Chapter 8
‘Is it possible to move exactly as I want?’
Synchronization rate: 80.1%.
Depending on the synchronization rate, it becomes possible to reproduce movements in NewGene exactly as in real life.
Jinwoo’s initial synchronization rate was 80%, which allowed him to move more delicately in NewGene than other users.
‘But it’s going even higher. Does that mean it can reach 100%?’
During Eternal Sunshine, he couldn’t even use 50% of his actual skill due to the game’s limitations.
‘If this keeps up, I’ll be able to move exactly like in real life. Actually, maybe even better.’
Jinwoo looked at his own hands.
The more he crafted, the more his body and mind adapted to NewGene.
“So that’s why it’s increasing. The more you adapt, the higher the synchronization rate.”
Of course, it would rise very gradually.
If the synchronization rate rose easily, many users would already be at 100%.
‘It only rose by 0.1% now. Maybe it won’t go up at all.’
But the hope was clear.
‘If I keep at it, 100% doesn’t seem impossible.’
Being able to pour all his talent into NewGene was very meaningful for Jinwoo.
If he crafted equipment at 100% synchronization, then he could truly call that equipment his masterpiece.
‘I’ll be able to make something even better than now.’
—Achievement unlocked: [Novice Crafter].
He obtained the novice crafter achievement, which appears when crafting for the first time.
‘An achievement that increases additional durability when crafting equipment.’
The achievement effect was simple: it added extra durability to crafted equipment.
‘It’s an easy achievement to get, so I’m not expecting much.’
This was his first crafting attempt, so getting the achievement itself was meaningful.
—Reward received.
—You can freely use Rodrum’s Forge!
‘This is the real reward.’
Jinwoo wanted to use this forge to his heart’s content. After making equipment, his hands itched even more.
Anyway, Jinwoo wasn’t in a hurry to level up quickly or chase the ranks of existing users.
‘I already tried being a ranker once.’
He just wanted to do what he enjoyed in NewGene.
Jinwoo planned to enjoy the game in his own way.
‘Let’s just have fun.’
“This’ll be fun.”
Jinwoo stepped directly into Rodrum’s forge.
While Jinwoo burned with enthusiasm, Rodrum kept watching the dagger Jinwoo had made.
“Hmmm! This seems to be your first creation, but to make a dagger of this quality? Huh, well…”
Rodrum expressed his astonishment.
The apprentice behind him also added his words.
“His first-made weapon is grade C. Master, is that really possible? How can it be grade C? And there’s no skill either!”
The apprentice’s expression hardened.
“The first thing I made was gear without any grade. It was trash equipment with no grade assigned.”
“You knew talent isn’t distributed evenly, didn’t you?”
“That’s true, but…”
The apprentice tried to complain further but stopped.
“Sorry, sir.”
This wasn’t simply a matter of talent.
When Jinwoo said his first equipment was grade C, Rodrum’s eyes briefly went blind with surprise.
It was a skill gained from countless hours wielding the hammer and striking.
“Do you think I could become like you?”
“I don’t know.”
Jinwoo answered.
“You have to keep going to find out.”
What Jinwoo learned from playing Eternal Sunshine was just one thing:
You have to try everything to know.
You have to go all the way to know.
“…Thank you.”
—Rodrum’s affection increased!
Inspiring the apprentice led to an increase in Rodrum’s affection.
But Rodrum’s affection was already maxed out.
“What’s your name?”
“Jinwoo.”
Rodrum’s eyes shone with a serious expression.
“Do you need the smelting skill?”
“I don’t think it’s necessary.”
Skills are good to have, but it would just make crafting easier.
‘If it’s easy, it wouldn’t be fun. The crafting skill helps, so it means my hands don’t get used as much.’
“Hmm. You don’t need it?”
Rodrum looked flustered as if he hadn’t expected Jinwoo to refuse.
“How about a hammer? Don’t you need a hammer?”
“I don’t. I already received one.”
“Received? From whom? Who gave it?”
The hammer is very important to a blacksmith.
Who had already given it to him?
“I got it from the captain of the tutorial militia.”
“…!”
Rodrum’s eyes widened.
“That stingy guy actually gave it? No way.”
“I also got a letter of introduction.”
“Good heavens.”
“Do you know the militia captain?”
“Of course!”
Rodrum ground his teeth.
He had already taken notice of that person.
“He’s my friend. We were very close before I left the village.”
With that, Rodrum sighed.
“I already knew about the letter and the hammer coming down as an heirloom. That friend actually has no talent for this, so he told me to give it to him if he doesn’t use it. But he said he’d never give it to anyone who isn’t talented enough to make a name for themselves in this world. So I couldn’t take it.”
Rodrum’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Jinwoo.
“So you must be that talented person to him.”
“I’m just thankful he thinks so highly of me.”
Receiving the crafting hammer was a great favor to Jinwoo.
Even though craftsmen don’t discriminate by equipment, having good equipment can only be beneficial.
Sometimes, wanting to use good equipment strongly motivates the crafter.
“So, about this.”
Rodrum looked troubled, thinking for a moment. Then he seemed to have a good idea and pulled something out.
“How about this?”
Rodrum’s original reward was simple, but since Jinwoo wanted everything, there was no choice.
Jinwoo’s eyes grew wide when Rodrum pulled out something.
“That is…”
Rodrum pulled out a mineral — a very shiny mineral.
“This is called a Shining Stone. It’s quite a wonderful mineral! How about this?”
The Shining Stone, known as “Ban-dol,” was a rare mineral.
Called a lower-tier substitute for Mithril, the symbol of hardness, it was quite difficult for beginners to acquire.
It mainly dropped in high-level hunting zones, and since users and NPCs used it as soon as it appeared, it rarely appeared on the market.
Rodrum smiled knowingly as he saw Jinwoo’s expression.
This mineral was Rodrum’s best material, one he kept hidden secretly.
He might not care about smelting skills.
But if you are a blacksmith, there is no way to ignore such a good mineral right in front of you.
Because it’s the same industry, he naturally understood that psychology.
“Master! Didn’t you say you’d give that to me when I remove my apprentice tag!?”
The apprentice shouted urgently.
Rodrum ignored the apprentice’s glare.
“Sorry.”
“Master!”
Jinwoo felt the earnestness in Rodrum’s eyes.
“I’ve seen good crafting. Good equipment. Then I must surely give a proper reward.”
—Reward received!
—Obtained Shining Stone!
—<Shining Stone> <Grade: B>
Description: A silver shining stone. Hard and very light.
Jinwoo received the silver shining stone.
Though the apprentice’s expression was shocked, he couldn’t refuse such a good material.
“I will accept Rodrum’s kindness.”
Only then did Rodrum look relieved.
He had never had such a difficult time giving a reward to a stranger before.
Monitoring Team
Kim Nayoon immediately filed a report about the user Jinwoo.
A meeting was convened that same day.
“What is this?”
“He scored 200 points?”
“Isn’t this the story that was circulating in the community? That this user Jinwoo is the one? The user who just started yesterday?”
The vice chairman showed a surprised expression.
He had expected something since Jinwoo was a super-suitable candidate.
But he never imagined results would come so fast.
“How many of the users in the current rankings are alternate accounts?”
“Except for three, all scores were achieved with alternate accounts.”
They create characters to check how the game progresses, then delete them.
They create characters again and use the information from before to clear quests.
Of course, knowing the information doesn’t guarantee high scores.
But knowing something and not knowing it — that’s a world of difference.
Most users in the Hall of Fame rankings used this method.
This was only possible because it was a tutorial.
Korean users especially liked to start perfectly from the beginning and do things the orthodox way.
NewGene did not regulate this.
Everyone knew the tutorial phase was the most important in the very beginning.
Without skill, no differences could be made anyway.
“Are there any deleted data?”
“None.”
Jinwoo did not delete anything.
In other words, he started with no information at all.
“So this means he cleared this tutorial with 200 points from his very first start?”
No matter how suitable he was, this was unbelievable.
“What’s going on here?”
Hearing this, Kim Nayoon said as if it was still too early to be surprised.
“This is not the end yet.”
At her words, the vice chairman’s pupils dilated in surprise.
