“It was quite fascinating. I’ve heard about a subtype of the Cockatrice that possessed these features, but this is my first time seeing one in person.”
“No… How… How can it change like this…?”
Bottleneck flashed a dashing smile, even making an analogy to a Cockatrice, a monster that is a combination of a snake and a chicken. Probably because for him as well, it wasn’t an everyday occurrence to come across such a unique ingredient item.
However, Leeha had no choice but to be a bit flustered.
“Just take it, will you! In terms of ‘defence’, darn it, I swear by the God of the Anvil, I’ve never seen anything superior to this! How in the world did those damned dinosaurs look like!”
“Ah, yes. So first-“
Leeha awkwardly received the shield made of two pieces of Toon’s carapace fused together.
Even while listening to Bottleneck’s explanation, Leeha couldn’t fully focus on his words. He was utterly captivated by the appearance of the shield.
“-and that’s as far as we could check, but we couldn’t unlock any further abilities. The person who you intends to give this is Master Kay, right? That Templar who looked so clueless has now become a Holy Knight… Anyway, he might be able to pull it off. Did you get that?”
“Huh? Yes? Oh, yes. Kay will figure it out.”“That’s not what I mean-“
“He’s gotta try it to know. Thank you, sir! I’ll make sure to stop by Kay and express my gratitude as well!”
After leaving Bottleneck’s forge, the next destination was where Kay and Ram Hwayeon were located. Leeha wore a bewildered and amused expression, somewhat out of his senses.
“Kay! Ram Hwayeon-ssi! What brings you two together?”
“Hyung!”
“Ah, hello?”
Leeha arrived at the Ezwen capital. A significant number of low-level users from Fibiel, who had low affinity with Ezwen, had been expelled from there. The place was still in the process of sorting out the mess, causing much confusion, and that’s where Kay and Ram Hwayeon were found.
“It’s… because of that.”
“The Conclave?”
“Yes. Can’t leave the capital of Ezwen until it’s over. I thought they usually lock you up inside the papal building. At least I should be thankful they let me move around here.”
Kay gave a wry smile and self-mockingly commented. Though he had successfully transitioned to a Holy Knight, at the moment of his class change, he had been assaulted by Ghibrid and had logged out. Upon logging back in, he found the Pope, who had appointed him as a Holy Knight, had already passed away in a rather absurd turn of events.
Even Leeha felt Kay’s fate seemed bitterly twisted.
“So, Ram Hwayeon-ssi is-”
“As the sole representative of Fibiel here, where could I go? Naturally, I should be here. There’s some information we need to share with each other.”
“Share? You and Kay?”
Ram Hwayeon nodded with a warm smile.
Ram Hwayeon: It’s about the change of the Guards’ captain. Fibiel’s eyes are fully turned towards the New Continent now.”
Leeha: What?
Ram Hwayeon: You know my connections with the royal family are quite strong, right? One of the most viable options is the formation of a so-called ‘Kaztor Search Party’.”
There were many opinions on who would succeed as guard captain, how the Sacred Knights would react, and so forth. Among these many opinions, what choice would Fibiel’s king make?
Leeha was quite curious about this, and Ram Hwayeon had somewhat figured out what was in the king’s hands.
Leeha looked surprised, to which Ram Hwayeon shrugged her shoulders.
Ram Hwayeon: Why are you so surprised? It’s obvious. With the Kaztor Incident, a considerable number of knights dispatched to the New Continent have returned. Currently, only a handful of people are defending the ‘Divine Staff’. Do you think Ezwen will just stand by and watch this situation? They need to send some very important people’ to the New Continent to make Fibiel accountable. Although it’s a form of ‘punitive pressure’, it’s the best Ezwen can do for now, at least from Cardinal Romero’s point of view.
Leeha: …I see. Weakening Fibiel’s national power in the Old Continent, but on the flip side, doing so would–provide a reason for other countries to dispatch their knights to the New Continent again. You’ve become quite perceptive, haven’t you? Well, this is all assuming Cardinal Romero becomes the Pope.
Ram Hwayeon looked at Leeha with an impressed expression.
That is to say, the so-called ‘Kaztor Search Party’, while partly a result of Fibiel’s own volition, was largely influenced by external pressure and international situations—essentially, a ‘determined future’.
‘Who’s going to be part of the ‘Kaztor Search Party’?
Ram Hwayeon: It’s still a secret, but the general framework is set.
Leeha: So, who? Who is –
As Leeha pressed for an answer with an insistent gaze, Ram Hwayeon shook her head with a decidedly ominous expression.
Leeha: Why? Why won’t you answer – Ah… Ah, right. I didn’t come here to ask this, totally slipped my mind. Hehe.
Leeha quickly realized his mistake.
Wasn’t this just figuring out what he wanted to know and then ending up embarrassed about it?
Knowing this would disappoint Ram Hwayeon, who had expectations from him!
Not wanting to disappoint Ram Hwayeon again for such reasons, Leeha hurriedly changed the subject and rummaged through his bag.
“What are you up to, hyung? You two seem to be whispering about something fierce.”
“Just wait a bit, dude. I’ve got something for you.”
Leeha then pulled out a dagger he had made from the claw of Toon. Ram Hwayeon stared at it icily. But even then, she didn’t soften her expression.
Flashing a smile upon receiving a gift? Ram Hwayeon wasn’t one to exhibit such ‘novice’ behavior.
“Here, Ram Hwayeon-ssi. Always being so helpful, and I haven’t much to give but.”
“……. Is this for me?”
‘Wouldn’t dare say, with you singing that song so eagerly, I couldn’t stand not giving it to you!’
But Leeha was no fool to verbalize such thoughts. With a bright smile, Leeha nodded affirmatively.
“Of course. Ram Hwayeon-ssi, I made this especially for you. Only for you. Will you accept it?”
His words were not untrue; after feeling hesitant about giving the claw as is, he had commissioned Bottleneck to process it.
However, the understanding Ram Hwayeon derived from Leeha’s words was perfectly divergent.
Ram Hwayeon bowed her head deeply, as if the phrase “I made it especially for you” allowed sufficient interpretation, making Kijung suddenly fan his face.
Kijung: Ts, ts, ts-
Leeha: Ts? What’s up all of a sudden? Got a problem with your tongue?
Kijung wanted to ask, “Do you know what you’re implying? Giving a claw instead of a ring and saying stuff like that?”
But Leeha quieted him with just a glare.
…
“Thanks.”
“Huh?”
Leeha couldn’t catch Ram Hwayeon’s whisper of gratitude, quieter than the sound of ants marching.
As Leeha approached, Ram Hwayeon abruptly raised her head and voice.
“Thanks-my-foot! Given all I’ve taught you till now, it’s a steal! Right? A pretty and kind castle lord who meticulously hands out Castle Dale’s earnings day by day – where else would you find one in this world! Right?”
No sooner had she started hitting Leeha’s back did she pivot away, leaving Leeha unable to hide his astonishment.
‘This woman? Makes a fuss even when given! Should’ve not bothered giving! Wish I’d hit a bit harder!’
Kijung, from just a look at Leeha’s face, could tell what was on his mind. Thus, with a face full of sympathy, he couldn’t help but look at Ram Hwayeon’s back.
“Ah, Kijung, this is for you.”
“Huh? For me?”
Just as Kijung was about to say, “Must be tough on you,” to Ram Hwayeon, Leeha pulled out another item from his bag.
“Heh, look at this, ta-da!”
“…… Hyung? What is this?”
“A shield.”
“Uh, a shield? This is? Made from the spine of the Demon King?”
Kijung’s reaction sent Leeha into fits of laughter. The reason Leeha had been amazed at the Bottleneck smithy was precisely this. The shield, with its jet-black color revealing the form of bone, attracted attention from users passing through Ezwen capital, making them stop and stare.
“Look, that person – He’s the [Toon Slayer]… It’s Leeha.”
“Toon Slayer? Him? So, that means it’s made from the materials obtained from killing Toon?”
“Wow, what’s that? Just having it seems like it would decrease your affinity with Ezwen.”
“Should we ask?”
“Are you crazy? That person is a [Holy Knight]! Don’t get cocky and end up getting hit, just stay here!”
“And look, it’s Ram Long Group’s young mistress in their company!”
“Why are the three of them here? No, let’s take a screenshot first!”
“Idiot, you think you won’t get caught?”
The murmurs of the users reached Leeha, Kijung, and Ram Hwayeon. Initially attracted by the item, users began raising their voices upon recognizing Leeha and Kijung, eventually leading to mention of Ram Hwayeon who was with them.
“Phew, Leeha, do you even think? What are you doing bringing out such an eye-catching item here?”
“I didn’t expect it to draw this much attention. Really, if it’s not Gaza City, it’s hard to have a peaceful conversation anywhere. Being famous is tiring.”
“That’s exactly what I want to say, hyung. You and Lady Ram Hwayeon at least have your families to return to… I’m just down on my luck. Without the Safe House of Byulcho, I wouldn’t have a place to hide.”
Is being famous a good thing? At least the three of them had no interest in this question. They were people who felt not even a flicker of excitement for the benefits or pleasures of fame.
“Here, take it! If Kijung carries it around, it will definitely catch eyes! Stop complaining and take it!”
“But, what’s with this dark thing? What is it?”
“It’s made from Toon’s bones. When processed, it turned black. Hehe, it’s not like Toon was some rare breed of chicken. Well, dinosaurs are ancestors of chickens, so maybe it’s somewhat related?”
This was one of Bottleneck’s explanations. Among the subspecies of the chimera-like monster cockatrice, there are those with jet-black bones. These creatures, whose bones, feathers, and even the snake’s body turn black, are discriminated against and hated even among their own kind, eventually leaving to live alone.
“However… such individuals possess much greater power than ordinary monsters.”
While listening to Bottleneck’s explanations about cockatrices and their subspecies, Leeha suddenly remembered something. The outcast of the Saurus race. Maybe this was also a reason why Toon had to leave his homeland.
“Well, until we meet another Saurus, it’s hard to know for sure. But it wasn’t just the color that attracted attention. As Kijung and other users marveled, the shield made from Toon’s breastplate literally preserved the texture of the bone, adding another unique aspect.
“The shield I’m currently using is the Tower Shield, not a Kite Shield with this awkward Heater Shield shape… Ugh, of course it’s good since you’re giving it, but this is something beginner tanks would use-“
“Shut it! Just try holding it!”
Kijung, looking quite reluctant. There was already nothing lacking in the performance of the shield he had enhanced through Bottleneck, but he had issues with the shield’s type not fitting his combat style.
The Tower Shield, a huge rectangle blocking a significant portion of the user’s body. Kite Shields, resembling stingrays but slightly more rounded, offer length.
Not just the top, in the worst case, stooping low could perfectly shield even below the knees with them. But a Heater Shield?
It was somewhat awkward, named for its resemblance to the bottom of an iron, like a Kite Shield chopped off. If it weren’t for the grotesque appearance of being made from Toon’s bones, even Leeha might have been flustered by its clumsy look.
TL’s Corner:
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