Debuff Master

The Hometown of Death was located deep within the workshop, and its interior truly lived up to its name as Death’s ‘hometown’.

‘Wow…’?Siegfried was in awe after seeing the Hometown of Death’s interior.

Obsidian.

The Hometown of Death’s floor, ceiling, and even the walls were fitted out with black shining obsidian. Gold and emerald were even embedded in between the spot where the obsidian met. The entire place made it resemble a temple to worship Death.

‘How much are these items…?’?Siegfried wondered while looking at the displayed artifacts with covetous eyes.

The artifacts manufactured by the Hometown of Death were only being used by 0.01% of Adventurers, and they were famous as extremely expensive items.

‘I heard those who chose classes related to assassination love the items from here,’?he thought while continuously looking around.

Drrruuudruuu…!

A group of people suddenly started rushing toward him.

‘What the hell…?’?Siegfried was taken aback at the sudden surge of people.

“Are you the one who brought Herbert-nim’s nameplate?”

“Did you really bring Herbert-nim’s nameplate?!”

“Did you find Herbet-nim’s final life’s work?!”

“Why does an Adventurer like you have that precious item?!”

Twenty-plus people surrounded Siegfried and showered him with questions.

‘Why are they doing this to me?’?Siegfried thought. He was at a loss for words.

Siegfried was surprised, but there was a reason they were kicking up a fuss.

Mad Blacksmith Herbert was the best as well as the evilest craftsman that the Hometown of Death had ever produced. No one managed to reach the same level as Herbert had when he was still alive. As such, the craftsmen of the Bavarian Workshop worshiped Herbert like a god.

The Bavarian Workshop was practically turned upside down today. After all, it had been hundreds of years since Herbert died, and an Adventurer suddenly popped out of nowhere with his nameplate.

“Silence, all of you!” a dwarf who seemed to be the eldest among the craftsmen shouted and calmed the rowdy crowd down. Afterward, he turned around toward Siegfried and said, “I apologize for their behavior, young one. I am the one responsible for the Bavarian Workshop, Quandt.”

“By responsible, you mean…” Siegfried muttered in response.

“I’m the current head of the Bavarian Workshop as well as the head blacksmith of the Hometown of Death.”

“Ah!” Siegfried exclaimed in surprise.

The dwarf had to be at least a Master Blacksmith if he was indeed the Quandt Siegfried was familiar with. The dwarf, Quandt, was a well-known Named NPC, and he was the head of the Bavarian Workshop as well as the head of the Hometown of Death.

[Quandt]

[Type: Named NPC]

[Race: Dwarf]

[Level: 310]

[Occupation: Blacksmith]

[Class: Death Sculptor]

[Title: Great Master]

After checking the dwarf’s details through the Rune of Insight, Siegfried confirmed that the dwarf in front of him was the same dwarf he was familiar with.

“So you are Quandt-nim. My name is Siegfried van Proa,” Siegfried introduced himself.

“Van? Proa? Are you a royalty from the Proatine Province?” Quandt asked in response.

“I am a king.”

“Hmm? A king? Is that true?”

“It just turned out that way.”

“Hoho…”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, but who are these people…?” Siegfried asked while glancing at the other craftsmen.

“They are the elders of our workshop and the blacksmiths working in the Hometown of Death. They came running here when they heard the news that you brought Herbert-nim’s nameplate with you.”

“I see…”

“Alright, let me get to the point and ask you, King Proa. How did you come to possess Herbert-nim’s nameplate? Don’t tell me Herbert-nim has…”

“That’s… it just turned out that way as well,” Siegfried replied as he activated Megingjord’s ability and retrieved the Rod of God.

“Hiiik!”

“T-That’s…!”

“The Rod of God?!”

“Herbert-nim’s legendary final masterpiece?!”

The craftsmen went wild once again.

Each of them was skilled enough to tell that the item Siegfried had taken out was the Rod of God. They didn’t need Siegfried’s explanation.

“Y-You found Herbert-nim’s final life’s work!” Quandt exclaimed in utter shock.

“Yeah… well…” Siegfried awkwardly replied.

“Is it true?! Tell me!” Quandt asked with bloodshot eyes.

“It also turned out that way…” Siegfried muttered.

Quandt didn’t give him any time to finish as he immediately exclaimed, “Hoho! Oh, God of Death! You have not forsaken our Bavarian Workshop!”

Siegfried couldn’t understand what the fuss was all about when the rod was just an unfinished item.

“Oh! Look at this craftsmanship!”

“What material did he use to be able to create this?! I can’t seem to get a hint at all!”

“Amazing!”

“Haha… haaa… haaa…!”

The blacksmiths and the elders marveled over and over again while busily observing the incomplete item.

“I’m sorry to break this to you, but…” Siegfried carefully said as he tried not to hit them hard with the harsh reality, “That is not… Herbert’s… I mean, that’s not Herbert-nim’s final masterpiece…”

“W-What?!” Quandt screamed in surprise, “That’s not possible! This fine craftsmanship! This unknown mineral! This unexplainable aura! Herbert-nim made this item without a doubt…!

“That is correct, but it is not a complete product,” Siegfried said.

“…!”

“So what happened was…” Siegfried explained the entire story behind the Rod of God with a slight twist of his own.

***

“I see… So that’s what happened. Herbert-nim did not get to finish his final masterpiece. Tsk…”?Quandt clicked his tongue in frustration.

“Hoho… So the heavens did not allow the completion of the artifact.”

“This is a loss… an utter loss for the world!”

“To think that the heavens would do this!”

The craftsmen lamented over and over again.

“So I guess you are the only one who can complete Herbert-nim’s final life’s work,” Quandt said.

“I am the only one who can do that as long as it remains bound to me,” Siegfried replied.

“Ehem!?Completing that will be difficult… You will have to dedicate your entire life to it…”

“Yes...”

“You have your own path to walk, so it will be difficult for you to complete Herbert-nim’s legacy, am I right?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“I hope that you won’t give up on it completely. I want to ask this favor from you as the head of the Bavarian Workshop.”

“I will do my best whenever the opportunity arises.”

“That is more than enough for me. Ha… It’s really a shame… Why did the materials have to be only those that are pretty difficult to get? Anyway, that’s the end of this discussion. Why did you come here today?”

“I need some artifacts.”

“What kinds of artifacts?”

“A weapon and a set of armor.”

“What’s their purpose?”

“I plan to go up against a Green Dragon.”

“A G-Green Dragon?”

“Yes, I think it is worth a shot. The dragon is not even a thousand years old yet.”

“Ah! Indeed, a human can defeat a dragon that had just matured. Finding such a dragon is much more difficult than defeating one, though, so where did you even find it?”

“I need a weapon and a set of armor to use against the dragon. Is it possible for me to make a request?”

“Of course! What do you think of our Bavarian Workshop? Something like an artifact to fight a dragon is a piece of cake for us! However… I don’t think you will be able to fully utilize the strength of our artifact with your current ability…” Quandt said.

Quandt was referring to the fact that Siegfried’s current level was too low for him to use the Bavarian Workshop’s artifacts, which usually had a level restriction.

Level Restriction…

A player’s level had to be high enough for them to fully draw out the powers of a high-end artifact.

“I am aware of that. I will be satisfied with whatever artifact I can use at my current level.”

“That is going to be a difficult request. An artifact to defeat a Green Dragon, but a restriction at your current level?”

“Yes…”

“It’s not impossible, but… the production time will be…” 𝒃𝙚𝙙𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝒍.𝒐𝙧𝒈

“Three days.”

“…!”

“I hope you can complete it within three days.”

“Three days?! That’s too short! It will take more than three days to temper the materials alone, not to mention removing the level restriction!”

“Hmm… If that is the case… I guess I will have to pay Autonika or Mercedes a visit then. I think they can do it…” Siegfried muttered and brought up the name of the other two workshops.

They reacted almost immediately.

“What are you talking about?!” Quandt screamed, “If our Bavarian Workshop can’t do it, then those useless fools won’t be able to do it either! Especially those idiots at Mercedes! How do you think it’s possible for those fools to create an entire set of armor and weapon that can be used against a Green Dragon in three days?!”

“Come on,” Siegfried responded with a smirk, and then he sneered, “Mercedes is the best among the top three workshops. Ask anyone on the street who is the best, and nine out of ten will tell you that it’s the Mercedes Workshop.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?!”

“But that is the public’s opinion—”

“Exaggeration! That is nothing but an exaggeration! They can’t even see the true value of an artifact! You see, the true value of an artifact is in its lethality!”

“I heard the artifacts from the Mercedes Workshop are quite deadly these days… Anyway, I understand your concern. I will be heading to the Mercedes Workshop now. Thank you for your time…” Siegfried said with a bow. He turned around to leave.

“Wait a minute!” Quandt screamed before asking, “Where do you think you are going?! You’re someone related to us, the Bavarian Workshop!”

“But three days…” Siegfried muttered with a hint of disappointment on his face.

“I will do it! I said I will do it, so don’t you dare go to those idiots!” Quandt screamed with desperation in his voice.

The other craftsmen seemed to have the same feelings as Quandt.

“We will do it, so don’t go to those garbages!”

“I didn’t want to say this, but… their artifacts could explode in your hands while you’re using them!”

“I will make sure to complete it in three days for you!”

It seemed Siegfried’s provocation was more effective than he thought.

The craftsmen at the Bavarian Workshop weren’t dumb. They could clearly see through Siegfried’s intention behind his provocation, but they couldn’t do anything about it. The Bavarian Workshop had always been second to the Mercedes Workshop, and they had a severe inferiority complex toward them.

In addition, their pride just couldn’t let the person who suddenly appeared with Herbert’s life’s work in hand commission the Mercedes Workshop.

“I will make them for you in three days no matter what,” Quandt promised.

“Will it be possible?” Siegfried asked.

“There will be some issues with the durability…”

“I don’t mind using them only once this time.”

Siegfried didn’t mind purchasing single-use artifacts if it meant successfully hunting the Green Dragon down. After all, he could always buy another one afterward.

“Anyway, come back in exactly three days. I will show you what the Bavarian Workshop can do.”

“I will put my faith in your words, then… but how much will it cost…?”

“It’s free just this once! Free! I can do this much for the person who brought Herbert-nim’s final masterpiece back! We, the Bavarian Workshop, are different from those stingy Mercedes punks who don’t know how to give even a little bit of discount! We’re on a whole new level, I tell you!”

“Thank you very much,” Siegfried said with a bow while smiling from ear to ear.

***

Three days later…

“I might come back a bit late, so I hope you will be able to minimize the damage, Dame Oscar,” Siegfried said.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Please leave it to me,” Oscar replied with a determined look, but she seemed nervous as well.

They would face a member of the weakest species among dragons, but it would still be an overwhelming opponent.

“Hyung-nim, just leave it to me. I will hold it back for as long as I can!” Seung-Gu said with bottles of mana potions dangling all over his body. He had so many potions with him to make up for the weakness of his class.

‘I wonder if it’s ready?’?

As he stepped into the gateway, Siegfried hoped that the Hometown of Death was done crafting the artifacts he needed.