Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Madman's Handiwork
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The problem is that I, the one holding this money, am a mage trapped in the insane world called [Cthulhu World]. To survive in this world, I need a tremendous amount of cash. And considering the expenses I'll have from now on and the funds needed for various plans, this is absolutely not a lot.
On top of that, even this absurd sum of money can only be reached by processing it in the most ideal and safe way possible.
‘Since it’s magic stones, I could dispose of them without any fuss.’
Most other items couldn’t fetch their true value even in dreams, and selling them at all would be impossible.
The cursed golden scales harvested from the body of the Golden Dancer. It was something I was supposed to split with Jang Hyun-deok originally, but he waved it off and refused. And rightly so.
Where on earth could you even dispose of something like that cursed item?
As Jeong Eun-taek’s reaction showed, just possessing a single scale could spell disaster for an ordinary person, let alone selling it.
There might be other methods in other regions, but in Paju, there’s only one place that can handle something like this.
Thousand Gold Hall.
Unlike Jeong Eun-taek’s Geumchon Pawnshop, which operates as a poorly disguised secret shop, Thousand Gold Hall is the real deal—a true secret shop. It runs on a membership system, and without a recommendation from an existing member, you can’t even approach it.
I didn’t think I could just waltz right in. There’s a set level required to even get a membership recommendation from Thousand Gold Hall. The reason I brought it up with Jeong Eun-taek today was just to check how this abstract concept of a level restriction actually works.
‘Well, I can’t say I wasn’t a bit impatient….’
He asked me to wait, but it’ll end up as a rejection anyway.
If I go back in 2-3 weeks, he’ll just give another excuse and tell me to wait some more.
‘I’ll have to talk to him again after I hit level 30, the entry requirement.’
I’m at 25 now, so it’s not far off.
I’d love to unload those cursed gold trinkets ASAP, but from the vibe, it’ll take a little time.
After my rare outing, I headed straight to the fridge first and stocked it with the ingredients I’d bought on the way back.
After holing up for a week and then this short trip outside, I had no desire to go out again for a while.
I channeled my magic power to levitate the items from my backpack into the air.
“Let’s see….”
First up, the binder Tudor handed me.
I’ll read that eventually, but right now, I have other priorities. So I gave the binder a casual wave, and it fluttered through the air like flapping wings, landing on the shelf in the corner of the room.
The other stuff I bought from the pawnshop… All sorts of junk floated in the air. A water bottle, fragments of a lightning-struck jujube tree, a stone fragment etched with strange patterns, a few synthetic rubies, a skein of fine silk thread, a bundle of talismans of unclear origin, a shaman’s ceremonial sword, and even a mirror said to ward off possession.
Now, I’d begin the work of turning this junk into something far more valuable.
“Guess I need to clear the desk first.”
The desk was already occupied by all sorts of clutter. Stuff from the Holistic research lab, crumpled balls of paper scribbled with magic circle attempts, metal scraps, stone fragments, pieces of the mask from Tanheon, and fragments of the Golden Dancer’s body.
“Leaving them lying around like this has turned it into a total mess.”
Alright, next step. I summoned my magic power to sweep the junk off the desk….
Hmm….
“Where do I even put this?”
A house really needs more storage space. With a sigh, I piled it up in the corner with the other junk.
Crash.
“….”
Scratch that about piling it up. Even the existing junk came tumbling down. The room instantly looked like the pawnshop right after Jeong Eun-young’s little accident.
“I’ll clean it later….”
Ignoring the hellish scene fit for a paranoid demon’s lair, I placed an item on the desk.
Thud.
[Mingdu (B-Grade Accessory): A tool used by shamans or sorcerers for divination or rituals.
Prophetic Eye: Exclusive trait ‘Divine Aura’ effect increased by 30%.
Pasa Byeokdu: 60% chance to block ‘Possession’ effects.
Usage Restriction: To those without the exclusive trait ‘Divine Aura,’ it’s merely an old antique.
Those without ‘Divine Aura’ require special measures to use it.
※ Reinforceable]
Alright, let’s get started.
I focused my mind and unleashed the power dwelling in [Carcosa’s Mask].
Whirrr….
[L-Grade Accessory ‘Carcosa’s Mask’ exclusive function, ‘Madman’s Handiwork,’ activates.
// Madman’s Handiwork: Attempt modifications to unlock an artifact’s hidden abilities or imbue new ones. Invention, repair, research, and development success rate +100%.
However, each use triggers a sanity check. Failure inflicts a random madness upon your mind.]
A sticky, glowing yellow energy seeped from the mask. I couldn’t see it from my angle, but with my magic detection, I could sense its shape and movement.
My head was probably covered in wriggling, bulging yellow tentacles right now.
At this moment, no one could argue if you called me a monster. If anyone were here, they’d be struck by horrific terror and delirium at the sight.
The translucent yellow tentacles sprouting from the mask began caressing the mingdu on the desk.
And one more.
[Ancient God’s Protective Charm (B-Grade Magic Tool): A protective talisman that repels unclean forces and weakens abyssal entities. Blessed by an Ancient God.]
It came from the abandoned hospital on Gamak Mountain. Despite the grandiose description, its potency is spent, so it can’t block the voices and nightmares probing my mind anymore.
But if I add a few more things—wood fragments, high-purity magic stones, a piece of the Golden Dancer’s scale, and even holy water….
Grind….
The ominous yellow light spewing from the mask began dyeing the entire room. The items I’d prepared floated fixed in place around the mingdu, orbiting it.
They looked like ordinary things you’d see at a market or antique shop, but now infused with golden magic power and gleaming brilliantly, none of them could be called mundane anymore.
I drew up more magic power, and Carcosa’s Mask exerted surreal influence over each floating item on the desk according to my will.
Flash!!
A blinding explosion of light filled my vision, dismantling and disassembling the physical structures of the prepared items. They tangled together, reforming into a new object with fresh abilities.
Fragments of profound wisdom and the laws governing all creation began etching into my mind. How paltry and trivial is the knowledge humanity has piled up over eons? From beyond the distant galaxy, the Great Golden King, the ineffable bearer of unimaginable power, the King in Yellow bestows deep, deep, deep wisdom. The echoing wail of the golden trumpet forged from curses and venomous flames trapped underground….
[System: Exclusive trait ‘Abyssal Madness’ activates. Madness effects nullified.]
“Whoops, whoops, whoops….”
Whew, thought I was losing it there. The penalty on the Madman’s Handiwork trait must’ve kicked in, nearly sending me into a madness state. That’s how most high-grade traits work in [Cthulhu World]. There aren’t many that are just plainly good. The better the effect, the more it gnaws at your sanity and shatters your soul.
“That’s why Abyssal Madness is such a good trait.”
Abyssal Madness resolves all mental issues except for the two madnesses forcibly embedded in my mind. That’s why those great abyssal beings can’t turn me into their direct slave—they’re stuck sending pesky nightmares from afar, unable to exert more influence.
And those nightmares end today.
[Ancient God’s Bright Mirror (A-Grade Accessory): A mirror made for communing with divine beings, now infused with an Ancient God’s influence. It suppresses evil energies and wards off calamities.
Heavenly Thunder Insight: Blocks possession effects and reduces otherworldly entities’ influence.
Heavenly Authority Foresight: Grants vision in darkness and +100% eyesight.
Heavenly Pure Aura: Automatically casts ‘Healing Meditation’ spell on designated target and boosts rest effects by 100%.
Heavenly Dark Haze: Automatically casts ‘Powerful Hallucination’ spell on designated target and enhances sensitivity to magic or divine power.
※ Creator: Kim Shin-hwa
※ Further reinforcement possible]
“Nice. Essential sleep aid item complete.”
I needed Heavenly Thunder Insight and Heavenly Pure Aura, but I hit a critical success on the reinforcement, so two extra options I hadn’t expected popped up.
“Hallucinations aside, what’s eyesight even for?”
If it was gonna be random, at least give me a stat boost.
Whatever. I checked the magic power and resources consumed in the artifact reinforcement.
No major strain on my mind, but it guzzles mana like crazy.
Plus some unexpected stamina drain….
“Hmm… Doesn’t seem like something I can use twice a day.”
I could force three or four if I pushed it, but that wouldn’t be healthy.
Even once a day is plenty anyway.
“Alright.”
Now I can modify, fuse, and reinforce artifacts. If I start exploiting this ability properly, money will become irrelevant. The once-a-day limit isn’t even a real constraint.
I could turn tens of millions in materials into artifacts worth hundreds of millions or even tens of billions.
The thing I just made is overkill just for sleep aid.
As a mage, I have abilities that leave nothing to be desired, but I can’t escape the limitations inherent to being one. But if I actively use artifact reinforcement, I might surpass those limits.
Of course, it’s not free—I need to stockpile specific materials for the options I want. And some materials can’t be bought with money alone.
“Well, Tudor can handle that somehow.”
Anyway, no more activity today. I reached out to the binder shoved on the shelf. Like Tudor often did, it floated up on its own and flew into my hand.
“Guess I’ll read it for courtesy’s sake.”
I skimmed the list of quests I could choose from, organized a list of new artifacts to reinforce tomorrow, and before I knew it, I noticed the sun rising outside the window.
Time for bed.
Eager to see how this new artifact would fend off the nightmares that had tormented me endlessly, I lay down.
[A-Grade Accessory ‘Ancient God’s Bright Mirror’ exclusive functions, ‘Heavenly Thunder Insight’ and ‘Heavenly Pure Aura,’ activate.
// Heavenly Thunder Insight: Blocks possession effects and reduces otherworldly entities’ influence.
Heavenly Pure Aura: Automatically casts ‘Healing Meditation’ spell on designated target and boosts rest effects by 100%.]
I closed my eyes in this cramped room stuffed with magic tools, cursed items, byproducts of human experimentation, and body parts from monsters birthed by abyssal entities.
Whether from the artifact’s effect or the fatigue I’d built up, I felt like my body was plummeting into a deep abyss, and slowly drifted off to sleep.