Chapter 65: The Hidden Flame

Days later, all hundred Vulcanus Guild members gathered in the guild building.

The reason was singular.

Today celebrated their growth and Vulcanus personally upgrading or crafting gear to match their levels.

“And promotions are announced today, right?”

Vulcanus Guild comprised ten teams.

Not a large guild, but bigger than the average fifty-member mid-sized guild—an ambiguous size.

The guild had five ranks:

First, Guild Master Vulcanus.

Second, Vice Guild Master Nam Bora, acting as my proxy.

Third, team leaders.

Fourth, deputy team leaders.

Fifth, regular members.

“Having deputy team leaders is nice, right?”

“Team leader’s too tough, but deputy? Worth aiming for.”

“My record’s solid. I could go for deputy.”

“Say that to the deputy’s face.”

“Hey, just between us.”

Originally, deputy team leaders didn’t exist, but operational needs created the role.

Below team leader, ranks weren’t fixed.

Current leaders were chosen based on ability rank and potential.

Performance could shift team leader or deputy positions.

It’s tough, but possible.

This system drove members to work harder.

Evaluation was simple.

Team member feedback, leader assessments, and Nam Bora and I judged.

For promising promotions, I used vision sharing to evaluate directly.

Today was announcement day.

– Team leaders, report.

– Team 1, all present.

– Team 2, no issues.

– Team 3, no issues.

Reports rolled in.

Confirming all hundred members, the ceremony began.

Nam Bora praised their efforts, then announced promotions.

– Promotions will be announced by the Guild Master.

– Woo!

Members murmured.

Even Vulcanus Guild members rarely saw me.

I stayed in my rooftop office, never leaving.

My identity remained a mystery.

Clank.

Moments later, I appeared from backstage.

As at the founding ceremony: black armor with a red volcano emblem.

A black knight’s aura, with a chilling gaze from under the helm.

Full plate armor.

The clanking exuded authority.

– I am Vulcanus.

No lengthy speech.

As tension gripped the room, I announced.

– Ha Jung-min of Team 5. Promoted to Team 5 Leader.

– Woo!

Ha Jung-min, heart pounding, ascended the stage.

The former leader joined, shaking hands to pass the role.

No one protested their demotion.

They’d been informed, knowing they didn’t fit the role.

Among them—

– Choi Yoo-na of Team 10. Promoted to Team 10 Leader.

– Choi Yoo-na?

– A Rank 4 Awakener?

– I thought deputy at most. A Rank 4 as team leader?

– It’s not just about rank or strength.

– I heard Team 10’s leader exists, but Choi Yoo-na practically leads.

A Rank 4, not Rank 5, Awakener.

This sparked ambition in those eyeing leader or deputy roles.

Current leaders and deputies steeled themselves to hold their positions.

– That concludes promotions. Next, equipment distribution.

At equipment distribution, eyes gleamed.

Wasn’t gear why they joined Vulcanus?

They reaped its benefits daily.

– Team leaders, come forward.

At Nam Bora’s command, ten leaders ascended.

I began distributing gear.

While members used fine public gear, team leaders got custom equipment.

Tailored to their job, abilities, and combat style.

Receiving it, their combat power soared, witnessed by all.

– Next, Team 2 Leader Yoon Hee-joo.

– Is it okay for me to accept?

– Despite your mistakes, your team’s evaluation ranks top-tier. You’re worthy.

Yoon Hee-joo, after recent failures, hesitated to take Great Death.

Nodding at my words, she accepted.

The scythe, larger than her, suited her perfectly.

– This concludes the equipment ceremony.

Other members weren’t empty-handed.

Their public gear’s level limits were raised.

Still among the best available.

– We’ll meet again when you reach level 100.

I stepped back.

Click.

I released possession of Guild Master 1.

Possession let me manage the guild from my room, but it felt stifling.

Guild Master 1’s bulky armor made movement awkward.

“Still, they’re fast. Level 80 already?”

Not quite.

That’s the minimum standard.

Team 1, the highest, had Park Sang-hyun at level 90.

They’d hit 100 without issue.

I once worried about matching their gear levels.

Not anymore.

[Level Up!]

A system message during possession.

Thanks to Combat 1 and 2 hunting in Zone 5, my level climbed.

Checking my status, I’d passed 70.

Soon, I might outlevel my guild.

My craftable item level limit neared 150.

No need to worry about falling behind.

– Time for food?

After a big day, a happy meal.

Opening the delivery app—

– Master.

Not a system call.

A soul-bound voice from an assistant crafted with Smith’s Soul.

Specifically—

– Weaver 1? What’s up?

Weaver 1, managing Zone 2.

At first, their voices were similar, but time taught me to distinguish them.

Their personalities developed too.

– I found a suspicious area in Zone 2.

– Suspicious? Describe it.

– Golem numbers dropped, and I found it while cutting a wall. It’s unlit, and I just discovered it, so I know little.

A suspicious area in Zone 2.

My mind flashed to Hephaestus’ Forge in Zone 1.

I’d ordered assistants to search for similar hidden spots.

No news until now, so I thought other zones lacked them.

To find one so late—

– Wait. I’m coming.

– Understood.

Not that hungry.

Curiosity won.

Changing into work clothes, I entered the mine.

– Summon!

I called Hephaestus’ Mine Cart.

Its summon function let me call it with a shout.

Clatter!

The cart sped toward me.

Climbing aboard, I spoke to Weaver 1 telepathically.

– Weaver 1, summon!

– Understood.

Clatter!

The cart moved.

I’d learned this trick.

Driving the cart required controls, but summoning was automatic.

Having an assistant summon it let me move without touching the controls.

Thus—

– You’ve arrived, Master.

– Lead the way. Where is it?

– This way.

I reached Zone 2 instantly.

Following Weaver 1, I arrived at the suspicious area.

As reported, a dark, unlit passage.

– You haven’t gone in?

– Correct.

– Can you see inside?

– No.

As expected.

Even Smith’s Soul assistants couldn’t see in darkness.

Whoosh.

Spark flickered on my shoulder.

Its flames were weak for illumination.

Relying on Spark to enter was risky.

I decided to craft a torch.

No way I’d enter unprepared.

[Using Production Skill.]

[Select the shape of the item to craft.]

– Torch.

[Specify the details of the torch’s shape.]

[Choose the material for the torch.]

Materials: Blazing Timber and Condensed Coal from the mine.

Suited for a torch.

[Crafting begins.]

I fused Condensed Coal onto Blazing Timber, wrapping it with burning fibers.

Adding monster oil—

[Crafting complete.]

[‘Unextinguished Flame’ obtained.]

A torch was born.

[Unextinguished Flame]

Type: Torch

Grade: S

Restriction: Level 1+

Description: A torch with flames that never waver, even in strong winds or over time.

Abilities:

1. Eternal – Flames don’t extinguish while held.
   
2. Illumination – Brighter light, wider range.
   
3. Alert – Flames flicker when enemies are near.
   

– Pretty useful.

An unextinguishing torch.

No need to refuel or replace cloth, brighter, with an alert function.

Simple materials—maybe mass-produce for the guild and forge?

Some Gates were tough due to poor visibility.

Swinging it to confirm the flame held, I said—

– Let’s go.

With Weaver 1, I ventured into Zone 2’s hidden area.