Mr. Kim Strikes It Rich with Auto-Hunting [Novel] Chapter 29

A full week of hammering.

The result—

“The bow got plain?”

“Looks like it.”

What was this?

Where had that faint aura flowing off it gone?

It had definitely looked like a weapon out of a legend before….

Now it was just a smooth white bow.

“No! It’s pretty! Rani worked super hard making it!”

“Yeah….”

To be fair, it was pretty.

One glance showed it was high-class, almost like a luxury designer piece.

Still….

Maybe the impact during its crafting had set expectations too high.

It felt a bit plain.

Such shallow thoughts lasted only a moment.

Come on….

Our Rani made it, so of course it would be great.

Time to check its options first.

Ah, name selection had to come before that.

“Rani, have you thought of a name?”

“Ummm….”

This time, unlike her usual self, she paused to think.

Well, that made sense.

It took a whole week to forge.

On top of that, a fragment of Robin Hood’s bow had gone into it….

Wouldn’t she come up with something fairly plausible?

“……”

Robin seemed expectant too, so what would it be…?

“Huuuuum…. Neaty!”

Huh?

“Neat?”

“No, no! Neaty!”

Uh….

Where did that come from?

“Yup! I like Neaty!”

This was an unexpected curveball.

After Wharuruk came Hwalhwal.

Naturally, I thought it would be something similar this time around…. Like Syuk or Syuk-syuk.

Suddenly, Neaty?

“…?”

Look at that.

Robin tilted to the side in puzzlement as well.

Curiosity seemed to win out, however, as Robin quietly drifted closer.

“…Options.”

Right.

The name wasn’t what mattered.

Truthfully, whether it was Syuk or Neaty didn’t really change anything….

Fine, the name was settled as Neaty.

Time to check the options.

[Neaty]

– The work of a master craftsman of exceptional skill.

– Imbued with the power of a legendary figure.

– Able to imbue desired elemental damage.

(Imbueable elements – Poison, Wind, Water, Ice)

– Can use special skill ‘Fatal Poison (絶命毒)‘.

– Can use special skill ‘Flying Rapid Fire (飛連射)‘.

– Immune to poison, wind, water, and ice attacks below a certain threshold.

“Whoa….”

What on earth….

Wait.

“Elemental imbuement?”

“Yup! Now every time Robin shoots, Robin can pick and choose!”

Holy crap.

Stuffing in every scrap of material really paid off.

“There’s elemental immunity too? Wasn’t it just poison before?”

“That’s right! But it’s weaker than before….”

“Is it?”

“Yeah…. It’s weaker because there are a bunch of them….”

So the resistance took a bit of a hit.

Even so, whatever.

Going from poison immunity to four separate elemental immunities….

Wasn’t that a night-and-day difference?

I was satisfied, at least.

How about the person receiving it?

“…Blessing!”

“Huh? Rani?”

A nod.

This went well beyond simple satisfaction.

Was that really Robin?

Actually uttering the word blessing….

“Heheh! That’s right! Rani is a blessing!”

Sure was.

Whipping up a weapon like this in just a week.

If that wasn’t a blessing, what was?

“No…, what in the world…. If a high-grade can create such a weapon… what happens when she advances to highest-grade……”

Todd looked on the verge of fainting.

Come to think of it, I was curious.

I had zero intention of selling it, but how much would it fetch if put on the market?

“……”

No.

Not selling.

Just curious.

I casually asked Todd.

“If placed in the hands of someone capable of drawing a bow, it is a weapon that would turn them into an instant hero…. Selling an entire nation would not suffice to match its worth.”

Damn.

And our Rani was the one who made it.

“Heh, that’s right!”

Great.

Before Robin’s neck stretched out from waiting, time to hand the bow over.

“Robin, ready?”

At the question, Robin nodded instantly.

Man.

That neck really was about to snap from eagerness.

“Here, take it.”

I passed it over.

Flash!

The moment Robin took hold, light flared.

And then—

[A weapon tied by destiny has been acquired.]

[A portion of the laborer’s latent potential blossoms.]

Huh?

Latent potential blossoming.

The target was naturally Robin.

What changed?

The light faded, and a look followed immediately….

“What the, is that Robin?”

“Washed?”

“No, washing never made a difference before….”

What had our first meeting with Robin been like?

Hair cascading down to the waist in complete disarray.

Clothes riddled with holes.

To top it off, a crushed hard hat.

Was this summon truly a highest-grade…?

A scruffy appearance that naturally drew such doubt.

Nothing changed afterward either.

No matter if washed….

Or given fresh clothes….

The moment Robin was summoned again, the old look returned.

So I had given up on it, but….

“Why did you get so tidy?”

“……”

Silky, flowing hair and clean clothes.

Oh, even the hard hat was brand-new?

Seeming just as bewildered, Robin looked left and right, tilting in confusion.

Right?

Strange, isn’t it?

If the person experiencing it found it baffling, imagine how we felt.

Wait, don’t tell me….

“Is that why it’s Neaty?”

“Oh?”

Everyone turned to Rani in surprise, but….

“Whoaaa. What is that?”

What do you mean, what is that?

Why are your eyes so wide?

“Didn’t you name the bow Neaty knowing this would happen?”

“Nope! Rani didn’t know!”

“Then why Neaty….”

“It’s neat!”

Meaning what, exactly….

Then again, who could ever read Rani’s mind?

If she said it was neat, it was neat.

“Robin doesn’t even stink anymore!”

Whoa now.

Rani.

That’s downright rude.

“But…. Robin really did stink!”

“Right! Arthur knows too!”

Yeah….

Let’s just let that slide….

The reason for Robin’s sudden transformation?

It was right there in the message.

[A weapon tied by destiny has been acquired.]

[A portion of the laborer’s latent potential blossoms.]

A weapon tied by destiny….

It certainly wasn’t Syuk.

Crazy.

Was Robin really that Robin?

No wonder that archery was unbelievable….

“Robin got stronger?”

“Huh? It did say a portion of latent potential blossomed, but….”

Still, it was latent potential.

Robin was already a highest-grade summon.

Was there even room to grow stronger from there?

“Mm, there is certainly a distinct increase in strength.”

Todd nodded in agreement as well.

Wasn’t it just the weapon carrying the weight?

Curious, Robin set the weapon down, but—

“Oh, it stayed.”

The tidy appearance remained unchanged.

Then, what about the power?

“Strong right now too!”

Did that mean Robin gained raw strength permanently?

Incredible….

“It’s because the weapon suits Robin! But Rani made it so well, that’s why it’s even better! Collect more fragments later, and Robin will get even stronger!”

On top of that, what?

There was room for further upgrades from here?

Thinking about it, that made sense.

What went into this forge was just a fragment.

Naturally, other fragments had to exist.

If we gathered those…?

“Arthur is jealous….”

Arthur looked exceptionally glum today.

Well….

Robin was already strong to begin with!

Even in the S-grade dungeon, Arthur had practically been treated as a lighter….

Even so.

“It’s fine. We have to clear plenty of S-grade dungeons anyway.”

“…S-grade.”

Look at him.

His fighting spirit was blazing bright right now.

S-grade dungeons in other countries were on the table now.

The moment news came that one had opened up, we’d fly straight over.

Though for now—

“Shall we go test the bow?”

“…Yes. Right away.”

Of course.

I knew those hands were itching to draw.

Anticipating that, I had already prepared a place that couldn’t be entered just anytime.

Saved specifically so we could go together once Rani finished the bow.

[Chaos Key]

– E-grade Chaos Key, can open something.

Let’s head into the Chaos Labyrinth.

[Chaos Key Fragment]

– Fragment, will return to its original form when combined.

A fragment dropped upon setting a new world record.

Gather ten of them, and what happens?

A key is forged.

Just like this.

[Chaos Key]

– E-grade Chaos Key, can open something.

The method of use was simply entering a dungeon that matched its grade.

There was no other way.

“I swore I’d never set foot inside again, yet here I am going back….”

Yoon Hajun, Manpower Office Director.

I had no taste for running the field personally.

I had tried every trick in the book to avoid coming myself….

None of it worked.

Handing the key to the orcs and sending them in achieved nothing.

Sending it with other laborers summoned through laborer mobilization achieved nothing.

Even handing it to Arthur produced zero response.

In the end, only one option remained.

“Going in myself….”

“Right! Boss goes with Arthur!”

“Why are you so excited….”

“Fun when we go together!”

Well….

Fun for you, maybe.

It was pure torture for me….

“Rani wants to go too! I wanna do ‘Safety good! Good! Good-!'”

“That’s a definite no.”

“Huuuuum….”

We’re not going on a picnic….

Still, no matter how much I disliked it, what choice was there?

It wasn’t like I could throw away a key painstakingly forged from record-breaking.

Without another way, stepping up was the only path.

Besides, if Robin came along too….

“There shouldn’t be any danger.”

“Arthur thinks same!”

“…Yes.”

All right.

Placing full trust in those two….

Wait, no.

[Summon Fixed Team]

– Orc Pack (Intermediate-Grade)

“Chwik!“

Right.

You guys had to be here too.

Now preparations were complete.

Shall we open the dungeon?

[Dispatch Laborers]

– Dungeon

Since it was an E-grade Chaos Key, look for an E-grade….

“E-grade, E-grade….”

Found it.

[Would you like to enter Angry Spider Burrow – E-Grade?]

Yeah.

Entering this time.

An E-grade.

Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t have hesitated for a second.

In the first place, the orcs alone were plenty for an E-grade.

With Arthur and an even stronger Robin on top of that?

This lineup….

Carried enough combat power to spare for preparing an S-grade dungeon.

Yes, I knew that.

“I know, but still….”

When it came down to actually stepping inside, fear was only natural….

“Safety! Good! Good! Good!”

“Chwik! Chwik!“

“Heh! Good-!”

Phew.

While my mind wandered, preparations wrapped up.

Time to move.

“All right, let’s head in, everyone….”

“Arthur goes too!”

“Chwik!“

They were always so quick.

This wouldn’t do.

Things might get messy if I fell behind.

Better follow right on their heels….

Squeezing my eyes shut, I stepped straight in.

Just as expected.

A message popped up.

Ding!

[Chaos Key, confirmed.]

[Moving to the Chaos Labyrinth.]

The second Chaos Labyrinth.

The environment itself was familiar.

The labyrinth was pitch-black.

Ssshh-!

Monster cries echoed from every direction.

The air was gloomy and chilling, making it far from easy, but….

“Still, this is manageable this time around.”

The reason?

The orcs, Arthur, and Robin.

All of them had grown vastly stronger compared to back then.

Especially Robin over there.

“…Arthur, fire.”

“Arthur not lighter!”

“…Fire.”

“Lighting it whoosh-whoosh!”

Having tried it once, Robin seemed to have developed a taste for it.

Now Robin openly used Arthur like kindling….

Yet the results were undeniable.

Swoosh! Fwip!

First.

Five flaming arrows flew simultaneously, illuminating the surroundings.

Immediately after, arrows struck true, dead between the brows of every approaching monster.

“Neat and clean….”

If Rani had seen that, she would have chirped, Yup! That’s Neaty!

Regardless.

Unlike last time, there was no reason to feel a sense of crisis.

In the first place, the monsters couldn’t even close the distance….

“Chwik?“

Even the orcs cocked their heads in bewilderment.

As for Arthur?

“Robin shot everything, Arthur has nothing to do! Boss? Arthur is going ahead!”

After watching Robin fire arrows for a brief moment, he charged straight out.

Even through all that, Robin silently loosed arrow after arrow.

Maybe from watching so often, it was easy to read Robin’s mood.

Robin was having an absolute blast right now.

“How’s the bow?”

“……”

When asked, Robin offered only a silent thumbs-up.

Robin must have truly loved it.

For that blunt person to throw out a thumbs-up of all things.

Still….

Just watching was an absolute spectacle.

One shot spread poison that killed instantly.

Another arrow froze targets solid.

Others ripped through foes with violent gales.

It was insane as it was.

And that could grow even stronger…?

S-grade dungeons.

We absolutely had to run them.

And I needed to have something crafted for Arthur too.

At this rate, he really would turn into a glorified lighter….

At any rate.

[The Chaos Labyrinth conquest has concluded.]

[Moving outside the dungeon.]

And so, the test of Robin’s new bow, Neaty, came to an end.

The outcome was, naturally, a smooth clear.

[E-Grade, Chaos Labyrinth conquest successful!]

[Clear Time – 00:05:27]

[Conquest Reward – E-Grade Chaos Box]

At this pace, coming back next time wouldn’t be bad at all.

Provided Robin was along, of course….

“How is Neaty? Well made, right! Rani worked super hard on it!”

Rani came bounding over in excitement.

Good grief.

Robin scooped Rani up into the air.

“Heheh! This is fun!”

Leaving the two of them to play for a moment, time to open the box.

I popped open the inventory right away.

[E-Grade Chaos Box]

The first time, an Elixir of Ability Unlocking had dropped.

From that, the Commission feature had unlocked.

What would come out this time…?

Slipping it open—

“Huh?”

It was completely empty.

Instead, another message rang out.

Ding.

[A perk is granted as an E-Grade Chaos Box reward.]

[Daily Tower of Chaos entries increase by 1.]

[1 -> 2]

Oh….

An increase in Tower of Chaos entries?

Conveniently, Robin could be summoned every day now.

With this, climbing the tower at a brisk pace would be well within reach, wouldn’t it?

Great.

Let’s rest a bit today.

Starting tomorrow, time to make the ascent.

How high?

Well….

As high as possible, perhaps?