Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Oppa-nim of the Goddess
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The orc on his knees looked up at Nayoung.
“Goddess, do you remember me? It’s Halka. You saved me when I was captured in the prisoner camp. I couldn’t even give you a proper thank you, but I’m so glad to see you again like this. Thank you.”
“I’m glad.”
Nayoung grabbed Halka’s arm and pulled him to his feet.
“Oppa, can you fix his leg?”
Halka’s calf muscle was caved in. It looked like he’d been tortured by having his muscles sliced open.
“I’ll need to cut out the tangled tissue first.”
“Halka, want me to fix your leg?”
“Me...? Really?”
“Yeah, my brother’s really skilled. I’ll numb it so it doesn’t hurt.”
Nayoung placed her hand on Halka’s head, blocking his pain receptors.
Jiseok infused life force into the leg, but as expected, the hardened tissue didn’t regenerate.
He drew a sword from the back of his hand and sliced off a chunk of the calf flesh in one clean stroke. Blood sprayed, but he didn’t stop, continuing to carve away the dead parts.
“What the hell!”
“Halka?!”
The onlookers jumped to their feet, but they froze at the sight of Halka’s serene expression.
“Doesn’t it hurt? You?”
“Huh? What? Ack! What’s this?!”
Halka’s eyes bulged as he looked down at his leg, flesh sliced open and blood pouring out.
“This should do it...”
Jiseok poured in life force.
The wound rapidly filled with new flesh. And not only that—the vitality from Jiseok’s life force visibly coursed through Halka’s body.
“A... a miracle!”
“Goddess, who is that man? Is he your apostle?”
What Jiseok had done was equivalent to a Great Heal, but few could cast one. To someone seeing this kind of healing for the first time, it was plenty miraculous.
“An apostle? My brother?”
Nayoung burst out laughing.
“Oppa-nim! Thank you!”
Halka seized both of Jiseok’s hands.
“No, I’m only ‘oppa’ to Nayoung...”
“Oppa-nim, welcome to the Sleeping Volcano Mountains.”
“Everyone, you’re all busy people. Get back to work.”
Jiseok started to say something, but Marcelo stepped in first, calling for the crowd to disperse. But the people didn’t scatter—they kept chanting “Goddess!” and “Oppa-nim!”
“This won’t do. Come with me.”
“No, I...”
“Oppa-nim, just go. Heh heh heh.”
Jaein chuckled as she pushed Jiseok along.
He wasn’t thrilled about being called “oppa” by men who looked older than him, but there was no malice in it, so Jiseok gave up.
Marcelo led them deeper into the cave. Some people had rushed ahead to spread the word, so crowds lined both walls, hands clasped in prayer toward Nayoung.
“Nayoung, when did you start a religion?”
“I didn’t! I’ve never done that! First I’m hearing of it!”
“Those whom Nayoung saved, and the people who heard those legendary tales, began spreading her words, and that’s how the Church of the Goddess was born.”
“Her words?”
“Yes. Didn’t you save people and preach to them? One: Extend a hand to those in need. Two: Mercy is unnecessary for those who block the path of justice. Three: Darkness and light are two sides of the same coin, so fear not the darkness.”
Jiseok and Jaein turned to look at Nayoung.
“I mean, I said something like that, but it’s weirdly different?!”
“We’re alive thanks to you saving us. Halka would’ve died under torture if not for the Goddess. And whenever he drinks, he boasts about how the Goddess slaughtered all the imperial bastards and rescued him.”
Nayoung’s face turned bright red.
“But is it normal to have a religion worshiping someone who’s still alive?”
Jaein asked Carlton, who walked beside her.
“Isn’t it common on Earth? There aren’t many who deify superhumans like Nayoung, but it happens. And she’s kind to people, beautiful, and incredibly strong, so it makes even more sense. For us, it’s far more natural to believe in a real, existing being than one that doesn’t.”
“Huh... So it’s the total opposite of Earth, where believing in a living person gets you labeled a cult.”
“Doesn’t the Church of the Goddess fight with other religions?”
Nayoung asked Marcelo anxiously.
“People of Tellus believe what they want. That’s why there are tens of thousands of religions. There’s bickering over religion or the occasional fistfight, but almost never any serious bloodshed.”
Unlike Earth, where wars were fought over religion.
“More like a fan club than a religion, right?”
Jaein whispered to Jiseok.
“Maybe.”
Marcelo began the tour, pointing out each workshop one by one.
“Weapons for the battlefield are made here. They’re divided by section, specializing in each part. From raw materials to finished products, it’s all done in one go.”
The smiths working the forges included humans, orcs, goblins, and more.
“No dwarves, surprisingly?”
“Is it known on Earth that dwarves are good smiths?”
“Yeah, it’s common knowledge.”
“Hmm... But most dwarves live on the Eastern Continent. Same as the elves.”
“Ah...”
“Master Pachem is a smith rivaling any dwarf. He lacks nothing in skill or knowledge.”
“Even with his small stature?”
“Hahaha, goblin smiths are indeed rare. Goblins are usually good at fine work but not at jobs requiring strength. But Master Pachem spent decades researching and training, surpassing his racial limits to earn the title of Craft Master. He’s an inspiration to many.”
Marcelo’s deep respect for Pachem showed in his expression and tone.
They toured all the way to the deepest parts of the cave under Marcelo’s guidance. Vents allowed fresh outside air in and forge smoke out. Still, with so many furnaces, the heat was intense.
Jaein looked around every corner with fascination.
“Ooh... You can make it like that, huh.”
She jotted down techniques, ideas, and materials she glimpsed over shoulders in her notebook. Jiseok couldn’t see what was special about them, but as the saying goes, she saw what she knew.
After an hour touring the workshop district, they arrived at Master Pachem’s forge.
As befitting a master’s workshop, it was enormous, with dozens of artisans working inside.
They passed through the main workspace to Pachem’s private studio-cum-office.
“So, why’d you come?”
Pachem, who had returned ahead of them, asked curtly while digging in his ear.
“I want to learn how to process Dragon Hearts.”
“Ha! What good’s knowing? You can’t even get one.”
“I can.”
Jaein pulled a box from her backpack and opened it. Inside was a Dragon Heart slightly larger than a human head. The translucent, coldly glowing heart looked like a finely crafted gem.
“...Huh?! What?!”
Pachem peered into the box, eyes widening as if they’d pop out.
“Hey! Close the door!”
Marcelo hurriedly shut the office door.
“You crazy bastards! Carrying this around in a bag?!”
“Why? It’s not dangerous.”
“Not danger— It’s dangerous! Gah... Huff...”
“Master, breathe. In and out!”
Marcelo grabbed and shook Pachem.
“Why’re they freaking out?”
Jaein didn’t understand.
“You said you’d ask about Dragon Hearts, not that you’d bring one.”
Carlton sighed.
“Was I not supposed to?”
“A Dragon Heart’s value is literally infinite.”
“So?”
“Plenty of people would kill for it. A street brawl over this wouldn’t be surprising.”
“Oh, that’s why it’s dangerous.”
“Wh-where’d you get this?”
Pachem asked Jaein.
“Oh, our chairman and the Goddess hunted a dragon and brought it back.”
“Jaein! Don’t call me Goddess!”
“So you two are Dragon Slayers?”
“There are masters on Tellus too, so dragons aren’t impossible to kill, right?”
Jaein asked at Pachem’s words.
“Ability’s one thing, numbers are another. The last dragon killed was decades ago.”
“Then... the processing method...?”
“Don’t know it.”
Jaein drooped in disappointment.
“But the archive might have records.”
“Really?!”
“I’ll have to go check. It was before I was born. I’ll head down... Keep that safe.”
Pachem rushed out.
“Marcelo, can I go look around the workshops more?”
“What about the heart?”
Carlton worried at Jaein’s words.
“With the chairman and Goddess guarding it here, no one could steal it.”
Nayoung glared at Jaein, who looked away.
With two masters guarding it, staying put was safer than wandering.
“Then I’ll guide you.”
Marcelo took the lead.
Earlier they’d only seen from outside, but now Jaein could enter the workshops and watch the work up close.
“Ooh!”
She appraised new materials and methods with her skill, getting excited.
“Could I buy some of that?”
Jaein cautiously asked Marcelo.
“I’ll ask the master. It’s not that rare a mineral, so it should be fine.”
“Such a diverse mix of races.”
“The Western Continent has no persecution of races. Though beastkin aren’t common here.”
“Why?”
“Beastkin have thick fur and high body temperature, so the heat in forges is tough on them.”
“True, the cave’s pretty hot inside. But you’re okay, Marcelo?”
It was better outside, but deeper in, the temperature rose.
“Cat beastkin handle it better than most, but it’s still hot for me. Still, smithing’s my dream, so I endure.”
“Cooling would help.”
“We circulate cool outside air, but with so many furnaces, it’s not enough. Cooling magic costs too much.”
“Want me to install something?”
“Cooling magic?”
“No, a scientific cooling method. Carrier-hyung invented it. The mountain winds are strong, so power’s no issue.”
Circulating wind directly lacked temperature and volume control, but an air conditioner could cool exactly where and when needed.
“Are you a grand mage’s disciple?!”
“No, he’s not a grand mage, and I’m not his disciple. But he’s just as amazing. He saved Koreans from the heat waves.”
“How can we repay you?”
“I’ll draw up blueprints. Make it exactly like that? I could bring a finished unit, but teaching you the method and principles lets you mass-produce even without me.”
Marcelo’s cat eyes widened round at Jaein’s casual offer to share the technology.