Chapter 99: Demons
Salang-
A cold wind comes in through the window. The warm warmth of the firewood stove is pushed away and then comes up again.
When dusting, make sure to properly ventilate. At least 100 artifacts accumulated in the expanded space have been passed over, and even if you don’t shake off the dust for a day, the dust blows all day.
Again.
I made coffee.
Put the ice you made in advance in a warming cup and fill it with water. If you pour the espresso on top, the iced americano is complete.
Jihoo went to the window and looked at the tower. There are still many people climbing today. There have been a lot of people lately, but there are also people who are more crowded as they hear that the [Knights of the Cold Cold] are climbing again.
In addition, there were many Gunners with guns on their backs or belts. There were always people who carried it as a sidearm, but not as many as this.
Jihoo finished all the scheduled renovations for two days after Park Sang-gyu, the president of [Rocked Shell Case] and former nickname of [One Shot Invincible] stopped by last week.
As a result, more and more gunners appeared in the [Artisan’s Street] and the [Indomitable Tower]. The streets were full of gunners flocking to buy guns, commission Jihoo, or climb the tower.
with my daughter-
Jihoo lowered the cup and stood up.
You are the first guest today.
“uh?”
“Hello, boss.”
It was Choi Hye-yeon.
Called the [Witch of the Dragon Slayer] and the leader of the [Knights of Cold Cold], she was fully armed. Come to think of it, today is the day to break through the 11th floor.
“I came to say hello before going up. I also want to thank you for using the hideout well.”
“Be sure to succeed. Don’t get hurt.”
“I will come back alive.”
“Yes, come alive. That’s it.”
“Hoho, this time it’s safer because there’s a place to break through to the 7th and 8th floors while resting in the hideout made on the 6th floor, but it seems like it will take a long time. If you still need help, please feel free to contact us. I will run right away.”
“Thank you for your words.”
She said goodbye and went out.
[Street of Artisans] is so strange.
He was a star I only saw on TV. The hero, whom I thought I would never see again, bowed his head in gratitude and said nonsensical things.
Jihoo didn’t put much effort into it.
It’s just helping what you can help in front of your eyes. I was not greedy, I thought of affection, and I was just trying to give you faith before hoping to receive it.
it comes back like this
‘Miyeon’s aunt and father must have done the same.’
This is a peaceful time.
Just 10 years ago, no one thought the war was over. But now no one even thinks of war.
Even if there are those who constantly fight in invisible places, and those who die in it.
‘Since we had a relationship like this back then, even now, I’m sure I’m stuck with Aunt Miyeon.’
that is emotion
It will be grace, and it will be responsibility.
with my daughter-
Second guest… … is not
“What is it?”
“What is that reaction? I stopped by after a long time.”
“Have you been climbing?”
“I brought it thick with the magic iron detector you made on the 6th floor. You seem to be able to hunt small wood pigs?”
It was Heeyeon Lee.
Blood and dirt were smeared all over the leather armor, as if it had just come down. Still, it’s better than being in the desert on the 5th floor.
At that time, it was very serious because sand was stuck in the ooze of scorpions or giant worms.
“This is great! The tail charging makes the kids distracted, but the [Stun] effect is definitely good. The force field shield can’t be pierced, and maybe there’s a [Return], but it bounces off. If you look at the grade evaluation with full armament this time, it seems like it’s not a long way to reach A grade, right?”
She looked excited.
It has to be. Climbing for almost 20 years. It hadn’t been long since he had risen to level 5, and he had to be frustrated because he had been at level B for over 10 years.
A grade would have been a wall at all.
But now you can aim for more. It’s just an artifact’s effect, but that’s included in its rank.
It must be similar to when Jihoo had the expectation that he could become a grade A after being a grade B appraiser for his later years.
“So, what are you selling?”
“ah! that’s right! I found two [Stone Eyes] on the 6th floor, brought a bunch of [Floating Stones], and I also brought a bunch of [Dancelight Dandelions] you mentioned. And the main thing is this!”
She took out an unusual [old book] from the [Space Expansion Backpack]. It’s very old, but there’s no decay, and it’s yellow, but there are black spots here and there… … .
“Does this look like bast?”
“Ahh! X feet!”
Lee Hee-yeon threw away the thin ‘book’ in her hand.
“Hey, what if I throw it?”
“You madman. bast? Is it human skin? that’s right? You’re not lying to beat me on the price, are you?”
“Would I? I’ll see you.”
Lee Hee-yeon averted her gaze. I went outside for a while, saying that I was coming to shake off some dust.
“Hmm, it’s a blank bast book with no content whatsoever.”
It’s quite dirty and unpleasant when you think about it, but bast is surprisingly used a lot in magic books.
There is a reason.
‘The bast of a person who reached a high level in life is a deep and wide vessel, just as it contained his life… … I believed it.’
I don’t know Jihoo.
is that true
However, as it was revealed that some [Treasure] and [Legendary] magic books were bast, such a claim could not be helped.
Chark-
Turned over the bookshelf.
Infi is right. However, the texture was like paper, and so was the thinness. However, the thick sense of heterogeneity in the tactile sensation itself was unpleasant to Jihoo.
But it was a little different.
“… … hmm? It is not bast.”
To be precise, it wasn’t human, but it was the skin of a race similar to it. After all, monster skin was also monster skin.
The problem is that there are no letters at all.
and.
“Isn’t reading activated?”
This means that the book is at least level 7.
Or even more security magic.
“… … This is kind of unpleasant.”
Ji-hoo said to Lee Hee-yeon, who had just entered.
“yes? I thought it would be expensive, so I brought it, but it felt strangely unpleasant.”
He nodded.
Normally, I would have teased him for being in the mood, but this time it was like a [super sense] reaction. Jihoo passed the book to her.
“I can’t feel it.”
“yes? What should I do with this?”
“The safest thing is to leave it to Aunt Miyeon, or you can hand it over to Sotheby’s.”
“Hmm, I guess so. It’s not my fault, it’s definitely bad.”
Sometimes this happens.
It’s not something that can’t be appraised, but something that shouldn’t be appraised. Bast was the best, the organ of monsters. Or something like a bizarre wriggling plant was next.
Sometimes dangerous things happen. Artifacts other than [Artifacts] cannot be said to be completely safe.
I give up on this cleanly.
So Lee Hee-yeon returned.
with my daughter-
The next one to enter was Kim Ye-bin.
“mister! long time no see!”
“… … Didn’t we decide to call you our boss?”
“ah… … ! that’s right! I’m sorry… … .”
“No, there is nothing to apologize for. What happened? Did you come to practice again?”
“yes! I think I’ll go to the 2nd floor orc colony this time. It wasn’t difficult until the goblin!”
“okay? I’m glad.”
It was when Jihoo said that.
Outside, two men who seemed to know Yebin came in. The two of them looked at the grocery store shelves, and they didn’t look favorably.
“welcome.”
Still, he was a regular guest, so he said hello.
“What- why did you come in? I’m leaving soon… … !”
“I came to have a look too. I heard that it’s a general store that you boasted so much about, so I’m curious about what kind of place it is. You know my dad entered a department store in Gangnam as a mid-level artifact, right?”
“Hey, you know that’s thanks to my father, right? In Samhyeon Artifact… … !”
At the sudden conversation between the two men, Kim Ye-bin noticed Ji-hoo. It’s an apologetic expression, but Jihoo smiled and shrugged.
I’ve been through too many people to care about that. Also, due to the nature of the general store dealing with people, I know very well that there are people who are the same even when they are old, not because they are young.
But before Jihoo could say anything, someone came in.
“ah! Mr Jihoo! I almost left this!”
It was Choi Hye-yeon.
When she entered, the eyes of the trio in the general store widened.
“What is this?”
“This is a gift from our Samhyun PMC president. The boss wants to see you very much. It seems that the chairman is not coming because he is careful, but in fact, I think he can’t come because the head of the union, Miyeon, is paying attention… … !”
Choi Hye-yeon chatted for a while and then left. Seeing how busy they are, it seems that climbing time is over.
Jihoo was going to check the item she gave her, but he could see the backs of two men hurrying out.
“president! I’ll be there! I’ll come to sell by-products this time… … !”
“Anyway, appraisal requests are good, but I hope you get an artifact!”
“yes! thank you… … !”
she went out
Another guest came in this time.
“Here you are, boss.”
“Yes, it’s only been a week.”
It was Park Sang-gyu, the president of [Pierced Shell Case]. He was wearing the [Wind of Lightning] he had purchased at that time on his left side, and he was carrying a wooden box around his waist.
“Repair, I’m here to leave it.”
“Is this it?”
“Yes, this is a golden revolver given to me by my father-in-law Kim Sang-chil. The official name is [Mirinae]. It’s pure Korean for ‘Eunha’.”
Jihoo nodded and accepted the item.
It was luxurious, but it was a box with a rough feeling. Would it be similar to using a very expensive item for a long time?
“i look forward to. perhaps… … .”
“Please speak comfortably.”
“I don’t know if it’s rude, but if I tell you to be comfortable. Please feel free to tell me if you think repairs will be impossible.”
Jihoo smiled and nodded.
nothing to draw
Because he had a [setting intervention].
* * *
The stormy morning passed just like that.
I’m sure he’s not very busy, but he’s not at all distracted. Is this what it means to lose gin?
“Let’s eat rice first.”
These days, there are a lot of food on the streets. It’s thanks to the increased number of people, and all the people on the street like it.
Eating a variety of foods is definitely a source of happiness.
“… … ?”
Jihoo entered a state of [super concentration], as if the world had stopped for a moment. Seeing that [Time for Setup] has not been activated, it is not ‘immediately’ dangerous.
But why… … ?
cry.
is in the middle of the street.
A place where many people come and go, laughing and chatting. There are artisans, ordinary people, and hunters. But no one seems to have seen it and doesn’t even care.
The phenomenon lasted for several seconds.
At that time, I met eyes with Lee Hee-yeon, who was rushing over from afar.
‘you also?’
‘Yes, here it is.’
‘Is it dangerous?’
‘I think so.’
‘But how about you?’
‘Focus on the surroundings for now.’
The two with [super sense] shared one second equal to one minute, and turned their gaze to the shimmering of the distorted space.
“Everyone back off!”
Heeyeon Lee shouted with all her magic.
In an instant, the noise in the area disappeared and everyone stood there looking at Lee Hee-yeon. But it’s already too late.
The space was torn apart.
cooong-
It was the foot of a strange creature that Jihoo had never seen before. Dark skin, bizarre organization, black and ominous aura, and a life that encroaches in all directions.
Chand-!
rock the bracelet Open the subspace and take out the [Desolate Shadow] and [Magic Iron Staff]. In addition, a sawed-off was also worn on the right waist.
Kreur-
The grotesque creature poked its head out of a gap in space. I’ve seen it somewhere. Although not quite the same, this kind of appearance was quite popular.
“Monster.”
Jihoo opened his mouth.
Lee Hee-yeon jumped on top of the monster’s head using a double jump, and Ji-hoo pulled out a sword-off while blocking the monster’s front with a force field.
Taang-!