Debuff Master

“A free meal…?” Gosran muttered in confusion at Siegfried’s words.

A free meal basically meant obtaining something without having to put much effort into it, and the Buffers leeching experience points after casting a few buffs from the safety behind their party members was a prime example of this phrase.

“How is that monster a free meal…?” Gosran asked. She found it difficult to make sense of what Siegfried had said.

Her gaze seemed like it was screaming, ‘Look! That’s the Lightning Python!’

Of course, the boss monster was not as strong as it was in its prime, but it was still a huge monster that spanned twenty meters long.

In short, it was not a free meal for Siegfried who was currently Level 45.

However, Siegfried seemed to disagree with that.

“I think it is a free meal. It’s not that difficult of an opponent,” he said.

“What?!” Gosran exclaimed in surprise.

“Let me show you…”

“Show me what…?”

“Show you how I eat the free meal,” Siegfried said before dashing toward the Lightning Python once again.

***

The look on Gosran’s face after hearing Siegfried’s words was confusion itself.

‘What the hell is he thinking? How can he even think of beating a boss monster so easily…?’?Gosran thought, but she could not imagine Siegfried easily winning against the boss monster.

‘Is he perhaps… overgeared…?’?she wondered.

However, her assumption was off the mark as Siegfried was still holding the same steel rod while fighting against the Lightning Python. Yes, it was?that same half-broken steel rod.

However, the damage the steel rod dealt to the boss monster was not only significant, but it also dealt a blow to the ‘logic’ Gosran had about the game.

Kwang!

Siegfried smashed the steel rod into the boss monster.

“Heok…!”?Gosran gasped in surprise.

[Lightning Python Level 70]

[HP: ??????????]

The boss monster’s HP was reduced by 20% with a single blow from Siegfried, but the surprise did not end there.

Kwang!

Siegfried smacked the boss monster once again.

[Lightning Python Level 70]

[HP: ??????????]

The boss monster’s HP was reduced by 20% once again.

Kwang!

Another 20%...

Kwang!

Another 20%...

Kwang!

And the final strike!

[Lightning Python Level 70]

[HP: ??????????]

The boss monster’s HP dropped to zero.

“T-That’s… that’s cheating!!” Gosran blurted without realizing it.

***

Siegfried’s performance against the Lightning Python looked like cheating to Gosran. No, it looked more like a bug than a cheat at this point. It was impossible for her to fathom that a Level 45 Debuffer had just killed a Level 70 boss monster in five blows.

However, Siegfried was neither a bug nor a cheat.

‘The Charged Barrier’s damage is too weak, and it only managed to make me flinch for a split second… that’s all,’?Siegfried thought as he realized that the boss monster’s ability, ‘Charged Barrier,’ wasn’t that strong.

‘I wonder what is going to happen if I endure it and strike back as a counterattack…?’?Siegfried wondered as he thought about the increased damage provided by his skill, Contempt for the Strong.

If one knew their enemy and themselves, they need not fear the outcome of a hundred battles.

Siegfried remembered a famous quote that even kids these days had heard.

‘Let’s give it a shot,’?he decided to use the boss monster’s skill to boost his damage further.

And that was how the boss fight got started…

Bzzt! Bzzzt! Bzzt!

When the Lightning Python’s Charged Barrier zapped Siegfried, he gritted his teeth and swung his steel rod as hard as he could.

Grit…

It was a decision he made considering the fact that the boss monster’s skill dealt damage over time, so any attack he did while his HP was being chipped away by it would be considered a counterattack by the system.

Kwang!

Siegfried slammed his steel rod into the Lightning Python.

‘It worked!’?he inwardly exclaimed the moment he confirmed that his theory was true.

Now that he had confirmed that his theory was true, what should he do? Of course, he had to end the fight as soon as possible!

Kwang! Kwang! Kwang! Kwang!

Siegfried swung his steel rod four consecutive times into the boss monster.

“Kyaaaaahk!”?The Lightning Python let out a shriek. Then, its body collapsed upon receiving the cruel beatdown.

It was a quick and decisive victory.

***

[You have leveled up!]

[You are now Level 46!]

Siegfried gained a level after killing the Lightning Python.

[Alert: You have cleared the Quest: ‘Stop the Church of Osric’!]

[Alert: Collect your reward from the Lightning Python’s remains!]

It seemed that the rewards from the unnamed Guardian’s quest were the many loots obtainable from the Lightning Python’s body.

“Gosran-nim?” Siegfried called out.

“Yes?!” Gosran responded with a flinch.

“Let’s collect the rewards and get out of here.”

“Ah, yes!”

“Other Adventurers might suddenly arrive,” Siegfried said before taking out a variety of tools he could use to dismember the Lightning Python.

“But, Siegfried-nim—” Gosran started.

However, Siegfried cut her off and said, “When we get outside.”

“It’s not over until we collect all of the loot and get out of here. Do you understand?” he added.

“Yes…”

“Then come here and help me out.”

Siegfried was someone who knew how to prioritize things.

***

Dismembering the Lightning Python was difficult.

[Alert: You have obtained ‘Python’s Scales’.]

[Alert: You have obtained ‘Python’s Blood’.]

[Alert: You have obtained ‘Python’s Meat’.]

[Alert: You have obtained ‘Python’s Bones’.] 𝘣𝘦𝑑𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝑙．𝑐𝑜𝘮

[Alert: You have obtained ‘Python’s Eyes’.]

[Alert: You have obtained ‘Python’s Fangs’.]

The Lightning Python had a lot of obtainable parts from its remains since it was such a huge monster.

“Tsk…?I think our Inventory is gonna get full from this…” Siegfried said while clicking his tongue.

“I think so, too…” Gosran added.

“But I think I will manage somehow since… I don’t have much in my Inventory, to begin with.?Haha…” Siegfried said with a hint of sadness in his voice.

“But, Siegfried-nim…” Gosran muttered.

“Yes?”

“Excuse me, but…”

“…?”

“Is it possible to split it nine to one…?”

“Huh? What do you mean by nine to one?” Siegfried retorted as if he was saying, ‘what are you talking about?’.

“I guess that’s asking for too much, right?” Gosran said with a forced smile before adding, “I’m sorry, Siegfried-nim…”

“What are you sorry for?”

“Because I asked for ten percent of the loot, even though I didn’t do anything…”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m sorry…”

“You have to take thirty percent.”

“What?!”

Gosran’s eyes shot wide open in surprise.

“Gosran-nim is a party member, too, right? What do you mean by you did nothing? We fought together to come all the way here,” Siegfried said.

“A-Are you serious?”

“Yes...”

“Heok!”

“In return,” Siegfried said before he continued, “you have to swear not to tell anyone else about me.”

“I swear!”

“Then, that settles it.”

“But I refuse…”

“What? Why would you?”

“Thirty percent is too much for me. I will only take ten percent.”

“Why…?”

“I also have a conscience, you know?” Gosran shrugged before saying, “Ten percent is more than enough for me.”

“I think it’s better if you just take it while my offer still stands—”

“No, my conscience won’t allow it if I take more than that.”

“Hmm…”

“Thank you very much, Siegfried-nim,” Gosran said with a big smile.

‘I never knew someone can refuse something being offered to them when it’s so good…’?Siegfried thought. He found Gosran to be a strange character, but he did not try to convince her any further since she had already refused of her own volition.

“Then, do as you please,” Siegfried said.

“Yes!”

“Now, shall we clean up?” he said and tried to cut open the Lightning Python’s lower jaw.

Roll…

An orb the size of an adult’s fist rolled out from the boss monster’s jaws.

“What the hell is this…?” Siegfried muttered and picked the orb up.

[Python’s Core]

[A lump of energy from the Lightning Python.]

[It contains a huge amount of lightning attribute energy.]

[Type: Consumable (Edible)]

[Price: 3 coppers]

“Huh…??Should I just eat it…?” Siegfried wondered after checking the item’s details.

He thought that perhaps consuming the python’s core would put an end to his daily grind for lightning attribute energy.

“Wow!?It’s a python’s core,” Gosran said as she suddenly popped up and added, “I think that’s going to be expensive.”

“It should be…” Siegfried responded.

“Don’t mind me...”

“What do you mean?”

“That belongs to Siegfried-nim,” Gosran said.

“Why are you so nice to me…?” Siegfried asked.

He could not understand her at all. Gosran was so nice to him she was probably the nicest person he had ever known.

“I’m not a nice person,” Gosran replied. She shook her head and explained, “It’s just that I like Siegfried-nim.”

“Why do you like me?”

“I just like being with you.”

“What do you like about being with me…?”

“Everything.”

“Huh…?”

“I just have this feeling that you’re a nice person. It’s more like… you’re someone I want to get along with?”

“Come on… No way.” Siegfried scoffed.

“It’s true!”

“I’ll just think that you are a nice person, then,” Siegfried said and decided not to pry any further into how she felt about him.

Flinch!

Gosran flinched at her words, but Siegfried did not seem to notice it.

“Thank you for sharing this with me, then—” Siegfried placed his hand on the python’s core.

“Wait...”

When he was about to absorb it, someone suddenly emerged from the darkness and said, “Let’s talk.”

***

‘What the…? I didn’t notice anything…’?Siegfried thought.

He could not help but doubt his ears since his senses were extremely sensitive thanks to his master’s tempering and quenching coupled with the benefits the Hyper Capsule Ogre had given to him. However, the owner of the voice from within the darkness managed to escape being detected by Siegfried’s sharp senses and the person even got close to him unnoticed.

‘Is it a high-leveled Sylph…? Or a Vampire…?’?he recalled the classes specializing in stealth.

“Debuff Master…” the voice muttered while observing Siegfried.

Siegfried noticed that the man had both the Rune of Insight and Rune of Transcendence at the back of his hands, which confirmed that he was not an NPC.

“That’s a hidden class, right?” the man asked.

The man looked peculiar. His hair was golden, and his red right eye resembled rubies, while his blue left eye resembled sapphires. He was pretty tall with a face that looked like it was a mixture of eastern and western features.

Siegfried could tell from the man’s appearance alone that the latter was a high-leveled player.

‘Is he a Ranker?’?Siegfried thought as he activated his Rune of Insight and checked the man’s information.

[Cheon Woo-Jin]

[Type: Adventurer]

[Race: N/A]

[Level: N/A]

[Title: N/A]

However, he could not figure anything out.

“It’s useless.” Cheon Woo-Jin shook his head and continued, “You won’t be able to find out anything about me. In fact, no one will be able to unless they are over Level 600. Only then could they possibly find out more about me.”

“What are you?” Siegfried asked.

“That’s a secret,” Cheon Woo-Jin replied with a smirk.

“What do you want?” Siegfried asked as he raised his guard.

“Nothing you have to offer so you can relax.”

“I know that much...”

Siegfried knew that much since there was no way a high-leveled Ranker would salivate over his trashy equipment and the loot from a Level 70 monster. Of course, there were Rankers obsessed with money.

“What I want to know is—” Siegfried started.

However, Cheon Woo-Jin cut him off. “I’m a member of the Guardians.”

“Aha…”

“I heard that they failed their mission, so I came running over here. But it seems that you finished the job for us.”

“I guess that’s how it turned out.”

“I enjoyed watching you fight. You seemed to be pretty good at it.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“Let's meet.”

“What?”

“You’re Korean, right? Are you free tonight?”

“What do you mean by free?”

“Come to Sinsa-dong tonight,” Cheon Woo-Jin suddenly asked for a meeting in real life.

“Why would I do that…?” Siegfried asked in disbelief before adding, “Do I have to go running just because a Ranker told me to do so?”

“You don’t have to…” Cheon Woo-Jin shook his head.

“Then, why are you asking me to go?”

“You have to meet me.”

“Why…?”

“Because I want to know.”

“Know what?”

“You…” Cheon Woo-Jin started while staring straight at Siegfried before he continued with the words that instantly captured Siegfried’s attention, “What is your relationship with Deus-nim?”