8

Chapter 8: The Value of a Mana Stone

Subin returned home in the afternoon with his Awakener identification card in his pocket and a completely different understanding of the world.

The registration process had taken longer than expected. The Association had explained basic regulations, dungeon entry procedures, emergency protocols, monster classifications, and the current restrictions on independent dungeon exploration. Most of the information was still incomplete because humanity itself was learning how the new world worked.

But one thing had become clear.

Mana stones were going to become extremely valuable.

The Association had already begun purchasing them from Awakeners. Monster materials were also being collected, though their prices varied depending on rarity, usefulness, and demand.

Subin placed the sword on the table and opened the small bag containing the materials he had collected from Goblin's Hollow.

Several mana stones rolled across the surface.

They were roughly the size of his fingernails, with faint blue light moving inside them.

His father looked at them curiously.

"So those are mana stones?"

"Yes."

"What are they worth?"

"I don't know yet."

His father picked one up carefully.

"It looks like a piece of glass."

"It's not."

Subin took the stone from him.

"Apparently, they contain concentrated mana. The Association is buying them because they're useful for research and equipment."

His father nodded thoughtfully.

"Then you should sell them."

"I will."

His mother walked into the room.

"How much can you get?"

Subin smiled.

"That's what I'm going to find out."

---

The Association's trading center was located on the ground floor of the same building where Subin had registered.

Unlike the registration hall, this section was busy with actual business.

Awakeners carried sacks filled with monster materials. Merchants examined claws, bones, hides, horns, herbs, and mana stones. Association employees recorded transactions while several researchers moved between counters.

Subin approached one of the purchasing desks.

A middle-aged man looked up.

"Materials?"

"Yes."

Subin placed his bag on the counter.

The man's expression changed when he saw the mana stones.

"How many?"

"Twenty-three."

The man counted them carefully.

"Low-grade mana stones. Mostly Goblin quality."

"How much?"

The man gave him a number.

Subin's eyebrows rose slightly.

It wasn't a fortune, but it was far more money than he had expected from killing a handful of monsters.

Then he placed the remaining materials on the counter.

Goblin claws.

Goblin teeth.

Several herbs.

The Goblin Warrior Bracelet.

Finally, he placed the Goblin Captain's Sword on the table.

The man's eyes immediately focused on it.

"Where did you get this?"

"Goblin Captain."

The man picked it up carefully.

"Common-plus grade."

He examined the blade.

"Attack power eighteen. Durability seventy-one. Not bad for an early dungeon weapon."

"How much?"

The man hesitated.

"Are you selling everything?"

"Most of it."

"What about the sword?"

Subin looked at it.

He had already learned everything he could from the Goblin Captain's fighting style, but the sword itself wasn't particularly useful anymore.

He could use it as a backup.

Still, money would be more useful at this stage.

"How much?"

The man gave him an offer.

Subin thought about it for a moment.

"Deal."

The transaction was completed.

The money was transferred directly into his newly created Awakener account.

Subin looked at the balance.

It wasn't enough to make him rich.

But it was enough to change something important.

He no longer needed to depend entirely on his parents.

He could earn money by becoming stronger.

And the stronger he became, the more valuable the things he could obtain would become.

That cycle appealed to him.

Strength created opportunities.

Opportunities created resources.

Resources could help him become stronger.

Subin suddenly understood why the Association was becoming important so quickly.

---

After selling his materials, Subin visited the equipment section.

Rows of weapons were displayed behind reinforced glass.

Swords.

Spears.

Axes.

Bows.

Daggers.

Staffs.

Shields.

Most of them were still ordinary weapons modified slightly by mana exposure.

Subin walked past them without much interest.

He wasn't looking for something expensive.

He was looking for something suitable.

A long sword caught his attention.

It was slightly longer than the Goblin Captain's weapon had been, with a simple black grip and a balanced steel blade.

He asked the shopkeeper to let him hold it.

The moment his fingers closed around the handle, his mind became quiet.

Then the familiar sensation appeared.

[Sword detected.]

[Analyzing weapon structure...]

[Balance: Excellent.]

[Grip compatibility: High.]

[Blade efficiency: 87%.]

Subin's eyes narrowed.

The sword was ordinary.

But it was well-made.

He performed a few slow movements.

The blade responded naturally.

He looked at the shopkeeper.

"How much?"

The man gave him the price.

Subin paid without hesitation.

He didn't need an expensive weapon yet.

He needed a weapon he could grow with.

The shopkeeper handed it over.

"It's a standard Association-forged steel sword. Nothing special."

Subin examined the blade.

"That's fine."

As he walked away, another notification appeared.

[Suitable sword acquired.]

[Sword Comprehension activation rate increased.]

Subin smiled.

"That makes two useful things today."

---

That evening, Subin returned home and spent several hours practicing.

The new sword was noticeably better than the Goblin Captain's weapon.

Its balance made transitions easier.

His movements became smoother.

Basic Sword Flow connected his attacks naturally.

Slash.

Step.

Turn.

Thrust.

Recover.

Again.

And again.

His proficiency increased steadily.

[Basic Sword Flow proficiency: 19% → 23%]

Subin didn't stop.

He practiced until his shirt was soaked with sweat.

Then he sat down and closed his eyes.

Instead of moving, he imagined himself fighting.

The Goblin Captain appeared in his mind.

Its stance.

Its shoulder movement.

Its footwork.

Its attack patterns.

Subin recreated the battle mentally.

Then he changed the opponent.

A larger creature.

A faster creature.

A spear user.

A shield user.

An assassin.

He tried to imagine how his sword would respond.

The exercise revealed something interesting.

Basic Sword Flow wasn't a fixed technique.

It was a foundation.

The better he understood combat, the more naturally the technique adapted.

Subin opened his eyes.

"I need more opponents."

Not stronger opponents immediately.

Different opponents.

Different weapons.

Different fighting styles.

Different monsters.

Different environments.

His Sword Comprehension needed information.

And the best source of information was combat.

---

The next morning, the Association released its first official dungeon list.

Subin sat at his desk and studied it carefully.

Several newly discovered dungeons had been classified.

Goblin's Hollow — F Rank

Stone Rat Burrow — F Rank

Forest Fang Nest — E Rank

Red Slime Cavern — E Rank

Ironback Tunnel — E Rank

Black Root Dungeon — D Rank

Subin stopped at the last one.

D rank.

According to the Association's report, the monsters inside were considerably stronger than those in Goblin's Hollow.

The dungeon had eight floors.

The estimated monster levels ranged from 6 to 15.

The dungeon guardian had not yet been defeated.

Three teams had already attempted it.

Two had retreated.

One had suffered serious injuries.

Subin's eyes remained on the screen.

Level 15.

That was exactly the kind of opponent he wanted eventually.

But not yet.

He wasn't stupid.

His current level was five.

He had survived his first dungeon because the enemies had been manageable and his Sword God class had given him an enormous advantage.

A stronger opponent could still kill him.

Subin closed the report.

"I'll start with E rank."

He opened the information about Forest Fang Nest.

The dungeon contained wolf-type monsters.

That immediately caught his attention.

He had already fought a Grey Fang Wolf.

But one wolf wasn't enough.

If he wanted to understand the species, he needed more battles.

He registered for the dungeon.

---

The following afternoon, Subin arrived at the entrance of Forest Fang Nest.

The entrance looked completely different from Goblin's Hollow.

Instead of a dark cave entrance, the dungeon appeared as a circular distortion between several trees.

Mana flowed around it like mist.

A group of Awakeners stood nearby.

Some were preparing equipment.

Others were discussing strategy.

A few looked at Subin curiously.

One of them recognized his Association identification.

"D rank?"

Another person looked over.

"He's D rank?"

Subin ignored the attention.

He approached the dungeon entrance.

A staff member checked his identification.

"You're entering alone?"

"Yes."

The staff member frowned.

"This dungeon is rated E rank. Solo entry isn't prohibited, but it's not recommended for inexperienced Awakeners."

"I understand."

"Have you cleared a dungeon before?"

"Goblin's Hollow."

The staff member looked surprised.

"You're the swordsman who killed the Goblin Captain?"

Subin nodded.

The staff member studied him for a moment before stepping aside.

"Be careful."

"I will."

Subin entered.

---

The world changed the moment he crossed the boundary.

The sunlight disappeared.

He found himself standing inside a dense forest.

Trees stretched high above him.

The air was humid.

Mana was significantly denser than outside.

Subin slowly drew his sword.

His senses sharpened.

Something moved.

A low growl came from between the trees.

Then another.

Three pairs of yellow eyes appeared.

[Forest Fang Wolf — Level 6]

[Forest Fang Wolf — Level 6]

[Forest Fang Wolf — Level 7]

Subin smiled.

"Three."

The wolves charged simultaneously.

The first attacked from the front.

The second circled left.

The third disappeared behind a tree.

Subin's eyes tracked the movement.

He stepped forward.

His sword flashed.

The first wolf's attack was deflected.

Subin rotated his wrist and cut across its neck.

The second wolf lunged immediately.

He stepped backward and thrust forward.

The blade pierced its chest.

The third wolf attacked from behind.

Subin didn't turn.

He simply moved his foot.

The claws passed beside his shoulder.

His body rotated.

The sword followed.

One clean slash.

The wolf collapsed.

Three bodies fell almost simultaneously.

Subin looked at the sword.

His movements had felt much smoother than yesterday.

Then the system appeared.

[Combat analysis complete.]

[Forest Fang Wolf movement pattern analyzed.]

[Sword Comprehension has increased.]

Subin looked at the notification.

"So fighting different monsters really does help."

He continued deeper into the forest.

This time, he wasn't simply hunting for experience.

He was studying.

Every monster became information.

Every battle became a lesson.

Every sword strike became another step.

And somewhere inside this dungeon, Subin knew there would eventually be an opponent strong enough to force him to take another step forward.

For the first time, he wasn't afraid of that possibility.

He was looking forward to it.

Subin tightened his grip on the sword and walked deeper into the dungeon.

Level 5.

That number wouldn't remain for long.