Everyone is Young Except for Me - Chapter 193

Chapter 193
I bought the Stone Skin magic book cheaply through Maven and then looked around the third floor in a pleasant mood. Even so, I couldn’t see any suitable magic books. There were some intermediate or high-grade magic books, but I decided to move on because there were more powerful things that Solar and Punghee could teach when they grew. I was interested in earth magic because it was the magic of the earth, not the weather in the sky.

[You have entered the fourth floor of Fortren’s Magic Tower.]

Now I was on the fourth floor. Maven said it was a place to sell a variety of magic equipment. This was the most frequently visited place for magicians and other magic-related classes. I was going to try and find something useful here. Of course, if there was any.

“Take a look around,” Maven told me.

“Umm, yes.”

I followed Maven’s instructions and explored a variety of magic items. Some had a performance lower than the price, while some were cheap and performed well. Of course, there was nothing that caught my eye now. There were only rare or deluxe-grade equipment.

“Groan.”

“You don’t like anything?”

"The quality of the equipment is too low. Are there any equipment with a heroic rating?”

“Heroic rated equipment?”

My words must be surprising because Maven’s eyes widened. He spoke again in a calm tone, “There is a treasure warehouse. However, this is Fortren, so the price is a bit expensive. Do you mind?”

“It’s fine. Guide me.

“Well, it’s okay to let you see it.”

He seemed to think I had no money, but that was a big mistake. I was the one who got the jackpot at the casino. I still had over $50 million left in my inventory. There was still a lot left despite giving $20 million to Metheus yesterday.

Maven shrugged and led me deeper. The place where we arrived was a huge portal. There was an NPC standing beside it.

“It has been a while, Maven. Have you come to look at the magic battle gear?”

“Yes, Hasar. Your face is still the same.”

The man called Hasar smiled and left his spot. “You are also the same. Who is next to you?”

“He is a precious guest. He is my friend’s father. He wants to see inside.”

“Ahh, I see. Do you know the time limit?”

“Yes. 30 minutes?”

“The countdown will start when you enter.”

"I know. Then I’m going in.”

I was guided by Maven and headed straight inside. There was a slight floating sensation. At the same time, a message appeared in front of me.

[You have entered the Treasure Warehouse of Fortren’s Magic Tower.]

[After 30 minutes, the magic will automatically kick you out.]

[Time remaining - 29:56]

This was the time limit that Hasar had mentioned. Looking around, it was full of magical equipment displayed in a luxurious manner. This was enough reason to call it the magic tower’s treasure warehouse.

“The time given is 30 minutes. Please look quickly.”

“Yes.”

This was what I said, but I didn’t intend to come out with nothing. I nodded with satisfaction and started to look at the items.

* * *

The cold winter wind struck Mido’s cheeks. A terrible cold wave squeezed in through the gap even though she was wearing a scarf. She continued to stomp her feet while shivering. “Ohhh. It’s cold.”

There were many typhoons this summer. It was unknown what atmospheric pressure changes took place, but the Korean Meteorological Administration predicted that the biggest cold wave ever would hit. Indeed, a great cold surrounded her body.

“Uhh, it’s so annoying. Why is it so cooooold?”

She had been annoyed since morning. She woke up early to try and get Dark Wolf’s number from her grandfather, but he had already entered the capsule and logged into Arkstar. Of course, she could’ve called her grandfather by pressing the emergency bell, but she decided to give up. In any case, she was going to meet Dark Wolf at the Colosseum. It seemed to be better to meet him in person and thank him.

‘By the way, how does Dark Wolf know all the information about the constellations?’

The only thing that remained in her mind last night was a question. The identity of Dark Wolf, who knew the information of the constellations, hadn’t been revealed yet. Due to this, she couldn’t sleep well. People in the community said that he was as strong as Michael, but Mido thought he might be stronger than Michael. She was also curious about why he was so favorable to her. He didn’t like to appear in the media.

‘Yet he is so favorable to me.’

It was a famous event in the community. There was an anecdote of him kidnapping reporters and tying them to a cliff. She heard it was on the front page of the newspaper and had been in the real-time search terms for quite some time. Mido had invited him to her YouTube broadcasting at the Colosseum that day and she was very surprised because he agreed. He also helped with her task this time...

“Ah, perhaps?” Mido clapped and started to walk at a rapid pace. She saw a capsule room not far away. She moved quickly while muttering, "There's no doubt. He likes me.”

She thought she had to tell him that her ideal type was a man like her grandfather.

* * *

Time passed by like a flash. I left the tower’s treasure warehouse and headed straight to the hotel. By the time I returned, Chunza had completed her Fireball acquisition and was now making a Fireball in front of my eyes.

“Guruuuuuk.” Chunza flapped her wings and a sphere of fire flew from her chest toward Solar. The Fireball flew toward Solar, who scattered and absorbed it. I saw that the hit rate had improved and smiled.

“Well done, Chunza.” 

“Gurururuk.”

I stroked her head and Chunza rubbed her face against my hand like she felt good. Solar had inflated to the size of a ball and exclaimed jealously at the sight, “Master! I want to be stroked too!”

“Yes, you’ve also worked hard. Go and rest.”

“Hehe. I know, Master! See you again!”

Solar soon felt better and dispersed with sparks. I instantly looked at Chunza’s information window.

[Lv. 16 Chunza] [Owl]

[Rating: Normal

An owl raised at the coin exchange on the first floor of Fortren’s casino.

Usually, the owl serves and follows one master. The main task is to deliver goods. The more it grows, the heavier the items it can carry.

-Magic currently attached: Recognition, tracking.

-Available Magic: Fireball.

-There is information that hasn’t been revealed yet.]

I couldn’t help smiling at the information window with satisfaction. Chunza had grown five levels. There were now four levels left until she reached level 20. From level 20, I could cut off the raw chicken and let her go hunting. Nevertheless, I thought it would be a bit difficult to fight with just Fireball.

“Hmm. Punghee~”

There was a gentle breeze and Punghee appeared in the air. The moment she saw me, she licked my cheek with her rough tongue.

“Huhu, I haven’t seen you in a long time. Haven’t you grown a lot?”

Punghee had eaten a lot in the Ring World and she had become quite big. She was around the size of a medium-sized dog but this was still a great development. In fact, it would still take a long time to grow to an adult. Looking at her status window, her level had risen a lot and she had learned how to attack with the wind.

“Punghee.”

“Puung~?”

“Can you teach Chunza how to use the wind?”

“Puuuung?”

Punghee found Chunza eating below and approached, acting cute. Chunza was worried at first, but then she seemed to like Punghee. Perhaps they connected because they were both female. Just like what I did with Solar the other day, I commanded Punghee to teach Chunza. This time, however, it’ll be about how to use the wind. They seemed to start class immediately in the bathroom.

“Puuuung. Pung. Puuuung~”

“Guruk. Guruk. Gruruk.”

I didn’t know what was happening but it seemed to be going well. Chunza seemed to like it and I felt better.

“Then I should start learning as well.”

I pulled out the Stone Skin magic book I bought from the magic tower, sat in a chair, and started reading. A short time passed. Once I closed the book, a message window popped up.

[The low-grade magic ‘Stone Skin’ has been learned.]

[You can turn parts of your body to stone.]

“Yes, let’s try it. Stone Skin.”

I used my skills to turn my arms to stone. There was a loud sound and then my right arm became gray stone. I touched it and the hardness was like stone itself. I was satisfied.

“Huhu. I’m curious about what those two people will look like when they see it. Let’s see... where was it?”

I opened my inventory again and started looking for something. It was something I bought for a huge $5 million from the magic tower’s treasure warehouse. In fact, Maven tried to dissuade me when I purchased it. It was a cursed ring or something. I knew what Maven was saying, but this curse was useless on me.

“Here it is.”

[Solomon's Ring]

[Rating: Legend

A ring made by King Solomon, a legendary great magician and the Ninth Monarch of the magical city of Oz. It isn’t known why, but he had been single for 100 years.

It is said that he lived alone from birth to death.

The function of the ring tells us how much he regretted it.

There is a theory that he made this with a longing in his heart. Until he died, he didn’t know the heart of his first love.

-[Active] Eye of Judgment: You can see the ‘opposite sex’ that the target is most interested in.

If the target is judged as being part of a couple, there will be a curse that reduces the target’s stats by 20%.

-[Active] Friendship Partner: Summon one friend you share a friendship with. However, it is only possible for those of the same sex.

Currently Registered Friend: None

-[Passive] Sympathetic Deep Regret: If you remain single while wearing this ring, your knowledge stat will steadily increase.

The knowledge stat increases when looking at the affection of a couple.

However, if you become part of a couple or kiss the opposite sex, all the accumulated stats will disappear.

If you forcibly remove the ring, you will suffer King Solomon’s five curses and die in pain (the curses can’t be avoided until the character is deleted).

-[Passive] Couple Hell, Single Heaven: If your party members or the party leader is single, all of their stats will increase by 20%.]

“Haha. How regretful was he to make such a thing?”

This was my second look but I still couldn’t help clicking my tongue. The reason Maven warned me was the passive Sympathetic Deep Regret. At first glance, it seemed very good because the knowledge stat would steadily increase. However, there were many things that needed to be endured. Once forcibly removed, I would continue to be cursed until I deleted my character. I couldn’t be part of a couple or even kiss my lover.

I had seen many young users here in Arkstar so I could see how painful these conditions were. It was an item that made you live like a sage.

“Still, the curse is useless on me.”

I couldn’t get a lover at my age, let alone kiss someone. That’s why I thought this ring was a blessing instead of a curse. The thing I liked even more was that I could tell the opposite sex the target was most interested in. I intended to use this for Mido.

“Huhu. I like it very much.”

I placed the ring on my finger without hesitation.