Episode 110
110. The Opposite
Dang-!
Tta-dang-!
Tta-da-dang-!
The cheerful sound of a hammer echoed across the snowy field.
golden hand activated his [Soul Forging] skill, purifying the ancient magic imbued within the silk handkerchief and breathing new power into it.
He then sprinkled finely ground powder made from the [Fragment of the Crystalline Beetle Carapace] to enhance its durability.
‘A hood for the robe would be good, right?’
Though a handkerchief, it was an item once used by a giant.
It was large enough to cover a child’s body.
Moreover, it was light, so it wouldn’t be a burden for Jeong Hajunn.
golden hand carved a faint Moonlight Crystal, purchased from the Fame Shop, into a pendant shape.
Then, he embedded a high-grade magic Stone inside it.
‘Magic Inscription Technique!’
A blue light flowed from golden hand’s fingertips, seeping into the pendant.
He meticulously engraved runic characters symbolizing ‘Protection’ and ‘Growth.’
[The ‘Magic Inscription Technique’ is activated.]
[‘Divine Dexterity’ maximizes the precision of the craftsmanship.]
[The warm energy of the ‘Right Hand of the Sun’ takes residence.]
[The cold energy of the ‘Left Hand of the Moon’ takes residence.]
.
.
.
[Combining the pendant with the robe…]
[Crafting successful!]
[Achieved a Great Success!]
[An Ancient-grade item has been crafted.]
[Hajun’s Guardian Robe]
Grade: Ancient
Creator: Geumson
Wear Restriction: Jeong Hajun
Effects:
[Overprotection]: Automatically generates a protective shield to absorb one instance of damage when the wearer is in crisis.
[Magic Affinity]: Increases the wearer’s magic recovery rate by 50% and improves magic learning ability.
[Warmth]: Protects the wearer from cold and illness, and gradually restores health.
[Nutrient for Growth]: The wearer gains an additional 20% of all experience points earned.
Description:
A robe specially crafted by the blacksmith Geumson for a young child. It contains the benevolent heart of a Giant Queen and the warmth of the sun, protecting its target.
Furthermore, the refreshing energy of the moon aids the wearer’s growth.
“Done.”
golden hand lifted the completed robe.
The robe, emitting a subtle glow, exuded a calming aura just by its appearance.
If golden hand hadn’t been wearing Astrid’s Shadow Robe, this would have been a worthy item even for him to use.
The 2,000 points spent at the Fame Shop were truly worth it.
But without hesitation, Geumson called Hajun.
“Hajun, want to come here and see?”
“Huh? Why, Hyung?”
Jeong Hajun scurried over.
Geumson draped the robe over Jeong Hajun’s shoulders, fastening it.
Just as Astrid had done for him.
“Wow! It’s pretty! Hyung! What kind of clothes is this? It’s warm!”
Jeong Hajun fiddled with the robe, delighted.
The moment he put it on, a faint blush began to spread across his previously pale face.
The effect of [Warmth] had activated immediately.
“This… is a gift from hyung. You have to wear it always, okay?”
“Okay! Thank you, Hyung!”
Jeong Hajunn hugged Geumson, beaming brightly.
Jeong Harin, watching this, couldn’t close her mouth.
She had just checked the grade of the item Golden hand made.
‘An… Ancient-grade?’
Jeong Harin doubted her own eyes.
In a time when even Legendary-grade items were hard to come by, this was Ancient-grade.
Moreover, each option was ridiculously, outrageously powerful.
Especially [Overprotection] and [Warmth] were abilities her frail Hajun needed more than anything.
“Hey, Mr.Golden Hands — no, Mr. Golden Hands? This… isn’t it too much?”
Jeong Harin’s voice trembled.
No matter how little she knew about Lepione systems, she understood the approximate value of items.
If converted to cash, this robe could be worth thousands, no, hundreds of millions of won.
It might even command a price beyond that.
“We don’t deserve something like this… and we have no money. How could we ever…”
“I didn’t make it to get paid. I told you, it’s just a gift.”
“But… this is too expensive! And it’s enhanced and everything…”
Golden hand, handing over an Ancient-grade item as a gift.
Her shock at his attitude was brief.
Jeong Harin tested him with a question.
“What if I sell this? If I sell this, I could probably just lounge around for a while!”
Jeong Harin spoke as if making a threat.
But Geumson chuckled and shrugged.
“Try selling it.”
“Huh? That’s okay? Really?”
“Yeah, if you can sell it, give it a try.”
Puzzled by Geumson’s relaxed attitude, Jeong Harin checked the item’s information again.
Upon reading the wear restriction text, she almost slumped to the ground.
– Wear Restriction: Jeong Hajun
[Cannot be sold. Cannot be transferred.]
“Yep, it’s soulbound~.”
“Ah… Really, that’s so mean! So mean!”
“Mean, huh? Well, who told you to think about selling it? Since it’s Jeong Hajoon’s, only Jeong Hajoon should use it.”
golden hand grinned mischievously.
In truth, this was an application of one of the effects of [Soul Forging]: ‘Soul Imprint.’
By designating a specific target during crafting, binding the item to their soul, only that person could use it.
As his [Soul Forging] skill became more proficient, such tricks became possible.
It was a gift for a child, a precaution from Geumson to prevent it from being taken or sold by anyone else.
“Ugh, seriously… it was nice until it wasn’t. But is it really okay to accept this? It’s too much of a burden…”
A playful expression vanished from Jeong Harin’s face, replaced by a serious one.
To her, Geumson pondered for a moment before speaking.
“Well, if it’s such a burden, just do me a favor later.”
“A favor? That… by any chance!”
Whack-!
golden hand flicked Jeong Harin’s forehead as she was about to say something nonsensical.
He spoke to her.
“Don’t talk nonsense. Later… much later, just do me one favor. You can refuse if you don’t want to.”
“Really… that’s all it takes?”
“Yeah, that’s all.”
Jeong Harin grumbled as if finding it suspicious, but an unstoppable smile spread across her lips.
She was deeply grateful for Geumson thoughtfulness towards her brother.
Looking at the robe Hajun was wearing, she felt profound thanks in her heart.
‘Thank you, Golden hand Oppa. Truly…’
Just then.
“Teeeeit!”
Tia’s cry rang out from the sky.
And following it, a sound.
Kuku-kuku-kuu-
Kwa-ak-
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwak-
Shattering the warm atmosphere, something was surging closer from far beyond the snowy field.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwak-
It was approaching at a terrifying speed.
It was a wall of ice, being generated in real-time.
“Everyone, fall back!”
The ice wall, generating and pushing towards Golden Hand’s party.
I swung his hammer at it.
‘Mining!’
Kwaa-aang-
golden hand, using [Mining], struck the encroaching ice wall.
Moreover, he struck the red dot that updated in real-time through [Resolute Intuition].
The ice wall, unable to advance further, stopped completely.
From atop that ice wall, an unfamiliar voice was heard.
A handsome young man wearing a shabby leather coat, with a strangely shaped goggle over one eye.
In his hand was a bundle of old blueprints, and on his back was slung a giant surveying tool.
Looking at golden hand party, he spoke irritably.
“Hah, seriously. Unbelievable. It’s enough to make you want to cry for real.”
The man let out a hollow laugh, as if utterly dumbfounded.
“My maze, which I poured my heart into, kept getting shattered, so I came to see… and you’re having quite the party here? Do you think this is some kind of honeymoon setup spot?”
A prickly tone.
A face that seemed worn with fatigue.
But his eyes alone shone brilliantly.
Though Geumson was seeing him for the first time too, hearing his speech, he knew instantly.
The labyrinth designer who built humanity’s final line of defense in the age of ruin.
‘Mr Jincheol … but why is he a handsome young man?’
His real appearance was a scruffy, bearded man.
But in Lepione, he was the perfect handsome youth.
The handsome Mr Jincheol clicked his tongue, looking alternately at Geumson, Jeong Harin, and the Iron Walker.
“Which one of you is it? The brute who’s been ignorantly smashing my art to pieces.”
His voice held a mix of anger and annoyance.
He seemed furious seeing the maze he had poured his heart into design become a mess.
golden hand stepped forward without flinching.
“I’m the one who broke it.”
At Geumson’s bold reply, Mr Jincheol’s eyebrow twitched.
He looked golden hand up and down.
A blacksmith with a hammer.
And the giant golem beside him.
He seemed to recognize them in an instant.
“Golden hand? That Golden hand? Unbelievable. Playing the hero in Airtoss… turns out you’re a complete villain, huh? Daring to ruin my design…”
Mr Jincheol, having recognized Geumson, grumbled and approached.
golden hand stood his ground and retorted.
“Villain? Blocking the path and imprisoning people makes you the villain, am I the villain? That’s just unlawful confinement.”
“What? Confinement? What does an ignorant brute like you know, spouting nonsense!”
Ma Jincheol roared.
He struck his chest as if frustrated and spoke.
“Ha… insane, do you even know what you’re doing right now? Do you think I’m doing this because I have nothing better to do?”
“Then what is it? Is blocking a perfectly good path and tormenting people your hobby?”
“You fool! I’m not blocking players like you!”
Ma Jincheol pointed at the ground with his blueprint bundle.
The direction his finger pointed, deeper into the maze.
Towards the direction where the city of Prellia lay.
“I’m blocking them from getting out! The ones inside there.”
The maze wasn’t created to keep players from entering.
It was the opposite.
It was there to block the residents of Prellia from coming out.
