Chapter 79: The Knight Seeks More Growth (2)

Creak-!

Sound of the rusty hinges scratched Lee Han’s ears. However, that didn’t bother him more than the mixed stench of mold, dust, and dirt that entered his nose.

The Knight, whose sense of smell was several times more sensitive than others, unintentionally furrowed his brow.

Flinch-!

Meanwhile, the boy who saw his expression thought that the knight was angry, prompting him to flinch in fear.

“I-I’m sorry.”

“Huh? Why are you suddenly apologizing? I’m not angry.”

“B-But your expression…”

“It’s because this place’s stink. If anything, you’re the strange one here since your expression didn’t even change in this kind of environment.”

“Um… I frequently visit this place, so I guess I’ve gotten used to it…”

“I see.”

“Yes…”

Only when Timid heard that the knight wasn’t angry did he feel relieved. However, that didn’t stop him from acting as if he was walking on eggshells around him. Seeing this made Lee Han feel sorry for the boy.

It’s not good to get used to something like that…

Just what kind of environment did this guy grow up in that he developed a habit to apologize over every single thing and act as if he’s walking on eggshells around people?

The knight let out a bitter laugh.

I guess he’s just like me.

Lee Han could sympathize with him because Timid was exactly like him back when he lost his grandfather in his past life and when he got hurt here and there when he was young.

This was also why he felt even more concerned about the boy and nagged him.

“Setting up a workroom in a place like this would only make your health deteriorate.”

“T-That… I’m sorry.”

“Stop apologizing. You’re making me sound as if I’m the bad guy here.”

“…”

“…Yeah, sorry. I’m the bad guy, dammit.”

“…Haha.”

As if the tension had finally eased after Lee Han playfully grumbled as such, Timid smiled slightly and turned a little less tense.

Then…

“Ah! I-It’s here, instructor.”

“…Oh.”

The boy stopped and pointed to a thick wall. If someone else had been with them, they would have been annoyed and said ‘Did you drag me to this stinking sewer just to tease me?’ but it wasn’t the case with Lee Han.

He wasn’t quite sure if it was because Timid had told him, but his senses were telling him that there was an empty space on the other side of the thick wall.

“Do I need to hit it to get through?”

“Um, normally, people will try to figure out how to get in first… Breaking the wall won’t be the first thing that comes to their minds…”

“Breaking it is easier, why bother?”

“…B-Because normal people can’t break a 1-meter thick wall with their bare hands, Instructor…”

The boy scratched his cheek while saying that. Then, he tapped the wall with a motion that suggested he was familiar with the action.

Tap-! Tap-! Tap-!

A steady rhythm came out of his taps.

It was obvious that he hadn’t done this for only once or twice. A normal person wouldn’t be able to remember the pattern to his taps after seeing it just once.

Four taps in the lower parts, two weak taps in the upper part before doing it hard. Then, sweep down from the middle five times?

However, Lee Han wasn’t exactly a normal guy. Not only did he notice the patterns, he was even able to catch the subtle differences that others wouldn’t notice.

Creaaaack-!

The wall slowly sank down with a noise that was incomparable to the previous sound of rusty hinge that entered Lee Han’s ears.

And what was revealed beyond the wall was…

“W-Welcome to my [workshop]!”

From Derrick’s gesture, it seemed like he had been wanting to say that at least once, but he looked a little awkward when saying it.

But, still…

This is definitely something to brag about.

The magnificent space that lay behind the wall was indeed something worthy of admiration.

And so, a [secret workshop] that Lee Han never thought would be found in such a stinky sewer had revealed itself.

Underground sewer.

It was said that this facility was one of the five great achievements of the God of War.

At first, all the nobles vetoed the decision of its making due to the huge amount of budget needed. But, the king pushed through and completed the sewer system anyway, and the whole kingdom cried out rivers of praise for the king afterwards.

Well, it was only natural.

Originally, the streets were filled with sewage water and stinking muddy water, but after the sewer system and public restrooms were built, people no longer did their business in the streets, while drinking water became available at a lower price. The streets also became cleaner and the number of people suffering from stomach aches and fevers significantly decreased.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to call it a great achievement.

“Also, ever since the sewer system was built, barely anyone died from stomachaches anymore. Before that, 30 out of 100 people would die from stomachaches, but nowadays, that number has dropped to less than 3.”

“Why are you suddenly giving a history lecture?”

“Um, because I was originally someone from the History Department?”

“Hmm… Then, how come someone from the History Department has the audacity to set up a workshop on the former king’s great achievements?”

“T-This space has been there from the beginning… A-Also, this workshop’s existence is a secret… If I get caught, I-I’ll be sent to the guillotine…”

“I see. Well, since I’m here, guess I’m an accomplice from now on.”

“…I-I promise I didn’t bring you here with that intention.”

Derrick scratched his head with an awkward smile, while Lee Han just quietly observed the workshop, ignoring him.

This place is completely covered in money.

Seeing all the items that occupied the 10 pyeong¹ of space, Lee Han let out a dry laugh. Even though he couldn’t measure the exact value of everything, he could still see the extraordinary aura surrounding all these items.

There were dressers filled with the scent of herbs. They were even more packed than what he had seen when he went to the oriental medicine clinic. On top of that, from the scent each of the herbs possessed, it was clear that they were all extraordinary herbs.

The herbal medicine pot, which was larger than a cauldron, had an extraordinary presence, and other things like mortars and beakers, although old, also still had an extraordinary quality to them.

It was a space that seemed to be a combination of an alchemist’s and an oriental medicine doctor’s laboratory; a space where someone could find the harmony of Eastern medicine and Western medicine.

“When did you start making this place?”

“Hmm, about a month ago? I’m still not done with it though…”

“…”

“W-Why are you looking at me like that?”

“…Don’t mind me.”

As expected of the status window guy. Other people would need to work for decades to build a workshop like this, yet, he was able to build this workshop in just a month?

This is like finding out that a dude who didn’t even go to graduate school has a lab that could even make all the professors in the world envious.

Compared to me, someone who can’t see the status window… Damn, my life is just sad, huh…?

Lee Han knew that it was ugly, but he was still jealous of the guy. However, that feeling quickly evaporated.

After all…

“T-Then I’ll start ‘processing’ it from now on.”

Right now, he was ‘using’ the status window’s chance.

So now, instead of feeling jealous, he should be feeling thankful instead.

The boy, who Lee Han presumed to be a Thief, but surprisingly also has an Alchemist as a sub-job, began to process the heart of the Ghost King.

-I-If it’s to handle medicines and such… I-I can do it…

For the first time in his life, Derrick proudly bragged about his skills. He didn’t know if he’d ever get another chance like this, so he decided to push through with it.

This is a jackpot, who would have thought I’d get a chance to handle a super-rare material!

For him, this was a jackpot.

His main class was [Thief], but originally, he wanted to be a Warrior. It was just, he knew his personality well—far from the word brave—that was why he chose to be a Thief in the end.

But it was okay. The Thief Class had many advantages once it was leveled up. For example, he could use amazing skills like the Sky Full of Flower Rain that he showed a few days ago.

But, it’s still too risky to proceed with just that. It isn’t good enough.

Nevertheless, Derrick still worked hard. And the sub-class he chose for his growth was [Alchemist]. The Alchemist Class, which increased his dexterity and allowed him to handle medicine and poison, was a good match for his main class. That was why he did his best in studying alchemy. He even had a thought of going to the Alchemy Department to increase the class level even further.

It was just…

…Their level is too low.

He couldn’t even begin to describe how surprised and disappointed he was when he saw that the alchemist in the Alchemy Department could only make two or three potions in a period of time.

The only thing that he’d get from joining the Alchemy Department was some more dexterity and nothing else. Hence, he decided to enter the History Department instead. He decided that it would be better for him to eat all the hidden pieces in the History Department rather than wasting his life in the Alchemy Department.

Even so, he didn’t give up on developing his Alchemist Class. Using all his assets and abilities, as well as the hidden pieces that were immediately available to him, he managed to complete this secret workshop.

It was only after he completed the workshop that he ‘unlocked’ Sky Full of Flower Rain.

The secret technique for using Sky Full of Flower Rain and the method of making poisons as well as medicines were engraved in his mind.

In short, the Alchemist Class was essential for his growth, and he was proud of the effort he made to level-up the class when he saw the power he had he blasted at the monsters the day before.

…However, there was something that Derrick still found unsatisfactory.

Sky Full of Flower Rain is…a real money-eating monster.

As expected of an ultimate-level skill, the amount of poison and medicine used to activate it  was enormous. If a situation arose where he had to use it twice in a row, he might even go bankrupt right there and then.

To summarize, in order to develop the Thief Class’ skills, he also needed to develop the Alchemist Class. In order to develop the Alchemist Class, he had to get his hands on ‘rare materials’ that would be normally difficult to handle.

The more rare materials he handled, the better his dexterity would become.

With that in mind…

The Ghost King’s Heart…! This isn’t just a rare material! This is at the level of the Final Boss’ drops…!

A Super Super Rare material.

However, since the Ghost King was much weaker than it normally was, the quality of the material had dropped by about five levels.

Nevertheless, it’s still the ‘Ghost King’s Heart’.

It was more difficult to handle than any material he’d ever handled. Of course, its value was also astronomical. If he said that he didn’t have any worry on whether he could handle the material properly, it’d be a lie, but he still willingly raised his hand nonetheless.

After all, not only did he have to raise his Alchemist Class, he was also probably the only person in the kingdom who could handle it.

But more than anything, his reason for wanting to refine the material was…

To repay the favor I owe him…

He had a debt to repay.

Moreover, that debt only piled up even more the more time passed.

…The reason why he brought me in…he probably noticed that I was having a hard time…

Lee Han told him that he brought him into the Swordsmanship Department because he wanted him to be his assistant, but Derrick knew. The real reason why the knight did that was because he noticed that he had been getting a lot of attention due to [The Ghost King Subjugation].

More attention meant that his activities would be more restricted, and he noticed this.

Just what is his real identity…?

Derrick glanced at the knight.

Currently, the knight was looking around the workshop without the slightest care in the world,  even though he had entrusted him with his valuable materials.

Derrick couldn’t help but wonder if he didn’t worry about him burning this precious material. He was either big-hearted or didn’t care about money at all.

However, the reason Derrick glanced at him now was not because of that.

The things he’s teaching… [108 Arhats] and [Plum Blossom Swordsmanship]…

There were also the phrases he usually used once in a while. I mean, it could be just an error since both the game and [the original] were [made in Korea], so it isn’t really strange if a character somehow uses Korean phrases and all, but…

I have a feeling that isn’t the case…

Derrick racked his brain even more, and in the end, he reached a conclusion.

Even if the knight wasn’t a player like him…

He’s someone from Earth, just like me…

Indeed. He was someone who somehow got into the game.

And if that really was the case…

I’d need to apologize…

As the developer who made this damn game, he had to at least apologize to him.

Woong-!

And so, Derrick concentrated all his energy and started handling the medical agent to make up for it.

…Unfortunately, the passion that Derrick showed to repay his debt was…

Fuck, he’s the real deal.

Lee Han knew how dangerous this whole process was.

…He isn’t playing around. Maybe I really should make him my assistant.

All this time, he had only been calling him Assistant Number 2 as a joke, but now that he saw him doing all this, greed appeared in his heart.

This guy listens to me better than Slave Number 0, or rather, Assistant Number 1. He’s a sincere guy too.

He also knows how to use alchemy, and that [Sky Full of Flower Rain].

Also, I had a feeling that he still had something more to offer…

I never thought I’d meet someone who’s more mouthwatering than someone with an excavator license…

It was literally the kind of emotion a Command Sergeant Major would feel when someone with 10 years of experience as a ‘construction worker’ appeared in front of them. After all, people like that were people who could be a professional sergeant.

The genius warrior regressor?

The mage heroine transmigrator?

Lee Han didn’t need them.

As long as he could take this skilled worker status window guy all to himself, it all wouldn’t matter.