195 – Who Is the Enemy – 2

Gi-jun, who accepted Glittertoss’s lie… no, excuse, that it would take ten more days to make his shield, received the rest of the items on the spot.

The full plate armor that Gi-jun would wear, Eun-shin’s throwing dagger set, Lora’s chain, and even Tilla’s whip.

Because the working environment was so perfect and they were made using only materials that were basically of legendary grade, they all easily surpassed the Legendary grade, and in the case of Tilla’s whip, a miracle occurred where it was completed at Legendary Plus grade because the compatibility was so good, despite the spine of the burning ogre used as its core material being of a relatively lower grade.

“I really love it. How did you extract the spine so cleanly, Jun?”

“The Slaughter skill guided my hand.”

Tilla looked satisfied as she lightly swung the whip of absurd weight with one hand.

He knew that she was grateful to him, but Gi-jun was currently distracted by something else, so he only replied half-heartedly.

The place where his gaze was fixed was, of course—the full plate armor that Uralta’s greatest blacksmith had created with all his might, wielding Vulcan’s Hammer.

To be precise, it was the remaining parts, excluding Mirage, which was already the Legendary-grade boots.

A helmet shaped like a dragon’s head, chestplate, pauldrons, and even gauntlets.

Since greaves were included in Mirage, there was no need to make lower armor separately, and so thigh guards and knee guards designed to connect with Mirage were added below the chestplate to complete the perfect full plate armor.

“Overall, it’s spiky and pitch-black… It’s a design that completely reminds me of that evil dragon.”

“It’s cool, it’s the exact armor I wanted.”

Seeing how much Gi-jun liked the armor, Tilla also let out a chuckle.

It was rare to see him get excited like a child.

It was not unreasonable to feel that he was cute while looking at that rare expression.

“How is the grade?”

“Legendary Plus.”

“Is that so? I thought that it might reach Epic grade if things went well… As expected, it is not easy.”

Of course, it was also difficult to reach the legendary realm, but the Epic grade required special conditions beyond that.

For instance, the evil dragon’s wings that Gi-jun had succeeded in harvesting completely reached Epic grade, but since none of the materials left behind after it died reached Epic grade, one could tell how harsh the conditions were.

“This is enough. After all, armor only needs to block unexpected damage in times of emergency.”

“No one among those who wear armor would think like you, Jun.”

But in reality, on the battlefields where Gi-jun was active, he had never properly received help from defensive gear.

At first, Tilla had worried whether Gi-jun could fight properly when she saw him carrying two shields, but now she could not say anything to find fault with his confident words.

[Root of Evil (Legendary+)]

[Durability — 50,000/50,000]

[Defense (L) — 99]

[Option 1 — Increases Strength, Endurance, and Mana by 10]

[Option 2 — Increases defense by 50%]

[Option 3 — Upon being hit, inflicts a curse on the target with a certain probability.]

[Option 4 — Upon being hit, returns 10% of the damage, ignoring the opponent’s defense.]

[Equip Restriction — Hold the title ‘Dragon Slayer’]

[A fearsome demonic object where the bones of an evil dragon harboring a terrible curse have been barely suppressed into the form of armor by an outstanding blacksmith borrowing the power of a divine relic. If one who cannot handle this curse wears it, they will become the return of the evil dragon, but if they can only suppress it, they will become the savior of the world.]

[Root of Evil (Legendary+)]

[Durability — 50,000/50,000]

[Defense (L) — 99]

[Option 1 — Increases Strength, Endurance, and Mana by 10]

[Option 2 — Increases defense by 50%]

[Option 3 — Upon being hit, inflicts a curse on the target with a certain probability.]

[Option 4 — Upon being hit, returns 10% of the damage, ignoring the opponent’s defense.]

[Equip Restriction — Hold the title ‘Dragon Slayer’]

[A fearsome demonic object where the bones of an evil dragon harboring a terrible curse have been barely suppressed into the form of armor by an outstanding blacksmith borrowing the power of a divine relic. If one who cannot handle this curse wears it, they will become the return of the evil dragon, but if they can only suppress it, they will become the savior of the world.]

“It’s an armor that looks like you’d get cursed just by touching it.”

“It can literally be said to be an armor crafted for me.”

Although the ominous options weighed on his mind, the piece was truly faithful to the role of armor itself, so Gi-jun loved it.

In particular, the second option, a 50% increase in defense, applied to Gi-jun himself rather than the armor, making it an absurd option that also amplified the defense of his shields.

“Even though Sir Jun was already an impregnable fortress…”

“Try it on quickly, Jun.”

Gi-jun immediately put on the armor at his party members’ request.

From the helmet to the boots, as he, who had become a perfect heavy armor warrior, held two shields…

“Sssss.”

“No, I mean, everything is fine, but…”

“What, you aren’t trying to insult the Dual Shield Mastery that Biche passed down to me, are you? Dual Shield Mastery is the strongest combat technique acknowledged by even Teacher Copernicus and Teacher Nietzsche. Any refutation will be considered a challenge to me.”

“Why on earth does Brother Jun adopt such a grandiose attitude only when people find fault with his shields?”

—That is the result of that demon’s brainwashing.

To Gi-jun, who confidently made assertions that would make Copernicus and Nietzsche resurrect to argue, the party members gave up on calling him out any further.

“Ah, right. What happened to the evil dragon’s wings? I think it would be perfect if Jun even had black wings now.”

Just in time, Tilla appropriately changed the subject.

Gi-jun took out a green gem from his bosom, looking somewhat reluctant.

“Is that the wings by any chance?”

“Look closely.”

When Tilla examined the gem, a pattern like black membranous wings was indeed engraved inside the gem.

“He really made it like a magic tool. There are three functions, and first is a teleportation function that allows me to fly to anywhere I’ve been before.”

“That’s completely Zoom. Can you not use it in places with a ceiling or something?”

“Fortunately, it’s the latest version.”

Looking at the two men seriously exchanging nonsense, the female members, who had no relationship with Earth’s games, were simply dumbfounded.

“No, that alone is already absurd!”

“Why does mixing wings and wind make teleportation possible? I—I can’t accept this…!”

“As expected of you, Deity!”

Tilla and Lora aside, he felt that he had to do something about Renka, who was starting to accept everything on the grounds that Gi-jun was a deity.

“To be able to teleport without chanting, Jun. That is a miracle that even the Seven Sages of the Magic Tower cannot easily pull off.”

“Ah, it’s just that I’m so used to the ability…”

‘Returning to a town you have visited’ was a function that almost any RPG game had, but—when that was brought to the Leta Continent, it became a level that could not be summarized simply as overpowered.

However, since the evil dragon itself was such an absurd monster that he could not even dare to hunt without Biche’s help, if it was made from materials completely harvested from the beast, was it not a somewhat understandable result? Gi-jun thought so as well.

“Still, there is a drawback. If I want to use it with my party members, I have to consume mana, and the cooldown also increases. One day per person.”

“Even if we assume five of us, including Renka, travel, we can teleport once every five days. In areas without a gate, it is particularly OP… Ah.”

Eun-shin stopped in the middle of speaking and gasped.

“Besides, Sister Tilla has a sub-space where people can enter. Since two hundred shrine maidens reside in there, in practice, two hundred and five people once every five days—”

“It is once every two days. Since there is also space for the other party members.”

Only then did Gi-jun, finally realizing that this was not a matter that could be easily dismissed, also let out an exclamation of “Oh.”

Why did the Magic Tower shamelessly declare neutrality and yet not receive the rebuke of the continent?

It was because only they could manage the teleport gates installed all over the continent.

Why were the Seven Sages held in awe as powerhouses who transcended continental law?

It was because they could freely teleport anywhere even without a teleport gate.

And that power had now entered Gi-jun’s grasp.

If this became known, it would, without a doubt, receive attention that was incomparable to even Vulcan’s divine relic.

“Well—Glittertoss will also keep his mouth shut if he values his life.”

“By the way, Jun, just in case… is there another function included in it?”

Recalling that Gi-jun had added the word “first” while explaining the functions of the gem, Tilla asked with a somewhat pale face.

Gi-jun, feeling awkward, nodded and handed the gem to Tilla.

“Compared to the Zoom function, the rest are not all that great.”

“Ahem, let’s see…”

Feeling a sudden happiness from sensing Gi-jun’s immense trust in her as he handed over a demonic object that would shake the entire continent without any hesitation, Tilla cleared her throat to gloss over it and immediately checked the item information.

[Flight of Evil (Epic)]

[Durability — Unbreakable]

[Option 1 — Increases Mana, Blood Power, and Charm by 10]

[Option 2 — Once a day, allows movement to a location one remembers. To bring others along, they must be in the same party, which consumes mana and adds one day of cooldown per person.]

[Option 3 — Creates a storm of wind blades harboring demonic energy. Consumes mana and blood power, and the wind power must be recharged after a single use.]

[Option 4 — Bestows the blessing of evil on all winged creatures to accelerate them.]

[Use Restriction — Hold the title ‘Dragon Slayer’]

[A miraculous shape that compresses the essence of the evil dragon into the form of a gem. As this is the embodiment of the karma of destruction, anyone other than the one who subjugated the evil dragon will be swallowed by the ominous wind.]

[Flight of Evil (Epic)]

[Durability — Unbreakable]

[Option 1 — Increases Mana, Blood Power, and Charm by 10]

[Option 2 — Once a day, allows movement to a location one remembers. To bring others along, they must be in the same party, which consumes mana and adds one day of cooldown per person.]

[Option 3 — Creates a storm of wind blades harboring demonic energy. Consumes mana and blood power, and the wind power must be recharged after a single use.]

[Option 4 — Bestows the blessing of evil on all winged creatures to accelerate them.]

[Use Restriction — Hold the title ‘Dragon Slayer’]

[A miraculous shape that compresses the essence of the evil dragon into the form of a gem. As this is the embodiment of the karma of destruction, anyone other than the one who subjugated the evil dragon will be swallowed by the ominous wind.]

“The description is even more unsettling than the armor’s?!”

“I’ve never seen Tilla so surprised.”

“No, I mean, your stats increase by thirty just by holding it? This is truly ridiculous.”

Eun-shin, who had peered in after seeing Tilla get surprised, shrugged his shoulders and said.

The armor was one thing, but the artifact created by processing the evil dragon’s wings, Flight of Evil, was also practically no different from an artifact made exclusively for Gi-jun.

Meanwhile, Renka, who had caught a glimpse of the fragments of the achievements Gi-jun had accomplished on the Leta Continent by looking at his equipment, nodded, thinking that if he was not a deity, then who on earth was.

“When Shin-kun and I get married, I want the deity to read the congratulatory address…”

“Your delusions have collided and gone as far as they can go.”

“Like I said, we can’t get married…”

Gi-jun, who tried to ignore Eun-shin looking at him with the hope that he would somehow resolve the situation, soon thought of a topic suitable for changing the subject.

“Come to think of it, what should we do next? Since we will leave once we receive the shield, it’s time to think about where we will go and what we will do.”

“Hmm, that’s true.”

Tilla, who stopped swinging the whip, put it back in her inventory and said after thinking for a moment.

“Wouldn’t it be fine to go to that place called Jarnvidr now? Jun’s equipment has been reinforced, and Lora and Shin’s abilities have also grown a lot this time.”

“That… is certainly true.”

Frankly speaking, the time they spent inside the barrier for nearly two months was not of much help to Gi-jun and Tilla.

Of course, since they had steadily trained and sparred with each other to build up their skills, it couldn’t be said to be a waste, but without the quest reward obtained at the end, it could be said that there was no great practical benefit.

However, Lora and Eun-shin were different.

Lora, by training in weapon techniques suitable for the weapon she handled from the basics, escaped from being swayed by instinct, intuition, and the karma left by Carmilla to establish a clear system, and Eun-shin had dipped his toes into a completely new field called Shikigami Arts.

In particular, by recovering even the memories of the one month they had lost while leaving the barrier, it could be said that the two’s Taoist Arts and Shikigami Arts had definitely reached a state of mastery.

“It might certainly not be bad. Originally, I wanted to go to the Magic Kingdom first, but to do that, we have to wait for Min-i’s party to be released from Cor…”

“Sir Jun!”

However, at the very moment they were contemplating their next destination, Unica appeared, fluttering the wings on her back, and shouted.

“It seems that the Seven Sages are looking for Sir Jun…!”