Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: A-Rank Gear Finally Dropped?!!
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The equipment I'd listed at the auction house was seeing fierce bidding right from the start.
But the prices were climbing even faster and steeper than I'd anticipated.
At first, I thought it was just that a lot of people wanted this batch. Even accounting for that, though, the price surges were way too rapid.
Then it hit me.
'The guilds are going at it.'
So far, the gear I'd sold through auctions consisted of two C-rank pieces and one B-rank.
Direct trades had been the Fire Stick and Holy Piss, B-rank and D-rank respectively.
Truth be told, the extra effects mattered more than the ranks themselves.
A quick search on the Gallery suggested that only the buyer of that C-rank one-hand shield had gotten an appraisal.
That leaked info on the "Blacksmith's Recognition," but it was still seen as low-tier bait.
No auction sales since then, so it made sense to suspect the direct trade buyers.
'The Saintess... didn't seem to have much money.'
Maybe as a saintess, she just wasn't greedy by nature.
Even if it was just her personal funds, she'd balked at 5 billion, so she probably wasn't in on this B-rank bidding war.
That left the Fire Stick buyer and Chae Yeonhwa.
Of course, them snapping up gear with my name on it wasn't harmful to me at all—no issue whatsoever.
If anything, them paying top dollar was something to welcome.
I just needed to figure out who and why they were so eager to buy at any price.
I was tempted to just hit "VIP Customer" treatment right away, but that felt rude, so I sent a message first.
[Nehneh!! Of course!!]
Chae Yeonhwa replied in an instant, granting the connection.
"Hello? Hello?"
"Hellloooo~?"
The moment I tapped VIP Customer, her voice came through.
She'd apparently been greeting thin air, unsure when it'd connect.
"Yeah, we're connected now."
"Heehee, I tried this last time too, but it's still so amazing! What's up?"
"Right, do you know about the three B-rank items I put up at the auction house?"
"Yeah! The Gallery's blowing up about you, Boastful Blacksmith! It's incredible!"
No wonder—selling three B-rank pieces at once was drawing massive attention.
"So, are you or the Crimson Lotus Guild bidding on them?"
"Yep! We're gunning for the Addictive Battle Axe!"
"Just that one?"
"Yup! No idea how high it'll go. We have a rough estimate, but with your name on it, it could climb even more."
In other words, they weren't bidding on the other two.
"Lately, B-rank demand has been skyrocketing... Gate appearances are up, especially S-rank ones, but drop rates feel even lower..."
"...I see."
So it was just pure supply and demand.
Comparing to past B-rank prices made sense; the market had shifted.
"If we lose the auction, could you make another Battle Axe? Our ace guild member really wants one!"
"You already have 55 billion ready?"
"Eeeeng..."
I couldn't just whip up duplicates on a whim, even if I'd made one before.
The auction was already underway; the Battle Axe was out of my hands.
"If you need something special later, send a list."
"Gasp, thank you!!"
She'd given useful info, and as one of Korea's three S-rank Awakeners, keeping good ties with Chae Yeonhwa was smart.
Especially since future A-rank sales would value more than just cash.
"Talk later then."
"Sure!"
I ended the call with Chae Yeonhwa and took a short break.
'Speaking of which, time to craft soon.'
Three days into A-rank forging, and zero successes.
Even at 6%, this was bad luck.
I ran macros to avoid obsessing, but I kept checking my inventory anyway.
"Haa... Don't think about it."
As I went to turn off my phone screen—
Succeeded in crafting your first A-rank armament! [Equipment Synthesis] function unlocked.
"Wha-wha-what?! It dropped! Finally!!!"
I hadn't expected the news like this, but I'd succeeded in crafting an A-rank item.
Overwhelmed with joy, I dove straight into Enchantment to check the item list.
"Ah, damn..."
No enchanter candidates, unfortunately.
"Whatever, A-rank is A-rank."
My first A-rank craft success.
It held clear significance, acknowledged by the system with a new unlock.
Before checking that, though, I appraised my first A-rank prize.
Effects:
- Archer-class Awakener equips: Strength stat rises 3 stages.
- Archer-class Awakener equips: Agility stat rises 3 stages.
[Touched by the Blacksmith's hand, infused with special power]
Additional Effects:
- Equipped: Strength stat rises 2 stages.
- If user receives Blacksmith's Recognition: Can use [Full Charge Strike (A)].
"Whoa..."
A-rank stat boosts were on another level.
'Can't sell this right away.'
Impulse screamed to post it on the Gallery with "Is this OP as hell?", but no.
Going public would tank my B-rank values instantly.
I still had 37 B-ranks to sell—about a month left...
"Shit, still a ways off."
No helping it.
To build and run my guild, I'd need way more cash ahead.
"Huuu..."
Finally suppressing the urge, I turned to the new function to distract myself.
[Tutorial content implied in narrative]
The name alone screamed core feature.
Vowing no more tutorial skips, I jumped right in.
"Whoa! E-rank Iron Set!"
This time, an E-rank Rusty Iron Helmet.
Synthesis inputs: F-rank One-Hand Sword and F-rank One-Hand Shield.
First F-rank gear.
Might keep it as a memento.
Wonder what collecting the full E-rank Iron Set yields.
Tutorial was otherwise basic.
Same-rank gear could probabilistically yield higher rank.
Yes, probability-based again.
Details were on me to figure out—like recipes or material influences.
'Seems fully random.'
F-rank sword + shield = Iron Helmet. No obvious links, so pure RNG likely.
Record combos for patterns, just in case.
Next: success rates.
F x2 = 100%.
Only B-ranks testable now.
B + B to A-rank: what odds?
12%
"Same as crafting."
Just B-ranks tested, but matched armament forging odds.
'If A-rank is 6% too...'
"Haa..."
S-rank crafting, locked since day one.
More beyond, but S-rank method mattered.
Now revealed, but horrific odds.
'Mass-produce A-ranks first.'
Assuming 6% for A-synthesis, need at least ten tries.
Better after selling A-ranks plenty. S-rank dreams? Distant.
'Only way...'
Grind it out.
Tempted to synth all B-ranks now...
"Ah, damn... What to do."
Rationally, sell B-ranks high now.
No one knows A-rank crafting yet—wasting B-rank premium is pure loss.
But urge to make one A-rank and test A-synthesis odds was strong.
"Huuu... Calm down."
Clap! Clap!
Worst case, A-ranks every 5 hours—no rush.
Not that frequent, but still.
Needed distractions for the impulses.
...
Watch a gate raid stream?
Never cared before—planned to earn safe from my room, no gates ever.
But raid streams were popular even with non-Hunters; worth a peek.
Plus, market research: top Awakeners' gear prefs.