MSGE 20

Chapter 20

[Beginner’s Wooden Bow +2]

Kang Hoon’s body, whoosh!

As soon as he passed through the bright light.

“!”

His vision completely changed.

The ground beneath his running shoes also.

Changed from soft grass to stone flooring.

A floor laid with white marble stretched out so wide and vast that the horizon was visible.

The sky was white like drawing paper.

“…Who poured white paint without making the background transparent?”

A world that made such words come out naturally.

If you used an eyedropper tool, everything in all directions would probably show #FFFFFF.

Kang Hoon was probably the only hunter who would make such evaluations about a dungeon.

Like that, looking around here and there.

Observing with the eyes of a former illustrator was only brief.

【 Searching your Gate entry records. 】 【 Search complete. 】 【 Welcome to your first Gate entry. 】

A status window caught Kang Hoon’s attention.

【 Proceeding to Tutorial Dungeon. According to Tutorial Dungeon rules, all weapons and equipment in your possession will be confiscated. 】

Tutorial Dungeons were fair to everyone.

No matter what weapons you brought, you couldn’t use them.

For armor too, you could only equip items provided by the dungeon itself.

As expected.

Not only the clothes Kang Hoon wore, but even his running shoes completely disappeared.

He was literally in his underwear.

“You strip me down this quickly?! This is embarrassing… Give me clothes quickly.”

As he held out both hands, a status window appeared with perfect timing.

As if responding to him.

【 Before entry, Normal grade items will be provided. Choose the weapon you will stake your life on. 】

In the blink of an eye, three items appeared before Kang Hoon’s nose.

First, Leather Gloves.

Second, Rusty Longsword.

Third, Wooden Bow.

It was exactly the development he had expected.

The problem, if anything, was that Normal grade items were more shabby than he thought.

“…Staking my life on this is a bit much.”

Muttering such loose jokes was only brief.

Kang Hoon chose the weapon he had at least handled for a month.

The bow.

At the same time, a wooden bow was placed in Kang Hoon’s palm.

A quiver was automatically equipped on his back.

“It’s really like a game.”

Maybe this thing called a Gate might be a game world.

“An RPG game that got mixed into a 【Sims】 world because the worldview collapsed?”

While having such idle thoughts.

The surrounding scenery around Kang Hoon completely changed.

Previously it was white, but now it was a grayscale world.

Even looking around quickly, everything was gray.

“Ugh, so gloomy.”

A straight cave surrounded by rock walls.

Lowering his head, Kang Hoon checked his outfit.

“…When did they dress me in this?”

In the blink of an eye, he was wearing an ordinary cotton t-shirt, brown pants, and dull-designed shoes.

“Okay. Level 0. I’m a beginner user, right?”

As he readjusted his grip on the bow.

Unexpectedly yet familiarly, a status window appeared before his eyes.

[Beginner’s Wooden Bow] : A normal bow for beginners, provided in tutorial difficulty dungeons. Has no special abilities whatsoever.

“Oh? I can see the information values of tutorial items too?”

Admiring was only brief.

Kang Hoon reached behind his back and touched the quiver.

[Infinite Quiver] : A normal quiver for beginners, provided in tutorial difficulty dungeons. Arrows are generated infinitely. Has no other special abilities.

Fumbling around, he also touched the cotton t-shirt he was wearing.

[Long-sleeve Cotton T-shirt (Black)] : Normal clothing for beginners, provided in tutorial difficulty dungeons. Has no special abilities whatsoever.

At that, Kang Hoon nodded his head.

“So it’s like this? They are items, but they really have no abilities at all.”

Just as he was about to head toward the straight cave.

Creak!

“Wait!”

He stopped.

Kang Hoon brought his feet to a halt.

And slowly blinked his eyes.

“I’m… an Enhancement Specialist, aren’t I?”

He stared intently at the wooden bow in his hand.

This place was inside a dungeon.

This object was not an ordinary thing but an ‘item’.

‘Can I use skills inside a dungeon too? If it’s a low-grade item with no abilities, would I be able to enhance it?’

There was only one way to resolve his curiosity.

“Enhancement!”

To directly try using the skill!

At the same time, wind blowing against his face!

The heat of a blazing furnace!

Simultaneously!

-Whoosh!

The refreshing feeling created by the hammer striking down with full force.

Clang!

This thrilling feeling of casting a skill.

It’s been so long!

Clang-!

Just from the refreshing feeling alone, Kang Hoon already knew. That this skill casting had succeeded!

Claaang-!!

“Huk!”

The weight of the wooden bow in his hand felt completely different.

Unlike before, it was light yet stuck perfectly to his palm.

Overwhelming grip!

“Wow…!”

Letting out an exclamation, Kang Hoon checked the Item Information value.

[Beginner’s Wooden Bow +1] : A normal arrow for beginners, provided in tutorial difficulty dungeons. However, special abilities have been granted through enhancement. * [Accuracy Rate Increase 15%]

“Oh!”

Just for a moment admiring the wonderful option that immediately appeared.

Kang Hoon shouted loudly once more.

“Let’s go! Enhancement!!”

Clang!

Clang!!

Claaang-!!

Then.

The already sufficiently impressive option disappeared.

And a new option filled its place!

[Beginner’s Wooden Bow +2] : A normal arrow for beginners, provided in tutorial difficulty dungeons. However, special abilities have been granted through enhancement. * [Perfect Accuracy]

“Huh?!”

Perfect Accuracy.

Literally meaning every shot hits its mark!

It’s like the ultimate upgrade of the previous option!

So the unnecessary option values seem to have disappeared.

“Wow…! Weapon enhancement is really good too!”

Today, Kang Hoon has 8 enhancement attempts remaining.

Each attempt costs money, but.

Nothing in this world is more precious than life!

Forgetting that he entered to save money through tax exemption.

Kang Hoon reached behind his back.

And shouted toward the quiver.

“Enhancement! Enhancement!”

Clang! Clang!

Clang! Clang-!

Clang! Claaang───!!

Naturally, it succeeded in one go!

Up to +2 boasts a 100% success rate!

[Infinite Quiver +2] : A normal quiver for beginners, provided in tutorial difficulty dungeons. Arrows are generated infinitely. Additionally, special abilities have been granted through enhancement. * [Generated arrows are changed to iron arrows. Attack Power Increase +50%] * [Generated arrows are imbued with weak magic power. Instant Death Probability +50%]

“Iron Magic Arrow? That sounds good?!”

Not only did the attack power double compared to regular wooden bows.

But the instant death probability also skyrocketed.

“With this much…!”

Most tutorial monsters should die in one shot!

“This is exciting?”

Ah, right.

Enhancement was this fun, wasn’t it?

Falling into a nostalgic mood, Kang Hoon placed his hand on his stomach.

No, more precisely, he touched his shabby cotton t-shirt.

“That means… this clothing too?”

Carefully touching the rough cotton.

“Enhancement!”

As soon as he shouted once,

Whoooosh─!

Wind blew through the enclosed cave!

Clang!

Clang!

Claaaa────ang!!

With the refreshing sound.

The information value transformed!

[Long-sleeve Cotton T-shirt (Black) +1] : Normal clothing for beginners, provided in tutorial difficulty dungeons. However, special abilities have been granted through enhancement. * [Breathability Increase +5%]

“Ugh! Trash option!”

Even if an option appears, what’s ‘Breathability Increase’?!

“To sweat less or something?”

And the value is low too.

However.

“No. Let me calm down. They say a Benz comes after a junker.”

The more +1 fails, the more you expect from +2.

Without hesitation, Kang Hoon shouted again.

“Here goes, +2! Enhancement!”

Clang!

Claa─ang!

Claaang──!!

[Long-sleeve Cotton T-shirt (Black) +2] : Normal clothing for beginners, provided in tutorial difficulty dungeons. However, special abilities have been granted through enhancement. * [Breathability Increase +5%] * [Defense Increase +50%]

The result was amazing!

“Ooooh! This is it! This is why you do enhancement!”

After going through enhancement, indeed.

The feeling of the clothes against his skin also changed.

A lighter and more refreshing feeling than before.

“Wow…”

At the same time, it seemed to reliably protect his solar plexus.

The dependable energy naturally brought a sense of relief.

“So this is how it feels to wear +2 clothing.”

The texture of the wooden bow sticking to his palm too.

The weight of the quiver attached lightly to his back like a butterfly too.

“Really nice.”

He feels good.

Next, Kang Hoon placed his hands on his shoes as well.

Chunky shoes that looked like something Gian from the manga 【Doraemon】 would wear.

“Enhancement! Enhancement!”

As a result, he even obtained the options ‘Agility Increase +15%’ and ‘Movement Speed Slight Increase’.

“…Why did I train for a month?”

It felt like being reborn.

Thud─! Thud─!

Kicking the ground with both feet, Kang Hoon jumped several times in place.

Whoosh! Whiiiing─!

He took out an iron arrow from his quiver, fitted it to his wooden bow, and tried drawing the string.

He had already felt this way while watching money accumulate steadily in his bank account.

This was a moment when his ‘Enhancement’ skill felt even more precious.

“Enhancement Specialist is the best!”

His hearty laughter was only brief.

Shaaaaa-!

“Hueek!?”

At the unfamiliar sound, Kang Hoon jumped back as if bouncing.

The straight cave map where there was no worry of getting lost.

That conversely meant.

─It was also easy for monsters to find Kang Hoon!

Shaaaak!

Squiiik-!

Squeak, squeak!!

While Kang Hoon was killing time excitedly shouting ‘Enhancement’.

All monsters had spawned from the beginning to the end of the map.

Moreover, monsters naturally possess autonomy!

When Kang Hoon didn’t enter, they came chasing all the way to the map entrance looking for prey!

“Huk…!”

The ceiling, walls, and ground of the gray cave.

Monsters clinging everywhere with their disgusting feet attached.

Their identity was ratmen!

‘Mo, first time seeing monsters! They look like the ‘rat men’ from Nogimabi!’

Similar to what he’d seen in games, bipedal creatures with rat-like appearance─before he could admire them.

Squiiiii-!!

Among them, a large male ratman bared its teeth and charged!

Kyaaaak-!!

Fangs yellowed with tartar, a tongue with white coating streaks, and a bumpy palate.

“Uh, uaaak!”

Absolutely disgusting!

It was on a different level from the square polygon monsters in Nogimabi.

A different dimension of filth!

Even without being bitten for fatal injury, he felt like he’d die from infection!

“I didn’t get rabies vaccination!! No, wait, is it scrub typhus?!”

Panicked by the horrific visuals.

The moment his finger slipped from the bowstring.

Twang!

Whoooosh-!!

The iron arrow fitted to the string was rapidly fired.

──Paaaang!!

An unfamiliar sound made Kang Hoon’s shoulders flinch.

The male ratman that had approached right in front of him.

“?”

The creature was dead in an instant.

With its curved back against the wall. Like a piece of chewed and spat gum.

With an iron arrow embedded in the center of its forehead covered in grimy fur.

“…Huh?”

Standing on two feet with amazing agility and movement speed.

Drawing the [Perfect Shot] bow.

Kang Hoon had fired an iron arrow that exploded with magic power.

From such Kang Hoon’s mouth,

“This… is me?”

As if his brain had a delay.

A dazed sound flowed out.

…

…

…

The relatively large medium ratman.

The small fry panicked by its death.

Hesitate. Hesitate.

With their three-pronged feet on the ground and walls, they began retreating.

“…Hey. Where are you guys going?”

The red eyes flickering in the darkness no longer felt threatening!

“Phew… Who was the one that spat at me earlier?”

…Squeak! Squeak squeak…

“Come here, you bastards! Come on!!”

While Kang Hoon’s voice grew louder as his fear disappeared.

Squiiik…

The ratmen who had been spitting and cackling fell silent, reading the mood.

The situation had reversed in an instant.

Beyond this strange standoff,

The boss ratman that spawned at the end of the map and arrived late.

Only that creature cried out obliviously.

Squeak?