Gem Cutting Is Not an Art
After walking for about four days, they arrived at the small city of Riel.
The tips of its spires glittered as they caught the sunlight.
Though far from any vital points for commerce or trade, Riel was famous for pouring vast resources into excavation efforts.
The pair passed through the gatehouse and entered the city proper.
Kang Yoonsoo tapped his terminal to check the legendary quest he was currently undertaking.
As a Continental, Shanette could view the details through her notification window.
She was secretly bubbling with excitement.
Quests. From trivial errands like delivering licorice roots all the way to monster subjugations, requests of every kind existed across the continent.
Quests were issued by Continentals. Travelers from another world held no right to post them.
Furthermore, completing a quest guaranteed a fixed reward.
The quest window would never appear for a Continental who lacked true intent to provide compensation.
A quest was an absolute promise between parties.
Occasionally certain quests triggered through the discovery of special items. Many involved chasing traces of artifacts or hunting for hidden treasure chests, their contents often unique.
The quest Kang Yoonsoo currently pursued was linked to a legend.
A legendary quest.
It was a colossal undertaking capable of reshaping the continent’s fate.
Almost nothing was known for certain about legendary quests.
Yet most were said to be extremely dangerous, with completion times that stretched on for ages.
The rewards, of course, were supposedly just as magnificent.
While the precise details remained unknown, one could expect rare treasures or vast territories without fear of disappointment.
Even today, countless adventurers roamed the continent in search of rare quests.
Simply the fact that one was undertaking a legendary quest was boast-worthy enough.
Shanette’s body was already heating up with excitement.
When they first set out, Kang Yoonsoo had told her their journey’s purpose was to prevent the continent’s impending destruction.
This legendary quest had to be connected to that goal.
What would the start of such an incredible quest look like?
A perilous monster hunt?
Or a battle for territory?
She was confident she could faithfully carry out anything.
The Blank History
Meet the drunkard Henrik, who sleeps in the garbage pile behind Riel's training ground, and obtain clues about the lost history.
Note: Henrik is usually active during morning hours.
“……”
Shanette struggled to hide her disappointed expression.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Kang Yoonsoo navigated the streets with ease, as if he had visited this city before.
In the training ground adorned with grass, muscular men sweated profusely as they honed their swordsmanship.
Like the blacksmith’s workshop, quite a few women trained among them.
Leaving the swordsmanship academy behind, Kang Yoonsoo headed into the back alley.
“Snore!”
A middle-aged man lay buried in a pile of gray trash, snoring loudly.
His worn, shabby coat looked like a rag, and his rough beard appeared unshaven for at least several days.
He was tall, but the strong stench of alcohol rose from his unwashed body.
The pockets of his coat bulged heavily with unknown contents.
Shanette wore an expression of utter disbelief.
He looked exactly like a homeless vagrant.
Was the legendary quest truly beginning with this man?
“Could there be something wrong with the quest window?”
“Not at all.”
Kang Yoonsoo spoke flatly.
“This guy is necessary for the legendary quest.”
Kang Yoonsoo shook Henrik’s shoulder to wake him.
Henrik frowned and licked his dry lips.
“What do you want?”
“We came to obtain information regarding the lost history.”
“Huh? From me? What are you talking about? Ask someone else.”
Henrik scratched his neck vigorously before rising from the trash pile.
As he turned to leave, Kang Yoonsoo pulled a silver coin from his pocket and flicked it with his finger.
Henrik spun around quickly and caught the tossed coin.
“Geez, you people really have nothing better to do. Let me make this clear: I don’t really know much. At best, just some things I’ve overheard while hanging around taverns. If you still want to hear what little I have, I’d appreciate it if you brought me something I want first.”
A new quest appeared.
Short on Booze Money!
Henrik has taken an interest in the treasure of the mud gems that inhabit the southern swamplands.
The glittering stones would provide him with decent income. Of course, he will squander every coin on alcohol.
Note: This quest will be canceled after three days.
Reward: A bit of information, Henrik’s empty praise
“Here it is.”
Kang Yoonsoo immediately handed over the mud gem treasure.
It was no coincidence that they had passed through the mud gems’ habitat.
Henrik’s face brightened, his eyes sparkling.
“Ooh, thanks! I didn’t expect you to hand it over so quickly. That’s really something.”
He swiftly tucked the mud gem treasure into his shabby coat.
After clearing his throat a few times, he continued.
“The information you want is probably known by Ramax of the Red Rock Excavation Team.”
“What? Didn’t you say you’d give us the information if we brought the mud gem treasure?”
When Shanette protested, Henrik replied slyly.
“I said I picked up some stories at the tavern, didn’t I? I’ve heard that old man Ramax talk about it while drunk. Isn’t it better to hear it directly from the source rather than secondhand? From what I hear, his excavation team finds rare items while digging. Like I said from the beginning, I don’t know much. Anyway, good luck.”
With that, Henrik sauntered off.
At that moment Kang Yoonsoo spoke.
“Gem cutting is not an art.”
Henrik, who was leaving, froze.
He turned his head, his face twisting.
“What did you just say?”
“I said gem cutting is not an art.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s pathetic. It’s remarkably lacking in commercial value and utterly shabby. The word ‘art’ is too good for it.”
“What!”
Henrik flared up and approached Kang Yoonsoo.
Shanette looked puzzled.
For Kang Yoonsoo to provoke him so openly.
Still, she decided to watch his actions a little longer.
Henrik glared at Kang Yoonsoo with sharp eyes.
“You. Did you just call gem cutting vulgar in front of me?”
“Yes.”
“Do you really think that?”
“Yes.”
“This bastard is trying to kill me with laughter.”
Henrik snorted and pulled a knife from his sleeve.
Shanette immediately grabbed the handle of her scythe and glared at him, but it was only a simple carving tool.
The handle was quite worn, yet the sharp blade glittered as it caught the sunlight.
Henrik took out the mud gem treasure and swiftly wielded the carving tool.
What had been a mere shiny stone was instantly transformed into a brilliant jewel.
“Amazing!”
Shanette couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.
Even skilled gem cutters could not match Henrik’s craftsmanship.
Henrik rolled the beautiful jewel in his hand and laughed as if it were ridiculous.
“How about that? You still call gem cutting vulgar?”
Kang Yoonsoo answered indifferently.
“It’s a mess.”
“What, you punk?”
Henrik flared up as if he would swing the carving tool at any moment.
Kang Yoonsoo said.
“The material is crude compared to your skill. You are not at the level to be carving mud gem treasures. Henrik Elicurson.”
At that moment, Henrik’s eyes changed.
“...You. Do you know who I am?”
“The imperial princess’s commoner gem cutter. Though you’ve retired now.”
“R-really?”
Shanette’s eyes widened.
For a mere commoner to enter the imperial palace, they had to prove exceptional artistic talent.
Moreover, to be the princess’s personal gem cutter meant possessing the highest skill among them.
It meant he had reached the pinnacle of the existing gem cutter class.
And such a master was living as a drunkard who slept in a trash pile?
Henrik gave a bitter smile.
“Well, my specialty is puppetry, but I did work as a gem cutter on the side at one point.”
Shanette was even more surprised.
It was shocking enough that he had served in the imperial palace, but he also possessed the skills of a puppeteer?
Though middle-aged, he was a man of no small ability.
Henrik sighed.
“But my hands have grown dull now. There was a time when I was praised as the best on the continent… but that’s in the past. It’s been almost fifteen years since I quit, so there must be people better at gem cutting than me now.”
The moment she heard Henrik’s lament, Shanette realized Kang Yoonsoo’s intention.
So that’s it!
Now that she thought about it, this scene seemed familiar.
A retired imperial gem cutter.
His exceptional gem cutting skills were clearly needed for the legendary quest.
That was why Kang Yoonsoo had provoked him with claims that gem cutting was not art and that his skills were a mess.
To make him take up gem cutting once again.
Incredible. He really is an amazing man.
Now Kang Yoonsoo would encourage the deeply depressed Henrik and make him start working again.
Kang Yoonsoo replied.
“That’s right. Your skills have grown dull. There are people who are better at gem cutting than you.”
...Huh?
Shanette was flustered.
Wasn’t this the moment to encourage the retired gem cutter and lift his spirits?
Henrik glared at Kang Yoonsoo.
“You. What the hell are you trying to say?”
Kang Yoonsoo said calmly.
“Give me the Elicurson family’s heirloom that you have stored in the capital. The one that only a gem cutter with the highest skill can inherit.”
“Why would I?”
“Because I’m better at gem cutting than you.”