Chapter 31
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Leather Factory
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I couldn't hide my bewilderment at the unexpected stroke of luck unfolding before my eyes.
“This is how it turns out.”
The goblins in the boss room had been wiped out. Thanks to that, I could easily reach the goblin essence (dungeon crystal) that I'd thought would be tough to get for a while.
I grabbed the palm-sized essence.
[Goblin Essence Fragment (1/10)]
Unfortunately, it wasn't a complete essence—just a fragment. It looked like I needed to gather all ten fragments to finish it.
Well, it had seemed too small for a dungeon crystal from the start.
“Can I take this?”
This was the All-Kill Guild's dungeon. I had no idea how much one cost, but it had to be at least tens of billions. Was it really okay for me to wreck it on a whim?
[If a new dungeon crystal is added, the dungeon level will rise. A higher dungeon level increases total mana capacity, allows recording more dimensional travel points, and unlocks new rooms. Master.]
‘New room?’
I got the rest, but what did new rooms mean?
[It means creating spots to intercept intruders, like this place.]
‘Ah, so like building a fortress?’
I pictured walls blocking the path, with goblin throwers hurling stones from turrets overhead.
No clue if it'd play out that way, but it had to beat scrapping where the dungeon crystal sat.
“Let’s take it.”
All in all, grabbing it made more sense. Sorry to the All-Kill Guild for torching tens of billions, but survival trumped that.
And if you thought about it, most of their cash came from protection money squeezed from local merchants and folks.
Unjust gains anyway—call it reclaiming what was taken, and my conscience eased right up.
“Think of it as me covering what Lee Joo-hyuk stole from the kids.”
I stowed the dungeon crystal in my inventory. The dungeon rumbled as the void boundary contracted bit by bit. I bolted out before the passage sealed shut.
Back at Demon King's Castle, pulling out the new dungeon crystal sent the stone zipping to orbit the crystal like a satellite.
Experience jumped 10% on the spot, plus undistributed stat points.
[Cha In-hyeok. Lv 10. (24.2%)] [Mana 0/10]
[Strength 28, Agility 28, Vitality 30, Intelligence 28]
[Undistributed Stat Points: 2]
The dungeon status window now listed goblin essence too.
[Goblin Essence Fragment Mana 2/2]
[Goblin Essence Fragment added to dungeon crystal. Gain 2 mana. This mana is restricted to goblin recruitment or goblin-related skills.]
[Maintenance mana for goblins detected. Substituting with fragment mana.]
[Goblin Essence Fragment Mana 0/2]
[Cha In-hyeok. Lv 10. (24.2%)] [Mana 2/10]
‘Heh heh. Mana breathing room at last.’
The catch was goblin-only use, but free mana was free mana—good news.
The haul beat expectations; I grinned despite myself.
“Raid a goblin village gate and dungeon crystal, and that's 20% exp in one go?”
Meant soloing the boss room clean. Winning wasn't enough—a flawless ‘hunt’ with zero major damage.
‘How to take down a berserk goblin swarm unscratched.’
Party up with minions like All-Kill Guild seemed easy, but risking Demon King's Castle defenses? No thanks.
‘Just finish the goblin essence, and I'd have wiggle room…’
[Goblin Essence Fragment (1/10)]
Nine more fragments to go for completion—all from remaining goblin villages.
‘Eh, screw it. Regroup first.’
Top priority: enemy intercept room.
[1 mana for new room layout. Proceed, Master?]
“Perfect timing with the fresh mana.”
[Design the intercept room.]
Demon King's Castle blueprint hovered up. Long entrance passage led to the throne room.
I slotted a rectangular room mid-passage—wide open like the boss room.
“Walls too?”
[No. Structures need extra mana.]
“Floor levels?”
[Slopes possible.]
“No kidding?”
I dropped the entrance side low, raised the throne approach high. Intruders climb fighting; goblins chuck downhill—way easier than flat ground.
“Done for now.”
[Updating room structure. Up to one week.]
“Longer build than thought. Fine, handle it. I'll brainstorm gate strategies meantime.”
* * *
Pondering dragged on at the academy. Still no answers after ages.
Mind wandering? Hand shook; darts veered off target.
“Weekend trouble? You're off today.”
Nothing to tell Instructor Song. Orcs, promotions—unexplainable mess.
My silence screamed issue, so she pressed. I caved.
“Instructor Song. Ever fear dungeon foes hurting you?”
“Worried about the gate? Relax—1-star gates rarely injure.”
“Huh? For real? Goblins can hit in fights.”
“Goblins can't pierce armor. Sword hit? Bruise tops.”
“Armor…?”
“Yup. Chain mail incoming as standard gear. Frontline needs plate, but backline you? Chain suffices.”
Armor… moron. Why skip that? Saw All-Kill Guild armored up plain as day.
While I stewed in regret, Instructor Song rambled in her bubble.
“Layer monster-leather under chain for best, but pricey. Save for it.”
“Leather armor…”
Spare leather handy, actually…
* * *
“Ugh! What the—it's rotted!”
I grimaced at the maggot-riddled orc hide.
Two-month-old intruder orc? Mushy ruin—no leather there.
Fresh kill rotting too; trashed the gone bits, skinned salvageable into inventory.
Tan the rest pre-rot, craft up. But who to tap? Clueless.
Song my only lifeline. Show hide, beg processing.
Trust issue though.
Orc leather? Trainee trash like me? No. Few 2-stars had wholes.
Suspect city. Hunter bureau report? Disaster—no source alibi.
‘No. She's solid… Instructor Song trustworthy.’
Two-plus months daily. Throwing-obsessed sans greed, rooted for my wins.
Help yes, harm no.
Big breath; flashed the orc leather.
“Been stumped on handling this.”
“Leather where… Wait—orc hide?”
“Yup. Orc leather. Buddy hooked me up; processing lost on me.”
She blinked shocked but skipped the ‘how’ grill.
Swallowed my ‘acquaintance’ line whole.
“Butchery hack job. Storage trash… Slim pickings. Still, spot I know—nearby leather pros.”
Post-training, her car three hours. “Nearby” my ass.
Landed at:
“Leather factory?”
Head tilt; she grinned.
“Expecting forge?”
“Yeah. Armor screams smithy.”
“Forges scorch leather.”
Old cowhide shop, she said—monster hides since twenty years back.
“Gangwon’s top leather armor now. Custom-only here.”
“Custom pricey?”
“Cheaper than shops. Our mats, no markup. Hey, Uncle! Uncle Jang!”
She waved a grizzled smoker outside mid-sentence.
“Again? Torment limit! Orc armor done already!”
Grumpy old-timer; she'd worn him thin. Her vibe explained it.
“Why? Bragged your wizardry; intros nonstop. Brought gigs.”
“Skip money-losers!”
“C’mon, check this. Orc hide…”
Uncle Jang sighed through her barrage, eyed it. Grump faded—eyes locked serious.
Glanced her, then me.
“Kid. Source?”
“Bad shape? Still good?”
Her mutter defense; he barked.
“Not you. Blind? No plain orc. Damage-tough… Otherworld orc sure.”
“Otherworld orc?”
She whipped to me stunned.
‘Orcs = orcs? Catch spot tweaks hide?’
Blank stare, head cock.
“Hmm… Blank look says you too. Pity. Gem wasted on scrubs.”
“This prime?”
Dumb innocent play. He sweated forehead-deep explaining.
“Monsters vary. Earth-crossers? Dungeon-weak. Dimension hop toll, dunno deets. But this…”
Pants leg hiked—steel prosthetic gleamed ankle-high.
“Dungeon beats Earth-crossers strong; otherworld? Multiples fiercer.”
“…”
Silence stretched; throat-clear, pivot.
“Point: orc hide grades by home. Otherworld usual top-shelf. Beat-up but mid-upper min.”
“Make it?”
Her nudge.
“Duh. Killer unknown, but vengeance proxy? Grateful even. Discount special.”
“Thanks, Uncle.”
“Sloppy field-dress tho—scraps light. Chest guard, arm/leg pads max.”
Beggars can't choosers now.