Arming Brina and the Dwarf's Secret Bargain
With all the gear for Jeanne fully purchased, it was time to check out equipment for Brina.
“There’s just the right stuff for a high goblin girl.”
Following Abigail once more, they arrived at a section displaying daggers and armor tailored for small races. As before, they went with his recommendations: all C-grade items. A pair of twin daggers that came as a set, boosting agility and cutting power; a chestplate and shoes blessed by the wind spirit, enhancing agility while reducing air resistance.
Finding an upper-body piece that fit Brina’s frame was tricky due to her disproportionately massive breasts. Abigail didn’t say a word, but he clearly knew the issue and adjusted the size right on the spot.
“My body feels so light. And my breasts aren’t squeezed at all—it’s perfect.”
Seeing Brina’s delight, Yeoul paid without hesitation. Even though it was three pieces—weapons, chestplate, and shoes—it came out a bit cheaper than Jeanne’s set, around 60 million won.
He swiped the card without a second thought, but with today’s total hitting 130 million won, Yeoul’s hand trembled as he slipped it back into his wallet.
All this stuff is consumable, which is why hunters can earn big bucks and still never get ahead.
Even at these prices, gear took damage in battle and often became unusable. Of course, things were different for Yeoul.
If it gets that bad, I can just sell it to the Onahole Point Shop.
Over the past month, Yeoul hadn’t just been clearing dungeons with his onaholes. He’d run all sorts of experiments on his Unique Authority. One focus was the Onahole Point Shop.
As a sub-authority tied to the core Onahole Master (EX)—and the currency for it—Yeoul had delved deep, uncovering some handy facts.
Items sold to the Onahole Point Shop could be recreated via the item creation function, using the original materials plus onahole points. He’d already known this from selling Nuker’s Loom X right after unlocking the shop.
But he’d only tested with pristine items so far. What about damaged ones? Driven by that curiosity, Yeoul experimented wildly.
After selling and recreating gear in various states of disrepair, he reached one solid conclusion.
As long as it’s not completely trashed, selling to the Onahole Point Shop is the way to go.
His tests proved that if the original form remained recognizable and any functionality lingered, it could be fully restored.
For instance, selling a shattered throwing dagger let him produce a brand-new one with just some steel and onahole points. Not infinite, since it cost resources, but it saved a bundle on gear costs.
Cheaper to buy alloys as materials and use onahole points than replacing full armor sets.
He could get alloys from Abigail, after all. He’d even checked if the creation function could make raw materials, but no—only finished products with specific functions showed up.
“That everything you’re buying?”
“Alright, you two follow me. Gotta fine-tune ’em to fit like a glove.”
Leaving Slami—who had no gear yet—Brina and Jeanne followed Abigail deeper into the workshop.
While their adjustments were underway, Yeoul approached Jeong-hwa, who was browsing around.
“See anything you want?”
“I’d love to, but... it’s all way too pricey. I’d only heard rumors, but hunters really buy gear this expensive.”
C-grade equipment was something even 6th-grade hunters scrimped for over one or two months. For Jeong-hwa, freshly promoted to 8th-grade, it was out of reach.
“Guess I’ll just appreciate seeing a real dwarf. I’ll check out the stuff outside.”
In the end, Jeong-hwa headed out to eye the D-grade and lower gear on display outside. Even that was luxurious for her level.
By then, Brina and Jeanne returned, now equipped in their new purchases over black bodysuits like rash guards.
“Bodysuits are on the house. Tougher than E-grade armor on their own, so they’ll do.”
Direct skin contact with armor caused chafing, hence the suits. Yeoul thanked Abigail—he’d planned to buy them anyway—and turned to Brina and Jeanne.
“Looks good on you both. Like it?”
“I love it, Master. Thank you for the gift. I’ll work even harder from now on.”
“Ahem. Th-thanks. It’s perfect—never dreamed I’d wear full dwarf-forged plate and shield in my lifetime.”
Jeanne was clearly thrilled, stroking her new shield even as she thanked Yeoul.
“Waaah... Everyone’s got stuff but me, you lame Master.”
“I’ll make yours later, Slami—just hold on.”
Yeoul soothed the whining Slami and prepared to leave when Abigail spoke up.
“Headin’ out?”
“Gotta hit a dungeon today too.”
“You live like a whirlwind. Looks like you’re raiding together every day—take it easy.”
“Feels fine, so why not?”
“Most hunters struggle with two or three runs a week. What’s your secret?”
Typical hunters needed at least a day’s rest after a dungeon for mental strain and physical fatigue. Yeoul’s crew, hitting dungeons nearly daily outside weekends, was freakish.
“Already tackling 6th-grade ones? Damn, you grow fast.”
Abigail marveled at Yeoul’s pace but cautioned him.
“Growth is good, but don’t get cocky. Never drop your guard in a dungeon.”
The paternal worry—like from Yeoul’s late parents—warmed his chest. He nodded.
“Got it. I’ll keep that in mind. And thanks for the discount on the gear today.”
C-grade sets were two months’ savings for a 6th-grader. Even clearing two 7th-grades daily plus extras wouldn’t cover multiple pieces at once. Abigail had sold at cost, skipping his labor fees.
Gruff as ever, he shooed Yeoul out.
“...Yeah, yeah. Now scram.”
“See you next time.”
“Yup.”
Yeoul gave a final bow and led the group out.
Confirming they’d left, Abigail stared at the entrance for a moment before returning to his workbench. He sighed heavily.
“Hoo... Feels like a kick to the gut. Best I can do is cut prices.”
With another sigh, he pulled a crow-shaped statue from under the bench and set it atop the workbench. Kneeling, he clasped his hands in prayer.
The statue wasn’t mere decoration—it symbolized a god.
“This humble dwarf prays: O god, answer me.”
Abigail’s tone was reverent toward the crow idol. It was odd. The dwarf god had sacrificed himself to save their race, vanishing entirely—no answers to prayers. And their true symbol was a hammer carved from stone, not a crow.
Abigail wanted nothing to do with other gods, but he had no choice.
“This humble dwarf prays: O god, answer me.”
Woooong—
As he prayed again, divine light flickered in the gray stone crow’s eyes. A channel opened to an unknown god through the idol.
The crow scanned the room before fixing on Abigail. From that moment, its overwhelming presence crushed him silent.
Speak.
The pressure lifted. Abigail caught his breath and calmly reported everything he’d seen and heard—mostly about Yeoul, in meticulous detail. Including their upcoming 6th-grade dungeon with doppelgangers.
The idol perked up at that.
Well done. As promised, I’ll extend your clan’s stay by one year.
“......Thank you, O god.”
Fsssh—
The god departed without acknowledgment. The idol crumbled to dust.
Abigail sighed again before the pile. His breath scattered it away, mirroring his heavy heart.
Selling out his friend’s kid twisted his gut. But each report bought his clan a full year in the Tower.
With no world fragment of their own—and their god gone—dwarves depended on the Tower god’s mercy for shelter. Their aid to Earthlings was at that god’s command.
If it wanted Yeoul’s intel, even a friend’s son was fair game. Clan safety came first.
To ease his guilt, he’d slashed prices—that was his limit. Clutching his hammer, Abigail prayed no harm came to Yeoul from his words. He resumed work.