Chapter 33
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Synthesis Addiction (2)
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After failing to synthesize equipment and sending off my A-grade double-edged dagger.
The words "regression to the mean" kept swirling endlessly in my head.
In a situation where I'd blown away an A-grade piece boasting a 6% crafting success rate—one that might succeed just once even after pouring an entire day into it.
There was no way to shake off this filthy feeling except by succeeding in equipment synthesis and obtaining S-grade gear.
But if I blindly jammed in all my remaining A-grade equipment and they all turned into 『Remnants of Equipment (A)』, that would be a disaster.
Does it make sense for a solid blacksmith like me to lose control to impulse and gamble away everything I have like some casino degenerate?
Let's just gather exactly two more A-grade pieces and give it a shot.
"W-Well... you never know."
Maybe there's a 10+1 synthesis bonus, just like the 5+1 perk for equipment crafting...
——
Of course, no two A-grade pieces suddenly dropped from the sky.
Thinking back on how many I'd gathered so far, it felt like I'd probably get them in about three more days.
I was worried nothing would get done until then, but turns out I was busier than I thought.
[Please come to Crimson Lotus Hotel whenever it's convenient, and I'll guide you to your room right away!]
I had to head out immediately to my new home base.
Sure, I could leave whenever I wanted, after fulfilling the three-month lease I'd signed for this studio apartment.
But I wanted to go to Crimson Lotus Hotel right now.
There wasn't anything important in this place worth packing anyway.
'Ah, the computer.'
The main rig was one thing, but I couldn't just leave the sub PC running the forge macro unattended, so I had to take it.
Since I was calling a cab anyway, I figured I'd mention using the trunk in advance.
In the end, all I packed was the computer tower, monitor, and various parts, plus three days' worth of clothes that fit in my bag.
I could grab the rest next time I came back.
"Hoo..."
I finished prepping to move in just five minutes, called a cab, and sat on the bed to log into the Gallery.
It wasn't strictly necessary before leaving, but I wanted to use this time to post something.
Thanks to your passionate support, I'm hosting an event to give away B-grade equipment that I made myself.
Please reply in the comments with your reason for wanting my equipment. Thank you.
※ Winner selection is entirely at Boastful Blacksmith's subjective discretion.
※ Winners will be notified via private message in 30 days.
※ Requests or proposals beyond monetary payment may be required.
I'd posted something similar before, but no heart-tugging stories had shown up back then.
If Kim Hyeji had messaged me revealing her abilities at that time, I might've cut a deal to recruit her somehow.
I had no idea back then that the Awakener using the "Solo Level Up" nickname was Kim Hyeji, let alone that she was the same-age orphan girl living next door.
Anyway, now that I knew about her abilities late, I still wanted to hand her some B-grade gear.
And that's when I came up with the idea during my chat with her.
Make her promise to join the guild in exchange for the B-grade giveaway.
I was planning to equip guild members with the best gear possible anyway, so it was just a matter of order—no loss for me.
Kim Hyeji had no reason to refuse, either. I was the guy most likely to not only hook her up with B-grade gear but A-grade and beyond down the line.
A total win-win deal.
Now I just had to wait for her to bite.
——
"Thank you~"
Clunk—
After posting, I took a cab to Crimson Lotus Hotel.
The driver helped load my stuff so enthusiastically that I couldn't turn down his small talk.
"Hoo..."
I'd planned to check reactions to the post in the cab, but that would have to wait until after settling in.
Vrrr—
Crimson Lotus Hotel, which I'd visited the day after leaving the orphanage.
Well, technically the buffet, but since I planned to eat most meals there from now on, same difference.
As I entered, I checked for a reply from Chae Yeonhwa.
I'd sent a message right before leaving home, so maybe she'd arranged something.
"Are you Mr. Shin Yujun, by any chance?"
"Ah, yes."
Someone approached and spoke to me, then immediately guided me to the elevator.
...
'Freakin' huge.'
That was my first impression of my guide.
And even now, riding the elevator to the top floor, I was still amazed at how massive the guy was.
The luggage—including the computer I could barely carry—looked tiny next to him.
'Is this guy A-grade too?'
From what I knew, Crimson Lotus Guild had no S-grade Awakeners besides Chae Yeonhwa.
There were only three S-grades in all of Korea, including Kwon Yena.
'Maybe not.'
Thinking about it, with variables like me and Kim Hyeji, there might be more hidden S-grades than expected.
Of course, that was just baseless speculation. Even if they were hiding any, guild registration would reveal it, so the guy next to me had to be A-grade at most.
"...I'm Kim Hyuncheol, team leader of Team 2 at Crimson Lotus Guild. Feel free to ask if you have any questions."
"Yes..."
He was way more polite than expected.
Being Team 2's leader fit, and this must be the person Chae Yeonhwa assigned for protection and support.
"How much have you heard about me?"
"Just that you're a very important guest and to pay close attention. Is there anything I should know?"
"Hm, no. Good."
I'd gotten her promise beforehand, but Chae Yeonhwa's somewhat sloppy vibe made me worry.
At least she'd properly honored my request to keep my identity hidden from her guild members.
"Are you an A-grade Awakener, Mr. Kim?"
"Yes."
'As expected...'
If I gave this guy a full plate armor set plus a massive shield, he'd look badass as hell.
Ding—
Lost in fantasies of a hulking shield knight's romance, we'd reached the top floor.
After stepping out of the elevator, Kim Hyuncheol guided me to the room.
"Mr. Shin, please use the room to the right from where you exit the elevator. The one on the left is empty right now. Contact me anytime if you need anything."
He handed me his business card and left the room promptly.
"Tch. Couldn't help set up the computer before going?"
...
I half-jokingly said it, half-worried he'd barge back in if he heard, but luckily, no.
No matter how much he was here to assist, he wasn't hired help for chores.
I immediately started setting up the computer in the room I'd use as a bedroom.
I'd asked Chae Yeonhwa in advance and confirmed the suite layout, so no need to poke around.
Click—click-click—
...
"Done."
S-grade equipment launcher generator installation complete.
With a better spot now, fingers crossed for better crafting luck.
Plop!—
Next up: diving into the luxury bed, obviously.
Poof! Poof!—Poof!!—
"Ahh, it's perfectly fluffed."
As expected of Crimson Lotus Hotel's top VIP suite—the comforter was luxuriously uncomfortable.
Sink—
Once settled, the soft, heavy blanket enveloped my whole body.
"Ah... this is the life."
It felt like everything would go my way from here.
S-grade gear? No problem in a place like this.
—
"Mm..."
Unfamiliar ceiling.
"Oh, right. I moved."
The perfect temperature, quiet vibe, and plush bed must've knocked me right out.
Grabbing my phone, I saw I'd slept a solid four hours.
"Ah... jet lag adaptation?"
Regular sleep schedule was outta the question for a while.
While checking my phone, I fired up the forge macro.
No reason not to check inventory intentionally anymore.
Who knows, maybe it'd spit out two 5+1 successes at once...
"Kiyoooooot!!!"
It popped.
Not both at once like I'd fantasized, but one success was better than nothing.
Just one more, and it'd be go-time for S-grade synthesis attempt #10.
"Hoo... hang in there a bit longer."
I barely stifled the impulse to rationalize nine or ten fails as "same thing" and dive into synthesis.
To prevent the urge from resurfacing: Gallery time.
Had to check reactions to my post anyway.
First thing upon logging in: any PM from Kim Hyeji?
+13
"Solid!"
Kim Hyeji never failed to deliver.
Chats with her always dragged on, so I'd check the Gallery first, then reply.
[Giving away something worth at least 10 billion at auction ㄷㄷ]
[B-King is seriously badass]
[Reminds me of the day my benefactor dumped 40 billion into a B-grade iron sword...]
As expected, the Gallery wasn't just buzzing about my post—the whole place was knee-deep in Boastful Blacksmith chatter.
To see more verified hot posts, I switched to the popular tab.
"Hm?"
The star of the current Gallery frenzy wasn't me.