Chapter 60
Chapter 60
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: I Raise Skeletons 60
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The daily routine at Demir Forge was simple.
Just like always, training in the clearing behind the mountain.
Once training wrapped up, I'd head to the forge, tidy up, and lend a hand with the work.
As for the underground single room?
I just left it a mess.
The forge felt cleaner and more comfortable than my own place now.
「Demir Forge」
The sign came into view the moment I stepped inside.
['Air Purification' (B-Grade) zone.]
Seeing the message pop up, I smiled.
Spells were truly amazing.
It felt like Eldrin could do anything she set her mind to.
"The air here's incredibly fresh and clear. Thanks, Eldrin."
"You're welcome."
Clack clack.
Eldrin, who was in the forge, let out a bony chuckle.
These days, I tried not to unsummon the three who'd achieved awakening unless absolutely necessary.
It seemed suffocating to trap a thinking, speaking being in some unknown void.
The old man had a time limit, so there was no helping that.
"Hmm."
Clack clack.
Eldrin kept working her jaw joint.
"This body felt awkward at first, but I'm getting used to it."
"..."
Come to think of it.
What must it feel like for a soul that remembers its original body to live in bones?
Probably not great.
As I stared in silence, Eldrin let out a small laugh.
"Don't look at me like that. We're just grateful we can think and feel in this form."
"Oh."
Had she read my mind?
Well, they were my subordinates, but still.
She was a queen of her kind who'd lived for centuries.
She had to have incredible insight.
Reading the thoughts of some twenty-something punk would be a breeze.
"Hmm, Master. You're here already?"
Clang!
The hammering stopped right then.
Demir had sensed my presence.
Piled up beside him were swords, spears, bows, hammers, daggers—all sorts of weapons.
I was impressed.
"Whoa, you've made this many already?"
"Heh heh, you named the forge after me, Demir. How could I sit idle as a blacksmith? I made a bunch with performance similar to the last one."
"Wow."
"Ahem, no need to get too excited. To make proper weapons, I still need to build up more proficiency. It's strange, really. My head knows it, but my body won't follow... Hmph."
Demir shook his head.
It was the system's constraints.
With his 'Intermediate Item Crafting' at level 6, he could only produce weapons of that exact caliber.
No matter what tricks he tried.
Still, he crafted the absolute best at that level without mistakes, so proficiency rose quickly.
"It's a bit humiliating to put my name on these, but whatever."
"..."
"Isn't rediscovering the joy of growth the point? I'll push on."
"Yeah, I bet you'll level it up fast, Demir."
"Thanks for the encouragement."
Demir grinned and picked up his hammer again.
Behind him towered neat stacks of ores.
He was clearly eager to grind proficiency as fast as possible.
'Once I make some money, I should expand the forge and build training rooms for each of the bones.'
Another reason to rake in cash.
We couldn't keep trekking to that clearing forever, wasting time on commutes.
'From Bone One all the way to the future Bone Twelve.'
Including me, that made eleven rooms planned.
Luxury training chambers tailored to each one's unique abilities.
"Urgh."
Just thinking about it felt great!
I started humming without realizing.
Anyway.
I gathered up the weapons Demir had made.
'He asked me to sell that sword last time, so I should get a rough price range for these too.'
Then I headed back to Goto Mall's central auction house.
There sat the middle-aged appraiser with glasses, same as always.
"Appraiser, hey."
"Oh, you?"
His eyes widened in pleasant surprise.
"The young man who consigned that B-Grade sword!"
"Yep. How'd it go? Did the item I left sell well?"
"What do you think? It was a huge hit!"
"No way, really?"
"Way more popular than expected. The stats were great for the grade, but the durability was insane. And the design? Pure art. Urgh."
"How much did it go for?"
"Two thousand. Double the estimate. You're one lucky guy."
Twenty million won.
Insane for mass-producible weapons.
"..."
I was speechless.
I'd known it was coming, but it didn't feel real.
'Twenty million overnight...'
It felt like just yesterday I was grinding mercenary jobs to save up.
Overwhelmed with emotion.
"The proceeds minus 10% commission will hit your registered account in two business days. So, what's up? You got the text notification, right?"
The appraiser eyed me curiously.
I grinned and set down my backpack.
Then slowly pulled out the items.
Demir's batch of supplies.
His eyes went wide as saucers.
"What... what is this?"
"What else? Weapons for the next auction. You said the last ones were popular, right? Put all these up and promote the hell out of it."
"Good lord."
He picked up each weapon, inspecting them.
"All B-Grades? Similar performance, and designs clean like artwork..."
"Heh heh, all from Demir Forge."
"Young man, you're something else. Where'd you find a blacksmith this incredible?"
"Does it matter?"
He flinched at my dodge and nodded.
"...Fair enough. Ahem, got it. I'll list them. Folks from last auction were begging for more. Word'll spread fast."
"Perfect."
Great.
This should cover startup funds easy.
Plus, limited quantities would build hype.
Might as well go all in.
* * *
The late-night auction was abuzz.
Hunters who'd seen the promo on the site buzzed with anticipation and tension.
"That hot weapon from before's up again today, right?"
"Yeah, but not swords—different types this time."
"Different how?"
"Dunno, we'll see."
"Got your bullets ready?"
"Of course. If a whip shows, it's mine. Hands off."
Word spread faster than expected.
Goto Mall's auction site was famous, sure.
But I'd also posted on the 'Hunter Board.'
['Welcome to the Hunter Board.']
['E-Grade Mercenary Quest Accepted' (Lv.10) has logged in.]
Last time, posting an S-Grade item had blown up in my face.
So this time, anonymous post.
▶ Whoa, solid weapon stats? Design's top-tier too.
▶ Damn, that style alone makes it worth collecting even if stats suck.
▶ From Demir Forge? The skeleton-famous workshop lately?
▶ Hmm, time for a weapon upgrade. Might try.
▶ Nah, too pricey.
▶ Speak for yourself—ain't the high price what draws us in? I'm in.
Hype built, and crowds poured into the auction house.
Reporters chasing scoops, curious hunters, and serious buyers.
"18 million! Going once?"
"19 million, sold!"
Bang bang bang!
"Next up, the bow! Stats match the pamphlet. Only one in the country so far."
"20 million!"
"Oh, 21 million!"
"24 million, sold!"
Weapons flew off the shelves.
Average between 18 and 24 million.
Absurd for B-Grades, but everyone got it.
'Is this dwarf artistry?'
The designs were straight-up insane.
The auction ended triumphantly.
A few hunters raised hands.
"Any more?"
"Couldn't grab one—can I commission from Demir Forge?"
Lots of inquiries.
But I shook my head.
Auction's over.
Got the value intel I needed; now expand into a proper store.
And not just that.
'Time for other weapons.'
I recalled the hammer I'd soul-infused before the dwarves.
[Item: Special Titan's Thunder Hammer]
[Grade: S]
[Type: Hammer]
Made with a Bone Meat body, but by my hands—an S-Grade hammer.
I'd poured everything into it.
That thrill was unforgettable.
'S-Grades as limited editions.'
Way to boost Demir Forge's brand?
Simple.
Drop high-performance weapons in limited runs.
Luxury brands like ErXmes or ShX did it—one craftsman, one piece, sky-high value.
'Our turn.'
Of course, it'd demand insane focus, ditching training schedules.
Couldn't do it often.
Thump.
Heart racing at the thought of unleashing passion again.
* * *
Thud!
"What the hell?"
A man slammed his desk.
Oseong Group's chaebol third-gen, Shin Jong-o.
He was in a foul mood.
"Daring to ignore my invitation and start a business?"
"...Yes, Director."
His glasses-wearing secretary flinched and bowed.
No good crossing him when pissed.
"Did you handle it properly?"
"As ordered... we sent thugs to rough him up. Even gave his location..."
"Then why's he acting like this? Normally he'd cower or come crawling. One or the other."
"S-Sorry."
She apologized first.
Didn't know why it was her fault, but it beat getting fired.
Especially by this spoiled chaebol punk—god knows what he'd do.
Scary to even walk home, lest a "accident."
The immature heir was that unhinged.
"Hey. Think 'sorry' cuts it? Huh? This ain't our first rodeo."
"...W-Well."
"And what? Demir Forge? Forge business is Oseong's turf!"
His mood tanked for a reason.
Oseong Group Chairman Shin Joo-yong.
Grandpa had handed him the forge biz to "prove himself."
"Hoo. Fine. Let's see what he's got."
Grind.
Shin Jong-o gnashed his teeth.
"I clocked him hanging at that Smith forge way back."
"..."
The secretary was baffled.
He'd picked the fight solo, guy was just minding business.
Why feel attacked?
No explaining; best stay quiet.
"D-Director!"
A C-Grade hunter burst in— one from his small guild, on his payroll.
"What's up?"
"Big trouble. Remember that Joo Dong-hoon guy?"
"News on him again?"
"His forge is blowing up as a rising star. Dropped a dozen B-Grades—huge hit."
"What?"
Shin Jong-o scowled.
His own forge had just one B-Grade smith.
And what?
"A dozen?"
Possible?
His smith needed 15 days per weapon.
"Something's fishy."
Another chaebol backing him?
"Can't sit this out."
"What do we do?"
The hunter asked; Shin grinned wickedly.
"What else? Find Goto Mall's owner."
"The store owner?"
"Yeah. Buy out everything around it. Time they paid for challenging Oseong with capital. Him, his backers—crush 'em all."
Still viewing the world through his lens alone, Shin Jong-o.