Episode 54: Disassembling the Junk (3)
I spent the night at Workshop 1 and then took a short nap in the dormitory.
Get up and send a message to the calligrapher as usual.
[Kim Ho: Are you awake?]
[Calligrapher: … … .]
[Calligrapher: (glaring cat emoticon)]
[Kim Ho: Food?]
[Calligrapher: (cat emoji covering with blanket)]
[Calligrapher: (lying down cat emoticon)]
[Kim Ho: Excuse me]
[Kim Ho: Aren’t you going?]
[Kim Ho: I eat alone?]
… … .
No reply comes back.
I expected that after a day or so, the anger would subside, but judging by the reaction, it seems that wasn’t the case.
One downside to [Windforce] is that it can make your opponent more angry than you originally intended.
Let me defend myself for a moment. I didn’t want to meet the calligrapher as my opponent in a duel, and at the time, I had no means of restraining him other than Windforce.
However, it is also true that he is not completely free from the charge of rolling the girl in the hot sand.
‘This won’t work as a message.’
It seems like a problem that can only be solved by meeting in person and talking.
I waited in front of the student cafeteria just in case, but the calligrapher was nowhere to be seen.
It looks like he really doesn’t want to come.
So I ate breakfast alone this morning.
I quickly ate some coffee and garlic bread and headed to class.
Since I arrived at school quite early today, there weren’t many people in the classroom.
But for some reason, among those few people, I see gray hair.
“… … .”
A calligrapher lying face down on his desk.
As if he sensed someone’s presence, he lay face down and peeked out his eyes to look this way.
As their eyes meet, his face slowly sinks between his arms again.
I calmly went to the seat next to him and sat down.
And then he asked the calligrapher.
“You didn’t eat breakfast.”
“… … .”
Although I still had not received an answer, I was confident that there was a high probability of it based on the circumstances.
‘I didn’t eat.’
Maybe the message I sent woke you up.
However, I don’t feel like eating breakfast together, and the time is ambiguous if I go back to sleep.
So, the scenario of coming straight to school is more likely to be true.
“Still, I have to eat something.”
A paper envelope was placed on the calligrapher’s desk.
The savory smell of garlic bread wafts from the still-warm bag.
I knew this would happen, so I got another one.
“… … .”
The calligrapher did not respond for a moment.
It would be more appropriate to say that he pretended not to react.
Then, lying face down, he slowly reached into a paper bag, picked up a piece of garlic bread, and began to munch on it.
I guess I was secretly hungry.
As we were eating garlic bread, our eyes met and he slowly turned his head away.
It’s still not fully resolved.
On the outside, he appears expressionless from beginning to end, so it is impossible to tell whether he is angry or not.
But if we’re going to talk, now would be the time.
I decided to be honest and tell the truth without beating around the bush.
“I overdid it yesterday. I wanted to show my weakness.”
“… … .”
The calligrapher’s eyes moved towards me little by little.
It means that even if your eyes are looking elsewhere, your ears are open.
“As you know, your fighting style is extremely vulnerable when you enter the range of an area-of-effect skill, and your position is exposed.”
Since sniping itself is an attack aimed at one point, it is easy for the aim to go off track even with the slightest interference.
This time, [Windforce] hit that weak point right away. It was easy to find the hidden calligrapher by blowing the wind over a wide area, and by applying physical force here and there and turning the gun, the magic bullets would be fired in the wrong places.
This is something that not only I but other people are feeling little by little.
So what’s the solution?
The calligrapher’s ears perked up and he demanded an answer.
“There is a skill called [Immobility]. If you cast this, your stance will not collapse even if you are interrupted. The damage will still come in, but… … If you go one step further, there is a skill called [Fluidization] that completely drains physical power.”
In addition, it is useful to learn movement skills, stealth, and evasion techniques to quickly move to the next sniping point when your location is discovered.
“The Magic Bullet has the basics down and has decent destructive power, so how about investing in auxiliary skills next?”
“Are you going to give a special lecture?”
“I would like to teach you myself if possible, but it’s more efficient to learn from another musketeer. Even if it’s annoying, let’s get mentored.”
“… … Okay, I’ll do it.”
The calligrapher nodded and quickly filled out the mentoring application form.
While chewing on garlic bread.
Looking at that sight, I smiled bitterly.
‘I listen well.’
When I first brought up the topic of mentoring, I expected it wouldn’t be easy based on the reaction, but surprisingly, I was convinced right away.
I think it’s because I feel the need to do it, but sometimes I think I follow it too obediently.
I’m curious as to why, but I don’t think there’s any need to rush into finding out.
If we gradually narrow the distance, won’t we naturally come to know each other?
‘The problem is his mentor… ‘
I can’t guarantee that the calligrapher will show the same enthusiasm in front of his mentor as he does in front of me.
I don’t know if it will be possible to control it before the fever.
Even in front of that human butcher, Lee Su-dok, he shows signs of being sleepy and annoyed, so would he be any different as a mentor?
‘I don’t know, either.’
For now, all we can do is hope for luck.
Or maybe you want the calligrapher to be motivated in front of his mentor.
“Oh. I see Miss Seo is applying too.”
Go Hyun-woo greeted and asked questions about when he had arrived.
The calligrapher nodded slightly and answered.
Looking at Go Hyun-woo’s condition,
“Everything has recovered.”
“I have prepared everything as Brother Kim said.”
Today, I am burning with determination to finish the big match that I couldn’t finish.
I also tried out the Pyo Sa’s Longsword and Pyo Du’s Longsword that I bought at the student store yesterday.
I handed over the item I had crafted last night.
“Try this too.”
“This is… … .”
A metal clip the size of two finger joints.
At first glance, it looks like a clip sold at a stationery store, but a closer look will reveal very elaborate parts and geometric patterns.
This is evidence that it is a magic engineering item.
[Sturdy Clip (D)]
▷Weapon durability protection
▷Automatic weapon durability recovery
An item specially made for durability only.
[Durability Protection] reduces the degree to which a weapon is damaged, i.e. its durability is reduced.
[Automatic Durability Recovery] repairs damaged weapons little by little over a set period of time.
Even so, it’s not a large amount, and if you continue to use strong primary health, it will be reduced even faster.
Still, this should be enough to act as an ointment and bandage for the wound.
Go Hyun-woo put the clip in his front shirt pocket.
“It’s sturdy. I’ll use it well.”
“Let’s fight the rest of the battle and analyze it together tomorrow.”
“I will do so.”
We’ll check out the replay tomorrow to see how long E and D-grade weapons with the assistance of [Tuntun Clip] last compared to an F-grade iron sword.
Based on the results, you can decide your next steps.
* * *
After class, I went straight to Workshop 4.
The 4th workshop’s Ji-bak-ryeong, who was minding his own business, was the first to greet us.
“Are you here?”
“hello.”
I feel like our relationship has improved a lot compared to yesterday.
At least the uncomfortable atmosphere has almost disappeared.
We exchanged materials and honestly told Bong Jae-seok about it, but it went over without any particular problems.
So, I’m sure you’re confident that there won’t be any disadvantages to being associated with me.
Since we may have frequent business dealings in the future, it would be good to maintain a good relationship.
I sat down at one of the workbenches and took out Bong Jae-seok’s failed works.
I extended the deadline just in case, but I intended to complete it as a top priority if possible.
‘That’s because you have to receive [the Magical Organ].’
Since it is a key material, it is better to secure it quickly.
I got straight to work.
When I cast [Magic Engineering], everything on the workbench turned blue.
He kept his concentration and began to remove the large chunk of scrap metal little by little.
* * *
How much time has passed since I fell into that state of selflessness?
I stopped and put the tool down.
The blue light that filled my field of vision faded away in an instant.
‘There are so many.’
The disassembled materials were piled high on the workbench.
I turned my gaze toward the window and saw that the sky was just beginning to turn red.
It’s been about two or three hours since I started.
In the meantime, Bong Jae-seok’s request was quickly resolved.
“Are you done?”
“yes.”
The one who asked the question was a third-year senior.
The look of admiration was clearly visible on his face, and it seemed as if he had caught a glimpse of me working this time too.
“Hey… … . I thought you were some kind of machine? How can you finish all that without resting for even a second while sitting down?”
It was a compliment I had heard a lot.
Back when I was churning out S-class heroes, the theory that I wasn’t human was pretty strong.
There were even users who mistook me for a special NPC and came to receive quests.
Anyway, Bong Jae-seok’s request has been settled for now, so I think I can just deliver it all at once when I go to the first workshop at midnight.
Now it’s time to move on.
As I got up from my seat, my senior asked me.
“Come in?”
“No way.”
We simultaneously turned our gaze to the mountain of junk.
“There’s still a long way to go.”
I finished making all of Go Hyun-woo’s items by making [Tun-Tun Clip], and now it’s my turn.
I plan to address the part of my weapon that involves magic engineering.
The process of gathering materials is almost the same as yesterday.
The part where the points come in, [Thermocatalyst reagent], was received as a commission from Koh Hyun-woo.
Some of these materials will be obtained by dismantling failed items, and some will be filled in by this senior like yesterday.
“While you’re at it, can you do me a favor?”
Seeing the expression ‘while I’m at it’, it’s highly likely that the request was related to disassembling the item.
He continues his explanation, pointing to the mountain of junk as I stare silently.
“Actually, I need a few things there, so I was wondering if you could break it down for me. Of course, if you don’t mind.”
Yesterday, I chose the materials I needed from the ones I disassembled and bartered them.
Today, we’re going to choose a failed product that contains all the necessary materials from the beginning, disassemble it, and exchange it.
I nodded coolly.
“I don’t mind.”
“Thank you. I will try my best to meet your needs.”
From my point of view, I had no reason to refuse as I just needed to get the materials.
That way it’s more efficient too.
We took some time to crouch down in front of the junk shop and do some shopping.
After each of us picked out the items we wanted, we brought them to the workbench and quickly took them apart.
These failed works were much easier than Bong Jae-seok’s request, so they were turned into materials in an instant.
A deal was made right away over those materials.
“Thank you so much. You saved me so much time.”
My senior kept thanking me.
I couldn’t help but be thankful that the trouble of running around here and there to get the materials was taken care of with just a few barter transactions yesterday and today, and at a very cheap price.
I gathered all the materials I needed.
This will also be taken to Workshop 1 at midnight to be produced.
Suddenly I checked the time,
‘There’s a lot left.’
Even after finishing procuring the materials for the second item at Bong Jae-seok’s request, there was still a long time left until midnight.
Should I go to the training center and practice, or should I just stock up on extra materials even if I don’t need them right away?
But soon there was no need to worry about such things.
Because the work came to me on its own.
– Him?
– Do you think that’s right?
Outside the 4th workshop, two pairs of eyes were looking in this direction.
