Only after seeing authentication shots of “Meteor Lord Skin,” styling lookbooks, and shared shopping malls where people could buy items before they sold out appearing on HunterNet day after day, and only after seeing the so-called “following Meteor Lord” trend take off, could Seonghyeon finally feel completely relieved.
When he had encountered another Hunter, his face had been covered, and it was true that the man had not recognized him clearly.
However, since the feature of a gray hoodie and jeans had been remembered, there had still been a small concern left.
Should he wear different clothes when entering dungeons now……?
But if other Hunters were wearing similar outfits, then there was no need for that, was there?
‘I almost threw away clothes I even used Enhancement Vouchers on…….’
He was originally the type who had trouble throwing things away.
Since the hoodie and pants were combat outfits that had been through several dungeons with him, he had grown even more attached to them and decided to keep wearing them from now on.
Then Seonghyeon opened his Inventory.
【Inventory】
Low-Grade Magic Stones 151,967
Dire Wolf Claws 43
Soul Fragments 27
Honed Goblin Dagger 1
Mo Enchantress’s Cloak 1
Giant Bull Hide 4
Item Enhancement Voucher: Recognition Interference 3
Skeleton Bone Fragments 103
Skill Enhancement Voucher 1
Various pieces of loot had appeared again.
It seemed he would have to organize them all sometime soon.
?!
Seonghyeon doubted his eyes at the unexpected item.
‘A Skill Enhancement Voucher? Why did another one appear?’
It was the Skill Enhancement Voucher he had obtained from robbing the Burang Party’s warehouse last time.
He had used that and obtained “Spirit Form,” which had allowed him to take first place in Ghost Mansion as well.
And yet it had dropped from this dungeon…….
He was not certain, but he had heard its drop rate was estimated to be less than 0.001%.
Seonghyeon did not know whether he should be feeling the reality of Meteor’s tremendous power, or his own disgustingly good luck.
‘I did increase Meteor’s size when I came out of the dungeon…….’
Seonghyeon immediately took the Skill Enhancement Voucher out of his Inventory.
It was an item he could use whenever he wanted.
But if he saved it up, it would only become more awkward to use, so he had no choice but to use it right away.
“Use.”
[Would you like to use “Skill Enhancement Voucher”?]
■ Applicable Target: Skill Meteor
The Skill Enhancement Voucher dissolved into light without delay.
[Meteor (EX), level has increased.]
[Meteor (EX), please select a Level 8 reward.]
Size Increase: Diameter 10 cm
Speed Increase: 5 km/s
Passive Unlock: [ACDS]
‘Huh?’
This time, another new ability stood out in the skill level-up.
A passive. As the name implied, it was something used automatically when conditions were met, regardless of the Hunter’s intention.
It was a rare ability, to the point that there were said to be only a few Hunters who had unlocked one even at higher ranks.
However, the problem was,
‘Damn it. How am I supposed to know what it is if you tell me in English without any context?’
He could not see detailed information about an ability while selecting it as a reward.
Since passives had such a wide variety of abilities, compatibility with the skill was said to be the most important part…….
But from the name alone, he could not predict at all what kind of ability this passive had.
So he had no choice but to decide in the familiar way.
‘Whatever. I will pick it first and see.’
With that thought, Seonghyeon made a bold choice.
After all, this method had never been wrong so far.
『Meteor (EX)』
Level: 8 (1▲)
Details: ……
Skill Mechanism:
……
Material – Iron Meteorite
Diameter – 30 cm
Speed – 10 km/s
Traits – Precision, Long-Range Sniping, Plunder, Spirit Form
Passive – ACDS (New!): Automatic Close-in Defence System. Automatically drops Meteor on enemies that approach the user with hostile intent within a certain range, defeating or subduing them.
The passive’s identity was an automatic close-in defence system.
For famous upper-rank Hunters, it was an incredible passive that would be highly effective.
After all, their identities tended to be relatively widely known, and they had quite a few enemies, including Villains, Guilds, and other Hunters.
However, Seonghyeon felt somewhat dissatisfied.
‘No, something completely useless came out.’
In truth, if he used his skill from where he stood, he would have no reason to meet monsters.
And although he had somehow become entangled with Eraser and the Burang Party, there was no way for them to know his identity, so there was no chance the passive would activate.
‘I have no intention of becoming famous, so who would target me……?’
Seonghyeon smacked his lips in disappointment.
He had strengthened the skill, but like this, it still somehow felt lacking.
A lingering desire remained to raise his specs further somehow.
Then a post on HunterNet, which was still open, caught his eye.
[Sharing a place where you can make high-performance Meteor Lord Skin]
Author: Skeon
If you look around the production complex formed near the Incheon market, there is a sign called “Daeseong Manufacturing” on the largest-looking building.
That place is a production workshop run by Master Gu Yeong-gil, who awakened in the early days of the Cataclysm. It seems Hunters these days do not know about him.
Before upper-rank Hunters left Korea, this man was in charge of making equipment for three places: Exceed, Entropy, and Steel Guild.
The mood in our country seems to be gradually rising these days, so I am leaving this information because I want us to boom together.
※Caution: Master Gu has strong charisma, so he may feel a little frightening.
Some people who awakened non-combat skills, such as production or buffing, gathered in certain regions and formed workshop complexes.
And there was one large industrial complex in Incheon as well, not too far from Ansan.
‘Oh, right. I am still a Hunter. I cannot have no equipment at all. I can raise my specs too.’
For Seonghyeon, that information was tempting at the perfect time.
Even if people accepted his outfit as Meteor Lord Skin, having no other equipment at all could still be suspicious.
Even if only for disguise, he needed to prepare a few pieces of equipment.
-IBOY: Scout party/retreat. I got chased out by the master like a dog.
└Oolong Tea: ? Why did you get chased out?
└IBOY: No idea. I asked him to make a hoodie and jeans, and he told me to get lost because he had already made a lot and had no intention of making more.
└Skeon: Damn, I did not know because I got mine made. I should delete the post.
-Soon-God: Damn, I already left. What are these comments?
-Ingshell: Hahaha, since you already left, talk to him about making something else. His skill is otherworldly.
‘Oho, look at that artisan spirit.’
Seeing the comments on the post made him feel even more trust.
After all, he was not trying to have a hoodie and jeans made anyway.
Seonghyeon immediately checked the route there.
One hour and thirty minutes by public transportation. The location was also a perfectly reasonable distance for a Gyeonggi-do resident.
***
A production workshop with a somewhat rough exterior.
Daeseong Manufacturing, where the sound of hammering would have rung out even five years ago.
After a series of incidents caused many Hunters to leave, it had somehow become a quiet workshop occasionally visited only by those in the know.
Well, recently, quite a few Hunters had been visiting.
“Get out!”
“Wh-Why are you doing this?”
“What? A hoodie? Jeans? I do not make that crap, so get out already!”
Gu Yeong-gil’s artisan spirit did not tolerate such Hunters for even a moment.
Of course, when he had received the first request for a hoodie and jeans, he had found the unusual approach interesting and fun.
But when about one hundred people had already asked him to make the same thing, it grew extremely irritating.
‘What even is this Meteor Lord? Equipment must contain philosophy, as a matter of course…….’
That was what production meant to Gu Yeong-gil.
It had to be optimized to match a Hunter’s unique skill and characteristics.
Not a single item should be the same as another.
‘Well, all those romantic fellows have already left.’
Like that, the fire in Gu Yeong-gil’s heart was gradually dying down like his furnace.
Ding!
Then another Hunter entered the workshop.
It was Yoo Seonghyeon, Meteor Lord himself, whose outfit other Hunters were trying to imitate.
“…….”
“Hello? Are you Master Gu?”
As soon as he entered the workshop, Seonghyeon recognized Gu Yeong-gil.
With his rough, rugged appearance and stubborn expression, he looked exactly like someone who could be called a master artisan.
However,
‘Why is he glaring at me like that……?’
Perhaps something bad had happened, because Master Gu was staring straight through Seonghyeon.
Then, after a moment, a warning came.
“If you came here looking for a hoodie and jeans, simply turn around and leave.”
“……Y-Yes?”
Because the warning came so abruptly, as if the man would throw him out immediately, Seonghyeon was briefly flustered.
Then he remembered the HunterNet post saying the master might be a little frightening and understood why it had said that.
However, he had not come to buy a hoodie or jeans.
“Ah, I did not come looking for that…….”
He explained his purpose and looked over the armor, weapons, and accessories displayed in the workshop.
All the equipment was clean, without a single speck of dust.
‘He really is a master artisan…….’
It likely meant that, regardless of price, he treated the things he made sincerely.
Seonghyeon’s trust in Master Gu gradually rose.
“Ahem. Looking does not cost money, so take your time.”
He seemed a little tsundere too…….
Soon, Seonghyeon was able to find equipment with options he liked in Master Gu’s showroom.
【Special Composite Breastplate】
A breastplate made of special composite material created with maker Gu Yeong-gil’s unique technique. Durable yet light, specialized for mobility.
Maker: Gu Yeong-gil
Defence +5%
Movement Speed +2%
‘Oh, armor with Movement Speed too…….’
It had higher defence than equipment known on HunterNet as the standard armor.
On top of that, Movement Speed was a spec not usually seen on ordinary equipment.
But the price was only 1,500 Magic Stones.
It was only 500 more than ordinary items.
While Seonghyeon was admiring and inspecting the equipment, Master Gu had somehow approached and stood beside him.
“How does it look?”
“Wow, such good equipment…… Is the price written here correct?”
At that, Gu Yeong-gil showed a broad grin.
Then he took out arm guards and leg guards with the same name attached from somewhere.
【Special Composite Gauntlets】
Gauntlets made of special composite material created with maker Gu Yeong-gil’s unique technique. Durable yet light, specialized for quick movements.
Maker: Gu Yeong-gil
Defence +5%
Attack Speed +2%
【Special Composite Greaves】
Greaves made of special composite material created with maker Gu Yeong-gil’s unique technique. Durable yet light, specialized for quick movements.
Maker: Gu Yeong-gil
Defence +5%
Evasion Rate +2%
“If worn as a set, the options increase further. They are 700 and 800 respectively.”
Each of them had clean, useful options for avoiding Meteor.
If the whole set was thirty million won in total, not buying it would practically be wrong.
“They are excellent. I will take all of them.”
“You are different from the Hunters these days. That will be three thousand.”
“Ah, there are a few more things I need.”
“What? More?”
Magical damage from the spiritualized Meteor was also dangerous, and he had to be careful of knockback caused by shock waves.
So he added a necklace worth twenty million won with a Magic Resistance option.
Shoes worth ten million won with a Knockback Resistance option.
And even two rings worth 1,500 each, with options attached to ensure Recognition Interference.
After including them all on the purchase list, the cost roughly came to ninety million won.
‘Then this is quite a cost-effective expense, is it not?’
It was not a small cost. Including the time he had purchased elixirs, it was the largest expense he had ever made.
But for equipment of this level, this price was enough to call it cost-effective.
Seonghyeon opened his Inventory to pay.
But then,
“Wait. Young Hunter, what is your name?”
Master Gu suddenly stopped Seonghyeon’s hand and asked.
“Ah, I am Yoo Seonghyeon.”
“Hunter Yoo, your eye for equipment is extraordinary. It certainly feels regretful to let you spend money like this.”
The conversation developed in a completely unexpected direction.
He had been perfectly satisfied with the items he had purchased, so what could there be to regret?
Even though Seonghyeon had chosen exactly the equipment he had in mind, the master artisan was the one who felt regretful.
“I felt inspired after seeing you, so please visit once more. At that time, I will prepare custom-made items for you. And this.”
“Yes? Custom equipment?”
Together with the promise that he would make even better items for him, Master Gu held out several items.
【Disposable Barrier-Generating Ring】, 【Disposable Status Effect Resistance Bracelet】, 【Equipment Durability Recovery Voucher ×10】
‘Huh, is he not giving me too much?’
“With this much, it should be worth the regretful portion of the price.”
Seonghyeon paid nine thousand Magic Stones for the equipment he purchased.
However, because the master artisan himself felt regretful, Seonghyeon was able to leave the workshop with even more added on.