Chapter 28
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Human Item Factory Manager
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Cradle? Baby dragon?
They were calling this magnificent and grand SSS-Rank Gold Dragon lair of mine a mere baby cradle?
This... this is outrageous!
The system was insulting me! Sure, my appearance had reverted to a youthful state, but treating me like a full-on infant? This was blatant character assassination. Utter nonsense.
"What an incredible structure."
Pulling me out of my rage and back to reality was Yu So-jeong's voice, laced with genuine admiration.
She covered her mouth with her hand as she poured out her heartfelt impressions of the lair.
"It's like... they've elevated a resting space into the realm of art. The harmony of gold and black really accentuates your dignity, Miss Lee Da-yoon."
"I-is that so?"
Her praise kept flowing. Mystical, masterpiece, craftsmanship, work of art... every word imaginable spilled out.
Her hand stayed over her mouth, as if to hold back even more awe.
Yeah, okay. Who cares what the system calls it? If I like it and the people around me like it, that's all that matters.
"Ahem, ahem! This is just the basics."
I cleared my throat needlessly and shrugged my shoulders. After all, wasn't it a flashy A-Rank item? The interior was perfect too.
I could just brush off the system's prank as a prank.
Shoving all complicated thoughts aside, I flung myself onto the plush bedding in the lair.
A few days later.
Inside my new lair, I was munching away on an Earth Wyvern's mana heart atop a pile of fluffy blankets.
Lately, I'd been looking up info on the monster every time I ate a mana heart. The flavor seemed to perfectly match the creature's traits.
Earth Wyverns were ground-dwellers that shunned the skies, boasting hefty bodies and immense physical strength.
True enough, its taste was heavier than other mana hearts—like chewy caramel mixed with savory nuts, wrapping my tongue in deep, nutty sweetness.
Lick, lick, crunch.
"Haaah..."
After sucking down the last piece without leaving a crumb, I let out a satisfied breath. The debuff timer had shortened by a few more hours.
Empty hands and mouth. I got up and headed to the fridge.
Cold air wafted out as I opened the door. But the stock of mana hearts inside was already less than half.
...No helping it.
Mana heart supplies were limited. Gobbling them up whenever I wanted would empty them in no time.
I'd promised myself: three wyvern mana hearts a day, two drake hearts a week.
And today, I'd already hit my quota. Including this week's drake allotment.
To soothe my regret, I grabbed an ice cream bar instead. Melon flavor this time. Its fragrant sweetness filled the void in my mouth.
I plopped down at the computer with the ice cream in my mouth and scrolled through my Steam library.
"Hey, granny owls, got any good games?"
Anything new to play? I was skimming the new releases page when my phone rang from an unknown number.
"Hello?"
- "Miss Lee Da-yoon, Awakened. This is Director Joo Deok-hwan from the Awakened Management Bureau."
"...Pardon? The Director himself?"
A sudden call from a big shot. No one was around to see, but I straightened up anyway.
- "Yes. I wanted to thank you sincerely for agreeing to craft items for us. It will be a huge help to the nation."
I tilted my head at the unfamiliar topic. Agree to craft items? Me? When?
"Pardon?"
Director Joo Deok-hwan sounded puzzled at my question.
- "Didn't you mention it during your move? I understand you received the electronic contract from Agent Yu So-jeong..."
During the move? What was he talking about?
Yu So-jeong had explained the contract in a rush, but for some reason, I'd completely blanked on the details.
Still, I couldn't deny the contract existed. Time to play the adult and bluff smoothly.
"Ah, aah. Right, yes, there was that."
A cold sweat trickled down my spine.
She had explained something back then, but I'd been too distracted to catch it properly.
But as an SSS-Rank Awakened, I couldn't admit ignorance. I played it cool, like I'd known all along.
- "Ah, yes, correct. If I may ask, when do you expect the items to be ready? You can deliver whenever suits you, but I'd like to align with the auction schedule."
Anticipation colored Director Joo Deok-hwan's voice. Excitement over arming hunters with these items, maybe? Whatever it was, that hope was piling pressure on my shoulders.
...Come to think of it, hasn't it been over ten days since I moved?
All I'd done was eat mana hearts, game, and roll around in my lair. The Bureau probably thought I was busting my ass for the country!
At this rate, I'd go from SSS-Rank Awakened to SSS-Rank NEET.
"Ah... um... well... Yes! I have some ready!"
The lie slipped out oh-so-naturally.
"Just finishing the final touches, so... come by in an hour or two, and I'll hand them right over."
- "Ah, yes! Thank you. I'll send an agent to pick them up right away."
Director Joo Deok-hwan replied in a thrilled voice and hung up.
Beep, beep, beep.
The call ended, leaving just one pitiful dragon in the house with a ticking deadline.
"I'm insane, totally insane..."
What gall had made me spit out that lie? Only two hours left, tops. I had to make those 'pre-made items' real somehow.
I jumped up in a panic. Time to craft items, stat.
...Right after finishing this ice cream.
Heading to the workshop in the house, I was relieved to find plenty of materials left. Dungeon byproducts from my Azure Rose Guild shares, neatly sorted by rank.
Good call asking them to deliver straight home.
They called this foresight, right? Either becoming a dragon sharpened my brain, or I'd always been clever—either way, past-me had wisely ordered these shipped here for such occasions.
But high-rank items were out; not enough materials.
High-rank stuff needed heaps of high-rank ingredients, which rarely dropped, so I didn't have much under my name yet.
Plus, only seven tail scales remaining.
Mid-rank mass production it was.
I pulled C- to B-Rank materials from the shelves and laid them out.
Tough orc backhide, kobold claws, low-purity mithril alloy ingots, lesser magic stones...
Time to churn out all sorts of items from these.
First up: low-purity mithril alloy ingot and orc backhide. I slapped them on the workbench and called up the menu.
"Artifact Creation."
Squish.
Fwoosh!
[Mithril Alloy Longsword (B)]
A longsword forged from steel laced with trace mithril. High mana conductivity slightly boosts skill power on use.
A soft-glowing longsword appeared on the workbench in one second flat.
"Nice, next!"
No time to rest. I grabbed the next materials.
Fwoosh! Fwoooosh!
Lights flashed nonstop. Select materials, move to workbench, visualize the item, craft—30 seconds per piece. A new item popped out every half-minute.
[Orc Leather Shield (C+)]
[Mana Amplification Necklace (B-)]
[Wyvern Claw Dagger (B+)]
[Bloodied Battle Axe (B-)]
Swords, shields, necklaces, axes... items of every type piled up like a mountain.
"Phew... this should do it?"
50 minutes later, dozens of varied items formed little hills on the workbench—like I'd cleared out an entire Mimic Dungeon's rewards.
Wiping sweat with a sense of accomplishment, I checked my phone. Ten minutes till the promised time. Perfect timing.
Ding-dong!
The doorbell rang right on cue. Humming cheerfully, I headed to the door.
Opening it revealed Yu So-jeong, as expected. She gave a light nod upon seeing me.
"I heard the items are ready. May I proceed with pickup?"
"Yes! Of course. This way."
I puffed out my chest proudly and led her to the workshop. She followed with her usual expressionless face.
Yu So-jeong trailed behind me into the workshop.
"Here are the finished items."
The moment I flung open the workshop door, her footsteps halted dead.
Her eyes, normally devoid of emotion, began shaking violently, like an earthquake had hit.
"You... made all this?"