by Park Saenal
The administrator needed a Divine Shield that had at least the epic rating. In the worst case, if only rare shields were created, I would have to sell it elsewhere. However, the terms of use meant it was limited to the Rebecca Church.
‘Ah, this is shit.’
It was ominous. I didn’t like it. I thought about giving up the quest.
‘But even if the materials are expensive…the profits will be higher if an epic rating emerges.’
Two shields, one of which must have at least the epic rating! After a long period of thinking, I made a decision and took out a hammer.
“I will make it.”
Ttang! Ttang!
The quest duration was only two days. I immediately began smelting steel and mithril. Suddenly, I was surprised to see Cassus standing quietly at the wall behind me.
‘What? He’s still here?’
Cassus seemed to have followed me from the administrator’s office. But he didn’t have any presence, so I wasn’t aware he was behind me. An expressionless face! Pale skin! Those rotten eyes! It was the pious appearance of a priest of the goddess of light.
“Excuse me, Mr. Cassus?”
“Yes.”
“Why don’t you go rest? Your turn won’t be for a while.”
Cassus shook his head. “I appreciate the courtesy, but I can’t. You can’t suffer alone. I will pray to Goddess Rebecca while watching. It will be a prayer to help you produce a great shield.”
“…”
Unlike my first impression, he was a good person. But it wasn’t all good.
‘Don’t you know that I don’t want to see that ghastly face?’
I suppressed the words I wanted to say and devoted myself to the production. How much time passed? As the night deepened, the other blacksmith fell asleep. I finally finished smelting the mithril, which was quite a struggle.
“Ah, mithril is a tricky material.”
The moment I took a break to take out bread and water…
“Have this.”
“Hiik!
I freaked out as I heard a voice behind me. I turned around to see Cassus holding cheese in his hand.
“Y-You! Have you been standing there the whole time?”
Cassus nodded and replied with an expressionless face. “Yes. I have been praying.”
“No, to be honest, praying doesn’t help anything so just go and relax…”
Cassus’ face changed for the first time. He lightly frowned. “Rebecca is the goddess of light. This light encompasses all positive energy, including good luck. My prayer will surely invoke your good luck.”
When I thought about it, I made a mistake disparaging prayer in front of a religious person. I didn’t want such a frightening person to have a grudge against me. I nodded. “I see. I am ignorant about faith and made a mistake. I’m sorry. Then please continue to pray.”
“Yes.” Cassus immediately joined his hands together, closed his eyes and started praying.
‘He is a very active person.’
I started work again after eating the bread and cheese from Cassus. Then one hour later. I fixed the magic stone to the mithril skeleton and called out to the praying Cassus.
“Now it is your turn. Infuse it with divine power.”
Cassus stepped forward silently. He fell to his knees in front of the magic stone and started praying to Goddess Rebecca.
“Oh~! In the name of Goddess Rebecca!”
Blah blah.
He started an even longer prayer.
‘He didn’t sit down and prayed all night, but he still has this much stamina… Amazing.’
I became drowsy. I fell asleep and woke up when I heard Cassus’ gentle voice.
“Mr. Grid, the divine power infusion is over.”
“Hiik!
As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw Cassus’ pale face and dark eyes. This bastard, he was a priest but he looked more like a demon.
“What’s wrong?”
Did he have to ask? Has he looked in the mirror? I wanted to confront Cassus, but I refrained.
“It is nothing. Now shall I begin?”
I continued to make the shield until the sun came up. I spent 23 hours making the shield. I usually invested 20 hours when making an item, but this time was different. I didn’t willingly invested 23 hours to make one. I needed 23 hours to make it.
‘It’s difficult.’
Dealing with mithril and the magic stone was very difficult. It would be different if my experience was higher, but it was hard for the current me.
‘It requires Advanced Blacksmith Mastery level 3 or higher, so isn’t it a difficult item to make? Experience also plays an important role.’
Satisfy pursued realism. Even if a user had the same level and skill, the user who had more experience with the skill would use it more efficiently. Item production was similar. As Pagma’s Descendant, I knew how to smelt mithril. However, since I had never actually smelted mithril, I needed to spend a lot of time smelting.
‘Well, now that I’ve accumulated some experience, I can make the next shield faster.’
I embarked on the production of the second shield. The blacksmith watching from the side questioned me.
“Haven’t you made one shield up to the stage just before completion? You only have the gold plating left, so why are you working on a new shield instead of finishing it?”
“I want to complete both at the same time.”
I told the blacksmith the truth.
‘If the first shield I complete has a rare rating, my motivation will completely fall. It is better not knowing the rating until it is over.’
I only had enough materials to make two shields. So I was going to complete both at the same time and wish that one of them would be above the epic rating.
***
Lim Cheolho, the CEO of the S.A Group and developer of Satisfy, was rumored to work 20 out of 24 hours. People thought that Lim Cheolho only took a break to sleep. But that was somewhat exaggerated.
Lim Cheolho also had a separate rest time. He lay comfortably on the office sofa for one hour a day to monitor Satisfy’s users. In the last few days, Lim Cheolho was intensively monitoring Grid.
“Hoh, indeed.”
Lim Cheolho kept exclaiming. His eyes were shining, like a child watching an exciting cartoon.
“How interesting.”
He meant it. Lim Cheolho was greatly interested in Grid. Grid didn’t play the game efficiently, unlike most users. Nor did he use any shortcuts. He played simply and honestly. Whenever he made an item, he invested 20 hours of Satisfy time.
Wasn’t this too pure? Lim Cheolho liked this type of pureness.
“Hahaha! This is ridiculous! He defeated a level 188 knight in such a lucky manner! Ohh, he received a partnership offer from a NPC? How refreshing. Huh, Grid’s works achieved the highest auction prices. Oh my…it is too much to sell a legendary item to a NPC. But it is really fun watching such a user. Um? He didn’t recognize Doran’s ring that Irene is holding? Isn’t this a pity? If he did, his relationship with Irene would grow. Hoh, creating a transparent cloak is a smart choice. Um? In the end, he isn’t even trying to make the invisibility cloak? Well, he’ll be able to make it someday. Ohh! A two-man raid! Hrmm, he got a lot of levels and some items, but I would’ve liked it if he focused more on finding Pagma’s Swordsmanship. Okay, he finally found Pagma’s Swordsmanship. No? Hahaha! Imitating the murals for hours! What a masterpiece!”
Sometimes Lim Cheolho was complimentary, sometimes he was regretful, sometimes admiring and sometimes excited when he watched Grid. Then he got angry for the first time at a certain part.
“No! Why did he turn down Piaro’s quest? It would’ve been a good result!”
Asmophel, who Piaro asked to be punished, was now severely ill. Grid would be able to clear the quest. Then he would receive a great reward. But Grid was overly cautious and missed the golden opportunity.
“He has changed since Kesan Canyon. At first, he acted in an
unplanned and impromptu manner, but now he has his own plans. But he is still inexperienced and immature…”
Director Yoon Sangmin called Grid a fool. It was because Grid couldn’t properly exert the efficiency of a legendary class. Lim Cheolho had laughed, but as he watched, it felt like he understood a little bit of Yoon Sangmin’s frustration.
One day, Yoon Sangmin had said this:
‘If I was Grid, I would’ve joined a guild. No matter how low my level, I would be able to sign up to a top level guild just because I have a legendary class. Then I would grow with the support of the guild. They would support the cost of items and help with quests. Wouldn’t he clear the class quest sooner if he had the support of a guild? By now, I would’ve moved with a larger goal! But he doesn’t have the capacity and is trying to do everything alone. He doesn’t move with any great plans. He is just staying in a smithy and making items.’
It was true. Most people would probably think like Yoon Sangmin. He was confident that he could do better if he was Grid.
But Lim Cheolho questioned it.
“Is it fun to play like that?”
Satisfy was already recognized as another reality. People who considered Satisfy a mere game were rare. Success in Satisfy would equal success in reality. Therefore, users who played Satisfy only pursued efficiency.
But Satisfy was essentially a game. Lim Cheolho produced Satisfy for it to be enjoyed by people. So users should enjoy playing it. Those who played like others might soon lose interest in the game.
Lim Cheolho didn’t want that.
“It isn’t obliged to have an obsession with Satisfy. Grid should play as he likes.”
But Lim Cheolho overlooked one thing. While watching Grid, Lim Cheolho thought that Grid was a user who simply enjoyed playing the game. However, the reality was quite different. Grid was playing Satisfy with the hopes of succeeding. He just didn’t have the ability!
“Huh?” Lim Cheolho saw the administrator of Winston Castle commission Grid to make the shield, as well as the priest of the Rebecca Church. “This…?”
Lim Cheolho brought his wristwatch to his mouth and spoke. “Morpheus.”
After a moment, a voice was heard from Lim Cheolho’s watch.
[Did you call me?]
“Please search the list of NPCs currently in G-HFO6C1E. Is Isabel among them?”
[No.]
“Huh?”
Doubt appeared on Lim Cheolho’s face.
Chapter 83
Chapter 83
The remaining time for the quest was two hours! Then I finished the plating for one shield. The information of the finished item popped up.
[Divine Shield]
Rating: Rare
Durability: 360/360 Defense: 189 Magic Resistance: 150
* There is a rare chance of completely resisting dark spells.
An item made by a craftsman with great skills and potential, but his experience and reputation is somewhat lacking.
Thanks to the power of Cassus, a priest of the Rebecca Church, it shines with the divine power of the goddess of light. Due to its strength against dark magic, all followers of demons and the Yatan Church will suffer when facing this shield.
User Restriction: Level 190 or higher. More than 500 strength. More than 1,000 divine power. A member of the Rebecca Church.
Weight: 800
[A rare rated item was produced, so all stats have permanently risen by +2 and reputation throughout the continent has risen by +30.]
“T-This is shit.”
The first final product was a rare rated shield. I was hoping for it to have at least the epic rating, so I was beyond frustrated.
“…One of my hopes has disappeared.”
I invested almost all my fortune in making these two shields. If the next shield was rare rated and this quest failed, it would be hard for me to break even. As I shook from the anger that I couldn’t endure, Cassus spoke.
“The other one will be finished with good results.”
I exclaimed. “I thought you said that praying would have a clear effect! But what is this? Does a god really exist?”
“…”
Cassus didn’t say anything, despite being the target of my venting. There was no change in his expression, but he seemed to think I was being absurd. I had been stuck with him for the last two days, so it was possible to read his expressionless face to a certain extent.
“Ah…I’m sorry.”
I shouldn’t blame the innocent Cassus. It was just my dirty luck. I apologized and carefully finished plating the remaining shield. Then…
[Perfect Divine Shield]
Rating: Legendary
Durability: 680/680 Defense: 370 Magic Resistance: 280
* There is a high chance of completely resisting dark spells.
* The skill ‘Divine Light’ will be generated.
* The skill ‘Divine Favor’ will be generated.
An item made by a craftsman with great skills and potential, but his experience and reputation is somewhat lacking.
Thanks to the power of Cassus, a priest of the Rebecca Church, it shines with the divine power of the goddess of light. Due to its strength against dark magic, all followers of demons and the Yatan Church will suffer when facing this shield.
User Restriction: Level 190 or higher. More than 500 strength. More than 1,000 divine power. A member of the Rebecca Church.
Weight: 800
[An legendary rated item was produced, so all stats have permanently risen by +25 and reputation throughout the continent has risen by +1,000.]
“K-Keok!”
I was so surprised that my breath was blocked for a moment. Cassus’ pallid face smiled for the first time as he looked closely at the shield.
“Congratulations.”
“…”
His pale skin and eyes gave off a bad impression when he was emotionless, but he looked good when he smiled like this. I felt some appreciation towards Cassus for the first time.
“This is all thanks to your prayers!”
“It is Goddess Rebecca’s divine favor.”
“Yes! That’s right! Goddess Rebecca, hooray! Hooray! Hooray!”
“Goddess Rebecca is eternal. Don’t cheer for her like that.”
“…Ah, yes.”
“Now, let’s return to the administrator.”
“Understood!”
I placed the shields in my inventory and rushed off quickly, filled with a desire to show the shields to the administrator as quickly as possible. However, Cassus didn’t lag behind my speed, despite only seeming like he was walking.
‘Is he walking so fast because his legs are long?’
We arrived at the administrator’s office as I was thinking.
“You came.”
The administrator who always greeted me energetically was nowhere to be seen.
‘His face doesn’t look good. Did he have a fight with his wife? But his depressed mood will be gone the moment he sees this!’
I handed the legendary Divine Shield to the administrator.
“Now, how about this? Isn’t it impressive? No, isn’t it amazing?”
“…”
The administrator didn’t say anything. He just looked closely at the Divine Shield. Heh, he was struck speechless. Last time I made a legendary sword, and now it was a legendary shield! He must be wondering if it was possible for such a great blacksmith to exist in the world, while also being confused over whether this was a dream or not.
‘Even I am wondering if this is a dream.’
As the number of items that I made increased, I couldn’t help getting a feeling. In order to create high rated items, it was necessary to have good luck, quality materials, time invested, and effort.
The first item I made in Bairan Village were the epic rated Special Jaffa Arrows, so I thought it was easy to make an epic rated item.
But what was the truth? I was mistaken.
Since I made a unique rated dagger in a short time period
during the item making game with Euphemina, I thought it was easy to make unique rated items for a while.
But what was the truth? I was once again mistaken.
‘Making a legendary item is like winning the lottery.’
Once I concluded that, I suddenly remembered Cassus’ prayer.
‘Maybe the prayer really did have an effect.’
I was sincerely grateful for his hard work in praying for the two days that I made the items. I turned my gaze towards Cassus. He was once again expressionless, but I didn’t feel uncomfortable.
I smiled at Cassus. Then his expression stiffened. “Do you have any complaints towards me?”
“…”
Was my smiling face that strange? One day, I would have to practice smiling in front of a mirror. I was seriously considering it when the administrator opened his mouth.
“Good work.”
Huh? What was this boring reaction? Didn’t he originally make a fuss? He was the one who made a fuss when I first came with the Sword of Self-transcendence, so why was he so calm this time?
While I was surprised by the unexpected reaction, the administrator said to me. “I will determine the value as soon as possible. You should go back for today.”
“Didn’t you price the Sword of Self-transcendence immediately? Why do I have to go back empty handed today?”
“There is a financial crisis due to the recent war. I will set a price after meeting with the lady.”
“…Hrmm, okay.”
I was convinced and extended a hand towards the administrator. The administrator asked with confusion, “This hand?”
What? I pointed to the Divine Shield in the administrator’s hand.
“That, give it to me.”
The administrator frowned. “Why do I need to give it back?”
“Eh?”
What was wrong with this old man today? Did he take the wrong medication?
“Isn’t it natural to return the item to the owner?”
“Owner? Are you the owner of this shield?”
“Then whose is it if it isn’t mine?”
“You…what are you saying? The owner of this shield is someone we can’t go against…!”
The administrator’s face reddened. He seemed sincerely angry.