“Sip.”
They wiped away the saliva that threatened to escape. Though they couldn’t fathom why it looked so delectable, they were not so devoid of conscience as to pilfer another’s belongings.
Soon after, Lee Jiyoung closed the opened box. A pang of regret struck them as the tempting item vanished from sight.
‘It wasn’t something I could eat anyway.’
“We have ten imperfect hearts, and we’d like you to craft a few prototypes with them.”
“…Understood.”
The mention of ten imperfect hearts sparked a brilliant idea in their mind.
‘Since I’m making prototypes anyway, and there are ten of them, wouldn’t it be alright to eat one?’
If there were ten such similar items, surely taking one could be considered part of the advance payment. After all, don’t crafter-Awakened sometimes accidentally break items?
“Here’s the contract. The terms are exactly as we discussed.”
Examining the contract Lee Jiyoung presented, they found no significant poison clauses or problematic sections. The contract itself was too brief to contain such provisions.
The only noteworthy point was the ability to use the Blue Rose Guild’s crafting facilities. Though, personally, they had no particular need for such amenities.
They swiftly completed their signature. Perhaps due to their smaller hands, holding the pen felt awkward, resulting in a signature that looked like a child’s scribble on the paper.
“So, when do you plan to begin the work? It would be beneficial for you to familiarize yourself with our guild’s facilities if you intend to use them.”
“I’ll start today.”
There was no reason for hesitation. Their abilities required no prior preparation, and above all, they yearned to see that ‘imperfect heart’ as quickly as possible.
“Pardon? Ah, yes. I’ll show you immediately.”
At their words, Lee Jiyoung seemed flustered but nodded nonetheless. She rose from her seat and headed towards the elevator. They followed her.
“Our workshop is on the first basement floor. Please follow me.”
The elevator began its descent at the same rapid pace it had ascended.
– First basement floor. Doors opening.
As the doors parted, a corridor appeared, leading them to the workshop itself.
“Oh…”
“These facilities boast the highest quality in the country. For small-batch production, you won’t find a better place than ours.”
True to her prideful words, the Blue Rose Guild’s workshop presented an impressive sight.
The walls were constructed from materials designed to block noise and absorb shock, while a furnace and cooling system—both enhanced with items—along with massive ventilation, allowed all work to be conducted entirely underground.
Various tools hung on the walls, each one crafted as an item, their durability and strength significantly enhanced.
Even mechanical equipment for precision processing was available, ensuring that no artisan could possibly find fault with these facilities.
“All the materials are gathered here. Things like Cold Iron, Ice Blossoms, and Drake leather.”
The boxes Lee Jiyoung pointed to were each labeled with the names of different materials.
Among them, the box labeled ‘Imperfect Heart of a White Drake’ captured their attention most.
The moment they saw it, their mind began to race.
‘How can I manage to get one of these for myself?’
‘I just want to taste one. Just one. But to do that, I need to divert suspicion….’
Then, a method came to mind—a way to consume one of the hearts.
“I’ve checked everything. I’ll begin work immediately. However, I do have one request.”
“What is it?”
“While I appreciate this workshop, I prefer not to reveal my crafting methods. Could you please turn off the CCTV and ensure no one enters?”
Lee Jiyoung readily agreed to their request.
“That’s no problem at all. I’ll grant you access to this area moving forward, so please pick up a card key when you leave. How many days do you anticipate the work will take?”
“I’ll complete the prototypes by today.”
“…That’s quick. Very well. We look forward to your work.”
With those words, Lee Jiyoung departed from the workshop.
Left alone in the workshop, they glanced at their phone, knowing it would take some time for the CCTV to power down.
This wasn’t merely to pass the time; they intended to research the person who would wield this weapon.
Crafted from frost and ice, and shaped as a rapier, its intended wielder was obvious.
‘The Guild Master of the Blue Rose Guild, Seol Yoohee.’
They knew Seol Yoohee well—a formidable Awakened who consistently ranked among Korea’s top two or three hunters. She was renowned for her dazzlingly fast swordplay, primarily utilizing her ‘Ice Petal’ skill.
Despite her quiet demeanor and seemingly coolheaded appearance, she was known to possess a personality fiercely drawn to competition and combat.
In that case, crafting a weapon tailored to her personality would be ideal.
After confirming that the CCTV’s red indicator light had extinguished, they prepared to commence their work in earnest.
A weapon merely superior in performance would not suffice to satisfy her. What was needed was a weapon that would transform into an art form in her hands, one that would further ignite her competitive spirit.
‘First, let’s create a prototype,’ they thought, and with that in mind, they opened the box labeled ‘Imperfect Heart of a White Drake.’
Inside the box lay ten cracked blue gems, each roughly a third the size of the larger gem they had seen earlier.
While they didn’t pulse like a complete heart, their coloration was equally stunning. They resembled raw sapphires, yet also the finest ice cream crafted from premium ingredients.
[Imperfect Heart of a White Drake (B)]
[The damaged mana heart of a high-ranking draconic creature, the White Drake. It continuously emits cold energy. Cannot be processed by conventional methods.]
Without realizing it, they took one of the hearts from the box. A pleasant coolness spread across their palm, accompanied by a sweet fragrance.
‘Indeed. An artisan must thoroughly understand their materials. Likewise, I must consume this to truly comprehend its essence.’
Based on this ‘rational’ justification, they discreetly licked the gem.
“…!”
The part that touched their tongue melted away instantly, spreading sweetness and coolness throughout their mouth. It was a pure, refreshing sweetness they had never tasted before, utterly devoid of any artificial flavorings.
All thoughts of weapons melted away like ice cream.
The initial lick turned into two, then three.
Lick, lick.
Before they knew it, they had lost all reason and were sucking on the heart.
Slurp, slurp. Crunch, crunch.
The gem, which had appeared hard, shattered with a crisp sound when bitten, its fragments dissolving on their tongue.
“Haaah…”
Five minutes later, nothing remained in their hand. The gem had vanished completely, leaving no wrapper or melted residue as ice cream would.
They felt a cool magical energy circulating throughout their body, and soon, a window appeared before their eyes.
[You have consumed a fragment of a Draconic Heart.]
[‘Debuff: Frail Wyrmling’ duration has been shortened by one week.]
“Oh…?!”
‘Yes, I wasn’t wrong! The reason this heart looked so delicious? It was precisely the food I needed!’
‘And to remove the debuff, this heart is absolutely essential. So…’
****
“…Huh?”
When they came to their senses, only six hearts remained in the box.
A reality a hundred times colder than the coolness in their mouth washed over them.
‘What did I just do?’
They had consumed four B-grade material items. The price of items, including weapons, is calculated excluding ‘material costs.’ Typically, a B-grade material item costs 20 million won each.
A lightning bolt seemed to strike their mind.
They had just eaten 80 million won worth of ice cream… no, items, right where they stood!
‘Isn’t this, strictly speaking, embezzlement and theft?’
Their vision darkened. Just as they became an SSS-grade Awakened, they were now on the verge of becoming an SSS-grade criminal. Yet, what was eaten could not be un-eaten.
‘No, no, it’s fine.’
Their self-justification circuit furiously activated in their mind.
‘Though I sacrificed four materials, I can just create even better weapons! This isn’t a loss; it’s an investment. Yes, I just need to prove it with the results.’
Thinking this, their energy surged once more. They resolved to finish the work quickly before the urge to eat more returned.
They placed the remaining three Drake hearts, Cold Iron, Ice Blossoms, and White Drake leather onto the workbench. Since their own scales were not yet due to shed, they gently plucked some fur from their tail and added it.
They intended to craft three swords. They would make three prototypes and then receive feedback later.
“Artifact Crafting.”
The first sword would embody the path Seol Yoohee, an Awakened, had walked.
The image of her growing, coloring her surroundings with her unique hue and temperature, came to mind.
‘It will capture the initial chill of ice as it first spreads.’
[Materials: Imperfect White Drake’s Heart, Cold Iron, Ice Blossom, White Drake Leather, Gold Dragon Tail Fur]
[Currently craftable objects: Sword +1]
[Artifact Crafting]
*Press.*
As the button was pressed, the materials glowed brightly and began to fuse into one.
When the light faded, a rapier appeared in its place, unadorned, yet holding only the brilliance of snow and ice.
[Frostbound (A-)]
[A rapier imbued with cold. Lowers the surrounding temperature and generates ice during combat. The wielder becomes more agile the lower the surrounding temperature and the more ice there is.]
“Good, next.”
The second sword would embody her symbol, her present self—the exact form of a blossoming ice flower.
[Materials: Imperfect White Drake’s Heart, Cold Iron, Ice Blossom, White Drake Leather, Gold Dragon Tail Fur]
[Currently craftable objects: Sword +1]
[Artifact Crafting]
*Press.*
Pressing the button once more, another rapier materialized.
[Blooming Ice Blossom (A-)]
[A rapier imbued with the power of ice petals. Injects mana into damaged foes, causing ice blossoms to bloom from their wounds. The ice blossoms continuously absorb mana.]
The completed second sword was a rapier with a delicate petal pattern engraved on the guard of its hilt. Subtle floral patterns adorned its blade.
The final, third sword would embody the path she would forge—the most beautiful moment when fully bloomed petals scatter.
[Materials: Imperfect White Drake’s Heart, Cold Iron, Ice Blossom, White Drake Leather, Gold Dragon Tail Fur]
[Currently craftable objects: Sword +1]
[Artifact Crafting]
*Press.*
The light receded, and the final rapier revealed itself.
[Ice Bloom (A-)]
[A rapier imbued with the power of ice petals. By injecting mana, it can unleash sword energy wreathed in frost. Traces of ice petals linger along the sword’s trajectory, delivering additional attacks.]
Three weapons were crafted in just three minutes. They lined up the three swords with a satisfied feeling.
‘I didn’t even pluck any scales, yet three A-grade items were made!’
And they had only plucked fur gently, without causing pain. According to the contract, an A-grade item was worth 100 million won, so this alone was already 300 million!
With weapons like these, perhaps they could be forgiven for the hearts they had consumed.
‘…Or not?’
A sense of unease prompted them to quickly exit the building. They then sent a message to Vice Guild Master Lee Jiyoung.
[Golden Hand] I’ve made three prototypes. Please check them.
