A man in a suit with a gentle impression, public official Jung Bin, was sitting on the wooden porch with his legs crossed, watching the world's only S-grade artisan perform a protest show on the ground.
"Give me that magic stone!"
"Um— Hong Ye-seong-ssi, you didn't see anything."
"Aaah, get it for me."
Flailing his limbs on the ground, he looked like a child throwing a tantrum in the toy section of a store. With a flick of his hand, Jung Bin signaled an Awakened Management Bureau employee standing at the entrance of the traditional house to approach and bow. Jung Bin quietly whispered.
"Since when did the Jang-in Village get such good Wi-Fi? Didn't you cut the Wi-Fi when Hong Ye-seong-ssi was admitted this time?"
"Of course, we cut it off… but Lee Sa-young-ssi reconnected all the communication lines and Wi-Fi and in return commissioned the production of gloves."
"That guy is really no help. Cut it off here again as soon as this project is over."
"Yes, understood. And this information probably came from the Hunter Channel. The magic stone talk was all over the channels."
"I've asked everyone to cooperate. They have no business ethics."
Even as Jung Bin clicked his tongue and sighed briefly, Hong Ye-seong kept repeating the same words like a broken record.
"I want to go to Seoul. Give me the magic stone."
"Seriously, you asked to be locked up in Jirisan. Sir, you can't leave until you finish making all the weapons."
This man, rolling around in the dirt despite wearing white fleece, was none other than Hong Ye-seong, ranked 7th in Korea and the only S-grade artisan known as "Genius."
Six years ago, a gate opened in the middle of the Korea National University of Arts campus. It was evening, so there weren't many students on campus, but the problem was the fourth-year art students who were becoming ghosts in their studios preparing their graduation projects. They faced a dilemma.
Their graduation project or their lives?
Most chose their lives, of course. They were too young and too resentful to die just working on their graduation projects. Facing heaven just after finishing a project seemed too cruel! Since the gate was a natural disaster, surely the professors would understand! The students grabbed hammers and saws, trembling as they hid in the corners.
But one student, fourth-year ceramics major Hong Ye-seong, remained seated in his studio despite the gate opening. Even as monsters from the gate climbed the building's walls, broke windows, and entered the studio, he stayed in place, making pottery.
And then he awakened. As an S-grade artisan.
The government initially kept his awakening episode under wraps. If they announced that a college student became an S-grade artisan while ignoring gates and monsters to make pottery, more students might refuse to evacuate during gate incidents. For public safety, the story had to be sealed.
Anyway, Hong Ye-seong, the biggest output of the ceramics department and the one who raised the department's entrance scores nationwide, was the world's first S-grade artisan to appear after the Day of the Rift. Moreover, he had an incredible trait.
[Trait: Deadline Finisher (L)]
[Work efficiency and speed increase as the deadline approaches.]
[(If work is completed under the effect of this skill, quality increases by an additional 50%)]
The government and officials from related organizations gave a standing ovation when they saw his Awakener data. A precious S-grade artisan with a Legendary trait! He was a talent who would greatly enhance Korea's hunter competitiveness.
But once the world learned about Hong Ye-seong and his trait, headhunters from abroad flocked to Korea. After all, Hong Ye-seong was the world's only S-grade artisan! As more countries and organizations wanted him, the Korean government grew increasingly anxious, desperate to keep him in Korea.
Citizens also fervently wished for him to stay. The internet was rife with extreme suggestions like confiscating his passport, tearing it up, and banning him from leaving the country. The media constantly discussed the value he could create. Then one ordinary day,
Driven to neurosis by headhunters knocking on his hotel door every night, Hong Ye-seong shouted, "F**k you, I'm Korean!" and requested protection from the Korean government. Along with the protection, he made one more request.
"When my work deadline approaches, no matter what I say, please lock me up in a place with good water, air, and energy, and no contact with the outside world."
He requested 'confinement.'
The government, already worried he might leave for another country, was thrilled at his request.
"Pardon? Oh, very good— uh, ahem. What's the reason?"
"Actually, I have another trait."
No one is perfect, it seems. Hong Ye-seong had one fatal flaw.
[Trait: Procrastinator (L)]
[You feel the urge to delay everything. (A lot.)]
The system gave an S-grade artisan but balanced it with a trait. A trait to delay and delay until barely finishing just before the deadline. A genius controlled by a trait. The embodiment of cramming under a looming deadline.
But still, the Korean government designated several locations with good energy nationwide to confine him gently when the time came. After Seoraksan and Gyeryongsan, it was now Jirisan Jang-in Village's turn.
Jung Bin sighed deeply, resting his chin on his hand. Watching the white lump rolling on the ground, he spoke.
"I canceled my prior engagement with Lee Sa-young and came here to capture Hong Ye-seong-ssi. You know that, right?"
"Hey, Official-nim."
Instead of answering, Hong Ye-seong called out to Jung Bin. Unlike his earlier whining, his voice was slightly calmer.
"If I make a weapon with that magic stone, I can produce at least S+ grade. I can tell just by looking at the picture."
"Oh?"
Jung Bin raised his eyebrows slightly, surprised. So far, the highest-grade equipment Hong Ye-seong had made was S-grade. He had said that both materials and skills needed to be at their best for higher-grade items. So, the mention of an S+ grade weapon naturally piqued Jung Bin's interest.
Jung Bin had also been briefed about the unknown magic stone seller while flying to Jirisan by helicopter. Specifically, someone crazy had posted a glowing magic stone on the Tomato Market.
That rare item hadn't been listed on the Hunter Market, so it must be shady, but seeing Hong Ye-seong react like this confirmed its quality. Even from the photos, the magic stone seemed excellent to Jung Bin. It was also a type that had never circulated domestically.
But where did it suddenly come from?
Was it extorted from someone? Or smuggled from overseas? While considering various hypotheses, something flashed through Jung Bin's mind. The reason Lee Sa-young stormed into the Awakened Management Bureau recently and overturned the Awakened Database. Wasn't there a skilled unregistered Awakener running around?
Jung Bin sprang up from his seat and squatted next to Hong Ye-seong, who was flopping like a freshly caught fish.
"Hong Ye-seong-ssi."
"Ah, get me the magic stone and then talk."
The slightly clearer look in his eyes from earlier was gone. Back to acting like a 5-year-old throwing a tantrum, Jung Bin gently coaxed him.
"Listen to me first. That magic stone is incredibly good, right?"
"Of course. Just by looking at it, I can tell it's top-grade without impurities or monster energy. Ah, give me the magic stone!"
"Only a few people could get such a magic stone, right?"
"At least a top 100 ranker."
"Top rankers usually don't leave traces like that in transactions, right?"
"Of course. There's the black market and the Hunter Market, why would they use the Tomato Market? They must be stupid."
Speaking curtly, Hong Ye-seong started thrashing again.
"Ah, it's ridiculous… I can't see the Seoul Tomato Market because I'm stuck in Jirisan! Ack! Next time, confine me in Bukhansan!"
"Yes, I'll tell the director the next exile site will be Bukhansan. And,"
Jung Bin stood up and dusted off his knees.
"I'll find that magic stone."
"…Really?"
At Jung Bin's cheerful words, Hong Ye-seong lifted his head. Covered in dirt on his white fleece, his eyes gleamed with pure madness, looking like a Pomeranian that had drifted 30 times in a dirt field during a walk.
"Yes."
Jung Bin smiled with a trustworthiness score of 100% as often shown in public service ads. There was even a subtle confidence in his voice.
"I feel like we'll discover a gold mine while looking for that magic stone."