Episode 46
046. Because I Made It
‘So it’s still growing!’
It wasn’t a fully matured adult yet. Over the remaining five years, it would undoubtedly grow large enough to swallow Jeju Island after several molts.
That meant…
‘In ‘Lepione,’ it can be hunted. No, it must be hunted!’
golden hand’s heart began to race.
A clue that might allow him to eliminate one of the great calamities that had befallen the Age of Ruin.
He had to uncover that clue.
“That… ‘Serpent of the Eclipse.’ Is it possible to hunt it?”
Calming his pounding heart, he asked calmly. However, Parakel also seemed to think it was no easy task, letting out a deep sigh as he spoke.
“Possible, it is possible… but it’s written in ancient texts, so it’s not certain.”
“What is it? That method?”
“An ancient text had this record. That the only thing that can slay the Serpent of the Eclipse is a sword imbued with poison forged from ‘Moon’s Essence.’ Coincidentally, I heard news that a sword perfectly matching that condition will be featured in this Kratum auction.”
The moment he heard Parakel’s words, Geumson understood. The reason for seeking out the auction house.
‘Moon’s Essence and serpent’s poison… Moonlight Sword!’
golden hand’s eyes widened. But then he shook his head. It seemed impossible anyway.
“That… probably won’t work.”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
“If you’re talking about the Moonlight Snake Sword at the auction, it won’t work.”
“How would you know that…?”
“Because I made that greatsword.”
golden hand produced his Kratum VIP Black Card. Showing it to Parakel, a message surfaced.
[Seller: Golden Hand]
[Item for Sale: Moonlight Poisonous Snake Sword]
[Current Status: Awaiting Auction]
It was undeniable proof. Parakel seemed shocked, realizing it too.
“This can’t be…! It was true! You, you really made that greatsword!”
Parakel fell into deep thought for a moment. Then, he suddenly bowed his head to golden hand.
“My apologies. A craftsman who creates legendary-grade items deserves respect… yet I belittled you, saying you just hammer away. I’m truly sorry.”
Parakel was acknowledging Geumsin as a master craftsman. However, his sigh only grew deeper.
“If you, the creator of the Moonlight Poison Sword, say so… then I must look for another item. By any chance, would you consider helping me?”
“Could I be of help?”
“Of course! Anyone else, maybe not, but you… I feel it might be possible with you.”
At the same time, a message appeared.
A quest from Parakel’s.
[Hidden Linked Quest: Hunt the Serpent of the Eclipse]
Objective: Hunt the ‘Serpent of the Eclipse’ threatening the Shadowmist Territory and restore peace to the land.
Requirement: Lv.100+
Recommended: Party of at least 30 recommended.
Success Condition: Slay the Serpent of the Eclipse (0/1)
Rewards:
Parakel’s Special Skill: Alchemist’s Secret Manual – Combination Volume
???
???
Failure Penalties:
Destruction of Shadowmist Territory
Mark of the Serpent of the Eclipse
The failure penalties.
They were the first thing to catch his eye.
‘A Mark? If I get marked by that thing… does it mean I’ll be hunted for life?’
golden hand let out a hollow laugh.
It didn’t matter.
Because he had no intention of failing.
Of course, it was impossible right now.
golden hand current level was 31.
But when he reached level 100.
Things would be different then.
‘A 30-man party? That’s a joke. I’ll tear it apart myself.’
While Geumson steeled his resolve, Parakel seemed ready to leave.
“After hearing from you, it seems there’s no need to go to the auction house. I must seek other items that might help. And you, take this.”
[You have obtained the ‘Compass of Fate’.]
[Due to the effect of the Compass of Fate, the system’s Map function has been forcibly activated.]
“This is the ‘Compass of Fate.’ When you use this compass when I am needed, I can find you wherever I am. So, when you’re ready, call me with this.”
On golden hand’s palm, the compass needle pointed at Parakel. It seemed to be a paired item where each pointed to the other. Moreover, the system map was forcibly activated.
A map of the area unfolded before golden hand’s eyes.
A map function that would be standard in other games.
Not in ‘Lepione.’
One had to memorize maps or obtain them directly.
But now, that was no longer necessary.
golden hand tightly gripped the Compass of Fate.
Looking at him, Parakel left a final word of advice.
“No need to be too hasty. I worry I’ve placed an unnecessary burden on you. It’s fine even if we can’t resolve it. This is my personal matter, after all.”
golden hand nodded.
He had a new goal.
But as Parakel said, there was no need to rush.
Step by step, surely.
Beyond simply growing stronger, he had to become overwhelmingly powerful enough to hunt a calamity.
“Then, I shall take my leave now. The world is still full of rare materials I must find! Hahaha!”
Parakel vanished out of the cave with his usual hearty laugh.
Left alone, Geumson alternately looked at the compass in his hand and the blue dot marked on the map.
Parakel’s location was marked in blue.
The blue dot representing Parakel moved swiftly and soon disappeared from the map.
And far to the north.
A single red dot was marked there.
‘Is that the Shadowmist Territory?’
A map where the quest location was automatically marked.
Staring at it, Geumson fell into brief thought. He then brushed himself off and stood up.
“First… let’s go to Dussar. I should receive my reward first and then think. Let’s go, Walker.”
“Walker! Waar! Ka!”
Forcing his complex thoughts into order, Geumson headed towards the Kratum’s auction house.
It was now time to meet Dussar.
“…So, you failed?”
It was the Master of the Asura Guild, Choi Jin-woong.
Nachal, kneeling before him, spoke with a tone of grievance.
“A Corrupted Earthworm suddenly appeared…”
“And?”
“Geumsin… that guy, he took down the Earthworm alone. He’s an unbelievable monster. He’s on a level we can’t possibly…”
Choi Jin-woong, who had been quietly listening to Nachal’s report, seemed to find it hard to bear any longer and cut him off.
“Nachal.”
“Yes, yes!”
“What’s your level?”
“52.”
“And that blacksmith, Golden Hand level?”
“Th-that… I couldn’t check, but he’s probably around 30 at most.”
Silence fell briefly after Nachal’s words.
Then Choi Jin-woong summarized the situation.
“In other words… an elite unit including you, who’s over level 50, got scared off by a single blacksmith who’s barely level 30? Moreover, this Golden Hand fellow even ‘soloed’ the Earthworm? And you expect me… to believe this?”
Choi Jin-woong pressed his temples as if his head hurt from Nachal’s unbelievable excuse. But he soon calmed down and asked again.
“What about impersonating the Yeokcheon Guild? Is it certain he was fooled?”
Though Nachal had told the truth, Choi Jin-woong thought it was an excuse, leaving Nachal feeling wronged. It seemed Choi Jin-woong had no interest in Geumsin’s strength whatsoever. He only seemed concerned whether his own plan was executed properly.
“That seems to have worked. He definitely believes we are from the Yeokcheon Guild. That much is certain.”
Nachal exaggerated his report to cover his failure and to appear somewhat accomplished. Unaware of this, a faint smile touched Choi Jin-woong’s lips.
“Well, anyway, that’s half a success, I suppose.”
Choi Jin-woong clicked his tongue at Nachal’s incompetence but seemed satisfied that his scheme had worked. He attributed Golden Hand strength to ‘luck’ or ‘special items.’
However, wrong information leads to wrong judgments.
He began devising a new plan.
“Good. Then I’ll give the next order. Proceed with the existing plan as is, and we will strike the moment those Yeokcheon bastards get their hands on the greatsword.”
“Targeting… whom?”
“Who else? Golden Hand. Impersonate the Yeokcheon Guild again and ambush Golden Hand. This time, kill him for sure and take everything he has.”
Choi Jin-woong wore a sinister smile.
His plan continued.
“Then spread rumors. That ‘Yeokcheon’ killed Geumson to reclaim the money used to buy the greatsword. Create the image of Yeokcheon, no, Kang Moo-jin, as money-obsessed villains.”
Choi Jin-woong’s plan seemed quite decent.
If it went according to plan, Geumson would also give a firm testimony to that rumor.
That Yeokcheon tried to kill him.
That Yeokcheon took the money back.
However, there was a variable Choi Jin-woong hadn’t considered.
The human heart.
‘Face that monster again? No, absolutely not!’
Nachal, who had witnessed Golden Hand overwhelming power firsthand, wanted no further entanglement with him.
But he couldn’t say that in front of Choi Jin-woong, so he merely nodded.
“…Understood.”
Unaware of Nachal’s true feelings, Choi Jin-woong could only wait for the moment his perfect plan would be executed.
A moment that would never come.
The atmosphere in Kratum was completely different from before.
The heavy, murky air that had pressed down on the entire city was gone, replaced by an overflowing vitality.
Smiles bloomed on the miners’ faces, and the blacksmiths’ hammer strikes were much livelier and more powerful than before.
