5.

In any game, a character's class was everything. Warrior, Mage, Archer, Thief—the list went on. Even non-combat professions like Merchant, Herbalist, or Grave Robber were recognized as official classes with their own data. It was no exaggeration to say that a player's class, which dictated their entire playstyle, defined their experience. That was why the choice was so critical.

You couldn't pour your heart, soul, time, and money into raising a Warrior only to switch classes overnight just because something else caught your eye. Of course, the act of changing was simple enough. In an age of VR capsules where realism was king, switching your profession was as easy as visiting a job center.

What you 'couldn't' change were the skills you'd learned, the stats you'd allocated, and every investment you'd made to optimize that class. It was the real-world equivalent of ingrained habits, knowledge, and abilities. To start a new challenge, you had to start from scratch.

Now, consider the players. They were thrown into dungeons with a class assigned to them by lottery, one they never chose. They had to fight for their lives before they even understood their own abilities, learning on the fly what skills they possessed and how to use them. There were precious few people on Earth naturally suited for combat, and it was even rarer for a player to receive a class that matched their innate talents. But when that miracle of coincidences occurred, that player could skyrocket through the ranks.

Ultimately, a class was paramount because its associated skills were immutable. Even a national archery champion would be forced to pick up a sword if their assigned class was sword-related. That was how fundamental skills were.

This was a world where no amount of personal mastery with a weapon could compete with the raw power of a few swings from a player with better skills. That was class. That was skill. That was the reality every player faced.

Which was why the announcement was so shocking.

—What? A bow for the next video?

—I thought his main was a dagger?

—He was good with a bow, but that was back when he was a pro gamer, right?

—Maybe the bow 'is' his main weapon. He didn't really use any active skills in the Special dungeon.

—That's a good point.

An unexpected twist like this didn't alienate the audience; it intrigued them, building anticipation to a fever pitch.

—I can't wait.

—Think we'll finally get a clue about his class in this one?

—The weapon is usually the biggest giveaway.

—Isn't a bow-user at a disadvantage for solo play, though?

—It's probably his secondary. No way he can clear a dungeon alone with just a bow. He'll probably just stomp through some Epic-grade dungeon for show.

—Since when did Epic-grade become 'some dungeon'?

Fueled by speculation, viewers began flocking to Kim Buja's channel.

* * *

Visiting the Dungeon Shop for the first time in ages, Kim Buja took a deep breath.

"Heh, this brings back memories."

It felt like only yesterday that he'd first come here after his awakening, but months had already passed. Time had flown by, leaving behind a trail of growth and a very fat wallet.

"Welcome, warrior. How may I assist you?" an employee in the store's signature eye-catching uniform inquired as she approached.

"I'm here to buy a 1-star bow, Unique-grade or higher," he answered confidently.

The price was irrelevant. He had over five million in his account, not to mention the fifty million he'd pried from Park Sijun. While not his top priority, he never shied away from investing in good gear.

He followed the employee to another floor. The moment the elevator doors slid open, he was greeted by the brilliant gleam of weapons encased in high-tech security displays. The entire layout screamed exclusivity, a clear sign that this floor dealt only in top-tier equipment.

"This way, please. We currently have eight 1-star Unique bows and one Special bow in stock."

'The Dungeon Shop is the best for sure,' he thought.

The old saying was true: if the Dungeon Shop didn't have it, it didn't exist. It might be because bows were, alongside swords, one of the most popular weapons among players, but having eight Unique-grade weapons on permanent display for sale was still astonishing. And they even had a Special-grade one.

He strode forward without hesitation. Standing before the eight Unique bows, he didn't bother examining their stats individually. His eyes were fixed on the price tags.

"They're all around the five million mark, I see?"

"These are our standard display models, sir. Items with more advanced options are reserved for our VIP-exclusive auctions. You can find superior equipment there."

This was a place where an item worth five million—a number with so many zeros it was hard to count—was considered a "standard display model." He shook his head, reminding himself that despite his recent earnings, it was far too early to get complacent.

"How does one become a VIP?"

"You must maintain an average monthly spending of one million or fifteen million annually."

"I see."

"Would you like me to provide you with more information?"

'Are there really rich suckers out there who fall for this?' The thought flickered through his mind before he dismissed it. The old Kim Buja might have agonized over the cost, concluding it was impossible. But he was no longer that broke kid surviving on cup ramen in a tiny studio apartment. Now that he was earning money and seeing the pathways to earn even more, the threshold didn't seem so insurmountable. Besides, the amount he planned to spend today alone would easily qualify him.

"No, that's fine. I'm just here for a bow to use temporarily. I'll pick one out now."

"Of course, Warrior."

After dismissing the employee who stood uncomfortably close, Kim Buja made his way to the Special-grade bow. Weapons were never cheaper than accessories, and popular types like bows were often even more expensive. Thinking back to the Vitality Accessory Set, he knew fifty million might not be enough, but he approached without flinching for one simple reason.

"Is this one a display model as well?"

"Yes, it is."

He knew that the Special-grade bow, with its extra zero, was likely also a standard model with no exceptional options, making it available for direct purchase.

[Bow of Swiftness]

▶ Grade: Special

▶ Attack Power: 40

▶ Agility +5

▶ Applies 'Swiftness' effect when attacking enemies over 33 feet away

▷ Swiftness: Ignores wind resistance.

▷ A bow imbued with the power of the wind. It is light and sturdy.

If this were a game, he would have scoffed and walked away. Thirty-five million for a single item was absurd. He could achieve far greater overall power by distributing that money across his armor and accessories. The same logic applied to reality. He was already a powerhouse in 1-star dungeons and could use that money for other gear.

"I'll take this one."

But as a gamer with a long-term vision for his video channel, he didn't see this as a loss. This was an investment only possible in reality. The weapon was priced this high because its grade was unattainable for most, and in a dungeon, the difference in attack power was the difference between life and death. More importantly, for an archer, the ability to ignore wind resistance was an absolute game-changer.

"Not bad."

What was the point of hoarding money? Sure, there were plenty of ways to spend it, but his future income would be just as substantial. 'Spend it when you need to.' He coolly purchased the Special-grade bow.

"Ah, do the arrows come free with the purchase?"

Of course, old habits die hard.

6.

He nocked an arrow carved from dungeon wood, feeling the satisfying tension of the drawn string in his arm. This was ranged combat, a far cry from the messy, intimate brawls of melee. Though confident in his close-quarters agility, Buja had always enjoyed this style of fighting.

'Swish!'

The arrow flew from his hand.

"Kriee!"

With a base attack of 40, an additional 15 from weapon enhancement, and the bonus from the Legendary Crystal Necklace, the arrow was a bolt of overwhelming power. It struck the monster squarely in the neck. This wasn't some trivial Epic or Rare-grade dungeon like the forum trolls had suggested; this was a Special dungeon, a place he had only cleared twice before. He had specifically asked Seora to procure one for the video, and since the Jeong Cheol Guild didn't own one, she had purchased access through the Dungeon Shop, requiring him to travel all the way to the southern provinces. Standing in that dungeon, Buja proved that his investment had been anything but a waste.

'Fwoosh!'

He gave the other monsters no time to recover from the chaos of their comrade's death. Before the first arrow had even fully embedded itself, a second was already nocked and fired. The next monster fell within seconds.

"Now 'this' is what I'm talking about."

It was a thrill he could never get with daggers. To assassinate foes without revealing your position—especially in a dense forest, against monsters with senses far superior to any human's—was no easy feat.

[You have acquired 2 Gold.]

[You have acquired 1 Gold.]

The arrows themselves, while seemingly ordinary, were high-quality projectiles costing thirty dollars apiece. A volley of these luxurious arrows, which he would have to painstakingly retrieve after the fight, rained down upon the monsters. As before, he had no need for skills. Nock, aim, fire. His arrows were merciless, predicting the panicked movements of the startled creatures. After wiping out a group of a dozen in an instant, Buja dropped down from his perch in the tree and began his cleanup.

"Better not lose any of these."

'It would be nice to have arrows that automatically return,' he grumbled internally. 'For all its perks, this weapon desperately needs some of those quality-of-life features you see in games.' After retrieving his arrows, he started to move on, but he didn't have to go far. The scent of blood had already drawn a new crowd, one far larger than the last. He estimated at least a hundred, with several elite monsters mixed in. It was a daunting number, enough to make him worry he'd be shooting until sunrise.

Nevertheless, Kim Buja didn't hesitate. While he lacked any active bow skills, his raw stats were more than enough to compensate.

"Triple Shot."

Conscious of the recording, he muttered the name aloud as he nocked three arrows at once. Three arrows, three targets. It was an incredibly difficult technique, but he calmly drew in a breath and held it.

The three arrows shot out simultaneously, each one finding its mark in a different monster.

"Kaaargh!"

Unlike before, however, his position was now compromised.

"Kyuuu!"

Seeing monsters scrambling up the tree, Hwangdo let out a fierce cry, flapping its wings frantically as if to urge him to escape. Buja grabbed the panicked creature, stuffed it into his pocket, and drew his daggers.

"Time to go for an all-master run."

With that, he leaped from the branch and plunged directly into the swarm of monsters below.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.