Chapter 6

“Hey.”

Theo walked into the guild house and greeted casually. His father, who had been sitting alone at the table in the central hall, widened his eyes and half-stumbled to his feet. Theo ignored him and glanced around the interior. Though he had been in and out of the guild house countless times, after being away in the sanctuary, the place felt fresh and strangely welcoming.

“Wh-what the hell?”

A voice filled with shock rang out. Only then did Theo look at his father. Now that he thought about it, yeah—his father really was the kind of beauty that made people click their tongues. A sheer black dress, long boots covering the knees, a bright red admiral’s hat, and flowing black hair that reached down to the waist. The kind of striking figure that would make people turn their heads twice, even from afar.

The guild master of Theo’s guild—his father—was a third-generation player.

In Eternal Tale, character customization was based on your real gender and appearance. You could make moderate adjustments, but you couldn’t change gender, nor could you alter your base looks to the point of being unrecognizable. There were rare “golden-handed” players with exceptional skill who could make dramatic improvements, but even they couldn’t completely overwrite reality.

That was why the beauties in the game were usually either naturally good-looking in real life or third-generation players. His father was either one of those… or both. Either way, he was just annoyingly good-looking.

“You—why are you here? When did you get out?”

The fact that Theo had left the sanctuary without a word seemed to shock him enough to make him stammer. Theo, acting like it was no big deal, sat down across from him. His father, who had been standing awkwardly, also sat back down.

“I got out today. Nothing happened while I was gone, right?”

“Nothing happened—what do you mean nothing? You getting out of the sanctuary is something happening…”

Speaking as if he had just seen a ghost, Father suddenly froze as though remembering something. He quickly asked,

“The Eternal…? Don’t tell me—you got one?”

“Yeah.”

“…Seriously?”

“Yeah.”

To prove it, Theo summoned the Eternal Fog above his palm. Even seeing the item right in front of his eyes, his father still wore an expression of disbelief. This clumsy bastard? Really? But soon, something in the item window made him frown.

“Hey… but this is for melee.”

Theo just nodded with a calm face, as if it were nothing. His nonchalant expression and reaction made his father tilt his head. A once-in-a-lifetime stroke of luck had turned into a useless item for him, yet Theo was this composed? Normally, he’d be wailing, cursing his misfortune, and spitting rants about the unfairness of the world like a rap battle.

His father looked at the Eternal Fog again, then slowly nodded. The reason was obvious. Money. An Eternal Item was worth more than any amount of currency.

“Still, if you put this up for sale, buyers will be lining up. You’re going to be sitting on a mountain of cash now. Though… yeah, it really is a shame. If you weren’t an Origin, you could’ve just slapped on a melee weapon and been set.”

“I’m not selling it. I’m going to use it.”

“…Huh?”

His father made a dumbfounded face.

“That’s why I’m asking—don’t you know anyone good at high-tier refining?”

“Huh?”

Still looking stupid, his father blinked, clearly not following. Theo frowned and clapped his hands twice, clap, clap, right in front of his father’s face.

“Why are you acting like this? Why do you look so dumbstruck?”

“N-no… you’re saying you’re going to use it? How? You’re an Origin, you can’t equip other weapons.”

“I’ve got an idea or two.”

“…”

His father had no clue what he meant. Mouth hanging open, he just stared blankly at Theo.

“So, do you know someone or not?”

When Theo pressed him again, his father finally gave a small shake of the head, as if coming back to his senses.

“Why are you trying to search so far? We’ve got Marco in the guild.”

“He’s Tier 6 refining, right?”

“No, while you were in the Sanctuary he hit Tier 5.”

“What? Seriously?”

“Yeah.”

Eternal Tale’s refining tiers went up to ten. Starting from Tier 5, additional options could be attached. Combat users would get bonus stats that matched their Actions, while crafters gained the ability to imbue extra effects onto what they made.

It wasn’t something you could choose—options were added at random during crafting. That’s why anyone who pursued crafting as their main path had to reach Tier 5. Of course, that took brutal amounts of labor and time.

Even reaching Tier 5 required incredible patience, so imagine Tier 4. Technically, Tier 4 gave higher chances of adding extra options, but most players still preferred Tier 5 crafters. The reason was simple—Tier 4 crafters tended to be extremely picky, often demanding steep prices or only working for select clients.

Theo turned his head toward the guild’s smithy. For crafters, joining a guild was essential. A guild workshop gave more crafting experience than packs or clans, and unions were too rare and hard to get into. Bunds didn’t even exist yet.

So a guild was the most rational choice. The most common combination too. Naturally, Marco spent most of his time in the guild’s smithy. But today, it was strangely quiet.

Of course, there were always the freeloaders—people who sucked up guild experience, reached their goals, then bailed.

Theo, looking a little uneasy, glanced at his father. His father’s eyes widened—then he suddenly burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! He didn’t bail, don’t worry.”

“Huh?”

“He’s Tier 5 now. He’s even taking private commissions. Says he’s going to set up a workshop in his residence.”

As his father waved his hand while still laughing, Theo slumped back into his chair, shoulders sagging.

“Ah… worried for nothing. What a waste.”

Grumbling under his breath, Theo was met with even louder laughter. He scowled at his father’s continued giggling and muttered irritably, “Cut it out already.” Then he asked,

“So, is he at his residence now?”

“Pfft—who knows? Why don’t you ask him yourself?”

His father still couldn’t hold back his laughter. With an annoyed glance at him, Theo opened the guild menu.

“Guild, Marco. Where are you?”

[Guild] [Marco: Me? Home]

“Guild, I heard you hit Tier 5? Congrats.”

[Guild] [Marco: Ooooh tytyty lolol]

“Guild, I need to craft a weapon. Can you help me out?”

[Guild] [Marco: Of course! When do you need it?]

“Guild, now.”

[Guild] [Marco: Huh? Aren’t you still in the sanctuary?]

“Guild, no, I came out earlier.”

[Guild] [Marco: What?!]

[Guild] [Holanghee: What?]

[Guild] [Yorkshire: ??????]

[Guild] [Bastard Kid: You got out?]

[Guild] [Leather Flute Hip Song: You got out today? Why?!]

[Guild] [Noquia: Is it because of Storage?]

[Guild] [Marco: Don’t tell me;]

[Guild] [Red Snapper: The Eternal? Was it a bust after all?]

Not one of them seemed to think he’d actually obtained an Eternal. Theo frowned slightly at the chaotic flood of chat messages.

“Guild, I got it. That’s why I left.”

At his words, the guild chat froze for a moment. Then, in the next instant, messages exploded at incredible speed. Even whispers flooded in. But most of them still couldn’t believe Theo had really gotten an Eternal.

The one who finally calmed the storm was his father.

“Guild, I confirmed it. He really got one.”

With that short line, the chat went dead quiet again—like cold water had been thrown over it. Theo suddenly felt wronged. Why was it that no one believed his words? Sure, he’d been unlucky, but he’d never lied.

[Guild] [Noquia: Wow, really… really got one? Theo? That Theo?]

[Guild] [Red Snapper: Guess we can’t call you butterfingers anymore…]

[Guild] [Holanghee: A hero’s triumphant return lolol]

[Guild] [Yorkshire: Wait, so we can actually see a real Eternal now?!]

[Guild] [Marco: What about the options? Are they insane?]

[Guild] [Bastard Kid: Damn, I’m jealous… So what did you get? Something for ranged?]

Now that the truth was out, curiosity poured in. Theo knew that if he told them, it would spark another uproar. But there was no real reason to hide it.

“Guild, no. It’s a melee item.”

As expected, silence blanketed the chat again. Then came a chorus of sighs filled with pity.

[Guild] [Marco: Ah…]

[Guild] [Noquia: Figures…]

[Guild] [Holanghee: Figures;;]

[Guild] [Red Snapper: That’s rough…]

[Guild] [Bastard Kid: Rip…]

[Guild] [Yorkshire: Tragic]

[Guild] [Leather Flute Hip Song: Rest in peace…]

“Guild, what do you mean rest in peace?”

[Guild] [BastardKid: I mean… who’s more miserable? The one who owns an Eternal they can’t use, or the ones who’ve never even seen an Eternal before?]

[Guild] [Noquia: Shut it]

[Guild] [Holanghee: You want me to prove to you personally who’s more miserable?]

As BastardKid’s words set Noquia and Holanghee off, Father chuckled and added,

“Guild, one thing’s certain. If Theo sells that, he’ll be the richest in the guild.”

[Guild] [Noquia: We pay respects to Lord Theo, the great tycoon]

[Guild] [Bastard Kid: A prayer of… love]

[Guild] [Leather Flute Hip Song: I simply prayed for the repose of my own soul, who has never held an Eternal…]

[Guild] [Yorkshire: Might I interest our great tycoon Theo in a full-course meal? Main dish: ‘tragic soup’ simmered with scallions. As a proud Tier 5 chef, I shall personally serve you—fuck]

[Guild] [Holanghee: Theo-nim!! This guy just swore! He said fuck!]

[Guild] [Yorkshire: No I didn’t!!]

[Guild] [Red Snapper: How dare you curse at our great tycoon Theo?!]

[Guild] [Yorkshire: No, no, it was a typo! Theo-nim, I would never swear at you!]

[Guild] [Marco: O mighty Theo-nim, will you be coming now? Please grace us at Lucilvania, 3-12 District! I shall forge your weapon with utmost sincerity!!]