The Kaeyi's Gift
The pale blue light of dawn seeped through the cracks in the forge's windows. Despite pulling an all-nighter, Seojun Im's mind was clear. No, clearer than clear—it was razor-sharp. All because of the red gemstone, the Blood Jade, sitting on his workbench.
Hummm— hummm—
The Blood Jade vibrated periodically, like a living heart. The tremors traveled through the wooden workbench straight to Seojun's fingertips.
Too pure.
Seojun peered at the gem's surface through a magnifying lens. It was a flawless crystal, without a single microscopic scratch. Inside, red mana swirled like liquid in a vortex. The mana density was even higher than a standard A-rank magic stone.
This was both a blessing and a curse. Putting something like this on the Hunter market would bring Association auditors knocking immediately. Fail to prove its origin, and he'd be branded a smuggler, losing his Hunter license in the process.
But leaving it alone wasn't an option either—the waves emanating from the Blood Jade were too intense. It would act like bait, drawing in low-level monsters and stray spirits to the forge.
"Gotta seal it first."
Seojun stood up. His top priority was crafting a safe box to store it. Lead mixed with silver alloy would do the trick. Lead blocked not just radiation but mana waves too, while silver's purifying power could neutralize the Blood Jade's malevolent aura.
He fetched lead ingots and silver bars from the storeroom. Ratio: 7 to 3.
Whoosh!
He lit the furnace. No mana amplifier this time—lead and silver had low melting points. Melting them at a gentle heat ensured a dense alloy structure.
Bubble bubble.
The metals melted and merged in the crucible. Seojun stirred the solution with a long iron rod. Gray lead blended with silvery white, forming a murky ash-gray liquid.
Time for the mold.
He applied a release agent to the pre-prepared rectangular mold, then carefully poured in the molten alloy.
Glug—
The viscous liquid filled the mold. Before it cooled, he had to engrave the mana-blocking incantation. Seojun picked up a sharp awl.
He carved runes into the still-soft metal surface.
Sizzle, sssizzle.
Smoke rose wherever the awl touched. These weren't ordinary letters—he channeled his own mana through the tip, infusing it deep into the metal. Each completed rune flickered with faint light before fading.
"Whew."
The work finished quickly. The cooled alloy box was a rough ash-gray, but its function was solid. Seojun used tongs to place the Blood Jade inside and shut the lid.
Clunk.
The heavy metallic sound sealed it. Only then did the oppressive red waves filling the forge dissipate. With the pressure lifted, hunger hit hard. A glance at the clock showed past 9 a.m.
Screeech—
The forge's iron door groaned open. Dull and rough—nothing like the silent entry of the Egg Ghost last night.
"Boss! You in there?"
A gravelly voice. The man wore battered leather armor. C-rank Hunter, Kim Sangwoo. A regular customer, the typical mass-produced type who blamed his gear more than his skills.
Seojun subtly slid the Blood Jade box under the workbench and turned.
"Morning. What can I do for you?"
"Fuckin' hell, check this out. My longsword got wrecked in a dungeon yesterday."
Kim Sangwoo slammed the blade onto the workbench. A nasty chip midway down the blade, the surface blackened and scorched.
"What'd you roll around in?"
"Don't even ask. Sewer dungeon—thought it was a slime, swung at it, and it spat acid. But it wasn't regular acid. Felt like the sword was rotting, not melting."
Seojun frowned and picked up the sword. Kim Sangwoo wasn't wrong. The blackened discoloration wasn't rust—it was necrosis, the metal's life force crumbling away.
Death qi.
Not ordinary monster venom. This was the mark of exposure to the undead or kaeyi—the energy of the dead. Similar to the Egg Ghost's aura from last night.
"Can you fix it? Cost me a pretty penny."
"Pretty penny? It's a factory D-rank alloy sword."
"Hey, watch it. Just fix it. Got a raid tomorrow."
Seojun pondered. Normal grinding wouldn't cut it for this damage. He'd have to cut out the rot and weld new metal, but death-qi-infused blades rejected fresh steel. The joint would rot again fast.
To repair it, neutralize the death qi. Holy water would work, but wasting expensive holy water on a D-rank sword was overkill.
Suddenly, the hidden Blood Jade box came to mind. It amplified mana, sure, but as crystallized vital blood, it brimmed with potent yang energy. A tiny amount might burn away the death qi.
Worth a test.
Seojun's eyes narrowed.
"Repairable. But it's tricky—extra cost."
"How much?"
"Fifty thousand more. Special solution."
"C'mon, boss. Fine, fine. Just make it clean."
Kim Sangwoo grumbled and plopped into a chair in the corner. Seojun took the sword to the furnace. First, carve out the rot.
He fired up the grinder.
Vreeee—
The sharp whine sliced the air. Seojun pressed the chipped section against the wheel.
Crunch!
Sparks flew. Amid the orange flames, black smoke mingled. The rotting metal ground away, releasing a foul stench—like decaying flesh mixed with iron tang.
"Ugh, the smell. Did you really roll in shit?"
Kim Sangwoo pinched his nose. Seojun ignored him, focusing until the black was gone, exposing clean silver steel. The blade's midsection was now grooved.
Time to fill it. He pulled a steel scrap from a drawer—carbon steel, closest match to the blade.
Then, discreetly, he drew a small knife from his pocket and reached under the bench. He cracked open the box lid and scraped a minuscule corner of the Blood Jade. A nail-dust speck of red powder clung to the blade.
This'll do.
He mixed it into a jar of borax. Red flecks dotted the white powder like stars.
Now, forge welding. He heated the sword and steel patch in the furnace.
Whoosh.
Flames roared. Steel glowed cherry-red. Optimal temp: 1,200°C. Catch the moment the surface glistened like wet glass.
Seojun's gaze pierced the fire.
Now.
He pulled them out, layered them on the anvil, and dusted borax over the joint.
Sssizzle.
Borax melted, seeping between metals. A red flash erupted—the Blood Jade reacting to the heat, unleashing explosive energy.
Seojun hammered down without hesitation.
Clang!
The sound was different—clear and resonant. The Blood Jade's energy repelled the death qi, forging the bond.
Clang! Claaang! Clang!
Hammer blows accelerated, Seojun's wrists fluid. Not just pounding—he angled the hammer face to drive molten borax and steel into the blade's core. Lingering black wisps evaporated in the red glow.
Better efficiency than expected.
The Blood Jade burned death qi like perfect fuel. The joint vanished seamlessly, as if whole from the start.
But Seojun kept going. Quench to spread the energy through the blade.
Hiss—
Plunged into oil, white steam billowed. He swirled it, controlling the cool rate—too fast cracks it, too slow softens it. He read the metal's state through his fingertips.
Dense grain. Strength up at least 1.5x.
He wiped off the oil. Faint red damascus-like ripples shimmered on the silvery blade—the Blood Jade's essence etched in.
"Done."
Seojun offered the sword. Kim Sangwoo's eyes widened as he approached.
"Whoa, what? Looks totally different—better than new."
He gripped and swung it through the air.
Whoosh, whoosh.
The heavy air-slice was solid.
"Balance is perfect... Damn, boss, skills haven't dulled. What's with the pattern? Cool as hell."
"Residue from the special solution. Might fade if overheated—don't sweat it."
Seojun brushed it off. Couldn't mention Blood Jade.
"Sweet. Here's the repair fee."
Kim Sangwoo tossed bills on the bench with a grin and left. The door shut, silence returned.
Seojun stared at his hands. His hammer palm burned warm. The exhilaration from wielding Blood Jade energy lingered.
Using a kaeyi's item to fix a Hunter's weapon. Two clashing worlds fused under his hammer. A thrill of taboo curiosity stirred the blacksmith in him.
Powder did this... What if I process the raw stone properly?
Dangerous thoughts swirled.
Then—
Ting-a-lang—
The wind chime rang again. Did Kim Sangwoo forget something? Seojun turned.
But no one at the door.
"...?"
No wind either. Frowning, he approached and peered out. Empty alley.
Misheard? As he moved to close the door—
Something caught his eye below the frame. A small basket. Inside, a carton of fresh-laid eggs. And atop it, a note.
The mask is to my liking.
The face feels warm.
Sloppy handwriting. The Egg Ghost's doing, no doubt.
Seojun eyed the eggs. Not ordinary—faint blue veins shimmered through the shells.
What now?
The Blood Jade was payment enough. A gift on top?
He carried the basket inside.
"The face feels warm..."
The words oddly pierced his chest. His creation had brought comfort to someone—or something—even if a kaeyi.
He set the egg carton carefully aside on the bench.
"Not for eating, I hope."
A wry smile, and he shut the forge. He glanced at the Blood Jade box and egg basket, shook his head. Exhaustion crashed in; a quick wash, then bed. For some reason, even nightmares plagued his sleep.