Chapter 203
Chapter 203
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 203
>Chapter Title: The Artisan's Taunt
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Chapter 203
I don't know why, but his sneering face somehow screamed typical villain.
You shouldn't judge people by appearances, but that expression was way too much like a movie villain.
'They say physiognomy is a science, so maybe this is similar.'
'Master, you can't judge by faces. Look at me—I'm so kind despite my fierce looks.'
'Lizaliza!'
'......? Seeing you makes it even more believable.'
We were seriously pondering this ridiculous topic when—
Thankfully(?), Do-hyun's suspicion wasn't wrong.
Locking eyes with him, Leon deliberately pulled out his anvil and hammer, then spat out,
"Rumors seem full of lies."
"Pardon?"
"Hm?"
"All that talk about big shots protecting you, but you can't even get one artisan introduced? Even so, just tossing you alone in some back alley... Guess that's all you're worth."
As the users tilted their heads, Leon shrugged and subtly nodded toward Do-hyun.
"What the hell is he saying...? Huh? Wait, th-that...!"
"Why is he...? Holy shit, Kaiser?"
"What? Kaiser's here? Did he come to reinforce too?"
"Wasn't he holed up in Babylon? Why not go to their guild artisan?"
"Did the talks fall through? Makes sense—he's not the type to join a guild."
"Then why did Babylon do that? Just a whim?"
Distracted by Leon's entrance, the users spotted Do-hyun and started murmuring.
As attention zeroed in on him instantly, Do-hyun glanced at Jihard.
'Wanna say that again?'
'......Ahem. Every place has exceptions, Master.'
'Lizaliza....'
Do-hyun smirked at Jihard and Eliza pretending nothing happened, then met Leon's eyes again.
He didn't like that smug, grinning face asking what he thought.
'So you're picking a fight like this?'
Childish, sure—but effective too.
Nothing ruined moods like petty antics.
For the target, these primal jabs hurt more than anything.
No wonder forums ranted about brats pissing them off.
'Why does everyone in Hero Guild rub me the wrong way?'
Jerpak or Hamod or whoever, and now even their guild artisan picking fights. Sheesh.
Well, with a master like Berje, it was inevitable.
Groups always mirrored their leaders.
And adults pulled this crap more than kids—Leon being a prime example.
"Sigh, looks like you're flailing to survive with some reinforcements... Pathetic. Heard you have rotten luck too. Hope your weapon doesn't explode."
Blatantly mocking, Leon suddenly pretended to mull something over.
Then, with a casual air, he dropped a bombshell.
"I'll run an event. You're too pitiful to pass up. Every time Kaiser blows something up during reinforcement, I'll reinforce one of yours for free."
"Huh?"
"......R-Really?"
"Of course. Ah, but only if you do it—don't want him jealous. If Kaiser asks too, I'll do his. No faking explosions on purpose, okay? Hahaha."
"Puhaha!"
Laughter erupted among the users at the sharp ridicule.
Leon grinned mockingly at Kaiser, now the butt of the joke.
"What do you think? Kaiser. Too generous an offer?"
"Hah."
Do-hyun let out a disbelieving scoff, while Leon smirked like a cat eyeing a trapped mouse.
Some enjoyed the drama, but others voiced concerns.
"Hey, hey... Is this okay? He's straight-up provoking him."
"Why not? What's wrong with it?"
"It's Kaiser. And Babylon's behind him. Think Kashin Church will sit still?"
Kaiser, shed of the Kakura stigma, hailed as Kashin with overwhelming support.
His solo feats were legendary, and with Babylon's backing—no way this flew.
Hero Guild might be hot, Leon a rising star artisan, but still just a Top 100 guild.
No matching Top 10 Babylon.
"What're you talking about?"
But the worries got shot down quick.
"Look at him. Does Babylon seem behind him? Like Leon said, dumped alone at a random shop. If protected, they'd hook him up with an artisan."
"......True, can't afford to piss off other Top 10s."
"Kashin Church too. Fan club at best—can't top a Top 10 guild. Heard that Cafejang guy's barely logging in lately anyway."
"Yeah, we're just here for the show."
Utterly reasonable, even convincing.
It turned even the worriers into eager spectators.
Leon, eavesdropping while feigning ignorance, grinned inwardly.
Agrees with me—perfect.
This was the public sentiment and setup Leon wanted.
He didn't like Kaiser.
Hate him? Absolutely.
Rivaling Hero Guild?
Insulting the guild?
'As if I care.'
Hero Guild artisan or not, Leon felt no loyalty.
Just good pay and treatment kept him there.
Production class like him? Hero Guild's rep helped plenty. Their issues didn't touch him.
If they tanked, jump ship.
So why hate Kaiser? Simple.
'That punk's buried my achievements—not just one or two.'
Kaiser's short burst of feats flipped communities, flooded portals with articles.
Burying Leon's own feats.
Maxing high-rankers' gear, Top 5 in Artisan Wars.
And four straight +10s for Hero-tier title!
'Even main banners got overshadowed instantly. That damn bastard's shrinking my spotlight!'
Leon hated it.
'Thinks he's hot shit? Still begging our artisans for reinforcements.'
People always focused on combat classes over production.
Flashier, more thrilling.
But specs ruled games.
Production boosting them? True stars, Leon believed.
Even hyped rankers groveled before artisans.
'No guild, solo ruling? Laughable.'
To Leon, Kaiser grated hard.
And now, chance to mess with him. Leon wasn't big-hearted enough to pass.
He'd make him feel it deep.
'You different? Nah—I'll show you're just like them.'
......Okay, sounded grand, but really venting and fun.
Where else see this?
Mighty Kaiser squirming helplessly.
Stress relief, plus brownie points with suffering Berje.
'Quiet. Yeah, pissed but not bad terms for you.'
Kaiser had shit luck, Leon knew.
Teased him, but free reinforces? Win-win.
From a top artisan like him.
So magnanimous.
Savoring the thrill with a grin, Leon opened his mouth when—
"Nice."
"Huh? On second thought, you're kinda pitiful, so how about... Pardon? What was that?"
......Misheard?
No, real.
"Nice. All good but... Can't trust you. What if I hand it over blind and my innocent weapon blows?"
"......? What did you just say?"
"No pretending you didn't hear. Can't trust you."
"Hah......?"
He even smiled leisurely, flipping the attack.
Infuriating for Leon.
Who else to trust if not an artisan like him?
People crawled because of his skills, whims be damned.
Yet this guy, too inept for proper reinforces, begging alley NPC for broke users—what?
"......Can you handle those words?"
"Why not? Relationships need trust, right?"
"Hah. Unbelievable. A clueless fool lecturing trust......"
Grinding his teeth at Kaiser's shrug, Leon spat,
"......So what? What to fill that flimsy trust? Demo a reinforce?"
"I don't hand gear to just anyone. Need to judge you're better than me first."
"......?"
Leon paused, parsed it, then scoffed.
"So...... You wanna do a reinforcement duel with me?"
Reinforcement duel.
Like Artisan Wars—artisans competing raw skill.
Kaiser's point? Simple.
"You that good? Grab your anvil and hammer and follow."
"Hah, serious?"
Duel via reinforces.
Unthinkable words amped user buzz.
"Whoa, insane. Challenging an artisan to a reinforce duel?"
"Kaiser's infamous for crap luck."
"Artisans transcend luck. It's sense, technique. Luck helps, but leagues above us normies."
"But that confidence? Ballsy AF."
Even to them, Kaiser seemed nuts.
Artisans weren't artisans for nothing.
Trained under blacksmiths to mastery.
Plus, skill-packed with special artisan skills.
No production class matched; combat like Kaiser? Forget it.
'Is he actually crazy?'
System same as Delrock or here.
Kaiser, Delrock #1, knew that—yet charging blind?
Some ace up sleeve?
......Nah.
'......Even dual-class production gets announced on artisan rank-up.'
So however good, below Leon.
Bluffing. Hated losing face.
"Look at those eyes rolling. Can hear the gears grinding."
Kaiser's timely mocking voice.
"Scared? Guess artisans ain't shit."
Final jab snapped Leon's reason.
"Arrogant bastard....... You'll regret it. Feel who you messed with......"
"Shut your trap. Artisan by mouth? Pull out gear already."
"You little......"
"Mister, lend me some gear."
"......?"
Ear-picking Kaiser cut him off, borrowed anvil and hammer from NPC Kilhi—Leon gaped, then sneered.
"Hah, no personal gear and you challenge me?"
'Artisans don't blame tools'? Guess not? Shiny setup."
"......True masters draw peak performance from fine gear. Outsiders like you wouldn't get it."
"Yeah, whatever. This'll do."
"Confidence I respect. Soon you'll see it's hubris."
Leon laid out newbie-tier cheap anvil, hammer, extras.
"I'll use these too. Fair play, no excuses. Sequential reinforces, alternating turns. Harder as + rises. Agree?"
"Yeah."
"You first. Stocked stones—go wild."
Prepped weapon and stones, Leon signaled start.
Do-hyun nodded before his anvil.
'He's right on all counts, really.'
Annoying, but spot-on.
Not just anyone artisans; combat user dueling one? Suicide.
Especially Do-hyun's historic bad luck.
Yet his confidence?
[Eye of Truth activates.]
[Penetrates hidden strike points and vitals.]
'Cheat trait for real. Didn't expect it to see this.'
What he'd seen in Kilhi's process earlier.
Red dots on 'Nimble Green's Sword' blade atop anvil.
Moment he unlocked Eye of Truth's hidden power.
'......Master, too easy-mode?'
'Liza......'
'Tsk, using your gifts—what's wrong?'
'Indeed! Agreed, my lord. Your unique talent.'
'Charlie gets it.'
Short chat over, Do-hyun grinned, gripped hammer.
Leon watched arms crossed, sneering like try me.
Wondered if that leisure lasted.
'Time for a lesson.'
Do-hyun swung—clear ring echoed.