The City of Blacksmiths
After classes ended, Kim Ilshin made his way to Hana Lin’s shop and pushed open the door. However, the interior was empty. He had contacted her beforehand, so she shouldn't have been away. Knock, knock. He tapped on the counter, and a moment later, he heard movement from the workshop in the back.
"You're here?"
Hana Lin walked out, drenched in sweat, wiping her hair with a towel. It looked like she had been working intensely. He had heard that his personal commissions—the Hyeonwol sword and the Gloves of the Four Kings—had caused her workload to pile up. Given that both items required a significant amount of time to craft, it was to be expected.
"You said you had something to show me. Show me quickly and get going. I'm busy."
Perhaps because she was so swamped, Hana Lin didn't seem to have much patience. Her tone was incredibly blunt. 'Why does her attitude reset every time I see her?' When he brought her rare materials, she was as kind and polite as could be, but once that was over, she reverted to her initial, unfriendly demeanor. 'I wonder how she'll react when she sees this.'
Kim Ilshin gripped the Hyeonwol. The power still writhing within it sent intense vibrations through his hand as he held the hilt.
"Take a look at this."
"Hmm...? Hmmm..."
Hana Lin began to examine the Hyeonwol he had placed on the counter in detail. Within a few seconds, she let out a sharp reaction.
"This... this... this is...!"
Gasps of awe spilled from her lips as she inspected the state of the sword. Her trembling eyes laid bare her turbulent emotions.
"This... what happened to this?"
Her tone had shifted completely. It meant that the phenomenon occurring within the Hyeonwol was by no means common.
"I fed it a massive amount of life force, and this happened."
"How much...?"
"I'm not exactly sure, but at least over three hundred."
"Was there anything else that happened before it got like this?"
"Something big happened."
Kim Ilshin explained in detail the situation immediately after the Hyeonwol had absorbed all the life force contained within the Stone of Eternal Life. He left nothing out, including the moment the sword began to expand rapidly with light and the sight of the nearby plants withering in an instant. He didn't forget to reproach her for telling him there wouldn't be any bad side effects, either. But Hana Lin had no interest in such things. Her entire focus was currently locked onto the Hyeonwol.
"Wait a second, I need to go check something!"
After hearing the explanation, Hana Lin snatched up the Hyeonwol and dashed into the back workshop. It seemed she intended to use the professional equipment there for a more precise analysis. It didn't take long for her to return. She walked out with a flushed face, speaking in an even more excited voice. She was so worked up that her tone had reverted to how it was when they first met.
"I've never seen a phenomenon like this!"
It was a disappointing admission that even a precise analysis hadn't yielded answers. However, she seemed to have more to say, so he waited for her to continue.
"I couldn't figure out what kind of power is inside the Hyeonwol. It means it's a power that has never existed in this world before. There’s no way there’s something in this field I don’t know about."
It was a statement that might have sounded arrogant, but Kim Ilshin knew well that Hana Lin possessed the knowledge to back it up. Therefore, it was highly likely that the power lurking inside the Hyeonwol was something entirely new.
"It seems like it absorbed far more life force at once than its established limit. It was supposed to go through a process of absorbing, refining, and stabilizing it little by little, but because it rushed in all at once, it mixed together and went 'BOOM!' before it could stabilize."
That remark meant that if Kim Ilshin hadn't used the shortcut of using the Stone of Eternal Life to fill the gauge, such a dangerous situation wouldn't have occurred. But he had no regrets about that choice. If he hadn't done it, this new power wouldn't have been born.
"The Hyeonwol couldn't handle the power created that way, so it leaked out. To think it would pierce through my masterpiece... it's absurd. It’s not just a lump of energy; it seems to contain special properties, too..."
Hana Lin poured out information while keeping her gaze fixed on the Hyeonwol. But none of it was what Kim Ilshin was curious about.
"So, is there any problem with continuing to use it like before?"
"No. It’s quiet for now thanks to your careful management, but I don't know when it might go berserk again. You’ve only suppressed it with your mana; the root cause of the problem hasn't been solved."
"Is there a way to solve it?"
It was a crucial issue. If it couldn't be fixed, he might have to let the Hyeonwol go. He couldn't head into battle carrying a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment. 'I can't find a sword like this anywhere else right now.' Kim Ilshin hoped Hana Lin could provide a clear solution.
"There is a way. If we apply strong pressure from the outside, we should be able to stabilize the power inside. I’ve experienced it a few times before. Though, I’ve never done it with power this strong... it should be possible. Ah, of course, it’s only possible because it’s me."
"That’s a relief."
Fortunately, there was a solution, just as Kim Ilshin had hoped. Since she said she had experienced it a few times, he didn't need to doubt the results.
"But there’s one problem."
"...What is it? Do you need something? If so, I can try to get it for you."
"No, that's not it. The power of the Hyeonwol is so strong that it’ll be difficult to perform the stabilization work with the equipment here. I think we’ll have to go to the Mountain Range Workshop..."
The Mountain Range Workshop was a massive facility located in the City of Blacksmiths, far away from here. As the name suggested, it was a workshop that could utilize the power of the mountain range, and it was capable of handling objects with immense or volatile power.
"I don't know if we'll get permission to use it. ...There are a lot of people there who don't get along with me."
Hana Lin just said they didn't get along and moved on, but Kim Ilshin knew the details behind it. However, there was no reason to press her, so he let it slide.
"So, if we go there, we can definitely solve it?"
"Yeah. As long as we get permission to use the workshop."
After a moment of contemplation, Hana Lin raised her head as if she had made a decision.
"Let’s just go. If we get rejected, we can think of another way. Oh, and you have to come with me, okay?"
"Me?"
He had intended to go with her anyway, but he hadn't expected her to suggest it first.
"The sword is already picking its master. Look at this."
Vwoooong!
As Hana Lin gripped the hilt, the Hyeonwol began to vibrate so violently that the counter shook. It was as if it were rejecting her touch. When Hana Lin’s hand wouldn't let go, it even emitted pulses of mana on its own.
'...I feel strangely proud.'
The unexpected reaction of the Hyeonwol made the corners of his mouth curl up. It felt like watching a pet dog reject someone else's touch.
"It reacts even if I touch other parts, but the hilt is especially bad. Even if we get permission to use the workshop, it’ll be hard to work without you. You’re coming with me, right?"
"Yeah. I should go with you."
"Then let’s leave right away."
Without even waiting for Kim Ilshin’s answer, Hana Lin stood up immediately and began to pack her bags.
"Leave right now?"
"Yeah. Do you have something to do? It’s the weekend tomorrow, so there aren't any classes, right?"
"That’s true, but weren't you busy?"
"I can take care of those things when I get back. Forget it, let’s go!"
Hana Lin finished her preparations in an instant and opened the shop door to step outside. Kim Ilshin, who had grabbed the Hyeonwol, followed her out in a daze. '...She’s really reckless when it comes to handling things.'
***
The City of Blacksmiths, Jangsan-gul (Cave of the Mighty Mountain), is located deep inside Mt. Geumgang, quite far from Hanam City, where Cosmo Academy is situated. Because of this, the sun had already set by the time Kim Ilshin arrived there. Even though he had taken a taxi and driven down the wide-open roads, it had taken over three hours.
"Whoa..."
Stepping out of the taxi, Kim Ilshin let out a small exclamation at the sight unfolding before him. True to the name Jangsan-gul, the city was shaped like a cave. The dwarf clan that had crossed dimensions decades ago had helped Korea fight against the Great Cataclysm. In recognition of their contributions, they were granted various forms of support after the incident, as well as the right to choose the land where they would reside. What they chose back then was this Mt. Geumgang area. It was because this place, imbued with clear energy, was the closest to the environment of their homeland.
For the first few years, Jangsan-gul was just a small village inside Mt. Geumgang. However, after they equipped it with all the necessary facilities, their exceptional metallurgy skills attracted wealth from all over the world, allowing them to build such a massive city.
'Even the entrance is magnificent.'
There was a massive entrance beneath the towering cliffs of Mt. Geumgang, and with its ornate carvings and large jewels decorated everywhere, it felt as majestic as looking at the gates of heaven.
"Damn it, what if they don't let us in..."
Hana Lin muttered as they walked toward the entrance. She looked very worried. If they didn't get permission to use the workshop, there would be no reason for them to have come all this way, so it was understandable that she was anxious.
'It’s fine.'
However, Kim Ilshin wasn't worried at all. He had a surefire way to obtain permission to use the workshop.