Chapter 118: Halo Quest (4)

Halo Quest (4)

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Life could no longer be born in a world where the source was exhausted. This is because the soul doesn't dwell there for humans, animals, and plants. Therefore, cultivating crops shouldn't have been possible. Originally, that is.

"From here to there is the field we are managing."

"With Master Halo's original spiritual power, even more would be alright, but it's impossible to overcome the shock of the giant's footsteps..." Early in the morning, a female elf had come to wake up Kang Shin-hyuk, who had already been training. Seeing his training in his thin sleeveless shirt had caused her eyes to brighten, but he had managed to find out what was needed after reaching a safe distance from her.

"Halo's spiritual power makes it possible to grow crops..."

[Although it's only possible near my roots.]

-The origin of a world is a very, very large collection of spiritual power in the first place. You can understand why it is a higher form of energy than magic.

Not only the garden, but everything related to the elves and their survival was located near Halo.

"What if the elves also were able to use spiritual power...? Could the source..."

[If someone with great spiritual power helped, then the story could be different. But they would need significant power.]

His heart sank at that.

"Sorry."

[It's alright. It would still be impossible even with that sort of spiritual power. Besides, the administrator would try to kill me if I tried such a thing.]

-...

The elves who watched them talk were gazing at Kang Shin-hyuk like beasts sizing up their prey. Doubting his safety, he retreated further away from them as he worked the fields.

"So? What should I work on?" Kang Shin-hyuk explicitly changed topics as the weight of the current one was too much for him.

[Because of the impact of the giant's footsteps, we are limited to a small area to grow in.]

"I see."

[Unfortunately, it is difficult to maintain the surviving children with only the items harvested from this small field. If I feed them more, the amount of spiritual power in my terminal decreases, decreasing the zone that they are safe in.]

"That is difficult..."

[That is why it is necessary to secure an area that isn't as affected by the giant's steps.]

He didn't need to ask how. The moment he looked out at the field, Kang Shin-hyuk could sense it as part of his nature as a blacksmith. He instinctively knew what could be made to make the field safer.

"Alright, I have it. I'm not at the same level as my previous life...but if that's okay, I'll make it." The elves were amazed at his words, as they knew how absurd Halo's request was. Yet he had accepted it without any worries.

[Those are some nice eyes. Yes, I really wanted to see that expression of yours. No matter how proud Eunah is.]

"Eunah?" Thinking about it, Shin Eunah did talk quite a bit with the other members of the Hero Universe. Especially Janus and Halo, whom she treated almost like uncles, which he knew about through Anvil's memories.

"So, do you need anything else besides that?"

[It's the most urgent problem right now, so I'll ask for that first. There are also the shackles.]

"Alright, then I'll start here." It would take a little longer to prepare the materials for the shackles, so Kang Shin-hyuk decided to start with the field's protection. He pulled out the materials he needed from his inventory, including a hard branch he acquired from the gate raids with Shin Eunah called [Wood Golem's Core]. It was a B+ grade material that could be used as firewood or even a weapon if properly processed.

[It's a good choice, but I can also provide plants.]

"If possible, I would like to complete it without using your power." Kang Shin-hyuk smiled and lifted his sword. What he was going to make now was a scarecrow. He thought it would be silly to try and stop those vibrations caused by the giant with one, but intuitively, it felt right.

"Then first, its skeleton... shall we start.?" The Godslayer sword was by no means a chisel, but its ability of flesh control was perfect for shaving the wood. It also had the advantage that it was easy to imbue it with spiritual power. The elves watched him work with wide-open eyes.

"I didn't think he would start right here."

"All-craft? Is that the legendary all-craft?"

"The way he works is great."

"He feels just as serious as Master Halo."

"How long did Master Anvil say he would be staying? Creating the shackles and other artifacts, that can't be resolved in just a year or two..."

"If so, that's good for us..." Elves were somewhat better than Halo, but they still thought in terms of time that felt absurd by human standards. Kang Shin-hyuk was already concentrating on his work, so he was blissfully unaware of their conversations, but Halo laughed.

[There was a time I thought about that too. Yet Anvil is a craftsman born as a human and gained a widespread reputation throughout all dimensions in only twenty years. His speed in his work and the perfection of the objects he created... these children will have no choice but to notice it. Even if he's here for just a year, he will significantly change the world.]

-Master Halo is joking too much. The cost of the dimensional quest will grow exponentially. Besides, it won't take up to a year.

[Any amount for a reward is fine, administrator. Ah, there was something he had to get from this world. Would you be willing to bargain a little bit if I help him get it?]

-...

Several hours passed as such. Kang Shin-hyuk had made a rather plausible looking scarecrow in the meanwhile. The elves were still watching him, unsure of what a scarecrow was in the first place.

"Everyone can get to work doing other things."

"We have nothing to do. Watching Anvil... it's fun, so don't worry." Kang Shin-hyuk got back to work with a slight tremble in his face, starting on making a second scarecrow. The speed of his work grew faster with the second one, perhaps thanks to his metallurgy.

"Okay, done." In the end, he had created five scarecrows over the course of nine hours. He barely handled metal in the process, but he felt strangely comfortable doing it. He felt like he was starting to grasp, just a little, what All-craft was. It had to do with achieving a distinct purpose. Because he knew the destination, he was able to move on a rather rough road rather than a familiar one. It was still clumsy and far from the All-craft he sought to achieve, but he had succeeded in making something acceptable.

-Why these five, member?

"They should be placed in the form of a pentagram... ugh." Kang Shin-hyuk finally realized that he had come up with it because of Claire.

-A 2,500HP bonus for members!

"..." Kang Shin-hyuk finished the work in silence after covering the scarecrows' faces. At that moment, they began to shine and resonate as he had intended. The material's quality was only B+ grade, and he was unfamiliar with the work, so the result was lower than he had intended. Or rather, the power of that giant was too damn strong.

[May I add some strength to it?]

"Please." Kang Shin-hyuk nodded without hesitation. This was for the elves who lived here; there was no time to cling to his pride.

[Okay, then.]

Halo gently shook his branches over their heads. Five leaves fell, each one landing on a different scarecrow before exploding with a dazzling light.

-The [Guardian (S+)] was created using the power of an ancient being. Metallurgy proficiency has greatly increased!

[Guardian]

[S+ rank]

[Special Ability: Protection, Activation]

*Protection: Protects the designated area from all physical, magical, and spiritual interference. If the five Guardians aren't placed as specified, they won't trigger.

*Activation: Amplifies the life inside the designated area. If the five Guardians aren't placed as specified, they won't trigger.

He had used that B+ rank item to create an S+ rank artifact. Kang Shin-hyuk would've been satisfied if it had even been A-rank, so he had no choice but to smile at the result. Just adding those five leaves had such a result.

-You seem to be misunderstanding; it was only possible because of your metallurgy and traits. If not for that, it would've been impossible to overcome the material's limitations no matter how much of Halo's power was added.

The administrator comforted him. He was probably right, to some degree.

"I feel like I can relax with this. Now let's focus on the shackles."

[It will still take a little more time, Anvil.]

Halo responded to Shin-hyuk as he stood up with a clear mind.

[So please help me a little more in the meantime.]

"Taking advantage of me while I'm here, huh?"

[That's fairly accurate.]

Halo accepted the words as Kang Shin-hyuk looked out. With the scarecrows deployed, the field was expanded tenfold.

[I need plows too.]

Only

"I bet next you'll ask for sickles too.]

[Please do that a little later, Anvil. That way, you will probably make better sickles.]

"?!" Kang Shin-hyuk went ahead and made a plow according to Halo's request. It was completed as a B+ rank artifact, but it wasn't enough to cultivate the land of this world. In the end, he had to use his Golden Dragon Fighter to break through the ground.

"It's great, Anvil! Even without our magic, such power is difficult to produce...!"

"Master Anvil's body is covered in golden energy!"

"Let's join him!"

Halo had said he would have a chance to use Golden Dragon Fighter. He realized he had intended this from the start and vowed to receive the rewards from Halo.

Eventually, he received the materials for the shackles only after the day was over.