Threads of Legend
“It's difficult. Truly difficult.”
I was taken aback as Maestro Roberto suddenly sighed while measuring my chest. My father, who had been watching with keen interest from the side, finally spoke up.
“Does Eugene really need something like that too?”
“Yes. I never imagined that after Don, I'd be making a suit for the young master as well.”
A suit like Father's? What did that mean?
“Ah, no need to worry.”
Seeing my puzzled expression, Roberto waved it off with a bright smile.
“Don't misunderstand, young master. It's good news—nothing bad at all.”
“Good news...?”
“Indeed. For most Awakened, our shop's materials are more than sufficient to craft a suit. We stock a wide variety, after all. But...”
He glanced sidelong at my father.
“The materials we have can't handle the young master's nature and traits—they're simply not up to par. And there was one other like this before: your father, Vito Calione, the Don.”
In other words, he was saying our shop's materials couldn't contain my potential.
“...So what do we do? In the end, Father had his suit made by you too, Maestro.”
“Well, back then the Don procured the materials himself. I don't need much—just one thing.”
He held up a single finger.
“A material imbued with your narrative. That's the key.”
“...Pardon?”
A material with narrative? Did he mean an achievement item?
The game had something similar: 'Fragments of Achievement,' items granted by the system for first-time feats. Players used them to craft one-of-a-kind 'Unique' grade gear. Here in reality, it seemed designed to go through the Maestro.
“So where do I get a material with narrative?”
I asked, and he shrugged.
“No idea.”
“Pardon?”
“In the Don's case, he brought monster parts from the one he felled himself that day. For Sir Parnello, it was a knife he'd used his whole life.”
Then Roberto met my eyes directly.
“I'm looking forward to what you'll bring, young master. Now, shall we measure your waist?”
“W-Wait. Without that material, you can't make the suit, right?”
So why keep going?
“Haha! Do you think the Maestro can't sew a single suit without one material?”
“Pardon?”
“I just can't make a 'Unique' grade one right now. But 'Rare' grade? Our materials are plenty for that.”
With that, he spun me around, checking every measurement.
“So we'll have to do this all again later?”
At my question, Roberto chuckled as he measured my thigh.
“Probably not. Usually, you infuse the core material into a 'Rare' suit to complete it.”
Having finished, he straightened up and made the tape vanish.
“Normally, we'd select fabrics next, but the Don already chose them all, so we can skip that.”
“Father did?”
I turned to see Father smiling faintly my way.
“Yeah. I got a bit greedy—wanted your first suit made from materials I hunted myself.”
“Exactly. We just need your core material. With what the Don provided, it'll be a masterpiece.”
Good lord...
Good lord!
The Don, Vito Calione. The man always named among the world's strongest. He hunted these himself?!
“For the base fabric, wool from the 'Abyssal Sheep King' that once rampaged in Gangwon Province.”
Insane.
“Lining from the silk of an 'Abyss Moss' first harvest.”
Truly insane.
“Buttons carved from 'unicorn horn.'”
I'm gonna die happy.
“Of course, you'll provide the final core material.”
I looked at Father with trembling eyes.
Abyssal Sheep King's wool. Abyss Moss silk. Unicorn horn.
Even one of these was beyond my current reach—top-tier items impossible to obtain.
“Father...”
“I've kept them just in case for years. Feels good to finally use them.”
Really. The ruler of our underworld being a total doting dad was my greatest fortune.
I woke feeling refreshed for the first time in ages, stretching luxuriously in bed.
“Sleep really is the best.”
Heir lessons, organization requests—no proper rest for days. This vacation fixed that.
“...Time to get ready.”
Saturday, no academy, but with the Leg Move request, I couldn't just lounge. Plus, I ordered the kids' training.
After a quick freshen-up and changing into my cadet uniform, I recalled yesterday.
'The suit will take about a week. I'll send word to the Calione residence when it's ready—please wait patiently.'
Not your average outfit, so it needed time. A week for that suit? Actually fast.
“Oppa! School again today?”
Heading to the entrance, Jiyoon waddled over from the dining room, snack in hand, cream smeared on her cheeks. She grinned up at me, oblivious.
Too adorable—I ruffled her hair.
“I'll be back early. Playtime tonight?”
“Yay! Okay!”
Saturday healing dose: check.
Leaving her behind, I headed to the academy with a waiting organization member. Han Seojun was off, so a new guy drove. I checked the Character Compendium, but no new updates. Nothing special about him, then.
“I'm he... You're working hard.”
Far off, in the training ground packed with equipment, Jinwoo Bivalt sweated away.
He noticed me at the entrance and turned.
“Oh, Boss is here?”
“You're earlier than I expected.”
“...My place is far. I aim to arrive on time but end up early to avoid being late.”
Explains why he's never tardy despite his vibe.
“Where's Sea-a?”
“Her? Not here yet.”
“Sea-a's late?”
I figured she'd beat Jinwoo. Something wrong?
Then—
“Not late! I'm not late, right?!”
The club room door slammed open. Sea-a collapsed, panting wildly.
“Uh... yeah, not late.”
“Phew... Good. Making breakfast for my siblings ate up time...”
Right—Character Compendium said she raises two younger ones alone. Bonus pay after this request.
“Catch your breath first. The place isn't far anyway.”
“Huh? Where we headed?”
I hadn't detailed the training, so Jinwoo tilted his head.
“Thought it'd be more gear work or sparring here.”
“Nah, dungeon run. You, me, Sea-a—three of us.”
“D-Dungeon?!”
Sea-a yelped in shock.
“The dungeon I know? Where monsters drop money—er, materials?!”
“...Yeah.”
“Heard capital dungeons are guild-owned—entry fees are huge... Are you loaded, Eugene?!”
“Not that loaded.”
Possessor perks, maybe.
“So? Sinchon? Gangnam? Anywhere—I'm ready!”
Her eyes sparkled, fatigue gone. Money from drops?
Sinchon, Gangnam? She's thinking big.
“Told you—not far.”
I pointed at my feet.
“Basement.”
“Huh?”
“We're going underground.”
Did I request Z-room just for space and elevator? No—only access to this dungeon.
“Boss, basement? Dungeon down here?”
Jinwoo wiped sweat with his towel. I nodded.
His eyes widened.
“...No way. For real?”
“Real as it gets.”
Youngje, our Ranger Club spy, said they'd dungeon today too. Gotta hit one ourselves.
“You two been to dungeons before?”
Sea-a shook her head; Jinwoo nodded.
“Once, before enrolling. Went with Dad.”
“Never... You, Eugene?”
“Me?”
Let me think... Nope.
Gamed it to death, but this body? Zero times.
Toppled an organization already, Chapter 3 territory unlocked, and never cleared a dungeon?
Amusing irony.
But admitting less experience than Jinwoo? Nah.
“Judge for yourself.”
Dodging, I headed for the elevator to cut off questions.
“Huh? Boss, where—?”
“Told you. Dungeon in the basement.”
No stairs down here—the elevator was the only way.
“Let's go.”
To the dungeon.