God-Tier Enhancement: My Upgrades Never Fail-Chapter 18: Episode 4 _ A 0.00003_ Probability (1)

1.

He quickly swallowed the words that were about to burst out. In modern society, it was wise to be suspicious of a stranger’s kindness, but this was Fantastic World. Besides, the dozens of knights surrounding them looked fierce enough to cut him down in a single blow. It probably wasn’t organ trafficking or anything like that. So why on earth would a high-level looking NPC call out to a nobody just passing by?

‘What should I say?’ He had to answer, but... Han Simin had no idea where he was going. He was just following his gut.

“...I’m just wandering aimlessly,” he said, blurting out the first thing that came to mind. It was a story that would have been suspicious if he weren’t a player.

“Is that so? Spoken like a true adventurer,” the young nobleman in the carriage said, his interest piqued.

“Yes, well, carry on.” Sensing that this interest would likely lead to trouble rather than help, Han Simin bowed his head first and started to walk away.

‘He looks like an NPC who’s never seen a player before. I’ll give the impression that players are cool.’

“Would you like a ride? I don’t wish to disturb an adventurer’s journey, but this road leads to the capital, and it would take you at least ten days to get there on foot.”

“...Excuse me? Ten days?”

“Of course, if you’re an adventurer who enjoys even that part of the journey, then I won’t insist.”

“I’d be happy to take you up on that offer...”

The cool image he wished to show vanished from his mind in less than ten seconds at the mention of a ten-day journey.

* * *

The NPC wasn’t just any nobleman.

“I am Ian, the first prince of the Ain Kingdom.”

He was royalty and had the noble bloodline that would inherit the very kingdom Han Simin was currently standing in. He couldn’t understand why such a person was on this road, but he showed considerable interest in adventurers. Of course, Han Simin wasn’t the type to be intimidated by the word royalty.

“Oh? An enhancement master?”

“Yes, I was lucky enough to get the class change.”

“How strange. For an enhancement master to teach their family techniques to an adventurer... That must be a rare case.”

“I have a bit of a knack for it, you see. Hahaha.”

“So it would seem. A +14 dagger. I’ve never seen such a thing in my life.”

“Have you ever heard of the Ultimate Legendary Enhancement Master?”

“...Are you speaking of one of the five heroes of the continent? Are you saying you are his descendant?”

“Well, something like that.”

The prince was particularly inquisitive about Han Simin’s gleaming dagger, and once he realized he was a legendary enhancement master, his excitement grew even more intense.

“The proof is that you carry a weapon not counted among the seven legendary weapons of the continent. To think a descendant of his has appeared on the continent!” He even stood up and shook both of Han Simin’s hands.

‘This guy has a problem, doesn’t he?’ Even though adventurers were a strange breed from the NPCs’ perspective, was it really okay for royalty to act like this? If their roles were reversed, Han Simin would have punished him for his lack of decorum. It wasn’t a matter of personality; that was just how this world worked. Commoners were less than insects, ruled by nobles, who in turn were ruled by royalty. He was getting a comfortable ride thanks to the prince’s kind nature, but he couldn’t help but find it strange.

“Since you are his descendant, I must ask. Is it true that a legendary enhancement master can break the laws set by the gods and increase the probability of enhancement?” Ian asked, his expression suddenly serious.

Han Simin nodded. “Yes, though my skills are still lacking, so I can’t raise it by much.” He had no intention of revealing his Absolute Enhancement ability to anyone, so he laid some groundwork. In a way, his ability had been significantly limited since obtaining the legendary class, so he wasn’t in a position to boast freely.

But Ian, seemingly unconcerned, shone his eyes and presented the sword at his waist, scabbard and all. It was a sword with ornate engravings. It didn’t gleam with an aura like Han Simin’s, but it was obvious at a glance that it was expensive.

“In that case, can you enhance my sword as well?”

“Isn’t this a fine sword already?”

“It was a gift from His Majesty the King himself.”

*Excuse me?* Han Simin’s head snapped up as he took the sword and asked without much thought. What sword?

“How high do you want it enhanced?”

“At least to +8. In my heart, I’d like to bestow the legendary title you carry upon this sword, but that would be impossible, I imagine.”

“...If it goes to +8, it could break, you know?”

“I am aware. That is why I have not dared to touch it. But you said you were special, did you not?”

“I can only raise the probability by 20% at most.”

“For a normal item, that would guarantee success up to +3, would it not?”

“A +3 is practically useless...”

“And that is why I am asking you.”

“What happens if it breaks?”

“The symbol of the kingdom will vanish. And if that happens, my own life will not be safe.”

’Then why didn’t you mention that my meager life would be extinguished along with yours?’ This guy was insane. Han Simin shook his head.

“What do you say? Can you do it?”

“Just a moment.”

A common trait among people in high positions, whether they were nobles or not, was that they took credit for success and blamed their subordinates for failure. In other words, if the enhancement succeeded, the young prince before him would take the credit, and if it failed and broke, Han Simin would have to bear all the punishment. As a player, death wasn’t a problem, but there were various ways to prevent him from playing the game at all. Sensing he was at an important crossroads, Han Simin carefully inspected the sword.

[Sword of the Sun]

* Grade: Special

* Level Requirement: 150

* Attack Power: 15,000

* Option 1: All Stats +80

* Option 2: Attack Power +10% while the sun is up

* Option 3: Life Steal +8%

* Option 4: Can use ‘Absolute Iron Wall’ once per day 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

* Option 5: Can use ‘Guardian of the Kingdom’ once every 30 days

* Restriction: Can only be used by royalty of the Ain Kingdom

* Destruction probability applies from +1 enhancement

Han Simin’s hand began to tremble as he inspected the sword.

‘Crazy! What is this! This is absurd.’ He was so stunned his jaw dropped. At the same time, he saw the naive prince before him in a new light.

‘Level 150...’ Was that even a level players could reach? In a situation where level 20 was just starting to appear. Of course, players’ leveling speed would accelerate from now on. They had been given enough time to adapt to the game of Fantastic World, having gained the power of classes. After establishing their positions and factions, they would research how to hunt in order to advance quickly. Above all, the modern people’s obsession with consuming game content as quickly as possible, by any means necessary, would accelerate this. Still, it was surprising and daunting. It seemed players wouldn’t be seeing the end of a game that took years to make in just a single day. At the same time, he swallowed hard.

‘Should I run off with it?’ Such a thought was an unavoidable human desire. No matter how out of reach it was, wouldn’t someone eventually become the king of this kingdom? To a player with such ambitions, this sword would have immense value even years from now.

“By the way, why haven’t you even enhanced this to +1 yet?” Han Simin quickly shook off his fleeting dream and faced reality with a tense expression. Stealing it was impossible, considering the guy in front of him was a named NPC over level 150.

“The Sword of the Sun has a chance of destruction starting from +1. The enhancement probability doesn’t change, but even with the best blessing stones I could find, it would only get it to +1 or +2, so I haven’t touched it.”

“Still, the destruction probability can’t be that high...”

“Even a 1% chance is something I must be cautious about. It is the symbol of the kingdom, after all.”

“...Excuse me?” A frown creased Simin’s forehead. “This sword is?”

“It is tantamount to a sign that the gods have permitted the founding of our kingdom.”

So that’s why he would die even though he was a prince if it broke. Han Simin nodded in understanding. As someone who didn’t believe in gods, it was hard to accept, but he had no intention of denying what others believed. His only complaint was...

“Then why are you giving it to me...”

Why are you trying to pass this bomb off to me! A little bit of enhancement, he could do. Since the options themselves were so good, the additional attack power from a 5% or 10% enhancement would naturally make a huge difference. But what the prince wanted wasn’t a slight option increase. It was the aura from the dagger! The interest he had shown from the moment he stopped Han Simin was all about that.

“You are a legend, are you not? The descendant of the one who created the seven legendary weapons of the continent. The descendant of the one who enhanced the symbol of the Empire to +8! What do you say? Can you enhance the symbol of our kingdom to +8? Can you surpass your master?”

[Will you accept ‘Prince Ian’s Proposal’?]

This guy is crazy. He looked just like a son who had run off with the house deed after falling into gambling. He has everything, so why is he betting the kingdom on a flashy aura? And to a complete stranger, no less.

‘I’ll never understand the minds of the wealthy.’ Trying to understand would only give Simin a headache. Instead of trying to understand, he decided to contemplate the feast laid out before him. He had two choices: take the bait or politely decline.

Of course, he couldn’t get any help from Absolute Enhancement. The item’s level requirement was 150; where would the prime location for that be? At a minimum, it would be in a field with monsters over level 100. He would die tens of thousands of times just trying to get there. Unless the kingdom’s army accompanied him, it was impossible. In the end, it meant he had to just hammer it. And if it broke? He would have to start over. And the prince wouldn’t pay him first. After a moment of thought, Han Simin handed the sword back with a firm expression.

“I might be able to manage up to +4, but +8 is impossible.”

“...Hmm. I see.”

[You have declined the quest.]

The probability was too low. His only advantage in enhancement was Absolute Enhancement. Without it, he was no different from any other enhancement master. With luck, he might find a spot that raised the probability by 10%, but how could he get to +8 with just that? No matter how he thought about it, the chance of it breaking around +5 was too high.

‘Take what you can and discard the rest.’ If Simin had nothing, he might have taken the gamble. But he was currently on his way to make a +15 dagger.

“I am still not skilled enough to follow in my master’s footsteps. I will train more and come back to enhance it for you when I am able. I promise!” ’Of course, I’ll be charging a hefty fee,’ he added to himself.

At his sincere words, the disappointed Ian nodded.

“I have placed an unnecessary burden on an adventurer. My apologies.”

“Not at all.”

The atmosphere became awkward. No one was telling him to, but he felt like he should get off. But Han Simin brazenly held his ground.

‘Looks like I’m heading in the right direction.’ The awkwardness was brief, and if he endured it, he would get closer to the prime location. With a thick skin, Han Simin freeloaded for three days and finally arrived at the capital of the Ain Kingdom.

* * *