Chapter 227
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 227
Chapter Title: Preparation
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Anyway, the first step was acquiring the combination formula.
"Huh? Minguk, you can just buy that from the Chaos Shop..."
"Hey, only I can see that Chaos Shop, right?"
Han Minguk looked at Ppuu with pity.
And it made sense. If he suddenly announced that he'd conquered a new dungeon to collect Class Stones and then created a Legendary Class out of nowhere, what would people think?
No matter how much he kept it secret, there were limits. He even needed to explain it to the GGW team members who'd been through the trials with him. But he couldn't just reveal the existence of the Chaos Shop, Ppuu, and Quu♡ right there.
"And you can't make a Legendary Class drop from a loot box, right?"
"W-Well, yeah?"
Ppuu sweated as it generated the message. It was something it'd just said a few minutes ago.
"Exactly. So I put my brain to work. Luckily, this world does have something called combination formulas."
Hero Tickets, which could rarely drop from Named monster loot boxes, came with combination formulas for gear or Class Stones. But they weren't very useful compared to the effort...
'Most of them get treated as trash and thrown away.'
Class Stones were the same.
For Rare-grade or lower, it was much faster and easier to conquer a Named monster that dropped the desired Class Stone.
Plus, you had to gather materials from various dungeons, which would drive any Raid Leader insane.
Unless they were after higher-grade Mana Crystals, most raids preferred sticking to familiar dungeons they'd already cleared.
Top Ranker clans had no choice but to tackle multiple dungeons, but even they rarely sought permission to raid dungeons managed by other clans just to complete a formula.
"You know we're tackling an [A-4] difficulty dungeon, right?"
Minguk said. It was the one the Renaissance Clan had handed off to them.
"We'll be heading back in soon for Purple-grade crystals. Slip the Dawn Saintess combination formula into the loot box then. I'll tell the team we need to complete it and get to work."
"So, you're covering it up from the team."
"Yeah. It's already hard enough to walk around outside casually. No way I want it getting out that I made a Legendary Class with some special ability."
He couldn't reveal Ppuu and Quu♡'s true natures to humanity either.
If their names reached the ears of the Twelve Calamities, just based on what they'd said so far, Earth was bound to face chaos.
At Minguk's words, Ppuu's message window shrank and expanded repeatedly. Then it bent forward like a nod. It accepted surprisingly quickly.
"Got it. I should accommodate that much. Vicon, the closest of the Twelve Calamities, is still far off, so no issues."
"Good."
Minguk looked satisfied with Ppuu's response.
Luckily, he wouldn't need to wrack his brain for excuses to tell the team. Once he got the formula, he'd dive right into combining the Dawn Saintess with them.
Thinking about it, combining Class synergies was something he should've done ages ago. All he could hope for now was that the Twelve Calamities stayed quiet until preparations were complete.
'If things go well, maybe the clan can help.'
The loot box formula was for a Legendary Class—no less than a rare one.
The clan might even negotiate raid permissions for the Twin Valleys Dungeon on their behalf. The Rose Shield Clan had a decent relationship with the Memoria Clan managing it anyway.
And for cheaper Class Stones like Concentrated Healer or High Priest, he could expect the clan to cover them with their funds instead of Giselle paying out of pocket.
The Rose Shield Clan was broke, but their parent conglomerate, the Rose Group, was a global powerhouse selling products worldwide. Worst case...
'There's always Kim Taeyeon.'
Minguk thought of the Laon Group heiress he was close to.
For reference, the Laon Group rivaled the Rose Group for top spots among domestic conglomerates.
2:30 p.m.
When office workers were battling post-lunch drowsiness, Minguk sat in a café, hiding his face behind oversized sunglasses as he fiddled with his Hero Pad.
"H-Han Minguk...?!"
"Shh."
Even with his face covered, it wasn't like no one would recognize him...
People just stole glances cautiously or snapped sneaky photos, but none dared approach due to the mana he subtly emitted.
Except for the few who passed by carelessly and jolted in surprise, like just now. Moments later, a tall beauty spotted him and rushed over.
"Whoa?! I-It’s Kang Chaeyoung!"
"So the engagement rumors are true?"
"Han Minguk’s stepping up because she’s pregnant. Damn... he’s so cool."
As soon as she entered the café, the admiring whispers made Chaeyoung swell with pride that the man before her was hers. She sat beside him.
"Wait long?"
"Nah, I was just searching dungeon info anyway, so I wasn’t bored."
"Dungeon info?"
Chaeyoung’s eyes naturally drifted to his tablet.
As a Hero herself, she was curious which dungeon he was looking up. Her eyes soon widened in realization.
"Dungeon? Huh? Chilbo Mountain Twin Valleys? Planning to raid that? Weren’t you tackling the Renaissance Clan’s [A-4] dungeon?"
"The team’s getting the hang of it, so I’m thinking of switching. To face top-tier monsters properly, they need more varied combat experience."
"Uh... yeah, makes sense."
Chaeyoung silently prayed for the GGW team’s souls at his follow-up.
They’d just gotten used to Named patterns, and now new darkness monsters? She could practically feel their suffering. But that’s what made their skills grow and humanity safer.
"Anyway, let’s head out."
"Huh? Oh, sure."
Chaeyoung smiled and took his outstretched hand.
Since getting pregnant, Minguk had been even more attentive. Surprise dates like this proved it. She felt great.
"So, where are we going that you called me out so suddenly? Can I ask?"
She asked as they walked shoulder-to-shoulder.
She’d dolled up on short notice, but had no clue about the destination. Though anywhere with him—even a park stroll—would do.
"The department store."
"...Department store?"
Minguk grinned at her wide-eyed, questioning face.
"Yeah. To get rings sized."
"R-Rings...?! For real?!"
Chaeyoung, glued to his side, gazed at him with eyes brimming with emotion.
How could a guy be so perfect? She couldn’t wait to brag to their kid about what a caring dad he was.
"Yeah. Heard Laon Department Store has a brand that carves Mana Crystals into rings."
"Oh? You mean ‘Esrante’?"
Chaeyoung exclaimed in surprise.
Esrante. A luxury brand crafting necklaces and rings from Mana Crystals’ iridescence—impossible with earthly gems. It was hugely popular among women as a must-have.
Kang Chaeyoung, loving beauty, owned several pieces herself.
They were insanely pricey, naturally.
Heroes had to bring crystals out without absorbing them for crafting, essentially wasting them on jewelry.
Even the entry-level Lover line started at millions of won.
"Guess all women know it? Saw it pop up a ton when I searched wedding rings."
"Plenty of top raid Heroes haven’t even commissioned once—they buy crystals separately."
"...Even you, noona?"
Chaeyoung chuckled and nodded at his question.
She had a Green-grade ring for special occasions, made with her old team during her peak.
"Yeah, but for our engagement ring, I’d love even Lover line."
It was the thought that mattered, not the price tag.
Getting a ring from him—her ultimate womanly dream—meant she’d sell her Green-grade one on the secondhand market without a second thought.
Minguk smiled at her.
"Ah, I’m thinking custom-made. If you’ve commissioned at Esrante before, your help would be perfect. I was gonna do it today anyway, for our engagement."
"Not buying a ready one?"
She tilted her head. But her face soon lit up with emotion again.
"Ugh... so touching. Sh-Sweet talk."
Excited, she tapped her lips to stop a curse from slipping out and beamed at him.
"I’m gonna love you so much."
He’d brought his own crystals, judging by the commission talk.
He’d rushed a dungeon with GGW to snag crystals for their engagement ring.
The couple didn’t head straight to their goal upon arriving at the department store.
Minguk suggested browsing from the first floor like a date. Except for the women-heavy crowd and unfamiliar brands, it felt just like the ones he knew.
Fun fact: The top floors, 8 and 9, sold Gear Score Hero weapons—but only licensed Heroes could enter.
A bit curious, but Chaeyoung mentioned the gear was only Platinum Ticket level, useless for him or GGW. He lost interest.
"Wow, this is pretty."
"Should we get it?"
Thrilled by the surprise department store date, Chaeyoung swam through the aisles like a fish in water. True to her wealth, she snapped up anything she liked on the spot.
Minguk watched her shopping spree, occasionally reining in impulse buys. After wandering for a while, hunger hit, sending them to a franchise restaurant inside.
As he sipped water, Chaeyoung glanced sheepishly.
"Was it tough because of me? It’s been so long since I shopped; I lost control..."
Nearly two hours. A guy might’ve stormed out in anger. But Minguk had loved today’s date.