The Player that Can’t Level Up

once Nine had absorbed a bit of Lou’s stats, Gi-Gyu stabbed it into the giant golden light storm. 

“Ugh.” Gi-Gyu groaned from the pressure.
The energy Nine absorbed left the sword and was absorbed into the mixture of golden lights. 

Admiring, Min-Su murmured, “It looks so pretty.”

The unexpected strain this process put on Gi-Gyu made him sweat bullets; however, it was just a beautiful scene with firefly-like particles and intense lights to Min-Su.
 

Gi-Gyu couldn’t tell how much time had passed when he heard the sudden system announcements. 

[Combination was a success.]

[Hwang Ji-Chul’s fragment has transformed into Ego Hwang Ji-Chul.]

“It worked.” Finally, his day-long discussions yielded successful results: He succeeded in turning a fragment into an Ego.

***

Gi-Gyu wanted to stay and complete the rest of the process, but he couldn’t because of Min-Su.
The potions healed the boy physically, but it wasn’t enough to treat Min-Su’s psyche.
Min-Su collapsed after watching the beautiful mix of lights for a few minutes. 

When Gi-Gyu brought Min-Su upstairs, Yoo-Jung glared at him and accused, “Oppa, what have you done?!” Gi-Gyu only scratched his head awkwardly, failing to find an excuse. 

While Min-Su slept soundly in Gi-Gyu’s bed, Gi-Gyu’s mother suggested, “How about we give Min-Su a room?”

When Gi-Gyu first introduced Min-Su to his mother, he briefly explained the boy’s situation.
He told his mother that Min-Su had lost his family, and because he knew the boy’s grandfather, he decided to take care of the now orphaned child. 

They had plenty of rooms in their spacious home, but Gi-Gyu shook his head after hearing his mother’s suggestion.
“Not yet.
I want to observe his situation for a bit longer, Mother.”

Sponsored Content

“Hmm… I don’t know what you’re waiting for, but please don’t take too long.
Even a child needs his own space,” Su-Jin said with a nod.

“All right.” Gi-Gyu had already thought of giving Min-Su a room; for now, he needed more time to think. 

“Mmmm…” When Min-Su moaned, Su-Jin patted his head and asked, “Oh, are you awake, Min-Su?”

“Grandma?” 

“Hahaha,” Su-Jin chuckled. 

Grumble.

Hearing Min-Su’s stomach growl, Su-Jin quickly stood up and announced, “Let’s get some food into you.
How could you stop eating for a week, silly boy?” 

Yoo-Jung glared at Gi-Gyu, who sighed, “Haa…”

There were believable excuses; then there were facts that sounded like excuses. Gi-Gyu knew no one would believe Min-Su stopped eating of his own violation, let alone his family.

***

Tae-Shik clenched his fists; his palm bled as his nails dug into his flesh.
“I can’t believe this.” 

“Kim Tae-Oh’s family was starving to death, and they didn’t know where Kim Tae-Oh was either.” Sung-Hoon’s face was filled with rage as he reported to Tae-Shik. 

While investigating Kim Tae-Oh’s whereabouts, Sung-Hoon learned about his family’s situation: They were in dire straits after Kim Tae-Oh joined the Caravan Guild. 

Tae-Oh’s family situation was similar to Gi-Gyu’s old life: A family of three with an unwell mother and a younger sibling.
His family had been waiting for Kim Tae-Oh’s return all this time.
They were living their last days; thankfully, the association found them. 

“All right… Just help them get on their feet,” Tae-Shik ordered bitterly.
The guilt was crushing him.

“Of course,” Sung-Hoon replied with a nod and left the room.

After learning about Andras, Tae-Shik knew this demon brainwashed Caravan players never to leave the guild.
Consequently, all Caravan players suddenly disappeared, abandoning their families.
The families of financially stable players survived, but families like Tae-Oh’s waited for their loved ones till death. 

A crimson flash of anger appeared in Tae-Shik’s eyes.
“You better not underestimate us humans.” 

Their hunt for the Caravan Guild had just begun.
Lucifer and Baal were out hunting, which meant Tae-Shik could no longer stay idle.
It was time for him to make his move as well.

Sponsored Content

***

After Min-Su recovered, he returned to the basement.
Of course, Gi-Gyu went with him. 

Min-Su asked, “Dad, what will you do today? Will I get to see the pretty lights again?”

“Well… I don’t think it will be pretty, but you’ll see something important,” Gi-Gyu patted Min-Su’s head and replied.
Due to the stone sculpture’s shape, he was certain Min-Su would be ecstatic to see what was about to come. 

‘I guess Min-Su’s subconscious made him shape the sculpture after his grandfather.’

When Gi-Gyu first saw the final result, he couldn’t hide his shock.
The stone coffin had transformed into a sculpture that looked exactly like Old Man Hwang.
It looked like a younger and stronger version, but there was no mistake that it was Hwang Ji-Chul in a stone form.
It shone with golden light, looking otherworldly. 

Gi-Gyu said to Min-Su, “You really are an incredible blacksmith.”

“Hehehe.” 

Gi-Gyu still couldn’t believe how a sculpture, not a weapon, could shine like an Ego.
Old Man Hwang alluded that Min-Su would be Gi-Gyu’s greatest asset; now, it was time for him to give the little boy a gift. 

Gi-Gyu placed his hand on the sculpture’s chest and announced, “Sync.” 

Based on Baal’s calculation, Gi-Gyu’s shell could still accept a few more Egos. 

[You have successfully synced.]

The sculpture wasn’t a full-fledged Ego; it was just a fragment.
With how far Gi-Gyu had come, no Ego fragment would refuse to sync with him.
A bright light appeared along with the status screen, but Gi-Gyu dismissed it and shouted, “Grant!”

He selected Hwang Ji-Chul as the Ego…

The man known as Old Man Hwang… 

The greatest blacksmith Gi-Gyu knew. 

Fwooosh!

The blacksmith’s Ego entered the sculpture with a blinding flash.