Chapter 70. The Choice (2)

Sol-Ah blinked up at Eun-Ho, her big eyes full of curiosity. "Welfare Points can be gifted?"

"I figured I’d try it just in case, and it turns out it works," Eun-Ho replied.

“Why would you even try something like that?”

“Seriously! You’re like a mad scientist or something!” Yeo-Jin added.

He shrugged, wondering if it was really that surprising. Sol-Ah squinted like she was trying to read his mind, and Yeo-Jin’s jaw dropped. Their opposite reactions made them seem even more like a pair of cartoon characters. Which was kind of adorable, actually.

"Buying cheap junk to gift every time was getting annoying. So I wondered if there was a better way."

“

Oooh.

So when you send a message, you can just send 1 point instead of some random junk?”

“Yep. That works just fine.”

“

Whoa!

”

Finally, they didn’t have to pass around any more moldy bread or expired milk. After upgrading to the intermediate-tier shop, even finding cheap items had become a chore. However, the real reason he had gathered everyone to explain this point-transfer method had nothing to do with convenience.

“So basically, if we send you our points, you’ll buy something from the shop and give it to us as a gift?”

“Exactly. You guys might need something from the intermediate-tier shop soon,” Eun-Ho replied.

“Intermediate-tier shop?”

In reality, it was because they would

definitely

need it. In fact, there had been a tiny footnote at the bottom of the trial proposal he stole, like an afterthought.

“Note: In the case of fire-based ability users, this test may be less effective. Be cautious.”

Clearly, this line was something they didn’t want anyone to notice. The text had been written in font 3, which was so small it’d barely register.

However, Eun-Ho had always been the type to read every line and annotation, especially when it meant better government support or an edge in battle.

If fire abilities are less effective, then it’s one of two things.

Either the enemy would be something weak to fire, like plant-type monsters, or the enemy itself would use fire as its primary weapon. If they both used fire, they would probably have resistance to each other’s attacks.

Either way, it didn’t matter who the enemy was. As long as someone else would be fighting, all he had to do was make sure they were ready.

Let’s see who gets picked first. Then I’ll decide.

However, before that, he needed to gear up. If anyone was going to be summoned, it would definitely be him.

“Shop.”

With a thought, he summoned the Golden Caravan.

[You have opened the intermediate-tier shop, Everywhere and Nowhere Golden Caravan!]

[Please select your items for purchase.]

A massive, truck-sized medieval coach shimmered gold despite its translucent state.

The sight still felt unfamiliar, perhaps because he’d never taken the time to truly see it. He reached for the twin handles—cool to the touch and ornately carved. With a creak, the doors opened.

Inside, there were no seats. There were just rows and rows of display shelves, packed with items of every shape and size.

Let’s see...

Thanks to careful spending, he had about 75,000 Welfare Points. That massive bonus from reviving the Skeleton Soldiers—50,000 points in one go—had definitely helped. Hence, he had plenty of ammo.

The real question is... What’ll give me the best bang for my buck?

He couldn’t just grab anything. Who knew when he’d be able to save this much again? Sure, the trial with Skeletons had gone well, but normally, it wouldn’t have yielded more than 10,000 points.

If there had been a flashy, overpowered weapon sitting right there, he would’ve grabbed it in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, nothing stood out that much. Two blades that caught his eye.

These two.

The two swords were hung side by side just slightly above eye level. One was a pale silver blade, faintly glowing with an icy-blue aura. The other was a dusty, heavy-looking black blade, curved like a half-moon.

[Meteor Iron Sword of Barintos]

- A legendary weapon forged by the famed blacksmith Barintos using iron from a fallen meteor. Increases the Attack Power by 15.

- Due to the weight of the meteor iron, a high Strength stat is required.

- Required Stat: Strength of 20+

- Price: 50,000 Welfare Points

- Remaining Stock: 1

The blade was long and symmetrical, finely honed on both sides. Stars and meteor engravings covered the hilt, like a reminder of where it came from.

Next to it was a long, dark sword that seemed almost abandoned. Dusty and dull, with no edge to speak of, it paled next to the pristine white sword.

[Shatter Blade]

-

A mysterious sword crafted with obsessive care by an unknown blacksmith. Has high durability, albeit its current condition is poor from disuse. Increases the Attack Power by 10.

- Due to its weight, a high Strength stat is required.

- Required Stat: Strength of 15+

- Price: 30,000 Welfare Points

- Remaining Stock: 1

Yet, every time he touched it, a low, humming pulse reverberated through the air—faint, but real.

Vrrrrm...

It hadn’t even fully materialized, and yet, it reacted like it had taken a liking to Eun-Ho, wanting to be chosen.

The issue is... I can only pick one.

First, he thought about the Meteor Iron Sword. That +15 boost to Attack Power was nothing to scoff at. His Basic Swordsmanship was giving him +20 already, and stacking that with the sword’s buff would make for an insane output.

But damn... It’s expensive.

A whopping 50,000 points was enough to make anyone hesitate. With his Strength stat still too low, there was no using it immediately either. Sure, he could always keep it for later, but that wasn’t preferable.

The second option would be the Shatter Blade. Now, the +10 boost to Attack Power wasn’t bad, and he could boost his Strength with the 2 points from Character Evaluation to use it.

What’s the better move...?

Either the powerful white sword he couldn’t use just yet, or the more modest black blade he could equip right now.

Or maybe... Neither of them?

Maybe the best play wasn’t to pick either of them. Perhaps it’d be wiser to make do with his Razor Beak Blade and wait for something better to come along.

He wanted something with more utility, not just raw Attack Power. Caught in indecision, Eun-Ho absentmindedly ran his fingers along the two swords hanging on the display.

For now, I guess I’ll take... Huh?

He felt something strange beneath his fingertips. His index finger brushed against a shallow groove carved just above the hilt, at the base of the blade. A deliberate slot, as if asking for something to be placed inside.

No way. Is this what I think it is...?

Eun-Ho didn’t hesitate.

This is the one.

[Would you like to purchase the Shatter Blade?]

“I’d like to pur—”

Wait.

Just as the word purchase formed on his lips, a certain title flashed through his mind.

[Congratulations!]

[You have acquired a title, First Sponsor.]

Would gifting something to myself count as sponsoring too?

“... Gift to Lee Eun-Ho.”

[All sponsored items now receive a permanent 10% discount.]

[Items sponsored through the Eye will receive a 10% effectiveness boost.]

It was a gamble. A last-second thought, thrown out with zero expectations, like fishing through one’s junk mail hoping to find a coupon. After a moment of silence, the system responded.

[You have sent a gift to Subject Lee Eun-Ho.]

[Due to the effect of the title First Sponsor, the 10% discount has been activated.]

[Your Attack Power has been increased by 10%]

Wow, that actually worked. Not a single feature in this system goes to waste.

Feeling quietly smug, he turned and called over Han-Wool, “Mr. Han-Wool.”

“Yes, sir?”

“Would you like to use this sword?”

Han-Wool fell silent at the sight of Eun-Ho’s razor Beak Blade.

The man flinched, even letting go of little Yul’s hand in surprise. “W-wait, isn’t this the sword you always carry—”

“I got a new one.”

“T-then let me pay you for—”

“There’s no need to do that. I can’t sell it back to the shop anyway.”

“But I’ve already taken so much from you...”

The man seemed genuinely sorry, almost guilty.

Is he really that soft-hearted? How is someone like him surviving in a world like this?

“I swear I’ll repay you! Even if it costs my life!”

“Don’t—I mean, thank you.” He caught himself, because that repayment might be coming very soon. “Ji-Eun.”

“Yes?”

“Can you hold onto this for a bit?”

Then, he passed a small blade to Ji-Eun, finishing the last of his preparations. A quiet smile from Ji-Eun sealed the deal.

“Oh, this is—”

“I’m not giving it to you. I’m just letting you borrow it.”

“

Ah

still... Thank you!”

Now there was only one thing left: to accept the trial he’d been putting off.

[An additional trial has been arranged for your final evaluation. Do you wish to accept?]

[Yes or No]

The message window had been floating in his view all this time. Now he finally faced it head-on and reached out to make his choice.

“Yes.”

With every ounce of determination he had, he pressed the button. The system didn’t even hesitate.

[Your additional trial begins now!]

Fwooom—!

The next moment, a brilliant flash exploded. A wave of light burst forth, flooding his vision, searing through his corneas, cascading over him.

“What the—”

“

Kyaaah!

”

A pillar of light erupted, surrounding him and everyone else.

[You are being transported to the arena.]

[Brace for impact!]

***

Thud!

The floor gave way and dropped him exactly one meter down into a blindingly white room. It seemed just like the Training Institute that he had seen on his first day—pristine, empty, sterile.

The white stretched from floor to wall to ceiling, all seamlessly blended, making it feel less like a room and more like a psych ward. The excessive cleanliness made his head ache.

Why is it so empty in here?

There was only a single desk and three massive screens mounted on the far wall. All three were dark.

[Welcome to the Arena.]

The Arena? This must be the “battleground” mentioned in the proposal

.

[The sacrifice has been prepared.]

[The broadcast will now begin.]

Well, the sacrifice would be my people, the ones who were just with me a moment ago... So the real question is which of them and how many have been marked as sacrifices.

However, before he could even finish the thought, the center screen flickered on.

Then, a form appeared, filling the entire screen. It was massive, so immense he couldn’t even begin to grasp its full size. Its glistening scales were each the size of dinner plates. Two colossal wings extended behind it, far too large to fit within the frame.

With its jaws unhinged, a blast of fire came out just like a forest fire devouring a mountainside, hot enough to blacken the stone walls.

Fwoosh—!

Is that a dragon?

It was a divine beast, the kind one only ever read about in fantasy novels.

[Please check Arena I!]

[The voice connection has been initiated for smoother broadcast.]

Apparently, Arena I and Arena II were side-by-side. From the looks of it, they had built a massive coliseum, slammed down two dividing walls, and turned the central space into a waiting pen for the dragon. The first arena was wide open, with bare earth for flooring. Inside, his companions huddled together, trembling.

“Did you hear that noise just now?! Was I the only one?!”

“I-I-I heard it!

Kyaaaaah!

”

On the left side, Eun-Ho spotted Jae-Hyuk, Ye-Ji, the Swear-Master, as well as Han-Wool and his daughter.

“P-please calm down! They say if a tiger bites you, you live if you keep your head straight!” shouted Jae-Hyuk, sweating bullets but trying his best.

“Are we gonna die for real?”

“Shut up! Stop saying creepy shit!”

Ye-Ji and the Swear-Master were panicking.

“Yul! Get behind me!”

“Hold my hand! Stay close to me!”

Mustering every ounce of their courage, Han-Wool and his daughter also shielded each other.

[Now, please check Arena II.]

“

Kraaaaah!

”

“Oh dear God!”

“What was that?! What is this madness?!”

In Arena II, stood the cleaning lady and the security guard. They were scared witless but holding their ground.

“Everyone, weapons out!”

“There’s something behind the door...”

“Sir, your shield! Sol-Ah and Yeo-Jin, stay behind me!”

There was Ji-Eun standing at the front, taking charge, shielding the younger ones behind her.

[Please choose which arena to open.]

Five people were in Arena I and another five people were in Arena II.

How neat. How balanced.

On the desk in front of him, two buttons were neatly labeled as I and II.

[You have 10 seconds to decide.]

[Failure to choose will result in automatic deletion.]

It was simple. He had to pick which arena the dragon would enter. Press I, and Jae-Hyuk, Yul, and the others would face it. Press II, and Ji-Eun, Sol-Ah, and their group would. Doing nothing would mean getting deleted.

[Ten, nine, eight...]

Therefore, he had to make a choice just like they said.

“Acceleration! Summon! Activate!”

[Three, two, one...]

After prepping every buff and skill he could, he clicked the button.

[Selection confirmed.]

[Arena II has been opened.]

Rumble—

Bang!

The ground shook beneath his feet, followed by the sound of a gunshot. The sound was much sharper and stronger than any he’d heard before.

It’s this way.

He’d asked Ji-Eun to fire a shot the moment she spotted the Eye to have a better sense of where he was locked up. Of course, the reason was obvious: to pinpoint his location.

Technically, the trial rules stated that he

could not leave

the observation room for fairness reasons, but who cared about those upstairs considered fair? He had zero intention of sitting still while everyone else died.

“For fair judgment, the candidate may not leave the observation room during the trial.”

[You are using the Bone Bomb.]

He hurled it, aiming straight at the wall where the gunshot had come from.

Whish! Boom!

The shinbone arced through the air and struck. The pure white wall cracked, shattered, and blew open. Ash and dust billowed out as sunlight burst in with fresh air, dirt and voices.

The people on the ground were gasping, yelling in disbelief.

“Eun-Ho!”

“Mister! Why the hell are you standing over there?!”

Whoosh—!

Facing the blasting wind, Eun-Ho stared down at the arena to see how far away he was from the group. Around six meters high. Compared to the drop from Namsan Tower, this was nothing.

My Chitin Breastplate should absorb the impact, and if my leg breaks, I’ll just ask Sol-Ah to patch me up.

He braced to leap and then came the mechanical voice.

Beeep—!

[Caution!]

[You have left the observation room. Please return immediately.]

“

Huh?

”

[You have entered an unauthorized zone. Penalty has been applied.]

Wait. What kind of penalty?

[Your movement has been restricted in unauthorized zones.]

[Your Agility stat has been reduced by 99%]

[Your damage intake has been increased in unauthorized zones.]

[Your Defense Power stat has been reduced by 99%]

Ha... Thanks a lot, assholes!