76 Chapter 75 (1/2)

Back when he found himself standing on a crossroad, Jin-Woo chose the 'Blessed random box' instead of the 'Cursed random box'.

And the result of that decision was the key to the Demon's Castle.

Thanks to that, he gained entry to this instant dungeon and earned a lot. His level had risen up greatly, he acquired lots of items, and as for Gold… Well, it was overflowing to such an extent that he was beginning to think he should start spending some very soon.

'Even if I was given a chance to do-over, I'd have chosen the same.'

However….

However, just because he chose to take this path, that didn't mean he was not curious about the potential result of choosing a different path.

The 'Blessed random box', supposed to give him what he wanted, and the 'Cursed random box' that was supposed to give him what he needed.

Just what could be inside the latter?

'I did get what I wanted from the Blessed random box, that's for sure.'

And so, the perfect chance to satisfy that curiosity once and for all had landed in his lap.

'…..'

His heart began beating a little bit faster than before; Jin-Woo quietly waited for the System's answer. He thought that its reply was slower than usual.

Tti-ring!

His anxiety turned out to be groundless, though, because the System did reply pretty soon afterwards.

[You have chosen 'Item: Cursed random box'.]

[The chosen item is now available.]

Shururu….

A small box slowly materialised in front of his feet.

'Yes!!'

His heart beating much quicker now, Jin-Woo hurriedly picked the box up. However, he was suddenly overcome with this feeling that the weight of this box was rather familiar to him.

Could it be?

He quickly ripped the lid open and confirmed what was inside, only for his eyes to grow very large.

”…..Isn't this…?!”

Upon exiting the Demon's Castle, Jin-Woo headed home right away.

He just wanted to take a shower and clean himself.

While he was stuck inside the dungeon, he didn't even get to wash his face once. He could buy all the water he needed from the Store, sure, but there was no space or time to wash inside the dungeon.

'I mean, there are monsters everywhere in that place, so just where would I find the leeway to take a shower….?'

Pshuoooosh…..

Arriving home, he immediately entrusted himself to the cascading warm water. Only then did the fact that he left the dungeon feel like reality.

'Yup, being home is the best.'

Changing to a new set of clothes, Jin-Woo left the towel on his wet hair and settled down on the edge of his bed. It was now time to get some things organised.

First of all, he summoned his Stat window.

'Status.'

Tti-ring.

A long, long wall of text that managed to almost disorient him popped up in front of his view. Jin-Woo's gaze stopped at the Status column.

[Stat points available to distribute: 20]

The additional Stat points he earned as the quest completion reward were still waiting for him. And of course, he put them all in Intelligence.

Tti-ring.

[Stats]

Strength: 178

Endurance: 137

Agility: 147

Intelligence: 149

Perception: 119

Finally, Intelligence had exceeded other Stats.

It was still some ways off Strength, but when considering the fact that he didn't even pay attention to the Intelligence Stat until recently, this growth could only be called lightning fast.

Strength, Endurance, Agility, Intelligence, and Perception. A good balance between them had been established now.

'Not one of these Stats are useless to me.'

As it so happened, he had gone through stages of seriously investing in each of his Stats. And now, he knew full well the effects and advantages each Stat brought to the table.

'Hold on….'

Now that things had come to this, how about him raising all of his Stats equally from now on, instead of focusing only on one?

An All-Stat Player.

Suddenly, the desire to become one gripped him tightly.

What a happy dilemma to have this was, something only possible because it felt like not one of his Stats was lagging behind others now.

'Once Intelligence rises past Strength, I should start slowly raising the others, too.'

Making up his mind, Jin-Woo shifted his gaze to the Skill window next.

That's where he discovered the third reward.

[Reward 3: Unknown reward]

He thought that the first reward 'the item he wanted' and the second reward 'bonus Stat points' were more than enough, so he didn't pay all that much attention to the third reward.

Maybe, he was just mildly curious? Was that about it?

But well, he already got the reward, so no need to be shy now, was there?

[Reward 3 has been made available.]

Along with that message, a scroll similar in size to the 'entry permit' appeared in his hands.

'What's this?'

Jin-Woo's eyes opened wider at this unexpected type of reward, and he unfurled the scroll right away.

[Recipe: Divine Water of Life]

You can learn the crafting methods of 'Divine Water of Life'.

Jin-Woo's eyes widened even further.

'I can craft an item… with this?'

And here he was, thinking that only those who had Awakened as mage-types could craft weapons containing magical energy… Now that he thought about it, though, he was also a mage-type, wasn't he?

'Still, to think, there was a way to craft something with just a recipe like this….'

Jin-Woo heart began palpitating. But, a question formed in his head at the same time. Just what could he make here, anyway?

'What is this Divine Water of Life?'

Jin-Woo read the information on this 'Divine Water of Life' written inside the recipe.

[Item: Divine Water of Life]

Rarity: S

Type: Consumable

A mysterious liquid medicine that cures any and all illnesses through the powerful magic contained within. The effect will only manifest after one whole bottle has been consumed.

'Cures…. any and all illnesses?'

The moment he read that information, he thought about his mother, still confined to the hospital.

He had already confirmed through Yu Jin-Ho multiple times that effects of various potions still worked on other people. If he could truly make this 'Divine Water of Life', then it meant that he'd be able to save his mother.

His hands holding the scroll trembled from excitement.

The ingredients were also on the simpler side, so to speak.

'Fragment of the World Tree.'

He earned that after killing Vulcan on the 50th floor.

'Spring Water from the Forest of Echoes.'

He got that after killing Metus the necromancer on the 75th floor.

And finally….

'…..Purified Blood of the Demon King.'

This item hadn't shown up, yet.

However, thinking back to the two ingredients that had come out so far, he could easily guess where he might find some of this 'Purified Blood of the Demon King' from.

The upper floors.

'I'm sure it's with the final boss of the Demon's Castle, probably on the top floor.'

In other words, simply by clearing the Demon's Castle dungeon, the ingredients to craft the 'Divine Water of Life' would fall into his lap one by one.

It happened, then.

”….Ah.”

A gasp of epiphany leaked out of his mouth, completely unbeknownst to him. That's how surprised Jin-Woo was.

Could it be that… the item he wanted as per description on the Blessed random box said – could that be this Divine Water of Life?

'Mom….'

Thinking about the possibility that he'd get to see his mother again all healthy, his eyes began welling up with emotions.

Then, a new message popped up.

Tti-ring.

[You can learn Crafting Skill via 'Recipe: Divine Water of Life'.]

[Will you learn this Crafting Skill?]

The mechanical beep brought him back to his senses, fast.

In order to craft this Divine Water of Life, he needed to clear the Demon's Castle first. Meaning, he had quickly get himself prepared and return to that place. He had no time to waste on sentimentality like this.

”….I'm learning it.”

[You have acquired Crafting Skill for 'Item: Divine Water of Life'.]

'I'm not dreaming, right?'

As if to imply that his memories were functioning fine, a new column called [Crafting Skill] appeared on the Skills window.

[Crafting Skill]

Consumable: Divine Water of Life (2/3)

The numbers behind the name probably indicated the two ingredients he already possessed – the 'Fragment of the World Tree', and the 'Spring Water from the Forest of Echoes'.

'Ah, right. Next up….'

Jin-Woo summoned his Inventory and retrieved an item stored right next to the spring water. It was a necklace, seemingly carved out from skulls of various small creatures.

[Item: Demon Sovereign's Necklace]

Rarity: S

Type: Accessory

Agility +20, Intelligence +20

When worn together with 'Demon Sovereign's Earrings' and 'Demon Sovereign's Ring', set bonus effects will be unlocked.

Set effect 1: (locked)

Set effect 2: (locked)

The 'Spring Water from the Forest of Echoes' wasn't the only loot he got from killing the Guide of the Departed Souls, Metus. Indeed, this rather vile-looking necklace also came out, too.

'Why are the designs of all the necklaces I found so crappy….?'

Jin-Woo frowned deeply while recalling the appearance of the dog collar he was currently wearing. He slowly brought the 'Demon Sovereign's Necklace' closer to his neck.

Tti-ring.

[Will you replace 'Gatekeeper's Necklace' with 'Demon Sovereign's Necklace'?]

Both necklaces boasted rather similar additional effects. Both raised two of his Stats by 20 points each. However, the demon sovereign's also had the set effect to consider, as well.

'Replace.'

Shururuk…

[You have equipped 'Item: Demon Sovereign's Necklace'.]

The skull necklace disappeared from his hands, only to be replaced by a dog collar.

He quickly shoved that dog collar inside his Inventory, and checked the newly unlocked set effect of the 'demon sovereign's accessory set'.

[Item: Demon Sovereign's Necklace]

Set effect 1: All Stats +5