Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Supreme Forge
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The next day, Jeong-hyeon finally stepped out of the house, his body feeling much better.
Perhaps because he'd been bedridden for so long, he even felt lighter than usual.
He could easily jog all the way to the Association.
But as he faced the massive main gate of the Hunter Association, Jeong-hyeon couldn't help glancing around cautiously.
"I hope I don't run into her."
The person Jeong-hyeon feared was none other than Cha Ye-rin.
He'd been thoroughly chewed out when writing his report last time, so he worried about the bad luck of bumping into her again.
"She doesn't seem like a bad person, but her vibe rubs me the wrong way."
She probably wasn't ill-natured.
The problem was, regardless of good or bad, he couldn't read her at all.
His instincts made him want to steer clear.
Fortunately(?), Cha Ye-rin was nowhere in sight.
In a bustling Association full of people coming and going, running into a department head by chance would actually be the weird part.
Jeong-hyeon passed the main building with unusually careful steps.
He finally arrived at the workshop.
"Whoa, this place exists?"
The massive workshop, hidden behind the even larger Association headquarters.
Windows were scarce on the exterior—likely designed to block the inevitable noise from crafting.
Yet unlike a factory, the building's design was quite stylish.
It was worlds apart from the shabby rental shop where Park Cheol-yong worked.
Clang- Clang-
As soon as he stepped inside, a deafening racket assaulted Jeong-hyeon's ears, as expected.
There were few customers, but the clamor alone evoked a lively marketplace.
He scanned the interior next.
The overall vibe was,
"Huh... kinda like a gym."
No, more like a traditional market.
Of course, the difference was that every item on display was hunter gear.
- No. 1: Specialized for Dongman
- No. 2: Suyeon Gear
- No. 3: Gangjin Custom
Small signs hung above each stall.
Even the entrances were numbered sequentially.
As Jeong-hyeon ventured deeper, the elderly shopkeepers' eyes locked onto him.
'Why are they staring?'
It wasn't hawking for business, nor hostility toward a stranger.
Just those piercing gazes.
And Jeong-hyeon knew exactly what they meant.
'The "easy mark" look.'
Back when his parents had passed and he was scraping by alone as a kid, Jeong-hyeon had gone to markets to pinch pennies.
Whenever he entered a shop to buy something, the owners' faces usually looked just like that.
Not all of them, of course, but every single one with that glint ended up ripping him off later.
He only realized it after becoming a regular—a valuable lesson.
They'd toss in "extras" like they were doing him a favor, and he'd been grateful back then.
But it was just standard service!
Jeong-hyeon now understood why the Association workshop had such a stingy reputation.
"Hello."
"Welcome."
Wary but curious, he approached one of the stalls eyeing him.
It displayed the most popular, high-demand gear: D- to B-rank equipment.
"What rank are you looking for?"
A woman somewhere between middle-aged and elderly asked Jeong-hyeon.
He glanced around the stall before answering.
"Got anything around E-rank?"
"Oh, low-grades are in the back."
Surprisingly spacious inside, despite appearances.
With bulky gear taking up space, it seemed designed that way from the start.
Plain pieces, flashy ones—plenty of variety.
But she pointed to the farthest corner, items that looked caked in dust.
"Check over there. Low-grades don't sell well here."
She'd pegged him as a low-profit customer.
Never particularly friendly, now she seemed utterly indifferent.
For Jeong-hyeon, it meant browsing in peace—not a bad deal.
'Hmm... Tadan orc leather? This quality would be fine.'
He pulled out a standout breastplate and examined it closely.
Tadan orc leather was a step below Ropu orc hide from online shops, but still decent.
Lighter and softer, even—plenty bought it instead of seeking Ropu.
"How much for the full set?"
Jeong-hyeon held up the armor toward the woman.
She glanced over and replied.
"Normally 1,500, but it's been sitting forever—1,200."
Definitely cheap.
Ropu orc armor online ran 1,700; this was attractive, even.
But never take a merchant at face value.
With smart haggling, he could drop it to 1,000—maybe lower if he pushed.
No price tags, and if it was stale inventory as claimed, there was room to bargain.
Just buy it?
He hesitated, then shook his head and returned it.
'Still too rough.'
Leather needed regular maintenance.
This hadn't seen any since crafting.
Slightly better than Park Cheol-yong's rental junk.
No preservation treatment either—condition spoke for itself.
Next, weapons: swords, blunts, bows—a few of each.
'Main weapon's covered with the mace for now.'
He picked up a dagger set.
Aged badly, but craftsmanship seemed solid.
"Which mine's this from?"
"Hmm... Direto Mine."
Hunter ores from Earth were hopelessly inadequate.
Nearly all came from mine-type gates.
Jeong-hyeon wasn't an expert, but he knew top mines by reputation.
Direto was mid-tier.
Fine for E-rank weapons.
But he set the daggers down too—solid product, terrible state.
A bit longer, and rust would set in.
Jeong-hyeon gave a quick goodbye and left.
The owner didn't bother stopping him.
'Got the vibe now.'
This market wasn't for low-rank hunters.
Items looked high-quality at a glance; the crafters here were likely the "elders" from online comments.
So, naturally, high-rank hunters were the focus—custom orders over walk-ins.
True to his guess, every sign featured "Custom Orders."
'No wonder it's stuck in a rut.'
Even the "ordinary" owners were probably loaded.
No need to bother with a total newbie like Jeong-hyeon.
Still, he wandered the workshop more.
Every market hid at least one gem shop.
Somewhere, there'd be a place handling low-rank gear properly, even cheaply.
After walking a while, Jeong-hyeon paused.
"Huh?"
His eyes fixed on one stall.
- No. 33: Supreme Forge
'What’s with that name?'
Impossible to ignore.
Most names were owners' or family—maybe "Original" or "Best" at a stretch.
'Supreme'?
Practically a challenge.
And the keeper was a woman about Jeong-hyeon's age.
In that moment, he got why MyTV thumbnails were so clickbaity.
'Can't pass this up.'
Content be damned—you had to click.
"Welcome!"
Her reaction differed from prior stalls too.
Most showed faint disappointment at his ragged look.
She seemed thrilled, bowing deeply.
'What?'
Jeong-hyeon was more flustered.
Probably helping grandpa, grandma, or parents.
Common in markets.
But glancing at her hands, he was surprised.
Calluses, thick and tough.
'Not just sales help.'
Adjusting his thoughts, he asked—explaining her unique vibe.
"Where's the low-rank gear?"
"Oh, inside over there."
She even seemed more excited at the question?
As he moved, she followed.
Low-ranks tucked in corners? Same as others.
But a glaring difference.
"Quite a selection?"
"Yeah! Probably the most low-rank stock in the whole workshop."
Unlike dust-choked rivals, everything here gleamed—regularly maintained.
Eye candy, at least.
Eyeing her hands, Jeong-hyeon probed.
"You make them yourself?"
"Yes! Grandpa does high-ranks, but low-ranks—weapons aside—I handle most... Ahem, anyway."
Spot on.
She'd blurted extra in excitement.
Jeong-hyeon smiled inwardly at her hasty cough.
Even if the owner was cocky with "Supreme," helping grandkids suggested decency.
Crafting pride influenced family too.
Hopeful, Jeong-hyeon lifted an armor piece.
Same Tadan orc leather as the first stall.
"Oh, that's Tadan orc leather—joints loosened for mobility. Set price is..."
Ignoring her eager pitch, he set it down.
Next: Red goblin leather, upper-mid for goblins.
"That's Red goblin hide—dyed brown since some hate red. Definitely softer than stiff orc..."
But he dropped it mid-sentence.
This repeated a few times.
Finally, she snapped.
"Excuse me, are you just gonna browse silently like that?"
Jeong-hyeon stared straight at her face.
"W-What!"
Sure, ignored effort stung—but he hadn't asked for explanations.
Slightly wronged, yet he understood.
Less dismissed pitch, more rejected work.
"How long have you been crafting?"
"Huh? Why ask?"
"The leather prep's off."
"What?"
Her face flushed crimson.
Clear pride in her craft.
Not bad.
Who trusts gear even the maker doubts?
But facing flaws was key.
Prior stalls: poor condition, flawless quality.
This: opposite.
To Jeong-hyeon's ear for crafting—from workshop eavesdropping—flaws didn't suit "Supreme."
"Most hides over-tanned. Edge coats too thick, stitching uneven..."
Her face looked ready to erupt.
No first-time customer expected such critique—especially familiar gripes.
"Then don't buy—"
"Heh heh heh, young man knows his gear."
Just as she nearly booted him, a white-haired grandpa emerged.
Only then did Jeong-hyeon grasp "Supreme."
Long beard like wuxia tales, topknot, deep clear eyes, wrinkle-free skin, perfected hanbok flourish.
'A real supreme master?'
Jeong-hyeon sensed something special.