CHAPTER 67: CH 67: PARTNERSHIP - PART 2

Fenrir leaned back in his chair, one leg dangling lazily off the side, as his tablet buzzed with news alerts and social media notifications.

The entire world was still in an uproar over the announcement of Mr. ’X’ joining hands with Legion Corporation.

Stock prices were soaring, reporters were screaming for interviews, and every guild and faction was clamoring to get a word in edgewise.

But to Fenrir, it all felt distant. Unimportant.

With a tap, he shut the notifications off and tossed the tablet to the couch.

"Let them scream. I’ve got work to do."

He muttered.

He stepped into his lab, eyes gleaming as he looked at the vials neatly arranged across his workbench.

The Rejuvenating Potion shimmered with a deep green glow, the product of his most challenging effort yet.

Alongside it were potions of strength, stamina, and resistance — all perfectly brewed, tested, and stable.

"I’ve finally got everything I need. Time to make my first weapon."

Fenrir said under his breath, his voice filled with satisfaction.

It would be the perfect extension of himself — a blade or staff forged from the rarest materials he could find, imbued with magic, and tuned to his needs.

He was already imagining the possibilities, excitement bubbling inside him.

Then he froze.

His smile faded.

"...Where the hell am I going to make it?"

He muttered.

It hit him like a slap.

For all his preparation, for all the ingredients and potions, Fenrir had completely forgotten one critical element: a working smithy.

He ran a hand down his face and groaned.

"How did I forget something this basic?"

As he racked his brain, he suddenly remembered—he did have a smithy once.

Back in his personal dungeon during his past life, it had been his pride and joy. But since his reincarnation and the dungeon’s reformation, he hadn’t even seen it.

"Of course. It’s probably buried in vines and rust by now.

He muttered.

He didn’t waste any more time.

"Nedrax!"

He called out.

The dragon appeared in a swirl of mana, looking particularly grouchy today.

"I was organizing the hamster brigade’s battle drills. Do you know how hard it is to get them to line up properly when half of them want to nap?"

Nedrax grumbled.

"Take me to the old smithy."

Fenrir said, ignoring the complaints.

Nedrax groaned.

"You’re causing me delays in dungeon management, master. This is poor leadership—"

"Now, Ned."

The dragon gave a reluctant snort but conjured a swirling gate.

"You owe me a nap later."

They arrived within moments.

The smithy was... a disaster.

Fenrir stood at the entrance, blinking at what used to be a proud forge.

Moss and vines covered most of it, a tree had burst through the back wall, and one of the main anvils had been cracked clean in half.

Birds chirped from the rafters, and some sort of small forest rodent scurried away as they entered.

"I... wow. I expected bad, but this is wild."

Fenrir muttered.

Nedrax flapped up beside him.

Fenrir moved past the collapsed doorway and stepped inside, rummaging through what was left of the storage cabinets.

To his surprise, some of the more valuable crafting tools had survived, protected by enchantments he’d placed long ago.

He collected a few rare alloys, enchanted hammers, and elemental cores, setting them aside carefully.

But it was clear—there was no fixing this place without a major rebuild.

"Looks like I’m starting from scratch. Again."

Fenrir sighed.

"Unless you know a construction expert. Like, say, someone who isn’t me."

Nedrax offered sarcastically.

"I’m working on it. And you’re getting too arrogant for my liking."

Fenrir opened up the system and began browsing through the available crafting-related skills and quest lines.

Most of them were expensive or inefficient for what he wanted — until he saw something strange.

A glowing Hidden Quest notification appeared at the edge of the screen.

Hidden Quest Unlocked!

Name: "Foundation of Fire and Stone"

Objective: Clear the ruined smithy of corrupted fauna and stabilize the area with raw mana.

Reward: Unique Familiar – "Forge Imp" (construction type), bonus skill: Lesser Smithing Foundation.]

Fenrir’s eyes lit up.

"A construction-type familiar?"

He tapped through the quest description and found it would allow the Forge Imp to rebuild, maintain, and even enhance smithing structures — basically a mobile blacksmith’s assistant.

"That’s perfect."

He turned to Nedrax, already grinning.

"Guess I’ve got another dungeon cleanup to do."

Nedrax stared at him.

"You’re going to pick a fight with enchanted weeds and territorial rodents for a gremlin that builds stuff?"

"Yes. Because unlike you, the gremlin will help me build an empire."

Fenrir said flatly.

Nedrax sniffed.

"Rude."

Fenrir chuckled as he tightened the straps on his gloves and summoned a blade made of pure mana.

"Let’s clear some brush."

Fenrir narrowed his eyes at the system screen, reading the fine print of the hidden quest again.

[Note: This reward will only be granted to the first person who completes the quest. Rewards cannot be shared or duplicated across party members, regardless of participation.]

He exhaled sharply and leaned back.

"So that’s how it is..."

The system’s wording was crystal clear — only the first person to clear the dungeon and finish the quest would receive the reward.

Even if he brought in Team Gram, even if they helped and protected him, if someone else struck the final blow or completed the last part of the quest, they would be recognized as the victor.

Fenrir rubbed his forehead.

"Well, there goes that option."

He sighed, not out of fear, but mild annoyance. Team Gram had proven themselves loyal and competent, and having their strength at his side would’ve made the whole task easier.

But now, with the stakes being so specific and the reward this valuable — a rare construction-type familiar and foundational smithing skill — he couldn’t afford to risk it.

"There’s no way I’m letting anyone else walk away with that reward."

Fenrir muttered.

Still, there was one silver lining — it was an A-class dungeon, not an S-class.

Fenrir’s eyes drifted to the corner of his lab, where several crates of potions and items sat neatly stacked.

His inventory was full of recovery potions, stamina boosters, and resistance enhancers — all of which had been crafted under his own meticulous standards.

Not to mention the Rejuvenating Potion currently circulating through his bloodstream, slowly strengthening his fragile body day by day.

"I’ve already cleared a B-class dungeon on my own. An A-class is just the next step up. With everything I’ve prepared... I should be able to handle it."

He said to himself.

He wasn’t reckless. He understood the leap in difficulty that came with dungeon grades.

But with his potions, his enhanced stats, and the memories from his past life guiding him, Fenrir was confident. Not arrogant — just prepared.

He stood up and stretched, his long coat flowing as he moved across the dungeon to get back out. His familiars followed him.

"I need you all on standby. There’s an A-class dungeon I’m heading into alone. But if things go south, I might need you to come in... no matter what the system says."

Fenrir told them.

Nedrax raised a scaly brow.

"Sure thing, boss. We’re ready to help you out."