Chapter 5: Using the Privileges |
00005. Using the Privileges.
Hall Plain was a world where power—or more precisely, ‘Player Status’—was given the utmost priority. It was a world that judged your worth by synthesizing every piece of information about you: your year, disposition, stats, and abilities.
Perhaps that was why I was being so particular. I certainly hadn't expected to be granted privileges, and creating a perfect build in such a short time was impossible. But I had ten years of experience.
I wanted to live. And if I wanted to live, I needed power. The yearning for survival led directly to a thirst for strength. Which abilities to raise, how to become stronger—I had contemplated and researched these questions countless times. Reaching the Master level with a mere 48 points in Magic Power wasn't something I'd achieved by playing tiddlywinks.
I never imagined my knowledge would be used this way, but the privileges I received were a perfect fit for the knowledge I had accumulated.
The randomly selected potential abilities did not stray from my expectations. As I read the names of the abilities that filled the two empty slots, I was able to breathe a sigh of relief. Now, all that remained were one unique ability slot, one special ability slot, and two potential ability slots.
Only after agonizing over my choices for the unique, special, and potential abilities could I finally let out a true sigh of relief.
“Phew. I’ve chosen everything.”
“...”
My final farewell with Seraph had been poignant. But the resentment that had built up over ten years hadn't completely vanished. Besides, now that I had some understanding of the internal affairs, it was a tall order to view the angel before me with any warmth.
I deliberately avoided looking in Seraph’s direction. I feigned indifference for a while, but that had its limits. Unable to bear her uncomfortable stare any longer, I decided to speak.
“What are you looking at?”
I asked in a deliberately sullen tone, but her gaze only grew more intense. Seraph exchanged looks with me for a moment before speaking in a slightly flushed voice.
“Player Kim Su-hyeon’s stats. And the unique, special, and potential abilities selected from the privileges. I have synthesized the settings from these two areas with the settings of a Sword Specialist. In doing so, I was able to form a hypothesis.”
“And who gave you permission to do that?”
“Your helper, of course.”
Her immediate retort left me feeling a bit dumbfounded. Was the angel making a joke? Or was she serious? Perhaps it was a bit of both, but I found myself nodding in spite of myself.
“Fine. So, what did you find?”
“I felt that your research into stats and abilities is remarkably deep. You feel like a player who has experienced the space of Hall Plain for a very long time.”
“Haha. That’s ridiculous.”
For a moment, my insides twisted into a knot. But I feigned composure and asked calmly, and Seraph slowly shook her head from side to side.
“It is nothing.”
“I admit I have a slightly unusual personality.”
“I am not referring to your actions. The efficiency Player Kim Su-hyeon has extracted by using the privileges far exceeds the angels’ expectations. Such choices could never be made without directly experiencing Hall Plain.”
“Hold on. Are take-backs allowed or not?”
“They are not. As I have repeatedly stated, you need not worry about the privileges. Angels are different from humans. We do not go back on our word. Well, in any case. I believe I have a rough idea of what Player Kim Su-hyeon is aiming for. That is all.”
Seraph’s voice was tinged with genuine admiration. But her words were heavy with meaning. My heart, which had been stinging since earlier, couldn't feel entirely proud.
Honestly, even though I had done my research, the build I was aiming for was based on the class of one of the most renowned players of the past.
He was famous, but I remembered him in greater detail because his name was the same as mine. Sword Specialist Jin Su-hyeon. That secret class boasted exceptional prowess in anti-mage combat, so much so that it was called a nightmare by mages.
Jin Su-hyeon was a player who had entered Hall Plain later than I did. The difference was about a year. However, with a single word—effort—he closed that one-year gap in an instant. And with another word—talent—he surpassed me in a flash. Considering how hard I had tried myself, the sense of loss I felt back then still makes my chest ache.
Anyway. Getting back to the point, it’s nearly impossible to replicate Jin Su-hyeon’s build right now. We weren't particularly close, and he wasn't the kind of crazy player who would share his personal information with others. Even if I inherited the basic necessary elements, they would only account for 20% of the overall picture. For the remaining 80%, I would have to create the bones and add the flesh using my own unique interpretation. As I said before, I was betting on my ten years of experience and seasoned judgment.
“Anyway, stop staring at me like that.”
As I openly showed my discomfort, Seraph quietly fell silent.
‘I’ll be taking the Sword Specialist class.’
It wasn’t that I felt no guilt, so I offered a brief prayer for Jin Su-hyeon. Someone like you will succeed even if you choose a class other than Sword Specialist, so don’t worry too much. After finishing my prayer-that-wasn’t-a-prayer, I immediately turned my thoughts to the next privilege.
The fourth privilege.
‘4. You may receive a body modification procedure, one time only.’
The modification procedure wasn't anything special. Of course, I had seen cases where people replaced body parts with machinery or summoned beings from other dimensions to serve as their limbs. However, those were cases where they had completely lost their limbs due to unavoidable circumstances. As long as I had a healthy body with all four limbs intact, I had no desire to give up any part of it. I could become strong enough without resorting to such measures.
What I had in mind was a tattoo procedure. This process was an essential element for the completion of my plan. If, by some chance, the tattoo procedure wasn't available, the success rate of my plan would be dangerously low, less than 30%. The item I would request for the fifth privilege was just that powerful and dangerous.
Since I had already spent a considerable amount of time on the third privilege, I decided to request the tattoo procedure right away.
“Hmm. Let’s see. Instead of some grand modification, I’d like to get a simple tattoo.”
“That is possible. I will display the tattoo catalog chart. Please wait a moment.”
“Ah, that’s okay. I already know the name. I’d like the one called the Ancient Priestess's Engraving.”
“Where would you like the tattoo to be engraved?”
With a calm expression, I raised my right hand. The moment Seraph’s gaze followed it, I used my finger to point at my left chest.
“The heart.”
“The heart, you say...?”
“Why?”
“...”
Seraph’s face was placid. She said nothing. But I was certain that, internally, she was calculating at a speed I couldn't possibly imagine. It was pitiable to see her trying so hard to grasp my intentions, but of course, I had no plans to tell her yet.
Most tattoos are etched onto the skin. However, the idea of performing a procedure on the heart through a mana engraving using ancient magic seemed to displease her greatly.
The organs responsible for the core of a player’s mana are the heart and the circuits. Engraving a tattoo on the heart, which could directly or indirectly affect mana response, carried the inherent risk of unforeseen problems.
However, the Ancient Priestess’s Engraving was different.
If I had requested a common tattoo, I probably would have had to argue with Seraph for a while. That's because common tattoos, those that affect mana amplification or quantity, would have provided plenty of grounds for objection.
But the Ancient Priestess's Engraving was in a league of its own. It had two functions. First, it automatically stabilized mana if it went berserk. Second, it helped guide the flow of mana more efficiently.
Given these positive functions, Seraph must be agonizing over the decision. Feeling a little tense, I watched her lips. This procedure was the final key that could lead my high-risk plan to success. At last, Seraph’s delicate lips slowly parted.
“Yes.”
Bingo.
“I will accept Player Kim Su-hyeon’s request. The procedure is expected to take approximately 5 minutes and 7 seconds. We will begin immediately.”
“Okay.”
At that moment, ancient characters emitting a bright blue light materialized in the air before me, then began to circle my body in an elliptical pattern. Simultaneously, I felt an auditory hallucination, as if the solemn voices of priestesses were echoing all around me.
Five minutes later. The ancient characters that had been slowly circling me began to seep into the area around my heart, one by one.
Even though it was my heart, I didn't feel any pain. On the contrary, with each character that entered, I felt a surge of vitality. Finally, the last character in the line entered, concluding the procedure.
I couldn't immediately feel what had changed. But I knew I would find out as soon as I tried to circulate my mana. I immediately began to check it.
‘Oho.’
At first, I thought I would have some trouble handling the explosive increase in my mana, but I felt no burden at all. The mana flowed serenely through my circuits. The procedure was a success. I felt a sense of satisfaction at its unexpectedly pleasing performance.
“Not bad. Seraph? Can you tell me the remaining time?”
“48 minutes and 39 seconds until you reach the Rite of Passage.”
48 minutes and 39 seconds. I licked my lips slightly. From her silence, it seemed Seraph thought there was plenty of time. But in my opinion, it was tight. The remaining fifth privilege was a gamble, an adventure with high stakes. It carried a great risk, one where I couldn't guarantee my life. But considering its necessity, it was a process I absolutely could not avoid. Steeling my wavering heart, I thought of the fifth privilege.
‘5. Player Kim Su-hyeon may choose one piece of equipment. There are no restrictions on the type. However, EX-grade equipment cannot be selected.’
In a way, this privilege offered a very wide range of choices. Swords, armor, elixirs, accessories, and so on. However, if I were to choose something so ordinary, it would render the Ancient Priestess's Engraving procedure meaningless. The fifth privilege was that crucial to me.
“The Essence of Fire. Yes, the Essence of Fire would be best. I will choose that for my fifth privilege.”
“Player Kim Su-hyeon’s request is approved…?”
Her sentence ended with a strange upward inflection. Seraph turned her final word into a question and frowned slightly.
‘Did she figure it out?’
The possibility that she had seen through my intentions was high. Nevertheless, the approval request seemed to have gone through normally, as a small, red-glowing orb materialized in Seraph’s right hand.
“...”
“...”
Neither of us spoke. But I could tell from Seraph’s eyes. She had no intention of handing the orb over to me. As if to confirm my thoughts, Seraph’s expression turned stern, and she shot me a reproachful look. Not to be outdone, I hardened my expression and met her gaze head-on.
“Player Kim Su-hyeon.”
“Tanay.”
“Of course. However, this is a different matter. Even if it is Tanay, I am permitted to offer advice if it could harm the player.”
“You mean interference disguised as advice. Cut the crap and hand it over. I need the Essence of Fire. Do you think I’m crazy enough to get a risky Ancient Priestess procedure instead of other good options for no reason?”
This was why I hated Seraph. We would always end up fighting over something she was going to give me anyway, and by the time things were settled, our feelings would be thoroughly frayed. The memory of it made harsh words instinctively rise to the tip of my tongue. But the image of her poignant gaze as we parted flashed through my mind. I reflexively shut my mouth and listened. I figured I should at least hear her out.
“I pay my respects to your creativity. It is truly astonishing that a human could conceive of such a thing. But that is all.”
“...”
“Player Kim Su-hyeon. I am curious as to how much you know about the Essence of Fire.”
“...Just that it can burn everything?”
“Close enough. Another name for the Essence of Fire is the Eternally Burning Flame. The most destructive fire known to the world is said to be the Inferno of Hell. However, this pure aggregate of fire, this Essence, contains a power dangerous enough to be compared to it. This is, quite literally, a fire made for destruction.”
“I know. I know all that, which is why I’m asking for it.”
“Endurance stat 92. Magic Power stat 90. Estimated success rate 21%. Including the Ancient Priestess's Engraving, the estimated success rate is 42%. In other words, there is a 58% chance of failure, more than half.”
Seraph was desperately trying to persuade me. But no matter how hard she tried, the privilege was ultimately Tanay-grade. As she said, she could offer advice, but she couldn't stop my decision. So, I held out my right hand, palm open, and confidently demanded the Essence.
“Then I just have to succeed.”
Even though I said it myself, it sounded so carefree. Seraph was probably boiling with frustration right now. After all her talking, it hadn't made a dent. She was now pleading with me, practically begging.
“Failure is one thing, but success will also be a problem. If you fail, you will lose everything and become a wreck. Even if you succeed, there will undoubtedly be unforeseen disadvantages.”
“I’m pretty sure I read that you would provide any equipment except for EX-grade. Was the Essence of Fire EX-grade?”
“The Essence of Fire was originally EX-grade. It is an item that exists in Hall Plain but cannot appear. Although it is exceedingly difficult to obtain, and it was downgraded to S-grade through a balancing process, the danger has not disappeared....”
At this rate, there would be no end to it. Feeling incredibly weary, I raised my hand to stop her. I wanted to hear her out, but the time remaining was too short. Then, it suddenly occurred to me that Seraph might be stalling to drag this out until the Rite of Passage.
“I don’t want to get angry.”
“It is difficult even with Endurance and Magic Power stats over 90, yet your Stamina is only 78. I understand your confidence, but I urge you to face reality.”
Of course, I knew what Seraph was worried about. Her concern was so genuine that any normal person would have been at least slightly moved by her earnest persuasion. But I couldn't be. I would rather concede on something else, but this was something I had been planning for a long, long time. If I were to give up on the Essence now...
“The recovery time won’t be short, either. If you drag this out any longer, I’ll be entering the Rite of Passage as a half-corpse.”
“Player Kim Su-hyeon.”
“I won’t say any more. I am formally requesting the Essence of Fire.”
In the end, I had to snap at her coldly. Whether she read the ominous atmosphere or could no longer refuse a Tanay-grade request, Seraph slowly wriggled her fingers. Her face was still full of displeasure, but she finally extended the Essence toward me. However, she didn't give it to me graciously.
“Even if you succeed, a day will surely come when you regret this.”
“I know...”
Float.
The Essence of Fire. A pure aggregate of fire. The Eternally Burning Flame.
No preparation was needed. I had made up my mind long ago, and considering the after-effects, there wasn't much time left.
The Essence traced a thin, crimson trajectory before popping right into my mouth.
Gulp.
I finally had the Essence of Fire. At last, it was inside me. Taming the surging relief and elation, I quickly turned my awareness inward.
Shhh.
With a single swallow, I felt the round orb slide down my esophagus.
This was it. The true ordeal was about to begin.
============================ Author's Note ============================
1. Removed some content about Hall Plain and Jin Su-hyeon.
2. Corrected typos and refined phrasing.
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