The Hammer's Edge and a Sudden Alliance
Han Yohan, the master blacksmith, had been turning the blade over in his hands like it was some kind of curiosity. He tapped its edge lightly with a fingertip. *THUD!*
Metal rang with a different resonance—low and full, like the deep note of a temple bell.
“Huh?”
**Lord, did you feel it too?**
“I projected mana onto it.”
**A single movement to distribute mana evenly across the weapon, and then just analyzing it? Impressive skill.**
Isra let out a soft gasp of admiration.
This was the first time she’d ever heard anyone praise *anyone* except Lord.
**Of course, it can’t compare to how magnificent Lord is.**
Let’s leave me out of it.
“Unrhythmical hammering. The fire control is rough, the tempo’s all over the place. You’ve got some tricks, but it still feels amateurish.”
When the master says the sword is interesting, that’s one thing. But right after that came the fact that actually stung.
“You’re clearly a novice at blacksmithing, yet the result is decent.”
Was this praise or insult? Hard to tell.
“Unthinkable completion for a complete beginner. How many masters could even join two orc thigh bones and turn them into a magical item?”
*THUD!*
Mana swept across the blade once more. This time the ring was sharper, like the metal itself had been brushed by a direct touch.
“The essence of a blade—I understand it. It’s a usable weapon.”
“Oho! Master has given his highest praise!”
“An old master like you—when did you become this generous?”
“Even if you’re a beginner, you sure throw some sharp words around.”
“It’s no big deal. Even a blacksmith who’s only held a hammer for a year can be impressive.”
The master extended the sword toward me. “Ever held a hammer?” “Yes.” “Recently?” “Very recently.” “With a special skill giving you an advantage in bone processing.”
That was a detail I’d casually let slip earlier. I couldn’t deny it, so I just nodded.
“Then today, let’s try making the same thing with steel.”
“Fine by me.”
It was my first time touching metal. The feel was completely different from bone.
[No Bone Alchemy adjustment—maybe that’s why.]
The material felt alien. Unfamiliar, even. Still, since it wasn’t bought with my own money, I figured I’d give it a try.
I’d planned to try steel in the tutorial anyway.
**Is this alright?**
“Yeah.”
It was a good chance.
Would my hand and experience transfer over to metal, or only bone? I wanted to find out.
*CLANG! CLANG!*
“Huuu…”
Harder than I expected. Bone had that satisfying *thwack*. Steel just didn’t give me anything.
But I was gripping the hammer, so I stayed completely focused—whether someone was watching or not.
Remembering how I’d frantically repaired zombies in the gate… This was nothing compared to that.
**Amateur’s Touch** Grade: Magical Type: Sword Limit: None Durability: 227/240
A blade forged by a blacksmith with only a year under his belt.
*Slash: 21 Lv* *Thrust: 16 Lv*
*Click.*
You could tell from the “amateur” title. It didn’t quite match the bone sword’s finish. Purely on material, steel was superior to orc thigh bone. Without any job bonuses, it was still tough to create.
“First time making a sword with steel?” “Yes.” “Hoo…” “Without any guidance, you made something like this?” “Unbelievable. You didn’t even drink this morning, yet you’re hearing things.”
Why was he so shocked? The performance was actually worse than the first sword I’d made.
I looked at Nam Jinwoo with a puzzled expression.
“The term ‘amateur’ means you have to apprentice for about a year.” “Really?” “I pushed myself for a month with a hammer and got this far.”
This guy wasn’t ordinary at all. He’d casually mentioned turning a year-long course into a one-month challenge.
Chief apprentice at Korea’s top blacksmith—under the workshop masters, he bowed deeply, but out in the world he was someone to be reckoned with.
“Materials other than bone don’t seem to resonate at all.” “Resonate?” “Blacksmith-class hunters can understand minerals.”
I got the feeling. After mastering Bone Alchemy, the first time I’d gripped hammer and bone in the tutorial, *thwack!*—a spark of inspiration had flared. But with steel, that spark never came.
“It won’t be easy to become a blacksmith.” “Don’t worry. There are excellent blacksmiths who never learn to understand steel, yet they operate at a high level.”
The nation’s top master had called someone “excellent.”
“Ho ho. A bit yellow around the edges, but that’s fine.” “You’re skilled, too.” “You could pay more respect to elders.”
The three masters seemed to share that thought.
“Who is it?” “He’s right in front of you.”
Han Yohan jutted his chin forward. *There.* So… it was Nam Jinwoo?
“Why are you hyping him up like he’s some hero, Master?” “That’s the person himself.”
“Hey, you masters. Let me make one suggestion.” “Speak.” “You’re not planning to bring Lord to Hanil Blacksmith, are you?” “If you do, you’ll wake up to a dead body tomorrow.”
Han Yohan cleared his throat loudly. “Only if Lord is fine with it. I want Nam Jinwoo as my chief apprentice.”
I immediately shook my head. “I have no intention of following the blacksmith path.” “It’s not about entering any workshop. It’s literally just an experience.”
Wow. *Whew.*
A little intense.
**Why are you so surprised?**
Learning blacksmithing is brutally difficult. I’d heard new apprentices only learned to control fire for a full month.
**Didn’t he say the other person made a magical item in one month?**
Nam Jinwoo? That wasn’t the normal case. It proved he had exceptional talent.
The conversation had taken a weird turn. The nation’s top blacksmith was suggesting I try “steak with soy sauce.”
Blacksmiths had an insane sense of pride in their craft. Han Yohan’s proposal was shocking, yet I couldn’t imagine the masters accepting it…
“Oh! That’s great!” “Then we’ll guide him on the side.” “After swinging the hammer, you can have a drink with us.” “…No way.”
Weren’t the top blacksmiths of our country too easygoing?
“So, what do you think?”
The nation’s most famous masters had gone this far. If I turned them down, I’d be a fool.
“Thank you very much.”
***
*CLANG! CLANG!*
Nam Jinwoo swung the hammer. I watched, fascinated.
With the masters outside and only the two of us left in the tutorial workshop.
“How does it look to you, Master?” “Persistent and hardworking, plus talent.” “I see the talent.” “How can you judge effort in someone who’s only held a hammer for a short while?” “It looks like high hand-craft stat.”
Han Yohan answered the masters’ doubts. “That hand-craft stat—how did you raise it?” “Hah. I hadn’t thought of that.” “The nation’s top master thinks on a different level.” “Just now, it looked like you were directly creating undead.”
Hunters would have instantly seen it, but the masters, who only cared about hammering, only realized it now.
“That amount of persistence to raise hand-craft—that’s perfect for a blacksmith. Just right.” “But Master, why aren’t you more eager to take me as a disciple?” “You can’t force someone to catch what you throw.” “You’re saying even if I reel you in, it’s not enough?” “I didn’t say I gave up.”
Han Yohan’s cryptic words left the three masters staring at him with question marks above their heads.
“Either yes or no.” “What was that lukewarm remark?” “Master, have you had a hangover cure?”
We’d all assumed he was about to step back because he’d decided to give up. Turns out he was waiting for *us* to back down.
Han Yohan clicked his tongue. “You’re all too far off.” “Tell me your plan.” “If you just push, you won’t get anyone who wants it. You have to make them want it themselves.”
The hammer striking steel would show you the appeal of blacksmithing!
“While learning from the chief apprentice and coming and going, you’ll want to swing the hammer.”
Swing the hammer → feel the joy of forging → learn more → become a blacksmith!
A plan so sloppy I couldn’t even tell where it started to fail. The nation’s top master, who normally paid attention to nothing but hammering.
“Hoo ho ho.”
One master chuckled. “How did you come up with such a genius idea?” “Damn. That’s why you’re the nation’s top master.” “We can’t follow Master’s wisdom.”
Sadly, the three masters’ thought process was almost identical.
“Let’s just leave him with Chief Apprentice Nam Jinwoo for now.” “Huhuhu. Once the hammer starts feeling fun, I’ll teach you one of my techniques.” “Uh-oh. Only after you’ve declared your intention to become a blacksmith to Lord.” “A drink and I’ll make up my mind. What a waste.”
Same pot, same rice.
The mindset of blacksmiths who had spent their entire lives gripping hammers didn’t change much.
***
*CLANG!*
I hammered the freshly tempered steel. “Stop.”
Nam Jinwoo’s order, and I released all tension from my arms.
Huuu… Tough.
After a few more swings, the difference from bone became crystal clear.
“It’s heavy.” “Right.”
The hammer itself wasn’t heavy. The recoil the instant you struck was.
The word “heavy” fit that perfectly.
“You’re really good for a first-timer.” “Thank you for the guidance.”
For five years as a hunter, I’d never received instruction from anyone. There was no one with the Necrosmith ability.
I’d struggled alone. Poked through countless rooms that went dark as I made my way to the bed.
Now that I was properly using my abilities as a Necrosmith, I could ask for help.
**Training the sword is going to take less time— that’s concerning.**
**Lord. Don’t forget about magical training either.**
Yes, yes. Instead of four pieces, it looked like six would split.
“That’s enough for today.” “No other schedule, so it’s fine.” “Lord Hunter, your forearm is trembling.”
Oh. I hadn’t noticed.
After listening to Nam Jinwoo, I only realized my fingers and arms were shaking like twigs.
Wow. Even my own body.
“If you focus too much, you start to lose it.” “I didn’t realize my limit was that high.”
True.
Thanks to inheriting the Heavenly Martial Body, ordinary labor felt nothing to me.
Now that I thought about it, it was already evening. We’d escaped the reporters by noon, so I’d swung the hammer without a break for half a day.
**Your focus was truly magnificent!**
**Hahaha. That was my Lord Isra’s concentration.**
Sigh…
I might have clapped if I went to the restroom.
“Call me when you visit. I’ll prepare.” “Oh, thank you.” “If you want to learn anything, text me in advance.”
Wow. So kind.
Compared to the other masters whose eyes were spinning, Nam Jinwoo looked completely normal.
“Will you join Master for dinner?” “No. I’m good.”
He refused in a blade-sharp tone.
Thanks to Master Han Yohan’s “experience” offer, I’d been saved from being torn apart. But the fire in that old man’s eyes still lingered in my memory.
After a simple farewell, since it was too late for dinner, I headed to the nearby kalguksu shop.
“Boss, one bowl of sundubu-gukbap.”
While waiting for the food, I mindlessly watched the TV inside.
At that moment.
**[Breaking News! Seventh-Force Guild’s Mental Hospital Transfers to China!]**
…What?
What kind of news was that?