Chapter 220
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 220
Chapter Title: God-Grade Shoes
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"Mandragora's mana stem, adamantium plate, new-material leather, wind spirit's feather, mana core, and two black iron powders—right?"
After confirming the materials Hymer had brought, Ryu Min nodded.
"That's correct. How much for everything?"
"Uh, just a moment, let me calculate..."
Hymer fiddled with his abacus, hesitating at the surprisingly high amount before speaking up.
"P-please don't be shocked. For seven materials, the total comes to 5,932,900 gold..."
Russell's face turned pale at the nearly six million gold, even though he wasn't the one paying.
"W-what kind of materials cost that much?"
"They're incredibly rare ones. Even we barely managed to acquire them."
"Still, over 800,000 gold each..."
Russell stared at Hymer like he was a con artist, incredulous.
Suddenly demoted from craftsman to swindler, Hymer wore the most aggrieved expression imaginable.
Of course, Ryu Min trusted Hymer and didn't think the price was inflated.
'This is fair. These are materials for god-grade gear, after all.'
Less than a million gold per item was a good deal.
Ryu Min had around 65 million gold anyway.
It had piled up exponentially after taking down that angel.
'Not much use for it right now besides buying materials, but it'll come in handy later.'
Especially in Round 17—it was better to have as much as possible.
"Isn't that an outrageous sum? Maybe think it over some more..."
"I'll take them."
"You've made a wise choice. Then, as if this never happened... Pardon?"
"I said I'll buy them. The materials."
Hymer's eyes widened in shock, his face questioning if it was really possible.
"Even the Hormos Merchant Alliance wouldn't pay that much without hesitation..."
"I've got plenty of gold. Let's trade."
A trade window popped up before his eyes.
[Trader: Black Scythe]
└Items to trade: None
└Gold to trade: 5,932,900G
☞Trade☜
[Trader: Hymer]
└Items to trade: Mandragora's mana stem, adamantium plate, new-material leather, wind spirit's feather, mana core, black iron powder x2
└Gold to trade: 0G
☞Trade☜
[Place items and press 'Trade' to proceed.]
[Trade requires agreement from both parties.]
Pressing the trade button produced a clinking sound as the gold vanished and the materials appeared in his inventory.
The corner of Ryu Min's mouth twitched upward.
'Now I've got all the materials for god-grade shoes and weapons. Well, except for one thing.'
The key ingredient, condensed ether, wasn't sold by Hymer, so he'd have to get it himself.
'At least I have one from killing Sariel, so I can make the god-grade shoes right away.'
He wanted to start with the weapon, but it required two condensed ethers.
'Maybe killing two archangels will drop them, like always?'
He wasn't sure if archangels would even show up in this round.
"Heh heh, you really bought them. How does a trailblazer like you amass such wealth..."
"Good luck."
With a simple reply, Ryu Min waved goodbye to the chuckling Hymer.
"Business is done, so I'll be off."
"A pleasure meeting you, trailblazer."
"Likewise, blacksmith Hymer. Russell, keep studying hard. I'll be back in three hours."
"You're coming back? Why?"
"To see your enhanced abilities."
"Understood. I'll work diligently while I wait."
"Good. See you."
"Take care!"
Ryu Min nodded and stepped out of the forge, kicking off the ground.
Whoosh—
Wings of darkness sprouted from his back, carrying him into the sky.
* * *
Ryu Min pondered where to spend the time while Russell completed his quest.
'I already cleared the round, and all my tasks are done.'
He couldn't just idle, so he figured he'd tackle a sub-quest.
After mulling over options for the future, one stood out.
'If it's a quest, the mercenary one seems best.'
His mercenary band was currently veteran rank.
The next rank, 'master,' granted eligibility to hunt dragons.
'I have to take down a dragon. The items, title, and rune from it are a must.'
Killing a dragon dropped a god-grade accessory.
It also gave one of the 18 essential runes and a title—plenty of reasons to hunt it.
'Can't do it right now, though. That unprecedented barrier blocks access.'
Knowing the dragon's lair didn't mean he could just waltz in.
Like the El Sorium treasury, forced entry was impossible.
The only way in was raising his mercenary rank to master.
'No worries. Just one more rank to go.'
A few subjugation quests at the mercenary hall should do it.
Veteran rank meant better rewards than other sub-quests—no brainer.
'Here we are.'
Thud.
After ten minutes of flight, Ryu Min landed in the Alvitz Kingdom.
The Golden Eagle Mercenaries had branches in every city, so no need to go far.
'Before the mercenary quests, though...'
Ryu Min opened the synthesis window.
[Main Material]
-High-quality leather boots
[Sub-Materials]
-Condensed ether
-Black iron powder
-Mandragora's mana stem
-New-material leather
-Wind spirit's feather
'Let's try god-grade first.'
No materials for the weapon yet, so shoes it was.
[Synthesizing god-grade item.]
[Converting to item suitable for current class.]
[Synthesis successful!]
[Created 'Thanatos' Boots.']
[Thanatos' Boots]
-Classification: Shoes
-Grade: God
-Defense: 1,200
-Effects: All stats +50, movement speed +100%, can walk through the air in darkness.
-Durability: 20,000/20,000
-Use Restriction: Master rank or higher
-Description: Shoes made using the divinity of the god of death, Thanatos. Grants additional effects when wearing the set.
-Thanatos' Garb Set Effects (4/5)
-2-Set Effect: Resistance +20%
-3-Set Effect: Skill damage +10%
-4-Set Effect: Damage taken reduced by 30%
-5-Set Effect: ?????
Thanatos' Boots had great stats, but the air-walking in darkness was the real prize.
'As long as it's dark, I can step through the air without limits.'
He could leap into the air and bounce off it like a spring back to the ground.
Zigzag through the sky at will, too.
It was like gaining an entirely new field to fight in—highly efficient.
The new 4-set effect, 30% damage reduction, was solid too.
'That's four pieces now. Once I get the weapon materials, I'll have everything for god-grade synthesis.'
Other god-grade accessories came from boss monsters.
Dragons, for instance.
'Need to raise the mercenary rank ASAP.'
Ryu Min hurried toward the Golden Eagle Mercenaries hall.
* * *
[Tch.]
[Lighten up, Raguel.]
Raguel, the 5th-ranked archangel of justice, fairness, and harmony.
But right now, she was grimacing unbecoming of her titles.
"No, Uriel! This is ridiculous! Sending two of us for one puny human? What's there to fear from a bug like that!"
Raguel fumed for a simple reason.
Coming down to this realm with another to hunt a single human had bruised her pride.
To put it bluntly, reality had hit hard.
"I'm puzzled too. How strong can a human get?"
"Right? No need for you to come out, Uriel."
"But orders are orders. Can't ignore Gabriel and Raphael agreeing on this."
"What are they thinking, making us waste our time like this..."
"They probably figured two was safer."
"So they don't trust me alone?"
"Can't say they do."
"Sigh... Don't they remember how much I shone in the last Heavenly Demon War..."
Raguel might be low-ranked now, but her combat prowess far outstripped the 6th and 7th.
In the 5th Heavenly Demon War 200 years ago, her sense of justice had led her to slaughter countless demons.
Uriel nodded, acknowledging her merits.
"I know. We all do. That's why a rank-and-file angel like you rose to archangel."
"Then why...!"
"They just wanted it done cleanly. What ifs happen."
"They know my strength! I could handle that bug solo!"
"And look where overconfidence got the others. Vanished without a trace."
"..."
"Solo might be 99% success, but duo makes it 100%. That's why they sent me along too, even though I didn't need to."
"But..."
"Look at the mess from sending them alone. Smart to plan for the worst."
Uriel persuaded her gently and logically, but Raguel stayed pouty.
"Still, I could've handled that bug alone..."
Understanding her muttering, Uriel made a proposal.
"How about this? You fight first. I'll watch from behind."
Raguel's scowl vanished instantly.
"Really?"
"But if it gets dangerous, I'll jump in right away. No complaints if I do mid-fight?"
"Pfft! Won't happen, so don't worry! Nothing that'll need you. I can handle it solo!"
"Fine, then."
"Thanks for yielding! Hehe!"
"No problem."
Uriel smiled kindly at the confident Raguel.
But inwardly, she sneered.
'I'll let Raguel go first to gauge that human, Black Scythe's, strength.'
After Remiel and Sariel fell, Black Scythe was clearly no ordinary human.
Hall of Records showed him dominating rankings across rounds.
Dismiss him as a bug, and you'd get hurt.
'At least he's not max level yet.'
Max-level players rivaled 6th-circle combat angels.
Yet Black Scythe killed two archangels.
'Levels don't mean everything, but Raguel should manage solo. If not, I'll step in.'
Embarrassing for two archangels against a lowly human, but urgency demanded certainty.
'No room for carelessness. Probe with Raguel first, then act.'
Unlikely, but if even she couldn't handle it?
'I'll bail without looking back.'
Raguel's life meant nothing to her.
Archangel lives were precious too.
"Shall we go, Uriel?"
"Yeah. Track Black Scythe's location. Time to hunt him down."
The two angels smirked wickedly and beat their wings.