Chapter 10

"You're offering to help?"

Mauga, the village guard, was slightly surprised by the unexpected reaction.

The young man before him was likely a stranger from the nearby village, the Starting Village.

Countless strangers had approached the village before.

'What? Restricted access to the village? People would think it's a significant reward.'

'Ugh, I thought I'd at least get some experience points... Sigh.'

Mauga was willing to grant access to the village if they helped, but all the strangers had refused and gone their own way.

Thus, Mauga had developed a strong aversion to strangers approaching the village, assuming they would refuse to help.

But this time, the stranger readily agreed to help.

"Yes. What do you need help with?"

It had been a while since a stranger passed the first step.

"It's a request from the village chief. Could you bring back an Aura Flower?"

"Aura Flower?"

"Yes. Bring it back if you can."

"What does it look like?"

"Hold on."

Mauga handed over a photo.

The picture showed an Aura Flower.

"So, I just need to bring this back?"

"That's correct."

Aura Flowers grow on cliffs and are rare.

They only bloom in small, hollow spots, making them difficult to collect.

Mauga expected this stranger to refuse and return, as all previous strangers had done.

"Alright. I'll get it."

But the stranger surprised Mauga.

"Are you really going to get it?"

Mauga was genuinely astonished.

"Yes. It's a request, right?"

"Do you really think you can find it?"

"I'll have to see."

With that, the stranger left.

"This one's quite unique."

Mauga resumed his watch.

Unlocking a hidden theme is incredibly challenging.

The difficulty increases as you move to higher-level villages.

"They said the Aura Flower is nearby."

Jeong-hoon recalled the directions and continued walking.

This hidden theme wasn't discovered by him but by Alessandro Bryden, the traitor.

One of the world's strongest magician and a sage, he was the one who uncovered this hidden theme.

Of course, Alessandro discovered it much later.

Nobody was interested at first until they realized its crucial role in reaching the pinnacle of magic.

'Jeong-hoon, do you know each village has a hidden theme?'

The voice of that wretched man still echoed in his ears.

The thought alone made Jeong-hoon's fists clench.

'Really? I'm not interested.'

'Doesn't being an All-Master include magic? It's perfect for advancing your magic.'

'You already got it, didn't you?'

'Haha, that's right. That's why I'm telling you.'

He often bragged about being superior in magic, constantly irritating Jeong-hoon.

'This time, it'll be mine.'

Jeong-hoon arrived at a stream far from the field.

The stream was long enough to connect to the Starting Village.

The water he had scooped a few days ago came from this stream.

But before him was a Lv.17 Red Slime.

A higher-tier monster than the usual Slime, Red Slimes were tricky to deal with in the field.

Red Slimes emit poison, which is not an issue for high-level players, but low-level players could be poisoned and needed antidotes.

However, Jeong-hoon knew how to defeat Red Slimes.

[Human! This is my territory! Come closer, and I'll spit poison on you!]

Red Slimes couldn't speak, so a message appeared above its head.

"Sorry, but I need something here."

Jeong-hoon lunged forward.

[So, warnings don't work on you?!]

Purple smog rose from the Red Slime's body.

Jeong-hoon held his breath and thrust his fist into the Slime's body.

To defeat a Slime, you must crush the small core inside its body.

Jeong-hoon's hand grabbed the Slime's core.

He clenched his fist and shattered it.

[Kreekk!]

With that message, the Red Slime dissolved into a puddle, soaking the ground.

[Your level has increased!]

[All stats have increased by +1.]

[You have received +1 bonus stat.]

Perfect.

His level increased to 16.

He also had 15 bonus stats saved up.

[Achievement Unlocked! "Save the Best for Last (1)". You have earned 1,000 achievement points.]

Players earn achievements for saving bonus stats.

Typically, players invest their bonus stats as soon as they level up.

As a result, few players achieve this milestone.

This achievement awards points for saving up to 100 bonus stats, but most players don't bother due to the mystery of the rewards.

However, every game has its dedicated players.

[Reached 100 bonus stats ^^v]

- But I got a D-rank mark... Is this right?

└Wow, seriously? That's insane...

└A mark? Someone saved up 100 bonus stats until level 101?

└If anyone else doesn't invest their bonus stats after seeing this, let me know, haha.

Here I am.

Jeong-hoon aimed to get another mark like the "Perfect Beginner's Mark."

This mark was essential for crafting specific items.

As leveling up becomes slower, it's better to collect these items early when the bonus stats have less impact.

The stream water was crystal clear.

It was so cold that it chilled his bones when he dipped his hand in.

New World was called a gaming revolution because of its perfect attention to detail.

Jeong-hoon shook off the water from his hand and swam across the stream.

The untouched growth on the other side indicated no player had been here for a long time.

Who would visit this place with nothing of value?

'Except me.'

Jeong-hoon trampled the overgrown weeds and ventured deeper.

Ahead lay a cliff.

It was so deep that it appeared pitch black.

Jeong-hoon approached the edge.

He had no intention of descending the cliff.

The Aura Flower was located here.

'It should be around here.'

Jeong-hoon crouched and felt along the cliff wall.

Slowly moving sideways, he searched for a hole.

'Found it!'

After some searching, he found a small hole.

Inside was a tiny flower.

Jeong-hoon carefully picked the flower.

A beautiful silver flower, the Aura Flower the village chief had requested, was now in his hand.

"Hey, Mauga. It's almost time for the shift change."

A man approached Mauga, who was standing guard.

He was a large, bald man with dark skin, matching Mauga's imposing build.

"Block? Is it that time already?"

It had already been 8 hours.

"What, you didn't notice the time? How can you stand such a boring job so calmly?"

Block shook his head.

Standing guard at the village entrance for 8 hours was tedious.

But Mauga stood still, guarding for the full 8 hours without moving.

"...You're the strange one. Didn't you get caught napping while on guard last time?"

"Ahem, standing for hours at night can make you sleepy."

"What if an intruder gets in?"

"Intruder? I can handle any intruder myself."

Block flexed his muscles confidently.

[NPC Information]

- Nickname: Block

- Level: 40

- Job: Village Guard

Block was level 40.

Though monsters roamed the area, they were all below level 20.

So, monsters were no threat.

"A stranger might come."

"A stranger? Those weaklings?"

Block scoffed.

The highest-level strangers who visited were only level 30.

He felt he could easily overpower one in a one-on-one fight.

"Anyway, a stranger came by 2 hours ago."

"A stranger?"

"Yes. He said he'd get the Aura Flower."

"That flower?"

Block was confused.

He also gave quests to strangers on the chief's orders.

But over 70% refused even before hearing the quest details, and the remaining 30% gave up after hearing it.

"I'm sure he'll give up."

"I agree."

Block fully agreed with Mauga.

The chief's request was impossible for anyone to fulfill.

"Anyway, I'll head in now. Take care."

"Any special notes?"

"None. I'd have mentioned it if there were."

"Okay. Bring me some milk on your way in. I left it behind."

"Got it—"

Mauga froze mid-sentence.

He widened his eyes, staring at something. Block turned to look.

"A stranger?"

The stranger walked quickly toward them.

"I brought the Aura Flower."

Jeong-hoon held the Aura Flower in his hand.

"It's really the Aura Flower..."

"Is that really it?"

Mauga and Block, the NPCs, were both present at the entrance.

Of course, bringing the flower didn't complete the quest.

"...I'll guide you to the chief."

Mauga was just a middleman.

To complete the quest, Jeong-hoon had to meet the chief.

The chief was watering his field.

"Hmm?"

Sensing someone approaching, the chief turned around.

"Chief, this stranger has brought the flower."

The chief's eyes widened.

The long-sought Aura Flower had been found?

"Is that true?"

"Yes. See for yourself."

[NPC Information]

- Nickname: Marque

- Level: 60

- Job: Village Chief

He had a stern appearance and looked to be in his late seventies.

Despite his age, he was even more imposing than Mauga.

Marque had no fat on his muscular body, and his level was 60.

He was likely the highest level in the village.

"...This is it! Thank you so much!"

Seeing the flower, Marque's eyes welled up.

The Aura Flower was for treating his only granddaughter.

'Glad I wasn't too late.'

The quest's time limit was until the granddaughter passed away.

After that, there was no need for the flower.

Marque tearfully shook Jeong-hoon's hand, his grip powerful.

[Quest completed.]

[First to complete the "Village Chief's Request" quest. Earned 3,000 achievement points.]

[Acquired "Village Pass".]

Marque handed Jeong-hoon the pass, allowing free access to the village.

"Would you like a tour of the village?"

Mauga's tone was friendlier, perhaps because of the quest completion.

"No, thanks. I prefer exploring alone."

"Is that so? I understand."

Mauga returned home.

Left alone, Jeong-hoon explored the village.

'When I first entered the village, I was confused because there was nothing.'

As Alessandro had said, no one in the village gave quests.

It made sense since the hidden theme lay within the village.

"Is this it?"

Jeong-hoon arrived at an abandoned house where human warmth had disappeared a long time ago.