Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: 22. Preparation (3)
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This situation.
Jo Han-byeol and Yeon Woo-bin were just as shocked.
They had simply handed over their casually worn armor, bows, staves, and such. The bows made sense, but even the staff—not made of steel—had successfully been reinforced. In truth, Kang San had no real way to explain it. The explanations his brothers wanted fell within the realm of common sense, but what had happened to him just a few days ago completely defied logic.
'The memories of my past life seeped into my body, causing my reinforcement abilities to skyrocket.'
The ability to handle mana.
The ability to handle steel.
If it had been a vague level 2 out of 10 before, a single experience had boosted it to 5 or higher.
His muscles instinctively adjusted the force and speed of the hammer strikes, hitting the exact desired spot without even a 0.1 cm margin of error. The mana rising from the impact seeped back into the item thanks to the Blood Demon Art. It felt ecstatic. Riding that momentum, Kang San worked on the staff too. Even without refining the steel, simply infusing mana raised its stats.
Of course, the increase was smaller.
But the fact that he'd achieved more than a mere blacksmith could was accomplishment enough.
"Hyung?"
Jeong Chan-woo prompted again.
All eyes focused on him.
Kang San, pondering how to explain, finally accepted it was beyond explanation.
His situation of gaining abilities from his past life was an irrational secret he couldn't share with anyone.
Kang San said,
"......It just worked?"
"Pardon?"
"Whoa."
"That answer feels kinda cool, you know?"
Everyone stared blankly.
It wasn't like the usual Kang San, so Jeong Chan-woo added,
"Hyung-nim, respect."
The brothers' reactions.
Kang San just smiled.
And the brothers, grateful for their brother's kindness, didn't press further.
Departure was two days later.
They agreed to meet after personal preparations.
Back home, Kang San checked his newly acquired skill.
[Fire Attribute Immunity]
1. Damage from fire attributes reduced by 50%.
A skill not divided by star rating.
Similar to Super Sensory Perception.
He couldn't check its system level, but a 50% damage reduction—even for a single attribute—was an incredible effect. This meant he could now ask Yeon Woo-bin to use her fire magic more aggressively. Magic didn't distinguish friend from foe, so mages had to be cautious not to harm allies. But with fire immunity reducing damage, even if Kang San held the front line, magic wouldn't hurt him as much.
Next, items.
Kang San received 1 billion from Flair, then spent 800 million on new gear.
He attempted reinforcement and succeeded.
[Iron Bastion]
[B-Rank]
[Defense: 70]
[Special Effect: Will of Steel]
- Increases the wearer's base defense by 5%.
[Shield Imbued with the Craftsman's Determination]
[B-Rank]
[Defense: 58]
[Famed Sword Infused with Killing Intent]
[B-Rank]
[Attack: 77]
[Special Effects: Bleed, Killing Intent]
- Enemies in Bleed state have temporary HP regeneration reduction.
- Increases base attack power by 5% against living beings.
Three items: armor, shield, and sword. For 800 million, he bought top C-Rank bordering on early B-Rank pieces, which his skills elevated dramatically. This reinforcement proved his technique surpassed Yoo Jung-young's. That weakened the need to trade with her, but Kang San had no intention of breaking ties. She'd offered a 50% split first, showing loyalty, and having her front the business wasn't bad.
However.
Going forward, he'd learn details from her but reinforce his own items himself.
He listed his old items on the market.
[Chain Mail Made by a Craftsman]
[D-Rank]
[Defense +21]
[Sharp and Sturdy Longsword]
[D-Rank]
[Attack +19]
[Special Effect: Bleed]
[Sturdy Round Shield]
[D-Rank]
[Defense +20]
The auction lasted only an hour, but all three sold instantly.
Compared to his current gear, their stats were vastly inferior, so recovering the purchase price would have been profit enough. Yet they fetched over 100 million combined. The stats were mid D-Rank at best, but the longsword with Bleed sparked fierce bidding. Bleed was a highly valued special effect, claiming much of that 100 million.
Among them,
One buyer left this comment.
"ID, huh..."
Checking now, Kang San's ID was a meaningless string of letters.
He might sell more in the future, so he changed it to something memorable.
"Karma, registration complete."
No special meaning.
Days of bearing karma.
Kang San closed the market after settling for 100 million.
Around that time.
Jeong Chan-woo logged into the market.
Pure curiosity.
"Wonder how much this effect would fetch now."
The sword Kang San reinforced.
His father had paid 250 million to bid on that C-Rank sword back then. Now, with skyrocketed stats, he was personally curious about its value.
He couldn't auction it.
Listing meant commitment, so he posted on the free board.
He waited briefly.
A B-Rank sword.
Minimum 300 million, possibly 400 million or more.
Face full of anticipation, notifications exploded with comments.
His inbox overflowed too.
Jeong Chan-woo's jaw dropped at the offers.
"......Whoa, fuck. Insane."
From 250 million.
To over 600 million—a miracle.
Auction could net even more by leveraging competition.
'Why does Kang San hyung bother with raids? With this skill, he could make a fortune.'
Kang San.
An incomprehensible type.
His skills priceless, yet he chased growth like a hunted man, not money. The Japan trip proved it. Everyone agreed because he wanted to grow relentlessly for six months.
Unconventional.
Like Kim Min-young's article—a hero.
'Ignores material value, generously shares opportunities, sacrifices for others. Hero fits perfectly. I'm with someone like that.'
A thrill ran through him.
Chance meeting at first, now fully captivated by Kang San.
He closed the market.
No intent to sell anyway.
Then.
"Jeong Chan-woo."
"Huh?"
Someone barged in.
Jeong Hye-mi.
She said gravely,
"Any new info on Kang San? He said he'd decide after six months, but we can prep groundwork. Recruiting him to Heavenly Firmament benefits you too. I'll push you both hard."
Not wrong.
Father in Heavenly Firmament, sister too.
Ideal for him, but the answer slipped out.
"Sorry, noona. I'd tell you anything, but nothing there."
His bond with Kang San.
Thicker than blood.
At 21.
Adapting to cold society.
Sunset.
As most retired to bed, repeated sounds echoed in a Seoul training ground.
Beep.
With the signal.
The target rose.
The moving target vanished quickly, but Jo Han-byeol didn't miss the instant.
Thwack-!
Perfect hit.
No breather—the next targets rose, arrow nocked swiftly.
Beep, beep.
Thwack, thwack-!
Beep, beep, beep.
Thwack, thwack, thwack-!
Repetitive training.
Daily for Jo Han-byeol.
Not always so intense, but meeting Kang San changed his life. Raids usually matched capability: F-Rank for F, D for D. Risks anticipated, no overreaching.
Kang San's raids were always perilous.
A moment's lapse, one arrow.
Those decided life and death, revealing his sheltered life.
'This is reality. Structured society, but we're exposed to dangers outside it anytime. To protect myself, prepare for variables always.'
Why he trained daily.
Typical hunters chased stats or skills, but Kang San taught experience mattered. In melees, instincts decided: how to counter fast foes. Body-memorized technique won instants.
So hundreds of arrows daily.
No mistakes when it counted.
Even cornered, one arrow from broken stance could kill.
Past year.
Their growth had reason.
Jo Han-byeol, Jeong Chan-woo, Yeon Woo-bin.
Talent helped, but following Kang San spurred immense effort.
Beep.
Thud-!
Last arrow hit.
Training over.
Catching breath, he sensed approach.
"Han-byeol."
"Mom? What brings you here?"
His mother, who never visited.
Worried gaze.
"Must you go to Japan?"
"That's already settled."
"Yes, you insisted, so I relented. But I asked around—it's worse than thought. Know what Japan's politics calls Kitakyushu?"
Days ago.
She'd approved his stubborn plea.
But worried, she leveraged connections. As a chaebol, she reached Japanese political figures indirectly. The info shocked. Jo Han-byeol explained somewhat, but reality exceeded.
Mother said,
"Land abandoned by the nation. You're heading into a death trap."