Chapter 8. Samura Gorge
Samura Gorge. Ji-hyuk stepped into the blacksmith shop, where the heat stabbed at his face like needles. Every breath scorched his lungs with blistering air. The owner, nearly naked and drenched in sweat, glanced briefly at the newcomer while hammering a glowing red chunk of metal—clang, clang.
"What do you want?"
The middle-aged man quickly turned his eyes back to the metal and resumed his rhythmic pounding.
Ji-hyuk scanned the shop once, then set the sword he'd brought down on the table with a thud.
"It's rusted pretty bad. Thought you might fix it up."
"If it's rusted, it's trash. Buy a new one. Even fixed, it won't last."
"This one's special."
Ji-hyuk waited patiently until the man finished his work. The process dragged on—heating, hammering, cooling, repeating. Finally, the man handed off the next task to his son.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"I could wait till you're done."
"...Can't make a customer hang around like that."
The middle-aged man examined the rusted sword. The rust was patchy, clearly from where it'd been lodged somewhere for ages, with clean metal showing through elsewhere. At a glance, it was obviously a fine blade worth repairing.
"Tougher than I expected."
"Clean off the rust and put a new hilt on it."
"Might break in use."
"I'll handle that."
The man felt a twinge of unease, but the gold coin Ji-hyuk offered made him snatch up the job. Money was money.
"How long?"
"Ready by tomorrow."
"I'll swing by tomorrow afternoon. Take good care of it."
"Don't worry. It'll shine like new. Take care."
Ji-hyuk left the smithy. The sweltering heat faded, replaced by cool air slapping his skin. Finally, he could breathe. Apprentices everywhere hawked their wares like a marketplace, yelling that their shop was the best, the original—mad with it. As he passed, whores latched on with "Oppa~". Mercenaries thronged the smithy district, so the girls strutted freely. Any man was fair game. Funny thing—they pulled the same "original" pitch as the apprentices. Gid was probably balls-deep in one by now, fucking away. Orcs were sex fiends, but Grendal was an oddity. He believed lust corrupted true faith. A life without desire was the path of the devout... After fifteen lives, even a preaching orc didn't faze him.
Ji-hyuk shook off the whores clinging to his arms and headed straight for the mercenary guild to check for caravan escorts. He joined the long line. It moved fast enough. Soon it was his turn.
The counter clerk was an orc woman. He flashed his silver-rank mercenary badge first.
"Any caravan escort jobs?"
"Uh...", the orc girl rummaged through papers. "...Got one, but the terms are picky."
"Fine by me. Just the company name and inn."
Ji-hyuk paid the fee. She pocketed it and rattled off the info. Three spots total. One was a big-name company he'd heard of. He memorized the inn and left.
He grabbed passersby for directions and found the Sylph Company's lodging. Sylph was a major player across the continent. If he had to cross the gorge anyway, better with a reputable outfit. Big companies hired more mercs.
"What business?"
"Heard you're hiring escorts."
"Ah, I'll fetch someone."
A middle-aged man appeared, introducing himself as the mid-level manager. He handled hiring haulers and guards.
They sat across a table.
"Came from the guild..."
"Merc? Silver-rank or better. No riffraff."
"Silver. Got a crew."
Ji-hyuk showed his badge. The man nodded—silver meant skill.
"What about your team's level?"
"No riffraff. I vouch."
"Can't be casual about this. High stakes, big payout..."
"Upper guy's around?"
"Yeah, but I handle this."
"Fine. If you or the boss think our crew's subpar, half pay. That work?"
"If you're that confident..."
Only then did he slide over the contract. Five gold per head, twenty-five total. Decent for a gorge crossing—not cheap considering risk and silver-rank status. Fair price. No haggling needed.
"When?"
"Dawn in three days. North gate. Other crews'll wait there."
"Got it."
Ji-hyuk pocketed the contract and left. Dusk was falling. Male whores and girls worked the streets desperately before nightfall. He trudged past the raw street life to the inn.
Gid wasn't back. The clueless addict fretted that only Gid was late. Ji-hyuk felt a mischievous urge to spill what Baldy was really up to. He resisted. A stern captain didn't snitch petty shit.
Ji-hyuk shared drinks with Kayak in the hall for old times' sake. Late night, Gid returned, looking relieved—like he'd emptied his balls dry. He crashed their drinks.
"Caravan gig?"
"Sylph Company. Decent pay."
"Sylph? Big name, right?"
"Got the rep."
They bantered, drank, and hit the rooms.
As Ji-hyuk slipped quietly into bed, Yael propped up sleepily. She'd been waiting.
"Ah... you're back?"
"...Wake you?"
"No, just thinking."
"Yeah? Sleep deep. Stock up now—hard times ahead once we move."
Ji-hyuk slid into bed in light clothes. Yael lay back down.
She thought idly how couple-like it felt. What am I thinking? Ridiculous. They'd split after this job. No room for fantasies.
Then Ji-hyuk murmured, boozy breath faint.
"Dawn day after tomorrow, gorge-bound. Monsters possible. Real combat. Stay sharp, got it?"
"Yes."
"No panicking. Just follow orders. You'll be fine."
"I'll do my best."
Not her choice to tag along, but she'd give it her all. For a magic researcher, this was gold—real combat honed theory. Why else would her prof approve? Experience built foundations.
"Sleep."
"You too, Captain. Good night."
Yael mulled it over and drifted off.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Three days later, Ji-hyuk's crew rose predawn for the north gate. Night rain left the ground slick but not mired—no wheel-sucking mud. Lucky, or they'd be stuck another day or two.
Two other crews waited. Leaders exchanged nods with Ji-hyuk—backs to watch, no awkwardness. One orc male, one beastkin female bigger than most men. Bearkin, probably. Gid saw her, went "Whoa—", cupped hands into massive tits.
"Never seen tits that huge. Fuck, just..."
"Hey, she'll hear. Careful. Fight incoming."
"Shit, my mouth... Got it, Captain. Zipped."
Her rack matched her build—huge, nipples poking through ill-fitting clothes. Not sexy, just imposing.
Dawn broke as they waited. The murky world lightened. Sylph's caravan rolled up. Ji-hyuk and the leaders approached. Same manager from before.
He inspected the crews—standard procedure. All good, he signaled. Paid half upfront, half on arrival. Customary.
"One wagon each."
Ji-hyuk's took the third. Cramped but doable. They rolled out. One day to gorge mouth.
"Monsters right at the entrance?"
"Jinx it."
Lizardman Kayak glared at loose-lipped Gid. Grendal topped it.
"Monsters or not, God's will. No jinxes."
Yael looked like What circus is this? Ji-hyuk reined them in.
"Monsters or none, no slacking. These ain't pushovers."
"They hit me, they're fucked."
Gid thumped his chest. Day brightened fully. Ji-hyuk checked his sword from the smithy. Rust gone, silver gleam as it slid free.
Sharp-eyed Kayak nodded at it.
"That the one from before?"
"Yeah."
"Nice blade."
Ji-hyuk grinned. "Nice" undersold it.
"Fucking amazing."
"Amazing? Don't look it..."
Gid scratched his chin.
"Cursed holy sword of hero Kaliman."
"...Cursed?"
Holy sword, cursed? All blinked.
"Called holy 'cause a hero used it. Really a demon blade—devil flesh and blood."
"What?!"
Gid scowled uneasily. Devils terrified continentals.
"Devil grudge infused. ...Legend, anyway."
Yael paled. Ji-hyuk laughed it off.
"Rare anti-devil edge, though."
"...Like we'd meet one?"
Gid forced a chuckle.
"Why not."
Ji-hyuk grinned demon-chill.
"Our mission's hunting one."