Chapter 31

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 31

Chapter Title: Equipment Forging Update

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Kim Hyeji handed the dagger back to me, her hand trembling slightly.

"Do I have to keep holding it to maintain the grade?"

"Nah, that's not it!"

Once the ability was used to apply the grade, it seemed to stick even without owning the equipment.

So, does that mean I just need to let her touch high-grade gear once?

That thought crossed my mind as I pulled out my phone to appraise the equipment.

"What're you looking at??"

"Oh, just checking an important message real quick."

"Ah~ guild stuff?"

"Yeah. Chicken's here—want to eat first?"

"Sure!"

It was a bit inconvenient that checking the forge required a specific device.

If it popped up in my head like the Gallery, it'd be way more convenient and safer. Hopefully an update adds that someday.

Ding—

While Kim Hyeji went to grab the chicken, I quickly appraised the dagger I'd gotten back.

"Oh..."

It wasn't going to be that easy, huh.

The effects hadn't changed, but a glaring new line had been added.

This dagger was now exclusive equipment only Kim Hyeji could equip.

"Hm?"

After checking the dagger, a message popped up when I returned to the main screen.

'Custom forging...?'

"Yujun, you still busy?"

"Nah~ let's eat."

I'd check the new function after Kim Hyeji left. For now, time to fill my growling stomach.

"Imperial Palace Olive! This place is seriously good!"

"Yeah? Glad to hear it~"

Looks like it matched her taste too.

I peeled off the safety delivery sticker and waited for her—the guest—to take the first bite.

Swish—

Kim Hyeji picked up a piece and took a bite.

"How's it taste? Good?"

"..."

Must be so good she's too moved to speak.

That's why you treat someone to a meal, right?

Watching her enjoy it made me happy too.

I regretted not feeding her more often before. She's basically my guildmate now, so ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I'll cover her meals from here on out.

"Tenderloin...?"

"Yeah, tenderloin's easier and tastier, right?"

"No soul."

"What?"

"Yujun, tenderloin isn't real chicken..."

Scratch that thought.

"True chicken flavor comes from gripping the bone and tearing into it... Plus, tenderloin is all tough meat anyway..."

"Want me to stop eating?"

"N-no... Tough meat's healthy, easy to eat, and cleanup's a breeze!!"

Still hungry, she backed down quick.

"Nom nom... So good! Tenderloin's the best!"

"Yeah, yeah, dig in."

Feeling proud for enlightening this poor soul who'd lived without knowing true chicken bliss, I took a bite.

'Kinda chewy...'

"Nom nom..."

She griped but scarfed it down hungrily anyway.

I handed the dagger back and asked ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠about her future plans.

"Hm... Earn more money and buy B-grade gear?"

"That'll take forever, though."

"True, but no choice! I'll just live thinking I'm originally D... no, C-grade!"

Even as a C-grade Awakener now, saving for B-grade gear would take ages.

I had no intention of letting her fend for herself until she could afford it anyway.

But revealing my identity and handing gear over right now felt premature, so I suggested carefully.

"You still messaging that Boastful Blacksmith guy?"

"Yeah, occasionally? But now I need B-grade..."

Begging for C-grade was iffy enough, but asking for B-grade—worth hundreds of billions—was straight-up unreasonable, even to her.

"What if you just reveal your ability?"

That'd make it way easier for me to approach as Boastful Blacksmith.

"Hm..."

"Even if he knows, he can't track you down right away. Lately, he's been selling tons of B-grade gear."

"Oh, right..."

"Not saying do it now, but think it over?"

"Yeah! Thanks for considering it!"

I couldn't say he'd help for sure since he's me, so no more convincing words.

After founding the guild, I could approach directly anyway.

No more splitting activities between me and Boastful Blacksmith then.

I just wanted to support her sooner.

"Be honest and plead earnestly—he might listen."

So go send those side messages you like.

After finishing the chicken, Kim Hyeji didn't head home right away despite the awkward vibe.

She excitedly shared tales from her gate runs—not so much heroic feats as mishaps and incidents.

She kept thanking me for the C-grade dagger gift, vowing to repay the favor someday.

"...Gotta head back and sleep. Too late...?"

"Yeah, time flies. Get going."

"Okay... um. So when exactly are you moving?"

"Nothing set in stone, but real soon. I'll hit you up before, don't worry."

"Got it... See ya! Night!"

Her waving the C-grade dagger was kinda creepy, but chatting casually with a friend after so long felt satisfying.

Bam! Ding—

The room fell quiet once Kim Hyeji left.

My reflection in the entryway mirror looked kinda lonely...

"New function time!!!"

The fleeting sentiment vanished, replaced by dopamine from the unlock.

Whoosh—thud!

I dove onto the bed, fired up my phone, and checked the forge main screen.

The message from earlier was exactly this.

Two odd things about this one line.

First, obviously: succeeding in custom forging.

"I didn't do that."

I'd just checked the dagger that became her exclusive weapon via her ability—not something I forged directly.

Yet the system recognized it as custom forging success and unlocked a new function.

Conclusion...

"Holy shit. Bug's a total win!"

I hadn't planned to try custom forging anytime soon, but I got the reward early.

No clue why the bug happened, but this shitty system hadn't cost me directly—though the crap tutorial was annoying.

So profiting off it now felt fair.

Whatever the reason, pure gain—time to be a mentally healthy young man and just enjoy it.

Not fully solved, but good's good. Second oddity: armor forging.

"So armor forging's a separate function?"

Odd that after forging dozens of items, only weapons came out.

Main screen still showed just Equipment Forging.

Clicking it, [Weapon Forging] had split into [Weapons] and [Armor].

Armor hadn't been unlocked till now, so only weapons.

"Hm..."

Shouldn't I focus solely on weapons for Yena, Chae Yeonhwa, and the Saint—my allies? Nah, decision: forge armor too.

Three rough reasons.

First: simple. Stop harping on safety—slap on some armor and done.

Second: snag first armor forging rewards.

Now that it's unlocked, hunt other unopened functions more aggressively.

Third: full gear fantasy...

Can carry multiple weapons, but only equipped ones give stat boosts.

A-grade armor would double those bonuses right away.

Activated armor forging for smooth macros, then ran the tutorial to check for misses.

I followed the now-familiar tutorial lady's guidance.

"Wonder what iron series it'll be this time."

Collecting 'em was kinda fun now, and finishing the codex might unlock rewards or functions—who knows.

The displayed probability chart made my heart race.