Max Talent Player

Chapter 190

There was a group of Players who were comparable in ability to the 8 Heroes, but hadnt clashed with the Demon King. In other words, they had silently walked their own paths, and their own paths only.

Particularly famous among them was the Divine Archer Hyun Junghwa.

The item she used in her early days.

There was an item in my hand, an item that had been given to me by the future Master, Pedro.

I need to earn my keep too, right? Since Im a man.

...

A mans gotta earn their keep. Thats the way of a manly man.

[Sylphids Wing]

A weapon made by Sylphids, wind spirits, to honor the soul of a departed Sylphid. It is said that a part of the fallen Sylphids soul is imbued within.

Grade: Unique

Attack power: 34-55

Effects:

1. Create Distance

2. Consecutive Shots

Hyun Junghwa revealed that this was the bow she acquired in her early days. She said that Sylphids Wing was the item that made me who I am today.

If I had to guess, there were only a few items of this level at this point in time worldwide. This bow was extremely precious. Its attack power alone was a whopping 34-55.

The transcendent artifact Isabels attack power was 72-84. Transcendent items were things of legend, to the point that I hadnt even known for sure that they had existed. It was already an incredible feat for an item to reach half a transcendent artifacts attack power.

Why are you giving this to me?

Because Im a man.

Pedro took out the Tomb-Pilfering Shovel.

Its only natural to give you that much after receiving such an amazing item. A trade between men should be fair, no?

I grinned. Are you sure its fair? I dont think the two are quite comparable.

This was an unexpected trade, but since Pedro was giving, I figured that I might as well take everything he had to offer.

Ah, of course. I acknowledge that. Its true the Tomb-Pilfering Shovel is a far better item.

...

But I would imagine Sylphids Wing wont fall behind in terms of usefulness.

He was right about that. The Tomb-Pilfering Shovel was an item only thieves could use. Strictly speaking, I could use Sylphids Wing with no restrictions despite not having the archer class.

I am thankful, yes.

The item to which the Divine Archer attributed her later success had landed in my hands. This was an extremely good thing for me. I was also planning on coaxing the Tome of the Divine Archer Physique from the Night of Shooting Stars.

Im grateful for the thought, but

I returned the bow. Of course, it was just an act. I didnt intend on giving back this item.

...Huh?

I dont think it matches the Tomb-Pilfering Shovel. Usefulness cant make up for the gap between a legendary and unique grade. Especially if its an item that is useful to you like the Tomb-Pilfering Shovel.

...

Pedro took Sylphids Wing. He closed his eyes in thought.

What you say is true, Hyukjin. He returned Sylphids Wing to me. But its hard for me to give you an item better than this one for the time being.

Excellent. This was what I had wanted to see.

Let me balance the scales at a later time. You are the one who called me and gave me an item out of nowhere, so this much should do for an initial trade, right?

The Merchant of Venice answered in my stead.

[The Merchant of Venice nods at your negotiation acumen.]

[The Merchant of Venice gifts you a Wind Element Enhancement Crystal.]

Yep, getting free extras on top was better than just receiving something. In return, I gave the crossdressing Pedro the words he wanted to hear, free of charge.

Manly men really are built different.

Pedro straightened his shoulders, looking very happy.

* * *

* * *

With Vela doing some Playing of his own, I went to Piazza Navona with Pedro. I saw the fountain.

Hes here again.

It seemed he hadnt learnt his lesson yet. Like last time, Beratto had rigged his authority over the gate and was collecting tolls. Many people now knew that the fountain was a gate connected to the Forest of Dwarfs.

Though there probably arent many who come back from that place alive.

Even so, people wanted to go inside the gate. They were driven by their belief that there had to be treasures within.

If there were any treasures, the dwarfs would have already collected them.

For ordinary Players, nothing good would come of going into the Forest of Dwarfs. As time went on, the Players would realize that as well.

I stopped.

Hyukjin? Pedro asked in puzzlement.

I cant help but think its going to be a pain if we go there, I said, pointing my chin at Beratto. A direct clash was also an option, but a fun thought occurred to me. Its the perfect time to test my new item.

I was curious about whether I could break the authority planted on that gate with the bow I had just gotten.

You mean Sylphids Wing?

Yes.

I took out the bow. People were used to Players now. No one paid much attention to me even after I pulled out a bow in the middle of the square. Such things were everyday occurrences.

I have ten arrows.

Unless you had an artifact like the Blackfire Bow, arrows were inevitably a consumable resource. I had to use them sparingly.

Is the Night of Shooting Stars watching?

It would be great if he was, and it couldnt be helped if he wasnt. I drew the bowstring.

Y-Youre going to shoot it here? Y-Youre not going to kill Beratto, are you?

Of course not.

I had no intention of killing Beratto. I focused.

Ill break it.

The authority cast by Beratto.

I released the bowstring. That moment, a wisp of wind rose from Sylphids Wing. It kind of felt like Sylphids Wings innate energy was resonating with mine.

One more time.

I drew and fired once more.

And again.

I fired again. With every shot, I felt the intangible force behind each arrow grow.

One more time.

I drew the bowstring.

Wh-Which one of you crazy bastards was it?! Beratto roared. The next moment, he fell to the ground with a strangled shriek, terrified. Hiik!

That was because an arrow whistled over his head. It thudded into the fountain and melted into nothingness.

Arrows shot by Sylphids Wing were 1-time use. They couldnt be picked up and reused because they melted and disappeared like that.

Im sure of it now.

Sylphids Wing wasnt just a unique-grade item. Like Isabel, there was some kind of ability sealed in Sylphids Wing. I could feel it, and Hyun Junghwa must have known it as well.

What should I call this?

Inherently attuned?

The feeling that our wavelengths are perfectly matched.

For a moment there, I felt like I communed with Sylphids Wing.

[You have successfully communed with Sylphids Wing.]

I instantly realized. Sylphids Wing was a weapon created to honor a fallen Sylphid. It was imbued with a soul. 

It is said that a part of the fallen Sylphids soul is imbued within.

That soul appeared to be extremely compatible with me.

[A hidden quest related to Sylphids Wing has been unlocked.]

[You have received the quest Find the Complete Sylphids Wings.]

I opened the quest window.

[Find the Complete Sylphids Wings]

The current Sylphids Wing is not in its complete state. Find the Complete Sylphids Wings and make what is incomplete, complete.

*Complete Sylphids Wings is slumbering in the Wind Temple.

*Blessing of the Wind Temple is required to find the Complete Sylphids Wings.

I was struck speechless.

The Wind Temple?

It was a familiar name. I remembered exactly what Jo Sunghyun said after we cleared and left the Hill of Blowing Wind.

There was a notice saying the Clear Crystals energy melted into my body, and if I satisfied a certain condition, I could activate the Wind Temple.

Since then, Sunghyun never said anything about the Wind Temple to me again. It wasnt because he was hiding it from me, but that he hadnt been able to find any clues about the Wind Temple. He was also busy keeping up with my agenda.

And

*Blessing of the Wind Temple is required to find the Complete Sylphids Wings.

This condition was already fulfilled. In the Hill of Blowing Wind, I received the Blessing of the Wind Temple and fulfilled a hidden piece.

[Granting the Blessing of the Wind Temple.]

[Confirming that you have 6 Blessings.]

[The Hidden Piece 6 Blessings has been fulfilled.]

From this, I acquired the Tome of the Divine Wind Physique and gave it to Sunghyun.

I had the Blessing of the Wind Temple, and thanks to that, I fulfilled a hidden condition of Sylphids Wing.

It wasnt intentional, but in any case, the path ahead was unfurling very smoothly.

It might even be that Sunghyun has a clue about the Complete Sylphids Wings.

Pedros voice pulled me away from my contemplation.

Hyukjin?

Ah. Yes. Sorry, I was thinking about something else for a moment.

No, its just that Beratto is coming your way.

From the way he was storming towards me, he seemed to be mad. Apparently, someone saw me shooting my bow and ratted me out.

As one would expect.

I already knew he was coming.

Did you know this would happen?

Of course.

If I had wanted to avoid a confrontation, I would have used Cognitive Dissonance.

Youre in for it now, huffed Beratto. You seem to have some kind of special ability, but He spat on the ground. No matter how skilled a monkey is, its still a monkey.

After saying that, he glanced around. It was obvious he was checking to see if Vera was nearby.

Ive always wanted to erase yellow monkeys like you from this world, you see.

...

How can an archer sit on his thumbs and allow an opponent to get this close?

...

What? You scared?

...

Ill do a monkey like you the honor of killing you right here.

Beratto smiled wide. To that, I answered, Who said I was an archer?

* * *

Im sorry. I wont do it ever again. Im really sorry. Im really, really sorry.

Beratto desperately rubbed his palms.

(He dares to call my husband a monkey? What are you doing? Slice his throat open.)

Isabel was so blindsided by rage that she forgot to feel humiliated by my use of her innate ability Beat em, Beat em, Beat em Harder.

(What are you doing? What good would come of leaving such trash alive?!)

Isabels blade trembled. She was well and truly mad.

Well, small fry like Beratto is just cute.

Blocking a gate and extracting tolls was just childish petulance. The racist crap he said about me being a monkey or whatever was irritating, but it wasnt something to kill over.

Beratto was on his knees, rubbing his palms. I said quietly to him, Im sure youve earned a lot of Coins through illegal means. Am I correct?

Y-You are. I have committed a sin worthy of death.

No, its not worthy of death.

There was an item in my handsthe Translation Marble Id gotten from Senia. This thing was really pricey.

You have to make up for this things price. Since I had to converse with you.

In truth, my fists had done more of the talking. After conversing with my fists a few times, he became this docile. Conversation was such a wonderful thing, wasnt it?

Its not to the point of death, so I wont kill you. However.

I had to get my moneys worth, too. The amount I spent using the Teleport Gateway was no small sum.

Cough it up. The price for your life.

Th-That

If you dont want to, then go ahead and die.

I brought the tip of Isabels blade to Berattos neck.

Wait!

Beratto gave me 10,000 Coins. Goodness, this guy had really collected a lot. It was obvious he hadnt just camped this gate, but others.

If I shake you and more Coins come out, itll be ten hits per Coin.

I-I really dont have anymore. This is my entire lifes savings.

That so?

I got up. This much was sufficient.

By the way, I got 20,000 Coins from him. The poor sop didnt know, but I had a theft genius with me. Our little theft genius brought exactly 10,211 Coins to me, not leaving a single Coin behind.

So I decided to be nice. I earned 20,000 Coins with a short skirmish, so it was a winning deal for me.

Pedro and I ported to the Forest of Dwarfs. We arrived at the Winter Castle to find Elder Bufafa waiting for us. He said he had sensed the Millenium Lava in advance, or something like that.

(Ah, Im sleepy. Hubby. Im gonna go back to sleep. Know youre dead if you cheat on me while Im)

Was it hubby, or husband? Or was it bride? Pick one and stick to it, please. I was about to expel an unconscious sigh when Elder Bufafa approached me.

He walked faster and faster, becoming so fast it was almost threatening. Then, he fell into a kowtow.

Esteemed one.

An individual from an exceedingly prideful race, the dwarfs, knelt at my feet. All of a sudden? What was it this time? I didnt think bringing the Millenium Lava was such a big deal. It wasnt because of the Millenium Lava.

The gatekeeper twins were shocked.

El-Elder!

Elder Bufafa!

Their reactions mirrored mine. I was shocked, too. I bent to lift Elder Bufafa to his feet.

Why are you doing this all of a sudden?

Elder Bufafa got up unsteadily. And then, he said this:

I did not know I would be honored by Lady s presence here.