What Happens When an NPC Crafts Leather Armor? 3
［Would you like to purchase the A-rank leather armor？］
［Yes］ / ［No］
◈ Defense Rating: A-rank (Superior)
◈ Customization: Form does not affect defense
“Yes.”
Please visualize the form of the armor you desire in your mind. Defense is the same regardless of form.
There was nothing different about it just because it was A-rank leather armor. It was exactly the same as when he'd bought the C-rank leather armor.
He pictured a standard leather armor sold at other workshops, and a suit of leather armor materialized before his eyes.
Before Jeonghun and the others arrived, he decided to try on the armor to check its basic performance.
“As expected, it's light and comfortable.”
In terms of mobility, it couldn't even be compared to plate armor. No, plate armor was too obvious to compare from the start. What mattered more was how it stacked up against leather armor from other workshops, and his was far superior. The difference was especially stark in stretchiness, with every movement feeling smooth and fluid.
The real issue is the defense.
Mobility was important, but for armor, the most crucial factor was defense. The mana emanating from the armor gave reason for optimism, but a proper test was essential.
If it had the level of defense he hoped for, he could debut as a leatherworker. It would be the perfect way to shed his potion maker identity.
Truth be told, after the potion incident blew up, he'd felt a twinge of unease. The US and China wouldn't just sit idly by, and he worried other countries might make moves too. That was part of why he'd shown his greed for land.
In the midst of all that, debuting as a leatherworker would make it hard for anyone to suspect him.
The question was just how much defense it had.
To test it accurately, he needed the Three Dragons' help, so while waiting for them to return from the dungeon, he started butchering another A-rank monster corpse.
* * *
“Hyung, you already made the armor?”
Jeonghun, emerging from the dungeon, was startled at the sight of the armor and asked. The others were equally surprised.
To them, he was a potion maker. Not just any potion maker, but the one whose potions drove them crazy.
They knew he had the irregular ability called quests, but they misunderstood his true class as potion maker.
“I don't doubt the guild master's skill as a potion maker, but leatherworking... And you only learned butchering and tanning recently.”
Bang Taegeuk's words carried a mix of suspicion and concern, making Suho inwardly cheer. If even Bang Taegeuk thought that, the others would surely fall for it too.
Yeji's expression wasn't much different from Bang Taegeuk's. Only Jeonghun showed a hint of expectation.
“Then, I ask for your honest evaluations.”
He guided the Three Dragons forward, half worried, half expectant. Outperforming other workshops' leather armor was a given, but he was concerned if it could match plate armor's defense.
Jeonghun, who had a similar build to him, donned the leather armor and began testing.
“It's incredibly comfortable. Especially the joints—they're so flexible. It can't even compare to leather armor from other workshops?”
Jeonghun swung his greatsword through various motions as he spoke. At that, Bang Taegeuk and Yeji looked at Jeonghun with slightly changed gazes.
After moving around for a while, Jeonghun took off the armor.
“Mobility is a solid 100 out of 100.”
Bang Taegeuk and Yeji, who had watched him, nodded in agreement.
“Now, let's test the defense.”
The moment had finally arrived. The most important test: defense.
Jeonghun handled this one too.
Plate armor made from ores gathered in S-rank and A-rank dungeons mixed together.
Plate armor made solely from A-rank dungeon ores.
Leather armor from an A-rank monster corpse.
And finally, his own armor.
Four types in total.
Jeonghun struck each one in turn.
Thud.
Thud.
Slash.
The so-called semi-S-rank armor, mixing S- and A-rank, dented slightly under Jeonghun's attack.
The A-rank plate armor bore the exact imprint of the greatsword.
The A-rank leather armor was sliced clean through, as the sound indicated.
Everyone knew this already, so there were no reactions. Then came his armor.
Jeonghun swung his greatsword carefully, with the same power, speed, and target point as before.
Thump.
A sound unlike any before echoed, followed by gasps of admiration from the others.
“As expected of Suho hyung.”
“Even as guild master, this is on another level entirely. How...”
Yeji hadn't said it aloud, but her expression matched Bang Taegeuk's.
And the most shocked of all was him.
To think it wouldn't even get a scratch.
The semi-S-rank plate had dented slightly, yet his armor showed no mark.
“This time, I'll use a skill.”
“Just in case, I'll cover from behind.”
They'd come down to basement level 3 for testing, so skills were fine, but Bang Taegeuk stepped up for safety.
Bang Taegeuk gripped his shield from behind as Jeonghun activated his skill on the semi-S-rank armor.
“Mad Slash.”
A red aura coated the greatsword, striking the armor and leaving a clear, deep dent.
The A-rank armor was pierced through, losing its function.
His leather armor endured, suffering only a slight scratch like the semi-S-rank before the skill.
Matching semi-S-rank was already excellent, but surpassing it left everyone speechless.
Now curious about its limits, Yeji stepped up.
Her Power Shot landed true, embedding in the semi-S-rank armor. It didn't go deep, but the arrowhead pierced through, while his armor took a wound but blocked the tip.
With her attack defended too, Bang Taegeuk finally stepped forward, his expression now filled with expectation unlike before.
“Heavy Strike.”
BOOM.
The semi-S-rank armor shattered miserably amid the roar. It lost its shape entirely, beyond repair.
Now it was finally his armor's turn.
“Heavy Strike.”
Thump.
A major gash appeared on his armor for the first time. But even so, it withstood Bang Taegeuk's attack. Half was torn away, but the other half remained intact.
Enduring even Bang Taegeuk's strike left everyone dumbfounded, and the biggest shock was his own.
Just A-rank does this much? What about S-rank? Higher?
For a brief moment, he reflected on his own foolishness for doubting the NPC's power.
The others snapped out of it and let out exclamations.
“I knew you'd pull it off, hyung, but I didn't expect this much. How can leather armor have defense comparable to S-rank plate?”
“I briefly doubted the guild master. Manly Bang Taegeuk kneels in apology.”
Yeji bowed formally to him, her face flushed red.
“No need. I didn't expect this level of defense either. And the test isn't over yet. Arguably the most important—restoration—is next. Iron Dragon, one more skill use, please.”
Leather armor lagged behind plate in some ways but didn't vanish, thanks to its greatest advantage: restoration.
Plate armor had restoration magic too. But it was inscribed as magic patterns inside, so damage to them made restoration impossible, and it consumed a ton of mana.
Leather armor's restoration was different from the start. The monster hide itself had restorative properties, allowing it with minimal mana and much faster than plate.
To confirm precisely, he asked Bang Taegeuk again. His strike tore the half-damaged section fully, splitting the chest open.
“Jeonghun, restoration's on you.”
Jeonghun donned the ruined leather armor and infused mana. It stitched back rapidly, fully healed in under 10 seconds without a trace.
Other leather armor took about 5 minutes on average. The speed was incomparable.
Silence fell again, followed by resigned mutters—they were too stunned to be surprised anymore.
“Whoa, hyung, are you even human? Potions were already insane, you hand out quests, and now impossible leather armor. You're not human, right?”
“Manly Bang Taegeuk is truly in awe of the guild master's abilities. A real man proves it with actions, not words. No matter what, I won't doubt you again.”
Yeji looked at him like he was something other than human.
He averted their gazes and continued.
“I'll make yours first, so tell me the forms you want. Any shape is fine—defense stays consistent regardless.”
“For real, hyung? Any form at all? Even as a lining inside plate armor, defense stays the same?”
As he answered Jeonghun's question, he posed one of his own.
“Of course. But you'd wear plate over this armor? It's got defense like S-rank plate—why bother?”
His question was for Jeonghun, but Bang Taegeuk answered.
“For rangers like Yeji or mages, no issue. But for me or Jeonghun, weight matters too. As a tank, I wear heavy tank armor to withstand monster hits. Jeonghun needs plate to add weight to his strikes.”
It was something he, who’d never entered a dungeon, couldn’t know.
“I see. Defense stays identical regardless of form. Even full-body tights style. Tell me what you want—drawings would be even better.”
Beaming smiles like when receiving potions lit up the Three Dragons' faces. Leather armor rivaling S-rank plate—it was another lifesaving shield.
As they excitedly searched for designs, Geonmin suddenly appeared.
“There you all are. I looked everywhere. Heard the guild master made armor? You haven't properly learned compression yet—what was the rush? As your master, I should at least evaluate it. Where's the armor? I'll explain well this time.”
Jeonghun, Bang Taegeuk, and Yeji looked at the expectant Geonmin with pity.
And as expected, soon only her anguished screams echoed in basement level 3.
“N-no way! This is made from A-rank leather?”
“How is this possible? A-are you secretly Hespera?”
“Ah, I get it. You bought it, right? Hespera made it—you bought hers, yeah?”
“Please say yes! Otherwise, it makes no sense!”
“How could someone bad at butchering and tanning make this? This can't be real.”
Everyone nodded in agreement with Geonmin, but it didn't console her.
To be continued in the next chapter... The Hunter Who Awakened as an NPC