Chapter 46: The Ever-Changing Mask

What’s a mask?

Generally, a tool worn on the face for play or disguise.

It can hide one’s identity, with endless materials and types.

For a Hunter, a mask might conceal who they are.

But why would Shadow King, who operates openly, need one?

Curious, I dug into her info.

The reason was clear.

She’s a mask enthusiast.

Every video showed a different mask.

In one, a white mask.

Each appearance featured a unique mask, sparking varied reactions.

Some praised the cool masks hidden under her hood’s shadow; others criticized her intense aesthetic.

Thinking about it—

It hit me: among auxiliary gear, I hadn’t made a mask.

An assassin like her keeps things light, with little need for auxiliary gear.

Despite my level-ups, I wasn’t ready to craft ranker-grade weapons or armor.

A mask was about my limit.

But her concept?

Shadow King’s masks.

What kind would suit her?

First, I pictured a sleek, black-based mask.

Dark yet refined, perfect for the Shadow King.

But then, her ever-changing masks came to mind.

The issue was clear.

She switches masks daily.

Would she keep wearing one, even a great one?

I doubted it.

No matter how good, she’d tire of it eventually.

No need to overthink.

If she got bored, I’d still get paid.

I’m a blacksmith, not her stylist.

If other rankers wanted gear, I’d make it.

Deciding, I opened the auction.

Damn, so expensive.

High-level materials were insanely costly.

My income had grown, but these prices still stung.

Unrealistic?

Crafting this would take at least 71 hours.

The commission fee was hefty, so why not do it right?

Ignoring costs, I browsed the auction.

Buying a few fitting materials drained my funds.

[Shadow Silk]

[Shadow Snake Scale]

[Dark Crystal]

Rare materials from high-level Gates.

Shopping done, I visualized the item and grabbed my hammer.

[Using Production Skill.]

[Please select the shape of the item to craft.]

Mask.

[Please specify the details of the mask’s shape.]

I skipped the details.

This mask’s shape wasn’t the focus.

[Please choose the material for the mask.]

I tossed in the auction-bought silk, scales, crystal, and some rare Mine materials.

All tied to shadows or darkness.

After adding them—

[Designate an owner to create a soulbound item.]

[Proceed without designation to start crafting.]

Shadow King, An So-hee.

[Designated An So-hee as the mask’s owner.]

[Calculating An So-hee’s understanding.]

An So-hee’s understanding.

Her detailed job description came to mind.

Not just “Shadow Assassin,” but Shadow Assassin.

Her passive skill cloaks her in darkness for stealth and surprise attacks.

Striking adds critical, piercing, and dark damage for one-shot kills—her preferred style.

Skilled stealth enables solo Gate clears or party hunts.

That’s me, Shadow King!

Not as detailed as others, but written like a diary.

Even Heavenly Bow sent a formal intro.

Was this intentional or just her personality?

Probably just her.

[Shadow Assassin Understanding: 39%]

[An So-hee Understanding: 72%]

[Total Understanding: 60%]

Pretty high understanding.

Her job and casual personality helped.

Easier than Heavenly Bow, at least.

Imagining her lively voice, I chuckled and swung my hammer.

[Crafting begins.]

Whoosh!

Embers heated the materials.

Clang!

I swung my hammer.

As points shattered, darkness scattered, shaping the floor.

Not possession-like darkness, but pure, tangible darkness.

[Crafting Progress: 31%]

This wasn’t like past gear, with unfamiliar materials.

They were tricky.

The key was blending them perfectly.

They needed to transform into pure shadow and darkness.

[Crafting Progress: 86%]

The materials fused, shaping the mask.

One final, powerful strike—

[Crafting is complete.]

[‘Mask of Joy and Sorrow’ has been obtained.]

Done.

Holding the pitch-black mask, it felt like darkness itself.

[Mask of Joy and Sorrow]

Type: Mask

Grade: SSS

Restriction: Shadow King, An So-hee

Description: Crafted from pure shadow and darkness. The wearer can reshape the mask, determining its abilities.

Abilities:

1. Laughing Mask – Greatly increases movement speed.
   
2. Crying Mask – Greatly increases stealth skill success rate.
   
3. Angry Mask – Greatly increases attack power.
   
4. Surprised Mask – Greatly increases evasion rate.
   

SSS-grade mask.

The result was a success.

Simpler than my other items, with trickier usage.

Would it suit her?

That’s her problem.

Gate clears usually start at the entrance, progressing sequentially.

For several reasons.

It prevents being surrounded by stray monsters when facing the boss.

You can gather experience, items, and everything along the way.

Unless there’s a special reason, sequential clearing is safest and most efficient.

But sometimes, it’s different.

Like—

“Let’s go! Heavenly Bow did it; I can too!”

When solo-clearing a Gate.

To speedrun, some hit the boss right after entering.

Right now—

Shadow King An So-hee entered a Gate alone.

[Dark Veil]

Her form vanished into darkness.

Shadow Assassin’s unique skill, Dark Veil.

Most monsters couldn’t detect her.

But it wasn’t foolproof.

Some exceptional or specially skilled monsters could pierce Dark Veil.

Even now—

A named monster on the path to the boss room—

White Naga.

Its slithering, noble form flicked its tongue, turning.

Not with eyes, but scent and temperature, it faintly sensed her.

Normally, she’d clear it here.

Ignoring it risked being flanked, complicating the clear.

So far, she’d dealt with named monsters in these situations.

The problem: assassins’ low stamina meant struggling against bosses after.

Right then—

She gripped her face.

As if an invisible barrier formed, darkness gathered, forming a mask.

[Crying Mask]

A black-based crying mask appeared.

Her Dark Veil deepened.

The mask boosted her stealth, letting her slip past the Naga’s senses.

It flicked its tongue a few more times but turned away, unable to find her.

“Hell yeah!”

Not just a mask.

Not a weapon or armor, but an accessory.

Its stealth boost was insane.

But that wasn’t all.

[Laughing Mask]

Whoosh.

The mask’s expression changed.

Her movement speed skyrocketed.

Like the wind, she swept through the Gate.

Traps couldn’t catch her; they triggered too late, piercing empty air.

With speed and stealth, she reached the boss room unscathed.

Hiss—

Boss Monster: Draconic Serpent.

Unlike typical serpent monsters, this wasn’t just a snake.

A white-scaled snake with dragon-like qualities.

Not an Imoogi, striving to become a dragon.

This one devoured dragon scales or wings, gaining draconic traits.

Not quite a dragon, but still formidable.

“Even a fake dragon’s tough.”

Entering the boss room, its gaze didn’t find her.

Enhanced stealth gear, additional stealth skills, and the crying mask.

Combined, she slipped behind the boss undetected and touched her face.

[Angry Mask]

The mask twisted angrily, amplifying her attack power.

Slash!

A fierce strike hit the Draconic Serpent’s nape.

SHAAAA!

The shocked serpent spewed venom.

Instantly, Shadow King vanished.

But its tail whipped toward her.

Solo play’s downside.

In this situation, she’d be hit.

Right then—

[Surprised Mask]

Her mask changed.

Whoosh.

Her neck bent, dodging the tail.

Evasion boost.

Combined with her skills, it let her dodge even in a pinch.

A mask with four expressions.

Its versatility was boundless.

It perfectly suited her Shadow Assassin abilities.

“No wonder everyone’s raving about Vulcanus!”

Her form melted into darkness.

And then—

Shadow King’s rank shifted, turning the three-way ranker battle into a chaotic four-way struggle.