His real name was Eugene Christian.
But now, he was Eugene, who had defected after receiving a name(?) from Igeon.
Anyway, there was only one reason the defector had come looking for him.
“Go to the workshop and buy paper and writing tools for yourself. If there’s a toy you want, you can buy that too.”
In other words, an errand.
Well, it was an errand, but maybe it actually meant he could go out and play, then come back.
He’d even been specially handed a Divine Seat card.
Probably because the Bible’s thickness, which had swelled thanks to Seongjae, Kali, and Yuha, was now reaching his own height(?), and Igeon seemed to have acknowledged that labor.
Moreover, those three’s fandom was beyond mere zealotry.
As useful as their high devotion was, in return, if the defector didn’t fix things, there was a mountain of content that would put Igeon in mortal danger(?).
[Haak, I can’t take my eyes off Uncle for even a second. No, I mustn’t. Igeon-nim, who catches the eye everywhere he goes, Igeon-nim, who makes it impossible for anyone to take their eyes off him. Haak]
Effect: The Serpent Lord Holy God captivates all who see him, regardless of gender.
-No one can escape that demonic allure.
In fact, because of a Bible effect created while the defector was passed out, Igeon had been chased by a thousand suitors, men and women alike.
In the end, the defector came to his senses just before his chastity was taken and revised the Bible, saving his life, but still...
[I can’t take my eyes off Igeon-nim’s greatness. He shines light everywhere he goes. Hail to the great light that makes even the lowly look again.]
Effect: Provokes scattered monsters. Focuses all monsters within 100 meters ahead.
Of course, there was also the option of not fixing it and screwing Igeon over, but the defector refused to do that.
Not for Igeon’s sake, but because the prose was so god-awful it was intolerable.
‘Yeah. Even if I take this guy down, I’ll do it myself.’
As if I’d accept anyone else’s help.
And originally, he hadn’t been able to leave the sanctuary, but perhaps because Igeon had upgraded the fountain pen in the meantime.
[The Fountain Pen That Cannot Write Lies (EX)]
Why the hell would you upgrade a junk item(?) fountain pen, something that’s not even a weapon and has nothing but a talent for writing, to EX-grade?
‘To think he ground precious divine materials into a mere fountain pen.’
Anyway, it was a perverted taste, but thanks to that, the defector could now leave the sanctuary without surveillance.
Because the fountain pen that evolved to EX-grade could now follow the defector anytime, anywhere.
Anyway, that’s how it was.
He’d come to the weapon shop district to buy a small self-defense weapon.
Of course, siding with Igeon while he was being badmouthed there wasn’t to help him.
Why would it be? What’s so great about Igeon?
He was just annoyed that they were disparaging his skill without even seeing it.
And more than that, he just didn’t like the Capricorn believers.
‘The god, though, is serious when he’s crafting.’
Well, the problem was he got so serious he’d hammer away in the master bedroom at 4 AM and get chased out by Hugo.
So, was he not even considering that he himself had been pounding at 4 AM?
The problem was, the so-called friend chased him out in his underwear at dawn, then grumbled about it, sat his all-nighter self down at a pub, and ate chicken.
The problem was, he even ate all the drumsticks and wings by himself.
Anyway, he was a Serpent Lord Holy God he just couldn’t like, but still.
‘What? You want me to make something with these materials?’
The materials the craftsmen had brought, claiming a contest, were low-grade junk.
And it was already ridiculous to demand S-grade from low-grade stuff that would at best produce B or C...
“Alright, we’ve checked the materials. Let’s start. Lend me a workbench.”
Seeing Igeon calmly pick up the materials, the scribe was on the verge of losing it.
Maybe that’s why.
The scribe grabbed Igeon, trembling.
“L-look, God. Are you crazy?”
“Why?”
“What do you mean why! You’ve got good eyes, God! Don’t you know these materials, even if they don’t show it, are all grade 5 junk?”
At the defector’s words, Igeon seemed genuinely surprised.
“What. You can tell that sort of thing?”
“I know! I learned when I was under Lady Hailley... No, that’s not the point!”
Normally, the material grades used in workshops ranged from 1 to 9.
And grade 5 was the bare minimum for making a weapon.
Meaning, cheap materials usually produce C-grade equipment at best.
You could say it’d break after slashing a few monsters.
S-grade could only be made with grade 1 materials.
‘Even A-grade needs at least grade 2!’
In actuality, the things Igeon eagerly tore into, saying the material quality was good, were all grade 1 or higher by the material chart!
Whether his eyes were good or his intuition was uncanny, while others used machines to check grades, Igeon judged by eye alone.
But!
“It’s obvious they’re trying to screw you, so why aren’t you saying anyth—”
But that was only for a moment.
The defector screamed as if he’d realized something.
“Ack! Crazy, they said this guy is a masochist. Could it be he actually enjoys this?!”
The defector took a hit.
But regardless, the defector clung to Igeon.
“Argh! Anyway, I’ll curse you out myself, so don’t go doing stuff that’ll make you a laughingstock in front of everyone!”
At that, Igeon laughed hahaha.
“What’s the occasion? You, who’d normally hold a ritual for my ruin?”
The defector flinched at that but gritted his teeth.
‘Still, I’ve seen things.’
Anyway, he hated people mocking him without knowing his skill. And though it was also because he couldn’t stand watching those Capricorn bastards swagger around after scamming him.
“Well, I suppose. Actually, getting cursed at would be a gain for me.”
“Okay. Then I’m off to the workbench.”
“Aack! No! No matter what, the contest conditions should be fair!”
The defector desperately clung to Igeon.
“I hate it when people call you a moron! Then I’m stuck with that moron! I’d rather die from overwork due to a flood of commissions!”
“What’s this one going on about.”
Ignoring the defector dangling from him, Igeon headed to the workbench.
Because in the meantime, the craftsmen had guided him to where the forge was.
And perhaps because there was no objection to the part they’d been worried about.
The craftsmen casually asked.
“Um, those aren’t your usual tools. Will you be all right?”
“Are you not short on materials?”
“It’s fine. Same conditions, so what. The materials are usable enough. I’ll manage an S-grade or something.”
At that, the craftsmen guiding him laughed inwardly.
‘He didn’t catch on about the materials!’
‘Of course not. We arranged them, after all.’
The Capricorn craftsmen weren’t renowned for nothing.
‘We’re confident in making materials look decent.’
That’s right. The Capricorn workshop sold not only weapons, but materials too.
Because craftsmen and divine beasts from other Seats came to buy.
And ordinarily, materials came from the Holy Gods, were mined from monster lairs, or harvested from uncontaminated monsters.
But since good materials were too precious to sell, they used those themselves, and processed cheap goods to fake the grade and sell them.
And those goods were exactly these.
Well, it was a scam, but since they trimmed off damaged parts and sold them with marketability, they even charged for the labor.
And.
‘To not notice that, he’s definitely an amateur.’
‘A hack.’
They’d been a little nervous since Hugo hyped him up and Kevin showed interest, but well.
‘Our victory.’
‘With that, he can never make S-grade.’
Of course, even if Igeon catches on later, he’d be too embarrassed to speak up after his own words.
If anything, Igeon, who failed to notice, would naturally become the laughingstock.
So they hastily whispered to their colleagues.
“Now that it’s come to this, call all the believers in the tower.”
“Even better if we call reporters.”
“The more people see, the better for raising fame and faith.”
They even suggested going to the lecture workbench so people could easily gather.
And perhaps the impact of just the names Igeon and the Genius Workshop was beyond imagination.
“Wow! It’s Igeon!”
“What, they’re really having a crafting showdown?”
“They said he’s making S-grade items?”
The large workshop that the Genius Workshop normally opened for lectures was completely packed.
Starting from the craftsmen in the tower, to those who heard the rumor and teleported over at once.
“Could it be Igeon is taking over even Capricorn after Taurus?”
“What, that person! Isn’t that top star Taylor?”
“The Order commanders are here too!”
“No wonder. They asked Igeon for a quote and drew the Genius Workshop’s ire. They must be anxious.”
“…The Virgo Holy One is here too?”
“Of course... Huh?! Why is that person here?! She’s not someone who’d come to a shabby workshop like this?”
Even though he looked that way, Kevin was second in the world in both number of believers and power.
Amid the commotion, Kevin, far more conspicuous than the top star, ground his teeth.
He couldn’t help it.
“Why on earth do I have to book a room for that woman?”
There was a 7-star hotel on the upper floors of this place.
And inside that hotel were a casino, a sparring hall, and medical facilities.
It was a facility for testing the weapons made here.
And when Igeon summoned him to that hotel, he’d thought, ‘Ah! He made a weapon and wants to spar with me there!’ and rushed over in an instant, but...
‘This kid fainted before even eating. I need a place to lay her down. So give me a hotel room. I heard Virgo rented out the entire best floor.’
Wait, why does he have to pay for Hailley’s room when she’s the one who fainted?
And before that, why were those two at the hotel, and why did she faint?
At that, Igeon said nonchalantly,
‘The breakfast here is good too. I said it’d be a waste to just eat dinner and leave, so let’s get a room, stay the night, and go, and she fainted.’
No wonder she fainted.
Well, Igeon apparently planned to sleep in the next room, but still.
There was no way Hailley could have heard that.
Anyway, Kevin, who had the best room stripped from him because of Igeon, was fuming.
Well, Hailley didn’t matter. Since Igeon asked, he had no choice but to comply, even if he hated it.
But.
“A crafting showdown with Igeon? Has Capricorn truly gone mad?”
At Kevin’s words, chin propped in hand, the believers beside him agreed.
“Indeed. They must be seriously pissed. They’re out to make Igeon-nim a laughingstock.”
“No matter how great Igeon-nim is, how could something made on the spot turn out S-grade? With so many eyes watching?”
“Those guys must be used to this kind of situation…”
“The blueprints too. Aren’t those the Capricorn hit series they make every month? There’s no way they can’t make their own stuff.”
“Ah, Igeon-nim is pitiful... Why take a match that favors Capricorn...”
At that, Kevin let out a hollow laugh.
Pitiful?
‘I wonder which side is truly pitiful.’
And then it happened.
“Wow! They’re out! Capricorn top star!”
At the people’s shout, Igeon, who’d been fiddling with the workbench, gave a hollow laugh.
“Oh, I know him. Isn’t he a top star? Taylor or something? Isn’t he famous?”
At that, the defector, who’d been dragged along as an assistant, was dumbfounded.
“You’re way more famous, you know...?”
At the same time, familiar faces stepped up to the workbench next to Igeon’s.
And one of them was none other than the current head of the Genius Workshop.
The Capricorn Ten Star who had taken the head position in place of the missing Capricorn.
And beside him were about five assistants.
It was the entrance of the world’s most famous star craftsmen.
“Taylor!”
But the entrance was brief.
Their leader, the Ten Star, saw Igeon standing alone and suddenly hardened his expression.
“Didn’t we say we would lend you assistant craftsmen?”
“Indeed. There’s a large divine beast greatsword and siege equipment, so it would be difficult alone.”
At that, Igeon sneered.
“Yeah. I don’t need that crap.”
“!”
“Forget it, let’s get started.”
Igeon skimmed the blueprints.
The items to be made were ballista-type weapons used in sieges, large-scale weapons, and a set of daggers.
Given the quantity alone, it was unreasonable for one person.
Perhaps because of that, the star craftsman spoke.
“Um, Igeon-nim? It’s a quantity hard to handle alone in two weeks. Even now...”
“I said I don’t need it.”
At the same time, the craftsmen nearly screamed.
Because Igeon had thrown the blueprint he was reading straight into the furnace.
The craftsmen were horrified.
“What are you doing!”
“Huh? Why? I’ve seen it all, so I burned it ’cause I don’t need it. So what?”
“No...!”
“What. You guys have to make things while staring at this bit by bit?”
And at Igeon’s momentum, the craftsmen ground their teeth.
‘Such bluff!’
“Understood. Then the deadline is two weeks. Until the flame on that goat statue over there goes out.”
“Cool.”
And in that moment, the goat statue blazed alight.
Exclamations burst from the spectators.
At the same time, the Capricorn craftsmen grew busy.
“You lot, make the most numerous: set 1 of the daggers!”
“Yes!”
“The siege equipment that takes the longest needs data and power infused, so just shaping it will take three days. Hurry!”
“Yes!”
But right then.
“Wow, what’s that!!!”
“Are you crazy?!”
Suddenly the onlookers screamed.
It was because of Igeon.
(Continued in the next episode)