[Chapter 203]
[For the Fierce Battle(2)]
They obtained national treasures.
Pandora Clan members could hardly suppress their excited emotions.
The corners of their mouths twitched.
Eun-ha was the same.
It feels really good.
I think I chose really well.
A glass case with a black curtain.
Inside the glass case was the Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Sword, an Eulji grade treasure.
He got on the truck driven by Bruno and paid special attention to ensure the treasure wasn't damaged.
"Look at those corners of your mouth rising. Is it that good?"
"Are yours not rising too?"
Other people also got on the back of the truck one by one.
Kim Min-ji sitting across from him picked a fight seeing him.
On her lap too was a glass case with a black curtain.
It was a Chungmu grade treasure.
"What did you choose?"
"Me? A celadon said to contain large amounts of iron. It's called an iron-glazed inlaid lotus pattern melon-shaped bottle... You probably won't understand even if I explain."
"What effect does it have?"
"I can use magic through objects imbued with my mana."
"I don't quite get it..."
"It means I can use magic at long range using the summons I control."
"Hmm, not bad."
Kim Min-ji says she felt drawn too.
Eun-ha welcomed her story.
Even without him specifically taking care of her, she now knew how to move forward on her own.
Come to think of it, her skills seemed to have improved by leaps and bounds through the Uijeongbu Recapture War.
Though she hit a wall of talent... She can make up for parts she can't keep up with talent through experience.
Of course, gaining experience was difficult.
But she naturally acquired it while being rolled around under Eun-ha and going through all sorts of harsh experiences.
Eun-ha was glad for Kim Min-ji's growth.
Meanwhile, he turned his gaze to Kaede sitting next to her.
Kaede's face was relaxed too.
Though she would protest otherwise, Eun-ha and clan members who had worked with her for years could tell.
At that moment, his eyes met Kaede's.
Her face hardened.
"What, why, what."
"So what did you choose?"
"...A bow. I chose the one I felt most drawn to. I'll show you later."
Strangely, Kaede says she felt drawn to several things in the treasure vault.
Eun-ha found it fascinating.
But thinking from the treasures' perspective, it seemed understandable too.
They had been sleeping there for decades, or even longer, so it's natural they would plead with Kaede to take them out.
Especially since Kaede is the only ranger who uses a bow.
Actually, she was no longer "the only one" now.
As Kaede's skills became known to the world, people who found bows more attractive than guns started appearing too.
Still, their numbers were few.
Among players who use bows, anyone would pick her as the strongest in this country.
When discussing who's the strongest among rangers, many names would come up...
But the day when Hoshimiya Kaede's name is called most often isn't far off now.
<Divine Bow> Hoshimiya Kaede.
Though <Morning Star> is more popular, she was also called by that epithet in some circles.
Although she had to retreat after being severely injured by Maegu in the Uijeongbu Recapture War, her achievements were incomparable.
"Go ask Hae-su hyung to make it well for you."
"Don't worry, I'll ask him that even without you telling me."
"You're so snappy."
Afterwards, Eun-ha exchanged conversations about what treasures other clan members chose.
Time passed quickly as they talked.
Bruno drove safely, so they could arrive comfortably at the clan hall.
"─Oppa! Oppa!!"
"Ahjussi! Look at this! It came out!"
"Huh?"
As they got off in front of the clan hall like that.
Han Seo-hyun, Noh Eun-ae, and Ha Baek-ryeon were waiting for them at the door.
And as soon as they saw Eun-ha, Noh Eun-ae and Ha Baek-ryeon came running.
It was unfamiliar seeing Ha Baek-ryeon running with a bright smile looking at him.
Eun-ha's mood quickly improved.
Then he noticed something.
Baek-ryeon seems to be holding something, what is that?
Ha Baek-ryeon was cradling her chest with both arms as if holding something precious.
Eun-ha welcomed them running towards him while wondering.
When Ha Baek-ryeon finally reached where he was─.
"─Ahjussi! Look at this! This child was born today from the flower Eun-ae unni and I grew together!"
"Born? What? ...Huh?"
""""...."""
Ha Baek-ryeon proudly showed the being she was holding with both arms.
There was a small girl.
She looked just like a fairy.
Wings were sprouting from her back.
The child's eyes sparkled seeing Eun-ha.
"Lalala♪"
Palm-sized.
A girl with brown hair.
The child spread her butterfly wings and flew to Eun-ha.
Soon the child who couldn't fly long gently landed on his shoulder.
Then she rubbed her cheek against Eun-ha's face.
☆
<Florist>'s seed.
It seems that seed hatched and was born as a girl with transparent butterfly wings.
People who were excited about obtaining treasures became interested in the fairy that suddenly greeted them.
"Wow, so cute!! She's really tiny!"
"Ah! What's this cutie? She's even shorter than me, and looks so baby-like! So adorable!"
"Pupu..."
"Kku..."
The fairy monopolized the clan members' attention in an instant.
Buldak and Kang, who had been receiving the clan members' love until now, became gloomy as their position was taken.
Regardless, all the clan members were absorbed in looking at the fairy.
The women are completely distracted, and the men are just watching from afar because of them.
The fairy girl was using the flower she was born from as a home.
So clan members flocked to Eun-ha's office where the flower was.
Clan members who were comfortable with Eun-ha came to the office without hesitation to see the fairy and leave.
"...It's chaos here."
"Oh, you came too? To see that child?"
"I came to get Eun-woo. I heard she's playing here instead of doing work she should be doing now."
"You're having a hard time."
On the guest sofa.
The women were playing with the fairy girl, giggling.
Cha Eun-woo was among them.
Mok Min-ho who handed over approval documents to Eun-ha sighed seeing her.
"But what is that child's identity? Is it a spirit beast?"
"I don't know..."
Meanwhile, Choi Eun-hyuk who came earlier than Mok Min-ho was also watching the situation.
Choi Eun-hyuk smiled bitterly.
While the women were mainly cooing over how cute the fairy girl was.
The men were mainly focusing on the fairy girl's identity.
The most likely possibility was that she was a spirit beast.
"There's a possibility she's a spirit beast but..."
Eun-ha was curious too.
Even after several days, they couldn't figure out the fairy girl's identity.
He looked at the fairy sitting on Ha Baek-ryeon's lap, receiving and eating snacks from Jo A-ra.
"It's a bit strange for a spirit beast."
Spirit beasts make contracts with owners.
And they can exist in the world in exchange for the owner's mana.
They connect passes with each other.
But according to Ha Baek-ryeon and Noh Eun-ae who first discovered the fairy, the two didn't feel the sensation of passes connecting.
It was the same for other people too.
"Could she be testing for an owner like Buldak?"
"Pupu."
"Kang!"
So when he thought of another hypothesis.
Buldak on the desk immediately denied it.
It seemed that wasn't it.
Kang agreed too.
"Then there's only one possibility left. The only being that's not human or spirit beast is a monster..."
""""Shhh.""""
"..."
At this, when Mok Min-ho was about to speak.
The clan members who were playing happily with the fairy until just now suddenly turned their heads and glared at Mok Min-ho.
Mok Min-ho closed his mouth.
"Min-ho, do you think there would be a mana stone in such a cute child?"
"...Sorry, I misspoke."
Cha Eun-woo confronted him as a representative.
Mok Min-ho groaned and surrendered to her.
Actually, there was the simplest method.
What's there to hesitate about.
We could just dissect her.
Then if we see a mana stone she's a monster, if not she's not a monster.
But the clan members would absolutely not allow it.
Moreover, Noh Eun-ae and Ha Baek-ryeon were preciously taking care of the fairy.
Regardless of the fairy's cuteness.
Eun-ha couldn't bring up dissecting the fairy thinking of those two.
"In the end, what this is.... We'll have to leave it to Ha-yang."
He didn't feel like she was a monster.
The spirit beasts liked the fairy too.
Above all, the fairy showed no signs of trying to harm anyone.
So Eun-ha was protecting the fairy in his office.
He planned to leave her be for now until Jung Ha-yang investigated the fairy.
Meanwhile, there was one more question about the fairy.
Is she perhaps a reincarnation of Bang Yeon-ji?
The fairy strangely resembled the face of <Florist> Bang Yeon-ji, a 1st generation Twelve Seats.
But when he asked Noh Eun-ae who could communicate with the fairy, it seemed the fairy had no memories.
"It's a mystery... I've never experienced anything like this before."
"Lala♪"
"What? You're giving this to me? Okay, thank you so much. I'll eat it well."
We should see her as a separate being.
Eun-ha judged that way.
At that moment, the fairy girl flew to him and handed him a snack.
Eun-ha smiled receiving the snack she brought for him to eat.
She's quite uninhibited.
Giving attention to all the clan members.
The fairy girl was very considerate.
Like before, she would approach clan members and rub their faces to become friendly, or give them food.
Mok Min-ho and Choi Eun-hyuk also received a snack each.
"For now she doesn't seem dangerous, so shall we just watch for a while?"
"Yeah, let's do that. I need to go finish work with Eun-woo."
"Gu-rae is there too. By the way, it's unexpected that Kaede is there too? Looking at her, she doesn't seem to like noisy places..."
Let's just watch for now.
Mok Min-ho and Choi Eun-hyuk agreed with Eun-ha's conclusion.
Then they looked at Hoshimiya Kaede squeezed in among the clan members.
Very naturally.
She was occupying a seat.
"Kawaii..."
"""...."""
Considering Kaede's image.
The three decided to pretend not to notice.
Meanwhile, the fairy girl started being called 'Lala' at some point.
"She makes sounds like she's singing 'Lalala~' so it has to be 'Lala'! Right, Bong Gu-rae? Lalala♪"
"Lalala♪"
"Yeah, Ariel, you handle it."
Since they couldn't bring themselves to call her Yeon-ji.
All the clan members raised their hands for the name Lala.
☆
Hephaestus' Furnace.
As Byeok Hae-su's new furnace was produced, all players showed interest.
"I heard other Maestros visited and were shocked seeing the furnace?"
"Well, Zenith Clan's Maestro said he'd pay whatever I ask, so give him the furnace."
"Did you not hear that story?"
"What story?"
"Ah, the story that Blaze Clan's Maestro barged in with a hammer to crack <Yamma>'s head."
"Why? What happened? Don't tell me <Yamma> ran off with the money?"
"No, it's not that..."
"Ah, stop dragging it out and just tell me!"
"Apparently that Hephaestus' Furnace originally belonged to Blaze Clan."
"Huh?"
"But the Pandora Clan Lord recognized the furnace's value and took it from <Yamma>. So when the Maestro found out, he was outraged and went to crack <Yamma>'s head."
"Oh my, so what happened?"
"What do you mean what happened. They say <Yamma> cried, their Maestro cried, and the administrator cried too."
<Filial Piety Maestro> Byeok Hae-su. No, now <Star-Creating Maestro> in the sense of creating stars.
His position in the Maestro world rose even higher.
The devices Byeok Hae-su made as a test using the furnace sold for high prices.
And players who confirmed the devices' performance were greatly impressed.
Even though they were weapons sold with lowered quality instead of being supplied to Pandora Clan, their performance was excellent.
"Hephaestus' Furnace! It really lives up to its name! We must get that even if we have to pay extra!"
"Clan Lord! Let's have a talk! Let's make a new one for us too at this opportunity!!"
It was natural for the Maestros' eyes to roll back.
They inquired with Byeok Hae-su and pleaded for him to sell to them.
When Byeok Hae-su firmly refused, they went to find the clan they belonged to and pestered their clan lords.
As the commotion grew so big, it eventually became known to the media.
"I'm sorry but it takes considerable effort to operate the furnace! So I think I'll mainly supply devices made with this to Pandora Clan only."
""""...."""
In the end, Byeok Hae-su had to appear for an interview to clarify his position.
People expressed resentment.
But they couldn't strongly criticize because of Pandora Clan's reputation.
Anyway, as it became widely known that Hephaestus' Furnace was excellent, even Pandora Clan members were drooling.
"Aah!! I accidentally broke my third Blue Claw! This is a big problem? I should quickly go to Hae-su hyung and ask him to make a new one while we're at it!!"
""""Sigh....""""
There were many cases like Jin Pa-rang.
Still, Byeok Hae-su granted their requests with a bitter smile.
Meanwhile, thoughtful clan members waited until obtaining treasures to make better devices.
And as they obtained treasures, a storm blew.
"Hae-su hyung! Me first! Do mine first!"
"Oppa! Look at this! How is it, isn't it great? Doesn't it make you want to make it just by looking?"
"Hmm, I'd like a bow..."
"Hae-su, are you tired from working? Drink this and take it easy. By the way, I'm thinking of getting a new stone tablet..."
Clan members competed fiercely.
Byeok Hae-su let out screams of joy.
Making their exclusive devices.
The clan members' wishes were something even Clan Lord Eun-ha couldn't do anything about.
If I say I'll make mine first, they'll try to drive me out of the clan....
Eun-ha knew how to read the atmosphere.
So he reluctantly decided to keep his turn.
Fortunately, it didn't take long for Byeok Hae-su to create the designs.
"─Are you very busy? Everyone's working so frantically."
"Oh, Eun-ha. Wait a moment."
Byeok Hae-su's workshop in Sadang Station.
Eun-ha could see the people Byeok Hae-su hired working busily.
Hyeon-yul is over there too.
The kid looks like he's about to die.
Baek Hyeon-yul and Yeon Seong-jin were there too.
Yeon Seong-jin was examining the furnace, occasionally adding purification stars or some herbs.
Baek Hyeon-yul was engraving sentences on devices in one corner.
"This isn't why I joined the clan... I just want to die."
He must have been so tired.
Baek Hyeon-yul muttered while sweating profusely.
Yet his eyes were consistently sparkling.
"Though Hyeon-yul is like that, he works well. These days I'm even assigning him designs besides engraving sentences."
"I'm glad hyung likes him. Yeah, we should work him hard."
"...Are you really his friend? Anyway, take a look at the design."
Soon Byeok Hae-su brought the design.
Eun-ha fell into thought looking at the design he unfolded.
Two swords were drawn on the design.
A one-handed straight sword and a maengoshu.
"At first I thought about just making the maengoshu, but since we made a new furnace, I thought it would be better to make a pair. What do you think?"
"It would be good to make a pair since Winter Blooming Coldly is old too. But I'm not sure if the materials are enough to make two swords."
"Don't worry about materials. We can make good swords with just the materials you've gathered so far. We'll also use the broken Winter Crawling Snow as material originally."
Byeok Hae-su mentioned the materials he would use for Eun-ha one by one.
The broken Winter Crawling Snow.
Winter Blooming Coldly.
Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Sword.
Besides those, mana stones from high-rank monsters and purification stars Eun-ae is growing with Eunranghwa, etc.
As Byeok Hae-su said, there were many materials.
"I'll use that furnace to decompose the principles of Winter Blooming Coldly. Then I'll work on decomposing the principles of the Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Sword too."
"Can you separate devices that have already solidified into one principle?"
"It's possible with that furnace. I've already tested it."
One by one principle.
All artifacts can only have one magic.
Therefore, the principles imbued in Winter Blooming Coldly were multiple but combined into one principle.
But Byeok Hae-su said he would decompose that and appropriately imbue it into two swords.
The new furnace is really good.
Or is that hyung's skill good?
Either way, Byeok Hae-su wouldn't lie.
"Then I'll leave it all to you, hyung. Please make them like that."
"Okay, look forward to it."
"Ah, but when will the swords be completed?"
"Hmm.... There's a lot of backed up work, so it will take at least 3 months?"
"...Really?"
"Yeah, really."
"Hah...."
It was October now.
Eun-ha clicked his tongue hearing Byeok Hae-su's words.
Byeok Hae-su smiled slightly.
"There are a few test swords made with that furnace, so use those for now."
"Make them as fast as you can."
"Okay, got it."
4 months passed from then.
Fairy Force Year 21, Noh Eun-ha 26 years old, February.
Two swords were completed.
Korea's top 10 central comprehensive daily newspapers announced national indicators at the end of the year.
Fairy Force Year 21
<Public Disclosure Target Company Diagnosis Designation Status>
Number | Company Name | Same
--- | --- | ---
01 | Sirius | Han Do-young
02 | Galaxy | Choi Tae-bong
03 | Alice | Jung Seok-hoon
04 | Luminous | Lee Jung-in
05 | Hana | Yoo Do-jun
06 | Pine | Jang Seok-young
07 | YH | Choi Yoon-hye
08 | Samra | Oh Man-jung
09 | East Sea | Jung Bo-seok
10 | KK | Kim Kang-ho
Fairy Force Year 21
<Player Comprehensive Grade Evaluation>
─Clan Comprehensive Grade S─
Number | Clan Name | Comprehensive Grade
--- | --- | ---
01 | Zenith | S+
02 | Silla | S+
03 | Regulus | S+
04 | Pandora | S
05 | Dark King | S
06 | Tempest | S
07 | Blaze | S-
08 | East Sea | S-
09 | Samra | S-
Fairy Force Year 21
<Player Comprehensive Grade Evaluation>
─Pandora Clan (S) Players─
Number | Player | Comprehensive Grade
--- | --- | ---
01 | Noh Eun-ha | S+
02 | Noh Eun-ah | S+
03 | Jung Ha-yang | S
04 | Mok Min-ho | S
05 | Cha Eun-woo | S
06 | Bruno | B+
07 | Ryu Yeon-hwa | S+
08 | Han Chang-jin | S+
09 | Byeok Hae-su | S+
10 | Choi Eun-hyuk | S
11 | Hoshimiya Kaede | S
12 | Kang Si-hyeong | A+
13 | Bae Su-bin | S
14 | Bong Gu-rae | S-
15 | Yu Nam-hoon | A+
16 | Jin Seo-na | S
17 | Kim Min-ji | A+
18 | Ariel | A+
19 | Yeo U-bi | A+
20 | Iriya | S
21 | Lee Cheon-seo | A
22 | Jo A-ra | S
23 | Jin Pa-rang | S
: | : | :
27 | Kim Jin-gyu | A-
28 | Kim Mary | A
: | : | :
33 | Meiling | A+
34 | Meilin | A+
35 | Seo Dam-bi | A
: | : | :
40 | Son Ga-yeon | A
41 | On Tae-hee | A-
: | : | :
46 | Jang Tae-bin | A-
47 | Cheon Hae-won | A-
: | : | :
58 | Hong Seul-gi | B+
: | : | :
2nd Uijeongbu Recapture Team Follow-up Recruitment
─Recruitment Divisions─
1. Northern Gyeonggi Attack Team
2. Red Dungeon Northern Gyeonggi Government Building Attack Team
There were increasing talks that the 2nd rank Maegu must be subjugated.