#165
At that moment in the west (1)
Klang—! Klang—! Klang—!
In the scorching heat, the sound of metal rang out refreshingly, echoing in a rhythmic pattern.
Chiiiii—!
The rhythm, which seemed like it would go on endlessly, briefly entered a lull along with the sound of steam bursting out…
“Focus! Don’t overanalyze for no reason! Listen to the fire’s words and feel the metal’s heart, then just move accordingly!”
Unfailingly, the thunderous voice of Jaonik erupted.
His scolding guidance had been consistent for nearly a month since the first day of training.
Howard thought he had prepared quite well, to the point of developing skills, but to Jaonik, the Dwarf master, it was merely at the level of a toddler taking their first steps.
In fact, the time invested in learning was absolutely insufficient from the start, so it was no surprise that rough sounds emerged during his instruction.
‘Still, learning in a Spartan manner really allows me to feel my progress quickly. It’s worlds apart from the self-study I’ve done before.’
He wiped the sweat from his brow after briefly scanning the metal he had picked up with tongs before returning it to the furnace.
Jaonik’s teachings… in other words, the Dwarf way, was significantly different from the basics of metallurgy he had been accustomed to.
Before diving into serious instruction, Howard had perfectly showcased the fundamentals he had learned during the skills assessment test.
A systematic metalworking process based on precise measurements from modern science.
However, despite his confident demonstration, the response he received was rather lukewarm.
If he had to summarize it in one line, it would be ‘too much fluff,’ or more accurately, ‘a method too human-like to fit a Dwarf’s style.’
-“Of course, I don’t intend to belittle the skills you’ve learned so far. It’s definitely a decent method, but only if you weren’t a Dwarf!”
Howard had realized that the Dwarf’s senses were fundamentally different from those of humans.
They could skip many steps that humans had to go through yet still produce superior results.
‘It’s like solving a math problem: if you can do it mentally, there’s no need for a complex formula.’
And Dwarves not only had that mental agility but were absurdly equipped with what could be seen as an engineering calculator in their minds as a norm.
That’s why they were known as a race of craftsmen, and it was the basis for declaring that following the methods of other races was inefficient.
Thus, what Jaonik prioritized teaching was not some kind of secret technique.
-“Still, there’s no need to teach the basics. What you need the most right now is one thing! To properly awaken to the ‘Dwarven way!’ The rest is secondary!”
It was all about effectively utilizing the advantages of being a Dwarf craftsman.
To put it bluntly, it was less about meticulously following thorough processes and more about moving as guided by instinct.
‘It sounds ridiculous, but the results are far better, so I can’t really argue. Thinking about it, that’s the typical image of a craftsman…’
Indeed, scientific statistics and measurements could be seen as mere averages.
The metals being handled, the fuel igniting the flames, and even the liquids used for quenching all varied subtly from moment to moment, and the state of the person handling them was never constant.
Scientific quantification at least assisted in avoiding failures, but to become a true ‘craftsman’ capable of creating masterpieces that exceeded a certain threshold, something more was required.
‘Right now, it’s about enhancing my inherent abilities rather than developing extra skills. Only then will I be able to utilize the high-level techniques I brought from Earth properly. Feels somewhat unsatisfactory…’
Kaang—! Kaang—!
As Howard focused on his work while internally grumbling, Jaonik, who had been observing from behind, swallowed yet another wave of astonishment.
‘…Always impressive. His learning speed is incredibly fast. Aside from a few unnecessary habits from the beginning, his fundamentals aren’t too bad either.’
It hadn’t been long since serious instruction began, yet Howard had already surpassed the level Jaonik had anticipated.
Howard was rapidly improving, absorbing every teaching, and Jaonik, feeling excited, was becoming more eager to instruct him.
‘And strangely, I feel a strange fondness for him. Could we be distant descendants from the same ancestry?’
Jaonik’s passionate demeanor did carry a hint of emotional reasoning behind it.
He couldn’t help but feel a desire to nurture him, as he seemed oddly different from others.
Though the day he would realize the reason for that would likely never come.
Daang—!
‘Huh?’
After nearly a month of guidance…
As Howard swung the hammer in a trance, he finally realized he had reached a certain threshold.
‘Ah, this is…’
Nothing had particularly changed.
His senses were as sharp as ever, and his fingertips were as delicate as usual.
But something felt different.
The blazing flames spoke.
How about increasing the firepower just a bit more?
He resonated with the vibrations of the metal on his skin.
He instinctively understood where and with what force it needed to be struck to become even more perfect.
‘How fascinating. To actually feel this way.’
His distracting thoughts stopped there.
Enthralled by this sensation, Howard plunged into a trance, obediently following the desires of fire and metal…
And in that moment, a ‘work’ was completed—
《The individual has gained enlightenment through repeated training. Acquired special skill “Dwarven Creative Logic.”》
Only then could he take his first step as a true Dwarf craftsman.
Moreover, as if to bless that realization, the message that emerged was not the only one.
《The Titan gazes upon you.》
《The individual has achieved conditions for enlightenment. Acquired special skill “Song of Fire and Metal.”》
At that moment, the flames that had been calmly burning in the furnace swelled wildly, and a strand of fire burst out, lightly wrapping around him before vanishing.
Caught off guard by the sudden occurrence, Howard blinked as he recalled his memories.
‘If it’s the Titan…’
It referred to the ‘God of Fire and Metal,’ the entity revered by Dwarves.
In their culture, directly naming the deity was seen as impious, so they typically referred to it indirectly, but the name was so revered among Dwarves that the Dwarven nation on Enamel Continent was named ‘Titania.’
‘Did I just meet some conditions that attracted attention from the Titan?’
Otherwise, there would be no reason for him to reveal himself at this precise moment.
In any case, the appearance of a new benefactor was always welcome.
Clap, clap, clap—
“Congratulations, Howard! I didn’t expect you to grasp that so quickly! Moreover, the blessing of the furnace, it seems the god is paying attention to your talents!”
Jaonik approached with applause, patting his shoulder with a satisfied smile.
From what he heard, this phenomenon seemed common among promising Dwarves.
It was often expressed when a meaningful object was created in front of the furnace, or when a craftsman who pleased the god grew past their previous limits.
Howard looked down at his palm with a newfound sense of surprise, repeatedly opening and closing it.
The heat overflowing in the workshop moved here and there according to his gestures, and the flame’s essence that followed his breath felt much more familiar.
Without even seeing directly, he could feel where the nearby metals were placed and their states.
‘“Song of Fire and Metal” is a skill that elevates compatibility with those two attributes. As I improve my proficiency, I feel like there must be something more, but for now, this seems to be the limit.’
Any way to grow skills was a good thing.
As he enjoyed the accomplishments of his training while nodding in satisfaction…
“Alright! Now that you’ve got the basics down, it’s time for proper teaching! I won’t be going easy on you now, so follow along closely! Hahaha!”
As Jaonik burst into a loud laugh, still patting his shoulder, Howard could only give an awkward smile.
‘It didn’t seem like he was going easy on me up until now.’
However, he didn’t particularly care, as he could endure any harsh environment without a hitch.
In fact, that was exactly what he wanted.
Crafting relied heavily on experience, and was thus more affected by time than other fields—
To rise to the top above those limits required several times more effort than others.
“Now then, shall we get started immediately?”
“Yes! Sir!”
And so, in a workshop located in a remote part of the continent, a Dwarf craftsman began to grow rapidly under his master’s guidance.
Armed with a resilient spirit that does not waver even in the Abyss, and a steel-like body enhanced by karmic doping.
*
Talia Kingdom, Bright Duke’s Family’s Stronghold.
Knock, knock—
“Lord, it’s Theodore.”
“Come in.”
Heinz II turned his head slightly to glance at the man entering his office while receiving a report about the continental situation from Mulo.
As soon as Theodore stepped inside, he immediately bowed to greet him, awkwardly exchanging glances with Mulo, who was seated beside him.
Once a rival clan, they had now united under the banner of ‘Hybrid,’ but since it had only been a short time since an outright war had taken place, there was still an uncomfortable atmosphere between them.
Both stood in similar positions regarding rank and skill, also entangling them like rivals once more.
Of course, Heinz, the superior, had no intention of being concerned with such delicate matters.
“Very well, Theodore. Has everything been completed?”
“Yes, the last individuals from each region scheduled to arrive soon. Aside from those who cannot be contacted for some reason, the remaining forces of the Yufershi clan will soon gather in the Talia Kingdom.”
The relocation work of the Yufershi clan had taken a considerable amount of time.
Being the largest vampire group operating across the continent, it had taken longer than expected.
“Thank you for your efforts, Theodore. It’s been quite a lot of work.”
“It’s nothing. Considering the opportunity you’ve given me, this is a minor task. Moreover, this is also for all of us vampires, isn’t it?”
Theodore, born from a clan lord, naturally displayed the social experience he had previously had, contrasting with the somewhat stiff Mulo beside him as he immediately added flattery.
And whether a secret power struggle began between the two or not, Heinz leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes gently.
Thus, the process of strengthening the Hybrid’s forces through the “Refined Blood Essence” and solidifying the control system had entered its final stages.
A considerable amount of bloodline had been consumed during this process, but fortunately, thanks to the abundant stock of Dragon’s Blood, it had not become a significant issue.
‘If I inject this “Refined Blood Essence” into the ones coming, the first phase will be complete. Then I can gradually move on to the next phase.’
Heinz II’s goal.
Initially, it solely revolved around organizing an intelligence network across the continent, but at some point, another objective had emerged.
‘Finally ready to step into the limelight.’
That was to elevate the vampire race to the surface, allowing them to operate openly.
By nature, they were a race that had to parasitize others, especially the numerous humans.
Naturally, their perception among the inhabitants of the continent could not be the same as that of the Elves or Dwarves.
‘In fact, it’s hard to even consider them a regular race. It’s one thing to drink blood, but not being able to reproduce on their own and only increasing their numbers through infection is a problem.’
Thus, the very existence of vampires inherently positioned them as enemies to humanity.
Heinz had experienced it firsthand, and the thirst for blood was far beyond what an individual’s will could suppress, while humans had historically viewed them as eternal adversaries.
When they met, conflict was unavoidable, leading even powerful vampire factions to always hunt humans from the shadows.
However, coexisting was not entirely impossible.
‘If I’m around, that is.’
Internally, strict governance and control; externally, managing the continental situation and political negotiations.
Only Heinz II was capable of achieving this in this world.
“Both of you, enough chit-chat. Sit down. We’ll start the meeting as soon as Briki arrives.”
“Yes! Understood.”
“I’ll have them bring me a drink.”
“………..”
Thus, in the far west of the Ion Continent, the vampires who had long lived in darkness began to stir quietly.
The vampire clan union, known as ‘Hybrid.’
And naturally, this would also be a significant event that would change the history of the continent.
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