Everyone Else is a Returnee

Chapter 76-80

Chapter 76

Having returned to Korea, Yu IlHan immediately took the taxi to go back to Seoul, and entered his house. (T/N: There are no airports in Seoul). He subconsciously looked for his mother, but remembering that he became independent, he made a smile. (T/N: He can finally take the taxi while being seen! (He can actively cancel his concealment now))

"I'll wash and go to sleep."

[I wanna sleep together too, since I think Spiera might be calling for me at any moment.] (Lita)

[Rest together. BUT, mini-sized.] (Erta)

'Fighting for several days without rest' sounds cool, but in reality, it stank, and was unbelievably dirty. Especially since Yu IlHan was grinding in dungeons for 3 weeks before that as well.

He took off all his 'armor', which were no different from rags, threw away his inner clothing, and washed up.

It would be a lie to say that he didn't want to check the spoils of war, especially that of Orochi's, but no matter how his physical body was in top condition with the help of level ups and transcendent regeneration, since his mental fatigue had reached the maximum, he dived onto his bed without saying anything.

"Wake me up tomorrow morning."

[It's morning now though...?] (Erta)

"G'night..."

Bringing out the full powers of the Resting skill, Yu IlHan fell asleep in 1.5 seconds after he lied on the bed. He had gone into such deep sleep that even if the Orochi roared right next to his ear, he wouldn't wake up.

[We didn't even give him the rest of the quest rewards though.] (Erta)

[I will be sleeping here with IlHan, so go reap some quest rewards. Oh yeah, bring him some skills if possible, ones that can help him.] (Lita)

[Can I really leave you two here alone?] (Erta)

Erta looked at Lita in disbelief, but Lita did not say anything and instead waved her hands. In the end, Erta had no choice but to leave it to Lita's conscience.

Of course, the conscience-less angel, Lita, stuck next to the sleeping Yu IlHan AFTER she had reverted to human size as soon as she saw Erta leaving, but she didn't seem to have any other motives as she kept looking at the side of his face.

[His sleeping face looks so cute too.] (Lita)

Looking back, it did seem like his face did get quite neater as he levelled up continuously. She did feel a little disappointment since the face she had seen for a thousand years was disappearing, but what mattered to her was not his face but his existence itself, so she could shake away that disappointment soon.

[It would be good if we lived like this forever, right......?]

Muttering quietly, Lita pulled Yu IlHan's arm and hugged it. If Yu IlHan heard it, he would have shouted "No! That's a flag for separating in the next scene!" but since he was sleeping, he couldn't retort.

She slowly closed her eyes. And like Yu IlHan did, she fell deep asleep.

Meanwhile, Erta was caught by the other angels as soon as she had arrived.

[Where's Lita? Why isn't she here with you?]

[Tell me about that human. The one that killed the 4th class mutant was your partner, right?]

[Introduce him to me too!]

[Shouldn't we lure him into being an angel? Wouldn't he become a higher existence very soon? We need to give him the bait right now!]

Since angels were nagging her from everywhere, her mind was in a mess. This incident had been that shocking.

4th class monsters only appeared in worlds that had experienced the 2nd Great Cataclysm at least, and for humans to defend against such beings smoothly, the 3rd Great Cataclysm would be needed to be experienced.

However, in a world that had only gone through a mere 1st Great Cataclysm, someone had blocked a 4th class with such little casualties, and a mutant one at that too!

[There's something more important than that. The Overflow, did you find out who caused it?] (Erta)

When Erta asked one of the angels, that angel shook his head in defeat.

[There were quite a few angels in that place, but none had caught traces of them.]

[From how they used Traps of Destruction, it's definitely a traitor's doing. I checked and they don't even know when the Traps were leaked out. Idiots!]

[Only Feyta, who couldn't see through it despite being right next to it, is having a big time getting crushed.]

Oh my god, walking on the spot again? Even though the number of angels dispatched had been increased precisely to prevent these kind of situations? (T/N: I think it's obvious that increasing numbers is exactly why such a thing had happened)

This was why they deserved to be insulted as 'useless' by Yu IlHan – thinking up to that point, Erta sighed.

[Erta.]

Just as Erta set foot into the Heaven City with the other angels, someone appeared in front of her. Lifting her head, Erta could confirm a brave angel with a spear of pure white on her back, Spiera.

[Spiera-nim. Lita is currently resting. She will probably come back up on her own later.] (Erta)

[Tell her, that there is no more special training.] (Spiera)

[Did her advancement get cancelled?] (Erta)

[No, it was approved.] (Spiera)

When Erta widened her eyes, Spiera replied with a bitter smile.

[The Wall of Chaos is opening. It's as if it had waited for the moment for the forces of Heaven to be focused on Earth. There is no more time to leisurely do special training.] (Spiera)

Wall of Chaos, this was the front lines of the battlefield between the angels and evil higher existences that tried to devour all records of all worlds unlike the angels who guarded and managed countless worlds.

Normally, they could not pass the wall made with Heaven's power, but sometimes, there were times when the strength of the walls became unbelievably weak.

These were moments that they were desperately waiting for, and also the moment when the angels go into battle with their life on the line as the true Army of Heaven.

Yu IlHan always told them that they were useless, but he shouldn't be able to speak like that anymore once he knew what the angels were really doing in order to protect the many worlds.

Of course, that didn't make the angels not responsible for what had happened to Earth.

[Will Lita be needed in battle?] (Erta)

[She is capable. If she didn't strongly request herself, we wouldn't have sent her to Earth.] (Spiera)

Thinking back to Lita's 3000 aerial combo against the traitor, Erta subconsciously nodded her head. At that moment Spiera's words continued.

[I have heard about what happened on Earth. However, unfortunately, Army of Heaven will not have the room to mind about a single world for quite a while. We will have to leave it to the humans.] (Spiera)

Erta's mind became faint. Not mind? Even though Earth became to be in such a mess? She hurriedly replied.

[It's not that I don't understand since the situation is like this, but the situation on Earth is very serious. If Yu IlHan wasn't present during this incident, then Earth would have been doomed just like that. We have already committed a lot of crimes against Earth!] (Erta)

[However, since there was that human, Yu IlHan, the Earth was safe, was it not?] (Spiera)

Erta couldn't believe what Spiera was saying.

Was she trying to push all the management of a world that the Heaven's Army was in charge of, to a single human? With the reason being 'capable'?

The difference in leagues between Spiera and Erta was very wide. Despite that, Erta became thoroughly enraged. Spiera looked and laughed.

[Is that it? Erta, do you also love that person? Quite the funny matter.] (Spiera)

[I only worry for my contractor.] (Erta)

[I don't care what you name that emotion you harbor. What's more important is that you harbor feelings to a lower existence that you have only met for 3 months.] (Spiera)

[Were you one that discriminated lower existences?] (Erta)

[I only differentiate them.] (Spiera) (T/N: I'm quite sure a similar conversation happened in Guilty Crown, Season 2)

Erta shut her mouth. Inwardly, she wanted to stab that rotten bitch's stomach with a spear, but if she said that out loud, it was clear that she would get beaten up.

[Our duty is to fairly manage and protect all worlds. However, slaying predators from the Wall of Chaos is another one of our duties, and if we get pushed back on the front lines, then an according number of worlds will lose their light. Unless our bodies suddenly multiply by two, we need to choose a more correct choice.] (Spiera)

[I......I, also know.] (Erta)

[Fuu.] (Spiera)

Erta's expression wasn't that of understanding at all, so Spiera decided to explain the higher up's decision in an easier manner. There was still a lot of time since the Wall of Chaos hadn't opened completely yet, and Erta was also a contractor to the most important person on Earth.

Having chased away all the other angels that were eavesdropping, Spiera led Erta into one of the resting places of Heaven -one that many human imagine heaven to be: A boring and empty place where little birds chirped on top of lands made of clouds.

[I did panic since higher existences along with traitors were in this, but they also cannot do anything directly. All they can do is to connect gates to other worlds that take Earth to be a target of conquer, or cause Overflows...... They are, in the end, things that happen between lower existences, no?] (Spiera)

[They definitely are, but this is a crisis that's two whole stages higher than Earth's current levels.] (Erta)

[However, since it's between lower existences, we cannot directly interfere. The only thing we can do is prevention, but is that happening properly?] (Spiera)

Even Erta couldn't be free from those responsibilities. She was Yu IlHan's contractor, but she was also, an angel.

[Even higher angels aren't responding properly. Is this all simply because the angels dispatched to Earth are all useless? No, this is impossible unless our enemies have analyzed us meticulously, have procured enough traitors, and have calculated the future.] (Spiera)

[So, that's why, you're saying that we should wash our hands off this matter? Do you think that it will be all over once we sacrifice Earth?] (Erta)

[What is definite is that we will be playing into their hands even if we recklessly dispatch more angels.] (Spiera)

'They'. As Heaven had a lot of enemies, they couldn't find out exactly who was behind this. It might be the Destruction Demon Army, who are gritting their teeth right on the other side of the Wall of Chaos, or the Army of Brilliant Light, who have colored their wings with an ash grey color.

[That's why we need to use another method. Not just simply defending Earth, but to protect all worlds including Earth.] (Spiera)

[By throwing it all onto the people of Earth, that is.] (Erta)

Erta retorted, but Spiera surprisingly nodded her head.

[Higher existences should do what they can do with their own power, and lower existences should do things within their own capabilities. At least, the higher ups think that this is more efficient, at the same time, being the method that can minimize damage. As such.] (Spiera)

[As such?] (Erta)

[We are planning to give as much support and reward as possible within the range of what our Heaven's Army can do, to the ones that are proactively moving around to protect Earth. From what I know, there is an overwhelming first place on Earth.] (Spiera)

Speaking up to that point, Spiera pulled Erta towards her.

[We will open the treasury of Heaven. There's something that just fits him.] (Spiera)

[Although I cannot acknowledge you and the higher ups' decision, but I will gladly receive what I can.] (Erta)

[Why are you thanking me? It isn't for you but for the one called Yu IlHan.] (Spiera)

Erta lost her words, and Spiera giggled. And then, softening her brows very slightly, she told Erta as if to advise her.

[Be careful of your emotions. The predators and the fallen angels were all once those that emitted bright light. Their corruption all stemmed from their emotions. Especially love, it's dangerous. It's sudden, strong, and undeniably charming.] (Spiera)

[......I will keep that in mind.] (Erta)

Erta grumbled. Then, she followed Spiera's back, one that proceeded without a shred of hesitation.

When Yu IlHan woke up, the sun was nigh. He checked to see if he had slept for more than 24 hours, but he had only slept for 5. Even though he hadn't slept for nearly a month, his mental fatigue, not to mention physical one, had all been cured!

"This is making me crazy. I can't even sleep now."

[That's because your recovery is powerful. It's not a bad thing.] (Lita)

Lita, still lying down while hugging Yu IlHan's arm, replied with a smile. Yu IlHan finally realized that Lita was stuck against him, and was surprised, but with the reason that 'he didn't want to show ripples to his big sister-like existence', he shook her off as if nothing had happened.

"I'm hungry so let's eat."

[You can do other things too, though.] (Lita)

It would be good if she assaulted him without saying anything, but if Lita had that kind of courage, Yu IlHan wouldn't have been able to protect his virginity for a thousand years.

However, the moment Lita got up while sighing, Erta appeared in mid air. Lita shrunk back due to her sudden appearance, but Erta called her with a helpless voice.

[Lita.]( Erta)

[I didn't do anything.!] (Lita)

[You should have.] (Erta)

[Huh?] (Lita)

While Yu IlHan was tilting his head in confusion due to the conversation between the two angels, Erta declared with a sigh.

[The Wall of Chaos is opening. You are called for the battle between us and the predators this time. Rejoice, you will advance without a test. You will receive a new name I guess.] (Erta)

[What about you?] (Lita)

[I need to protect Yu IlHan's sides.] (Erta)

Lita's eyes glistened with frightening light. Erta shivered after seeing Lita's expression, which was that of murder.

[I, it's the higher ups' decision. I was against it.] (Erta)

[I know. So I will go kill them.] (Lita)

[Hold it. It won't end with a joke!] (Erta)

Yu IlHan didn't know exactly how the situation was playing out here, but he did understand that Lita would have to leave his side once more. Well, since Yu IlHan could now use mana, there should be no need to be close to the two angels any more but...... he made a bitter smile.

"Will I not be able to see you for a long time?"

[No, that kind of battle, I will finish it off quick and come back.] (Lita)

Lita completely erased her murderous intent before hugging Yu IlHan's head and declaring confidently. Yu IlHan also lightly patted her back.

"Yes. I will be waiting for you so come back quickly."

[Yeah.] (Lita)

Lita seemed to take a step back after the hug before kissing Yu IlHan's cheek lightly. Then, she looked towards Erta.

[If you make any progress while I'm not here... you get it, right?] (Lita)

[You're scaring me. Really, you're scary!] (Erta)

After lightly threatening Erta, Lita disappeared after a sigh. Only after she had disappeared did Erta sigh in relief and approached Yu Ilhan.

The thousand year virgin Yu IlHan, who would never realized that Lita and Erta had affections for him, and one that people had for the opposite sex, tilted his head and asked Erta.

"What progress? Are you dating someone on the ground or something?"

[It's just some code between us angels so don't mind it. Rather than that, here are your rewards.] (Erta)

How could he predict that this was something romantic but not understand that it was about himself? Even while retorting, Erta sighed.

Meanwhile, after seeing Erta blatantly changing topics, Yu IlHan decided to see through those secret codes later, and extended his hand.

The moment Erta softly touched his hand, green text appeared in Yu IlHan's vision.

[Heaven's Quest 005, Dungeon Wave, Complete!]

[All status have increased by 7. 10 magic increases additionally.]

[You have acquired the skill, Higher Curse Resistance.]

"This is..."

The rewards weren't simple. Not to mention the absurd amount of status points, higher curse resistance? He felt unsettled since he felt like he could 'safely' 'suffer' in the future.

[This isn't the end.] (Erta)

"There are more?"

As Yu IlHan had already enhanced the capabilities of his Cross Bag as a part of the reward, he was suspicious as to why they were being so generous. This was something he could think of since he himself did not know how amazing of a feat he had accomplished.

[It's this.] (Erta)

Erta opened up her hand. On top of it was a small hourglass, and the sand inside it was solidified and didn't move. Yu IlHan replied with a soft smile.

"You picking a fight?"

[Check the information.] (Erta)

With a sigh, he grabbed the hourglass. At that moment, the following message appeared in Yu IlHan's eyes.

[Hourglass of Eternity.]

[Rank – God] (T/N: Those of you that read the 'weapon rank' spoiler on NUF finally know why I said it will appear soon, right?)

[Options – Once a month, the user can deploy a barrier on the surrounding space and freeze time. Time will not flow outside even if it does on the inside. It can be used for a maximum of 2 months in the wielder's standard. Those not permitted by the owner cannot enter the barrier.]

[User restrictions – Permanently owned by Yu IlHan.]

[Durability – Infinite.]

This was the appearance of the artifact that would make him the true loner.

Author's notes

It isn't that the Earth is isolating me, but it is me that's isolating the Earth!

Chapter 77

Yu IlHan's eyes turned fierce.

"Are you trying to make me suffer even more?"

[It's a really good artifact! It's too exceptional of a treasure to be given to you! It's one of the best artifacts in Heaven!](Erta)

Yu IlHan took a detailed look at the God-ranked artifact on his palm. He thought about what he could do with this artifact that can freeze time and put up a barrier.

"Wait, does the barrier reject everyone i don't want out if I put it up when I'm about to die?"

[Now you know how amazing this is?] (Erta)

It really was incredible. Although there was a usage restriction of 'once a month', didn't he just acquire another means of saving his life?

He had felt death right in front of his nose several times even when fighting with the Orochi this time. With regards to his 'curse', it was given that he would have to suffer a lot more in the future, but now that he had acquired a last resort for extending his life, he became a little more settled.

And secondly,

"I think you gave me this to do labor..."

Since not even the angels knew what would happen on Earth, this was as if they were telling him to grind out weapons from his workshop for two months, by himself, that is. Erta obediently nodded her head.

[Correct, Yu IlHan. You don't have a lot of spare time.] (Erta)

"Just because of who was it again? Huh?"

Gritting his teeth, Yu IlHan put the hourglass in his chest pocket. It did made him hurt when he realised he would become a loner for 2 months every time he used it, but thinking on it, since he was a loner anyway, it didn't really matter.

"Erta, I will allow you to enter the barrier no matter what happens."

[Wh, what are you saying?] (Erta)

Yu IlHan only thought that he could not be stuck in a barrier alone for two whole months, but Erta felt her heart pounding.

Of course, he couldn't care less about whether Erta's heart pounded or not, so he immediately grabbed her and headed to the workshop. Then, he activated the power of the hourglass as soon as he arrived.

The barrier was wider than he thought, covering the entire workshop. Considering how he was using the entire basement 5th floor of the building that Vanguard was on, it was very large.

[It's also the first time that I am entering this barrier. Amazing. I can feel that time has been frozen.] (Erta)

Erta was looking around her with wide eyes, but in fact, Yu IlHan wasn't that unfamiliar with this space. Why? It was similar to when time on Earth was stopped entirely.

"Erta, come here."

[Yes... Yes!] (Erta)

Yu IlHan's voice calling Erta sounded strangely kind for some reason.

Even though nothing had changed, it seemed that only Erta was strange for feeling a special feeling since they were alone in frozen time.

No, that wasn't it! Everything occurring in this space didn't amount to anything on the outside, and would only be shared between Yu IlHan and Erta. Erta thought that this was a very romantic thing.

She became scared for a moment imagining Lita's growling face, but the next moment, she remembered Lita's words – 'it's not crime if you don't get found out', and calmed down again.

Yes, it's not crime if you don't get found out! If Yu IlHan shuts his mouth, then even Lita wouldn't be able to find out! Erta became calm instantly and looked towards Yu IlHan.

When she did, she could find herself facing ragged armor, spear, and robe. Her expression also became ragged.

[I knew this would happen.] (Erta)

"Right? They're worse than I thought. They somehow pulled through during the battle, but now... they're scraps."

The robe was unique-ranked, while the armor and the spear were both legend-ranked. But they ended up in such a bad state so how can he not be sad? Seeing the depressed Erta, Yu IlHan thought that she was not much different.

"I need to restore them. Wouldn't it be possible if I use the Orochi's skin and bones?"

[*Sigh*] (Erta)

Erta set herself straight. She scolded herself for expecting romance from someone she shouldn't expect anything from, and chose to face the ice-cold reality.

[Yu IlHan, what level is your mana crafting at?] (Erta)

"32, why?"

[Then it should be possible. I will teach you a technique that you will use a lot from now on.] (Erta)

Hearing about a new technique, Yu IlHan's eyes shined brightly. However, Erta's feelings while looking at that was as cold as a blizzard.

[Mana crafting is a technique to awaken the potential of an object that did not have any ability. Then, wouldn't it be possible to do the reverse?] (Erta)

"Reverse?"

[Compressing an already activated ability and extracting it.](Erta)

Yu IlHan momentarily did not understand what she was saying, but he fell into thought while thinking about what it was meant by doing the opposite to the things he were doing until now.

This technique wasn't something that was usable by directly injecting information into Yu Ilhan, so Erta also just kept watch. Of course, it was also because she herself couldn't use the technique she was trying to teach Yu IlHan – extraction.

Yu IlHan had long since caught up with Erta's mana crafting skill level.

"I vaguely get it. So you're saying to take away the ability bestowed onto the artifacts."

[You will need magic stones.] (Erta)

It was too dangerous to experiment with a legend-ranked equipment from the beginning, so Yu IlHan selected some unique ranked weapons and 2nd class magic stones to experiment on.

[There are two months left so don't be hasty and take it slow.](Erta)

As soon as Erta finished talking, a brilliant light appeared.

A transparent liquid-like substance flowed out from the axe Yu IlHan was holding, before it climbed up his arm, through his shoulders, and towards the magic stone he held in his other hand. After that, brilliant light appeared once again.

Erta checked while thinking 'no way'.

[You failed, right?] (Erta)

"I succeeded."

At the same time as Yu IlHan replied, the axe that had its ability absorbed became metal powder and crumbled, but Yu IlHan couldn't care less.

He looked at the 2nd class magic stone in his hand. Green text slowly appeared on his retina.

[2nd class magic stone with the power of 'Destructive' 'Tyrant' dwelling in it.]

[A magic stone possessing 2 options. When mana crafting with this as the material, it is possible to apply 2 options onto the target. The options may devolve, or evolve, according to the ability of the crafter and the level of the magic stone.]

[Alpha option 'Destructive' : Increases the attack power of the weapon.]

[Beta option 'Tyrant' : Increases critical hit damage.]

"Ooh, I was wondering if it was the same as when Earth stopped in time but it isn't, eh? Akashic Record is still aware of this place."

[God ranked artifact doesn't necessarily mean God's powers. Rather than that, be honest with me. You were actually a dragon, weren't you?](Erta) (T/N: She says this since dragons are innately adept at using mana)

Having a high skill level didn't correspond to high technical ability. Although there was the Akashic Record's help, the one using the technique, in the end, is the entity.

However, having succeeded in a new technique, and perfectly too? Erta couldn't accept it.

However, Yu IlHan had his own reasons.

"No, but this is similar to the things done by enchanters in novels, isn't it? So the image making was quite simple."

[In fact, people who do mana crafting as their profession are called enchanters. It isn't like all blacksmiths are capable-of-anything like you.](Erta)

"And now, I can use mana."

[Ah.](Erta)

Erta shut her mouth.

That was true. She had forgotten since the equipment that Yu IlHan had made until now were unbelievably OP, but until now, he had made numerous equipment and did mana crafting without the ability to wield mana!

So now, that he could wield mana, succeeding in extracting in one go wasn't too strange.

Not only that, his blacksmithing and mana crafting would bring out results incomparable to before. Since mana was the absolute energy that affected all things!

[Quickly acquire 3rd class, Yu IlHan. And you have to acquire blacksmith as a subclass! Got it?](Erta)

"Okay, I get it so don't give me that frightening look."

If possible, Erta even wanted to leave Yu IlHan's equipment creation to until 3rd class, but no matter how high his level had become, it was still a long way to lv 100.

Yes, let's make him look at his equipment again after acquiring the blacksmith class. Looking forward to that day, Erta decided to honestly admire his pure smithing techniques.

"Should I go in order?"

There were two important elements in extraction – The target equipment of extraction and the magic stone to imbue it into. The robe, the armor, and the weapon's specs were all specialized to Yu IlHan's strengths, so if possible, Yu IlHan wanted to extract them using the best magic stones possible.

It wouldn't end with just extraction. He had to make the new equipment with the finest materials he had in order for those options to be applied in full. He did not want to make a mistake.

To do that, what came first?

Yes.

Dismantling.

[Are you insane? You're saying that you will dismantle all these monsters!?](Erta)

"Erta, our ancestors once said this. That everything can be worked out by pure labor."

[I don't like those ancestors!](Erta)

Now that his plan had been set, there was no more time to lose! Yu IlHan took out a knife for dismantling and opened the entrance of the Cross Bag. He started dismantling while taking out corpses in quantities that he could handle!

"Eternal Flame, you are now in charge of taking care of the byproducts!"

Flicker! It felt as if the Eternal Flame had nodded in response.

In fact, it didn't matter even if it didn't. He'd just stuff it full anyway! Not satisfied with using just one hand, Yu IlHan took out another knife on his other and danced like a madman.

What was interesting was that every time his knife was swung, the monsters that popped out from the Cross Bag were all stripped of their skin, and were being dissected into parts.

Bones, skin, muscles, tendons, and excluding a little of the monster's meat, blood, and magic stone, all the extra waste were all goaled-in into the furnace with a light movement of Yu IlHan's feet.

The Eternal Flame swallowed all of it before burning it into nothing. Meanwhile, Yu IlHan would dismantle another one, and throw its meat and waste into the furnace. Such a process was being repeated again and again without the tiniest bit of a mistake.

[I wonder if he might catch the attention of the God of Dismantling at this rate.](Erta)

Erta worried. Yu IlHan, who had half-heard her, shouted while swinging his knives with a uselessly cool smile.

"I will even dismantle God if it's dead!"

[Don't act cool, it isn't cool!](Erta)

2 weeks passed from then. Yu IlHan, who had only taken the minimum amount of rest, finally stopped moving his knives.

"I finished."

[Really!? There were over 100,000 2nd class monsters though!](Erta)

"I only needed to dismantle a little over 7000 a day then."

[Okay, you're the Dismantle King.](Erta)

Having earned a new nickname, Yu IlHan shrugged his shoulders.

"In fact, there's one left, but these won't do for that one."

Erta knew very well which one that was – it was referring to the sole 4th class mutant that Yu IlHan had hunted this time in the Japan incident, Yamata no Orochi!

Meanwhile, Yu IlHan flicked the now-ragged dismantling knives to the Eternal Flame, and took out a pair of butcher blades lying in his Cross Bag.

[Don't tell me you're trying to dismantle that here too?](Erta)

"Why not? It's no problem if I take it out slowly."

To Yu IlHan, who had already mastered remote collection of the Cross Bag, something like that was not even difficult.

Seeing him using a function that the angels had applied without much thought to such degree, Erta thought that she herself and the angels had committed a huge mistake, but the boat had already set sail. (T/N: i.e. the milk was already spilt)

"Then here I go."

Yu IlHan clanged the butcher blades in mid air a few times, before calling out the corpse of the Orochi from the Cross Bag little by little with a deep breath.

"Huaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

Then, he jumped around like a madman while dismantling the Orochi's body!

[I should have shown this to Lita.](Erta)

Even while Erta was flabbergasted at that sight, the body of the Orochi was slowly, but surely coming out from the Cross Bag.

As the Orochi had a sturdy body, excluding the parts that were shredded by the pile bunker and the final spear throw, the body was almost fully intact. such a body was now being flayed into skin, meat, bones and blood.

Yes. Even while dismantling, Yu IlHan was extracting the blood in a special container!

[Can I upload this on Yout*be?](Erta)

"Don't talk to me!"

In a blink of an eye, a tenth of the tens of meters large Orochi was dismantled.

Having seen through where to slice to be more efficient, Yu IlHan sped up. Quicker, and more perfectly!

"Damn, can't see a magic stone."

[Considering what kind of chaos a 4th class magic stone would bring to the current Earth, it's instead fortunate that there isn't one!](Erta)

Thinking that Erta was worrying unnecessarily, since it would be used in Yu IlHan's own weapon anyway, Yu IlHan sped up even more.

Even though the corpse of the Orochi was, in the end, just skin and bones, every time the butcher blades came into contact, sparks flew everywhere.

Was it because it came to be after swallowing three Traps of Destruction? Even though he was bringing out the best capabilities of the dismantling techniques he had learnt, separating flaying the skin and the bones was teeth-grittingly hard. He wouldn't even be able to try if not for the superhuman strength skill.

"You can eat that!"

Even while dismantling with all his effort, he threw the parts that were destroyed by his attack and became unusable, to the Eternal Flame.

Perhaps due to the meat being of a tremendously higher class to the ones it had ate before, the Eternal Flame ate up all of the Orochi's byproducts in joy. Then, it shined brightly before changing into a golden-colored flame.

[Aaah, it grew again, again!](Erta)

"Don't be so angry."

The dismantling speed kept speeding up. Starting with the seven heads, through to the body all the way until the tails!

Then, Yu IlHan ended all his actions after some time. In front of his eyes was the giant sword that was made from the fusion of all of the Orochi's tails.

The dismantling of the Orochi had ended, and now, there was only the un-dismantlable part left.

[Heavenly Cloud Gathering Sword (天叢雲剣)]

[Rank – Legend]

[Attack power – 4,444]

[Options – 40% increase in attack power when confronting dragonkin, able to activate 'Purple Flame' by imbuing mana.]

[Durability – 5,000/5,000]

[A weapon that was created after the energy of a mutant 4th class monster that was born absorbing the records of the Japanese mythological monstrous beast, Yamata no Orochi, was refined. It is extremely hard and sharp, and shows maximum power when fighting against dragonkin.]

"Hm."

Thinking back to it, there was a notification of acquiring a legend-rank artifact when he killed it.

He just passed it up at that time since he was in a mess, but it seemed like the notification appeared because its entire body had entered the Cross Bag while a part of its body became an artifact.

Checking the abilities of the artifact, Heavenly Cloud Gathering Sword, Yu IlHan nodded. Then, he spoke.

"It's a little weak considering it came from a 4th class boss, right? It's not even that sharp too. What's the worst is that I would need to be a 5m tall giant if I want to use this weapon."

[Yu IlHan, your next line is 'So I will create a new spear from this!'](Erta)

"So I will create a new spea... Huh?"

Yu IlHan became shocked, and Erta spoke while sighing.

[Make it, Yu IlHan. Just why don't you create epic-ranked ones too. Just...](Erta)

The hope of humanity, Yu IlHan, nodded his head and picked up his hammer.

Since he finished dismantling, what was left was to extract the options and create the equipments. He had neither reason nor room to hesitate.

Chapter 78

Before making new equipment for himself, Yu IlHan focused on perfectly extracting the options from his old equipment.

The robe that was ripped apart into pieces of cloth, half molten armor that should be called 'lump of metal' rather than armor, and the spear that finished off the Orochi along with itself due to the several thousand tons of weight applied.

If the Orochi had dropped a 4th class magic stone, then he would have extracted the options onto it, but unluckily, or perhaps, because the energy that was supposed to become the magic stone was fully concentrated into the Heavenly Cloud Gathering Sword, the Orochi did not spit out a magic stone, so he used 3rd class ones for all the options.

As there weren't that many 3rd classes in the battle, the number of 3rd class magic stones he had acquired was four, and Yu IlHan invested three of them to extract the options. Extracting the options were not wasteful at all, rather, he found it wasteful to give them up and try new ones.

[The skill, Mana Crafting, has become Lv 33.]

[You have acquired a 3rd class magic stone with the power of 'Frighteningly' 'Hard' 'Shadow Leopard'.]

[You have acquired a 3rd class magic stone with the power of 'Secretive' 'Reaper'.]

[You have acquired a 3rd class magic stone with the power of 'Dark' 'Deathgod's' 'Dragon-exterminating'.]

[You can't let your guard down just because you've done the extraction perfectly. If you don't do mana crafting while activating the maximum power of the magic stone, then the options may devolve in quality or may even disappear.](Erta)

"Thank you, Ertawagon."

However, her worries were unnecessary; never did Yu IlHan slack in doing anything.

Of course, excluding team projects where he never had his turn since no one in his team found him!

Yu IlHan had a look at the robe first. He was confident in processing leather or cloth, but as he could only bring out the best of his abilities while handling metal, his expectations of completeness of the robe was the lowest.

After finding the most intact, sturdy, and tenacious part of the Orochi's skin, he started processing it in detail. In his head, he was wondering about how to make it into a legend rank artifact, so he muttered these words unintentionally.

"It will be good if I'm able to enhance the equipment by using loads of magic stones."

[That's impossible. Although it will definitely differ according to the abilities of the crafter, equipments have an innate limit to the quantity of mana they can have.](Erta)

Yu IlHan also knew that much.

If it was possible to enhance equipments simply by pouring mana into them, then other worlds had to be overflowing with legend or higher ranked equipments. There also shouldn't have been cases like his, where a person created a legend-ranked artifact through only mana crafting, but without the ability to wield mana freely.

As such, there exists a limit in every artifact. Mana crafting should be viewed as a process to refine an amount of mana within the limitations of the item itself.

This is also why both the abilities of the mana crafter and the item creator were important. If the item was a mess, then it was difficult for options to appear, and no matter how great of an item, if the mana crafting process was a mess, then the true power could not be brought out in full.

Alas, even if everything was perfect, it was impossible for too many options to be imbued into a single equipment, nor was it possible for too large an amount of power to dwell in it. That's why equipments with 3 options have overwhelming value......

"Huh."

Yu IlHan momentarily stopped speaking. It wasn't that he had committed a mistake while working. It was just that something flashed in his head. And what's more, a brilliant flash that would make him stronger!

[What is it, Yu IlHan? Did you think up of something weird again?](Erta)

"Hm. Hmmmmmm."

Seeing Yu IlHan in thought, Erta thought that her judgement was correct. She didn't know just what bulb had swtiched on in his head, but she did think that he might begin producing epic ranked weapons like nothing!

"Hm, so that's why the Traps of Destructions were, so that's it. I think I get it a little."

[Well, please keep it secret from other people.](Erta)

"No, it won't do for now. I don't think I can make a great one with just a 2nd class magic stone. Moreover, if I don't at least put a 4th class for the core..."

Yu IlHan seemed to speak nonsense before he took his phone out and started writing stuff on his memo. He hurriedly wrote with horrible handwriting, afraid as if he would forget it soon, before putting it back in satisfaction.

"Good, that's the idea done. I think I can manage a simple application at the current moment."

[How suspicious.](Erta)

"Well, you'll get to see it."

The robe was created smoothly. Yu IlHan first scraped off the Orochi's sharp scales carefully before gathering them all in one place and processing the skin, and he processed them so thinly that it looked like cloth, before putting together a robe large enough to cover his entire body.

There weren't many places for his abilities to shine, so despite the materials being of the best ones, it ended up as a rare ranked artifact, but the main course was from now.

Yu IlHan turned his head. The scales he had scraped from the Orochi were in that place.

[Yu IlHan, please tell me it isn't] (Erta)

"It is."

Yu IlHan picked one of the scales with tongs and put it inside the furnace where the Eternal Flame was burning. Since he knew that the Orochi's scales, bones, and even some parts of the muscles showed metallic characteristics, he had no hesitation.

The Eternal Flame seemed to have acquired quite a lot of firepower after being strengthened by eating part of the Orochi's corpse. Erta only looked at it while sighing, but Yu IlHan couldn't shake off the 'what if?' thought from his head.

"What if the Eternal Flame became like that after absorbing a part of the Orochi, which had absorbed 3 pieces worth of high ranked metals from the Traps of Destruction?"

[I'm also predicting that that's the case. Of course, it's properties did change by quite a large amount.] (Erta)

That meant that the Orochi meat and blood he had extracted also had a lot of heavy metals! Yu IlHan became depressed since he had been expecting a dragon-meat party.

[Don't eat it, you can't resist it even with your extreme poison resistance!] (Erta)

"But I will be able to endure if I only eat little bits of it at a time, right?"

[Aren't you thinking something weird at the moment?] (Erta)

Since he felt like he would get scolded if he said it now, Yu IlHan shut his mouth and processed the scales. He sharpened or hammered the molten scales or fused them with other materials. As always, as he gained experience, his working speed became insanely fast.

His work didn't end easily. He sharpened and fused countless scales until they became palm sized. he sharpened them and processed them for an entire day. He did that until they numbered 300.

[I think I get what you're doing.] (Erta)

It was obvious what he was trying to do. What did the Orochi do when he first approached it? Didn't it make the scales stand erect and shoot them out?

Yu IlHan was trying to imitate its technique through equipment. Since he had experienced the attack himself, he wouldn't fail with the mana crafting process.

However, Yu IlHan denied her words.

"No, Erta. That much is too weak."

Saying that, Yu IlHan took out 300 2nd class magic stones from his Cross Bag. Since the number of monsters he had killed numbered 100,000, he still had more than 20,000 magic stones.

Japan was almost doomed due to the dungeon wave, but Yu IlHan had acquired an absurd amount of money, enough to revive a country.

[Are you saying you will use all of that? That's impossible! Didn't I just say so a moment ago? There is a clear limit to the mana an armament can receive!] (Erta)

"Yes. One for each equipment. At most 3 or 4. This is the limit."

Yu IlHan's lips were making a smile. Despite the fact that he was doing the same thing for 24 hours straight, his confident smile was without a hint of fatigue.

[If you know then...... Hm?] (Erta)

At that moment, Erta also seemed to have realized.

Insane as ever – being able to think of that, Erta asked.

[Yu IlHan, are these scales all......] (Erta)

"They're all rare ranked or above."

Yu IlHan answered as if he had waited for it.

This meant that, he had, through 24 hours of work, had created 300 rare ranked daggers.

"Of course, the weapon has a limit, so there is a limit to their uses, and I do wonder if the people will be able to use them properly even if I gave it to them."

Assassins would like it. The finished daggers were both extremely light and extremely sharp. If anyone knew that he had only used 5 minutes to finish each of these, then they would all be shocked.

However, Yu IlHan didn't create these to use them as daggers. He had made them as a part of the robe.

"Let's start then."

Yu IlHan grabbed a bunch of daggers on one hand, and a bunch of magic stones on the other, before starting mana crafting. He focused in order for the mana to be equally distributed among the daggers he had. He wouldn't have been able to try such an insane method when he couldn't wield mana, but now, it was different.

The flow of mana from the magic stones flowed almost too easily according to his control and were split apart into streams before being absorbed into the daggers, and under the same imagery from Yu IlHan, implemented the same ability in all of them.

Yu IlHan finished all that work in a short time. The 300 daggers were still of rare rank, but their abilities were all the same. (T/N: How is it 'rare' if you have the 300 of the same dagger? O.o)

[Flash Orochi Dagger]

[Rank – Rare]

[Attack Power – 2,500]

[Options – Will be ejected at high speeds if a shock is received. At that time, attack power increases by 30%, and after the power is depleted, it returns back to its original position.]

[Durability – 2,200/2,200]

When Yu IlHan smacked the handle of the dagger as a test, the dagger shot out like a bullet and seemed to embed itself deep into the wall, before returning to its original position below Yu IlHan's hand.

Perfect. This was a splendid weapon in itself. Of course, Yu IlHan had no intentions in stopping here though.

"Right, then."

It was time to fuse the robe and the daggers. To compare, it was like multiple single items combining into a set. It was like how coke and french fries were bland on their own, but great together.

[That looks heavy.] (Erta)

"Hey, I swung around weapons weighing tens of tons, this is nothing."

Yu IlHan equipped the 300 daggers he had made onto the robe in order. As they were originally attached together as skin and scales, just putting in a slight amount of mana made them stick to each other.

When 300 of them were stuck close together, the robe looked quite frightening, but it wasn't too easily told apart – the daggers were too thin.

Confirming that the daggers were attached, Yu IlHan nodded in satisfaction before starting mana crafting. His first objective was to bring out the power of 'secretive' 'reaper' in the magic stone, and his second and compulsory objective was to......

'It's fortunate that I can now wield mana. Although I can't acquire a skill right away, if I increase the number of equipments that work with mana, then I can become a lot stronger than others.'

You are already overwhelmingly strong as you are now! – or so Erta would say if she knew what he was thinking; the mana crafting began.

The overwhelming energy of a 3rd class magic stone, and the two options dwelling inside it were pulled out entirely and were led to the black leather robe under Yu IlHan's lead. Not long after, a brilliant light appeared foretelling the results.

[Secretive Reaper's Roaring Dark Python Robe was completed.]

[Secretive Reaper's Roaring Dark Python Robe] (T/N: Gosh, that's long)

[Rank – Legend]

[Defense – 3,500]

[Options-

25% increase in concealing abilities

25% in attack power when attacking in surprise

Generates a strong shock wave using mana]

Yu IlHan gripped his fists. Although he was sure that he would succeed, it was different seeing it for real. However, Erta turned pale after checking the finished equipment's stats and shouted.

[Don't you dare test that thing here!] (Erta)

"It will be quite a spectacle though."

[And, your workshop along with this building will collapse!] (Erta)

the additional option on the robe was quite simple. Consuming mana to generate a shock wave in all directions. He did the mana crafting while thinking about the Orochi's absurd strength, but it seemed like it had worked out as he had expected.

That in itself was a plenty good of an option, but the problem(?) was the neatly attached daggers on the surface of the robe.

The daggers had options that would eject when receiving shock, so the moment Yu IlHan creates a shock wave using mana, they would eject in all directions.

"In fact, there is a combo here."

When Yu IlHan pulled his sleeves up, there was the Quick LIghtning Storm's Gold Leather Bracelet. This was a splendid accessory that increased his mana recovery speed by 20%, and generated a lightning storm when under attack once a day!

The problem was that this did not come to light in the anti-Orochi fight.

[The attack power was too weak. I think it did activate during the battle, but I can't remember when.] (Erta)

"Yes. However, it will be a different story if it's with the robe's power."

If he timed the lightning storm well after creating the shock wave; if only the lightning storm would envelop the daggers at the same time they were ejected!

[Your imagination is frightening as ever!] (Erta)

Yu IlHan had now created a once-a-day defensive finisher attack. He wanted to test if it went the way he wanted it to, but as the barrier would dissipate once he exited it, he could only give up for now.

Having acquired a good result from the robe he had made, Yu IlHan's hammering also gained power.

What he made next was the armor, and since he had an overflowing amount of leather and bones, he was planning to make an inner armor and an outer armor.

He first processed the Orochi's skin wholeheartedly to make a simple inner armor, and he transferred the options in the 3rd magic stone with the power of 'Shiveringly' 'Hard' 'Shadow Leopard's'.

[What?] (Erta)

[Strong Shadow Dragon's Dark Python Leather Armor was completed.]

[Rank – Unique]

[Defense – 4,200]

[Options –

35% increase in defensive power.

30% increase in critical hit rate and critical attack power when attacking in surprise]

[Durability – 3,200/3,200]

"Huh?"

A unique ranked armor was made.

Of course, it was already very good, but Yu IlHan was slightly disappointed.

Among the 3 options, the option to enhance the other two had completely disappeared, and the other 2 options had changed. Although it was just leather armor, it was made from the skin of the Orochi!

The original armor had the option to increase attack power by 50% when doing a surprise attack. Although he did gain a critical hit rate increase which he didn't have before, he somehow felt like he had made a loss.

[Perhaps this is better. You have the critical hit skill, as well as a lot of titles and artifacts that go well with it. How about you make other equipments to increase critical hit rate in the future?]

"*Groan*."

Critical hits were definitely strong. If it happened, it could stun the enemy for a moment, and the damage also explosively increases as well.

the reason he could cut the Orochi's head and the tail was also because they were critical hits.

However, unless he could bring out critical hits 100% of the time, Yu IlHan had no plans on relying on it. This was the reason he wasn't happy.

Anyway, armor crafting hadn't ended yet. Since his surprise attack power was lowered, he resolved to make one with good options and heated up the Orochi's bones with the Eternal Flame.

However, he wasn't making armor with those bones, but sharp blades.

[You're doing the same thing like the robe again?]

"No, this is a process to complete one of my dreams!"

Yu IlHan reminisced about the time during the initial stages of the Great Cataclysm, when he had just learned mana crafting, and had made the defensive equipment with the mantis scythe. At that time, he was proud of himself, but thinking back now, that was trash!

"Moreover, despite my mana crafting ability increasing since that time, I instead had to focus on the defensive power and the surprise attack power, so I put aside my dreams for a little. However, not anymore. I will fuse my ideals and reality into one!"

[You sound reasonable, but you're planning to make armor with protruding blades again, aren't you!]

"Yup. It's my preference so please respect it."

Although Yu IlHan had relied on the pile bunker, spear and other weapons until now, that didn't mean that the Vale Tudo he had learned from Lita in the numerous years had disappeared nor had it regressed.

As such, he had not left out close combat when training alone until now. It was the final and the most fatal trump card he had against enemies who closed in on him after deflecting his spear!

Yu IlHan was now making the method to enhance that weapon.

"There definitely will come a time when I use this. The probability probably just went up now that I said it. 96%. Oh, 98% now."

[Shaddap. I should've realized when you imbued the option magic stone into the leather armor.]

Even while sighing deeply, Erta had no choice but to watch Yu IlHan's work progress. The scene in her head was one where Yu IlHan was courageously fighting against the Orochi.

'May an armor befitting of the hero who challenges the impossible, be born' – Muttering that in her heart, she ended up smiling slightly.

Author's notes

Just, what had he thought of!?

I planned to skip the crafting part as much as possible, but I can't just not use the Orochi half heartedly. But even so, the next chapter will be the end of it!

Chapter 79

Yu IlHan sharpened several of the Orochi's bones into blades, and like the scales on the robe, they were completed as rare ranked artifacts.

In the process of mana crafting every one of those using 2nd class magic stones, which he had a lot of, some of the blades turned out to be unique ranked artifacts as well.

[It wasn't that there wasn't a crafter who tried this......]

Would no other people have thought of the idea Yu IlHan was doing? Tying two artifacts into one occurred a lot of times in other worlds until now. There were quite a few successful examples as well, and sometimes, there were absurd artifacts born from it.

However, what Yu IlHan was doing now was different in quality. He was not tying two artifacts into one, but was making independent artifacts that would fit in a set as part of a whole artifact with his absurd metalworking ability.

Combining two "half" artifacts into a complete whole, and combining numerous ones into a single artifact can only be different.

[It's a problems since those parts are either scales or blades.]

Those damned dreams! There should have been another method of making them, and it did look like Yu IlHan would know other ways as well, but he was only making the items he wanted.

Perhaps he believed that it was too difficult for him as of now, or so Erta decided to believe.

"Blade finished~."

Since he had made the parts, Yu IlHan now went into making the armor. In the process of making the Orochi bone blades, he had seen through the fact that the bones also had metallic properties like the scales. So, he had melted the rest of the bones with the Eternal Flame, and made them into a blackish purple metallic ingot.

What was left was to melt it and process it into armor.

From the helmet to the sabatons, Yu IlHan made each individual part that made up the set of full plate armor, and gathered hundreds of big and small blades in one place before taking out a 3rd class magic stone.

'Defense, attack, I want to bring out all of them. No, I need to.'

Inside Yu IlHan's head was his own figure wearing the completed armor.

His armor wasn't one where it would be easily destroyed by the Orochi's magic bullet, but one that protected him whenever and wherever; not one that simply defends, but one that counterattacks the enemy!

Mana crafting activated, and the mana boiled all at once as if having waited for it, and enveloped the magic stone and the armor.

As his eyes were closed, Yu IlHan only knew that a brilliant light was flashing, but hearing Erta's deep sigh, he could predict that the mana crafting had succeeded.

[Iron Armored Fire Dragon's Biting Dark Python Fullplate Armor was completed.]

[Iron Armored Fire Dragon's Biting Dark Python Fullplate Armor]

[Rank – Legend]

[Defense – 6,500]

[Attack Power – 4,200]

[Options –

40% increase in defense

80% increase in fire attribute resistance, 20% chance of reflecting a part of the attack when receiving an attack of the fire attribute

Can pull out blades from place of need in the armor. When using mana, the blade can be enlarged]

[User Restrictions – Creator, Yu IlHan]

[A masterpiece made by a peak level smith using materials befitting his skills, and bringing out the best of his abilities. Not to mention its hardness, the sharp teeth it harbors has enough power to rip apart the enemy's breath.]

Yu IlHan opened his eyes. In front of his eyes was the completed full plate armor that was emitting vicious blackish purple death qi, but it was too beautiful.

The hundreds of blades he had made wholeheartedly couldn't be seen anywhere, but Yu IlHan didn't doubt the fact that they would appear when they were needed.

He was worried that it may end up as a unique ranked artifact, but the worry was unnecessary. Moreover, since it had all the options he wanted, it made him satisfied.

Amongst those, the fire attribute resistance caught his eyes. He thought back to the pain he received from the Orochi's magic bullet. With this option, there wouldn't be any more happenings like that.

Of course, he did get annoyed since the word fire attribute meant that there were resistance in other attributes as well, such as water and lightning.

However, the most amazing thing was the enlarging of the blade that he didn't really want. Well, it wasn't that he didn't want it, but that he had not thought of that.

"From the moment I could wield mana, I can see more of the things that are possible with it."

[It's natural for the artifact to be influenced by the creator.]

Erta said as if it was nothing, but she was also surprised.

Enlarging a weapon was quite a frequently-seen magic, but it was magic, nonetheless. Imbuing the power of magic into a mere option wasn't something so simple as Yu IlHan was thinking.

Although mana crafting was the power to imbue hopes into an item, too big of a hope or absurd hopes wouldn't come into fruition.

The reason why Erta could imbue the power of miracles into the Cross Bag, despite her mana crafting level being lower than Yu IlHan's was also because she and the angels knew of high ranked magic.

However, Yu IlHan had succeeded in implementing the power of magic despite having just becoming able to wield mana. Yes, the reason why his created equipments were absurdly hard was not only because of his smithing skills, but probably also because of the numerous experience in him.

That meant that, if Yu IlHan ceaselessly acquired records in this changing world, then perhaps, Earth might just!

However, Erta's full-of-expectations hope was unnecessarily cut off by the voice that came next.

"Wow, it really is absurdly hard. I'm not sure about the exact abilities, but its hardness definitely surpasses harkanium alright."

The Eternal Flame that raised its temperature as much as possible, and the Heavenly Cloud Gathering Sword that was enduring like nothing in those flames. Yu IlHan laughed while grabbing the sword that was hard for him to lift even with both of his hands.

"I think the Eternal Flame will be able to melt it, but even if it does melt, it will be a bigger problem for me to mould it into a spear."

[Well, the ingredients to make Traps of Destruction are more focused on their magical properties than their hardness.]

Saying that, Erta looked at the furnace and saw that the tip of the giant sword was still holding on. Does it even melt?

Even though that Heavenly Cloud Gathering Sword was also made of Orochi's bones, it was too hard to be said so. Erta thought that Yu IlHan might be occupied with that for the rest of the duration of the barrier, so she suggested.

[How about you just use it as a sword? You are also a master of swordsmanship. You mastered both of the martial arts anyway, is it really necessary for you to shift it into a spear?]

"Of course, it isn't so bad to prepare a good sword. However, I'm more proficient in the art of the spear. Also, if I cannot process this much on my will, then I'm not qualified to be a smith."

Yu IlHan was someone that under-evaluated his own abilities at times, but he could differentiate between the things he could do and he could not do. And this sword, despite being difficult, was a challengeable opponent.

Since time, the one he was worried about the most, was solved to an extent, only the battle between him and the Heavenly Cloud Gathering Sword was left.

{Kroaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!}

At that moment, a roar that tried to split his head apart resounded. Perhaps it was sad that the sword which was once part of its body was destined to be melted down by fire, the thoughts in the power of life he had absorbed with the skill death collector, was causing a mess.

Even though it was only a power of life that belonged to him, the Heavenly Cloud Gathering Sword was showing a slight vibration.

"Oho."

Seeing that, Yu IlHan's lips curved upwards.

Although it was impossible now, he thought that this weapon may have other possibilities in the future.

***(T/N: Time skip, he DID make something with that sword, and made other things as well)

"Wao."

Having just finished embracing the two months that didn't even last an instant, Yu IlHan checked his phone and muttered emptily.

"Not even 1 second has passed. Oh, 2, 3."

[Do you finally get how important of an artifact that Heaven has given you?]

Erta was sounding quite proud, but it was in fact close to an act, since the words said by Spiera, that higher existences should do what higher existences can, and lower existences should do what they can, was still floating in her head.

As she knew the great powers of the Hourglass of Eternity, she could also read the intentions of the angels that gave him this.

'We also did this much. You can understand us, right?' – such blatant meanings.

Regardless of whether he knew Erta's complex feelings or not, Yu IlHan had a look at the Vanguard homepage and nodded in satisfaction.

"I did say I will sell them 2 months later, but the inquiries are exploding."

[I think your phone will be set on fire soon as well. Even though the Lightning God Clan is trying to hide it, I don't think they can hide it forever.]

"Although, I do plan to give the opportunity to every clan that participated in the Dungeon Wave fairly."

No, he needed to. He had put his heart into making standard-tier and higher-tier equipment in the barrier, but he couldn't leave them as stocks. Erta also thought back to what happened in the barrier and grumbled.

[I really didn't think that you will be able to use up all those materials.]

"The ancestors once......"

[Stop with the ancestors!]

Seeing that Erta might catch(?) neurosis at any moment, Yu IlHan laughed and stroked her head. (T/N: What did that just say again? stroke? STROKE!?!?)

"Anyway, I've almost finished the items I will be selling, so I should pull the time forward a little. And let's see. I think I also need to meet the Lightning God Clan once, and also..."

Yes, shouldn't he also pay a visit to the strong friends who were even suffering overseas? (T/N: Meaning, 'Suppression'). Yu IlHan thought back to first lieutenant Han YeoRang and captain Yoon DaeHan he had seen back in Tokyo and laughed.

They seemed to have quite the talent as they possessed powers nearing 2nd class, but the things they had on their bodies could be called ragged if optimistic, and trash if pessimistic.

He didn't have any bad impression on them, and as he was especially impressed by what Yoon DaeHan said during the initial stages of the Great Cataclysm, he did feel like he would feel quite annoyed if they died because he had contacted them too late. (T/N: I think Yoon DaeHan said something like 'I'm skeptical of what the country is doing, we need to save people, not bind the ability users by force)

"Should I contact them?"

Muttering that, on one of Yu IlHan's hands was a business card. He had took out Captain Yoon DaeHan's business card with the remote collection ability that he had become overly used to.

When Han YeoRang was rejoicing about going home after the last monster of Chiba was cleanly finished, Yu IlHan, who could not switch his concealment on and off as he willed it, disguised himself as a normal fighter and approached Captain Yoon DaeHan for his contact info.

Yoon DaeHan and Han YeoRang widened their eyes when they heard that Yu IlHan wanted to trade equipment, when he took out some of the weapons from the Cross Bag, they realized that he was not joking. He knew from before, but they really were quick witted.

After that was Yu IlHan's pace. The two's eyes were flipped when they heard him say that he wanted to sell weapons at a cheap price to Suppression.

Of course, they did suspect him since both Susanoo and Yu IlHan used the spear, but it didn't really matter. Now, Yu IlHan didn't really have any intentions on hiding himself.

How? Because, since Yu IlHan became able to wield mana, the probability of him being pushed back from the world's strongest was lessened by quite a large amount!

Additionally, it was also because the LIghtning God Clan, who he acquired quite a good relationship with after the trade, turned out to have a power not lower than any other large clans in the world.

[They should be just arriving at Korea by now.]

"......Oh yeah. So practically, only a day passed since the Dungeon Wave?"

[To be exact, it has been 9 hours and 38 minutes since you killed the last monster that appeared due to the Dungeon Wave.]

Even though he had expected it, he felt quite weird. He himself had created everything he could for two months and even tested them all perfectly, but right now, humanity was just barely able to breathe.

It was a feeling he hadn't felt for a long time since the Earth dropout period.

[Spiera said you will be able to overcome this absurdity well.]

"I will definitely slap her in the face some time."

[If possible then go ahead. No, I plead you so please slap that bit....*ehem*, no, please insert some common sense into that brainless muscle angel.]

Picking up useless information that Erta hated an angel called Spiera, and quite a lot at that, he called Yoon DaeHan thinking that he should inform him before they made contact.

With the telephone installed on the 14th floor, the higher ranked weapons store, which was above the 13th floor weapon shop, which was in operation today, since it was Monday.

[We are waiting for your call. Come see us any time.]

Such were the words Yoon DaeHan spoke as soon as he received the call. It seemed like he was constantly on watch, in fear of Yu IlHan's mind changing.

"Very well."

Yu IlHan smiled and said.

"Let's talk business."

Such was the moment of the 2nd stage of humanity strengthening plan.

Author's notes

It's not like he only received 20% of fire damage just because he got 80% fire resistance. Just think that it has considerably been reduced.

Since it will be endless if I list all the weapons IlHan made, I only mentioned the armor and skipped the rest. The non-important weapon won't even be mentioned, and the the equipment he will be using will come out later, so look forward to it!

Chapter 80

(T/N: A change in naming: Holy Knight -> Paladin. (Kang HaJin's job))

The location was, of course, the 14th floor of Vanguard. Unlike the 13th floor, only those with Yu IlHan's permission could enter, and this place didn't have any displays with showcased equipment, looking more like an office.

Yu IlHan would be in charge of trading the higher ranked equipment anyway, and his Cross Bag could hold as many equipments as he wanted, so there was no need for a showcase.

Now, Yu IlHan did not wear a mask. Vanguard was his company, and he also thought that there was no need to hide his face when he was showing himself as the owner of Vanguard.

That's why he had taken it off, but.

"Hmm."

Seeing the man and woman sitting on the sofa he had prepared on the 14th floor, opposite to him, Yu IlHan tilted his head.

"Only sir Yoon DaeHan needed to come though."

"Well, shouldn't I at least be together with one subordinate to show myself off a little?"

Yoon DaeHan nonchalantly laughed, but seeing the national representative 'beauty' first lieutenant Han YeoRang, Yu IlHan couldn't help but sigh.

"It's been a while, Mr. Yu IlHan. Although, I only got to know of your name now."

"It's been a while."

First lieutenant Han YeoRang spoke in a slightly stiff tone, but as expected of one that was aiming for quick marriage and end of military service, she had some pretty makeup. Wishing for her to meet someone good quickly, Yu IlHan asked Yoon DaeHan.

"I told you my conditions so you should have a grasp on it, right? How much are they willing to pay?"

"If it's at the level of those sold on the 13th floor, and the supply is high, then they have intentions on buying at the market price."

"The market price is over 5 billion though. It's not the market price, but the Vanguard standard price. The government also has their own predictions on why Vanguard was opened."

"Yes. I also think it's a good business. Cutting it short, it's not that much different from taking them for free."

There was a limit to selling the items of Vanguard. 2 per person. In the first place. it wasn't a brand with a lot of stocks, so for arming Suppression, the army would profit even if they were supplied with Yu IlHan's items at market price.

Yu IlHan called out a longsword out of nowhere. In truth, he had taken it out from the Cross Bag hung in one corner of the office, but the strong friends seeing that could only see it as magic.

"This is the average equipment of those supplied to Suppression. Take a look."

"Yes."

So, they are inferior to the ones sold in Vanguard downstairs – muttered Yoon DaeHan in his heart and received the sword. Han YeoRang also seemed curious and extended her hand to touch it.

[Pressure Tiger Bone Bastard]

[Rank – Rare]

[Attack Power – 2,650]

[Options – 40% increase in attack when facing monsters below user's level]

[Durability – 2,100/2,100]

[Mass produced weapons made by surpassing the limits of the material]

Yoon DaeHan wordlessly smiled. However, Han YeoRang didn't have that much experience and shouted in surprise.

"Attack power 2,650? Moreover, I've never seen options like this! Just who is the smith?

"Industrial secret, miss."

Yu IlHan placed his index finger on his lips and smiled. Han YeoRang blushed in embarrassment, but Yu IlHan firmly ignored that and continued.

"Of course, there will be variables in the attack power and the options according to the form of the weapon, but you can think that this is the average. It's around the middle of standard weapons and higher ranked weapons."

"Th, the price is?"

"That's up to the government. However, I'd prefer additional services over money. There are a lot of benefits that one wants when conducting business, and I also wish to block some annoying interferences in the future as well."

This was a splendid business man who blatantly requested bribery.

"I have a lot of money, and can earn as much as I want if i will it. I also don't think that the currencies used until now will have much value in the future."

"So cool."

Yu IlHan ignored Han YeoRang again.

"First, I should get this straight. I don't want the government to profit from the weapons I sell. I want the weapons to be solely distributed to Suppression. As such, I want a list of members of Suppression, and the equipments they needed to be equipped with. A weapon and an armor each. Simple, right?"

"Of course, we've prepared them. You also don't have to worry about the problems you have spoken of. The higher ups in the Korean military aren't only composed of thoughtless idiots."

"That's quite fortunate."

Even while Yu IlHan and Yoon DaeHan were speaking business, Han YeoRang's eyes were fixed on Yu IlHan. Was her eyes twisted? Or are her preferences very extreme? Neither.

It was simply that Yu IlHan's level was nearing 80, and his very league was heightening by the day, which resulted in his body figure and face nearing a more perfect form without him realizing it.

Honestly, his starting point wasn't so good, but even so, Yu IlHan was currently at the top of humanity. At least, he was way higher than his own self-evaluation.

'A good-looking guy full of ability, perfect. He's the perfect husband-material.'

Han YeoRang decided to seduce Yu IlHan. Although, she did get ditched once in the past, she was only happy that they made connections like this.

However, just as plans were being built in her mind, Yu IlHan lightly clapped and spoke.

"Let's stop it here. The items will be prepared in 3 days, so let's settle it with the contract then."

"I understand. I thank you from the bottom of my heart again."

"I only pitied you since you were being pushed around everywhere."

Those words filled with honesty made Yoon DaeHan's heart ache. Anyway, it wasn't bad for Suppression to earn Yu IlHan's pity right now.

Yoon DaeBang clicked his tongue after looking at Han YeoRang staring at Yu IlHan, before he suggested to Yu IlHan, thinking that he should help her out a little.

"Would you like to eat lunch together with us? I know of a good place nearby."

"That's really tempting, but I have other activities in my schedule."

"Is it a woman?"

Han YeoRang's eyes flashed. Thinking that this idiot should fight monsters all her life, Yoon DaeHan smacked her on the head when Yu IlHan nodded.

"You should already be aware that Vanguard and the Lightning God Clan has some connections. I have planned to meet the clan master of the Lightning God Clan, miss Kang MiRae."

"Ah."

Han YeoRang's face became one of dejection. She knew her own level well. If compared, they had as much difference as a excalibur and a wooden training sword.

[How cruel.]

'Women are annoying.'

And honestly, she didn't even enter her eyes. Repeating what was said before, Yu IlHan's standard of beauty had become absurdly high after spending time with Lita for a thousand years.

Wishing that the despairing Han YeoRang would meet a good man in the future, again, Yu IlHan saw the two of them out. Not even 20 minutes after that, 3 people of both sexes arrived on the 14th floor.

"God dammit. They're no different."

"Hello, IlHan! You look so handsome."

"I appreciate your praise but please use polite speech."

Sitting there since he could not turn his customers away, Yu IlHan brewed some coffee for them since he had no secretary or the sort. Of course, since his cooking level was growing by the day due to consuming extreme poison, a simple coffee turned out to be extremely delicious as well.

While the others were rejoicing at the effects of their magic and battle skills, Yu IlHan was relaxing himself with his cooking skill!

Kang MiRae took a sip and was shocked at the unexpected goodwill and blinked her eyes several times, before finding calm and asking him.

"So the higher ranked equipment will be sold starting next week?"

"Yes. On a fair subscription basis."

Replying, Yu IlHan thought for a little before continuing.

"Of course, I'm not planning to sell a tier of weapon outside of your level, since people will go above themselves and try to do the impossible if they acquire artifacts above their ability."

"Oh yeah, that. MiRae is really doing the impossible nowadays, you... Ouch!"

Leaving aside Na YuNa, who was achieving the record of 1 hit per 3 minutes, Kang HaJin opened his mouth.

"Don't tell me the crafter you're in contract with has the ability to pull out artifacts of MiRae's staff's level like nothing?"

"If he has the time and material, yes. Although he can't do it everyday, he probably does more than you, Mr. Kang HaJin, can think of."

Yu IlHan continued with the words 'as such'.

"So give me that holy power material or whatever you call it right now. Miss Na YuNa and Mr Kang HaJin should have an artifact of your own."

"In your eyes, do I have the capability to wield legend ranked artifacts?"

"No, it's not that, but you do seem to need one in order to follow those two monsters."

Yu IlHan's words were too honest. It was to the point that Kang HaJin received a lot of damage, despite having resolved to throw away his inferiority.

But even so, should he be thankful since he was honest...?

Kang HaJin felt weird. It was probably because he had seen the battle in Japan.

To retort, the difference in their levels were too plainly seen. Yu IlHan was more like a teacher who taught him from above him, rather than a competitor.

Now, he didn't even feel that dejected anymore. Through an unrealistic experience, he had come to accept reality. Although, his sister didn't seem so yet.

"Actually, we got theeeem."

Na YuNa pulled out 3 small stones from her pocket.

When Yu IlHan tried to receive them, Na YuNa extend her fingers to play a prank, but having read her moves, Yu IlHan turned his hand in the air to receive just the stones.

"Wao!"

"Hmph."

[The Holy Stone of the Goddess of Beauty, Leytna]

[Rank – Legend]

[A special kind of stone that was kept in the temple of the Goddess of Beauty, Leytna, to harbor holy power. It is used in making artifacts specialized for priests/priestesses and paladins, and is one of the best.]

Yu IlHan looked at Na YuNa and asked where she had retrieved such a precious item with his eyes, and Na YuNa, who realized his intention, said proudly while puffing out her large chest.

"Fufu, I'm kinda being treated as the holy maiden."

"How do I use this? Does it just need to be embedded on the weapon or the robe?"

"Wouldn't the crafter know it well?"

"He doesn't have much relation to temples."

Na YuNa's words slightly felt like a loaded question, but since he had expected these kind of questions from the start, Yu IlHan smoothly replied. Na YuNa's eyes flashed in interest, and Yu IlHan blinked nonchalantly.

Kang HaJin spoke instead.

"You can grind it and apply it. It's a finishing agent."

"Is it only through that method? During blacksmithing? Or during mana crafting?"

"You just have to imbue the power within the holy stone into the equipment."

Yu IlHan acknowledged.

"I'll request right away. It won't take long."

"I'll thank you with just those words alone. I think we're about to get busy soon."

Kang HaJin stood up with a bitter smile.

Kang MiRae also stood up. She had a frightening expression on as if she was hit by someone, and only expressed her inner intentions when they were about to leave.

"It's about the Tokyo Orochi fight."

"Yes."

"I learned a lot. I think it will take a little time before I ask you for partnership. However, I won't give up."

Yu IlHan thought that she really had a lot of conviction. He himself had no intentions on getting involved with Kang MiRae more than necessary, but if her growth sped up thanks to him, that was a matter worth rejoicing about so Yu IlHan nodded in a delightful expression.

"I'll look forward to it."

"Well, then. We'll take our leave."

Give me my worth of it, since I attacked with my magic – or so he thought she would say, but Kang MiRae did not ask for anything.

Was she thinking that she still had debt for the artifact trading? He really thought that she had a uselessly high pride and laughed.

However, even though Kang MiRae and Kang HaJin stood up, Na YuNa was still sitting there. Kang MiRae's eyes twitched as she try to drag her away, but Na YuNa endured till the end and stayed.

"Nooo, I want to talk a little more!"

"Don't disturb him."

"I really have an important matter to say!"

Seeing that Na YuNa had no intentions of letting go of the sofa, Kang MiRae created some lightning on her palms. If this building wasn't Yu IlHan's possession, she would have shot already. Despite that, Na YuNa didn't stand up.

"Nooo, I have something to say with Mr. IlHan."

"Oppa, make this idiot faint."

"Got it."

"Wait."

Yu IlHan raised his hand.

"I will hear her out first and chase her out later so you two can leave first."

"We cannot disturb you anymore."

"It's alright. I'm gonna throw out the entire sofa along with her from the roof after listening to her so just prepare to receive her at the bottom."

"Wao!"

Yu IlHan already knew a certain extent, what Na YuNa wanted to say. With Yu IlHan's permission, Kang HaJin, worriedly, and Kang MiRae, annoyedly, bid farewell.

When they left completely, Na YuNa stood up abruptly and shouted while pointing at Yu Ilhan.

"This and that are all made by you, right!"

"Yes."

Yu IlHan acknowledged immediately. Na YuNa opened and closed her mouth a few times. It seemed like she didn't think that he would acknowledge it so easily.

"Araaa."

"I don't receive any damage even if I say it."

"Arara."

Na YuNa tilted her head and sat back down while pouting.

"Tch, I wanted to make it more advantageous for me."

"What were you even trying to ask?"

"Dropping the polite speech to each other." (T/N: Not so obvious in English, but yes. MC speak to her in polite speech while she doesn't)

An unimaginable trade condition. While Yu IlHan was laughing, Na YuNa only smacked on the innocent sofa.

"Why did you hide it then?"

"I think it's probably the same reason as why miss Na YuNa is hiding her true self."

"Hmmmm. Is that so."

Na YuNa muttered in acknowledgement and stood up.

"It really is a waste to give you to MiRae."

"I also have no intentions in giving myself to miss Kang MiRae."

"Right?"

Na YuNa nodded in satisfaction and brushed her clothes. Since the negotiation was broken before it had even started, it was now time to run away.

However, she seemed disappointed to run away with nothing, and extend her hand abruptly towards Yu IlHan.

"Do you want to be friends? Oh, ones that can develop into something else later."

"No."

Yu IlHan replied with a smile. The hesitation-less sharp answer made even the Na YuNa sweat.

"Do you have ED?" (Editor: A certain dysfunction)

"I'm normal."

"Or you like men?"

"No."

"Then why?"

"Do I really need to spell it out for you?"

Yu IlHan walked towards the elevator and pressed the button. The elevator that connected the first and 14th floor came up very quickly.

The doors opened, and Na YuNa went in with a disbelieving face. Only at that time did Yu IlHan speak.

"I don't really like miss Na YuNa so much."

"Wao!"

Yu IlHan's honest expression, and not one that was an act to receive her attention, made her touched. She was even a little happy. (T/N: I swear, she's an M)

"Then let's really be friends!"

"No, I'm not saying that I don't only like your appearance; I hate your personality even more."

"Waoooo!"

Even the social butterfly queen could not win against the loner-ness of the loner king, Yu IlHan.

Such was the first complete defeat of Na YuNa's life.