3.

    Eternal World lived up to its reputation as “another world,” boasting extraordinary realism.

    NPCs were equipped with advanced AI, behaving so convincingly human-like that they blurred the line between game and reality.

    Monsters, too, were crafted with intelligence that made them feel like living beings.

    For beast-type monsters, acquiring items required players to butcher them—a mechanic adding yet another layer of immersion.

    Though some players found butchering inconvenient, many appreciated the realism it brought to the game. The fact that this mechanic applied only to beast-type monsters made it tolerable, even enjoyable for some.

    Still, its inconveniences weren’t completely ignored.

    The hunting ground near the starter village was one such place where butchering was unavoidable.

    This area, teeming with rabbits, served as both a habitat for beast-type monsters and an important training ground for novice players to learn the basics of hunting and butchering.

    Even now, countless players were dashing around in pursuit of the elusive rabbits.

    “Damn it! Aren’t these things way too fast?!”

    “Ugh, and they’re so small! They’re hard to hit!”

    “Argh! My shin! Watch it!”@@@@

    “S-sorry!”

    Catching a rabbit required more than brute force. It demanded skill.

    The swift and nimble rabbits could effortlessly change direction, leaving beginner players struggling to keep up. Their small size also made them difficult to target. Swinging a weapon at random usually resulted in futilely striking the ground.

    At best, this wasted effort. At worst, it damaged the weapon’s durability, leading to unnecessary losses just to take down a single rabbit.

    “Screw it! I’m switching to mage class!”

    “Me too! Mages don’t need butchering skills, right?”

    “...You’ll still need to butcher stuff, though.”

    “Ugh.”

    Some players tried to deny reality, but butchering was an essential skill—even for mages.

    If you had enough money, you could avoid it altogether, but for most players, it was a necessary evil.

    As the collective frustration of novice players mounted, Seong finally arrived at the hunting grounds.

    “Oh.”

    Seong was surprised by the sheer number of players.

    While he’d heard that Hindel Village was a popular starting point, he hadn’t expected this level of activity.

    Even more surprising was how many players seemed to be failing.

    Sure, it looked difficult—but was it really that hard?

    ‘Hmm, is it really that bad?’

    Had this been before he’d gained the memories of the former instructor, Seong might have thought so.

    But now? He didn’t feel the same way.

    For some reason, he felt confident.

    ‘I think I can handle this.’

    Seong opened his inventory and retrieved the Steel Sword.

    Unlike during the tutorial, it no longer emitted any special effects. Once a hidden item was uncovered, the visual cues vanished.

    He swung the sword lightly a few times to test its weight.

    It moved effortlessly, following his will.

    “This should do.”

    Nearby players noticed Seong and couldn’t help but snicker.

    “Hey, look. A new guy just showed up.”

    “Pfft, he’s got that ‘How hard could it be?’ look on his face.”

    “Ah, the smell of a newbie. Remember when we were like that?”

    Though they had only arrived earlier that day, they acted as if they were veterans. Despite their smugness, none of them had managed to catch a rabbit yet.

    Seong’s casual test swings must have looked amusing to them.

    “Do you think he can even catch one rabbit like that?”

    “Pfft, not a chance.”

    “Yeah, you can’t just swing a sword and hope for the best. He’s got no clue.”

    Unaware of their mockery, Seong adjusted his grip on the sword.

    The Steel Sword, roughly the size of a longsword, seemed too unwieldy for catching rabbits.

    Experienced players knew just how tricky it was to catch the low-to-the-ground creatures with a longsword. Even landing a hit by sheer luck wouldn’t guarantee a kill.

    Rabbits typically required three or four hits to take down due to their deceptively high health. For beginners, they were notoriously challenging opponents.

    The players mocking Seong knew this better than anyone, having spent the entire morning failing themselves.

    Did they not exist here?

    He considered that the presence of so many beginner players might make it unlikely. Still, it couldn’t hurt to take a closer look.

    ‘Hmm, I feel something... but maybe not.’

    He sensed something faintly but dismissed it when nothing materialized.

    After all, butchering could be done manually if necessary. He didn’t have to rely on ghosts all the time.

    As he resolved to handle it himself, a voice suddenly called out from the distance.

    “Tsk, tsk, tsk. That’s no way to butcher.”

    The voice, grumbling in dissatisfaction, clicked its tongue.

    Seong’s ears perked up, and he immediately dashed toward the sound. There, he spotted the ghost he’d been hoping to find.

    The ghost was dressed in a hunter’s outfit made of tiger hide, complete with a longbow slung across his back and several axes at his belt.

    “A bandit?”

    The ghost flinched in shock.

    “What?! No! I’m a hunter! Wait—hold on, can you see me?”

    The ghost, who introduced himself as a Hunter, was astonished. This was the first time anyone, alive or dead, had noticed him since his passing.

    Unfazed by the ghost’s reaction, Seong asked directly.

    “So, how does one properly butcher?”

    The ghost burst into a hearty laugh.

    “Hah! You’ve come to the right person! I, the great hunter Apik, shall teach you, young one!”

    “Thank you.”

    Seong bowed slightly, showing his gratitude. Apik, clearly pleased, laughed even louder.

    “No, no! It’s I who should thank you. It’s rare to find someone worthy of my knowledge. Now then, have you caught any rabbits?”

    “Yes, quite a few.”

    “Ho-ho! Let me see them, then.”

    At Apik’s request, Seong retrieved the twenty rabbit carcasses from his inventory.

    Apik’s eyes widened at the sight.

    Each rabbit had been cleanly decapitated, leaving no jagged edges or signs of struggle. It had been ages since he’d seen such precise work.

    “These cuts... This level of mastery requires decades of practice with a blade...”

    “Pardon?”

    “Ah, nothing! I was just complimenting your work. Well done!”

    “Thank you.”

    “Ha-ha-ha! With such clean kills, the meat and hides will surely be of the highest quality! Listen carefully, young one, and I shall teach you everything.”

    Seong nodded, attentively absorbing Apik’s instructions.

    “Proper butchering begins with a clean kill. The smoother the death, the higher the quality of the materials harvested. These rabbits are a perfect example.”

    “I see.”

    “A single, decisive strike ensures not only better quality but also spares the animal unnecessary suffering. It’s an act of mercy, really.”

    Seong scratched his cheek, feeling slightly embarrassed by the praise. Apik chuckled before continuing his lesson.

    He explained the intricacies of butchering—how to properly use the blade, how to separate the meat from the hide, and how to handle various types of game.

    As Apik shared his “memories” and “experiences,” Seong felt a familiar sensation.

    ‘So, this is what it’s like to receive a ghost’s teachings.’

    The memories and experiences of a seasoned hunter flowed into him, from the precise techniques for skinning animals to the optimal methods for cutting meat.

    The flood of knowledge left Seong feeling as if he’d spent years honing these skills. Without hesitation, he drew a butchering knife and began working on one of the rabbit carcasses.

    His movements, though bold, were deliberate and precise. Despite being a novice, he worked with the confidence and skill of a seasoned butcher.

    The meat and hide separated cleanly, leaving nothing to waste.

    Apik erupted into hearty laughter at the sight.

    “Hahaha! That’s it! That’s the way of the great hunter Apik!”

    As Apik reveled in laughter, a familiar series of messages appeared before Seong.

    [You have demonstrated abilities beyond your current stats with ‘Unknown Power.’]

    [A new stat, 《Dexterity》, has been created.]

    [Agility +3, Dexterity +2 have been permanently increased.]

    [You have successfully completed your first butchering!]

    [Skill acquired: 『Butchering』.]

    [Title acquired: 『Expert Butcher』.]**

    『Expert Butcher』

    《Rare》Awarded to users who successfully complete their first butchering.Increases the quality of butchered materials by 15%.

    『Butchering』

    《Normal》[Lv 1][Growth-Type Skill][Instant Effect][Passive]Allows for easier and more efficient butchering with minimal loss.

    As he read through the messages, Seong smirked.

    ‘Looks like making money will be easier than I thought.’