Chapter 69

Chapter 19. 1st Floor (1)

A set of leather armor was neatly folded, and on top of it lay a strangely shaped black mask.

Yeonwoo felt something was off and checked to see if there were any other artifacts.

However, there was nothing else in the iron chest besides these two items.

"Has the iron chest changed? There's no Gies' Eye, right?"

Yeonwoo turned to Henoba.

Gies' Eye was an amulet.

A common amulet, often worn as a pendant or bracelet.

But now, all he saw were the leather armor and the mask.

Henoba confidently curled one corner of his mouth and replied,

"Yes, they are yours."

"Then?"

"First, appraise them, brat. From today on, you won't have the nerve to be cheeky because of your newfound respect for me."

Yeonwoo opened his Dragon Horse Eye and first examined the leather armor.

[Enchanted Armor of Gies]

Category: Chest Armor, Amulet

Grade: A-

Description: A talisman named after Gies, the giant with dozens of eyes and hundreds of arms. Master dwarf Henoba combined this with a breastplate made from the tail feathers of the rare Crow of Blades, a bird that only lives in thickets of blades, to create a new form of enchanted armor.

It boasts an extremely light weight and has excellent elasticity and durability, capable of easily deflecting most blades. When infused with magic, hidden eyes and arms will open.

Each eye can see through most attacks and curses approaching the owner, and harmful things are blocked by invisible arms.

* Dozens of Eyes

Enhances senses to quickly detect external changes. In times of crisis, the body's reaction speed increases by over 20%.

* Hundreds of Arms

Reduces damage from five types of elemental attacks (physical, fire, cold, lightning, holy).

Additionally, it significantly improves resistance to three other types of attacks (curses, poison, blindness) and has a 10-15% chance to preemptively block and reflect attacks.

* Kigantomakia's Prevention

Converts some of the damage received by the owner into health. If health drops below 15%, it can restore health to half its maximum once per day.

"......!"

Yeonwoo's eyes widened as he saw the functions of the enchanted armor.

Gies' Eye was a highly sought-after artifact among many rankers due to its various defensive options.

It protects the owner from invisible threats and weakens most elemental attacks.

In certain situations, it can nullify or reflect attacks.

Especially, Kigantomakia's Prevention was the best option of Gies' Eye.

If health was depleted, it could restore more than half, which was like having an extra life.

It managed HP by converting damage into health during normal times and could be used as a hidden trump card when activated in a crisis.

However, the materials needed were hard to obtain, and there were only a few master craftsmen who could make it, so not many people had it.

Henoba, however, had enhanced the defensive functions by making Gies' Eye into a breastplate.

It was so sturdy that it wouldn't even scratch from most physical impacts and had excellent elasticity.

Most importantly, it was so light that it felt weightless.

It was a custom-made artifact perfectly suited for Yeonwoo, who valued mobility.

"Don't just stand there admiring it. Try it on. You won't know anything until you do."

Henoba put a pipe in his mouth and gestured with his chin.

Yeonwoo, following his advice, started to put on the enchanted armor.

As expected, the enchanted armor was very light. It fit smoothly against his skin, providing a very comfortable feel.

Yeonwoo moved his body lightly and then slowly activated his magic circuit.

'Gies' Eye has one more function not mentioned in the description.'

The reason Yeonwoo had needed Gies' Eye for a month.

Woo-

The moment he infused magic into the enchanted armor.

Whoosh!

The black lines drawn on the surface of the enchanted armor opened simultaneously.

Inside, various colored eyes were densely embedded.

The dozens of eyes were not mere patterns.

Each one moved independently, as if they were alive.

Some rolled to the side, while others repeatedly opened and closed.

"Indeed, no matter how many times I make it, it still looks creepy."

Henoba, who had made it himself, frowned as if it was terrifying.

With dozens of eyes moving around, it was bound to be unsettling.

However, Yeonwoo was experiencing a new sensory domain he had never felt before thanks to these eyes.

As the magic circuit connected with the enchanted armor, the 'vision' of the dozens of eyes began to integrate into his sensory domain.

[Your sensory range has expanded by about 1.5 times. You can now detect and analyze more things in greater detail.]

[The 'Eyes of Gies' are beginning to synchronize with your magic circuit. They are considered part of your body.]

[Synesthesia has been activated.]

[The proficiency of 'Sensory Enhancement' has increased to 37.2%.]

Gies' Eye could read even the tiniest details that even the most precise senses could not detect.

This 'vision' was now linked to his sensory domain.

As a result, Yeonwoo could observe more and perceive a wider area.

He could interpret this information visually, olfactorily, auditorily, and through multiple senses, significantly enhancing his analytical skills.

This was the birth of synesthesia.

This was another function of Gies' Eye.

Sensory sharing.

[Physical growth has been detected. The inheritance process, which was halted, has resumed. 98, 99%...]

[Current progress: 99.1%]

'The inheritance process too?'

Yeonwoo's eyes widened slightly, then he soon realized the reason.

'Sure enough, the Gies' Eye embedded in the enchanted armor is far superior to the original, both in function and detail.'

It might even have a side effect of improving the owner's magic circulation.

This meant Henoba had put a lot of effort into its creation.

Henoba, apparently pleased with Yeonwoo's expression, smiled and exhaled a puff of smoke.

"Seeing your expression, I feel a bit relieved. As I expected, it has the effect of improving magic circulation and enhancing magic recovery by about 10%. Not only elemental defense but also health recovery, all options are derived from magic."

'Sure enough.'

Yeonwoo swallowed. To even increase magic recovery. This was no longer just 'Gies' Eye.'

Moreover, Henoba's gift didn't end there.

"And one more. Check the mask."

Yeonwoo then lifted the black mask.

It shimmered like obsidian, with no particular patterns except for three red marks etched around the eyes.

It looked like a mask from a mythological demon.

[Henoba's Enchanted Iron Mask]

Category: Head Armor

Grade: A

Description: A mask created by Henoba with great effort. Based on the Beast King's Lion Mane Helmet, it was enhanced by mixing Kunwu Iron and Han Iron, which are only found in specific regions and environments, doubling its effectiveness.

* Perception Disruption

Engraved with a perception-disrupting spell, it confuses the opponent's senses. It will not come off the face unless the user wishes it to. It has a self-repairing effect, so it will quickly return to its original form even if broken.

* Attack Enhancement

For 30 seconds, attack power increases by 1% for each monster killed, up to a maximum of 30%. It also reduces the duration of control-disrupting effects by over 10%.

* Fear Zone

Summons part of the power of the dead Beast King to put surrounding enemies into a fear state for 15-20 seconds, immobilizing them. It also weakens the enemies' defenses by 20% due to the fear atmosphere.

**This artifact is 'Growth-Type.' It grows with the owner, so increase familiarity and proficiency.

**This artifact is 'Unique.' Only one exists in the Tower, and it is completely owned by the owner. It cannot be traded or transferred to others.

**It is part of a set with the Enchanted Great Sword. More additional functions are provided as the set is completed.

-Current additional functions

2-piece set: Attack speed +8%

Huuu-

White smoke rose, enveloping Henoba.

"Since I had some time, and it looked like you were always wearing that thing, I decided to make one. It won't make you sweat, and the size should fit you well."

He spoke as if it was no big deal.

But it was far from that.

He had practically dismantled the Beast King's Lion Mane Helmet, which Yeonwoo had paid as a fee, to enhance it into a higher-level artifact.

Moreover, it was part of a set with the Enchanted Great Sword.

Yeonwoo, stroking the Enchanted Iron Mask, asked,

"......It's far from enough with what I gave you."

Henoba laughed lightly, as if it was absurd.

"Did you really think you could get one of this great Henoba's items with just what you had? Just take it. It's on credit. Pay me back later."

The short-legged dwarf placed his large fists on his hips and puffed out his chest.

But his slightly reddened ears made him a bit amusing.

Yeonwoo, however, did not miss the intense heat that still enveloped the workshop.

He could faintly see through his Dragon Horse Eye.

Henoba had worked all night to create proper artifacts for him.

During their time together, he had always seemed to be hiding something.

Perhaps it was to give him these.

"......"

Yeonwoo's eyes, touching the black mask, sank deeply.

'Or, is it because of Bahal?'

Bahal had indeed visited Henoba.

Henoba must have been annoyed and hammered away.

But even so.

These items couldn't have been made overnight.

Bahal might have sped up the process by a day or two, but it meant that the items had been in production for a long time.

Specifically, for Yeonwoo.

This realization made Yeonwoo's heart feel a bit heavy.

'Did he miss people that much?'

An old man with many attachments but no one left to give them to, hiding his loneliness.

And the sudden appearance of Yeonwoo as a companion.

'Indeed, this person hasn't changed.'

He felt certain of this.

"Unlike usual, you're being quiet. What's wrong? Are you moved by this great Henoba's favor?"

Henoba chuckled.

But the more he laughed, the deeper Yeonwoo's heart sank. It was fortunate that his expression was hidden by the mask.

"I will use them with gratitude."

Yeonwoo bowed heavily and turned to leave.

"Ah, by the way."

"Sir."

Henoba grabbed Yeonwoo and cleared his throat slightly, his nose reddening.

"Hem! Now that I think about it, we've been together for so long, and I never asked your name. What is it?"

Yeonwoo's eyes widened slightly and then returned to normal.

He didn't answer immediately.

"What's your name? Why aren't you speaking?"

Under the mask, Yeonwoo moved his lips several times.

"......Cain."

After much deliberation, he finally answered.

"My name is Cain."