Chapter 13 : Chapter 13
Episode 13. Rookie, and Reward
Following the Orc to my new lodging, I thought.
‘In the Demon World, being a Rookie doesn't just mean a newcomer.’
Becoming a Rookie gladiator meant gaining several benefits.
Among them, the most immediately useful one was being able to obtain a ‘Market Pass’.
Gladiators get their passes issued after accumulating a certain amount of achievements.
By becoming a Rookie, I was qualified to receive the pass immediately without needing to build up a record.
And secondly, I no longer had to be mindful of the Administrator.
“What about the Market Pass?”
“…How does a guy who just became a Rookie know about the Market Pass?”
“I have my ways.”
“As I said before, it takes time to receive Rookie benefits. The pass isn't ready yet.”
“Get it for me as soon as possible.”
“I’ll try.”
The Orc nodded and stopped in his tracks.
“This is your new lodging.”
“You should say it correctly. My ‘first’ lodging.”
“……”
It was on a different level from the prison-like waiting room I had been in.
The newly assigned lodging, at least, didn't have iron bars.
I slowly entered the lodging and looked around inside.
“It has a proper door, and a bed? There’s a mattress too.”
The size was about that of a studio apartment, similar to before, but…
For now, it passed for being a place where a person could live.
At the very least, my life of crouching and sleeping on the floor was now over.
As I was looking around the room, I heard the Orc's confident voice from behind.
“How is it?”
“Well, it’s not bad.”
“Not bad? This is the best lodging a Bronze gladiator can get.”
Compared to the cold, iron-barred floor, any lodging would look like a hotel.
But.
‘Why do I find it so annoying that this bastard is taking credit?’
I was the one who did all the work.
I didn’t like how the guy who stood back with his arms crossed and watched was speaking so proudly.
“I get it, so next time you come, bring the Market Pass.”
“…Alright.”
The Orc left the room reluctantly, but he probably wasn't sulking.
He didn't seem like that kind of person.
Of course, I hadn't kicked the Orc out with the thought that the Market Pass would be issued immediately.
It was just that I needed some time to myself.
‘Time to settle the accounts.’
I became a Rookie faster than I had thought.
Which meant.
It meant that there were now far more things I could do.
I checked my swordsmanship first.
⌜Sabla Swordsmanship (2-Star)―65%⌟
I had finished off the Golem for certain.
Thanks to that, my proficiency had risen significantly, but I wasn’t satisfied.
‘It’s this hard just to obtain and learn a 2-Star, so when it comes to 3-Star, 4-Star….’
I shook my head.
Even though it was fast thanks to the effect of ‘Swordsmanship Genius’, it was still this much.
If I hadn't obtained the Rookie title this time, the future would have been tough.
Because as the grade increased, the speed at which proficiency rose would conversely slow down.
…It wasn't for nothing that I failed to adjust the difficulty and couldn't reach the ending.
“Sigh.”
I blew away my distracting thoughts with a sigh.
Still, things were going well with the traits I created, so I'd be able to manage somehow in the future.
The future was more important than the present.
First, I thought about the market that would be available to me from now on.
The structure of the market was easy to imagine if one thought of a department store.
‘Because it’s actually made like a department store.’
There were shops on each floor selling various goods.
Of course, the floor permitted to me now would be the lowest, but it had everything I needed.
Naturally, there were shops that sold potions, herbs, and swords like the ones I bought from the black market merchant.
Among them, what I needed most right now was.
Shing—
I drew my sword.
A hard, heavy sword in the shape of a Do(gentling curving single-edged blade).
When I touched the blade, I felt a small crack.
“…The edge is all chipped.”
The quality was excellent for the price, but it was not enough to withstand the Golem’s fist.
“I’ll have to get a decent sword first.”
I checked the pouch of mana stones the Orc had left me.
500 mana stones.
Even after deducting the mana stones used for treatment, I still had this much left.
Once I got the ‘Market Pass’, I would be able to get a usable sword right away.
‘I have the bullets….’
But I had no target to hit.
Well, if I was in a real hurry, I could call the black market merchant again, but it wasn't that urgent.
‘For now, I have no choice but to wait for the Orc.’
I got down on the floor and started doing push-ups.
When there was nothing to do, physical training was the best.
The reward the Orc would deliver.
It wouldn't be too late to decide on my future plans after receiving the Rookie benefits.
* * *
“Hahk!”
I devoted myself to physical training for two straight days.
As I was drenched in sweat and panting heavily, the Orc I had been waiting for arrived.
‘Finally!’
I raised my tired body to look up at him and saw him holding a box I had never seen before.
It was a box with quite luxurious-looking decorations that caught the eye.
“This is something from the Arena for setting a new record in the last match.”
“The reward for the last match? What about the Rookie benefits?”
“This is a combined reward for both the match and the Rookie benefits. They said they combined the two to give you something better.”
“…Bullshit.”
“What did you say?”
“Nothing. Let's check the reward first.”
I was supposed to receive two rewards, but only one came.
‘It better not be unsatisfactory.’
I first examined the box carefully.
The ivory-colored, smooth surface was impressive.
The red decorations on each corner of the box stood out.
The appearance passed, but what was important was the content.
“I heard it took quite some time to decide on the reward. It means the Arena is interested in you, who became a Rookie this time.”
“We'll see when I look.”
I opened the box without hesitation.
CLANK—
Inside the box was a small bottle of potion.
I had high hopes because the box was huge, but….
The contents felt more lackluster than I thought.
I narrowed my brow and muttered.
“Surely this isn't all, right?”
“I doubt a Potion of Physical Enhancement is something to be called ‘just’.”
“Potion of Physical Enhancement?”
I picked up the potion and examined it closely.
The Potion of Physical Enhancement I knew was red.
The potion before me was more of a pale pink than red.
Pink?
For a moment, my eyes widened slightly.
Could I be getting this already?
“…Is this by any chance a permanent enhancement potion?”
“That's right. It’s low-grade, but its effect is permanent.”
I was almost disappointed by the excessive packaging that rivaled nitrogen-filled snack bags, but not anymore.
The permanent Potion of Physical Enhancement, something I had expected to get only when I reached the Silver matches.
I never imagined it would be handed to me like this.
I was human.
It seemed I wasn't the only one who felt that the physical abilities of humans were lacking.
I didn't know who it was, but there was someone among the Arena executives with a keen eye.
The record I set in the Trap Time Attack this time was that impressive.
“The reward is better than I expected.”
“Are you satisfied now?”
I nodded.
It seemed that what he said about combining the match reward and Rookie benefits to give me something better wasn't an empty promise.
I wanted to drink the potion before me right away, but I put it off for a while.
As it had a permanent effect, I knew all too well that the aftereffects of drinking it were no joke.
I could lose consciousness while my body was being enhanced.
‘No, I’ll definitely lose consciousness.’
I recalled the description of the potion in the game.
⌜(Permanent) Low-Grade Potion of Physical Enhancement—Permanently enhances the user’s body. Ingesting the potion is accompanied by excruciating pain.⌟
For a game character, it was a simple phrase that would just put them in a brief stun state.
A single line of simple setting that added detail to the game, but for me, it was a terrifying phrase.
I still didn't know how severe that ‘excruciating pain’ would be.
I calmed my excitement.
It wasn't that I was hesitating because I was scared of the pain.
There was still one more thing to receive.
“Take it.”
In the Orc’s outstretched hand was a small, copper-colored badge.
It was a badge that permitted entry to the market.
Now I could freely enter and leave the market.
As I was looking at the badge from different angles, the Orc spoke nonchalantly.
“You'll be able to enter the market now. Go and find the information guild, Lotus, first.”
“Lotus?”
“It's a Rookie privilege, so you'll know when you get there.”
A Rookie privilege?
Is there something else besides the box?
He said he had combined everything, but something kept coming up.
‘Well, I'll find out when I get there.’
I had received everything now.
Now all I had to do was drink the potion.
Gulp—
I swallowed and stared at the pink potion in my hand.
Feeling someone's gaze, I looked up and saw the Orc was still there.
“Do you have something to say?”
Is there still something left?
Change of lodging, match box, Rookie benefits, what else…
Nothing really came to mind.
The Orc uttered a single word.
“Name.”
It wasn’t like we were going to formally introduce ourselves at this point.
Probably.
“You’re telling me to pick a nickname, right?”
It meant I had to choose a unique gladiator nickname.
As if I had guessed correctly, the Orc nodded.
“That's right. I need a name to identify you.”
It seemed that from Rookie onwards, they would call me by a nickname instead of ‘human’.
‘What should I choose….’
I didn't have a name in mind.
It wasn't that important anyway.
“Make it Hyunwoo.”
“Hyunwoo?”
It would be an unfamiliar name here, but it would be easier to say than Kim Hyunwoo.
There was no grand reason for making my gladiator nickname my real name.
I just hoped not to forget my own existence within the game.
The Orc confirmed the nickname once more and nodded.
“Got it.”
I watched the departing Orc for a moment and opened my mouth.
I couldn't just keep calling him Orc.
“I told you my name, so you should tell me yours.”
“…Is that the human law?”
“What’s with being so grand as to call it law. It's basic courtesy.”
“Van-Grogue.”
“Alright, Van.”
“…Van is my surname.”
“I got it, Van.”
“……”
Van is easier to say, so what?
He stared at me for a moment before leaving the lodging.
Finally, I was alone.
“Now I really have to drink it, don't I…?”
I placed the pink potion in my hand.
At a glance, it looked like a peach-flavored drink.
POP—
The potion’s cap opened with a cheerful sound.
‘Just in one go.’
I downed it all at once.
A moment passed.
“Huh?”
I didn't feel anything special.
The description definitely said excruciating pain…
“Was I mistaken?”
The relief that I might have been mistaken because of an old memory was brief.
I soon found out how ridiculous that thought was.
“Keo, heok!”
My mind went blank from the sudden, overwhelming pain.
It felt like razor-sharp blades were being driven between every joint of my muscles.
Every part of my body that could feel pain screamed.
Was this the pain of muscles tearing and healing repeatedly?
“Keoheok!”
How much time had passed?
The hellish pain made me forget the flow of time.
A moment later, I pushed my twitching body up from the floor.
Ugh—
‘…That was horrible.’
Even though the pain had ended, the memory of the pain made my whole body tingle.
I recalled the setting for ‘Physical Enhancement’.
—The destruction and creation of muscles. Rapidly growing the body is accompanied by corresponding pain and side effects.
…That's right.
Blaming the uselessly detailed settings I had created was like spitting in my own face.
All I could do was sigh once and move on.
Curses rose up inside me, but I barely held them back.
‘I need to check if the potion's effect was applied properly.’
If the physical enhancement didn't apply properly after enduring such pain, I wouldn’t be able to close my eyes from the injustice.
⌜Name : Kim Hyunwoo
Title : Rookie
Skills :
■Sabla Swordsmanship(2-Star)―65%, □, ⊠
Innate Traits : Swordsmanship Synthesis, Master of Copy, Swordsmanship Genius
General Traits : PhysiqueⅠ(New!)⌟
A new trait, ‘PhysiqueⅠ’, had appeared in my status window.
⌜Trait : PhysiqueⅠ
Description : ‘A strong mind dwells in a strong body.’
You can use physical abilities comparable to low-grade Demon World residents. This is the first step to breaking free from human limitations.⌟
“The system confirms it was applied.”
Now it was time to check by moving my body directly.
I carefully lifted the cracked sword.
Ssk—
I carefully lifted the sword and first gauged its weight.
This sword, specialized for Sabla Swordsmanship, was quite heavy.
“This much is.”
But it felt light.
Before, I had to swing it with both hands, but now it felt like I could swing it with one hand, even if it would be difficult.
I lifted the sword with one hand.
Then I swung it widely in the air.
WHOOSH—
My stance was stable.
All I felt was a slight stiffness in my wrist.
My body had become noticeably stronger.
Holding the sword, a desire to swing it freely welled up.
‘I should hold back for now.’
500 mana stones was barely enough to get a new sword.
I might have to repair and use this sword, so I couldn't handle it recklessly in its cracked state.
In that sense, I now had something to do.
Unable to contain my itching hands, I went outside.
500 mana stones in my possession.
It was time to go shopping.