After about ten minutes, the lecture finally came to an end.
"─That's what I'm saying. Do you understand?"
"Yes…."
"Answer correctly!"
"I understand. I'm sorry."
"Okay. I'll watch you closely."
After scolding him, he lightly pats Edwin on the side. Normally, he would pat his shoulder, but it was difficult for Tom Tom, who was 50cm shorter than Edwin.
Anyway, he seemed to have let up after receiving a sincere apology. Kim I-hyeon, who had been watching the fire across the river with his arrows turned back, intervened at the right moment.
"Can we talk slowly?"
"You mean repairs? Not right away. It's because the tail is like this."
"It doesn't matter if it takes a long time. More than that."
He held out the items he had brought in front of Tamtam. Two items wrapped in cloth. One was heavy like a money bag, and the other was long like a stick.
"What is this?"
"Left is for gifts, right is for orders."
Even after hearing the explanation, Tamtam tilted her head in confusion. She first checked the 'gift'. The moment she received the bundle and looked inside, her eyes widened as if they were going to pop out.
"This, this, this, this, this…!"
"I picked it up in Naraka."
"Ahhhhhh!"
He screams and puts his face inside the bundle.
Sniff sniff.
"This, this smell. It's real. It's sooooooooo…!"
For a moment, she sniffed the scent, and her whole body trembled as if she was overcome by a thrill. When she pulled her head out again, her face was slumped over like someone who had been on drugs.
"I love you. You're the best. Should I kiss you? Yes!?"
"I'm going to sue you for sexual harassment at work."
"Ha, if you had brought something like this, you should have told me earlier!"
"I'm glad you feel better now."
As soon as Edwin said a word, Tom Tom suddenly turned his head and glared.
"That's one thing, and this is this. You go and get punished. Can a person who treats equipment carelessly be liked by a blacksmith? Common sense."
"...."
It seemed like he was really upset. It was hard to say that it was a misunderstanding. In reality, Edwin was the type of person who thought, 'Even if the weapon breaks, I can just replace it.'
The process for the two to become close would be quite difficult, but Kim Yi-hyun didn't really care. If things continued like that, wouldn't they end up hating each other someday?
anyway.
"If you're satisfied, check this side too."
"Ah, right. Order? Just leave it to me!"
It was fortunate that he seemed so motivated. If he had failed in production by any chance, he would not have been able to control his inner violence. Even more so if he had made a mistake while making it roughly.
In the game, the 'production' function is systematically guaranteed to succeed. But who knows what it would be like in reality? It was impossible to blow away the only material.
When the cloth was unrolled, the shape of an awl was revealed.
"Huh? Hmm. Can I take a closer look?"
"As you wish."
"Just wait, Jaam-Kkan."
Tamtam put down the bundle she had been cherishing and carefully picked up the awl with both hands. Her eyes became serious. The impression of a small woman who did not fit in with the iron and the brazier changed.
Edwin, who had been watching like a mute who had eaten honey, secretly let out a gasp. He could tell from the atmosphere alone that Tamtam was a master craftsman who had reached the realm of the supernatural.
He had every right to be picky.
"Where did you get it?"
"At the ruins of Naraka."
"Aha. Somehow."
Turn the awl back and forth and lightly scratch it with your fingernail.
"What shape do you want?"
"I guess a knife would be easier to use."
"If we're going to be specific, it's closer to a rapier or an esterk."
Contact between material and skin.
Just by that, a lot of knowledge was unfolding in Tamtam's head. Among them was the know-how she had acquired as a blacksmith, but there was also knowledge she did not know.
Tamtam has abilities that are different from those of ordinary night watchmen. She is the head of the CellbroLogics Lab production workshop. When a user provides materials, she devises a suitable 'production method' to create equipment.
Realistically speaking, this doesn't make sense.
Throw me some materials I've never touched before and tell me to make a weapon within a week. Even if I get an order like that, it's only going to be difficult, so it's fortunate if I don't get shot.
But Tamtam does it without a single failure.
'I guess it's for the convenience of the system.'
The developers also thought it was unrealistic and included a reasonable reason for it.
Tamtam is a spell holder. He can read the information of items judged as 'materials' of equipment. If melted and used, what materials are highly compatible when mixed. Even efficient casting methods.
There is no trial and error for her, as she must always deliver the best results to her users.
'Except for reinforcement.'
A 6-star weapon will soon be in your hands.
I believed so, but my expectations were betrayed.
"Hmm. It'll be difficult right now."
This was the conclusion that Tamtam reached after examining the awl for a while.
"Why? What's the problem?"
Kim Lee-hyeon couldn't hide his bewilderment.
How is it different from the game?
The answer was simple.
"If you're thinking of just using it roughly and throwing it away, it's still possible. You just need to roughly make it look like something. However, if you want to achieve a higher level of perfection, you probably don't have enough material."
"subject matter…."
A sigh came out naturally.
'Come to think of it, that's what happened.'
The awl is, after all, only a 'core material'.
Other side branches are needed. The same type and quantity of materials specified in the game. In order to realize the 'optimal production method' conceived by Tamtam.
'When was the last time I farmed?'
In fact, as your play period gets longer, you won't need to farm separately. If you buy the items that come into the exchange every day, you'll end up with some left over.
I vividly remember the reactions of users who were happy that they could finally escape the farming hell when it was added. It is a facility that cannot be separated from the production workshop.
The problem is that the exchange function is blocked right now.
'It opens after episode 6 ends.'
Episode 6 is the part where Shadow appears. Although the scenario has already collapsed, it is not directly related to the development, so it will not be a problem.
However, the time frame is still early.
This feature will be available for three months from now.
I don't know what the new exchange in Lab will actually be like.
'Should I just wait quietly…?'
no.
I immediately changed my mind about the thought that occurred to me for a moment.
"If you bring it, I can make it."
"Is that so?"
"Then write down everything you need."
"Huh? Let's see, there are some parts that can be substituted with Lactneedy...."
All you have to do is open an exchange in advance.
* * *
Public lounge.
Kim Yi-hyeon stared at the people sitting around the two tables. Ignoring the awkward atmosphere that had been flowing since they had gathered, he opened his mouth confidently.
"Let's go on vacation."
"Huh? Vacation? I like it!"
As always, it was a lively answer.
I nodded to Asterike, who agreed without a single doubt. When our eyes met, she smiled bashfully. I wasn't particularly tired, but it was a moment that felt healing for no reason.
"What about Arya? Take her with you?"
"If you like it."
"Hey, Arya. How about it? We're going out to play."
Arya, who was squatting on the chair, answered cautiously.
"Fearful human… but if you have Ast, then it's okay."
Aside from the strange way of speaking, there was a title that particularly caught my ear.
"Ast?"
"My name is too long."
"It's a little long."
"You can call me Hyundo too."
Although he pretended to be calm, Asterike was secretly expecting it. It seemed like he was calling her by a nickname. Although it wasn't his full name, everyone called him "Hyeon", so it didn't feel special.
But in the end, she had to swallow her regret.
"No, I'll do what I've been doing. It's not that I don't like it, I'm just used to it."
It was half true and half false.
Kim Yi-hyeon wanted to differentiate between 'Ast' and 'Asterike'. Her appearance, which was so different from that in the game, was an important factor that gave him a sense of responsibility and reality.
"Two are fine. What about the rest?"
"It's a bit out of the blue, but I'm okay with it."
"Edwin and the three of you. Chelsea, what are you going to do?"
"I guess so..."
Kim Yi-hyeon found the expression of reluctance odd.
"I thought you'd like it the most. You were going crazy over the vacation, but what happened?"
"Vacations are nice. Of course they're nice, but you've only experienced them once or twice."
A suspicious gaze was fixed on him.
"Our boss, who can't sit still even if he dies, called everyone together and said, 'Let's go on vacation.' It was kind of cheap. Come to think of it, it wasn't a mine tour or something under the pretext of a vacation, was it?"
"No way. I'm not that bad."
"Why can't I believe this…?"
"Why don't you believe me?"
I think the prejudice was a bit severe, so it needed to be corrected.
"Okay, I got it. Chelsea is out."
"I almost said that! I trust you, boss. I have to go no matter what. I have to go for sure."
He's an easy guy to handle.
As Kim Yi-hyun snickered, Chelsea, whose pride was hurt, shut her mouth in discontent. But it was only for a moment. She looked at the one person who had not yet answered.
"Why did you call him, really?"
"I'm late in greeting you. It's been a while, Team Leader!"
Endure.
One of the reserve agents who worked together during Operation Ashbelt. He was recently receiving marksmanship lessons from Chelsea.
"You said you were my disciple."
"I'm not your disciple."
"I'm sorry to hear you say that, Instructor!"
"The instructor said, 'What the hell.' I told you not to pretend to know anything outside until you've hit half the target in a live-fire fight."
"I will definitely do it."
He clenched his fists and looked determined. For Chelsea, it was just absurd. What kind of difficulty is it to lose 10 shots out of 20 in a live-fire game?
"Then, sir, should I call your disciple too?"
"Where is my disciple?"
"You know, there's someone who's good at driving."
"Why is Turkam my disciple?"
"I feel that way too."
"aha."
I see.
Kim Yi-hyeon had no choice but to agree. Chelsea's speaking skills were better than expected.
"I can't call you and tell you to go back."
"That's true too."
"Can I… go? I have to train too."
"Do whatever you want. Personally, I don't think my skills will improve if I just hold a gun all day. I also gain something from resting. Well, I'm not asking you to follow me."
Oh my. I'm starting to get a vague idea of their relationship.
"If that's what you mean, then yes! Thank you!"
Kim Lee-hyun smiled inwardly after receiving Tatalia's answer. Naturally, the reason he had recommended her had nothing to do with his relationship with Chelsea.
The key is the setting.
'It was good that we made friends.'
Tatalia is the half-sister of a famous merchant. She is the younger sister of the person who provides various items to the lab through the exchange. If she is there, it will be easier to make room.
"So, Hyun. Where are you going?"
It was Asterike's question. Under the focused gaze, Kim Ihyeon revealed the destination.
"Saint Kitts."
The motif is Las Vegas.
It is Polaris' largest gambling house.
* * *
Chelsea stopped dead in her tracks as she passed through immigration. She gaped at the sight of St. Kitts.
It was a city more splendid than Cilicia.
If Cilicia is a sophisticated city, this place seems to have polished luxury to the extreme. Fountains and fireworks decorate the night sky. Orange lights from tall towers illuminate the casino.
Baccarat, poker, blackjack, slot machines, roulette.
Money and alcohol.
Dealers and gamblers.
Success and failure.
Winners and losers.
"heaven."
Chelsea have stepped into the paradise they only dreamed of.