I Transferred to the SSS-rank Crafting Field - Chapter 20 - Finding the Hidden Mermaid (3)

Chapter 20

05 – Finding the Hidden Mermaid (3)

“Yoon Gaho, if you wanted an S-rank item, you could have told me…”

“It’s not like that.”

Our playful banter ended early due to the tactless Yoon Suho.

“With my skill, I can grant both nature and nurture effects. The nurture effect can only be achieved by using an equivalent item or material.” I deliberately left out the part about sacrificing equipment or items of the same rank to prevent destruction in my explanation.

Choi Kwon-young burst into laughter at my request, adopted a casual expression, and placed a mana stone onto my palm…a valuable A-rank mana stone.

‘Wow–he can just bring out things like this?’

“Is one enough?” Choi Kwon-young lined up more mana stones–of various attributes–on his desk.

Mana stones, which had versatile uses, were often immediately sold at auctions. I, too, was usually in a hurry to collect mana stones specialized for my own attributes…

Not only were there mana stones of water attribute category, but there were also colors I had never seen before, all spread out before me. The others were also captivated, busily observing the spread of stones.

I hurriedly waved my hand that held the stone he had first given me because it seemed as if Choi Kwon-young was about to take out more items. “This is enough! Put the rest back–they’re distracting me.”

“What a shame.”

What did he mean by that? My hands were even shaking from holding this one precious mana stone–he had more??

The nurture effect would follow the innate nature of the mana stone. I intentionally avoided mentioning the sacrifice, and, though the guilt pierced my heart, I eventually chose a mana stone of the water attribute.

Next, I activated my ‘Explorer’s Eye’ and examined the two items’ circuits.

As an S-class item, the ‘Rogue Waves’ gun had a much more complicated structure than Cha Taeyang’s glove. The same was true of the mana stone.

‘However, compared to the system circuits Master showed me…’

These items were complicated, but not to the point where they couldn’t be analyzed.

‘It was worth training that hard.’

Perhaps because the two items had similar attributes, I was fortunately able to grasp what I generally needed to do.

There’s nothing much more to say; due to the ingredients used, the effects were certainly impressive.

I had so bravely asked Choi Kwon-young to empty his inventory, but, now that I see the system message, I was a bit scared. Could I succeed? My lips felt dry.

‘Ah–that’s right. I can check the probability for success.’

“Let’s see.”

Special effect?

I looked at the other enchants, but only ‘Legendary’ had that condition.

‘Also, even though I practiced so hard, I still am only at 30%?’

The B-rank enchant, ‘Fog Above Water,’ had a slightly higher success rate, but it still didn’t go above 50%.

‘What if I really destroy this weapon at this rate?’

Desperately hiding the anxiety I felt, I explained the effect of the enchant and the success rate to Choi Kwon-young. Even though I reiterated many times that the probability of success was low, he chose two A-rank enchant effects.

“Are you serious?” I asked.

“I’m not so impoverished I’d hesitate over something like a piece of S-rank equipment.”

His words were so irritating, the small ‘fingertip’ amount of hesitation I had vanished. “Applying the nature effect ‘Legendary’ and the nurture effect ‘Song.'”

I took a deep breath and drew out mana, as thin as possible. ‘I’m going to implement the mana circuit–just like my mental image. I can do it.’

I recalled what I knew about Choi Kwon-young.

Choi Kwon-young was a Hunter capable of multi-faceted combat. While primarily a ranged dealer, he was also formidable in close-quarters combat when needed. The ‘Legendary Song’ combined effect, which increases agility and strength while also adding a frost attribute, was a good fit for a Hunter like him.

Step by step, carefully and slowly, I drew a new design that combined the two mana circuits. I worked hard to get rid of the unnecessary elements while maximizing the necessary nodes.

Before long, a completed circle surrounded by peculiar patterns emerged. The circuit was slightly different from the example I had been given, but there didn’t seem to be any issues.

I did everything that I could. I moistened my dry lips and, tension rising, placed my palms on the circuit. “Enchant!”

Unlike when I had enchanted Cha Taeyang’s weapon, there was a fierce gust of wind. The wind was so strong that I couldn’t open my eyes; I reflexively raised my arm and covered my face.

The gust soon died down.

Everyone eye’s focused on one thing:

“Success!” ‘Rogue Waves,’ still fully intact, shone on the desk. Perhaps due to the use and overlapping of two A-rank enchantments, unlike what happened with Cha Taeyang, the weapon emitted a subtle blue glow.

I touched ‘Rogue Waves’ and began to read its details.

‘That’s crazy.’

Aside from succeeding an enchant with a 30% success rate, I can’t believe an S-rank skill was added. Was this what it meant by a ‘special effect’?

How lucky is that guy? He got two high-level skills with one piece of equipment.

I tried to look into the skill effect, but Choi Kwon-young gently took ‘Rogue Waves’ out of my hand. He then smiled, satisfied like a contented lion–he was most likely checking the effects himself. “This is truly…surprising. I didn’t know that there would be a new skill added.”

“I didn’t know either. Perhaps it’s high-risk, high-reward.”

“An a-additional skill?!” Lee Kangto raised his face and stared at me in an almost frightening manner. Though they weren’t as intense, Han Cha-hyun and Cha Taeyang’s reactions weren’t so different.

Only Yoon Suho frowned as if he weren’t happy. He tapped the table with his index finger and made no secret of his disapproval. “The payment for this item should be added, so pay her separately.”

Cha Taeyang cut in, “Unni, unni! I want to make a request! Do that for my weapon as well!”

“Hunter Cha Taeyang?”

“I don’t have my weapon yet, but… I’ll come to you as soon as I’m ready.” Cha Taeyang leapt up and leaned towards me. “You know, I want to become stronger!”

Amidst Cha Tae-yang’s exclamation, I faintly heard Lee Kangto muttering. I’m not sure what he was saying, but for some reason, a chill ran down my spine.

The dokkaebi that was quietly sitting on the desk also rolled towards me and jumped up and down to get my attention. “Kim Seobang! Please!”

“Well, as long as you pay.”

“You promised!”

I nodded, agreeing with her. There was nothing to lose here. Cha Taeyang was better than all the other Hunters who turned their noses up at me.

This was also an opportunity to connect with a frighteningly promising rookie. If she was like this when she had just awakened as a Hunter, then once she gained experience, she’d become so strong, unmatched by any other Hunter.

‘It’ll take a while for her to obtain the right equipment, but…’

Cha Taeyang smiled broadly at my acceptance.

To remind Choi Kwon-young, who was busy placing his weapon back into his inventory, that we were still in a meeting, I shook the tablet, “Now, shall we return to the Hidden Quest?”

Our first destination was the 16th floor–The Sea People.

The main quest was a raid that unfolded against the backdrop of the port city Sheila. Obviously, Choi Kwon-young was the first to clear this floor.

“I-If it’s the 16th floor, I’ve been there. I didn’t think there was anything unusual there…” someone said.

I had never been to the 16th floor because the floor had mediocre items and mediocre monsters. However, I was well aware of Choi Kwon-young’s achievements.

“I first thought the same.” Choi Kwon-young took out some gray scales from his inventory. The strange glossy scales seemed to crumble at his touch. He added that this had no particular function.

Indeed, if it were a useful item, it would have already been processed or sold.

“This item dropped from the 16th floor raid boss, the Avenger.”

Shiela, the prosperous port city that depended on maritime trade, was the center of the 16th floor’s main quest.  However, the city began to decline when a monster, known as the ‘Avenger,’ appeared; the waves of turmoil never subsided.

Sheila’s NPCs asked the players to defeat the monsters that occupied the sea and save the city.

“I know this story well. You went out after receiving a request from KOD, right?” Han Cha-hyun pushed up his glasses and asked.

I, also, had heard stories about the 16th floor raid.

KOD was the first to occupy that main quest.

However, KOD, who faced difficulties in a raid set on the sea, suffered consecutive defeats, was forcibly fed water, and desperately sent out an SOS to Wastelands.

As a marine combat specialist, Choi Kwon-young defeated the boss immediately.

“At that time, Wastelands spent an extremely short time on the floor itself. Right after the boss was killed, I had to rush off to occupy the 17th floor’s main quest. That’s why I had completely forgotten about this item.” Choi Kwon-young shared the item’s details with us.

“Your job is simple: Please pursue the mermaid’s tracks. It’s likely that these traces will lead to a hidden quest.”

TL: First things first, F-off Yoon Suho.
Second things second, I would NOT gamble on my main weapon like that D: