Chapter 116

Chapter 116

Spendthrift Necromancer (116)

Selection Tournament (1)

The selection tournament rapidly approached.

During that time, Kim Minwoo focused on strengthening his foundation. Most notably, he devoted himself to raising the Skeletons' crafting Skill.‘I'll have plenty of uses for it later.’Magic+ items were only slightly inferior to Rare-grade equipment.

Maybe special summons like Cedric or Merhen were different.

But for the rest of his summons, simply outfitting them with crafted gear was much easier both physically and mentally.

As a bonus, he raised Alchemy too. The Skeleton Apprentice Blacksmith and Alchemist groups.

They were specialized summons that appeared already possessing Skills related to their field.

Their effectiveness showed quickly.[Skeleton Apprentice Blacksmith 3 gains lightning-like inspiration!][Experience shared!][Everyone becomes more skilled at hammering!][Apprentice Blacksmith 143…….]

Before, if they crafted ten items, nine would be Normal and they might barely get one Magic item.‘Now two or three come out easily.’And in between, they continued gaining flashes of inspiration.

Perhaps thanks to that, their proficiency rose remarkably quickly.

After only one week of grinding.[Dwarven Crafting Method grows to D!][Elven Alchemy grows to D!]

Both equipment crafting and alchemy reached D.

“Oh, did it pop?”

Inside the underground workshop.

Thousands of Skeletons turned toward him all at once.

“Now let's make equipment for you guys to wear. Use these materials.”

Clack!

The tireless Skeletons began grinding away once again.

Thousands of items emerged.[Items with matching energies gather!][A new Set Item Recipe is registered!][You possess Dwarven Crafting Method!][The Apprentice Blacksmiths gain new insight!][The Set Items are composed of + items!][1. Blue-Backed Ironclad Armor Set(+)][2. Veteran Mage's Wanderer Set(+)]

Kim Minwoo's eyes gleamed at the messages.‘Finally unlocked Recipes.’Once the Skill reached D-rank, the Recipe effect activated.

Recipes.

They were the alpha and omega of crafting.

The effect was simple.

When you crafted an item registered in a Recipe, you gained additional effects.

For Set Items like these.‘They make them count as a set.’What if you crafted all the pieces without a Recipe?

They were treated as completely separate items.

Meaning you received no Set Effect.

Individual items could also gain special effects every time they were crafted once their Recipe was registered.

That made Recipes no different from secret manuals for production Classes.

Usually, you obtained them by finding ancient books inside Gates or learning them from a master.‘Sometimes you discover them through crafting like this too.’But finding Recipes through crafting required an enormous amount of grinding.

For Set Items, the Recipe was only registered after you crafted every item with matching energies.

And finding those ‘matching’ materials was incredibly difficult.

Head, top, bottom, shoes, gloves.

A set normally consisted of those five pieces.

Use Monster A's byproduct for the gloves, Monster B's for the armor, Monster C's for the shoes…….

You had to find every combination individually before it would register as a Set Item.‘A ridiculous grind.’And there was an even bigger problem. Even if you happened to craft all the pieces that could become a Set Item…….‘Sometimes the Recipe doesn't register on the first try.’Then the crafter simply moved on without knowing anything.

Guess this wasn't it.

That sort of thing.

That was why most Set Items circulating on the market were monster drops.

Crafting Recipes were simply too hard to discover.

Fortunately, as a complete veteran of the game, Kim Minwoo remembered a fair number of Recipes.

He'd discovered some in the game himself, while others had appeared in player guides.‘Not all of them…….’But useful ones, or ones considered masterpieces.

He remembered all of those Recipes.

The two sets he'd just registered were examples.

Level requirement 1

0

1.

The Skeletons could equip them immediately.

And perhaps thanks to Dwarven Crafting Method, the entire Set Item had transformed into + equipment.[Blue-Backed Ironclad Armor Set][Rank: Magic+][Set Item Effects][1. Strength, Stamina +60][2. Ironclad Defense(C) available][Veteran Mage's Wanderer Set][Rank: Magic+][Set Item Effects][1. Magic +100][2. Magic Shield(C) available]‘Oh.’Kim Minwoo exclaimed at the Set Item effects listed in the Recipe.

Ironclad Armor.

Originally, completing the set only raised Strength and Stamina by 30 each.

Now not only had those values doubled, an additional Skill had appeared too.

Apparently becoming a Plus Set instead of an ordinary Magic Item Set had added the extra effect.

The Wanderer Set had changed too.‘And if I add Bind Equipment on top of that…….’Equipment stats increased by 20%.

At this point, they weren't Skeletons anymore. They were thugs.‘The Mages should reach Level 100 soon too.’He could outfit them with the Mage Set then. While the Skeletons diligently kept crafting.

“Snowy, time to eat.”―Coo.

Snowy fluttered over and sucked the attributes straight out of the items.[Opening Divine Beast Snowy's Status!][Name: Snowy][Race: Seven-Colored Bird][Attributes Possessed: Ice 20%, Fire 10.2%, Wind 10.31%, Lightning 10.11%, Earth 10.23%]‘It's gone up a lot.’Not only Ice, but the other attributes had all climbed to around 10%.‘I did invest a lot of money.’Had it cost around four trillion won to bring those four attributes to 10%?

Of course, they were worth the price.10% wasn't something you could ignore. Against opposing attributes, his damage could be amplified up to 20%.

And if consecutive-hit bonuses stacked on top?

It would be disgustingly good.‘This should finish the preparations.’The selection tournament had nearly arrived.

After that…….

Kim Minwoo stared at the Mysterious Necklace.

Salvation of the Continent.

An S+-rank Gate.

He'd met the Level 251 entry requirement long ago. After visiting the Sky Auction House, he intended to enter immediately.

There were quite a few things to obtain there.‘Accessory heaven.’A necklace.

And the Ring of the Four Apostles, whose remaining fragments he still hadn't gathered.

A treasure haul was waiting for him.* * *“Oppaaa!”

Naye ran over and wrapped both arms tightly around one of his legs.

“Oppa, they talked about you at kindergarten today. I cheered for you too!”

He lifted Naye into his arms and asked.

“Really?”

“Yeah! When I told them you're my oppa, the teacher and everyone else said you were amazing!”

Only one day remained before the selection tournament.

Aside from each country designating its participants, there hadn't been any specific instructions about how participation would work.‘Usually in situations like this…….’On the day itself, the selected participants would probably be pulled somewhere.‘Then the tournament starts.’The date was close enough that even Naye's kindergarten was talking about it.

Soon, Chairman Kim and Mrs. Choi approached as well.

“Have a safe trip. Be careful.”

“Mom doesn't care about rankings at all, so just come back without getting hurt. All right?”

“I'll be careful.”

Kim Minwoo nodded.

Details of the selection tournament had already spread long ago. Including the clause stating that participants could die and bore personal responsibility for that risk. It was only natural for them to worry.‘Not participating isn't an option, though.’Being Awakened was a profession where you risked your life. If he got scared by this much, he wouldn't accomplish anything.

“Oppa, you'll come back soon, right?”

“Of course. You be good too, Naye. Don't eat too much meat.”

“Okay! I'll eat lots of vegetables too!”

Kim Minwoo snorted.

Sure you will.

She'd pushed the bell peppers to the corner of her plate at breakfast this morning.

Still, she was cute, so whatever.

After saying goodbye to his family.

He left the house.

He headed toward the guild headquarters.

Countless reporters were already gathered there. He joined his companions, gave a few interviews, then waited inside the building.

Before long, messages appeared.[You are a participant designated by ‘Korea.’][Entering the Selection Tournament!][Your number is 123!]

The scenery before his eyes changed.

50 participating nations.

Three Awakened selected from each country.

A total of 150 people stood across an empty plain.

Apparently everyone had prepared themselves mentally, because nobody looked particularly shocked. They merely whispered quietly among the companions who had come with them.

Strangely, all their different languages were being translated into Korean.

“Hyung. Looks like every foreign language is being translated.”

“Yeah.”

There wouldn't be any reason to translate them for nothing.‘Guess we'll have reason to talk to each other.’Then he felt a sharp gaze from somewhere. A group of Chinese Awakened were glaring straight at them.

Every face was familiar.

Awakened in the Level 400 range belonging to the Nine Dragons Guild. Once enough time passed and the story reached the middle stages, they would become secondary faces of China.

Among them, a man with a yellow mohawk stepped forward.‘His name was…… Liu Wei, wasn't it?’An Awakened with the uncommon Class of Druid.

He fought by transforming into various animals, and he'd become somewhat famous in China for using the ability skillfully.

He spat onto the ground and spoke.

“So you're Kim Minwoo?”

“You know who I am. Why ask?”

“Arrogant bastard. You're an Awakened from a tiny nation, yet you dare bully a member of our Nine Dragons Guild?”

Minwoo snorted.

“You guys put out knockoffs and now you're whining about bullying?”

“Hah, you bastard…….”

The atmosphere turned vicious.

Every Awakened from the other countries turned to watch.

What could possibly be more entertaining than watching a fight?

The Chinese Awakened began gripping their weapons.

Park Siwoo and Seo Yerim frowned and drew their own weapons too.

The situation was on the verge of exploding.

Then.

Whoooosh……!

Wind gathered in midair and began taking shape.

The fierce air pressure made Liu Wei and the other Chinese Awakened whip around.

Kim Minwoo looked in the same direction.‘Huh?’“That…….”

Seo Yerim sounded startled.

Kim Minwoo narrowed his eyes too.

The teddy bear he'd met in the Trial Grounds.

That same teddy bear was floating in midair.―Ahem! Greetings. I am the great Evaluator, Lord Popo.

Popo folded his arms and arrogantly surveyed the Awakened below.

“What the hell is that?”

“……

A teddy bear?”

The Chinese Awakened frowned.―Silence! Who dares talk while the great Lord Popo is explaining things!

The teddy bear glared at the Awakened.

Then Popo fixed his eyes on Liu Wei and spoke.―Number 73. This is a warning. Shut your mouth.

“And what are you gonna do if you warn me…… Guaaagh!”

The cocky Liu Wei was launched into the air in an instant.

He crashed far away. He was vomiting stomach acid as though something had slammed into his abdomen.

At some point, Popo had already appeared in front of him and spoke in warning.―There won't be a second time.

Still vomiting, tears and snot streaming down his face, Liu Wei hurriedly nodded.

The Awakened from the other countries smiled with satisfaction.‘Acting arrogant in front of something you don't know?’‘Doesn't even know the basics.’Everyone gathered here was a veteran who had survived countless battles.

Judging an opponent by appearance alone was one of the worst mistakes an Awakened could make. Yet the Nine Dragons Guild members had done exactly that.

Excessive nationalism and an arrogant attitude that treated everyone else as beneath them.

Those were defining traits of Chinese Awakened, especially members of the Nine Dragons Guild.

Thanks to that, they'd received an immediate lesson.

The Awakened who had been smiling stiffened as they looked at Popo.‘As expected. He had something hidden.’‘Better not act carelessly.’Nobody had seen what had just happened.

They had no clue what this thing actually was.

But one thing had become perfectly clear.

Despite its cute appearance, that thing was an absolute monster inside.―Ahem!

Popo cleared his throat again, floated into the air, and struck a grand pose.―Numbers 1 through 150! You are all extremely fortunate. Normally, the System's grace almost never reaches a bottom-tier dimension like this…… um…… does it?

His once-confident tone shriveled instantly.

Their eyes met.

Kim Minwoo stood at the other end of that gaze.‘W-What?’He had heard that the Selection Tournament was assigned to some bottom-tier dimension.‘Th-That was this human's planet?’Popo's eyes began trembling.