Rifts, commonly called as Cracks, was a disaster like phenomenon that disturbed the society in early days.
An unpredictable disaster that pops up anytime, anywhere, destroys property, and hurts people.
However, the Rifts of the present era have completely melted into everyday life, rising to a controllable level.
In particular, since the value of the unique things that can only be obtained from Rifts became known to the world, Rifts have come to posses industrial value.
The monsterâs by-products became the material of weapons and armor to fight back, Magic stones became the basis of numerous magical devices and artifacts.
Among all of them the soul stones which are obtained from the monsters have the most special value.
It allowed awakeners to increase their ability or summon creatures, and above all, it was the most essential material for controlling the Rifts.
Unlike Magic stones, which is traded relatively freely, the soul stones were managed very strictly, and at the center of it was the Angels.
They controlled and managed the soul stones very actively.
It was said that Soul stones were the only way to have a normal conversation with the arrogant Angels.
However, little is known why Angels are obsessed with the soul stones.
They just repeat the same thing, saying that it is to protect the balance of dimensions.
No one knew why.
âAs I told you in advance, I think Iâll have to go to the Rift tomorrow. Please take care of the meal. Lia, I has prepared meals and snacks separately for Speranza.â
I entered mother mode and started nagging the farm members, like a mother who nags when she leaves her children alone in their home.
Unlike Lia, who nodded faithfully, Kaneff muttered with a stern look.
âDo you have to do that? All this to bring strawberries to someone who you donât even properly know. right? I canât believe youâre taking a break from work for such a shady person. As the manager of this farm, Iâm disappointed in you.â
âNot only the strawberries, but also the sweets and snacks I bring to the Boss will be cut off. Is it okay then.?â
When I asked back, Kaneff replied with a serious face.
âAfter thinking deeply, I think, the balance of the dimension is more important than the work on farm. Donât worry about the farm and get a whole lot of soul stones. Iâll take care of the things here.â
I sighed softly at his sudden 180 degree change.
âSihyeon, isnât it dangerous to enter the things called Rifts.? Canât you ask Ryan to bring them instead of you.?â
âUnfortunately, we canât do that. To get permission from the Angels, I have to bring soul stones by myself.â
Lia made a worried face.
To ease her worries, I added words with a light expression.
âDonât worry too much. Itâs not going to be a dangerous Rift. In addition, Iâve got an experienced friend in the field, so nothing will happen.â
âOkay. Still please be careful.â
After reassuring Lia, I lowered my body and talked to Speranza.
âSperanza. I wonât be here tomorrow.â
âPapa⊠Wh..ere⊠?â
âI have something to do. So you have to listen carefully to Liaâs words.â
Speranza dropped her head with an anxious look.
I felt sorry looking at the pointy ears and tail dropping down in unison.
Tears started to form in Speranzaâs eyes.
I hugged the depressed Speranza tightly and whispered.
âIf you wait like a good girl, IâŠâŠPâŠ.Papa will come with a lot of strawberries. Okay darling.?â
I comforted Speranza using the word Papa, which I still feel very awkward.
Fortunately, the foxâs ears were pointed again as if my comfort worked.
Bam
When Speranza was feeling better, Andras opened the door very urgently and appeared.
What was so urgent.
He was so out of breath.
âHuuhâŠHuuuhâŠFortunatelyâŠuuh. Itâs not too late.â
âMr. Andras? Whatâs going on?â
He took a short breath and opened his mouth again.
âI heard it from Ryan that youâre going to a dangerous place tomorrow.?
âNo. Itâs not that dangerousâŠâ
âI didnât have enough time, but I made it in a hurry to give it to Sihyeon.â
ââŠâŠ?â
âLetâs go outside for now.â
Me and the farm members followed Andras outside.
He took something out of his arms and approached me.
Andras took my right hand and tied the thing he took out in my wrist.
âAndras, what is this?â
âItâs an artifact that I made myself. I didnât have much time, so I couldnât put in a lot of functions, but itâll still be quite helpful.â
âNo. You donât have to do thisâŠâ
âI did it because I wanted to. Iâll tell you how to use it first, so listen carefully.â
Andras started to teach me how to use the artifact.
â Close your eyes and focus. Try to feel the magical power present in the artifact.â
I closed my eyes and focused.
I tried to do the same thing I do while trying to communicate with Beasts.
âHmm. Huh? I can feel it.â
âThen youâre ready to use the artifact. Remember this feeling well. Next, remember the magical word to use.â
Andras told me the words for attack and defense magic stored in artifacts.
It was surprising that such a small artifact could use so much magic.
âDefense magic has been set to respond automatically to threats. It may consume a lot of Magic, but Sihyeonâs safety is the most important thing. Then letâs use attack magic this time. Would you like to try the magic that I taught you.?â
â Wwwiiiiiiii.
Machine artifacts came from his sleeve and started flying in the air.
I shouted the Magical words toward the goal as I was taught.
< Fire ballâŠ>
Phuong!!!
In an instant, a tremendous fire soared and set fire to the target.
I flinched at the fire that was bigger than expected and took a back step.
It felt very interesting to be able to use magic so simply.
The fire was put off and the machine artifacts returned to Andras in good shape.
âGood job. If the target moves too fast, artifacts will aim take aim automatically. And please note that you can adjust the output using this button.â
âUh⊠How much is the output set right now?â
âOf course, I set it to the minimum output.â
âHmmâŠâ
This is the minimum output.
It was much more powerful than I thought.
I made a silly face for a moment.
However, Kaneff, who was watching from behind, gave a completely different review .
âHey Andras, the output is way lower. What is the grade of the artifact.?â
âItâs âŠâŠ.InfigerâŠâ
âWhat? Infiger? You made such a low grade artifact, even though everyone says that you can easly make a Forte class artifact.â
âWellâŠI heard the news too late, so I didnât have time. There was only a lack of ingredientsâŠâ
Andras looked very embarrassed and made excuses, but Kaneff began to push further.
âEvery time you visit the farm, you got fed to your stomachâs content. But you repay back with such a trashy artifact. Schnarpe family head wasnât like this.â
âMr. Andras. Iâm also very disappointed in you. Itâs for Sihyeon, you should have paid a lot more attention to it.â
âItâs not thatâŠâ
When Lia also joined in Andras bashing, Andrasâ shoulders dropped down as if he was going to cry.
âI think itâs okay.â
From my point of view, I felt very grateful just for taking care of me like this, but in the end, Andras apologized to me without able to bear twoâs onslaught.
Poor AndrasâŠ
Leaving the worried farm member behind, I was on my way back home.
After exiting the door to Demon Realm, I met with Ryan, who also had a sad face.
âIâm sorry Sihyeon. I wanted to make you avoid the hassle somehow. But the Angels are so adamant and are not backing down.â
â Itâs okay. Itâs not like Iâm going to a dangerous Rift. I think it will be a good experience for me.â
Soul stones cannot be traded between individuals, so they cannot be obtained unless we enter the Rifts directly.
Even Ryan who has various connections, couldnât be an exception.
In order to make a deal with the Angels, I had to get soul stones directly from the Rift.
âSihyeon, take this.â
âWhatâs this Ryan?â
Ryan handed me a business card.
âDimension Management⊠Director Lee Seok?â
â Yes. If you have a problem, please contact me this way. Theyâll probably take action much faster.â
âThank you Ryan.â
â By the way, did you get the artifact from Andras?â
âYes, I put it in my bag.â
I took out the artifact I received from Andras from my bag and showed it to Ryan.
Ryanâs expression hardened slightly.
âIsnât that Infiger grade.?â
âYes, thatâs what everyone in the farm said.â
âUh-huh. I shouldnât have believed in that guy Andras. Making a Infiger level artifact at a time like this. Wait a minute Sihyeon I contacted the Schnarpe family andâŠ.â
I urgently blocked Ryan who was really trying to contact them.
âThis much is fine. Itâs not like Iâm going to battle myself.â
âButâŠâ
âAndras prepared a lot in his own way.â
âIf Sihyeon says so, Iâll just move on.â
If I had let Ryan contact them, Andras would have really criedâŠâŠ
The appearance of the farm members and Ryan worrying too much about me was a little burdensome, but it also made my heart warm.
The next day.
Early in the morning, I left home on time for the meeting place.
Yerin was waiting for me at the entrance of the apartment.
As soon as she saw me, she showed an irritated face.
âI canât believe you made me wait for you. If itâs a date, you will be getting minus points from the beginning.
âI came down on time. And you too just came out, didnât you. I heard you opening the front door before you came out.â
She burst into laughter at my complaining.
âYou are not as nervous as I thought youâd be. Good. Newbie, thatâs how it should be when you go into a Rift. you should go with confidence.â
I smiled slightly without realizing it, at Yerinâs lecture.
We moved to the parking lot together.
We decided to go to the Rift in her car.
âIâm sorry. Above asking for a favor, I even got a ride.â
âItâs okay. Itâs more comfortable this way from my point of view. Did you prepare what I asked you to do? â
âYes, I prepared a lunch box. Are we supposed to prepare things like this for going to a Rift?â
âGood, good. Foods in all the restaurants in front of the Rift are not delicious.â
Yerin started the car with a satisfied look.
âHey Newbie, Buckle up. Itâs gonna be a long Ride.â