Chapter 18

Currently, the way I can make money is by creating and selling artifacts.

If I make and sell one Fire and one Aqua artifact, I earn 6 million won. After a 20% commission, my share is 4.8 million won.

If I consistently make artifacts, I will eventually earn 3.5 billion won.

But to do that, I would need to make over a thousand artifacts.

I am making Fire and Aqua artifacts intermittently, switching between the game and reality. I have already sent thirty initial sets to the Dark Merchant.

The sales amount of the artifacts, excluding the commission, is roughly 150 million won.

Since I received 1 billion won as an advance payment, there will be no settlement of sales proceeds until that is exhausted.

So, is there no way to earn 3.5 billion won at once?

“There is.”

The way is to continue making and selling artifacts.

*

However, instead of artifacts enchanted with simple magic like Fire or Aqua, it is necessary to create artifacts enchanted with high-circle magic or artifacts that the current Awakeners have not yet obtained, but are essential for them.

“I need materials to create the artifact.”

“Weren’t you going to the Alchemy School?”

The Twelfth Elder looks at me curiously.

“I plan to make just one more before I go.”

“Really? What kind of artifact are you planning to make?”

“A 3-circle artifact with three overlapping spells.”

The Twelfth Elder looks at me in disbelief.

“Have you ever engraved an overlapping magic circle?”

“I’ll try it now.”

“It’s good to see you confident, but engraving an overlapping magic circle is not as easy as you think. Moreover, overlapping three spells is a very high-level enchantment.”

“I know.”

There is a reason why the price of artifacts with overlapping magic circles is beyond imagination.

I have learned the theory of overlapping magic circles from the Twelfth Elder. Of course, knowing the theory doesn’t mean I can actually make it.

“Shouldn’t I keep trying?”

The Twelfth Elder looks at me silently and then nods.

“Practice materials should be enough for now, right?”

“Yes, Elder.”

“What do you want? A ring? A necklace? A bracelet? Choose.”

“What would be good?”

“Exclude the bracelet for now. It’s very difficult to engrave a magic circle on a bracelet. The ring is too small. With your current skills, you won’t be able to engrave a 3-circle, 3-overlapping spell on a ring. What’s left is-.”

“A necklace.”

The Twelfth Elder nods.

“If it’s a pendant, it will be a bit easier to engrave compared to other things. You know that engraving the magic circle is not the end, right?”

“Yes! I have to avoid mana interference between the magic circles.”

“It could lead to a big accident.”

“I’ll be careful.”

“It’s not just a matter of being careful, is it? If something happens to you, the Tower Master won’t stay still.”

“I’ll take full responsibility.”

The Twelfth Elder sighs and shakes his head.

“Be careful, be very careful.”

“Yes, Elder.”

*

I secluded myself in my private workshop with a few practice pendants used by the enchanter school wizards.

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“The first spell is Shield.”

The core spell of the 3rd circle magic is Shield.

I draw three circles on one side of the pendant and inscribe runes.

Shield is a wind-type magic. I inscribe the rune of wind, then the rune of compression. After compressing the wind, I amplify it to spread widely. I repeat this process twice and finally use the rune of reinforcement.

Enchanting a shield is not that difficult. I had experience creating shield artifacts before.

The second spell is inscribed on the opposite side.

I draw circles and inscribe runes. The second 3rd circle magic I inscribe is Fire Slash, a flame-type magic that creates a blade of fire to attack the enemy.

The British enchanter guild, Dream Work, recently created a 3rd circle Aqua Slash artifact and posted a video on YouTube, which became a hot topic.

The Fire Slash I inscribe will possess the true power of 3rd circle magic, unlike the half-baked artifact made by Dream Work.

My eyes feel strained from too much concentration. I lean back, close my eyes, and take a break. Some might think it’s safe because I haven’t inserted the mana stone yet.

But that thought is wrong.

Inscribing a magic circle.

The act itself is already using magic. When drawing circles and inscribing runes, it’s not just about drawing with a carving knife. You have to infuse mana into the carving knife to inscribe the magic circle.

When inscribing Shield, you infuse wind mana, and when inscribing Fire Slash, you infuse flame mana into the carving knife.

The explosion due to mana interference that the Twelve Elders worried about can happen even before inserting the mana stone to activate the magic.

After the break, I resume inscribing the magic circle. Every time the carving knife inscribes runes on the pendant, a faint red aura rises.

“Haa-.”

Fortunately, I was able to inscribe the second magic circle without any accidents.

Inscribing the mana path is the final task. The highest chance of mana interference occurs when inscribing the mana path.

The third spell will be inscribed on the side of the pendant. Having experience inscribing a 2nd circle magic circle on a ring, I aim to inscribe a 3rd circle magic circle on a slightly larger surface than a ring.

Scratch- Scratch-

The magically treated carving knife has very high cutting power, easily carving through metal. If I apply too much force, it could gouge and ruin the work.

I must inscribe with uniform force, width, and depth.

A drop of sweat hanging on the tip of my nose falls under its weight.

The third spell I inscribe is the ‘Clean’ spell.

Having inscribed Fire Slash for attack and Shield for defense, I decided the third spell would be the auxiliary magic, Clean.

After the battle, the body drenched in sweat or dirtied with monster blood and flesh can be instantly cleaned with Clean Magic.

After engraving the Clean Magic, I stretch my back.

“Ugh, I’m dying.”

The enchantment requires intense concentration, so there’s no part of my body that doesn’t hurt, from my back to my shoulders and even my eyes.

After taking a short break, I engrave the activation and deactivation words of the pendant and carve the grooves.

Three small grooves and one large groove.

These are for the small mana stones that will drive each of the three spells and the large mana stone that will drive them all.

The most important task remains before inserting the mana stones.

It is the most important and also the most dangerous task.

“Mana Path.”

I visualize the optimized mana path of the 3-circle magic circle in my mind. I recall the strengths and weaknesses of the artifacts I have already created and make modifications and improvements.

After designing the mana paths for each spell, I think of the mana path that encompasses all three spells.

When using one spell, it must not affect the other two spells.

I repeat the simulation in my mind.

Handling sixteen runes while creating a 4-circle artifact was a great help. Back then, I engraved the mana paths haphazardly, reducing the artifact’s efficiency, but this time it will be different.

After completing the design of the mana paths connecting the magic circles, I conceive the mana path that connects to the mana stones.

“Good.”

I first engrave the mana path for the shield. Unlike when engraving circles and runes, my neck stiffens with tension. Even a small mistake could cause an explosion.

Thanks to the pendant lent by the Twelve Elders for my safety, even if an explosion occurs, I won’t be injured or killed.

Even with this assurance, I must not relax.

After completing the mana path for the shield, I move on to the Fire Slash.

“Now, moving on to Clean.”

Since it’s on the side of the pendant, it’s more difficult than the other magic circles. With intense concentration, I finally engrave the mana path for the Clean Magic perfectly.

Now it’s time to connect the mana paths linking the magic circles.

“I can do it!”

*

The Twelve Elder is chuckling.

“A guy who hasn’t even been learning magic for twenty days…”

Next to him, the Tower Master is smiling contentedly.

“Of course. Whose disciple do you think he is?”

“Good grief. Did you teach Unyi anything? If you’re going to call yourself a master, you should at least teach something.”

“Isn’t it still too early?”

“So you’re saying that being the Tower Master’s disciple and making this are two separate things.”

“Hmph! It’s all because of my insight in recognizing Unyi’s talent and sending him to the Sage’s Room.”

At the Tower Master’s words, the Twelfth Elder sighed and shook his head.

“Let’s just say that.”

In the Twelfth Elder’s hand was the pendant I had made.

“You engraved the magic circle in the most basic way.”

“Yes, Elder.”

With my current skills, it was impossible to overlay another magic circle on top of the existing one. So, I chose to engrave each magic circle separately and connect them with mana.

“The efficiency of the magic might be slightly reduced, but it won’t be a significant difference. Did you come up with the idea of placing separate mana stones for each magic?”

He was asking if I had sought someone’s advice.

“I thought of it myself. I figured that trying to run all three spells with a single mana stone might slow down the reaction speed.”

“A wise decision. Shield, Fire Slash, and Clean. The combination of spells is good. Attack, defense, and Clean magic. Are you planning to decorate it with rubies and sapphires?”

“That’s my intention.”

Rubies and sapphires amplify the mana of fire and wind.

“How long did it take to make?”

“It took fourteen hours straight.”

“Excellent. Even a skilled 5th Circle mage would have to spend a whole week to create an artifact of this level.”

I suppressed the urge to smile at the Twelfth Elder’s praise.

“Can I proceed with the official production now?”

“Even if I told you not to, you’d do it anyway, wouldn’t you?”

“That’s true.”

The Twelfth Elder chuckled.

“Tell the chieftain of the Black Rock Dwarf clan. They will make you a fine pendant.”

“Thank you.”

*

Park Dong-hyuk, the head of the Korean branch of the Dark Merchant.

“I knew it was impressive, but I didn’t expect it to be this much.”

In his hand was a necklace with a golden pendant engraved with intricate patterns.

“An artifact enchanted with three 3-circle spells…”

It is undoubtedly the highest-grade artifact that has never once appeared in the world until now.

Its performance has already been verified.

Park Dong-hyuk grins.

“I hated seeing those Dream Work guys showing off.”

The pendant is adorned with a ruby on one side and a sapphire on the other. The mana stones used are also presumed to be of very high grade.

“There’s no way such mana stones were sold in America. No, in the first place, do such grade mana stones even come out on the 29th floor? Kraksha’s Tower. Who are you?”

No matter how much he thinks about it, it’s a mysterious existence.

In the Korean branch of Dark Merchant, Park Dong-hyuk is the only one who knows about Kraksha’s Tower.

Dark Merchant is very thorough in managing customer information.

Even if someone tortures him to get information about Kraksha’s Tower, they won’t get the answer they want.

Under the influence of the skill possessed by the owner of Dark Merchant, Park Dong-hyuk can never leak customer information to others.

“He’s definitely an interesting person.”

He sent an artifact with enough impact to turn the world upside down, along with a short phrase.

Park Dong-hyuk chuckles as he recalls the phrase.

– If possible, could you advance me some money?

“Hahaha. Of course, I should advance it to you.”

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