Chapter 24

[Items for Sale: Weapon Enhancement]

“What’s this?”

“Isn’t it just a refinement?”

“Well, it looks fun, should I go in?”

“Can I even refine the spanking rod I got when I was a kid?”

“Writer) Sure, as long as it has weapon functionality.”

The dwarfs brought out amusing items for sale.

It’s a kind of selling their skills.

You hand over the weapon first, pay the fee, and then they enhance that weapon.

Title: Guide to Weapon Enhancement

Enhancement is a new technology of the dwarfs.

It’s not just sharpening or fixing, but actually upgrading the weapon’s rank.

Currently, weapon enhancement has a max upgrade of +7 based on weapons that haven’t been refined at all.

In short, it means you can enhance up to +7.

But there’s a problem— the price.

“Writer) It starts from 300 Mana Pills.”

That’s a bit… no, a lot expensive.

300 Mana Pills could buy you quite a bit at the marketplace.

That’s about 300,000 won in Earth standards.

– Ah, but the price…

– If it rusts, it actually adds poison damage, which is good.

– Originally, you use it as a sword! If it rusts, you use it as a blunt weapon, right?

“Writer) Free event for the first customer.”

“Me!”

“Me, me, me, me!”

“Teacher, I’ve always thought dwarfs’ craftsmanship is the best in the world, and based on that…”

But free is different, ah haha!

– Dwarfs also starved a lot during the Great War.

– It can’t be helped.

– If they didn’t, they wouldn’t be out here selling weapons, right?

They decided to compromise a little with reality.

With that, they focused the Gallum’s attention and received a weapon from one of them.

– It’s the iron sword I’ve used since I became a knight.

“I couldn’t afford repairs after the war, so I just kept it. Can this even be done?”

“Writer) Of course, nothing is impossible.”

About 10 minutes later.

“Writer) It’s done! Take it!”

[Transaction successful.]

[Rusted Iron Sword → Successfully enhanced to Iron Sword +1!]

Purchaser) Ooh?

The result of the weapon was returned to the Gallum who had entrusted it.

Title: Dwarf Weapon Enhancement Review

First of all, I’m so damn glad I won the event.

I thought I’d lose out but what is this?

(Clip of rusted iron sword)

(Clip of sharp iron sword after enhancement)

Initially, I thought they sent a different weapon.

But the moment I saw my name crudely engraved on the sheath, I realized, ah, this is my iron sword!

But it wasn’t just the look; the feedback from using it was truly insane.

(Goblin becoming a ghost gif)

What the hell?!

All those tough Blasems, did they all munch on some special fruit or something? They’re getting sliced like crazy;

Even the Orcs I’ve thought about challenging my whole life, I tried right away.

(Orc becoming a pie gif)

Orc? Don’t get cocky!

This is my first time experiencing such refinement.

Don’t get ripped off by a local blacksmith; let the dwarfs enhance it instead!

Let them do it twice, no, three times!

Thinking back, I’m super grateful, damn!

I’m so thankful that it almost makes me mad!

I just want to hug the dwarfs and Joodak tightly; I truly love them!

But because of the dwarfs’ beards, it might hurt, so I’ll just kiss Joodak! Haha!

– Joodak☆) No, no, no;

– Dwarf Weapon Master) No, no, no;

– Both clearly hate it! Haha!

– Get in line, we’re first!

– Wow, it literally feels like a brand new weapon!

– I would believe it if they said they swapped it for a new one!

– If you offend the dwarfs, you’ll be in deep trouble!

– Right? Still, dwarven weapons look cheap anyway, so why waste money? Haha!

“Really, haha, Joodak even lost his touch on this!” It should take at least ten hours to fix the marketplace price!

– ?

– Hmm, something’s off with their chatting?

– Try mock the World Tree!

– …Can’t do it? Try mock Elard!

– … scumbag.

– Haha, you can’t, can you Elf folks? You’re just mad your dwarven weapons aren’t available for sale, right? Haha!

– Human-Dwarfs are just scum! What have we done wrong that you won’t sell us weapons or armor? You used to help during the Great War, but now you attack us and blame it on the elves despite having reasons?

– Wow, nailed it, huh?

– Elf clowns, extinction, haha!

“Right! Those guys can’t buy dwarven weapons, can they?”

Elves were superb in combat.

They had great flexibility, and their situational judgment was close to optimized.

But their equipment stinks.

They had zero refinement skills.

And did the dwarfs sell weapons? Not even that.

“During the Great War, one of the tribes that hit the elves was dwarves.”

Elves were the only race to receive more karma than humans during the Great War.

Even with the Gallery thriving, they failed to gain benefits due to their karma.

– “Joodak brother, let me take your weapon.”

– “No, let me take it. I can make it shine!”

– “I’m a third-generation weapon master. Of course, it’s right to leave it to me!”

Instead, countless enhancement requests flooded in.

Was it because, previously and even now, it was the only source of alcohol?

“Maybe they were about to cross over the Kilgroth Kingdom because they were making alcohol?”

Dwarves were invaded by monsters during the Great War.

But even then, they didn’t give up their brewery until the very end.

I was just pouring the liquor, but it seemed the context was different.

– Joodak☆: That’s fine, I don’t use weapons anyway.

But separately, I have no interest in weapon enhancement.

I never intended to use them or thought about it.

So I refused, but the calculating dwarfs didn’t let it slide.

If you receive something, you must pay it back.

That rule was honored by all.

Even by me, the party involved.

– Joodak, who do you think you are to obstruct my repayment?

– Can’t you just hand over your weapon right now?

– Are you looking down on me?

– Can you handle my dung?

Damn, why should Joodak handle that?

“Well, I don’t need it anyway since I use guns.”

If I didn’t hand it over, it felt like the gallery would be flipped upside down.

I searched in the warehouse to find something to give and realized too late.

“Oh right, I have a weapon.”

Hmm.

I had completely forgotten about the light bulb that only served for lighting— no,

it was the old Holy Sword, Adrian’s famous blade.

“Will this do?”

As I reached to pick up the Holy Sword,

Grrrr.

“What?!”

It didn’t make a sound.

It felt absurdly heavy as if I was trying to lift it with all my might.

“Ugh…”

I tried hard enough to redden my face, but the Holy Sword didn’t budge at all.

Grrrr.

“Why does this feel weird? Can it not talk?”

Realizing it was absolutely impossible with strength alone, I decided to use another method.

“Shrivel?”

Grrrr.

The Holy Sword became light again.

I passed the Holy Sword to the dwarf and heard a roaring claim from him.

– I will make this sword shine even brighter!

And precisely one hour later.

– (Clip of destroyed blacksmith tools)

– (Clip of the Holy Sword standing proudly in the center)

– “Take it back…”

– Joodak☆: Um;

All the tools of the dwarfs’ blacksmith that were used for weapon refining were blown to pieces.

Gr-gr-grrr.

The Holy Sword returned proudly without a scratch.

I had accidentally turned into the one who wrecked someone else’s shop.

Looking coldly at the Holy Sword, now back to its lighting duty, I somehow felt confident.

“Alright, cheers!”

“Cheers!”

Jin. A party was held at the Dwarf Kingdom’s blacksmith.

They had earned tremendous profits.

“Wow! This is life!”

“I never thought I’d be handling this kind of money…”

“Joodak must be a god!”

The dwarf refining skills are the best in the world!

But because of the poor access to the Dwarf Kingdom and their personality issues, they couldn’t earn much profit.

To make matters worse, after the Great War, they had no profit at all.

But now it was different.

Every connection was provided by the Gallery.

“Only a 5% service fee!”

“They even provided us with all sorts of liquor…”

To be precise, it was thanks to Joodak, who managed the Gallery.

He was the best partner and benefactor, starting from alcohol and going into business together.

Joodak was deeply rooted in dwarven life.

“Shouldn’t we give Joodak a major position in the Kilgroth Kingdom?”

“I think a high-ranking official in charge of liquor would be quite fitting.”

“How about electing Joodak as one of the three great saints of the dwarfs?”

With alcohol in their systems, they said things they normally wouldn’t.

Their inner thoughts poured out, which would normally be embarrassing.

“I don’t mind if Joodak is rumored to be a half-elf beauty great magician!”

But he might be really ugly!

He just happens to be half-elf!

But isn’t his achievement impressive?

“Ha ha ha!”

For now, it was all good.

The dwarfs held a massive party after a long time, celebrating with their arms around each other.

That was when an unexpected refining request came in.

“A new refining request has come in!”

“Ooh, this weapon looks pretty good!”

“Well, it’s still just a shabby human-made weapon.”

But the reason dwarfs cared so much was the value.

They had proposed 1 million Mana Pills as the commission fee!

That was enough to buy just about every liquor registered in Joodak’s marketplace!

“Who’s going to take it?”

“I’ll take it!”

Normally, they would suspect a huge sum and the identity of the requester, but now under the influence of alcohol, it was different.

One of the dwarfs stepped forward boldly to take the weapon and quickly got the blacksmith running.

“Haha, this is no big deal!”

The dwarf laughed heartily as he began hammering.

Clang-bang!

With a single swing, the requested sword shattered into pieces.

“…”

“Hmm…”

“Oh.”

The atmosphere quickly turned sour.

But soon after, the dwarf tossed aside his hammer and began sipping beer.

“Well, that’s a pity!”

“That’s how it goes, haha!”

Didn’t they mention?

Caution: Your weapon may be destroyed.

Dwarves didn’t think much of it. They returned the shattered weapon to the requester.

“C-Captain. This is bad!”

“What is it? Why are you so flustered?”

“The sword, the heirloom of the Dukedom! It’s been shattered and returned!”

“What?! What do you mean?!”

The requester was none other than Duke Isaac of the Adrian Empire.

The duke, with his face burning bright red, jumped up from his seat.

What is that sword he entrusted?

It was a family heirloom used by the first duke.

That great sword shattered like a mirror?

“P-Pardon?”

Duke Isaac, who was trembling silently, finally whispered after a while.

“…War.”

“Pardon? What kind of…”

“It’s war! I will declare war on the dwarfs!”

“Ah, no! Please calm down a bit!”

War with the dwarfs? Nothing could be more troublesome.

The man urgently tried to stop him.

“Oh, it’s a misunderstanding! I will ask the Gallery for the reason!”

His subordinate thought there would be a misunderstanding and hastily left a note.

Otherwise, the duke would have genuinely declared war.

Title: I will ask the dwarfs!

(Clip of the shattered Dukedom heirloom)

Why did they return it in this state after taking the request?

It’s better to speak correctly.

“Please, please, please say it was a mistake…”

The man, sweating profusely, asked for the reason.

– Haha, did someone threaten them with a sword?

– Inhahhaha! Haha!

“It’s war! Definitely war!”

And so, the situation exploded.