Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Highlander, S-Rank Equipment?
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The last day of December.
The end of a year split between 30% spent in my early twenties and 70% as a fourteen-year-old.
“Whew…”
After a thorough wash and a perfect self-esteem boost, I slapped my cheeks—smack smack!—to steel myself.
The thing that had me, a bona fide S-Rank hunter and president of a mid-sized company, on edge was a long, rod-like piece of equipment.
None other than the latest body measurement device.
It must’ve been about a month ago.
I bought it to record my height more accurately.
Of course, on the sly, without anyone knowing.
Since Ha-Young and Jin-A came and went from the rooftop room pretty often, I installed it in the corner of my bedroom—a no-go zone even for them.
“Hyah!”
With my resolve firm, I stepped onto the scale. Regrettably, not barefoot. My feet get so cold, so a single layer of bed socks should be fine, right?
I pressed my back flat against it and held my head as straight as possible. Then I stretched out my right arm and pressed the button—squish.
Ziiing!
With a shiver-inducing mechanical whir, the rod began descending.
Ziiing!
It’s about time for that ‘pop,’ right?
Ziiing!
…Man, it takes forever. Ugh, my pride.
After an eternity of endurance, it finally went pop against the crown of my head, and I checked the result.
“Argh.”
First sigh at the fact that not only had I not grown, but I’d even shrunk compared to yesterday. Second wave of irritation at still being well below average for my age group.
Maybe I should just give up on growing taller.
‘Could it be Highlander syndrome?’
At this point, even I—who tries to see the world positively—had to suspect it.
It’s not just that I’m not growing; I’m not growing at all.
Lately, I’d been eating dragon meat for nearly two meals a day, pumping myself full of insane amounts of nutrition, but this was ridiculous.
That’s why Highlander syndrome came to mind.
It’s a condition that appears in a rare few awakeners whose bodies undergo drastic changes upon awakening.
‘I think it stops the body from aging visibly.’
Appearance age stays frozen. Lifespan remains normal, so it’s not like they live forever.
Those awakeners usually got stuck looking like they were in their twenties, objects of envy…
“Hmm…”
But mine got stuck like this.
I liked the cuteness, but it was a little disappointing. At least I wanted to reach average height.
I drew a wry smile for no reason, then bundled up my long silver hair with practiced hands and glanced at the bed.
…
You lazybones.
The sun was already high in the sky, but not one had woken up. Not even poked their head out from under the covers.
“Guys, you gonna sleep all day?”
…
Electric blankets really are like drugs.
Even these cold-proof bunch couldn’t tear themselves away.
In the end, I slipped out of the room alone.
“Ughhh…!”
Brr, goosebumps. Even with the boiler on, that chill lingers.
Taptaptaptap!
Straight to the kitchen, fired up the gas stove, and poured water into a pot.
I wasn’t much of a cook before, but lately, cooking felt weirdly fun.
Is this the female hormones? Or do I just have a knack for it?
Maybe open a pop-up restaurant at Molang Park for an event.
Ding!
While waiting for the water to boil, I turned on the TV for the morning news. Perfect timing for the juiciest part—hunter news.
[Yesterday’s hunter auction saw the equipment category’s top bid shattered. Briefing on the details, please.]
[Yes. It’s the new gear from America’s S-Rank crafter, Rihesa. Dubbed ‘Crea’s Tear,’ it fetched a whopping 5 billion, setting a new record…]
Whoa, someone dropped 5 billion on gear? Must be rotting in cash. If so, invest in me instead.
S-Rank gear typically goes for hundreds of millions, tops a few billion for the pricier ones.
Never hundreds of billions or trillions like some absurd amount.
‘Gear’s just a tool, after all.’
A craftsman doesn’t blame his tools. For hunters, skill matters more than equipment.
Sure, good gear lets you take down higher-grade monsters, but there are limits.
Plus, demand is super niche. Only A-Ranks or above buy it, so it can’t get infinitely pricey.
Bubble bubble bubble!
“Whoops, almost overflowed.”
I tossed in Dart’s horn as the pot foamed mercilessly.
Tasteless as hell, but after some trial and error, it made perfect broth.
Deep flavor from the inside out. The water turns pitch black right away—looks gross—but…
Weirdly, it clears up after a bit of boiling.
[The buyer is known as a world-class collector. In an interview, he said he’d display ‘Crea’s Tear’ in his exhibition hall…]
Ah, a collector.
They hoard anything rare or expensive.
No wonder it sold for so much.
Plop! Plop! Plop!
Once the water cleared, I added pre-sliced dragon meat and rice cakes. Better texture and flavor than frying the meat first.
[But does ‘Crea’s Tear’ really have 5 billion worth of value?]
[Opinions are divided among experts. Crafter Rihesa claims it lets an A-Rank solo an S-Rank monster, but in practice…]
[So, probably not?]
Hm. Sounds like total BS.
Why are S-Ranks S-Ranks? Only S-Rank hunters—practically otherworldly—could take them down.
Gear mattered less than raw ability for critical damage.
Though, yeah, multiple A-Ranks raiding together was an option.
Bubble bubble bubble!
Once the rice cakes and meat seemed done, I added soy sauce, garlic, salt, and green onions, then simmered a bit more.
Ta-da! New Year’s rice cake soup, complete!
Probably the most expensive in the world. Just the smell had my stomach screaming for food.
“Heehee…!”
Click, turned off the gas, set the table quick, and scooped up a big spoonful.
Fanning it—fwoo fwoo!—just in case my dainty tongue got burned.
“Mmm…!”
I could sell this for real.
Molang Park opens on Lunar New Year’s, so maybe seriously consider it.
Slurp!
Satisfied with breakfast, I propped up my tablet nicely.
The old one finally ascended to tablet heaven thanks to Mini’s grip strength.
So I bought a new one, and while at it, installed a big TV in the mini golems’ room.
No more tablet tug-of-war now.
‘If they don’t listen, just cut the TV Wi-Fi.’
Wonder if they’re up yet? Told them to rise early today—glass wall construction finishes up.
Squeeze.
If they sleep in again, time to show them who’s boss. I tapped the notes app.
[Molangmol 3-Piece Set]
[Tool: Molangtori]
[Armor: Molangtex]
[Weapon: ??]
The Molangmol set—arguably the world’s finest gear set.
Only the weapon left to complete it, but what to make was the dilemma.
Target: A-Rank hunters and up. Gear aims for A-Rank or higher, like Molangtex.
Goal: S-Rank.
If it flops, downgrade to A+.
If reactions are good?
Then semi-Molangtex and semi-weapons for lower hunters.
“Okay. Belly full, let’s get to it.”
Not like I had zero ideas.
Same as always—max out my materials for great results.
**
“Go! Puffy!”
Chiiiii…!
At my shout, Puffy inflated to its limit. Fed it an A+ mana stone, so way puffier than usual.
Give it an S-Rank, and it’d probably burst.
Boom!
Took a full five minutes for Puffy to spit out the mana stone. Career high—no words needed.
“Waaah…!”
Like firing a Spirit Bomb or something—the shock nearly toppled the huge cauldron…
Thud!
Thankfully, the giant pudding slimes by my side prevented disaster.
Next time, add supports.
Maybe install a mana stabilization pillar? The one at Molang Park was insanely stable.
Gurgle gurgle!
Poured mana water into the steaming-hot cauldron.
Mana water—sounds fancy.
Nothing special; it’s the same water the monsters soaked in at the hot springs.
Monsters excrete mana like humans shed waste.
So.
‘The hot spring water’s infused with their residual mana.’
Better than any other liquid, right?
Like fusing slimes—helps materials blend perfectly.
“What to add first…”
Tons of materials, tough choice, but start with what I know.
Following that logic, slime balls and mini golem shed skins went in first.
Ratios different from Molangtex, of course.
More slime balls this time—golem sheds weren’t the main component in my design.
Next up.
I emptied out the vicious stuff stored in Molangtori.
Dragon tailbones!
Muscles and flesh stripped clean, thoroughly dried bones.
Dragon-worthy toughness surpassing mini golems. Weirdly flexible for bones, too.
One unique trait.
Snap!
Joints separate easily. Probably designed to sever cleanly.
‘That’s what sparked the idea.’
Flexible, tough bones.
Stretchy, shrinkable slime balls.
Stabilizing mini golem sheds.
Ultimate gear combining all those strengths.
Molangtail.
Click!
“Ah, ah. December 31st. Molangtail experiment log #1. Starting now.”