Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Short Preparation
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"These days' explorers have no romance."
Smack!
The blonde, tanned woman wearing a mask slapped her firm thigh.
She'd hit it so hard that a red handprint bloomed on her bronzed skin.
"A sharp, sleek sword? Nice. A free-flowing, precise spear? That's good too. Twin blades are popular as hell. I love making weapons like that. But..."
Gulp. Gulp.
The woman paused mid-sentence and chugged from her bottle. While wearing her mask. A mask without a single hole. She ate and drank through it somehow.
I stared blankly at the impossible sight, then glanced at her level. It seemed like she could do anything, so I just nodded.
"Kuh! So damn good. That's why I can't quit this place... Huh, where was I?"
'Dementia?'
This was next-level crazy.
I'd only planned to take her order, but she kept grabbing me while I was serving and launching into monologues whenever she got the chance.
This conversation was actually the fourth one already. I could predict exactly what she'd say next.
I sneaked another peek at her level. Levels were the real bosses. I had no choice but to play along.
"They're all efficiency chasers, no one with the guts to stubbornly chase a single romance and smash their head against it?"
"Ah, yeah, yeah. That's what I was getting at. You bastard... You get the romance of the Great Helm and you're smart too?"
"......"
This was making my head spin. I'd complimented her helmet once, and now look at this mess.
"You've got an eye for equipment."
Suddenly, the woman cupped her hands in circles and held them to her eyes like she was peering through binoculars.
Her mask clearly blocked her vision, but it felt like she was staring right at me.
This was a new opening line. The start of a fresh drunken rant pattern?
Regardless of her words, I'd suspected I had a similar ability.
'When I first saw this Great Helm, I sensed a brilliant blue glow that even the weapon shop owner missed.'
And now.
A blinding light, far surpassing the Great Helm's, poured from the mask and cloak she wore.
"Everyone's lost in illusions. Illusions of brand names and flashy appearances. Even mid-to-high level explorers visiting forges or weapon shops just go by feel—they rarely see the true essence of gear."
"Ah, yeah..."
I had no clue what she was talking about. Brand names? Appearances? Forges?
'A blacksmith? A pretty successful one?'
That was my best guess from the conversation so far.
"But not you. You found the treasure hidden in a pile of trash."
She pointed at my face as she said it. More precisely, at the helmet I wore.
"Well, I admit the craftsmanship is a bit—very slightly—crude. It was my first piece. But still! Ten years without selling? That's just too much!"
Gulp. Gulp.
She downed 82-proof dwarf liquor like water, sounding utterly aggrieved.
Her throat had to be burning, but she continued nonchalantly.
"Sniff, even after I made it big, I'd visit that first weapon shop I supplied, and seeing the helmet shoved away, not even on display... it tore my heart out every time. But the saddest part? No one recognized its true value all that time..."
She lamented her fate.
"But saying 'I made that' myself in that situation? It feels... off, right? Like I'm begging them to buy it or throwing away my pride. You get it? Right?"
"Yeah... kinda pathetic."
"Right?! That's what you think too?!"
Listening to her piled up questions in my mind. Sorting through her story as best I could.
'She's successful now, but upset her first creation never sold? And that piece is the Great Helm I'm wearing?'
Like a renowned artist craving recognition for a piece from their starving days?
"Yeah. Now it's found an owner, no regrets left, you fuck...! Finally sold..."
Gulp. Gulp.
Kehyah!
She emptied the bottle in seconds, staggered to her feet.
Her first creation finally selling must've thrilled her—her beaming grin was palpable in the vibe.
"How much'd it go for?"
"36 silver coins."
Burning through 36 silver per round? Insane wealth. Nearly two months of my pay.
She'd downed seven pricey dwarf bottles in a row, so it added up.
As I thought that, she pulled something even crazier from her pocket.
A gleaming yellow glow. A gold coin.
"Eh. No change."
She flicked the gold coin casually.
With her callused thumb, it landed perfectly in my palm.
"On the house. Tip's yours. Don't hand it all over to that Diana bitch."
"Thank you!"
I bowed deeply, pouring in my genuine gratitude. Any annoyance or boredom from dealing with her vanished.
Put up with some drunken bullshit? Big deal.
Fuck. For this much, I'd smile and listen to her rant 24/7, 365 days a year.
She waved her hand, stumbling toward the inn door, then suddenly grabbed it and stopped.
"Hey, what's your name?"
"Balkan."
"Balkan... Right. Hey, what's your name?"
"...?"
'Seriously dementia?'
"...Balkan."
"Got it. Balkan. Come to my forge in... about two months. Explorers who know gear are rare. I'll make you something."
Click.
With that, she waved and left.
"Wait..."
Who the hell even are you...?
"...Zirnier was here?"
"Her name's Zirnier?"
As I cleaned up after closing and chatted with Diana, bringing up the masked woman made her slap her forehead.
Zirnier. Now that she said it, I remembered.
The fancy weapon shop with flashy, varied gear and that massive, majestic double-edged axe that stirred men's hearts.
Most items there were labeled Zirnier Besil.
"...She told you to come to her place sometime?"
"Her forge, not her place."
"...And gave you a fat tip?"
"Yeah. I took it, but it's too much..."
Diana closed her eyes and waved it off.
"No, it's yours. Use it well—I trust you will. Invest in your future."
Shady bosses who skim employee tips were everywhere, but Diana was worlds apart from them.
Suddenly, a windfall in my hands.
Money the blonde tanned woman shoved at me, saying she'd give me something good if I visited.
64 silver coins. Total assets around 70 silver now.
'...All reinvested.'
No luxury or leisure spending.
Part-time cash? Into the Labyrinth.
Labyrinth earnings? Back into the Labyrinth. That's how to brighten the future.
"So, first time meeting Zirnier?"
"Yeah. Seen her around the tavern, but first chat."
"I see... Sorry for the misunderstanding."
– No crazy naked weirdo jumping you or anything? You're not hurt?
Come to think of it, when I swapped helmets, Diana had fretted unusually.
This Zirnier wasn't naked, but definitely weird... otherworldly. The booze?
'Hold on. So Diana spotted this as Zirnier's work just by glancing when I changed helmets?'
I could see glowing gear and hadn't realized the Great Helm was hers until now.
If she clocked it that fast, she and Zirnier must go way back.
Thinking about it, I'd seen signs of their friendship before.
'Why's Diana running an inn here anyway?'
A level 70 innkeeper? Kinda terrifying. Even as a hobby, she was dead serious about it.
Curiosity about Diana's past flickered, but I shut it down.
– Everyone has their reasons.
She never pried into mine. I couldn't start digging into hers.
"I'll finish cleaning."
"Thanks, as always."
"My pleasure."
Another day safely done.
Explorer district. Weapon shop row.
On my way for gear, I checked the luxury shop with Zirnier's pieces.
"Ahh, so brilliant... Look at the detail on this spear blade!"
"This one's from that deep-layer smith..."
Everyone inspecting gear had impressive levels.
No junior explorers. Mid-level was the cutoff.
'Two months from now...'
Staring at those flashy weapons, excitement bubbled.
But I took deep breaths to calm down.
Great gear's worthless if you can't wield it.
For now, prioritize my own specs over weapons.
I scanned the weapon district. Not the fly-blown dumps, but shops with junior explorers.
Scoured them, but no gear glowed blue like Zirnier's helmet.
Ended up buying a decent-quality breastplate for 40 silver from the displayed stock.
"A half-armor full set would run at least 88 silver."
"Boss, how rich do you wanna get? Can't invest this much in a promising future explorer?"
"Haha, bullshit. Wanna haggle? Drop your pants first."
Breastplate only because full sets were too pricey.
Still, protecting my torso was a win.
My axe was dulling out too, so I grabbed a sharp new one, plus greaves for long treks.
Junior potions, antidotes, essentials, rations—another 25 silver gone.
From 70 silver total to 5 in a day.
Saving's a grind, spending's instant.
No regrets. Necessary investments.
These choices would save my life someday.
Time flew.
And now it was here.
The Labyrinth portal reopened.