The Poisonous Gate
But let's sit still for a moment...
Titanium was just a normal-grade item?
The completion was so good that even my father would call it a masterpiece, no exaggeration...
That means the completion isn't the problem...
Hmm...
The promise to make a masterpiece was good, but the problem was how to make it.
“When it's like this, it's better to change the materials.”
“Materials?”
“Yes. If the completion is fine, then the material is the problem. No matter how skilled you are, a paper sword can't beat a steel sword, right?”
“Oh ho...”
Hearing that, it made a lot of sense.
Titanium is a great metal, but in Murim, it's not comparable to the one from martial arts.
Then I have to wait for Bilyeong to bring the materials?
That doesn't look good...
As I pondered what material to use, my head started throbbing.
At that moment, the TV screen in the corner of the forge started crackling, and suddenly, with , a reporter appeared.
“Emergency news. A gate that appeared near Seoul a few hours ago is struggling to be cleared.”
What? This one hasn't been cleared yet?
It said 3rd rank? So it's mid-tier among the 7 ranks.
That level should be easily cleared by sending a few awakened ones.
But it's struggling, and even emergency news?
“The survivors of the gate say that despite there being only one monster inside, it's hard to approach because of the deadly poison that melts everything around it.”
The word "poison" hit my ears and my thoughts accelerated.
- You obtain materials instead of finished items from the gate.
I can obtain materials instead of finished items when I complete the gate.
The opponent is a supreme poison monster that spits poison.
If the materials obtained from the gate follow the nature of that monster?
Perhaps I can get materials that amplify the toxicity.
For the Dang family that uses poison, there's nothing better than this.
“Requesting support from awakened individuals with poison resistance for clearing this gate.”
The reporter finished and the emergency news ended.
The problem was how to clear that gate...
At that time, Bilyeong entered the forge with eyes full of wonder, looking around.
Found a way.
“Hey, Young Mistress, could you do me a favor?”
“Yes. Tell me. If it's something I can do...”
“Let's go to the gate together.”
“Gate...? What is that...?”
“You'll find out if you follow me.”
I grabbed Bilyeong's hand and pulled her out of the forge.
“Father! Please guard the forge! I'll be back soon.”
“Oh... Is that the method...? The Young Mistress should be sufficient. Haha! Alright! Go on!”
Father, having understood my intent, sat down and laughed heartily, sending us off.
Bilyeong had been pulled by me in a daze, but she didn't seem to understand the situation yet.
Then, where... shall we see the skill of our Young Mistress?
***
“Stop. This is the area where the gate appears, and entry is restricted for civilians.”
As I approached the gate, a control officer in black bulletproof vest and gun blocked our way.
“We are awakened. We came because we need support for clearing the gate.”
“Awakened...? The person next to you has a strange outfit... but you look like a civilian.”
The control officer started suspecting us based on our appearance.
“Oh ho... Poison?”
At that time, Bilyeong, who had been looking at the gate, muttered quietly.
“What?”
“Ah. Sorry. I sensed a strange poison beyond that gate.”
The control officer, hearing Bilyeong's words, opened his mouth in surprise.
“Strange? Even though it's a 3rd rank gate, its supreme poison will melt your body instantly...”
“Overdoing it.”
Bilyeong gathered green energy at her fingertips, sprinkled it on the floor, and the asphalt melted instantly.
This must be the power called internal energy, I couldn't take my eyes off.
The man standing in front of us couldn't either.
“Amazing... You can use poison?”
“I can, but...”
The woman next to me is the Young Mistress of the Sacheon Dang Family, famous for poison.
An expert among experts in handling poison.
Compared to Bilyeong, the monster in the gate is just trash.
“... Sorry. Please enter.”
The control officer, seeing Bilyeong's ability, stepped aside and opened the way to the gate.
“Please enter, young man.”
Bilyeong, after receiving the control officer's permission, naturally grabbed my wrist.
“Young Mistress...?”
“I don't know what that blue flickering door is, but if I fall when going to the unknown space, it would be bad, right?”
Eh... It's not wrong, but...
Suddenly grabbing my wrist like this is embarrassing.
Ah. I did that too.
Suddenly, the memory of grabbing Bilyeong's wrist when leaving the forge came to mind.
...
Suddenly embarrassed.
“Let's go.”
“Hey, wait a minute! If you enter so suddenly...!”
The control officer shouted from behind, but it was too late.
Bilyeong and I threw our bodies into the 3rd rank gate with rippling light.
Shaaaa-
Suddenly, my vision was filled with light, blurring my sight.
Space twisted strangely, and wind brushed past my ears.
The boundary of the world collapsed, and a dizzying feeling as if transitioning to a new dimension hit my whole body.
Piu-
The lights that filled my vision disappeared, and the inside of a cave with dripping dew came into view.
“Uwoop-”
Since it was my first time entering a gate, my stomach felt sick.
Sssus-
“Now it should be fine, young man.”
Bilyeong, sensing my nausea, sent internal energy through my wrist.
Warm...
Bilyeong had a cold expression, but her internal energy was the warmest.
Perhaps it means that despite appearances, the inside is warm.
While thinking meaningless thoughts, a pungent smell pierced my nose.
“This is...”
“Poison. Excuse me, young man.”
Sssus-
Bilyeong released my wrist and brought her hand to my neck, pouring internal energy.
Then the unpleasant smell disappeared.
“By wrapping your body with my internal energy, that trivial poison won't be able to harm you.”
Ah... She protected me.
Yeah... I don't have combat ability yet, so it's inevitable.
“Thank you, Young Mistress.”
When I nodded and expressed gratitude, Bilyeong smiled slightly at me.
Wow... She's really unbelievably pretty.
How can a person look like that?
Suddenly, Bilyeong turned her gaze deep into the cave's darkness, as if sensing some being.
Sruuk sruuruk
The sound of something huge rubbing against the damp cave walls and stone floor echoed.
The moss covering the floor and the cave walls began to melt.
'Krurr...'
From the darkness, a terrifyingly huge figure slowly revealed itself.
A huge snake with ominous purple scales, as if wearing armor.
It was different from the species of cobra or anaconda we know, and the monster showed off its massive body.
The overwhelming pressure filling the dark cave, the pungent poison, and why it was struggling to be cleared despite being 3rd rank.
This is 3rd rank...? Crazy guys?
'Kraaaaa!'
The snake's intimidating roar shook the entire cave.
“Young man. Wait here for a moment.”
Bilyeong said that and smoothly drew the sword at her waist, stepping forward.
“Insignificant trash boasting.”
Without blinking, she pointed her sword at the huge snake.
'Kyaak!'
The snake, thinking the small sword pointed at it was nothing, opened its mouth wide and spewed purple poison like a waterfall.
“This... isn't it dangerous?”
I swallowed saliva unconsciously and clenched my fist, but Bilyeong didn't back down even a step.
When the wave of poison hit right in front of Bilyeong's nose, green energy flickered from her sword, and she stabbed the sword towards the poison.
Pung!
The poison exploded as is, splashing everywhere, and the cave walls touched by the poison melted like ice instantly.
“Surprisingly good.”
Before the words finished, Bilyeong started charging at the snake.
Paak-
The snake, panicked that its poison was being dispelled, flashed its eyes and shot its tail, but
Bilyeong easily dodged the tail and stood on the ground gathering internal energy.
“Ten Thousand Poisons One Slash”
Swoosh-
When Bilyeong's figure disappeared and reappeared, she was already behind the snake.
The purple snake's neck, harder than iron armor, was cleanly sliced like with a razor and fell heavily to the floor.
The massive body shook the cave floor and collapsed, and the snake slowly closed its eyes.
“Wow... This is really something. If I complete this mission, can I learn something like this? I'm looking forward to it?”
Bilyeong wiped the poison from her sword and smoothly sheathed it into the sheath.
Click-
With the sound of the sword being put away neatly, Bilyeong turned around as if nothing happened and walked towards me.
“I wasted unnecessary time on that trivial poison. Sorry for making you wait, young man.”
“Ah... No. It was good to wait. Rather, it was an honor to actually see the young mistress's martial arts.”
Bilyeong, pleased with my praise, smiled at me.
Before the snake died, the entire cave shook and a blue window appeared in front of me.
Due to the effect of the 'Blacksmith's Pride' trait, you obtain crafting materials instead of finished items.
Snake's Bones [B Rank]
· Bones of a monster with poison.
· Can induce efficient flow of poison if used as the skeleton of a weapon.
Snake's Fangs [B Rank]
· Fangs condensed with snake poison.
· When melted with other metals, it increases poison resistance and power of poison attacks.
Essence of Deadly Poison [F Rank]
· Liquid with extremely compressed deadly poison aura.
· When processed and alloyed into metal, it drastically amplifies toxicity.
· However, it corrodes most metals and if the user's resistance is insufficient, it can threaten life.
Small Leather Bag
The list of acquired materials appeared, and a small leather bag appeared from nowhere.
When I opened that bag, there were scales, fangs, and a flask containing some purple liquid.
It seemed these were the materials just acquired.
I was more interested in the Essence of Deadly Poison than the other materials, F rank?
Then, thinking normally, it would be the worst material.
- When processed and alloyed into metal, it drastically amplifies toxicity.
From the description, it seems to have stronger toxicity than fangs or bones.
I couldn't understand why F rank from this, but the next line is the problem.
- However, it corrodes most metals and if the user's resistance is insufficient, it can threaten life.
It can even kill the user, not just corrode metals...
It's hard to process, and if the user isn't accustomed to poison, they die.
That's why F rank.
But the moment I saw those materials, I already drew in my head how to make weapons and who to give the made weapons to.
Well~ Now I have to hammer hard again.
Bilyeong, wait and see. I'll make you cool weapons.