In the game Tyr One, there are various ways to enhance your character.
Prominently, there’s skill enhancement or dedicated weapon upgrades. Additionally, if you’re a veteran player with some cash, you might even aim for character limit-breaking via gacha.
Furthermore, apart from enhancing skills or weapons, there is another way to boost stats externally.
Namely, Artifacts. By equipping one of these Artifacts, your character can gain additional skills or stats.
The earring Arna just showed was also one of these numerous Artifacts.
It wasn’t just an ornamental earring but an accessory imbued with magical power.
“So, the reason you could lift my body and catch that giant fish was entirely because of this earring?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
After removing the earring from her earlobe, Arna handed it to me.
─── Slimheim ───
Rank: Legendary
Effect: When equipped, +3 to Max Magical Power, +30% Skill Casting Speed
Additional Skill: Blessing of Skadi
Blessing of Skadi: Allows you to share a portion of your magical power with another.
Cannot receive stat effects叠加 from other Artifacts.
───
What? A Legendary Artifact already made an appearance?
When I almost fainted, as far as I knew, Artifacts were still at the Rare rank. How did it reach the Legendary rank already?
Putting aside the item rank for now, the important point to focus on was the earring’s unique skill.
The Blessing of Skadi. A skill that allows you to share magical power with someone else.
Through this, I realized something.
The powerful spells I cast during critical moments—like delivering Arna right in front of a monster or catching the giant fish from the reef—were all thanks to Arna’s magical power. I could display such strength because I shared it with her.
Yeah, it was strange. My telekinesis is only at Level 1. Moving people around was supposed to be impossible from the start.
In the end, I was just a third-rate villain who could only move socks.
So many tears…
“Don’t feel too disheartened. With consistent training, someday… What? Why are you crying all of a sudden!”
“…”
“It’s creepy how you’re crying without any expression! Wipe it off quickly!”
Arna pressed a handkerchief against my chest.
I reluctantly borrowed Arna’s handkerchief.
Once again, I was receiving help from Arna.
I’m just a loser who can do nothing without Arna… A loner… A chicken who pretends to be strong… Just a bad troublemaker…
Waaaah!
“Whyyyyyy…! I didn’t ask you to blow your nose, just to wipe away the tears… What are these slimy mucus trails?! It’s disgusting!”
After blowing my nose thoroughly, my head instantly cleared up. The tears stopped flowing, and the gloomy mood vanished.
Apparently, the only vitamin I need in my life is her scream. With that, I can always rise again.
“Arna.”
“What…?”
“Where did you get that earring?”
I’m curious. A Legendary Artifact, after all.
“I, this one?”
Arna put the earring back on her ear.
“I was given it. A long time ago.”
“Who gave it to you?”
“Miss Kang Yoo-ri.”
Kang Yoo-ri, the world’s first S-ranked Awakened, Arna’s long-admired idol.
She gave Arna the earring?
The protagonist’s buffs truly go too far. What about the villain? How can they compete?
“Arna.”
“What…again?”
“Will you give me that earring?”
What nonsense is this? Arna frowned instantly.
“Are you a robber? You just randomly demand it without any consideration…?”
“Just hand it over.”
“No! Why should I!”
Arna hastily covered her ears with both hands.
So, she’s not willing to give it willingly.
I raised the spoon.
“Arna, how about we have a ranking match with this earring on the line?”
“No way! I refuse…! What do I gain from fighting you? It’s a battle where only I lose…!”
It’s true. If I proposed a bet, I should also put something up as a stake.
A stake worthy of the earring.
I spread my arms wide.
“Alright. If you’re going to bet the earring, I’ll put my sympathy on the line. By the way, it’s a brand new one I’ve never used, so it will surely satisfy you.”
“Even if you gave it, I wouldn’t want it…!”
—
On the weekend, I briefly stopped by the shopping district. I also visited a store specializing in Artifacts.
“Is there anything particular you’re looking for, sir?”
An employee approached me with a smile.
I waved my hand, signaling it was fine.
“I’ll just take a look around.”
“Sure, feel free to call if you need anything.”
To be honest, I was slightly disappointed. I had approached this place full of anticipation since they dealt with Artifacts, but upon inspection, all they had were Common-tier ones.
The best among them was only a single one slightly above it—a Rare-tier Artifact.
None of it was particularly satisfying.
I also checked out the second-hand trading app “Jenga Market,” but whenever I found something good, it turned out to be scams.
They only accepted prepaid parcel deals—even if I visited the seller directly.
Regardless of which world it is, second-hand trading scams are rampant. These guys are worse than monsters.
“Hmm.”
What should I do? Still, it’s better to have something rather than nothing. Should I buy a cheap one anyway?
By the way, there were no Artifacts with additional skills in this store. They only appeared on Rare-tier Artifacts or higher.
Here, all they had were stat-boosting ones.
Stats. What I urgently need right now is magical power. I need an Artifact that increases overall magical power.
I headed to the magical power section.
“Wow, this is pretty, right?”
“Looks good on you! How about matching couple bracelets?”
I wasn’t sure if I came to a Magic Equipment Store or a Jewelry Shop. All I saw were flashy accessories, and the customers seemed to prioritize appearance over functionality.
I picked one out. It was a ring.
─── Ring of Dagal ───
Rank: Common
Effect: When equipped, +0.5 to Max Magical Power
Cannot receive overlapping stat effects from other Artifacts.
───
The effect power was truly pitiful, only raising it by 0.5.
Compared to Arna’s earring, it was embarrassingly weak.
“Ew.”
And this ring—it’s in the shape of a skull. Who still sells skull rings these days? Not even middle schoolers wear them.
I moved on to the next one.
This was one of the few Rare-tier Artifacts in the store.
─── Hairpin of Gorani ───
Rank: Rare
Effect: When equipped, +1 to Max Magical Power
Cannot receive overlapping stat effects from other Artifacts.
───
It was definitely more powerful than the skull ring I saw before. After all, it was a Rare-tier Artifact.
However, the problem lay in its form. Not a ring, not a necklace—this was a hairpin.
Even though I might be crazy, there’s no way I can wear a hairpin in my hair. Only a ridiculous person would do that.
I felt like the bibimbap I ate for lunch was about to come back up.
“…”
Well, it’s not like I absolutely can’t do it.
Should I just man up and buy it?
What would Arna say? Would she shout, “It’s disgusting! Take it off right away”?
“Ah…”
Clearly, it won’t work. I can’t muster the courage as a man to wear a hairpin. Better to just go with the skull ring.
“Hey, that skull ring looks cool, huh? I’ll get it.”
“I’ll take this chain necklace.”
“…”
Really? Are people actually buying such tacky jewelry? Do they have different tastes from me?
Then maybe…
“Yes, did I hear you call? Is there anything you need?”
“Let me just ask one thing.”
I called the staff and showed them the Gorani-shaped hairpin.
“By any chance, can men wear hairpins too?”
“Ah?”
The staff stood there dumbfounded, mouth agape.
Then they started stuttering.
“Um, er, ah, well, that…”
“Thank you for your answer.”
Judging from their reaction, it seems wearing hairpins is indeed out of the question. Better to back out cleanly.
“A-ah, t-thank you so much! Goodbye!”
I left the shop after receiving the staff’s farewells. Not because I was embarrassed, but simply because I didn’t find anything I liked.
“Phew…”
I feel like all the energy was sucked out of me. Shopping is exhausting. I wonder how women find it entertaining to keep doing it all day…
“Hey.”
At that moment, I ran into a familiar face.
It was Choi Soo-eun from the Medical Division.
“You’re also shopping?”
“Something like that.”
Today’s Choi Soo-eun felt a bit different. No, she felt very different.
In the ER, she always had a plain and simple image.
But now, her navy blue hair was casually let down, and she had done her makeup. She also wore necklaces and bracelets that added points to her look—things I hadn’t seen before.
“…”
Hmm. Wait. Accessories?
Could those be Artifacts?
It’s possible. Choi Soo-eun is not just anyone. She’s the daughter of Director Choi Chang-hwan of the Hero Management Department.
She’s the daughter of a prestigious family. She should at least have an item to protect herself. Even though she’s a non-Awakened, anyone can use the skills attached to Artifacts.
Those must be Artifacts.
They’re absolutely Artifacts.
“Hey, you’re looking really intimidating right now.”
“Sorry, I think I’ll leave now…”
