Chapter 217
Chapter 217
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 217
Chapter Title: The Greatest Iron Mine
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"Mm..."
Waking from his nap, Kun Do-sang slowly rose from the bed.
Normally, he'd still be fast asleep at this hour, but now that wasn't necessary.
The reason was simple.
Unlike before, when he lay in his chamber gasping like a dying chicken, he could now move his body on his own.
Of course, he couldn't make any strenuous movements or return to work, but he hadn't expected that much to begin with.
He had already achieved his goal as a master smith by forging the Heaven-Splitting Demon Sword.
The only regrets left were as the gate master and mentor. Now that he could watch over Namdo Iron Forge and his disciple Sim Hyo grow even a little more, he could only offer his deepest gratitude to the Cult Leader who made it all possible.
'When I think about it, I've received so much from the Cult Leader.'
He had helped forge the Heaven-Splitting Demon Sword using the lifelong dream of not-quenched pitch-black iron buried within him, and solidified Sim Hyo's position as successor.
On top of that, he gifted precious elixirs to extend his life, and now personally intervened to resolve the crisis facing Namdo Iron Forge.
'If only all the master smiths of the forge knew the Cult Leader's intentions.'
Kun Do-sang and Sim Hyo—the current gate master and the most likely next—fully supported Hyeok Mulin.
But Namdo Iron Forge couldn't declare its support based on their will alone.
The master smiths were notoriously stubborn.
They were people who spent their lives hammering iron ore in front of furnaces.
They possessed unyielding patience, unwavering resolve, and strong convictions that rarely changed.
Though the Cult Leader had joined in refining the not-quenched pitch-black iron, that alone wouldn't convince them.
Forging the Heaven-Splitting Demon Sword was miraculous, but it was ultimately his personal dream as gate master.
It was hard to see it swaying the smiths' stance.
'That's why the Cult Leader's next actions will be more important than ever.'
With the entire Namdo Iron Forge at a standstill, unable to move forward, if the Cult Leader resolved it, the smiths' minds would surely change this time.
And Kun Do-sang believed.
Having witnessed and felt the Cult Leader firsthand, he was certain to return with a solution.
'Then I'll just take a leisurely stroll and wait.'
Kun Do-sang opened the door and stepped out of his chamber.
With his body recovering, even walking brought him joy, and lately, he'd taken to slowly strolling the areas around Namdo Iron Forge.
And so, as he set out for a light walk today...
"Gate Master! Disaster has struck!"
One of the master smiths came running toward Kun Do-sang, panting heavily.
He was someone Kun Do-sang knew rarely showed emotion, so he asked in surprise.
"What's happened to get you so worked up?"
What could possibly go wrong?
They'd refused all work and halted operations, so accidents were unlikely.
As Kun Do-sang tilted his head curiously, the smith replied with a face drained of color.
"Th-the Nangok Mine has collapsed!"
"...!"
Kun Do-sang's eyes widened at the words.
A mine collapse.
It happened occasionally, but for a massive mine like Nangok to crumble? This was unprecedented.
"At least operations were halted, so that's fortunate."
"That's just it..."
The smith responded with a devastated expression.
"A dozen or so miners are buried inside the mine."
"What!"
Kun Do-sang's eyes bulged as he raised his voice.
"Why were they in the mine? We clearly suspended all operations!"
"The miners went in voluntarily to scout the interior."
"Heavens... how could they..."
To think they'd been so dutiful without a word.
Yet for such people to be buried—could misfortune strike harder?
His heart aching, Kun Do-sang collected himself and issued urgent orders.
"Assemble a rescue team immediately and send them to Nangok Mine. They're only buried; they might be holding out inside, waiting for rescue. We can't waste time."
"But that's not the end of it."
What else?
Kun Do-sang looked puzzled at the smith's increasingly grave face.
What could be more important than miners trapped underground?
Thud.
Suddenly, his heart plummeted.
One person flashed in his mind.
No. Not him. Anyone but him—even if it were me instead.
Kun Do-sang swallowed dryly, focusing on the smith's lips.
His shoulders trembled violently.
Finally, squeezing his eyes shut, the smith spoke.
"...From the description, it seems the Cult Leader is buried in the deepest part of the mine."
Thump.
Kun Do-sang's legs gave out, and he collapsed on the spot.
What cruel twist of fate was this?
He'd heard the one thing he dreaded most.
His vision blurred, head spinning.
But moments later, Kun Do-sang gathered his thoughts, his eyes sharpening as he stood.
"The Cult Leader is alive."
His voice rang with conviction.
Even if calamity engulfed the world, the Cult Leader wouldn't lose his life easily.
So there was only one thing to do now.
"Order all master smiths of the forge to prepare to head to Nangok Mine immediately."
With work halted, they had plenty of manpower.
He'd mobilize every smith for the rescue and dig up the mine.
The Cult Leader would lead the Divine Cult to unprecedented prosperity.
He wouldn't vanish like this.
Repeating it to calm himself, Kun Do-sang took the lead among the smiths and started marching.
The smiths departing from Namdo Iron Forge rode nonstop day and night, arriving swiftly at Nangok Mine.
But at the entrance, they froze, speechless at the utterly unexpected sight.
"This is...?"
The mine had collapsed, yes.
But the miners gathered at the entrance, chatting amiably with cheerful faces.
Hard to believe they'd faced life-threatening disaster.
As Kun Do-sang and the smiths stared blankly, the mine foreman finally noticed and approached, head tilted.
"Hm? What brings the Gate Master here? With so many smiths, no less."
"What in the world happened? We rushed here after hearing the Cult Leader and miners were buried."
Kun Do-sang asked, baffled by the peaceful atmosphere.
The foreman clapped his hands, realizing.
"Ah, the messengers must have crossed paths."
"Messengers crossed...?"
"Yes. Right after the collapse, a waiting miner sent word, and soon after, all were rescued. I sent a second messenger with the news, but it must not have reached Namdo Iron Forge."
It checked out.
Kun Do-sang had mobilized quickly upon the first message and departed at once.
But all rescued in that short time?
"What exactly happened?"
The foreman, smiling gratefully, replied.
"We survived thanks to the Cult Leader's grace."
"The Cult Leader!"
Kun Do-sang's gaze shifted to the mine.
Now he saw: unlike before, the path from deep underground to the surface was cleared clean.
As if something had been hollowed out.
Kun Do-sang couldn't fathom the realm required for such a feat.
"Thank goodness. Truly."
Hearing of Hyeok Mulin's feats, Kun Do-sang sighed in relief.
If he'd saved them, he must have escaped unharmed.
No regret over the wasted journey despite no task left.
Just relief that the Cult Leader was safe.
"One thing I'm curious about: what caused the collapse?"
The Cult Leader wouldn't fail in power control, even using force.
As he asked, the foreman pointed left.
"The cause is right there in the mine."
Kun Do-sang's eyes widened at the sight.
A massive serpent with iron-plated skin and its severed head lay sprawled.
"I see. If this beast thrashed beneath, the total collapse makes sense."
"Yes. Upon discovering it, the Cult Leader tried to evacuate us, but the serpent sensed and lunged swiftly."
What followed was straightforward.
The doomed mine anyway, Hyeok Mulin no longer needed restraint.
His palm strike beheaded the serpent, blood fountaining as it stilled.
Then, extending his senses, he located the miners, shattering blocking earth and rock to rescue them.
Hearing this, Kun Do-sang's face filled with admiration, reaffirming his choice was right.
Just some miners buried.
He could have ignored it, but chose to save them all.
Even to lowly cultists, such mercy.
His gratitude and faith in the Cult Leader deepened.
"Where is the Cult Leader now?"
Scanning around yielded no sight, so he asked.
"He went to check deeper in the mine briefly, but..."
As the foreman replied, Hyeok Mulin lightly leaped up from below, appearing at the entrance.
Deep in thought as he walked, Kun Do-sang hurried over and bowed.
"I pay respects to the exalted Cult Leader."
Raising his head, Hyeok Mulin spotted them, grasping the situation.
"You've taken needless trouble."
"No, how could we sit idle while Your Excellency toils at the front lines for us? Entrust us with any task needed."
He felt no waste in coming to see the Cult Leader. Instead, he planned to have the smiths assist.
Searching the iron mine together would be far more efficient than alone.
He wanted to lighten the Cult Leader's burden even slightly.
"No need."
But Hyeok Mulin lightly refused.
"I've already found an iron mine you'll be satisfied with."
"Truly?!"
Kun Do-sang couldn't hide his excitement.
He'd hoped since the Cult Leader acted personally, but finding a new vein where the forge had failed despite long efforts was no easy task.
To do it in such short time...
"Where is this iron mine?"
At his thrilled question, Hyeok Mulin smirked, slowly pointing.
His finger aimed at the ground.
Kun Do-sang's eyes followed the glinting fingertip, puzzled.
"Right here."
Pointing at the ground, Hyeok Mulin continued slowly.
"This Nangok Mine is the new iron mine I've found."