[Hidden Piece. ‘Gold Turtle’s Collectivity’ has been achieved.]

This much, anyone with knowledge of the future would commonly know about as a hidden piece. However, what followed was different.

[Hidden Piece. ‘Gold Turtle’s Collectivity’ has been discovered for the first time.]

‘First?’

It stated I discovered this hidden piece ‘first.’ Reflecting on it, it was never revealed who the original discoverer was. As time passed, it simply became something someone once found, being used like a common good.

Yellow ‘!!!’ symbols caught my eye.

‘Exclamation alert, huh.’

It was an important notification that only I could see. I checked it out.

[Hidden Piece. A title associated with the ‘first discovery’ of ‘Gold Turtle’s Collectivity’ exists.]

[The associated title is ‘Pioneer’.]

[Would you like to proceed with the scenario by linking the ‘Gold Turtle’s Collectivity’ hidden piece and ‘Pioneer’ title?]

I now understood why no player in the past had triggered ‘Gold Turtle’s Collectivity.’

‘Two conditions have to be met together.’

First discovery and Pioneer. Both conditions had to be met to activate it.

[Activate the ‘detailed description’ command if you want more information.]

An unexpected scenario. Thankfully, considering it’s a ‘beginner area,’ it was quite friendly.

‘Detailed description.’

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If a player with the title [Pioneer] discovers the [First Hidden Piece], they can proceed with the associated scenario. You can proceed with the linked scenario three times.

* Link Scenario Progress: [0/3]

* Linked Hidden Piece: [Gold Turtle’s Collectivity]

* Proceeding Scenario: Summoning of the hidden boss monster [Poison Gold Turtle]

──────────

I focused on the hidden boss monster, ‘Poison Gold Turtle.’

‘Poison Gold Turtle?’

A monster in the early to mid-30s level-wise.

‘With boss monster adjustments… it must have strength above level 35.’

Furthermore, hunting the ‘Poison’ attribute Poison Gold Turtle was very tricky due to its incredibly high physical defense and the poison it spewed at attackers. It wasn’t a monster worth taking on unless you were a player with high poison resistance.

‘As for me…’

I had to make a choice.

‘I give up.’

The thought didn’t last long. Even using the Pioneer title to proceed with the linked scenario was limited. Limited to three times.

‘The losses outweigh the gains.’

While I did have an item called ‘Mandra’s Gloves,’ which provided poison resistance and was hard to come by at novice ranks, there was no need to take the risk. The potential gains from defeating the Poison Gold Turtle might have been significant enough to wager on, but there was no compelling reason to do so.

[Would you like to proceed with the scenario by linking the ‘Gold Turtle’s Collectivity’ hidden piece and ‘Pioneer’ title?]

I selected ‘NO.’

‘NO.’

The scenario continuation was canceled. Shin Yeon-seo’s voice reached me.

“What are you doing?”

“Just checking something.”

“I got the notification, too. Something about increased drop rates and coin gains.”

Shin Yeon-seo drew her line first.

“I’m satisfied with today’s experience. I don’t covet COINS. You guys can divide them up. For now, I’ve learned a lot from you today, and I’m thankful for that…”

As always, Shin Yeon-seo, who had put down her sword, smiled brightly and cutely.

“It almost felt like a date.”

I couldn’t see how this felt like a date, but anyway, Shin Yeon-seo gave up on the rewards.

“Brother. I came here primarily to assist you. I don’t expect a reward.”

“…”

For now, I didn’t respond.

‘How much will come out of the Random COIN Box is key.’

It wasn’t the original plan, but it got me much closer to ‘that thing’ I had in mind. With a bit of luck, I could get ‘it’ right away.

Sun-hwa also told me.

“I’ll do whatever you tell me, brother.”

Sun-hwa didn’t seem to want anything in particular. She trusted and supported me to the fullest, seemingly just happy to be doing something with me. She didn’t show greed for coins.

‘Let’s see… get those coins first.’

I didn’t want to hog all the rewards. It wasn’t just me who worked hard. We all got here together.

‘Of course, I have priority.’

Priority is naturally mine. I played the biggest part in this play. But there was no need for excessive greed now. If I could be satisfied with the outcome, I would share the rest.

‘They need motivation from the rewards, too.’

I think I will keep this party for a while. Somehow, I ended up as the party leader. From the perspective of the party leader, the motivation of the party members is very important.

‘If I worked to the bone and did overtime only to get a pittance, it’s natural to lack motivation.’

Carrot and stick. I needed to use these two appropriately to lead the party. I said,

“We’re going to secure COINS now.”

I set a clear benchmark. A solid, visibly clear standard.

“Up to 70,000 COINS are mine.”

Their eyes widened. It’s natural to be surprised. 70,000 COINS. Back when I received substantial support from the guardians, I barely had 8,000 COINS. Killing a level 25 Lycanthrope yielded only 30 COINS. So 70,000 COINS is a significant sum to us right now.

Shin Yeon-seo laughed, as if she found it amusing, that laugh had no malice; her eyes were crescents.

“Thanks, I’ll take it.”

70,000 COINS. As if she knew it wouldn’t happen. It seemed like a laugh of that meaning. I still couldn’t understand why I felt such strong ‘affection’ through the sensors. I wonder what point in my words could evoke such affection.

Regardless, I decided to start hunting the Gold Turtles.

“Anyone here got a big bludgeoning weapon?”

“Huh? Brother, I got a [Big Hammer]!”

“Let me see that.”

Big Hammer. It was more similar to a war hammer in size. Also a weapon meant for beginners, but no one really uses it. It’s too heavy, making it almost impossible to hit monsters with, and even swinging it properly is difficult. However, if the opponent is stationary like a stake, it’s not hard to use.

‘Let’s swing it once.’

I swung the big hammer.

* * *

Whooosh!

The large weapon caused a significant whooshing noise through the air. Kim Hyuk-jin received a notification.

[You have hunted a Gold Turtle.]

[Experience points gained.]

[+241 COIN]

A mid-teens level monster, yet it gave a hefty amount of COINS.

Whooosh!

The hammer precisely struck the center of the shell.

Clang!

A loud clang as if metal hit metal rang in the ears.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Kim Hyuk-jin continued to swing the ‘Big Hammer.’

[+310COIN]

[+99 COIN]

While they were monsters of similar levels, the amount of COINS each provided varied.

[+119 COIN]

[+167 COIN]

[+222 COIN]

Shin Yeon-seo swallowed nervously.

“Incredible…”

Ma Sang-hyun just gaped at Kim Hyuk-jin with wide, calf-like eyes. Shin Yeon-seo whispered to him.

“What’s with him?”

Ma Sang-hyun had no idea.

“That… could he be of a higher level than us… specialized in handling bludgeons or some class like that?”

Ma Sang-hyun never expected anyone could wield a ‘Big Hammer’ like that. He thought his strength was unmatched by anyone, but somehow he felt he could lose to him in arm-wrestling despite the slender frame. Where could such power come from? Becoming a player felt genuinely new again.

“Brother, your strength stat seems really high.”

“I’m faster than him, though?”

“Then you’re saying your agility is higher than mine?”

“How can his strength be higher than you, and his agility also be higher than mine, even if his level is higher?”

“…”

I’m not sure. Listening to them, Kim Sun-hwa spoke the answer.

“Don’t deny the truth before your eyes, sister, brother.”

“…”

“…”

Kim Sun-hwa, a born tank, did not see Kim Hyuk-jin’s actions as ordinary ‘swinging.’

“If there was a stat for technique, it would probably be really high, wouldn’t it?”

Shin Yeon-seo agreed.

“Yeah. He’s not just swinging recklessly. He’s targeting the center of the shell to convey shock.”

Even Kim Hyuk-jin, being the world’s best, couldn’t kill a Gold Turtle in one hit. It took at least four hits to vanquish one.

“He hits almost the same spot, maintaining a certain interval.”

A constant interval. Consistent vibration. These, accumulating, create amplification. Soon, Shin Yeon-seo observed Kim Hyuk-jin’s movements with the same eyes she had when wielding her sword.

“Resonance.”

Resonance. It’s the phenomenon where the amplitude of a vibrating system dramatically increases. It happens when the frequency of force periodically applied from the outside nears the system’s natural frequency, causing amplification.

Shin Yeon-seo continued as if enchanted.

“Inside the shell, he’s creating a massive shockwave. He’s tailoring it to maximize destructive power.”

It seemed like he wasn’t using a skill, nor did it look like he learned something.

‘Is he… doing this by instinct?’

Then, while hunting Gold Turtles, Kim Hyuk-jin discovered something.

‘It’s finally here.’

[I have obtained a Random COIN Box.]

‘Please, let it be 7.’

The odds were up. I only need 7. If I gather 7, I can create a new hidden piece.

[I have obtained a Random COIN Box.]

[I have obtained a Random COIN Box.]

About 2 hours had passed. So far, I had obtained 6. One last Gold Turtle remained. With it, I could fill up to 7.

‘Please!’

[I have hunted a Gold Turtle.]

[I have obtained a Random COIN Box.]

‘7… I’ve got it.’

I was soaked in sweat.

‘At last…’

I was satisfied. I got 7 Random COIN Boxes.

The primary goal was achieved. Kim Hyuk-jin took a moment to catch his breath, taking a deep breath and using a stamina potion. He wiped off sweat with a towel from his inventory. It felt like taking a shower in sweat.

Shin Yeon-seo asked.

“Are you made of steel? How can you swing that big thing for two hours?”

“I drank a lot of stamina potions.”

“Even so, that’s not normal. Are you really human?”

Kim Hyuk-jin was not without fatigue. After swinging the hammer for 2 hours, his back and shoulders felt about to crumble.

‘But it’s alright.’

The feeling of making an effort. The feeling of carving out my own future. The feeling of earning rewards for it. It wasn’t bad. All my muscles screamed in protest, but the screaming was not distasteful.

‘And the random boxes, 7 of them.’

In addition to that, I earned a whopping 20,000 COINS. I had already secured about 1/3 of the targeted 70,000 COINS. Everything went smoother than expected.

“Brother, should we destroy the crystal now and leave through the gate?”

“No.”

There was still work to be done. I needed to open the random boxes. I clicked on the ‘COIN Random Box’ in my inventory.

‘Will 50,000 COINS come out of the Random COIN Box?’

I don’t know. I have to open it to find out—it’s a random box.

The first COIN Random Box.

[Would you like to open the COIN Random Box?]

[+6400COIN]

I gained 6,400 COINS.

The second COIN Random Box.

[Would you like to open the COIN Random Box?]

[+1,400COIN]

1,400 COINS. With two random boxes, I got 7,800 COINS. Now, I have about 30,000 remaining COINS. 40,000 COINS to the goal.

‘Five more boxes left.’

Can I get 40,000 COINS in 5 boxes? I need an average of 8,000 COINS each, but it feels like I’m getting less.

‘Is my luck bad?’

The third COIN Random Box.

[+70COIN]

Kim Hyuk-jin scowled heavily. 70 COINS? That’s a complete miss. It seems more certain. My luck isn’t great.

The fourth COIN Random Box was somewhat better.

[+9,000COIN]

As luck would have it, the fifth COIN Random Box gave [+700COIN], and the sixth COIN Random Box [+2000COIN].

So, I currently have about 40,000 COINS. Unfortunately, it looks like I didn’t get any excess coins to distribute to the others. It’s unlikely that a single coin random box will yield 30,000 COINS.

‘But that’s okay.’

The seventh. When I open the 7th random coin box, a new notification should come, if it’s like the past.

[Would you like to open the COIN Random Box?]

‘Please.’

Make it like the past. I beg you. Finally, the notification arrived.