Chapter 221
Chapter 221
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 221
Chapter Title: Aurora Scal (1)
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The griffon, which had been circling slowly, finally landed. The runway carved out of the glacier gleamed with a faint white light. Ronan, who got off first, stomped on the ground with his foot.
"Hah, it's really ice."
Even stepping on it directly, he could hardly believe it. He wondered what mad genius had come up with such an insane idea. After petting the griffon's head once, he extended a hand to Adeshan.
"Come on, hop down."
"Th-thank you..."
Adeshan hesitated before taking Ronan's hand. It was a small act of kindness he often showed, but this time it felt different. Seeing her head bowed deeply, Ronan asked worriedly.
"What's wrong? You hurt somewhere?"
"N-no. It's nothing."
Adeshan shook her head, keeping her eyes down. She couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze.
It was happy, embarrassing, and a little intimidating. Unlike her, whose face felt like it might explode, Ronan's demeanor was as calm and composed as ever. Even after doing something like that.
'He must have dated a ton of girls before me.'
She knew it couldn't be helped, but she still felt a bit resentful. She'd never even had a crush before, let alone dated anyone. Of course, Ronan had his own struggles.
'Damn, this is bad.'
Once he started paying attention, she just kept looking prettier and prettier. He was acting nonchalant, but truthfully, he'd been like this ever since their kiss. In all his two lifetimes, Ronan had never felt romantic love for the opposite sex, so in a way, he had it worse.
He wanted nothing more than to ditch the forge and savor the feel of her lips again, but that wasn't possible. He needed to distract himself somehow. Taking a deep breath to steady his emotions, he looked around.
"By the way, where's the entrance?"
No doorway was visible on the vast icy plain. The rhythmic hammering sounds coming from below confirmed there was a forge inside, though. Adeshan, finally lifting her head a bit, spoke up.
"Let's walk around first. It might take a while..."
"Yeah, sounds good."
Ronan nodded. They needed to find the entrance quick, if only to keep the griffon from freezing. Suddenly, a gruff man's voice came from behind them.
"What, customers?"
"Huh?"
The voice sounded strangely familiar. Ronan and Adeshan turned around almost simultaneously. About twenty paces away stood a giant at least a head taller than them, dressed in a sleeveless shirt.
"You..."
"Heh, finding this place mid-voyage. Talk about lucky."
The giant muttered in admiration. He held large buckets in both hands. He didn't seem to have come out to greet them; more like he'd bumped into them while working. He continued.
"It's cold out here. I'll show you to the entrance. Follow me."
His friendly attitude contrasted with his rough appearance. As the giant turned to leave, Ronan, who had been studying him closely, raised an eyebrow.
"Hold up, you're Didikan, aren't you?"
"What? How do you..."
The giant stared at Ronan, then dropped his buckets with a clang. An unknown transparent liquid sloshed out. His eyes widened like saucers.
"No way, Ronan?"
"Knew it."
His flustered reaction made it even clearer. The giant was Didikan, the werewolf blacksmith from Gran Cappadocia—the eccentric who'd built a machine that turned moments into eternity.
"Man, it's been forever. I heard you finished your time in Haju and came back."
"A little over two years. Nice beard growth."
"Haha, suits me, right? And the lady next to you—long time no see."
"H-hi!"
Adeshan, snapping out of her daze, bowed in greeting. Didikan, whom they hadn't seen in ages, was in human form.
His bushy beard softened his already fierce features a bit. What a bizarre reunion. Ronan patted his arm.
"Anyway, what are you doing here? What about Gran Cappadocia and old man Doron?"
"Doron sent me here, saying it'd be good training. Told me to learn for two or three years without batting an eye. Man, the time sense of long-lived races."
Didikan shook his head in exasperation, but the smile tugging at his lips suggested he wasn't really complaining. Picking up his buckets, he turned.
"Follow me for now. I'll introduce you to my master."
"Master?"
"Yeah. The blacksmith teaching me here—skills are insane. Give me the reins."
"Oh, sure."
Ronan handed them over. Didikan took the griffon's reins and started walking, with the two following behind.
It was so vast that it took longer than expected. The aurora-lit night sea was beautiful. Waves crashed beneath the dazzling dance of lights.
They finally reached one end of the glacier and found a stone ramp leading down. From there, they occasionally passed people who looked like blacksmiths or workers—mostly humans, unlike the dwarf-heavy Gran Cappadocia. As Didikan chatted with Ronan about catching up, he suddenly jumped in surprise.
"Wait, you saved us?! Then you killed Jaeger too?"
"Someone else took out Jaeger. Pathetic guy, but he went out cool in the end."
"Unbelievable. Come to think of it, I heard two humans saved us... that was you guys?"
Didikan stammered. About thirty percent of the artisans had been kidnapped by Jaeger's men.
The remaining Aurora Scal folk had barricaded the doors and held out for a month or two, keeping the forges running the whole time. They knew no one could breach the glacier fortress anyway. Didikan said excitedly.
"If that's true, you're heroes. No idea how to thank you."
"No need for thanks—just make good gear."
"You got it. I'll put in a good word, don't worry. Oh, hold this."
Suddenly, at a fork, Didikan handed the griffon's reins to a young man they passed. The youth took them deftly. Watching the griffon go, he said.
"Don't worry about the griffon. Our stables are as well-insulated as the dorms."
"Hope we don't come back to a frozen chicken."
"Hahaha. Some folks sweat buckets even sleeping in short sleeves. Alright, we're here."
After a long walk, Didikan finally stopped. The stone door embedded in the glacier was tall and wide enough for beastkin to enter without ducking.
Opening it revealed a long passage. With each step, the hammering grew louder. Exiting the passage unveiled the true face of Aurora Scal.
"Welcome to the world's only mobile forge, Aurora Scal."
Didikan declared proudly. The two followers' jaws dropped. Adeshan, who'd been quiet, let out a gasp.
"Whoa..."
"Impressive."
Ronan nodded in agreement. The space rivaled an imperial banquet hall—less ornate, but with its own rugged charm.
Floor, walls, ceiling, pillars... most elements were bluish ice. It was essentially a battleship carved from glacier. People bustled about, chatting loudly.
"Hey, bring some light-gathering water!"
"Gotta feed it light before this aurora ends. Hurry!"
"What about the weapon for the Black Man?"
It was much warmer inside than out, but still freezing, so they wore thick furs.
The busy vibe reminded Ronan of Gran Cappadocia. Differences: it buzzed like daytime despite the night, and odd terms floated around that no normal forge would hear. Ronan tilted his head.
"What's light-gathering water?"
"Liquid you apply to metals and gear for smooth aurora absorption. Like what I spilled earlier. 'Feeding light' means taking it outside and applying it."
"Ah... got it."
Ronan's brow furrowed. The explanation was kind, but it still went over his head. Guiding them, Didikan suddenly cupped his hands and yelled.
"Hey, where's Master Katan?"
"Katan?"
Beastkin lungs made his voice boom. One worker turned from a group chat.
"Workshop 3. Those two guests?"
"Yeah. But not just any guests—they're the heroes who saved Aurora Scal. The comrades Jaeger kidnapped got freed thanks to them."
"What?"
The workers turned en masse, curiosity piqued, but Didikan ignored them and kept walking.
"Eek, better finish commissions before chatting. They're all gossips."
"Probably wise."
Ronan nodded. Crossing the plaza, up stairs and down halls, they reached a room labeled "Workshop 3" on a big plaque.
The glacier-carved space was as big as three forges combined. First to catch the eye: an ice furnace with flickering blue flames inside.
"Special ore as fuel makes those flames. Way hotter than normal fire."
Didikan explained unprompted. Impressive that the ice didn't melt despite the heat. Five or six artisans worked around it.
Some hammered, others quenched fresh blades in ice. Didikan approached a woman with arms crossed, staring at the furnace.
"Master."
No response. She wore baggy pants and a crop top barely covering her chest.
But it wasn't sensual—thanks to her boyish short hair and arms as thick as his. Her muscular back bore a dragon tattoo.
'Wow.'
She looked like she could take ten barehanded on a battlefield. Her knuckles screamed "punchy," explaining why even brash Didikan, whom Doron bossed around, spoke so respectfully. Didikan cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Ahem, Master. Brought guests."
"Didikan? Guests?"
"Yes. They sought Aurora Scal's top blacksmith. Also the ones who took out Jaeger's soldiers."
"What?"
She finally turned. Abs like Marya's flexed. Her wild physique housed surprisingly pretty features. Didikan gestured.
"Ronan, this is my master, Katan. Aurora Scal's best blacksmith."
"Won't deny it. But these kids saved us?"
"Yes. So..."
Katan freely admitted being the top dog. Didikan briefly recapped the incident for her. Glancing between Ronan and Adeshan, she let out a small exclamation.
"Huh, checks out. Young, but this aura... Forgive calling you rookies based on looks."
"No worries. Quick apology, and I'm used to it."
"Thanks. As Didikan said, I'm Katan. Truly grateful for saving our comrades."
Katan offered a handshake. Ronan took it casually—and flinched. It felt like tree bark, rough calluses and scars galore.
'No wonder the confidence.'
Ronan chuckled dryly. One shake gauged her level. Undeniably skilled. She said.
"So, what's the business? Coming now suggests it's urgent."
"Not really... here first."
Ronan rummaged in his pocket and handed her a fancy envelope. A recommendation letter penned by Sword Festival elders. Reading it, Katan whistled.
"Whoa, rare recommendation. First time seeing those Hiran geezers rave like this."
"What'd it say?"
"Over-the-top. Read on a low self-esteem day or you'll get cocky."
Katan chuckled. Must've been packed with praise. Handing it back, she continued.
"Gotta take this seriously. Black Man's due soon; we'll start after handing off his gear."
"Black Man?"
"Yeah. Regular this time of year. His commission just finished—deliver that, then we go."
Ronan shrugged at the cryptic words. As he opened his mouth, an indescribably ominous, intense aura flared behind him.
"Shit, what the—?"
Hairs stood on end. An oppressive pressure he'd never felt in daily life crushed his shoulders.
"You okay?"
"Ronan? What's wrong?"
Adeshan and Katan tilted their heads. Artisans kept working fine. Steadying his breath, Ronan asked.
"...You two feel nothing?"
"Huh...? What?"
Seemed only he sensed it. Katan aside, sensitive Adeshan not noticing was odd. Then, an unfamiliar voice came from behind.