Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: The Pickaxe Artifact
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Chapter 138
138
'Is this right?'
Coincidentally, the thought that Geun-hwa had while greeting the hunters who had cleared "Merrillium Mine's Gems" matched exactly what Jeong-hyeon had thought just ten-odd minutes earlier.
The hunters who saw the artifact emerging from the crumbling wall felt much the same.
"If you have to nitpick, this is a mine, after all..."
"It doesn't seem completely implausible..."
They had never heard of an artifact like this before.
"An artifact... a pickaxe?"
After going through hell to clear a Mission Gate, and this was the reward? A pickaxe?
This was beyond ridiculous.
Jeong-hyeon stared blankly at the pickaxe for a long while before finally laughing and turning to his party members.
"This must be a bonus, right? No way an artifact is a pickaxe. Haha, right?"
A textbook case of denial.
"This is no fun anymore. Hurry up and give us the real artifact."
Jeong-hyeon scoured the cavern earnestly, but there was nothing else to find.
Just then, an exit gate appeared in the center of the cavern.
Even so, Jeong-hyeon ignored it, insisting on finding the real artifact as he groped the walls, tapped them with his mace, and made a fuss.
Finally, when he was about to check even the Grand Mantis's belly, U-yeong, unable to take it anymore, picked up the pickaxe.
"Um... Hunter Jeong Hyeon?"
"Yes? Did you find the real artifact?"
"It seems like this really is the artifact."
"No way. You think an artifact would be a pickaxe?"
*Nod-*
"We took down two Grand Mantises?"
*Nod-*
"And they used magic?"
*Nod-*
"...For real?"
"...Really?"
"Yes."
No matter what Jeong-hyeon said, U-yeong just steadfastly nodded.
In the end, Jeong-hyeon had no choice but to accept reality.
"Haa..."
A deep sigh, as if the ground might cave in beneath him.
'Fine, how good has my luck been so far anyway.'
A pickaxe?
Fine.
If it looked utterly useless, he'd just sell it to Vice Guild.
It seemed perfect for use in mine-type gates, judging by its appearance.
"Everyone... let's head out now."
Jeong-hyeon slung the pickaxe over his left shoulder and spoke in a deflated voice.
Perhaps feeling sorry for him, the party members offered words of comfort as they exited the gate.
"Fighting."
"There must be some practical use for it somewhere."
"You'll be blessed."
He knew they meant well, but every single one grated on his nerves.
What could he do, though?
He had to make use of it somehow now that it was his.
Even so, up to the very last moment as he left the gate, Jeong-hyeon glanced around, wondering if he'd missed something.
"Good heavens!"
The first thing Jeong-hyeon heard upon stepping outside was Geun-hwa's startled voice.
Good heavens?
Good heavens, how could clearing a Mission Gate reward a pickaxe as an artifact?
And after taking down two magic-using Grand Mantises at that?
'Is he mocking me?'
He twisted what was clearly pure surprise and joy into something negative.
"..."
Sensing Jeong-hyeon's ominous vibe, Geun-hwa—who had been ready to rush out barefoot—made a subtle expression.
Then he poked at the wrong spot.
"Huh? Where did that pickaxe come from?"
"V-Vice Guild Master!"
The other party members reacted to his question instead.
They waved their hands in shock, only peeking at Jeong-hyeon's mood.
"What's wrong with you all?"
But Geun-hwa, unaware of the situation, was equally baffled.
This was a Mission Gate clear.
Not just any Mission Gate, either.
It was a brutal challenge that had pushed a solid guild like Vice to the brink after four attempts.
They should be throwing a feast and treating the key players like heroes.
Yet here they were, faces ashen, not even daring to speak freely.
Checking for casualties, everyone had returned intact—no missing limbs or anything.
"Hup!"
But it didn't take long for Geun-hwa to realize something was off.
As he carefully examined the party members just in case, a terrifying aura emanated from Jeong-hyeon.
Geun-hwa nearby froze stiff, as did the civilian staff bustling about with cleanup.
The hunters were shocked enough to wonder if a trait had activated.
Of course, Jeong-hyeon hadn't used any trait.
It was just that Geun-hwa kept needling him, so a tiny bit—really just a tiny bit—of the anger he'd been suppressing leaked out.
"Vice Guild Master?"
"Y-Yes? What is it?"
Jeong-hyeon called to him in a very calm voice.
A civilized person should hold back no matter how angry.
Worried it might show, he even forced a gentle smile.
But for some reason, Geun-hwa turned to look at him like a rusty machine creaking away.
"This pickaxe is the clear reward artifact."
"Pardon? A pickaxe...?"
"Yes. This 'pickaxe.'"
"Ahh..."
"So let's have a little talk."
He had something to say about it.
No one could confidently guess what "something to say" Jeong-hyeon meant while gripping the pickaxe with both hands.
Was it something about the artifact?
Or something to say with the artifact?
"A-Alright."
In any case, even without Jeong-hyeon asking, they needed to talk since he'd cleared the gate.
Geun-hwa felt his legs tremble from fear for the first time in ages as he hurriedly instructed his staff to prepare a space.
***
Vice Guild's field tent.
Inside, the two men sat in silence, not exchanging a word.
Jeong-hyeon stared piercingly at the other man, while Geun-hwa couldn't meet his eyes properly.
In truth, since entering the tent, both had been waiting for one piece of information.
The details on the artifact Jeong-hyeon had brought out.
How much time passed like that?
A Vice Guild staff member lifted the tent flap and entered.
"Oh, finally?"
Unable to endure the awkward, heavy atmosphere a moment longer, Geun-hwa perked up and stood.
Good or bad, at least the conversation could start now.
But the staff member's complexion wasn't great.
"Yes, Vice Guild Master. But about that item..."
The staff member cautiously handed over a printed sheet.
He, too, examined the printout with a dirt-pale face.
"...So it's this level, huh?"
"That's what it says for now."
"Got it. You can go."
Geun-hwa let out a short sigh and nodded.
The staff member bowed politely and exited the tent.
It was obviously a conversation between superiors, and the mood was sour.
It had to be that way.
Even the appraiser waiting to evaluate the Mission Gate's prized artifact—the hallmark of such gates—had said this:
- We've analyzed it, but... a pickaxe as an artifact? First time I've seen one. No idea what to use it for.
Meanwhile, seeing Geun-hwa's poor expression, Jeong-hyeon asked calmly.
"What's it say?"
His anger had subsided somewhat, but his displeasure was still evident on his face.
Geun-hwa glanced between the printout and Jeong-hyeon before handing it over.
"Better to see for yourself."
Jeong-hyeon nodded and took the paper.
Truth be told, it didn't contain much.
Appraisals weren't some system-powered thing—just an appraiser running various tests.
When he got Black, the report had only basic strength and hardness tests, plus "Auto-return ability. No other special notes."
'Let's see.'
So what result could make the staff and Geun-hwa look so ambiguous?
He hadn't expected much from a pickaxe anyway, but he skimmed it out of curiosity.
- No comparison for strength. Top-tier mana conductivity. No other special notes.
Addendum: Mineral mining test shows no special effects.
"..."
"..."
That was it?
Jeong-hyeon glanced at Geun-hwa with eyes seeking explanation, and he nodded in response.
Even without expectations, disappointment was possible.
Just three stark sentences.
"Um... 'no comparison' means what, exactly?"
"Exactly what it says. We can't measure its strength with any materials we have."
Those three sentences could even be summed up more simply.
"So it's a really tough pickaxe, then?"
"Yes."
"No special abilities confirmed at all?"
"...Yes."
Not even mining bonuses.
Just a plain pickaxe, as it appeared.
Geun-hwa affirmed with a helpless look.
"I'm sorry, but it seems so."
"No need for the Vice Guild Master to apologize."
Ha.
Jeong-hyeon let out a hollow laugh, as if praying wouldn't help.
He had no intent to pressure Geun-hwa.
Sure, the situation was frustrating enough to sour the mood unintentionally, but it wasn't Geun-hwa or Vice Guild's fault.
'Blame the system, not them.'
The reason Geun-hwa was so deferential was that the initially low reward offer had factored in the artifact's value.
It was just moral guilt over not providing proper compensation.
This bizarre pickaxe had made things awkward for both sides.
Jeong-hyeon looked up at the tent ceiling briefly before playing his final card.
"Uh... just to ask, any chance Vice Guild wants to buy it?"
Straight-up sell it to Vice Guild for cash.
But Geun-hwa shook his head, crushing Jeong-hyeon's last hope.
"I'm truly sorry, but... the guild has no cash reserves left. And with no mining bonus, it's tough."
"Then equipment instead of money...?"
"I wouldn't mind, but production would revolt."
Then what was he supposed to do!
The words nearly burst out, but Geun-hwa couldn't help it either.
His position in the guild must have shrunk considerably since seriously considering resignation.
"...Can't be helped."
In the end, Jeong-hyeon was stuck with the pickaxe.
And since he had it anyway.
He planned to squeeze every bit of value out of it.
'Tsk, from tomorrow, monsters better walk around with steel plates on their heads.'
Stress from the pickaxe? Vent it with the pickaxe!
And he had one more demand for Vice Guild.
No cash, no gear? Fine.
"Please promote this gate clear big-time on Vice Guild's behalf."
"What do you...?"
"Like, 'With assistance from HJH Gate Office, we took down two Grand Mantises in a Level 5 gate and cleared the Mission Gate.'"
"Pardon? What did you just say?"
Compensation via publicity.
But Geun-hwa was stunned by Jeong-hyeon's calm demand.
As Vice Guild Master, he knew well about Grand Mantises—the field bosses in Level 6 mine gates that gave endless headaches.
He hadn't heard internal details yet due to the pickaxe fiasco, but Grand Mantises appeared?
Two of them?
'No way. Maybe they misidentified them?'
Enhanced Mantises could fool them.
Jeong-hyeon had never fought one, nor had the guild members up close.
If two real Grand Mantises had appeared, how could they have survived?
But Jeong-hyeon stared at the shocked Geun-hwa and added nonchalantly.
"What, surprised over that? They even used magic."
"Pardon?"
"Harad. Took it off their bodies."
*'Oh right, that too.'*
Shock upon shock.
Magic-using monsters.
Sure, some existed, but Grand Mantises casting magic? That was nightmare fuel.
"So, you'll promote it, right?"
But if true?
Surviving those, and Jeong Hyeon was sulking over a mere pickaxe artifact?
Geun-hwa's mind went blank.