I Made It
I stared at the woman in front of me for a good long while as she just worked her lips without saying a word.
Because her gaze was fixed downward, our eyes met several times, but each time she quickly turned her head away to avoid mine.
"Hmmm."
Well, as long as she'd confirmed there was nothing wrong with the ring I'd made, that was that.
I tugged at Daon's sleeve, and she nodded.
"Yes... alright then."
I turned away from the woman with a spin, ready to continue on our way.
"Ah, wait, I mean... you see...!"
A frantic voice called from behind.
"I-I didn't mean to resell it from the start... but when I actually tried to enter the tower, I got too scared...!"
We both turned to look at her, and without even being asked, she started rambling on.
Her words rang true.
My senses told me so.
I watched her quietly as her face flushed red and she twisted her body awkwardly.
So painfully conscious of others' gazes, utterly lacking in confidence.
It was just a brief encounter, nothing more.
But...
I'm a little curious.
What kind of life had she lived to end up like this?
"What's your name?"
Human lives were a distant mystery to me, sparking my curiosity right away.
"K-Kim Sua... that's me...."
Even saying her own name seemed embarrassing; Sua answered in a tiny voice and bowed her head deeply.
"Hmmm...."
I repeated the name in my mind and glanced at Daon.
She met my eyes for a moment, then nodded as if she understood.
"There are too many eyes here. We should move somewhere else."
"Ah, y-yes? Okay...."
The soft scraping of her shoe soles on the ground followed as she trailed behind Daon and me.
After walking a bit, Daon bent down and whispered in my ear.
"...Why are you bringing her along?"
"I want to try using her as material for something."
"Ah, I see...."
Daon straightened up with a sound of understanding.
For some reason, her expression darkened gravely, her eyes fierce with resolve as she lifted them.
What's that about...?
Anyway, as long as she got it, fine.
Daon's house wasn't far from the Namsan Tower Gate.
We arrived after a short walk together.
"Wh-why the house...?"
"Tsk!"
I snapped sharply at Sua's flustered question.
She dropped her head again and meekly followed us inside.
This actually worked.
I'd been wondering what to do if she refused, but things went smoothly.
As Sua squeezed between Daon and me into the entryway—out of earshot—I clicked the door lock shut.
"Ahem."
I exchanged a subtle glance with Daon and nodded.
We'd lived together in the forge for so long.
No words needed.
"You've been through quite a shock. Here, have some of this to relax."
Daon soon pulled a brown bottle from the cupboard.
A square brown bottle stamped with a black J logo.
"I-isn't that... alcohol...?"
"Nothing beats this for loosening up, right?"
The reason was simple.
To hear Sua's life story, I needed to reveal I was the ring's maker.
Who spills their tale to a stranger with nothing to gain?
I hadn't expected her to bring out booze, though...
"Th-then... okay...."
Sua glanced at us warily, then gulped down the brown liquid with swirling eyes.
*
"Waaah... I shouldn't have bought it, that thing..."
"Aigoo... I see."
Sua had flopped onto the floor, tears streaming like chicken droppings.
She'd only had one sip, as far as I could tell.
While Daon listened quietly to her story, I caressed the remaining Magic Stone molten metal.
"Hmm."
One thing I'd learned: unlike regular steel, Magic Stones let me enchant desired properties during crafting.
Properties like...
"Done."
For example, something that prevented the wearer from revealing the maker's identity upon equipping.
"Ahem. Take a look at this."
I picked up the finished choker and approached Sua.
I'd wanted a necklace, but with so little metal left, I'd downsized it.
"Wow... so pretty."
A black choker, shimmering with red jewel-like flecks here and there.
When I held it out to her, Sua stared endlessly at my hand with sparkling eyes.
But I couldn't just slap it on without explanation.
I cleared my throat again and continued.
"Now, the moment you put this on..."
But I couldn't finish.
"Here goes!"
Sua snatched the choker and clapped it right around her neck.
"Huh? Wha."
I was briefly stunned, but it worked out better.
As Sua toppled over the instant she equipped it, I smirked.
"...It has a forced sleep function too?"
Of course not.
I shook my head at Daon's words.
"Looks like she just passed out on her own."
Snore, snore.
She was out cold.
*
"...So you just wanted to hear her story like with me before? I thought..."
What terrifying thought had Daon harbored to fetch Sawol while breathing heavily?
I couldn't guess easily, but as I calmly explained my plan while Sua slept, Daon sighed in relief and set the sword down.
Then, a rustling sound came from the side.
"Mm, ugh...."
A voice leaked from Sua, whom we'd rolled onto the carpet with our feet.
Turning, I saw her clutching her head with one hand like she had a headache, sitting up.
"Huh...?"
She looked around, still not grasping the situation.
Her gaze soon landed on me, and I knelt to match her eye level as she sat demurely.
Alright...
How to make her understand at once and steer the conversation.
After a moment's thought, I slowly spoke.
"That ring? I made it."
That should do it.
"...Pfft."
Sua dismissed it as a joke, glancing around indifferently.
Until her eyes locked on Daon.
More precisely, on Sawol beside her.
"Huh...?"
Sua narrowed her eyes.
She rubbed them a couple times, then scooted back on her butt.
"N-no way. Lee Daon...?"
She caught on quick.
Sawol had been at Daon's waist the whole time—even while this "loan shark" mentioned her name.
Anyway, this would make things easier.
"And that one? I made it too."
I pointed toward Daon.
Sua's eyes followed my finger to Sawol.
Her pupils slowly widened.
"This... this is real...?"
Glancing back, Daon nodded solemnly.
Sua's eyes, filled with confusion moments ago, now brimmed with anticipation and joy.
"Th-then, does that mean mine too...?"
"No idea."
I cut her off.
Fate wasn't mine to control—or hers.
Still, I soaked in her expectant gaze and stood from my crouch.
"Tell me your story."
*
I listened silently to Sua's tale.
For a very short time.
"......"
"That's... all of it...."
In short: bummer.
I'd expected some trigger for her timidity or reason for lacking confidence.
But no—nothing like that.
Born to an ordinary family, grew up ordinarily, lived ordinarily.
She's just naturally timid...
A sigh slipped out from dashed hopes, but what could I do?
No one's fault.
"Sigh."
Strikeout.
I stood with a sigh.
"W-wait just a sec...!"
Sua blocked my path as I shook my head and walked away.
"G-give me one chance, please."
She grabbed my hand firmly.
Not the timid demeanor from before—resolute now.
That reignited my folded expectations.
A lifelong shrinking violet showing this resolve? Not without serious determination.
"Hmm...."
But my plan had already slipped away.
At best, like with Daon, observe her fighting style closely.
It had taken ages of watching to barely grasp it then—unlikely now.
"Haa...."
Still, my heart kept racing.
Even faint hope tugged at me.
I want to craft.
A masterpiece.
Something worth all that forge time, something I could justify...
That kind of masterpiece.
"Let's go."
"Y-yes...? Where to...?"
I didn't answer Sua's question, unlocking the front door and leading the way.
To the tower.