WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Irevi

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 22: Non-Player Character

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After killing the last remaining Kobold Rider, I sat down on the floor and sorted through the results.

[You have obtained Clear Reward: 'Experience Points' and 'Gold'.]

[You may activate the Transfer Gate to Floor 3 of the Tower of Trials.]

[You have obtained First-Clear Reward: 'Wolf-Hunting Sword'.]

[You have obtained Maximum-Contribution Reward: 'Werewolf Fur Cloak' and 'Experience Points'.]

[You have obtained Final Blow Reward: 'Passive Skill - Bleeding Resistance'.]

That was about everything I got from clearing the boss. A new weapon, plus some fur cloak thing I wasn't quite sure about.

The weapon I'd gotten for clearing the first floor had been an axe that didn't suit me, but this time, I'd gotten an actual sword.

[Wolf-Hunting Sword]

Attack Power +65 (Slash)

Critical Damage: x2.3

Durability 180/180

Unique Passive Effect: Beast Hunting

Upon killing a beast-type monster, gain a [Hunt] stack.

Attack Power increases by 1 per [Hunt] stack. Maximum stacks: 50

Stack Duration: 1,800 seconds

Enhancement Attempts Remaining: 6

After looking over the options, this was more than just a decent sword. It was a unique-grade weapon with a unique effect.

Its base attack power far surpassed the [Kingdom Knight's Straight Sword], and its critical damage and durability were both incredibly high for an unenhanced weapon.

Six enhancement attempts weren't that many, but its base specs were so good that it was enough.

Its passive effect was incredible too. My attack power would go up automatically just by killing beast-type monsters.

Even without enhancing it, maxing out the stacks would bring its attack power to 115. That was higher than [Graksar's Bone Axe].

The duration was 1,800 seconds, or thirty minutes. I didn't know exactly how the stack duration worked, but that was plenty.

Once I enhanced it in town, it would immediately become my main weapon.

[Werewolf Fur Cloak]

Defense +15

Strength +5

Weight: 2

Durability 200/200

Enhancement Attempts Remaining: 5

The fur cloak I'd thought might be some miscellaneous item was actually armor classified as a cloak.

Its Defense wasn't anything special, but the Strength +5 base option was extremely appealing.

My cloak slot was empty too, so this would be a pretty meaningful stat boost.

Still, my Strength was getting way too high compared to my other stats. At this rate, wasn't I going to turn into the Hulk someday?

“Hmm.”

Thinking I might unlock another achievement like last time, I equipped the [Werewolf Fur Cloak] and [Wolf-Hunting Sword] together.

The Wolf-Hunting Sword was a straight sword with a dull, rusty-looking finish.

Its length and weight were perfect for swinging, but instead of a crossguard above the handle, it had a filthy strip of cloth wrapped around it.

It wasn't exactly a practical design, but its specs were so good that I'd just have to live with it.

The fur cloak really did look like it had been made by skinning a Werewolf.

I'd worried it might flap around and get in the way during battle, but it didn't seem like that would happen.

Unfortunately, equipping both items together showed no sign of unlocking an achievement.

That was fine, though. It hadn't been intentional, but I'd gained a ridiculous amount during the boss fight.

[Hysterical Strength Lv.1]

[Intuition Lv.1]

[Bleeding Resistance Lv.1]

[Stun Resistance Lv.1]

[Combat Healing Lv.1]

Including the [Bleeding Resistance] I'd just acquired, I'd gained five new skills.

On top of that, the levels of [Indomitable], [Battle Persistence], and [Battle Awakening] had risen noticeably.

I didn't care much about [Intuition] and [Hysterical Strength], whose effects I didn't know, or the resistance skills that didn't even need an explanation.

Combat Healing. I couldn't believe I'd gotten a skill that only Rankers of the Tower of Trials had.

The effect of Combat Healing was exactly what its name suggested. It was a regeneration effect that automatically healed my body during battle.

Even Rankers who had the skill only said they had “somehow obtained it.” They didn't know the exact requirements for acquiring it.

Maybe you could get it by entering a near-death state and barely recovering.

A lot of first-generation Hunters who had risked their lives clearing the Tower possessed it, so it was possible.

“Status Window.”

Seo Jinhyeok Lv.45 (Warrior)

HP: 670/670

MP: 345/345

Strength: 69 (55+14)

Agility: 49 (45+4)

Durability: 51 (45+6)

Intelligence: 47 (45+2)

I'd gained a level, and thanks to my items' bonuses, my total stats were incredibly high.

I'd grown this much in just two days after reaching the second floor. Yet for some reason, I wasn't as happy as before.

I knew why.

I'd almost died twice over those two days. Even though my specs were enough, I hadn't produced results to match.

The number of solid hits I'd landed on the Werewolf was only around four or five.

The shield throw and two skill attacks at the start, one hit to the shoulder when I spotted an opening, and the barrage of dagger strikes I'd landed in its back. That made four.

Finally, right before I died, I tore apart the Werewolf's jaw with all my strength. That made five.

I'd only dealt that much damage, yet I'd still won. I had the attack power to win overwhelmingly.

But because I'd relied too much on my specs and let my guard down, because I'd gotten too excited after landing hits, I had nearly died instead of crushing it.

It was a problem with my skill, unrelated to stats.

Maybe I was growing in the wrong direction.

* * *

The people who had cleared the Tower of Trials under circumstances most similar to mine were naturally the first-generation Hunters.

Among them, the early Rankers who had especially stood out shared one thing in common.

Most of them had been involved in sports even before entering the Tower.

Some had simply worked out a lot. Others had learned martial arts as a hobby, while some had been professional athletes. The type didn't matter.

No matter what they did outside, once they entered the Tower of Trials, they were all just level 1 Challengers.

By the time their levels reached double digits, differences in basic physical ability from their lifestyles would have become insignificant.

Yet they had clearly distinguished themselves from other Challengers and taken the lead in climbing the Tower.

It wasn't a matter of physical ability. Concentration, thinking, creativity, judgment, self-control, routines.

The various non-physical abilities they had developed through sports had become another kind of strength that couldn't be expressed through stats or skills.

But I hadn't developed any of that. I'd just stupidly raised my stats and level.

If I were a Challenger in another Tower, there probably wouldn't be much of a problem with growing that way. Plenty of Challengers actually did.

But I was a solo player.

I was in no position to use the same methods or strategies as other Challengers. Going forward, countless variables would keep getting in my way.

I needed the same abilities as the first-generation Hunters who had cleared the Tower while dealing with countless variables and a lack of information.

The fundamental kind of skill that let them adapt flexibly to any situation.

Before entering the Tower of Trials, I'd been a fucking jobless bum holed up in my room, doing nothing but clicking away at a keyboard.

My concentration, thinking, judgment, creativity, all of it had long melted away in waves of cheap dopamine that were easy to get.

It wouldn't be easy to build those things up now. I'd probably have to pour in a ridiculous amount of time and effort.

But I was confident.

It wasn't that different from grinding levels on the first floor to defeat the Goblin Lord.

The only difference was that there were no numbers clearly showing my progress.

My goal hadn't changed. I would clear this goddamn Tower, get outside, and apologize to Mom.

As long as I didn't lose sight of where I was headed, as long as I kept walking even if it was only in slow steps, I'd definitely get there someday.

“Good.”

Once I sorted out my thoughts, the excitement and exhilaration I'd forgotten began bubbling up again.

I knew this wasn't the time to rush, but my body itched to get to the next floor already.

[Would you like to activate the Floor Transfer Gate?]

I stood before the Floor Transfer Gate that would take me to the third floor.

“Ah, right.”

Come to think of it, the Shepherd Girl had said she'd definitely repay me one more time.

Because I'd forgotten how to interact with people, I found dealing with her awkward, but watching her bicker with that black dog had been fun.

She reacted well to anything I said, and her attitude and voice were always cheerful. I couldn't ask for a better person to practice socializing with.

I didn't think she'd really give me another reward, but once I went up to the third floor, it would be hard to come back down... I should at least say goodbye.

“Cancel.”

[Would you like to cancel Floor Transfer Gate activation? Activation authority will remain valid for 48 hours.]

Leaving the Transfer Gate alone for the moment, I stepped outside the boss room and made my way back through the Labyrinth.

* * *

I knew where the Shepherd Girl was. Non-Player Character spawn locations were mostly fixed.

Of course, Nora was very different from ordinary Non-Player Characters. She seemed much more like a real person, so I didn't know what to expect.

Whether that was fortunate or not, Nora was in the same place as the shepherd Non-Player Characters on other servers.

“Hello. Isn't the weather lovely today?”

Nora greeted me with a smile when I approached. But her voice didn't have the same life it had before.

“Hello. Isn't the weather lovely today?”

Her expression and voice were flat, no different from any other Non-Player Character's.

“Hello. Isn't the weather lovely today?”

The Shepherd Girl Nora I met again had become an ordinary Non-Player Character who repeated the same line over and over.

Was this what it felt like when a neighbor you knew suddenly turned into a robot? Goosebumps spread all over my body.

I couldn't bear to watch any longer, so I headed for the next floor as if I were running away.

Footnotes:

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