Steel-Eating Player - Chapter 17

17. Explosive growth, and opportunity – 2

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Lieutenant Seo Eun-ha got out of the driver’s seat, wearing a beige coat and jeans. was wearing

Even though it was a weekday, it was probably a vacation, judging from the fact that it was not in combat uniform.

“Loyalty!”

Ensign Seontapja saluted her and briefly reported on the current situation.

She looked at the orc corpses scattered everywhere and then approached Lee Hyun-wook and Yoo Hae-na.

Then Yoo Hae-na laughed sarcastically.

“Oh who is this? Isn’t that the third daughter of the knight commander? Have you grown up?”

I pretended to know that, but I was wrong. was the second daughter.

“······The 3rd Port Horse Brigade 2nd Battalion Attack Platoon Commander.”

Anyway, despite her pretense of knowledge, Seo Eun-ha responded in a very dry, business-like manner, and Yoo Hae-na’s expression also became cold. I even felt a sense of incongruous disappointment…

Apparently, the bad relationship between the two had been going on for quite some time.

“What captain? Hmm, if we’re Seo Eun-ha, it’s a shame she rots at AMT.”

“······.”

“Great. Would you like Seo Eun-ha to just accept this business card? “You’re still young, so it’s a good time to start over.”

Yoo Hae-na waved the business card that Lee Hyun-wook did not receive.

‘When I think about it, Seo Eun-ha was also one of Yoo Hae-na’s obsessions.’

At first, she tried to conquer her, but when she couldn’t get her hands on her, she had the bizarre intention of destroying her, so she set her sights on Seo Eun-ha.

And in the end, that desire comes true.

“The 1st Battalion of the 3rd Port Horse Brigade has the authority to attack the gate that has occurred in this vicinity. Unauthorized armed players must not be in the current location, i.e. ‘Red Ground’. “Please leave.”

“Ah, you guys already ran and took over? Is it fast? however······.”

Yoo Hae-na sneered and pointed toward her SUV.

“······We’re not interested anyway.”

People who appeared to be members of her team were leaning out of the car.

“Things like the Oak Gate are not up to our level. “I was just passing by when a request for emergency assistance came in, so I posted this on a humanitarian level.”

“······.”

“I came here with such good intentions, but everyone is treating me coldly… That’s how I feel, isn’t it?”

That was true.

The strategy team that Yoo Hae-na belonged to was the highest level of talent within the Cheonghwa guild, and they had to reach at least Troll Gate to step forward.

“Then, please understand. “Please get the car out of our operation area.”

“Oh, I understand! But wait a minute…”

Yoo Hae-na’s gaze shifted to Lee Hyun-wook.

“······Corporal Lee Hyun-wook over there?”

Seo Eun-ha looked at Yoo Hae-na and Lee Hyun-wook alternately with cold eyes.

Yoo Hae-na came very close to Lee Hyun-wook.

“Because my area is in charge of this area, I might be able to see him face to face when a large dungeon opens. If I make a good first impression, I think we will get along well with each other. “Don’t regret it later.”

While saying that, he put his business card into the front pocket of Lee Hyun-wook’s combat uniform.

“If you want to think carefully and contact me… what do you do? “Because I don’t discriminate against people as much as I do at first glance.”

After saying those words, Hae-na Yoo turned around and got into the SUV.

As the Cheonghwa Guild SUV departed, Seo Eun-ha looked at Lee Hyun-wook.

But for some reason, her expression changed to one of strange irritation.

Given the circumstances, it seemed like it was because of Yu Hae-na.

“Lee Hyun-wook… are you on vacation?”

“Yes that’s right.”

“······.”

A few seconds of silence…

She nodded without saying anything and turned around.

‘No matter how I look at it, it seems like I have something to say…’

Lee Hyun-wook knew Seo Eun-ha’s style well.

When he hesitated for a moment after asking for a formal hello with such a complicated expression, he had something to say, but ultimately hesitated.

‘After thinking about it a few times, I end up saying it one day.’

Like this, she had a timid inner self.

A short time later, the AMT military police investigation team arrived and began investigating the monster attack scene.

It took about 30 minutes, and only after that was we able to truly start our vacation.

***

Lee Hyun-wook and Choi Seon-ah arrived at Seoul Station two hours later than scheduled.

“Vice Commander, I’ll see you next time.”

“huh? Corporal Lee Hyeon-wook doesn’t want to take the train? “I thought we’d ride together since we were going in the same direction.”

Lee Hyun-wook said goodbye to Choi Seon-ah as if he felt sorry for her.

“Oh, I have someone to meet in Seoul, so I guess I’ll have to come down later.”

“Yes, then there is nothing we can do. let’s come back hi!”

“Yes, please go in carefully.”

Lee Hyeon-wook had no intention of going to Suwon, his address.

After losing my parents a long time ago, I went to live with a relative, and it was a time when only bad memories remained.

In other words, they were people who did not need to be recorded in his future.

Lee Hyun-wook first bought and changed into private clothes.

It was a blazer and slacks that were somewhat heavy rather than comfortable clothes, but it was meant to be formal in front of the ‘person I was meeting separately’ that I had mentioned to Choi Sun.

Then I took the subway to Yeongdeungpo Station. When I checked the clock, it was already 11 o’clock. All sorts of unexpected events took place and a lot of time was wasted.

“I need to move as quickly as possible to make things go according to plan.”

The first thing to do, of course, was to find a good quality metal to absorb.

He soon arrived at a place called ‘Blacksmith’s Alley’ in Mullae-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu.

This is where ‘Steel Alley’ used to be, and after the game started, ‘blacksmith’ players gathered one by one to start the ‘magical material engineering’ and ‘item production’ business.

As time passed, its scale gradually grew, and a few years ago, the ‘Blacksmith’s Guild’ was launched and was working for the interests of blacksmiths, emerging as one of the major axes of the player world in its own way…

‘It’s a combination that makes sense, but it’s a bundle of corruption that only benefits a few blacksmiths with vested interests.’

Lee Hyun-wook knew very well that the blacksmith’s union was a typically rotten organization.

‘And I know truly talented people who are unable to demonstrate their abilities because they are weighed down by those evils.’

Chong-Kang! Chong-Kang!

From the entrance of the alley came the sound of forging, beating and spreading metal.

Lee Hyun-wook entered the ‘union office’ at the entrance to the alley.

This was because of the absurd procedure of having to go through a union in order to deal with a blacksmith – that is, paying a fee.

“welcome.”

The employee greeted me coldly while sitting in front of the computer.

Even when Lee Hyun-wook approached, he didn’t even raise his head.

It was a scene to know the level of the union.

“hello.”

“Uh yeah, what brought you here?”

“wait a minute······.”

Hyunwook Lee pretended to look for a business card in his wallet and then took out other business cards one by one.

Tuk- Tuk- Tuk- When

the three bright names were placed on the desk, including the business card of Warrant Officer Cheon Myeong-ho, the tactical instructor of the Black Tiger Unit,

the business card of Catherine Yoo, head of the Cheonghwa Guild’s Seoul strategy department,

and the business card that Battalion Commander Kim Kang-sik gave me to contact me if I had any problems while I was on vacation …

····.

“······.”

The employee’s expression changed quite a bit.

‘uh? ‘What is this guy?’

he thought.

If a man holding a business card like this tries to confidently hand over his business card from the moment he appears, the meaning is clear.

‘······This guy is quite a big deal!’

It was a pretty natural way of thinking to come to that conclusion.

The employee got up from his chair and put on a visible smile.

“Oh my… how did I leave my business card behind?”

“Hahaha, it’s okay, boss. Now, please sit comfortably over here.”

What is the importance of business cards? The employee very politely pointed to a sofa on one side of the office.

“Sir, if you tell us what you are looking for, we will show you a selection of high-quality items.”

“I came to look for people, not things.”

“ah! Are you looking for an exclusive blacksmith? “Then, sir, may I recommend a craftsman who is just right for the purpose of your item?”

Weapons that penetrate the monster’s barrier and cut through bone and flesh. A combat player’s equipment items always needed repair, and that was the blacksmith player’s job.

In particular, high-ranking players would not entrust their expensive equipment to just anyone and would have an ‘exclusive blacksmith’ to professionally manage their items.

“No, I have someone else looking for me.”

“Ah… is that so?”

The staff had a puzzled expression.

The power of the union lay in its power to recommend blacksmiths to new customers, which meant that more opportunities went to blacksmiths who supported the union’s core power.

“By any chance, what is your father-in-law’s name?”

“This is master craftsman Kang Jeong-du.”

“······.”

The employee’s expression became even more determined.

‘Perhaps it’s because the name was excluded from the recommendation list.’

Master Kang Jeong-doo was a person who did not obey the huge structure of the association.

That’s why it was out of the eyes of the union, and now it should have been a cold meal.

‘But he’s one of the most skilled blacksmiths.’

The employee hesitated before opening his mouth.

“That boss says he’s not performing well, so I’m going to hire someone with better skills….”

“No, please be the master of Gangjeongdu.”

“······.”

“Did you by any chance not hear me?”

“Hahaha… if you really want to, I understand.”

As expected, the staff tried to exclude Kang Jeong-doo.

If it weren’t for the business card operation, I probably would have been shut out at this point.

After a while, the inner door opened and an old man with white hair appeared.

‘I’ve heard the name of Master Gang Jeong-du many times, but this is my first time seeing him in person.’

Although he will pass away just four years later, he is a true craftsman who will create incredible items before then.

‘If you do well, you can have all the things he makes.’

Lee Hyun-wook’s heart trembled just by seeing that great man in person.

“Oh my boss, I heard you were looking for this old man. “It’s called Gangjeongdu.”

An old man with white hair bowed his back at a right angle.

“If you don’t mind the old man, can we go to his workshop and talk to him directly?”

“······Well, this old man’s place is quite shabby.”

“it’s okay.”

The employee’s expression hardened once more.

There was no way I would like the idea of going to the blacksmith’s workshop, which was on the ‘blacklist’, rather than the union’s office. However, since they already misunderstood that he was a big-time guest, they didn’t seem to dare to stop him.

Lee Hyun-wook entered the shabby building in the corner of the blacksmith alley.

In the workshop, where the rusty shutter was half open, there was only a small anvil and a rusty workbench with a cooking pot.

“This is so shabby that I am not worthy of recognition. “It’s okay if you just go and look around.”

“No, it’s a place where you can feel the elder’s career.”

“I am very glad to hear you say that.”

The living quarters were shabby, but the items hanging inside were not.

Lee Hyun-wook found a huge object from the entrance.

It was a black window.

‘That’s a javelin made from an Orihalcon head.’

It was one of the javelin weapons that would later be used by Salzburg’s ‘Dragon Knights’.

‘I don’t think the barrier collapse effect has been applied yet, but it will be completed in about a year.’

Gulp –

I couldn’t help but drool.

But I didn’t dare to get it right away.

Even Gangjeong’s craftsman would have known the price, and Lee Hyun-wook did not have the money yet to ask for it willingly.

‘Even if Master Kang gave up everything, he didn’t give up that one easily.’

Hyun-wook Lee heard that right before Kang Jeong-du died, the Austrian hero Dragon Knight personally visited him and said that he was able to get it after half a day of persuasion, saying that he would absolutely drive that spear into the heart of the dragon ‘Tarasque’ that appeared on the European continent.

And in the end, that spear becomes ‘Dragon Slayer’.

‘Hehe… First of all, I have to eat metal that has magical properties that belong to me.’

You will grow no matter what metal you eat, but as I have reminded you several times, you have to find and eat high-quality metal – especially metal that contains magic.

In that case, not only does the metal control increase, but also ‘skills’ and ‘resistance’ to certain magic are created, and when the level reaches its extreme, it reaches ‘immunity’.

For example, if you keep eating metal enchanted with fire properties, you will not get burned even if you are engulfed in fire.

‘I need poison immunity right now.’

This was because ‘poison immunity’ was desperately needed for the very moment that was a

precursor to the 4th wave of events that would occur two days later .

“Boss, I don’t work alone. I have an assistant. I would like to say hello.”

“Haha, that’s good.”

“Hey Hee-seol!”

The seventy-year-old had a good voice.

At his call, footsteps were heard from the inner room of the workshop.

“why!”

It was a high-pitched female voice with a voice comparable to that of my grandfather.

“I was just practicing enchanting!”

The door inside the workshop opened, and a short-haired girl with soot on her face came out.

‘Kang Hee-seol is still young.’

I roughly calculated her age and found that she was probably in her first or second year of high school.

‘Kang Jeong-du will die four years from now.’

Since it was not due to any chronic illness and was a natural death due to old age, there was no way for Lee Hyun-wook to prevent it.

‘But that woman, Snow White Kang Hee-seol, will grow up. And later, together with seven dwarven craftsmen, he created the first master-level item.’

There is something called a ‘family system’ in this game.

Simply put, ‘family history’ is also reflected in player abilities.

For example, if the father was awakened as a wizard player, there was a high possibility that his children would acquire wizard-related characteristics when awakened later.

An example is the fact that Seo Eun-ha, the second daughter of General Seo Baek-jin, the leader of the Army Holy Knights, was a Holy Knight player, and Kang Hee-seol, as the granddaughter of Kang Jeong-du, also awakened to the characteristics of a blacksmith.

“huh? “Who is this guy?”

“You are the boss!”

“ah! Sonnom~”

“This bitch is a cow, a cow, a sonnom! “I’m serious about my speaking habits!”

“No, my grandfather always…”

“Hey! When will you grow up?”

Lee Hyun-wook chuckled.

‘As expected, he’s very immature. There will be no need to grow up in the future.’

In particular, Lee Hyun-wook was well aware that he had learned such rude speaking habits from his grandfather, Kang Jeong-du.

‘Kang Jeong-doo looks evil on the outside, but he is a stubborn and strong old man.’

If anything, would you pretend to be at a great distance with the Blacksmith’s Guild?

“Haha, it’s okay. My granddaughter is also a blacksmith player.”

“It seems fate has turned out that way.”

“Because this is a family business, I can trust you even more.”

At Lee Hyeon-wook’s words, Gang Jeong-doo put on an expression of pride.

“Oh, I’ll do my best.”

I bought as many magical metals enchanted with ‘poison properties’ as possible from Lee Hyeon-wook’s Gang Jeong-doo’s workshop.

It weighed a whopping 11 kg and was worth 22 million won.

In addition, I purchased a dagger made of useful magic metal and 20 iron beads.

In particular, this 3cm diameter iron ball was made of mithril-tungsten alloy and had a reasonable weight and decent anti-magic power, so it would effectively collapse the monster’s ‘barrier’.

And the iron ball was, above all else, an easier metal to control because the center of gravity was located in the center, so there was little need to pay attention to balance.

‘At 2.9 million won for 20 magic metal beads, I bought it quite cheaply.’

In this way, AMT soldiers were able to purchase and bring in their own personal weapons.

‘I’m glad I’ve been saving regularly at this time of year.’

Since AMTs are professional soldiers, they receive a salary equivalent to that of an office worker every month, but as soldiers usually do, they are confined to the unit, so there is almost no need to spend money.

Therefore, his bank account currently contained approximately 38 million won.

“Thank you, boss!”

Kang Jeong-du, who had earned several months worth of income with just one transaction, was excited, and Kang Hee-seol was also wiping the saliva from the corner of his mouth with a bewildered expression.

“and! This twenty million won! Awesome… Grandpa, today we have chicken and pizza…”

“Hey, that snout- hmm, keep your mouth still!”

That image of a tomboy wouldn’t change even when he got older.

“The item is very nice. “I will be coming here often to do business, so please stay healthy.”

“Oh, of course.”

“I’ll see you again later, granddaughter.”

“yes yes! I hope we can see each other more often! Hi-Hi!”

“Oh my, this….”

The person I liked meeting often was Lee Hyun-wook.

In this way, a high-quality metal supply source was secured.

***

Lee Hyun-wook stayed at a nearby motel.

“after······.”

And now he was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the room with a nervous expression.

In front of him, there was a pile of metal ‘enchanted’ with ‘poison properties’ purchased from Kang Jeong-du.

When ordering, they asked for it to be cut into pieces the size of a finger, so they could all be swallowed in one bite.

He picked up one of them and swallowed it.

Gulp –

– (00:19:59) left until metal absorption.

Normally it would have taken the same amount of time as above, but now it was different.

Lee Hyun-wook gave strength to Danjeon.

U-Uh-

Then, I felt a sound coming from deep inside my body.

What can I say, it felt like a huge machine was starting up.

By absorbing the devil’s medal (Inferno), a newly created organ called

‘internal furnace’ was activated.

– The melting furnace inside the body works, and the metal absorption efficiency rises rapidly. (+250%)

Beyond simply digesting metal, it literally melts and absorbs it.

but······.

– caution! Serious pain!

– caution! Serious pain!

– Caution! This will cause serious pain!

“·······Ku!”

It is accompanied by burning pain all over the body.

Lee Hyun-wook endured the pain and gritted his teeth.

I felt like I was going crazy, but I had to endure it.

If so…

‘Absorb all 11 kg of metal today!’

······Tomorrow, Lee Hyun-wook would wake up three times more powerful than he is now.