Chapter 8 – Job Quest (２)

Having said that, Ruf looked at Gijun.

“As you know, we Flame Seekers are those who wield only flame-attribute magic. Fire is powerful, but it certainly comes with many limitations. Isn’t that so?”

“Yes, it is.”

Gijun knew it too.

If this were reality, where everyone handled only a single attribute, it might be different. But in a game where mages could wield every element…

No matter how powerful the firepower, being limited to just one attribute came with undeniable constraints.

Especially in a game where each hunting ground demanded different attributes depending on the terrain and monsters.

So why was he saying all this?

“That’s right. It can’t be helped. You should count yourself lucky to have met me. I’ve found a way to offer at least some help to those who walk the same path as I do.”

At the word “help,” Gijun’s eyes flew wide.

Right.

This was a class Quest.

‘I got lucky.’

Now, on the verge of his first Raid with the Hwarang guild in the real world…

For a class Quest to appear at this timing — it could only be heaven lending a hand!

“Before that, do you know why we walk the path of fire? Have you ever wondered why we tread this thorny road in the first place?”

“…”

Words failed him.

He’d never entertained that thought.

No—there was no way he could have.

It wasn’t as if he’d jumped in with some mission.

Ruf nodded as if he understood.

“That’s fine. It’s only natural you don’t grasp it deeply yet. The Master wouldn’t have given you a detailed explanation either. He’s the kind who wants you to find your own path.”

“I see.”

Gijun hadn’t given him the full picture, that was certain.

“We are, quite literally, those who move by seeking the path. So you must be curious. Curious about what kind of path we seek. Look at that sun.”

Ruf raised his hand and pointed at the sun.

“That sunlight drives out the darkness. The path we seek is that very road. The path of light — one that illuminates the world, revives life, and burns away shadow. Though…”

Ruf drew a steadying breath before continuing.

“The flame we carry is faint. A pittance next to the sun. But—still—we are those who chase and chase that small spark, pressing ever toward the origin of this world. What do you suppose awaits at the end of that path?”

“…”

High-flown talk.

But Jun couldn’t really grasp it.

It didn’t take root.

So there was no way he could answer that question.

“Heh heh… No one knows that yet. Not I, nor anyone else. That’s why we simply keep moving, searching for the road. But remember this one thing: we must find that path, and at its end lies a sanctity that burns away endless light and darkness alike. That radiance, that holiness—to drive out the world’s darkness with them—that is the road we must walk.”

Gijun said nothing, just gave a silent nod.

Well, it made sense. He’d just started the game—hardly the time to take in such deep lore.

Still, he was curious.

A premonition hung in the air—something extraordinary was waiting.

“Now, you must be curious about the real point. Aren’t you? What kind of help I can offer.”

“I am curious. Very much so.”

“Heh heh… Don’t be too surprised. Because I’ve truly found an incredible path.”

Ruf’s smile deepened as he continued, his words hanging with meaning.

“Since you’re already walking the Seeker’s path, the number of attributes you can handle is extremely limited. But I found a way—a way to infuse the ‘wind’ spirit into the Fire Heart we possess!”

“…!!!”

Gijun’s eyes went wide.

‘Wind-attribute magic?’

His heart began to race like a wild thing.

‘This is insane.’

No matter how he turned it over, those words only sounded like he could learn wind-attribute magic as a Skill.

If that happened, then surely—even in reality—he’d wield wind magic far stronger than Blow…

Just imagining it sent a thrilling surge through him.

But it wasn’t pure joy.

A question rose in his mind at the same instant.

‘That actually works?’

A Flame Seeker was a mage who used only flame-type magic.

So how in the world was he supposed to learn wind-attribute magic?

At least, as far as Gijun knew, that wasn’t possible.

Gijun asked.

“But… is that really possible?”

A Flame Seeker learning wind-attribute magic?

Didn’t that make no sense at all?

The character description had clearly stated he wielded flame magic.

“After long experimentation, I uncovered the truth. It’s entirely possible to imbue wind energy into the heart of fire.”

Gijun gasped.

Gijun’s Mana Circle was fundamentally a flame-attribute Mana Circle.

At the same time, it was imbued with wind’s attribute.

Thanks to that, he could handle both attributes.

But that was innate.

Literal, heaven-given talent.

That combination could be called nothing short of the strongest.

The Wind Element, when combined with the Fire Element, yields explosive power.

In other words, using wind magic and fire magic simultaneously can amplify the fire magic’s destructive output.

Baseline: 1.5 times.

With proper handling, you could push that to two times, even three times the firepower.

‘But they can manufacture that artificially?’

Manufacturing it artificially, though—that was a whole different dimension of talk.

No matter how advanced the technology, wasn’t it impossible to artificially imprint an attribute onto a Mana Circle?

But Jun simply decided to accept it.

Hadn’t impossible things already happened to him time and again?

So this must be one of those things.

At the same time, Jun sensed it.

This was a lifeline being thrown to him right now.

Not just any lifeline—a golden one.

‘I absolutely cannot let this slip.’

Because this was a chance to increase the power of his wind magic in the real world, too.

Wasn’t this an opportunity to make his already-powerful Fireball even stronger?

Then, Ruf spoke again.

“But as I said earlier, it requires materials. This isn’t something you can do so easily.”

“Just tell me what I need.”

“Very well. Then bring me the Sabertooth Tiger’s Fang. That is the preparation material for harboring the Wind Mana.”

[Quest has been triggered.]

[Collect Sabertooth Tiger’s Fangs]

>Collect Sabertooth Tiger’s Fangs (0/30)

!Time Limit : 240 minutes

‘…’

Sabertooth Tiger.

He didn’t know the details, but he had a general idea.

A monster around the mid-level 10s.

The problem was that Jun was only Level 5 right now.

Basically, he was being told to hunt a monster a full ten levels higher.

In Real Spirit, a suitable solo hunting ground usually features monsters 2 to 3 levels above the player.

For anything 5 levels higher, a party was recommended.

Ruf looked at Jun, who was momentarily flustered, and asked.

“So. Go on, then. It won’t be easy, that I can promise.”

“I’ll manage.”

He didn’t care about the difficulty.

Jun was filled with the single-minded determination to see it through.

He was getting stronger.

He could get stronger.

Just like other mages, he could become more powerful.

That was the only phrase he repeated, endlessly, deep in his mind.

*

[Sabertooth Tiger Hill]

By asking around, Jun finally arrived at Sabertooth Tiger Hill.

He could already hear the shouts of players hunting the Sabertooth Tigers nearby.

“The Sabertooth Tigers are strong, so please be careful, everyone!”

“Did everyone bring enough potions?”

“Where the hell is the Healer!”

“Looking for a Tanker, Level 13 or above!”

Just from the snippets of conversation, he knew that solo-hunting a Sabertooth Tiger at a measly Level 5 was impossible.

If there had been no time limit, he would’ve just leveled up first.

But with a four-hour time limit, even leveling up wasn’t going to be easy.

‘This is all part of the design.’

If Gijun’s Level had been higher, he probably would’ve been sent to hunt stronger Monsters.

This Quest was clearly meant to test his skills.

And those 240 minutes weren’t set arbitrarily either.

It would be just enough time to scrape together thirty fangs if he pushed with everything he had.

So they’re not making this easy.

Which was only fair, really.

Even a brief explanation of the Condensation ability was enough to make it painfully desirable.

He’d be a fool to expect such a power for free.

Then…

Gijun paused to think.

Let’s find a Party.

If he couldn’t hunt alone, the only option was to join one.

Vowing to complete the Quest no matter what it took, Jun set out to find a Party.

As luck would have it, someone approached him first.

“Excuse me, are you a Mage?”

“Ah, yes.”

At Gijun’s confirmation, the Party Members cheered.

They must have been looking for a Mage themselves.

“Wow, perfect! Want to join our Party? What’s your Level?”

Jackpot.

Just as he was about to look for a group, someone came to him first!

“Level 5.”

“…Excuse me?”

The Player’s expression twisted instantly.

“If you don’t want to party, just say so. Tch.”

“No, that’s not—”.

Gijun tried to grab his attention, but the man walked off without looking back.

He strode over to his party and announced:

“He says he’s Level 5. Can you believe brushing someone off like that?”

“No manners at all.”

“Let’s find someone else.”

“You really gotta hand it to Mages—they think they’re hot stuff everywhere, don’t they? Know they’re premium talent in and out of the game.”

“…”

A barrage of unpleasant reactions followed.

Well… I probably would’ve done the same.

Gijun tried to join several more Parties after that, but the response was always the same.

At first, everyone cheered.

A Mage approaching them out of the blue… Jackpot, they’d say.

But it never lasted.

The moment Gijun revealed his Level, their reactions turned uniform:

-Don’t lie.

-You’re really Level 5?

-Even for a Mage, Level 5 is a bit…

-Go hunt some rabbits over there.

…No one would let him into their Party.

Nothing I can do…

He couldn’t afford to waste any more time.

His only option was to hunt somehow, succeed or fail.

Gijun set off in search of prey.

If you had no teeth, you used your gums.

He was determined to complete this Quest by any means necessary.

When he ventured a little deeper,

A Sabertooth Tiger stood before him.

In an instant—

Khaaaah!

The Sabertooth Tiger charged at Jun at full speed.

Threatening, yes—but Gijun steadied his nerves.

He had plenty of experience with magic.

Years of training and real combat under his belt.

The Sabertooth Tiger closed in fast.

Gijun cast the moment the beast closed in.

Fireball.

The casting was faster now—drastically so, thanks to the boosted power.

The completed Fireball was larger than any he’d thrown before, a bloated sphere of roiling flame.

The sabertooth let out a low, guttural growl.

In the real world, I couldn’t even imagine this.

That was the truth of it.

No matter how brilliant his theoretical and practical achievements had been, the notion of him soloing a monster of this caliber back in reality was pure fantasy.

But now? Now it felt possible.

With the Skills, Stats, and Equipment he had right now.

If I actually pull this off…

Wouldn’t that prove, even back in the real world, that he was a mage who could pull his own weight?

Let’s do this.

Gijun stoked his resolve anew.

He wasn’t just chasing success in a game anymore; he was vowing to seize it in reality.

I can do this.

The regret over failing to find a party had long since faded.

Gijun hurled the Fireball at the charging Sabertooth Tiger.

Swelling in volume in an instant, the Fireball tore across the air with savage hunger, as if it meant to swallow the beast whole.

Crack!

The Fireball struck the Sabertooth Tiger dead-on, erupting in a fierce blaze that gushed raw, roaring flame.

The Sabertooth let out a howl of agony.

Through the intense inferno, its silhouette flickered dimly.

The beast writhed, twisting its body in torment.

At the sight, Gijun clenched his fist tight.

It’s working.

That was the moment his confidence shifted into full-blown conviction.