Chapter 6: Power of the Benevolence Stat (2)

Ding!

[The Envoy of God is one bestowed with the significant role of representing the holy will of the Solarian God on earth. One who represents such noble deeds must always possess the right body, right thoughts, and the right mindset.]

[Benevolence stat is a total of 1.]

[All stats increase by +1.]

"S-stats window! I should check my stats window!"

[Kai]

Class: Solaris Cleric

Level: 46

Title: Envoy of God

HP: 9,200

Holy Power: 17,700

Stats

Strength: 22 Stamina: 92

Intelligence: 22 Agility: 22

Holiness: 177 Benevolence: 1

"...It really applied."

Kai's eyes trembled as he observed the stats that increased in accordance with his Benevolence stat.

If I help an NPC in trouble, my Benevolence stat increases by one.

In other words, for each quest, all his stats increased by one.

Kai, excited, began to cool his head and started calculating.

"My current level is 46, but if I only consider the sum of my stats..."

He possessed stats comparable to a character of level 56. Of course, this calculation was just looking at the sum of all his stats.

If he had actually developed his character to level 56, he wouldn’t have invested stats in Strength, Agility, or Intelligence, instead focusing solely on Stamina and Holiness. However, it wasn’t a loss. Strength, Agility, and Intelligence were also stats that played their role well.

If later my Benevolence stat surpasses 200, 300...

It would be the birth of a one-of-a-kind all-around character!

I'm excited.

Kai, with a smile curling up the corners of his mouth, turned around.

I don't have time to just stand around.

He ran toward the quest board as if possessed, intending to exclusively possess all the quests before anyone else could take them.

***

A pushover? Pfft.

Kai smiled as he watched other players laugh at him and walk away after he completed a quest. He was tempted to show them his stats window.

[Kai]

Class: Solaric Cleric

Level: 46

Title: Envoy of God

HP: 10,300

Holy Power: 18,800

Stats

Strength: 33 Stamina: 103

Intelligence: 33 Agility: 33

Holiness: 188 Benevolence: 12

In the two days of game time spent helping NPCs, Kai's Benevolence stat had reached 12. Just looking at the stat window made him feel content!

Maybe I've been running around too much. I'm a bit tired.

He realized it had already been 17 hours in real time. In the game, with its 3-to-1 time ratio compared to reality, 51 hours had passed.

Feeling tired, Kai sat down at the fountain in the square and logged out of the game. Taking off his headgear and stepping out of the capsule, Kai looked at the clock. It was 6 PM.

I should eat something simple before going to bed.

He opened the door to his room and went to the living room, which was empty as his parents hadn't returned from work yet. His sister, busy with a project at her company, was often working overtime, so he was alone at home.

"Well..."

Scratching his head, Han Jung-Woo made himself a bowl of ramyeon and soon lay down in bed.

I can't sleep.

He was afraid that everything might disappear like a mirage or dissipate like fog once he fell asleep. He wanted to log into the game right away to check if his job class and title were still the same. However, Han Jung-Woo just chuckled and closed his eyes.

Look at me, I'm acting like a gaming addict.

In fact, that was true. Except for eating and sleeping, all he did was play games. If that's not being an addict, what is?

After tossing and turning for a while, Han Jung-Woo eventually fell into a deep sleep, the most comfortable he had slept in years.

***

After waking up, Han Jung-Woo immediately rushed to the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his face.

"Nothing like starting the morning fresh."

Maintaining a clean start to the day was always Han Jung-Woo's principle as a proper gamer. With a refreshed feeling, he glanced at the clock, which read 1 AM, and the bright moon outside seemed to look down on him in pity, but he didn't care.

This is what a true early bird is. The early bird catches more worms!

Han Jung-Woo, having successfully spun his happiness circuit by thinking positively, ate some cereal and did the dishes. Although usually a chore he disliked, today even washing dishes felt enjoyable.

"Indeed, a person’s profession is important. Surely people who become doctors, lawyers, or prosecutors must feel like this, right?"

"What are you muttering to yourself at the crack of dawn?" His older sister, Han Ji-Hye's voice came from behind.

"Oh, did you just wake up, noona?"

"Do I look like you to be getting up at this hour?"

Looking closer, his sister seemed a bit pale as she chugged cold water.

"Oh... Is it that time of the month? The magical... Ugh!"

Han Jung-Woo's sentence was cut short by a swift punch to his side from his sister. If their mother, who had sent her to Taekwondo classes, had seen it, she would have clapped in admiration at such a clean punch!

"Little brother, I'd like you to live a long life, so can you cooperate a bit?"

With his sister glaring down at him threateningly, Han Jung-Woo could only respond with, "Yes ma’am, I will cooperate!"

"A wise choice. Don't do that again."

Groaning, Han Jung-Woo got up from the floor, rubbing his sore side with a scrunched face.

"But why do you look so unwell? Is something wrong?"

"It's nothing. I just feel sick because I was out drinking all night at a company dinner."

"Ah, I see. Well, hope the cold water helps. I'm off."

He tried to walk past his sister, but her hand grabbed the back of his shirt and wouldn't let go.

"Are you off to play games again, little brother?"

"Huh? Uh, yeah."

He heard a heavy sigh from behind, and the grip on his shirt loosened.

"You've been on a break from school for two years now. You know that, right?"

"...Has it been that long already?"

Han Ji-Hye looked at her brother with a cold gaze and shook her head. "How did my little brother end up so hopeless? You weren't like this when you were younger..."

"Noona, just wait a bit. I think the best opportunity of my life has just come."

"...That line is usually heard in places like Macau, Las Vegas, or Kangwon Land[1], you know that?"

"No, it's not like that."

Han Ji-Hye tilted her head in confusion when her brother smiled mysteriously.

***

[You did a good deed for Shudel (NPC).]

[+1 Benevolence]

[All stats increase by +1.]

[You carried out the word of Solaris. Contribution increased.]

"Phew, that puts my Benevolence stats at 18."

He had now helped all the troubled NPCs he could find in Frica Village. He hovered around the quest board for a few hours, but there were no more quests left to complete.

Do I need to move to a higher-level area?

However, his level was a bit iffy. His stats were comparable to players with levels in the upper 50s, but his level was still only 46.

Even if I go to high-level areas, they probably won't accept me into their parties.

Of course, revealing his Mythic rank class could solve all his problems. However, the disadvantages of revealing his class seemed to outweigh the benefits.

So, back to hunting Gnolls, I guess.

Kai had only hunted Gnolls from level 39 to 46.

I'm sick of even the shadow of a Gnoll by now... but there’s nothing else I can do.

Kai headed toward the square. There, it was always easy to find a party, as the place was filled with people looking to form parties.

"Level 45 and above. Heading to hunt in the Red Gnoll Plains! Just need a Cleric, and we'll be ready to go."

Having finally found a party that he liked, Kai slowly approached them. Just then, someone blocked his way.

A short old man with white hair and long beard, height barely reaching Kai's chest, stood in the way.

"Kai, may I have a word?"

"Chief Bunther? What is it?"

"Come to my house, I have something important to discuss."

"...Alright."

Kai quickly agreed, leaving behind his plans to hunt, as the scent of a strong quest lingered in Bunther's words.

"Then follow me."

The Chief immediately led Kai to his house. It was a cozy, countryside brick house.

Bunther served tea and began speaking as he sat down, "I've heard you've been helping many villagers in trouble recently." Bunther smiled warmly as he took Kai's hand. It was a wrinkled, crinkled hand but warm. "There are more powerful adventurers in this village than you, but none as trustworthy. Helping villagers so much shows you have that good of a heart."

"Thank you for your kind words."

"Your actions have clearly proven it, so it's only natural to think highly of you."

The conversation flowed in a heartwarming atmosphere.

"So why have you called me here?"

"Ahem." Getting to the point, Bunther cleared his throat and then whispered quietly, “Our village is currently facing a great crisis. I've been waiting for an adventurer who could resolve this..."

"A crisis?" Kai tilted his head.

Frica didn't seem like the kind of village that would be associated with the word 'crisis.'

"That's right, a crisis. What do you think is the strongest monster near this village?"

"That would definitely be the Red Gnoll Chief. It's a field boss monster that always roams with its minions."

"Many adventurers seem to think so, but that's a misconception." Sighing with a mix of lament, Bunther’s beard trembled as continued, "The monster that dominates this area isn't just some Gnoll. There's a particularly wicked creature ruling the mountains, playing the role of a king."

"Such a creature exists?"

It was information Kai had never come across in the community. Swallowing hard and listening intently, Kai watched as Bunther continued with a solemn expression.

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"The real master of these mountains is none other than the Wyrm Lizard."

1. KangWon Land is the name of the largest casino in South Korea ☜