Chapter 15
After completing a special quest and slaying the Kobold Boss, a skill book appeared before Yujin as a reward. He snatched it up.
‘Frost Horn?’
Even Yujin found the name unfamiliar.
There are countless types and attributes of magic. While most people know about the four basic elements—fire, water, wind, and earth—many other types exist, including ice, darkness, light, and more.
‘An ice-attribute spell, huh? Been a while. Let’s take a look.’
Yujin opened the description for Frost Horn.
[Frost Horn]
Grade: D
Freezes a designated target or emits a powerful burst of cold within a limited range.
‘A perfect anti-personnel spell.’
It could either freeze a single target or affect a small area—ideal for duels or one-on-one fights rather than large-scale combat.
‘It’s probably not the most efficient spell.’
If it were powerful, seasoned players would’ve all used it, and Yujin would’ve remembered it from past experience.
‘Still, a bit of a shame.’
Yujin wasn’t the kind of genius who could remember everything he saw just once. Even as a veteran player, if something wasn’t part of his usual guides or familiar routes, it was easy to forget.
But he felt the need to secure the related skill anyway.
‘I can always get the others later. For now, let’s try this one out.’
Just as Yujin was about to use the spell—
“Hold it!”
A sharp voice rang out from the party. Yujin turned to see the healer, Lee Minsu, storming toward him.
“We get that you’re the carry and all, but how can you just grab a skill book and use it without asking the rest of us?!”
Yujin read the greed in Lee Minsu’s eyes.
It wasn’t anything special—just the typical covetousness when someone sees a rare item. Random magic skill books were rare, even for prestigious support classes like healers.
“Got a problem with that?”
“Yeah, I do!”
“Why? I don’t get it. You were the ones who said rewards would be based on contribution. I’m the one who killed most of the kobolds in this dungeon.”
Yujin casually waved the skill book in the air.
“You want money for it or something?”
Honestly, the skill book was the only useful item for Yujin among the rewards.
Everything else was just pocket change—chump change, really, for someone like Yujin, who would soon be making millions, if not billions.
“Or maybe you want me to take 98% of the rewards like the contribution meter says?”
“That’s not what I—”
“Fine.”
It was actually a good chance to test the spell. He wanted to see whether it really worked in PvP—and if it could kill someone.
‘He’s a healer. He won’t die that easily.’
“If you land a hit on me, I’ll give it to you.”
“Put that sword down first.”
“I won’t use it. I’ll stay still. Just come at me.”
Lee Minsu must’ve thought he had a chance, because he rolled up his sleeves and strode forward.
“You’re dead—!”
[Activating skill: Frost Horn.]
Fueled by mana equivalent to 38 stat points, a chilling frost erupted instantly.
Crackle—!
In a flash, the icy blast spread out, freezing the throne, the floor, and even the Kobold Boss’s corpse.
The range wasn’t huge—just about three meters forward from Yujin’s position.
But it was more than enough to freeze Lee Minsu in his tracks.
“Hooo…”
As Yujin exhaled, white breath puffed from his lips.
Lee Minsu had turned into a frozen statue. He wasn’t dead—just frozen solid on the surface like tempura batter.
‘Not bad. The effect’s solid.’
But it used a lot of mana.
It wasn’t shown explicitly, but Yujin could tell about 10 mana had been consumed—meaning he could use it only three times.
Still, Yujin wasn’t worried.
He had a way to eliminate that downside.
“Enhance.”
[Using skill: Soul Enhancement.]
A flash of white light burst forth.
Target: the skill.
[Skill “Frost Horn” has evolved into “Frost Horn (Enhanced).”]
[Frost Horn (Enhanced)]
Grade: D+
Freezes a designated target or emits a powerful burst of cold within a wider range. Mana consumption is reduced. The skill can be canceled mid-cast.
“Hmm.”
Yujin looked toward the frozen throne and the lifeless Kobold corpse.
His eyes gleamed, and a wave of pure white frost burst forward again.
Crackkkkk!
The radius expanded from 3 meters to 5, and mana cost was halved.
If used on living people or monsters, it would probably be even more effective.
‘Yeah, this is solid.’
Yujin was pleased.
And—
‘I should collect elemental spells while I can.’
He couldn’t do it yet, but later on, he’d be able to infuse weapons or items with elemental power using “Attribute Enhancement.”
An ice-imbued weapon would be pretty useful.
Yujin smiled in satisfaction.
“….”
“…Did he just die?”
“No, just frozen.”
Yujin casually kicked the frozen Minsu.
Clink!
“H-hack! Huhk!”
The ice shattered, and Minsu gasped desperately for air.
Yujin, having lost all interest, turned his back on them.
“Well, I’ll be off. I’ll leave the cleanup to you.”
“…Understood.”
Han Taesoo nodded wearily.
Whether Yujin would ever see him again was unclear. He wasn’t particularly competent or incompetent—just… average.
Actually, no—he was incompetent. He couldn’t even control his own party’s healer.
‘No reason to cross paths again.’
Still, he could probably handle the cleanup.
Yujin stepped through the open dungeon gate.
Vwoom!
The high school sports field came into view again.
He took a deep breath and headed toward his next goal.
‘Time to get the Memory skill.’
Yujin’s next destination: the Hunter Association.
“I’m here for a re-evaluation test.”
“The next exam’s tomorrow. Are you okay with that?”
“Yes.”
The receptionist didn’t seem interested.
If Yujin had been a newly awakened Hunter, things might’ve been different. But he’d already gone through the evaluation process once—as an Enhancement-type.
If he had awakened with a high-grade ability, a department head would’ve come out to greet him. But that didn’t happen. Meaning—he wasn’t anything special.
“Alright. Please return here by 10 a.m. tomorrow.”
Most people who re-applied for exams were just clinging to false hope.
Yujin had no interest in the receptionist either.
After confirming his application was accepted, he asked,
“Can I get access to the Hunter Library too?”
“…The library?”
“Yes.”
“Well, you already have a Hunter license, so that’s fine.”
Though puzzled, the receptionist handed over a library access pass.
The Hunter Library.
A place where Hunters tried to systematize their skills and create artificial skill books—and failed.
It was more a storage room than a library, and most of the manuals were now considered junk.
But—
‘I know what’s hidden there.’
With his pass, Yujin descended into the basement of the association.
B3—Library.
There was a hidden piece waiting inside.
Ding.
The elevator doors opened, and Yujin wrinkled his nose.
The place reeked of dust and neglect.
It was a half-storage, half-library facility—poorly maintained, barely visited, and barely acknowledged.
Most of the time, the only people there were lazy staff members or someone who’d been temporarily exiled from higher positions.
‘Let’s get what I came for and go.’
“Mmm… Ugh…”
The librarian was dozing with a book over his face, wearing a mask to avoid the dust.
Yujin brushed the air with his hand as he approached the shelves.
‘Let’s see…’
Most of the books were swordsmanship manuals written by physical-type Hunters.
He pulled one out and skimmed through it, then shook his head.
‘They relied entirely on instinct and talent.’
Yujin’s current skills were all low-difficulty ones he was familiar with from past use.
But learning through books alone?
‘No way.’
Thunk.
He slid the book back into place and searched further.
‘Found it.’
A book with no title, no illustrations.
It was thicker than the others, the pages yellowed as if sun-damaged—but otherwise unremarkable.
But Yujin knew its value.
Long forgotten among half-finished manuals and failed skill books—it was time for it to shine.
‘I don’t know how it works exactly, but hey—it’s part of the game’s design.’
Yujin opened the book. A faint magical shimmer lingered—but just barely.
‘Still too early, huh.’
Normally, this hidden piece could be accessed about a month after starting the game.
He was here weeks too early—no wonder it wasn’t working.
But—
‘That’s why I’ll change it myself.’
Yujin had the power to make it happen early.
[Using skill: Soul Enhancement.]
Fwoosh!
A white light burst out.
The unfinished book began to tremble, and strange characters appeared on the pages, writing themselves in real time.
‘Got it.’
[Skill Book – Memory Archive (A)]
Grants skill: Memory Archive
Yujin used the book immediately.
[Acquired skill: Memory Archive (A)]
[Activating skill: Memory Archive]
His vision turned black.
Then, slowly, shelves began appearing in the darkness—each one filling with books.
Books containing every memory Yujin had.
[Memory Archive]
Grade: A
Preserves all of the user’s memories. Memories older than 100 years cannot be retained. You can recall any memory at will.
‘Nice.’
He opened a book next to him to confirm.
It was a memory from Earth—his former life.
“Hey! Let’s hit the snack bar! My treat!”
“Ooooooh!”
‘High school days, huh.’
Yujin had grown up in a warm, well-off home.
“Son, have some fruit while you study.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Hey, how about we go fishing this weekend?”
“Honey! Don’t distract him while he’s studying!”
“Hahaha! A man doesn’t need to be a straight-A student!”
His family had loved each other.
But that family was gone now.
Yujin had ended up in this strange, collapsing world, constantly facing death.
Even if he could stop the apocalypse, the world would still be half-destroyed.
That’s why Yujin wanted to return to Earth.
To his loving family and peaceful life.
‘Would be nice to go back with power too…’
But that might be asking too much.
Even if he couldn’t return, he had to survive first. Only then could he dream of the future.
Yujin closed the book, then opened his eyes—back in the dusty library.
That’s when he heard it.
“Hmm… Hmmm….”
A familiar voice, filled with frustration and indecision.
Yujin glanced at the source.
“Hmmm. Hmmm….”
Short black hair, pale skin, casual clothes, and a sword strapped to her waist.
A familiar face.
‘Seo Hyewon.’
Friend of the Sword Demon, and in Yujin’s past life, someone who had once taught him the basics of swordsmanship.
She stood in the library, staring hard at a book as if deep in thought.
