NPC's Armor 1
"I won't ask why you're challenging an S-rank dungeon. Since Guild Master Kim Suho told me he'd explain it to me in time, I'll find out when the moment comes. But before that, I have something to ask you."
Kang Jeonghun was set to start learning dungeon strategies from Kang Taehoon today. He approached the meeting with a mix of appropriate tension and anticipation, only for Kang Taehoon to suddenly open with a question.
"Are you really planning to clear the dungeon?"
"Yes, of course."
"This is a matter of life and death. Think it over carefully before you answer."
"Yes, I will definitely clear the dungeon."
With each exchange, Kang Jeonghun's voice grew firmer, leading to Kang Taehoon's final question.
"Last question. I'm going to suggest two dungeons to you. The first prioritizes safety above all. Your survival odds are nearly 100%, but the chance of actually clearing it is less than 5%."
"The second gives you a 60% shot at clearing it."
Kang Jeonghun's eyes widened sharply at the mention of 60%, but Kang Taehoon pressed on.
"However, your odds of dying are 90%. One mistake, and you're dead. No question. Which one do you choose?"
"I'll take the second dungeon."
Kang Jeonghun's answer shot out the instant Kang Taehoon finished speaking. Kang Taehoon met his blazing gaze, smirked, and said,
"Good. Then let's go take a look."
"Do you know what's most important for solo-clearing an S-rank dungeon?"
"The attack power to kill monsters on your own."
Kang Taehoon flashed a satisfied smile at Kang Jeonghun's response.
"Right. Attack power. If you were just hunting in an S-rank dungeon, survival would come first. But for clearing it, you need the power to kill monsters. Your current attack power is a bit ambiguous, though. It's top-tier against hunters of your level, but it lacks the overwhelming edge against S-rank monster defense. That's why, to solo-clear a dungeon, you need one with monsters that have low defense."
Kang Jeonghun nodded quietly at Kang Taehoon's words.
It had been the same even when he, Bang Taegeuk, and Ha Yeji had tackled an S-rank dungeon as a trio. Bang Taegeuk tanked the hits, but dodging monster attacks wasn't hard. They took it slow for safety, but piercing monster defense and landing solid hits was the real struggle.
So he agreed: attack power was key to conquering an S-rank dungeon this time too.
"The monsters in this dungeon can be critically wounded by your attacks. But as I said, their offense scales inversely with their defense. Even if a healer tags along later, it won't mean much. Why? You'll die before they can heal you. So watch what I do closely from here on. You have to survive to conquer a dungeon."
With that, Kang Taehoon slung his greatsword over his shoulder and advanced slowly toward the monster. Kang Jeonghun stared intently, not blinking, determined not to miss a single moment.
'I'll clear it... I will clear it.'
"Ha Yeji-ssi, I'll take five minutes to rest."
Ha Yeji nodded and sat at Park Cheolhyeong's words—the party's tank and leader.
'Amazing.'
Seated, Ha Yeji gazed at her new party members with admiration. Their combat prowess in the last fight was a different kind of strength from the Support Guild's raid team.
Individually, they fell short of the raid team's elites—Korea's top hunters by raw ability. That was expected.
But their strength was unique. They hunted with teamwork honed over years. Weaker than the Support Guild overall, sure, but plenty capable for an S-rank conquest.
When Kim Suho said they were Hunter Management Bureau agents, she'd been curious about their skill level. She trusted him, so no doubts, but their performance exceeded expectations.
With them, she felt hope for achieving her goal.
'I have to raise my stats enough to equip the S-rank gear Guild Master mentioned.'
Per Kim Suho, S-rank gear was essential for the SSS-rank dungeon. Comparing her stats to S-rank weapon requirements, she was short about 150 Strength and 200 Magic Power.
Running S-rank dungeons with Kim Suho's quests and this party for six months should get her there.
"Ha Yeji-ssi, time to move again."
Her brief reverie ended; rest over, Ha Yeji stood and resumed the hunt.
"Phew. Done."
I'd finally succeeded in making an arrow, but my expression soured. Kim Seokjung voiced the reason.
"As expected, it's bigger than a standard arrow. Looks more like a spear than an arrow."
Exactly. What I made wasn't an arrow—it was practically a spear.
Kim Seokjung's arrows were about 80cm long, 1cm thick. Mine? 1.5m long, 5cm thick. No contest.
It didn't look like an arrow at all.
But it was an arrow. Absolutely. Because the NPC system recognized it as one.
NPC Class effect activated.
A-rank arrow created.
The notification left me so dumbfounded I couldn't react. An arrow? This was an arrow?
It registered in the mold shop like any other A-rank weapon, same conditions.
"Can't you make it any smaller?"
As I stared in disbelief, Kim Seokjung asked with regret.
"I don't think so."
I knew what his expression meant—I felt the same. But impossible was impossible, so I shook my head.
To make this "arrow," I'd produced dozens already. Good thing it was quick to craft.
I started mimicking Kim Seokjung's exactly, gradually scaling up, making and remaking.
Only after dozens did the NPC system approve the first one.
"Well, can't be helped. Actually, for SSS-rank monsters, this size might be just right for effect. But using it in combat will take practice."
His words brought Ha Yeji to mind.
'Yeji can handle it.'
Big, yeah, but a hunter would use it. Size wouldn't stop shooting.
Still, real-world use would demand effort, like Kim Seokjung said. I believed in Ha Yeji.
"Arrow success means shields next."
As I thought of her, Kim Seokjung moved on.
Plan was sword, then shield, then bow.
But I'd skipped shield for bow first.
Now bow done, back to shield—but I wanted to skip again.
"Master, I want to learn armor first."
Obviously, armor for Jeonghun and Yeji came first.
Kim Seokjung pondered briefly, then agreed readily.
"Fine. No need wasting time on shields after nailing the bow. Straight to armor. But before that, one thing to clear up."
His face hardened, tone grave. I mirrored his seriousness.
"From making the arrow, I realized: due to mana crystallization's nature, you can't make normal armor. Smiths divide it—head, chest, arms, legs. But for you, to crystallize mana, each piece balloons in size. Absurd."
"Ah!"
A groan escaped as his words sank in, hitting like a hammer to the head. Brain fogged.
Now I got why he'd asked if I could shrink the arrow—after watching me upscale from tiny ones.
Right before success, he'd seen failures, yet asked anyway. Baffling then.
He'd been thinking armor, not arrow.
"Should I give up mana crystallization?"
Ditching it would allow normal armor. Defense wouldn't lag behind others'—my mana state beat theirs.
No equip restrictions either; maybe even SS-rank for Jeonghun.
Tempting option.
But Kim Seokjung disagreed.
"No. Never abandon mana crystallization."
His tone brooked no argument. I shared part of the truth—Jeonghun's S-rank solo, how SS-rank armor boosts clear and survival odds.
But his response revealed my huge mistake.
"Sure, SS-rank beats A-rank defense. But you're overlooking something big. This isn't leather armor."
Oh, right.
Back-to-back shocks and worry over Jeonghun made me forget the obvious.
Leather A or SS? Negligible weight gap—like summer vs. winter clothes. Irrelevant to hunters.
Plate armor? Different story.
Jeonghun wore S-rank plate now. Not from lack of funds for SS.
SS would slow him too much for proper hunting.
Face burned realizing I'd blanked on basics.
"Then what do we do?"
Non-crystallized S-rank plate was worse than crystallized A-rank. No way to drop it.
Ideas flickered—then vanished as impractical.
I asked Kim Seokjung, trusting his solution.
He hesitated too, deep in thought. I watched silently, waiting.
To be continued in the next chapter...