An Unexpected Item

On the way back from the mine.

Inside the carriage, Gaion was still urging me to switch to becoming a battle mage.

"No second thoughts? If someone with your skills became a battle mage..."

"Sorry, but crafting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠suits me better."

"What a shame. Truly a shame."

Gaion shook his head.

His attitude drew a sigh from my lips.

Unlike Stain, Gaion pressured me in his own way.

'This guy... he doesn't know the meaning of giving up.'

A chuckle escaped me at his persistence.

But then I remembered the box Lena had packed away.

I was curious about what was inside the box in my spatial pouch.

'What's in there?'

Curiosity stirred, but now wasn't the time.

Gaion was still beside me.

He was watching my every move closely.

"You really have the talent for battle mage..."

"Ah, look, the castle's in sight!"

I cut him off on purpose.

I didn't want to hear any more about battle mages.

Fortunately, spotting the castle shut Gaion up.

'Finally, some peace.'

But that was wishful thinking.

The moment we arrived at the castle, Seize came rushing over.

"How'd it go? What was the situation?"

"Worse than we thought."

Gaion explained everything.

About the undead appearance and the illegal magic circle.

And even the dragon bones.

"Dragon? That's ridiculous!"

"I saw it myself. Dragon bones..."

"We need to report this to the baron immediately."

Seize's face paled.

He seemed to grasp the gravity too.

Dragon-related items were rare even to glimpse in a lifetime.

Attempting to turn one into an undead? No ordinary matter.

"Oh, and the contracts are all done. Secured the spot you wanted in the heart of Artisan Street."

I was surprised by Seize's words.

He'd wrapped up everything amid the chaos.

"That was fast..."

I tried to thank him, but he looked too distracted.

"I'll head out first! Feel free to use the workshop right away! Sorry I couldn't show you around properly!"

"No, it's fine. Go ahead."

Seize and Gaion hurried off.

Probably to report to Baron Sellevan.

"Theo-nim, won't this complicate things?"

"Maybe... but we were with Gaion, right? What could go wrong?"

"I hope so..."

Lena looked worried.

After finally entering the city, this mess would unsettle anyone.

"Let's check out the workshop first."

The workshop in the heart of Artisan Street.

Dust blanketed everything inside.

It hadn't been used in quite a while.

"Cough! We need to clean this up!"

Lena's coughing tugged at me.

But the basics—workbench, bed, chairs—were ready for immediate use.

Click.

I locked the door after inspecting the interior.

Placed a box on the workbench.

The one I'd secretly taken from the mine.

"Theo-nim, is this okay?"

Lena seemed uneasy.

Who knew what might jump out.

Fair enough from an undead-infested mine.

But I had no such prejudices.

'An item's just an item.'

From my hunter days, I'd used whatever I could grab.

In the late game, cursed, harmful—it didn't matter. Grab and use.

Desperate times.

Compared to that, this was gift-wrapped luxury.

"Shall we open it?"

I deployed defensive magic just in case and examined the box closely.

Then messages appeared.

A small jewelry box-sized container.

Its surface bore intricate ancient runes I couldn't read.

I couldn't read it, but the System could.

The seal would explode and destroy the contents if opened wrong.

But the message showed a bypass method.

Following the instructions, I used Touch of Purification and carefully infused mana.

The seal released.

Hunter System—best as always.

Click.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"It opened!"

A soft glow leaked from the box.

Inside lay a single necklace.

"This... Unique grade? For real? Jackpot."

An unimaginable find.

A plain silver necklace, but its effects were staggering.

Reduced mana cost meant huge gains for enchanting and crafting.

"Wha... what? Th-Theo-nim? I see something weird! Soul Resonance Necklace?"

"Ah! So that's how it works!"

"Is this the Information Fusion effect? This is your view, Theo-nim. So this is how you see the world..."

Lena's eyes sparkled.

Like she expected something special.

"Lena, just to be sure..."

"Yes! Don't worry! I won't blab. Forgot? I'm your minion, Theo-nim."

"Right, yeah. Thanks."

Lena beamed brighter than ever.

Brightest since entering the city.

'That sealed box looked ominous... but it opened so easily! And this vision—what is it?'

I'd given up when the mine exploded.

That's it, then.

Helplessness crashed over me again.

But I survived.

Thanks to Theo-nim's Ring of Defense.

'Such an incredible effect... for me?'

Thinking of Theo-nim flushed my cheeks.

It was a ring, after all.

But I calmed myself and reflected.

Second time now.

Second life debt.

'Saved by Theo-nim again. How do I repay this?'

My heart grew heavy.

Yet Theo-nim asked for nothing.

Even said if I wanted freedom, just say so.

At first, I doubted despite thinking otherwise.

Worried he'd demand my body or something dirtier.

But that suspicion insulted him.

'What kind of man is Theo-nim...'

Impossible to pin down.

Before slavery, I'd seen all sorts.

But Theo-nim fit none.

No wonder I was confused.

'Crafting unseen items, favors to a lowly villager...'

Our short journey flashed by.

Intense days, vivid memories.

'And this sealed box—ancient script everywhere, yet he undid it instantly.'

When I handed it over at the mine, I thought it impossible.

Complex runes covered it.

But not for Theo-nim.

Opened it casually, like always unlocked.

That's Theo-nim.

My master.

'And this vision... magic? What is it?'

I wasn't ignorant of magic.

Or so I thought.

But with Theo-nim, I realized my ignorance.

Even if not entirely true.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ 'Anyway, keep the secret. And I'll follow Theo-nim no matter what. With him, maybe...'

Dying embers of hope reignited.

But I shook my head.

My problems to solve.

No leaning on Theo-nim.

'That'd turn grace to grudge. Never.'

I steeled my weakening resolve.

But sharing this vision thrilled me.

The world felt new.

Not just the mystical sight.

'Many would covet Theo-nim's power. Never let that happen!'

I swore to guard the secret.

Even with my life.

No burden.

Just our shared secret—master, no, Theo-nim and me.

That filled my heart.

Lena looked oddly cheerful, which puzzled me.

The item's effects weren't entirely positive for her.

'Strengthened minion binding—and she likes that?'

Lena's mind was a mystery.

But she'd seen the messages, so I said nothing.

Focused on the item's benefits.

'Anyway... mana flow's incredible.'

After equipping, mana flowed smoother.

Like unobstructed water.

Lost in it, time flew.

Lena had dozed off in the corner.

"Tired, huh."

I tucked her into bed.

Moonlight filtered through the window.

A quiet night.

But work remained.

'Got the workshop... time for Magic Amplification Circle and Purification Circle.'

Much to do.

Lena's breaths were steady.

I began drawing circles on the workbench to her rhythm.

Messages scrolled.

With the circles done, crafting would be smoother.

Plus synergy with the unexpected necklace—sleep wouldn't come from excitement.

Just wanted to test it soon.

"Sorry for the rush yesterday. But the lord was very pleased with the report."

Seize visited the workshop, small box in hand.

Here early for this.

"A gift from the lord. He picked it himself, so you'll like it."

I took the box, puzzled.

Baron Sellevan wasn't one for empty gestures.

Expected gold, but something else.