Master Artisan

“You got tricked by a Devil, captured by a thief, and the reason you were captured was to meet me, is that it?”

“In summary, that’s about right.”

Americano told Skilla, leaving out the part about the Ancient Devil possessing Lee Su-ju.

“Not only did you hide the Great Devil, but you’re asking for the key to its Seal?”

Skilla seemed to have a headache.

“This is clearly an act of betrayal against humanity. Even if you’re a Summoned Hero, there’s a limit to how much we can overlook. There’s already a growing trend to strengthen the punishment for Summoned Heroes because of what happened the other day.”

Demonic Cultists, including Summoned Heroes, were causing destruction to seize the Gospel.

“And yet, you’re asking me, a noble before being a Hero, to hide you?”

“Wouldn’t you?”

Americano pleaded pitifully.

Skilla could hide her.

But she didn’t really want to.

It was a statement that could only come from someone whose awareness of the seriousness of the situation was completely different from that of a Native Hero, but Americano’s 100 points of Charm were dazzling.

Skilla’s heart softened at her request.

“Do you have a plan?”

“In the end, she’s afraid of dying because of the Ancient Devil. So, if we keep her by our side and protect her, it’ll be fine. She might be useful, despite appearances.”

“The opponent is an Ancient Devil.”

“If I’m with Skilla, I’m sure we can overcome it.”

“….”

Skilla’s mouth closed as if she’d been stabbed in a vital spot.

“Tell me honestly.”

“What?”

“The reason you can speak so fluently is because of Geass, right?”

“Yes.”

“You’re not hiding it?”

“It’s not really a secret.”

Americano decided to solidify one of her secrets.

Having too many secrets makes her overthink her relationships. Overthinking is really frustrating. It feels like she’s always trying to deceive others.

She’ll only keep one secret: that she was originally male.

She also doesn’t plan to hide that she’s Anonymous.

If asked?

She’ll tell them right away.

Though no one has asked yet.

“Then, if I ask you what Geass you chose, will you tell me?”

“Yes. The Geass I chose is Dokgoda…”

“Stop.”

“….”

Skilla stopped her.

“Why?”

“Keep that a secret.”

“It’s okay.”

“I’m not okay. What Geass did you choose to make her like this? She’s become too innocent.”

“I don’t think I’m that innocent.”

She just realized that she doesn’t want to create secrets and there’s no reason to.

After all, this is a game.

Why create secrets in a game?

It’s not like Skilla is someone who’ll try to manipulate her with psychological warfare.

“Then let me ask you just one thing. Is there anything among your Geass that could be a weakness?”

“Yes.”

“Then, no matter who asks, never talk about your Geass and keep your mouth shut. Got it? Understand?”

“Yessir.”

It’s easier to spill everything than to keep secrets and struggle.

Still, a promise with someone else is more comfortable than deciding and keeping a secret on her own.

“Where were we?”

“If I’m with Skilla, I can easily defeat the Ancient Devil.”

Skilla’s expression becomes strange, as if she’s happy but not.

“Besides, the Ancient Devil will eventually appear before me. So, I think it would be better to keep a High-Ranked Blacksmith by my side and have them produce equipment in preparation for that time.”

“Hmm…”

“Is a High-Ranked Blacksmith not good enough?”

“High-Ranked Blacksmith… I didn’t mishear, did I?”

“You heard correctly. That person is a High-Ranked Blacksmith.”

Lee Su-ju, kneeling like a criminal and bound with ropes. Her sight was blocked with an eye patch, and a wad of cloth was stuffed into her mouth and tied.

She was now quietly waiting for her fate.

Skilla’s gaze towards Lee Su-ju changes.

“Is a High-Ranked Blacksmith that amazing?”

“It’s the third highest of the eight ranks that represent a Blacksmith’s level. The Master Blacksmith is only given to one Blacksmith among all Blacksmiths. Even the Advanced Blacksmith, the rank below that, is only found in big cities.”

“Then…”

“The highest-ranked Blacksmith you can find in most cities or towns is a High-Ranked Blacksmith.”

The status of a High-Ranked Blacksmith was higher than she thought.

Then, the Blacksmith Job Advancement Scroll (Legendary) comes to mind.

It’s not here; it’s in the House.

Skilla muttered meaningfully.

“A High-Ranked Blacksmith.”

“Can she avoid punishment?”

“I’d rather punish her. Imprison her for life and make her produce equipment.”

“Ah…”

So, there’s that option.

Wouldn’t that be the worst punishment for a player in some ways?

Making equipment for life.

Did she come to play a game, or to work in a factory?

Wouldn’t she just quit the game?

She could picture her becoming friends with the prisoner and escaping.

“But you want to make her your exclusive Blacksmith, right? To prepare for the Ancient Devil?”

“Also to prepare for the Tower climb.”

“Yes, the Tower climb too. A Challenger needs good equipment to challenge the Tower. I’ll make an exception this time. It’s also because it’s become much easier to revitalize the village thanks to the money you donated. Besides.”

“Besides?”

Skilla chuckled.

“The nun wouldn’t have given you the key without any insurance anyway.”

Now that she thought about it, that was true.

The key to the Seal.

For a key that allows passage to the place where the Great Devil is Sealed, it was easily handed over to the Hero’s.

Lee Su-ju’s fate was decided.

As night fell.

[Ancient Devil ‘Hite’ murders Ancient Nightmare.]

[Ancient Devil ‘Hite’ murders Ancient Nightmare.]

[Ancient Devil ‘Hite’ massacres Ancient Nightmare.]

[Ancient Devil ‘Hite’ is rampaging.]

As the Ancient Devil possessing Lee Su-ju began to rampage, information that she shouldn’t have known originally was Divulging Secrets of Heaven.

She had to catch the Ancient Nightmare that had hidden in Nabi, but Skilla was by her side.

No matter what, she wouldn’t forgive her for joining hands with the Ancient Devil. Looking at it this way, did she immediately create a secret after saying she wouldn’t create any?

‘Now that I think about it, was it not that I wouldn’t create secrets, but that I wouldn’t think deeply?’

It was hard to know herself.

Her words kept changing depending on her mood.

Especially promises and policies about herself change easily.

‘Whatever.’

She can answer when Skilla asks.

Let’s not think too deeply.

Let’s just think about defeating the Ancient Nightmare for now.

After checking the condition of the merchants tomorrow morning, she’ll decide whether to defeat Nabi’s Ancient Nightmare or not.

And morning.

“Good morning.”

“Yes…”

The merchant greeted Americano’s awakening with a refreshing face.

“You look refreshed?”

“Does it show on my face?”

“Yes.”

“I was able to sleep soundly for the first time in a while, probably because I was doing good deeds with the Hero’s, helping people. Haha.”

The merchant babbled flattery that wasn’t really flattery.

Americano made a hole in her hand towards his back as he stretched and left.

A window to see Demonic Energy.

‘It’s not there.’

The black smoke that had been clinging to the merchant’s body until yesterday was gone. It had disappeared cleanly, and so had everyone else’s.

She could tell Nabi to defeat the Ancient Nightmare.

She’ll ask when the thief appears.

‘If I ask Nabi to monitor Lee Su-ju, she’ll take care of the rest.’

But that opportunity didn’t come, and Dwarfneer began to appear.

“I have something to tell you.”

Lee Su-ju said.

Skilla replied.

“Tell me.”

“I died just now, so my Avatar disappeared. So, no one in the village will recognize me now.”

“Then that means your claim of being a High-Ranked Blacksmith might be a lie.”

“I didn’t lie…!”

They parted ways with the merchants and unpacked their luggage at Dwarfneer’s House.

They rented two double rooms, but Skilla said she would sleep with Lee Su-ju.

“I’ll educate you thoroughly.”

“Hehehe.”

The two went into the room.

“….”

“….”

Somehow, she ended up alone with Nabi.

Nabi pointed to the room.

“Shall we go in?”

“Yes.”

They unpacked their luggage in the room.

They said they would be staying in Dwarfneer for almost a month. The exact time would be known after getting a quote.

It takes at least a month to get a full set of equipment.

“A bed.”

Nabi lay down on the bed.

Her facial muscles were drooping from motion sickness.

But what’s the schedule?

Come to think of it, they hadn’t talked about it.

“Nabi, do you know when we’re going to get the equipment?”

“Equipment? For now, rest from your travels today. Blacksmiths are picky, so they won’t make things just because you give them money. Especially the more skilled the Blacksmith is.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course. I heard you want Master-level equipment, so you’ll have to ask an Advanced Blacksmith. Even if the young lady asks, you have to have at least some skill.”

“….”

Skill.

Thinking like this makes her seem arrogant, but she can’t help it.

‘Isn’t it enough?’

Americano is filled with absolute confidence. After all, she took first place, beating all the high-ranked hunters.

“So, please prioritize recovering your condition now. It’s pathetic, but I still feel sick, so I’ll skip the meal.”

“….”

Nabi didn’t move, face down on the bed.

Looking at her, Americano looked back at Lee Su-ju, who would be in the next room over the wall.

If she made a hole in her hand, a window to see Demonic Energy would appear. Although the wall was blocking it, she could see black smoke in the shape of a person.

She was taking a posture as if she was talking about something with Skilla.

She wouldn’t be able to call her over.

‘Hmm…’

She looked at Nabi again.

They weren’t very close.

She should have talked to her properly to know when to talk to her.

As she was thinking that.

[Dokgoda is feeling fatigue.]

She becomes fatigued when she goes against her own beliefs.

For a moment, she wondered what her own beliefs were.

Beliefs are tendencies and opinions.

The system was judging that Americano was harboring thoughts that were not right for her own beliefs.

Huh…

‘Divulging Secrets of Heaven. It’s nice because it’s easier to see than I thought.’

There’s no small feeling of being arbitrarily judged.

But at the same time, she realized it was a clumsy thought.

If she wants to talk, she should talk.

Why isn’t she talking?

Before, it was frustrating not knowing whether Geass had occurred or not.

Thanks to Divulging Secrets of Heaven, she may not know what she unconsciously wants, but she can grasp the direction.

‘Should I add more stats?’

Focus.

If she added the stats she received with the Divulging Secrets of Heaven Skill, wouldn’t the effect of Divulging Secrets of Heaven be greater? If she adds it, how much better will it be?

She doesn’t know.

‘I really need a strategy site at times like this.’

The information posts on the community still lacked in both quantity and quality of information.

Knowing is important.

She doesn’t know the detailed uses of Divulging Secrets of Heaven and Focus, and she doesn’t know the conditions for the 3rd Transcension. Thinking about the 3rd Transcension, she couldn’t add it rashly.

As the number of stats increased, it was touch and go whether she would be able to match the 3rd Transcension or not.

Anyway.

“Nabi.”

“Is there anything else you’re curious about?”

“No. More than that, is your motion sickness really bad?”

“Pathetically so.”

“Does Heal not work either?”

“I don’t know the cause of the motion sickness, so there’s no way to recover. At least I know the cause isn’t in the abdominal area…”

She buried her face in the bed, groaning.

The cause of the motion sickness was in the abnormality of the senses.

“Shall I Heal you?”

“If you would, thank you.”

Americano sat at Nabi’s bedside and touched her back.

She gave Heal and stroked her.

Dream Demon.

Dream.

Cappuccino.

Americano summoned the Pet House.

She took out Cappuccino and placed it next to Nabi.

Nabi fell fast asleep in the comfort of Heal.

Cappuccino, placed next to her sleeping form, asked.

‘I heard that Ancient Devils only respond to Divine Power?’

“Try to escape well on your own then.”

Americano didn’t expect Cappuccino to be defeated at all.

‘This isn’t what I wanted.’

Still, she does what she’s told.

Cappuccino jumped up and stood on Nabi’s forehead.

The frog quietly lowered its body and used magic on Nabi.