Chapter 134

Chapter 134

Level 2 Player

Fixed Ideas (2)

“Naturally I think so. Is it not power that is just given, not something created by one’s own effort? On top of that, if relying on things like skills, the capacity as a martial artist is bound to regress. Don’t tell me you are thinking of denying this?”

Cheon Mu-seong was confident.

The words that he will serve Jin-su as the lord were sincere. However, Cheon Mu-seong thought that agreeing as if flattering when the one he serves says wrong words is an ugly act that only treacherous subjects do. He believed that if a true loyal subject, he has to give loyal advice even staking life when the one he serves says wrong words.

“It is not power that is just given but a legitimate reward received by catching monsters or clearing missions. Also, if the capacity as a martial artist regresses by relying on skills, I think that is because the party is incompetent.”

At hearing Jin-su’s answer, Cheon Mu-seong’s eyebrows twitched.

“Incompetent?”

“If obtaining a famous sword but the skill does not increase and regresses, is that not incompetent.”

“A master does not choose tools.”

“No. No matter how excellent the skill of a master, if the quality of the iron or the performance of the furnace is low when making a sword, a famous sword cannot be made. Even if the master’s skill reaches the sky and makes a famous sword using scrap iron and a low-temperature furnace, if there is refined iron and a high-temperature furnace, is it not natural to make a better famous sword.”

At Jin-su’s rebuttal, Cheon Mu-seong’s eyebrows and the corners of his mouth trembled. If following his heart, he wanted to rebut Jin-su’s words immediately. But since he spoke while giving a clear example, there was nothing to rebut.

However, it was only that he cannot rebut, not that he accepted Jin-su’s words. Cheon Mu-seong was not a person who changes his own thoughts and bends his beliefs just because hearing one word he cannot rebut.

Also, Jin-su was also sufficiently aware of the fact that Cheon Mu-seong is such a person.

“I felt it even while looking at the sword you use, but it seems you are quite wary of the rewards or items the system gives. By any chance, are you worrying that the capacity as a martial artist will regress if raising stats with titles or elixirs, obtaining new power with class change certificates or skill books, and using good items?”

Jin-su’s words became a sharp dagger and pierced Cheon Mu-seong’s heart.

“That’s right.”

Cheon Mu-seong who hesitated for a while honestly acknowledged his anxiety.

“I have also seen such cases actually.”

Cheon Mu-seong calmly talked about the regression of Musung origin martial artists he met while climbing the Tower. A martial artist drunk on the power of items, a martial artist whose balance collapsed due to stats risen by level rise, title acquisition, and elixir intake, and even a martial artist whose swordsmanship skill dropped by relying on the changed class or skills.

“With this, as a martial artist who walks the righteous path, is it not that there is no choice but to be wary of the help of the sorcery called the system? That is why I cannot accept the lord’s words and cannot understand learning sorcery.”

Actually, Cheon Mu-seong’s words were not wrong. Because even Jin-su had seen countless those who became strong as players by receiving the system’s help before regression, but rather weakened as martial artists who learned martial arts.

‘But the parties were often satisfied.’

To begin with, martial arts was only one of the means to more efficiently suppress or kill the enemy by holding a weapon and operating mana. Also, the reason itself for learning martial arts was mostly those who wanted to become strong rather than seeing the extreme meaning of martial arts.

‘That is why even if the majority of Musung origin regress as martial artists, they think it is fine if becoming strong as players.’

Cheon Mu-seong was a considerable strange species even among Musung origin players. That is why Jin-su sufficiently understood this stubbornness of Cheon Mu-seong. But there was one thing Cheon Mu-seong does not know.

‘It is not that everyone weakens as a martial artist just because becoming strong as a player.’

Although not a very large number, there clearly existed those who became strong not only as players by receiving the system’s help but also as martial artists.

‘Not only martial artists but other classes as well.’

In cases like mages, shamans, alchemists, and blacksmiths, they rather receive the influence of classes or skills more largely than martial artists. The majority relied only on classes and skills and the original skill regressed, but there were clearly exceptions.

‘The old man and I were also included in those exceptions.’

Jin-su and Cheon Mu-seong did not get drunk on the power the system gives and rather used it as a tool to create more developed martial arts.

“Do you think my skill regressed because I used good items and skills?”

“Not right now, but... I think it might become so in the future.”

Cheon Mu-seong honestly spilled his inner heart to Jin-su. Because he did not want a martial artist who rose to a sublime realm like Jin-su to fall into sorcery and the martial arts to regress.

“Honestly speaking, I hope the lord does not use sorcery from now on and does not learn more.”

“Thank you for comfortably spilling the inner heart. But it is unnecessary worry.”

At Jin-su’s answer, Cheon Mu-seong bowed his head deeply.

“If that is the lord’s choice, I have nothing more to say.”

In Cheon Mu-seong’s gaze, thick disappointment toward Jin-su bloomed.

“I am Earth origin. Earth is a world where there are no martial arts or shamanism like the Musung dimension, and no aura or magic like the Arius dimension.”

At Jin-su’s words, Cheon Mu-seong sent a puzzled gaze. Since he already knew the fact that Jin-su is Earth origin, it was an expression of so what.

However, at the following Jin-su’s words, Cheon Mu-seong’s gaze was dyed with astonishment.

“I contacted and learned the skills that Elder Cheon calls sorcery before martial arts.”

“A-are those words true?”

“They are true.”

“I thought you naturally learned famous family swordsmanship from Earth...”

“There is martial arts on Earth as well, but I was an ordinary commoner. Before being dragged to the Tower, I have never even held a spear or wooden sword, let alone a sword, and swung it.”

“How can that be?”

Jin-su’s words brought large confusion to Cheon Mu-seong. Cheon Mu-seong was a person who knows better than anyone how high a realm Jin-su has risen to as a martial artist. That is why it was even harder to believe Jin-su’s words.

To think the sublime swordsmanship and rich experience that are hard to achieve even if dedicating to martial arts from a young age are things piled after climbing the Tower?

“It might be an impossible matter in the original dimension, but there is no such thing as an impossible matter in the Tower.”

“Incompetent. You said such words to me because you experienced it yourself.”

The attitude of Cheon Mu-seong that was firm as if not even a drop of blood would come out even if stabbed with a needle changed. Jin-su’s words that he rose to a sublime realm after accepting the power of the system that he thought was the same as deadly poison for a martial artist was sufficient to break Cheon Mu-seong’s fixed ideas.

“There will be armaments that can be called divine weapons in the Musung dimension as well.”

“Of course.”

“There will be those who become strong after obtaining a divine weapon, while there will also be those who regress.”

“That’s right.”

“Is the regression of martial arts the fault of the armament called a divine weapon? Or the fault of the martial artist who uses that armament?”

“The fault of the martial artist.”

“There are elixirs in the Musung dimension as well, right? Elder Cheon would have eaten quite a few as well.”

There is no way Cheon Mu-seong from a famous righteous path family has never eaten an elixir even once.

‘Rather, he has more experience of elixir intake than ordinary Musung origin martial artists.’

This was information Jin-su directly heard from Cheon Mu-seong before regression.

“Correct. I ate quite a few elixirs.”

“Has there been even once that Elder Cheon’s martial arts regressed after intaking elixirs?”

At Jin-su’s question, Cheon Mu-seong shook his head. There were times he benefited after eating elixirs, but there was never a time he suffered loss.

“Being wary of class changes, skills, achievements, elixirs, and items obtained in the Tower is not a bad matter. But do not unconditionally reject them. Because if looking largely, it is the same act as meeting a fateful encounter in the Musung dimension and obtaining a divine weapon, obtaining the martial arts book of a previous generation master, and intaking a luckily discovered elixir.”

Cheon Mu-seong who heard Jin-su’s words quietly fell into deep contemplation.

‘It is no different from a fateful encounter. Be wary, but do not unconditionally reject.’

He chewed on Jin-su’s words carefully.

‘Did I get scared in advance?’

He changed the perspective of thought. If the Tower is not a space where sorcery runs rampant but a world overflowing with fateful encounters?

‘To begin with, fateful encounters that do not match one’s lot often become poison to a martial artist’s growth.’

There were quite a few cases of regressing in skill by neglecting training while believing in a divine weapon, or learning martial arts beyond one’s lot, or intaking elixirs and falling into qi deviation due to compatibility issues or lack of capacity and self-destructing.

However, when in the Musung dimension, he only thought the party is foolish.

There was never a time he thought fateful encounters like divine weapons, martial arts, and elixirs are the problem and was reluctant.

However, in the Tower, he thought it is the fault of items like class change certificates or skill books rather than the party’s problem.

“I will try to make an effort.”

Cheon Mu-seong who finished the contemplation eventually accepted Jin-su’s words.

‘Success.’

A satisfied smile bloomed on Jin-su’s lips.

‘Rather, it was easier than before regression.’

The fixed ideas of Cheon Mu-seong toward the system he met before regression were hard like diamond. However, now it did not seem that degree.

‘Is it because it is a time when only half a year has passed since being dragged to the Tower?’

The thought that it is really fortunate that he met Cheon Mu-seong on Floor 200 that can be called a lower layer came.

“Then let’s continue hunting. The achievements that can be obtained here...”

Jin-su informed Cheon Mu-seong about the achievements that can only be obtained near the start city of Floor 200.

“Th-thank you.”

Cheon Mu-seong answered with a slightly reluctant face. Although he accepted Jin-su’s words, it seems somehow awkward to actively step forward.

“Change the weapon to this as well.”

Jin-su took out one sword from the inventory. It was not an ultra-high-priced item with enormously good options. However, the level was higher and the options were better than the sword Cheon Mu-seong is currently using.

“I also have a sword additionally, so I will decline.”

Cheon Mu-seong took out one sword from the inventory.

It was far lacking compared to the Baekcheon Divine Sword or Blood-Sucking Sword, but it was a sword with options and level of a level impossible to obtain at the Floor 200 level.

‘As expected, there was a better sword.’

As Jin-su expected, it was certain that he deliberately did not use a better sword.

“Can you give me the sword for a moment?”

“Here.”

Once Jin-su held out his hand, Cheon Mu-seong handed over the sword without hesitation.

‘Perhaps because it is the same long sword, the success probability is high. Item Synthesis.’

Jin-su synthesized the sword Cheon Mu-seong took out from the inventory and the sword he was going to give into one.

Hwaak!

Along with a bright light cluster, the two swords combined into one.

“Receive it.”

Jin-su handed the sword that became a synthesis item to Cheon Mu-seong.

“The options increased. Is it combining the advantages of the two items into one?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“The lord truly has many talents. I will use it well from now on.”

Cheon Mu-seong made a slightly surprised expression and then slightly bowed his head as if thanking.

‘If following my heart, I want to make him wear even accessories and armor.’

If doing so, it seemed Cheon Mu-seong might rather feel rejection.

‘There is no need to go hurriedly unnecessarily.’

Since the rejection toward high-performance items decreased, if he thinks it is necessary, he will wear them on his own later.

“Do you have elixirs?”

However, it was good to intake elixirs immediately.

“I have them.”

“You have to eat them in the order of decreasing effect so that there is no stat loss. First, eat them right now.”

“There is a side effect of the energy, qi, and spirit becoming finely unbalanced if eating elixirs. Does the lord not mind it?”

Cheon Mu-seong asked Jin-su as if curious. Until now, Cheon Mu-seong obtained many elixirs. However, after eating once out of curiosity, he never ate again.

If the body ability or internal energy rises dramatically, the combat power also rises and it was convenient to adjust the energy, qi, and spirit. But the effect of the elixir was not that large, and that is why it was harder to adjust the energy, qi, and spirit.

From the perspective of Cheon Mu-seong who desires to perfectly control his own body, mind, and internal energy, elixirs were interferers that frequently disrupt the balance he had matched so far.

“Then is it not better? You can do the training of correcting the slightly misaligned and unbalanced energy, qi, and spirit every time you eat an elixir.”

At hearing Jin-su’s answer, Cheon Mu-seong’s expression changed blankly like a person who was hit once with a hammer.