~Chapter 14~
The Monster That Repays a Favor
[Impossible Achievement Unlocked!]
“Impossible Achievement?”
In the Field, there are certain achievements that can’t be fulfilled by ordinary effort. These are called “Impossible Achievements.”
And Seojin had just achieved one of them.
If he thought about it, it was an achievement that ordinary Hunters could never accomplish.
First, the very condition for summoning the hidden boss monster, the Pig-Nose Lizard Queen, was already challenging. You had to collect at least 300 Pig-Nose Lizard eggs, with more than 100 every day, to halt the species’ reproduction.
Seojin had met that condition by diligently collecting the eggs to make a living.
That’s how the Pig-Nose Lizard Queen appeared.
If the Queen felt the opponent was too threatening, she would simply run away. This applied to Hunters with strong combat skills or overwhelming physical abilities.
Seojin didn’t fit into any of those categories.
Although his agility and strength had increased slightly, it was nowhere near the level required to dominate the hidden boss. Nor did he have any combat skills worth mentioning.
The Queen could see Seojin’s available skills. All he had were “Taste of the Hand,” “Dash,” “Low-Grade Cooking Tool Mastery,” and “Low-Grade Precision,” which were mostly crafting-related.
So she came charging in, intending to take revenge for her children.
But in the end, it was the Queen who fell.
Seojin’s cunning certainly played a role, but the biggest contributor to this victory was the mutated Fire Rabbit, Mokyu.
The Queen had ignored Mokyu, assuming that a mere Fire Rabbit posed no threat. Its flame attacks weren’t strong enough to damage her thick scales.
But she hadn’t anticipated the fact that Mokyu was a mutated Fire Rabbit.
If she had noticed and acted more cautiously, she wouldn’t have suffered such a humiliating defeat.
“Phew… phew…”
Seojin stood before the fallen body of the Pig-Nose Lizard Queen, breathing hard as messages appeared.
[Impossible Achievement Unlocked!]
[You have successfully defeated the Hidden Boss Monster, the Pig-Nose Lizard Queen.]
[Reward: New Skills “Tail Slash” and “Physical Synchronization” have been granted.]
[Note: The ‘Physical Synchronization’ skill can only be acquired through Impossible Achievements.]
As soon as the messages ended, the descriptions of the new skills appeared.
[Tail Slash – Active]
[A severed tail will regrow instantly. You can also voluntarily sever any body part below the neck. The skill can be used three times, after which it will disappear.]
[Usable: 3 Times]
“That’s overpowered…”
Seojin’s jaw dropped. But an even more overpowered skill came next.
[Physical Synchronization – Hidden Passive]
[The physical benefits gained in the Field now apply to your body in the real world.]
“……!”
Seojin was too shocked to speak.
Normally, the enhanced stats and flashy skills gained in the Field disappeared upon returning to reality.
But now, Seojin’s physical improvements in the Field would carry over to the real world.
Other Hunters would be astonished if they knew.
Only those who achieved Impossible Achievements could obtain this miracle.
Not every Hunter gained the “Physical Synchronization” skill upon achieving an Impossible Achievement.
Seojin was a rare exception, making this reward extraordinarily special.
He looked down at his right hand and leg, both crippled from an accident.
‘If this works, maybe I can regain my normal body in reality too.’
He clenched his hand as hope surged within him.
“Then… I can open my own restaurant in the real world as well.”
It was a long-cherished dream, one that had been buried deep within him until this moment.
Mokyu!
While Seojin was lost in thought, Mokyu jumped down from his shoulder and sniffed at the fallen body of the Pig-Nose Lizard Queen. It tapped it with its tiny hand and kicked it a few times, perking its ears to listen.
Only then did Seojin notice the Queen’s body.
“Maybe I can cook this too?”
Seojin placed his hand upon the body and activated the Taste of the Hand skill.
[The “Pig-Nose Lizard Queen’s Meat” has become delicious.]
[Taste of the Hand proficiency has increased and the skill has been upgraded.]
Seojin checked the details of the new upgrade. Previously, Taste of the Hand worked only on the lowest-grade ingredients, but now it could affect low-grade ingredients too.
“The low-grade ingredients in the areas where lower-ranked Hunters operate are much better quality.”
Seojin was looking forward to trying low-grade ingredients.
But the problem was obtaining them. Lower-grade ingredients came from stronger monsters that lived in areas where Seojin would be at a disadvantage.
“Not for now,” he thought. “I’ll worry about that later.”
For the moment, he began dismantling the Pig-Nose Lizard Queen. He didn’t want any suspicion arising from carrying an intact hidden boss body out of the Field.
Seojin worked quickly, thanks to the synergy between the Cooking Tool Mastery and Precision skills.
He stored the pieces in his inventory and noticed the spoils the Queen had dropped.
One was a luminous bead about the size of a marble, and the other was a sharp, spear-like bone.
Seojin checked their details:
[Pig-Nose Lizard Queen’s Essence]
[Consuming this increases the body’s regenerative abilities. Will not fully heal disabilities, but slight improvement can be expected.]
[Pig-Nose Lizard Queen’s Spine Bone]
[A sharp and durable bone usable as a spear. Might be crafted into a stronger weapon by a skilled craftsman.]
“Ah…”
Seojin picked up the Essence with trembling hands.
“If I eat this…”
Although it wouldn’t fully heal his disability, some improvement was better than none.
Seojin swallowed the bead.
Gulp!
A warm, invigorating sensation flowed down from his stomach and circulated throughout his body, focusing especially on his right hand and leg.
After a moment, the sensation settled.
Seojin clenched his right hand and was surprised.
“Ah…”
More strength than before. The hand clenched tighter.
He tried walking, and noticed the limp in his right leg had improved slightly.
Although it wasn’t completely healed, even this was precious.
“Ah…”
Seojin stood still for a long time, unable to speak, with tears streaming down his cheeks.
For Seojin, the otherworldly Field wasn’t a curse — it was a beacon of hope.
“Phew…”
Seojin wiped away his tears and pulled himself together. His eyes were puffy from crying.
It was finally time to return. He had lost track of time doing business and fighting in the Field, and midnight had long passed.
But just as he was about to leave, a figure appeared from the mist.
A voice spoke:
“Are you the one who saved my children from their predators?”
A huge chameleon appeared before him, the length of an adult’s arm. Its body was made of crystal.
[Crystal Chameleon Queen]
Seojin drew the Pig-Nose Lizard Queen’s spine bone, wary of the unexpected visitor.
But the Crystal Chameleon shook its head.
“Please don’t be alarmed.”
‘Why is a monster being so friendly?’
“Because you are our benefactor. I came to repay the favor.”
“Benefactor?”
“Yes. You stopped the birth of the Pig-Nose Lizards. To us, the Pig-Nose Lizards were a natural enemy. They used to devour our young the moment they spotted them.”
As she spoke, countless tiny Crystal Chameleons emerged from the underbrush, twinkling like tiny works of art. Compared to the massive Pig-Nose Lizard, these tiny creatures would have been nothing more than a quick snack.
“But thanks to you, the threat to our young is gone. You have brought peace to us, and for that, I am grateful.”
“Ah… I see.”
“Then, accept this gift as a token of our gratitude.”
A brilliant light emerged from the Crystal Chameleon Queen and sank into Seojin’s body.
A warm energy circulated within him, similar to when he had consumed the Pig-Nose Lizard Queen’s Essence.
[You have gained the ‘Persona’ Skill!]
[You have gained the ‘Thousand Changes’ Skill!]
[Persona – Active]
[Allows you to reshape your face one time. The new face can be activated or deactivated, but reshaping can only occur once.]
[Thousand Changes – Active]
[Allows you to utilize the abilities of any monster you have absorbed the essence of for 10 minutes. Usage is limited to once per day and resets at midnight.]
[Current essence available: Pig-Nose Lizard Queen]
Seojin was astonished.
Both of these skills came from a chameleon-type monster.
He immediately pulled off his mask and activated the Persona skill, envisioning a handsome character from a comic he liked. In an instant, his reflection revealed the face of a very attractive man.
Mokyu?!
Mokyu jumped back in shock, ears quivering wildly, until it sniffed and confirmed that it was still its master.
Seojin smiled and patted Mokyu under its chin.
“I’m grateful. Thank you.”
“No, it is we who must thank you. You are always welcome here. We will remember your kindness.”
With that, the Crystal Chameleon Queen bowed and departed, the tiny chameleons vanishing after her.
Seojin sighed deeply.
“At least I can breathe now.”
He had felt suffocated for so long, hiding behind that mask. Now he wouldn’t have to anymore.
Plus, the Thousand Changes skill would be incredibly useful.
“If I can use the Lizard Queen’s abilities… I could do things like climbing trees easily. Even pick fruit.”
Although this was meant for combat, Seojin was already thinking of ways to use it for cooking.
“Time to go home.”
At long last, Seojin stepped out of the Field.
Today felt like one of the longest days of his life.
