Episode 72.
Contrary to appearance, the kitchen had a large interior space. It was the size of a hotel restaurant, and there were all kinds of pots, steamers, ovens, cooking tools, and devices that Jung Si-woo couldn’t imagine.
“And the gas or electricity used…well, there’s no way we’ll know.”
No matter how much you want to, you couldn’t tell the operating structure, which was one of the qualities of the resting place. He looked around the kitchen, nodded, and returned to the center, where there was a huge cutting board emitting unusual mana.
“What the hell did you touch?”
“I was trying to cook! But suddenly, some cutting board appeared saying that it can be processed!
Perhaps it had something to do with Jung Si-woo taking the mana stone of the Phantom steed. Jung Si-woo quietly put it on the edge of a giant cutting board. Then, he wondered if the Mana stone reacted with the cutting board or if he imagined that subtle light. Immediately an unbelievable message popped up.
[We have identified a suitable Mana stone for onboard artifacts (medium). Add suitable materials to process them]
“… Didn’t you ask about processing?”
He murmured back at the message, but there was no answer. Instead, another message popped up.
[Boarding mechanism 3333 1/1]
[Material 2,364/500 kg]
[Finishing Material 596/50]
[After placing all materials on the cutting board, the processing will start. The more finishing materials, the higher the completion.]
“We already have all the ingredients?”
“Uh…what the hell is going on here, Hyeong-nim?”
“It’s a little different, but I think they’re going to make me cook.”
No matter how hard he thought about it, it wasn’t a Mana stone processor but an artifact producer. He was upset that they had to tease people like this, but he thought this was ultimately a gain for him.
“I want to see if anything else is possible, but I can’t.”
“Because you’ve already eaten it all, Hyeong-nim.”
“Do I need to check each of the mana stones before I eat them?”
The kitchen’s special functions were responsive to certain mana stones, and it was possible to create artifacts that fit the theme by adding suitable materials to the Mana stone. Jung Si-woo had a production facility for artifacts that no one else on the planet had from the beginning, although he said earlier that he wouldn’t be able to do so due to the lack of technology. No, technically, it wasn’t “from the beginning” because it was a function obtained by upgrading the resting place.
“Then, Hyeong-nim, how do you check the rest of the ingredients?”
“I’m just going by my gut feeling. Let’s see, so…”
Jung Si-woo opened his inventory. As expected, the perfectly dismantled scales, bones, and leather of the eel lit up. Perhaps these were materials and finishing materials. The only difficulty was not knowing which was the material and which was the finishing material.
“And the boarding mechanism is…oh, yeah.”
It was Jung Si-woo’s bike. It was the same bike that was made with modern technology. And even if he wanted to, he couldn’t ride it inside a dungeon.
“Oh, my…”
He expected it to some extent, but Jung Si-woo felt suffocated seeing it emit light as if it were responding to the cutting board. He was now witnessing for the first time a natural blend of two civilizations that could never be matched. Was this the same feeling when a chef added pineapple as his pizza topping for the first time? Oh, that couldn’t be it.
“Look at this bike. What do you think of it?”
“It’s big and wonderful, Hyeong-nim.”
“Be quiet, Yong Se-ha.”
“Yes, Hyeong-nim.”
“I’m…”
Soo Ah-rin slowly closed her eyes as if she were savoring the energy felt from the shiny cutting board and then exhaled a deep breath.
“I think it’s worth it.”
“Good, let’s go for it.”
Jung Si-woo nodded as soon as he heard Soo Ah-rin’s answer. He already made up his mind anyway. He just needed time to calm his own heart. He put all the shining things from his inventory on the cutting board. The hard armor of the eel, the sparkling scales from the armored eel, as well as the skin from it were all poured out onto the chopping board.
“Well, that’s good. It was a waste to throw it away, and I didn’t find the right use for it until now.”
“Why don’t you leave it there and later use it when you get the right mana stone to make another artifact?”
“Wouldn’t it be possible to get another sign of god then?”
“You’re awesome, Hyeong-nim.”
“…But just in case, I’ll leave a little.”
They prepared the materials and finishing materials first and finally put up the bike. Then all the ingredients on the cutting board began to unite into one place, resonating. The boundary between matter blurred as the items melted together.
“It’s a successful convergence…!?”
“Okay, this ends my turn.”
“Who the hell are you dueling with…?”
Soo Ah-rin and Jung Si-woo had no idea what was going to happen. Yong Se-ha looked like he was really excited, but they spoke to him with an uneasy look.
“Hyeong-nim, if it’s a successful production, can we ride it inside the dungeon?”
“It’s an artifact. So wouldn’t it be possible? That’s the process of revamping a bike for the dungeon…”
At that moment, a dazzling light burst out and covered their eyes. However, Jung Si-woo opened his eyes and watched the material changing in the explosion of light. It was the moment when he learned that his visual skills could endure intense light without any worry.
‘Is this it?’
The original material of the bike wasn’t that important. It was only necessary to emulate the structure, technology, and form of the bike. Only that, but all the materials that made up the bike were denied in the production process.
“Ughhh.”
“Why do you have to close your eyes at such an important time? We’re like the supporting role!”
“You’re obsessed with such weird things.”
The bike’s framework was replaced by the bones of the armor eel, while the wheels and the exterior were replaced by leather and muscles. The heightened scales filled with god’s power melted into all of them to enhance durability and performance. The remaining items were then absorbed intensively into the front wheels, front fenders, and windshield.
“Perfect. It’s a perfect mess.’
Jung Si-woo’s impression wasn’t wrong, as he could not understand the changes in substances and mana. Nevertheless, the synergy was clearly readable, so there was a smile on his face. That was a complete artifact. If he couldn’t use it in the dungeon, Jung Si-woo wouldn’t be able to enter the dungeon in the first place. A meet of modern technology and mana? Yeah, right, that was the process of mana absorbing technology and becoming an independent technique. So that wasn’t technology, but what was called magic.
At the very moment when Jung Si-woo concluded so, the mana stone of the Phantom steed settled where the bike’s fuel tank was, emitting more light. All parts of the bike, which only took shape but didn’t function as a harness, resonated with it and merged into one, eventually forming completely. Blue sparks splashed out from it. Thus, the production ended.
[Thunderscale Phantom-bike]
[Rank – A++]
[Skills – 0/2,500]
[Option – 1. Transparency, 2. ??]
[A riding artifact created by a mana stone containing the material of a dragon with the power of the thunder god. It is driven by mana and has the origin of Phantom Stead, so it is possible to fly in the sky.]
“Wow!”
“Wow!”
The two men shouted. Did they know that it made them look very stupid? No, they probably wouldn’t care.
A sharp black metal body that took the shape of the previous bike, with a blue wheel that splashed sparks little by little, and a body that floated in the air! There was a guy here who thought this would come out if he mixed a ghost horse with lightning and a bike!
“That’s so cool, Hyeong-nim!”
“If you listen to me, I’ll give you a ride.”
“I will follow you forever, Hyeong-nim!”
It wasn’t important for them now that the rank of the bike was A++, like the rifle. There were many great elements, including the option of transparency, yet it was only important that the bike’s appearance was amazing! A man was still a child, no matter how old they were. Soo Ah-rin said so, reflecting on such truth again.
“If you’re done with your work, you can go.”
“Huh?”
“I’m gonna cook, so get out.”
Soo Ah-rin kicked the two men out of the kitchen, saying that it would be good to go outside and test the bike. Jung Si-woo and Yong Se-ha were absent-minded for a while but soon ran out of the resting place as Soo Ah-rin told them to. Actually, they were very excited.
“Hyeong-nim, is this transparency the kind of function I imagine?”
“It’ll be clear if you ride it yourself.”
Jung Si-woo started the engine right away. Then he felt that the mana filling the fuel tanks being used little by little. Was that how it works? Jung Si-woo could use his Mana or mana stones to refuel the bike. At least there was no problem riding as much as he wanted.
“Okay, then…Transparency.”
When the option was invoked, the fuel tank’s mana was used up. As a result, the bike became transparent, but the appearance of Jung Si-woo sitting on the bike became invisible. It was exactly what Yong Se-ha expected!
[Transparency is released when the duration is up or when it comes into contact with another object.]
“Hyeong-nim, we can make surprise attacks!”
It was possible with the supporters’ ability to hide. They raced around the area on a transparent bike and checked how fast the reborn Phantom bike could drive.
“Hyeong-nim, let’s take off. Take off.”
“Whoo.”
And finally, the moment has come to test another function of the bike. Jung Si-woo exchanged a glance with Yong Se-ha as if they knew each other’s thoughts and held the grip with all their might to convey their doubts to the bike. As the Phantom steed was a strictly thought-driven monster, the Phantom Bike with the mana stone was also conveyed to him to make natural movements and accelerations, which were different from ordinary bikes. As such, it started to fly.
“It’s up!”
“It’s flying!”
The bike rose high in the sky. Even if an alien-carrying bicycle flew in the sky, it would’ve been less impressive than this moment! Jung Si-woo enjoyed it, and even Yong Se-ha, who had wonderful butterfly wings on his back, was having fun. Even chefs found meals cooked by others more delicious than their own dishes.
“This is awesome…”
Jung Si-woo looked down at the world under his feet and murmured emotionally. He had been through a lot of mysterious things since he became an underground player, but this was the most thrilling moment. So naturally, he came up with this idea.
‘On this bike…what happens if we fly up to the sky castle…?’
They could see the Sky Castle over the clouds when they raised their heads. For a moment, curiosity and desire overwhelmed them, but sadly, they couldn’t put those thoughts into practice.
[30 seconds before the transparency releases.]
“Oh no, we’re screwed.”
“Hurry down, Hyeong-nim! Faster!”
Jung Si-woo had no choice but to give up his small wish. He promised himself again and again that someday he would get there.
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