Chapter 311

Viper did not land in a dungeon cave as he expected.

His boots hit a polished hardwood floor with a soft thud. The tattered cloth unspooled from his body and floated away, leaving him standing in the middle of a large, brightly lit room.

He took a slow breath. The air didn't smell like sulfur and ruined earth. It smelled like oiled leather, clean cotton, and expensive wood polish.

Viper looked around. He was standing inside a pristine, ancient tailoring hall.

Heavy wooden looms lined the walls. Long cutting tables were covered in measuring tapes, brass shears, and spools of thread that shimmered with a faint, magical glow. Beautiful mannequins stood in the corners, draped in half-finished coats and dresses that looked vastly superior to anything currently sold in the world.

Viper took a step forward. He reached out and touched the smooth, polished wood of a nearby cutting table.

He didn't mind that he had just been kidnapped. He wasn’t worried about Red and Haster right now as they would probably be fine for another 2 weeks. The constant, grating stress of the Ashfall Region had been wearing him down for two weeks, and stepping into this quiet, perfectly organized workshop felt like coming home. He let out a long breath, a profound sense of professional awe washing over him.

The gray cloth that had carried him here floated into the center of the room. It twisted and folded over itself, the fabric starching and popping until it took on the vague, hovering shape of a person.

"You bear the medallion of my lineage," a voice echoed. It didn't come from the cloth itself, but seemed to resonate from the wooden walls of the room.

Viper stopped. He took a half-step back.

He adjusted the collar of his coat, blinking a few times to make sure he was actually seeing this. He was a realist who has seen some weird things since he started playing this fantasy game. In Satisfy, magic and monsters were a given, but a piece of haunted laundry politely addressing him was definitely new.

Deciding it was best to just be respectful to the magical fabric, Viper cleared his throat.

"I do," Viper said, trying to keep a straight face. "My name is Viper. Fenner sent me." 

"I am the remnant of Kruger," the Phantom said. "Or rather, I am the echo he left behind to test those who might claim his tools. It has been a very long time since anyone bothered to find this place."

The Phantom floated toward one of the windows. Instead of the ruined wasteland outside, the glass showed a fake, painted view of a bustling, sunny city.

"It is miserable out there now," the Phantom complained, sounding surprisingly human. "Ash and dirt ruin good fabric. Sword Saint Muller came here centuries ago to seal that demon, you know. He saved the region from total destruction, but the man was a terrible dresser. Plaid with stripes. Tragic. I tried to offer him a decent coat, but he said he preferred his rags."

Viper nodded slowly. He wasn't entirely sure how to respond to gossip about a legendary hero's fashion sense. "I am here to learn."

The Phantom turned back to him. "You are here to be tested. My creator did not leave his legacy for someone who lacks patience."

[Quest: Tailor's Trials] 

[Difficulty: SSS] 

[You are going to take the trials designed by the Legendary Tailor Kruger, to test whether the tailor is qualified to inherit his techniques.]

The golden text floated in front of Viper's face. He read it quietly, his pulse picking up a steady, calm rhythm. This was the moment.

"Let us begin," the Phantom said. It pointed a ragged sleeve at a wooden table in the center of the room.

A large spool of dark, metallic thread appeared on the table, along with a set of heavy iron shears and a large sewing needle.

"Trial one," the Phantom announced. "You are provided with Armored Steel Silk. Complete a garment using only this material. You may begin."

[The Quest [Tailor's Trials] has been updated!]

[Trial 1]

[You are provided the material [Armored Steel Silk], complete a cloth using this material.]

[Objective: Complete one cloth using the material [Armored Steel Silk]]

[Reward: [Tailor's Discipline], Dexterity + 100]

Viper walked over to the table. He looked at the spool.

Armored Steel Silk was a notorious material among crafters. It was harvested from armored spiders in the northern caves. It had the tensile strength of iron but looked like regular silk. The problem was that it resisted cutting, snapped ordinary needles, and fought the tailor at every single stitch. Most tailors tried to force it, rushing the process and ruining the garment in their haste.

Viper didn't reach for the shears right away. He ran his fingers over the thread, feeling the cold, stiff texture and activated his [Tailor’s Appraisal] skill.

Viper picked up the heavy iron shears. He didn't try to cut a large piece all at once. He measured out exactly what he needed, positioned the blades carefully, and squeezed with slow, deliberate force.

Snip.

The silk cut cleanly.

He threaded the large needle. He knew from experience that cold metal didn't slide through stiff fabric easily. He pinched the needle between his thumb and forefinger, rubbing it briskly to generate friction heat.

He pushed it through the first fold of the silk. It met heavy resistance, trying to snag on the metallic fibers.

Viper stopped pushing. He angled the needle slightly, found the natural gap in the weave, and guided it through. He pulled the thread tight.

He repeated the motion. Push, angle, pull.

He didn't look at the Phantom. He tuned out the quiet humming of the magical lights in the room. He just focused on the rhythm of his own hands. The garment slowly took shape—a simple, sturdy vest. It wasn't flashy, but the seams were tight, straight, and entirely secure.

It took him nearly two hours to finish the vest. 

Viper tied off the final stitch and snipped the excess thread. He smoothed the vest out on the table and stepped back.

[You have successfully created the epic-rated item [Silk Armored Vest]!]

[An epic-rated item was produced, so all stats have permanently risen by +4 and reputation throughout the continent has risen by +80.]

The Phantom floated over. It hovered above the vest, inspecting the seams and the shape.

"You did not fight the material," the Phantom noted. "You let it guide your hands. A rare trait."

[You have successfully completed Trial 1.] 

[You have completed one cloth using the material Armored Steel Silk.]