Chapter 22
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Meister of the Shadows
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A few days later.
Team Leader Lim Chang-ju reported Kang Sa-hu's requests to his superiors, and after some fine-tuning, he sent a message confirming that the conditions had been adjusted to match what Kang Sa-hu wanted.
Kang Sa-hu received a similarly positive response from Lieutenant Han Si-yeon. He contacted his teammates, and they all headed off to meet the blacksmith who crafted weapons and armor.
"Wow, I had no idea our country had an Awakener who could create artifacts!"
"And one's affiliated with the National Intelligence Service, no less. Looks like all the agencies have been quietly recruiting Hunters behind the scenes."
Meister.
The term literally meant master craftsman or virtuoso, but in modern times, it referred to Awakeners whose abilities specialized in crafting weapons, armor, and other essentials for Hunters.
After Gate Breaks began ravaging the world, Hunters realized modern firearms had their limits in firepower. Naturally, they shifted to melee weapons as their primary arms.
The concept of the Meister had originated in the West and was still relatively new even in Korea, a country that prided itself on quickly acquiring and adapting to global information.
Kim Ho-myeong marveled at the workshop, smoke billowing from its chimney.
The building was nearly 50 pyeong—spacious enough to serve as a company headquarters—and three stories tall. The incessant clang of hammers echoed nonstop from within.
"Hello~!"
Kang Ji-ye called out loudly as they entered, but no response came.
Puzzled, the group followed the sound of the hammering to its source, where they spotted a figure pounding away at an anvil.
"Ahem!"
As they approached her, Bae Deok-ho cleared his throat awkwardly and turned away.
And understandably so—working alone here, her outfit was extremely casual and revealing.
She was deep in concentration, hammering away in baggy suspender jeans and a tank top. Sensing their presence, she looked up, startled to see Kang Sa-hu and his group.
"Ack! You scared me! Who the hell are you?!"
She bellowed in a rough, metallic voice, prompting Kang Sa-hu to step forward.
"Hello. We're here on referral from the National Intelligence Service. Are you Park Joo-hee, by any chance?"
"What? You already picked stuff up a few days ago, and now you're back?! They don't give me a break!"
Park Joo-hee grumbled as she undid her haphazardly tied white bob haircut.
"The finished pieces are on the second floor—go grab 'em. And why are you here so early? There's still time before the deadline."
She sounded irritated, clearly fed up with the NIS.
The others flinched at her brusque reaction, but Kang Sa-hu calmly shook his head.
"We're not with the NIS. We're Hunters."
"...What?! Outsiders?! How did you even get in here?!"
Park Joo-hee grabbed her hammer like a baseball bat, glaring at them warily.
Unfazed, Kang Sa-hu pulled out a printed document and held it up for her to see.
"Too far—I can't read it!"
"...I'll come a bit closer, then."
Like approaching a feral animal, he extended one open palm while gripping the paper in the other, crouching low as he inched forward.
His teammates—and even Park Joo-hee—were dumbfounded by the beast-taming approach, but she kept her guard up, gripping the hammer tighter while eyeing the paper.
The moment Kang Sa-hu got close enough for her to read the text and verify the NIS seal...
"...Damn it, you anvil-heads!"
Park Joo-hee smashed her hammer into the wall in fury.
Boom!
"Eek! I-It’s collapsing!"
Kang Ji-ye screamed at the thunderous crash reverberating through the building, clinging to Lee Yu-rim's arm.
But Lee Yu-rim calmly patted her back and shook her head.
"It's fine. Won't collapse."
"Ugh... really?"
"Why would I wreck my own workshop? Quit panicking."
Park Joo-hee huffed at Kang Ji-ye's reaction, tidying up her forging tools.
"Hoo. So, you want to pick your own gear?"
"Yes, exactly."
This was the first condition Kang Sa-hu had secured from the NIS: instead of being handed items unilaterally, they could meet the blacksmith in person and choose for themselves. Park Joo-hee pulled a face.
"Always the types. No eye for quality, just chasing the shiny stuff."
She tsked, eyeing Kang Sa-hu with a mix of contempt and pity.
"Second floor. That's where I keep everything I've made."
She stood and led the way. Kang Ji-ye scowled.
"What's her deal? So rude!"
The others nodded in agreement, but Kang Sa-hu replied flatly.
"She's under NIS contract, getting paid a salary. No reason to be nice to us."
"...What? Whose side are you on, oppa?!"
Kang Ji-ye glared daggers, but Kang Sa-hu just shrugged.
"We get to pick what we want. That's the point of the condition."
Kang Sa-hu had insisted on meeting Park Joo-hee personally to select items himself for one reason: to handpick the absolute best and arm his teammates properly.
Expecting politeness from the blacksmith on top of that would be greedy, so he brushed off her attitude.
Of course, he had some personal motives too—but those might offend her if revealed now, so he kept them even from Kang Ji-ye.
On the second floor, weapons and armor filled the vast space.
However, they all looked mass-produced—uniform and hastily made, lacking the care of custom pieces.
"Wow... I never imagined we'd get gear like this without custom orders."
Kim Ho-myeong admired the items as he browsed.
As a Knight, he already had a shield, but it was one he'd commissioned himself.
So this was how other Hunters got their gear—mass-produced by smiths like her.
"No need to doubt the performance. All made from Gate-mined materials, so they hold up inside Gates too. But let's make one thing clear."
Park Joo-hee slung her hammer over her shoulder, eyes gleaming.
"The contract says one weapon and one piece of armor per person. Pick exactly that—no more."
"Do you sell extras, then?"
Kim Ho-myeong asked, and she nodded.
"Sure, buy if you want. Just know the prices aren't cheap."
She grinned challengingly. Kim Ho-myeong snorted inwardly but kept his composure.
"Got it. We'll browse, then."
With that, the group scattered to find gear suited to them.
Park Joo-hee sat indifferently, chugging a drink she'd pulled from somewhere to quench her thirst.
'Show-offs with no taste.'
She smirked as Kim Ho-myeong pretended to deliberate but clearly fixated on the flashiest pieces.
After awakening as a hidden class capable of crafting diverse artifacts amid the world's upheaval...
Having grown up around her family's foundry, she'd been thrilled at the potential to fully utilize her powers.
But after joining the NIS, churning out efficient items on their rigid schedule like a machine, her initial passion and excitement had long faded.
Her soul-infused masterpieces dismissed as "ugly," her intentions ignored while clients demanded whatever they fancied—it crushed her pride as a smith.
Now, tailoring to their whims felt like mere work, nothing more.
'How did it come to this?'
She'd once dreamed of being a Meister, crafting superb gear for Hunters with her gifts...
As she sighed deeply...
A shabby black robe and a single ring appeared on her desk.
Startled, she looked up to see Kang Sa-hu gazing at her with a gentle smile.
"We'll take these."
"...Ha, see? No eye for quality. Hey, can't you see all the other stuff? Why dig up these old failures? Mocking me?"
Her voice bristled with thorns, but Kang Sa-hu shook his head.
"No. These are the finest pieces I could choose from here."
"...What?"
"Whoa! Nice picks, oppa!"
As she reeled, Kang Ji-ye plopped her selections on the desk—similarly, not the newest shiny ones, but a rough-finished staff dusted with age and a white robe.
"Ooh, these exist? Bad temper, but real skill. Soul and essence woven into every piece."
"...W-What are you two?"
Park Joo-hee shot up, flustered. Kang Ji-ye tilted her head playfully.
"Hunters...?"
"Who doesn't know that! How did you pick these?!"
She bellowed metallically. Kang Ji-ye jumped, then glared.
"How? Picked the absolute best!"
"These are failures from when I was clueless! And you call them the best?!"
"Yes. They are the best."
Kang Sa-hu affirmed. Park Joo-hee whipped around.
His eyes shone faintly as he continued.
"Items crafted with heart and soul bear a spirit—infused with essence and spirit. Ordinary sincerity can't produce them."
Her eyes trembled at his matter-of-fact words.
He met her gaze softly.
"Truly magnificent masterpieces. Thank you for making them."
"...What's to thank? I didn't make 'em for you."
She turned away sharply, voice strained.
Kang Ji-ye blinked curiously.
"Huh? You crying?"
"Crying my ass!"
Park Joo-hee barked. Kang Ji-ye flinched, then scowled.
"Then just say no—why yell?!"
"Shut it! Take 'em if you want. No exchanges, got it?!"
"Hah! Wouldn't give 'em back even if you begged!"
Despite her feisty retort, Kang Ji-ye carefully gathered her items and stormed off.
Kang Sa-hu sighed wearily at her stomping figure.
"Sorry for the rudeness. I'll be going now."
As he picked up his ring and robe, Park Joo-hee tossed out casually.
"I said one weapon, one armor. Why the ring?"
Her voice carried a hint of moisture. Kang Sa-hu met her eyes.
"It's shaped like a ring, but made as a weapon, right? Seems to have magic enhancement."
"...Not a fluke, huh."
Pleased, she smiled faintly and held out her phone.
He looked puzzled. She glanced away sullenly.
"Gimme your numbers. I'll custom-make for you two next time."
Kang Sa-hu blinked in surprise.
But his hands moved steadily, entering his and Kang Ji-ye's numbers, calling to save them.
"Thank you. See you next time."
She gaped at his seamless poise despite the shock, then chuckled dryly.
"Not your average lot. You're the leader, huh?"
"Lacking, but yes."
His calm reply drew an odd expression from her.
"C-rank Gate challenge, right? Survive it. I'll make you way better custom gear."
For the one reigniting her long-lost passion, she'd offer her finest gift.
Aware of it, Kang Sa-hu stared in astonishment.
As she beamed proudly under his gaze...
He ventured carefully.
"Could you do the others too, by any chance?"
"......"
Her brows shot up at the request for his teammates after her generosity.
But realizing it was for his group, not selfishness, she nodded reluctantly.
"Fine. But I won't put in the same care as for you two."
"That's more than enough. Thank you."
After he bowed gratefully and left...
Park Joo-hee recalled their picks—her true masterpieces—and felt her heart race.
It was like fire reigniting in her long-cold forge.
Rarely sentimental, as the remaining three barreled over with their hasty choices...
"I'll take these!"
"Here."
"You said extras are for sale, right? We'll pay separately for anything beyond the NIS allotment."
"......"
Seeing their obvious flash-over-substance picks, Park Joo-hee felt her budding passion doused like cold water, grimacing.