The Miner Who Cracked the Rock
CANG!
KAANG!
The pickaxe swung in a steady rhythm, digging into the earth.
Using the power of the Gigant Armor, Master Han Yohan easily shattered the rock and minerals.
“The technique for hammer work is a bit different.”
Touching his chin, he watched the master’s pickaxe swings.
Thanks to the Heavenly Martial Body.
Even though it looked like he was just swinging wildly at first glance,
he could read that the master’s enlightenment had seeped in.
It was truly fascinating to learn while mining.
“The Lord’s eyes are opening up quite well now.”
“Eyes?”
“Not just seeing, but understanding.”
“What does it look like to you?”
“He accurately reads the flow of the mineral and strikes only the weak points.”
Flow.
It had been a while since I’d heard that word.
Right after Isra took me in as her subordinate, she hadn’t been this strong yet.
The mastery of techniques like Aura was unimaginable.
She couldn’t even strengthen her body with mana.
Her stats were only a bit better than a regular zombie after volume reduction.
“Even with a body like that, you sliced through steel as easily as that.”
“Hm. It was nothing difficult.”
With the bone sword, he carved through a chunk of living armor like it was nothing.
At that time, Isra’s frequent words were ‘flow’.
I had shrugged it off before, thinking I didn’t understand the explanation.
“Now it seems clearer to you.”
“Quite well.”
Crack—!
A portion of the cracked cave collapsed and slid downward.
Master Han Yohan picked up a few fragments and placed them into a cart.
【Good. Good.】
“Is this mithril?”
【It needs to be melted and extracted.】
【Around 10 percent, I’d say. The ratio.】
Hearing Nam Jinwoo’s supplementary remark, a sigh of “Hm” escaped me.
I was taking only some of the minerals from the mine,
yet only 10 percent of them were mithril? It felt like I was losing out.
【If you consider the value of mithril, it’s enormous.】
Master Han Yohan answered as if he had seen my thoughts.
Since they said they were fine with it,
what could I do?
After swinging the pickaxe for a while,
click—!
Something twitched between the glowing minerals.
“SHAAAAAK!”
[Steel Worm]
A huge larva emerged, pushing aside the mineral.
The steel worm opened its cylindrical mouth wide.
The closely packed teeth looked sharp enough to tear apart steel chunks easily.
“It’s at B-rank monster level.”
“Please step back, master. Here I am going to…”
【Well done.】
Master Han Yohan didn’t step back at all; instead, he walked right up to the steel worm.
【It’s my first real fight. The perfect test subject.】
The steel worm, writhing as it emerged from the mine, rushed forward with dozens of legs moving.
[Auto Target]
[Mana Boost]
With the iron fist crashing into the steel worm’s head,
CRACK—!
The mineral clinging to its body shattered and the epidermis tore, spraying liquid.
The steel worm, its head sunken in, couldn’t move its body anymore.
【No problems during mining.】
“Are there no stronger monsters in the cave?”
【No.】
【The monsters don’t regenerate. That’s why they kept popping out unexpectedly during mining.】
I didn’t need to maintain a guard formation.
【It’s usable.】
Megus also praised the performance of the Gigant Armor.
“Isra.”
“Please assign me the guard duty.”
Of course.
As expected, the first sword.
He always read my thoughts.
“Master Han Yohan. Could I use the pickaxe?”
【I brought plenty. Use one.】
A pickaxe suddenly popped out from the spatial pocket.
[Alloy Pickaxe Forged with the Master’s Touch]
Grade: Unique
Classification: Tool
Restriction: Strength 500, Agility 300 or higher.
Durability: 500/500
A pickaxe forged by a Meister-grade master. Specialized for mining, its original function.
*Mining Lv 65
*Penetration Lv 65
“Whoa.”
Even the unique grade was laughable,
but the options were bizarre.
It felt like the stubbornness to break rocks and obtain the necessary minerals.
“You need mithril?”
“There’s something I need to test.”
The flow Isra had mentioned.
The two blacksmiths precisely struck the rock’s flow with the pickaxe.
Even without the Gigant Armor,
a bucket-sized rock would have been easily shattered.
Then,
Could I also learn to read the flow here and break things with a feel?
I didn’t voice the thought in my mind.
It might end up just blabbering.
Especially Isra would probably scold me for swinging the pickaxe instead of drawing the sword again.
Lately, she had been glaring at me so intently for not training.
Hah.
Concentrate.
I gripped the pickaxe with both hands.
The rough texture of the handle cleared away the distractions.
[Heavenly Martial Body]
[Origin of Magic]
[Golden Rule]
[Spirit Eye]
Everything was maximally sensitized.
From the five senses to the sixth sense that perceived mana.
With all senses at max, my body tingled.
Tsk.
I couldn’t do this for long.
After sharpening my senses,
I recalled how the two blacksmiths had mined.
Rock condition.
Direction of sight.
Pickaxe angle.
I engraved every tiny bit of information into my brain.
“Let’s try.”
After muttering to myself,
I raised the pickaxe overhead.
WHACK—!
My arms were pulled back like I’d received a surprise attack from a Chinese hunter on a remote island.
“Mr. Park Hunter.”
“It’s not that easy.”
I didn’t think I’d succeed on the first try.
Would the flow become clear to my eyes while chipping and mining?
【Of course.】
“It should be fine if I continue.”
【No. It’s not.】
Master Han Yohan, who usually didn’t spare encouragement,
was going somewhere.
Today he had a sharp look.
Was it because he entered the dangerous Cross Gate?
He seemed a bit sensitive.
【There’s no mithril there.】
“Ah.”
It wasn’t sensitivity.
I had literally been shoveling.
【As a blacksmith, it’s basic to read the wavelength of metal.】
【But you’re not a blacksmith, Mr. Park Hunter.】
【That’s right.】
Master Han Yohan gave a short reply and swung the pickaxe again.
【Swing it this way.】
“Thank you.”
I awkwardly stepped aside and stood at the wall where Nam Jinwoo pointed.
Hah.
Concentrate.
I submerged my embarrassing feelings and
read the flow of the minerals hidden in the cave.
CANG—!
With the sound of Master Han Yohan’s pickaxe shattering the rock,
“There it is.”
PAK—!
The feeling came.
The pickaxe raised high descended in a smooth curve.
At the moment the tip struck the rock,
CRACK—!
A rock bigger than a person split left and right.
[Successfully read the object’s flow.]
[Skill — Focus Strike added.]
Focus Strike
Type: Martial Arts
Grade: A
Classification: Passive
Reads the flow of an object or mana and strikes.
Even a small force can deal great damage.
Understanding: 1%
Just as before, the skill had been proven with the realization.
“Lord?”
Isra’s voice was filled with unhidden surprise and admiration.
Ah.
That’s what it is.
I didn’t think it would work in one go.
* * *
After splitting a rock bigger than a person at once,
Isra kept talking without stopping.
“With the Lord’s ability, it’s impossible for you to split that rock in two.”
“Lady, even so, absolute is a bit much, isn’t it?”
“Without using Aura, it’s impossible.”
Right.
I couldn’t use Aura.
“Mithril-contained minerals are very hard.”
【The lady’s words are correct.】
Master Han Yohan also chimed in.
“To split it so cleanly, you need to read the flow.”
“Right. I did read it.”
“Amazing! Lord! Truly amazing!”
I was grateful for the cheering,
but wasn’t it a bit over the top?
You hadn’t awakened Aura yet.
“Hm. The Lord is mistaken about one thing.”
Isra shook her head left and right.
“Just projecting mana will not allow you to see the flow.”
“Huh? Isn’t it possible above a certain level?”
“Even a knight who has reached the master’s level cannot see the flow.”
Master means S-rank hunter level, right?
Is reading the flow that great a skill?
“I can’t believe it.”
At the same time, joy and astonishment welled up.
Seeing the two blacksmiths do it,
I suddenly felt like it might be possible and swung the pickaxe once.
But I got a sudden realization that even S-rank hunters find it hard to master?
“Those with exceptional talent can see the flow before mastering Aura.”
“Ah. Then I understand.”
The continent’s greatest swordsman, the witch of the Eclipse, the saint loved by the evil god, and the great alchemist.
I was a person who united the talents of those who reached the pinnacle in each field.
When I swung the pickaxe just now,
Didn’t I weave the subordinates’ talents to amplify?
Don’t you have [Stealthy Footsteps]?
Zaug’s talent wouldn’t be lacking.
“Of course, having talent alone does not mean you can master the ability.”
Endless effort and enlightenment must match the dazzling talent.
So, it was an ability that great after all.
“I’ll try a bit more.”
“A posture of continuous diligence. Splendid!”
KAANG—!
Just like when I first swung the pickaxe,
the enormous rebound shook my wrist and arm.
Harder than hammer work.
But I could endure it.
KAAAAAANG—!
CANG—!
While swinging the pickaxe until the feeling came,
“Now.”
[Focus Strike activated.]
At the moment of striking the visible flow, CRACK—!
The rock split.
“Just because I see it doesn’t mean it works.”
“Correct. You must strike the exact point with a certain force.”
It was tough.
Of course.
Isra, who couldn’t handle Aura back then, had sliced steel like it was nothing.
To perform something close to impossible,
there must be a level of difficulty, that’s for sure.
“If it were the master, you would master it quickly.”
【Amazing, master.】
【Even in the era of this old man, there were almost no knights who could read the flow.】
Thanks to the subordinates’ encouragement, confidence surged.
“When I get used to Focus Strike, I should be able to take one share, right?”
“Don’t say scary things. The Lord will never, never, never swing a sword.”
Isra said it straight.
“Ah. That’s because the master was mistaken.”
Ingrid smiled brightly, but her eyes were cold.
You people.
Isn’t it better to use the skill once you master it?
“Don’t worry. The Lord’s senses will be shared with the subordinates too.”
“The skill will be shared?”
“Focus Strike is, strictly speaking, a concept of senses.”
Just like abilities such as Heavenly Martial Body or Origin of Magic apply to subordinates,
even the Focus Strike skill will become something shared among the undead.
“So, don’t neglect training.”
Tsk.
This is that, the thankless duty, isn’t it?
While grumbling inwardly and reaching for the pickaxe,
“Great Lord!”
Zaug walked hurriedly into the cave.
“Did you get chased by a monster?”
“No, that is not so.”
Eh.
I was just saying something, but it was real.
“I was trying to explore the surroundings, but I couldn’t go further because of strong monsters.”
Strong monsters.
They might attack the two blacksmiths, so I should eliminate them.
“Sigh. No need for the great lord to do anything like that.”
“Hm. It seems you like that. Lord, harvest the realization.”
Isra agreed too.
“Only the lord and madam, and the alchemist apprentice. Don’t lend us anyone else.”
“Megus too?”
“Yes.”
Well, it should be fine.
Since guarding the blacksmith is possible with the Death Warriors.
“Good. Then the command will be left to you, lady.”
“Hahah. Please entrust me.”
The dangerous Cross Gate.
Being cautious is never bad, right?
With four subordinates, I can take out almost any opponent.
What could happen?
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