The Greatest Architect

65. Phantom Enhancement (1)

“Podong?”

“… huh? ”

I heard a little sound from the side of the stars.

as if whispering to come closer.

Or like a soft grunt.

That’s what it sounded like.

Thanks to you, Lloyd quickly regained his senses.

I turned my back as I blocked my nose with my sleeve.

“Podonga?”

“Podong!”

A poppet appears on the forge work bench.

He was staring up at me with a pudgy cheek and a black eye.

It wasn’t just that.

“Droplets!”

“Howl!”

After Podong, the drop also crawled from the corner of the table to this side.

It was too late for Haman to come to the roots.

I looked up at this side with the same round, black eyes.

“Hmm, you guys? What are you doing?”

“Podong!”

“Droplets!”

“Howl!”

“What? Play? ”

“Kiss!”

“Room!”

“Ha!”

The three illusions stood side by side, nodding forcefully.

In the middle of the night, I was so worried that I wanted to come and play.

I felt a bit embarrassed.

“Well, I’m sorry, can we play another time? ”

“Podong?”

“Droplets?”

“Hammam?”

“Hey, I’m a little busy today. I have a lot to think about and study. This has to work. ”

“Podo-dong?”

“Drop?”

“Hopefully…? ”

“I’m sorry. Let’s play another time. Huh? I’m nosebleeding, but I can’t rest, and I’m stuck here. In fact, I want to play and relax with you guys. ”

“Podong!”

“Drops! Drops! ”

“Hippo Manga!”

“Oh, no, I don’t want to play or take a break now……. ”

“Podo-dong?”

“It means only the mind. Sorry to get your hopes up. I’m really sorry, okay? So let’s play another time. ”

Lloyd laughs in embarrassment.

I really wanted him to rest.

I wanted to play for a while.

But I didn’t think I could.

It was a curious construction order won by the Earl.

You have your own new technique, and you can build it successfully.

It was the judge who shouted so loudly.

But it got stuck in the preparation phase.

Making cement was much more difficult than I thought.

I didn’t want to imagine that I’d stumbled on a rock here and the construction would fall.

“I mean, this is the moment I have to overcome, even if it’s a little bit difficult and difficult. But don’t worry. I’ll do my best, okay? When this is all over, let’s have some real fun. ”

Lloyd laughs and claps at three hallucinations.

They were good children who listened to the original words.

I thought that if I did this, I would listen again.

But this time it was different.

“Podo-dong!”

“Droplets!”

“Howl!”

For some reason, the three illusions were determined (?) survived.

No, I was stubborn and laid down.

I’ve been rolling around on a notebook of cement mixes that I’ve been working on.

“Podo-do!”

“Bells! Bells! ”

“Hammam! Hammam! ”

“Huh, hmm? Guys?”

After that, Lloyd soothed and froze three hallucinations.

I hugged him and patted him.

I also worked hard.

But it didn’t work at all.

For the first time, three illusions stubbornly refused to listen.

No. Later, I looked up at this side and wet my black eyes.

“Podo-dong……. ”

“Bell……. ”

“Hamaha…. ”

I could cry like chicken shit right away, curling up all over my body.

In fact, there was a reason for the three illusions.

It wasn’t just stubbornness or stubbornness.

The mission of protecting Lloyd.

The mind was moving the three illusions.

‘Podo-dong, podong…. ’

In fact, pets know their pets much better than people think.

There’s only one reason.

It’s because I live all day staring at my pet.

Thus, the three hallucinations were more aware of Lloyd’s current condition than of Lloyd himself.

‘Drops……. ’

Seeing three hallucinations, Lloyd’s latest behavior was too much.

I haven’t slept well for days.

Even while I was awake, I spent all day worrying and experimenting.

Excessive engagement and chronic fatigue.

It narrowed my vision.

My judgment was off as usual.

‘Haha… ’

So I had to give him a little rest.

I felt like I needed to put things down for a while.

So the three hallucinations became more stubborn and stopped Lloyd’s work.

I shook my booty hard.

I was rolling around whining.

I licked Lloyd’s hands and cheeks.

I shook my tail and stretched out my short legs.

It looked like a puppy with a swarm to go for a walk.

It was the same with Lloyd’s eyes.

Three miraculous hallucinations.

Suddenly, there seemed to be a overlap of friends who had curtsied in the past.

‘Autumn.’

A puppy I grew up with.

A friend who’s not leaving right now.

Maybe that’s why.

Lloyd secretly put words in his mouth every day of the past.

“Then shall we go for a walk? ”

“Podong!”

“Droplets!”

“Howl!”

Three hallucinations nodded at the round head.

Podong and Hoang celebrated the success of the operation, high-fiving with their short hands.

Droplets without hands joined the high five with chubby tails.

“Oh, my God, am I that good? ”

Looking at it, I smiled bitterly.

I held three children in my arms.

I left the forge.

I came out in the dark at night.

‘It’s cold.’

It was an early winter pier.

It was not just an ordinary blade wind level.

Lloyd looks down at you, raising his cloak collar.

“Are you guys okay? ”

“Kiss! Room! Ha!”

Three phantom bells in my pocket answered in one voice.

Lloyd’s bitter smile became stronger.

“Hey? This isn’t a walk, is it? ”

“A kiss? Huh?”

“I walk, and you ride with me. Free of charge.”

“Pow? Baang? Huh?”

“Come on. You’re pretending you don’t know. That means it’s cute. Yeah, it’s cute. Cute.That’s so cute. ”

This is how much I get strolled by these kids.

Lloyd stops grinning.

Three kids staring at themselves in a dazzling way.

It was because the face of the old puppy suddenly overlapped once again.

‘That’s what autumn was like. ’

It was a curly white puppy.

Poodle and Maltese.

I’m emigrating to the United States.

But I can’t take him.

He was the one who entrusted Autumn who was less than one year old.

From that day on, Autumn became my family.

It was when I was in middle school.

I always knew I’d be around.

Walking around every day.

While playing ball.

Autumn used to moan and grunt.

Especially when he was studying for exams.

Let’s play another time then.

Let’s go for a walk next time.

I used to smile and hold off saying I was sorry.

So I didn’t know.

The fact that it can’t last forever.

And the fact that all those days will pass away and all those days won’t come back.

‘I should have played a lot at that time. ’

He becomes a high school student, he becomes a college student.

Meanwhile, Autumn grew old together.

I’m getting old.

When I was in the army, it was hard to walk.

Nevertheless, I did not pay much attention.

A shadow of a big debt that I have given you in my house.

The darkness made the whole family feel empty.

It was a very difficult day.

I can’t afford to care for a puppy that small.

When winter comes like this.

A particularly clear mid-November afternoon.

Autumn quietly crossed the rainbow bridge as if asleep.

I couldn’t take any more care of her, and I filled her with regret that she couldn’t play any more.

‘Oh, shit. I didn’t want to think about it. ’

It was a frustrating memory every time I think of it.

So I didn’t want to think about it.

Lloyd walks the streets at night, re-burying the emotions that came to his mind.

Sometimes, the cold wind blows my hand, and I talk about three hallucinations in my pocket and Dorado.

At that time, Podong and the bubble sparkled, and the lower eye sparkled.

I laughed as if I were enjoying this joyful time.

Seeing that, Lloyd thought, I reflected.

‘Maybe I was just using them. ’

Not Podong, not Blob, not Howl.

Before the Phantom Age, they were all children who felt the warmth of their breasts.

But how have you been?

‘I only found them when I needed them. ’

Treated like a tool.

Only thought of as construction equipment.

‘This is no different from when I regretted leaving the old autumn. ’

Thinking about it, I felt selfish.

I clenched my fist between apology, reflection, and commitment.

It was the moment I returned to the forge.

Ding-dong.

Somewhere along the way, an unexpected message appeared in Lloyd’s eyes.

[The hallucinations are feeling your sincerity.]

[The hallucinations look at you warmer than before, as if they were looking at your family.]

[Your level of connection with hallucinogens has increased from Primary Relationship to Member of the Group.]

Huh?

It was a message I never expected.

The message did not end there.

Lloyd’s eyes are busy.

[New features are activated by increasing the level of sympathy with hallucinations.]

[The ‘Phantom Enhancement’ feature has been opened.]

[500 RP is required for [.]

The [“Phantom Enhancement” function allows you to equip a new skill.]

[Once executed, it is not reversible. Execute with caution.]

‘What is this…… Amazing. ’

Lloyd’s eyes widen.

Enhanced phantoms.

The creation of a new skill.

He really didn’t think this was possible.

‘I never thought I’d get this benefit from quitting my job and choosing to go for a walk with them. ’

I thought you said life depended on it.

Sometimes they say the way around is the fastest high pass.

‘Reinforce 500 RP. ’

What kind of skill will be created?

Lloyd was half curious, half expecting.

His gaze is towards the bag.

Three hallucinations that still crease in their pockets.

I asked them to look up at me with their black eyes.

“Hey, you guys. ”

“Podong?”

“Droplets?”

“Howl?”

“Well, did you guys feel that? What was in the message I read? ”

“Kiss! Room! Ha!”

The three hallucinations nodded together.

Maybe they know they can be enhanced.

No, it wasn’t just that.

“Drops! Drops! Droplets!”

Somehow, the droplet jumps up and down, shining exclusively.

It’s like you want me to vote for you.

Or you will.

I opened my mouth and panted like a baby bird.

It wasn’t just that.

“Po-dong! Po-dong! ”

“Hippo! Hippo! ”

Podong and Haman lift the droplet up.

You push the trophy up this way.

It was like I had to choose a bubble.

Lloyd asked me just in case.

“Do you guys think the bubbles should be reinforced? ”

“Kiss! Room! Ha!”

“Then, can you feel what skills will arise when you are strengthened? ”

“Kiss! Room! Ha!”

“What? The bubble will be a big help this time? ”

“Droplets!”

The last answer was the droplet himself.

“Drops! Drops! Droplets!”

“Trust me and strengthen it? There’s never gonna be any harm. ”

“Droplets!”

A droplet nodding its head curtly.

Seeing that, Lloyd thought:

‘If the bubble is that confident, maybe you can expect it. ’

I slowly had that belief.

Not Podong, not Blob, not Howl.

They have helped themselves so far.

They were the ones who played the most appropriate role when they always needed it the most.

It was a recommendation that the children had made with confidence.

There must be a reason for that.

So I thought I’d trust you.

‘Yeah, well, it’s a long shot. ’

It was 500 RP.

I still had enough RP saved up.

No, it wasn’t enough, it was more than enough.

‘Let’s try it. ’

If it fails, it’s over.

These guys are right. If they have the right skills, it’s great.

That said, Lloyd chose the ‘Strengthen Phantom’ menu.

Ding-dong.

[Enables the Phantom Enhancement feature.]

[Please select a type of phantom to enhance.]

‘The droplet.’

The droplet was placed on the palm of your hand.

That’s how I chose him.

[The hallucinogenic type you selected is the ‘droplet’.]

[Drop Enhancement Cost: 500 RP]

[Current RP: 2401]

[Do you want to run the upgrade?]

[YES/NO]

‘Yes.’

Lloyd nods.

[Execute Phantom Reinforcement.]

Since then.

“Droplets?”

Aaaaahhhh!

The droplet is engulfed in a transparent and mysterious light.

I hope so.

I finally remembered the message I was waiting for.

[You have succeeded in strengthening the bubble.]

[Enhancement Level: +1]

[A new skill has been created as reward for its enhancement success.]

List of skills by bubble

[Eating dirt (Lv. 3)]

[Earth Digestion Acceleration (Lv. 3)]

[Drain Steel Kick (Lv. 5)]

[Volcano Explosion (Lv. 1)]

‘…… what? ’

Lloyd’s eyes read the message thoroughly.

The gaze reached the last line.

Volcanic eruption? ’

His eyes are startled when he comes across the name of a new skill.