Chapter 22

I waited for an opportunity on a tree branch and dropped onto the Steel Ant passing below.

Thud.

The moment I plunged the blade of the Skull Staff into its weak spot.

[Critical Hit!]

[Deals 242 damage.]

[Deals insignificant damage.]

[Deals 9 damage.]

[Deals 16 damage.]

[Deals 12 damage.]

A critical damage of over 240 exploded.

Moreover, the weak spot damage, which was a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 11, greatly increased.

Now it was a minimum of 9 and a maximum of 17.

I could now kill Steel Ants much faster than before.

Kiri Riri…….

In an instant, the creature lost its strength and staggered.

I pulled out the blade and plunged it in again.

Another critical hit.

I dealt with it too easily.

“This is, really…….”

Of course, the experience points gained were also significantly reduced compared to the beginning.

My current level is 27.

This was the result of focusing solely on hunting for a week.

Should I leave this place soon?

I shook my head.

Still, this place would be the best until level 30.

Once I reach level 30, I can enter the general Dungeons and special Dungeons that I know the locations of.

Before entering, I’ll replace all my items and clear the general Dungeon while maintaining below 90% experience, then immediately enter the special Dungeon and level up to 32.

After that, I can hunt field monsters.

Only 3 more levels to go.

Of course, the process will be very tedious, but it can’t be helped.

Kieeee.

Muhyuk’s gaze turned.

Three Steel Ants appeared.

Muhyuk immediately rushed towards them.

He swerved to the side right in front of them and jumped from a point where their jaw attacks couldn’t reach.

Simultaneously, he climbed onto the back of one and plunged the blade of the Skull Staff into its weak spot.

He controlled the Sword Bone and Bow Bone to lure the remaining two.

Kirik, Kiririk!

The Skeletons weren’t easily defeated either.

Muhyuk leisurely gave commands and watched the situation.

[Deals 16 damage.]

[Deals 15 damage.]

Meanwhile, one Steel Ant was going berserk because its weak spot had been struck.

It even attacked its own kind. This was good for Muhyuk.

How many minutes had passed?

The Steel Ant slumped powerlessly.

To ensure its death, I attacked the same spot again.

A critical hit occurred, and my experience increased.

Muhyuk got off its back and rushed towards another Steel Ant.

Similarly, he climbed onto its back, plunged the blade into its weak spot, and endured.

It didn’t last long before it died.

Dealing with the last one was really easy.

There was no tension.

Leveling up is definitely easy.

That part is good, but I couldn’t deny that the tension was lower than when I caught wolves.

Wolves or bears were more fun.

While I was lost in thought, my Mana was fully charged.

I started hunting again.

Repetitive battles continued.

Another week passed.

[Level Up!]

I finally reached the target level of 30.

“Haa.”

The tedious hunting was over.

I took off my helmet and raised my head. The sky seen through the leaves was truly blue.

From now on, should I stop hunting creatures whose weaknesses I know?

I even had such thoughts.

The bloody battles with wolves or bears that I hunted in the beginning were more memorable.

When facing those creatures, there was thrill.

Extreme tension and the joy of catching them.

First, let’s get ready.

It was time to return to the kingdom.

I put on my helmet and turned my body.

Hmm……?

At that moment, a strange sense of unease swept through my whole body.

I quietly scanned the surroundings.

Come to think of it…….

Since when have I not seen a single user?

At first, I intentionally hunted in places where there were no users.

I had to be careful to avoid the gaze of guild members.

But now, I couldn’t find any users secretly hunting.

Is something going on?

I pondered for a moment and shook my head.

Well, it’s not something I need to worry about.

I achieved my goal of reaching level 30.

I was tired of even hearing the name Steel Ant.

I hurried my steps.

Thud.

I had to walk for over an hour, but it wasn’t boring.

From the moment I reached the Lizardman habitat, users hunting were swarming everywhere.

“Unseong, block!”

“Okay!”

“Heal me!”

“Got it!”

“Hey, attack!”

“I am!”

Passing through the Lizardman hunting grounds.

Going over the Orc village.

I reached the bear habitat.

There were even more users here. As the level of the hunting grounds decreased, the monsters were scarce, and the users were overflowing.

In the wolf forest, there was even competition for spots.

Passing through that place, crossing the meadow where rabbits appeared, I finally arrived at the kingdom.

Muhyuk visited the blacksmith for the first time in a while.

Entering the workshop, I found Luke wandering around.

He also found Muhyuk and approached with a welcoming expression.

“It’s been a while.”

“Yes.”

“Have you finished everything you had to do?”

“For now.”

“Heh, good. Follow me.”

Luke took a position in front of the workshop.

“I think I’ll be busy from tomorrow, so today I’m going to teach you how to make the armor I mentioned before. Watch carefully.”

“Ah, yes!”

Technical instruction as soon as I arrived.

This must be his way of showing affection.

Thud.

Luke placed Iron ore on the iron plate.

“Are you watching?”

“Of course.”

“Don’t take your eyes off.”

“Yes.”

Only then did he raise the hammer.

Whoong.

With the sound of cutting through the air, the hammer fell and struck the ore.

Then, the Iron ore began to spread thinly.

Originally, it should be heated in a furnace, but that process was omitted because it was a game.

After making several ores thin, he placed Iron ore on the left and right of them.

He placed the thinly spread Iron ore on top of the intact Iron ore.

“Huuup!”

He swung the hammer mainly on the left and right sides.

Tang! Tang!

A shape that would cover the shoulders and waist appeared, and before I knew it, a decent piece of armor was made.

“I just made a simple top. What do you think?”

It was simpler than I thought because it was a game.

“I think I can do it.”

“Try it.”

“Yes.”

Muhyuk took the hammer and created a piece of armor in the same way as Luke had just shown.

Thanks to that, one of the stagnant crafting skill levels rose.

[Crafting skill level has increased.]

[Dexterity (1) has increased.]

This made my crafting level 4.

It’s a bit disappointing, but…….

Still, it’s a time when I get 2 stats each.

The usage restriction is a bonus.

Luke approached and examined the armor.

“Not bad. I’ve taught you everything with this, so the rest depends on how hard you work. Wherever you go, don’t forget that fact.”

Honestly, there’s no suitable place to hunt here.

It was time to head to another kingdom, settle there, and grow.

Luke seemed to sense that fact as well.

“Thank you.”

“I’m busy, so get to work.”

“Yes.”

Luke, who was moving away, suddenly stopped.

“You’ll be focusing on traveling now, right?”

“Probably…….”

“Still, drop by from time to time when you have time.”

Leaving those words, Luke left the workshop.

Muhyuk, who felt a strange emotion, shook his head.

I’ll be visiting often anyway.

With that thought, he looked at the workshop.

Armor crafting.

Should I make a few more?

It was quite fun.

Swish.

The hesitation was short. Before I knew it, Muhyuk had taken his place and was holding the hammer, striking the Iron ore.

Tang!

The sound echoed loudly.

[Aligned the grain.]

[Progress (3.7 percent) has increased.]

Was it thanks to the increased strength?

The amount of progress increased even more.

In an instant, one Iron ore was thinly spread.

He placed another Iron ore and made thin iron in the same way.

Before long, a piece of armor was made. Muhyuk smiled contentedly and checked the options.

[Solid Armor (Top)]

Defense 11

HP+1

Durability 90/90

The defense was quite decent.

It also had HP.

Luckily, one option was attached.

It seemed that the probability of attaching an option had increased slightly thanks to the increased skill level and strength.

“Hoo.”

With admiration, Muhyuk began to make another piece of armor.

Tang, Tang!

This time, it didn’t take 10 minutes to create a piece of armor.

But the defense was 9, and no options were attached.

Feeling greedy for no reason, Muhyuk made armor again.

Failure, failure, and more failure.

In the end, he stopped after making five pieces of armor.

Except for the first armor, all of them had no options attached.

“Tsk…….”

Just one more sword.

With that thought, he placed one Iron ore.

“Huu.”

With a deep breath, he struck the grain.

[Aligned the grain accurately.]

[Progress is applied twice.]

[Progress (7.2 percent) has increased.]

At that moment, Muhyuk’s eyes widened.

A progress increase of twice as much was achieved.

He stopped his hand at the first experience of this phenomenon.

So this is what it was.

I knew that when the skill level reached 4, 2 stats would be attached.

Perhaps it was related to the double progress that had just appeared.

I checked the message again.

The word “accurately” caught my eye.

A kind of critical hit.

One more time…….

Concentrating, I struck again.

[Aligned the grain.]

[Progress (3.4 percent) has increased.]

[Bonus progress (0.1 percent) has increased.]

This time, there was no word “accurately.”

“Huuup…….”

After taking a deep breath, I struck again.

Twice, three times, ten times.

But that same phenomenon did not occur again.

In the end, a sword was completed, and Muhyuk couldn’t hide his disappointed expression as he checked the sword’s performance.

Item information.

Then, a hologram appeared.

[Twilight Longsword]

Attack Power 33

Strength+1

Agility+1

Durability 110/110

Usage Restriction: Strength 22, Agility 13

The attack power was 33, and it had 2 stats.

Good!

It was a decent sword that appeared after a long time.

It was at a level that could be used comfortably until the mid to late 30s.

The usage restriction was annoying, but it was still very good.

Thanks to that, my motivation surged.

Let’s make a few more.

Muhyuk was so focused on weapon crafting that he forgot about the passage of time.