[Inventory List]
Concept Random Ticket (2)
Minor Fatigue Recovery Potion (2)
Tutorial Completion Reward Box (1)
Ability Grade Enhancement Ticket (1)
Stability Potion (2)
“What’s all this...?”
Sol pushed aside the description window for the Stability Potion that had popped up in front of him, murmuring with a puzzled expression on his face. As he closed the item list window, the system window that had filled Sol’s vision until a moment ago, and which he had already seen once, was displayed again.
[Would you like to use the Stability Potion?]
[Available Potions of Stability: 2]
[ Yes | No ]
“Yes.”
Sol nodded in response, and a faint light flickered on the word [Yes], and new windows appeared again.
[Stability Potion has been used.]
[Abnormal Conditions: Fever, Muscle Pain, Dizziness are relieved.]
[Trauma Resistance 00:59:59]
As soon as Sol confirmed the words, he felt his warm forehead and heavy body momentarily lighten. His previously aching arms and legs felt as if they were newly formed, free from any discomfort, like freshly crafted pieces. His usually anxious heart also felt unusually calm for the first time in a while. It felt as if he had become a new person, just like someone who had never experienced any darkness. However, the feeling was rather unsettling.
It was like temporarily forgetting pain due to taking medicine. Though slightly disconnected from reality, regardless, Sol couldn’t help but marvel at the results brought about by the “Stability Potion.” After using the item’s efficacy, Sol became curious about other things. He reopened the inventory list to check its contents with the intention of trying out each item.
[Concept Random Ticket: Information not available. Can be used after completing the quest ‘ㅁㅁㅁㅁㅁㅁㅁㅁㅁㅁ’.]
[Fatigue Recovery Potion: A potion that instantly restores 30 fatigue upon use.]
[Tutorial Completion Reward Box: A box given to players who have completed the tutorial. When used, you can obtain a random item.]
[Ability Grade Enhancement Ticket: When used, it can increase the stat grade by one level.]
Sol, who carefully examined the explanations, only now realized that the mint green windows appearing before him were not just simple notification windows. He now understood that many things could change depending on how they were utilized.
Had he understood their purpose earlier, he might not have passed this weekend’s evaluation in the same manner. Of course, he also thought that he should use them carefully due to the limit on the number of items. Although items were given upon completing quests or after each night’s rest, Sol couldn’t choose what he would receive.
Among the things visible to Sol, the item he needed the most was none other than the ‘Stability Potion’. With just that, his current life could be made a bit easier.
Remaining quantity: 1.
Sol briefly regretted using one of those potions just now. Feeling unwell was nothing out of the ordinary. Was there ever a time when he was truly comfortable? Essentially, Sol had just wasted a ‘Stability Potion’. While he had grasped its utility by doing so, he couldn’t help but feel regretful.
Sol briefly composed himself, easing the lightness in his body and mind, as he organized the newly acquired information in his head. The Stability Potion and the Fatigue Recovery Potion were keys to escaping the worst moments that could lead to quest failure. Since it was uncertain how many more he could obtain in the future, he needed to use them sparingly and carefully.
He couldn’t even grasp the purpose of the Concept Random Ticket. For now, it seemed best to clarify the available items and their quantities, so Sol decided to use the Tutorial Completion Reward Box. Even without speaking or silently muttering to himself, the system window unfolded an alert window as if it had read Sol’s mind.
[Would you like to use the ‘Tutorial Completion Reward Box’?]
[Yes | No]
Nodding his head, the rough gray shape of a box appeared before his eyes. The box swayed from side to side as if it contained something alive. Then it opened, and a burst of light spilled out.
[Stability Potion X2]
[Lesser Fatigue Recovery Potion X2]
[Ability Grade Enhancement Ticket (S Grade) X1]
At the appearance of the desired item, Sol found himself clenching his fist tightly without even realizing it. Stability potion and recovery potion. The more, the better. Sol’s lips involuntarily curled upwards.
Caught off guard by his own laughter, Sol quickly regained his composure and looked around. It was fortunate that Tae-oh had left the room to take a phone call; otherwise, if he had witnessed Sol shouting and laughing into thin air, then suddenly collapsing, Tae-oh would have insisted that they needed to go back to the hospital to have Sol’s condition checked.
He had become excessively engrossed in the new discovery. Sol cleared his throat a couple of times for no reason and shifted his gaze to another item with an additional letter at the end than the others.
He wondered what the meaning of ‘S Grade’ appended at the end was, and frighteningly, the system window presented a new explanatory text.
[Ability Grade Enhancement Ticket (S Grade): Allows you to increase one stat to S Grade upon use.]
‘Ability... S Grade...’
As soon as he read the explanatory text, Sol skillfully unfolded his status window.
Name: Sung Sol
Age: 20
Health: C
Charisma: S+
Singing: B
Dancing: S
Acting: D
Luck: D
Traits: Eraser in the mind, Four-wheel Skeptic, Unlucky Genius Dancer, All-around Performing Arts Prodigy
Status: Trauma Resistance 00:51:59
The dancing ability, which had been marked as ‘A-‘ due to the continuous activation of the ‘Unlucky Genius Dancer’ trait, had returned to its original S grade.
Since he received the status window, it was the first time encountering these unfamiliar alphabets. After roughly reading the explanatory text, it seemed that the normal Ability Grade Enhancement Ticket could elevate one tier of stats, meaning if used on C grade stamina, it would rise to B grade. As for the Ability Grade Enhancement Ticket (S grade), it seemed to immediately elevate a stat to S grade regardless of the starting grade.
For Sol, who was unfamiliar with the game system itself, it was now filled with things to learn. Which stats should be raised to make quests easier in the future? Sol pondered for a moment. It was necessary to confirm what noticeable changes would occur when the grade of stats increased. Sol made up his mind to use one of the grade increase tickets and carefully examined his status window.
Immediately, what felt burdensome through daily practice was undoubtedly stamina. Neglecting his health too much during his life as a recluse had been the main cause. However, Sol didn’t readily use the Ability Grade Enhancement Ticket on stamina. It was because of that darn trait. When the trait ‘Unlucky Genius Dancer’ activated and he fell into a state of trauma, having S grade stamina was useless.
He would feel pain, quickly become exhausted, and ultimately end up with a status abnormality ending like today. This time was honestly a stroke of luck. If he had failed to complete the choreography and collapsed midway, what would have happened? He would never wake up again, and Tae-oh and the other members would have to wait for another person to become their team mate.
Suddenly, his heart felt heavy and chilly. Just like stamina, as long as this worthless trait remained unchanged, it was of no use whatsoever.
Sol reached out, clasping his chin, and tapped his cheek with his fingers. Unlike the time he had used the Stability Potion hastily, this time he was quite cautious. Although it was uncertain how many more weekend evaluations remained until debut, it seemed likely that for the time being, weekend evaluations would continue to be given as quests.
If he couldn’t raise his stamina, then the next important ability for Sol was vocal. Actually, he hadn’t properly checked his status window until now. Looking at his own status window, which didn’t feel real, Sol suddenly became curious about Ji-ho or the other members’ status windows. If he was at B grade, what grade would Ji-ho’s singing be?
‘Singing... But still, I did become a B grade.’
At the appearance of a higher alphabet than expected, Sol furrowed his brows slightly. Since he had no real sense of what levels like B, A, or S meant, Sol decided to roughly equate it to grades like in school. If it’s a B grade, it’s not that bad, right? In fact, Sol had never received such grades throughout his university life.
Everyone who had listened to Sol’s singing had given overall positive feedback, acknowledging both the disappointing aspects, the shortcomings, and the points to overcome, but also praising that the tone itself wasn’t bad.
After reflecting on the issues that everyone had pointed out, Sol ultimately had to acknowledge that his state of trauma also affected his singing. However, unlike dance, there was no direct reflection of his grades. He hadn’t experienced acting yet, so he couldn’t feel what grade D represented, and he didn’t understand what effect luck had on his abilities.
After a brief moment of hesitation, Sol made up his mind to use the Ability Grade Enhancement Ticket on his singing.
[Do you want to use the ‘Ability Grade Enhancement Ticket’ on ‘Singing’?]
[Yes | No]
He had pondered enough. It was time to confirm the effects firsthand. As soon as Sol nodded his head, the status window changed from B to A. There was no grand display of light or any noticeable sensation, just one letter changing.
He felt fortunate that there weren’t any dramatic changes, like loud noises or swirling lights, but he was genuinely curious about what had actually changed. Sol scratched his head in bewilderment as he contemplated how he could experience the transition from B to A grade firsthand. Since everyone was likely resting, and Tae-oh was likely busy on the phone, Sol thought he might as well sing a verse or two quietly.
Sol glanced around the empty room, cleared his throat with a “hmm” and adjusted his neck for no reason. Today, Sol felt the need to evaluate his singing, which he hadn’t received feedback on yet. He decided to do it alone in the comfort of his own room, even if it meant singing to himself. With resistance to trauma and no practice room available, being alone in his own space made everything comfortable for Sol. Sol cautiously selected the first verse of the song he had practiced tirelessly.
“Blinding mystery. The deep night, like a maze, is beginning now. You will surely lose your way.”
Sol’s softly sung ‘Hot Trick’ without the intense guitar riffs felt somehow different from usual.
Yay, he finally used the items!
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