Chapter 16
Golden Rain (2)
"So there really was something."
Yeongwoo looked at the newly appeared trophy-shaped icon in the corner of his vision.
The moment he focused on it, the symbol flashed brightly and filled his entire view with golden light.
"Huh?"
Then a message appeared.
[Welcome to Jeong Myeongwoo07's Achievement Entry!]
[Change the world through achievements and become a great being.]
"Change the world... what? A great being?"
Feeling uncomfortable with the grandiose welcome message, Yeongwoo examined the achievement window that appeared before him.
Flash!
Unlike the previous messages, the tone of the first line was very different.
[Your achievement alignment is "Blockhead."]
Completed Achievements: 1
Caller of the Golden Rain [Legendary] - First
"...What?"
Yeongwoo doubted his eyes.
Right at the top of the seemingly magnificent achievement interface was the word "Blockhead."
"I'm a blockhead? Who decided that?"
As Yeongwoo fumed while staring at the achievement screen, a list of recommended achievements appeared below.
Presumably, these were achievements recommended specifically for someone classified as a "Blockhead."
Recommended Achievements
[Golden Foundation]
Summon Golden Rain in two different regions. (1/2)
[Special-Class Social Worker]
Return a Mutant alive.
[Jeweler's Touch]
Wear two rings of at least Brilliant grade on both your index and ring fingers. (1/4)
[Perfect Orphan]
Erase both of your parents. (1/2)
As Yeongwoo read down the list, he flinched at the final achievement.
Not only was the objective disturbing, but the progress count was equally ominous.
"1/2...?"
Judging from the wording, it probably meant that only one of his parents was still alive.
In other words, whether it was his father or mother, the achievement was effectively telling him to eliminate the last remaining root of his family.
"The more I learn about this world, the more disgusting it becomes."
The fact that such a task even existed as an achievement was absurd.
Just moments ago, the system had been telling him to become a great person through achievements.
"Still, they're only recommendations. It's not like I have to complete them."
Since no other achievements were visible, it seemed the rest remained hidden.
"Now then..."
When Yeongwoo wondered whether there was anything else to see, the achievement list automatically scrolled upward and revealed another screen.
[You have 2 unclaimed achievement rewards.]
Golden Flash — Legendary Gauntlets
Steal 50% of an enemy's Senses during combat.
Accumulated Golden Rain: 1
Reward for "Caller of the Golden Rain."
Covert Mark — Tattoo
Allows you to hide your title.
Obtained through achievement unlock.
"Legendary gauntlets..."
Even without knowing this world's equipment ranking system, Yeongwoo could tell they were extraordinary.
The ability to steal 50% of an enemy's senses was absurd.
"If my opponent's Sense stat is 1,000, does that mean I take 500?"
And "steal" implied that the stolen amount would become his.
If the description was literal, his opponent would fight with their senses cut in half while Yeongwoo gained the stolen portion.
No matter whom he fought in the future, he'd always have the advantage in perception.
"And the second effect?"
His eyes moved to the next line.
Accumulated Golden Rain: 1
"No idea what that means. Maybe extra effects unlock depending on how many times Golden Rain is triggered?"
At least the gauntlets made sense as a reward for the Golden Rain achievement.
Even their name—Golden Flash—fit the theme.
A moment later, the achievement interface faded away.
[Would you like to claim all achievement rewards?]
"Of course."
The instant Yeongwoo nodded, both his hands became wrapped in golden light.
"...!"
Even though he'd mentally prepared himself, his body still shuddered.
His hands were literally being covered in golden armor in real time.
Cold metallic fragments brushed across his palms and the backs of his hands, producing tingling sensations.
Clank! Clack!
After more than ten seconds, the light disappeared, leaving only a pair of golden gauntlets behind.
Then—
Piiit!
A sharp pain shot through the left side of his chest.
Yeongwoo pulled down his shirt and looked.
"Seriously..."
His brow immediately furrowed.
Just as expected, a tattoo had appeared.
Covert Mark — Tattoo
Allows you to hide your title.
The tattoo resembled a spiraling flame and occupied a fairly large area on the left side of his chest.
For someone who had never even dyed his hair, let alone gotten a tattoo, the change felt unpleasant.
"What's that?"
Before he realized it, Yechan had approached and was staring at the Golden Flash gauntlets.
The gleaming gold on Yeongwoo's hands naturally attracted attention.
"Achievement rewards."
"Achievements?"
"Looks like it's compensation for giving up the three million."
Yeongwoo briefly explained the achievement system.
Yechan looked up at the clear sky and asked:
"So does that mean you'll keep throwing money around from now on?"
"If I want to keep getting achievement rewards, probably."
More precisely, if he wanted to maintain the Blockhead alignment.
Judging by what he'd seen, recommended achievements changed depending on one's achievement disposition.
"But if higher-tier achievements exist, focusing on a single path is probably smarter."
He remembered one of the recommended achievements.
Golden Foundation
Summon Golden Rain in two different regions. (1/2)
Anyone could tell it was the upgraded version of Caller of the Golden Rain.
Which meant—
"Completing it will probably give another reward. Maybe even something better than this one."
Of course, Yeongwoo also understood what walking that path would entail.
To trigger Golden Rain in multiple regions, he would have to give up enormous amounts of Karma every time.
And beyond that—
He would have to compete with other Mutant hunters.
Specifically, the strongest people in those regions.
The local Sword Number Ones.
People who had probably already killed their region's Mutant and chosen the three million Karma reward.
Thinking that far made Golden Flash seem different.
Golden Flash — Legendary Gauntlets
Steal 50% of an enemy's Senses during combat.
Accumulated Golden Rain: 1
"So it's meant for hunting down other regional champions."
The Covert Mark's ability to hide titles was likely intended for the same purpose.
After all, openly carrying the title of Gumi's Number One Sword in another region would inevitably attract attention.
"Still, can a mere advantage in senses really let me beat another regional champion?"
Looking around to see if there were any other Mutants nearby, Yeongwoo scanned the area.
There were no additional red pillars of light.
Instead, the residents of Haneulchae came rushing toward him.
"W-What's happening?"
"Do you need anything?"
Yeongwoo didn't know it, but they'd been watching his every move.
After all, he was both Gumi's Number One Sword and the benefactor who had showered them with rewards.
And they knew full well that if he wanted, he could easily confiscate the Technique Coins they had received.
Naturally, they were being extremely cautious around him.
"Need something? Not really..."
Just as Yeongwoo shrugged—
Grrrrrrk.
A loud growling noise echoed.
"Ah."
"..."
The crowd stirred awkwardly.
Only then did he notice the sky had already begun to darken.
"What time is it anyway? The sun's almost down."
The Reset had started around ten in the morning.
Since then, he'd spent the entire day fighting without eating anything.
Honestly, it would have been strange if he wasn't hungry.
Grrrrk.
His stomach growled again.
Perhaps the tension had finally eased.
An overwhelming wave of hunger hit him all at once.
"I wonder if everyone else has eaten."
As he spoke casually, Yeongwoo rummaged through his backpack.
Eventually he found—
A petrified chocolate bar.
"...!"
The moment he picked it up, not only the Haneulchae residents but even Yechan stared at it hungrily.
"For my quality of life, I need to get these people away from me. I can't even eat a chocolate bar in peace."
He took out a 1,000-Karma coin and touched it to the surface.
Immediately—
[Chocolate Bar: 500]
A price appeared.
It was the first food price he had seen since the Reset.
"500 for one chocolate bar... That's more expensive than I expected. A bicycle only cost 3,000."
Maybe food was priced higher because it was directly tied to survival.
When he touched the coin to it again to confirm the purchase, smoke rose from the chocolate bar.
The petrification vanished.
Sssshhh...
"W-Whoa!"
"I've never seen that before!"
The residents stepped closer, fascinated even by the sight of the petrification being undone.
Instinctively, Yeongwoo clutched the chocolate bar protectively.
Ridiculous as it seemed, it was essentially an irreplaceable resource.
At that exact moment—
Clink.
A familiar sound rang out.
A coin dropped from midair.
"Huh?"
A small turquoise coin.
Worth 500 Karma.
It was the first discovery of a new currency denomination.
But nobody paid attention.
The only thing that mattered right now was the chocolate bar Yeongwoo was opening.
Rustle.
As a dark chunk of chocolate emerged from the wrapper, the children's eyes widened.
Yeongwoo quietly avoided their gazes and took his first bite.
Crunch.
The chocolate hadn't melted at all.
The outer coating was firm enough to snap cleanly.
"So it preserves the exact state it was in before petrification."
The caramel spread beneath the chocolate slowly coated his mouth.
He exhaled softly through his nose.
"Ah..."
A completely new kind of joy and satisfaction washed over him.
The simple miracle of restoring a petrified chocolate bar and eating it in the middle of a city where two-meter-tall goblins might attack at any moment.
Rustle.
By the time he had eaten about half of it, he finally noticed the children properly.
But who knew when another battle would start?
He couldn't casually give away such precious calories.
Not even to children who had been hungry since morning.
He watched one child unconsciously part their lips in anticipation.
Then he looked away and finished the rest of the chocolate bar.
"Hmm."
His stomach was still hungry.
But mentally, he felt astonishingly satisfied.