The Ruined World Was Mistaken for a Game-Chapter 24.2: Toward the Main Story (1)
Translator: Dreamscribe
As Jinwoo and Haebyul headed to the forge, many players followed them.
“Haebyul nim, are you enhancing your gear too?”
“Huhu! I have no need for that. Ta-da!”
At Jinwoo’s question, Haebyul grinned and showed off her bow.
[F] Blossomwood Bow +4
A sturdy wooden bow with a floral scent.
*Fire attribute granted
*Lightning attribute granted
*Agility +3
*Strength +3
The item information appraised through the Appraisal Certificate appeared in the information window and could be shared with others.
Equipment enhancement granted one enchant effect with each level increase.
A master craftsman from Rainsword could enchant equipment to its limits, but to maintain immersion, the system added enhancement levels and success rates like a game.
“Achieving +4 enhancement is truly impressive.”
Jinwoo said, feigning surprise, and Haebyul proudly puffed out her chest and nodded.
“It’s my precious treasure.”
Haebyul rubbed her cheek against the bow.
After walking a bit, they arrived at Thomson’s Forge. The forge building had been greatly expanded. Since it was the most profitable place in Evanth, Thomson had used players as workers to expand it.
A player currently doing enhancement came into view.
“That’s my party member. Our party’s tank, UruBear nim.”
Haebyul introduced him.
A man with a sturdy build was clasping his hands together in a desperate prayer. He was also a streamer and had the second highest number of viewers after Haebyul.
“Please! Please! Please let it succeed!”
Blacksmith Thomson held a hammer with a solemn expression.
[A] Probability Manipulation Hammer
An enchantment tool crafted with great care by an Archmage.
Success chances adjust based on enhancement stage, and enchant effects are granted at random. Just inserting a magic circle or a gem internally can add an additional enchant effect.
It also carries illusion magic to visually indicate success or failure.
*72 enchantments applied: Top-tier: 3, High-tier: 5, Mid-tier: 20, Low-tier: 44.
*Enhancement Success Rates
+1: 70%
+2: 30%
+3: 10%
[10% chance of equipment destruction upon failure]
[20% chance of enhancement downgrade upon failure]
+4: 7%
+5: 3%
+6: 1%
[10% chance of equipment destruction upon failure]
[40% chance of enhancement downgrade upon failure]
+7 to +10: 1%
[20% chance of equipment destruction upon failure]
[60% chance of enhancement downgrade upon failure]
The enhancement probabilities were transparently disclosed in accordance with related laws.
Haebyul shook her head as she looked at UruBear.
“Sigh, that dopamine addict... I feel like something bad’s gonna happen to him.”
-That beast’s heart goes straight for +5 after succeeding +4 in just 20 tries ㄷㄷㄷ
-Dopamine uncle needs even stronger dopamine!
The success rate for +5 enhancement was 3%.
UruBear was practically begging in front of the blacksmith NPC, Thomson.
As Thomson lifted the hammer, UruBear held his breath, and the surrounding players swallowed nervously while watching the hammer.
Thomson struck the shield with his hammer!
Ting!
Sparks flew,
Rrrrummmble!
With a black effect, smoke surged into the air.
“Oops, my hand slipped. Still, the shield survived, so you’re one of the lucky ones. Hahahaha!”
“Gah?!”
The enhancement had failed.
The watching players either clapped or cheered.
Enhancement required money, and the higher the enhancement level, the more money it cost. It also served as a mechanism to prevent gold inflation.
“You’re not seriously stopping here, are you? Hahaha! What kind of Hero has such a weak heart? What good is size if that’s all you’ve got?”
“I’m going again! I’ll bet my entire fortune!”
“Khuh! Hahaha! Now that’s a true Hero! That’s the spirit!”
Tempted by Thomson’s provocation, UruBear handed over all the money he had saved up to Thomson.
Haebyul sighed and approached to stop him.
“Bear-nim, please stop. We’re about to leave soon. What if your equipment breaks?”
“Don’t stop me. Life’s all about taking that one shot.”
“You’re risking your whole life on a 3% chance....”
Haebyul let out another sigh.
UruBear’s gaze fixed on Jinwoo.
“Gasp! L-Leon nim?!”
UruBear quickly rushed over to Jinwoo.
With a desperate expression, he looked up at him.
“Leon nim! Please, help me!”
“Is there something I can assist with?”
“You just need to stand right here!”
Jinwoo moved to the spot UruBear pointed to, which was right beside Thomson’s workbench.
“O Creator God Jinwoo! O Light of Evanth, Leon! Please, bless me just once with Your grace!”
On UruBear’s broadcast screen, there was a picture of Jinwoo, and next to it, stood Jinwoo in the form of Leon.
It was a kind of totem enhancement method.
UruBear took a deep breath and looked to Thomson.
“Alright then, Master Thomson! Please begin!”
“Haha! Very well!”
Thomson looked thoroughly delighted.
He was fully indulging in the guilt-free pleasure.
The expression of a Hero, consumed by despair when their gear shattered after a failed enhancement, that was what brought him joy.
Thomson raised his hammer high and struck the shield with great force.
It was bound to fail.
Everyone present naturally thought so.
Boom! Kwooooosh!
As the hammer struck the shield, sparks burst, and a radiant light exploded out.
UruBear’s eyes widened. The expressions of Haebyul and the other watching players turned to sheer shock. UruBear raised both arms high and shouted out in triumph.
“Kuaaaaaah! Server’s first +5 shield! Waaaaah! And it’s got top-tier stats!”
It actually worked?
UruBear repeatedly bowed his head to Jinwoo.
“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
“Hero-nim, I didn’t do anything at all.”
“Your very existence is divine!”
Holding his shield, UruBear turned to Haebyul.
“Kyah! Haebyul! Do you see this +5 shield? Hu-huhaha! Huh? Where’d she go? Can’t see Haebyul anywhere. Ah, right, must be because she’s a noob with no +5!”
“Grrrrrr! Ugh....”
Haebyul boiled with rage, letting out a strange hissing sound like a kettle about to explode.
[ㅇㅇ has submitted a mission request!]
Reward for +5 enhancement success:
1,000,000 won
-Wow! Easy money!
-Easy money ㅋㅋ
The mission amount quickly rose and exceeded two million won.
UruBear grinned.
“Just give up. Run off with your +4 like a coward.”
“Shut it! I’m going too.”
Haebyul held up her bow and looked at Jinwoo.
“Leon nim, please... just stroke it once.”
“It may not do much, but very well. I hope you succeed.”
Jinwoo gently stroked Haebyul’s bow.
Thomson placed the bow on the workbench and brought down his hammer.
“Huh?”
Kwoooosh!
Amazingly, it succeeded!
“Kyaaaaaaaaaaa!”
“Insane!”
Haebyul screamed and jumped around in joy.
UruBear was stunned, standing frozen in disbelief. A 3% chance had succeeded twice in a row.
-Top-tier stats?!
-This actually worked ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-God Leon.
-2 consecutive successes right after Leon nim arrives ㄷㄷ
Players began rushing to enhance their gear in turn.
Strangely enough, it seemed to be a lucky day, with success rates running high.
It was the birth of a new tradition: ‘If Leon appears in Evanth, go enhance!’
And the love for Leon only deepened further!
After all the commotion, an hour had passed.
When it was time for the subjugation force to depart, around 800 players gathered in the village plaza.
Haebyul looked around restlessly.
“Do you have more party members?”
“There are, but... I kinda wish they didn’t show up....”
Haebyul was answering Jinwoo’s question when she abruptly stopped speaking.
“Haebyul nim, UruBear nim, congratulations on your success! I’ve composed a celebratory song for the occasion.”
It was because a man with long black hair approached them.
He was holding a small guitar in his hands.
Haebyul, UruBear, and the nearby players all twisted their faces in dismay.
“Wooo~ Congrat~ulations! May your light dwell in the hammer~”
He was terribly tone-deaf. On top of that, the lyrics were childish.
His voice and performance were even laced with magic power, making the sound all the more bizarre.
-Waaah! Somebody get that bastard out of here.
-Is this... a sound attack?
-Aaaargh!
-Please mute him.
“Do you know him?”
Jinwoo asked Haebyul, and she blushed and nodded.
“He... sort of ended up joining our party. When he’s around, even those crazy goblins don’t come near us.”
She was embarrassed, but he was indeed her party member.
Haebyul said this and shut her eyes tight.
Ah.
As a High Elf, she had extremely sensitive hearing.
In any case, this man was easily one of the strangest players Jinwoo had ever seen.
‘Huh?’
He felt a familiar sensation and suspected something.
No way, right?
[Lv.7] Romantic Bard
Title: Eardrum Destroyer
Class: Beginner Bard
[Traits]
[B] Unyielding Dream
He once dreamed of becoming a star but gave up the mic in the face of reality.
Now, no matter what happens, this time, he will not break.
When singing or performing, he recovers a great amount of Health and Magic Power. However, this effect does not apply to others.
The Magic Tower sent over the information.
‘Hyung...?’
He was Jinwoo’s older brother, Lee Cheon-woo.
Jinwoo tightly shut his eyes.
“Leon nim? Is something wrong?”
“It’s nothing.”
He couldn't say, 'He's embarrassingly my brother.'
‘Ohsung Group....’
Is it really functioning properly?
That thought suddenly crossed Jinwoo’s mind.
* * *
When it was time for the subjugation force to depart, Heina and the security guards approached. They stood lined up on both sides of the road in orderly formation.
“Salute the Heroes!”
Swish! Thwack!
At Heina’s shout, the security force drew their swords and raised them high. All of Evanth’s NPCs also came out and waved their hands. Seeing this, the expressions of all the players were filled with emotion.
-Kyah! Look at that romanticism.
-Now THIS is what gaming should be!
The players trembled as they tightly clenched their fists.
Haebyul was no different.
Everyone silently looked toward Jinwoo.
“The subjugation force....”
Jinwoo extended his hand forward.
“Shall now depart!”
The moment Jinwoo’s voice rang out,
“Let’s go!”
“We march!”
“Waaaaah!”
The subjugation team of 802 heroes, led by Leon the Sword of Light, departed to subjugate the Corrupted Goblins.
*****
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Chapter 24.2: Toward the Main Story (1)
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