Chapter 16

—That’s what I was most curious about.

—Knew this topic would come up.

“Since I ended the broadcast a bit abruptly yesterday, I’m sure you all have plenty of questions. Details will be released gradually. Apparently, they haven’t built up enough stock yet, so they’re deliberately not selling.”

—So when does selling start?

“Right now, a workshop is being set up for my friend to work in. So you’ll have to wait a bit. Once the workshop is ready and production begins, sales will start once stock is built up.”

—Whoa. That’s gonna take a while.

—Won’t be out in a day or two.

“At the latest, stock should be available by the month after next. From what I’ve heard, the goal is to start selling around early next month.”

—Wait, only a month? That’s manageable. A month is fine.

—I’ll just save up money while waiting.

“The price hasn’t been decided yet, so I can’t tell you, but we plan to set it so that as many of you as possible can buy and use them. My friend said so, so it’ll probably go that way.”

—No matter how much your friend wants that, the distributors and such won’t want that, and there’ll be some conflict of opinion. It won’t be easy.

—The person above seems dumb.

—For real, don’t prove you’re a total idiot, just stay quiet. Meet us in the middle.

“Haha, let’s not fight. You’re right, there could be conflicts of opinion. But my friend’s personality isn’t that soft.”

—Just stating facts. Let’s say hypothetically there’s someone who makes items…… no, there is one. Anyway, think about it. Say you have the ability to make items. And you want to make them available to lots of people. But the distributor starts acting up. Do you give in? You just switch distributors.

—Exactly. No matter which company you bring it to, they’d bend over 90 degrees to accept it. Who would reject that? If the distributor had half a brain, they wouldn’t try that kind of negotiation. They should be grateful you’re even letting them sell it and treat you like their master.

“Looks like we’ve arrived at the dungeon while chatting. The Cliff of Harpies is easy enough, so I’ll clear it quickly and come out. After that, I need to move again, so let’s continue talking then.”

—Good lord.

—Ah, damn. I’m speechless.

Jaeha smiled and entered the dungeon immediately. Once inside, he opened his Inventory and took out his bow. Then he changed his viewpoint and started hunting right away.

* * *

“That’s it for today’s broadcast. Good work, everyone.”

Jaeha ended the stream and got out of the car. He looked at Seungho and spoke.

“Go inside for now. I’ll make a phone call and come in.”

“Alright.”

Once Seungho went inside, Jaeha called Herb Gramps.

“It’s me.”

<Yeah. The blacksmith shop is done.>

“Where is it?”

<It’s in the basement of the building attached to your place.>

“Oh, is that so.”

<Originally I wanted to build it in the basement of your house. But unfortunately, that place doesn’t have a basement, so we’d have to dig one out. Might as well use the building next door.>

“Hmm. I see.”

<Anyway, it’s finished, so go check it out. My subordinate is guarding the place right now. They know your face. Go talk to them and they’ll open it up and explain everything.>

“Yes, thank you.”

<The thanks……>

“Ah, let me mention this in advance — I’ll be mass-producing useless items from now on.”

<What, things like that shabby bow?>

“Yes. I’ll mass-produce items with around 5 to 10 attack power. Those can be made in no time.”

<Hm. What do you need? I already stocked the forge with Iron Ingots and such.>

“It’d be best to make and sell them as quickly as possible, right?”

<Of course.>

“Then could you get me some finished iron swords?”

<Iron swords?>

“Yes. If I bring those in and do a bit of Quenching a few times, they’ll become items.”

<Oh? Is that so?>

“Yes. After all, a lot of people use swords. Let’s start with swords…… actually, just the mass-produced stuff among the popular items — staves, swords, blades, and so on.”

<Alright.>

“Please buy some and send them over. They don’t cost much anyway, and you can just buy whatever comes out of a regular blacksmith shop and send it.”

<Will do. So once I buy and send them, how long will it take?>

“Just heat it in the fire, hammer it a few times, quench it in water, and then sell it. Excluding the heating time, making one sword takes at most 3 minutes, maybe?”

<Oh-ho.>

“Right. So please get me a decent amount. Well, as you know, decently short of enough.”

<Don’t worry. I’ll handle the numbers and send them over.>

“Yes. And please also get me those byproducts I mentioned last time.”

<What are you going to use them for?>

“This time I want to try making some unusual things too. I’m curious what’ll come out. That’s why.”

<Hmm. Got it. I’ll organize everything and send it over. All together.>

“Yes. Then.”

With that, Jaeha hung up and entered his house. Then he called out in a loud voice.

“Hey, Lee Seungho.”

“Eh~?”

A voice came from inside the house.

“I’m gonna step out for a bit.”

“Okaaay~”

With that, Jaeha left the house and headed to the building next door. The building next door was quite shabby. As he entered through the entrance, there was a guard off to the side. Jaeha glanced at the guard, and when their eyes met, he smiled.

“Could you guide me?”

“You’ve arrived!”

And the guard immediately came out from that spot and approached Jaeha.

“How did you know?”

“Know what?”

“That I’m the elder’s subordinate.”

“Well, call it a feeling. You’re supposed to stay inconspicuous, after all. This place is the most fitting, and the way you looked at me was extremely sharp. If an ordinary person had come, they probably would’ve been completely intimidated.”

“Ahh……”

“Anyway, please guide me.”

“Yes.”

With that, the guard began walking ahead. Opening the emergency stairwell door leading underground beside the elevator, the guard stepped inside.

As the guard descended underground, they kicked hard at the emergency stairway indicator light beneath the sign that read B1F. With a low hum, the walls began to slide open on both sides.

“People might try kicking it too — isn’t this too easy to open?”

“It can’t be opened with an ordinary person’s strength. You have to kick it extremely hard.”

“Hmm~ I see.”

Nodding, Jaeha walked inside along with the hunter guiding him.

* * *

“Yes. This is everything.”

“Good work. You can head back now.”

“Yes. I’ll be right there, so if anything comes up, just use the intercom beside you.”

And with that, the guard quickly exited. Jaeha nodded and looked around. Then he turned off the lights and went back outside. Returning home, Jaeha had a proper meal with Seungho and rested.

‘I should rest a bit until the elder sends the materials.’

While resting at home, Jaeha was watching MuTube videos as always. Then he came across an animation video.

‘[Dragon’s Orb, the Protagonist’s Clone Art].’

Reading the video’s title, Jaeha thought for a moment.

‘Maybe I could get a skill from watching animation too.’

What had come from his skill evolution was similar to animation. He’d wondered if it might be possible, but until now he’d mainly searched for hunter videos. The reason was that so many hunter videos were uploaded every day, and he hadn’t really thought animation would work.

“Well, let’s just watch it.”

With that thought, Jaeha played the video and began watching. As the short 3-minute video ended, a window appeared before Jaeha.

[Clone Technique]

[Rank: Rare]

[Creates clones that you can control.]

[Mechanism: Total Ability × 0.01 (units)]

[Proficiency: 0%]

“Hmm.”

Checking the Mechanism section, it seemed the number of clones he could create increased in proportion to his Total Ability.

‘So right now I can make 1 clone.’

Curious about exactly what kind of skill it was, Jaeha tried using it. A clone that looked exactly like Jaeha materialized.

‘Oh-ho.’

And the clone could move exactly as Jaeha willed.

“Ah.”

“Wow.”

The clone could even speak according to Jaeha’s intentions.

“Damn, that’s crazy. I can even make it talk however I want.”

Fascinated by the clone, Jaeha stood still and stared at it. And before long, Jaeha’s eyes went wide and he smiled.

* * *

“Hello, everyone.”

Jaeha turned on the broadcast and smiled, just like always.

―ㅎㅇㅎㅇ (hi hi)

―Where are you going today?

“Yes. Today, I’m planning to try something a little different.”

Saying that, Jaeha switched the camera angle. He had already set it to third-person view. And soon, a different kind of screen began broadcasting.

―??

―Where is this?

“Today, I have someone new to introduce.”

Jaeha looked at the person beside him, and the broadcast began showing a man wearing a mask.

―Who?

―Who is that?

“This guy is the friend who makes the items.”

―For real?

―Whoa, that’s awesome.

“I wanted to show his face, but unfortunately, he said he didn’t want that, so we decided against it. Anyway, to explain—on today’s broadcast, we’ll be showing you this friend making items. And we’ll also be revealing the effects of the items he makes.”

―No way?

―Don’t tell me……?

“Yes, as you might be guessing, we’ll be starting item sales. Of course, the items will be sold through the Auction House.”

―Wow……

“So please enjoy this broadcast, and I hope you’ll show lots of interest in the items as well.”

After explaining a bit more, Jaeha said,

“Alright, then let’s just hear a quick greeting and get started.”

Jaeha looked at the man wearing the mask.

‘Good.’

The man wearing the mask was Jaeha himself. And the Jaeha hosting the broadcast was Jaeha’s clone.

The clone could speak and move, but it couldn’t use skills. In the end, since only Jaeha’s main body could use Metallurgy, he had no choice but to broadcast using the clone and act with his main body.

“Nice to meet you. I…… go by Unknown.”

“Haha. He’s naturally this awkward and not great with words, so I hope you’ll understand.”

And so, he continued the broadcast using the clone.

“Go ahead and get ready over there.”

At the clone’s words, the main body nodded and walked over to the furnace. Then he continued the broadcast using the clone.

“Alright. Now let’s take a look at how items are made. You probably don’t know anything about this. How iron has to be melted, how many times you have to strike it with a hammer…… Right?”

―Yeah

―I don’t know anything about how a blacksmith makes stuff.

“Yes. But don’t worry. I watched once too, and I didn’t understand a thing. But it was more fun than I expected. And fascinating too.”

Having said that, Jaeha’s clone switched the camera angle.