Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Crafting and Scouting
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Yuseong picked up the hammer hanging on the wall.
[Worn Crafting Hammer]
The most basic hammer for crafting items. It's worn out and has no special abilities.
Damage: 5
Durability: None
Required Dexterity: 14
It even had attack power, of course. No one would ever use this hammer as a weapon, though.
Since it was borrowed from the guild, it had no durability. That was a relief. He'd heard that tool durability decreased during crafting, and if it broke, there might be penalties.
‘Like having to pay for the hammer or something.’
Just thinking about the 3 gold he'd spent to rent this room made his stomach ache. He had no desire for more expenses.
‘Usable Dexterity: 14.’
He'd already raised it in advance after getting the info from the strategy guide. He could have skipped it by using designated stats, but the guide recommended pumping Dexterity, and Yuseong agreed.
‘Dexterity needed raising soon anyway.’
He needed to prep it ahead for the next level of alchemy. It would boost accuracy too, so no reason to hesitate.
Plus, he planned to assign his designated stat to something else.
‘High Luck raises the chance of critical success, right?’
A critical success on bullets produced one grade higher. A normal bullet turned into an enhanced one.
‘Three times the price! Amazing!’
No more time to waste. Yuseong gripped the hammer tightly and opened his inventory window.
He placed the iron ingots, lead ingots, and gunpowder packs he'd withdrawn from the bank on the workbench.
All from the Hers Guild, of course. He had a little from his own hunting, but it was negligible compared to what he'd extorted from them.
‘Craft.’
Yuseong activated the skill. His body began moving on its own.
‘So this is the effect of using a skill.’
The skills he'd used so far weren't the type that directly controlled his body, like enhanced bullets or double shots.
‘Amazing.’
His arm hammered away vigorously. With each strike, chunks broke off the ingots. He gathered the iron and lead fragments with the gunpowder from the pack, then hammered again.
Flash!
Light flared, and the fragments and powder vanished, replaced by familiar bullets.
[Normal bullets completed.]
‘Fun.’
It was pure game crafting—something no one would believe in real life. Yuseong watched his body keep going.
The bullet count grew. Watching expensive bullets he'd once sighed over buying pile up, Yuseong couldn't hide his joy.
And soon after starting, a voice amplified that joy.
[Critical success. Enhanced bullet completed.]
The effect of assigning his designated stat to Luck.
Yuseong's body stopped after producing exactly 100 bullets.
‘Just like the guide said.’
One iron ingot, one lead ingot, and one gunpowder pack made 100 bullets.
Yuseong picked up a bullet. It looked and felt just like the ones he used.
‘Saved myself 100 gold with these.’
A satisfying fact. And technically, not even 100 gold.
Yuseong picked up another bullet.
Enhanced bullet.
Fourteen in total from this batch. Impressive odds. Enough to meaningfully use in boss fights.
‘Of course, future batches won't all hit this rate.’
Bullet crafting required low stats, so 40 Luck pulled this off.
But as item grades rose, 40 Luck wouldn't yield critical successes like this.
‘That's a problem for later.’
For now, he just basked in the sight of these bullets.
Yuseong kept crafting. He still had plenty of materials extorted from the Hers Guild.
A thousand bullets total. 130 enhanced ones.
‘Should've done this sooner!’
He regretted not learning alchemy earlier.
‘Potions next.’
He returned the hammer and grabbed a flask from the shelf.
[Crude Flask]
The most basic tool for potion crafting.
Durability: None
Dexterity: 17
Yuseong pulled out Adriancho herb—needed for health potions, naturally extorted from the Hers Guild.
He lined up empty potion bottles beside it. His gaze sharpened at the sight.
‘They charge money for these too!’
Cheaper than potions, sure. But when he was crafting to save money, extra costs soured the mood.
‘Might as well let us reuse used bottles!’
Annoyingly, used potions left vanishing empty bottles. No reuse possible.
Everything cost money. It felt like someone was nudging him to spend.
Grumbling inwardly, Yuseong started potion crafting.
Same as bullets. The skill activated, and his body moved on autopilot. He put Adriancho in the flask and added water from the corner.
‘At least water's free.’
As he griped, his hands shook the flask with Adriancho and water. The herb dissolved, turning the water red.
[Lowest-grade potion completed.]
His irritation over costs faded briefly. Nodding at the far cheaper potions than store-bought, Yuseong watched.
Materials remained. His body kept producing.
It stopped after filling all the bottles with red liquid.
Fifty potions total. Four low-grade ones.
‘Lower rate than bullets.’
Potions demanded more Dexterity and were slightly harder. Still, four low-grade potions were something.
He stowed the potions and opened his skill window.
Bullet Crafting (Lv1 → 3.02%)
Potion Crafting (Lv1 → 1.63%)
The number beside the level showed progress to the next. Unlike player levels, skills used percentages.
‘Bullet Crafting progressed more.’
More items, easier difficulty—made sense.
‘Doesn't matter which levels first, as long as they do.’
Way cheaper consumables than usual. Satisfying.
‘Time to head out.’
Time left on the room, but 3 gold loomed. Nothing more to do here.
‘Can't make more stuff.’
He wanted to craft all materials into bullets and potions to carry, but inventory had limits.
‘Even this batch is a lot to haul.’
Better to hunt diligently, convert these consumables to exp, items, and gold, then return.
‘Forget the 3 gold.’
What good would dwelling do?
Yuseong left the alchemy room. The clerk NPC's friendly smile, inviting him back, grated.
‘Off to hunt, then.’
Bullets and potions ready. Which hunting ground? What monsters? Quests? Stream? As Yuseong pondered—
“Excuse me, are you Yuseong?”
Someone called him.
‘Player.’
NPCs never approached calling names like that.
“Yes.”
“Thought so. Nice to meet you.”
The player smiled warmly, offering a handshake. Now routine, Yuseong shook while sizing him up.
“What's this about?”
“Nothing much—just wanted to scout you.”
“Scout me?”
“Heard you're guildless. Care to join ours?”
A guild invite.
* * *
Not his first invite. Naltorri had once said the same if Yuseong joined a guild. He'd refused flat-out.
He wanted a famous guild, one boosting visibility.
Same reason he rejected this unknown player's pitch.
The guide confirmed: their guild wasn't famous, even generously.
The player tried persuading, then slumped away. Pitiful, maybe.
But Yuseong was firm. Visibility tied to survival. No compromises.
More players came after. Same goal.
None from famous guilds, so all rejected.
Some left politely. Others stalked persistently, persuading or spewing curses.
Same intent, varied reactions.
Not unpleasant. Just fascinating.
‘Humans really differ.’
As Yuseong played Ark routinely—
“Yuseong, right?”
Another call. Another invite? Yuseong looked.
‘...Different.’
Instant thought.
The spear on his back, enveloping armor—leagues above prior scouts. This man wore top-tier gear.
Flashy show only? No, the guide corrected.
【Among gear current Ark players use, this is high-end.】
Meaning: serious player. Not for local Silarimit grinding.
Nearby players glanced curiously.
“Yes.”
Yuseong replied. The man, already sure, showed no reaction.
“First time meeting. Name's Pattern, from C.O.T.S guild.”
“Is that so?”
Pattern's face twitched slightly.
“...Never heard of our guild?”
Yuseong's non-reaction irked him, apparently.
“I'm a bit out of the loop on info...”
Prepped excuse for world-info gaps deployed, Yuseong queried the guide on Pattern's guild.
【C.O.T.S, or Center of the Sky, ranks among Ark's top guilds.】
‘Oh? One of the famous ones I wanted?’
【Of course.】
Unlike before, Yuseong's eyes gleamed.