Love and Peace!

My eyes widened as I checked the item information.

What? Yeouiju? That thing the dragon carries in its mouth?

Why the hell was this here? Wasn't the name something like Mana Amplification Orb? The fact that I recognized the name alone felt off, and the grade was a whopping S-grade. But the info that hit me hardest in the back of the head was right below it.

Upgradable? An already complete S-grade artifact?

Legendary relics like this usually had fixed stats as finished products. Yet the system was blatantly leaving the upgrade option open. This was no ordinary item.

On top of that, just a few days ago, I'd heard from the red-headed ancient dragon Jermad about the origins of this multidimensional community and her master, the Primal Dragon.

The contingency the Primal Dragon left scattered across dimensions... Could this be one of them?

A reasonable suspicion flashed through my mind—that this might be a trace of the Primal Dragon left in Earth's dimension. But I couldn't be sure yet.

I forced my pounding heart to calm and turned to Baek Ha-yeon.

"I think I can fix this."

"R-really!?"

Color instantly returned to Baek Ha-yeon's weary face. I nodded, putting on a troubled expression.

"Yeah. But the repair quote on this isn't a joke. The materials it needs are insane. An S-grade mana stone, plus high-grade mana gold."

Baek Ha-yeon sighed in relief but tilted her head.

"Phew, that's a relief. But... are you sure it can be repaired with just those materials?"

"Why? Is the material cost a problem?"

"No, it's not that... From what I know, this 'Mana Amplification Jewel' isn't just S-grade—it's a huge historical symbol as an item from Korea's first-generation hero, Master Hyeon Dae-cheol. The government once sent it to Germany to try repairing it."

"Germany?"

"Yes. To the world's greatest master smith, 'Klaus Hartmann.'"

Klaus ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Hartmann. Anyone even slightly interested in the hunter world knew that name. Back in the early days of the Great Cataclysm, when combat hunters hogged the spotlight and production classes were neglected, he was the legendary smith who received national treasure-level treatment all by himself, wielding massive influence as a Meister. The weapons from his hands rivaled the top artifacts excavated from gates in performance. Thanks to him, Germany now dominated as the world's top hunter weapon exporter.

"But he couldn't fix it?"

"Yeah. Hartmann himself gave up, saying it wasn't in a smith's domain. He sent it back, saying something really special was needed for restoration."

The "something ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠special" Hartmann mentioned. My gaze subtly drifted to the last line of the system status window.

[Required Materials: Dragon mana 200p]

Bingo.

No matter how great the world's top smith was, no human could produce dragon mana. Hartmann had given up not due to lack of skill, but lack of materials. But I was different.

I calmly made an excuse to Baek Ha-yeon. "They're smith skills over there, but mine's a repair skill, so that's probably why. Repair skills must be more specialized for fixing than smithing."

"...Director. You're insane. I mean—not that you're crazy, but your repair skill is ridiculously amazing!"

Baek Ha-yeon stammered, unable to hide her excitement.

"I know. But you're not expecting me to fix it for free, right, Guild Master?"

"O-of course not!"

I acted generous. "I won't charge labor fees. Restoring a national hero's weapon—taking money for that would feel off. Just pass on that I'll charge only for materials, and bring them when you get them."

"What exactly are the materials?"

I inwardly cheered but kept a straight face and brazenly quoted the bill.

"Three S-grade mana stones. And 300g of high-grade mana gold."

"...Pardon? The material quote is... no joke, huh?"

Baek Ha-yeon blinked in shock. Of course. The system originally required one S-grade mana stone and 100g mana gold. I'd inflated it threefold.

With the noble cause of repairing a national hero's relic, it was awkward to demand cash outright. But squeezing it like this was legally padding my pockets. Plus, S-grade mana stones were national strategic assets you couldn't buy no matter how rich you were. Better stock up when possible. Too wasteful to buy with points.

"What can you do? Restoring a legendary relic requires that kind of investment. I trust you'll negotiate well, Guild Master."

"Got it, Director. Don't worry!"

"Yeah. Sorry for always dumping the tough jobs on you when you're busy."

Baek Ha-yeon shook her head firmly. "No way. It's what needs doing."

Pretty, strong, responsible guild master. Honestly, I quite liked Baek Ha-yeon.

"Some people don't do it, that's the problem. Like the Taeguk Guild Master? If you need help, just say—I'll do my best."

At my words, Baek Ha-yeon started fidgeting.

"Um... If you're saying that, could I ask a personal favor unrelated to the repair...?"

Her resolute face from moments ago flushed, fingers twisting. I instantly caught her intent. Those rosy cheeks, sparkling eyes—it was the face of a diehard fan moments from meeting their fave idol in person. Fandom expression, basically.

Korea's one and only S-grade spiritist had met the Wind Spirit King—practically a god to spirits—and just left? The afterglow must've been intense.

"You want to see Spirit King Ariel, right?"

"Gasp. That obvious? Y-yeah... Just a quick greeting..."

I nodded toward a large soundproof glass case in the corner of the workshop. "Ariel's over there. Go say hi."

"Huh? W-where...?"

The moment Baek Ha-yeon followed my gaze, her eyes widened in disbelief.

There was a tiny fairy floating a head-sized ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wireless earbud like a hat using wind power. Ariel clutched a toy guitar I'd bought her days ago, wearing pitch-black toy sunglasses fit for a doll, head thrashing wildly.

She was headbanging. Hard. And in front of her stood a crude standing mic made by taping a pen.

Who'd believe that mess was the Wind Spirit King? She'd pass for an underground rocker in some Hongdae back-alley basement club.

Days ago, she'd recited lofty lyric poetry about loving all scents and sounds of the world. So I'd given her a music streaming ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠app, expecting classical or something classy. But her algorithm led her to heavy metal.

To the Wind Spirit King symbolizing freedom, metal's rule-breaking chaos screaming soul's liberty must've been a perfect match.

"Th-that adorable little fairy over there... is really the Ariel I know...?"

"Yep. Future rock 'n' roll prospect, Wind Spirit King Ariel. Band name's Wind Force, FYI."

"......???"

Baek Ha-yeon froze, dumbfounded. I ignored her bewilderment, strode to the case, and flung open the lid.

"Freeeeedom!!!! Peace!!!!"

Kwajajajajang—! Kwajang—! Doogoodoogoo—!!

The lid flew open to ear-shattering electric guitar riffs, pounding drums, and metal vocals shredding my eardrums, echoing through the workshop.

"...Ariel. Tone it down and come here. We have a guest."

Chiiik—! Chiiik—!

Instead of answering, Ariel sprayed the Febreze air freshener I'd bought her days ago into the air like mad while shredding the toy guitar. I'd given it since she loved fragrances with her music, and she called it a "fragrance revolution," misting it like a special effect at every metal climax.

"Argh, seriously! Stop spraying air freshener in the workshop! My head's killing me!"

At my shout, Ariel finally paused the music and glared with a pouty face.

"What! How dare some puny human interrupt my sublime and sacred musical inspiration!"

"Guild Master's here. Keep spraying and being loud, and no earbud battery recharge."

Flinch—!

My terrifying threat made Ariel's tiny shoulders tremble. The great Spirit King, millennia old, cowering over a human world's earbud battery. Ridiculous, pathetic, and cute.

Finally, she set down the toy guitar with a sneaky cough. "Ahem. Wh-who is it!"

"Baek Ha-yeon, the spiritist you met a few days ago."

"Ah? Why didn't you say so sooner. Spiritists who follow nature's will are always welcome."

Ariel floated over to Baek Ha-yeon. As the guild master gasped in awe and started to kneel—

"Love and peace!! Long time no see, little spiritist. Baek Ha-yeon, right?"

Ariel raised a tiny hand, extending thumb, index, and pinky in the rock spirit sign, greeting coolly.

"......Yes?"

Flustered, Baek Ha-yeon awkwardly mirrored the gesture.

"Y-yes! P-peace! L-long time no see, Ariel!"

The Wind Spirit King and Korea's top spiritist greeting with rock spirit. What a absurd skit. I stifled laughter from behind.

But as the fun greeting ended, Ariel's eyes gleamed behind her sunglasses.

"Hm? What's wrong with your condition? You're badly damaged."

"...D-damaged?"

"Not your face skin. The spirit power in your soul is severely worn and clouded. Weird? No spiritist communing with nature should lose spirit power this fast, even after brutal battles."

Oh, as expected of the Spirit King? Ariel was dropping a crucial hint.