Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Prototype Armor
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Chapter 92
As expected, Jeong-hyeon opened his eyes the next morning.
When he groggily lifted his eyelids, the synergy he had anticipated was activated without fail.
[Trait Synergy, 『Basics of Magic Usage』(C) applied.
The sensitivity of 「Useful Mana Sensitivity」 is greatly increased.
When enchanting with 「Clear Magic Imbuement」, the possibility of attribute-specific additional effects manifesting is added. Special attribute, 'Null(無) Attribute' enchantment becomes possible.
However, Null Attribute has no additional effects.]
"Agh..."
But joy was joy, and pain was pain.
If his body had been up to it, he would have let out a cheer of delight, but since he couldn't, all he managed was a faint smile while clutching his waist and groaning.
Somehow, he had even reached a magic synergy.
Moreover, magic traits seemed relatively easy to combine for synergies going forward.
Wouldn't it just be a matter of continuing to match elemental series from here?
'For now, Mana Sensitivity boost... That's obviously good to have. As for Magic Imbuement, what's a Null Attribute enchantment?'
Jeong-hyeon carefully examined the synergy's effects.
The most important aspect of Mana Sensitivity traits was, without a doubt, sensitivity to mana.
Since that sensitivity formed the foundation of magic, boosting it would benefit the use of other magic traits down the line.
As for Magic Imbuement, he'd have to test the additional effects himself, but the Null Attribute was unexpected.
The attributes typically associated with Magic Imbuement were the basic four elements and other attributes found in nature.
As rank and level increased—and as individuals put in effort to handle other attributes—they could wield an ever-growing array.
That's why famous Magic Imbuement hunters were often known for their signature special attributes, much like their namesakes.
Yet strangely, he had never heard of a Null Attribute.
'Is it just infusing regular mana, like I did a few times before on Black or the mace during hunts?'
But that didn't quite fit, or they wouldn't bother naming it 'Null(無) Attribute'.
It could have simply been described as infusing plain mana like an attribute.
That meant he'd only know what attribute it truly was after using it in combat, though he did have a hunch.
'Then is Null Attribute a perk exclusive to synergies?'
It might sound a bit self-important, but Jeong-hyeon was convinced it was.
He had already experienced a perk available only through synergy.
Namely, the attack path visualization from the Combat Sense trait.
Combat Sense merely heightened bodily senses to intuitively predict attack directions and power.
It didn't make them visible as red lines like it did for him.
Of course, since it was his first synergy, he had been skeptical at first and even posted a question on Hunter Net.
- Guys, I got Combat Sense trait, does it normally show enemy attacks as red lines or what?
The responses were brutal.
- Aggro noob
- You see that? Must be weak sauce. Oh, drugs of course.
- Mine's Palace Vision trait. I can see into your mind. Full of shit.
Among synergy effects, some simply enhanced the base trait's performance.
Others provided special effects impossible with the trait alone.
Jeong-hyeon believed this Null Attribute enchantment fell into the latter category.
- R r r
As he was reviewing his new synergy, a message arrived on Jeong-hyeon's phone.
- Supreme Forge here. The prototype for your commissioned order is complete. Please come pick it up.
He had given them his number when dropping off the Demi Drake leather, asking them to contact him upon completion. It seemed the prototype was ready.
'About half a month?'
Calculating it out, it had taken a bit longer.
It might seem long, but given the volume of leather needing full processing from scratch—plus training Yujeong—it was actually quite fast.
"Today... no, tomorrow it is."
His current armor was basically ruined anyway.
With perfect timing for new gear, he needed to pick it up as soon as possible.
Even as a prototype, anything touched by Doil's hands would be top-tier.
Worst case, if he didn't like it, he could use it temporarily since prototypes couldn't be sold anyway.
Plus, he had business at the Association anyway.
Of course, only after the lingering adaptation pain fully subsided.
***
"I'm here for the prototype."
"Oh, you've come?"
Inside the Association workshop, at Supreme Forge.
When Jeong-hyeon stated his business and entered, Yujeong was minding the shop as usual.
The surprising part was how much brighter her expression was compared to his previous visit.
Just as Jeong-hyeon started feeling puzzled, Doil emerged from the back.
"Heh heh. I thought you'd come right away yesterday, but here you are today. Come on in."
"Ah, yesterday I had some business..."
Jeong-hyeon scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed.
He couldn't exactly say he'd been bedridden all day from adaptation pain aftereffects.
'Something feels off about the vibe.'
But Jeong-hyeon tilted his head watching Doil brush off his words and head back inside.
Normally, there'd be a response or some reaction, but disappearing without a word like that?
Plus, 'I thought you'd come right away yesterday' felt oddly candid for Doil's personality.
He rarely showed emotions so openly.
"What are you doing? Hurry up and come in."
It wasn't just Doil.
Yujeong glanced at him once before scurrying after her grandfather—far from the demeanor Jeong-hyeon remembered.
'Well, we've only met a few times.'
He had been in her debt since early in his hunter career, but they weren't exactly longtime acquaintances.
Thinking this was just a side he hadn't seen, Jeong-hyeon followed them deeper into the forge.
"Uh... how far in do we go?"
But oddly, Doil and Yujeong kept going endlessly inward.
He figured they'd stop at the low-grade gear area where he usually browsed.
They breezed past it, heading even deeper.
They even passed the spot where he'd eyed Ye-rin's gear.
Browsing high-grade items was fun, but venturing so much deeper than expected started feeling eerie.
He hadn't realized this seemingly small shop hid such vast space inside.
"Heh heh, just a bit further."
Doil just chuckled at Jeong-hyeon's question and kept walking.
Finally, they arrived at a space less like a display area and more like a workshop for crafting gear.
It seemed spacious enough, but shelves lining the walls and fabrication tools made it feel cramped for three people.
And most importantly, in the center of that tight space stood a single suit of armor.
"Uh... is that it by any chance?"
Jeong-hyeon's voice trembled slightly.
He had come after hearing the armor prototype was done, and this was the only armor here.
Still, he couldn't quite believe it was his commissioned piece.
"You got another suit of armor lying around or what?"
Yujeong's scolding tone.
But unlike her sharp words, her face beamed.
Like a parent proud of their child.
"Yes. This is the Demi Drake leather armor from the leather you brought, Hunter."
"Good lord..."
It really was.
Jeong-hyeon gaped blankly, taking in the armor.
No fancy store lighting to make it shine, yet the Demi Drake leather armor stood proudly in the room's center.
The scales, preserved intact from its disassembled state, gleamed with their natural sheen.
It retained its inherent beauty while the finishing was flawless—smooth and sturdy without a single rough edge.
The lining looked a bit unusual too.
"The lining's a different material?"
"Making it single-layer Drake leather would make it unwearable. We lined it with Rettle Sheep wool."
"Gasp!"
That explained the soft yet elastic feel.
Rettle Sheep came from 3-level gates. Aside from powerful hind kicks, they weren't too dangerous, but wool fabric from them outperformed existing materials in nearly every way, making it highly sought after.
Thus, despite being low-level monsters, their wool fetched prices rivaling two levels higher.
In other words, insanely expensive material.
Watching Jeong-hyeon's shocked reaction, Yujeong boasted.
"You brought more leather than expected, so we added this as a special service. Other products will use lower-grade linings."
"Uh... you mean?"
Just for this one?
The implication wasn't small, so Jeong-hyeon raised his tone at the end.
Doil nodded, affirming his guess.
"Precisely for the piece Hunter Jeong-hyeon will use. If you don't like it, no helping it, but even as a prototype, I vouch for this one."
It could be used as-is without issue.
He had planned to anyway, but he hadn't expected Doil's endorsement. Jeong-hyeon's face lit up even more.
As expected, it wasn't just flashy on the outside—the craftsmanship was top-notch.
Doil added, however,
"Being undead leather, it's a step below live specimen hides. Still, it'll serve you well for the time being."
Jeong-hyeon nodded as if he had anticipated it.
Demi Drakes weren't 5-level gate monsters.
Likely nerfed as undead, allowing it as a boss.
Thus, byproducts would naturally be lower quality than originals.
"Honestly, I can barely tell. The hunters who helped take it down will love it."
"Yujeong picked up leatherworking faster than expected. Heh heh."
"Grandpa!"
Yujeong blushed at Doil's praise.
He couldn't know her exact contribution to this prototype, but since most processes were hers, she must have put in serious effort.
It was leagues beyond the items from his first visit.
'No way... in just four months? Is she a genius too?'
Yujeong's talent might exceed imagination.
He grew fast thanks to cheat traits, but she probably had none.
After some pleasantries.
Jeong-hyeon took the packaged armor and, since he was there, bought a new mace too.
He had Black for daggers, upgraded once with Dorano Mine ore, but the mace was still plain Marium.
Fortunately, a Doranium version in similar design was available for immediate purchase.
Quality was top-shelf, needless to say.
'If you ignore the 40 million won price tag...'
Of course, the premium price hit his bank account hard.
Without the Kraken Boar tentacle sales, he might have fallen short.
"Oh, and please share this with your granddaughter later."
"Hm? What's this?"
"Kraken Boar tentacles. Good for health, and pretty tasty."
He didn't forget to hand over the two Kraken Boar tentacles he had brought.
"Heh heh, no need for this..."
"You gotta stay healthy long-term to keep making gear for me."
Doil initially startled at 'monster tentacles', but soon smiled and accepted them.
He had given what he intended and received what was due—business at the workshop was done.
But he still had Association matters.
"Hmm... Might be okay now."
Muttering to himself, Jeong-hyeon left Supreme Forge and walked on.