Chapter 30
30 – Watching the Fire Is the Most Fun (2).
I have edited part 29.
I’d appreciate it if you could read it from the middle.
Ding!
Thud!
A clear sound echoed.
It emanated from the blacksmith’s workshop. Onlookers were captivated by the noise.
“…….”
Dwarf.
They belonged to the clan of metallurgy.
From birth, it seemed as if they were bestowed with divine knowledge related to it.
Talented and passionate.
That’s why the races known as Dwarves were all a crazy bunch when it came to metallurgy.
Occasionally, there would be a race, like a sudden mutation, that went crazy about forging swords.
Yet, Dwarves realized metallurgy from the moment they were born.
That’s how even a blacksmith who hadn’t received care from their kin could be recognized.
The man in front of me is presenting himself with an unprecedented opportunity.
‘Giyeon.’
Just witnessing it is Giyeon in itself.
However, it’s not without issues.
‘But no matter what….’
Destroying the workshop seems excessive.
He looked around.
As if it were a fire, officials from the Academy have come to clear the debris with magic.
Do they know?
That someone caused a bit of a ruckus by increasing the firepower here?
“I don’t know.”
She sighed, recalling the scene from a moment ago.
*
“You want to rent the blacksmith shop?”
“Yeah.”
I scanned the area and spoke.
There are still things I don’t like.
“But iron isn’t too bad.”
The method of forging iron and the scattered iron around were top-notch.
It’s natural, and it’s a common story.
This place is where the martial arts world and the magical world have merged in modern times. There are also druids in Russia, gods in the United States, and all sorts of things in Europe. But fundamentally, in the modern world, it was easy to obtain top-notch iron.
“By the way, you mentioned that the stuff from there is pretty good, right?”
“Yeah.”
“You came from a place with iron folk, didn’t you?”
“Something like that.”
I brought five iron ingots that looked fine.
“But there aren’t any Ironclads on this Earth, right?”
“You might just not know about them.”
Truthfully, I don’t know either.
If the Celestials are here, they must be hiding somewhere.
‘Information I can’t access yet.’
However, there’s worry.
The lifespan of the Annihilator or Celestials worries me.
The Annihilator never tried to pinpoint their age, but they’d easily surpassed 700 years.
The Celestials aren’t constrained by lifespan, but if it’s been too long, they might have died.
I sat in front of the forge.
“…You haven’t agreed to lend it yet.”
“Did you hear the news?”
“What news?”
“About me squeezing the budget from the principal?”
“Well, so what…”
“I took about 5% from the entire academy’s budget.”
“What?!”
The young Ironclad was horrified.
Others listening nearby were the same.
“Wait a moment! Ah, you brought 5% of the entire academy’s budget?”
“Don’t speak informally.”
“…How did you convince the principal? The academy’s budget exceeds its limit in just one quarter.”
Simply put, it exceeds 50 billion in one quarter.
No wonder it was difficult to persuade.
“But they said it shouldn’t be used privately.”
This is the time to use it liberally.
“Well, then, what about that 50 billion?”
“Do you…want to receive support?”
“Yes, yes!”
The young child vigorously nodded his head.
“But what will you make with that?”
Unlike Seon Woo-hyeon, he used formal speech right away.
He seems decent.
“Cheol-hwan. And a sword.”
“It seems like there’s a shortage. Should I get some from somewhere else?”
“It’s fine. They’ll arrive soon.”
As soon as he said that, there was a commotion near the door.
As the door opened, someone who appeared to be a waiter spoke to the young child.
“Jang Ju-chang-nim, a guest has arrived.”
“Guest?”
This nobleman is quite impudent.
“I called for you.”
“Then I will bring them!”
After a moment, Abel entered.
“Oh my, oh my. You’ve been up to something interesting here.”
“I’ve arrived!”
“……”
Three more people joined.
Abel, Yoo Eun-chae, and Nam Hye-rin.
This worked out well.
“I’ve brought the items you ordered. But from now on, I’d prefer not to do these kinds of errands…”
“Why?”
“Well, I’m already an incredibly skilled and high-class employee, you know?”
“Damn right.”
Abel.
He brought the things I ordered.
With a bright and cheerful smile.
“He looks incredibly weak, doesn’t he?”
“Doesn’t he know about the Bloodfire Beast? He’s quite famous as the headmaster’s hunting dog.”
“That person?”
Probably because he’s a dwarf.
He really doesn’t know anything.
“Well, that’s the characteristic of dwarves.”
If it’s not their own concern, they show no interest.
That’s their nature.
“Where should I put the requested item?”
“Here.”
When Abel unfolded the bundle, a black ingot fell out.
“It’s a black ingot!”
“Enough to scream?”
“It’s quite a good item. It’s heavy, but it’s solid and flexible. It’s good for balancing the weight. It also draws attention from heroes who use large weapons.”
“You know well?”
“It’s basic knowledge. But why do you need so many black ingots for what you want to make?”
“For training dummy.”
The dwarf who was talking to Yoo Eun-chae came up to me.
After saying that, he prepared for work.
The first thing to do.
Boost firepower.
“Firepower?”
The dwarf blacksmith spoke without stopping, raising the heat with determination.
An intense, blazing forge.
Sparks flew.
“It’s hotter than I thought.”
Abel said, stepping back.
But I frowned.
“Is this all?”
“All? This is a rare forge you won’t find anywhere else!”
“Nonsense.”
This is inadequate.
I pondered for a moment.
I’ve already spent half of the 50 billion.
But this workshop seems more expensive than that.
“Well, should I just make the forge roughly.”
I’ll take care of the rest in the next quarter.
I smiled.
I used the Flame Magic.
Brought some nearby charcoal.
“Um, excuse me?”
She looked at me with a trembling voice.
“No, right?”
“The first secret of the Iron Clan. The more flames, the better. Firepower is limitless.”
“I’ve never heard such a thing?!?!”
“Everyone, be cautious.”
“Wait, wait!!”
Everyone hurriedly did something.
Various mana auras flowed from behind.
Manas of various colors.
While it’s good to appreciate, I focused on the flames in front of me.
I bound the Iron Clan brat with the power of flame and put all the charcoal into the furnace.
Kwaaang─!!
In an instant, like an explosion, flames overflowed.
‘I asked, but…’
The best thing is not to ask.
I infused my mana into the flames.
With increased firepower, move harmoniously according to my will.
Using the flames of Revolutionary Flame, I injected determination into the fire.
Then the flames subsided.
The Iron Clan brat began to stare at the scene as if it were amazing.
‘By the way.’
It’s hot.
My skin is flickering with flames.
The best way is to protect my body with Hyukjakyeomhwa.
But that’s not good.
Hyukjakyeomhwa has the nature to freeze all flames except for the fire of transformation.
No matter how small the spark is.
Hyukjakyeomhwa will reveal and eliminate it.
It doesn’t matter.
I’ll protect my body with Hyukjakyeomhwa.
The harmonious flames.
They were pushing back the heat.
Flames trapped entirely inside the furnace.
“Appropriate.”
Black iron is tough. And heavy. It takes hours to melt it.
So Cheoljok resolved it with tremendous firepower.
“If there’s a problem.”
It’s the need to heat it in seconds.
If it goes over a second, most metals can’t be reused and can melt and flow.
But.
“It doesn’t matter to me.”
Heightened senses.
Second-level archmage. Third-level transcendent artisan.
Those were set aside momentarily.
What appears is an artisan who operated as a third-level blacksmith.
The plan is all laid out.
The very first to craft.
“It’s the sword.”
Nam Hye-rin.
Had to forge a weapon befitting her.
Next up is Cheol-hwan.
“A blacksmith’s work, yet not simple.”
Cheol-hwan is challenging.
It’s not merely about adding weight; it shouldn’t be cumbersome to wield, nor should it compromise the body’s balance.
“And above all.”
Students must struggle in agony.
That’s how the body grows.
The structure is already fully ingrained in my mind.
I used Yeomdong magic to infuse the black ore with flames.
Whoosh!
From Noble mtl dot com
The flames crackle. In an instant, the black ore begins to melt and flow.
I seized it with my flame.
Tick, tock.
Time passes.
In reality, relying solely on senses is not ideal for resolving things.
Among blacksmiths, using tools is preferred.
Even if one is exceptionally skilled, relying only on senses won’t allow precise metallurgy.
But not for me.
Senses as a craftsman. Senses as a grand sorcerer.
And senses as an artisan.
Harmonizing all of it.
“Now.”
I pulled out the black alloy melted with flame magic.
Iron glowing red.
“Done.”
I hesitated.
Didn’t expect it to work on the first try.
“Lucky me.”
I swung the hammer down.
*
“Ugh, ugh, ugh.”
Groans echoed.
Source: Han Seojin.
Even for Han Seojin, enduring hours near blazing flames beyond one’s skill was undoubtedly taxing.
Forcing herself up, she surveyed her surroundings.
Fortunately(?) the forge remained unscathed.
Though at what cost, one might ask.
Most around were sprawled out.
The young apprentice, struggling to hold on, had succumbed.
“Impressive.”
“I’m quite something.”
“Still, I didn’t expect a blacksmith to excel this much.”
Having mastered both literature and combat and diligently acquired miscellaneous skills.
By the way, I’m also skilled in cooking.
Han Seojin thought as she took a breath.
“But…”
Yoo Eunchae’s eyes gleamed.
Toward the blade with a silent darkness.
A sensation akin to absorbing light.
At first glance, she knew.
This, without a doubt, was an extraordinary item.
Those obsessed with swords, and even those who know nothing, covet it as the sword to pursue.
Yoo Eunchae blinked her eyes, looking at Han Seojin.
“Are you going to give this to me?”
“Nam Hye Rin.”
“What?!”
Yoo Eunchae was about to say something but stopped.
‘If it’s Nam Hye Rin, then…’
She has the qualification to wield such a sword.
The name she possesses now is Geumgwi.
However, soon her unique characteristics will undergo a complete transformation.
Namgung’s sword.
Giving up on that and seeking a new sword.
Geumhu Swordmaster.
A new title she will have.
Even Seonwoo Hyeonjo, an exceptional swordsman, would be unable to defeat her if we consider her with just a sword.
She became renowned as the one who handles the sword the best.
Yoo Eunchae gazed at the black blade and contemplated.
Mukhwan.
However, this seems a bit unusual.
‘It seems like there’s more passion poured into it than into the sword.’
What’s so impressive about tying it to your arms or legs?
Yoo Eunchae looked at Mukhwan and bought the item information.
“Unique Trait: Activates the ability to see the realm of existence.”
────────────────────
Mukhwan.
An item crafted with intense fervor as if enchanted.
However, its contents are incredibly vicious.
– Doubles the user’s perceived weight.
– Accelerates the user’s physical growth.
– Restricts the user’s mana.
────────────────────
Yoo Eunchae smiled brightly.
So, this Iron Bracelet is for training purposes.
The weight is perceived to be doubled.
And it restricts the user’s mana?
“Should I run away?”
Yoo Eunchae began to seriously contemplate.