The moment I was about to say, "For now, the earring… would be better for Yun-Jung to have," I immediately shut my mouth. My companions knew that I had Secret Class and possessed special abilities related to fire, but they didn't know about my Third Eye. If I started rattling off the details of the equipment here, it would naturally raise suspicions, but arbitrarily distributing them didn't look good either. After dragging out the "ee" sound for a moment, I continued with a calm expression. I had prepared for this moment, after all.
"…and the other items should probably be appraised first. If we use them carelessly and they're cursed, it'll be a headache."
"I think I have a rough idea about the earring. From the traces of wind-based magic, it seems related to the wearer's agility. But the other two items…"
"Ha-Yeong-ssi, have you perhaps forgotten what kind of items you've put in the bag you're carrying?"
Ha-Yeong, who had been tilting her head with a troubled expression, blinked a few times at my words. Then, she spun the bag on her back to the front and let out a short exclamation with her mouth agape.
"Oh! I completely forgot about the item appraisal scrolls. Look at me, so absent-minded. You could've reminded me earlier."
"I forgot about them too," I replied honestly.
With that, she opened her backpack and rummaged through it, carefully pulling out three ochre-colored scrolls. Before setting out on the expedition, we had stocked up on small quantities of various items we thought might be useful, and I felt relieved that they were coming in handy now.
Ha-Yeong spread the scrolls on the ground and cautiously placed the newly acquired items on top of them one by one. As she muttered "Goods Appraisal" between her delicate lips, light seeped out from the scrolls, bathing the items above in a yellow glow.
The process didn't take long. For about ten seconds, the light that had been coloring the items gradually faded, as if being sucked back into the scrolls. Considering we had bought fairly high-quality scrolls, I noticed that they were densely packed with text, which made them seem worth the money.
She handed the scrolls to me right away, and I took them, reading through them slowly. They weren't as detailed as what my Third Eye could see, but they were close enough. After briefly assessing the equipment and my companions, I decided it was best to distribute them as I had initially thought. So, I picked up the earring first and read the description aloud.
"Earring of Wind. It is said that a wind spirit resided in it for a long time. When worn, it grants the power of the wind, allowing the wearer to move more swiftly and gain a wider field of vision than usual. As Ha-Yeong-ssi mentioned earlier, it affects agility, but it's better to think of it as enhancing quickness rather than raw stats."
I finished speaking and glanced around at my companions. Their expressions weren't bad. In particular, the eyes of the female members seemed to glimmer with subtle anticipation. The water-colored earring in my hand was undeniably beautiful in appearance. Whether in the modern world or on the Hall Plain, there were few humans or players who disliked adorning themselves. It was just a matter of degree.
"Yun-Jung, this earring would be better for you to use."
"Woo-hoo!"
At my call, Yun-Jung let out a cheer and rushed toward me. I lightly sidestepped her charge, then tossed the earring high into the air. Like a seal catching a fish thrown by its trainer, she leaped up and snatched the earring mid-air. That took care of one item. The next up was the Jewel of Amplification.
"This jewel is an auxiliary magical equipment made in ancient times. It's used by being imprinted on the body, somewhat similar to a tattoo. Of course, it can be removed at any time, so don't worry too much. It significantly speeds up the flow of internal mana, increases the purity of mana, and reduces the mana consumption when casting spells."
"Does it say exactly how much of an effect it provides?"
"It doesn't go into that much detail. However, the jewel itself is of high grade, and being an item from ancient times, it's likely far superior to the mass-produced equipment available now."
I answered as I held out the jewel to her. Ha-Yeong stared at me blankly as I offered it, then faltered, stammering.
"W-Wait, I didn't mean I wanted it or anything."
"I know. But the player best suited for this jewel is you, Ha-Yeong-ssi. I was planning to give it to you anyway, so don't feel burdened."
She was already capable of using Double Casting, Memorize, and rapid incantations. Adding the Jewel of Amplification would make all those abilities even more efficient. Up until now, Ha-Yeong had been two or three steps ahead of other magic players of her level. But with this jewel, she'd widen that gap even further. She'd be able to complete spells faster and cast more powerful magic. I was genuinely curious to see what she'd achieve going forward.
Ha-Yeong hesitated for a moment but eventually reached out and gently took the jewel. I handed her the scroll as well, advising that since external imprinting takes some time, it'd be better to do it back in the city after the expedition. She nodded quietly in response. A subtle expression crossed her face, but the faint smile on her lips and the way she carefully tucked the jewel into her embrace suggested she was quite pleased.
Now, only one item remained. In my personal evaluation, it was the best of the three items we'd obtained. The Shield of Defend was a high-level defensive spell typically used by priests. Nothing else mattered—its ability to act autonomously gave this orb immense value. It drastically reduced the chances of being killed by an assassin while sleeping or falling to a surprise attack. For players focused on survival, this was an item they'd fight tooth and nail for. And since it was a bound item, there was no worry about losing it.
As I briefly explained the details from the scroll, most of the group visibly lit up with desire for it. They were all anxiously wondering who would claim this equipment, hoping it might be their turn. Even Yeon-Joo, who hadn't shown much interest in the previous two items, looked intrigued. However, with a single remark, I betrayed their expectations.
"…But it says it's exclusive to priests. And it's a bound item."
"""..."""
An awkward silence followed. Sol, hearing that it was exclusive to priests, quickly glanced around before letting out a "Wow!" and rushing toward me. She pressed her pinky fingers together, giving me a pleading "Please!" gesture. I placed the orb, glowing with a soft white light, onto her outstretched palm.
"Binding it is simple. The moment you infuse your mana into this orb, it registers you as its owner. Try it now."
"Yesss~!"
Sol, clearly thrilled to claim such a valuable piece of equipment, beamed with a radiant smile as she responded. Like an excited puppy, she placed her hand on the orb and, following my instructions, began channeling her mana. The orb immediately reacted, emitting a white glow.
Hummm!
Soon, a low vibrating sound emanated from the Improved Model Shield of Defend. The orb, which had been humming, slowly floated into the air and began circling the group as if scanning them. After drifting among us for a while, it stopped abruptly in front of Sol and then dove into her embrace with lightning speed.
"Eek!"
It was all fine, except for the rather awkward spot it chose to burrow into—slipping into the slightly open neckline of her robe. Startled, Sol clutched her chest, but the orb, undeterred, kept humming and wriggling, trying to nestle deeper into her skin.
"You little—!"
An-Hyun, the poster boy for sister complexes in both Korea and the Hall Plain, wasn't about to stand idly by and watch. With a furious roar, he grabbed his spear and charged. I could maybe understand rushing in, but wielding a spear? That was beyond comprehension. What if he accidentally hurt her? However, the outcome proved my worries were unfounded.
Just as the orb was about to succeed, it seemed to sense something off and stopped burrowing. Spotting An-Hyun charging with a shout of "Get away, you bastard!" it swiftly popped out of Sol's robe. The moment An-Hyun reached out, the orb unleashed a radiant white light in a spherical burst.
Hummm! Thud!
Crash! Clatter!
"Argh!"
Oh ho, Reflect, huh? As expected of an improved model—it definitely had some extra tricks. An-Hyun slammed into the orb's defensive magic and tumbled to the ground in an undignified heap. The orb, as if satisfied with its work, returned to Sol's embrace, rubbing against her with clear, chiming hums, like a child seeking praise.
Meanwhile, An-Hyun, with a shocked expression, could only stammer incoherently, his mouth flapping uselessly.
I looked around just in case, but there was nothing particularly noteworthy in the room. At best, there were a few records and a handful of books. Since the whole point of coming here was to hunt the Chaos Mimic, I was able to end the search without any lingering regrets.
Sol kept following the orb rolling around her body with a fascinated gaze. Yun-Jung was constantly fidgeting with the earring now adorning her ear, and Ha-Yeong wore a gentle smile.
As I observed them, I subtly shifted my gaze toward Yeon-Joo. Her quiet demeanor since earlier had been nagging at me. When my eyes met hers, she was resting her chin on her hand, her face uncharacteristically deep in thought. I watched her for a moment before looking away. Once this expedition was over and we returned to Mule, my relationship with her would reach a turning point, one way or another.
Anyway, leaving the small commotion behind, we managed to complete the equipment distribution. It was only human nature for those who didn't receive anything to envy those who did. Everyone offered congratulations on the surface, but their gazes carried a hint of jealousy.
Of course, there was one player—no, resident—who openly expressed their disappointment.
"Ugh, I didn't get anything again. This sucks."
"Haha, Master, what's there to be upset about? When our comrades get stronger, it boosts the caravan's overall power, doesn't it? Besides, there are still two more chests left, so don't worry too much."
Vivienne, who had been huffing dramatically, turned to Sang-Yong with a petulant glare. Sang-Yong, with his easygoing grin, was trying to soothe her. At her look, he flushed slightly and cleared his throat with a cough.
Vivienne stared at Sang-Yong for a moment before shaking her head and speaking.
"Sorry, for some reason, I don't feel like teasing you or getting hit by you. Anyway, I appreciate your sentiment."
"W-Wait, what does that even mean…?"
Vivienne's cryptic response left Sang-Yong sweating and flustered.
"Phew, being this pretty is such a burden."
As Vivienne flipped her hair and walked away, I made a mental note to set aside a day to give her a thorough talking-to.
.
.
.
.
You can read advance chapters and view R-18 images of the characters on pat reon page.
pat reon.com/GreenBlue17
100 Power Stones for 1 extra chapter.
5 New reviews for 1 extra chapter.
Goal refresh every week.