But Before That (2)

It wasn't Grandfell's aesthetics I needed to worry about. No, the real issue was my shame, Lee Hoyeol's. Seriously, why does it have to be this flashy?!

Let's start with the exterior and take it slow. Should I even call this a jacket? It looks like something out of the Middle Ages for nobility... no, even average nobles wouldn't dare aspire to this level of extravagance. A deep navy fabric bordering on black. If I had to describe that subtle sheen in Grandfell's style...

"The hue of the sky just before dawn."

One killer visual metaphor after another. Do it twice more and you'll kill me, seriously.

'Anyway.'

Embroidered atop that fabric was silver thread that screamed "insanely expensive" at first glance. From the collar at the neck to the lapels, the connected embroidery patterns were dazzling to the point of embarrassment. But that was just the beginning. What about those epaulets on both shoulders? They looked like they'd jingle annoyingly with every movement.

I leaned in for a closer look... and this wasn't ordinary silver, was it?

Thanks to the effect of Pure Knowledge's Pentagram, I immediately recognized it.

'[Platinum of Mana].'

Platinum of Mana. A rare material with extremely limited supply since it doesn't form veins. Naturally, its effects far surpass ordinary minerals. And they crammed how much of this Platinum of Mana into a single jacket?!

Just the epaulets on both shoulders must weigh dozens of don apiece. Factoring in the vest, belt, pants... it was clear they'd used it by the ingot.

If they had any conscience, I had no choice but to admire it.

"They've poured their hearts into it."

When it came to clothing, he was endlessly sincere. For even the fastidious Grandfell to say that much... Walls Whale and the others must have suffered terribly.

High El bowed politely.

"Only now that our lord is satisfied does my heart find peace."

...Yeah, High El. Thanks to all your efforts in so many ways. No, because of them. That's how this piece of armor was born. Is this what it feels like for parents receiving a carnation from their child on Parent's Day? Which means I have no choice but to try it on.

'But first.'

Let's check the equipment specs. What if I don't meet the equip requirements?

I scanned the floating info windows one by one. Wait a second.

I wasn't surprised it was a set item.

'The One Awaiting Dawn?!'

Deep navy bordering on black. He called it the hue of the sky just before dawn. Grandfell definitely spouted that nonsense.

'There's no way the dwarves have that kind of sensibility.'

This naming screamed of someone with Grandfell's exact aesthetic. Naturally, only one came to mind. No, one spirit.

Diend, it was you.

I swallowed the sigh threatening to escape.

'...Fine, it's not like I'm showing it to anyone else.'

I'll endure. It's just a little embarrassing for me, Hoyeol.

In that sense, I need some mental gymnastics: I'm only wearing it because of the performance. No choice.

I checked the info windows one by one.

"!"

And flinched.

All five pieces were Epic grade. Even if I'd acquired Legendary-grade rare iron...

The value of Epic items doesn't change. Each one rivals a demon king's trophy...

"Indeed."

Not incomprehensible. No, considering the materials invested and the dwarves who forged them, Epic might even be an appropriate rating.

For now, that's a relief. Level limit: 500. There's an additional High Level of Fame requirement, but that's no issue for me. I satisfied that when I took down the Sin of Greed.

Look how much I've grown.

I puffed up internally for a moment. Then, separate from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the info window...

...Never mind the growth comment.

'I've still got a long way to go.'

Without the Craftsman's Handiwork, the level limit would have been a whopping 800. If they weren't dwarves, I might not have even gotten a leg into the pants.

As the description says: solely for the One Awaiting Dawn. In other words, made just for me—so I'm ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠grateful, but... the effects are a bit unusual.

'Epic items are like that, though.'

Demon king trophies too. From Epic grade onward, effects are distinctly unique. The Demon Eye Telescope or Conductor's Baton had effects that baffled even Arcana natives, let alone players.

'Of course, effects are just a fraction of performance.'

The Arcana system doesn't display raw attack or defense values for equipment. Because they can't be quantified. But we can infer.

Even accounting for restrictions, exceptional performance is hinted at in the description or effects so players can recognize it.

'Epic-grade lives up to the name.'

Of course, being Epic, the description was ominous rather than specific. But no need to worry. I'll know once I equip it.

'Perfect testing spot, too.'

The original equip limit was Lv. 800, matching the recommended level for the [Dungeon: Siren of Lava] I'd just entered. No better situation.

Fwoosh—

I levitated the clothes with mana and changed. Suddenly changing in a cave entrance? But my dignified, confident movements made it as elegant as a luxury boutique fitting room.

All that remained was the jacket. The flashiest piece. Oh no, a real "oops" moment escaped my lips.

'Blue gems too? For real.'

Medals or what? As I reached for the jacket...

Wait. The aura from my hand felt off. They'd all shown the same info window. Putting off the jacket—the one I most wanted to avoid—until last was my mistake.

Lv. 700 even after Craftsman's Handiwork. Meaning originally Lv. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠1,000? No wonder it felt ridiculously opulent...!

I glanced at High El. Those sparkling eyes were seriously burdensome. My mind raced with thoughts. Still 100 levels to go. Can't check set effects until Lv. 700. Demoralizing, but of course, I didn't show it.

Swish—

I brazenly picked up the jacket and draped it over my shoulders.

Yes. That was my best option right now. Why? Because of this damn level. I couldn't even get an arm in.

'...At least that's something.'

I could magnet it to my shoulders with mana. High El's eyes widened at the sight.

"I, High El, never imagined such a method of wearing it."

I checked my appearance at those words. Even if other players' gear was plenty fantastical, making it hard to judge... draping a jacket over the shoulders was just too hard to accept.

'...If you can't accept it.'

Fine. Rush to Lv. 700. Meet the requirement. I'd declared levels didn't matter, yet here I was obsessing. A profound contradiction as I stepped forward.

Clack—

Oh right. While we're at it, I should swap these clacking shoes somehow...

*

Zero Mountains. Hunting was in full swing across the vast new continent.

If someone asked whether it continued in rifts too? What a clueless question.

"This is a total war effort!"

Unlike rifts accessible only to players, Zero Mountains as a new region meant monsters manifesting in reality were defenseless against modern firearms.

Bang—!!

Gunfire impossible on the Arcana Continent. Tianxia Tongyi's guild master, Ryu Ojuncheon, shouted.

"Entire army, advance!"

He hadn't brought the carrier fleet for no reason. The moment Zero Mountains appeared as a region rather than a rift, Ryu Ojuncheon finalized all plans. After the cataclysm, he'd leverage his faded homeland's military might.

Ryu Ojuncheon's eyes swiftly scanned the battlefield. Fatigued players from endless hunting. He deployed forces to their rear.

Bang! Rat-tat-tat! Bang-bang!

In the cataclysm's early days, the world developed new weapons against monster floods. Humanity's science truly propped us up. Even monsters struggled against anti-monster arms optimized for lethality.

But rifts were different. Only players could enter. Few could wield those weapons proficiently, and even if they did, massive EXP loss and no skill proficiency gain made it pointless.

Tianxia Tongyi executive, Yu Jio.

"I thought they were total junk."

She continued in awe.

"As expected of Lord Ryu. I never imagined you'd repurpose such trash like this!"

Of course, Zero Mountains monsters weren't pushovers. Even after hundreds of rounds...

They raged to the bitter end. But quantity has a quality all its own.

Rumble. Thud. Roooar.

Mountain beasts collapsing everywhere. A message rose for Ryu Ojuncheon.

Deployed troops were all players, not civilians. Low-level Korean players unqualified for Tianxia Tongyi. Ryu Ojuncheon had no intent to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠raise them.

They couldn't even be his sword or shield. Merely stepping stones.

Ryu Ojuncheon's eyes gleamed.

'Yes. Only I can do this.'

Other Monarchs reliant on players were weeded out. Only he remained, ruling over them.

'Now that Zero Mountains has appeared, it's only a matter of time.'

Lv. 524. Finally eye-level. Rocks, I'll surpass you. Skal, you too.

Ryu Ojuncheon's level-up news reached Rocks in real time.

"No way. He's catching up, Rocks?"

Rocks laughed at Dmitri's fuss.

"Haha. Maybe."

"You're laughing? In this situation? For real?"

"What can we do? They brought guns."

His words said one thing, but Rocks' eyes narrowed.

'You witnessed it and still don't get it, Ryu Ojuncheon?'

Hoyeol vs. Sword Saint duel. Rocks realized: levels aren't everything. Why Hoyeol gave players chances to interact with Lionheart Knights, Mage Tower, Arcana natives.

'Something more important than levels.'

Rocks was certain. Ryu Ojuncheon's path was wrong. No need for impatience.

Of course, that calm didn't last.

"...Wait, Rocks?"

Camilla flinched while scouting from a tree.

"Looks like an unexpected guest."

The man who left Camilla with rare bad memories. Rocks intuited from her reaction.

An eternal rival incomparable to Ryu Ojuncheon.

"Skal."

As if confirming. Clop-clop—

Horse hooves echoed through the mountains. Soon, Skal appeared below on his golden-maned Alexander.

With Skal's arrival, Arcana's official rankings 1, 2, and 3 gathered at Zero Mountains.

Camilla spoke in clear discomfort.

"But why's his face like that? He looks pissed, Rocks?"

"!!"

What had irked Skal? Tension rose as he drew nearer.

...

Skal muttered inwardly.

"Lee Hoyeol."

...No. Propriety first before meeting.

"Hoyeol! Where the devil is Grand Duke Hoyeol?!"

Words that would horrify the man himself. Neither Rocks nor all of Shining registered to such a Skal.

Clop-clop!

Alexander's hooves didn't stop. Whoosh!

No conversation. Not even eye contact. Skal brushed past them.

In the silence—

"...Huh?"

Only Dmitri tilted his head.