Chapter 29

The place for the test was Kiku Village in the Hamma Kingdom.

Before departing, I organized my inventory.

[1,020 Gold 27 Silver 39 Bronze]

The Gold was less than I thought.

I checked the auction house system.

[Poison of Slowing]

A new poison created with Molly and Creas’s mixture, including a special additive. It slows the body upon contact.

[Instant Sale Price: 99 Silver]

[Minimum Order Quantity: 10]

[Currently Sold Quantity: 612]

[Remaining Quantity: 388]

[Poison of Hallucination]

A new poison created with Molly, Creas, and Vir’s mixture, including a special additive. It causes hallucinations and continuous damage upon contact. However, it is not applied if a certain amount of HP is reduced.

[Instant Sale Price: 99 Silver]

[Minimum Order Quantity: 10]

[Currently Sold Quantity: 531]

[Remaining Quantity: 469]

Only a little over half was sold.

That’s it?

I checked other prices.

They were around 70 Silver each.

“Haa…”

Since the market price had dropped, Muhyuk had no choice but to significantly lower the price per item.

At this rate, it might even drop to 50 Silver.

Then there’s really almost nothing left.

It’s much better to hunt and level up during that time.

Or use other information.

Slowing and hallucination end here.

But one thing remains.

Selling information.

Of course, I plan to proceed after all the poison is sold.

[‘Poison of Hallucination (x50)’ is sold.]

[’30 Gold’ is acquired.]

[‘Poison of Slowing (x100)’ is sold.]

[’60 Gold’ is acquired.]

Was it thanks to lowering the price to 60 Silver each?

The items sold quickly.

In the meantime, I arrived at the general store.

“Welcome.”

There, I bought a large quantity of Slowness Potions and Tears of Confusion.

I immediately stopped by the herbalist and bought Molly, Creas, and Vir.

Thanks to that, all I had left was 10 Gold.

Hoo, I hope I don’t go broke.

If things go as planned, I will definitely make a profit.

Still, I’m a little uneasy.

I shook my head.

Yes, let’s do it.

I quickly logged out and accessed the Illusion homepage to browse the paid information section.

Poison of Slowing. Poison of Hallucination.

I searched, but nothing came up.

Fortunately, no one has posted about the mixing ratio and additives yet.

I thought there would be one or two.

This means I can monopolize it.

I quickly wrote the posts.

[Title: Mixing Ratio and Additives for Poison of Slowing.]

[Content: Many people are curious about the Poison of Slowing, so I will reveal the mixing ratio and additives that I struggled to find. First, the items needed for the Poison of Slowing are…]

[Title: Mixing Ratio and Additives for Poison of Hallucination.]

[Content: Many people are curious about the Poison of Hallucination, so I will reveal the mixing ratio and additives that I struggled to find. First, the items needed for the Poison of Hallucination are…]

Now all I have to do is upload them.

100 won per post.

Users have to pay that amount on the Illusion homepage to view this information.

10 percent of the incoming amount is taken as maintenance or commission for the Illusion homepage, and 50 percent is taken by the Illusion company.

The remaining 40 percent goes to Muhyuk.

It can be seen as stingy, but the number of users using Illusion is so large that if it is accurate information, you can expect a decent profit.

Please sell a lot.

I pressed confirm.

Tting.

The post was uploaded.

Muhyuk, who had reconnected to Illusion, steadily moved towards Kiku Village.

A small village was visible in the distance.

This is it.

Kiku Village was desolate.

There were hardly any people.

Most of the people there were NPCs.

You could tell just by looking at their clothes.

I approached a passing young man.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes?”

“Where is the Village Chief’s house?”

“Ah, it’s the one you see in the center.”

“Thank you.”

I could find it at a glance.

Because it was the most dilapidated place.

Anyway, I stopped in front of that shabby house.

“Excuse me. Is the Village Chief there?”

“Cough, cough…”

The door opened, revealing the Village Chief. He looked as old as his cough sounded.

“Who is this visitor…”

“Ah, I heard there is a test site here.”

The Village Chief’s expression changed.

“A test site… you say?”

“Yes.”

“Can you tell me the exact name?”

“I’m looking for Groian’s Test Site.”

“Ah…”

The Village Chief’s pupils shook.

He closed his eyes.

“So, you’ve finally come…”

It wasn’t something I could reply to.

I waited quietly.

“Ah, I showed you an unsightly appearance. Please follow me this way.”

“It’s okay.”

The old man smiled and came out of the room.

“Please follow me this way.”

“Yes.”

I left the village with him.

We walked along a forest path where there was no road.

After a while, an empty lot appeared.

“This is the place.”

“Hmm.”

The old man headed to the stone wall on the right side of the empty lot and began to touch something.

Then, the central floor went down, creating stairs.

“You can go down.”

“Thank you.”

After greeting him, Muhyuk went down the stairs.

The old man, watching his figure, murmured in a low voice.

“I hope this will end my karma…”

And then he touched the stone wall again.

Grrr.

With a sound, the stairs disappeared.

Meanwhile.

Muhyuk’s eyes widened as he descended the stairs.

“Hoo…”

The walls were made of iron on all sides.

The center looked like a training ground, and in the middle stood a statue wearing armor.

The moment I stepped onto the training ground, a message popped up.

[You have discovered ‘Groian’s Test Site’.]

[Checking ‘Test Qualification’.]

[‘Groian’s Ring’ is reacting.]

At that moment, light burst from the ring and enveloped the statue in the center.

It was at that moment that the frozen statue opened its eyes.

[You who possess Groian’s relic.]

A strange voice echoed.

[I will test your qualifications. Will you accept?]

I answered the question.

“Of course.”

Then, this time, light burst from Muhyuk’s body and wrapped around the statue.

[Checking your ‘Level (31)’.]

[The statue is adjusted to the same level.]

[Items cannot be used.]

[Skills are sealed.]

[A sword and shield with no abilities are given.]

This is it.

The fact that the level is adjusted to the opponent’s level was the only loophole hidden in Groian’s test.

Not being able to use items and skills is a big disadvantage.

But Muhyuk’s skills are all about summoning.

Besides, even without items, his pure stats were Strength 27, Dexterity 12, Stamina 13, Knowledge 14, and Wisdom 14.

He mainly raised Strength for crafting, but considering he was level 31, Dexterity and Stamina were by no means low.

Excluding Knowledge and Wisdom, the sum of his total stats was a whopping 52.

Even if you subtract 3 stats each for the basic stats, it’s 43.

If the statue’s level was adjusted to level 31, it would have 30 stats as a bonus.

Unless the basic stats are overwhelmingly high, it’s an impossible fight to lose.

[Prove your worth.]

The statue kicked off the ground.

The sword and shield in the statue’s hand came closer.

Dexterity is higher than mine.

But Muhyuk had high Strength stats.

The reaction was a little late, but after blocking the attack with the temporarily obtained shield, he strongly pushed the shield away just before the impact disappeared.

The statue staggered as it was pushed back by the force.

Not missing the gap, he stretched out his sword and slashed the statue’s leg.

Kagang!

Stones flew in all directions.

[Blocks enemy attack with shield.]

[Damage is reduced.]

[Successful attack.]

[Deals 66 damage.]

Finally, the damage appeared.

If it’s 66…

Currently, Muhyuk’s Strength is 27.

That means the damage is 81.

Since 15 damage was reduced, it means the defense is 15, so the stamina is also 15.

At that moment, the statue swung its sword again.

This time, I didn’t block it with the shield.

The body was pushed back with a heavy impact sound.

[Takes 32 damage.]

Muhyuk’s current stamina is 13.

That means the defense is 13.

But since 32 came in, it means the statue’s damage is 45, which means the strength is 15.

Strength, Dexterity, and Stamina are all 15?

Dexterity and Stamina are similar, and Strength is overwhelmingly higher for Muhyuk, so if I fight as carefully as possible, I can’t help but win.

That’s why Muhyuk never attacked first.

After defending unconditionally, he stretched out his sword, aiming for a gap.

The repeated action continued.

How long did the boring fight last?

Grrr…

The statue’s movements slowed down.

Good!

I seized the opportunity.

I was momentarily excited and almost moved forward, but Muhyuk endured it again this time.

I wondered if there might be something I didn’t know about.

At that moment, as if lying, pure white light burst from the statue’s body.

I couldn’t use skills, so it wasn’t a skill.

But it was definitely a powerful explosion.

“Hoo…”

What if I had approached?

I would have been caught in that explosion and suffered considerable damage.

Thank goodness…

I waited for a while, relieved.

The dust that had risen due to the explosion disappeared, and the statue, which was in tatters, was visible.

Judging from the way its whole body was creaking, it had already lost its combat power.

Still, just in case, Muhyuk looked around, and when he couldn’t see anything to throw, he looked at the sword in his hand and nodded.

Looking up again at the statue, he took a stance.

Immediately after, he threw the sword hard, and the sword struck the statue.

Puck.

Then the statue shattered.

[You have passed ‘Groian’s Test’.]

A message popped up.

“Hua.”

With a sigh of relief, I approached the statue.

Something was visible between the broken statues.

A document?

The moment I picked it up, the ring I was wearing on my finger reacted.

[The ring and the document are reacting.]

[The power of the seal imbued in ‘Groian’s Ring’ and ‘Secret Document’ disappears.]

The series of messages made Muhyuk feel refreshed.

Muhyuk, who came out of the test site, checked the ring first.

[Groian’s Ring (Growth)]

Wisdom +7

Knowledge +3

MP (100)

MP Recovery Rate +20

Durability 100/100

Usage Restriction: Those who have passed Groian’s Test

It was an amazing option.

Increase in Knowledge and Wisdom.

Even an increase in MP and recovery rate.

It was truly an absolute ring for a mage.

But that’s not all.

Each time you match one more of Groian’s items, the ring’s options also get a little better.

In addition, since set options are added, it can be said to be the best item.

If only I could collect all of Groian’s items…

I swallowed my saliva without realizing it.

Gulp.

I checked the document with eyes blazing with desire.

[Secret Document]

It is presumed to be the place where Groian’s relics are hidden.

The explanation was short, and the picture was difficult.

Where is this…?

I turned the document this way and that.

But it was impossible to estimate the location based on the picture in the document alone.

After worrying for a while, I shook my head.

I can’t figure it out at all.

Suddenly, one person came to mind.

If it’s a librarian…

First of all, I decided to meet that person.

Since he was someone who knew about Groian’s relics, he would definitely be of some help.

With that thought, I hurried my steps.