SWNOVELXO Chapter 25
Chapter 25
Lee Seongyeong stared blankly at Seonghyeon, momentarily at a loss for words.
Meanwhile, Seonghyeon began to realize something.
‘Oh… so I’ve been attracting more attention than I thought.’
It finally dawned on him.
He had felt embarrassed by the fuss other players and NPCs made around him, but he hadn’t fully grasped the significance.
While he knew the Overlord was a powerful class, he hadn’t expected it to make him the target of recruitment efforts.
Seeing Seonghyeon’s expression change as the realization hit him, Lee spoke again.
“Allow me to reintroduce myself. I’m Lee Seongyeong, a scout for Sick Brothers. I’ve sought you out to extend an invitation to our guild.”
“Ah, I see.”
“I don’t want to interrupt your hunting, so I’ll make this quick. Here’s my card.”
“My card?”
“Yes, right here.”
Lee handed over his guild card item at lightning speed.
Internally, Lee was celebrating.
Still, he knew better than to get too comfortable.
“Have you received offers from other guilds, by any chance?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Yes!!”
Hearing this, Lee was ecstatic.
‘Got him! This is it!’
A massive catch.
He had already recruited one promising player earlier—a female user from the elite training center—but Seonghyeon was the main prize.
Based on what the other player had told him, Seonghyeon had mastered all the basic skills in just one day.
If Lee’s instincts were correct:
‘He’s at least an Epic-tier class user already.’
Meanwhile, Seonghyeon stood bewildered by Lee’s whirlwind of enthusiasm.
Now understanding why the scout was so eager, he thought, ‘Is it really that big of a deal?’
He recognized that gaming was a business and that money was involved, but the intensity of the scout’s reaction still felt a bit excessive.
Noticing Seonghyeon’s hesitation, Lee’s eyes gleamed.
While other scouts might have pressured him to sign immediately, Lee knew better.
“Feel free to contact me anytime if you’re interested. We can offer the best conditions in the industry! Thank you for your time!”
With that, Lee vanished as suddenly as he’d appeared, leaving Seonghyeon blinking in confusion.
Looking down at the card in his hand, Seonghyeon read:
『Guild Rank #12: Sick Brothers』
Scout: Lee Seongyeong
Game Messenger Code: iliilillili
“???”
From Lee’s behavior, he had assumed the guild was mid-tier at best.
But to his surprise, Sick Brothers was ranked 12th overall.
“Congratulations! As expected of someone so great, your fame spreads even among humans!”
‘No, it’s not like that.’
This was his first recruitment offer; it wasn’t as though he was famous.
Still, receiving an offer from such a prominent guild was something.
‘A rank 12 guild…’
Even with his limited knowledge of Eternal World, he understood how significant that was.
The game, beloved by over 2 billion players worldwide, was hailed as the greatest game in history.
Being in the 12th-ranked guild was equivalent to being part of a global corporation.
‘If they’re offering the best conditions… does that mean a seven-figure salary?’
He wasn’t sure how much his sister earned, but it seemed plausible.
The thought excited him, though he quickly shook his head.
‘Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.’
Expectations too high could lead to disappointment.
Perhaps he should consult his sister.
Joining Sick Brothers might be better than wherever she was.
For now, he put the card in his inventory.
‘Alright, time to find that hidden piece.’
Having recovered some mana amidst the chaos, Seonghyeon set off.
“Kukuk! Great one, do take care.”
With Kahkuku’s farewell, Seonghyeon began his journey.
0.
The Persville Plains were vast, flanked on either side by dense forests.
At the far edges of these forests stood massive cliffs, making deeper exploration nearly impossible.
Though technically part of the plains, the forests and cliffs were often considered separate hunting zones.
The goblin village Seonghyeon had attacked was in one of these forests.
Following Kahkuku’s memories, he navigated a winding path through the dense forest.
Without those memories, it would’ve been impossible not to get lost.
The thick trees blocked out most light, leaving the area shrouded in gloom.
‘No wonder no one finds this place.’
Kahkuku’s memories revealed that the player who had killed him failed to obtain a compass leading here.
The compass, enchanted to only work for its rightful owner, had likely been discarded.
Seonghyeon, however, didn’t need it.
By combining Kahkuku’s memories with the experience of Hunter Apik, he could navigate without issue.
After some time, he arrived at a massive cliff.
Though no entrance was visible, a huge boulder stood conspicuously before it.
It was obvious this was the place.
‘Here we are.’
The treasure Kahkuku had hidden lay behind that boulder.
Most would assume they needed to move the boulder, but Seonghyeon confidently walked toward it.
Just as he was about to collide with the rock:
Whoosh!
He passed through it effortlessly.
‘A magically concealed entrance. No wonder no one could find it.’
Even if someone stumbled upon this location, they’d never discover the hidden passage without prior knowledge.
Inside, the cave stretched out before him.
Unlike the dank, musty smell one might expect, the air was clean and carried a faint, pleasant fragrance.
‘Meticulous, wasn’t he?’
Kahkuku’s memories revealed his obsession with cleanliness, which extended to maintaining this cave.
Illuminated by crystals embedded in the ceiling, the cave was well-lit.
At the end of the path stood a large, ornate door flanked by two goblin statues.
Each statue wore armor and held a spear, standing as if to guard the entrance.
Behind that door lay the treasure.
Seonghyeon drew his Steel Sword and Tiger’s Fang, preparing for combat.
These weren’t ordinary statues.
Gr-gr-grind…
The sound of stone scraping against stone filled the air as the statues began to move.
Initially stiff, they soon moved naturally, adapting to their awakened state.
These were the guardians of Kahkuku’s treasure.
Determined to protect their charge, the goblin statues charged at Seonghyeon.
[Lv. 20 Goblin Statue]
[Lv. 21 Goblin Statue]
Their levels were 9 and 10 higher than his own.
Seonghyeon didn’t worry.
He had already taken down Vegron, a level 30 boss.
As the goblin statues charged, he analyzed their movements and stepped back.
Their speed wasn’t particularly impressive, but their sheer weight created an overwhelming sense of pressure.
Boom! Thud!
One of the statues slammed its spear into the ground where Seonghyeon had stood moments earlier, leaving a crater in the cave floor.
From the force alone, it was clear that a direct hit would be devastating.
Seonghyeon retreated further and conjured a Bone Arrow, aiming at the charging statue’s head.
The arrow shot forward with pinpoint accuracy, striking the statue’s forehead.
Crack!
[『One Strike!』 effect activated!]
However, instead of embedding itself, the arrow shattered into powder, unable to penetrate the statue’s tough exterior.
Though the attack failed to deal significant damage, a small crack had appeared on the statue’s forehead.
Seeing this, Seonghyeon’s eyes lit up.
As the damaged statue paused momentarily, the other one resumed its charge, its massive spear poised to strike.
Dodging wasn’t a sustainable strategy, so Seonghyeon decided to take the fight directly to them.
‘These aren’t living beings—curses and death aura won’t work.’
His options were limited.
Death Aura, Curse of Pain, and Poison: Sensory Paralysis were useless here.
Taking even one hit would be catastrophic.
With resolve, Seonghyeon dashed toward the statue.
As it swung its spear down, he ducked low, slipping beneath the attack.
The other statue, its forehead cracked, thrust its spear toward him, aiming to skewer him at close range.
Maintaining his low stance, Seonghyeon twisted his body like a serpent, narrowly evading the spear.
Drawing on the memories of Drill Instructor Eddy and Hunter Apik, he utilized every ounce of agility to close the distance.
Once within range, he drove his Tiger’s Fang dagger into the statue’s chest.
Thud!
[Critical Hit!]
[『One Strike!』 effect activated!]
The dagger, enhanced with piercing properties, sank into the statue’s heart.
While it didn’t cut through as easily as flesh, it managed to pierce the tough material.
Quickly retrieving the dagger, Seonghyeon leapt back and activated another skill.
A teal light coalesced in his hand, forming into the shape of a spear.
Without hesitation, he hurled the spectral weapon at the same spot where his dagger had struck.
Whoosh!
The Wrath of the Departed spear streaked through the air, striking the statue’s heart with pinpoint precision.
Crash!
The spectral spear pierced through, emerging from the statue’s back.
Though not alive, the statue staggered, its movements visibly impaired.
[Dark damage applied.]
[Goblin Statue is disoriented, impairing its vision and senses for 10 seconds.]
‘Huh?’
Even though it wasn’t alive, the dark debuff still took effect.
If it had vision and senses, it was susceptible after all.
‘This changes everything.’
Encouraged by the results, Seonghyeon refocused as the cracked statue charged again, oblivious to its staggering companion.
Its lumbering movements swept the air with crushing force, creating a gust of wind that howled ominously.
Whoosh!
The sheer weight of the attack sent chills through the air.
Still, Seonghyeon remained unfazed, his gaze fixed on the statue.
He darted forward, closing the distance as the statue’s attack left it open.
However, the statue reacted faster than expected, raising a leg to strike.
In a flash, Seonghyeon twisted mid-step, using the statue’s momentum against it.
Driving his Tiger’s Fang into its knee, he let the force embed the blade deeper before pulling back.
Crack!
The knee buckled slightly, and Seonghyeon quickly followed up with another Bone Arrow aimed at the statue’s forehead.
Snap!
The arrow shattered again, but the crack on the statue’s head deepened.
It was clear the damage was accumulating.
Before Seonghyeon could use Wrath of the Departed again, the cooldown timer reminded him it wasn’t ready.
The damaged statue growled in frustration, emitting a grating sound as it charged once more.
He had to act fast.
The other statue, regaining its senses, was no longer disoriented.
Seonghyeon dashed forward, his dagger poised.
The cracked statue swung its spear recklessly, leaving its own body exposed in its desperation to stop him.
Seonghyeon didn’t hesitate.
As the statue’s spear neared his chest, a crimson barrier flared to life.
Thud!
The Blood Veil absorbed the attack.
Simultaneously, Seonghyeon drove the Tiger’s Fang into the statue’s forehead, finally shattering it.
Crash!
The statue crumbled into dust, and a flurry of messages appeared.
[You have defeated a significantly higher-level monster!]
[Achievement unlocked!]
[You have earned the title, 『Hunter of the Strong.』]
[Experience points gained.]
[Level Up!] ×3
Three levels gained in one fight.
As Seonghyeon turned to face the remaining statue, it charged with renewed vigor, undeterred by its companion’s demise.
This time, Seonghyeon was ready.
He conjured another Bone Arrow, aiming for the statue’s exposed heart.
Thud!
The arrow struck true, embedding itself.
Though the statue didn’t flinch, the impact briefly staggered it.
Seonghyeon didn’t waste the opening.
Summoning another spectral spear, he hurled it from below, skewering the statue’s heart and piercing through its head.
Crash!
Like its companion, the statue crumbled into dust.
[You have defeated a significantly higher-level monster!]
[Experience points gained.]
[Level Up!]
[You have reached Level 15.]
The guardians were no more.
Now it was time to claim the treasure.
Placing his hand on the massive door, a message appeared:
[Hidden Piece: Treasure Goblin Kahkuku’s First Vault has been unlocked.]