Chapter 30
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Red Flower (2)
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“Uh…”
I swallowed hard.
I didn’t know what to say.
The brooch in Sancheon’s hand was definitely made from a Bloodflow Stone.
The stone’s unique crimson light was still pulsing in the center of the brooch.
The problem was…
“It’s pretty… sir.”
Why did it have to be a pretty brooch?
It was even shaped like a flower, with overlapping rose petals.
Yes, a brooch that looked like it belonged to someone who’d shout, ‘Magical girl, transform!’
“I’ve never had much of a knack for this sort of thing. Still, I’m glad you think it’s pretty.”
Sancheon didn’t seem to grasp my true meaning.
Not if the proud look on his face as he wiped his forehead with one hand was any indication.
“Mister.”
Finally, Sanarae, who was standing beside me, spoke up.
“The item made from the Bloodflow Stone flown in from LA was A+-Rank, right? A BF Gun for killing Cataclysm-grade monsters, no less. But you said this was something much better? What are you going to do if you really get torn to shreds for this?”
“Guild Leader, I’m fine, please calm down.”
Even so, using a word like ‘torn to shreds’ just because he didn’t make an item properly seemed a bit much.
Of course, I understood why Sanarae was reacting so strongly.
She was the one who had introduced this blacksmith, staking her own credibility on him.
And the result of that credibility was this pretty little brooch.
“There’s an old saying.”
But Sancheon just smiled cryptically and placed the brooch in my hand.
“*Wù qǔ yǐ mào*. It means don’t judge something by its appearance.”
Hmm.
If he was going to put it that way.
I glanced at the Sage next to me, who was eyeing the item with interest.
Thankfully, the Sage understood my look immediately.
[Acquired item information through the Sage's Special Analysis.]
A status window popped up before my eyes, and new information began to scroll down.
“Ah.”
And just like that.
I understood why Sancheon had been so confident.
[Brooch of Glory - S-Rank]
[A summoned creature bestowed with this brooch will never betray you, even in death.]
[A brooch that can be bestowed upon a summoned creature. The bestowed creature gains All Stats +10 and becomes completely immune to mental manipulation status effects such as 'Charm' and 'Confusion.' If worn by a human, only half of the stat increase is applied.]
An increase of 10 to all stats was nothing to scoff at.
That alone was on par with an A-Rank item.
But the next effect was what truly astounded me.
‘Complete immunity.’
Resistance and complete immunity were two different things.
Resistance only increased one’s ability to withstand an effect.
It just made it easier to endure.
You would still take a minuscule amount of damage.
But complete immunity meant all damage and debuff effects were nullified.
‘Even the blessing I received from the Divine Seat only raised my resistance.’
The condition that it was only for summoned creatures wasn't a restriction at all.
Tamed monsters were the most vulnerable to brainwashing magic like Charm.
Considering how often you heard news in this line of work about hunters being killed by their own brainwashed monsters…
Besides, over eighty percent of my combat power came from my summons.
When they grew stronger, so did I.
“Ha.”
My mouth fell open on its own.
Sancheon looked at me and nodded.
“Unlike other byproducts, a Bloodflow Stone already contains its inherent form within it. And that inherent form is actually decided the moment it comes into the hands of its first owner.”
In other words, the Bloodflow Stone’s ability was determined the moment it came into my possession.
Sancheon had simply processed it into an item to maximize its efficiency.
“I was originally going to just shape it and give it to you, but it seemed a bit plain. So I used a little of my own power.”
Which meant the rose design was Sancheon’s idea.
…Maybe you shouldn’t have used your power, sir.
I swallowed the words that were about to escape my throat.
Sancheon looked genuinely pleased with himself.
“Thank you, Mr. Sancheon.”
So I clutched the brooch and bowed my head.
“Not at all. I should be the one thanking you for giving me the chance to work with such a fine material. And for the first time… I feel like I’ve surpassed my own limits.”
“Surpassed your limits…”
It was Sanarae who reacted to Sancheon’s murmur.
She, who had been silently watching our conversation, suddenly spoke with a slightly surprised expression.
“Are you saying this brooch is an S-Rank item?”
“I’d have to get it appraised to know the exact rank… but I think it probably is. What’s with that look, you punk.”
“Still, that’s just shameless. Calling this an S-Rank item… Do you think S-Ranks are a joke?”
“It’s just a feeling, a feeling!”
I watched Sancheon and Sanarae bicker with a smile.
Sancheon had only crafted the Bloodflow Stone into a wearable item.
Naturally, he wouldn’t have been able to confirm the item’s rank.
But he had sensed it instinctively.
That this brooch was the most magnificent piece he had ever created.
“You’re right.”
I nodded, the brooch still in my hand.
The two, who had been arguing until that moment, turned to look at me simultaneously.
“I’m certain it’s an S-Rank item, too.”
“…You are?”
On Sancheon’s rugged face.
“That’s a relief.”
For the first time, a bright smile appeared.
* * *
“It’s been a while.”
On the way out of Mullae-dong.
Sanarae spoke as she took a sip of her iced Americano.
“What has?”
“Seeing that man smile so brightly.”
Sanarae’s dark black eyes turned to me.
“And asking someone for a favor.”
A favor.
—In the future, if you get any more good byproducts… well… try to bring them to me if you can.
Before we left the workshop, Sancheon had said that, scratching his beard.
I told him I would.
“I’m a little hurt.”
Sanarae said, looking up at the sky.
It was a sky painted with a beautiful red sunset.
“It seems like he likes you more than me, Mr. Hanul. He stopped showing me that kind of smile a long time ago.”
He used to be such a nice man, but he got cranky as he got older.
Her voice was as dry as a withered leaf.
It seemed to hold a hint of resentment.
“I don’t think that’s it.”
And so, I said those words.
“Hm?”
“There’s something I’d like to ask you.”
“Go ahead.”
“Does Mr. Sancheon have a daughter?”
“A daughter?”
A slight frown formed between Sanarae’s brows.
“Hmm… No. As far as I know, he’s single. He’s not the type to start a family.”
“I see.”
I nodded.
—I figured my daughter would be very sad if I died.
Sancheon had said that when his life was hanging by a thread.
And he had no daughter of his own blood.
“It’s true. Mr. Sancheon likes you much more than he likes me, Guild Leader.”
My voice was full of conviction.
Sanarae looked a little flustered.
But she quickly broke into a smile.
It wasn’t her usual languid smile, the one that made her look as if she were drunk.
It was a brilliant smile that shone even under the red sunset.
Her black hair, which cascaded down to her waist, swayed like silk.
“Mr. Hanul.”
“Yes.”
“I’m the type of person who can’t stand being indebted to anyone. So, if you ever need my help, I hope you’ll let me know.”
“I’m the type to pile on the weights no matter how heavy they are. Are you sure you’re okay with that?”
A playful reply, hinting that I might make an absurd request without a second thought.
“Of course.”
Sanarae nodded with a languid smile.
“By the way, Mr. Hanul, there’s something I want to ask you, too.”
“Ask away.”
Her eyes were still fixed on the flower-shaped brooch in my hand.
“Is your ability something like… magical boy transformation?”
“What transformation?”
For a moment, I had no idea what this woman was talking about.
Then I saw where her gaze was directed.
“…Absolutely not.”
I denied it more vehemently than I had ever denied anything in my entire life.
* * *
After parting ways with Sanarae, I didn’t go back to my studio apartment.
Instead, I climbed the mountain behind my neighborhood.
Perhaps because my stats had increased exponentially,
I wasn’t out of breath at all when I reached the observatory at the summit after thirty minutes.
*Boing.*
As I stepped onto the observatory, the Sage beside me bounced up and down.
“The view is killer, right?”
The nightscape viewed from the mountaintop was beautiful.
I used to do a lot of thinking up here.
My biggest worries were always about the future and my career path.
But not anymore.
A clear future was now laid out before me.
I gazed at the colorful nightscape, then shifted my eyes to the status window near my chest.
[Conditions for the skill 「Conversation with the Lord」 have been met. * Crafted an S-Rank or higher item from monster byproducts 1/1]
[You can now cast the skill 「Conversation with the Lord」.]
And meeting the Lord was something I absolutely had to do to plan my future.
“Sage, you think everything will be okay?”
*Boing.*
The Sage bounced up and down.
I let out a small laugh.
I was about to converse with the being who was the source of my abilities.
Something was bound to happen.
And yet, the Sage bounced around with its eyes wide, as if telling me not to worry.
I found it endearing and couldn't help but smile.
“Alright.”
My mind felt much more at ease.
[Casting 「Conversation with the Lord」.]
As I touched my earlobe, a dry text flashed by.
[The Dream Lord has accepted your request.]
[You can now link with the Lord's Castle to check information at any time.]
Immediately after, a new pixelated window appeared.
[Dream Lord's Castle Interior - Audience Chamber]
It was a window that looked like an enlarged view of just the Audience Chamber from the Lord's Castle.
Pillars lined both sides, and a red velvet carpet ran down the middle.
At the end of the velvet carpet sat a plain, gray throne.
And on that throne sat the pixelated image of the Lord.
The butler who was usually by her side was nowhere to be seen.
“Hmm.”
Honestly, I was a little disappointed.
I had expected that the moment I activated Conversation with the Lord, a new world would open up before me, as if I were entering a dungeon.
But considering everything that had happened since linking with ‘MonMonMak’…
This made more sense.
“So, how am I supposed to talk?”
At my murmur, a pixelated window suddenly popped up.
That’s right.
Not a response from the Lord, but a pixelated window.
[Greet her?]
1. Greet her.
2. Don't greet her.
“?”
No way.
The choices were still flashing before my eyes.
I pressed 1, and a new pixelated window appeared.
[You waved your hand in greeting.]
Then, the Lord responded.
A pixelated speech bubble rose from the pixelated image of the female knight on the throne.
[Hello.]
“…”
I was surprised by how incredibly normal the female knight’s way of speaking was.
She was a ‘Lord,’ after all.
It wouldn’t have been strange if she had said something like, ‘Welcome,’ or ‘It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.’
I had even braced myself for something like, ‘How dare a lowly being like you crawl all the way here!’
But the Lord’s speech was much more normal.
The problem, however…
[What topic shall we discuss?]
1. Status of the Lord's Castle Monsters
2. Status of the Lord's Castle Items
3. Status of the Lord's Castle Durability
4. Simple pleasantries
…was the pixelated window that appeared between us.
There was a mountain of things I wanted to find out through this conversation with the Lord.
But none of the questions I wanted to ask were among the four choices.
“This is a ‘Conversation with the Lord’…?”
It was worlds apart from the conversation I had imagined.
For one, I never dreamed that even the conversation itself would be conducted like a pixelated RPG.
Just in case, I tapped option 1.
[You asked about the status of the Lord's Castle monsters.]
[There are currently twenty-three monsters residing in the Lord's Castle. Goblin Slaves, Ogre Berserkers, a Lizardman High Priest, and…]
“No, stop, stop.”
My god.
This was just the system giving me information in a conversational format.
[You asked about the status of the Lord's Castle items.]
[The spoils from the last two waves remain untouched. You need to quickly construct a Special Production Room to utilize the spoils. Most spoils disappear after a certain amount of time.]
Still, as I reluctantly continued asking questions, I did learn some things I hadn’t known before.
[You asked about the Lord's Castle's durability.]
[The Lord's Castle is currently damaged from the last wave. We are doing our best to repair it, but full restoration will take two days. Supplementing with additional magic stones will speed up the repairs.]
Things like how to use the spoils, or how the magic stones obtained from killing monsters were used.
But these were just tips.
[What topic shall we discuss?]
4. Simple pleasantries
I was down to the last option.
All that was left was simple pleasantries.
It was a meaningless choice, really.
But it felt like a waste to end it here, so I tapped it with my finger.
[You asked about her well-being.]
[I'm doing well.]
“Of course you are.”
What reason would a Lord have for not doing well?
Just as I was staring at the pixelated window with a bitter expression…
[I'm doing really well. Though we have run out of food. We've been getting by on Half-drake steaks until now, but we ran out of meat yesterday. So this morning, I tried making bone broth with the skeleton knight's horse bones. It was edible enough, so I was thinking of sharing it with the others…]
“?”
The Lord’s speech bubble grew longer.