READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 19: 19
19. Shop Window
[You have been confirmed as the first player to change class.]
[You have obtained 'Random Gold Pouch' as a first class change reward.]
[You have learned the common skill 'Track' as a first class change reward!]
A gold pouch and skill came in as first class change rewards.
Especially the common skill made Ryumin smile.
'It's a skill impossible to get in the early stages.'
There are two types of skills.
Job-exclusive skills and common skills.
Job-exclusive skills can only be used by those with that specific job.
The Reaper-exclusive skill 'Death's Seal' that Ryumin just learned was like that.
On the other hand, common skills can be learned by anyone.
They can be purchased anytime through the shop function that opens at level 10.
'But they cost quite a bit of gold.'
Ryumin went ahead and used the newly available function.
'Shop window.'
A translucent window opened, displaying numerous items.
Weapons, helmets, armor, gloves, shoes, necklaces, rings, skills, etc.
It was organized by category with almost everything available.
'Though they're all normal grade.'
You can buy any items from the shop as long as you have gold.
It's convenient for item procurement, but the problem is that the shop only sells normal grade items.
'Of course, they do sell rare and epic items too.'
But not regularly.
They sell random items daily in a section called Today's Items.
Ryumin's gaze turned to the upper right of the shop window.
★Today's Item★
[Experienced Hunter's Leather Armor]
-Category: Armor
-Grade: Rare
-Defense: 22
-Effect: Agility +2
-Durability: 225/225
-Usage Restriction: Apprentice grade or higher
-Description: Armor favored by experienced hunters.
The sale time is given as 24 hours based on midnight.
So you could calculate the current time in reverse.
'The item will change again tomorrow.'
Since it changes randomly every day, it's hard to buy desired items.
'Still, being able to buy above normal grade from the shop is something.'
The purchase price for normal armor Ryumin can currently equip is 1,000 gold.
Buying rare armor with 50% higher performance for 2,000 gold was a reasonable price.
'It's not just rare. You can buy epic too.'
Usually rare items appear, but occasionally epic items are sold.
Though it's sold about once a week so it's not easy to get what you want, this didn't apply to Ryumin.
He knew from experience when epic items he needed would appear.
'Two weeks after this round ends, an epic item I need will appear. I'll use the 50% discount coupon then.'
Of course, as rounds progress, more expensive items appear in Today's Items.
'So it would be more profitable to wait and use the coupon on a more expensive item, but...'
Unfortunately, the 50% discount coupon was written to expire in the next round.
It had to be used within a month.
'The random gold pouch is the same. It has an expiration date and must be used before the next round.'
The gold pouch received as a reward is a consumable item that gives random gold when used.
Since it requires luck, he decided to use it before Round 3 after raising his Luck stat.
Ryumin's gaze turned to the skill list at the top.
Erase Traces, Scan Surroundings, Detect Presence, Emergency Treatment, etc.
Various common skills were being sold in the shop window.
Ryumin looked at the skill he received as a reward.
[Common Skill - Track]
-Effect: Can track the location of a desired target.
It was a skill worth 20,000 gold.
A price most players couldn't even dream of.
Other common skills had similar prices.
It wasn't for nothing that he said it was impossible to get in the early stages.
'Most will learn it by mid-game though.'
It was called a common skill because anyone could buy it from the shop.
After looking around the shop window, Ryumin closed it.
'There's nothing particularly worth buying.'
Though he had 3,000 gold, there was nothing to buy right away.
He needed to save money to buy an epic item in two weeks.
Ryumin opened his inventory and examined the weapon received as a class change commemoration.
[Reaper's Scythe]
-Category: Weapon
-Grade: Rare
-Attack Power: 25
-Effect: +1 additional attack power each time swung at an enemy (max 5 stacks)
-Durability: 225/225
-Usage Restriction: Apprentice grade or higher
-Description: A huge scythe said to be used by reapers. Difficult for beginners to handle.
Ryumin took out the scythe from his inventory.
A huge scythe taller than himself was in his hand.
Swoosh- Swoosh-!
Ryumin smiled after swinging it a few times as if recalling the sensation.
'Not bad.'
It was rare grade and had excellent options for early use.
'I won't need to change weapons until level 20.'
Ryumin checked the rune obtained as a class change commemoration.
[Reaper's Rune]
-Effect: When using a scythe, weapon attack power doubles and attack speed additionally increases by 50% at night.
The chance of enemies detecting you greatly decreases when staying still at night.
'Basically double attack power, and 1.5x attack speed at night. Plus decreased detection chance.'
It was a rune made for using scythes.
'This is why reapers are strong at night.'
Though it was daytime now, it was strong enough with double attack power.
Finally, opening the skill window, there was one more skill besides Track.
[Exclusive Skill - Death's Seal]
-Effect: Places a seal on the target that only the caster can see.
The remaining health of sealed targets is visible, and the caster deals 100% additional damage when attacking.
Can only be placed on one target at a time.
It was a debuff-type skill that could double damage.
'Enemies sealed with this are as good as dead.'
Since mana isn't consumed like in games, it's best to always fight with the seal applied.
The only downside is that it can only be used on a single target.
'The rewards all came in as expected.'
There was 2 hours and 20 minutes left until voting.
All that remained was to hunt and raise levels during that time.
'Before that, should I check Hwang Yongmin's location? Might as well test the 20,000 gold skill.'
Ryumin always checked Hwang Yongmin's location after obtaining the Track skill.
'Track.'
[Please say the nickname while picturing the target's face.]
Following the message, Ryumin pictured the target.
'Hwang Yongmin.'
[Face and nickname match. Tracking target's location.]
Location can't be tracked with just the nickname.
You must know the customized face as well.
'So someone who doesn't know my face can't track me with just my nickname.'
After a moment, the result came.
[Player 'Hwang Yongmin's' location found.]
[Currently 190m away.]
[Follow the arrow in front to track the target.]
'Did he enter the forest too? He's closer than I expected.'
In previous regressions, Hwang Yongmin was 2,000m away.
But now he's quite close.
'Should I go take a look?'
Ryumin, holding his scythe, quickly cut through the forest.
* * *
"Huff, huff, huff."
"Haah, haah."
Rough breathing echoed between a man and woman.
But only for a moment.
"Haah, haah, I can't run anymore. My legs hurt too much."
Seo Arin, out of breath, collapsed on the ground.
An Sang-cheol next to her was just as out of breath, but had no time to rest.
"Ms. Arin, we need to keep moving. Otherwise..."
An Sang-cheol couldn't finish his sentence.
If they rest like this, who knows what will happen to them from those who ambushed them.
"Let's get up even if it's hard."
"My feet hurt so much..."
Seo Arin had been hit by an arrow in her calf.
He had been slashed on the thigh.
But now was the time to move.
It was better than being caught and killed by their pursuers.
"It's just my guess, but even if we're injured here, our real bodies should be fine. If we just survive somehow, we can return home."
"I-I guess so? Okay. I'll try to endure even if it hurts."
Seo Arin gritted her teeth and stood up.
That's when it happened.
"Where do you think you're going in that state?"
Their pursuers who had ambushed them earlier appeared.
The 30-second rest had narrowed the distance.
'Damn it. That damn woman...!'
An Sang-cheol inwardly cursed Seo Arin and immediately raised his sword.
At this point, there was no choice but to fight.
Though he wasn't confident of winning in this injured state.
"Oh ho, Mr. An Sang-cheol. You're going to fight us?"
The large-built guy among the pursuers approached with a sneer.
Whether it was his real name or not, the nickname Hwang Yongmin floated above his head.
"Use your eyes and look. How many of us are there?"
Four people including Hwang Yongmin were glaring with weapons in hand, sneering.
Especially one holding a bow, giving them a complete advantage.
'Can we win if we fight?'
Not only were they outnumbered, but this side was injured and exhausted from fleeing.
It seemed best to avoid a direct confrontation if possible.
"Why are you doing this? What did we do wrong?"
"Huh? Of course you didn't do anything wrong."
"Then why attack us out of nowhere..."
"Hand it over."
"Pardon? What..."
Hwang Yongmin grinned.
"The woman next to you."
"..."
"We don't have business with a male bastard like you. It's Seo Arin next to you."
"Ah..."
Seo Arin let out a low exclamation.
She realized this trouble was because of her.
"But is she really Seo Arin? The actress Seo Arin?"
"Can't you tell just by looking? Her nickname and face are Seo Arin."
"It could be someone else imitating Seo Arin because they want to look like her."
"Who cares. As long as she tastes good."
"Ah, right? Kukukuku."
"Hey Mr. An Sang-cheol. We'll let you go if you just leave Seo Arin. How about it?"
An Sang-cheol gritted his teeth at Hwang Yongmin's proposal.
Their intentions were obvious.
'So Seo Arin was the target from the start? If that was the case, you should have said so earlier.'
He got caught up in this for no reason.
If they had told him to leave Seo Arin from the start, he would have done so without a second thought.
'I have no desire to die because of this woman.'
Though he was assigned as her manager and bodyguard on CEO Ma Gyeong-rok's orders, in reality he was just assigned to monitor her.
He had no intention whatsoever of dying in Seo Arin's place.
But there was one thing bothering him...
'If I fail to protect Seo Arin, I'll be betraying CEO Ma Gyeong-rok's expectations.'
An Sang-cheol tightened his grip on his sword.
Now he had to survive with Seo Arin somehow.
"Oh, nice look in your eyes, mister."
"Looks like he wants to fight?"
"You guys. You know this is a crime, right?"
"Crime? Kuku, what a funny mister."
Hwang Yongmin laughed, shaking his shoulders.
"Isn't this the other world? Where's the law here? Where are the police?"
"Even so, this isn't a game. It's clearly reality. You've committed the crime of assaulting fellow humans."
"Oh, is that so? So what are you going to do? Report us when we return to reality? That someone named Hwang Yongmin attacked Seo Arin and An Sang-cheol?"
"That's right."
"Kukukuku."
Hwang Yongmin and his friends sneered.
"Do you have evidence? There are no CCTVs here."
"..."
"And how do you know this is my real face? How will you prove whether I used my real name as my nickname or not?"
"..."
It was all correct.
There was no evidence, no evidence.
They couldn't take photos or give testimony.
From the start, the appearances here were avatars different from reality.
An Sang-cheol knew this too.
He had just clung to a sliver of possibility.
'Damn it, persuasion isn't working at all.'
Seeing their bloodshot eyes, it seemed they wouldn't listen to words.
Come to think of it, if words had worked, they wouldn't have shot arrows in the first place.
Zap-
Pain shot through his slashed thigh, but there was no choice.
He had to fight even with an injured body.
'For CEO Ma..!'
Just as An Sang-cheol was about to move.
Rustle-
Someone appeared from behind a tree.
It was a player holding a long scythe.