Even if EXP was the same, there was a big difference between Level 98 and Level 100 in terms of leveling down. Yes, two levels of difference. But I didn't think about it when I was Level 98 because I was blinded by gaining free stat points.

Anyway, I moved to Kotum Castle, hoping that my level could go down by as much as 10 through the God of Enhancement.

"Good. There is a way to level down without increasing the number of Deaths, so let me wait."

I decided to stick with that decision for now.

***

[You have a Level 100 only Enhancement Quest.

-Current Enhancement: 10

-You have the opportunity to safely increase enhancement to a higher level.]

I had heard it too much, so much so that I could repeat and write it down without any mistake.

I frowned slightly because giving up now would be very silly when I knew there was a way to go safely, unlike others. Moreover, this was the only chance where I could get a bonus by enhancing.

But there was something I didn't like if I had to go on without giving up. It was none other than cooldown time and the resulting suspension. That was why I was frustrated with the status quo situation, which made me frown helplessly.

But it's all past history now.

With a broad smile, I put the 10+ Light Stick for beginners in the quest enhancement window that was still glowing red, instead of the original enhancement window.

'Activate the God of Enhancement.'

Reciting it in a low voice, as I did as always, I prayed and prayed that my EXP could be drastically taken away so it could go down to Level 1.

[The God of Enhancement has been activated.

-100% success chance.

-Enhancement target: 10+ Light Stick for beginners.

-Additional requirements when attempting to enhance: 715,000 golden rings, 2.35 million EXP

-Cooldown time generated upon successful enhancement: 89 hours]

"..."

It was a drastic increase. Not only golden rings and EXP, but also cooldown time.

Of course, this time it was a two-digit enhancement unlike before. So, I could understand it up to a point, but I couldn't help but flinch at the 89 hours of cooldown time. However, my agony didn't last long because I had to do it. It was too precious for me to give up now.

'Enhance.'

I proceeded with enhancement, and my enhancement was successful.

[You have succeeded in enhancing the Level 100 only Enhancement Quest to Enhancement 11]

[89 hours of cooldown is required to activate the God of Enhancement trait.]

There was no announcement that congratulated me on achieving the double-digit enhancement like before, let alone not mentioning an upgraded bonus. But I didn't care because I would go all the way to the end.

And there was a message that I found rather comforting.

[Your level has decreased by 8 because of the drop in EXP by 2.35 million.]

My EXP dropped about 1.7 times more than before. That's why my level went down by 8.

Of course I felt sorry about it because I wanted to drop as much as 10 levels.

Deep down, I wanted a further drop. But I shook off such thinking because no matter how sorry I felt about it, there was nothing I could do.

So, I opened my mouth in a lower voice.

"Log out."

Hunt? Achieving Level 100 again? I won't repeat it because the higher the level, the higher the required EXP, which is the common characteristic of all games. That is, the accumulated EXP is different. In other words, if I achieve Level 100 again and activate the God of Enhancement, I would expect a drop of between 13 and 15 levels at most, given that I would lose about as much as 1.7 times EXP. So, when I assume the maximum loss of 15 levels, I would gain a total of 23 by combining it with my current 8 levels.

However, if I lose the same EXP at Level 92, down from Level 100, I will see a further drop than 15 levels because the starting point of losing EXP at Level 100 and Level 92 is different.

So, I may experience a drop of more than 20 or even 25 levels. With this method, I can get a total of 28 levels by taking 8 levels and then at least 20 levels. Of course, the difference between the former and the latter is 5 levels. In terms of conversion, it can be said that there are only 50 remaining stat points, but for me, it is 125. So, I chose this method. As for the level, the stronger I am, the faster I can catch up to that.

89 hours later.

While I was spending my 89 hours, I keenly felt that I really didn't have friends.

Of course, there are quite a few who I can call nominal friends.

For example, I can point out those who didn't like me as a person, but liked me because of my family background.

As such, I made acquaintances with them by wandering around at parties and banquets as a high school boy, something totally unfit for me as a student.

Looking back, I made more friends during the first semester after I entered Seoul National University because the public relations office of Myongjin Group, led by my father as its chairman, inflated my capabilities and publicized me everywhere.

From the perspective of Myongjin Group, I was a good PR commodity because as the son of the chairman. Even though I got poor grades in school, I focused on studying so intensely and finally got perfect scores on the SAT exam in less than two years of studying, which was unprecedented as a high school boy in Korea.

Obviously, the fact that I neglected to study was fabricated by the PR office. Besides, my fluency in several foreign languages, in addition to my perfect SAT scores, inflated my name all the more. But lots of people suspected me because I was the son of a large business company, but their suspicion subsided quickly because no matter how maliciously they tried to slander me, it was true that I acquired an enormous amount of knowledge back then.

It was as if I locked the knowledge into a secret room made up of dozens and tens of layers, so nothing I learned could come out of it.

Anyway, at that time my dad took me to lots of places. He had me meet a lot of people, including famous figures and the sons and daughters of the owners of large business groups.

That's why my father was so angry and disappointed in me when I decided not to return to school after I was discharged from the army, so much so that he kicked me out of the house.

But my mother was so worried that she got me a one-room house.

When I looked back now, I thought it was me, not my father, who pushed me out of the house.

Obviously I could do something else, but I chose a remote cafe for a part-time job, where few customers stopped by, refusing the calls from my family members.

"Whew...I feel all kinds of thoughts running through my mind as I don't have anything to do at the moment…"

Shaking my head from side to side, I immediately accessed the game.

Of course, I could aim for a direct level down by deliberately dying for about 4 days. Unfortunately, my EXP was 65.74% at Level 92. It would be impossible to reach Level 91 even if I die once or twice. Besides, a 24-hour access ban penalty occurs if I die.

Even after dying every four days, levelling down was a long way to go, so I gave it up in the first place because unless I got 0% EXP right after I levelled up, it was impossible to level down.

Anyway, I was at the blacksmith where I logged out 89 hours ago.

As soon as I accessed it, a message rang.

[You have a 100-Level only Enhancement Quest.

-Current Enhancement: 11

-You have the opportunity to safely increase enhancement to a higher level.]