E-Rank warrior Park Sun-woo visited the Holy Land, the Root of Life, with his party members ahead of the 10th-floor raid.
**[You have entered the Holy Land of the World Tree, ‘Root of Life’]**
**[Mana recovery speed will increase significantly for one week]**
**[You have been granted a blessing that increases the growth rate and harvest volume of crops you grow]**
“Wow! Look at those roots. They’re huge.”
“That’s because it’s the World Tree.”
‘Does just looking at this increase crop yields? It was worth hiring mercenaries to climb up here.’
While others were in a festive mood, admiring the breathtaking scenery of the Holy Land, the view did not enter Park Sun-woo’s eyes.
‘Is this really going to work?’
The 10th-floor boss, the Queen Kobold, summoned a large number of escort forces, making a tanker essential. However, their party had failed to find one.
Fortunately, they had a healer in the party, but the failure to recruit a tanker for a boss raid was a painful blow.
Ultimately, it was decided that Park Sun-woo, holding a sword in one hand and a shield in the other, would act as the main tanker, while another warrior would serve as the sub-tanker.
However, no matter how much a warrior focused on defense, it was difficult to fill the front line properly compared to a real tanker due to the nature of their skill sets.
“I’m telling you, we should have at least called a Halfling Chef like the walkthrough posts suggested. You cheapskates.”
“What did you say?”
“Ah! I’m sorry.”
Distracted by his thoughts, Park Sun-woo accidentally bumped his head into the back of the person walking in front of him.
“Sun-woo. The raid is about to start. Get your head in the game.”
“Hey, you guys. What are you doing? Hurry up.”
“Huh? Oh, nothing. Just…”
“We’ve received the buffs, so let’s get moving.”
Park Sun-woo moved his feet reluctantly.
But when they left the Holy Land and reached the entrance of the 10th-floor boss room, his anxiety surged once again.
‘This really isn’t right.’
“Guys. Is this… is this really okay?”
But his friends’ reactions were lukewarm.
“Didn’t we already finish talking about this? What, are you saying we should call a chef even now?”
“It’s too late anyway. You can’t use a Halfling Chef without a reservation because they have so many outcalls. Just give it up.”
“You guys sure like to talk. You didn’t even plan on ordering one because it’s too expensive anyway.”
Swallowing his frustration, Park Sun-woo brought out his last hope.
“At least let’s try that new Living Armor rental service at the Rocket Store.”
“Living Armor? Isn’t that a monster?”
“What’s that?”
“Actually, the service just started, so there aren’t many proper reviews. But they say if you wear the Living Armor, it increases your defense tremendously.”
“How much is it?”
“2,000 coins.”
“Hmm.”
When the friend in charge of the team’s finances hesitated over a mere 2,000 coins, Park Sun-woo’s eyes flared with anger.
“Hey! Compared to a Halfling Chef that costs 50,000 coins, 2,000 coins is practically free! You’re actually debating that?”
“Just let him do it, Dal-ah.”
“Yeah. You tall idiot.”
“Alright, alright. That much is fine. Fine. Let’s try it!”
Having received permission, Park Sun-woo used the service immediately. Before they could change their minds if things went south again.
**[Thank you for using the Rocket Store!]**
**[Living Armor can be used while challenging this floor.]**
**[A discount applies if you use the long-term rental service now!]**
Park Sun-woo felt relieved, yet he was secretly a bit anxious. It was because he couldn’t bring himself to mention another detail he had read in the reviews.
The reviews said that the Living Armor, having a will of its own, sometimes moved on its own.
‘It’ll be fine…’
Taking one last deep breath, he put on the Living Armor. As the cold metal touched his body, the armor began to change its shape to fit him on its own.
The view through the helmet perfectly aligned with his vision, and he could feel minute sensations all the way to his fingertips.
“Whoa, Park Sun-woo, you look cool.”
“You look sturdier than most tankers.”
Park Sun-woo agreed with that. The Living Armor wasn’t just a piece of equipment; it felt as if it had become his second body.
“No more complaints, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Then, everyone ready?”
Following the signal from the friend acting as the leader, the party members took their positions.
“Here we go!”
**[The challenge begins.]**
As the Queen Kobold let out a piercing scream, numerous Kobold guards began to charge all at once.
The first thing that caught his eye was the Kobold guard captain leading the front. He was the opponent Park Sun-woo had to block.
“I can tell even as a warrior. That guy is huge.”
“Hey, Sun-woo. Don’t die and hold on tight, okay? We’ll clean this up quickly.”
“Worry about yourselves!”
*Crash!*
The Kobold guard captain’s massive club slammed into Park Sun-woo’s shield. Park Sun-woo staggered from the impact that vibrated through his entire body, but he felt it was more manageable than he had expected.
‘Is this thanks to the Living Armor?’
Because Park Sun-woo, a warrior, had gained defense comparable to a tanker, he was able to maintain his stance even after taking the full force of the impact.
**[Don’t lose your focus during battle! Brat. Upper right!]**
“What?”
Park Sun-woo was momentarily flustered. A voice he had never heard before had been struck directly into his mind.
While he stood there dazed, the Living Armor forcibly moved his body to dodge the incoming attack.
‘Who, who are you?’
**[My identity? I am an Imperial Swordsman who died long ago and dwells within this armor.]**
The Living Armor replied to his question without hesitation.
**[More importantly, brat. You don’t even know the basics of combat. How pathetic!]**
Park Sun-woo’s expression hardened. To be told he lacked the basics upon their first meeting—and during a life-or-death battle, no less.
**[I shall teach you the Imperial Swordsmanship. If you continue like this, you won’t last even one hour before something breaks.]**
Then, a system message appeared before Park Sun-woo’s eyes.
**[Would you like to receive instruction in Imperial Swordsmanship from the Imperial Soul?]**
‘Right now? Swordsmanship?’
It was absurd, but the voice of the swordsman dwelling in the armor was firm.
**[Real combat is where one truly learns!]**
After a moment’s hesitation, Park Sun-woo made his decision. The spirit dwelling in the armor was right. If it hadn’t been for the Living Armor, he wouldn’t have been able to dodge that attack just now. At this rate, he definitely wouldn’t be able to hold out.
**[Proposal accepted. Instruction in Imperial Swordsmanship begins.]**
Park Sun-woo’s body momentarily stiffened. It wasn’t intentional. The will of the swordsman dwelling in the armor had begun to move his body.
The Kobold guard captain’s club swung down once again, but Park Sun-woo’s shield moved much faster than before. Just before the club hit the shield, his body twisted as if sliding to the side, parrying the attack. It was like the movements of a swordsman who had trained for a long time.
**[Don’t just stand there like a fool, brat! Just because I am helping doesn’t mean you can learn by just leaving it to me! Raise your guard first and move your foot to the 10 o’clock direction!]**
Park Sun-woo was completely overwhelmed by the swordsman’s rough voice piercing his mind. Following the armor’s instructions, he blocked and dodged the guard captain’s attacks, moving to precise positions to prepare for the next strike.
“Sun-woo! Why has your movement gotten so good?”
“Did your rank suddenly go up? Are these the movements a Rank 6 can make?”
Exclamations broke out from the party members, but Park Sun-woo had no time to worry about responding. Even focusing his entire mind on the nagging of the spirit being hammered into his ears and the Kobold guard captain flashing before his eyes was barely enough.
**[You slow-poke! Land your sword properly!]**
**[Swinging so clumsily… Hmph. Do you even train regularly? Even the young apprentice knights of the Empire would be faster than you!]**
“It’s all true, so I can’t even argue!”
Though the nagging continued, Park Sun-woo gradually became accustomed to the swordsman’s instructions. By carrying out every single one of the spirit’s commands, he was able to perfectly block the guards’ attacks even in a battlefield where clubs and arrows were raining down.
**[Now you finally have the basics down! Then, let’s try an attack.]**
“Awoo, awoooo!”
Now, he even succeeded in counterattacking from time to time. Thanks to that, the party members in the rear were able to deal damage comfortably, and once the guards were down, they were able to defeat the Queen Kobold without much difficulty.
“Whoa, Park Sun-woo is insane! To actually clear the 10th floor!”
“You said you couldn’t do it. You were just being modest! You rascal!”
“Clap for him! Clearing the 10th floor is all thanks to Park Sun-woo!”
Overjoyed, the party members praised him. Park Sun-woo put down his shield and sword with a dazed expression. Even though the fight was over, his body was still trembling slightly, driven by the swordsman’s will.
“No, it wasn’t me, it was this…”
Just as Park Sun-woo was about to point to the Living Armor, a hologram message appeared before him.
**[The Living Armor contributed significantly to your 10th-floor raid. Were you satisfied? If you use the long-term rental service now, a special discount will be applied!]**
“Long-term rental…”
Park Sun-woo did not hesitate. After confirming the message that the other party members couldn’t see, he immediately accepted the long-term rental.
***
“Another team succeeded.”
After receiving the notification that Park Sun-woo had accepted the long-term rental of the Living Armor, I looked through the review board on the community.
Since the Living Armor service began, there has been an explosive response among hunters. However, the reviews were polarized.
Contrary to the cheers of hunters who succeeded in raids like Park Sun-woo, there were reviews expressing dissatisfaction because the armor hindered their movements instead of helping.
‘This is due to the difference in the souls dwelling within the Living Armor.’
There was no way to know which soul was inside the Living Armor until it was opened. As a result of observing the Living Armor rental service for several people, including Park Sun-woo…
Park Sun-woo was lucky enough to pull a Living Armor with the soul of an Imperial Swordsman, which played its part perfectly. Other hunters received Living Armor with weak souls, getting no help other than defense, or even being hindered.
“It’s purely the luck of the draw.”
I felt it was somewhat unreasonable that such drastically different Living Armors were all the same price, but there was nothing else I could do.
‘And considering the return when you hit the jackpot, the profit is huge.’
In fact, most people who received significant help from the Living Armor, like Park Sun-woo, changed their contracts to the long-term rental service.
‘That means it’s that helpful.’
It wasn’t something I had intended, but I felt a sense of pride at the fact that the Living Armor provided hunters with an opportunity to learn combat techniques in actual battle rather than just being simple equipment.
‘I guess you could say this is another seed I’ve sown.’
At this point, I became curious about the Training Tower, which held such Living Armor in large quantities and provided the service.
**[Living Armor Maintenance]**
**Requester: Training Tower Manager Hatz**
**Requirement: Busy, busy! The Living Armors in the tower I manage are creaking and their exteriors are rusting. Bring me twenty pieces of Mucus Slime gelatin and five cans of Friction Bug oil. I need to maintain the Living Armors right away so I can welcome new challengers!**
**Reward: Unlock Living Armor Rental Service**
Pure curiosity was piqued. I used the detailed quest view ability.
**[Training Tower]**
It seemed like the information was being updated, but then an error message immediately appeared.
**[Detailed information cannot be viewed with current Reputation.]**
“It’s not going to be easy.”
I closed the pop-up window with a bitter expression. It seemed the Rocket Store’s reputation was still insufficient.
If so, the task was clear. To continue raising reputation, the most efficient way was to resolve requests and build rapport with other races.
Just then, a notification appeared that the request from Carmina, the Lamia perfumer, had been completed.
**[Request completed]**
**[General membership for Carmina’s Perfume Shop has been issued.]**
‘A perfume shop… will perfume really be helpful to hunters?’
A sense of curiosity arose along with the doubt. I wondered what they were selling at the perfume shop.