# The Player with Maxed-Out Talent, Episode 7

[The convenience store safe zone setting has ended.]

Having packed edible food and water into my inventory, we had to walk from the convenience store to the D Tower. Without any available transportation, walking was our only option.

“Are you okay?”

A response came from behind.

“I’m fine.”

Despite the horrific scenes too cruel for a 14-year-old girl to witness, Sunhwa seemed surprisingly stoic.

‘There’s no way she’s okay.’

She can’t be. If you listen closely, you can hear the sound of sniffles, almost like swallowing tears. She must be crying. Where else would she see such scenes?

‘A city on the brink of destruction. No… Is this what a post-apocalyptic city feels like?’

Jongno had turned into a ghost town.

‘I wonder if there are roughly 10,000 people left alive.’

It probably wasn’t even that many. In reality, the number wasn’t important.

‘I don’t see any people.’

Instead of people, there were bodies everywhere. In cars. In the driver’s seat, with a missing neck… No, let’s not go there.

“Watch the ground carefully. If you see something like jelly crawling around, be sure to tell me.”

On the way to the D Tower, we had to hunt. Our primary target was the ‘Slime,’ a ‘non-aggressive monster’ that would not attack unless we attacked first. Its level was indicated by a ‘-‘. It was the safest monster that even a child of about ten could hunt.

“Brother, there’s one over there.”

A jelly-like monster was squirming out from under a car. I had seen it too.

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[Slime. -]

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As expected, its level was marked with ‘-‘. I approached the slime and swung my sword at it. It did feel squishy, like jelly, but the damage was dealt effectively. The hunt wasn’t difficult.

[You have gained experience.]

[You are awarded 3 coins.]

“It disappeared.”

“Yeah. They’re quite weak monsters. Let’s go. We need to hunt these guys the whole way there.”

I felt it again here.

‘Why is this so easy?’

No matter how weak a monster is. Still, it felt too easy. From the beginning, I had the feeling that I had been playing all along.

‘This rusty iron sword.’

Did I use it in a dream? It was supposedly my first time handling it, but it felt surprisingly natural in my hand. Swinging the sword felt incredibly comfortable, as if I’d trained with this weapon for a long time.

“Make sure to find them well.”

“I will. I’ll look carefully.”

Sunhwa did her best, adapting much better than expected to this dreadful place full of blood pools and scattered corpses.

“Brother, here!”

She seemed much better at finding the monsters than I was.

“Brother, over here.”

After hunting about five slimes, I got a notification about leveling up.

[Your level has increased.]

[Current level: 2]

[You are awarded 2 bonus stats.]

[You are awarded 1 random bonus stat.]

Sunhwa looked at me curiously.

“Brother, your body just sparkled with light. Why is that?”

“It’s because I leveled up.”

“Leveled up?”

Sunhwa seemed fascinated by the concept of leveling up.

“Yeah. When you defeat monsters, you level up. Leveling up makes you stronger.”

“Ah… I see.”

“I will work hard to level up like you, brother.”

Sunhwa’s face was still full of curiosity, but she restrained herself from asking too many probing questions. We hunted several more slimes.

[Your level has increased.]

[Current level: 3]

[You are awarded 2 bonus stats.]

[You are awarded 1 random bonus stat.]

I felt something was strange again.

‘This is weird.’

The speed of leveling up felt unusually fast.

‘Is it different when I play directly?’

My experience with play was ‘virtual play.’ Virtual viewing through YouTube, VR experiences with ‘Experience Dungeons,’ and memorizing strategy guides through text. That was my experience with play.

‘Direct playing feels so much faster for leveling up.’

But that wasn’t the only thing.

‘I’ve already been given two random bonus stats.’

Random bonus stats usually aren’t handed out easily, even in tutorial fields.

‘Even Kwon Wang… Masanghyeon hardly ever encountered random bonus stats.’

Masanghyeon, one of the top 10 most talented players in Korea, also spoke about the difficulty of obtaining bonus stats. But I’ve already got two of them, even though I’m only level 3.

A memory of the psychiatric assessment report flashed through my mind.

[Talent: None.]

A few days ago. Those four words had particularly stung. I composed my thoughts in my head.

‘Did I gain a talent that didn’t exist before as I returned to the past?’

If not,

‘Maybe I’m a flash-in-the-pan early-game player.’

This seemed to be the most likely scenario. There have been many such players in Korea. Players who briefly soared like a comet and vanished like the wind. In the lower-level section, they leveled up explosively and demonstrated immense skills, earning the titles ‘Prodigy’ or ‘Rookie,’ but they disappeared without passing the middle-level section.

‘The likelihood of being a flash-in-the-pan type is high, I guess.’

For now, that’s what I decided to believe. Approaching it this way, I wouldn’t be disappointed. I decided not to look too far ahead and to take it step by step.

‘I am in an advantageous state right now.’

Having nothing to my name, no advantage whatsoever, I’ve still survived the first and second goblin raids and have gained the attention of a Guardian. Assuming I’m a flash-in-the-pan player, I’m already at level 3.

‘First, my goal is to survive.’

I had a goal.

‘Amass a billion in cash.’

That was another goal. Even as a flash-in-the-pan player, earning a billion should be fairly easy. With that sum, I could afford to cure my mother. In three years, ‘Disease Healing Potions’ would be available in the market.

‘Don’t look too far ahead.’

I wanted to take down the Guardians, but that’s a task for the distant future. I might be a flash-in-the-pan talent player after all. First things first: survive. Then, earn a billion in cash. I can think about what comes next later—it won’t be too late.

[Your level has increased.]

[Current level: 5]

Another random stat was given to me along with the bonus stats. Before I knew it, I had reached level 5.

[Party system activation is now available.]

I immediately sent a party invitation to Sunhwa. She was startled and asked, “What is this?” but she accepted the party invitation naturally.

[A Nameless Observer finds your presence intriguing.]

[A Nameless Observer is showing a very high interest in you.]

I hadn’t received any notice from the ‘Valiant Lion King’. While continuing our walk toward the D Tower, Sunhwa said,

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“I’ll work hard. I want to be helpful to you, brother.”

Why is she saying this out of the blue? If she’s not helpful, I’ll leave her behind. I almost said that aloud when Sunhwa continued.

“So… please don’t abandon me.”

Again? What’s up with her always asking not to be abandoned?

“Don’t give up on me. I really will do well, I promise.”

She did look a bit pitiful. How could such a young girl say these words? But outwardly, I kept a stern expression.

“Action speaks louder than words.”

Though it may seem cold, I spoke realistically. Sympathy or niceties could only spoil the child.

“If you become unnecessary, I will discard you without hesitation.”

I have my own issues to sort out. My leveling up rate was much faster than I expected, and I had already received four random bonus stats, but that’s beside the point. I might not be able to protect Sunhwa when it comes time to face the enemy waiting on the first floor of the D Tower.

‘After all… it’s strange for me to protect anyone.’

What can a Level 5 player do? Everyone is responsible for their own survival. Sunhwa seemed to understand my words well.

Then, at that moment, Sunhwa spoke.

“Isn’t that… a different monster?”

* * *

Nearby Gwanghwamun, in front of the statue of the Admiral Yi Sun-sin. Other monsters, not slimes, existed there.

‘Urban foxes.’

The levels of the urban foxes were ‘2’ or ‘3’.

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Urban Fox LV 3

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They were not too difficult to catch. However, the difficulty felt much higher compared to slimes. Maybe because taking a life was something still new to me.

‘I also killed goblins before.’

The monsters in the form of grey foxes were ‘passive-aggressive monsters.’ If left alone, they wouldn’t attack, but once provoked, they would draw aggro from nearby. Touch one, and numerous others would attack together.

‘Huh?’

But then Sunhwa shouted ‘taunt,’ and a ‘!!!’ mark appeared above the heads of the ‘urban foxes.’ They rushed towards Sunhwa, tearing into her all over.

I was surprised.

‘A wide-area aggro?’

Though they were only level 2 and 3 monsters, Sunhwa was just a level 3 herself. But this aggro was something else—the urban foxes from the area gathered all at once. There were about fourteen of them.

‘They aren’t taking any damage.’

I wasn’t just standing around either. For most animal-type monsters, the ‘neck’ is a weak spot. I could take down the urban foxes without much trouble. Experience wasn’t coming in from slimes anymore, but it rose quicker with the urban foxes.

[Your experience has increased.]

[You have acquired 7 coins.]

[Your level has increased.]

[Current level: 8]

With the level-up, all signs of fatigue disappeared at once—a privilege of leveling up. Leveling makes one return to the best condition.

‘The leveling speed is much faster than I anticipated.’

I was already level 8. According to many guides, I should have reached level 5 by now. I was only supposed to be activating the party system, yet I was already level 8. Whether it’s level 5 or 8 might not sound much different but it’s a big deal.

‘The speed difference between leveling from 4 to 7 is almost double.’

It’s much harder to move from level 4 to level 8 than it is from 1 to 4. Considering that, I’m leveling up at a pace much faster than double. Much more than expected.

‘A crazy speed of leveling up.’

It was a ludicrously fast pace. It seemed to be a surprise to the guardians as well. While floating around, Senia approached me. She witnessed my leveling-up scene.

“Player Kim Hyukjin. What is your level?”

“…”

I hesitated. Should I tell her or not? There are advantages whichever way I decide. For now, I chose to reveal it.

“Level 8.”

“…”

Senia’s wingtips shuddered slightly.

“Are you sure it’s level 8?”

“You can scan me if you want.”

Senia looked at me for a long while, seemingly in disbelief. After a while, she finally spoke.

“…Indeed, you are at level 8.”

Although she didn’t show it, she was surprised. Definitely. My rate of leveling up seemed to be out of the ordinary. It wasn’t just my imagination.

[A Nameless Observer expresses astonishment at your leveling speed.]

[A number of unnamed Guardians find it amazing.]

After confirming my level, Senia returned to a semi-transparent state.

‘Clearly, my leveling-up speed is ridiculously fast.’

I hunted a little more in the vicinity.

[You have hunted an Urban Fox.]

[Your experience has increased.]

[You have acquired 7 coins.]

I raised my experience nearly to the brink of level 9. The cap for levels in the tutorial field is ’10’.

‘Soon to be level 9.’

I decided it was time to stop hunting. My goal was in ‘D Tower.’ If I could just navigate the first floor of D Tower correctly, I would have massive privileges that could change the entire course of the game.

‘If I can just conquer that one challenge…’

With that, earning a billion wouldn’t be too difficult, even for a flash-in-the-pan player. I had arrived with Sunhwa at D Tower. There were several entrances.

‘This entrance.’

I chose one without any monsters. A notice sounded.

[Tutorial Dungeon, D Tower has a level entry limit of 5.]

[Would you like to enter the Tutorial Dungeon, D Tower?]

‘YES.’

I selected to enter. The revolving door began to move slowly, as if beckoning me to come in if I dare. Sunhwa slightly grabbed the hem of my clothes from behind. She seems a bit scared.

“Do you remember what we have to do once we’re inside?”

“Yes.”

Sunhwa’s voice trembled lightly. Though I noticed it, I didn’t outwardly respond. She wasn’t exactly being whiny to me, and I wasn’t planning to indulge her whining anyway. I paused for a moment to check my stats.

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[Status Window]

Name: Kim Hyukjin (Player)

Level: 8

Title: –

Strength: 14 Intelligence: 14

Agility: 14 Sense: 14

Stamina: 14 Mental Strength: 13(+30)

Bonus Stats: 0

Random Stats: 4

Remaining Stats: 4

──────────

According to the high-rankers, it’s best to initially raise all attributes equally. That’s the proven standard.

‘These are the stats at level 8.’

Completely different from other level 8s I remembered. I felt more confident.

“Let’s go.”

I stepped forward first. Senia, who had turned half-transparent, followed me.

[A Nameless Observer watches you with interest.]

‘Complacency is forbidden.’

At my current level, it’s definitely a dangerous place. Ignorance of the guide could lead to instant death. I reviewed the strategy one more time in my head and entered the tutorial dungeon.

[You have entered the Tutorial Dungeon, D Tower.]