It’s an Academic Fact That Rankers Are Model Students – Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Talent Will Always Be Scouted (1)

“Hiek……?! “

Bzzz!

The blue mana dagger gripped in Kyung-joon’s hand vibrated at a frequency of 40,000 times per second.

The maximum vibration frequency detectable by the human eye is between 60 and 120 times per second.

At a frequency of 40,000 times, it becomes impossible to even perceive the vibration.

Thus, it appears as if it’s simply standing still.

However, the eerie hum traveling through the air and the slightly blurred outline of the dagger clearly indicated its vibration.

“C, Customer……? W-why are you suddenly wielding such a dangerous weapon……?”

Froi felt a fear he had never experienced before in the face of this unfamiliar magic.

And he instinctively knew.

The moment that dagger touched him, he would be cut.

Skin, flesh, bone—it would all be brutally ripped apart.

‘I, I’m going to die……!’

Froi moved his hand.

Towards the emergency summoning magic stone beside him.

Just a little infusion of mana into it would bring the head office’s highly skilled guards to his rescue.

He wasn’t sure if they would be able to handle that bizarre mana dagger, but survival was his priority.

Just before Froi’s hand could reach the emergency summoning magic stone, Kyung-joon’s lips parted.

“Spell Modification.”

As Kyung-joon uttered those words softly, a new mana was added to the Ultrasonic Vibration Mana Dagger.

Bzzzt!

The Ultrasonic Vibration Mana Dagger started to transform with a distorting sound.

From the shape of a dagger made to cut and stab……

To the shape of an engraving knife used for carving and sculpting.

“There we go.”

Kyung-joon said with satisfaction.

Thus was born an engraving knife vibrating at 40,000 times per second.

Kyung-joon sharpened its tip into a thin awl and began to process the lowest-grade fire shard in his left hand.

‘H, He wasn’t going to attack?’

Froi barely managed to regain his composure, escaping the terror he had just felt.

Fortunately, it seemed like Kyung-joon had no intention of attacking him.

He was already engrossed in processing the shard.

Sssk! Sssk!

The moment the tip of the ultrasonic vibrating mana awl touched the shard, the point of contact instantly chipped away.

There was no resistance whatsoever.

It fell apart cleanly as if they were two separate pieces that were originally meant to be apart.

‘He’s really processing it?! And to cut it so cleanly……! What kind of mana is that?!’

While Froi was astonished, Kyung-joon had already succeeded in processing the shard into a perfect sphere.

A perfect sphere he had never seen before.

Eventually, Froi couldn’t help but express his astonishment out loud.

“No way! How can you create such a perfect sphere without any molds or tools……!”

It was impossible.

To carve out a perfect sphere using only his hands, without any tools……

Even the most skilled painter couldn’t draw a perfect circle without a compass.

From afar, it might look like a circle, but upon closer inspection, there would definitely be uneven parts.

However, the shard Kyung-joon had carved appeared to be nothing but a perfect sphere.

“It should be even more difficult considering it’s a three-dimensional sphere, unlike a flat circle……!”

As Froi continued to express his amazement, Kyung-joon, who had been listening, replied.

“Ah, this? It’s not that difficult. I’m just utilizing the inherent properties of mana.”

“The inherent properties of mana……?”

“Yes.”

Kyung-joon continued his explanation as if he was a teacher.

“Do you know what a zero-gravity state is? It literally means a state where there is no gravity. If you were to spray liquid, like water, in that state, it would clump together in a spherical shape, right?”

This is due to the surface tension inherent in water.

The force that attracts water molecules to each other.

Because of this fundamental characteristic, when water is sprayed in a zero-gravity state, it clumps together, forming a sphere.

“Mana is the same. Unless a caster applies force, mana also has the property of clumping together. You know how mana particles fly around when you use magic? The reason they’re spherical is because of this property.”

“Ah……! Now that you mention it!”

Froi clapped his hands, realizing a fact he had known but overlooked.

Kyung-joon chuckled like a teacher and added……

“I processed it by applying that principle. Take a look.”

Kyung-joon placed the processed lowest-grade fire shard on the table and picked up a lowest-grade light shard.

Its surface was rough since it hadn’t been processed yet.

“I’m going to infuse this light shard with mana that cancels out mana vibrations.”

The vibration-canceling mana that Kyung-joon infused into the shard began to gather in a spherical shape.

“Then, all I have to do is scrape it roughly.”

He scraped the surface of the shard with the ultrasonic vibrating mana awl.

Every time the outer part of the clumped mana inside came into contact with the ultrasonic vibrating mana awl, it chipped away as if being peeled off.

On the other hand, the inside remained perfectly smooth, without a single scratch.

And so, with a few more scrapes……

Ssuk suk.

A perfectly spherical shard, as red as an apple, was created in Kyung-joon’s hand.

[You have successfully processed the high-grade item 『lowest-grade light shard』.]

[You have processed it perfectly.]

[Dexterity increased by 3.]

[Mana increased by 1.]

[Intelligence increased by 1.]

“Wow…… That’s amazing.”

Froi let out a gasp of admiration.

Kyung-joon responded with a nod of gratitude and deactivated the magic of the Ultrasonic Vibration Mana Dagger.

The creepy, vibrating sound that had been filling the air ceased.

Then, Kyung-joon moved on to the next stage.

“Now that both are processed into spheres……”

Processing the two shards was merely the preparation of materials.

Holding the processed lowest-grade fire shard and light shard in each hand, he cast a different magic.

[Rare Skill 『Transmute (Lv.2)』]

[Transmuting high-grade item 『lowest-grade fire shard (processed)』 and high-grade item 『lowest-grade light shard (processed)』 into one.]

[All materials have been processed perfectly.]

[The success rate of transmutation is greatly increased.]

The reason Kyung-joon processed the shards into spheres……

It was because the spherical shape was the most suitable form for maximizing mana efficiency.

This was also why skilled blacksmiths always carved the crystals or gems at the top of staves or rods into spheres.

It was a fact that those who hadn’t crafted magical tools themselves or hadn’t heard about it from someone who had wouldn’t know.

Of course, Kyung-joon had never made a magic tool himself, nor had he ever heard about it from anyone else.

Despite that, Kyung-joon naturally deduced it based on the magical knowledge he had studied.

[Transmutation successful.]

[The item’s grade has increased by one level.]

[Dexterity increased by 5.]

Wooong!

The transmutation between the two shards was complete.

In Kyung-joon’s hand lay a new material that no one had ever seen before.

[Lowest-grade Fire and Light Shard]

▶An artificial shard that possesses both fire and light attributes.

▶Item Grade: Rare

“Two attributes combined into one! And the grade has increased as well……!”

Froi was once again astonished as he looked at the status window that popped up.

Originally, when crafting magical tools with multiple attributes, shards of each attribute were embedded separately.

It was almost unheard of to completely fuse shards into one, like Kyung-joon had done.

At the very least, there wasn’t a single player alchemist who could do that.

‘He really succeeded in processing it with his bare hands……! Not only that, but he also knows Transmute, a 2nd Promotion alchemist skill…… What is this person’s level?’

Gulp.

Froi swallowed hard and cautiously asked Kyung-joon.

“Excuse me, but if you don’t mind me asking, what is your current level?”

“My level?”

Kyung-joon vaguely recalled the status window he had seen a few days ago.

“My level is 119.”

“No, how can someone at level 119 do this? You’re kidding, right?”

“Well, I find it fascinating too.”

“……”

At Kyung-joon’s enigmatic smile, Froi gulped again.

It didn’t matter if it was a lie or the truth.

If it was a lie, it meant his level was incomparably higher than 119.

And if it was true, it meant he had reached this level at a mere level 119.

If it was the latter, as he had just claimed……

‘……He must be an epic-grade, no, almost legendary-grade alchemist! Yes! That legendary, miraculous alchemist they speak of must be referring to this man!’

A thrill coursed through Froi, and he clasped his hands together, exclaiming to Kyung-joon.

“Sir! Would you be interested in joining our merchant guild? The Guild Master of our World’s Best Merchant Guild has been searching for a talent like you!”

“Huh?”

Kyung-joon was a little taken aback by the sudden recruitment offer.

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

『One outstanding talent can change an organization, and many of them can change society. So if you see talent, don’t hesitate to bring them in.』

This was one of the teachings of TheWorld’sGreatestMerchant, who wanted to make the top of World’s Best the best in the world.

‘This man is a once-in-a-generation talent! If I introduce him to the Guild Master, not only will I be promoted, but our merchant group will become the very existence that will rewrite the laws of the world……!’

Froi held Kyung-joon’s hands tightly with both hands and pleaded earnestly.

“With your skills, you will surely be able to join as an executive, not just a member of an ordinary merchant group! How about talking to him just once? I’ll put in a good word for you to the Guild Master!”

“Hmm…….”

Kyung-joon pondered for a moment at the sudden scouting offer.

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

TheWorld’sGreatestMerchant.

He had rushed to the branch office as soon as he heard the news that his merchant group had been attacked by the Black Secret Village.

“Ah, Guild Master!”

Wang Wei, one of the executives of the World’s Best merchant group, greeted him.

“Wang Wei! Are our people safe?!”

“Quite a few were injured, but no one is seriously injured or in critical condition. See for yourself.”

Familiar NPCs emerged from behind Wang Wei.

They were the staff in charge of distribution between Beginner’s Village and Plovdiv.

“Haha, Guild Master. Long time no see.”

“Wagon! And Matthew, Brian, Duncan…… (omitted)……George! You’re all safe!”

TheWorld’sGreatestMerchant was greatly relieved to see his employees safe.

And soon he returned to his original calm and collected expression.

TheWorld’sGreatestMerchant asked Wagon.

“What about other damages? Was there any damage to the goods?”

“Fortunately, there was a hero who saved us from those Black Secret Village bandits.”

“A hero?”

“Yes. He took care of all the Black Secret Village b@stards before they could take our goods.”

Wagon recounted in detail to TheWorld’sGreatestMerchant what had happened during the 7 days it took to get from Beginner’s Village to Plovdiv.

TheWorld’sGreatestMerchant was greatly surprised to hear all of this…….

“Player Auction House Kyung-joon?”

It was a name he had seen once before.

Just a while ago, in fact.

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

“Then, please be sure to stop by again when you’re done! I’ll be sure to put in a good word for you to the Guild Master!”

“Yes, yes. Thanks for the good deal.”

“You’re welcome!”

Kyung-joon finished his transaction with Froi and came out of the private consultation room.

What he bought were the lowest, low, and intermediate grade shards.

He had purchased plenty of each, light shards and fire shards.

It cost more money than he thought.

The exact prices were as follows.

Lowest grade shard: Around 100,000 liyan each

Low grade shard: 500,000-1,000,000 liyan each

Intermediate grade shard: 5,000,000 liyan or more each

As befitting gems containing attributes, shards were quite expensive!

To obtain attribute materials, you need to be at least level 100, or at least over 200, so this was unavoidable.

However, Kyung-joon, who had a Discount Coupon from the World’s Best merchant group

Thanks to the coupon that gave him a 20% discount for every 1,000,000 liyan, Kyung-joon was able to save nearly 2,000,000 liyan.

<Are you sure you want to refuse the scouting offer? This is the second offer.>

The man who handed Kyung-joon his business card at Player Street earlier, TheWorld’sGreatestMerchant.

Kyung-joon had already realized that he was the Guild Master of the World’s Best merchant group.

Therefore, it seemed that he could join this place whenever he wanted.

“I haven’t finished studying yet, and I have other things to do. I’ll think about it when I have more time.”

Kyung-joon took out the lowest grade light and fire shards he had just transmuted from his inventory.

And then he poured mana into them.

As he increased the frequency of the mana, the color gradually changed from red to yellow, and as he increased the amount of mana, the brightness became brighter.

He was now able to freely control the brightness and color of the light.

“This should be enough to make the stand I want.”

A stand that helps you concentrate well.

Kyung-joon was already excited at the thought that he could increase his study efficiency even more than before.

<Are you planning to use the Warp Gate when you go back?>

“Yes. I’ve had enough of studying in the carriage.”

He had done enough memorization subjects in the carriage for a week.

Now it was time to go back to Study Villa.

It was time to return to his original study of writing and calculating at his desk.

Before that, if he could make a concentration-enhancing stand with the shards he had just purchased, it would be the icing on the cake!

Kyung-joon went down the stairs to the first floor.

A delicious smell wafted through the air.

Suddenly, the smell of freshly baked bread tickled Kyung-joon’s nose.

As he turned his gaze to where the smell was coming from, a large sign caught his eye.

『Event: Finding the Owner of the Bread!』

『Bread 1: Deep Mana Infused Soft Bread』

『Bread 2: Deep Mana Infused Sweet Honey Castella』

『Description: To the owner of this bread, or someone who can make something similar, the World’s Best merchant group promises the highest reward and a special recruitment as a top talent. Challenge yourself now!』

『Reward: 10,000,000 liyan immediate payment and many other prizes. Special recruitment as an executive of the World’s Best merchant group (for the owner and those who are comparable)』

※However! Only players can participate!

※All challengers will receive delicious organic bread from World’s Best Bakery as a participation prize. ^^

“Huh?”

An event hosted by the merchant group was in full swing on the first floor…….

“That’s my bread?”

Kyung-joon’s bread was on display in the middle of the event hall.

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