Chapter 225
Chapter 225
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 225
Chapter Title: Regret (3)
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While I was teasing my master for a moment.
A sound came from the secluded quarters, and Tak Jang-myeong came running over.
"Father! Young Master! Were you at the ancestral hall all night?!"
Tak Jong-gun opened his mouth as if that wasn't the important part.
"We've decided to reforge Eon Young Master's sword."
"Y-Yes? That's a wise decision, Father!"
"Make the preparations."
"Yes! I'll light the forge right away!"
"Not right away."
"Pardon?"
"He said the young master came here with an ancient guest."
I wondered what this "ancient guest" meant as I listened.
But seeing Tak Jang-myeong understand immediately, it seemed to be blacksmith slang for thousand-year steel.
"Oh! Then there's a lot to prepare?"
"Why mutter obvious nonsense and tire your mouth? We have roaring blue charcoal, so go fetch through-rock wood. The Hong Family Ironworks makes decorative swords for the rich, so they should have some!"
"……."
"Scoop plenty of mud and water from the sword pool too. Ah! We'll need hands as well. Once quenching starts, we'll have to hammer nonstop for days. Twenty? No, thirty men! Call in Bong-gyu, Woo-sik, and all the blacksmiths and apprentices who were off rest until tomorrow!"
Tak Jong-gun was brimming with enthusiasm, but Tak Jang-myeong looked clearly troubled.
Watching that, my master asked,
- Just yesterday, the son was talking about repaying a favor, and the father was scolding him? Today, it's completely reversed?
'It's not completely reversed if you look closely.'
- Hm?
'Look at Tak Jang-myeong's face. He doesn't look unwilling, just troubled, right?'
- Now that you mention it, yes.
'Master was in the hall all yesterday, so you didn't see properly. The Tak Family Ironworks is in dire straits.'
- A money issue, then.
That was a problem I could solve.
I could gladly invest in the Tak Family Ironworks.
Above all, this was about reforging my beloved sword, Regret.
'No reason not to use the bill of exchange I got from Yin Xia Lian.'
The issue was that handing it over openly would offend the prideful Tak Jong-gun, who wouldn't accept payment for repaying a favor.
'…Tak Jang-myeong would feel sorry too.'
So, pretending to clasp my hands behind my back, I opened my money pouch.
I took out one of the bills from Yin Xia Lian on the way.
Using Gold Flower Hand techniques, I slipped it secretly into Tak Jang-myeong's hand and sent a transmission.
[Think of it as an advance loan and use it.] "!"
Tak Jang-myeong swallowed dryly and stared at me.
'That's too much.'
His expression said exactly that.
He knew bills like this involved large sums.
'Once the Tak Family Ironworks comes under my wing, it'll all come back anyway. No need to worry like that.'
Of course, I couldn't say that.
I thought for a moment, then sent another transmission.
[It's just one night, but I feel I understand Master Blacksmith's temperament and the Tak Family Ironworks' situation. Maybe because I've always carried Regret with me, but their plight doesn't feel like someone else's.] Are we outsiders?
[I've heard it takes a full ten years to forge a single sword sometimes. But I don't have much time. I have to return to the academy.] "……."
[I just hope there's no shortage. If it bothers you, use it for supplies and wages, then pay back the change later. Ah, and take care of Madam as our physician lady said.] Tak Jang-myeong clutched the bill carefully.
"…Yes, Father. I'll prepare without a hitch."
With that, Tak Jang-myeong left the hall.
I turned to Tak Jong-gun.
"Then, shall I leave Regret with you, sir?"
"Before that, I'd like to see the young master wield it. Possible?"
He wasn't learning martial arts at his age.
He wanted a reference for reforging Regret.
I nodded lightly and drew Regret.
Sring—
Tak Jong-gun, experienced in such requests, stepped back familiarly.
Before him, I began demonstrating the Heaven-Splitting Swordsmanship.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next day, as dawn broke.
The Tak Family Ironworks bustled from early morning.
Twenty-six blacksmiths gathered to reforge Regret performed ritual baths.
After bathing, they offered sacrifices to their patron deities: Gan Jiang, Mo Ye, and Ou Yezi.
Having performed the rite to ward off ill fortune, the smiths carried Regret, iron ingots, and other materials to the forge.
"It might take days. Jeong-hyeon, you'll guard the Tak Family Ironworks with me, taking shifts."
"Yes, Eon young hero."
"You two stay here."
"Yes, brother."
"Ok-gi, watch over Madam. If anything happens, send Ha-seong?"
"Don't worry."
Leaving the Tak household to Dang Ok-gi and Yin Ha-seong, I arrived at the ironworks with Jeong-hyeon, following the blacksmiths.
Under Tak Jang-myeong's command, the forge was heating up fiercely.
"Throw the through-rock wood charcoal in just before the ingots. No mistakes."
"Yes!"
"Add more roaring blue charcoal! Fan the flames higher! Hotter! More! More!!"
Amid that.
Tak Jong-gun, dragging his frail body to oversee, asked me,
"What are you thinking when you swing the sword, young master?"
What am I thinking when swinging the sword?
Not an easy question to answer.
It almost asked about my philosophy of life.
But pondering, an answer surfaced.
"To have no regrets."
"…Regrets. This old man knows nothing of martial arts, but your sword seemed unhesitating."
"Did it?"
"Yes. Like cleaving mountains and shattering skies."
"Not quite yet."
"The momentum suggested it. And from what Jang-myeong said last night… You've done many heroic deeds just past twenty, and even past mistakes were intentional? Do even you have regrets?"
"Don't people regret eating too much or too little after a meal? Whatever it is, I try not to leave regrets looking back later."
"…I see."
Tak Jong-gun nodded heavily at my answer for a moment.
Whoosh!!
Tak Jang-myeong checked the forge fire and raised his voice.
"Father!"
Tak Jong-gun shed his upper garment and stepped toward the forge.
Jeong-hyeon, watching beside me, murmured softly,
"…Now I see he's not here to supervise, but as one of the blacksmiths."
"…Yeah. Seems so."
"Sh-Should we stop him?"
"Think he'll listen? Look at him."
"…Even the Jade Emperor couldn't."
The man who could barely stand straightened before the forge.
His unsteady leg, propped on the bellows, fit as if always one.
His eyes gleamed too.
Clouded from lifelong flames, they now burned like the sun, devouring the fire before him.
"Begin!"
At the command.
Charcoal from rock-piercing trees entered the forge.
Fierce bellowing followed.
Roar! Roooar!!!!
Flames for thousand-year steel and smiths' hot breaths.
Even I, beyond peak realm, felt the heat choke the air as the ironworks glowed.
Regret melted to red-hot liquid.
"Pour!"
Mixed with other materials per Tak Jong-gun's order, it formed an ingot.
Reheated, Tak Jong-gun tonged it to the anvil.
Blacksmiths swarmed, hammering.
Clang! Claaang!! Kaaang!!!!!
Sparks burst like fireworks where hammers struck.
Sssshhhhh!!!!!
Before the heat faded, the metal plunged into sword pool water, spewing white steam.
"……."
Watching dazedly, night fell.
Watching again, day returned.
Five days after twenty-six smiths took turns folding and hammering Regret.
Yin Ha-seong rushed in.
"Yong-un brother! Big trouble!"
"What?"
"Madam's in labor!"
"What?! And?"
"Ok-gi sister has no experience delivering. The midwife from town went for a professional! But from last pulse check, the baby's big—could be difficult!"
"Got it. Hurry back and do whatever Ok-gi needs!"
"Yes!"
"Jeong-hyeon!"
"Yes, Eon young hero!"
"You go too."
"Yes!"
I relayed the urgent news inside.
"Madam's water broke!"
The work didn't stop.
Tak Jong-gun gripped tongs on the blade-shaped metal.
Others hammered atop.
Clang! Claaaang!!
Tak Jang-myeong, resting, stood abruptly.
"Father."
Clang!
Kaaang! Kang!!!!
"Speak if you've called."
"……."
"Will you keep raging?"
"…I'll go."
His words sought permission.
To my ears, knowing their story, it sounded like avoiding his father's mistake.
"……."
Only he knew the truth.
After brief silence, Tak Jong-gun spoke.
"Go."
Tak Jang-myeong turned.
Apologized to me.
"Sorry, young master."
"No. Go home."
He left.
Drops—sweat or tears—streamed down Tak Jong-gun's face, but he led quenching unceasingly.
Clang! Kang! Kaaang!!
Unstopping hammer and cooling sounds.
Apprentices dropped first, then exhausted smiths.
Finally, I lent a hand.
"Young master, hold these tongs."
"Yes."
Most smiths collapsed.
Grueling quenching ended.
"Water. Clean water."
Washed in sword pool water after days of anvil blows.
A pristine white blade emerged, like hoarfrost forged.
"……."
Tak Jong-gun squinted, tilting it.
Nodded faintly.
Then Yin Ha-seong returned.
"She delivered! Mother and child healthy!"
Tak Jong-gun wept endlessly.
Collapsed like crumbling ash.
"Sir!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I caught the falling elder.
Though safe in my arms, he was unconscious—body and mind at limit.
Tak Jong-gun lay bedridden two days unmoving.
But Dang Ok-gi's decoction worked; he awoke.
"You're conscious!"
Dang Ok-gi repulsed him.
[How is it?] [Exhausted. Like a martial artist depleting true essence.] [Final blaze.] His recent form resembled flames squeezing last strength before extinguishing.
'That's why I couldn't stop him.'
Wrong words might leave his regret unaddressed, just depleting him.
As I thought that.
Tak Jong-gun drew a deep breath, spoke to Tak Jang-myeong.
"…No funeral. I'm unworthy. Care for the newborn instead."
"Father! Don't say that—get up!"
"Stop. I know my body. Heed my last words."
"…If it's money worries, don't! Eon young master paid generously! With that…."
"…No more. Do as I say. Cremate and scatter in the sword pool. If you want to fulfill filial duty, recall my teachings each forging."
"Sob…."
As Tak Jang-myeong wept, solemn air fell.
Tak Jong-gun spoke again.
"Fussing while I'm like this? What of the sword? Not abandoned?"
"I finished polishing."
"Enough tears. Present it to the young master."
Tak Jang-myeong, red-eyed, brought a case before me.
Completed Regret inside.
I grasped the dragon-and-cloud scabbard.
Right hand to hilt.
Sring—
Smooth draw, pristine white blade.
Transfixed by it.
Tak Jong-gun spoke.
"To your liking?"
"Beyond words."
"No name engraved. Call as you wish."
"Regret."
"…May I ask why?"
"Regret isn't avoided—faced."
"Haha. Regret erasing regret… Fitting name. Truly grateful. Meeting you let me release lifelong grudge, depart without regret."
First smile since waking, he rasped to Tak Jang-myeong,
"…Jang-myeong, what now?"
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
"Wife, children, smiths… Your family."
"As you wish…."
"…I'll answer no more."
"……."
"You're Tak Family Ironworks master… Grand smith. Decide yourself. Don't fear it."
"…Yes."
"Seeing Eon young master taught me. I regretted youth's errors but fled inaction."
"…Father."
"Reforged Regret… unbreakable. Finally faced errors. Jang-myeong…."
"Yes."
"Regrets inevitable in life. Key… don't halt fearing them. Hope you… live unafraid."
Hot tears streamed down Tak Jang-myeong's face at final words.
Swallowing grief, he answered.
His father's deepest wish.
Grand smith's duty.
"I'll remember."
Tak Jong-gun closed eyes like sleep.
Regret tormenting him reborn unbreakable sword.
At last, he smiled.