"Thank you so much for saving us. Is there anything that bothers you?"
In truth, I had explained that I saved them from those guys who were trying to kill them.
However, the atmosphere remained awkward.
Bothered? I wanted to say that the way you all treat me is uncomfortable. I felt a strong urge.
The survivors offered me water to clean off the blood and even shared some of their scarce food. They were kind, but they firmly declined when I suggested joining their group.
If I were to find an apt analogy... it's like how students treat a school principal. They respect and treat them politely due to age and position...
But if that principal suddenly suggests, "Want to go to an internet cafe after school?" they'd want to decline immediately. Similarly, it's unlikely any female student would want to date the principal.
Letting go of the pretty woman in front of me implied the same meaning.
I decided to focus on gathering information, rather than harboring dark intentions.
"So, what's your name?"
"It's Ankyungnam."
"...Ankyungnam?"
"Yes, my surname is An from Soonheung. Just call me Kyungnam for short."
Surprisingly, the man I referred to as 'Ankyungnam' was actually named Ankyungnam.
Is our destiny tied to our names? He truly grew up to be a distinguished 'Ankyungnam' as his parents might have hoped.
For the record, I was speaking informally because they requested it. They found it uncomfortable when I spoke formally. I'm not the kind of person who drops the formalities before it's appropriate.
"So Kyungnam, where did you get the golden bead?"
"The golden bead, you say..."
Ankyungnam fiddled with the two golden beads in his hand.
He seemed to ponder over his words, deciding how to begin.
"I don't know where to start... I actually have a special ability."
While it was a secret to Myeolchi and the ruffian, Ankyungnam also had a special ability. Just not a combat one, so he kept it hidden.
"The ability's rank is A. Its name is... 'Analysis Complete'."
Ankyungnam slightly adjusted his glasses.
It felt like there should be a sound effect, a 'shine' perhaps.
"Although my ability's level is still low and I can't analyze people's levels... I can gauge a monster's threat level."
"...So?"
"There was a goblin that seemed exceptionally dangerous. Its attire and weapons were different from the regular goblins."
Yesterday morning, Ankyungnam's group encountered this special goblin while looking for clues about the bead.
"It was about the size of an adult woman. Its face had a peculiar tattoo drawn in blood. Instead of holding a crude wooden spear, it had a spear with a steel tip."
It seemed like a very intimidating goblin, perhaps the Francis Ngannou or Jon Jones of the goblin world.
"...So how did it compare to regular goblins?"
"If a regular goblin has a threat level of 1, that goblin looked like it had a threat level of 5."
I'm not sure about the standards for these threat levels, but...
Even a level 1 goblin, weaker than a child, can inflict serious injuries.
They're monsters. Ferocious beasts that attack without care.
Facing a goblin with a threat level of 5 and securing a golden bead? Something didn't add up.
"Actually... 99% of our group's combat capabilities were handled by just two people."
Ankyungnam gestured towards Myeolchi, who was still shaking on the ground.
"That bastard has an ability... If he places his hand on a monster's head for 10 seconds, he can control it. There are rank restrictions, of course..."
"...Hmm."
So the subdued goblin army was controlled that way.
"But how is it possible to keep a hand on a monster's head for 10 seconds?"
They'd scratch, bite, and go berserk.
"We had someone with telekinesis."
"Ah."
I could imagine it.
A goblin separated from the group was restrained by the ruffian's telekinesis. Myeolchi would then approach and place his hand on it, creating another goblin soldier.
"A controlled goblin looks no different from a regular one. We ambushed the big goblin." Pretending to be a regular goblin, I ambushed with a wooden spear.
With the help of telekinesis, even if it was a level 5 goblin, it couldn't have remained unscathed.
"Unfortunately, we couldn't control the giant goblin, so we had to kill it... Maybe that's a good thing? If we had succeeded in controlling it, it could have killed us all on the spot," said Ankyungnam, laughing bitterly. He seemed to remember the close call.
"After killing the giant goblin, we leveled up and got some food, along with two golden beads."
"...You leveled up?"
"Yes, all of us reached level 10."
"...I see."
I stood up and dusted off my buttocks.
"Well, thanks for the info. I have some places to go with Myeolchi now."
"Oh, okay then."
The trio of survivors waved goodbye with gestures of reluctance, but they didn't really hold me back.
I might seem impressive, but I also seem uncomfortable to them.
It's not like I could choose fear. This is the best I can do, I guess.
Once the group of survivors was far enough away, I spoke to Myeolchi, who was still lying down.
"Hey, Myeolchi, follow me."
"Yes, yes! Got it!"
He immediately got up and followed closely behind me.
He looked as rigid as a new recruit in the military.
The emotions he felt towards me were fear, hatred, and awe.
Since I chose awe, his feeling of awe must have intensified.
"This should do."
The place I brought Myeolchi to had relatively little grass and was full of soft soil.
"Myeolchi."
"Yes, yes!"
"Write your status window here, on the ground."
"Yes!"
He hurriedly picked up a twig and wrote on the dirt floor.
[Name: Choi Junwoo] [LV: 1] [Level: 22]
[Ability]
- Monster Control [S]
[Stats]
[Strength: 9] [Agility: 13] [Intelligence: 18] [Magic 24]
"...What is this?"
"Huh?"
"Your stats. What are these?"
I had him show his status window to compare with others, but I didn't expect such a difference.
There's a lot to question.
I've never seen this "stats" window in my life.
Why are there two levels?
The others said their level was 10, but his is 22?
To compare with my status window, it looked like this:
[Name: Kim Junho] [LV: 5]
[Ability]
- Regression [EX]
- Awe [C]
My status window seemed pathetic compared to his.
"...I'm not sure what you're pointing out."
But the person in question seemed clueless.
Well, it seems there's something unique about me.
"Why do you have two levels?"
"Ah, about that..."
Myeolchi hesitated.
"What should I call it?"
"Just say it however you want."
"Then I'll call it 'Boss Level'..."
He circled [Level: 22].
"This 'Boss Level', as you might have...”
He then circled [LV: 1].
"This one. Is this what you're referring to?"
I actually meant the opposite, but I just nodded with a stern face.
"This one... after defeating the giant goblin, I delivered the finishing blow."
"...Go on."
"After killing the giant goblin, 'Legendary Venture!' appeared, and I got a second level. All my stats also increased by 5..."
"Ah, when I click on it, it says 'First mutant goblin killed'."
I was at a loss for words.
What I thought was a level wasn't actually a level.
Legendary Venture. A legendary adventure. It seems I've unknowingly achieved five achievements.
It makes sense when I think about it.
Even after killing countless goblins, my level wouldn't rise, but then it would suddenly increase by 1 at seemingly random times.
But what's frustrating is, why wasn't I notified?
It's not like I turned off the app notifications. Why do I have to find out about the status window's functions from someone else? "When did you get your basic level?"
"Well, I got it when I first went out to the vacant lot and defeated a goblin in the bushes."
"Really? Wait a moment."
I could sense something was terribly wrong, but I wouldn't know for sure until I checked myself. With trembling hands, I opened my status window and firmly pressed the blank space next to [Name: Kim Junho] [LV: 5].
Suddenly, a flood of messages obscured my vision.
[You can't earn experience due to the extreme level difference with the monster.]
[You can't earn experience due to the extreme level difference with the monster.]
[You can't earn experience due to the extreme level difference with the monster.]
[You can't earn experience due to the extreme level difference with the monster.]
[You can't earn experience due to the extreme level difference with the monster.]
[You can't earn experience due to the extreme level difference with the monster.]
The wall of messages continued downwards. An intense headache began to form, and I unwittingly pressed my hand against my forehead. Everyone else seemed to be earning basic levels and stats. There's only one reason I couldn't.
"Damn it..."
It's because of the [Regression] ability, which has an EX grade.