16 – Artifact (2)
In the game “Tyr Origin,” there are various ways to develop a character.
Representatively, there’s skill enhancement or exclusive weapon strengthening. And if you’re a wealthy player, you might try your luck with gacha to break through the character’s limits.
Apart from those,
Besides enhancing a character’s skills or weapons, there exists a way to pull in abilities from the outside.
That’s the artifact. By wearing this artifact, a character can receive additional skills or stats.
The earring Arna just showed was one of the many artifacts.
It wasn’t just a simple decorative earring; it was an accessory imbued with the power of magic.
“So. The fact that you were able to lift your body, and that you could handle that giant fish. Is it all thanks to this earring?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
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After Arna removed the earring from her earlobe, she extended it towards me.
─── Slimheim ───
Grade: Legendary
Effect: Increases maximum mana by +3, casting speed +30% when worn.
Additional Skill: ＜Scadi’s Blessing＞
* Scadi’s Blessing: Allows sharing a portion of one’s mana with others.
* Cannot receive stat effects from other artifacts simultaneously.
───
What the heck. A legendary-grade artifact already?
Even when I collapsed with my neck held, artifacts were only of rare grade at best. When on earth did it break through to legendary grade?
Well, let’s put the item grade aside for now. The crucial point to focus on was the unique skill of the earring.
Scadi’s Blessing. A skill that allows sharing mana with someone else.
Through this, I could understand.
The magic I had invoked in critical moments.
The power that delivered Arna right in front of the demon or allowed her to catch a giant fish on the rocks.
All of it came from Arna’s mana. It was because we shared mana that she could unleash that power.
Yeah, it was kind of strange from the beginning. My telekinesis is barely at level 1 now. It’s absurd to move a person from the start.
In the end, I was just a third-rate villain who could only move socks.
Tears flowed.
“Well, don’t be too disheartened. If you keep training, someday… Well, what am I saying! Why are you suddenly crying?”
“….”
“Your expressionless face with tears flowing is giving me chills! Hurry up and wipe them! Come on!”
Arna held her handkerchief and pressed it against my chest.
I had no choice but to borrow Arna’s handkerchief again.
This time too, I relied on Arna’s help.
Without Arna, I’m just a loser… A loner… A pretend tough guy… A naughty troublemaker….
Whiiiiine!
“Kyaaah…! I only asked you to wipe away the tears, not blow your nose! What’s with this nasal symphony…! Disgusting…!”
I cleared my nose, and instantly, my head felt refreshed. Even my tears were wiped away. The gloomy mood vanished in an instant.
As expected, the vitamin of my life is none other than that scream. As long as I have that, I can rise again at any time.
“Arna.”
“Why…!”
“Where did you get that earring?”
I was curious. Could it be a legendary-grade artifact? Even as the overseeing director, I hadn’t included it in the plans yet.
“Oh, this?”
Arna put the earring back on her ear.
“I received it. A long time ago.”
“From whom?”
“From Kang Yuri.”
The world’s first S-rank Awakened, Kang Yuri. The object of Arna’s long-standing admiration.
She received an earring from Kang Yuri?
The protagonist’s buff is really overpowered.
Who would want to live in sorrow anyway?
“Arna.”
“Why again…?”
“Will you not give me that earring?”
What nonsense is this again? Arna immediately frowned.
“Are you some kind of robber…? Just demanding it without any reason or explanation…?”
“Enough with the nonsense, hand it over.”
“I don’t want to! Why should I!”
Arna quickly covered her ears with both hands.
I guess I can’t get it with a kind approach.
No choice. I brandished the spoon.
“Arna, put on that earring and have a evaluation match with me.”
“I won’t…! I won’t do it…! Why would I have an evaluation match with you when it’s clearly only a loss for me…!”
“Good. If you’re going to wear earrings, I’ll wear my sympathy. By the way, it’s brand new and never been used. You’ll be quite satisfied as well.”
“Even if you give me that, I won’t take ittt…!”
***
I stopped by the shopping district for a moment over the weekend. There, I visited a store specializing in artifacts.
“Customer, is there something specific you’re looking for?”
The shop assistant approached me with a smile.
I waved my hand, indicating I was fine.
“I’ll take a look around.”
“Yes, feel free to call for assistance if you need anything.”
Honestly, I was a bit disappointed.
I had high expectations since they dealt with artifacts. However, upon closer inspection, they only had common-grade items.
The most expensive artifact was only one step above the general grade.
It was not satisfying.
Just in case, I also checked the used goods app, “Carrot Country.”
But whenever I thought I found something good, it turned out to be a bunch of scam artists.
They insisted on upfront payment for shipping only. Even if I went directly to the seller’s house.
Scams in the used goods market were rampant, whether in this world or the other.
“Hmm.”
What should I do? Still, it would be better to wear something, even if it’s cheap, than nothing at all.
By the way, artifacts with additional skills couldn’t be found in this store. Those are exclusive to rare-grade artifacts.
Everything here was only for stat enhancement.
Stats. What I urgently needed now was, of course, magic power stats.
I went to the section related to magic power.
“Wow, this one is pretty. What do you think?”
“Does it suit me? Should we get matching couple bracelets?”
I couldn’t tell if I had come to a magical tool store or a jewelry shop.
There were only dazzling accessories displayed. It seemed more focused on aesthetics than customers buying necessary artifacts.
For now, I chose a suitable one. It was a ring.
─── Skull Ring ───
Grade: Common
Effect: Increases maximum mana by +0.5 when worn.
* Cannot receive stat effects concurrently with other artifacts.
───
As expected of a common-grade item, its effects were quite unimpressive. It barely adds 0.5.
Compared to the earrings Arna has, it’s infinitely shabby.
“Ugh….”
And this ring. It’s shaped like a skull. In what era are they still selling skull rings? Even middle schoolers don’t wear rings like this.
Moving on to the next.
This time, it was a rare-grade artifact with few in this shop.
─── Antelope Hairpin ───
Grade: Rare
Effect: Increases maximum mana by +1 when worn.
* Cannot receive stat effects concurrently with other artifacts.
───
Certainly, the stats were higher than the skull ring I saw earlier. Anyway, it’s a rare-grade artifact.
But the problem lies in the form of the artifact. It’s neither a ring nor a necklace; it’s a hairpin of all things.
No matter how crazy I am, I can’t walk around with a hairpin in my hair. It’s not like I’m a punk or something. What’s the deal with a hairpin?
My bibimbap from lunch is about to come back up.
“….”
Well, it’s not like it’s entirely impossible.
Just put a steel plate on my face and go for it?
I wonder what Arna would say. Would she tell me to take it off immediately, saying it’s disgusting?
“Sigh….”
No, it’s not going to work. I really can’t do it. I can’t bring myself to walk around as a guy with a hairpin.
I’d rather just wear the skull ring.
─Hey, isn’t this skull ring cool? I think I’ll buy one.
─I’m going for this chain necklace.
“….”
“Is this for real? Buying such a rustic piece of jewelry? Are the people here seeing something different from what I am?”
If that’s the case…
“Yes, can I help you with something?”
“I just have one question.”
I called over an employee and handed them a hairpin shaped like a horned animal.
“By any chance, can men wear hairpins too?”
“Yes?”
The employee stared with their mouth agape, then started to stutter.
“Uh, well, you see… um…”
“Thank you for your answer.”
Judging by the reaction, it seemed like wearing a hairpin was out of the question. It’s best to give up neatly.
“Oh, uh, thank you! Goodbye!”
I left the store after the employee’s farewell. It wasn’t because I was embarrassed. I just didn’t like the merchandise.
“Phew…”
It felt like my energy had been drained. Shopping was tiring, as expected. I wondered why women found it fun to do this all day.
“Hmm.”
At that moment, I ran into a familiar face on the street.
It was Choi Soo-eun from the military medical corps.
“Are you shopping too?”
“Something like that.”
Today’s Choi Soo-eun seemed a bit different from usual. No, very different.
At the emergency room, she had a casual image.
Now, she had let her navy blue hair down, put some makeup on her face, and even added some accessories like necklaces and bracelets that I hadn’t seen before.
“Hmm… accessories?”
Could it be that those are artifacts?
It’s possible. Choi Soo-eun is someone special. She’s the daughter of the highly respected Hero Management Bureau Director, Choi Chang-hwan.
As the daughter of a prestigious family, she must have items to protect herself. Even if she’s not an Awakened, she could still use the skills attached to an artifact.
That’s definitely an artifact.
It’s real and certain.
“You know, you look really scared right now.”
“Artifact… Artifact… Artifact… Artifact… Artifact….”
“Sorry, I think I should go now…”