Chapter 67: Kang Ian’s Insomnia

The strange appearance of the entire Black Rose Guild outside the Dungeon gate after their failed boss challenge obviously could not be ignored.

Kang Ian had sent several members of the Crying Ghost Guild all the way to the Black Rose Guild headquarters to check things out. When they returned, they immediately reported everything to him.

Kang Ian propped his chin on his hand, his voice still lazy as if he were telling a story that was hardly worth caring about:

"They couldn’t clear the Dungeon. All the survivors used the space rings bought from your shop to escape."

After saying that, his platinum-colored gaze immediately locked onto Kei.

"Explain yourself, Craftsman who awakened at F-rank just a few weeks ago?"

Kei froze. He had already guessed this would be discovered sooner or later, but he didn’t expect Kang Ian to investigate that quickly.

Moon So Yeon also turned to look at him. Compared to Kang Ian’s probing gaze, her eyes were much gentler, but the curiosity in them was no less.

Kei let out a sigh.

"Those are space rings that I modified."

"Modified?" Moon So Yeon asked again.

"That’s right. Inside the ring there’s a teleportation magic circle. When the wearer breaks the ring, it will bring them out of the Dungeon. If teammates are in contact with the ring wearer at that moment, they’ll be brought along too."

In the quiet café, Kei’s voice rang out clearly.

Moon So Yeon looked at him with undisguised astonishment.

"You made that?"

Kei nodded.

"Yeah."

"That’s amazing."

She looked at Kei’s youthful face, momentarily unable to connect the teenager before her with a Craftsman capable of crafting an item that could save an entire Guild.

"Kei, how long has it been since you awakened?"

"About two months."

Moon So Yeon fell silent.

Kang Ian also stopped propping his chin. His gaze toward Kei grew even deeper.

"Only two months?"

"Only two months. But in reality, I’ve only seriously studied item crafting for the past month." Kei took a sip of coffee and calmly repeated.

He didn’t mention that he had once been an SSS-rank mage in another world. Nor did he mention that inscribing a teleportation magic circle onto a space ring was no different from writing a few simple lines to him.

At least for now, these people weren’t trustworthy enough for Kei to tell them these things.

"Why did you craft so many rings in such a short time?" Moon So Yeon asked.

Kei looked out the window. The sky over Dong-San City had returned to its normal color, but the uneasy feeling in his heart hadn’t disappeared.

"I had a bad premonition."

He said slowly:

"So I took the time to craft as many upgraded space rings as possible. Then I asked Sora, the shop manager, to sell them off in the shortest time possible."

"Your bad premonition saved a lot of lives."

Moon So Yeon bowed her head slightly, her expression growing more serious.

"If so, can this special crafting method be replicated? Can other Craftsmen make similar rings?"

Kei shook his head.

"Impossible."

"Why?"

Moon So Yeon was startled.

"Because the teleportation magic circle requires mana, a completely different kind of energy, to operate."

Kei paused for a moment before continuing:

"But mana doesn’t exist in this world. Aside from me, probably no one would be able to craft a teleportation magic circle."

Moon So Yeon looked at him for a long time, a hint of regret flashing through her eyes.

"Then those rings are truly one of a kind."

"You could say that."

Kang Ian had been silently listening to them talk from start to finish. He didn’t interrupt, nor did he ask more about mana or why Kei possessed such a different kind of energy.

Only after Kei finished speaking did Kang Ian slowly lean toward him.

That platinum-colored gaze no longer held the probing look from before. This time, there was a rare hint of seriousness in it.

"Kei."

"What?"

"Can you craft an item that helps people sleep well?"

Kei was stunned.

Moon So Yeon also froze for a moment, then raised a hand to gently rub her brow.She knows Kang Ian is starting again.

"Kang Ian, can you ask a more normal question?"

Kei frowned and asked.

"This is a very important matter."

Kang Ian frowned, his expression darker than usual.

"I’ve been suffering from insomnia for a long time now."

Kei looked at the dark circles under his eyes, then at that expression so serious it was almost pitiful.

For some reason, he suddenly felt that the SS-rank hunter in front of him was no different from a big bear needing to be rocked to sleep.

The corner of Kei’s mouth twitched slightly.

"Maybe."

Kang Ian’s eyes immediately lit up.

"Really? I don’t like kids who lie, you know. If you can’t do it, you don’t need to lie to me!"

Kang Ian’s suspicion made Kei feel a little uncomfortable, and he pouted as he said,

"But I need to know your condition first."

Kei rested his chin on his hand and began to observe Kang Ian more carefully.

"How long have you been suffering from insomnia?"

He looked at the pitch-black dark circles under Kang Ian’s eyes, secretly guessing that it must be chronic insomnia.

"Can’t remember anymore."

Kang Ian answered honestly.

"What do you mean you can’t remember?"

"Maybe since the awakening."

Kang Ian frowned, recalling that period in the past. The first days of discovering the insomnia were truly unbearable, until he gradually got used to it, leaving only disgust for those sleepless nights.

"Have you never tried sleeping pills?"

Kei asked curiously.

"I’ve tried them, but they have no effect. This insomnia of mine isn’t an ordinary pathological condition."

"What about hypnotherapy?"

Kang Ian sighed and shook his head in response.

"That doesn’t work either."

Kang Ian answered each question one by one without any hesitation. That serious attitude gradually made Kei realize that this wasn’t just a casual complaint.