Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Human Item Factory Manager (2)
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A crack appeared in Yu So-jeong's expressionless face.
'All of this...?'
Her gaze swept over the mountain of items piled up next to the workbench.
[Pure Iron Double-Edged Axe (B+)], [Obsidian Dagger (B-)], [Mana Amplification Necklace (B-)], [Amethyst Necklace (B+)]...
Her mind quickly sorted the items by grade and type.
Twenty-three B+ grade items. Nine B-grade. And seven others.
The workshop, which had been completely empty until yesterday afternoon, was now overflowing with items.
'He made thirty-nine items in a single day?'
It was a sight too unbelievable even after seeing it with her own eyes.
'According to Lee Da-yoon's records, even when he was a man in the past, he never learned crafting skills.'
In other words, in less than a month, he'd reached the point where he could produce items this quickly.
'A curse-free B+ grade item sells for about 70 million won.'
Her mind rapidly calculated. Just the B+ items alone exceeded 1.5 billion won, and adding the rest brought it to around 2 billion.
Of course, the Management Bureau would only take a 5% commission, but what mattered was the value of these items. That value would go straight back to Korea's hunters.
Even America's 'Midas'... no, no crafting Awakener in human history could produce at this speed.
"Did... did you make all this?"
Pure astonishment leaked into her voice. But to Lee Da-yoon, it sounded entirely different.
'Did you make all this... as items?'
He flinched.
Lee Da-yoon's shoulders, which had been puffed out proudly, suddenly shrank.
The moment he saw Yu So-jeong's expression, his mind went blank.
'D-Did I disappoint her?!'
All the items he'd made so far had been A- to S-grade. For an SSS-rank Awakener to spend days producing mere B+ items? Anyone would be disappointed.
Yu So-jeong's wavering eyes surely held disappointment and reproach.
"Th-That is..."
Lee Da-yoon broke into a cold sweat, desperately searching for an excuse. His tail had already curled between his legs long ago.
"S-So... t-time! I didn't have enough time! S-So, give me one more day, and I'll bring what I've got prepared elsewhere, uh..."
Yu So-jeong silently inspected the items without a word. At that sight, Lee Da-yoon's vision darkened.
So he threw out a desperate gamble.
"Th-This isn't all! Tomorrow, A+ grade! I'll bring an A+ grade item tomorrow!"
Yu So-jeong turned her head at Lee Da-yoon's desperate shout.
She alternated her gaze between the mountain of items before her and Lee Da-yoon, who was looking at her with teary eyes.
Lee Da-yoon's expression was strange. The confident demeanor was gone, replaced by someone glancing around nervously, on the verge of tears.
'Why that face... no way.'
'He's a genius who produced S-grades. To him, this level of output isn't satisfactory.'
She swallowed dryly. If she carelessly praised him with "Impressive" here, it might wound the genius's pride.
In the worst case, it could crush his crafting motivation entirely.
Yu So-jeong swallowed again and asked in a trembling voice,
"You're saying... with one more day, you can produce an A+ grade?"
At those words, Lee Da-yoon sensed something was wrong, but the situation was already irreversible.
"...Yes. That's right."
"Understood. Then I'll visit again tomorrow."
Yu So-jeong nodded without asking more.
'This is an incredible achievement.'
Yu So-jeong inwardly cheered. With this volume, Seoul's public safety would improve dramatically at least. It was a matter of national fortune.
She gave a light bow and left the workshop. His expression held some regret, as it didn't meet her castle standards, but it would greatly help the nation.
Under that misunderstanding, she headed toward the Management Bureau.
Management Bureau top floor, Director's office.
Joo Deok-hwan couldn't close his mouth at the report Yu So-jeong handed him.
"Heh...! This much in one day?"
"Yes. A total of thirty-nine pieces. And he promised to produce one additional A+ grade item tomorrow."
Joo Deok-hwan nodded with a satisfied smile.
"Good, excellent. By the way, what about that emergency artifact?"
"The desk clock was destroyed due to Awakener Lee Da-yoon's mistake. We'll need a design more resistant to impacts."
Joo Deok-hwan let out a short sigh.
"...Not easy, huh. Anyway, the weekly report and photos?"
"Prepared here."
Yu So-jeong placed the prepared documents and tablet on his desk.
"There's one thing I've always been curious about."
"What is it?"
Joo Deok-hwan stroked his chin and asked in a puzzled tone.
"Why are Awakener Lee Da-yoon's photos always taken from such odd angles? It's like—"
"Coincidence."
"Huh? I haven't even finished—"
"Coincidence."
"...Fine, got it. You may go. You'll be busy watching over Awakener Lee Da-yoon anyway."
Click.
The moment the front door closed after Yu So-jeong left, he collapsed right there.
"What have I just done...!"
In his helpless panic, he paced from room to room, gnawing at his nails.
He chewed his nails amid all sorts of worries, but naturally, his steel-hard nails didn't even scratch.
The scratches were only carving into his heart.
'A+ grade? Can I really make one in a day?'
He barely had materials left! Only seven scales!
It wasn't even a lie at first. If he'd been honest, he could have bought at least more time.
Regret flooded him for making that choice, but it was irreversible now.
"Arrrgh!"
He dove into the lair, burying his face in the blanket pile. Thrashing around changed nothing.
In the end, there was only one way.
'I have to make it. Somehow.'
He jumped up and headed to the bathroom. He began filling the tub with hot water gushing out.
Not for rest, of course. The sole purpose was to pluck scales.
He'd failed pulling them by force before, but weeks of experience taught him something.
Dragon scales aren't plucked by force. They must be harvested with technique.
He sank into the tub filled with hot water. Warmth enveloped his body, relaxing his tension.
"Haaah..."
Body mellow, mind mellow.
With his mind turning to mush, he thought,
'It'd be nice if I could bring Yong-yong here too...'
Yong-yong was a cotton plush, so he couldn't bring it here. If only there was a floating-material doll...
"Hmmnyaa..."
...
...
"...Gasp!"
He'd dozed off with eyes closed briefly. The water had cooled to lukewarm, and an hour had passed.
"No time for this...!"
He needed to craft items right away. In his urgency, he checked his tail.
Fortunately, a few scales midway up his tail were slightly loose.
'Got it!'
He grabbed the loose scale and yanked hard. With a light pop, a brief sting followed.
"Ow?!"
It wasn't fully ready to come off, so it stung, but not enough to bleed.
That way, he harvested three scales, bringing his total to ten. His tail stung, but it was a necessary sacrifice.
He quickly dried off and headed to the workshop. His only A-grade or higher material was 10kg of Flame Orichalcum. He wasn't confident it alone could make A+ grade.
"Ugh... what now?"
Heading to the kitchen to cool his fevered mind from worry, a snack on the fridge caught his eye.
[Intact Heart of the Lava Drake (A+)]
The mana heart of a high-ranking Baby Dragon, the Lava Drake. It continuously emits heat. Cannot be processed by ordinary means.
A sudden urge hit to pop the gem in his mouth and crunch it, but the reason he eyed the heart now was different.
'Can't... I use this as material?'
Yes, this was the only way.
Use the precious A+ grade mana heart as material.
'...Haven't tasted this flavor yet.'
Tears in his eyes, he picked up the heart. Its heavy, warm texture pressed into his palm.
Since it had come to this, pour in all his materials. That way, he'd have a shot at a higher grade.
Grunting, he heaved the 10kg Flame Orichalcum lump onto the workbench, lining up ten scales and the Lava Drake heart beside it.
"Hoo..."
He wiped the sweat from exerting himself. Now came the hardest part: imagining the item to create.
No matter how great the materials, poor imagination yields poor items. He had to envision a weapon structure fitting the materials.
'Use the Lava Drake heart as core for a sword emitting fierce heat. Flame Orichalcum channels that heat, my scales bind it all.'
A massive greatsword formed in his mind. Forged of scorching lava orichalcum to cleave anything, granting immense power just by gripping it—an overwhelming weapon of might.
[Materials: Intact Heart of the Lava Drake, Gold Dragon Scales × 10, Flame Orichalcum 10kg, Lava Drake Leather]
"Treasure Forging!"
Squeeze.
Vrrr—!
Treasure Forging
Mana drained rapidly, golden light enveloping the materials.
1 second, 2 seconds, 3... It kept going long after.
Soon, the materials on the workbench began melting and merging. Flowing like molten metal or lava into one mass.
The golden light intensified, blinding, until a brilliant burst erupted.
When the light fully cleared, a massive greatsword lay on the workbench.
A huge blade etched with red patterns like flowing lava. At its center, a red gem pulsed, radiating heat. Wrapping the blade were golden crossguards and a jet-black grip.
With trembling hands, he lifted the sword, and the info window appeared.