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Kang Sejun had previously mentioned that conquering the 8th floor of the Labyrinth was relatively easy. However, Seora, attempting it for the first time, felt the urge to give him a good knock on the back of his head.
The master of the Labyrinth, known as the Dragon of Revelation, was a formidable and fearsome presence. If it weren’t for a select few Awakened who had resisted the “Path of Sin,” everyone else would have been obliterated. Yet, in comparison to the owner of the 9th floor, this imposing figure was considered weaker.
“What lies on the 9th floor?”
Kang Sejun sighed, his eyes betraying the pain he felt, “That’s when hell descends upon the world.”
“Shouldn’t we give others a heads-up about something like this, especially the L-classes?”
“I’ve attempted it before, in my third life. The outcome was disastrous, as some saw it as an opportunity.”
Seora refrained from asking why he had attempted it in his third life rather than his second. It was clear that Kang Sejun had perished before the 9th floor of the Labyrinth had been opened.
“An opportunity? The opening of the Labyrinth is seen as an opportunity?”
“I’ll explain when the news of the Labyrinth’s opening spreads. From my experience, that’s when revealing it has the least adverse effects.”“Is it so difficult to discuss this with me?”
“I’m not doubting you; I’m concerned for you. If you find out now, you’ll have to remain on edge for over three months.” With that, he made it clear that there was nothing more to say. “Besides, even if the 9th floor opens, you won’t face a significant problem, so it’s alright not to know.”
“Huh? Me? Why? Is the owner of the 9th floor some kind of ghost?”
“That’s not it. Based on what I’ve observed of you so far, you shouldn’t encounter any major issues. Don’t worry,” Kang Sejun reassured.
“Do you realize you’re the most infuriating person in the world when you talk like this?”
“I’m sorry if it increased your concerns.”
She couldn’t complain anymore that he had apologized so readily. Seora, still frustrated, clicked her tongue. “Fine, let’s put the Labyrinth aside. Before the Labyrinth, are there any dungeons that could be a significant problem?” This was initially what Seora had wanted to ask about, not the Labyrinth. She was concerned that Jaeheon might be on a dangerous mission.
“Major problems in dungeons do occur, but I can’t recall any with hundreds or thousands of casualties. They are usually managed before any outbreak occurs, or they get sealed with a Lock if they’re deemed impossible to conquer.”
“That’s good to hear. I was worried when my brother mentioned going on a mission.”
“During Athena’s missions, I don’t remember any exceptionally dangerous dungeons. I might not know every detail of each mission, but if there were dungeons that even Athena couldn’t conquer, it would have been a serious concern, and there were none like that.”
Seora felt somewhat reassured by his words, though she couldn’t completely trust them. She knew that unexpected incidents, like the Cheorwon Key Theft incident or the appearance of the returnee Seong Jarim in the Baskar Dungeon, had occurred. So, there could still be unforeseen events that even the regressor didn’t know about.
All Seora could do was hope that the dungeon Yun Jaeheon entered wasn’t one of those exceptional cases.
***
It was the final day of the extended weekend, and as Seora returned from Busan, she was determined to make the most of her remaining time off for relaxation. In the midst of her plans, she received a text message from Shin Dowon, informing her that all equipment repairs and crafting had been completed.
“That was surprisingly quick,” she mused. Barely a month had passed, and he had already finished both the repairs and crafting. Even with his time limit, his skills remained as sharp as ever.
After a brief moment of consideration, Seora decided to contact Seong Jarim. While Kang Sejun had the advantage of a lifeline due to his regressing ability, Seong Jarim lacked such provisions. Although the association had provided some support, Seora wanted to ensure she had a custom set of armor prepared for her. Additionally, with the newly revealed danger of the 9th floor of the Labyrinth, it seemed wise for Seong Jarim to be prepared in advance.
“I’m thrilled!” Seong Jarim’s excitement was palpable when Seora offered to provide her with a set of armor. She practically jumped out of her seat, humming a joyful tune all the way to Mount Gwanak. “Is he truly that remarkable?”
“He was a former contractee of Hephaestus. He’s unaware that I have this information, though.”
“You did some background research? That’s not like you. You typically avoid delving into matters like this.”
Seora admitted, “You’re right. I never imagined I’d find myself looking into the backgrounds of individuals like returnees or regressors.”
Seong Jarim whistled to avoid the topic.
“His remaining lifespan is limited. I got curious about the situation and decided to investigate.” Recognizing that Seong Jarim would have access to Shin Dowon’s information once they met, Seora didn’t keep any secrets and shared the details with her.
Seong Jarim responded with a casual, “Ah, I see.”
She seemed as uninterested in a terminally ill person as she had been when she first encountered a regressor. Having witnessed more gruesome deaths than anyone else, the likes of a terminally ill individual didn’t particularly faze her now.
“Wow, wearing equipment crafted by a deity’s contractee is incredible. I’m overjoyed. I seem to have a lot of good luck when I’m with you.”
“Didn’t you once say there’s nothing more terrifying than an administrator’s contractee?”
“Well, our dear administrator is different from Baskar’s. They’re a kind soul, which is a huge relief. But, of course, the downside is that if you get hurt, I’m at much higher risk compared to Baskar’s administrator.”
“…”
Seora fell into contemplative silence. She couldn’t forget the time when she had been injured in the Labyrinth, and the administrator had reacted with sensitivity, ensuring that no one approached her while she was unconscious.
She had ultimately recovered from her injuries, but when she thought back to that time, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of guilt and gratitude towards him.
***
“Shin Dowon-ssi.”
Sitting in the main hall, Shin Dowon, with a pipe in his mouth, looked at Seora and gestured for her to enter. As they approached, an even stronger aura of heat seemed to emanate from the room compared to their previous encounter.
“What kind of smoke are you inhaling? You should take care of your health a bit,.
“My condition doesn’t worsen from things like that, and taking medicine doesn’t make it any better either.”
“So, you’re just giving up? If you want to keep creating things before you die, take good care of yourself. You’ll regret it if you make disappointing equipment.”
Shin Dowon looked bewildered by Seora’s words. Despite his reaction, Seora emptied the ash from his pipe onto the floor. “We made a contract, remember? Take care of yourself until then.”
Shin Dowon sighed as he gazed at his pipe, filled with regret, but he didn’t reach for it again. “I did choose to partner with quite a scary person. It seems you’ve brought another guest today.”
“It’s Seong Jarim. I’d be grateful if you could craft a piece of armor for her to use.”
Shin Dowon raised an eyebrow. “You’re quite bold with your requests.”
“Why do people seek out blacksmiths? They’re looking for things that will keep them alive.”
“That’s right. I came because Seora said she’d give it to me for free. Please do your best. She’s got plenty of money, so don’t worry, use expensive materials to make it impressive!”
Shin Dowon’s bewildered gaze shifted from Seora to Seong Jarim. “Impressive. I thought nobody could push Yun Seora around, but you’re managing it.”
“Well, I’m Seora’s friend!”
“You have an impressive friend indeed.”
“That’s right!”
With a proud smile, Seong Jarim embraced Seora tightly. Witnessing the close bond between the two friends, Shin Dowon couldn’t help but smile. “Since your combat styles appear quite different, let’s start by assessing Yun Seora’s stuff and then we can work on yours.”
Shin Dowon led the two of them into his workshop. On one wall, there hung a neatly repaired Regeneration Jacket and a matching black combat outfit. It was evident that he had taken great care to design them as a set.
Impressed with the design, Seora picked up the combat outfit and asked, “Is this mine?”
“Yes, that’s for you. I tailored it to your combat style, prioritizing mobility, without heavy armor that might slow you down.”
The combat outfit designed by Shin Dowon comprised a sleek black top and pants. Its design bore a resemblance to techwear, and it seamlessly complemented the Regeneration Jacket. It was evident that he had paid meticulous attention to detail.
“I always thought blacksmiths only crafted armor.”
“You think I’m some kind of blacksmith from the Three Kingdoms era? Besides, my deity…”
His voice trailed off abruptly, and Seora, who had already seen his information, understood what he was about to say. Hephaestus, the deity associated with blacksmithing, was, in fact, known for creating a wide range of items, from jewelry to dresses. It was only natural that Shin Dowon, his contractee, possessed similar versatile abilities.
“Looking at the condition of the Regeneration Jacket, it seems its durability has been reduced. You must have been affected as well.”
Shin Dowon seemed reluctant to delve into that topic and swiftly changed the conversation. Seora simply nodded in agreement.
“Oh, right.”
The dragon’s impact had been substantial, but the Regeneration Jacket had absorbed most of it, sparing her from more severe injuries.
“So, I focused on crafting your combat outfit to be lightweight for enhanced mobility, while also reinforcing its defense and durability. With your current weapon, your offensive capabilities are already more than adequate.”
Seora nodded. “That’s true.”
Given the substantial destructive power of her EX-class Hit, it made more sense to prioritize defense rather than further enhance her offense. Especially since she was a versatile DPS capable of handling both close and long-range combat.
“With the scales from the Labyrinth owner you provided as materials, this outfit should be far sturdier than most armor.”
During her previous visit, Seora had provided Shin Dowon with a collection of items to use as crafting materials. Among them were the dragon scales she had acquired by defeating the Dragon of Revelation.
Seong Jarim’s eyes widened as she examined Seora’s combat outfit, her touch filled with envy. “You made a combat outfit from dragon scales? Seriously?”
“Dragon scales must have been difficult to work with. Thank you for your hard work.”
“Blacksmiths aren’t just anyone, you know. It’s not like I’m dealing with scales from a live dragon; these are from a deceased one.”
As she considered it, Shin Dowon’s blacksmith title was S-class, despite being an A-class Awakened. The fact that he had retained this title even after ending his contract with Hephaestus spoke to his exceptional skills.
As expected, the administrator wouldn’t recommend just anyone.
【Administrator: (◞ꈍ∇ꈍ)】
“The design is fantastic, and it complements the Regeneration Jacket perfectly. Thank you, Shin Dowon-ssi.”
Seora emerged from the room after donning the combat outfit. It felt tough and robust, in contrast to the softness against her skin. Crafted from dragon scales, it was undoubtedly going to be a substantial asset in future Labyrinth conquests.
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