Player with Maxed-Out Talent

Chapter 19

# Player with Maxed-Out Talent, Episode 19

This place, the first crossroad, is called ‘Nephras’s Path.’

According to the settings of the tutorial dungeon, ‘Nephras’ is the name of one of the ancient gods, and at the first crossroad, a ‘ring’ that the god cherished is dropped. The drop rate is entirely random. With some luck, it could be obtained in one go, but otherwise, it could take a very long time.

‘Anyway, the total time it takes to acquire the seven items seems to be fairly similar.’

If it takes a long time at the first crossroad, then the second one might take comparatively less time.

‘Is this the average?’

It didn’t seem particularly long or particularly quick.

[You have acquired Nephras’s Ring.]

I obtained Nephras’s Ring. My business here is done. Without hesitation, I turned around to leave.

“Brother, over there. There are still Black Yaks in the corner... Aren’t we going to hunt them?”

“Nope. Black Yaks don’t give much XP.”

The principle of playing is to achieve maximum efficiency in the minimum amount of time. Black Yaks don’t offer a good cost-benefit ratio. They aren’t terribly hard to catch, but the amount of XP they give relative to the time is too little.

“Let’s head to the second path.”

The order didn’t really matter. Still, there is an unspoken strategy that has formed naturally. Numerous people had cleared the ‘Seoul Station Dungeon’ before, and a common approach had emerged. From the first to the seventh, the usual method is to proceed sequentially.

Leaving the first path, I entered the second crossroad.

[You have entered the second crossroad of Seoul Station Dungeon, ‘Dugo’s Path.’]

* * *

Ma Sanghyun and Seo Ju-Hwan’s party entered the first crossroad. Seo Ju-Hwan was amazed.

“Wow...”

The corpses of Black Yaks were in sight, with only their horns hewn off, suggesting that the horns were a weak point. There were quite a number of Black Yak carcasses. At least thirty, it seemed.

“It looks like someone has already passed through here.”

Someone had already traveled the first crossroad.

“There’s a Black Yak at the end there.”

There was still a Black Yak remaining. What could this mean?

“We don’t see any player’s body. That must mean they escaped.”

According to their knowledge, only two players had entered before them. It wasn’t strange to think the person who killed these Black Yaks had fled due to low health.

“It’s certain they ran away,” Seo Ju-Hwan said.

“For now, as a warm-up. Shall we take them down?”

They began their own battle.

* * *

Kim Hyukjin too hunted ‘Black Yaks’ at the second crossroad. At the second crossroad, ‘Dugo’s Path,’ ‘Dugo’s Necklace’ was dropped.

[You have acquired Dugo’s Necklace.]

Kim Hyukjin shrugged his shoulders.

‘I guess I got lucky this time.’

He had only slain four Black Yaks, and the item dropped. Kang Sunhwa was starting to notice.

“So, we’re heading to the third crossroad next?”

It’s not important to hunt Black Yak. It meant obtaining those items. She was starting to understand the importance of ‘key point items.’

“Let’s go.”

[Seoul Station Dungeon’s third crossroad, ‘Deransha’s Path,’ has been activated.]

A slightly different monster appeared on Deransha’s Path. They looked overall similar to Black Yaks but were purple in color. These creatures, named ‘Purple Yaks,’ were one or two levels higher than the Black Yaks.

“Sunhwa, you take the lead.”

“M-Me?”

“Yeah.”

Kang Sunhwa hesitantly walked forward, with Kim Hyukjin, a small figure himself, following her. Then, something flew toward them.

“Ahhh!”

Something hit Kang Sunhwa’s forehead and then dropped to the ground with a thud.

“It’s okay. It won’t kill you.”

“Wh-What was that?”

“A horn.”

“A horn?”

“Yeah. The horn shot by a Purple Yak. They’re kind of like ranged attackers.”

That’s why I put Sunhwa up front.

“You’re sturdier than me. Better you get hit than me.”

“Brother! Kyaa!”

“Don’t worry. You’re not dead, right?”

Indeed, the Purple Yak’s horn couldn’t cause any damage to her.

Once again, horns from ‘Purple Yaks’ were shot at them. Kang Sunhwa, not yet fully accustomed to the play, screamed. But there was no actual impact on her body. Then, notifications rang for both of them.

[You have hunted a Purple Yak.]

[Experience points acquired.]

[You have earned +13 COINS.]

Meanwhile, Kim Hyukjin had obtained ‘Victoria’s Shield’ at the sixth crossroad. Ma Sanghyun and Seo Ju-Hwan’s party quickly followed.

Eventually, at the seventh crossroad, everyone met.

* * *

Before entering the seventh crossroad, I was already aware that others would soon follow.

‘They’re later than I thought.’

I expected them to catch up around the sixth path, yet they were delayed. Definitely, they still seemed like novice players.

‘After all, this is all completely new to them.’

They didn’t have the strategy guide memorized like I did. The Seoul Station Dungeon. I seem to have watched the strategy videos on YouTube more than thirty times. From the start, their condition was different from mine.

At the seventh crossroad, I encountered the other players.

‘Martial King Ma Sanghyun.’

I immediately activated my Sensory Eye.

──────────

[Player]

Name: Ma Sanghyun

Age: 20

Level: 17

Class: –

Guardian: –

State: Welcoming/Surprised

Disposition: Neutral/Just/Benevolent/Timid

Summary: A magpie that repays kindness

+ No class has been selected.

+ No guardian has been selected.

+ Dispositions and traits/summaries are only indicative, and may change depending on the situation.

+ Sensory Eye proficiency is not high, so detailed information cannot be accessed.

──────────

Level 17, which is a very respectable status. However, I was a bit baffled.

‘What kind of disposition is that?’

Neutral and just are understandable, but how can it be both ‘benevolent’ and ‘timid’?

Is my Sensory Eye broken? Unpredictable things. I don’t think the Sensory Eye’s analysis is wrong. Maybe in some aspects, he’s a great benevolent figure, and in other aspects, he has his timid parts. The summary is ‘a magpie that repays kindness.’ Not bad.

‘But the important thing right now is not Ma Sanghyun.’

Looking over to the man who was wearing a subtle smile at me, I knew of him as well.

‘He might look young...’

As young as the Martial King. That man was young, too.

──────────

[Player]

Name: Seo Ju-Hwan

Age: 21

Level: 16

Class: –

Guardian: –

State: Lewd/Displeased

Disposition: Evil/Cruel/Pretentious

Summary: A cruel paedophile

+ No class has been selected.

+ No guardian has been selected.

+ Dispositions and traits/summaries are only indicative, and may change depending on the situation.

+ Sensory Eye proficiency is not high, so detailed information cannot be accessed.

──────────

At the very beginning of play, shortly after leaving the tutorial field, his nature seemed to have already begun showing its yellow tint.

‘We meet here.’

It was expected.

‘Seo Ju-Hwan.’

In the near future, there is a massive faction known as ‘Nightmare’ or ‘Mare.’ Commonly referred to as ‘Demon Lord’s Army.’ Seo Ju-Hwan is one of the famous action commanders of this ‘Demon Lord’s Army.’

‘The summary is disgusting.’

This is the first ‘evil (惡)’ attribute player I’m facing. He hadn’t completely turned yet. Caution is necessary.

‘If Seo Ju-Hwan moves as I anticipate...’

Today, I may end up in a life-or-death fight with Seo Ju-Hwan. I’ve been predicting this situation and preparing for it.

‘If we really have to fight... the one who will be risking his life won’t be me but you, Seo Ju-Hwan.’

Then Seo Ju-Hwan spoke his first words. His opening statement was quite unexpected.