Chapter 26

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 26

Chapter Title: Selling B-Rank Equipment Every Sunday

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Selling B-Rank Gear Every Sunday

"Hello? What's up?!"

"Yujun!"

Her voice was more casual than I'd expected... just Yena's usual tone.

"Uh... nothing's wrong, right?"

"Huh? Of course not~"

"Didn't you say you couldn't usually make calls?"

"Oh~ I got it as a reward for being an outstanding trainee! Big sis is the best, right?"

"Ooh... good job~"

"Yeah! But I can't use it that often, so let's chat via Gallery DMs! My nickname is 'YenaHere'."

"Got it? But why'd you use your real name?"

"I don't know your nickname, so I figured someone might help me find you~ I can change it in six months anyway."

"Ah~ well, at least you figured it out now."

"Mhm, oh! I gotta go now... But now that you know my nickname, let's DM from here on out!"

"Yeah, wait a sec..."

Click—

Maybe because she awakened as a Wind Mage, but she blew in like a storm and left just as suddenly on her own.

She said it was a reward, but ending a five-minute call felt too short.

Still, like she said, we could just use Gallery DMs, so no real issue...

For now, I'd trust Yena and send her a message.

It wasn't that I didn't trust Yena, of course.

I was just worried she'd react with shock upon learning I was an E-rank Warrior and accidentally ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tip someone else off.

The reply came right away.

"Ah..."

Did Yena not use the Gallery much?

From there, I started explaining everything from my awakening onward, from my perspective.

The orphanage director thought my EX-rank was E-rank and that my Blacksmith class was a strength-based one.

After leaving the orphanage, I'd been operating solo as an EX-rank Blacksmith, and thanks to my unexpectedly amazing abilities, I'd already achieved massive success.

I held back on the specifics of my skills and results to avoid overwhelming her at once.

Training was more than halfway done now anyway, so I could show her in person then. Plus, she'd naturally learn more by searching Gallery posts about me out of curiosity.

And sure enough...

She'd clearly searched the Gallery for me and was reacting with amazement.

Then she started doubting if it was really me.

There was one surefire way to resolve that.

Yena was someone I'd planned to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠register as a regular before even Fire Stick or Holy Piss once I knew her nickname anyway.

There was no reason to hide more from her after already sharing my abilities and post-orphanage activities.

"Hello?"

"...Yujun?"

"Yeah, you just accepted the regular request, so it connected us."

"Whoa..."

"Only I can do direct calls like this, so DM if you need me. I'm always free."

"Lucky... Ah, no, congrats. For real."

"Thanks..."

Having someone I could open up to got me way too excited.

Yena was basically locked up in training right now, while I'd been living it up carefree.

"How's it going over there?"

"Yeah... it's okay..."

"Wanna live together again once training's done?"

"...Yeah! I wanna get out ASAP."

The guild's post-awakening camp training.

It was a nationally recommended program to cut early mortality rates after awakening, but did an S-rank like Yena really need it?

I didn't get it, but there was nothing to be done.

At least as an S-rank, she'd get plenty of freedom after training, so that was something.

'Still feels stifling...'

I'd vaguely assumed Yena was fine, but talking to her directly, I could feel her exhaustion and fatigue.

Less physical, more mental.

"Yena, what're you planning after a year?"

"Huh? The guild...?"

"Yeah, you switching somewhere? Or starting your own?"

S-ranks rarely stayed under someone else.

Not all this year's new awakeners were confirmed yet, but up to last year, there were only ten S-ranks worldwide.

"Haven't thought about it. Could just go independent..."

Three of last year's ten S-ranks were unaffiliated, so it wouldn't be weird if Yena chose the same.

"Then come to my guild, Yena."

"Your guild?"

"Yeah, don't have one yet, but planning to make one within a year."

"I see... you've made a ton of money by now..."

Her tone was unexpectedly off.

Maybe my success made her feel distant?

Even friends struggle to cheer for someone surging ahead, or so they say...

"So you'll make me vice guild master, right?"

"Huh?"

"Or... do you have someone else in mind?!"

"No way. If you join, it's gotta be you."

"Hehe~ Got it. Hope it happens soon..."

Guild life must be wearing her down more than expected.

"I'll connect more often. Hang in there a bit longer."

"Thank youuu..."

We talked for the first time in ages, and I listened to all her hardships.

Right around then, my equipment tickets fully refreshed.

'Please...'

"Whatcha doing? You listening?"

"Ah, sorry."

"What're you up to~?"

"Making gear."

"Ooh, for real?!"

Naturally, Yena was hooked now.

Too bad I couldn't share my screen with her.

"Pray hard, Yena."

"Got it! But you just hit craft, right?"

"Yeah, two more minutes and th..."

"Total freebie, huh?"

"..."

"Like a game—you just spam craft and it pops out?"

"Pretty much...? But there's real effort involv..."

"No material gathering or anything?"

"Nope..."

"So you just chill for five hours till tickets refresh?"

"One way to put it."

Yena was getting sulky.

I got it—she'd been worrying about me, only to find out I was sucking on honey, living easy. Felt kinda empty.

Still, a bit hurtful as I felt a twinge of disappointment...

"I'm really glad."

"Huh?"

"That you got such a great ability. Truly."

"Y-yeah... thanks."

Good call being totally honest with Yena.

I had no family, but having someone who could sincerely celebrate my success was a blessing.

And that was Yena, no one else.

"Yena, if a mage weapon drops here, it's yours."

"Sniff... thanks!"

Uh... were you playing me, Yena?

"Y-yeah, gonna craft now."

The mood had been so heartwarming, but sadly, all six failed.

"Figured 6% wouldn't hit right away."

"Bummer..."

At 6%, freaking out every five hours would drive anyone mad.

Better to macro it like before and just check enchantments periodically.

"Connect me next time you do enchantments too~?"

"Sure~ I'll hit you up tomorrow."

"Okay! Night!"

After disconnecting from Yena.

I immediately ran the gear crafting macro on my second monitor.

"A-rank... 5+1 runs... okay."

Then I flopped into bed and checked the forge inventory on my phone.

"What to sell first?"

Forty B-rank pieces, eleven with attributes.

Sell non-attribute and attribute gear in balanced batches over time.

First sales of my inventory clear-out: three items total.

The star was the B-rank weapon, Poisoning Battle Axe.

To balance, I listed one non-attribute dagger and one shield, for three items total.

No rush for cash this time, so max auction duration: 100 hours each.

A little under five days.

From today, I'd list gear every Sunday.

To let Gallery users catch on naturally, every piece was engraved with 'Boastful Blacksmith's'.

Branding like this would make my named ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gear hugely popular over time.

Especially as the unique extra effects on my gear got revealed one by one.

——

"Miss Yena, how's life treating you lately?"

In the Twilight Guild Master's office.

"It's... not bad."

"Is that so? I'd love for you to feel completely at ease in our guild."

"I'm comfortable enough."

The Twilight Guild Master.

One of the three known S-rank awakeners in Korea.

"You're settling in well, of course, but I'd like to maintain a good relationship long-term. With that in mind, a small gift."

"This is..."

A large box on the desk.

Nod—

As the guild master nodded for her to open it, Kwon Yena grabbed the side and lifted.

"A staff... "

"Yes, with an appraisal certificate beside it."

"Impressive..."

Mage weapons, especially matching-attribute ones, were notoriously hard to get.

A C-rank that checked all boxes was main-weapon worthy for years.

But...

To Kwon Yena, who knew about the freebie EX-rank Blacksmith Shin Yujun, it wasn't that shocking.

'C-rank... that's the 25% one...'

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