Chapter 14: Although I’m Laughing, I’m Not Really Laughing Inside

Chapter 14: Although I’m Laughing, I’m Not Really Laughing Inside

In just a few days, Kai became a notable figure in Frica Village. His Benevolence stat increased by 2 over the past two days, reaching a total of 33.

After spending several hours treating the residents without any further increase in his Benevolence stat, it seemed that endlessly accumulating Benevolence points in this manner was not possible.

And my face has become too well-known now.

Now, not only the NPCs but also the players who used Frica Village as their base recognized Kai's face after being drawn by the residents' praises of him.

Kai sighed, “Anyway, it's finally over."

Having safely completed his day's business, Kai walked the streets with a light heart. Today marked the seventh day since Maxim had promised, so he intended to visit the blacksmith.

As Kai walked, friendly voices from NPCs greeted him from all sides.

"Kai! I'll leave some apples for you to pick up later!"

"Stop by the bar after hunting! I'll treat you to a cold beer! Hahaha!"

All of them had received treatment from Kai. Their increased affinity made such interactions possible.

"Haha, did your shoulder loosen up?"

"How's your sprained ankle?"

"Indigestion can't be perfectly cured with Heal, so stick to easily digestible foods like soup for a while."

Kai didn’t ignore the NPCs and greeted each one in return.

If every service worker in the world was like me, the world would be a slightly better place.

Shaking his head at the thought of world peace, Kai arrived at the blacksmith.

Phew. Why am I so nervous?

He didn't have high expectations for the completed set items and weapons. Helmet, shoulder armor, top, bottom, shoes—typically, these five pieces of equipment were classified as a set item, and some sets included special parts.

Based on my visit to the auction house yesterday, the most recently traded Red Gnoll set was 95 gold for five parts.

Despite the absurd price nearing 10 million won in cash, the Red Gnoll set was so scarce that it couldn't be purchased.

"God, Buddha, Helik, Mom, Noona, and...who am I missing? My twelfth-grade homeroom teacher?"

Kai closed his eyes tightly and prayed to them.

Please let this be a jackpot.

At the same moment he opened his eyes, he vigorously knocked on the blacksmith's door.

"Come in."

As he entered, the same heat as before hit his face, but this time it didn't feel as hot due to his nervousness.

"I came because you said to return in a week."

"All the items are finished."

Maxim went into his room and emerged with two heavy boxes.

Thud, thud.

He placed the boxes on the workbench and said with a satisfied expression, "Open them."

Swallowing hard, Kai nervously touched the large box.

[Would you like to open the Black Gnoll Armor box?]

There was only one downside to the set item. Once the box was opened, the item became non-tradable.

But that's okay. Right now, defeating the Wyrm Lizard is the priority, so I need a spec upgrade.

Moreover, set items that became non-tradable could be made tradable again through an item called Witch's Breath. Of course, that too involved money.

After taking a short breath, Kai said, "Open item."

Ding!

[Black Gnoll Helmet acquired.]

[Black Gnoll Shoulder Armor acquired.]

[Black Gnoll Armor acquired.]

[Black Gnoll Pants acquired.]

[Black Gnoll Belt acquired.]

[Black Gnoll Boots acquired.]

Kai began to slowly read the description of the items.

[Black Gnoll Helmet]

Grade: Magic (Set)

Defense: 206

Magical Defense: 178

Requirements: Level 50 and above

Durability: 100/100

[Black Gnoll Shoulder Armor]

Grade: Magic (Set)

Defense: 175

Magical Defense: 158

Requirements: Level 50 and above

Durability: 100/100

Requirements: Level 53 and above.

Durability: 100/100

The description was disappointingly simple. But as someone who favored turtlenecks once said, simplicity was the ultimate sophistication. That statement proved correct once again.

A... a rare item!

Nothing more needed to be said. Items with basic abilities maximized like this were preferred over those with various minor abilities attached.

"Really... Thank you so much." Without realizing it, Kai grasped Maxim's thick hand and shook it vigorously. "I really like them. How did you create such items with such fine...manly hands!"

"Hahaha. Glad you like them. Actually, I had fun making that gear too. It was the first time I worked with those materials, so it really brought out my spirit of challenge." Maxim patted Kai's shoulder and chuckled. "I heard from my wife, who had been suffering from back pain, that she received treatment from you. That's why I took extra care in making them."

"Oh...!"

Kai had not expected the good deeds he had performed to increase his Benevolence stat to come back to him in this way!

Kai nodded, smiling with gratitude, "Then, I'll be sure to ask for your help again in the future."

"Anytime, just leave it to me." Maxim laughed heartily in response.

***

Leaving the village, Kai immediately sat on a rock at the desolate foot of a mountain, then stared at his inventory and sighed, "Why am I so nervous about this?"

Just looking at the Armor of the Undead set made his heart race.

"Open inventory."

Kai began to take out and wear each piece of equipment one by one. It was the first time in his life wearing a set item.

As he wore all six pieces of armor, filled with excitement, a message appeared.

Ding!

[You have equipped all pieces of the Armor of the Undead gear.]

[Set options are activated.]

[All stats increased by +6.]

[Casting time reduced by 30%.]

[Skill cooldown reduced by 9%.]

[Damage received reduced by 3%.]

"Expensive goods are indeed better."

Kai could understand why people were crazy about good items. Just by changing his equipment, he felt lighter, and his whole body overflowed with energy.

Kai then equipped the Skull Crusher of Darkness and checked his stats window.

[Kai]

Class: Solaris Cleric

Level: 54

Title: Envoy of God

HP: 13,300

Holy Power: 21,500

Stats

Strength: 65 Stamina: 133

Intelligence: 60 Agility: 60

Holiness: 215 Benevolences: 33

Remaining points: 40

Casting Time -30%

Skill Cooldown –9%

Damage Received -3%

"This is the power of a set item...." Kai muttered in a forlorn voice.

It felt not as if he had put on the items, but as if the items had put him on.

When was the last time I indulged in such luxury?

Kai's family was far from poor. His parents each ran a company, making them an entrepreneur couple. However, with the goal of fostering independence, they had cut off their children’s allowance after high school. Even his sister, Han Ji-Hye, had secured a job with her own efforts and was learning the ropes at a company that wasn’t affiliated with their family.

I've heard that children of silver-spoon families wear watches worth millions and suits worth tens of thousands of dollars... but that was always a story far from my reality.

Technically, Kai belonged to the silver spoon category, but due to his parents' firm educational policy, he grew up no differently from anyone else.

Even my stats have significantly increased.

His stats boosted after equipping the Skull Crusher of Darkness and the Armor of the Undead set! It was a situation that proved the equipment in MID Online truly was worth the money.

"View mode."

As he spoke the command, a mirror visible only to him appeared around him. Standing up and looking at himself from various angles, his expression became complicated.

Well, it does look cool but....

The important thing was, no matter how he looked, he didn’t look like a Cleric. In fact, he looked more like a Warrior than a Cleric! It was because the Armor of the Undead set wasn't a robe but rather light armor made of bones.

"Well, it doesn't matter, does it?”

After all, Kai was practical by nature. As long as the performance was good, he didn't care much about the appearance of the items.

"With this spec... it's possible."

He referred to the hunt for the Wyrm Lizard.