"If you like this old, worn-out looking armor so much, why dont YOU wear it?!"
"After all the trouble of preparing it, youre throwing a fit? Oh, Ill wear it!"
I genuinely approached the bone armor, intending to try it on, but hesitated and stopped.
It certainly is old armor...
It was genuine armor that had been kept for hundreds of years. Kellibey had diligently maintained it, but the aged feeling couldnt be eradicated.
It even seed to emit a musty odor. No wonder Evangeline feels disappointed.
"But! Dont you know about the ancient legends? The ancient legends!"
In a fantasy world like this, older items usually have stronger magical powers! Its a deeply rooted tradition here. Just try it on first! The performance will be superb!
"Ugh. I had high hopes. I really did."
Evangeline collapsed on the floor, sobbing and wailing. I awkwardly cleared my throat.
Sorry, but theres no way to obtain your final armor, [Snow White], until the second year.
Because it truly is beautiful, please just wait a little longer...
"Tsk tsk. I knew itd co to this."
While we were like this, Kellibey, who had been shaking his head from the back, brought sothing else from inside the blacksmith shop.
"Here, I made this helt and cloak as a complintary service. Try them on."
With Kellibey, Hannibal, Lucas, and all helping, we got the sobbing Evangeline dressed in the armor.
"Ugh... *sniffle*."
Evangeline swallowed her tears and looked in the mirror.
The nacing appearance of the genuine armor was now partially hidden by the deep-red scale cloak that Kellibey added.
The helt was made from dragon bone, with a wide white jaw that protected Evangelines small face.
Long red scales hung as decoration from the back of the helt.
If made improperly, it might have looked grotesque and fierce, but the helt, having passed through the hands of the elder dwarf blacksmith, had an air of vintage beauty.
Evangelines eyes widened as she twirled in front of the mirror. Kellibey smirked.
"Its a helt and cloak made from the bone and scales of the red dragon sub-species, the sa material as the genuine armor. How is it? Looks better now, right?"
Even though it was the sa material, the helt and cloak looked quite impressive. It really depends on the craftsman. I nodded in agreent.
"As expected, a full set of armor makes it look more legitimate."
Lucas and Kuilan chid in from the side.
"It looks good."
"Its stylish, right?"
"*sniffle*."
While still sniffling, Evangeline continued to twist and turn in front of the mirror, examining the armors look.
Even though it was the sa bone armor, the freshly white new shoulder armor and helt added to it gave it a cohesive look.
It wasnt just lip service; it genuinely looked like a decent set.
Evangeline, peeking through her helt, rolled her round eyes.
"Is it really okay...?"
"Yeah! It looks totally cool! Everyone agrees, right?"
As I sharply looked around, everyone hurriedly nodded in agreent.
"Now, lets give a round of applause to the blacksmith who prepared this fantastic set for us!"
As I aid my arrow, Kellibey looked taken aback. However, when my party mbers began clapping in unison, his face soon bead with satisfaction. This old man is so simple-minded.
"Hmm... Well... it doesnt seem too bad..."
Evangeline pouted her small lips. Whew, I sohow managed to impress her.
"And thats not all! Kellibey!"
"Huh? What now?"
"Theres a high-level request only a master blacksmith like you can fulfill!"
I snatched Evangelines spear and shield and slamd them onto the workbench.
Evangeline seed startled, but Kellibey, stroking his beard, grinned as if he had been waiting for this.
"Ive been waiting for this. Youre finally letting handle these pieces of equipnt."
From the mont he first saw them, Kellibey had been eyeing these two pieces of equipnt.
[Cross Familys Spear (SR)] and [Cross Familys Shield (SR)].
They were Evangelines unique equipnt that unleashed her special skill, [Crossroad].
Although she acquired the unique skill, the equipnt hadnt truly unlocked its full potential.
Still, because of the excellent unique skill and the equipnts durability, she kept using them. But, they were now tattered from countless fierce battles.
Coincidentally, Evangeline had reached level 50 and had awakened.
It was the perfect ti to upgrade her unique equipnt.
Kellibey ventured further into his workshop and returned with two blank magic scrolls.
"To upgrade a unique equipnt, you need the mark of the awakened. Its to form a soul bond between the user and the equipnt."
True to his title as a master blacksmith, Kellibey explained with an air of expertise.
"So, where is your awakening mark, my lady?"
"Huh? Well, um..."
The location of the awakening mark was a matter of privacy, but before I could ask her to show it in private, Evangeline hurriedly answered.
"Its... um... on my belly button."
I see...
Her belly button...
Suddenly, I recalled Evangelines soft stomach from our ti at the dungeon hot spring. Hmm...
In a changing room inside the workshop, Evangeline imprinted her mark, or rather her belly button, onto the magic scroll.
Grasping the scroll, Kellibey studied the spear and shield on the workbench and rubbed his hands together.
"This is going to be a significant undertaking. Heh heh. Im afraid Ill have to halt other orders. I want to focus solely on this equipnt."
Oh, so we can only request one unique equipnt at a ti? I wanted to entrust Lucass unique equipnt as well.
Reminded of this, I turned to Lucas.
"Hey, Lucas. You still have the hilt of the sword you first used, right?"
"Huh?"
"I an the hilt of [Bestowed Sword]. You have it, dont you?"
In the ga, Lucas, the protagonist, has had the unique equipnt [Bestowed Sword] from the beginning.
But its unusable. The blade had vanished, leaving only the hilt, and it had occupied a corner of the inventory since then.
It would only reveal its true worth after receiving a unique equipnt upgrade.
Anyway, since it was an undiscardable item in the ga, he should have it, I assud.
"Ugh...!"
Lucass face paled for so reason, and he lowered his gaze, flustered.
"I... I dont have it right now... Ill, Ill look for it."
"Huh? Oh, alright. Make sure you find it."
"Yes, my lord."
Since Kellibey was focusing on Evangelines equipnt upgrade for the ti being, I decided to deal with Lucas later.
Kellibey and Hannibal picked up the Cross familys spear and shield and retreated further into the workshop.
Evangeline, gazing at her now empty hands, cautiously asked , "So, what weapon and shield do I use in the anti?"
"I knew youd ask, so I prepared another set of backup equipnt for you!"
I proudly unveiled two more pieces of equipnt I had kept under cloth. And voila!
"Ta-da! Bone Lance and Bone Shield!"
They were SR-grade bone spear and bone shield...
"I hate itttttttttt-!"
Evangeline raised her hands to her cheeks and scread in exasperation. Hey! Theyre high-performance gear, okay?!
***
We used the teleportation gate to travel to [Lakeside Wharf], right beside the Black Lake. After loading the stack of teleportation stones into a cart we had stationed at the wharf beforehand, we journeyed north across the shimring Black Lake.
The road was treacherous. Monsters had frequently trampled on it, making it a ss.
The cart shook violently and almost toppled over at tis.
I managed to hold back my nausea. Once the teleportation gate was set up at the forward base, there would be no need to travel this path again.
After a few hours, the ruins of a small fortress ca into view.
The forward base.
The battlefield where we faced the Black Spider Army and went through the tutorial stage.
The place where we lost countless soldiers, where Ken died, where Lilly beca disabled.
And... where we killed Orlop, annihilated the entire Black Spider Army, and survived.
"..."
Mixed emotions surged within . Quite so ti had passed since that intense battle.
"Whew! Now itll be easier to co here," said Kuilan, placing the teleportation gate stones down in the forward bases courtyard.
The interior was surprisingly well-organized. It appeared that the Penal Squad had tidied up while staying at the base camp.
"Lets install the gate... right here."
I set up the teleportation gate in a spacious corner of the bases central courtyard. Upon activation, a system window appeared before .
[Teleportation Gate]
- A new location has been added.
> Forward Base Courtyard (New!)
Having the freedom to install a teleportation gate wherever I pleased was sothing unthinkable in the ga.
But in this reality, I could exploit such strategies.
This is just the beginning.
By twisting and using every rule at my disposal, I was determined to reach the world after the clear.
Reaffirming my inner resolve, I looked around at my companions.
"Now, we can easily transport supplies and workers to and from here."
With a round of applause, I grinned widely.
"Lets officially start restoring the forward base!"
***
Since it was already late, we returned to Crossroad.
After feeding everyone a hearty al and letting them rest, I embarked on a cart heading back to the city.
My destination was the Craftsns Guild Workshop. I planned to hold a eting with all the guild leaders.
While pondering the future course, I fiddled with the new equipnt in my hand.
I had bought a total of 11 items from Naless. I had distributed 10 of them among the mbers, and the remaining one was this.
A magic gun with an old-fashioned appearance. I twirled the gun in my hand, inspecting its specs.
[Agate (SSR) Lv.35]
- Type: Magic Gun
- Attack: 35-50
- Durability: 3/3
- Ammo: 3/3
- Leaves a mark on the target hit by a bullet. When allies attack a marked enemy, they deal extra damage.
- If the bullet hits an enemy within 3 ters of the user, it pushes them back 3 ters.
During the last stage, when I struggled against the werewolves, I felt the need to enhance my combat capabilities.
So, while shopping for equipnt from Naless, I grabbed this as soon as I saw it.
It can mark a target for concentrated attacks and even knock back enemies who get too close. The damage output might be slightly lacking, but its adequate for self-defense.
Also, there are three other items from the loot boxes.
One SSR-grade reward box and two SR-grade reward boxes from clearing stage 10.
When I opened them last night, I found these items:
[Rewards]
- Magic Armor (SSR)
- Suppressing Talisman (SR)
- Blazing Pendant (SR)
Magic Armor that converts a users magic into a protective barrier, a Suppressing Talisman that provides bonuses when casting CC (Crowd Control) skills, and a Blazing Pendant that gives a bonus to fire and explosive attacks.
These items seem to perfectly fit the Shadow Squad.
For Godhand, a mage who often engages in lee, the armor; for Bodybag who binds enemies with telekinesis, the talisman; and for Burnout, the explosive archer, the pendant. The equipnt matched each mber perfectly.
While attending the guild leaders eting, I should also et the Shadow Squad and hand these items over.
The Shadow Squad was currently stationed at the Alchemy Workshop.
Apparently, Godhands prosthetic hand had accumulated wear and tear from extended use and needed repairs.
Theyd worked hard for the Shadow Squad. And theyd keep working hard. They deserved good equipnt.
Lost in such thoughts, I soon arrived at the Alchemy Workshop.
Huh.
I spotted Lilly and Godhand, seated side by side on a bench at the workshops entrance. They held hands and whispered to each other. They were quite openly dating now. Life seed good for them, huh?
Still, since I secretly supported their relationship, I decided to wait for a while. They seed to be having a sweet mont, and I didnt want to ruin it.
But their affections seed endless, as they got closer and closer, their flushed faces inching toward a kiss.
Feeling a bit nauseous and my eyes burning with embarrassnt, I impulsively leaned out of the cart and shouted, "Hey! Keep it decent in public!"
"Eek?!"
"Ah! My lord?!"
Startled by my outburst, Lilly and Godhand quickly separated and, flustered, greeted . I gritted my teeth.
You two! While your lord is deeply engrossed in thoughts for the citys future, youre passionately romancing?!
... Well, romance could be the most constructive and productive of all pursuits! Right?!
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