The Game of a Legendary Genius Dark Mage

4.

“How many times do I have to tell you?! This isn’t meat!!!”

“Ahhh!”

Marlen’s butcher shop was as busy as ever, packed with players.

But every single one of them seemed to leave with nothing but scolding.

Even those who had learned the Butchering skill weren’t spared.

“What’s the point of butchering if you don’t put thought into it?! Look at this mess—chunks hacked off like you’re cleaving firewood!”

“B-but at least it’s... functional, right?”

“Functional?”

“Eek!”

With an exaggerated sigh, Marlen tossed the player a handful of coins and shooed them out.

Having the Butchering skill didn’t matter if it was used without care. Most players merely relied on the skill to automate the process, resulting in subpar meat.

The quality of meat they brought in reflected their carelessness.

Some even used blunt weapons to kill the animals, damaging the meat beyond salvage.

Whoever started the rumor that “pounded meat is more tender” clearly didn’t account for rabbits.

Rabbit meat beaten with clubs or blunt weapons was practically ruined.

Seeing one botched piece of meat after another only deepened Marlen’s frustration. Today was no different—her voice was already hoarse from all the yelling.

But then, a face she had tucked away in her memories resurfaced.

Seong had arrived.

“Huh? What now?!”

The peculiar outsider.

But if he was back so soon, he was probably no different from the others. Marlen narrowed her eyes, fully prepared to tear into him the moment he took out his meat.

However, Seong, unfazed by her glare, calmly placed twenty rabbit carcasses worth of meat and hides in front of her.

“Look at this!!! This meat is—”

Marlen trailed off mid-sentence, her eyes narrowing as she inspected the meat more closely.

Her usual scolding died on her lips. Something was different.

Seong met her gaze with his usual calm demeanor as she hesitated, scrutinizing the items before her.

“This is... incredible!!!”

Her exclamation shocked not only Seong but also the players watching from afar.

“Marlen is giving a compliment?!”

“What?! Marlen, the Butcher Queen... complimented someone?!”

“Ah! My Marlen just praised another player! How could she?!”

“Who even are you, man?!”

The players, who had frequented Marlen’s shop numerous times, couldn’t believe their ears. This was the first time they’d ever heard her praise someone’s meat.

And it wasn’t just any praise. It was effusive.

“This... This is remarkable...”

Marlen’s jaw dropped, her eyes filling with emotion. She even pulled out a handkerchief to dab away her tears.

Seong, slightly taken aback by the dramatic reaction, scratched his cheek awkwardly.

‘Is it really that impressive?’

After dealing with so many poor-quality submissions from outsiders, Marlen couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by the sight of such pristine cuts of meat.

It had been far too long since she’d seen anything this cleanly prepared.

Regaining her composure, Marlen held up one of the rabbit carcasses and addressed the other players.

“Everyone, take a good look at this! This is how you properly butcher meat! See how neatly and kindly it’s been done—slaughtered with a single clean strike to minimize suffering, bled out immediately to preserve the texture, and gutted properly to avoid damaging the quality! This is what real butchering looks like!”

The players were stunned, even more so than before.

“My god, it’s possible to get meat that clean?!”

“Even with the Butchering skill, I couldn’t manage that!”

“Wow... I’m so jealous.”

“Wahhh, my Marlen! My Marlen is...!”

“Dude, seriously, who are you?”

Seong felt a little embarrassed by the attention but perked up when he overheard someone whisper, “He’s probably going to get a title for that.”

A title? He had been awarded titles in similar circumstances before. Would this be another one?

Marlen, still brimming with emotion, nodded as she looked at Seong.

“This is real meat. It’s been so long since I’ve seen proper meat like this. Marlen is deeply moved.”

[You have moved the butcher with your self-butchered meat.]

[Title acquired: 『Butcher Shop Regular』.]

[Achievement unlocked: Butcher Shop Hero.]

[Achievement rewards obtained.]

[Your Butcher Shop quest rewards have been enhanced.]

[Speak to the butcher Marlen to receive your enhanced rewards.]

“Oh.”

He actually got it.

Just as that player had guessed, he was awarded a title.

But it didn’t stop there—his quest rewards were enhanced as well.

Judging by the reactions of the other players, their expressions ranged from admiration to envy.

Though their feelings varied, one thing was clear: they all envied what Seong had achieved.

For Seong, the feeling was unfamiliar yet pleasant.

‘Is this what recognition feels like?’

Marlen, still visibly emotional, suddenly straightened up.

“This won’t do. I have to reward you properly!”

[You have received your Butcher Shop quest rewards.]

[Enhanced rewards granted.]

[You have obtained 4 Gold and the 『Excellent Butchering Set』.]

Marlen handed him a hefty pouch of coins and a leather bundle containing a variety of tools. The items were automatically added to Seong’s inventory.

The reward was nothing short of extraordinary.

For comparison, other players typically earned just 1 Silver for submitting rabbit meat and hides.

Yet Seong had been given 4 Gold—equivalent to 400 Silver. Each piece of meat and hide had been valued at a whopping 10 Silver, ten times the usual rate.

Though Seong wondered why this felt like such a big deal, he wasn’t about to complain.

‘This game has amazing rewards.’

Any other player who overheard that thought might have thrown a rock at him.

But Seong simply bowed politely to Marlen and stepped outside.

“Come back anytime! You’re always welcome here! I’ll buy anything you bring me at premium rates!”

“Th-thank you.”

Seong awkwardly waved as Marlen’s booming voice echoed behind him.

The crowd of players had only grown, and their curious stares made him want to escape as quickly as possible.

Once he was a safe distance away, he finally exhaled, took a moment to catch his breath, and opened his status to check his new title.

Even without reading the full description, he had a good idea of its effects.

『Butcher Shop Regular』

《Normal》A title awarded to users recognized for their butchering skills by the butcher shop.Increases the selling price of self-butchering meat and hides by 10%.‘Not bad.’

Since butchering was one of the most frequently used skills in Eternal World, having a title like this would undoubtedly be helpful in the long run.

Now, what about the Excellent Butchering Set?

Seong retrieved the item from his inventory, eager to see what it was like. This would be the second item he’d acquired after the Steel Sword.

『Excellent Butchering Set』

《Rare》A set of butchering tools of exceptional quality.10% increase in butchering speed.10% improvement in the quality of butchered goods.‘Oh!’

Unlike the title, this was a Rare item.

Since even the Steel Sword was classified as Normal+, this was the first Rare item Seong had obtained.

The generosity of the rewards left him amazed.

‘Is it really okay to give out rewards this good?’

Unaware that this level of generosity wasn’t shared by other players, Seong felt genuinely touched by the kindness of Eternal World.

He appreciated the steady progression he was experiencing. Even the NPCs, despite some being quirky or loud, had proven helpful and friendly.

Marlen, though noisy, had her charm.

Most of all...

‘This sensation might become addictive.’

The experience of sharing the memories and skills of ghosts was thrilling—no, exhilarating.

While he couldn’t fully absorb all their memories, the growth in his abilities was undeniable.

From the martial skills inherited from the former instructor to the dexterity and hunting techniques gained from Hunter Apik, Seong could feel his talents expanding.

Receiving these abilities from ghosts made the game far more enjoyable.

‘What could be more exciting than this?’

As Seong reveled in his progress, he noticed a ghostly figure moving in the distance.

It seemed even the village wasn’t exempt from wandering spirits.

At first, Seong thought little of it, but then the ghost began moving erratically, teleporting toward him in a manner straight out of a horror movie.

The figure was that of an elderly man, and while most would have been startled by such an approach, Seong remained unfazed.

‘My sister would’ve loved this.’

His sister, who adored ghost stories and supernatural phenomena, would have been delighted by this scene. For Seong, it felt more like a ghost’s ”technique” than a spooky appearance.

Whatever the case, the ghost seemed to be in a hurry.

When the elderly ghost finally appeared before him, its expression was urgent and somewhat panicked.

“You... You can actually see me?!”

“Yes, I can see you,” Seong replied calmly.

“And... and you can even talk to me?!”

As Seong’s composed response registered, the ghost let out a dramatic gasp, throwing its head back in astonishment.

The display was a bit overwhelming, but Seong suspected the ghost had a reason for appearing so urgently.

“Do you have some business with me?”

The ghost nodded so vigorously that Seong half-wondered if its head might fall off.

‘What’s got it so worked up?’ Seong thought, tilting his head.

From past experiences, such urgency usually meant one thing—a quest.

“Do you know the Hunter’s Forest?” the ghost asked.

“The Hunter’s Forest?”

“Yes! It’s a forest created by the hunters of Hindel Village. However, it’s not a place that just anyone can enter.”

“Oh?”

Seong’s interest piqued as he listened.

A location that not everyone could access? It sounded like the perfect setup for a hidden dungeon.

‘Is this a hidden dungeon?’

Hidden dungeons were rare locations discovered by only a few players, offering unique rewards and challenges. The name Hunter’s Forest certainly fit the description.

Seong paid close attention as the ghost elaborated.

“Since the outsiders arrived, most of the hunters have left for other villages. The beasts in the forest have multiplied, and it’s become a problem. Few in the village even remember its location anymore. I’d tell you myself, but in my current state, I cannot guide you.”

“That makes sense.”

“But then you appeared! Hunter Apik mentioned you, and it turns out he wasn’t exaggerating. Who would’ve thought that braggart’s words were true?”

Apparently, the ghost had heard about Seong from Hunter Apik.

The old man looked at him with excitement and spoke eagerly.

“There are rare beasts in the forest whose hides and meat fetch high prices. With your Steel Sword and exceptional butchering skills, you’re the only one who can handle it. Please, I beg of you!”

Even without the ghost’s plea, Seong was already intrigued.

A hidden dungeon in the beginner village, where leveling up wasn’t even possible?

It seemed counterintuitive, but beginner dungeons often held valuable treasures or unique opportunities.

Hindel Village, known as the birthplace of the Hero who defeated the Demon King, was bustling for a reason.

A village with ties to both the Hero and the Demon King seemed like the perfect place to find hidden secrets.

‘And I want to test my current abilities.’

With the combined talents of the former instructor and Hunter Apik, Seong was eager to see how far he could push himself.

There was no reason to refuse.

As he prepared to accept the quest, the ghost added an enticing offer.

“If you agree to help, I’ll reveal the location of a family heirloom buried in the forest!”

“Deal,” Seong replied instantly.

Rewards kept piling up, making it feel like a giveaway.