Chapter 26 (Continued)

 

It

 

It was a process to determine if the applicant was suitable to use the forged weapon. It only took place when forging weapons with gold or platinum mileage.

 

In simple game terms, it felt like checking if my level surpassed the level restriction on the equipment.

 

If not, it could also determine by how much I fell short.

 

It was a much more detailed measurement method than the usual magic power measurements done at the academy.

 

I placed my hand on the panel in front of me.

 

The measuring device connected to the panel turned blue, and soon…

 

Zzzt.

 

The screen displayed some noise.

 

[Magic power grade, measurement fail…. Anomalies detected…. Please wait a moment….]

 

The AI’s voice was choppy.

 

The lights were flickering continuously.

 

‘What? What’s going on?’

 

As I was bewildered, the screen and lights soon stabilized as if the incident had been a simple glitch, and the measurement results appeared on the screen.

 

[ Measurement Results ]

 

─ Attribute: Lightning

 

─ Suitability: S+

 

[We deeply apologize for the confusion caused. The magic power measurement results indicate that the suitability is graded as S+, the highest grade. There will be no issues in using the equipment. You will be able to handle it as if it were part of your body.]

 

Huh?

 

‘Suitability grade S+? For platinum equipment?’

 

According to the academy’s measurements, my magic power grade was B+.
It was quite high, but not to the extent that would warrant the highest suitability grade.

 

‘…This must also be due to the Magic Cultivation Technique.’

 

I immediately understood the reason.

 

I knew very well that the quality of my magic power was good.

 

I had been mastering the Magic Cultivation Technique since infancy.

 

This must also be its effect.

 

It’s extremely rare to grasp the Magic Cultivation Technique in childhood.

 

To my knowledge, the only person who managed that was Goliath, who could be considered the final boss of my plan. I had simply emulated Goliath and repeated the Magic Cultivation Technique.

 

Such a thing couldn’t be done just because someone told you to. It was like trying to teach a baby just learning to babble differential and integral calculus.

 

Even so, I hadn’t expected the suitability to come out this high.

 

“Hm….”

 

Facing such a situation, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride.

 

It’s like feeling like the protagonist of a comic book.

 

As my shoulders began to rise, reality reminded me that I hadn’t even reached the 5th tier yet, urging me not to get arrogant.

 

[Next is the payment stage. The estimated cost is 100 platinum mileage. Please scan the payment barcode.]

 

The price was determined based on the materials, weapon size, and forging difficulty.

 

When the sample was presented, the price was also shown, so I configured the reference to exactly match the 100 platinum mileage I had.

 

Since I was going to get good equipment, it made sense to use all the mileage.

 

Beep.

 

I scanned the payment barcode from the mileage app at the scanner to complete the payment.

 

[Alright, the order has been accepted. The estimated time for forging the platinum-grade weapon is approximately two weeks.]

 

Most blacksmith AIs complete forging within one week to one month.

 

So why aren’t they mass-produced?

 

Because forging platinum-grade equipment requires a huge cost and rare materials. Thus, indiscriminate mass production was practically impossible.

 

[You will receive a text message once the forging is complete. If you do not claim the forged weapon within one month from then, it will be recycled, and the mileage will not be refunded. Please keep this in mind. Thank you very much for using Deus Atelier. Have a pleasant day.]

 

The friendly AI on the screen bowed and disappeared.

 

The screen then displayed the logo of Deus Atelier.

 

Clank.

 

A receipt emerged from the machine.

 

It was a card.

 

‘Ah, they give these too.’

 

A fancy receipt card symbolizing platinum grade.

 

The design was satisfying.

 

It was just a symbolic card.

 

Even without this card, I could still retrieve the forged weapon.

 

Still, I couldn’t help but smile slightly.

 

“Vice-Leader, behold the splendor of this platinum card.”

 

I waved the receipt card at Baek-seo proudly. It was my attempt at a joke.

 

“…….”

 

“?”

 

Why… so silent?

 

It was making me uncomfortable.

 

An awkward silence ensued for a moment.

 

Baek-seo seemed to be lost in thought.

 

“Baek-seo?”

 

“Yeah. Congratulations, Leader.”

 

Baek-seo regained her smile and stood up.

 

“Shall we go now?”

 

“…Yeah, let’s.”

 

What could she have been thinking so deeply about?

 

With the pride of having my own weapon being forged, I followed Baek-seo out of the workshop, feeling a bit puzzled about her behavior.

 

* * *

 

Ahn Woo-jin.

 

He possessed far superior magic power compared to others in the same tier, and his combat abilities were also exceptional.

 

However, it wasn’t just that Woo-jin was stronger than average.

 

More than that.

 

Baek-seo considered Woo-jin to be an anomaly.

 

Baek-seo walked through New Yongsan Street with Woo-jin.

 

She kept displaying her usual kind smile and chatted with Woo-jin. But in her mind, she was still fixated on the suitability assessment result from the workshop.

 

‘Suitability rating of the highest grade for platinum equipment….’

 

Baek-seo gave a wry smile.

 

It was unbelievable.

 

The sword she wore at her waist, ‘Baekryundo,’ was a platinum-grade magical weapon.

 

Even as a genius touted as one of a kind, her initial suitability rating for Baekryundo had been B+. That alone was a level most people would admire.

 

But Woo-jin received an S+ rating.

 

The term “unparalleled” seemed insufficient to describe it.

 

‘Woo-jin really is a monster.’

 

It wasn’t news.

 

She had always felt that Woo-jin had the potential to become stronger than herself.

 

Especially when she sensed his magic power up close.

 

The purity that facilitated smooth magic circulation, the density that controlled firepower—both were astonishingly high.

 

If all this was summed up as ‘potential for growth,’ Woo-jin’s future strength would surpass any imagination.

 

‘…It would have been better if he had average talent.’

 

This was her honest thought that she couldn’t voice.

 

Whenever she realized Woo-jin’s talent, an old woman came to mind.

 

A detestable woman who coveted talented students, including Goliath, the strongest in Academy City.

 

Baek-seo’s eyes turned cold.

 

Her resolve hadn’t changed since last year.

 

If that old woman set her sights on Woo-jin,
Baek-seo would stop her at all costs.

 

At that moment.

 

“Baek-seo.”

 

Thunk. Woo-jin grabbed Baek-seo’s wrist.

 

Her reverie was broken.

 

“Leader?”

 

“Let’s change directions quietly over there.”

 

Woo-jin’s expression had grown serious.

 

Before Baek-seo could ask why, Woo-jin spoke in a low voice.

 

“There’s a villain.”

 

Meanwhile.

 

On a hill.

 

A girl with silver hair watched New Yongsan Street.

 

She wore a black mask over her mouth.

 

The name tag on her chest read ‘Kim Yeon-hee,’ an alias.

 

She was Kim Dalbi.

 

Her pink and red eyes tracked a student through a small telescope.

 

‘Bomber… There he is.’

 

The boy visible through the telescope was a villain.

 

Nicknamed ‘Bomber.’

 

He must have received an assassination contract from the old woman.

 

His target was likely Ahn Woo-jin.

 

Dalbi had wanted to subdue Bomber in advance, but finding him had been difficult.

 

Now that he was in her sight, she wouldn’t lose him again.

 

‘Woo-jin doesn’t seem to be leaving yet.’

 

She had already anticipated Woo-jin’s visit to New Yongsan Street.

 

Since Woo-jin received platinum mileage, it was obvious he’d want to use it as soon as possible, and he wouldn’t have had time during weekdays due to his duties as Disciplinary Committee Leader.

 

Although Baek-seo, who accompanied him, was a concern, that was a problem for later.

 

Woo-jin likely had no idea that Bomber was targeting him or what he even looked like.

 

That’s why Dalbi was on a mission to visit the platinum store today.

 

Bomber might strike amidst the crowd, targeting Woo-jin.

 

No matter how strong Baek-seo was, it would be difficult to fully protect Woo-jin from a skilled villain’s sudden attack.

 

“…….”

 

Bomber’s movements were unnatural.

 

It was the right moment to catch him.

 

Dalbi moved.