The Game of a Legendary Genius Dark Mage

Chapter 6

4.

“HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU?! THIS ISN’T MEAT!”

“Aaaah!”

Marlene’s butcher shop was as lively as ever, packed with players.

Unfortunately, every one of them seemed to leave with their ears ringing from her scolding.

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

“What’s the point of having the skill if you butcher like this? Look at these mangled pieces of flesh!”
“B-But it’s still… usable, isn’t it?”
“Usable?!”
“Eeeek!”
“Take this and GET OUT!”

She tossed the coins at the player and sent them away.

For Marlene, most of the meat brought in by players was subpar. They relied on their skills without understanding the art of butchering, resulting in poorly carved cuts.

Some even bludgeoned the rabbits with clubs, ruining the meat entirely.

Who told these idiots that tenderizing meat with a stick was a good idea?

Marlene’s frustration reached its peak daily, leaving her hoarse by the end of each shift.

Then, she spotted a familiar face—Seonghyeon.

“Huh? It’s that guy.”

The peculiar outsider had returned.

She immediately prepared to berate him. If he was like the others, she’d waste no time scolding him for bringing garbage.

But as Seonghyeon calmly approached and began laying out perfectly butchered rabbit meat and pelts, Marlene’s words caught in her throat.

“This is… Wait, this is—!”

She stopped mid-sentence, staring at the meat in disbelief.

“You… You’ve done an AMAZING job!”

The declaration left not only Seonghyeon but every nearby player shocked.

“Marlene’s… praising someone?!”
“What the heck?! Marlene… MARLENE praised him?!”
“MY Marlene praised another man?!”
“What’s wrong with you?!”

For regulars of the butcher shop, this was unprecedented. Marlene never praised anyone, least of all for meat.

But there she was, holding up one of Seonghyeon’s cuts with tears in her eyes.

“Just look at this! Such clean cuts! The care, the precision! This is real meat, everyone! REAL MEAT!”

Players muttered enviously among themselves.

“Oh my God. That’s possible?”
“I have the skill, but my cuts never look like that!”
“Man, I wish I had his talent.”
“Marlene! My Marlene! She’s slipping away!”
“WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!”
“I bet he’s getting a title for this.”

The last comment caught Seonghyeon’s attention.

A title?

He had earned titles for similar feats before, so it was entirely possible.

Marlene, still teary-eyed, nodded as she spoke.

“This is real meat! It’s been ages since I’ve seen cuts this perfect! Truly, I’m moved beyond words.”

[You have impressed the butcher with your self-butchered meat.]
[Title acquired: ‘Regular of the Butcher Shop.’]
[You have achieved a milestone at the butcher shop.]
[Achievement rewards granted.]
[Quest rewards upgraded. Speak to Marlene to receive them.]

“Oh,” Seonghyeon muttered.

He did earn a title—and more. The quest rewards had been upgraded as well.

Other players stared with envy, their expressions a mix of longing and frustration.

Seonghyeon felt an odd, ticklish sense of satisfaction. Was this what it felt like to be recognized?

Marlene, still brimming with gratitude, handed him his rewards.

[Quest rewards received.]
[Upgraded rewards: 4 Gold Coins and ‘Excellent Butchering Kit’ acquired.]

A heavy pouch of coins and a bundle of tools entered Seonghyeon’s inventory.

Compared to the standard 1 Silver per item other players received, his rewards were leagues ahead.

At 100 Silver per Gold, each piece of meat and hide had been valued at 10 Silver—a tenfold increase.

‘This game is so generous.’

While others might have scowled at his fortune, Seonghyeon simply accepted it with gratitude, bowing politely to Marlene.

“Thank you very much.”

“Hahaha! Come back anytime! I’ll pay top price for anything you bring!”

Her boisterous farewell embarrassed Seonghyeon, who quickly left the shop.

Once he was a safe distance away, he let out a breath and checked his new title.

‘Regular of the Butcher Shop’
→ Normal
→ Granted to users who display exceptional butchering skills at the butcher shop.
→ Increases sale price of self-butchered items by 10%.

‘Not bad.’

Considering Butchering was a skill used throughout the game, the title would be a significant advantage.

Curious about his other reward, Seonghyeon retrieved the Excellent Butchering Kit from his inventory.

‘Excellent Butchering Kit’
→ Rare
→ A set of high-quality tools for butchering.
→ Increases butchering speed by 10%.
→ Improves the quality of butchered items by 10%.

“Wow!”

A rare item! This was his first truly rare-grade equipment, as the Steel Sword was only Normal+.

‘Is this game always this generous?’

Unaware of his extraordinary luck, Seonghyeon felt a deep appreciation for the game.

‘This is so much fun.’

The sense of growth, the interactions with NPCs—even Marlene’s loud personality—made the experience enjoyable.

And most of all, the thrill of absorbing ghosts’ memories and skills was intoxicating.

The memories from the former instructor and the hunter ghost, Apik, had vastly improved his abilities.

Now, another ghost seemed to be approaching him.

From a distance, Seonghyeon noticed the translucent figure of an old man moving toward him.

The ghost’s jerky, almost horror-movie-like movements would have startled most people. But for Seonghyeon, it was a familiar sight.

‘My sister would have loved this.’

His sister, a fan of all things supernatural, would have been thrilled to witness this encounter.

The ghost hurried over with an anxious expression, stopping right in front of him.

“Can you… Can you really see me?!”

“Yes, I can.”

“Y-You can even speak to me?!”

The ghost nearly fainted with surprise, his head tilting back dramatically.

Seonghyeon, unfazed, politely asked, “Do you need something from me?”

The ghost nodded vigorously, his head bobbing so wildly that it looked as though it might fall off.

“Do you know the Hunter’s Forest?”

“Haven’t heard of it.”

“It’s a forest established by the hunters of Hin del Village. But not just anyone can enter!”

A forest only accessible to select individuals?

Seonghyeon’s interest was piqued.

‘A hidden dungeon?’

The ghost continued, explaining that the forest was now overrun with beasts since most hunters had left the village.

“With your skills, you can handle it! Rare animals with valuable pelts roam the forest. Please, I need your help!”

It was a clear opportunity. A hidden dungeon in the starting village was a rare find, often filled with secrets and treasures.

“If you help me, I’ll tell you where my family’s heirloom is buried!”

“Understood.”

The prospect of rewards piling up made Seonghyeon smile. This was practically a gift.