Obtained End-Game Gear for a Bowl of Ramen - Chapter 29
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 29. A Matter of Design
After churning out a entire set of Blackstone items, Jeong Ho stretched and yawned.
“Hmm. Looks like I’ve hit a wall.”
With the Earth Manipulation skill, each new item he crafted performed subtly better than the last—but that progress had stalled. Now he was just making sideways upgrades, treading water.
‘I’m no blacksmith myself. If I want to do better, I really need expert advice.’
Jeong Ho pulled on the Blackstone Armor he’d made with his own hands. Still heavy. He shrugged it off at once and changed into the lighter Blackstone Cloth Garment instead. The cloth version was plenty tough anyway, supposedly.
‘If it’s really that good, and I’ve already pulled new items, maybe I should test the performance in the Trial Tower?’
[Skill Used: Trial Tower Entry]
[Entering Trial Tower, Floor 22.]
[Floor 22 Objective: Escape the Water Maze]
Splash! Jeong Ho plummeted into the heart of a brilliant blue Water Maze. The ceiling was water. The floor was water. The walls were water. The entire world was water.
Like being trapped inside an aquarium tank. Instead of glass, semi-translucent barriers of magical force hemmed him in, and when he reached out a hand, it met liquid resistance.
Conversely, the monsters inside the Water Maze could surge right back out. A massive shark’s shadow came hurtling toward him from across the way, looking every bit as vicious as its silhouette promised.
“Fire Bolt. Wait, hold on—cancel!!”
[Skill Used: Fire Bolt – Original]
[Launching a flaming arrow.]
[Hero’s Power, Stage 4 resonates!]
[Duplication activates!]
[Skill copied: Fire Bolt – Original]
Boom——!!
The Water Maze exploded with a gaping hole. The charging shark vaporized entirely, and beyond the rupture in the aqueous wall, the exit lay plainly in sight.
“I came here to test the cloth garment’s performance, and this is what I get? Where are the rest of the monsters?”
Jeong Ho poked his head through the hole in the watery barrier. Peering around, he found all the remaining monsters had panicked and scattered to the corners, clustering as far from him as possible.
‘Damn. Can’t be helped. Let me clear Floor 22 first, then head to Floor 23 and check things out there. I can enter the tower twice a day anyway.’
Jeong Ho bolted along the highway that Fire Bolt – Original had carved through the water and made straight for the exit.
[Trial Tower Floor 22 cleared!]
[Clear Time – 00:00:16 seconds.]
[Clear Grade: EX]
[EX Grade Reward: Acquired 212 Magic Stones.]
[EX Grade Special Reward: Acquired 1 Hero’s Evidence.]
[Ranking restored to 1st place! Record updated!]
The moment he stepped out, he turned right back and entered the Trial Tower again. He needed to see what the Blackstone Cloth Garment could really do.
[Skill Used: Trial Tower Entry]
[Entering Trial Tower, Floor 23.]
[Floor 23 Objective: Eliminate 9 Sky Island Sharks]
Splash! This time, like Floor 21 before it—the isle in the sky. Turning around, he could make out the Water Maze through the breaks in the sea of clouds below.
‘Ah, so they’re all connected from Floor 21 onward. Anyway, Sky Island Sharks? Isn’t that what Jack the Ripper transformed into?’
Jeong Ho tilted his head back and gazed up at the heavens. Seven colossal sharks circled overhead, keeping vigil around their prey.
“Fire Bo—oh, almost made that mistake again. Hey! Come on down. Come at me!”
One of the waiting Sky Island Sharks took the bait, diving hard and opening its maw wide to shred Jeong Ho in its jaws—
Ting! Ting! Ting!
Its teeth skittered across his garment like glass scraping glass, every bite deflected harmlessly. It was a sudden assault that caught even the confident Jeong Ho off guard, but only for an instant.
“Damn near got me. Fire Bolt!”
Boom!!
Sky Island Shark detonation. Blood and flesh rained down onto the white clouds. The circling sharks caught the scent, and their eyes began to glow a burning crimson.
“Right. Sharks go mad when they smell blood, don’t they?”
Roooooar!!
Six Sky Island Sharks came charging. Two scarlet suns hung in the sky above.
“Fire Bolt.”
[Trial Tower Floor 23 cleared!]
[Clear Time – 00:00:23 seconds.]
[Clear Grade: EX]
[EX Grade Reward: Acquired 234 Magic Stones.]
[EX Grade Special Reward: Acquired 1 Hero’s Evidence.]
[Ranking restored to 1st place! Record updated!]
Pop! Back home, Jeong Ho ran his hands over the Blackstone Cloth Garment. It was pristine. Not a tear, not a scratch anywhere on it.
‘Absurdly durable. If this is already how solid it is, what happens if I push it further?’
Jeong Ho’s passion for the craft kindled into flame. He yanked open a shelf, and a single package of five servings of Spicy Mixed Noodles glinted under the light.
* * *
[Skill Used: Hero’s Tower Entry]
[Entering the Hero’s Tower.]
Jeong Ho arrived at the 0th floor of the Hero’s Tower, clutching the covered Aluminum Pot in both hands. The familiar large shadow, Dae Young, was there as usual—but wait. The eyes were gone?
“Dae Young! Your eyes!”
The large shadow spun around, and finally the pair of red eyes Jeong Ho knew returned to their places.
“Were you turned away this whole time?”
The large shadow extended its tentacles backward, hastily concealing something. Curiosity stirred in Jeong Ho’s chest.
“What were you doing just now?”
“That only makes me more curious.”
Jeong Ho tugged the Aluminum Pot a little closer.
“That’s a secret too.”
The large shadow let out huffing and sniffing sounds. It had a nose?
“Half right.”
“I can’t open it. This ramen isn’t for you and me.”
“Can you call the Volcano Blacksmith for me?”
The large shadow’s eyes narrowed into crescents, displeasure radiating from it in waves. Like sliced pickled radish.
Dae Young extended a tentacle into empty space, tearing open a black portal. A moment later, the Volcano Blacksmith crossed through a ring of scorching flame and returned.
“Hmm? You again?”
“Senior! This junior seeks your guidance!”
Jeong Ho presented the pot of ramen with both hands. The Volcano Blacksmith accepted it in his enormous palms.
“I offer this special Spicy Mixed Noodles—please grant me one piece of advice!”
“So you’re that kid from back then. But my counsel doesn’t come cheap. I wonder if your tribute is worth the price.”
The Volcano Blacksmith lifted the lid. His eyes widened. The large shadow, pretending indifference, doubled its gaze as well.
“This is…!!”
Sizzling golden pork belly topping, half a soft-boiled egg simmered for seven and a half minutes, and the red-sauced noodles glistening with oil.
“Senior. How is it? Surely you’ll give me one piece of advice for this?”
“No.”
Bang! The Volcano Blacksmith slammed the lid shut and strode back toward the portal of flame.
“…? Dae Young, did I mess something up?”
Whoosh! The portal of flame tore open again. The Volcano Blacksmith returned, his arms laden with stacks of papers.
“Se—Senior? What is all this?”
“If I receive tribute, I must repay with proper gratitude. Behold—blueprints I’ve drawn with my own hands over long ages.”
Thump! The papers crashed down before Jeong Ho, and status windows flooded his vision.
-Lake Sword – Original Blueprint – Original (Legendary)
-Flame Blade That Burned the World Tree – Original Blueprint – Original (Legendary)
-Aegis – Original Blueprint – Original (Legendary)
…
Lake Sword—Excalibur from Arthurian legend? Flame Blade That Burned the World Tree—Lævateinn from Norse mythology? Aegis—the shield of Athena from Greek myth?
“Am I supposed to choose from all these?!”
“Slurp! Slurp, slurp!”
The Volcano Blacksmith was already lost to the noodles. He slurped up a mouthful of noodles plain first.
“Slurp. Mm. The noodles are tangy and sweet, clean and light. More of a snack than a meal. But mixed with the soft-boiled egg…”
He grabbed a half of the boiled egg together with the noodles and took a large bite. The sound of his chewing echoed through the chamber.
“The soft white and savory yolk. When the yolk crumbles in your mouth, it neutralizes the heat while giving the noodles the weight it was lacking.”
This time, a slice of the pork belly topping with the noodles. Slurp.
“The meat brings another texture entirely. Unlike the egg, which crumbles easily, it has a delightful chewiness. Together, each component harmonizes—separate dishes that become one. Dae Young. What do you think?”
The large shadow held nothing but chopsticks in its tentacle, fidgeting anxiously the whole time.
“Ah, forgive me. Here, have some yourself.”
“Dae Young. Just one bite. This is the tribute I offered.”
Glug! Glug! Glug!
“Big Shadow. Are you listening?”
Dae Young brought the aluminum pot nearly to his face and drank from it as if it were a bowl, gulping loudly. After a long stretch of slurping, he set the empty pot down with a heavy clang.
What?
The Volcano Blacksmith turned the pot upside down and shook it vigorously. Nothing fell out.
……
The Volcano Blacksmith stared directly at Big Shadow Dae Young.
Mm-hm. Ahem. Well, this wasn’t half bad. Definitely not just plain spicy mixed noodles. Though the cold noodles and hot pork fat didn’t mix properly, so the oil hardened—that’s a problem…
The Volcano Blacksmith continued to stare at Big Shadow Dae Young in silence. Jeong Ho squinted alongside him.
…Huh, ha-ha! Ahem! Well. You there, Volcano Blacksmith—what was it you said you needed before? Gold cast from a dragon’s blood furnace, wasn’t it? Here, take it.
Dae Young pulled out a glowing golden ingot from within his body and slipped it smoothly into the Volcano Blacksmith’s pocket.
And what about you, Jeong Ho? Is there anything you need?
“I’m good. I came today to see the Blacksmith on a specific matter.”
Ha-ha! That’s right, that’s right. A person should be free of greed. That steadfast spirit of yours, unshaken by temptation—see that you never lose it.
Jeong Ho had no words left. A shameless shadow indeed.
“In any case, I’m grateful for the blueprint, but I don’t really need anything to that extent.”
“Is that so? Perhaps I went overboard. I’ve lost touch with what ordinary people consider necessary. What is it you hope to gain from me?”
“Well, I’ve crafted some items using my Earth Manipulation skill. Would you like to see them?”
Jeong Ho created a Blackstone item on the spot using Earth Manipulation. The Volcano Blacksmith’s eyes gleamed with curiosity.
“Blackstone. A cherished material indeed. For a first attempt, you’ve done rather well.”
“It’s not my first. I’ve practiced quite a bit. But I’ve hit a ceiling here and would like your advice.”
“Why? You’ve already crafted it quite well, it seems.”
“It’s… something I’d wear.”
The Volcano Blacksmith looked Jeong Ho up and down. What was with that peculiar gaze? Why did it feel subtly offensive? It was the exact look someone gives a fashion disaster.
“In that case, this might suit you better.”
The Volcano Blacksmith conjured a ring of flame in midair, thrust his hand through it, and withdrew it holding another blueprint—far more worn and tattered than the one shown before.
“I used this back when I wasn’t yet a Hero’s Seed. Read through it.”
Jeong Ho examined the blueprint. It was filled with marginalia and signs of deep deliberation, and because it avoided technical jargon, it was far easier to understand.
It felt more like a journal than a blueprint—exactly what Jeong Ho needed now. He studied it intently, then extended his hand.
“Earth Manipulation.”
Crack! A Blackstone Sword shot from Jeong Ho’s hand. He picked it up from where it fell to the ground and examined it.
“Wow. Did I make this?”
The blade was straight and smooth. Until now, he’d only managed to produce rough, uneven swords. The Volcano Blacksmith, watching from behind, nodded with satisfaction.
“Dae Young. Can I take this kid with me?”
The Volcano Blacksmith leaned toward Big Shadow Dae Young and spoke in a hushed tone.
Ha-ha. Dream on. Not a chance.
Big Shadow Dae Young also regarded Jeong Ho with satisfaction.
* * *
Roger, director of the US Hunter Management Bureau, had acquired a great deal of information in a single night.
All the performance improvements of Korean hunters are due to this Blackstone equipment.
Roger poured money and personnel into acquiring some Blackstone items. The items he obtained were immediately transferred to the US Management Bureau headquarters, where he ordered them analyzed.
The answer that came back ruthlessly crushed Roger’s expectations.
-Director. This equipment is completely unanalyzable.
-No manufacturing traces. The shape is as if printed from a 3D printer. Without a blueprint, reverse engineering is impossible.
-A substance that doesn’t exist on Earth. Never discovered on this planet, not even in the Trial Tower or in Gates.
-It appears this is something that can only be produced in South Korea.
“Damn. Of all the timing, of all the places—why here, why now, why this?”
Roger’s frustration boiled over; he drummed his fist against his chest. When Roger first came to Korea, it had been a minor hunter nation.
S-Class Hunters? Nonexistent. B~C Rank Hunters? Critically short in numbers. Without the EX Grade, it was nothing remarkable.
Which made it perfect prey for American absorption. You can’t handle EX Grade on your own, right? Let us handle it. Hand it over.
While we’re at it, we rewrite the hunter management laws—EX Grade on our side, those who welcome us on theirs. It was a perfect plan, now ruined.
The timing is too coincidental. Why now of all times? It feels deliberate, like someone’s trying to humiliate me. Wait. Could it be… could it actually be…?
Roger recalled how Li Wei had been soundly thrashed by an EX Grade. America had naturally obtained that intelligence, and naturally mocked him for it.
Even arrogant Li Wei, who gazed down on the world, hadn’t realized the fire was spreading to his own feet.
What if it wasn’t coincidence? What if the EX Grade orchestrated all of this from the start? What if he turned the tables on those who sought to mock him?
Roger found himself looking upward without meaning to. The fire detector on the hotel ceiling blinked with a red light.
When did they figure it out? What method could they have used? Is an EX Grade truly a god dwelling in the heavens?
Roger yanked the cork from a wine bottle and drank deeply from the neck. The alcohol steadied his nerves, and his mind sharpened.
Stay calm. Nothing has fundamentally changed. The blackmail using Ronald remains valid.
One part of the plan lay in ruins. But another part still lived. Blackmail wielding the unique skill of Ronald, world’s number one and America’s champion: Scorched Earth.
If the US weaponizes Scorched Earth under the pretext of Gates, Korea won’t be able to withstand it—they’ll either agree to enacting Hunter Management Laws or produce an EX Grade hunter. Otherwise, they’ll have to abandon any hope of one.
“Ronald. It’s me. The US Hunter Management Bureau’s information division is sending me a list of Gates opening in Korea within the next 24 hours. Scorched Earth all of them.”
Roger placed the call to Ronald. But the answer that came back was unexpected.
-No need.
“What? Why?”
-Korea already closed them all.
The smartphone slipped from Roger’s hand and struck the ground with a sharp crack, the display splintering like it had taken a bullet.
Continued in the next episode ▶
Endgame item acquired with one bowl of noodles
Author
Hayan Gotgam
Publisher
Kim Seok-hwan, Choi Se-ra
Published by
Grae Publishing
Inquiries
[email protected]
Publication Date
August 24, 2026
UCI
G720:N+A327-20260423069
※ This e-book is protected under copyright law. Unauthorized reproduction and copying are prohibited. Violation of these terms may result in criminal and civil legal liability.
※ Pentagram welcomes precious manuscripts from authors.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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