Chapter 24 : Reality (6)

Leaving that trash-filled island with Uta, I stood on the deck of the Maxim, gazing at the endless expanse of the sea, and ended the Leisure.

[Leisure ended.]

[3057 Leisure Points acquired!]

[Relationship Level with Yamato has increased to 8!]

[Relationship Level with Kaido has increased to 2!]

[Relationship Level with Trafalgar D. Water Law has increased to 7!]

[Relationship Level with Trafalgar D. Lami has increased to 7!]

[Relationship Level with Uta has increased to 5!]

[Reward for reaching Relationship Level 8 for the first time: Number of selectable Leisures increased by 2!]

[Reward for reaching Relationship Level 6 for the first time: Acquired Item Evolution Ticket!]

“Hmm.”

Name: Lee Yoohyun

Age: 22

Traits: Leisure Life (EX), Radiant and Adaptive Angel (E, Growth-type), Holy Lightning (S)

Skills: Plunder (S, 61%), Growth Acceleration (B, 77%), Divine Haki (B, 34%), Divine Proclamation (C, 47%), Elemental Efficiency (C, 64%), Archery (C, 58%), Spear Throwing (D, 65%), Regeneration (D, 31%), Mid-Grade Radiant Swordsmanship (C, 32%), Mid-Low-Grade Radiant Magic (D, 65%), Mid-Low-Grade Mana Regeneration (D, 61%), Mid-Low-Grade Mana Manipulation (D, 67%), Wolf’s Footwork (D, 53%), Swimming (F, 77%), Marksmanship (F, 71%)

Strength: 100

Agility: 100

Stamina: 100

Radiant Mana: 100

Leisure Points: 3066

I now had 3066 Leisure Points, a High-Grade Item Draw Ticket, and an Item Evolution Ticket.

“Let’s start with the draw.”

[Used 1x Guaranteed High-Grade Item Random Draw Ticket.]

[Acquired Nail of Transcendence (B)!]

<Item: Nail of Transcendence (B)>

A holy nail that temporarily increases the Class of a holy being when pierced through their heart.

Abilities:

• Increases Class by one stage for 10 minutes.

• Single-use.

“…?” I examined the item—a 50cm long, sharp nail.

“Increase my Class?” While temporary and single-use, it was an incredibly powerful item.

“I’ll become a true B-rank, even if only for a short time.” The difference between a Class-restricted B-rank and a true B-rank was immense. This nail could bridge that gap.

“A good insurance policy.” I stored the nail in my Inventory, a smile playing on my lips. I had been worried about being stuck at a pseudo-B-rank. I wasn’t confident I could defeat a true B-rank, even with my angelic abilities and overpowered skills. But now, with this Nail of Transcendence, I had a fighting chance.

“Let’s keep the momentum going.” I decided to use the Mid-Grade Random Draw, hoping to obtain more Fragments of Radiance for my angel Trait’s evolution.

“I’m not asking for much.” I didn’t need amazing skills or items. I just wanted enough Fragments of Radiance to evolve my Trait.

I activated the draw.

[Acquired Heavenly Sweet Wine (D)!]

[Acquired Heavenly Soft Cloth (D)!]

[Acquired Heavenly Holy Water (D)!]

…

[Acquired Fragment of Radiance (C)!]

“…” I opened the evolution screen.

Defeat a Corrupted Being (O)

Purify Miasma (O)

Fragment of Radiance (7/10)

“Three? Three fragments…?” 306 draws. 3060 Leisure Points spent. And I still need three more Fragments of Radiance.

“F*ck.” I glared at my Inventory, my mood souring. 306 draws, mostly junk. No new skills, and the only decent items were duplicates of the Holy Bow, Holy Spear, and Holy Armor.

“This draw was a bust.”

I sighed, throwing myself onto my bed.

“Well, it happens.” I wasn’t known for my good luck. My life had been a constant struggle against misfortune. Recently, however, things had been going too well. Awakening Leisure Life and Radiant Angel, successful draws, smooth evolutions, favorable situations…

“I’m tired.” I closed my Inventory, filled with useless junk, and closed my eyes. I wasn’t planning on entering another Leisure for a while. A year in One Piece was exhausting, and I wanted to enjoy some time in reality.

“A few weeks in reality, then back to Leisures.” I drifted off to sleep, the familiar comfort of a bed on solid ground a welcome change from the swaying deck of a ship.

As the sun rose, I entered a nearby E-rank Gate.

“Tsk. I’d like to update my Hunter rank and enter a higher-ranked Gate, but…” I was currently a pseudo-B-rank, roughly equivalent to a B- Hunter rank. Updating my rank would grant me access to C-rank Gates, which yielded more valuable mana stones.

But I couldn’t risk it.

‘A sudden, dramatic increase in strength would attract too much attention.’ My official rank was still D, registered just a few days ago. Jumping to B-rank in such a short time would raise red flags. B-rank Hunters were national assets, subject to constant scrutiny. I wasn’t ready for that kind of attention, both positive and negative.

“One month. I’ll wait for one month.” Reaching pseudo-B-rank within a month was plausible, even for a relatively untalented Hunter. But for someone with exceptional talent, like myself, it could be achieved in a week. I would maintain the facade of a moderately talented genius.

“Let’s begin.”

I looked at the goblins, small, green-skinned creatures, swarming below. I had entered the E-rank Gate, Goblin Village.

I cast Radiant Rain, the spell I had used in One Piece, launching a barrage of light projectiles, amplified by Tenshinki, at the unsuspecting goblins. I chose a secluded area, away from other Hunters.

“So many goblins…”

“Die.”

KABOOM!

The amplified spell, enhanced by my aura and other buffs, combined with the skill-boosting effect of Tenshinki, was devastating.

“Kieeek!”

“Kik!”

“Kyaa!” The rain of light obliterated the goblins and the earth beneath them.

[Divine Haki proficiency increased by 1%!]

[Mid-Low-Grade Radiant Magic proficiency increased by 1%!]

[Mid-Low-Grade Mana Regeneration proficiency increased by 1%!]

…

[Regeneration proficiency increased by 1%!]

My magic and skills, which had plateaued recently, were finally growing again.

“I’ll take down a boss today,” I murmured, pleased by the rapid increase in proficiency. Gate bosses were usually solitary creatures, leading to fierce competition among Hunters. But Goblin Village was different. Besides the regular goblins, there were elite Hobgoblin Captains and, above them, Hobgoblin Commanders. Around ten of these commanders were scattered throughout the Gate.

I set my sights on a Hobgoblin Commander and flew towards a nearby goblin settlement.

“Oh, right. Mana stones.” I abruptly changed course, remembering the mana stones. I landed, surrounded by a mountain of goblin corpses. The bosses could wait. I had a lot of mana stones to collect.

And so, I experienced the miracle of one-minute battles followed by hour-long collection sessions.