normal weight, but in my case, all of those were fat, not muscle.

As my metabolism was not good, muscle development was also slow.

‘So push-ups were this easy.’

The appearances of my past self who trembled arms but ultimately could not come up came to mind.

Although it was not something obtained through my effort, that kind of thing was not important.

It was just moving that I could now do push-ups ordinarily like others.

‘Wow. I’ve really become a person.’

The mood was good.

Right after that, I cleared the Rare Dungeon 2nd Floor and Normal Dungeon 3rd Floor, 4th Floor.

I additionally invested some of the 20 bonus stats obtained like that.

[Strength value has become 15.]

[Agility value has become 15.]

[Stamina value has become 15.]

It was something I invested boldly because, having directly felt the rise in physical ability, I realized how important it was in combat.

When I invested the remaining 3 bonus points into Mana, the stats became overall clean.

[Mana value has become 80.]

‘Looks good.’

Having prepared thoroughly like that.

‘I will challenge the 5th Floor.’

[Entering the Normal Dungeon (5th Floor).]

***

[Tip: Normal Dungeon 5th Floor Strategy (Mage Edition) {@Verification Mark}]

This time it’s the Mage edition.

I’ll hit first and start.

Those with Mana 30 or below, do not dare to challenge the 5th Floor.

You will only die a dog’s death.

Absurdly many traps or goblins shooting poison needles while wandering the dungeon are not even a problem.

To clear the dungeon, you ultimately have to catch the Goblin Warrior in the last room, and the minimum standard that can catch this guy is Mana 31.

From Mana 31, it becomes exactly a 3-shot cut.

If you want to break through the 5th Floor no matter what, buy a Rare-grade wand or staff and challenge.

Don’t think of saving money and buy the highest grade.

Otherwise you will really die.

I will end the Mage strategy with this.

For strategies on traps or dungeon structure, please refer to the (Warrior Edition) uploaded at the very beginning.

┗ Tip thanks but how did you figure out the Mana value that makes a 3-shot cut?

┗┗ Writer: I didn’t want to know either...

┗┗┗ No way, did you invest bonus stats in Strength Agility Stamina and go to the 5th Floor?

┗┗┗┗ Dread How did you clear it

┗ Wow, reminds me of the old days. When I first caught the Goblin Warrior, I almost died.

┗ Sh—it. How much honey are you mage bastards sucking that you say don’t even challenge unless it’s a 3-shot cut? Archers have to roll like dogs and stab 10 arrows to barely catch it.

┗┗ No? If it’s a headshot, it’s one shot? Isn’t it that your skill is lacking?

┗┗ Warriors can’t even challenge without iron armor...

┗ Anyway, rice-eating specialist mage bastards. Can’t even clear the 5th Floor and are struggling. Hope you all die.

┗┗ Hey. Without our mage corps, who earns the Salvation Points?

┗┗┗ Isn’t it that people with qualifications can’t Awaken because of rice-eating bastards like you. Please die quickly for the country.

┗┗┗┗ Crazy guy

***

“Hu. Finally arrived.”

Even though I knew the way, it took over 30 minutes to get here.

Because the traps of the 5th Floor, unlike the 4th Floor, were not enough with just memorizing the locations.

‘Damn goblin guys.’

The cause was the trapper goblins who wandered inside the dungeon installing traps.

The main traps were fixed, but the minor traps the goblins used were all random.

They were even vicious guys who hid in the darkness and directly threw poison needles.

Moreover, how difficult it was to catch them.

Because of the characteristic of quickly running away even if you got a little close and the dog holes everywhere in the dungeon, catching them was also hard.

‘It’s the end now.’

The last boss room.

If I just caught the elite monster Goblin Warrior, the 5th Floor clear was complete.

A guy with a head one size bigger than an ordinary goblin, using a long greatsword as a weapon.

‘Will it be a one-shot cut?’

In ordinary cases, to catch a Goblin Warrior, you had to land 3 Energy Bolts.

For me, it is an easy matter.

Because I can shoot 6 Energy Bolts at once.

‘Come to think of it, in this aspect, choosing the sword and shield is a bit regrettable.’

If I had chosen the wand and changed class to Mage one more time, I would have been able to shoot 7 Energy Bolts at once.

However, I do not regret it.

Because I also rice-ate 1 million won and obtained the Warrior-exclusive skill.

Even if I ended up engaging in close combat with a goblin, I had gained a move of my own.

I stroked the sword and shield on my back once.

‘Let’s not get tense.’

My Mana is 80.

In reality, it was no different from a mid-10s level mage.

‘That too, a mage who went all-in on Mana.’

Moreover, what was in my hand was none other than a [Rare] grade item.

As long as I hit it, it would unconditionally be one shot.

“Huu.”

Taking a deep breath, I stood in front of the door.

Rumble—

The stone door that began to open slowly.

At the same time, I uttered the activation words.

“Icicle.”

The most powerful spell I currently possessed.

Crack—

When the boss room’s door opened wide, a forearm-sized icicle was completed in front of my staff.

And.

-Krek.

I shot the icicle toward the Goblin Warrior who was glaring at me from the center of the boss room.

Thud! Crack!

[You have defeated the Goblin Warrior.]

“······.”

Just one shot.

I really succeeded in catching the elite monster in one strike.

And.

“Mm?”

In the place where the Goblin Warrior’s corpse disappeared, one long greatsword had fallen.

© Araman#1683j