The Professional World
The world of professionals.
In a place where countless people compete, even the smallest variable can decide the outcome.
It is not just the difference caused by illness or accumulated fatigue.
But also something as minor as the temperature that day or the dust caught in a mouse.
Or even a slightly longer strand of hair that could turn the battlefield on its head.
Fafnir had once stood at the very pinnacle of such a stage.
Looking at the current situation with eyes sharpened by that experience.
Kareon’s condition was frankly at rock bottom.
‘It seems his basics are solid enough, though.’
His eyes lacked focus and his arms hung limp.
Clearly, he was relying on coffee or stimulants to keep going.
Compared to his usual self, he appeared at least two or three levels below his peak.
‘In this state, there’s no way I can entrust anything to him.’
That was why I had rejected the request without a second thought the moment I saw it.
“It seems you are quite busy. I will look for another blacksmith elsewhere.”
Just as I turned to leave the door, Kareon approached.
“Wait a moment.”
“Yes?”
“I received a request, but if I simply let you go, what would become of my honor?”
Kareon shook his head briefly to pull himself together and spoke.
“……Tell me. What was the request you wanted to give?”
“……”
Should I just show it first?
I pulled out Kareon’s Dragon Armor.
“This is…….”
Kareon’s eyes widened.
He snatched the helmet and examined it closely, then continued.
“Do you happen to know who made this?”
“Um…….”
‘I don’t know. We were fighting as it came in those days.’
Hearing Kareon’s answer in my mind, I said.
“I’m sorry. I acquired the armor by chance.”
“……It is an extraordinary metal. I suspect the maker was likely one of the dwarves.”
The knight Kareon’s black armor!
As an Immortal-grade hero’s armor, if not cursed, it would have been easy to sell for huge profit.
“But why melt it……? Was it just for fun?”
“No, I plan to melt it to create new metal.”
Melt the metal and make fresh armor again.
Then, possessing Kareon with the armor to use it without penalty!
“What!”
Kareon was shocked.
“Why melt such a precious thing! Have you gone mad?”
“Because it is a cursed armor. No matter how excellent the armor, if it cannot be used, what is the point?”
“……Umm.”
Even if I stacked a mountain of gold, I would have to sell it to make money.
Hearing my words, Kareon examined the helmet with a look of understanding.
“You intend to melt this?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry, but I cannot.”
Kareon shook his head.
The reason was simple.
“The metal is too intricate.”
“Even I, a master blacksmith, cannot touch it?”
“Not quite that far.”
Kareon frowned and continued.
“I can touch it, but the failure rate is high, and even if successful, it will not be perfect.”
As a master of the blacksmith profession, he could handle mithril somehow.
But this was different.
“This is made of dark mithril.”
“Dark mithril?”
“Mithril that has decayed due to dark mana.”
Kareon explained.
“Mithril itself is rare…… It is an extremely precious metal. I cannot handle that level of metal either.”
“I see.”
“To handle it properly, one would need to be a blacksmith while also having another job…… That is, a shaman, a mage, or a priest.”
A multi-class of blacksmith and another profession.
‘This is asking for someone who is both a surgeon and a doctor!’
Such people exist, but they are so rare that they would make news.
“Or if the blacksmith’s skill level is higher than mine…… A legendary master could do it.”
“Legendary?”
“For example…… the blacksmith who first made this armor.”
That would make it a dwarf!
Kareon was clearly talking about a dwarf.
“A dwarf……?”
“Yes, but it will be difficult.”
A level beyond the master of the blacksmith skill.
In fact, it would require someone who only appears after volume 20 in the original novel.
“I understand. Thank you for the answer.”
I stood up from my seat.
“I will be going now…….”
“Wait.”
Kareon held me back once more!
“Is there any place I can entrust it to?”
“No.”
“Then wait here for a moment.”
Klock. Kareon, who had gone inside, returned with a map and a metal cube.
“Take this cube and go to the location marked on the map.”
“What is this?”
“It is where one of my known blacksmiths is located. Once you arrive, insert the cube to enter. Show the equipment to that person there.”
I quickly understood his plan.
“Is there anything else I need to do?”
“Yes, it is nothing special. I just want you to deliver a message letter. It has been quiet lately.”
Kareon has received a new quest ‘Message Delivery’ (Normal).
Accept the quest? (Y/N)
‘This feels like a good quest.’
I sniffed the air.
There was a scent.
A big quest scent!
“Understood. I will happily deliver the message.”
After leaving the blacksmith guild.
I headed straight to the next destination without stopping.
‘I cannot skip the job quest.’
The back alleys were filled with dark-aligned guilds.
I stopped in front of the bone sign building and looked up.
“The necromancer guild is obvious at a glance.”
On the bone sign, an empty building meant it was the necromancer guild.
Unlike a blacksmith or knight training center or magic guild, it looked shabby.
‘But there are people there, right?’
Unlike the original novel, the evaluation of necromancers is not at the absolute bottom now.
Because players like me and Baalrun have been publicized, and some of the new necromancers have settled in.
I tried to look inside the guild.
At that moment.
“Get out. You are still too early.”
Whoosh. The black mage at the counter was chasing away two users.
“We have money!”
“Why won’t you sell it if you want to buy something!”
“Prepare funeral money instead of wasting time buying that! Get out!”
“I won’t buy, I won’t buy! Hey, let’s go.”
The users, grumbling as they turned, said to me.
“You should also leave quickly without wasting time.”
Not selling for no reason in a guild is definitely a problem.
I headed to the counter.
“I told you not to sell. Go drink your mother’s milk, you brats.”
A middle-aged man with tattoos and a bald head said gruffly.
“What are you not selling?”
“Everything here. It is useless for an amateur like you to buy such things.”
“Hmm.”
Around us were various necromancer equipment and skill books.
A cursed skeleton staff (Magic), robes to summon ghosts (Rare).
Some had a creepy aura, and it seemed even Unique grade items existed.
‘With the users who come here, it is impossible.’
Equipment that users must reach over 120 levels in necromancer class alone, besides the basic level.
Most users were second-jobbed into necromancers, so of course they would be blocked at the entrance.
“I will take these.”
I brought the necromancer magic equipment and said.
“Did I not say not to sell…….”
“Even so?”
I held up Niaht’s Skull Staff (Epic).
“You…… How dare you!”
“Please calm down and look carefully.”
“Umm……”
As the middle-aged man examined the staff, his attitude completely changed.
“You can handle this kind of staff…… You are not ordinary.”
“I also have something to ask.”
I took out Guld’s request letter.
“Were you Guld’s disciple? Guld accepting disciples. The sun must be rising in the west!”
“With this, I should have the qualifications to buy, right?”
“Absolutely! I was wrong. I was treating you the same as those other brats.”
The middle-aged man brought a chair and offered a glass of tea from the side.
“Not tea. Information would be better.”
“Information?”
“I want to help the exploration team that discovered the relics of Relern…….”
“Hmmm…… If it is Guld’s disciple, there should be no problem…….”
I said with a serious expression.
“The orcs’ attacks are becoming fiercer, and people’s eyes toward black mages are not good.”
“Hmmm……”
“I want to remove the prejudice that black mages are only bad. Please help.”
Breaking the stigma of being a third-rate niche.
By defeating Flush and reaching the top, I had to prove to the author that I could do this with this job too.
“I sense your passion.”
The middle-aged man said.
“Emotions that are not necessary for black mages, but it is not bad.”
Black mages had been looked down on for hundreds of years, even if unknowingly.
It was a word that could not be more refreshing.
“Good! I approve.”
The middle-aged man nodded and took out a parchment from his bosom.
“This is a map. The exploration team is at the marked place.”
“Thank you.”
“It will be a long journey. You should prepare well.”
Quest ‘Finding Relern’s Traces’ (Normal) completed.
Experience gained.
1 silver acquired.
New quest ‘Exploration Support’ (Magic) has been generated.
Exploration Support
Grade: Magic
Objectives
• Join the black mage exploration team in the Aluin Wilderness (0/1)
Reward: Experience, information on Relern’s magic
Description: The exploration team that moved to find Relern’s traces has headed south in the vast wilderness. Meet them in the wide wilderness and hear their detailed stories.
‘Hmm?’
My eyes widened as I looked at the map.
‘The blacksmith village is closer than I thought?’
It was like running an errand and meeting a friend at the same time.
‘Since I’m going anyway, I’ll handle both.’
Because the return trip would take longer, I would have to prepare thoroughly.
‘The more carefully I prepare for adventure, the better.’
“I normally don’t give maps to partners from other places…… Tell Guld that. Jenkins took good care of the black mages!”
“Haha, I understand.”
“By the way, since I’m going, there is one request…….”
“Yes?”
“In the deep parts of the Aluin Wilderness, a monster called the legendary Omur lives. If you meet it, can you catch it and bring some blood? I won’t ask where you will use it.”
Jenkins has received a new quest ‘Blood of the Legendary Omur’ (Magic).
Accept the quest? (Y/N)
What? This guy is making a request too?
‘If it is the legendary Omur, it should be at least a boss monster.’
Although it does not appear in the novel, it would be quite strong.
It seemed too easy to allow the alliance, but in truth, he was trying to pass off that thing!
‘If I stay closer, I will pass on all kinds of things and pretend to be quick.’
Black mages mostly have selfish and twisted personalities!
Players do not know, but at least NPCs are truthful.
Once again, Guld felt like an angel.
‘Still, I have no choice this time.’
I let out a sigh and said.
“Understood.”
“Thank you! If he has the blood, it seems progress will be made in the long research.”
Jenkins smiled and showed a book.
“If you bring it, I will give this.”
“……!”
My eyes widened as I read the book title.
– Lulun’s Secret Magic: Friction Guidance
“It is a magic book I got from a gambling board. There is nothing special prepared for black mages, so it is lacking?”
“I will definitely bring it. Just entrust it to me.”
The reward was too huge to refuse.
‘As long as he properly pays the price, it is not being shameless but running a business!’
“Breaking the prejudice about black mages…… Yes, I hope you succeed.”
A dream-like thing that all black mages had hoped for for hundreds of years.
“Since I have decided to do it, I will definitely succeed.”
“Yes.”
I could finish all preparations at the necromancer guild.
Now it was truly time to depart.