Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: All-Nighter Crafting? (2)
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All-nighter crafting? What did she mean by that?
All I'd done was binge-watch anime all night and pass out.
My momentarily blank mind kicked into high gear.
Yu So-jeong had no idea I could craft a weapon in under a minute.
And right now, I looked like a wreck—bloodshot eyes, messy hair, total exhaustion.
Which meant Yu So-jeong had jumped to the conclusion that I'd pulled an all-nighter crafting items.
This is my chance!
A chance to pass off my oversleeping as the image of a dedicated artisan who'd worked through the night.
I rubbed my eyes deliberately, feigning fatigue.
"Yawn... Yeah, pretty much. It just kinda happened."
"You mustn't overdo it. Your health always comes first, Miss Lee Da-yoon."
"I'm fine! Come here, I'll show you the finished product."
A slight pang of guilt hit me at her worried expression, but I headed to the workshop anyway.
Sure, my conscience stung a little, but on the flip side, my shoulders puffed up with pride. It was true I'd crafted an S-Rank item. I might not have stayed up all night, but I'd endured plenty of mental anguish and sacrifice equivalent to it.
My Lava Drake heart...
I pushed the sadness aside and steeled myself. Now was the time to show off the dignity of an SSS-Rank Creator.
"Ahem!"
I cleared my throat in front of the workshop, squared my shoulders, and flung the door open.
"Ta-da! What do you think? I made it just like I promised."
The greatsword Lava's Fury sat proudly on the workbench, reflecting the light in a menacing red glow.
Lava's Fury (S+)
Greatsword forged from a Lava Drake's heart. Ignites foes in molten rage.
"This is..."
I thrust my chest out proudly.
"I put some real effort into it. Hehe."
Yu So-jeong checked the info window hovering over the greatsword and froze, holding her breath.
"An S-Rank... two whole steps higher..."
She muttered in disbelief, then turned to me. With purposeful strides, she closed the distance.
"Thank you. Truly, thank you so much, Miss Lee Da-yoon."
"Huh?"
Before I could react, Yu So-jeong swept me into a hug.
My face plunged straight into her chest. Soft, warm, and comforting. The fresh, clean scent of fabric softener tickled my nose.
The dizzying sensation—my first in life—left my mind blank.
Her arms tightened. It was probably just pure gratitude and emotion, but it was a bit much for my small frame to handle.
"C-can't... breathe..."
At my muffled plea, she jolted back in surprise. A faint blush crossed her usually expressionless face amid her embarrassment.
"...My apologies. I got a little carried away."
"Nngh... It's okay."
She cleared her throat and straightened up. I scratched my head awkwardly too. And there was an employee watching from the side, no less.
"This is incredible. How can I ever repay this kindness...? I'll mobilize everything at the Management Bureau's disposal to meet any condition you desire—anything I can do."
A beautiful, capable woman like Yu So-jeong offering to do anything.
As a wise, intelligent adult dragon, I knew exactly what to ask for.
"In that case, I'd like a ton of mana hearts!"
"Mana hearts, you say? Understood. I'll bring them all as soon as they're ready."
I cheered inwardly at her firm promise.
Yippee! Snack time!
If the employee hadn't been there, I might've jumped for joy.
The employee soon stored the item with a skill and packed up. Yu So-jeong headed for the door too.
My heart... no, my sword is off to its new home.
It was a shame, but thinking of the bounty of mana hearts I'd get in return melted that away. What new flavors would they bring this time? My mouth was already watering.
"Then we'll be off. I'll let you know when the mana hearts are ready."
"Yes! Take care!"
I wagged my tail as I saw them out at the door.
Once the door shut and the house fell quiet again, I bolted to my lair and flopped into the pile of fluffy blankets.
The lingering drowsiness washed over me. In my fuzzy haze, I pulled out my phone from within the blankets.
Yu So-jeong would bring mana hearts, sure—but who knew how long that'd take? For snacks right now, I'd have to secure them myself.
Dozens of listings flooded in after typing the keyword. Mostly low-grade mana stones from C- or D-Rank monsters, but scrolling down revealed one that caught my eye.
[Selling 3 Drake Hearts Urgently]
— Spear Master
The instant I saw the post, I tapped into chat on reflex.
New snacks to soothe the sorrow of parting with my Lava Drake heart. No hesitation—I jumped into the one-on-one chat.
[Golden Hand]: Hellooo. Wanna buy those 3 Drake hearts
[Spear Master]: Yes. Trade possible.
[Spear Master]: How about in front of Gangnam Station Exit 3?
[Golden Hand]: Yes! When can we trade? ASAP pls.
[Spear Master]: 30 minutes from now okay?
[Golden Hand]: Yup yup
[Spear Master]: See you in 30 at Gangnam Station Exit 3. Black cap, mask, sunglasses.
[Golden Hand]: Got it!
The seller set the meetup spot and time, then went offline right away. They seemed in a hurry.
"Hehe..."
A reason to head out after so long. A walk in the sun and tasty snacks—what a perfect outing.
I rushed to the closet, changed into comfy clothes, grabbed my bag, and stepped out the door.
The familiar clamor of crowds. Gangnam Station, teeming with people. I headed to the meeting spot at Exit 3 and glanced around.
About time...
Five minutes to go, and I spotted someone matching the description.
That her?
Black cap pulled low, mask covering half the face, oversized sunglasses hiding the eyes. They screamed "don't recognize me" from head to toe.
Like a celebrity sneaking out incognito. Suspicious as hell, but definitely my trade partner.
I approached cautiously.
"Um... excuse me, are you here for the Drake...?"
She turned at my voice.
"Ah, you're Golden Hand, right?"
"Yes."
"Let me show you the goods first."
She reached into her bag and pulled out three fist-sized gems of different colors. Forest Drake, Earth Drake, and Blue Drake, she'd said.
I swallowed hard, saliva pooling, ready to proceed—
Wooong—!
Reality warps like a filtered lens. Screams echo and fade into muffled silence.
Blue rift swallows you both.
The space around us twisted grotesquely, like it'd been run through a filter. Screams erupted from bystanders, but they warped like sound underwater and faded away.
"Wha—?!"
A blue, black-hole-like crack formed at my feet. In less than a second, it engulfed me and the woman.
My vision drowned in blue, my body floated weightlessly, and my mind went hazy.
How much time passed?
When I came to, I was slumped on damp, chilly dirt.
"Where...?"
No trace of the cityscape. Just gnarled, twisted trees everywhere.
The canopy blocked the sky, casting gloom even in broad daylight. Peering through leaves, the heavens loomed in an ominous dark blue.
...A dungeon.
Forget mana hearts—I was suddenly fighting for my life.
Wait, what about that woman with me?
She'd been sucked into the rift too. As an SSS-Rank Awakener, I had a duty to protect civilians.
Scanning around, I spotted her behind me—frowning, but otherwise nowhere near panicked. Her calm eyes swept the area methodically.
After a quick survey, she turned to me, having grasped the situation.
She'd removed her sunglasses and mask.
Face looks familiar.
Like someone from TV. It clicked fast.
Korea's No. 1 Hunter. One of the world's top five S-Rank Hunters.
Divine Spear Seong Ji-yoon.
She stood before me.
"Are you alright?"
"Y-yeah..."
I nodded dumbly.
"I'm Hunter Seong Ji-yoon. As you can see, we've been pulled into a dungeon unexpectedly. Estimated B-Rank."
She knelt to meet my eyes and continued.
"Dungeons are full of dangers. But with enough caution, we can escape safely. Follow my instructions from here on. What's your name?"
"Uh... Lee Da-yoon."
The dungeon raid alongside Korea's strongest human had begun.