Chapter 130

Taehyeok Sa placed the ingredients he brought between Cho-i Hyeon and Eunbeom Jeon. Both were quite large, so they had to step back a little.

“These ingredients are unusual.”

“One is from a hidden dungeon, and the other…”

When Taehyeok Sa looked at Cho-i Hyeon, Cho-i Hyeon stared back at Taehyeok Sa with eyes that seemed to say, ‘So what?’ He soon shook his head and turned his gaze away.

“The other one was obtained by chance.”

“First, both of you, step back.”

The two stepped back as he instructed. Eunbeom Jeon brought a large cloth and covered the ingredients. The shape, bulging only in the middle, resembled a mountain. Then, holding a bell and an unusually shaped sword, Eunbeom Jeon waved his hands at the two.

“Go downstairs and wait.”

“You’re not going to gobble up the ingredients…”

“Understood.”

Taehyeok Sa naturally covered Cho-i Hyeon’s mouth and went downstairs. As soon as they went down, the sound of the bell began to ring loudly from upstairs. Clang- clang- clang- clang- It was a sharp, ear-splitting sound. Rapid footsteps were also heard. Thump, thump. Cho-i Hyeon looked at the ceiling and imagined what was happening upstairs. A body leaping over the ingredients, a shaking bell, an unknown sword being swung. What was unexpected was the absence of music. Indeed, since it was more a method of crafting items than a proper ritual, it might be different. As time passed, the footsteps quickened to the rhythm of the bell. Cho-i Hyeon began to tap her fingers on her thigh to the beat. She hummed a tune, lightly shaking her head as if riding the rhythm. And Taehyeok Sa looked at Cho-i as if she were a strange creature.

“Why, it’s exciting.”

“Is it?”

The act, which was hard to call a ritual, continued for a long time. One hour, two hours, three hours. Exactly when three hours were complete, the bell sound from upstairs abruptly stopped. Then, a clear voice was heard shouting downstairs.

“Come up!”

When Taehyeok Sa and Cho-i Hyeon went up to the second floor together, they saw Eunbeom Jeon standing with a rather triumphant look on his face. Cho-i Hyeon whistled.

“The result must be quite good?”

“It’s more than just good.”

He placed his hands on his hips and looked at Taehyeok Sa. Then he nodded as if telling him to remove the cloth covering the ingredients. Taehyeok Sa immediately went to the ingredients and removed the cloth.

“Wow.”

Cho-i Hyeon’s eyes sparkled. Beneath it was a sleek-looking shield.

“It seems like its owner was already decided?”

Taehyeok Sa slowly nodded. Cho-i Hyeon hurried over and picked up the shield. The shield was heavy but looked equally sturdy. On its black surface, there was a small pattern, which Cho-i Hyeon examined closely, realizing it was the small patterns from the shed skin of the Entity.

“Wow, it’s like a snake pattern, I like it.”

“Come here.”

“Why?”

Cho-i approached Taehyeok Sa, holding the shield. Taehyeok Sa grabbed the edge of the shield and put force into his hand. Crack-

“Hey!”

Cho-i Hyeon immediately kicked Taehyeok Sa in the shin. Taehyeok Sa flinched, then, realizing she hadn’t activated a skill, let out a short sigh. The shield was dented to the size of his hand, and just as an annoyed Cho-i Hyeon was about to complain, a creaking sound began.

“What is it?”

She looked down at the shield, and the dented part was flattening out again. Cho-i Hyeon’s eyes widened as she watched the sight, then she looked up at Taehyeok Sa.

“Oh, no way?”

“That’s right.”

She stood on tiptoe and brought her mouth to Taehyeok Sa’s ear, and Taehyeok Sa immediately bent down to match her height.

“Did you put my skin in too?”

“Yes, inside the shed skin.”

“No wonder.”

“You finally did something I like.” Cho-i Hyeon chuckled, fiddling with the shield. She seemed to really like it. Eunbeom Jeon quietly watched the two whispering, then crossed his arms and clucked his tongue.

“Of course it turned out well, since it’s an item with a designated owner.”

“What does it mean for an item to have a designated owner?”

“It’s exactly as it sounds.”

He began to explain, looking at Cho-i Hyeon.

“In my case, the items are given by a god.”

“What exactly does it mean for a god to give them?”

“It’s the Celestial Maiden’s will.”

“Hmm…”

“But you’re carrying something stronger than our Celestial Maiden right now, aren’t you?”

“I am, aren’t I?”

“So the Celestial Maiden designated an owner and then gave the item, right?”

“Ah, I see.”

“That’s why this one turned out so well.”

“Ahaha, then doesn’t that mean if I’m around here, only my things will ever appear?”

“Yes. So don’t even think about coming around here normally. Because of you, I can’t hear our Celestial Maiden’s voice clearly. Tsk, tsk.”

“Really?”

Cho-i Hyeon scratched her cheek. She had heard before that ‘the Entity’ within her body was a god from another world. But she never thought it would affect things in this way. Cho-i Hyeon first grabbed the shield and stood up.

“Then I guess I’ll just have to leave quickly.”

“Go to the car first.”

“Alright~”

While Cho-i Hyeon skipped out of the house with the shield, Eunbeom Jeon, who was a little calmer than before, spoke to Taehyeok Sa.

“I have a favor to ask.”

“I figured as much, that’s why I stayed.”

“Lately, the voices have been increasing.”

“By voices, you mean…”

“There are many low-level entities, but also many stronger than the Celestial Maiden.”

“Since when?”

“It wasn’t like that when dungeons first started appearing. They began to appear as we started completing one or two攻略.”

“And?”

“It’s gotten worse lately. Since a certain point…”

“Alright, I understand for now. What is the favor?”

“I need to go into a dungeon again after a long time.”

“Into a dungeon?”

“Yes, I think I need to find out why the voices are increasing.”

“Would a suitable dungeon be enough?”

“…If possible, I’d like to go to a hidden dungeon.”

“I didn’t realize you were collecting that kind of information.”

“How could I not know, with Taeyang Kang running rampant to that extent?”

“Then, I understand. I’ll get it ready.”

“Since the voices started increasing little by little after that hidden dungeon spread, there must be a connection.”

Taehyeok Sa nodded.

“Then I’ll contact you as soon as it’s ready.”

“Please do.”

After that conversation, Taehyeok Sa left the house and got into his car, looking at Cho-i Hyeon who was already sitting inside. Cho-i was still fiddling with the shield.

“Do you like it?”

“Yes, I like it.”

She put the shield into her inventory with a satisfied look. Then she quietly looked at the shield she used to use. She had used that one for a long time too.

“So, what did you two talk about inside?”

“He said he wants to go into a dungeon.”

“Oh, then send me. Me.”

“Why?”

“Who knows, if I act cute next to him, he might give me something else.”

“That’s unlikely to happen.”

“Well, I have nothing to do, so I might as well go.”

“He said he’s going to a hidden dungeon.”

“That’s my specialty.”

As Cho-i clapped, the car smoothly started. Taehyeok Sa looked at Cho-i Hyeon’s profile.

“Look straight ahead and drive.”

“You know with SS-Rank intuition, I don’t need to look ahead.”

“Whatever.”

She clicked her tongue and asked,

“What are you looking at?”

“The thought that you’re influencing things in many ways.”

“That’s because you can’t handle me, isn’t it?”

“I think so too.”

“You’re really proud of not being able to handle me.”

She lightly scoffed. Then she asked,

“So, how are you going to form the team?”

“You, Taeyang Kang, Suui Kim, Nara Shim.”

“Healer?”

“Do we need one?”

“Still, man, we need to have some balance. All the dealers are close-range.”

“Because we have Taeyang Kang. We’ll assign Myeongok Shin as the healer.”

“You rude bastard. Calling an elder by their first name.”

“They don’t care anyway. Anyway, I’ll organize and send it to you within a week, so be ready.”

“Understood.”

The car soon arrived in front of Cho-i Hyeon’s house. As soon as Cho-i got out of the car, she immediately went up to her house and pounced on Nara Shim, who was inside.

“Argh! What now!”

“You’re going to the dungeon with me this time!”

“Argh! Guild Master!”

“You’re damn happy, aren’t you? Right?”

“Why me with this jerk!”

“You’re talking back? You’re talking back?”

Cho-i Hyeon hugged Nara Shim and shook her lips. Nara Shim groaned and swayed, then quickly pulled her head back and let out a “Phew!”

“This is why they dislike you. This is why!”

“Oh, I won’t be like this in the dungeon.”

“Don’t lie!”

Cho-i Hyeon chuckled and let go of Nara Shim. Nara Shim quickly escaped her embrace and huffed, facing Cho-i Hyeon.

“So where are we going?”

“It hasn’t been decided yet. And we’re going with a strange Shaman man.”

“Shaman? A Shaman suddenly?”

“He’s someone who receives item divine revelations… what should I call him.”

“Oh, I think I’ve roughly heard about him. He’s quite famous, isn’t he? But he’s going to a dungeon?”

“What? Is he that famous?”

“Not super famous, but quite famous only in Korea?”

“He didn’t seem to have any work.”

“I guess the fact that items come out randomly is quite a penalty. It means even if you bring good materials, you can still get trash items.”

“I see. Where do you hear such things?”

“If you’re in the guild, you hear quite a few things, you know?”

“Heh.”

“You don’t stay in the guild, so you don’t hear anything.”

As Nara Shim said, crossing her arms, Cho-i Hyeon sat in front of her, mouth agape, then nodded. Now that she thought about it, she was always out and about or stuck on the top floor; she had never really settled down in the guild.

“Maybe I’ll stick around the guild tomorrow for a change.”

“That’s not bad. I don’t have to go to the guild tomorrow.”

“?”

“What.”

“You keep making me feel left out, you know?”

Cho-i Hyeon smiled brightly and shook her body vigorously. Nara Shim was shaken uncontrollably, unable to escape her strong grip.

“This is why I avoid you!”

“We’re one body!”

“I hate it, you brute!”

“If you say you hate it, it just makes me more excited.”

“Don’t say things like that!”

“Anyway, I’ll try going to the guild tomorrow. Let’s go together.”

Nara Shim sighed.

“Sigh… such is my fate.”