Chapter 13

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: penny

Chapter: 13

Chapter Title: Azure Rose Guild (3)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Golden Hand—Lee Da-yoon's message recipient, Lee Ji-young—headed to the workshop with a heart full of unease.

'She's definitely a crafting Awakener... but does she actually have any skill?'

She had confirmed it through the test device, but she had no idea what rank she was, and from the outside, her appearance and behavior were straight out of a child's playbook.

'Still, she made prototypes, so I have to check them out.'

It was quick for prototypes, but some Awakeners could craft in under two hours, so making one in an hour was plausible enough.

Using B-rank materials, even B- rank would prove her worth. With that in mind, she rode the elevator down.

The workshop was empty now that Lee Da-yoon had left. Half hopeful, half anxious, she opened the door. If she couldn't secure a proper crafter this time, she might even get a duel challenge from Seol Yu-hee.

"Huh? Three of them?"

Surprisingly, three rapiers lay neatly on the crafting table.

With trembling hands, Lee Ji-young picked up the one in front—even more nervous than Seol Yu-hee would be wielding it.

And her eyes widened to a size she'd never seen before.

"N-No way!"

Incredibly, the weapon was A- rank. Its size seemed perfectly fitted for Seol Yu-hee's hand, as if measured specifically, and the item's effects looked tailor-made for her.

'This is better than weapons made inside gates?!'

Typically, Hunters used cursed weapons found in gates. Excluding the life-drain drawback, they overwhelmingly outperformed crafter-made ones.

That's why crafter weapons were undervalued despite their rarity—this item shattered that rule entirely.

After checking the other two rapiers, Lee Ji-young felt utterly enchanted. It couldn't be real unless it was a dream.

Worried about excessive material use, she checked the warehouse, but the missing amount was ridiculously low for three items.

"I-I have to call her right now."

She immediately pulled out her phone and dialed Seol Yu-hee—important enough to break the no-contact-during-training rule.

"...I said no calls during training."

"An insane item came out!"

"What item...?"

"The one you asked for! Made with that White Drake heart!"

"I'm coming now."

Seol Yu-hee's words cut short like she had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠no time to talk, and the call ended.

It took less than ten minutes for Seol Yu-hee to arrive at the workshop. Lee Ji-young was sure she'd burned mana to get there fast.

"...The weapons?"

"Right here. Let me know what you─"

In a flash, Seol Yu-hee snatched up a rapier.

"...A+ materials into three A- weapons. I'll test them."

"No, that's not─"

Before Lee Ji-young could correct the misunderstanding, Seol Yu-hee vanished. Lee Ji-young headed to where she knew she'd gone.

"Hah... She gets all worked up over weapons."

Of course, this warranted excitement, but Seol Yu-hee hadn't even heard the full story.

When Lee Ji-young entered, the specially treated private training room was filled with ice.

"What the─"

"Three A- rapiers. Not bad. I'm satisfied with this level."

Seol Yu-hee's assessment was perfectly reasonable. Even with A+ materials, a low-level crafter's output was limited.

Splitting it into three A- rapiers was impressive enough—peak performance within rank constraints.

But Lee Ji-young's next words made Seol Yu-hee's eyes bulge.

"You didn't check properly, did you? These are prototypes. Prototypes."

"...What?"

Seol Yu-hee couldn't process it at first.

"Made prototypes from A+ materials?"

"No. Made these from B+ hearts. Just seven of them."

"...Impossible."

Seol Yu-hee froze in place.

"That's what I thought. So, how do they feel?"

"...Like they were made perfectly for me. The spreading ice, blooming flowers, unfurling petals—all of it."

"Right? I called you the second I saw the description—it was miraculous. How did she make rapiers that fit so perfectly─"

Seol Yu-hee cut her off.

"...Bring the maker here. Now."

"Pardon? The crafter went home. She just left, so calling her back might be tough..."

Seol Yu-hee replied curtly.

"Tomorrow then. As soon as possible."

"But a talent like this... we can't just order her around."

"Pay whatever it takes. Bring her."

"But..."

"Bring her."

"Yes, ma'am."

No matter how practical Lee Ji-young's words, she couldn't argue with a sword to her throat.

She messaged Lee Da-yoon.

Even after arriving home, her mind wasn't at ease.

'Three A- rapiers... that's 300 million each, so maybe they'll let the 80 million slide...?'

She tried to hold onto hope, but reality kept intruding.

'Break their arms and pay up? That's not legal.'

And she knew how rare White Drake hearts were—extremely hard to obtain, even at B+.

What if they'd been saving them for crafting?

The damage she caused might far outweigh the profits.

Then, a blue window popped up before her eyes.

"Huh?"

Kim Hwa-rin must have entered a dungeon again. She'd noted the window from her first level-up.

Pressing +2 opened a new window.

An endless list of tools stretched out.

'Save one slot for emergencies, pick one... what's best?'

To make money easily, something popular was key.

"Hmmmmm..."

Armor and helmets were job-specific. Spears were mainstream, used by rank one, but rare at high levels. Staves had users, but her understanding was lacking...

After much deliberation, she chose 'Necklace.' Universal, uncomplicated.

This would definitely make money.

With a new item unlocked, best to test it. She gathered materials from home.

She picked up black hairs from the floor and scoured the room for shed scales. With such a long tail, she found five scales and a handful of fur.

'What to make with this...'

For a first try, something versatile. She envisioned the item's traits.

'Hmm... Most Awakeners use mana, Hunter or not. Let's make a mana recovery necklace!'

The item's purpose and shape formed in her mind: dragon byproduct mana recovery. Shape: heart-shaped locket on a black chain, wearable daily.

Squeeze!

Golden light flashed, materials vanished. In her hand lay a black cord necklace with a golden locket.

Rank: pass. Now, effects. Did it match her intent?

"Oh! Nailed it!"

Mana recovery as planned, plus a dignity bonus. Plenty of buyers for this.

She tried it on, but with her infinite mana, no effect felt.

How much? 300 million? 500 million? A billion?

Unsure of mana recovery item prices. She'd ask Yoo So-jeong later.

'Feels like a gacha game... and kinda fun?'

Gacha where resources auto-generate from her body—and items cash out.

...Or was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it body-collateral gambling?

Anyway, the thrill of varied results kept it exciting.

Thrilled with the success, she lay in bed.

'At this rate, billionaire by year's end.'

"Hee hee..."

Expensive house, fancy gaming setup, luxury pile—rolling in bliss. This was true happiness.

Her phone chimed. Seeing the sender crashed her mood like a rollercoaster plunge.

"Ah..."