– Whirr-woosh!
The furnace was already in a preheated state.
The shield blocking the flames rattled.
In an instant, shadows flickered as everything turned orange, then darkened again inside the workshop.
‘Crushed coal and magic stone powder… and a reagent, huh?’
I observed the inside of the furnace.
Inside, there was a heap of burning coal. The magic stone powder and reagent were mixed evenly among the coal, directing the flames’ characteristics.
Since it was already preheated, this seemed to be the basic setup.
‘Well then.’
After sitting on a nearby chair, I opened the shield.
– Whoosh!
As the shield opened, a hot gust of wind poured out. My hair and the hem of my clothes fluttered as the hot air burrowed into my collar.
I didn’t feel hot at all. I had activated Gop-hwa in the first place. I wouldn’t flinch at such a flame.
At most, my skin felt a little warm, and a few beads of sweat began to form. Even this was just a basic physiological response.
‘Baek Ahrin…’
I glanced at Baek Ahrin, watching the workshop’s warm orange glow.
Though I told myself that, I checked if she was affected, and… there she was, sitting calmly with her legs crossed.
Not a single bead of sweat appeared on her even though the workshop was sweltering. Upon closer inspection, I could feel the coldness radiating from her body. It seemed she was actively channeling her mana to block out the heat.
‘Looks like there’s really nothing to worry about.’
With that thought soothing me, I checked Gop-hwa’s state one last time.
Earlier, it had seemed oddly outputting differently, but as I started to control it, it returned to normal.
Even with a detailed observation, there were no abnormalities. It was a bit more energetic than usual, but having Gop-hwa was completely unpredictable anyway.
I reached towards the furnace. Soon, the flickering flames engulfed my hand.
For an ordinary person, this would be a shocking sight that would make them jump back, but I didn’t mind as I stroked the flames.
– Whoosh!
The Gop-hwa flame that had ignited on my right arm flowed into the furnace. Using the coal, magic stone, reagents, and even the existing flames as fuel, it grew considerably.
‘Keep my emotions in check and focus…’
Considering Gop-hwa’s output, this furnace could easily burn down not just the workshop but everything in an instant. So, I had to fine-tune Gop-hwa carefully.
I adjusted it to keep the furnace from burning. I suppressed the flames, pushing them down to ensure they wouldn’t stray.
I kept my wits about me.
As my emotions escalated, my patience and endurance began to wane, threatening to turn impulsive.
The most taught thing in the Gop-hwa Clan was controlling emotions.
I had accumulated nearly 200 years of know-how through intense short courses. It wasn’t too hard.
With the ferocious energy subdued, the Gop-hwa slowly adhered to the furnace.
I maintained control and pulled my hand back. After watching Gop-hwa’s state for a while, the flames licked upward like a well-behaved puppy. There was no sign of it wanting to burn the furnace.
‘Done.’
With this, the preparations were complete. Nodding, I grabbed the dark iron ingot I had prepared earlier.
I shoved the dark iron ingot into the furnace with the hand that held it.
Since it was originally my Gop-hwa, I could withstand ordinary flames even barehanded.
Whoosh… The Gop-hwa that was clinging to the furnace twitched.
The flickering flames hammered down on the dark iron ingot.
The black metal gradually began to glow red.
I adjusted the output to ensure Gop-hwa wouldn’t melt or burn the dark iron ingot.
As the ingot began to wobble, I pulled my hand away.
The ingot shone white-hot, sparkling in its state. I placed it on the anvil and raised the hammer.
– Bang!
The hammer struck down. It fell onto the ingot, and a clear sound rang out as sparks flew.
– Bang!
I continued to hammer down. Shaping the ingot, I forged it into a straight blade with rhythmic strikes.
I was determined to sit right in front of the furnace, hammer in hand.
Various skills had been implemented through the upheavals and chaos of the era.
Inventions born from the skills were destroyed, and the geniuses who had developed them perished. Valuable records written by those geniuses were lost as well.
In this world, where magic and towers replaced such gaps, mechanical devices naturally existed too.
– Bang!
Right next to me, there were various tools besides the rugged anvil and hammer.
Pneumatic hammers that worked automatically when metals were fixed, grinding machines that smoothed out surfaces, and so on… Numerous auxiliary devices powered by mana were abundant.
‘Most mass-produced weapons were factory-made to begin with.’
There were two main types of mass-produced weapons available.
One was handmade weapons put out by inexperienced beginner blacksmiths, who still hoped to recoup a little of their capital.
The other was properly manufactured weapons by magical, automated machines.
No matter how exceptional one might be, it wasn’t possible to continuously produce weapons without rest.
However, factory-produced weapons were still relatively cheap and supplied in large quantities.
In short, they were cost-effective products.
Superhumans with limited resources and support preferred these cost-effective factory products.
It’s not like one use would ruin them; besides, most weapons are consumables anyway.
If they used products from a giant brand, the price and quality were reasonable enough that even if they broke, it wouldn’t be a big burden to replace.
For these reasons, mass-produced weapons mostly occupied the market.
– Bang! Bang!
However, conversely, nearly all superior-grade weapons were handmade.
It wasn’t just overvaluing the significance of them being made by hand; the performance of handmade ones was significantly better.
– Bang!
I brought the hammer down.
– Bang!
The mana wrapped around the surface of the hammer struck the ingot. Gradually, the mana seeped into the changing form of the ingot.
Finishing one piece, I grabbed a new ingot. I dunked it into the catalyst and shoved it into the furnace to infuse it with Gop-hwa.
Placing the glowing ingot on the anvil, I sprinkled some reagent on it and continued hammering.
– Bang! Bang! Bang!
The ingot was mixed with mana. Gop-hwa seeped in, and the catalyst and reagent were added.
And…
Bang! The hammer strikes captured the essence of my own uniqueness.
‘Truly…’
This world’s uniqueness is indeed very, very important.
Just one properly highlighted uniqueness among countless and varied ones can lead to powers that defy ordinary logic.
The unique creations crafted with care by beings endowed with such uniqueness carry a special essence.
“First, get famous, and no matter what you do after that, people will applaud you.”
That sentence sounded oddly familiar.
Setting aside the mere existence of skills, the results of the works created by an ordinary person and someone unique were entirely different.
Such is the common understanding of this world.
– Bang…
I stopped hammering for a moment. My slightly stiff fingers twitched.
Some time passed.
On the anvil, there lay a jet-black sword.
Its shape was distinctly unremarkable, a rugged blade made entirely from black iron, from the handle to the sword tip.
I scanned over the creation birthed from multiple ingots, reagents, and catalysts.
‘Hmm…’
I made a peculiar expression.
I found no fault in the quality. I could do better, but at least it passed the minimum standards. It was sufficient for use, stored in the spatial pocket for when I needed it.
However, unintentionally, it resembled almost exactly the blade that the second run had been holding.
‘…Well, that’s only natural.’
For a moment, I felt a hint of dissatisfaction, but thinking it over, it was hardly strange.
The original design was rugged, so it had no significant commonality. I had hammered it to closely replicate the second run’s sword, so it was expected that the appearance would turn out similar.
“Oh wow…”
Just as I was pondering this, an unexpected presence approached.
“Wow, what on earth is this? How did you make something like this in such a short time?”
It was Baek Ahrin, who had been seated behind me.
She gracefully approached, kneeling next to me, her sparkling blue eyes fixed on the freshly forged dark iron sword.
[Hmph!]
At her reaction, I slightly straightened my shoulders.
An overwhelming sense of satisfaction surged up; the excitement brought on by Gop-hwa added to that feeling, making me quite buoyant.
And…
“With this level of quality, the technical department… really, Hae-yul, you’re not just technical; you’re multi-talented─”
As I hammered fiercely right in front of the furnace, Baek Ahrin’s cool breath brushed against my ear.
[Don’t think about it!]
“Ugh—Cough! Cough!”
“Hae-yul!?”
I spasmed and bounced back like a spring at the dizzying sensation spreading through my limbs.
…
I hammered away at the dark iron ingot to create ample weaponry.
I churned out various swords, spears, clubs, shields, hammers, bludgeons, axes… even some unique weapons like shooting stars and royal signs that the second run had handled.
I was worried it would take long to make a single weapon, but it was easier than I thought, and I produced them in quick succession.
The weapons were done.
‘Next is…’
“Hae-yul~ I’m sorry, so please forgive me for pouting~”
Just as I was about to move on to the next process, I pouted at the sly voice coming from behind.
As she felt, Baek Ahrin kept poking my shoulder with a mischievous face.
[I’m not pouting!]
“I didn’t think you’d be that surprised. You told me you’d keep using your detection ability, so I thought you’d notice. It was my negligence; I apologize.”
[No, it was my mistake, so you don’t need to apologize.]
[But more than that, I’m not pouting!]
Pouting? Me? That’s a strange remark. There’d be no reason for me to sulk.
Sure, I was startled and jumped up due to Baek Ahrin and screamed; I even experienced the curse of silence for the first time in a while… but I wasn’t sulking.
Why would she keep making me seem like some narrow-minded brat over just that?
“Hmmm…”
As I repeatedly denied it, Baek Ahrin let out a strange sound.
What was that anxious reaction?
“Then how about we do this?”
[…What do you mean?]
“Let’s balance out our mistakes since we both did wrong and pretend this never happened.”
[?]
Balancing our mistakes?
A curious frown crossed my face as I looked at her, and Baek Ahrin pointed to herself.
More precisely, to her chest wrapped in a wind barrier.
“Remember when you came with horns on your forehead? You touched my chest while saying…”
[AHHHHH!]
The necklace of confession squeaked loudly.
I dredged up a memory I desperately didn’t want to think about.
I sprang towards Baek Ahrin, nearly slamming into the ceiling.
[Okay! Okay!]
[I was wrong…!]
[So stop!]
“Yes, yes, I accept. Let’s forgive each other~”
…Finally got forgiveness from the one who caused me trouble last time.
…
“Are you planning to make magical tools too?”
[Yes…!]
After getting some care from Baek Ahrin, I slumped my shoulders in response.
Next up after the dark iron gear was accessories… In other words, it was time for magical tools.
Magical tools are simply tools inscribed with sorcery.
To put it bluntly, if you inscribe a shockwave sorcery onto a stone, then that’s a magical tool.
Of course, that’s not how proper magical tools work.
The coarser and weaker the body is, the harder it is to inscribe sorcery, and even if you manage to inscribe it, the body would shatter before being used more than a few times.
Thus, for the body, the material must withstand the sorcery and function as intended… So you need to use something expensive and robust.
Naturally, this isn’t permanent either.
Even a strong body wears down the sorcery over time.
Also, it’s merely a forced inscription of a sorcery that didn’t originally belong, so external impacts easily damage it.
Thus, most weapons don’t have sorcery inscribed on them. Putting care, time, and money into inscribing just for a few collisions that can ruin it wouldn’t be wise.
Even making magical tools requires maintenance for continued use, and no matter how carefully one manages them, they will eventually reach their limits.
‘That’s why artifacts are treasured.’
Artifacts are permanent.
They don’t forcefully inscribe sorceries; their inherent uniqueness defines them.
They won’t lose their effect even after a few hits, and even if they break, there remains potential for restoration.
‘Could I someday make artificial artifacts… since they have mana affinity?’
I didn’t think I’d be able to make them right away.
But the possibility was high. With all the dark iron gear made, I was considering practicing during my spare time.
‘For the sorceries… Shall I go with a simple protective shield?’
Usually, the crafting of magical tools separates the body’s creation and the inscription of sorcery.
However, I planned to try doing both at the same time.
Flap! The wings of the sky split apart.
Like a peacock spreading its feathers, the countless tips of the sky’s wings sharpened like spikes.
Drawing mana out, I transferred it to the sky’s wing. Soon, mana collected at the sharp edges.
…Though it resembled some kind of tentacled monster, this was efficient.
“This artifact truly is remarkable to look at. It’s called ‘Heavenly Garment,’ right? I heard it’s registered as mid-grade, but now it looks at least top-grade.”
[It suited me exceptionally well.]
After briefly replying to Baek Ahrin, who was expressing admiration next to me, I refocused my concentration.
Earlier, I had gotten a bit distracted due to Gop-hwa’s side effects, but thanks to the help from the creation, I had calmed down quite well.
Regardless, it had been quite a while, so I would make a few and then head back.
Thinking this way, I picked up a silver ingot to use as the body.
There were gold ingots, but it felt wasteful to practice with those, so I opted for the cheaper silver ingot.
‘Let’s start with a ring…’
I ignited Gop-hwa from my right arm.
– Woosh!
The dim view turned red.
Suddenly, my mind settled down.
…
An unclear scene became apparent.
– What the hell, again!? Are you freaking insane? Why the hell are you acting up again!?
Lee Ji-yeon, who was pounding her chest in frustration, ranted.
And…
– Did you really follow me here without knowing I have bipolar disorder? Just leave if you’re annoyed!
A man with mischievous features similar to mine waved his hand dismissively, telling her to leave.
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