Chapter 119
Chapter 119
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: 22. Preparation (2)
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Yeon Woo-bin blinked.
In this unbelievable reality, she checked multiple times, but the salamanders fluttering around Kang San were still vividly visible. They looked like flames shaped into lizard forms. Their large mouths, split open in a mischievous grin, somehow made it seem like these creatures were enjoying the situation.
It felt unfamiliar.
Yet familiar at the same time.
As fragmented memories resurfaced, Yeon Woo-bin felt like she had experienced something just like this before.
It was after she lost her mother.
Her father had wrapped her in care and spared no support, but in his excessive protection, she spent a lot of time alone. The normal life of playing with kids her age at the playground wasn't allowed for her. It was a truly lonely time. Perhaps pitying her, one day her father took her to a new home, saying they were moving.
It was a really big house.
More precisely, inside a massive fence was a green expanse so vast it was more like a park than a garden.
It was great.
It was a space where Yeon Woo-bin could run around as hard as she wanted, and when she kicked a ball excitedly until she collapsed, the gentle breeze cooled her sweat. Back then, Yeon Woo-bin stared blankly at the sky. Through the branches slightly obscuring her view, leaves danced in the wind. It was a happy memory. One of the few precious recollections from her childhood, and for some reason, looking at the salamander now, it felt similar to that time. Now it had a distinct form proving it was a living being, but upon reflection, the bestowed feeling was the same then and now.
Unfamiliar yet familiar.
And a cozy sensation she didn't want to refuse.
This wasn't coincidence.
Yeon Woo-bin simply hadn't realized it herself, but spirits had been with her from childhood until now.
'It wasn't coincidence that I got Elemental Blessing from innate awakening.'
She reached out her hand.
The salamander recognized Yeon Woo-bin's presence.
At the same moment she stirred her mana.
Whoosh...
Flames from the salamander enveloped her completely.
The world changed.
From the forge spewing hot heat, when she came to, she was in a dense forest.
She looked up at the sky.
Trees towered so high it made her doubt if such existed in reality, densely filling the heavens. Sunlight filtering through felt almost divine. She took a step forward, plants tickling her skin between the toes of shoes woven from tree bark. Looking around, swarms of firefly-like lights gathered around her, even though it wasn't night yet.
Swoosh.
It was beautiful.
Raising her hand to stroke them, the white, slender fingers danced amid the lights.
Did that spark curiosity?
Kiruk.
A deer came hopping toward her from afar.
The deer pushed its head forward as if asking to be petted, and when she stroked it, it let out a joyful cry like it owned the world. It wasn't just deer that came. Squirrels, rabbits, wolves, bears, even chirping birds. Carnivores and herbivores alike gathered, forgetting their food chain as they spent peaceful time around her.
That was when it happened.
Whoosh.
Flames erupted.
Peeking from behind a rock, it crept toward her on cute little legs.
In the form of a lizard.
Blazing red flames.
Unlike the other creatures, the salamander showed slight wariness.
Watching from a distance, then one step when she paid attention to the deer, before she knew it, the salamander was right in front of her, pushing its head forward like the deer, asking to be petted. Surprisingly, the other creatures didn't avoid the salamander. Its fiery exterior clearly embodied scorching flames, yet none felt the heat.
She reached out her hand.
Stroking the salamander, it plopped onto her lap, making pleased sounds.
Grrr...
She smiled.
Unable to see her own face, she felt her lips curve wide.
While petting the salamander, she said,
"Do you want to come with me?"
Grrr...
The salamander rubbed its face against her.
She knew that meant yes.
At that moment.
She.
No, Yeon Woo-bin heard an unfamiliar voice.
A little earlier.
Jeong Chan-woo jumped in surprise.
Seeing the forge flames envelop Yeon Woo-bin, he rushed to put them out.
If Kang San hadn't stopped him.
"It's fine."
"Huh? Fine? Right now..."
"Woo-bin's face looks relaxed. And the flames aren't hot."
It was definitely strange.
It looked like an accident at first, but up close, Yeon Woo-bin wore a stable expression amid the flames. It defied common sense. But in a fantasy-like world where monsters appeared in reality, nothing was truly impossible.
They paused the work.
They watched, catching their breath until the anomaly ended.
The wait wasn't long.
The flames died down, and Yeon Woo-bin slowly opened her eyes.
"...Ah."
"Woo-bin, you okay?"
"I think so."
Jo Han-byeol rushed over, checking her everywhere.
Fortunately, no injuries.
Given the blaze's scale, burns or worse should have been normal, but not a single hair was singed. It was miraculous. Kang San voiced the group's question.
"What exactly happened?"
"Honestly, I don't know. It felt familiar yet unfamiliar, and I had this weird dream of something I hadn't experienced. I'm not even sure if it was a dream or a real memory, but there... it said something about inheriting a contract with the salamander... Wait a sec."
She hurriedly opened her skill window.
Contract with Salamander.
The skill was there.
Yeon Woo-bin looked shocked, then activated it right away.
"Summon Salamander."
Fwoosh.
Whoosh...
Flames erupted.
The salamander, visible only to Yeon Woo-bin moments ago, now appeared in the exact form from her vision, flying around before landing on her shoulder. Rubbing its face against hers with a grrr, it matched her experience perfectly.
"...Somehow, this happened."
This situation.
Even Yeon Woo-bin couldn't explain it.
Kang San thought her way of gaining the skill resembled his own, seeing her sheepish smile.
'Did she experience a past life like me?'
According to her, she dreamed something unfamiliar and gained the summon skill. Kang San had similar instances: past life memories resurfacing often brought skill rewards. But on second thought, it differed. His came under Azmun's clear trial framework, recognized as his past life with trials and rewards.
Yeon Woo-bin's was different.
Like a butterfly fluttering by unexpectedly.
Pure fortune with no penalties like trials or karma, unlike his.
Truthfully, events in this world couldn't be strictly defined.
Just as people suddenly gained special abilities, Yeon Woo-bin might have met her own unique condition. Coincidence or inevitability. Similar experiences gave Kang San no clues. Perhaps beings clearing karma like him existed. Like his sudden trials, anything could happen here without surprise.
Kang San said,
"Everyone, go inside and rest. Looks like the work will take a bit longer."
He turned away.
Ultimately, meaningless worries.
Now was time to focus on reality.
A few days later.
All work complete.
Kang San gathered his siblings and returned their entrusted items.
"Check them."
"Ooh."
Jeong Chan-woo looked excited.
On Kang San's promise to enhance them, he'd given three items.
Jeong Chan-woo's gear.
Already impressive.
C-Rank items typically traded for 100-300 million won, but his father invested 500 million upon his C-Rank test pass. Only possible for chaebol heirs. A hunter from ordinary family would be praised for mere D-Rank gear.
'I wonder how they changed.'
His heart raced.
Rumor had it Yoo Jung-young's enhancements boosted stats by around +10.
Revolutionary.
Lines formed for her, starting at 100 million minimum. Kang San hadn't expected that much; she was a trained blacksmith, he just had the skill.
First, the armor.
Opening info, changes were clear.
"...Huh?"
For a moment.
Jeong Chan-woo blinked.
His mind blanked.
He couldn't tell if the stats before him were real or a dream.
Next items followed.
"...What?!"
"Eek!"
Speechless.
Armor +16, shield +15, sword +21.
Not just that.
Armor gained Will of Steel, sword added Bleed.
Even naive Jeong Chan-woo knew special effects added tens to hundreds of millions. His C-Rank basics became top-tier C, sword B-Rank. Value tripled at least.
Common sense shattered.
Jeong Chan-woo stared at Kang San, dazed.
"...Bro. What the heck did you make?"
Beyond expectations.
No, beyond reason.