NOVEL NEXT Chapter 269
Equipment Enhancement (1)
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I’ve solved all the huge problems that had piled up until now.
Conquering <Wolfenser> during the vacation, which was my core task, and the subsequent processing, completing the [Order of Fusion] research and organizing the contractors I possessed, and growing and strengthening the abilities I had.
More than anything, the biggest problem was…
Getting permission from the girls parents for my relationships with their daughters.
It wasn’t until I finished everything in a positive way that I felt relieved that things were settled.
Of course, I had only solved the tasks piled up right in front of me.
There were still bigger problems to solve going forward.
After the <Villain>, a new group of ‘evil’ appeared.
The Ludenark faction, which might be even more vicious.
It was a journey to chase them down and ultimately bring them down.
After finishing the stifling meetings with the master craftsmen, I met Park Ji-hwan and shared the upcoming schedule.
Sharing various reports on the Ludenark faction, action guidelines for when they are found, cooperation structures with the association and major clans, etc….
It was a discussion of specific plans to bring them down.
After talking to Park Ji-hwan about this, I felt like my previously vague plan was taking shape.
“Finally, it feels like the new semester has started.”
After finishing all those huge tasks,
I flopped down on the desk in the lecture room, savoring the feeling of freedom.
It was like welcoming the new year and new semester only now.
“What did my dad say?”
And the disgusting voice coming from the side.
I looked up, startled.
“What? Are you taking this class?”
“Oh, sorry, but you’re the one who’s been skipping classes.”
Jin-woo, looking at me with an unbelievable expression.
…Actually, he was right.
At the start of the semester, I was so busy that I skipped some of the less important liberal arts classes.
In my book, skipping class was something that couldn’t happen in any situation, but sometimes the book gets torn.
When dealing with things that came rushing in, I’d occasionally break promises outside of myself as well.
“But I only missed two classes including the orientation.”
“Congratulations. So, what did my dad say?”
“We talked about the Ludenark stuff. What stance we should take going forward, how to go after those bastards.”
Park Ji-hwan is the person who knows the most about Ludenark among the current Holders.
Since he was the one who first gave me the clue, it was natural for me to talk to him about Ludenark.
But Jin-woo was startled by my words and asked back.
“My dad knows about Ludenark?”
“…What are you saying? Don’t you know what your dad does?”
“I know he’s a Holder.”
Jin-woo, who casually said he didn’t know more about his own dad than I did, made a dr-rr-rrk sound as he pulled out the chair next to me and sat down.
“My dad is an extreme absentee dad, so he sends a lot of money home but doesn’t reveal what he’s doing. So when he comes home, he gets beat up by my mom. These days, since my younger sibling has grown up, he sometimes gets beat up by my younger sister too.”
“….”
What kind of family did he grow up in…?
As my expression turned to shock, Jin-woo just shrugged like it was no big deal.
“I only just found out that my dad had the power of a Cultivator. I think it’s because I awakened that power myself this time, so my dad checked me out first. He said I finally got it.”
I had heard before about Jin-woo’s new awakening.
[Cultivator of Balance].
He said he acquired a rune I had never heard of before, and by acquiring several related sub-runes, he gained the so-called ‘power of a Cultivator’.
Normally, acquiring runes is manifested through a medium such as a Holder’s awakening, Lest Room rewards, or special items… But Jin-woo uniquely acquired the rune through enlightenment during battle.
What that means is one thing.
‘He originally had the talent for that power.’
As he just said, Jin-woo’s dad Park Ji-hwan also had the ‘power of a Cultivator.’
In other words, it means Jin-woo originally had the talent, but it just hadn’t manifested yet.
Damn protagonist buff.
So he was already in possession of such powerful runes, and on top of that, he had more powers waiting to pop out.
Anyway, by newly awakening, Jin-woo accomplished great feats in defeating the wizards of Ludenark in the side area.
Especially the magic used by ‘the man in the robe’ he said he directly faced was a great help in writing reports about Ludenark.
“Anyway, does that mean my dad is an important person in pursuing Ludenark?”
“Extremely. He’s probably the one who knows the most about Ludenark among the current Holders. You’ll probably have to deal with him a lot from now on.”
“That’s good news.”
Knock knock –
As we were talking, the classroom door opened.
It was the professor in charge of this class, <Understanding and Utilizing Combat Equipment>.
As soon as the professor entered the classroom, he didn’t take attendance and immediately opened the textbook.
‘That’s right.’
This was a famous lecture where the professor didn’t take attendance.
That’s why I signed up for it, and the rumor was true.
The days I missed probably counted as attendance too.
For someone like me who had been busy for a while, it was such a relief.
Even though it was a liberal arts course, there was a reason for the fierce competition.
But….
“As I mentioned last time, there will be individual presentations next class. Please prepare by making your own reports and PPTs to present.”
From the professor who opened the textbook and started speaking, a bombshell was dropped.
It was unexpected homework.
I quickly turned my head and tried to read their lips.
-Hey, what? There was no mention of homework.
-I don’t know either. I was asleep during class so I had no idea about anything like that.
-What? Oh, seriously….
I was a fool to trust this guy.
Of course Park Jin-woo wouldn’t concentrate on a lecture with no practicals.
It’s a miracle he even showed up to a class where attendance isn’t taken.
Of course, with my current reputation, I could probably skip the homework for some unknown liberal arts class….
‘But there’s no need to make a fuss over it.’
In fact, my high reputation was the problem.
Those who wanted to make anything into an issue could turn even trivial stories like this into gossip.
I may not care much about others’ views, but I didn’t need to force such an awkward situation.
Fortunately, the professor was merciful.
“Ahem. It seems there are students not paying attention in class, so I’ll announce it again. For this assignment, you’ll purchase the equipment you’d use yourself, and write a report presenting your thoughts and difficulties from that process to present.”
Ah, I remember now.
This was another reason this lecture was famous among students.
It was because of the unique assignment to actually purchase and use the combat equipment you’d wield, and present your impressions of it.
Apparently it became a topic among students due to the cost issue, so it was noted as a strong warning in the syllabus.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a normal equipment worth tens of thousands, or a rare equipment worth hundreds of millions. What’s important is your honest thoughts and feelings from directly purchasing and using that equipment yourselves. Please write that sincerely in your reports.”
After giving that notice, the professor started the lecture.
I turned my head slightly again to read lips.
-Hey, what are you going to buy?
-Buy what? Just get any cheap normal equipment. The cheapest one.
-What? If we have to buy it anyway, wouldn’t it be better to get something useful?
-I don’t need anything? The equipment you bought me is still great. Don’t want to waste money.
This guy makes a lot of money but is so stingy with spending it.
I was a fool for considering shopping for equipment together for once.
I shook my head and focused on the lecture.
Looks like I’ll need to find a more suitable shopping partner.
***
Ippotranslation
* * *
I did end up choosing a suitable shopping partner.
“No, Juyeon…”
But I picked too big of a figure.
“I didn’t mean we should go to an auction house…”
Kang Juyeon outright decided to take me to an auction house.
The Yongsan Premium Auction House.
Touted as the largest Holder-exclusive auction house in Seoul, it boasted facilities much grander and more lavish than the Daegu auction house I had been to before.
It was a place where all the wealthy and prominent Holders from across the nation gathered.
I had lightly called Kang Juyeon thinking we’d just go shopping together on a date, but that wasn’t what she had in mind.
“…You have to buy items carefully.”
As the sole heiress of one of the nation’s top 3 clans, <Judgement of Fire>, she had been exposed to the lives of Holders for a long time.
To her, purchasing equipment could never be taken lightly.
Especially now that I was a high-ranking Holder with ample funds.
The more so, the more carefully I had to select items, she said.
Thanks to her, I found myself being led by her hand all the way up to the ‘Supreme Command Auction’ floor where the highest-tier auctions were held.
“…Is there anything in particular you want to get?”
Kang Juyeon stroked my grasped hand and asked me.
Amusingly, her gazing eyes seemed slightly excited.
For a while, I had been preoccupied with raiding <Wolfensee>, and then at the start of the semester, I was too busy obtaining permission from their fathers and handling related matters.
I hadn’t had leisure to spend time like this, just the two of us.
‘It has been a while.’
Though there was another purpose, it seemed Juyeon’s mood was quite good to be enjoying a rare date together like this.
Seeing her expression, I smiled and answered, “Hmm… I was thinking of getting a shield and armor.”
When considering equipment enhancement, shields and armor come to mind first.
[Goblin’s Bronze Shield] and [Scorched Lizard Leather Armor].
I’d used them for a long time, and they were decent rare-grade items with good enough performance… But it was about time to replace them.
Not only had I been using those early items since the very beginning, but compared to my other equipment that had suddenly risen in grade, they were definitely lacking.
“…Then let’s go this way first.”
At that, Kang Juyeon nodded and led me.
The 13th floor of the central Yongsan Auction House building.
<Supreme Command Auction: Premium Armor>.
That was the sign hung there.
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