Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: Master's Shield and Necklace
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"Wow."
The shield gleamed with a chilling sheen, so beautiful it was almost intimidating to touch.
Especially once the cloth was fully removed, the icy aura emanating from it made the shield feel less like a mere hunk of metal and more like something alive and breathing.
"I tailored it to your build, Jang Su-ho-ssi, so it should be comfortable to use."
"Hooh."
Had I ever mentioned it was a shield for Jang Su-ho?
Guess he really was watching our raid streams.
"Here's the certificate."
"Oh, right. Yes, yes."
I'd been staring at the shield again, but I quickly took the paper Jeong Je-hwa offered.
Not just that it was an A-rank perfectly suited to Jang Su-ho's level, but the way it incorporated that Evercold Iron material...
I was thrilled.
Master lived up to his name.
Pride swelled in my chest, making my head bob like a nodding doll.
"You like it?"
Even so, Jeong Je-hwa was still gauging my reaction.
"Boss, when you've made something this exquisite and then ask if I like it... I could say yes a hundred, a thousand times. It's freaking awesome. I love it."
"I'm glad."
"From those earrings to the gloves last time, and now this shield. Is there anything you can't make?"
"Hm... I'm pretty confident with most accessories. Come to think of it, I haven't tried shoes yet. Since it came up..."
"Oh, shoes sound great."
"What's your shoe size, Nayeo-ju-ssi?"
"Me? I'm a 235... Huh?"
"Let me take a quick look."
It happened in the blink of an eye.
Jeong Je-hwa sat me down in a workshop chair, then knelt on one knee and slipped off my shoe.
Wait, my feet don't smell or anything!
"Hm. Narrow foot width, and a small heel."
His large hands kneaded various spots on my foot.
This feels kinda nice, actually.
Since I wasn't resisting and stayed still, Jeong Je-hwa smiled warmly, his eyes crinkling in approval.
"Your ankles seem a bit weak, so lightweight shoes with good support would be ideal."
"Oh. You can make something like that?"
"Shoes were a field I never really cared for, but if it's for you, Nayeo-ju-ssi, it could be quite fun."
"...Boss, you're kinda cool right now. Like a true master craftsman."
"The highest praise."
He fondled my foot a bit more after that, then even slipped my shoe back on.
Is it okay to get this kind of treatment from the Master himself?
"Shoes will take some time, but I do have a gift for you today, Nayeo-ju-ssi."
"Huh? For me?"
"Yes, for you, Nayeo-ju-ssi."
He mimicked my tone in an oddly charming way as he returned to his workbench and fetched a small box.
"Open it."
His voice carried even more anticipation than when he'd unveiled the shield.
Oh, gotta react big for this one.
I thought that as I opened the box, but I didn't need to force it.
The gasp escaped naturally.
"Whoa. This necklace is just... perfect."
"It's to your taste, right?"
"Yes! I could believe I designed it myself! It's gorgeous!"
A pinky-nail-sized black gem nestled in the necklace caught the workshop lights, sparkling brilliantly.
Simple, unobtrusive, yet versatile enough for any outfit.
"You're someone who enters dungeons, Nayeo-ju-ssi. I'd love to stop you, but I can't. So this necklace will protect you."
"Protect me? Like, me?"
His explanation only multiplied the question marks in my head, so I hunted for the certificate somewhere in the small box.
His items always came with one.
But the box was empty.
Reading my intent, Jeong Je-hwa spoke up.
"No certificate. Because I hope you'll never need to use its power, Nayeo-ju-ssi."
"Ah, that's what it means."
But I have my appraisal skill.
Pretending to inspect the necklace closer, I pulled up its info window.
"...Oh."
Should I be shocked by the absolute defense against all attacks?
Or that it's S-rank?
Or maybe the 'Master' stamped boldly as the maker?
Too many highlights; I couldn't even properly react.
Come to think of it, it's been ages since an item bore the Master's name.
Jeong Je-hwa hadn't used 'Master' for years.
Items for the Justice Guild had all been under 'Sugar Workshop.'
Yet he'd emblazoned 'Master' right there on my gift necklace.
"I really, really, really love it. Thank you, Boss."
An S-rank absolute defense necklace etched with the Master's name.
Money couldn't buy this.
My gratitude toward Jeong Je-hwa was thus 100% pure.
This giving tree of a man.
"Let me put it on for you."
Jeong Je-hwa took the necklace from my hand and stepped behind me.
He gently gathered my hair and swept it to one side.
As the thin chain and his fingertips brushed my neck skin, tickling it, he whispered in my ear.
"You're a very important person to me, Nayeo-ju-ssi."
His voice was low enough to send chills down my spine.
"So be careful not to need this necklace."
With that, the black gem settled lightly atop my collarbone.
Solid reassurance.
Is this what wearing a bulletproof vest feels like?
No, it blocks non-physical attacks too, so way better.
Right, right.
I nodded, fiddling with the necklace, when I remembered something I'd momentarily forgotten.
"Ah, this isn't much compared to the necklace, but..."
I pulled the red flower I'd picked from Im Cheong-su's greenhouse last time out of my sub-space pocket.
"It's a dungeon plant called Ascabas. Nice scent, and it has a mild awakening effect."
Jeong Je-hwa silently accepted the flower I offered.
But I didn't need to worry if he liked it or not.
The affection meter spoke for him.
"Dungeon plants don't wilt easily. They say it's so vital it sprouts again just hours after being cut."
"A flower like you, Nayeo-ju-ssi."
With a small smile, he filled a handle-less mug with water, inserted the Ascabas, and set it down.
On the central table in the workshop, where light poured in best.
As I blinked, wondering if my humble flower deserved such a spot,
he leaned down to inhale its fragrance.
Then, with a deep smile that seemed to carry the red petals' pervasive aroma, he said,
"Please come back safe."
Jeong Je-hwa gently stroked the red petals as he implored me.
"Jang Su-ho! Jang Su-ho, where are you!"
The moment I returned to the Justice Guild, I headed straight to the training grounds, shouting.
No response.
But I didn't need to search around.
Dinner time was approaching, so his location was obvious.
Sure enough,
I found Jang Su-ho in the gym, earbuds in, working out.
To avoid startling him, I approached visibly and waved right in his face.
"Nayeo-ju-ya!"
"Jang Su-ho, mind if I interrupt your workout for a sec?"
"Yeah, yeah. What's up? Hungry? What should we eat?"
"Do you think I'm always starving? Well, I am a bit peckish, but that's not the point."
I calmed the excited Jang Su-ho, who'd half-dropped his equipment, and asked,
"How's training going?"
"Eh... Just grinding away."
His trailing voice sounded off.
This pitiful guy.
"Don't worry. Worst case, Guild Leader can roast you like last time."
"True."
He laughed along with my joke, but it was a deflated smile unlike him.
I stepped back a few paces and beckoned him.
"Come here for a bit."
Jang Su-ho rose from the machine without asking why and stood before me.
"Your body's plenty strong already, so train with this from now on."
With that, I opened my sub-space and pulled out the shield.
Even with my enhanced strength from awakening, its weight drew a grunt from me and made me stagger slightly.
"What... is this?"
Jang Su-ho's eyes widened at the shield, its luster undimmed even in the gym.
"That shield you're using is all beat-up and dented. This is your new one."
Come on, affection up!
But no ding came, just silence.
Me, waiting for that sound? Never thought the day would come.
Guess my explanation fell short.
"Feel that? Doesn't it have a cold aura?"
"Yeah..."
"Remember the Evercold Iron from the dungeon last time? Made from that. It'll be huge for tackling flame dungeons."
"Seems like it..."
Jang Su-ho was clearly captivated by the shield.
But unlike his glued eyes, he hadn't touched it.
Jeong Je-hwa's craftsmanship was art, sure, but this wasn't a gallery.
No admiring from afar.
I grabbed his hand and slapped it onto the shield.
"See the blade edges on the bottom and side? You don't just block with your shield. I specially requested a design for offense too. And this grip..."
"You requested it, Nayeo-ju-ya?"
"Of course. The maker's skilled, sure, but I know your fighting style better. So I gave input on the design and fussed over it."
Then it happened.
Finally, the sound I'd been craving.
Jang Su-ho, you've finally fallen for the Evercold Iron's charm...
"This... you made this shield for me, Nayeo-ju-ya? Thinking of me?"
...The point's veering off strangely.