Video Shooting (3)
His first hammering in four years, done with his right hand.
Hyun-soo had thought it would feel awkward. But it was as familiar as if he'd gripped the hammer every single day.
He knew why.
'They said Ares gets used a lot for therapy too.'
Hyun-soo was a special case in Ares, receiving zero system corrections.
That meant his crafting in Ares had kept his real-world skills from rusting.
'No, they've actually improved.'
Hyun-soo was finally taking full control of the forge.
The blade for the Chiljido required seven in total.
One central blade forming the core, and six branches representing its prongs.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The cheerful ring of forging echoed through the space.
Hyun-soo shifted positions tirelessly with the tongs gripped in his hand.
The forge fell briefly silent.
Jin-seop and Ji-hye watched in quiet awe.
Jin-seop let out a hollow chuckle.
As a doctor, he'd assisted in countless surgeries led by renowned masters.
Sometimes bold and unhesitating, sometimes daring, sometimes more meticulous and precise than anyone.
And always brimming with confidence.
'This is the real Hyun-soo...'
It was the image he'd only heard about in stories.
And Ji-hye, the nurse who'd quietly harbored a crush on Hyun-soo.
She blushed watching him, clad only in a black short-sleeved tee, lost in his work.
'I-is this really the Hyun-soo I know?'
The man who'd looked like he'd received a death sentence every time he got the hospital bill.
Shoulders slumped, face crumbling like the world had ended—every visit to the hospital.
But here in the forge, he was a completely different person.
Overflowing with confidence, his expression screaming, "I'm the best in this field."
And more.
The two filming crew members who'd come at Ian's request.
Former colleagues of Ian at the broadcasting station, they'd once said this when they saw Hyun-soo collapse:
"Ho-beom, why are you editing for a guy like that when you swore you'd never do broadcasting again?"
At first, they'd thought it was just pity.
But not anymore.
Now they were filming Hyun-soo.
Only Hyun-soo inside the forge.
Bzzzzt—
The crew felt chills run down their spines.
'At his age...?'
'This guy's a national treasure.'
Tall stature, handsome face, sweat beading as he immersed himself—the sight even stirred the hearts of the male crew.
'This is gonna blow up...'
Occupational hazard, maybe?
They always tied everything to viewership ratings.
And knowing about the blacksmith Hyun, they'd asked Ho-beom when this video would go live.
'Video of the year.'
'How far will this take Hyun?'
The two buzzed with anticipation.
And the work stretched on through day and night.
People rotated shifts, sleeping in the car or at a temporary lodging.
One person who went to the lodging returned.
Director Park.
Standing beside Jin-su, Director Park took in the sight of him.
'How much time has passed?'
His initial thought when he first saw him:
What's a kid like that gonna do?
But that opinion was changing.
He was Korea's top historian, a professor of history at Korea University, the nation's finest institution.
And he'd worked as one of the best appraisers too.
The blade was nearing completion.
One central blade rising proudly, flanked by six elegantly branching prongs.
'It's real...'
Director Park marveled.
After countless quenchings and forgings, Hyun-soo moved to inscribe the letters on the Chiljido.
'Gold inlay technique...'
The Chiljido featured letters inlaid with gold.
To embed those golden letters, he carved them with a chisel.
Then came the painstaking task of inserting gold wire—an incredibly advanced, celebratory technique.
'Proof of the Korean Peninsula.'
An ancient technique revealing that Baekje on the Korean Peninsula had first mastered gold inlay.
Before long, the gold wire began filling the letters, and hours passed until Hyun-soo spoke.
"It's complete."
The crew rushed forward, filming the finished Chiljido up close.
'Beautiful...'
It was so masterful that even laypeople ignorant of forging could tell at a glance.
Director Park, watching from a step away, finally approached.
All eyes turned to him.
Wearing fresh white cotton gloves, he examined the Chiljido intently.
Hyun-soo tensed.
He knew Director Park was Korea's top appraiser.
Soon, Director Park looked up and said,
"A perfect recreation. Nothing else comes to mind."
Hyun-soo finally relaxed.
He took back the Chiljido, and Ho-beom said,
"Now it's time for the interview with blacksmith Hyun."
The interview began.
***
Ho-beom's heart swelled as he filmed Hyun-soo's interview.
This first video for him went beyond satisfaction—it left Ho-beom in awe.
'He actually recreated the Chiljido for real.'
How far did Hyun-soo's potential go?
Suddenly, he felt truly fortunate to be working with this man.
'Though it's a bit regrettable.'
Ho-beom smacked his lips.
With such a masterpiece, what mattered was hyping it right.
Of course, Hyun-soo had agreed to let a National Museum staffer do an interview.
But conditionally: only if the staffer was satisfied.
"Ahem."
Watching the man clear his throat, Ho-beom figured the condition was more than met.
But the issue was this:
'The public will just think it's some civil servant giving an interview.'
When we watch TV, do we think much of a National Museum employee being interviewed?
No. Just another staffer explaining how great the piece is.
That was the pity.
'If only it were someone with more impact...'
Then the crew spoke up.
"All done. Let's film the staffer's interview and wrap."
Jin-su straightened his tie.
Then, an unexpected figure stepped forward.
"I'll do that interview."
"...?"
Ho-beom's eyes widened.
It was none other than Director Park.
Ho-beom knew who he was.
'He's pretty famous worldwide.'
Sure, the general public might not know appraisers, no matter how renowned.
But what if he'd appeared on a show called Real or Fake!?
Director Park had been on it during his professor days, making him familiar to the masses.
"D-Director?"
Jin-su panicked.
Hyun-soo was puzzled too.
Confirming the camera was off, Director Park looked at Hyun-soo.
Four years ago.
'The state can't support him? What kind of nonsense is that? Kang Hyun-tae is one of the last blacksmiths in the world! If the nation won't protect him, who will?'
No one knew, but Director Park had stormed a congressman's office, fighting hardest for Hyun-tae's medical bills.
And yes, he'd dismissed Hyun-soo due to prejudice against his youth.
But there was a clear reason he'd majored in history and become National Museum director.
He loved history.
"For the one who perfectly recreated Baekje's Chiljido, this is the least I can offer."
Director Park smiled faintly.
The interview began.
"This Baekje Chiljido..."
Watching it unfold, Ho-beom marveled.
'As expected from someone who's done TV!'
He knew how to hype it.
"As you can see, this Chiljido was handcrafted using ancient techniques. It's so masterful, we can call it a true recreation of the original."
The crew had deliberately guided the questions.
"I see. And what do you think of the creator, Director?"
Director Park smiled faintly.
"I consider him Korea's—no, the world's only master craftsman. As someone who's appraised hundreds of artifacts..."
Ho-beom was blown away.
'Jackpot. Total jackpot!'
Hyun-soo had forged a legend above legend, birthing a masterpiece.
And Ho-beom was certain this video would be his own masterpiece.
Hyun-soo's personal story.
The trauma he faced during forging.
Overcoming it.
The perfectly recreated Chiljido.
And finally, Director Park's resounding endorsement.
Gulp—
'How many views will this get? 20 million? 30 million?'
Not just Korea—the world would watch, so that seemed right, Ho-beom thought.
But his prediction was way off.
He had no idea it would rack up several times that.
***
Filming wrapped.
The National Museum needed to report upward and appraise its value.
"The payment will be wired once it's assessed."
Hyun-soo smiled faintly.
"I'll donate the Chiljido. And as promised, exhibit it after my video goes up?"
Donating such a priceless piece for free?
The museum was thrilled.
And from Hyun-soo's words, they could exhibit it within months—easy enough.
Everyone dispersed, and Ho-beom asked,
"It'll fetch a huge sum, though. Donating it... You're generous."
Hyun-soo gave a wry smile.
Ho-beom figured if the Chiljido had been made in Ares, it'd be worth even more than in reality.
Ironically so.
The virtual value surpassing the real.
But Hyun-soo said with a subtle expression,
"It'll probably come back worth even more."
Ho-beom couldn't grasp it.
After wrapping, Hyun-soo returned to Seoul and visited his father.
He came to the hospital weekly, sharing recent events.
Jin-seop said even in a vegetative state, Kang Hyun-tae could hear it all.
Maybe just for comfort.
"...This'll get more people interested in what we talked about—our dream. Thanks to Ares virtual reality, sure, but the donated Chiljido will be the start."
Hyun-soo smiled faintly.
***
Months later.
National Museum.
Lately, it had been packed, no room to breathe.
Once the hype cooled a bit, kids from Bright Kindergarten arrived for a field trip.
Expecting amusement parks or zoos, they were disappointed at "museum."
Six-year-old Su-hyun was no different.
In her bee-yellow outfit, she just wanted to whip out her smartphone for cartoons.
Then the guide said,
"This replica is the hot-topic Baekje Chiljido. During the Three Kingdoms era, King Geunchogo of Baekje..."
Boring history droned on, but "hot topic" made Su-hyun look up slowly.
She froze in awe.
A mysterious sword evoking elegant tree branches lay there.
"Whoa..."
"Awesome."
"What a weird-looking sword."
"This Chiljido was crafted and donated by artisan Kang Hyun-soo. Recently in Ares..."
Su-hyun stared, mesmerized.
Things she'd only heard or seen in books.
Most rusted and ancient.
Not this.
So cool, it stole her gaze. She blurted,
"Teacher, if I learn, can I make a sword like that?"
Hyun-soo couldn't change the world alone.
But some lives were definitely changing.