Episode 16
016. Are You Really an Outsider?
[Successfully crafted a Gear-Walker Golem.]
[Effect of ‘Divine Handicraft’ increases base stats by 20%.]
[Effect of ‘Sun’s Right Hand’ triggers ‘Sun’s Flame’, imbuing it with the ‘Power of the Sun’.]
[Achieved a Grand Success!]
[The Gear-Walker Golem’s grade has increased by one tier!]
[Sun-Imbued Gear-Walker Golem]
Grade: Unique
Crafter: Geumsom (Golden Hand)
Status: Normal
…
…
Vrrrrrr—!
The gear-walker doll completed in Golden Hand’s hands began to move smoothly. Movements so refined it was hard to believe they were made from the crude parts Ravi had provided. The Gear-Walker Golem moved with a stability and sophistication beyond expectation. It walked around the atelier with measured steps, even stopping before Ravi to bow its head slightly.
“……Unbelievable. It’s a golem superior to the blueprint? Has it been imbued with magical power? To think you really made that golem with those rotten parts!”
Clock kept exclaiming in admiration, but he seemed to have accurately measured the golem’s condition. The Sun-Imbued Gear-Walker Golem crafted by Golden Hand. A golem of the Unique grade, one tier higher than the blueprint’s original specification, had been created.
“Not bad, huh?”
“This isn’t just ‘not bad’! Anyone can see that…”
“Clock, be quiet.”
Ravi, too, doubted her own eyes. But she had watched Golden Hand craft it according to the blueprint, so she couldn’t doubt it. Moreover…
‘The power that imbued it at the end… what was that?’
A power even Ravi couldn’t comprehend. The power embedded in the core was something even she couldn’t properly analyze. But she didn’t ask Golden Hand about it. It was likely a craftsman’s unique secret. Even Ravi wouldn’t commit the rudeness of prying into that. She simply pushed her goggles up onto her forehead and, for the first time, looked properly at Golden Hand.
“You’re a blacksmith. No, Geumsom… was it?”
“That’s right, Geumsom. Is the golem sufficient?”
“Sufficient? Kyahaha! Of course! I’m very satisfied!”
Ravi called him by name for the first time, responding with a bright smile. Correspondingly, messages began to appear.
[Impromptu Quest: Completed Ravi’s First Trial!]
[Acquired the Secondary Profession: Magic Engineer.]
[Acquired Basic Magic Skill: Blue Index.]
[Acquired a Top-Quality Magic Tool Set.]
[Ravi’s Favorability has risen to ‘Maximum’.]
[Blue Index Lv.1]
Description: Stores the blueprint of an acquired design or an item crafted at least once. The blueprint’s grade is determined by the completion level of the crafted item.
Stored Blueprints.
Sun-Imbued Gear-Walker Golem [Unique]
Golden Hand checked the skill. Since it was his first Magic skill, he found it fascinating.
‘So the grade is determined by the state it was first made in? And also…’
When he recalled the stored blueprint ‘Sun-Imbued Gear-Walker Golem’, the blueprint immediately appeared before his eyes. It seemed it would be incredibly convenient for future crafting. As Golden Hand examined his new skill, Ravi sidled up to him and spoke as if whispering.
“Geumsom, you… you’re an Outsider, right? I heard Outsiders like dungeons and such, is that true?”
“Dungeons?”
“Well, not a real dungeon, but there’s a place where you can take a special test… interested?”
At Ravi’s words, Clock reacted more startled than Golden Hand.
“Deputy Director Ravi! That place is not allowed! Only orthodox disciples are permitted entry there! For an Outsider…”
“Clock, didn’t I tell you to be quiet earlier? Didn’t I? Is the Deputy Director’s word a joke? Do you find my words amusing?”
As they bickered over the mention of a ‘dungeon’, a very interesting message appeared in response to Ravi’s suggestion.
[Impressed by your astonishing ability, Ravi proposes a special trial.]
[Impromptu Chain Quest has been triggered.]
…
…
“Clock! Open the dungeon! Now! Let our next-generation ace have a look at a dungeon!”
Before Golden Hand could even finish reading the messages, Ravi shouted energetically. Hesitantly, Clock pulled a lever installed at the back of the building.
Clunk—
Simultaneously, the entire building began to shake.
Rumble—
The whole structure vibrated as if moving. Ancient dust began to fall from the ceiling with a puff— sound, and soon a section of the floor split in two, revealing a staircase leading underground.
“Ta-da! How about it? Cool, right?”
The staircase that had suddenly appeared in the building. At its entrance were engraved complex runic letters and gear patterns. Ravi stepped forward as if boasting. However, Clock’s face looked like he’d seen a ghost.
“Hey, Clock. Cheer up! Huh?”
“Uh… is this really okay? I know this friend Geumsom has incredible skill, but he’s still an Outsider, isn’t he?”
“So he’s an Outsider. What about it?”
“No, but if it’s known we opened our secret dungeon to an Outsider… I’ll be held accountable! Besides, this place is…”
There was a reason for Clock’s ashen face. It seemed this place was meant to be kept strictly secret from Outsiders. That’s why Golden Hand had no information about it in his past life. This was the first time the atelier’s dungeon had been revealed to an Outsider. It seemed to be a first, both in his past life and up until now. However, Ravi cut off Clock’s grumbling.
“Clock, but what are you worried about?”
“Huh?”
“Weren’t you pushed out to this backwater Neman Village after falling out of favor with those old geezers anyway? Is there anywhere further to be pushed to?”
Ravi spoke as if teasing Clock. At her words, Clock could only sigh and hang his head without a word. Clock seemed quite skilled, so there must be some circumstances. Ravi patted Clock’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry. Even if you get reprimanded and expelled from the Magic Academy over this, I’ll hire you as my personal secretary or something.”
“Hmm, is that to my benefit? That doesn’t sound comforting at all…”
“I’m Ravi. Ravi? Have you forgotten who I am?”
Golden Hand listened quietly to their comedic exchange. Yet, he couldn’t take his eyes off the staircase.
‘The pattern engraved at the entrance… those are ancient runes? Why are they engraved in a place like this?’
The runic letters engraved at the staircase entrance. Golden Hand recognized them. Runic letters he had seen in an ancient dungeon he had barely managed to enter past level 300 in his past life. They were engraved here.
‘It seems… this building was erected to conceal this dungeon?’
The runes were of a style older than the building itself. It seemed the Magic Engineer’s Atelier was established here to hide this dungeon. Perhaps Neman Village itself was created after this dungeon was discovered.
“Hoho? I thought you only had skill, but your eye is quite sharp too? Are you really an Outsider?”
Ravi addressed Golden Hand, who was looking at the runes. She seemed intrigued as Golden Hand examined them, as if he recognized them. She continued her explanation of the dungeon.
“This place is the ‘Cogwheel Dungeon’. One of the trial grounds passed down through generations in our Magic school. You could say it’s a place where the essence of Magic slumbers.”
“The essence of Magic slumbers here?”
“That’s right. Ancient golems created by the Magic school sleep inside. The test is to destroy the ‘Ancient Heart’ at the dungeon’s deepest point while avoiding them. How about it? Easy, right?”
As the explanation ended, a message immediately appeared. The detailed message for the Impromptu Chain Quest.
[Impromptu Chain Quest: Echo of the Cogwheels]
– Objective: Conquer the Cogwheel Dungeon, where ancient Magic slumbers, and destroy the power source, the ‘Ancient Heart’.
– Entry Condition: Lv. 10 or below
– Success Condition: Destroy the Ancient Heart
– Reward: ???
Golden Hand read through the message. Seeing the ‘???’ for the final reward, he let out a shallow sigh.
‘This quest isn’t meant to be succeeded.’
Quests were sometimes assigned in this pattern. Quests with unknown rewards. Such quests were mostly not meant to be cleared.
Extreme difficulty. Quests assigned with the premise of failure. Most players refused such quests. There was no gain in accepting a quest you couldn’t clear anyway. Time waste, experience loss, resource consumption, etc. It was more of a loss. However.
“Alright, let’s give it a try.”
He didn’t hesitate. A dungeon engraved with ancient runes. An undisclosed dungeon hidden deep within the beginner village of Neman. He couldn’t not enter this place.
Moreover, the very act of opening this place was a situation where Ravi and Clock were accepting a loss. In such a situation, Golden Hand, the person involved, couldn’t just back out.
“Good, good! That’s what I call a next-generation ace! I like it!”
Ravi wore a suspicious smile but seemed pleased with Golden Hand’s attitude. However, she gave a warning about the dungeon along with some leeway.
“But you don’t necessarily have to clear the dungeon. This time, the purpose is to let you see the dungeon. Okay? Got it?”
“See it?”
“Yeah, for our next-generation ace… a kind of field trip, shall we? Just seeing the ancient golems inside will be a great help to you.”
