Chapter 224: I Was Lucky Again

As I walked, I pulled up the notification message I had received earlier.

[Side Quest: 12th Week Duel Battles] (Completed)

▷ Objective: Complete 3 duel matches.

▷ Progress (3/3 Wins)

▷ Reward: [Copy – Skill] Slot +1

This week’s side quest had been cleared with the highest possible achievement: 1 win with Cha Hyeon-joo and 2 wins with Hong Yeon-hwa.

The reward was an additional copy slot just like I expected.

▷ Copy – Skill [2/3]

1. Silent Step (B+)

2. Overheat (C)

3. (None)

A surprising gain in all this was that Hong Yeon-hwa’s Overheat skill had ranked up from D to C.

I noticed it during the duel and overwrote it onto one of my existing slots.

Now, I had to decide what skill to register in the empty third slot.

And as for how to use the one remaining fixed pin, I decided I’d think about that later.

I had arrived at my next destination, so I shook off my thoughts and lifted my gaze.

It was another club room, and the nameplate above the door read:

<Martial Arts Club>

When I stood in front of the sign and waited for a moment, a familiar face greeted me.

It was none other than the president of the Martial Arts Club and the Toad with a Fiery Heart Kim Gap-doo.

“You’re here.”

“Hello.”

Kim Gap-doo gave me an unwelcoming look.

But I had business with him, so I came to see him regardless.

In the crystal battle amidst the mentoring week.

Kim Gap-doo had made a bold bet. It was a 4-on-4 duel battle for a chance to win a day with Dang Gyu-young, and as the club president, he had recklessly wagered the club’s items.

He had been confident in his victory, but when his ace Jo Byeok lost, the duel ended with Dang Gyu-young ’s team winning.

However, handing over so many items at once would severely shake Kim Gap-doo’s standing within the club.

Taking that into account, Dang Gyu-young adjusted things so the items would be handed over gradually, without causing too much strain on him.

Among the items I was set to receive was, of course, my own share.

After all, I was the one who secured the victory against Jo Byeok from the Disciplinary Committee, so it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I contributed the most to winning the 4-on-4 bet.

In the process, I had to show some of my skills, and in exchange, Dang Gyu-young promised me a portion of the winnings.

The reason I came to the martial arts club was to claim one of those shares.

Of course, Kim Gap-doo didn’t know any of this so it would’ve been pointless for me to show up unannounced.

That’s why Dang Gyu-young had sent him a message in advance.

[Dang Gyu-young: Hey]

[Dang Gyu-young: Kim Gap-doo]

[Kim Gap-doo: Gyu-ha!! (short for Gyu-young-ha)]

[Kim Gap-doo: What’s up? ><]

[Kim Gap-doo: (happy frog emoji)]

[Dang Gyu-young: About the items]

[Kim Gap-doo: Yeah yeah >_< How should I prepare?]

[Dang Gyu-young: I’m sending Kim Ho]

[Dang Gyu-young: Later]

[Kim Gap-doo: (serious frog emoji)]

[Kim Gap-doo: Kim Ho?]

[Kim Gap-doo: What item?]

[Kim Gap-doo: Dang Gyu-young]

[Kim Gap-doo: Dang Gyu-young??]

[Kim Gap-doo: ???]

Kim Gap-doo showed me these messages and said,

“There’s been no reply since then.”

“She blocked you again.”

“Is that so...?”

Kim Gap-doo’s expression darkened suddenly.

Sad Gap-doo.

While I was thinking such rude thoughts, Kim Gap-doo quickly controlled his expression, as if he thought he couldn’t act weak in front of me.

“So you came in place of Dang Gyu-young?”

“That’s right.”

“...She must trust you a lot.”

It made sense that he would think that way, considering I wasn’t even a member of the thieves club, yet I was tasked with delivering the items.

But in reality, the item right now wasn’t being delivered; it was mine.

There were plenty of clubs in the Dragon Slayer Academy, yet as just a first-year, I was the third to use them. I was ahead of even some high-ranking club presidents.

It was no wonder he found it interesting.

I smiled slightly and brushed it off.

“I was lucky.”

“I feel like you’ve said something similar before.”

“Well, luck can strike twice, can’t it?”

“That’s true. But I wonder if it’ll stop at just twice.”

“.......”

I maintained my silent smile, while the blacksmith club president stared at me as if he was trying to read my thoughts.

However, it seemed he didn’t want to waste any more time, so he got straight to the point.

“What would you like me to make?”

“This.”

Just like when I requested the crafting of Root, this time too I brought along a blueprint.

The blacksmith club president accepted the blueprint and unfolded it before his eyes flashed with interest.

Then he asked,

“I’d like to take another look at the weapon you had made before.”

“Here it is.”

I placed Deep Root on the table.

Aside from the priest’s dagger attached to the tip, everything was just as it had been.

The president compared Root with the blueprint and his eyes sparkled with recognition.

“They’re designed to connect, I see.”

“You caught on quickly.”

“Judging by the additional joints, this won’t be the final form.”

“......”

“This is an interesting piece, really.”

The president nodded as he said that.

It was a sign that he had accepted the request for the commission.

“You’ve brought the materials, I assume?”

“Of course.”

I set the chunk of Kraketite onto the table with a thud.

The president’s eyes deepened as he picked up the metal and examined it closely for a while.

“Kraketite... I’ve never worked with this metal before. Were you lucky this time as well?”

“Maybe I was lucky a third time.”

Though if I thought about it, it wasn’t really my luck at all.

It was the lucky sloth’s good fortune.

The president stared at me a bit longer, but once again, he seemed to set his curiosity aside.

“It wouldn’t be polite to pry too much into the source, would it? I’m lucky too, since I’ll get to work on a high-rank piece for the first time in a while.”

The importance of skills and traits is just as critical for production classes as it is for combat classes.

To craft high-quality equipment, one must acquire a variety of skills and traits and continuously manage their rank.

However, by the time someone reaches the level of a third-year club president, most tend to stagnate at A or B rank.

In that situation, a Kraketite ingot was like rain in a drought.

It was extremely rare, with hardly any opportunity to work with it, and its rank was A.

Just using this material to craft an item would lead to significant progress.

Perhaps that’s why the blacksmith club president made another offer.

“Like last time, there will be some leftover material. If you’re okay with it, I can make an additional item for you. What do you think?”

When I had the Root made with the Millennium Iron, the leftover materials were used to craft Go Hyeon-woo’s durable pen.

Though back then, it had been a favor in exchange for fulfilling the president’s request.

This time, he offered to make something for me as long as I allowed him to use the leftover Kraketite.

It wasn’t a bad deal, since getting the chance to craft with high-rank materials was never a loss.

I had nothing to lose either since I wouldn’t have to pay for the labor if he made an item for me.

So I accepted the offer without hesitation.

“I’m fine with it.”

“Good. I’ll deliver it as soon as it’s finished.”

Once all the minor details were settled, the blacksmith club president stood up. He was holding the blueprint and the ingot.

It seemed like he was ready to start working immediately.

It’ll probably take about a week at most.

Although Kraketite was ranked the same as Millennium Iron, it was much easier to process.

When we left the club room together, the president added a meaningful remark.

“I’m curious. How many more times will your luck hold out... I’ll be watching with interest.”

“You won’t be disappointed.”

Because my Lucky Charm isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.