Chapter 66: No.388 Feathered Serpent Altar (5)

Chapter 66: No.388 Feathered Serpent Altar (5)

Flash!

Our vision was momentarily engulfed in white as if a flashbang had gone off.

Even after the light faded away, Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in remained dazed for a while.

Such occurrences were exceedingly rare so I too found myself slightly taken aback.

I gathered my wits and checked to see what kind of item had appeared.

It was a large cushion with a simple design.

Unfortunately, it was another daily life item just like the wooden cup Go Hyeon-woo had just drawn.

However, the rank of this daily life item was no ordinary matter.

[Feather Cushion (B)]

A cushion, of all things is ranked B?

While its possible for C and B-rank items to emerge from a D-rank random box, the chances are so slim that theyre practically negligible.

Yet Seo Ye-in actually did overcome those miraculous odds to draw this cushion.

The B rank was typically reserved for items worn by third-year students and is precious items such as the [Invisible Ghillie Suit] that Seo Ye-in used or the [Cloudstepper] I received as a gift previously.

That such rare equipment shared its rank with the cushion meant its value was similarly significant.

As if to prove that fact, there were a lot of effects available.

[Feather Cushion (B)]

A cushion filled with feathers from an unknown mystical creature.

Accelerates fatigue recovery

Recovers from mental status ailments

Slight increase in resistance to mental status ailments with long-term use

.

.

The acceleration of fatigue recovery meant, in simple terms, that one hour of sleep could alleviate two hours worth of fatigue.

The benefits of recovery from and increased resistance to mental ailments were also very good.

Moreover, it offered numerous beneficial effects to aid a good nights sleep, such as alleviating insomnia and easing neck disc problems.

Judging solely by its performance, it was comparable to equipment dropped in deep dungeons, but

Its a shame its something you only use when sleeping.

The effects of daily life items were geared towards facilitating a comfortable and affluent lifestyle.

Being someone who prioritizes combat and growth and is obsessed with extreme efficiency, I found about half of these features somewhat unnecessary.

Given that I spent most of my free time at the training center, there was little use for a cushion in my routine.

Of course, even considering only the combat and growth-related features, it would be somewhat beneficial.

However, it seemed more practical to sell it and secure other items instead.

A B-rank daily life item would likely attract many buyers.

I wonder if I should hand it over to the errand center, or perhaps put it up for auction.

While I was pondering over various options, my gaze fell on Seo Ye-in.

She was intently staring at the cushion.

As always, her expression was unreadable but her gray eyes sparkled with interest.

It was clear that she really wanted it.

Do you want it?

When I asked, she immediately nodded her head in confirmation.

Normally, her reactions tend to be a half-beat delayed but this immediate response was a first.

Was this the power of the cushion?

Setting aside emotional aspects like were friends, after all, I tapped into my mental calculator to weigh my options.

The most pressing question at the moment was:

Would it be better to sell it?

Or should I give it to her?

Perhaps giving it to her might be the better choice.

I had no way of knowing exactly how much Seo Ye-in slept each day, but it was clear she needed a lot of rest.

Using the cushions fatigue recovery acceleration feature could significantly reduce her resting time.

If her rest became more efficient, she would naturally have more waking hours, which, in the grand scheme of things, could lead to increased training time.

Of course, there was also a definite possibility that the outcome might not meet my expectations.

Still, its worth a shot.

Considering the potential time saved if successful, it seemed like a fair trade to part with a B-rank daily life item.

Having thought this through, I subtly pushed the cushion towards Seo Ye-in.

Alright, its yours.

Really?This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

When I readily offered it, she seemed incredulous as if she couldnt believe I was giving it to her or perhaps she wasnt accustomed to receiving things from others.

I took the cushion and firmly placed it into Seo Ye-ins arms.

The members of the thieves club hastily rose from their seats.

The girl with the tablet also attempted to leave but Dang Gyu-young called out to her.

Da-bin stays. Byeong-cheol as well.

The club room fell into sudden silence.

The shadowy hand kindly pulled out a chair for me.

Leaning comfortably in the chair, Dang Gyu-young cleared her throat softly and spoke.

Ahem, ahem, pay no mind to what was just said.

Yes, senior-nim.

Do give it some thought though.

Ill consider it.

When I responded vaguely, Dang Gyu-young pursed her lips.

Actually, Ive wanted to join the thieves club for a long time! Perhaps she wanted this kind of answer.

Of course, that was far from the truth.

Lets go straight to the main issue at hand.

Ive heard things have gotten complicated.

Yes, theres been a bit of a problem. An external issue.

Before delving into the specifics of dungeon strategies or fees, it was necessary to discuss whether she could take on my request.

And without addressing the external issue Dang Gyu-young mentioned, the request couldnt proceed.

If it was an external problem related to the underground levels, it was almost certainly about,

Bidding, I assume.

Thats right.

Is it an open bid, or a preferential bid?

Preferential bidding.

Bidding.

Once the core of an underground dungeon is destroyed, it becomes inaccessible until it regenerates over time.

A good example of this was when Go Hyeon-woo and I tackled the [Feathered Serpent Altar], after which the portal turned gray and was blocked.

Given this, the number of people who can challenge a specific dungeon within a certain period is limited, and theres always competition for dungeons that drop valuable rewards.

To manage this competition in an orderly manner, Dragon Slayer Academy introduced a bidding system.

This system collects data on the combat strength of bidding parties, their previous success rates in dungeon raids, and the expected duration of the raid, then assigns turns starting with the most suitable party.

This is the usual bidding process.

Each club holds a certain number of [Preferential Bidding Rights].

Just as using a [Crafting VIP Ticket] allows one to skip the queue and place a crafting request at the top of the list, using a preferential bidding right allows a party to ignore all conditions and gain the right to challenge the dungeon first.

And now, these preferential bidding rights are at stake for the [Black Death] dungeon.

The involvement of preferential bidding rights indicates that a particular club is exerting its influence over that dungeon.

And so what if I ignore this and just go in?

A conflict will arise.

A conflict was inevitable in this case.

For this reason, the client preferred to steer clear of such dungeons, and the thieves club had summoned me to gauge my intentions.

What will you do? Shall we look elsewhere?

However, the issue at hand was the pressing need for me to conquer the Black Death.

Specifically, it was about a particular reward that could be obtained only within the Black Death.

Waiting for another opportunity was problematic since dungeons filled with immense energy like deep dungeons, take a very long time to regenerate once their core is destroyed.

And the challenge of finding another dungeon offering similar rewards was far greater due to the higher difficulty levels.

So, I expressed my willingness to even risk conflict with the opposing club.

No, I would prefer to proceed.

Dang Gyu-young slightly furrowed her brow.

So, despite there already being a bid, you want me to break through?

Yes, is that not possible?

While she generally preferred to avoid such situations, it wasnt impossible if the compensation was sufficient.

And I had already demonstrated that I had the means to pay her adequately.

Yet, Dang Gyu-young still seemed reluctant.

This implied one thing.

The force that had placed the bid was powerful enough to make even the thieves club hesitant.

I asked again,

Which club is it?

A big one.

I couldnt help but nod my head at Dang Gyu-youngs reply.

The swordsmanship club.

. A big one indeed