Prefabricated Giant Mine Stairs
You have completed the massive structure Prefabricated Giant Mine Staircase (Unique).
You have successfully crafted a Unique-grade structure.
Reputation +200.
All stats +5.
Legendary Architecture skill rank has increased.
Reputation up by 200 and all stats +5? That's more than when I made Unique gear with smithing? Is architecture different?
The massive staircase that Vulcan had personally overseen came out as a whopping Unique grade. Sure, it wasn't something you could pick up and swing around, so its practical uses were limited, but for folks who made mining their life's work, securing safety and even a slight edge in extraction would mean the world.
◈ A massive structure erected in one go by a promising architect who understood the miners' toil and tears.
◈ Rough and crude, but built sturdy with heaps of materials.
◈ Temporary Strength and Vitality increase based on number of stairs climbed.
◈ Movement speed increase when ascending or descending stairs.
◈ Vitality regeneration speed +300% for a set time when ascending or descending stairs.
◈ Weight limit ignored while on the stairs.
"Hmm, not bad at all."
He glanced at the structure's info, and some pretty solid buff effects jumped out. It wasn't versatile for other uses, sure, but this could actually draw crowds to the high levels that miners usually avoided.
Kuzar reputation greatly increased.
Kuzar's miners feel great affinity and gratitude toward you.
You have achieved an astonishing feat!
Acquired title Miners' Benefactor (Uncommon).
It was a structure he couldn't take with him anyway. Vulcan checked that much and focused on the other info popping up.
His Legendary Alchemy, Jewelcrafting, Enchanting, and Architecture skills had all ranked up almost simultaneously, unlocking new possibilities.
"What the hell, so many rank-ups?"
Legendary Architecture: E Rank (58.7%)
Especially eye-catching was Architecture's proficiency. He'd barely used it outside of making Roona's Radiance and the one-square tower, so it shouldn't have been high—yet this job shot it straight to mid-E Rank.
—Tud doesn't want to admit it since you whipped it up so easily... but that's landmark-level architecture, so it's only natural. A bit more refinement and you could've hit D or even C Rank in one go. If anything, this is underrating it.
"Tch. Hearing that suddenly makes my stomach hurt."
Vulcan was puzzled when Tud added that it'd only gone up a little.
It was landmark-worthy, something that'd become a local legend. Precision matters sometimes, but the story behind it counts too. Finishing a massive structure in hours for the miners? That's epic tale material.
"Well... whatever. It's fine."
Whether it truly became a landmark was up to future visitors—no immediate achievements or effects yet—but Vulcan didn't mind. Architecture was tough to level: location restrictions, build difficulty, time sinks. Nailing a rank-up in one shot was huge.
"Still got the other side to do."
The canyon mines were on both walls. He'd only done one side, so mirroring it could push past E to D Rank easy.
Thanks to the miners pitching in, I saved time. At this rate, another one won't delay the schedule much.
The miners weren't saying it outright, but they were eyeing him expectantly. Even after one staircase, they looked ready for more, hundreds of buff dudes staring with sparkling eyes. It creeped Vulcan out.
To escape the stares, he activated the skill and started on the second Prefabricated Giant Mine Staircase.
You have completed the massive structure Prefabricated Twin Giant Mine Staircase (Unique).
Legendary Architecture skill rank has increased.
Finishing the opposite cliff with the same size and shape added "Twin" to the name. He'd hoped for Epic, but the crudeness kept it Unique. Still, buffs stacked identically with slight improvements—good enough. Architecture hit D Rank, leaving just three skills: production and repair under Legendary Smithing, and Item Master.
"Item Master just needs handling various items, right? Does multiples of the same count?"
—Not for high ranks, but low ones? Sure. No two items are perfectly identical.
"Heh heh heh. That's what I figured."
—...What weird idea now?
Before the next task, Vulcan's sly question earned a suspicious glare from Tud. His crafting was advancing fast—faster than expected—but the methods rubbed Tud wrong.
"Hey! No weird ideas. Where else you gonna find free labor like this? I'm basically a wingless angel!"
—Angels ain't that ugly.
"Ugh. Ahem. Still, it's... passable..."
Vulcan flinched at the brutal fact-check when shadows approached.
"Uh, excuse me..."
"Yeah? What's up?"
"Thank you, Architect! We came to properly thank you on behalf of everyone."
The rough-looking men forcing smiles looked awkward—and scarier—but their sincerity shone through. Vulcan's stunt was half-impromptu, but he'd heard about accidents here.
"No biggie. Wasn't expecting anything..."
"We don't know how to repay you, so we chipped in a bit."
"...Can't ignore the gesture. I'll take it as a token of appreciation. Heh heh heh."
It was for proficiency anyway, but free money? No reason to refuse. They pooled it gratefully—rude not to accept.
Anyway, that's how it was.
"Oh, any mining tools needing repairs? Bring 'em over—I'll fix 'em all."
"Our tools?"
—Ah, that was the plan. Low-grade, but with this many miners, picks, shovels, carts—tons of gear.
This time you're only half right.
—Huh?
Tud finally got it. Mining tools wore out fast—lots reused or stockpiled. Touch each for "repair"? Item Master to D Rank easy. Fix that many? Repair skill rank-up too.
"Well... we don't have much to offer..."
Not free this time.
They felt bad taking more after the stairs, especially since the pouch was scraped from their pockets. Repairs weren't free, so they hesitated—Vulcan slipped in a proposal.
"Money's fine. Instead, one ore per repair. One-for-one's no good... how about one ore for five tools?"
No charity here. Low-grade tools meant cheap fixes with basic kits—one kit for 50 repairs, one low iron ore buys a few kits. But he needed profit too. Repairs were labor, not just kits—no guilt.
The pouch made stairs "not free," but pocket change compared to value.
"If it's that... wait a sec. I'll ask around."
It helped him too, but Vulcan played generous—they accepted. Any ore for five fixes? Pure win for them.
Mutual aid, right?
Not wrong... but can Tud punch you once?
You never asked befo— Ow!! Stop! You said once!!
No real repair tech here—smithy fees were buy-new levels. Durability didn't max anyway, so they mined till breakage, then replaced reluctantly.
"Hey! No pushing! I see you cutting!!"
Vulcan's offer? They swarmed. Didn't know his smithing level, but any durability bump was profit.
Sneaky miners lined up with tools. First guy offered something weird.
"Uh...?"
"Ha... ha... yeah, probably not. I'll get something else..."
A funky green ore. Vulcan checked info—even as a vet miner, first time seeing it.
"Nah, it's fine. This'll do."
The guy awkwardly withdrew, but Vulcan snatched his hand. Smiled kindly, but gripped tight, pulling the ore.
This the fun ore?
—Getting good with that Dragon Eye.
Tud had mentioned a "fun ore" en route—this was it.
Rare
A special ore brimming with earth's energy.
When mixed with other metals in exact ratios, enhances their properties and infuses life.
Alone, no effect.
Special metal that shines in alloys—but wrong ratios tank performance. Undiscovered utility till now.
Without Dragon Eye, Vulcan would've overlooked it. But gear enhancement sans Reinforcement Stones from level 200+? Valuable. Stack with stones later?
—Exactly. That's...
Play it cool, no slipping.
Piles here? Scoop 'em all—but no obvious greed. They'd suspect. Stay chill till bulk deal or contract.
—Golem core key material.
"What?!"
But composure cracked seconds later. Tud's words hit like a bomb.