Workshop
I'm not much of a drinker, but three beers aren't enough to make me stumble around. Still, after chugging them like shots on an empty stomach—my first booze in ages—my head was spinning a bit.
"I-I'm really fine..."
Han Seol insisted I go to the hospital, but I couldn't kick out a drunk patient just to take her bed. When I asked if work was done, she said there was still plenty left and she'd come for a midpoint report. I told her to finish up and come back, then crashed in my room with a sigh.
"Yes, we've finished the tasks. Health checks are ongoing, and we're prioritizing hospitalization for the sicker patients."
"Good work. Curious about the new rooms? I'll show you from the basement up."
"Um... is it okay if Hye-won plays with the kids in the hospital?"
"As long as it doesn't leak outside, sure. They probably just think she's a regular patient."
"Got it."
I took Han Seol and Han Byeol through the daily necessities warehouse first. I'd planned to empty it at dawn tomorrow, but the sisters said even a day was too precious and hauled everything out right away. Hands were short, so I called Im Jui too—three of them working together. I offered to help, but they waved me off, so I watched from behind.
To see their shocked faces, I saved the office and secretary room for later, ending with the workshop. Of course, I didn't forget to grab all the beer from the office fridge and stash it on the first floor.
"Do-hyun, this... it's an enormous machine."
"Master, what's this machine do?"
Truth be told, I didn't know much either. All the info I had was that it turned monster corpses into matching gear.
"It's a device that crafts equipment using monster corpses. Let's make something. The Moon Dancer's body is in the storage warehouse."
"I'll help carry!"
"Me too."
"Yeah, it'll take multiple trips, so take the elevator down."
There were too many Moon Dancer scales and bones to move it all; the rest piled up in the elevator and out front.
"Guess we put it in this box?"
I grabbed a rib bone, but it was too heavy to even drag.
Im Jui hefted the bone effortlessly and dropped it in the box.
"Will it fit?"
The box was big, but the bone was too massive and long.
Woooong.
"Oh, like this?"
The machine hummed to life. Like a black hole sucking it in, the rib vanished into the box in about five seconds.
"Still not fully getting it... Let's dump all the Moon Dancer bones and scales in."
"Yes!"
"Now I get it."
Once the entire Moon Dancer corpse was ground up in the box, new info flooded my mind. A blue light lit the black panel atop it, displaying two clothing icons—one marked x1, the other x10.
"Do-hyun, what does this mean?"
"It's asking if we want one top-quality outfit from the Moon Dancer scales and bones, or ten mid-quality ones."
Tough call. Workshop gear was bound to outclass anything humans could make, especially from a named monster like the Moon Dancer.
"Decided. One top-tier piece. I don't need it, so for one of you three..."
From a war vet's view, troops mattered, but a super soldier sweeping the field and terrifying foes was key. Who to equip?
Han Seol and Han Byeol stared with sparkling eyes. Im Jui's were hidden, but her gas mask lenses screamed desperation.
"Rock-paper-scissors among you three."
"Understood."
They faced off solemnly.
"I'll call it. No backsies—rock, paper, scissors!"
Im Jui crumpled to her knees weakly.
"C-Can we do best of three?"
"Byeol, no take-backs."
Winner: beaming Han Seol.
"I'll make yours later, so chin up..."
Ding.
Touching the panel opened a pod.
"Step in there. Huh, it custom-fits to size too."
"Yes!"
Han Seol hopped in with a bright smile, fearless. I'd have hesitated—kinda creepy.
Clang. Door shut; machine roared to life.
Hiss.
Thirty minutes later, the pod opened amid smoke. Han Seol stepped out.
"Seol, you okay?"
"What was it like inside?"
"Just... bright."
Pod closed; machine thrummed louder, then spat a big box from the chute and powered down.
Inside: clothes. And...
"Master! Earrings too!"
A manual explained how to wear it.
"Whoa..."
Opening the box flooded my mind with gear info. Workshop-made, biometrically locked to Han Seol—others get no functions.
Simple yet potent: boosted defense and strength. Extras: auto-clean, repair in box, full-body shield absorbing hits even on exposed skin.
"Try it on. I'll wait outside."
Waiting by the door, I heard Han Byeol gasp inside.
"All set."
"Okay."
Stepping in, I marveled. Sleek black-blue ensemble, refined style. Black earrings too.
"How's it feel?"
"Like my body's insanely tough now. Stronger too."
"Working perfectly."
"Lucky..."
Impressive from a dying Moon Dancer. Intact named monsters? Can't wait.
"Master! Let's hunt monsters! Plenty left in Seoul!"
"Calm down first..."
Even I was getting hooked on monster hunts now.
Han Seol knelt, vowing eternal gratitude every time she wore it. More reasons to hunt piled up.
I'd rather not provoke hibernating named monsters first. They'd rampage eventually anyway.
Even after earl rank and over 1,000 residents, building points stayed at 1P. Best guess: that near-dead Moon Dancer only gave 41P.
Viable named in Gangbuk: Namsan's Tetora, Hyunshin Department Store's Silver Foam. Others existed, but info scarce.
Tetora and Silver Foam had clashed with old gov forces—plenty intel. Silver Foam especially: produced mysterious metal outclassing human alloys. Processable into liquid coating. Called silver shell.
Rumor: Silver Foam doesn't use its own output—maybe excretion. Hyunshin crawling with it.
Stealth specials infiltrated for scraps. Gov hoarded tiny bits.
Silver Foam hunted intruders inside but stopped at the doors—if you escaped, safe. Many tried for a big score... and vanished.
"Worth a shot? Sneak in, bail if spotted."
These three could escape easy, win maybe not. Their zeal peaked now—perfect timing.
Silver shell heist: mull it over more.
"This is the dorm."
"Yeah, you'll live here post-discharge. Can't draw attention."
"M-Me too?!"
"Huh? Prefer the hospital?"
"N-No, not that..."
Brought Na Hye-won to test enhancement melons. If her amplifier powers up... thrilling.
"This is..."
"Enhancement room. That melon boosts awakeners. Like your ability."
"So amazing..."
"Tell me about it. Keep this secret. Palm on the panel first."
"Okay."
Na Hye-won placed her hand. How much potential unlocked?
[Measurement Impossible]
"Ah, uh..."
Panel flashed it—and my mind got the memo: no effect on her.
Like it was calling me greedy.
"S-Sorry."
"Nah, your fault? Just... my greed got ahead."
Only two specials in territory: me and her. Mine worked; why not hers?
Theory: specials are fully unlocked at base—no room for more.
"Han Seol."
"Yes!"
"Grab two melons."
Pity on Hye-won, but her power's cheat enough. Greed bites back.
Now two melons spare. Who to give them to?