Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Omen
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"Enhance."
A brilliant light burst from Woojin's hand.
Fifty towels transformed in an instant into +2 Goblin Towels.
"Way more convenient."
Thanks to the Multiple Enhancement skill, churning out bulk items had become a breeze.
Mana consumption was high, but that wasn't an issue.
Woojin glanced up at the second floor of the office.
Up there, shrouded behind blackout curtains, sat the "Sacred Sofa of Repose (+15)."
Transporting enhanced towels back and forth from home was a hassle, and keeping everything at the office was far more efficient for mana recovery and rest.
The second floor was sealed off anyway, accessible only to him and Sangjin.
At that moment, the office door flew open as Jo Ayoung came rushing in.
"Sorry! I'm late!"
Her face was flushed red, her breathing ragged.
"The chief kept me talking... I'm really sorry for being late!"
Woojin leaned back on the regular sofa and waved her off coolly.
"No need to run. You called to say you'd be late anyway. It's fine, Agent Crybaby Jo. Not much to do today."
"Cr-Crybaby Jo...?"
"You bawled your eyes out yesterday."
Jo Ayoung pouted.
"That was because of you, boss..."
Woojin chuckled at the sight.
"Anyway, this week's batch is all done—packaged and everything. Sangjin's slapped the shipping labels on too."
"Oh... so what about me?"
"Handle the inquiry board replies. It's kinda fun, actually."
"Fun...?"
Jo Ayoung sat at her desk and booted up her monitor.
Sure enough, the board was utter chaos.
Q. Isn't the boss insane?
[Got drunk last night, slept with a towel as a pillow, and woke up with my hair all staticky. What are you gonna do about my hair?! Take responsibility!]
Woojin peered over and clicked his tongue.
"Jeez, we put warnings right there, and they still do this. Just reply as needed."
Q. My houseplant died ㅠㅠ
[Gave my flowerpot some water and left the towel next to it, but the soil cracked like a desert. Save my little Greenie!]
Q. My fish tank water vanished.
[Accidentally dropped the towel in my tank, and all the water's gone? What about my fish?!]
Jo Ayoung stifled a laugh as she typed the replies.
"Seriously... all kinds of weirdos out there..."
"World's a big place, full of exhibitionists. Just humor them moderately."
Those inquiries actually boosted sales. They proved just how insanely effective the towels were.
As she wrapped up the replies, Jo Ayoung rummaged through her bag like she'd remembered something.
"Oh, right! Boss."
"Yeah?"
"The chief said to give you this. A gift."
Jo Ayoung set a box on the desk.
"And this one's for enhancement. It's for Hunter Kang Seung-hyuk to use—he begged me to ask nicely."
"Oh, the Awakener who was number one before Jihyun Yoo?"
"Yes."
This had already been cleared with Police Chief Jeong.
Enhancing a weapon or two was a small price for dealings with the nation. It wasn't personal gear anyway—no need for Woojin to worry about misuse.
Woojin opened the box with curious eyes.
The moment he saw the two items inside, his eyes went wide.
"Huh...?"
These were solid "Unique" grade items—decent by standards from Common up to Mythic.
But Woojin wasn't surprised by the grade.
These were drops exclusive to specific Unique monsters in the game Unriworld.
"These... exist in reality?"
Woojin's brow furrowed deeply.
This was bad news.
If Unriworld items were appearing...
That meant the monsters from Unriworld could emerge into reality anytime too—an ominous sign.
"Come to think of it... Eirin mentioned a Blessing Stone existing here...?"
The signs were already there. Woojin had just ignored them.
As Woojin's expression hardened, Jo Ayoung asked anxiously.
"Boss? What's wrong? Something bad?"
Instead of answering, Woojin alternated glances between the dagger and the garment.
A bone dagger that was as white and sharp as metal, and a thin silken nightgown-like armor swirling with red aura.
"Wyvern... and Heart-Red Silkworm..."
Flying monsters from mid-game in Unriworld, and a demonic beast from the early demon realms.
Yet reality seemed surprisingly quiet.
"Hmm... well, maybe this is to be expected?"
Earth's combined military might dwarfed anything in the game.
"Agent Jo, was that gate easy to clear?"
"Yes, just a regular gate. They said ten Hunters and one battalion handled it no problem."
"Oh, really?"
That was a relief.
Unlike Unriworld, the real world had massive organized forces like "the military."
Woojin occasionally checked gate-related news, and modern firepower was mowing down monsters effortlessly.
"Should be fine. There's Aaron—no, Eirin—and Jihyun Yoo... and the Final Seven anyway."
The Final Seven.
Aaron (now Eirin), Jihyun Yoo, and five other heroes.
No need to worry prematurely.
"Um... boss?"
"Nah. So, what's the deal with these?"
Jo Ayoung checked her notepad.
"Ah! The chief said this tough underwear-looking armor is a gift for you. Since you don't have combat skills, wear it for protection just in case."
"Ho ho...?"
Woojin toyed with the inner armor.
The Heart-Red Silkworm Inner Armor was lightweight, tough, and magic-resistant—a total gem.
"Can you see its stats?"
Jo Ayoung tilted her head.
"No Appraisal skill—how would I see item stats?"
"Right."
Still, plenty of Players must be aiding the government.
Hence the gift of this seemingly nightgown-like inner armor, whose true value they clearly knew.
"They're not trying to scam me. Better not deceive them either."
"Tell him thanks."
"And the dagger's for Hunter Kang Seung-hyuk's weapon—he asked for enhancement."
Woojin pondered briefly.
"What's Kang Seung-hyuk like, personality-wise?"
"You don't know Hunter Kang Seung-hyuk, boss? He's super famous."
"Nope."
"Um... overflowing sense of justice, man of few words? Total 'hero' vibe? Sorry, that's the best I can do."
Woojin probed further.
"Not some anger management case or anything?"
Jo Ayoung waved it off.
"Oh come on. Among Hunters, he's the one they call the most upstanding guy."
"Hmm... alright then."
Enhancing it seemed safe.
Woojin's concern was the "Diluted Dragon Blood" skill.
Dragons were arrogant and capricious; an undisciplined user could cause accidents craving blood.
"I'll enhance it, but make sure Chief Jeong gets these warnings I give you. Got it?"
"Yes, boss."
Woojin shook off stray thoughts and gripped the dagger.
Ominous signs aside, business was business.
They'd struck a deal with the nation—he needed to prove his worth.
"Wyvern bone has good mana conductivity. Let's keep it light."
"Enhance."
"Whoa...!"
Jo Ayoung gasped beside him.
Woojin kept pouring in mana without pause.
It hit +3 in a flash.
Base attack 86.5. Solid for mid-to-late game in Unriworld.
Plus, Diluted Dragon Blood had leveled to 4.
"Tch... this is a bit worrying..."
Diluted Dragon Blood boosted combat will and attack power but had a blood-craving side effect—only for the most disciplined in Unriworld.
Effects varied by personality.
"Eh... not my problem. They'll handle it."
Kang Seung-hyuk was reputedly upstanding, after all.
"Done. Take it."
"Already? Wow, it feels different though."
"You're an Awakener. You sense the mana."
"Hehe... I don't use my ability, but..."
Woojin finally asked Jo Ayoung.
"So, what's your Awakening?"
Surprisingly, she answered straightforwardly.
"Me? Physical Awakening."
"Physical Awakening? Sounds brutal."
"Yeah, when I use it, my muscles just... bulge all Hulk-like... Ugh, never using it unless I'm dying."
The bunny-like Jo Ayoung turning into a hulking muscle warrior...?
"Yeah... probably best not to."
"Tell them I'll wear the armor gladly."
"Yes, boss."
Woojin stashed the inner armor by the second-floor sofa.
He'd enhance it bit by bit for Sangjin.
Late evening, after Jo Ayoung had clocked out.
Woojin and Sangjin were still at the office.
Debating the next item after towels.
Then—
A familiar face appeared on the idly playing TV.
"Huh? Bro! Check the news! Eirin noona's on!"
Sangjin, mid-packaging, urgently called Woojin over.
"What? Why's she on news this late?"
The TV blared an urgent breaking report.
Woojin muttered at the sight.
"What a showoff."
The screen showed Eirin Benedict surrounded by reporters.
Flanking her like attendants were Korea's Foreign Minister and Defense Minister.
Her voice boomed from the podium mic.
Eirin's voice rang proud and arrogant.
She drew a gleaming sword from her waist.
It was the "Goddess's Sword (+3)" Woojin had enhanced.
Even amid the camera flashes, the blade shone holy.
And her declaration continued.
[WAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!! BENEDICT!! BENEDICT!! BENEDICT!!]
The crowd's fervor was electric.
Woojin rubbed his shoulders watching.
"Man... she delivers those cringey lines without batting an eye...? Not just anyone can pull that off, right?"
Sangjin giggled in agreement.
"Bro, I'd die of embarrassment trying that."
"Yeah, heroism ain't for everyone."
Then, a reporter on TV asked.
Eirin stared straight into the camera.
Her blue eyes seemed to pierce through to Woojin.
"...Precious connection?"
Sangjin glanced at Woojin and snickered.
"Bro, that's you, right? 'Precious connection'?"
Woojin rubbed his forehead.
"Ugh... why does she have to say it like that..."
He played it cool, but his ears reddened slightly.
Even on global live TV, the woman held nothing back.
[WAAAAAAAAAAHHHH—!!!]
The on-site crowd and reporters roared.
Truly, the descent of Asia's savior.
Eirin Benedict's name value was skyrocketing.
But Woojin's face wasn't all smiles.
"Damn... every Player worldwide just saw that..."
It was bound to come out eventually.
With Eirin and Jihyun around, Woojin wasn't in much danger.
Old Unriworld connections might even reach out.
"Wonder how the Elder's doing... Didn't even say goodbye."
Woojin dialed a number thoughtfully.
Riiiing—
[Yes, Catherine Eve speaking. How may I help? Mr. Kim Woojin?]
"See the news?"
[Yes, it's live. I'm right behind the stage where Lady Eirin is speaking.]
"Tch, explains the noise. Tell Eirin: aside from the Goddess's Sword, bring anything she needs for gate clears. I'll enhance it."
[Serious? What's the price?]
"You think I'm that oblivious? I'll do it for free. Charge the one guarding Asia? You guys were banking on that, huh?"
[Hehe, can't deny it.]
"Tch, have her call after the presser."
Catherine chuckled softly.
[Yes, I'll make sure she does. Mr. Woojin.]