Chapter 9

Chapter 8

Light

The raid party, led by the Chedaka Guild, set out on their expedition and only managed to defeat the Guardian of the Forest after three days.

Rumble!!

As the Guardian of the Forest, encased in blue minerals, crumbled into mere rocks, a deafening thunderclap echoed, and the forest trembled.

Startled, the party members stumbled and fell, and before they could react, the golems that suddenly appeared began to slaughter them one by one.

“Ah!”

“S-Save me!”

The joy of a successful raid was short-lived as they plunged into fear.

Jishuka, who climbed atop the remains of the Guardian of the Forest to survey the situation, had a grim expression.

“Idiots, how could it come to this even after I warned you so thoroughly?”

Before facing the Guardian of the Forest, Jishuka had thoroughly drilled the party members on precautions and countermeasures. However, despite her efforts, most of them panicked and fell, except for a few guild members, which was frustrating.

“Better to die than to live with the judgment and learning abilities of monkeys.”

While it was her true feeling, witnessing their deaths could tarnish the guild's reputation.

“Tch.”

Her unwillingness was evident as she drew her bow, and with each pull of the string, arrows shot out, saving the lives of the party members one by one.

This was the might of the archer ranked first, known as the Divine Archer.

Following her lead, Regas, the fist fighter, ran around busily, delivering punches, and Vantner, the destruction tank, roared while swinging his double axes. Thanks to the efforts of the Chedaka Guild members, the party barely managed to avert the crisis, but the damage was severe.

“A total of 75 people have died.”

Among the deceased were four guild members. Unlike the others who died foolishly, they fell during the battle with the Guardian of the Forest.

“Well, it’s over somehow.”

It was a truly grueling battle.

The Guardian of the Forest, with its superior defense, health, and area-of-effect skills, had pinned down the party's main force, while the continuously spawning golems pressured the entire party.

Without the overwhelming performance of Jishuka and Regas, the raid would have failed 100%.

Jishuka, who checked the items dropped by the Guardian of the Forest, couldn't hide her disappointment and rubbed her forehead. The other party members also sighed.

After advancing for two days while battling the wave of monsters and fighting the Guardian of the Forest for a full day, they finally managed to defeat it, only to be troubled by the newly appearing golems.

Compared to their immense efforts, the loot was pitiful. It consisted of 30 pieces of black iron ore, 7 pieces of orichalcum, and one piece of blue orichalcum.

Regas shrugged.

“The sapphire shield didn’t drop this time either.”

The Chedaka Guild challenged the Guardian of the Forest raid every two weeks solely to obtain the sapphire shield. However, the drop rate was abysmal.

‘The difficulty of S-rank linked quests is beyond imagination.’

Even among S-rank quests, the difficulty of single quests and linked quests was worlds apart.

Bantner, who licked his lips, picked up the blue orichalcum and said.

“At least we got one of these by luck.”

<Blue Orichalcum>

A mineral created by the fusion of orichalcum with the Guardian of the Forest's magic and moonlight.

Although it has been eroded by the Guardian of the Forest's magic and cannot be imbued with new magic, it possesses the highest hardness and strength among all minerals.

It is light and becomes stronger in dark places.

*Advanced blacksmithing skills are required to refine it.

Weight: 3

While its exact value is currently unknown, it could be traded at an astronomical price if a skilled blacksmith were to appear.

Shaking off her disappointment, Jishuka led the exhausted party members back to the village. In the village square, the party members who had died and been resurrected were waiting.

After converting the value of the dropped minerals to money and distributing it to the party members, she managed to break even. While the guild members had no complaints, regular players grumbled about the insufficient rewards.

But what could be done? Given the outcome.

After wrapping up and disbanding the party, Jishuka gathered the guild members and said seriously.

“This is the fourth raid that has ended without any results. Rumors are spreading among the regular players who participated in the Guardian of the Forest raid that it has no value. The level of the players participating in the next raid will drop even further. This is going to be tough.”

The Chedaka Guild was composed entirely of top-ranked members. However, their low reputation was due to their small size.

The Chedaka Guild, which had been together since the L.T.S era, had only 17 members. Their strength alone was not enough to challenge the Guardian of the Forest raid, so they had recruited regular players, but now even that was becoming impossible.

Toban, a 172-level paladin and the guild's strategist, nodded.

“The sapphire shield is essential for the linked quest, but there’s nothing we can do. I think we should give up on the Guardian of the Forest for now and focus on strengthening the guild’s power.”

Bantner, the second-ranked guardian knight who wielded dual axes despite choosing a defensive class, agreed.

“Right. It’s no use being hasty in this state. Let’s take some time until the topic of the Guardian of the Forest fades among the people.”

Looking around at the guild members, it seemed they all shared the same opinion.

Only Regas, with his sparkling eyes, had a look that said, "I’ll do anything as long as I can fight!"

After some thought, Jishuka announced.

“For the next three months, we will give up on raids and focus on leveling up and enhancing our equipment. If anyone fails to level up by 15 levels by the time we resume raids, they will be killed. Regas, you need to level up by 20.”

Jishuka smiled brightly. Her crescent-shaped eyes were sexy, but to the guild members, it was terrifying.

If the leader says to do it, you have to do it. If you don’t, you really will die.

The guild members, who knew better than anyone how ruthless Jishuka could be, swallowed hard, and Regas urged them on with a trembling voice.

“Let’s set out for training!”

Thus, the Chedaka Guild dispersed.

Jishuka, now alone, headed to the guild’s storage. Her unique health and full figure, characteristic of a South American woman, captivated the attention of many men. The crowd of people who wanted to get her autograph grew rapidly.

But she ignored them all.

Jishuka, indifferent to whether people stared or followed, left the blue orichalcum in the storage and then headed to the auction house.

The blue orichalcum was an item that would surely rise in value in the future, so she didn’t sell it immediately. However, the current market prices for black iron ore and orichalcum were at their peak.

After registering the minerals for auction, Jishuka asked the clerk.

“Show me the list of Yapha arrows.”

A semi-transparent monitor appeared in Jishuka’s field of view, displaying the list of Yapha arrows currently registered in the auction house.

The immediate purchase price for all Yapha arrows was 6 silver each.

While the price was extremely high for arrows, the performance of Yapha arrows was so outstanding that once you used them, no other arrows would do.

Jishuka swept up all the Yapha arrows on the list. It wasn’t because she had money to spare, but because she needed them.

She knew exactly where to invest and where to save, as befitting a top-ranked player.

“What the hell is this?”

Jishuka frowned when she checked the bid price of the Yapha arrow at the bottom of the list. The only Yapha arrow without an immediate purchase price was being bid at 18 silver each for a total of 99.

Jishuka, curious about who had bid three times the market price for Yapha arrows, noticed that the arrow’s name was not white but purple.

‘Did I see it wrong?’

Even after blinking, it was still purple.

She quickly brought up the detailed information.

<Elite Yapha Arrow>

Grade: Epic

Attack Power: 35~42

A Yapha arrow made by an unknown craftsman with great skill and potential but lacking in experience and reputation, by mixing a small amount of Yapha with steel.

The extreme penetration power due to the synthesis effect of steel and Yapha partially ignores the enemy’s defense.

*Has a certain probability to completely ignore the enemy’s defense.

Weight: 0.1

“...!”

Jishuka’s eyes widened. If she hadn’t been aware of the attention on her, she might have screamed out loud.

‘This is unbelievable!’

Jishuka was more than amazed; she was shocked.

For the past six months, she had played Satisfy every day and experienced all sorts of adventures. She and her guild members had spent money to gather as much information as possible.

Yet, she had never imagined that an epic-grade arrow could exist. She was certain that arrows were always normal-grade items.

Even when she brought materials to a famous blacksmith and asked for thousands of arrows to be made, the resulting arrows were all normal-grade. She had never heard of anyone witnessing a higher-grade arrow.

But at this moment!

An epic-grade arrow, not just a rare one, stood before her. And its performance was nothing short of outrageous.

Jishuka immediately placed a bid. The bid price was a staggering 35 silver each.

While it was difficult to justify such a high price for a consumable item, she considered its rarity. She also believed that it could be a secret weapon against strong enemies, providing significant efficiency.

‘Who could have made this?’

Two names came to mind first.

Panmir, the top-ranked blacksmith, and Steng, the second-ranked.

However, they had a high reputation, which didn’t fit the description of an “unknown craftsman with great skill and potential but lacking in experience and reputation.”

‘...There must be a blacksmith who surpasses them, hidden somewhere.’

It was possible that a blacksmith, whose character level was low and thus not in the top rankings, had focused on skill levels through grueling work.

The description “possessing great skill and potential” strongly tempted her.

‘If I find him...’

Jishuka canceled the auction registration for the black iron ore and orichalcum.

‘We can steadily gather minerals when we resume the Guardian of the Forest raid.’

She planned to use the top-grade minerals as bait to recruit the blacksmith who made the epic-grade arrow.

{Contact the blacksmiths in the top 100 rankings and gauge their skill levels. Then, compile a list of those whose skill levels are disproportionately high compared to their levels.}

Jishuka’s command, which appeared in the guild chat, threw the guild members into a frenzy.

{What’s this sudden talk about blacksmiths?}

{Level up!}

Jishuka dismissed the resistance.

{Do as I say! There’s an incredible talent out there! If we can find and recruit him, the Guardian of the Forest won’t be a problem!}

{An incredible talent?}

{A blacksmith better than Panmir and Steng. The items he makes are likely to far surpass existing items. No one knew about him until now, but soon, every guild on the continent will be hunting for him. We can’t let him slip away... Find him! Find him before anyone else and recruit him!}

{If the master says so...}

{It must be a formidable person. Alright, let’s find him!}

The Chedaka Guild, in principle, did not accept new members. They were a small, elite group that only recognized and relied on each other, having been together since the L.T.S era. While their small size was a significant constraint on the guild’s growth, no one complained.

They aimed to build a formidable force that everyone would fear, even if they couldn’t capture a castle like large guilds.

They aimed to gain authority through power, even if they couldn’t achieve the same level of fame as large guilds.

The Chedaka Guild members, who had occupied the top 1-3 ranks in various classes within just six months of starting Satisfy, were united by a strong sense of pride.

This was the first time the strongest mercenary guild, which had only 17 members and influenced the fate of nations during the L.T.S era, showed interest in someone else.

“Who raised the bid price again?”

After confirming the notification that her bid for the Elite Yapha Arrow had failed, Jishuka bid again without hesitation.

The first epic-grade arrow!

The bid price was skyrocketing.

Satisfy was in an uproar.

Famous guilds were frantically searching for the mysterious blacksmith. Various media outlets covered the appearance of the epic-grade arrow as a major issue, and the internet was in turmoil.

Who was the “unknown craftsman with great skill and potential but lacking in experience and reputation”?

Many people searched for him, but his whereabouts remained unknown.

‘I’ve walked a harder path than others. I’ve always done my best. Yet, there’s a blacksmith better than me?’

Panmir had made epic-grade items twice, and he was the first to create an epic-grade item.

However, the description of the epic items he made did not mention “craftsman.”

Who was the person granted the title of craftsman, which was not even allowed for the top-ranked blacksmith?

Ding! Ding!

Panmir, feeling a sense of competition with the unknown blacksmith, intensified his training.

Meanwhile, the person of interest, Shin Young-woo, was eating a cup noodle at a convenience store before heading to the labor agency.

“Why am I eating this measly cup noodle for a thousand won? Am I supposed to starve to death? Ugh, it’s so dirty and despicable.”

He grumbled but still ate it well.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*