Chapter 11
“A vassal registration?”
It was a new notification.
I thought it was just a scam to increase the number of skill uses, but it seems it includes other functions as well.
[Servants registered as vassals can grow. Registered servants will be maintained until they are extinguished.]
[Kowon is already registered as a vassal. The next registration will be activated when you achieve 20 stats.]
“Ah, so that’s why.”
Now I understood Kowon’s growth. Since Kowon was the first servant I created, he was automatically registered as a vassal, which allowed him to grow.
“I shouldn’t register just anyone as soon as I can. It would be beneficial for me to register those with high growth potential.”
Raising the level is never an easy task.
Registering consumable beings like Bok would be pointless if they died, so it would be better to carefully consider the registration.
“Let’s check his stats.”
[Kowon]
Level: 6
Grade: E+
Unique Ability: Mimicry (B), Growth (A)
Skill: Johan Style Combat Technique
A Kobald that lives in the forest. As the son of the chieftain, he is smarter than other Kobalds but somewhat immature. Thanks to his keen intellect, he quickly learns techniques.
“What? He was the chieftain’s son?”
More detailed information about Kowon from the vassal list.
As I suspected, he wasn’t an ordinary Kobald. If he had grown as he was, he would have become the chieftain ruling over the area.
“The learning ability wasn’t the servant’s ability. It was his unique ability.”
The unique abilities of Mimicry and Growth.
No wonder King didn’t change at all, no matter how many times he watched Johan’s movements.
Seeing this status window, I could now perfectly understand them.
“Growth is an A-grade ability. He might even surpass the limits of his species.”
He might be able to rival a B-rank hunter. The expectation that he could surpass the Lord made Kowon look even more precious.
“And what’s this Johan Style Combat Technique? It’s hilarious.”
I burst out laughing at the words Johan Style Combat Technique written in the skill section.
How could it be named like a martial arts school?
It was just a slightly formalized, instinctive movement from rolling in dungeons for eight years.
“At this rate, there might be Johan Style Monster Butchering and Johan Style Drinking Techniques.”
***
After cleaning up the surroundings, Johan continued hunting in the dungeon for five straight hours.
Since Boks inhabit various areas of the plains, he had to cover quite a wide area to hunt efficiently.
With 8 Boks, Kowon, and King constantly hunting under Johan’s command, there was no such thing as fatigue for them, making them practically machines.
“Let’s go, Dubo!”
Kuhung-
Johan rode the lead Bok like a horse and roamed the dungeon.
The riding experience was decent, making him think that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to make a horse his servant next time.
He hunted a total of 30 Boks.
“30 mana stones and 10 spare Bok corpses. This should be enough for a while.”
Not just enough; it was a new daily record for mana stones obtained in five years of solo hunting.
The previous highest was just 8, but he surpassed it by more than three times in one go.
He could have obtained over 60 mana stones if he hadn’t stopped hunting.
He couldn’t even grasp how far he had progressed.
“Let’s call it a day. There’s no point in hunting more when I can’t get more corpses.”
He pressed his throbbing temple.
The mental fatigue was considerable rather than physical. Concentrating to control each servant made his head ache.
Moreover, the durability of the servants had significantly decreased, so it was safer to stop here and not be greedy.
So he exited.
Seeing Johan come out later than expected, the administrative staff sighed in relief.
“Phew. I was worried something might have happened to you since you didn’t come out for so long.”
“Ah, I lost track of time while hunting. Today’s hunting was quite enjoyable.”
“Do you need help disposing of the mana stones? The demand for mana stones has increased recently, so the prices have risen. It’s good news for you, Johan.”
The staff reached out, thinking that Johan had only gathered enough to be carried by hand since he went in alone.
“You’ll need a bag.”
“What?”
“You’ll need to bring out a bag. I have quite a lot.”
Clatter-
He poured all 30 mana stones onto the table. The sheer amount made the staff momentarily freeze.
“What is this…”
“Can you verify them all? I’ve already appraised them.”
“Is this all from your hunt today?”
“If you want, you can go in and check.”
The staff waved his hands. Actually, anyone who had seen mana stones for a year could tell if they were freshly obtained.
“Oh, it’s not that I don’t believe you. I’m just too surprised. I never imagined one person could hunt so many monsters.”
‘I didn’t know either. That the servants could hunt so much.’
His lips itched to say it, but he held back. There’s rarely any good in talking too much.
“Well, it’s a trade secret.”
“I’ll help you with the deposit according to the appraised value. Since the prices have gone up, you won’t receive less, only more.”
He handed over a paper with the appraised value. The total was 5.32 million won.
Excited, the staff checked the appraisal value and immediately deposited the money.
Beep-
The deposit amount was a whopping 10 million won. Almost double the appraised value.
“Huh? This much?”
“I told you, the demand for mana stones has increased. The appraisal value seemed too low, so I added more.”
“Has some new technology been developed? The price seems to have almost doubled.”
The staff waved his hand, looking tired.
“Recently, dungeons have been unusually unstable. This has led to a surge in the industry for making self-defense weapons usable by the general public. Buyers are so numerous that it’s hard to find mana stones on the market.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Related company stocks are skyrocketing too.”
“Really?”
“It’s okay. I didn’t buy any either.”
Indeed, if the demand for mana stones was this high, it meant people were preparing for something more significant than he thought.
‘Well, there must never be a repeat of the Great Catastrophe.’
Such an event must never happen again.
Everyone remembered that time when countless precious people were lost and vowed never to let it happen again.
Both people and Johan.
“Then I’ll be on my way.”
After confirming the deposit, he left.
Instead of heading home, he went to his favorite bar, ‘Choi’s Tavern.’
Since the evening was already settling in, he felt like having a good drink with some proper snacks.
Ding-
“Hey, here to be a sucker again?”
The owner, Choi, greeted him with a cheerful nod.
Despite his rough mouth, his hands quickly prepared Johan’s soju glass.
“What, can’t a sucker even have a drink?”
“Just glad to see you. It’s the best when you act like a sucker at my place.”
Choi waved his hand, and Johan pointed to the menu.
He pointed to the ‘Chef’s Omakase,’ the most expensive course menu, known as ‘Chomakase,’ costing 100,000 won per person.
“If I’m not mistaken, you’re pointing at the 100,000 won Chomakase, not the 8,000 won Beondegi Soup next to it, right?”
“Hey, isn’t the boss’s tone a bit short? Does the boss usually speak informally to customers ordering Chomakase and sake?”
“What are you saying, customer? This boss always welcomes customers! Ding-ding!”
Choi’s spirited shout was followed by his busy hands.
He took out well-aged sashimi from the fridge.
“I’m not drinking industrial alcohol today. I’ve got some pride, you know.”
After clearing the soju glass in front of him, Johan ordered a 100,000 won premium sake to match the Chomakase, then leaned back in his chair.
It was truly a mental relaxation he hadn’t felt in a long time.
“What’s gotten into you to blow 200,000 won? Did you really win the lottery?”
It was a question with 234585% sincerity.
Johan, as Choi knew him, was a genuine penny-pincher who never spent more than 300,000 won on himself a month.
“Well, something like that. I might hit the jackpot soon.”
“Geez, just tell me straight.”
“Is it bothering the customer? I’ll order another bottle later.”
“The first course is aged sea bream sashimi, which goes well with sake. Shall I serve you four slices as a regular customer service?”
Though Choi raised his middle finger, his expression was kindly. After all, the success of a friend was always welcome.
Especially the success of the former best ace in the unit, something he had always hoped for.
“Oh, this sashimi looks great.”
The distinctive aroma of aged sashimi.
Johan took a deep breath, savoring the scent of the sashimi.
The unique aroma of well-aged sea bream tickled his nose.
“It’s a perfect snack to go with sake. The boss’s eye for this is pretty good.”
“Please get your drink yourself, customer.”
“The service here isn’t great. Making customers get their drinks.”
“I’m willing to give you more snacks instead of a service fee. Should I bring it to you?”
“I prefer to pour my own drink. I really dislike it when someone else brings it.”
Immediately changing his stance.
Johan quickly fetched the sake from the fridge and poured it into a thick wooden cup.
As he drank it in a single gulp, the grain aroma hit his nose.
“Ah, it really suits my taste.”
After filling his stomach with the appetizers, Johan took out a small card from his pocket.
It was the card he received as a reward for registering Kowon as a vassal.
[Basic Vassal Reward]
[The first registration vassal will be recognized as an official vassal of the Awakened person Johan. Various types of vassal-related rewards are prepared.]
A surprisingly proper reward for the usually stingy system.
As long as Kowon was officially recognized as a vassal, there would be some benefits.
“So, what kind of reward is this?”
I pressed it.
[Would you like to summon the first vassal?]
Huh?
