Chapter 6

So, the joint attack between Kang Joo-ho and Kim Seok-joo began. They were two people who had been teaming up for a long time. Although it wasn’t perfect because it was virtual reality, it was enough to make the stone fox stop whatever it’s doing.

Cling! Thud!

Soon the stone fox fell down with a powerless scream.

[Level up!]

“Wait. I leveled up.” Kang Joo-ho spoke to Kim Seok-joo as he saw the message. Then he opened the character window.

Character name: Kang Joo-ho

Nationality: Paraville Kingdom

Occupation: Beginner

Level: 7

EXP: 2%

Health: 1000

Mana: 200

Satiety: 77%

Power: 25

Agility: 10

Health: 20

Wisdom: 10

Bonus stats: 5

The bonus stat given when leveling up is 5. Currently, Kang Ju-ho was investing alternately in strength and stamina. And this turn was physical strength.

‘Let’s invest in strength.’

However, Kang Joo-ho invested all his bonus stats in his strength. Not a single one was hit in the battle a while ago. And even if it was correct, it could withstand enough life if it was 1000. Investing in power and catching it quickly was a situation that helped the pace of growth. If you haven’t invested now, you can invest later.

Kang Joo-ho, who closed the character window, checked the drop window.

+1 stone fox claw

The dropped item was the material item ‘Stone Fox’s Claw’, which was the most expensive item among the items dropped by the Stone Fox.

When will it open? Kang Joo-ho, who finished looting by pressing OK, tried to remember if the auction house has already benn opened to the players. As far as he could recall, it has not been opened yet. In other words, it was impossible to trade yet. But it could be possible if one uses an external trading site.

However, Kang Joo-ho had no intention of using the trading site. There were a lot of scams, and the transaction method was too cumbersome. Instead, one could use someone to make a purchase, but the auction house would open through an update two weeks later anyway.

Money wouldn’t be pouring in for two weeks, but Kang Joo-ho decided to wait.

“Hyung, should I stay still?”

“…?” Joo-ho gave Seok-joo a puzzled look.

“They’re all on the alert.”

“Ah…” He soon was able to understand Kim Seok-joo’s words. If they stay still, they would be safe. However, that means they wouldn’t be able to participate in battle; thus entering the ‘watch’ state.

In the alert state, monsters take a turn only with an attack motion. Only magic could preempt the state of alert.

The stone foxes in the vicinity were already on alert and staring at Kang Joo-ho and Kim Seok-joo. If they attack in the current situation, numerous stone foxes will rush to them. No matter how good and powerful they were, it was impossible to deal with such a large number of monsters simultaneously.

“Go.” Kang Joo-ho signaled to Seok-joo and took the lead.

Fortunately, the defenses of the stone foxes were not high, and as they took a step closer, the critical hit chance became higher. After more steps, the defenses of all the stone foxes were decreased, and Kang Joo-ho stopped walking.

“Let’s go like before.” Kang Joo-ho told Seok-joo. Then going unnoticed, he slowly approached a sleeping stone fox in front of him

“Yeah!”

The moment he heard Kim Seok-joo’s answer, Kang Joo-ho swung his iron sword.

Shing!

The stone fox, who was sleeping quietly, was amazed by the sudden attack and woke up.

Splat!

Meanwhile, the iron sword burst again.

Waking up and realizing that it was being attacked, the stone fox quickly stepped back to understand the situation. And looking at Kang Joo-ho, it revealed its teeth. However, it did not attack with its teeth. The stone fox jumped and swung its front paws.

Kang Joo-ho stepped back and swung his iron sword.

Cling!

The stone fox’s attack was blocked by Kang Joo-ho’s iron sword, and Kim Seok-joo joined in the battle, after waiting for the perfect time to jump in.

Splat! Splat!

Like the first stone fox, who died in a joint attack between the two, it also died without a hit on its enemies.

* * *

Character name: Kang Joo-ho

Nationality: Paraville Kingdom

Occupation: Beginner

Level: 9

EXP: 97%

Health: 1000

Mana: 200

Satiety: 51%

Force: 40

Agility: 10

Health: 20

Wisdom: 10

“If I catch it, I can finally level up to level 10!” Kang Joo-ho said, who was looking at the character window. He was referring to a stone fox he saw in front of Kim Seok-joo.

Currently, Kang Joo-ho’s experience is 97%, so if he could catch one more, he would be able to reach level 10 and change his job.

“Go.” Kang Joo-ho, who closed the character window, took the lead as he always did.

Upon enough distance, he swung his iron sword at the stone fox. When Kang Joo-ho’s attack hit three times, Kim Seok-joo, who was waiting, joined the battle.

At first, there were little flaws in the joint venture, for they were playing in the VR version now. However, after several battles, the flaws gradually disappeared. They became a perfect duo.

Cling! Thud!

[Level up!]

Soon, the stone fox fell and a level-up message appeared.

“That was kind of a hard time!” Kim Seok-joo exclaimed.

“Good job,” Kang Joo-ho answered the cry with a smile.

Now it was the time to change jobs. Kang Joo-ho and Kim Seok-joo came out of the Stone Fox Forest and returned to the city of Billeme.

* * *

“Ah, please! Stop stealing!”

“That bitch! I’ll kill him!”

“Hey, be patient. You were almost killed by the guard. Did you forget that you can’t log in 24 hours after you die?”

“Uh-oh!”

The west gate was still crowded with numerous players. Watching players competing for rabbits, Kin Seok-joo said “I think there are more players than before!”

Earlier, an average of three players were unto one rabbit. But now, about five or six were trying to catch the same one.

Kang Joo-ho replied, “Because it’s peak hours. A lot of players had just finished their work or school during these hours.”

Joo-ho knew that if the number of players increases in the future, it will not increase or decrease, and ten people might run into one rabbit.

If Paraville continues to be this crowded… Kang Joo-ho thought while walking past the other players.

Paraville Kingdom had a higher level of difficulty than others, and had fewer starting players. So why and how is it so crowded? Soon enough ten people would be trying to fight over one rabbit. I have to ask later.

It was only two members who chose the kingdom of Paraville, Kang Joo-ho and Kim Seok-joo. Other members of the Immortal Guild began in the Vilenian Empire, the Keville Empire, and the Rera Kingdom. Who knows how many players are there right now.

Kang Joo-ho and Kim Seok-joo, who entered the city, took a walk towards the Production street.

“You’re going to catch a stone fox again by 20, right?” Kim Seok-joo asked.

Kang Joo-ho nodded to Kim Seok-joo’s question. “That’s right, because you need skills first.”

The top monsters before the stone fox that are based on the area around Billeme were slimes and dolphins. But it was very inefficient to catch and hunt for now. Efficient hunting would be possible only when a player reaches level 20 when skills become available to learn.

“Before then, I need to change my job and then we’ll meet at the Stone Fox Forest again!”

Kang Joo-ho was able to change his job in the Production Street, but Kim Seok-joo, the enchanter, had to go to the Magic Street.

It was time to part ways.

“So, see you later!” Joo-ho said.

“Yeah! Good bye!” Kim Seok-joo replied to Kang Joo-ho’s farewell and ran away towards the magical street.

After Kim Seok-joo disappeared, Kang Joo-ho began to follow the mini-map towards the smithy where the blacksmith NPC was located. After a while, Kang Joo-ho was able to reach his destination.

[You entered Toven’s Forge.]

Whether there were no players who have yet to reach the required level to visit the forge, or there was no player who plans to change their job into a blacksmith, there was not even one player in the smithy.

“Hello.” Kang Joo-ho approached and said hello to the blacksmith NPC Toven, who was sleeping in a chair.

“…!” Toven flinched at Kang Joo-ho’s voice, and then opened his mouth for a laugh. “Huh huh, hello. You are an adventurer! Are you here to become a blacksmith?”

“Yes, here is a letter of recommendation.” Kang Joo-ho nodded to Toven’s question and handed him a job recommendation letter from his inventory.

Toven, who received the recommendation letter and confirmed it, smiled and opened his mouth.  “Congratulations on becoming a blacksmith. We sincerely welcome you.”

And the moment Toven’s words were over, a message appeared.

[You have changed your job as a blacksmith.]

[You have acquired the skill ‘Blacksmith’s Soul’.]

No required quests? Kang Joo-ho was surprised to see the message. In the PC version of Earth, there were different job quests for each job. So, of course, I thought there would be a job change quest, but he was surprised to be able to change jobs that quickly.

Kang Joo-ho, who was thinking of investing an hour to two hours for his job quest, smiled wide at the thought of saving his time.

“This here is a little gift for you,” Toven said as he held out the hammer.

“Thank you, ” Kang Joo-ho expressed his gratitude and received the hammer.

“Would you like to refine some minerals?” Toven asked, “I will prepare the forge.”

In addition to hunting, the blacksmith could gain experience by refining minerals and making equipment. And immediately after the job change, the experience gained from mineral refining was much higher than the hunting experience, so refining minerals was good for growth. But he wasn’t alone now. Kim Seok-joo was also likely to have no job quest, and it was better to grow up with a party hunt than to raise the level alone.

“Yes, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask away,” Toven informed Joo-ho, but Joo-ho just shook his head saying no.

“Ok, please come again!” Toven said goodbye. Kang Joo-ho came out of the smithy after his farewell.

While walking to the west gate, he sent Kim Seok-joo a message.

[Kang Joo-ho]: Seok-joo, the job change is over. There were job change quests

[Kim Seok-joo]: Yes? Really?

[Kang Joo-ho]: Yes, there were no other blacksmiths in the smithy. How about you?

[Kim Seok-jo]: I just arrived, wait.

Kang Joo-ho opened the skill window while waiting for Kim Seok-joo’s message. He took a look at  the skill ‘Blacksmith’s Soul’ that he learned while changing his job as a blacksmith.

<Blacksmith’s Soul [Passive]>

Proficiency: 1 (0%)

1. Increases the probability of success when making equipment.

2. If production is successful, additional features are given to the equipment.

He learned that the blacksmith’s soul was a passive skill related to equipment production. Kang Joo-ho closed the skill window and checked the information of the hammer.

<Apprentice Blacksmith’s Wire Hammer [Normal]>

Limits: Blacksmith, Level 10, Strength 30

Durability: 100%

Physical Attack: 50

“Better than an iron sword.”

The old iron sword’s attack power was 20. Its attack range was better, but considering the attack power, it would be better to hunt with a wire hammer. So Kang Joo-ho immediately opened the equipment window and replaced the iron sword with the hammer. Then he clicked the weapon button to summon the iron hammer and started swinging it back and forth.

It was then.

[Kim Seok-joo]: Hyung, my job change is over.

[Kim Seok-joo]: Where are you?

He received a message from Kim Seok-joo. Kang Joo-ho responded to it.

[Kang Joo-ho]: I’m going to the forest.

[Kang Joo-ho]: I’ll be there first.

[Kim Seok-joo]: No, I’ll be there first. *laugh emoji*