What Kind of Dorm Is This?!
“What kind of dorm is this?!”
“Isn't it a dorm?”
“Yeah, it is! A dorm for people affiliated with the Association!”
I'd carefully laid the unconscious Lee Ji-yoon on the bed when Uncle Tae-ho's furious shout echoed through the room.
After Sublime Transcendent had left.
I'd brought Lee Ji-yoon here to the Association dorms, her unconscious from the aftereffects of Strong Body.
Why? 'It's safe here.'
We needed to prevent another incident like today, where Oh Chae-rin or someone from Mad Dog might come looking for her.
No matter how much of a Korean express psycho Oh Chae-rin was, she wouldn't dare snoop around the Association dorms crawling with veteran players.
If only you had as much hair as your temper, 'Sung Hyun-sook' pities you with shining eyes! ♡
“Whoa... it's so big...”
Meanwhile, Lee Ji-yoon's little brother was gawking around the dorm interior in awe.
Maybe because I'd saved his life?
'He's not even my little brother, but I feel oddly attached.'
I ruffled the hair of the wide-eyed kid.
“What do you think? Pretty great, right? And if you stay here, free food just keeps coming.”
“Wow...”
“Skip piano lessons for a while. Hang out with your sister and eat your fill here—”
Right in the middle of this important talk, an unwelcome guest barged in.
“Hold it, you brat! I haven't said yes yet!”
Uncle was extra pissy today.
That message wasn't wrong, but if I said it to his face, I'd be soup, Mom.
I glanced sympathetically at Lee Ji-yoon, burning up with fever.
“She's got a complicated situation. Can't you help her out a bit, Uncle?”
“I've tried to grant every request you've made so far, but not this time! You're involved too! I can't let non-Association people stay in the dorms...!”
Veins bulging in his neck as he ranted, Uncle suddenly trailed off and looked down.
Where his gaze fell?
“Grandpa...”
Lee Ji-yoon's little brother clutched Uncle's sleeve tight, his squirrel-like eyes glistening wet.
“...Are you gonna kick us out?”
“......”
And just like that, Lee Ji-yoon and her brother were bunking at the Association dorms for the time being.
What a pure little fox, 'Sung Hyun-sook' shows awe! ♡
The moment morning broke, I headed to the 'Item Center' in Heukseok-dong.
This street, lined with display cases, was packed with rare items you couldn't find at the Association's 'Player Market'.
“Of course, nothing as rare as Pandora's Box here either.”
Then why'd you come here all of a sudden? 'Sung Hyun-sook' questions! ♡
“You'll see.”
Passing luxurious shops like high-end department stores, I headed to the deepest part of the center.
Soon enough,
“This the place?”
I spotted a rundown building that felt like it belonged to another world.
A crooked wooden sign over the small front gate read:
“...Pride sure is something.”
But I knew it wasn't just bluff.
My high Sense stat had been picking up the sturdy barrier aura enveloping the shabby building.
“A top-grade barrier that could tank a nuke, hidden this discreetly.”
This place might be safer than a shelter.
“Lives up to the hype.”
I smirked, recalling the owner.
'Korea's third S-rank player. Jung Sun-ah.'
She's the undisputed master artisan in the item-making world.
And as renowned as she is, she's just as hard to meet.
Like this.
“I've brought enough money to satisfy you!”
“Please let me in! I have an urgent commission!”
“I flew here from abroad ready to give you my entire fortune! Just open the door!”
Foreigners from all over crowded the front gate, pleading desperately.
All here to commission gear from Jung Sun-ah after hearing her fame.
“But things aren't going their way, huh.”
A cheerful woman's voice came from the intercom on the wall.
> How many times do I have to say it? I'm not interested in money.
“Th-then...?”
> Tell me exactly what item you want me to work on.
“A top-grade famous sword that can cleave monsters in one stroke...”
> Go home carefully.
In the end, the crowd dispersed cursing.
She seems kinda annoying, 'Sung Hyun-sook' feels displeased! ♡
“She's annoying, alright.”
Hard to find an S-rank as bad as her, but Jung Sun-ah takes the cake.
As you can see, her personality's a mess.
“She'll turn you down flat if the commission doesn't spark joy, no matter how much cash you flash.”
But I had no intention of wasting my morning.
I walked up to the now-deserted workshop and pressed the intercom button.
> What day is it today? Keep bothering me... Huh? You?
A whistle came through the intercom.
> Isn't this the legendary son who's the hottest thing lately? This is unexpected.
“Nice to meet you. Hwang Jae-min.”
> I know. Who in Korea doesn't know 'Hwang Jae-min' these days? So, what brings the legendary son to my workshop?
“Here to commission some item crafting.”
> ...Here to joke around?
I was dead serious, but she didn't seem to buy it.
Fair enough.
> Commission or whatever... You're empty-handed, aren't you? No inventory-type artifact either...
“If it's an inventory-type artifact, isn't this one right here?”
Jingle.
I leaned close to the intercom camera and dangled Igor's Necklace around my neck flauntingly.
No immediate reply...
'Why do I feel like I can see Jung Sun-ah's face clearly right now?'
She's probably squinting at the monitor, face pressed close.
And sure enough.
Jung Sun-ah was skeptical.
> Uh... You're saying that necklace is an inventory-type artifact?
“As expected of a master artisan recognized worldwide. You saw right.”
> ...I've been at this for years, but I've never heard of an inventory-type artifact shaped like a necklace. First time hearing it.
No wonder.
Igor's Necklace is a reward only from maxing out the 'Reverse Dungeon', and I'm the only one who's done it so far.
“Don't believe me? Don't. ...I wouldn't want to waste a master's precious time on something like this anyway.”
I shrugged and turned away, letting go of the necklace.
Classic push-pull even a kid would recognize, but it was bait she couldn't ignore.
> W-wait!
I wiped the smirk off my face at the desperate voice from behind and turned back to the intercom.
“What's up?”
> N-no... I said it's unheard of, not that I don't believe you. Man, like mother like son—such a hothead.
How gentle is my personality for her to spout such rude nonsense? 'Sung Hyun-sook' stomps the floor! ♡
I ignored Mom's classic words-vs-actions mismatch as the firmly shut gate—impregnable fortress—creaked open wide.
Huh, faster than I expected.
“Thought you'd want a demo of the necklace before letting me in.”
> I want to see it with my own eyes. Not through this crappy camera. Hurry up and come in! Isn't it cold out there?
Cold? Thinking about what you're about to do for me warms my heart right up.
Every player who's visited leaves the same impression.
Like arriving on treasure island.
'No wonder.'
The exterior was shabby, but inside? Dazzling.
Items crafted by the master herself everywhere.
Not a workshop—a museum of century-defining art.
What a weird world.
“A VIP in a VIP spot.”
Faded yellow gym clothes, wild yellow-dyed hair.
...No matter how you slice it, she looked like a shut-in NEET, not the world's top artisan.
Jung Sun-ah, slouched crookedly in a gold-plated chair, tilted her head watching me browse the displays.
“What? Sit already.”
“Ah. Got lost sightseeing. As a player myself, hard to just pass by...”
“Heh. Everyone says the same. Oh, word of advice—eyes only. Too many hyenas eyeing my work.”
“They'd probably crap themselves trying to steal.”
“Couldn't anyway. All have advanced Weight enchantments. Even Choi Kwang-hyun couldn't lift 'em barehanded—”
Then.
She cut off, nose twitching.
The sword I'd been eyeing had vanished.
She straightened up instantly from her slouch.
“Wha—?!”
“Weight enchantment, huh... Lighter than 2 tons, at least.”
Igor's Necklace max load was 2 tons.
I used the necklace to return the sword.
“My god...”
To her, it looked sucked into my chest and spat back out.
Her light voice trembled.
“...That really an inventory-type artifact?”
“Sorry for messing with your work. But showing beats explaining a hundred times.”
“...Sit tight. I'll get tea.”
Her, famous for mooching tea from clients like offerings? Fresh.
Moments later.
“Ooh... Wow... Ohhh...”
She poked Igor's Necklace like a boy with a Christmas game console.
Ah, drool—yep, real drool.
*Slurp.* “Where'd you get this?”
“Dungeon.”
“Dungeon... My constellation's freaking out too. First artifact this efficient.”
Obviously—from a special dungeon transcending time, max performance only.
“...Ah. Almost forgot the point obsessing over this.”
She set the necklace down carefully, swallowed hard, and asked.
“You said item crafting commission? Spill. After this treat, I'll do anything—even junk jewelry.”
“Would I seek a master for junk?”
“Oho. So...?”
“A job no one else could dream of.”
Her excitement peaked.
“What is it?!”
“Well, but...”
Here, I genuinely hesitated.
Because what I was about to pull from Igor's Necklace was...
“Got any restraint skills?”
“Restraint? Sure.”
“Good...”
I stood slowly.
Moved far from displays.
As her 'What the hell?' gaze hit.
“Don't freak out.”
I pulled from the necklace one item... no, monster-like thing.
The Living Armor from the blue gate recently.
Whoosh!
Freed, it went berserk like a wolf off-leash.
“Gasp!”
Jung Sun-ah's eyes bulged at the self-moving armor.
But next instant.
“Crazy?!”
As it charged a display.
“Not that—!”
She couldn't just freeze.
Mysterious mana surged from her outstretched arms.
“Free Wall!”
Clang!
Transparent walls sprang up, trapping it instantly.
Air shimmered around it like heat haze.
'Handy in real combat too, but this level?'
Self-praise aside, S-ranks are monsters.
“Whew!”
She exhaled, staring at the trapped Living Armor.
It still jumped, pounding walls.
Her gaze deepened beyond curiosity.
Like...
“Process this into the ultimate armor. That's your commission?”
“...Yes.”
Victory hunger.
The look of someone facing a lifelong pride battle.
But,
“Too bad...”
She sighed, shaking her head.
What? Don't scare me.
“Wh-what's too bad?”
“Can't do it. That's why.”
“......”
What bullshit.
My head spun.
I came to you because no one else could.
“H-how? What's the problem...?”
“No misunderstanding. It's a loss for me. You're fine, legendary son.”
“Huh?”
“Wait outside? I'll call when done.”
This woman's getting revenge for the push-pull earlier, 'Sung Hyun-sook' swallows sweet potato! ♡
Total agreement, Mom.
She's been yanking my chain with cryptic crap.
As frustration boiled over,
“Says she's doing Strong Body.”
Jung Sun-ah blurted, looking annoyed.
I blinked blankly.
“...Strong Body?”
“Hammer and Anvil Sovereign. My constellation. Wants to borrow my body, ignite creation urge after ages. ...Damn, what is this? Never happened before.”
...Wait, what?
So her 'too bad' meant...
“Damn. My toy, snatched by constellation. Human woes.”
...She wanted to do it herself.
No—focus.
Holy shit.
Not her—her constellation crafting my armor personally?
“Hey, legendary son.”
In short, this is...
“You hit the jackpot today.”
Jackpot.