Chapter 15

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 15

Chapter Title: B-Rank Crafting Isn't That Hard?

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[Solo Level Up: PM]

Checking the most recent private message made me want to just block them all over again.

If it were just some random person I'd met in the gallery, I'd block them without a second thought. Hell, I'd already done that and then unblocked them.

But the identity of this PM villain was none other than Kim Hyeji—my next-door neighbor, the pitiful orphan beggar triple threat.

I'd planned to help her out anyway, so I figured I'd at least read through the messages.

Absolutely not because I wanted to see Kim Hyeji's nude dogeza.

⬆️

There were a ton of messages stacked up above that, but they were all pretty much the same.

Most of them were just desperately calling out my nickname over and over.

The rest were begging for C-Rank gear, claiming she didn't have money now but had the skills to rake it in soon, and promising to pay me back later.

"Wow..."

Did she seriously not know this kind of spam got you blocked instantly?

She was the textbook definition of a malicious beggar user, flooding DMs from a total stranger.

But picturing Kim Hyeji starving herself skinny and pleading with me? Kinda entertaining in its own way.

I sent the reply and was about to go AFK again when her response popped up in like three seconds flat.

"Hmm..."

She seemed ready to do pretty much anything... well, not quite, but if I was handing over C-Rank gear, I had every right to demand something in return.

I mulled it over hard and realized there was literally nothing worth getting from Kim Hyeji.

"Can't exactly order a nude dogeza."

Of course, it wasn't like I wanted nothing from her.

Another lightning-fast reply.

But that freeloader mentality was still going strong.

Why did she want C-Rank gear so bad?

Obviously to get stronger.

But going to these ridiculous lengths made me wonder if there was more to the story.

Well, even if it wasn't some epic tale.

To become my first private customer, she'd have to lay all her cards on the table.

It was a rule I'd just now made for my forge.

"What? No reply?"

She'd been replying at warp speed, but after my question about her ability, the messages just stopped.

Thinking about it, she was probably in a gate right now—Goblin Cave, she'd said. It was weird she'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠been responding so fast in the first place.

I hoped she'd rake in a ton of cash today and come back with something tasty to share.

All I had left for food was two packs of instant ramen.

If it was just about filling my stomach, it'd last till morning, but after stuffing myself at the Crimson Lotus Hotel buffet this morning, settling for ramen wasn't gonna cut it.

Riiiing— riiiing—

"Hm?"

I figured it was just some pointless app notification, but it kept going.

Checked my phone—unknown number calling.

"No one should be calling me."

Yena had just started Twilight Guild training; she couldn't pick up.

Maybe someone from the orphanage? I answered.

"Hello?"

"H-Hello?"

"Who is this?"

"I-It's... Kim Hyeji..."

"Ah~"

I'd left it in my call log but forgotten to save the contact.

"What's up? Something wrong?"

I sure hoped she wasn't calling already to beg for food.

Didn't expect it'd happen less than a day later.

I was broke too, after all.

"No... Um... Can I come over to your place later?"

"My place?"

"Yeah... Got something I wanna consult about."

"Sure, whatever. What time?"

"Really?! I'll be there by 11!"

"Uh..."

"Thanks a ton!! See you later!"

"Wait..."

Click.

Kim Hyeji hung up after hearing exactly what she wanted.

What kind of rude friend pulls that? Just as I was thinking that, my phone rang again.

"Hello?"

"Sorry! What were you gonna say?"

"Nah... Goblin Cave, right?"

"Yeah, stepped out for a break!"

"Be careful out there."

"Thanks!"

The kid was so pure I couldn't even stay mad.

My original plan was to do a six-pull at 10, then crash for five hours.

But that was out the window now.

No biggie.

I'd half-expected to nail a B-Rank staff at 10 anyway, flooding my brain with dopamine and killing my sleep.

More importantly... "something to consult."

No need to overthink it—it had to be about the PMs with me, Boastful Blacksmith, in the gallery.

I checked just in case, but still no reply. Pretty much confirmed.

Even so, her comment last time said D-Rank thief. Was she hiding some insane skill or something?

No way she was some solo-leveling munchkin protagonist like her nickname implied.

She'd spill everything during the consult anyway.

No point dwelling on it now.

I posted another one to crank up my desperation.

Now, even if just to shove it in the faces of all those who mocked and ignored me, I had to succeed at B-Rank crafting.

It was all down to pure probability—no real effort involved—so I had to gather every superstitious trick in the book just to avoid regrets if I failed.

For the remaining time, I'd deep-dive namuwiki for info on which blacksmith god to pray to.

"Ahh... I've read three straight hours of blacksmith namuwiki."

And I realized something.

Tutankhamun—the one I'd mangled the name of last time—wasn't the god of blacksmiths. He was an Egyptian pharaoh.

I'd mixed him up with Tubal-Cain from the Old Testament.

Tubal-Cain was right on the money, and same four syllables, so maybe that's why it kinda worked.

To repay the favor—and since I'd repaid it, to receive more favor.

This time, prayers solely to Lord Tubal-Cain.

Ten seconds before all five equipment crafting tickets filled up.

I cleared my mind with desperate focus, thinking only of the gracious Tubal-Cain.

"I believe... I believe..."

The instant those ten seconds ticked down, I snapped my eyes open and smashed the 5+1 craft button.

"Now!!!"

"Holy shit!!!"

"One more? One more?"

"Gooo go go gooo!!!"

"Ah, fuck."

Why succeed on the first one and get my hopes up for the rest?

"Ah! No, wait. I've beheld the miracle of Tubal-Cain with my own eyes... Ahh... I believe... I offer infinite thanks and faith..."

12% odds on a B-Rank, and here I was complaining? Unbelievable.

I must've lost my mind for a second there.

I snapped back, offered quick prayers of thanks to Tubal-Cain, and jumped straight into attribute imbuing.

"Ah..."

Bummer, but what can you do.

If anyone could imbue attributes willy-nilly, it wouldn't feel so special when you actually pulled it off.

That was my self-rationalization, anyway.

"Whew... At least it's a weapon."

I'd been sweating another shield, but dodged that bullet.

And a rapier? Iconic weapon—no forgetting that one.

"Whoa... This thing's straight fire..."

I whipped it out to check the looks before even appraising it.

The thin blade gleamed wickedly sharp, and the moment my hand closed on the grip, it molded perfectly, balancing the sword like a dream.

Swish—

"Ooh..."

Clumsy thrust or not, it felt amazing.

"Gotta sell this to a lady swordsman."

From B-Rank up, I cared more about the buyer than the cash.

These were my heartfelt masterpieces—they deserved good homes.

Time to see what killer effects this rapier packed.

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