A Craftsman Doesn't Blame His Tools (2)
The aftermath of Alvenheim's public revelation of their artificial guardians spread across the entire world. Normally, due to technological limitations, only the highest officials would catch on at first. Even with the grand announcement, information spread slowly, so busy everyday folks had no choice but to remain oblivious.
But thanks to the Gallery's existence, people of all statuses could quickly learn what Alvenheim had disclosed.
"So, what do we do now?"
"We can't do shit. Let's just pray we don't get drafted."
"Ha. My dad got drafted back in the day, and now me too?"
That left people anxious. The world might look peaceful on the surface, but conflicts simmered in spots everywhere—from the Messia Empire and Iris Kingdom tensions to the El Dorado undead king fiasco and beyond. Plenty of internal and external instabilities plagued the land. Even short-lived humans felt war closer than peace; one could only imagine how other races felt.
While folks stewed in unease, a post popped up on the Gallery.
Title) YasaengGrill's Declaration (Photo of YasaengGrill's declaration posted on the Gallery)
Declaring he'll dump mithril + orihalcon alloy all over the mountains if Alvenheim starts a war lol
ㄴMountain's gonna be fortified lol
ㄴJeez lol
ㄴIf it was a war they'd skip over something like that, they'd have done it already lol
ㄴNah, no. YasaengGrill's got infinite mithril~
ㄴEven 100g of mithril would cause chaos, but he's talking kg units lmao
ㄴAnd his whole cave is orihalcon whoa
ㄴFour Seasons Forest, what can ya do lol
It was a pledge to immediately aid victims if Alvenheim sparked a war. What kind of minerals were mithril and orihalcon? Even mere rumors drew national attention. Combined, their value was incalculable. A single ingot unveiled to the world would ignite bloody competition.
YasaengGrill knew that value, making this threat—or atonement—possible. After all, the artificial guardians owed their birth to his help too.
Just like that, YasaengGrill's declaration seemed to blunt the war momentum... only for things to veer in an unexpected direction.
Title) Isn't this basically trolling?
If it were me, I'd pray for the elves to start a war! lmao
Not gold or silver, but mithril and orihalcon. YasaengGrill treats 'em like gold and silver lol
ㄴWorld-class troll whoa
ㄴWar instigator whoa
ㄴGod of War whoa x4
ㄴIs YasaengGrill bald by any chance?
ㄴHuh? Why?
ㄴGod of War makes me think bald.
Title) YasaengGrill seems smart since he's survived this long, but he pulls some dumb shit sometimes. And every time, the scale is insane lmao
ㄴWasn't his first big one the undead king relative record?
ㄴNah nah, authenticating Four Seasons Forest was the real issue.
ㄴHis existence itself is the problem.
ㄴFr, just existing is problematic lol
ㄴBut we can't do anything, right?
ㄴAhaha just watch lol
The reverse: wars might erupt just to snag mithoricon. YasaengGrill had a bit of a raw deal here. Even after embracing this world's norms, gaps remained. He hadn't fully grasped mithril and orihalcon's true value—just that releasing them to market spelled danger.
Inducing war for minerals? Unthinkable for YasaengGrill, who'd survived on the Gallery's goodwill. Too detached from his old "common sense," hence the mess.
Title) No way. That doesn't make sense. Would YasaengGrill really spark a war just for that one thing? Isn't that insane?
ㄴThen is nuking a city with one bomb sensible?
ㄴYasaengGrill) Oh.
Actually, a certain sage's analogy clued YasaengGrill in late. Mithoricon alloy wasn't nuke-level power, but it held equivalent "value." And he'd pledged ongoing "support"—mind-blowing.
Title) Mithril's so OP it creates huge gaps even in aura users. Orihalcon's mana-affine, but mithril amplifies mana. Craftsmen don't blame tools, but mithril's the exception. Changes your footwork entirely. Exaggerating a bit, a newbie knight fresh with aura could hang with an aura blade knight.
ㄴCheonma) Can you explain in Jungwon terms?
ㄴThird-rate warrior vs. peak expert, evenly matched.
ㄴCheonma) If the whole sword's true silver, even more impressive.
ㄴNo such sword exists lol
ㄴDidn't YasaengGrill give one to Ludwig?
ㄴWas that a mithoricon sword?
ㄴEveryone talked like it was.
ㄴCome to think, he never showed it.
But ambiguities lingered. YasaengGrill hadn't directly revealed it. The mithoricon sword's absurd performance and flashy uniqueness—green galaxy shimmer on mana infusion—made it too eye-catching. He'd gifted one to Cheonma but never posted pics, except once aiding Ludwig.
"Is that the sword you gave Teacher?"
"What?"
Reina, steadfast backup and confidante to Hero Asella, muttered quietly. Asella, glued to the Gallery, shot her a puzzled look.
"The mithoricon that YasaengGrill guy mentioned. Wonder if it's the sword you gave Teacher."
"Oh. The sword that helped Ludwig Teacher survive?"
"Yeah. Did I ever mention that sword?"
"No, you didn't talk about the sword."
Reina nodded. She'd been swamped lately and forgotten, but it was unforgettable—one look and it stuck. She could describe it in detail.
"Like a sword with a green galaxy inside? I first thought Teacher had leveled up."
"Sounds more holy than a holy sword."
"Hmm... maybe? And the effects were insane. Teacher got dragged around by the sword."
"That's demonic sword territory."
A craftsman doesn't blame his tools. Half-right. More precisely, overkill hurts. Tools matching or below your level are fine; above, and they harm you.
"Demonic sword... maybe. But if not one, but dozens flood out..."
"Headache city."
"And this guy's dumping materials to make demonic swords. Could be real dangerous?"
"Hmm..."
Half-joking, but not easily dismissed. Reina had witnessed the "materials'" effects firsthand—even huge in mana-dead Four Seasons Forest. Known perks were wild; more likely lurked.
'Plus, mithril self-regenerates, right?'
Mithril regrowing in the cave back. Even fitted Ludwig's new prosthetic. Not all—dwarf PassingDwarf balked at processing. Too mana-heavy for normal handling without special furnaces.
'But forging it raw doesn't count.'
No pure mithril swords existed. "Mithril sword" meant trace amounts mixed in. Yet its performance blew minds.
"We can only watch for now. Saint Country lacks war capacity mid-reform."
"Yeah? Think war'll really happen?"
"Only the Goddess knows."
Saint Country was reforming—no war bandwidth, though minimally defended.
'Gotta observe for a bit.'
Wars don't brew overnight. Alvenheim's big reveal suggested no immediate plans. But Mountain's reaction worried—preemptive strike if threatened, perfect excuse given elves' past atrocities.
"Might ban him thinking he's dooming mods?"
"...Ban?"
Asella flinched at Reina's take, whispering back. Luckily, Reina was Gallery-focused, missing it.
"Yeah. From his view, unfair, but starting to feel risky. Artificial guardians stemmed from his guardian core invention."
"Th-then can't find Teacher?"
"Our issue, not mod's."
I'm right here, the mod. Asella swallowed the words. Thank goodness it was her. Anyone else, she'd ban per Reina's logic. YasaengGrill'd rage at injustice—war times. Even inter-nation conflict posts got banned; war provocation? Slam dunk.
'...Yeah, ban-worthy.'
Of course, no betraying debts—no ban planned. But mishandle, and Gallery opinion sours. Ban talk absent now, inevitable later.
'Gotta politely ask YasaengGrill to chill. Oh, wait...'
DM binge sparked a memory: Cheonma-YasaengGrill chat. Head mods spied all convos. She'd skimmed one—he gifted her a sword. Context screamed mithoricon.
'Gotta ask Cheonma how OP it is.'
Postponed nudging YasaengGrill; verify effects first. Asella messaged Cheonma Yuso Wol cautiously.
[Don'tAbandonHero: Hello, Sub-Mod! Working?]
[Cheonma: This lady is ever at her post. What is it?]
[Don'tAbandonHero: About that sword YasaengGrill gave you last time! Is it mithoricon-made?]
[Cheonma: Indeed. Why inquire?]
[Don'tAbandonHero: Curious about its power!]
[Cheonma: A light swing cleft the heavens.]
Cleft the heavens. Pure Cheonma flair. No exaggeration, especially with Reina's power hints.
'Above all, high chance she's the real Heavenly Demon.'
From YasaengGrill's private chat leak. Demon or not, irrelevant—treat normal, best approach. Even joked: worship? Come to Four Seasons Forest.
Warm chat, yet oddly irked her.
'...Huh? What am I thinking.'
Asella shook her head sharply, banishing impious thoughts. Thanked Cheonma, resumed Gallery dive.
"Hey, hey, Asella."
"Yes?"
"Check this post."
Reina urgently called. Asella paused, realizing—YasaengGrill's post, surely. She checked.
Title) Spark a war?
YasaengGrill (Mithoricon ingot photo)
Then I'll give this mithoricon to good countries that don't fight wars!
ㄴCheonma) This lady already has one, no need.
ㄴSwordTasteStar) Wow;; masterful trolling;;
ㄴTrolling a whole nation lmao
ㄴBut is it trolling? Blocks wars lol
ㄴOther countries see, no war for that lol
ㄴPassingDwarf) Fml dodging draft by yapping
ㄴYasaengGrill) I got drafted and discharged ㅇㅇ
ㄴPassingDwarf) ;;;
ㄴYasaengGrill) If drafted, I'll teach evasion hard lol
ㄴlmao x10
ㄴlmao x7
ㄴAhaha I already served lol
ㄴBut YasaengGrill volunteered, orphan exemption right?
ㄴㅇㅇ Heard nothing to do, enlisted.
ㄴGuy's no slouch;;
ㄴNaesilGosuRobert) Glad retired ㅎㅎ
ㄴWere you military?
ㄴNaesilGosuRobert) Not military, civil servant. Passed to son.
ㄴCan you inherit civil posts?
ㄴNaesilGosuRobert) Parachute drop.
ㄴlmao x9
ㄴlmao x6
ㄴHow skilled to parachute a civil post lol
ㄴPossible? lol
Peak trolling. Asella speechless. But sly psych play: can't give to that guy! War抑止.
'...One-day ban?'
Asella pondered seriously.