1.

    E-World User Management Team.

    Despite the name, the User Management Team wasn’t tasked with restricting users or interfering with their gameplay. Instead, their role was to monitor user activity to prevent potential accidents and ensure smooth gameplay.

    In other words, it was essentially the department responsible for managing user data.

    Most of the users under their observation were those who had achieved significant milestones in the game.

    Obtaining the Steel Sword in the tutorial or defeating the scarecrow in a single strike automatically placed a user under their radar.

    Seong was no exception.

    Though, in his case, there was a unique twist...

    “What is this? ‘Unknown power’? Wait, how does something like this increase stats? And in the tutorial, no less?”

    “Y-yeah, that’s what I’m wondering too!”

    Lee Won-sang, a senior team member, tilted his head in confusion, while his junior, Oh Jin-hyuk, scratched his head awkwardly.

    If someone as experienced as Lee Won-sang didn’t understand, how could Jin-hyuk possibly know?

    Unknown power? What the hell was that supposed to mean?

    Lee Won-sang had worked in the User Management Team for a considerable time, but this was the first time he’d encountered anything like this.

    Feeling perplexed, he decided to ask Immortal, the game’s AI, for clarification.

    [Immortal, what is ‘unknown power’?]

    [It is classified as ‘unknown power.’]

    “...?”

    What does that even mean?

    Frustrated, he typed another question.

    [What exactly is this ‘unknown power’?]@@@@

    [It refers to a force currently undefined within Eternal World.]

    [Is it a bug?]

    [The probability of a bug occurring in the current Eternal World is close to zero. This phenomenon is determined to stem from user capability rather than a bug.]

    Faced with this vague response, Lee Won-sang couldn’t hold back and yelled.

    “Then what the hell am I supposed to do with this!”

    “P-please calm down, sir!”

    “Hah... hah...”

    In the end, since Immortal had labeled it as an unknown power and not a bug, he decided to let it go for now.

    While it wasn’t ideal, it didn’t seem like a critical issue either...

    “Still, how does someone’s stats increase like that in a beginner village...?”

    “Y-yeah, it’s strange...”

    “Hah... Let’s just keep monitoring him since he’s already flagged as a user of interest. But this is definitely unusual.”

    Based on his initial stats, Seong shouldn’t have been able to achieve these results.

    Yet, the sudden surge in his stats was undeniably peculiar.

    Although the numbers had settled back down, they were still higher than before.

    Even the sync rate—how well a player’s virtual avatar adapted to the game—had fluctuated dramatically. This level of disparity in data was unprecedented.

    ‘...Looks like I’ll need to write a report on this soon.’

    While Lee Won-sang was consumed by uneasy thoughts, Oh Jin-hyuk suddenly exclaimed.

    “Oh? Sir, his stats just spiked again!”

    “What?!”

    It hadn’t been that long, and they were increasing again?

    Who was this person?

    “This is getting ridiculous.”

    Little did Lee Won-sang know, his offhand remark about the situation being “ghostly” was closer to the truth than he could have imagined.

    2.

    “Farewell! Don’t hesitate to visit if you need help!”

    “Ha-ha-ha! Use it well! It was a pleasure meeting you! You’re welcome to return anytime!”

    Gruuger and the ghost, now resembling a pair of master and disciple, bid Seong farewell.

    Bowing politely, Seong left the training area.

    Outside, Seong reflected on the experience with a sense of wonder.

    The memories and experiences from the ghost had merged with his own, almost as if they were truly his.

    For a moment, he could vividly feel the rhythm of swordsmanship, as if he had become a master who had swung a sword thousands, no, tens of thousands of times.

    It was a first for him.

    Though the memories were distinct from his own, they felt undeniably real.

    “Fascinating.”

    Seong glanced at his hands.

    They were smooth, soft palms that didn’t bear the scars of hardship.

    Yet within them lay deep, profound experiences and memories.

    Learning the Butchering skill wasn’t easy, but it was highly recommended in every guide.

    To acquire the skill, he would need to accept a quest from the butcher.

    It was a skill that would remain useful throughout his journey and was considered essential.

    When Seong arrived at the butcher shop, he saw groups of players gathered there in clusters.

    As he approached, the voice of a middle-aged woman, loud enough to rattle the windows, rang out.

    "I said, bring me proper meat!"

    Even from outside, Seong could hear her booming voice. He peeked in, curious.

    Inside, he saw a player holding a mess of poorly butchered meat, being scolded by the woman.

    It was clear to Seong that the problem was the state of the meat.

    Even at a glance, it was bad enough to make him wince.

    "She’s picky."

    "What did you say?! Would you eat this crap yourself?!"

    "I mean, how can I do a good job when I don’t have the Butchering skill..."

    "So, you thought bringing me this garbage would be acceptable?!"

    "Ah! My ears!"

    "The only thing falling apart is this hunk of meat you brought me! Where’s the rest of it? Did you throw it away and bring me this trash? I won’t accept it! Bring me proper meat next time!"

    Her voice was so loud that it practically shook the walls.

    Seong covered his ears as he watched the player, dejected, shuffle out of the shop carrying their mangled meat.

    "Ugh, I worked so hard on that..."

    "I don’t care how hard you worked! Bring me proper meat next time! Next!"

    As she yelled, the next player glanced at their equally pathetic piece of meat, chuckled nervously, and quickly followed the previous player out of the shop.

    Most players were doing the same—leaving with downcast expressions and poorly butchered meat.

    The few who managed to sell their meat still faced scolding or received only a small amount of money.

    Complaints about the low prices were met with the woman’s sharp retorts.

    "Then bring me better meat next time!"

    "Fine! Fine!"

    Players grumbled as they left.

    "She’s so picky."

    "Yeah, isn’t meat just meat?"

    "It all tastes the same when it’s cooked!"

    "It all ends up the same in your stomach anyway!"

    "You little brats!"

    Her shouting sent the players scattering, and the butcher let out a sigh.

    "What’s wrong with these outsiders? They’re hopeless."

    If it weren’t for the village chief’s orders, she would have turned them all away and only done business with the villagers.

    While she fumed, Seong stepped up to her counter.

    "Huh? What do you want?"

    "Um, can I sell you meat if I bring some?"

    "What a roundabout way to say you want a quest!"

    "Ugh."

    Seong winced and covered his ears at her loud voice.

    The butcher, Marlen, squinted at him suspiciously.

    She’d seen plenty of weak-looking outsiders before.

    Some of them even asked how to catch a rabbit, let alone butcher one.

    Marlen stared at Seong, assuming he was another one of those types.

    But Seong simply tilted his head, looking at her curiously, as if wondering what the problem was.

    Her astonishment turned to disbelief.

    "Hmph! Take the quest and get out of my sight! But if you bring me junk, I’ll have plenty to say!"

    "Yes, thank you."

    [A Forced Quest, 『Meat Delivery』, has been created.]

    『Meat Delivery』

    → 《Basic》

    → Before setting out on an adventure, it’s a long-standing tradition for adventurers to earn money by selling meat to the butcher. Hunt rabbits or deer and bring their meat to the butcher.

    → Reward: 1 Silver per rabbit meat and hide.

    → Caution: Poor-quality meat may be rejected by the butcher.

    → Tip: Pay attention to your butchering. Something extraordinary might happen!

    The quest came with detailed tips and warnings.

    Seong nodded as he read it and left the shop without a fuss.

    Marlen watched him leave with a curious expression.

    "What a peculiar outsider."

    Though he seemed timid, his calm demeanor was oddly striking.

    Still, she assumed he would bring her the same mangled meat as the others.

    Adventurers in the past and now the outsiders rarely brought decent meat.

    Occasionally, someone managed to get it right, but those cases were few and far between.

    Marlen didn’t expect Seong to be any different.

    With that thought, she quickly dismissed him from her mind and shouted once more.

    "Next!"