Chapter 143
Chapter 143
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: Agranium Metal Request
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Kim Sang-cheol's face registered pure shock.
Agranum metal? Of all things?
"Do you even know what that is?"
"Isn't it a metal that can substitute for mithril?"
"You know that, and you're still asking me to make it?"
"Yes."
"Hah."
Kim Sang-cheol looked utterly dumbfounded at Shin Yu-hyun's calm nod, as if it were the most natural request in the world.
Did he have any idea what agranum was?
It was Unique-grade material.
With its exceptional mana conductivity, it could replace mithril when crafting 6-star A-rank weapons or gear.
That said, it wasn't as unattainable as legendary metals like orihalcon, adamantium, or mithril.
If you had the raw materials, you could refine it yourself.
But to waltz in here out of the blue and demand agranum metal?
Relatively easier to obtain than those legends didn't mean agranum was easy to get. Far from it.
"Do you know how hard it is to smelt agranum metal? If you want me to do it, bring at least Rare-grade ore. I'm not even asking for Unique-grade."
"Rare ore, you say?"
"Exactly. That's the bare minimum for smelting agranum. And since it's Rare-grade, you'll need at least three different types of rare ores. Unless it's Exceptional Rare, of course."
Kim Sang-cheol gazed at Shin Yu-hyun with smug satisfaction.
Among materials for superhuman or Hunter weapons and gear, ores were notoriously hard to procure.
Especially those high in mana conductivity.
He was certain Shin Yu-hyun couldn't get the Rare ores needed for agranum.
Money alone wouldn't cut it for Rare ores and metals.
But then.
"This should do it, right?"
Shin Yu-hyun grinned and pulled out a glowing purple magic ore: magnite.
"Gasp!"
Kim Sang-cheol's eyes nearly bulged at the sudden appearance of the violet ore. Not just the ore itself, but how he'd conjured a human-torso-sized chunk out of thin air.
"N-No way... Is this?"
Shin Yu-hyun nodded at the stunned smith's question.
"Magnite. Exceptional Rare-grade ore."
"Mag... Magnite..."
Kim Sang-cheol stared in awe at the magnite.
One glance told him everything: pure, flawless crystal, free of impurities.
He'd only heard tales of magnite himself.
Yet here it was, right in front of him.
"This should be enough to smelt agranum metal, yeah?"
"...!"
Snapped from his trance by the question, Kim Sang-cheol shook his head.
"Not quite."
Shin Yu-hyun's possession of magnite was shocking, but one piece wouldn't suffice for Unique-grade agranum.
"Still short. Need at least one more ore at Rare-grade minimum."
Kim Sang-cheol's expression hardened stubbornly.
'This old man's digging in his heels.'
Shin Yu-hyun chuckled inwardly.
Magnite alone was plenty for agranum.
But the prideful smith was tacking on extra conditions.
'That trick won't work on me.'
Shin Yu-hyun smirked.
Time to drive the nail home.
"How about this, then?"
He produced another metal right before Kim Sang-cheol's eyes.
Berka metal, looted from the 5-star swarm boss Xenomorph King in Nam Yeon-a's lab.
"Gasp! No way...?"
Kim Sang-cheol reacted with the same shock as the magnite. A clearly extraordinary metal on top of that priceless ore?
"Berka metal. Exceptional Rare-grade."
"Ex... Exceptional Rare..."
The words left Kim Sang-cheol reeling.
Exceptional Rare ore and metal!
"This oughta do it."
Shin Yu-hyun smiled at the smith.
"I never imagined you'd actually bring them..."
Kim Sang-cheol was speechless.
He'd planned to refuse the request outright.
Agranum? Absurd.
So he'd thrown out the Rare-ore demand as a deterrent. Never dreaming the kid would deliver.
Incredible.
'But tempting.'
Kim Sang-cheol eyed the glowing purple magnite and the dark-shimmering berka blade.
These two would more than suffice for agranum.
'If I can smelt agranum, I can forge Choi Jin-seong's gun.'
Agranum wasn't just mana-conductive; as an alloy, its durability was top-notch.
Perfect for Choi Jin-seong's firearm.
And with his skills, smelting it was feasible.
"Your expertise should handle it no problem."
Shin Yu-hyun knew Kim Sang-cheol's talent well—from his past life watching the man's weapon repairs and crafting.
Even now, he wasn't famous yet, but those in the know respected him.
A hidden gem of a blacksmith.
"Sorry, but I don't think I can."
"Pardon?"
Shin Yu-hyun blinked in surprise at Kim Sang-cheol's grim headshake.
He'd assumed the metal-obsessed smith would jump at the chance.
A refusal?
"Family... matters..."
Kim Sang-cheol's face remained shadowed.
Shin Yu-hyun sensed trouble.
"What's wrong?"
"Come inside first. Can't keep guests out forever."
Kim Sang-cheol gave a wry smile.
His forge was in a detached house nestled at the foot of a mountain in Suwon City—an isolated spot with sparse neighbors.
They'd been talking in the yard until now.
Shin Yu-hyun's group followed him inside.
The house was a normal family home. Through the living room window, a warehouse-like structure—the forge—came into view.
"Make yourselves comfortable. I'll grab some drinks. Want grandpa to give you some chocolate, little one?"
"Yay! Chocolate!"
Dia beamed, arms shooting up.
The cuteness softened Kim Sang-cheol's dour mood a bit.
With her black cat tribe tail and ears hidden, she looked like any adorable kid.
Moments later, he returned with a tray of coffee, tea, chocolate, and more.
"Thank you!"
*Nom nom nom!*
Dia bowed, then stuffed her cheeks full of chocolate.
Cheeks puffed like a squirrel's.
"Heh heh. Adorable. Your sister?"
"Something like that. I'm looking after her due to circumstances."
Shin Yu-hyun brushed it off vaguely.
Kim Sang-cheol eyed Dia thoughtfully before speaking again.
"I've got a granddaughter just her age."
"Yeah."
Shin Yu-hyun knew.
She'd be around Dia's age now, or a tad younger.
"But she's very sick. Doctors can't pinpoint the cause. Some unknown rare disease, they say."
"What?"
'Rare disease?'
This was new.
In his past life, Kim Sang-cheol never mentioned his granddaughter having a rare illness.
'Not fatal, then?'
He knew the girl would be killed by Getia cultists later.
So this disease wasn't lethal.
"Doctors warned that if she keeps weakening, the worst could happen."
"Huh?"
Shin Yu-hyun's face went blank at the unexpected turn.
The worst?
"Even the hospital gave up. No more options... She's recuperating at home now."
"That's rough..."
Shin Yu-hyun frowned.
'Has the timeline changed?'
She should be healthy at this point in the original timeline.
Now, bedridden with a mystery illness?
"I've stepped back from the forge. Want every second with her."
Her condition was gradual vitality drain, no acute dangers.
Home care with nutrient IVs for now.
His son and daughter-in-law watched her upstairs.
"Must be weighing on you."
"Just praying she pulls through."
He wasn't idle, of course—buying supplements, tonics, even dungeon elixirs.
But how long could she hold on?
"Maybe..."
"Hm?"
"If it's okay, could I take a look at her?"
"My granddaughter?"
Kim Sang-cheol looked puzzled.
Shin Yu-hyun revealed his identity.
"I'm from the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan."
He handed over a business card.
"Whoa."
Kim Sang-cheol's eyes widened in surprise as he took it.
Now he understood.
"A scion of the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan! I had no idea I was entertaining someone so esteemed."
"Not that big a deal."
Shin Yu-hyun gave a wry smile.
The smith's gaze shifted—trust deepening now.
The Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan had a sterling reputation among the public.
Its warriors saved countless lives tackling dangerous magic beasts and dungeons.
"To folks like us, your clan beats those Six Harmonies Spear Clan bastards any day."
The Six Harmonies Spear Clan—one of the Four Great Houses, famed for spear arts in Korea.
But infamous for ruthless self-interest, they'd earned plenty of hate.
Size-wise, they were the largest of the four.
Though fewer 5-star elites kept their overall power balanced.
"Can't refuse a request from Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan."
Kim Sang-cheol stood.
Decision made: he'd let them see her.
"Follow me. I'll show you."
He led them upstairs to her room.
Opening the door a crack revealed a young girl lying in bed.
That must be his granddaughter.
But something felt off to Shin Yu-hyun as he looked at her.
'That's no rare disease.'