Father’s Hammer
Father!
Clank—clank—
“Hmm…? Why is this like this?”
The heated titanium felt strange when I brought it down.
Titanium is a metal with inherently high strength, so it shouldn't be this smooth to hammer.
It should take a long time to shape it, but it's taking shape after just a few hammer strikes.
“All minerals can be processed, and work efficiency has skyrocketed.”
So, the 'work efficiency skyrocketed' in the description meant this?
“Wow, this is fucked up?”
Hammering metal on the anvil is incredibly grueling work.
It's high-intensity physical labor in the scorching heat of the forge...
This is like working myself to death.
But with efficiency this high, it's much easier to work.
I didn't realize how soft ordinary iron would feel at this level.
So, for about an hour, I repeated heat treatment and hammering to shape it, then ground the edge on the grinder.
“Whoa. Look at this edge. If it's like this, it should immediately get a masterpiece rating, right?”
As the acrid smell of the grinder settled, the titanium sword blade, which had been cold and dull silver, had a subtle sheen.
Normally, I'd have to replace the grinder wheel repeatedly and grind it for days and nights to shape the titanium.
But finishing this process in just an hour...
Best in class... Awakener best...!
Just as I was about to shed tears of emotion, a system window popped up in front of me.
Grade: Poor Grade
Creator: Seo Hwan
Properties: Poison Resistance, Weight Reduction
Comment: Weight balance is messed up and the edge isn't properly sharpened. A sword completed by a beginner.
...
Although it says something about the properties, that's not the important part.
Well... Poor Grade? And what the hell? A sword 'completed by a beginner'?
I'd been doing this for a whopping 17 years.
Of course, this was my first time making a sword, so if it's 'beginner' then it's beginner.
But with my experience and not wasting a single day, calling me a beginner really stings.
“Alright, then. Whether you die or I die, let's go to the end today.”
“Haha. Who dies, you rascal?”
Startled by the familiar voice suddenly from behind, my shoulders jumped.
Turning my head with a startled face, I saw the guy leaning slanted against the forge door, who I didn't know when he had arrived.
It was my father, Seo Chan-uk.
My father had retired, but the years of wrestling with iron and steel his whole life couldn't be denied.
Over 190cm tall, with bulging forearms peeking from his loose shirt.
His hardened hands, as if they were medals proving the intervening years.
His short hair with some white streaks, and his deeply lined eyes still radiating the aura of a seasoned craftsman.
“Father? When did you get here?”
“I was there from the beginning, you rascal. Making this sword was a total waste of time, huh?”
Father chuckled loudly and slowly walked towards me.
Probably had watched the entire process of firing the forge and making the sword from the beginning.
He picked up the sword I had completed and held it up to eye level, examining it carefully.
“This is disappointing, son. Weight balance is messed up and the edge is like it got cut off midway?”
“Ugh...”
Father had sold swords to people who made money from blacksmithing back when the forge was doing well.
Among the wealthy, there were people who kept a sword at home for show, even if just for show.
He sold to that kind of people.
Of course, he didn't want the sword to kill people, so he had filed down the edge.
That's why Father could be called a veteran in making swords.
Father inserted the handle and grabbed the sword I made.
“Wrestling with iron... 17 years, right? With your experience, there's nothing to complain about...
Father swung the sword lightly in the air, and the sound of slicing through the heavy air echoed.
“But the weight center is messed up. The weight center is too far towards the end. If you keep swinging it like this, you'll dislocate your wrist, you rascal.”
“Oh...”
“And this edge. This is like a decorative sword? The edge is all filed down. How many times can you swing this before the edge wears out and you can't use it?”
“Whoa...”
Indeed, he seemed to be a true master.
After looking at the points the system had pointed out a few times, he quickly figured it all out.
Clunk—
“Ah!”
“O... what is this o... you rascal. Sit down. I'll tell you how to make a sword.”
Father had clearly just finished his work, so his body should be exhausted...
But he seemed to be giving his precious time for his son.
I only had the method to make the sword, but not how to make it 'well'.
That's why Father's instruction would definitely be precious experience.
“What are you doing? Not holding the hammer.”
“...Yes, Father!”
Father's tone could sound blunt, but there was no trace of laughter gone from his face.
Thinking about making something with his son after a long time, he seemed excited.
It was the same for me.
How long had it been since I sat with Father hammering together...
Even though it was late at night, Father and I spoke with passion without complaining about fatigue.
“Hey, not pushing the weight center forward again?”
“Y... yes.”
...
“Hey, not that! This time, you have to hit the middle, not the end!”
“Yes...”
...
“You damn rascal!!!”
“Hiiik!”
Father, watching me hammer from the side, pointed out the mistakes carefully.
Sitting next to Father hammering, it felt like starting from scratch again.
Still, it was fun.
Making something new was fun, and learning something more was enjoyable.
Even while being scolded, time passed, and the second sword was finally made.
Amid the heat of the forge and Father's shouts, the second sword finally went into the quenching water.
Sizzle—!
Steam rose, and the second sword appeared.
The second sword had a completely different vibe from the first one I made alone.
The first sword boasted flamboyant gloss, but the completed sword this time was pure calmness.
The titanium's characteristic calm silver blade that didn't reflect light wildly.
And the perfect balance Father had emphasized with a dry mouth.
Inserting the handle and holding the sword, a clear difference was felt.
The weight center fit perfectly, and no strain on the wrist no matter how swung.
Flamboyance removed, a sword that faithfully performed the most important point a weapon should have.
Then, a system notification window popped up in front of me.
Grade: Normal Grade
Creator: Seo Hwan (Assisted by Seo Chan-uk)
Properties: Poison Resistance, Weight Reduction, Weight Balance
Comment: A sword of high completion that can be called a masterpiece by ordinary human standards. However, it falls short at the level of a Dimension Blacksmith.
...
“Normal Grade...?”
“Hm? What are you looking at?”
“Ah... This is the system window that calculates the grades of things I make.”
“Ho... grades?”
Father's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“So, what kind of grade is it? Naturally, it should be a masterpiece, right?”
“Eh... that...”
I was in deep deliberation whether to tell him or not.
“What is it?”
“Normal Grade...”
Father's pupils shook greatly, as if shocked.
“W... what Normal Grade?”
“Yes...”
After hearing that, Father was silent for a while.
Probably because he had pride in the sword's completion.
It was only natural.
Because the comment said it was enough to call it a masterpiece by ordinary human standards.
But I am an Awakener with properties. So, it would look inferior at the Awakener's level.
“Can't you make something better than this?”
“What do you mean?”
“Literally. With titanium, I can't make a better sword than this. Or rather, what the hell is that speed?”
“Speed?”
“Yeah. Titanium isn't a material that can be processed this quickly. If I did it, I'd have to grind it all day. And why make a sword with titanium?”
“Ah, that's...”
I explained to Father my properties and who I was giving this weapon to.
Along with the properties of the Dimension Blacksmith class and the story that I had to give this item to the Sacheon Dang Family.
I explained everything without omission.
“What? Murim? Ah... I've seen that when I was young, but does it really exist?”
“Yes, well... I heard it does.”
“Haha! Yeah, in a world where gates and unrealistic things are pouring out, there can't be no Murim!”
Exactly.
Thinking the same as me.
“Alright, then, let's stay up all night and forge the remaining nine swords!”
Father shook his thick arms vigorously and shouted cheerfully.
In his eyes, the strange fighting spirit from the previous Normal Grade rating was blazing like the forge's flames.
It was fighting spirit against the system that gave his made sword only the rating 'Normal Grade'.
“But, Father. It's already past 3 AM now, right? If you stay up all night like this, what about tomorrow's work?”
Father went out for manual labor early every morning.
That's why I was worried that staying up all night for this work might affect his condition.
But Father asked me with an expression that said what kind of stupid question is this.
“If we make all the swords, how much will it be?”
“15 million won...”
“Hey you rascal! That's half a year's salary! Why go out to work when you can earn 15 million?”
“Ah... I see?”
Thinking about it, the reason I was making this was so Father wouldn't have to do such grueling work anymore...
It was a stupid question even I thought.
“Here. Then let's earn some money, son?”
“Of course!”
Father's face lit up with a mischievous boy's smile, as if his old passion was burning.
I too, seeing that, had the corners of my mouth curl up.
“Next after Normal Grade is Masterpiece, right? Alright, let's make one masterpiece!”
“Yes!”
We, bundled together with passion hotter than the heat inside the forge, gripped the hammer again.