< Chapter 81: Gift (3) >
The conversation about the custom-made equipment ended quickly.
“I will entrust it all to Master Jung Il-yong.”
“Oh ho. You mean everything?”
“Yes. I think it’s pointless to include the opinions of an amateur, so it won’t help anyway.”
Master Jung Il-yong is the best blacksmith. I didn’t think my opinion would be of much help in crafting the equipment by such an artisan.
Master looked at me with slightly widened eyes. A surprised expression. Maiden chuckled, looking at Jung Il-yong.
“See? Old man. That’s how he is. Once you talk to him, you can’t help but like this little guy.”
“Is that so?”
I tilted my head.
I felt like I was being acknowledged.
But why was I being acknowledged?
While the two were excitedly discussing me, Yu Hwa brought her face close to mine and whispered in my ear.
“I heard that Master Jung Il-yong retired from the industry because of the superiors’ arrogance.”
“Arrogance?”
“Yes. Telling how to design, what performance should be, etc.”
“Oh.”
“Since every superhuman’s suitable equipment is different, they’d go crazy if forced with ‘This is good! Make it this way!'”
I understood.
There must be a romance for a superhuman.
“Especially when an order comes in to make the equipment exactly like the top rankers’, he would be furious. It would hurt his artisan’s pride.”
Certainly, for an artisan with a personality like Master Jung Il-yong, making imitation equipment must have been distasteful.
“I can understand that, but how many superhumans would say ‘I’ll entrust everything to you’ with no conditions in such a high-cost equipment order?”
“That’s true.”
I understood.
“Anyway, little guy. It’s a good choice. Our old man’s taste might be a bit old-fashioned, but he has style.”
“Is that the compliment?”
“Ehehe. Compliment, indeed.”
Maiden laughed heartily.
Looking at Maiden, Jung Il-yong nodded slightly and looked at me again.
“Since you said you’ll leave everything to me, all that’s left is the wear restriction and preferred equipment type.”
“Yes.”
“So, what wear restriction should be applied?”
“Um…”
I pondered for a moment.
What should I say?
I’d like to say I don’t care about wear restrictions, just maximize performance.
After all, I can ignore ‘wear restrictions’.
But saying that would make all my stats S-ranked instantly.
“Little guy. Your information won’t leak, so don’t worry.”
“Yes. I know.”
Of course, Yu Hwa and Maiden must think my stats have far surpassed those of an ordinary superhuman, so it doesn’t matter.
I’ve even briefly faced a Vagabond alone.
And handled the Sword Ghost by myself too.
So, asking for a wear restriction of A-rank or higher would not be a problem at all.
“…”
The problem is that Master Jung Il-yong has a close relationship with Instructor Pi Jin Ho.
Plus, he had accurately seen my [Extreme of Weapon] inside my clothes earlier.
He probably knows about [Master of Weapon], too.
Obviously, he must know that the [Master of Weapons]’s owner starts weak.
In this situation, asking for wear restriction to be A-rank or higher was a bit too much.
…But I can’t pass up such a good opportunity.
What to do?
That’s when it happened.
“Can you two leave for a moment? I want to talk to this child alone.”
Master Jung Il-yong said, looking at Maiden and Yu Hwa.
“Hmm. Sure.”
“Yes. I understand.”
The two happily stood up.
“Then little guy, talk well. See you in a bit. Let’s go.”
“Yes. See you later, Seo-yul.”
The two left the room with a relaxed pace.
An awkward atmosphere lingered in the room with only the two of us left.
I didn’t know what to say at first.
Master Jung Il-yong was only mentioned in the original work.
I knew nothing about him, so I couldn’t speak rashly.
“Never thought I would see Min Ji’s successor in my twilight years.”
Master Jung Il-yong was the first to broach the subject.
“You knew after all.”
It seems my suspicions were correct.
Jung Il-yong’s eyes were still fixed precisely on my chest.
“I didn’t know. I found out today, thanks to that ‘Extreme of Weapons.'”
Jung Il-yong pointed to his eye, a peculiar eye shining with a mysterious purple glow.
“My attribute, the ‘Eye of the Master,’ allows me to see information about all sorts of equipment. Even those not set to public in the status window, even the ones being worn.”
“Ah.”
So that’s how he was able to look directly at the [Extreme of Weapons] hidden beneath my clothes.
“Besides, I was the one who made that necklace.”
“Excuse me?”
Master Jung Il-yong made the Extreme of Weapons? This was news to me.
“Yes. I gave it as a gift when Jin Ho married Min Ji.”
A wistful look passed over the elder’s eyes.
“That fool. He should have at least given me a heads-up if he found a successor.”
There was a trace of resentment towards Pi Jin Ho and a profound longing for the couple in those lonely eyes.
“The old man was foolish. Let’s get to the point.”
Jung Il-yong stared at me with serious eyes.
“How about only ordering a ‘weapon’ for this equipment request?”
“A weapon, you say?”
“Yes.”
I tilted my head, confused.
What could he mean?
“If I’m right, you are still growing.”
“Yes.”
“In such a situation, I don’t think there’s a need to order equipment with a low wear limit that compromises performance. You’ll become stronger in 1 or 2 years, at a fast pace, and you’ll have to replace it soon.”
A warm gaze.
It seemed to overlap with someone, perhaps a person named Kang Min Ji.
“But weapons are different. You possess the ‘Master of Weapons.'”
His eyes once again turned to the [Extreme of Weapons] on my chest.
“It means you can be greedy about the weapon. No matter what your current stats are, you should be able to use the weapon without any restrictions.”
Considering Jung Il-yong’s knowledge of the Master of Weapons, it made sense for him to say this.
“For this reason, I recommend investing the entire budget in a ‘weapon’ this time.”
“Hmm …”
I understood Jung Il-yong’s thoughts.
Besides, this proposal is also favorable to me.
It’s the best opportunity to order a top-grade weapon without revealing my current stats.
… But it’s a shame to give up on top-grade armor sets as well.
“You seem troubled. How about hearing what the weapon is and then deciding?”
“Yes, I’ll listen attentively.”
Jung Il-yong stood up and rummaged through a drawer.
He then found what he was looking for and returned to his seat with a file.
“If you use about 90% of the production cost that arrogant brat suggested, you should be able to buy the ‘Super Shape-Memory Magic Alloy.'”
Jung Il-yong handed me an old blueprint. It was a yellowish paper that looked over 10 years old.
“What’s this?”
My eyes widened like lanterns as soon as I checked the blueprint.
Is this possible?
“It’s a piece of equipment I designed for Min Ji. I never thought it would be used 10 years later.”
Jung Il-yong smiled bitterly.
“The weapon’s name is Cheonbyeon. The expected performance is as written.”
“S-rank.”
“Yes.”
Every spec was easily surpassing S-rank equipment.
The reason was simple.
The wear restriction was tremendous.
Required stats all S-rank [99/99].
This isn’t a weapon that ordinary people can wear.
An item that’s impossible to equip unless you are a ‘Master of Weapons’ who can ignore the weapon’s wear restriction, or an irregular like me, who’s outside the system’s laws.
They probably didn’t design it with an irregular like me in mind, so it can be called an item specifically made for the ‘Master of Weapons.’
And look at this special ability.
[Cheonbyeon]
[It changes into hundreds, or thousands of shapes according to the user’s will.]
It was truly an item designed for the ‘Master of Weapons’ from start to finish.
“That concludes my proposal. Now you just need to choose.”
Jung Il-yong smiled triumphantly.
“This isn’t even a comparison from the start.”
I grinned bitterly.
You should compare things that are comparable.
“I’ll go with Cheonbyeon.”
Rejecting this proposal would be foolish.
* * *
On the way home in Maiden’s car.
“Little one, are you sure a single weapon will do?”
“Yes.”
Even if dozens of A-rank armors are brought, they can’t compare to the single Cheonbyeon.
“If money is the problem, I can provide more support.”
“sister, what you’ve done already is too much. If gratitude comes out for no reason, and a scandal breaks out, it’ll be tiring for both of us.”
“Tsk, those wretched reporters.”
Maiden clicked her tongue.
“It’s really fine. It’s a truly incredible weapon.”
“What on earth could it be?”
Did I look too gleeful?
Maiden looked at me suspiciously and asked.
“That’s what I’m saying. If someone who can even wear ancient relics reacts like that…”
Yu-Hwa was the same.
Both looked at me with expressions showing they were dying of curiosity.
“Don’t you think you could tell me, the Master of Water, even if you can’t tell her?”
“Unnie! Isn’t it unfair to do that?”
“If it’s tough, you should become the Master of Water too.”
Maiden laughed heartily.
Yu-Hwa pouted her lips.
“I’ll show it to you once it’s completed. Mr. Jung Il-yong told me to keep it a secret for now.”
At my words, Maiden clicked her tongue.
“That cunning old man…”
She then sighed.
“Fine. I’ll find out later, I suppose.”
I looked out the window.
The beautiful night view of Seoul soothes my mind. I can see the faintly shining World Tree above it. Above that, quite a few bright stars are visible.
In a world where magical energy, an unnatural force, is mainly used, there would be no environmental pollution.
The scenery seems to insist that this world is different from the one I originally lived in.
After driving for a while, we arrived at the house. We got out of the car.
“You must be exhausted from dealing with two women today. You must have lost all your energy, right?”
Maiden playfully smiled.
“……”
I decided not to comment. Honestly, I was very tired.
“Then, for the last time.”
Maiden walked past me toward the trunk. The trunk opened, and three suitcases of different sizes came into view.
“Here, today’s final gift. I thought there would be more, but there are only three. Sorry.”
“Only three? That’s plenty. Thank you.”
I couldn’t be disappointed after obtaining three ancient relics as a windfall. I was smiling broadly at the time.
“Kang Seo-Yul.”
“Yes?”
Suddenly, Maiden called my name. It seemed to be the first time she had done so.
“Life isn’t all about revenge.”
Maiden’s eyes were very serious.
“I shouldn’t be saying this, living for revenge myself, but it’s more exhausting than you think.”
Her eyes were filled with sorrow and regret.
“Play with friends. Care a little about fashion. Try love. Trust your looks and show off, even get heartbroken.”
“……”
“I’d like you to live a normal life.”
Maiden’s words were a little off. I don’t harbor a grudge against the savior of truth.
It was all a misunderstanding, but her words resonated strangely in my heart.
A normal life.
Hearing those words, I responded without realizing.
“……Yes. I wish I could live like that too.”
I would if I could. It’s sincere.
If this world could have a safe future without me, I would have done so.
“That’s my dream.”
I smiled faintly.
* * *
After Kang Seo-Yul went into the house, Maiden and Yu Hwa stood there blankly.
“Yu Hwa, do you know what that kid’s weekly schedule is like?”
Maiden casually asked.
“…No.”
“Training.”
“And?”
Maiden sighed.
“That’s all.”
“What?”
“If you really break it down: training, studying, toughening up.”
Maiden looked up at the sky. The twinkling stars were quite beautiful.
“He has no hobbies to speak of. Except for Shin Jia and Ha Si-yeon, he has no real friends.”
Kang Seo-Yul is a hard worker.
And the source of that effort stemmed from a desire for ‘revenge.’
“That kid is obsessed with revenge. That’s why he can’t rest. He needs to get stronger, even if it’s just a day sooner, to achieve his revenge.”
Maiden smirked and added, “I was like that too.”
“I think the reason that kid approached you, Yu Hwa, or Shin Jia, Ha Si-yeon, the cadets, is mostly to fulfill the purpose of revenge.”
“…Yes.”
Yu Hwa bowed her head with a downcast face. She had roughly expected it.
“It’s not just that he wants to use you. I know this even though we’ve only been together for a day. Mutual benefit is the goal.”
“Yes.”
Maiden looked at Kang Seo-Yul’s house. There was light beyond the curtains. He must be examining the ancient relics.
‘Poor thing.’
She recalled Kang Seo-Yul’s words that living a normal life was his dream and wore a bitter smile.
Then she soon sighed deeply.
“Well, it’s not for me to say, living for revenge for over 10 years.”
“…Unnie.”
Maiden looked at Yu Hwa.
“Yu Hwa, let’s make sure to succeed in this national raid operation.”
Her eyes were very serious.
“We can’t allow more victims like that kid.”
“…Yes.”
The eyes of both women shone with determination.
* * *
I was in the room, hugging Goldie, and getting ready to open it.
“Now, let’s see what’s inside.”
Unboxing a random box.
I had already completed the fingerprint and magical energy recognition, and only the open button was left.
My heart was swelling with anticipation.
“Now, first, let’s take a deep breath with a humble heart… and then walk around the carrier twice…”
“Meow!”
But before I could finish speaking, Goldie, in my arms, tapped the button with its front paw.
Whoosh…
With a sound as if the air was sucked out, one of the carriers opened.
“Goldie, you!”
I scolded Goldie.
“Brother wasn’t even mentally prepared yet, and you just went and opened it without even a warning light…!”
But again, I couldn’t finish my sentence.
“…What… has… come… out?”
I picked up Goldie with a stunned expression.
“…Why is this coming out here?”
“Meow?”
Goldie tilted its head, looking up at me, bewildered.
