Skillbook My Way
Chapter 22
Chapter 22
After clearing the Magic Tower, we returned to the guild.
Having gathered all the powder the monsters dropped and the Magic Tower boss’s staff—the objective of the quest—we went to see the Guild Master.
“The Guild Master is in his room right now.”
Following the clerk’s words, we entered the Guild Master’s room.
Inside, besides the Guild Master, there was a man wearing armor made of violet metal.
“We’re back. Is something wrong?”
The armored man and the Guild Master were staring in our direction, mouths agape.
“Ah… it’s nothing. I see you’ve cleared the Magic Tower.”
“Yes. And we collected the powder as well. Seono.”
“Yes.”
Seono took his inventory down from his back and laid out the sacks filled with powder.
“Who is that child?”
The Guild Master asked.
“He’s Seono, who is serving as our party’s porter. I asked him to take the role since I know him personally.”
“I see.”
The Guild Master opened one of the sacks Seono had laid out, checked the contents, and nodded.
“You’ve done very well.”
“Ms. Hyeri.”
The person in the violet armor called Hyeri’s name.
“Did you really clear the Magic Tower with just three people?”
“Yes, Vice Guild Master.”
I was surprised.
*He’s the Vice Guild Master? He looks like he’s only in his late thirties.*
I had guessed he was a guild member like us, but to think he was the Vice Guild Master.
“Ah, I’m late with the introduction. As you just heard, this is Mr. Choi Jinhan, who serves as our guild’s Vice Guild Master.”
“Nice to meet you.”
The Vice Guild Master shook hands with Ajusshi and me in turn.
“To think you’d clear the Magic Tower with three people. Some very promising new guild members have joined us.”
The Vice Guild Master’s words were somehow strange. As if we had accomplished the impossible.
“Huh? The quest was to obtain materials from the boss, so isn’t it natural that we had to clear it?”
When I asked, the Vice Guild Master looked at the Guild Master without a word. The Guild Master coughed and averted his gaze.
*What the hell.*
“But which one of you is the person said to possess multiple skills?”
The Vice Guild Master looked back and forth between Ajusshi and me.
“Ah, that’s Hwajin.”
Ajusshi pointed at me, and the Vice Guild Master nodded.
“I see.”
Just then, the Guild Master coughed again.
“Now then, everyone, good work. Give the Magic Tower boss’s staff to the clerk. The reward will be deposited into your accounts by tomorrow morning. Then, gather these sacks and let’s go to the workshop.”
“The workshop?”
I wondered what the workshop was about all of a sudden.
“Haha. You’ll see when we get there.”
The Guild Master said with a smile.
After leaving the building where the guild was located and walking for about ten minutes, a workshop with a sign reading “Atlas” appeared.
At first glance, aside from being quite spacious, the workshop was no different from the equipment shops commonly found in monster material markets.
Equipment laid out on display stands or hung on the walls, and a counter with a clerk.
“Ah, Guild Master.”
One of the men standing at the counter put on a pleased expression.
“Is the owner inside?”
“Yes. Shall I tell him you’ve arrived?”
“No need. We’ll go directly.”
The Guild Master led us toward the door behind the counter.
The inside was completely different from the front, which was decorated like a shop.
*A laboratory…?*
White floors and walls, a steel desk with beakers, flasks, and machines of unknown purpose on top.
“Oh, if it isn’t the Guild Master.”
At the gruff voice, I stopped looking around and turned my head to see a massive old man. He seemed even larger than Ajusshi Gangil.
The old man with a white mustache was wearing a white lab coat and goggles.
“Hmm? Kids I haven’t seen before?”
The old man stroked his mustache as he looked at me and Ajusshi.
I recalled the name Jin Oyun written in the staff’s description.
“Could this be the person who made Ms. Hyeri’s staff?”
Hyeri nodded.
“These are the new guild members who joined recently. Everyone, this is Mr. Jin Oyun, the owner of our guild’s workshop.”
“Kim Gangil.”
“Lee Hwajin.”
Following the Guild Master’s introduction, we each stated our names.
“Hmm. New guild members, you say. Then I suppose you’ve come to ask me to make *that*?”
“Yes. Mr. Hwajin, would you please take out those powders?”
I took out the sacks of powder from Seono’s inventory.
“We should be able to make equipment for two people with this amount, right?”
The Guild Master handed the workshop owner something like a red jewel.
“But of course it’s possible.”
“Guild Master. What kind of equipment are you making with this?”
Ajusshi asked.
“Equipment that reduces mana consumption.”
The Guild Master answered with a smile.
“Like Ms. Hyeri’s staff.”
At my words, the Guild Master let out an “Oh.”
“You already knew. That’s right. That staff was also made using powder left behind by the monsters of the Magic Tower.”
“I didn’t know that.”
Hyeri muttered.
“Normally, we give new members equipment suited to their role as a commemorative gift. But we happened to be out of materials. So we sent you to the Magic Tower as both a quest and a skill evaluation. The results were astonishing. Three A-rank Hunters cleared the Magic Tower.”
*Ah, so that’s why…*
Was that the reason the Vice Guild Master’s reaction had been so strange earlier?
“Oh? Did these three really clear the Magic Tower? Some incredible talents have joined, haven’t they? Good. I’ll do my best to make it for you. You look like a dealer or a tank at a glance, am I right?”
The workshop owner asked Ajusshi Gangil.
“Yes, I’m a close-range dealer.”
“Hmm. Then a waist belt would be good. What about you?”
“Ah, I’m an all-rounder.”
“An all-rounder… What weapon are you currently using?”
“I use a spear, but if possible, could you make a staff just like Ms. Hyeri’s?”
I asked, recalling the staff skills I had already created.
“Hmm, if you wish, I’ll do that. But I’ll need an extra pair of hands.”
The workshop owner said so while staring straight at me.
“…Shall I help?”
“I’d be much obliged!”
Ajusshi Gangil and Hyeri returned to the guild with the Guild Master.
Hyeri was one thing, but Ajusshi Gangil, who was the one receiving equipment, seemed like he wanted to stay and help too; I just couldn’t bring myself to ask him because he was my elder.
Instead, Seono stayed by my side. He said he would help me make the equipment.
What a good kid.
We followed the workshop owner down to the workshop’s basement.
Unlike the upper floor that had looked like a laboratory, the basement looked like a small-scale factory.
The workshop owner, who had briefly stepped away, reappeared wearing protective gear instead of a lab coat. He looked almost like he was in a spacesuit.
“First, gather those powders here.”
Seono and I moved according to the workshop owner’s instructions.
After pouring more than twenty sacks of powder into a large metal container, the workshop owner took out a bright red crystal. It was the one he had received from the Guild Master earlier.
“What is that?”
Seono asked.
“It’s an item from the dungeon that contains the energy of fire. We can’t begin without it.”
Perhaps because a child had asked, the gruffness in the workshop owner’s voice seemed to soften slightly.
The workshop owner inserted the red crystal into a machine that appeared to be part of a set with the container.
“Now we have to wait a moment for the powders to melt.”
We waited at a distance from the container emitting tremendous heat. Sweat dripped down Seono’s and my faces.
“As expected of Hunters, enduring even this heat. I’m an ordinary person; I couldn’t stand it without this protective suit.”
After a while, the workshop owner approached the machine and called us over.
“Now, pour this into the container.”
There were several drums where the workshop owner pointed. An unidentified liquid sloshed inside.
“This is also a substance from the dungeon. When you add it, the impurities sink and only the pure materials rise.”
Seono and I poured the liquid into the containers, sweating. The workshop owner stirred the inside with a long rod. Whatever it was made of, the rod didn’t melt.
“Look inside.”
Seono and I peered into the container.
The bottom was full of gray sediment beneath the bright red, glowing liquid.
“Ninety-five percent of that powder is impurity. The remaining five percent is what we use to make the equipment. That’s why we needed so much powder.”
When the workshop owner operated the machine, the container tilted, and about half of the red liquid flowed along a rail.
“From now on, it’s a battle against time.”
From that point on, it was utter chaos. The workshop owner had us do all sorts of things—bring this, hammer that, pull this, pour that.
Seono and I followed the workshop owner’s instructions without understanding a thing.
The work continued for several hours. Struggling with unfamiliar tools and procedures, I even thought that running a few dungeon laps would be easier.
Seono, on the other hand, seemed to carry out the workshop owner’s instructions without much difficulty, perhaps thanks to his [Dexterity] skill.
Our work ended when we moved the metal, finally created after all that hardship, up to the laboratory on the floor above.
“Now then, I can handle the rest by myself. Good work.”
At the workshop owner’s words—now out of his protective gear—I let out a sigh. I finally felt free.
“It’s over already? It was fun…”
I couldn’t understand Seono. What had been fun about all that hard work?
“Hyung, can we watch Grandpa work a little longer before we go?”
“Oho, little one. You’ve taken an interest in my work? Sure. Watch as long as you like.”
The workshop owner said with a delighted face. It was no wonder he found him cute—Seono understood instructions well and handled tasks he’d never done before with ease.
“Alright. I’ll be outside resting for a bit.”
I left Seono behind and slipped out toward the storefront.
That was when it happened.
[You have received the baptism of fire and time!]
[You have acquired a new Word:
[You have acquired 40 Exp.]
*A Word?*
Startled, I summoned my book.
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-Word List-
…
[Action] (66)
…
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A new Word had been added to the [Action] category.
*Until now, a new Word had never been added to the Action category…*
Refine.
The process of removing impurities and extracting metal of necessary purity.
The bright red glowing liquid and the impurities settling within it came to mind.
Then a thought flashed through my head.
*Wait. Did I just… obtain something incredible?*
A chill ran down my spine.
***
Two days later, I headed to the city hall alone.
[You have entered Seoul Jung-gu Dungeon No. 3.]
[This is a 4-star dungeon.]
[Overflow: 4420/10000]
[Monsters have been generated.]
*Invisibility.*
I gripped the staff I had received from the workshop owner and used the skill. I could feel less mana draining away than before.
Currently, the actual mana cost of ‘Invisibility’ was 5pt—half of before—and its duration had doubled to 1 hour.
Excluding weapon-based skills like [Flame Spear], I had converted all my existing skills into staff skills.
The converted skills reduced mana consumption and increased their effects.
Ignoring the monsters that couldn’t see me, I headed deeper inside.
When I had taken the A-rank Hunter exam in this dungeon before, only the boss had been able to see through my Invisibility.
After wandering the dungeon for about 30 minutes, I discovered a group of centaurs.
Seeing the boss wielding a golden halberd, I felt pleased.
I cast [Electric Shock Resistance] and charged at the boss.
The boss screamed upon suddenly seeing me. The elites only looked around, seemingly unaware of what was happening.
*Flame Spear!*
My spear was engulfed in flames.
“Kah!”
The boss swung his halberd. I dodged and got behind the boss.
And I used my newly created spear skill.
*Heartstrike!*
The Flame Spear pierced precisely into the boss’s anus.
“Kyaaaaaaaack!”
The boss screamed.
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Created Skill: [Heartstrike] (Superior)
Tool Used: Spear
Mana Cost: 7pt
Description: When attacking with this skill, any form of attack will be directed toward a vital point. Deals double the usual damage.
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The Words used were
*Heartstrike!*
I pulled out my spear and used the skill once more.
“Grrrrrk…….”
The boss couldn’t even scream, foamed at the mouth, and collapsed.
[You have acquired 160 Exp.]
After the boss fell, I quickly disposed of the remaining elites.
[You have cleared Seoul Jung-gu Dungeon No. 3.]
[Overflow value has been readjusted to 4380.]
[A portal connecting outside the dungeon will be generated shortly.]
After taking down the elites as well, a voice announced the dungeon clear.
I had learned from the information compilation on the guild app that a dungeon was considered cleared if you annihilated only the boss and elites.
The information also stated that the Overflow value decreased less compared to when you defeated other monsters.
The monsters’ corpses on the ground were disappearing.
*Please, come out…*
I prayed as I watched the boss’s body disappear.
But nothing whatsoever remained in its place.
*I guess you can’t be full after the first spoonful…*
Recalling Ajusshi Gangil’s words that it takes hundreds of runs for one to drop, I entered the portal leading outside the dungeon.
After that, for three whole days, I relentlessly targeted the boss centaur’s anus countless times, and as a result, I obtained one halberd and four magic stones.
*Please, it has to work with five.*
I calmed my trembling heart and took out all the magic stones I had obtained so far from my inventory.
I placed five magic stones on the ground and shouted while holding my staff.
“Refine!”
Mana drained from my body as light enveloped the magic stones.
Shortly after, only one stone remained on the ground. It was a bit more transparent than the stones from before, emitting a stronger red light.
I picked up the stone. A gray window appeared before my eyes.
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[Common Feral Magic Stone]
The core of a centaur. Its purity is average.
Strength ▲1.5
Vitality ▲0.7
Mind ▼0.1
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“I did it!”
I cried out loud, overcome with joy.