Chapter 94: The Legend of the Black Cow (1)

—The Disaster Safety Agency’s Wizard System. While it has previously provided disaster predictions alongside the declaration of danger zones, what is its current status?

—…The government has announced that it is currently testing a new version of the Wizard System….

—Damage caused by sporadically occurring Gates is mounting. While increasing military deployment, the government is further strengthening patrols.

—Hunter Lee Hyunbin, the Delivery Man, has reportedly rescued those held hostage in the Daekwang Building and captured every Villain alive. The Daekwang Group and government agencies are preparing a plaque of appreciation….

After the Wizard System disappeared.

Every day became a gamble, as no one knew where a Gate might manifest.

Public anxiety reached its peak, and the sight of soldiers armed with firearms patrolling the city streets became a part of daily life.

It was, quite literally, as if martial law had been declared.

Efforts were made to minimize damage, but there was a stark difference compared to the days when disasters could be predicted.

Consequently, the damage continued to pile up, and the fatigue of the citizens reached its breaking point.

“Aaah!”

“Damn it, the car! Move the car!”

“Uwaaa! Run! I said run!”

The screams of the people tangled together.

A Gate had appeared suddenly. It manifested right at the Entrance of a certain building.

Only seconds ago, it had been a simple entrance to an office, but now it was truly an entrance to hell.

“Moo. Moo.”

What emerged from the dog-hole-sized Gate was a cow with two horns on its head.

A Minotaur from Myth.

The pitch-black cow, identical to the legend, walked on two legs as it looked down contemptuously at the humans fleeing from it.

“Moo.”

Hostile enemies had invaded their living space, yet they were all running away just to save their own lives.

The Black Cow let out a long low at the pathetic sight.

‘Kill the women, rape the men.’

Just then, someone walked up to the Black Cow.

It was a man with blond hair and tanned skin.

The way he smiled with such confidence was irritating.

“A Hunter! It’s a Hunter!”

The people who had been busy fleeing turned back one by one to look at the man facing the Black Cow.

There was a common saying that black things were three times faster.

This human before it was likely stronger than the others.

But he was still just a human.

The Black Cow commended the courage of the human standing before it.

“Moo.”

“I guess I have no choice.”

Blondie’s hand reached into his Subspace and pulled out a Kukri.

Looking at the dark edge of the blade, the Black Cow gripped its axe handle, thinking this might be a warrior worth fighting.

***

Kim Taeyang saw the Gate manifest while he was on his way to the Guild.

Seeing a 2-meter-tall bipedal cow emerge, Taeyang turned his steps toward it.

Muscles so solid no human could ever possess them. The aura emanating from its massive frame was no ordinary thing.

Taeyang felt tense, thinking this might actually be dangerous.

However, the result was anticlimactic.

“What’s this?”

The Black Cow was absurdly weak.

The Gate seemed to be a one-person type, as no additional Monsters appeared.

Cheers erupted from the crowd.

Taeyang scratched the back of his head awkwardly as people recognized him. Just then, something caught his eye.

[Black Cow’s Hat]

An Item had dropped.

‘Holy shit.’

Taeyang let out an exclamation internally.

The energy flowing from the hat emitted a faint red and purple glow.

It was at least Unique Grade. Or perhaps Legendary.

There were Unique items that commanded prices in the hundreds of millions.

Taeyang picked up the item and headed straight for the Guild.

According to the System, items whose ownership could be transferred usually had to undergo “appraisal.”

It didn’t matter if he didn’t have an Appraisal Skill. He could just leave it with the Guild’s analysis lab and get the results there.

As soon as Taeyang arrived at work, he dropped the item off at the lab.

He felt like he was scratching a lottery ticket.

This was an item that could be worth anywhere from 10 million to several hundred million won.

If so, his wallet would also…

*Crack!*

“Hey, are you okay?”

Kim Inho asked in surprise.

Taeyang had been dazing off during Sparring and had taken a direct hit, rolling helplessly across the floor.

“This is nothing. Piece of cake.”

Taeyang jumped to his feet and flashed a grin.

“You’re bleeding, though.”

At Inho’s words, Taeyang wiped his nose.

Thick blood came away on his hand.

“It’s fine, it’s fine.”

Taeyang laughed gallantly.

Inho felt a sense of unease at his friend’s sudden strange behavior and shivered slightly.

*Ding-dong!*

Seeing a text message arrive on his phone, Taeyang ripped off his gloves and jumped down from the Ring.

[Item analysis is complete.]

“Ooh.”

Excited, Taeyang immediately prepared to head down to the lab.

Worried by his friend’s bizarre actions, Inho followed after him.

The analysis lab was located on the third basement floor.

When they arrived, there were quite a few people who had requested item analyses.

Usually, in the case of a group raid, items are handed over to the Guild and the profits are distributed.

If a member wants to purchase the item themselves, they can get a discount ranging from 20% to 50%.

However, items obtained through solo hunting, like the one Taeyang had, belonged entirely to that individual.

“Pray for your big brother to hit the jackpot.”

“Well, that would be nice, but isn’t it probably a red item (Unique)? There’s no way a purple item (Legendary) would drop from a single Monster…”

“No way, I’ve got a good feeling about this! If I hit it big today, I’m treating everyone. We’re going to paint the town red!”

“Ah, count me out for drinks. My kid is waiting.”

Taeyang grumbled that he was still such a boring guy.

A diligent man who was raising his sister’s child on his own.

The child had recently been cured of Magestone Disease, so the dark expression Inho used to wear from time to time had vanished.

“Ah, Hunter Kim Taeyang from Team 3?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

They finally reached the counter.

“Congratulations. It’s Unique+ Grade.”

As expected, it wasn’t Legendary Grade.

Taeyang felt a pang of disappointment. Still, a Unique Plus item should fetch a decent price.

“I’ve provided the analysis results and the options as well, so you can either keep it for yourself or sell it to the Guild. Congratulations.”

Taeyang thanked the researcher for the kind words and stepped outside.

Recently, the Hanul Guild had made large-scale investments and replaced personnel, bringing in many experts.

In any other Guild, analyzing an item would have taken over a week.

With a heart full of anticipation, Taeyang checked the analysis sheet.

Inho watched from the side as well.

[Item: Black Cow’s Hat]
Grade: Unique+
Description: An item imbued with the soul of a Black Cow. The wearer becomes a total sucker.

“…”

“…”

Taeyang and Inho stared at the absurd analysis sheet for a long time.

“Son of a bitch,” Taeyang muttered under his breath.

“Don’t be too disappointed. Its appraised value is still 100 million won.”

100 million.

It was a lot of money. While it fell far short of his expectations, a find was a find.

Just as Inho’s words were starting to soothe Taeyang’s heart, the Team Leader’s voice drifted over.

“Are you kidding me? This is basically a total rip-off, isn’t it?”

“Have you lived your whole life being cheated? I provide the basic items for free. But Enhancement items are for your own personal satisfaction. And do you know what Enhancement Stones are made of? Magic Stones.”

“Are Magic Stones some kind of universal material? This is a Magic Stone too?”

“Who do you think I am? Don’t you know who I am? I’m the Continent’s greatest blacksmith.”

“A blacksmith who clung to the Demon King, you mean.”

“Where there is demand, there is supply.”

The Team Leader was in the middle of a conversation with the Development Team Leader.

“Sigh, fine. I’ll try it just once.”

“Honestly, a man of your caliber should be using +9 gear. Don’t you think? Go for it, go for it.”

Following the Development Team Leader’s words, the Team Leader placed a sword onto the Golden Anvil.

The two Kims recognized at a glance that the sword was the one the Team Leader used regularly.

“Now, place the Magic Stone here. Alright, beginning Enhancement. Ta-da!”

When the Development Team Leader pressed a button, a transparent cover slid over the Golden Anvil. Then, a brilliant light flared.

[Enhancement Failed.]

The sword on the anvil turned into a brick.

“Oh boy, that’s some rotten luck. That’s the first time I’ve seen it blow up at +1. Hey, wait a minute. You’re reacting like this after just one try? Between us? You don’t trust me? Don’t you remember I made all your armor and swords back on the Continent?”

The Team Leader let out a heavy sigh and placed another sword on top. Once again, light flared from the anvil.

“Wait, wait! This brick is actually a throwing weapon, and it’s so powerful it can penetrate +9 armor! H-hold on! My head can’t be enhanced! I told you not to put it in there! I even prepared a… a New Weapon for you, how could you do this?”

The Team Leader loosened his grip.

The barely surviving Development Team Leader smoothed his beard and clothes, letting out a huff.

“Phew, this dwarf almost died. You and that temper of yours, both then and now… Wait, look at this. Since you’re a melee specialist, long-range attacks have always been an issue. But if you use this weapon, the problem is solved.”

The dwarf pulled out his masterpiece.

“How is it? Do you like it?”

The Team Leader inspected the machine gun from various angles.

“That thing fires 60 rounds per second. The ammunition can be automatically linked to your Inventory. Isn’t it amazing?”

The Development Team Leader chuckled, stroking his white beard.

“How do I wear it?”

The Development Team Leader laughed.

“To wear that, I have to bring out the Straw-cutter. Oh, why the Straw-cutter? Well, obviously, to replace your arm with… Wait! I said my head can’t be enhanced!”

The Team Leader shoved the struggling Development Team Leader onto the anvil and hit the Enhancement button.

*Crunch.*

[Enhancement has failed.]

“My beard! My beard…!”

The Development Team Leader’s lush beard vanished in an instant.

Ignoring the wailing man’s grief, the Team Leader placed a Dagger on the anvil and attempted another Enhancement.

[Enhancement has failed.]

The Team Leader let out a low sigh. He fumbled through his clothes and pulled out Karin’s Coupon Book.

Watching this, a corner of the two Kims’ hearts began to ache. If Seoyeon had seen this, she would have run over wailing.

Fortunately, Seoyeon was not present.

[Enhancement has failed.]

The coupon book became scrap paper.

The Team Leader’s brow furrowed deeply at the sight.

The two Kims knew. The Team Leader was incredibly stubborn.

He was the type of person who wouldn’t be satisfied until he made the impossible possible.

The Team Leader rummaged through his Inventory. As if he had nothing left to enhance, the Team Leader placed his own right arm on the anvil and prepared to hit the button.

“Team Leader! Stop, stop!”

The two onlookers rushed forward to restrain him.

The Team Leader had nearly enhanced his own right arm.

Gambling ruins families.

“Don’t do this Enhancement stuff! It’s all just gambling!”

At Taeyang’s words, the Team Leader’s gaze suggested he still wasn’t satisfied.

That was when Taeyang remembered the item in his pocket.

“Team Leader, if you’re going to do it, use this.”

Though it was Unique+, he wanted to get rid of it because he had been dreaming of a Legendary.

Furthermore, the options were absurdly useless.

“Try this, and if it doesn’t work, let’s call it a day and try again next time.”

At Inho’s suggestion, the Team Leader nodded and started the Enhancement on the anvil.

Taeyang offered a Prayer for the item that had briefly allowed him to dream of the lottery.

[Enhancement Successful!]

The message for a successful enhancement appeared.

The three men fell silent for a moment.

The Team Leader ran it again.

It was an obviously useless item. There was no point even if it succeeded.

[Enhancement Successful!]

The +2 Black Cow’s Hat emitted a faint glow.

There was a certain strategy for this.

A so-called “Sacrifice.”

The method of destroying useless items first through failure to clear the way for the item you actually want to enhance.

In a fit of pique, the Team Leader kept running the Enhancement. It was as if he were venting all the frustration from the items he had broken so far.

[Enhancement Successful!]

The Team Leader obtained a +7 Black Cow’s Hat.

The hat, having been enhanced to its limit, no longer reacted to the button on the anvil.

“The things that should succeed don’t, but this…”

The Team Leader laughed, find the situation ridiculous.

The two Kims felt the same.

“Team Leader, let’s stop here. You’re strong enough without things like this anyway.”

The Team Leader replied to Inho’s words.

“I understand.”

“…?”

Inho tilted his head.

It was the first time in a while he had heard the Team Leader use polite speech. However, it didn’t feel as terrifying as the polite tone he had used in the past.

“Team Leader?”

“Yes.”

Before they knew it, the Team Leader was wearing the enhanced hat on his head.

The two Kims could feel it.

The Team Leader’s eyes, which had always radiated a sadistic aura, now looked strangely vacant and docile.