Yoo Heeyeon and Tak Woohyun: A Tense Standoff

"Hmm..."

Tak Woohyun had entered the workshop to craft weapons after receiving a commission from Lee Hyunseung. He gazed at the materials scattered around him with clear disappointment, then turned to the blacksmiths working nearby.

"Don't you have any higher-grade materials than these? I'm aiming for the highest possible quality."

The short but burly man with a red strap tied around his head—Nam Kwangchu—responded with a troubled look.

"If we use anything better than this, the finished weapon will be Epic-grade or higher. Didn't the client specifically request a weapon below Epic grade? We can't invest materials beyond this if the upper limit is set at Epic."

"Hmm... that's true, but..."

In his previous conversation with Tak Woohyun, Lee Hyunseung had said the weapon grade only needed to be Rare or Epic. At first glance, that sounded like anything between Rare and Epic would suffice—and perhaps even higher grades were acceptable. But there had been additional instructions right before they parted.

I will make weapons far superior to Epic grade.

Please do not create anything above Epic grade. The people who have clearly become mine aren't confirmed yet. There's no need to distribute Unique-grade weapons. Even Rare or Epic is fine, but Unique feels far too wasteful. I plan to give Unique-grade weapons only after they have definitively become my people. Of course, I will craft them myself at that time. So for now, please make half Rare and half Epic. If possible, I want to distribute them differentially—Epic weapons to those closer to me or who follow me more faithfully, and Rare-grade weapons to the mediocre ones. There's a checked list, so you can review it and confirm.

"Sigh... This just isn't satisfying."

Tak Woohyun recalled Lee Hyunseung's words and continued staring at the materials with lingering regret for a long while.

In Broad Academy Online, the grade of a blacksmith's skill and the quality of materials held absolute importance in weapon crafting. This was because the item creation process itself was ridiculously simple. You simply threw the materials into the blacksmith's furnace. They would melt down and emerge transformed into an Orb of Creation. Smashing that orb with a hammer automatically began the item crafting process. All that remained was waiting for the timer to finish.

Because the process had been simplified to such an extreme, skill grade and materials exerted total influence over the resulting item's rank. Almost every other factor had been removed.

"If I can't make it Unique-grade, it can't be helped. I'll just focus on the post-processing instead."

Separate from the basic crafting process, various forms of post-processing were possible after an item was made—altering its appearance, adding ornaments, engraving inscriptions, and so on. These could grant additional stats, but more importantly, they dramatically improved the weapon's aesthetic quality. For that reason, processing played a crucial role in weapon production.

Tak Woohyun quickly tossed several materials into the furnace and began crafting the weapons one after another.

The next morning, in front of Lee Hyunseung's house.

Knock, knock.

Without fail, Jeong Eunseo knocked on Lee Hyunseung's door at the exact appointed time. He used to come out a little late, but now that he clearly recognized when she arrived, he opened the door as soon as the knocking sounded.

Creak—!

Lee Hyunseung opened the door with sleepy eyes and greeted her.

"Good morning."

"You look sleepy again today. Were you making something?"

Jeong Eunseo asked, curiosity evident in her voice.

"I'm grinding to raise my job level, but it's not easy."

Lee Hyunseung had begun job-level grinding not long ago. He was raising his proficiency by crafting magazines he would never use and various recovery potions. The reason for repeating the process was simple: the more items you created, and the higher their grade, the faster your job proficiency rose. Once it reached 100%, you advanced to the next level. Grinding was the most efficient method.

The problem was the agonizingly slow pace.

No matter that it was Legendary-grade, he had crafted this many items and the progress was still this slow. He genuinely wondered how he was supposed to level up at all.

The situation with his gunner class wasn't much different.

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At least the gunner proficiency had risen quite a bit thanks to the reckless use of firearms during the F-class representative selection tournament. Lee Hyunseung figured the additional bonus must have come from fighting so many different people in rapid succession.

I wonder what abilities will unlock at level 2.

Normally, each job level increase granted a new special ability or skill. However, no one had ever reached Legendary Gunner before, so its exact nature remained unknown.

Whatever it is, I hope it's something useful in combat.

He wasn't asking for much. Just a trait or skill that could help him fight. With that thought, Lee Hyunseung climbed into the car.

After driving for some time, Jeong Eunseo turned to him with worried eyes.

"Aren't you pushing yourself too hard? Mr. Tak Woohyun has agreed to support us from behind, and I'm already on your side. You don't need to strain yourself like this. If it's difficult, take breaks when you need them."

Although she spoke out of concern, Lee Hyunseung shook his head.

"You've formed a solid alliance, but it's still too early to call Tak Woohyun a complete one. From his perspective, opposing the Artemis Guild carries enormous risk. At the very least, I need to prove my own worth. I have to show that investing in me is worthwhile. Otherwise, he could walk away at any moment. Tak Woohyun himself won't betray me, but the people beneath him are another story."

Tak Woohyun was a man who kept his word. However, if the conflict between the Blacksmith Association and the Artemis Guild escalated further and the guild began acting without restraint, the blacksmiths would suffer catastrophic losses. At that point, justification would be necessary. He needed to give them a reason why so many craftsmen should endure such damage for the sake of a single brat.

If I become stronger and my blacksmithing abilities surpass even Tak Woohyun's, those crazy crafting fanatics will willingly become my bullet shields.

The blacksmiths of Broad Academy had always been that way. They respected those with superior crafting techniques or higher-grade skills. Tak Woohyun's interest in Lee Hyunseung had begun because of the double-slot ability he himself lacked, so no further explanation was needed.

Tak Woohyun is probably suspecting that I might be a Legendary blacksmith.

Of course, he's also probably thinking, "How could a mere brat be a Legendary blacksmith?"

For now, it was all speculation, so it didn't matter. Revealing his Legendary blacksmith status was something for later. He had no desire to attract excessive attention from Yoo Heeyeon. Since information could leak, caution was essential.

Screech—!

"What happened?"

The car heading toward Broad Academy's main gate suddenly slammed on the brakes and came to an abrupt stop.

The driver spoke to Jeong Eunseo.

"My apologies, miss. Someone suddenly ran out in front of us."

Jeong Eunseo looked ahead and saw a familiar large figure. It was none other than Tak Woohyun.

Lee Hyunseung opened the door and stepped forward.

"What is it? You startled me, coming out so suddenly."

"Haha! Sorry for surprising you. I've finished all the commissioned items and wanted to deliver them as quickly as possible."

In Tak Woohyun's hands was a bundle wrapped in what looked like golden silk, containing an assortment of weapons. Even at a glance, the wrapping was clearly luxurious and massive.

Lee Hyunseung asked with a hint of worry.

"There aren't any weapons exceeding Epic grade among them, correct?"

"Of course not! The basics of being a blacksmith is to follow the commission details precisely. I did enhance their appearance through processing, but as requested, I made exactly half Rare and half Epic."

Lee Hyunseung gave the weapons a quick inspection and nodded.

"They're the highest quality possible within Rare and Epic grades. As expected of weapons crafted personally by Master Blacksmith Tak Woohyun—the quality is outstanding. You must have worked hard. Thank you sincerely."

Lee Hyunseung bowed deeply at a perfect ninety degrees.

Tak Woohyun stared at the sight in a daze. When Lee Hyunseung tilted his head in confusion at the unexpected reaction, Tak Woohyun spoke.

"Hmm... I was just thinking that you're surprisingly polite. During our last conversation you seemed rather rude, but you express proper courtesy when the situation calls for it. Yes, when the greatest blacksmith in the country personally crafts and delivers the items, this much respect is only natural."

Tak Woohyun spoke in his usual boisterous tone but scratched his cheek awkwardly, as if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠unaccustomed to receiving gratitude.

He's embarrassed.

Despite his massive build, he seemed unused to praise. He turned his head slightly and smiled.

Lee Hyunseung extended his hand.

"Please continue to look after me in the future."

"Gladly, in the future as—"

Just as Tak Woohyun reached out to shake his hand, a familiar voice interrupted from the side.

"Oh my? Isn't that Mr. Tak Woohyun?"

The owner of the voice was none other than Yoo Heeyeon. She stepped naturally in front of him and asked,

"Mr. Tak Woohyun? Did my father commission these weapons? Why would he ask for such a large quantity to be delivered to the academy?"

Yoo Heeyeon naturally assumed the expensive weapons wrapped in golden cloth belonged to the Artemis Guild. She knew her father had placed a massive weapon order with Tak Woohyun recently, and there were few people at Broad Academy who could afford equipment of this caliber.

Tak Woohyun answered calmly.

"Miss Yoo Heeyeon. These weapons are not a commission from the Artemis Guild. I crafted them for a different purpose."

When Tak Woohyun glanced toward Lee Hyunseung, Yoo Heeyeon's face twisted.

"Don't tell me this Lee Hyunseung person commissioned them? Where would someone like him even get the money to order such expensive weapons?"

She looked him up and down with open contempt, then turned back to Tak Woohyun.

"Well, it doesn't matter how he got them. Sell those weapons to me instead. I'll pay double whatever Lee Hyunseung offered, so hand them over."

Weapons held no real value to Yoo Heeyeon. She simply wanted to repay the humiliation Lee Hyunseung had inflicted on her recently. That was why she intended to snatch his order right in front of him—using the overwhelming wealth at her disposal.

"Miss, that would be difficult."

Tak Woohyun spoke politely.

But Yoo Heeyeon continued.

"Is the money not enough? Triple, then. No—ten times. That should suffice, yes? Have my father deposit the funds. Since I purchased the weapons, simply store them in the Artemis Guild warehouse."

Grind—

Veins began bulging across Tak Woohyun's muscular frame. His expression grew icy.

"Miss... while a blacksmith is indeed a merchant who earns money selling weapons, please do not forget that before that, we are artisans who take pride in creating them. Your attitude is a tremendous insult to me. I am not a man who can be bought with money alone. Please show proper courtesy."

Yoo Heeyeon looked at him with genuine bewilderment.

"Why are you reacting like this? Is it still not enough money? Then I'll have my father provide high-grade artifacts instead. Will that do?"

Grind—

Whoosh—!

No longer able to hold back, Tak Woohyun thrust the silk-wrapped bundle into Lee Hyunseung's arms. He glared at Yoo Heeyeon with murderous intent, as if he had suffered unbearable humiliation.

"This item already has an owner. Even if you offered tens or hundreds of billions, I could not sell it to you, miss."