Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Golem's Core Commission
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Clunk-
Supreme Forge, Workshop 33 of the Association's fabrication facility.
Jeong-hyeon stepped through the entrance, which looked utterly ordinary from the outside.
"Welcome! It's been a while."
"Hello."
Yujeong greeted him brightly upon seeing him.
Ever since receiving the Demi Drake armor last time, she no longer grumbled like before.
In fact, when the armors for the Sea Guild members were completed, she had even contacted him specifically to ask for their address, saying she'd deliver them separately.
Of course, the Sea Guild had frantically called once they learned the armors were from Supreme Forge.
When asked how he'd commissioned the work, he'd brushed it off saying something like they'd just gotten connected somehow.
'The elder Doil's reputation must be even greater than I thought.'
Judging from how he'd chatted amiably with Ye-rin last time, it seemed they'd done business more than once or twice.
And for a guild like Sea Guild, which boasted production infrastructure second to none, to react so immediately—it was easy to imagine why.
"What brings you here today?"
"I was hoping to commission this."
In response to Yujeong's question, Jeong-hyeon set down the sack he'd been carrying since entering the workshop.
It looked shabby and plain, but anyone who knew the value of what was inside would be stunned.
They'd probably gasp at the idea of carrying something like this around in a sack like that.
"What's this? Some kind of ore...?"
"Heh heh, Hunter Jeong Hyeon, it's been too long."
"Yes, good to see you, elder."
Doil emerged from inside the workshop upon overhearing the conversation at the counter and realizing Jeong-hyeon had arrived.
He sneaked a glance over Yujeong's shoulder at the black ore she was examining.
He must have intuited that Jeong-hyeon had brought it.
Of course, the moment his eyes landed on it, his wrinkled eyes widened, and he lunged toward the sack.
"Th-this... How did you get this? Onyx?"
"I just came back from the 'Golem's Land'."
"You took down an Onyx Golem!"
Doil, who always seemed so composed, raised his voice in shock.
Even he, who prided himself on having handled just about every material out there, had only crafted equipment from Onyx Golem byproducts a handful of times.
It was only natural.
Though the Onyx Golem appeared in what was technically a level 5 gate, it wasn't something level 5 hunters could take down easily.
Moreover, they didn't appear in level 6 or 7 golem gates.
With conditions like that, Onyx Golem byproducts were regarded as the stuff of legends among fabricators.
So, seeing a shabby sack full of such material must have stirred a whirlwind of emotions.
'If he's this shocked by that, this could be a problem...'
But watching Doil, Jeong-hyeon felt a twinge of worry.
He'd heard plenty that Onyx Golems were rare, but he hadn't expected such an intense reaction.
Glancing at his still-open main menu, he couldn't help worrying if the elder might have a heart attack.
"Uh... elder-"
After mulling it over internally and deciding it couldn't be helped, Jeong-hyeon cautiously spoke up.
But it was already too late.
Doil, rummaging through the sack with trembling hands, had already found it.
"Gasp—th-this!"
"Grandpa! What's wrong? What's that?!"
Doil clutched the golem's core in one hand and grabbed at his chest with the other.
Even his granddaughter Yujeong, startled by such an extreme reaction from her grandfather—which she'd never seen before—watched him in alarm.
"I was just about to say there's a golem core too..."
Jeong-hyeon shook his head, a beat late with his words.
Fortunately, nothing like Doil collapsing happened.
"To think I'd live to see this..."
But the sight of the old craftsman shedding tears from both eyes tugged at everyone's heartstrings.
Was it really that amazing?
Jeong-hyeon couldn't quite wrap his head around it.
For example, what would be a hunter's dream monster?
'A dragon? The true nightmare even at level 7?'
The unprecedented monster dragon that appeared in the Nevada Desert in the US five years ago.
The US had reclaimed its top spot since, but back then, with a force worthy of the title "Earth Defense Force," they'd boldly sent in their S-Rank hunters under the name "Dream Team."
'The result? Total annihilation.'
No one returned alive.
That failure had even allowed China and Russia to surpass them, if only briefly—the damage was catastrophic.
In any case, encountering a dream monster as a hunter was anything but thrilling or fortunate.
'No, maybe that's not a fair comparison?'
Then what about dream gear?
Suppose there was armor made from that dragon's scales or weapons from its teeth and claws.
Only then did Jeong-hyeon nod.
'No wonder he's crying.'
Tears were the least of it.
He felt like he could spew from every orifice himself.
Gear made from dragon byproducts?
It wasn't just hunter greed for equipment—it was the bone-deep longing of a former workshop laborer who hadn't butchered it head to tail himself.
'As expected, the only good monster is a dead one.'
Jeong-hyeon gave Doil plenty of time to bask in ecstasy while lost in such idle thoughts.
"My expectations weren't off... You've become a truly remarkable hunter."
"No need for that. Seeing you so happy makes me glad."
Hearing Jeong-hyeon, Doil flashed not his usual faint smile but a full-blown grin.
That's how thrilled he was.
"But elder, have you never worked with a golem core before?"
And Jeong-hyeon's frank question.
It seemed he'd crafted gear from Onyx Golem ore before—he'd been surprised but not overly so.
But a golem core was on another level.
As if confirming Jeong-hyeon's hunch, Doil nodded affirmatively.
"You're right. Golem cores are so rare to begin with... And while they've appeared domestically, they've all been snatched up overseas."
"Ah."
Jeong-hyeon nodded.
Korea was a hunter powerhouse not to be ignored, but only in terms of human resources.
Capital was where they lagged far behind.
With scouting offers from abroad that Korea couldn't match, plenty of hunters had gone overseas—raw materials without sentiment? Even more so.
Watching Doil still gaze at the golem core as if in a dream, Jeong-hyeon grinned.
"Well, at least this one won't get taken."
"Pardon?"
Doil's eyes widened round at the cryptic remark.
Jeong-hyeon elaborated.
"I'd like you to use what's in that sack to craft some gear for me, elder."
"Gasp—!"
"Eek, Grandpa!"
This time, the shock proved too much—Doil clutched his chest and toppled backward.
Yujeong, startled, supported his back and cried out, voice trembling.
"How can you just spring something like that!"
Jeong-hyeon was startled too, but he also felt a bit indignant.
'Is this something to get yelled at for?'
Why else would he have lugged it all the way here?
It was to commission Doil from the start.
If he'd just wanted money, he could've taken it to an auction house.
In any case, Doil quickly came to.
"Thank you, thank you..."
Regaining his senses, he bowed deeply to Jeong-hyeon repeatedly.
Jeong-hyeon, never intending to receive such bows from someone his grandfather's age, hurriedly helped Doil up.
"No, no. Just make me some great gear, and that'll be payment enough. It's fine."
"But with materials this precious, I don't have the means to pay their worth."
"Just exclude the golem core and pay for the rest."
"......!"
Jeong-hyeon watched cautiously in case he might faint again, but thankfully, he just fell silent—no signs of it.
"That would leave me feeling too guilty. A golem core alone is worth at least—"
"I know roughly. That's why I'm giving it to you, elder."
Jeong-hyeon cut in.
A golem core easily topped hundreds of billions at minimum.
Because you had to forcibly extract it from an active golem to avoid power loss, spiking hunt difficulty dozens of times over.
And that was for regular stone golems.
An Onyx Golem core?
No public auction records—maybe black market, but nothing official.
'It stings, but... drawing too much attention wouldn't be good.'
For Jeong-hyeon, who valued money more than anyone, skipping auction was simple.
Even anonymously, once an Onyx Golem core surfaced, tracing it back was inevitable.
And those capable of uncovering him would be too much for his current self to handle.
He'd firmly warned those who'd seen him hunt the Onyx Golem to keep it secret.
The story might spread somewhat, but they seemed trustworthy enough—no wild rumors.
Just in case, he'd asked the Association to monitor it too.
Namshik's tone, like "What have you done now?" had been something to behold.
Given all that, entrusting the core to Doil seemed the quietest, most helpful option.
Seeing him so delighted made it all worthwhile.
Sensing Jeong-hyeon's intent, Doil nodded.
"I'll keep it a lifelong secret."
"Thank you. But..."
Jeong-hyeon smiled and nodded, pleased their intentions aligned.
But he trailed off without finishing.
There was one thing to confirm, but asking Doil directly felt like a grave discourtesy.
Seeing that, Doil tilted his head then urged him on.
"Speak freely."
"You know how to... handle a golem core, right?"
"......"
Doil fell silent for a moment.
Had he overstepped?
'No helping it.'
'As a client, I have to ask this much!'
With the core's value, he couldn't risk hearing later "sorry" or "processing failed."
But soon, Doil let out a wry chuckle, exuding confidence.
"Worry not. This Doil may not have handled one before, but I've studied and researched extensively. I won't disappoint you."
"Th-then I'll trust you with it?"
"Of course!"
It brimmed with confidence, yet for some reason, Jeong-hyeon felt uneasy deep down.
Not distrust in Doil, but that brief silence...
'This... it'll be fine, right?'
"Now, let's design the gear you want together!"
And oddly, unlike his usual calm, Doil seemed utterly exhilarated now.
Unlikely as it was, it almost looked like bravado.
But what could he do?
No taking back words already spoken.
Jeong-hyeon swallowed his anxiety and followed Doil into the workshop.
"I'll come too!"
Yujeong hurriedly chased after them.
"Yujeong, sit this job out. You can watch from the side."
"What? You dump all the tedious stuff on me and hog the precious work yourself?"
'Mr. Doil's got a romantic side too.'
Somehow, today felt full of new sides to Doil.