The Paradoxical Goblin Fire
On the workbench lay a blue lump. At first glance, it resembled an uncut sapphire gemstone or a glass bead shimmering with blue light. But it was the goblin fire that Doyokshini had paid as labor fee.
Is this really fire? Seojun carefully picked up the goblin fire. A cold sensation traveled up his fingertips. It felt infinitely closer to a jewel than to flame. Just to be sure, he tossed it into the blazing furnace. Whoosh—he cranked the heat to maximum and watched.
Of course it wouldn't be that easy. But even after ten minutes, then thirty, there was no change. It simply emitted a noble blue glow amid the flames. When he pulled it out to check, it was still cold.
What if I infuse it with mana? Seojun gripped the goblin fire and poured in his mana. Hum—a faint vibration hummed through it, but that was all. The mana couldn't penetrate; it just skimmed the surface and dispersed.
Up to this point, it seemed like nothing more than a peculiar gem. But this is a kaeyi's possession. Seojun had a hunch. It wouldn't react to ordinary methods. If so, there was only one answer: kaeyi items had to be handled with kaeyi ways.
Hoo. Seojun took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He awakened the latent senses deep within. He loosened the reins of reason just a touch and opened the door to instinct.
Shh. His vision turned ashen, and the outlines of objects twisted strangely. Frequent use of kaeyi transformation made entry effortless. Though the side effect seemed to be his inner voice growing louder.
Hm... Seojun opened his eyes, and the goblin fire looked different. The ordinary gem from moments ago was gone, replaced by a fiercely churning blue energy. Is this yokki? It felt different from when Doyokshini had handed it over. Likely stimulated by what he'd done earlier.
Should be fine...? Half-doubting, he drew up his kaeyi energy. And the instant it touched the goblin fire—
Flames of yokki—the goblin's playfulness and cruelty made manifest.
Whoosh! Blue flames exploded outward. Yokhwa, the flames of yokki. Agonizing pain surged from his palm up his forearm.
Kugh...! The scorching burn of flesh charring and the bone-chilling freeze assaulted him simultaneously. Hot yet cold, burning yet freezing. Contradictory properties clashed, shredding cell by cell. His blood boiled in his veins, then crystallized in an instant.
No good. At this rate...! He couldn't endure it. Holding on would necrotize his hand and arm. With rigid fingers locked in pain, he forced his hand open.
Thud. The goblin fire dropped to the floor as if nothing had happened. The yokhwa vanished in a blink, reverting to its ordinary gem form.
Damn it... Seojun gasped raggedly, staring at his right hand. The palm's center was charred black, fingertips frostbitten white. The back of his hand had split open, oozing pus. A bizarre wound where burns and frostbite coexisted.
Haa... haa... Releasing kaeyi transformation sharpened the pain. He rushed for the first-aid kit and sprayed a high-end healing salve—expensive stuff hunters used for dungeon raids. But even that couldn't erase the aftereffects. Throbbing pain pulsed with his heartbeat.
Only after a long while did the agony subside, letting him regain his senses.
Me, handle goblin fire?Doyokshini had said he could manage it. Implying there was a way. But right now, he hadn't a clue. Flames rampaging with two opposing natures—controlling them seemed impossible.
Just lip service? Seojun calmed himself and thought rationally. But Doyokshini had no reason for empty words. Unlikely to prank or sabotage, either—not when she needed 190 sets of gear for her troops.
She really believes I can do it. Seojun clenched and unclenched his right hand. No solution in sight meant trial and error, but mountains of gear still awaited forging.
First things first—make the gear.
Days passed. The forge ran nonstop. The scrap pile Doyokshini had brought dwindled bit by bit, while completed gear filled the warehouse. In spare moments after finishing pieces, he experimented with the goblin fire. But it only burned through his stock of expensive salves, nearly shifting his bank balance by units of ten thousand.
Why didn't I think of this sooner? This time, he didn't grab it barehanded. He used forge tongs to grip the goblin fire, trickling kaeyi energy along them toward it.
Whoosh—yokhwa erupted immediately, but the tongs were unscathed. Made for harsh work, they boasted top-tier heat and cold resistance. Yet the yokhwa seemed to sense it, climbing back along the energy trail toward the tongs.
As if. Seojun swiftly cut the energy and dropped it. He repeated this dozens of times, meticulously observing the goblin fire and analyzing the yokhwa.
The next morning, as usual, he opened the forge for daytime hunter customers. Nights entertaining kaeyi should have drained him, but kaeyi transformation's influence made it bearable.
"Boss! You holding up okay?"
"It's been a while."
"......"
Seojun snapped from his reverie at the familiar faces. Han Yura, Park Cheolwoo, and Lee Sujin from Silver Lining Guild.
"You all look well—must've had a good haul in the dungeon."
"All thanks to you, boss."
Park Cheolwoo set down a heavy bag. "The shield's durability was great, but that cold barrier saved us from who knows how many scrapes. So as thanks, we brought some special ores from the dungeon."
"Guess I'll have to tune up your gear in return."
"Haha... Was kinda hoping you'd say that."
They'd brought their dungeon-worn equipment too. Mostly unscathed, so simple polishing would do.
"Even with solid prep, you hit some crises? Variables in the dungeon?"
"Ugh, the survey teams had been through multiple times—we trusted their reports, but then something totally unexpected..."
"A kaeyi appeared."
Lee Sujin cut in with a grim face.
"A kaeyi?"
"Yes. One that only exists in the blizzard. Couldn't pinpoint its position, and it made this creepy swarming-bug noise. Attacks didn't even faze it."
"How'd you...?"
"Not sure exactly, but it couldn't breach the cold barrier. Bought us time to escape the storm."
Seojun realized the truth instantly. The mysterious kaeyi hadn't been stopped by the cold barrier—it was the kaeyi byproduct used in the shield.
"Dungeons used to have standardized monster patterns and strategies. But lately, they're all over the place. Mismatching environments, kaeyi popping up everywhere—starting to think we need shaman hunters on every raid."
"Right? Some guild hit a beast dungeon, stepped in a swamp, and a hand yanked 'em under."
As Lee Sujin vented, Han Yura chimed in. Park Cheolwoo added gravely.
"Not just that. In a new dungeon, monsters charged suicidally—huge casualties. Not all new ones are like that, thank goodness, but if this keeps up, dungeon dynamics could shift. Survey reports become worthless."
Seojun's hands paused. Doyokshini's words echoed: alien kaeyi driven solely by hunger and destruction. That was the unease hunters felt.
"Faces bursting from walls, dead allies talking... Not quite mental attacks—too physical. Association's watching dungeon changes closely, but."
The situation was worsening faster than thought. He understood why Doyokshini rushed the gear order. War had begun—not just in the shadows, but in hunters' dungeons too.
"Any gear effective against kaeyi—what do you think?"
"Huh? If it exists, hell yes!"
"Really? Such a thing?"
"I've got some experimental pieces."
Seojun paused his work, glancing at the warehouse. Beyond the shut door, flails and armors piled up. Hard-won creations.
Plenty of extras—can make more. With luck, hunters could handle dungeon kaeyi too.