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* * *
After having a light breakfast with the egg soup and side dishes Doun cooked, Samin readily shared the synthesis recipe. Though he added not to expect too much, his face showed inner curiosity about what wish Doun would make if he pulled the same artifact.
When synthesis began, the magic stones and miscellaneous artifacts in Doun’s hands flashed, then familiar things appeared. They were all cheaper than the magic stones consumed as materials.
“This is totally gambling. It seems like only duds are coming out.”
“What did I tell you? I said you’d be disappointed if you expected too much. The Hunter Management Office even sent official documents to guilds saying to refrain from this because it encourages gambling. Though it was just a recommendation level with no enforceability.”
The Hunter Management Office newly established under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety lacked personnel to actually manage hunters. There were hardly any hunters who wanted to be shackled with the low pay that came with the title of civil servant, high work intensity, and duty to maintain dignity.
If several high-ranking rankers had been affiliated, it might have been more systematic than now and could have legally supplemented the problems hunters faced, but even the director in charge of the Hunter Management Office’s overall work was an ordinary person, not a hunter.
It was foolish to have high expectations for a Hunter Management Office overseen by ordinary people who couldn’t even access the Veritas System and could only view indirect functions drawn from external data.
There weren’t many people arguing that the legal gambling establishment tacitly approved by the system administrator in Veritas Tower, which was outside the government’s interest, should be actively punished. Synthesis was a function provided only to those who succeeded in directly conquering Floor 50.
Since they were hunters of a level who could take care of themselves and had considerable wealth, it was difficult to impose hasty sanctions unless someone caused social controversy by using the synthesis skill.
“I really keep feeling like we’re all being played by the tower creator collectively…”
Doun muttered while fiddling with the potion bottle in his hand. But he didn’t give up here. After trying synthesis a few times, it was fun, and strangely, he had a conviction that something would come out.
“Do you have more magic stones? If not, I’ll give you some.”
When Samin, who was watching from the side, spoke, Doun quickly shook his head.
“No. I have lots of magic stones. You don’t need to give me any.”
Along with his firm refusal, sparkling magic stones kept coming out of Doun’s inventory. He also took out unused artifacts in case Samin might offer to give him something else, and Samin’s mouth began to drop open as he watched.
‘What is this? Some kind of treasure vault?’
The magic stones he had collected while conquering alone all this time seemed to have been piled up without selling hardly any, varying in size and grade. Moreover, the artifacts he had taken out to use as synthesis materials were all rare ones, making it even more astounding.
“No, you’re going to use this as material?”
Samin picked up a small necklace rolling around in front of him.
[Wandering Traveler’s Amulet (B)]
[A protective artifact possessed by one who enjoyed life while wandering aimlessly. Can use blessings that protect the body at specific times.]
Even disposable shield artifacts cost a considerable amount, but to use a defense artifact that could be used multiple times as synthesis material when you don’t even know what might come out.
“That’s useless to me. With Special Immunity, having that is… Ah, want me to give it to you?”
“No, I’m not asking you to give it to me…”
The earrings, rings, and necklaces Samin wore included some he wore just because they were pretty, but there were also many artifacts that helped with mana recovery speed and could be used in emergencies.
Artifacts with decent designs that could be used in real life sold for premium prices. Pretty designs were more convenient to use than bizarrely ugly ones.
But such artifacts always had shortages compared to demand, causing scarcity. Samin also checked hunter auctions and shops occasionally, but had given up since having money didn’t guarantee you could get them.
From Doun’s inventory came a stream of magic stones and rare artifacts worth astronomical amounts. The feeling of directly seeing items that had been sleeping in the number one ranker’s inventory was extraordinary. Honestly, it was shock after shock.
“Why do so many magic stones and artifacts keep coming out? Did you not sell any of the magic stones you collected while conquering alone?”
“I thought I should sell them, but somehow… Then I got busy conquering after joining the guild, and I forgot about them while not paying attention, so they kept piling up.”
“No. Wait a minute. Don’t tell me this is?”
Samin picked up an object visible among the abundantly piled magic stones. Doun’s gaze moved slowly. His face looking at the artifact in Samin’s hand was indifferent.
“Want to have it?”
The artifact Doun casually mentioned was something that had become an urban legend among hunters. It had been put up for auction exactly once, and since the buyer’s identity wasn’t revealed, only rumors had been rampant.
[Brilliant Mana Crystal (A)]
[A mana crystal of a noble being crystallized by someone’s power. When used, maximum mana capacity increases.]
Among the stats hunters possessed, mana capacity had the most distinct growth limit. Artifacts that increased mana limits were so scarce they caused shortages, and it wasn’t an area that increased just because you used a lot.
After Floor 20 was first conquered, he never expected to see the artifact that appeared exactly once in an auction that seemed like a reward on Doun’s bed.
“Is this single-use?”
“I don’t know. I already used it so it has no effect on me. Want to try it?”
At Doun’s suggestion, Samin’s eyes widened. It was an opportunity money couldn’t buy. When he stared asking if it was really okay, Doun nodded.
When Samin carefully touched the artifact once more, a notification window appeared.
[Would you like to use ‘Brilliant Mana Crystal (A)’?]
Samin looked back and forth between the crystal in his hand and Doun while holding his breath.
“Should I use it?”
“…It’s asking if I want to use it? Can I really use this?”
“If it’s usable, you should use it. I was thinking I should have taken it out sooner since you seemed to lack mana anyway.”
Doun answered without hesitation, and Samin gulped and used the artifact. Flashing light burst out and seeped into his body, and simultaneously a notification window appeared.
[Notification: Mana capacity is improved by the effect of ‘Brilliant Mana Crystal (A)’.]
With a clinking sound, the crystal’s light began to dim slightly. Samin exhaled several times at the clearly felt effect, then suddenly used a skill.
[Notification: Special skill ‘Oath of Trust (S)’ has been activated. You can share and operate the applied target’s mana.
Applied target: ‘Slope’ of Republic of Korea on Earth]
At the notification window that suddenly appeared before his eyes, Doun was surprised, then blinked and smiled brightly.
“Oh. Your mana amount increased quite a lot?”
The total amount of mana Samin shared had definitely increased compared to before. Doun felt very proud that the item that had been stuck in his inventory seemed to have helped Samin.
“Wow… I totally struck it rich. By having a good lover, right now.”
“Are you that happy?”
“Of course! If I have more mana, the chance of hyung lending me mana will decrease even more. I don’t want to be a burden to hyung.”
“What burden? How much have you helped me?”
Doun smiled at Samin, who was wiggling his butt with joy, and continued with synthesis. Though he didn’t get anything as useful as expected, the fun of receiving small rice balls and drinks from Samin beside him was considerable.
After focusing on synthesis for a while, he saw Samin, who couldn’t endure and had fallen asleep.
‘He was moving around excitedly for a while, when did he fall asleep like this again?’
The sight of him lying with his arm as a pillow making snoring sounds was exactly like a puppy exhausted from playing.
‘I should gradually wrap up and sleep too.’
It was when he thought this would be the last synthesis and grabbed magic stones and artifacts as he felt like it to use the skill.
[Notification: Skill ‘Synthesis (A)’ succeeded.]
[Notification: You acquire ‘Constellation Nebula’s Coincidence (A)’.]
[Constellation Nebula’s Coincidence (A)]
[Though there are many nebulae made of countless stars, the probability of such nebulae being created is extremely rare. However, just as numerous nebulae have been created, such coincidence has come to stay with you too. A consumable artifact that grants small wishes.]
Finally, the artifact he wanted was in his hands. Doun clenched his fist without making loud sounds in case Samin woke up. Now that he had obtained it, he couldn’t gauge what wish he should make.
If it had been the previous Doun, he might have thought he wanted to wish for Timer’s misfortune. But not now, after meeting Samin. After consuming more magic stones and artifacts than expected to obtain this precious thing, Timer’s existence had become insignificant in Doun’s inner world to wish for his misfortune. There wasn’t enough time to wish for happy times with Samin, so there was no room for Timer to interfere.
Doun’s gentle gaze only lingered alternately on the small meteorite fragment that had fallen on his hand and Samin’s face sleeping soundly. Then he impulsively thought of a question.
‘Would Samin… no, would Kyung Samin continue to like me even if I’m no longer ranked number one? What percentage would the possibility be?’
In the room where the dark blue light created by the setting sun had seeped in. In the warm space filled with silence, the answer to the question Lee Doun threw toward an unknown being settled in the small stone fragment.
[The artifact accepts a request within allowable numerical limits.]
Brilliantly flashing light brought up a notification window.
[The artifact is consumed to output your request.]
[Request: Numerical value converted to percentage of the possibility that Kyung Samin will love Lee Doun regardless of leaderboard ranking]
[Collecting information…]
[Collection complete.]
Even though it wasn’t a question he had thrown hoping for a correct answer, his heart seemed to sink heavily at the words that information had been collected. When that moment felt as long as eternity.
An unexpected notification window appeared before Doun’s eyes.
[Notification: Due to abnormal numerical values, the Veritas System re-searches the request.]
[Collecting information…]
[Collection complete.]
At the several notification windows that appeared before his eyes, Doun unconsciously squeezed his eyes shut. He had become afraid of facing the results of what he had done belatedly.
‘What kind of wish did I just make? Are you crazy, Lee Doun?’
An affection percentage for Samin told by an unknown being.
The cowardly inner heart that didn’t trust Samin’s love and wanted confirmation from others, even unknown alien creatures, was so shameful it made him nauseous. What appeared before Doun’s eyes as he panted and tried to somehow avoid the result was…
[99.9%]
Samin’s affection was so blind and blatant that the system felt it was abnormal.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
