Chapter 35: #13 Item Luck (2)
Ray had engraved a total of three mana circuits into it. The first, as mentioned, connected the mana stone to the artifact. The second extracted mana from the mana stone. And the last delivered that extracted mana to the artifact's wearer.
Simple in words, but engraving delicate mana circuits with my pitifully tiny amount of mana was a true battle of time and stamina.
Even borrowing Ray's mental strength, my body was exhausted beyond endurance.
I lay down intermittently to rest.
It took a full two days just to divide and engrave the mana circuits into the two bracelets. If Geum Doctor hadn't nagged me midway to at least eat while working, I might not have noticed the time passing at all.
Once the mana circuits were done, all that was left was to create a space for the mana stone.
I'd originally considered drilling a hole for the mana stone.
But mana stones came in all sizes. Especially since these were meant for consumables, boring holes tailored to each one was impossible.
So, I figured it was better to grind the mana stones into powder for replenishment, even if it meant some mana loss.
I needed a spot for the mana stone powder. I planned to line most of that space with iron, then cap the end to midsection with reinforced glass to check the remaining mana stone levels.
This process took quite a while too.
Still, embedding the shiny reinforced glass made it look pretty decent.
My ironworking skills were amateurish, so it ended up a bit thicker than ideal, but the meticulous finishing gave it a luxurious feel.
I'd even considered etching some decorative patterns, but Ray screamed that it was a bad idea, so I scrapped it.
The finished bracelets were simple, to put it nicely. Or crude, to put it bluntly.
━They're so rough.
Yeah, they were rough.
"Still, for a first try, isn't this pretty good?"
The design was utter crap, but luckily, the bracelet fit snugly on my wrist.
I shouted at the window that popped up before my eyes.
"Done!"
◈ A mana support bracelet crudely crafted by a beginner's clumsy hands.
◈ Transmits the mana from the mana stone charged in the charging device to the wearer.
Crudely made, my ass. How much effort did I put into this?
But the fact that an alert window appeared meant the system recognized it as an artifact.
The artifact description was bare-bones. Wouldn't it be great if it told me the output power or remaining mana capacity?
That's why personal artifact workshops always had training grounds attached. The only way to uncover an artifact's true potential was to test it with your body.
My body was inscribed with countless mana circuits. Thanks to that, Ray explained, I could even use my own body as a single artifact without needing to engrave new circuits.
"Not sure if it'll really work that well, though."
By the time I finished the bracelet, a full day had passed. Only then did I hear my stomach rumbling fiercely.
Testing would have to wait.
That evening, we had jokbal and bossam.
I devoured the long-overdue delivery food, drooling like a glutton.
"You haven't been eating properly, have you?"
Geum Doctor clicked his tongue at my state but slyly pushed more meat my way.
"So, what'd you make in there?"
"Even if I told you, it's custom-made for me. No one else can use it."
"Just curious, that's all."
True to my promise, I explained the artifact I'd made to Geum Doctor.
"It converts the mana in mana stones so I can use it."
"That's possible?"
"For me, it is. I told you—it's made for me."
I described what my artifact did. Even with my shoddy explanation, Geum Doctor grasped the core and looked shocked.
"Damn, that's insane. You awakeners have fixed mana circuits based on your talents, right? Activating mana from a mana stone requires specific circuits."
I nodded, deliberately keeping my mouth shut. Explaining more would mean revealing details about my body.
"Well, you're not the type to go through that hell just to off yourself."
Having witnessed my antics, Geum Doctor just shrugged it off.
"I was thinking of copying it if it was decent, but no way that's happening."
Curious, my foot. You were gonna steal the idea!
Come to think of it, I'd suspected something when he so readily lent me his workshop.
"Kidding, kidding."
Geum Doctor quickly added that, but I didn't quite buy it.
"While you're here, want some more stuff?"
My eyes lit up at that. No reason to turn down freebies.
"Perfect timing. I need something."
I'd planned to hit the black market on the way, but if he was offering...
"At least pretend to refuse."
Geum Doctor sounded genuinely exasperated, but refusing when offered was for those who could afford to.
I managed to snag a couple of artifacts suitable for Han Seohyun right away from Geum Doctor.
On the light-footed walk home, a doll shop caught my eye.
"Hm."
Kim Jaeho was on our team too. Buying only for Han Seohyun might make him sulk. Not that I knew if he had the sense for it, but it felt off morally.
━You're seriously going in there?
Ray freaked out, but I strode right in.
"One big bear doll, please."
Wait, he liked rats, so maybe a rat? But rats are cute small; big ones are creepy. Or that rabbit in the corner?
━Why are you agonizing over that?!
'Shut up! You're distracting me!'
Ah, right—I'm the only one in my head. If we're comrades, act like it and stay quiet!
"What's with that doll?"
Han Seohyun's question made me glance at the massive bear doll tucked under my arm.
"For Jaeho."
"You think he'd like that?"
Han Seohyun clicked his tongue at me. But despite his cold reaction, Kim Jaeho loved the bear doll. Immensely.
Kim Jaeho clung to it and wouldn't let go.
'Kill me.'
I heard hallucinations from the doll, swollen to bursting.
"Good thing you like it."
Whether it was the furry therapy working or not, Kim Jaeho's condition had been great lately. He was quite cooperative now—reacting subtly when spoken to, moving his body on request, or behaving more docilely.
Not quite ready to let him out of the cage yet, but if this continued, it might be worth trying soon.
"Oh, this is yours."
I handed Han Seohyun a shopping bag.
"What's this?"
"Clothes for you."
I'd been lending him my clothes, but the size difference made him look like a neighborhood thug who'd scavenged outfits (not entirely wrong). Couldn't have a growing teen dressing like that.
So, I'd bought a ton of clothes for him while I was out.
"All black."
"We're a criminal outfit. Bright colors don't fit."
Ray grumbled from inside.
━Didn't you just call him a growing teen?
'So?'
Plus, for Han Seohyun in his growth spurt, I'd stocked up on various supplements.
"All good for awakeners. This one's for better brainpower, this for focus. This boosts stamina."
I'd overheard exam-mom stress-buying them at the department store. No academy or college entrance exams for him, but I wanted to get him what those kids took.
Seeing them, Han Seohyun bowed his head deeply.
"What's wrong?"
"Just... reminded me of academy days. I never got stuff like this back then."
His academy sounded discriminatory. No wonder—they even charged for practical training. That widened the gap between the haves and have-nots.
Kids from poor families couldn't even dream of these supplies.
I hadn't shown it, but I'd been the same. Always sidelined at the academy. Jeong Hosan tried sharing, but it bruised my pride, so I'd always acted like I didn't need it.
Deep down, maybe I'd wanted someone to look after me like this.
Han Seohyun's eyes reddened, as if old grievances had welled up.
"Don't worry about it anymore. Your boss here can buy this stuff anytime."
"That rich?"
Geum Doctor's "gifts," but whatever. I nodded vaguely. Kids shouldn't grow up worrying about money.
"Thank you."
It was his childlike side, rare these days.
"Oh, and this too."
This was the main event, actually.
I handed Han Seohyun two bracelets. Unlike my medieval-shackle-looking ones, these were beautifully made. Not my work.
"What's this?"
"Artifacts. Figure it out yourself."
The two bracelets for him: one acted as a walkie-talkie for constant communication with me, the other generated a shield around him with mana input—for protection.
Han Seohyun bowed his head again, face full of emotion.
I patted his shoulder—no need for thanks—when his eyes widened at something glinting on my wrist.
"What's that shiny thing? Boss, you bought an artifact too?"
"Nah, I made this one. Told you I went to a workshop, right?"
I lifted my bracelet right to his face for a good look, pointing at the powder sparkling inside the reinforced glass.
"Mana stone powder."
"Mana stone powder?"
"Yeah. It draws the mana from the mana stone here into my body."
Han Seohyun's jaw dropped.
"That works?"
"Yep. Watch. Seeing is believing, and I need practice for real combat anyway."
I hadn't properly tested it, so I was curious about the firepower too. As I infused mana into the artifact, the mana stone powder inside resonated with my mana all at once.
My available mana output surged enormously.
Too much for me to handle.
Uh-oh. This...
"W-Wait!"
I yelled, and my body rocketed backward like a missile.
"B-Boss!"
I tumbled across the dirt several times before stopping.
Ughhh, spinning. Dizzy.
"Y-You okay?"
Han Seohyun came running from afar. I waved it off.
"It's good... but needs a ton of practice."
Like, a whole lot.