Chapter 184 – The Space-Warping Labyrinth
Eight Mana Stones and Rune Stones are required to enhance once.
Unlike magic stones, Rune Stones are not consumed by strengthening them once or twice. Rumi explained that the runestone would disappear only after it was strengthened at least dozens of times.
The only thing I care about now is the magic stone.
“Luke-nim. Are you ready with that?”
“Yes. I’m going to try strengthening now. There is a 10% chance that my staff will be strengthened, or nothing will happen. Wendy-san, please pray for me too.”
“Yes-. I will pray to Baldur-nim. Make sure to join us at once!”
Wendy smiled and prayed for my success, unlike her wicked spell book.
After stacking eight magic stones, I put the rune stone on top. I carefully set my quarterstaff down around a pile of shiny stones.
With this, the preparation is over.
Success or failure is determined as soon as the starter word is shouted.
[If reinforcement fails, you can immediately recognize it. Smoke will rise from the wand with a pop and pop. It’s not that the wand is broken, so don’t worry. Conversely, if the enhancement is successful, the staff is wrapped in a halo of light. Isn’t it nice to see it right in the eyes? Very good.]
Does it even have an effect that explodes if you fail? It’s a perfect effect for gnawing away at people’s minds.
I clicked my tongue and recited the starter word that activates the reinforcement ceremony.
“Raido.”
It’s the first time I’ve tried strengthening my staff in another world.
I firmly believed in the luck of beginners, so I tried to strengthen without hesitation.
With a throbbing heart, I watched the change in the wand.
“Oh, oh oh oh-!”
Wow! The moment I shouted the starter word, the staff was wrapped in a dazzling cluster of lights.
The light was so bright that not only me but also the receptionists were thrilled.
“Luke-nim! Is it a success? No matter how you look at it, it feels like the reinforcement has succeeded.”
“I can’t believe it. It’s a 10% chance, but I caught it as soon as I started! It seems that beginner’s luck really exists.”
It was while I was making a fuss with Wendy.
Suddenly, the light surrounding the wand disappeared and BANG! An explosion rang out. Black smoke billowed up and obstructed the view.
[Wizard. Failed. There’s something I didn’t tell you before. Even when reinforcement fails, the staff initially glows. A popping sound confirms failure. Did you expect us to stick together from the beginning?]
“Ouch.”
Rumi belatedly gave an additional explanation.
Please explain in advance!
With empty eyes, I looked around the staff whose enhancement failed. The 8 mana stones placed under the rune stones were completely destroyed. The size of the Runestone has also decreased slightly, and it seems that the more you strengthen it, the more its durability wears out.
Where’s the beginner’s luck?
Originally, it is a national rule that the first reinforcement sticks well.
Are there no considerations for newbies in the strengthening ceremony in another world?
Even if you go to a gambling house, they make you win the first round, you fucking bastards.
“Wendy! It didn’t succeed, it failed. I misunderstood.”
“Ah, was it a failure… Somehow, from the moment I heard the explosion, something was ominous. Reinforcement is a bit vicious.
“I don’t know who made the enhancement ceremony, but he’s a very vicious guy. You’ll have to watch until the end to know if it’s successful.”
A bastard like the 3Ns of another world. I hope that the creator of the strengthening formula suffered from hair loss from generation to generation.
It’s a bad thing to catch people by putting an ambiguous production. However, there is something more unfair than being caught by directing.
‘My magic stone! My money evaporated!’
Magic stones equivalent to 1 silver evaporated in the air.
My heart feels empty thinking that I really lost my living expenses.
One silver coin is enough money to buy 100 rye bread.
[Wizard. Are you afraid of failing once? You can’t become a good rune mage with such a bird’s chest. If you’re going to give up, go out and buy some bread right now. Mage who buys bread.]
I was trying to calm myself down for a while when Remi provoked me. I resisted trying to throw the magic book out the window.
If I get angry at Rumi’s provocation, the guild staff here will treat me like a psychopath.
A crazy dreamer who takes out his anger on an inanimate magic book. Craving for Rumi is what I want to do when I am alone.
[If you don’t give up, try the next challenge. The flow must not be interrupted. Anyway, there are nine chances left.]
“Raido!”
[It’s hot. He is also my master.]
Pop-!
I clenched my fists and recited the starting language, but this time it was also a failure. I tried to intensify three times in a row so as not to miss the flow.
“Raido! Raido! Raido!”
Pop! Pop! Pop!
However, unlike the vigorous attempt, the reinforcement did not succeed. The 10% chance of success drove me crazy. Unlike Earth’s mobile games, this one doesn’t even have the concept of a ceiling. Even if you keep trying, it’s still a 10% chance. The one who will be, and the one who will not be.
“I need a ceiling dear!”
“Lu, Mr. Luke? If it’s the ceiling, it’s above your head.”
“I’m not talking about that ceiling!”
There are five chances left.
Here it was necessary to change the flow of reinforcement.
According to feng shui, the reception area is not a good place.
The only thing I could see around was the receptionists, so the tone was too strong.
“I’m going to have to change seats. There are too many women at the reception, so the yin energy is strong. It doesn’t go well with metal or fire. The perfect harmony of yin and yang can be called a good place.”
“Don’t talk bullshit, Mr. Luke. The odds are the same anyway.”
“Even with equal odds, location matters.”
“What the hell are you talking about… Luke-sama, I think you’ve gone a little crazy.”
“I paid for five months’ worth of living expenses in one minute, and it’s worth going crazy.”
Yeah now i’m crazy It’s hard to stay sane because the money has evaporated.
But if you stop here, you will never be able to do it. Does it make sense to pay five silver coins and it’s the same as when there was no charge?
I want to make Ganghwa successful even with all kinds of superstitions.
I have now become a shaman in another world.
“I’ll go to the guild rooftop. I’ll try again there.”
The rooftop of the guild headquarters was open to adventurers.
Because it is the roof of a high-rise building, the air is clear and energetic.
It was also an advantage that he could try to commit suicide by throwing all his assets into reinforcements and failing if he failed.
“I’ll follow you too.”
“Are you really worried about me?”
“No. It’s fun just watching Luke-sama. It’s the most fun watching him spend money. It’s time for the receptionists to get off work anyway.”
Wendy followed me as I walked up the stairs to the rooftop. For some reason, the other receptionists who had left work were following me. They were delighted to see me feeling the joys and sorrows of a monkey.
“Fuhaha! That adventurer just lost 5 silver while upgrading his weapon.”
“You’re hot. Are you a person with a lot of money? If you’re like me, I’d buy bread with that money.”
“The fact that the cane exploded means that the reinforcement failed. That’s why he tried to cry every time it exploded.”
“Cheuk. It’s been a while since I’ve had a good spectacle.”
At first, he tried to get rid of the receptionist girls who were following him.
When women follow you, your yin energy gets thicker and you get into denial. However, on the way up the stairs, something unexpected happened. Male employees and adventurers in the building showed interest in me.
“What’s going on? Is it a festival?”
“It’s not a festival, it’s a funeral. That horned adventurer might have a funeral today.”
It is said that even when there are only three people gathered, attention is focused. But now there were 10 receptionists following me. Whenever people in the building saw us, they wondered what had happened.
“They say they use silver coins to strengthen their staffs. But this is a complete gamble, so there’s only a 10% chance of success. If you fail, that adventurer becomes a beggar. Maybe he’ll commit suicide by jumping off the roof.”
“Suicide by suicide?! That must be fun. I’m going to watch it now.”
The receptionist ladies’ mouth-to-mouth skills were of a high standard. When they answered, the people inside the building immediately followed me. Every time I went up one level, the number of people continued to increase.
I feel like a piper.
“Adventurer! Can we go see it too?”
“Follow your heart.”
It was no longer necessary to kick out the receptionists. Thanks to their solicitation, many men were mixed in the procession. A good environment was created by harmonizing yin and yang.
When I finally reached the rooftop of the guild headquarters, my surroundings were filled with onlookers. I prepared the strengthening ceremony again in the middle of the rooftop. If you lay a pile of rocks and place a quarter staff around it, it’s over.
“Raido!”
From the start, he suddenly recited the starting language.
It’s a reinforcement strategy that pretends to be relaxed but chicly throws out as if it’s indifferent! However, my surprise reinforcements inadvertently exploded.
Pop-!
“Keuugh. Raido!”
Pop-!
I tried to strengthen it one after another, but it exploded again this time. The onlookers cheered as they watched the cane billowing with acrid smoke.
“Thank God! I just ordered a coffee errand, and I’m sorry if I’m already successful!”
“It bursts hot and tastes good! Don’t hold back and push me harder!”
The onlookers liked it as they clapped. Some people seem to have ordered something to eat at the guild cafeteria.
These fuckers aren’t paying with their own money, so they’re just going out.
The number of magic stones left is 24.
That’s the amount you can try to reinforce a total of three times. No matter how lucky you are, you’ll get stuck once in a while, right?
I want to disappoint the onlookers here.
[Wizard. You have to put your soul into it when you strengthen it a little more. If you pray earnestly, the energy of Asgard will help you.]
“Fuck you.”
[Suddenly, I will also sincerely pray. Please shout Raido before you run out of prayer power.]
Are you saying you weren’t sincere until now? I glared at Rumi, who was lying on the floor, then clicked my tongue and looked away.
It means putting your soul into it and strengthening it.
“Raido-!!”
Pop!
“Raido–!!!!”
Perong!
I put my soul in it, but it exploded twice in a row.
You only have one chance left now. Concentrating my mind, I recited the start language.
“My god of the heavens and earth on the Midgard continent!!
He raised his head and shouted loud enough to reverberate. In response to the strengthening ceremony, the staff was wrapped in brilliant light.
According to quantum mechanics, the wand now has two states coexisting.
The cane that succeeded in strengthening and the cane that failed to strengthen are quantum mechanically overlapped.
Right now, the chance that the reinforcement will succeed is not 10%.
Success or failure is half and half, so it’s 50%.
[That’s the momentum. There is a soul in the wizard’s voice. It’s been a long time since I’ve had this pounding feeling. Please make me a little more fun. Made of ink and paper, the only thing I can enjoy is now-.]
“The damn thing is that far, Rumi-!!”
This time I got a feeling. The light that wrapped around the staff lasted longer than other times. It was a very small time difference, but I was very happy.
Will it be a success?
But my expectations were clearly betrayed.
Pop-!!
“Aaaaah!”
