Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: 12. Master Blacksmith (2)
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It was a bewildering situation for Yu Jeong-yeong.
She had assumed Kang San would naturally crave the fame of being the pioneer, but she never could have anticipated this kind of reaction.
Yu Jeong-yeong asked in return.
"......To be honest, I don't quite understand. The people contacting me right now are offering incredible terms at a glance, and you're saying you'll give all that up? Why? Even if you take 30% of the profits, what comes back to you, Mr. Kang San, would only be a fraction in the end."
It was a perfectly reasonable question.
Anyone would think the same, so Yu Jeong-yeong couldn't easily accept the situation.
Kang San's choice.
In truth, it wasn't simple charity.
In that short time, Kang San had finished his calculations thoroughly.
'If I can get comparable or greater profits without putting in the effort myself, there's no real need to agonize over it.'
Think about it.
If Kang San invested his own time and earned 1 billion won, he could claim the full 1 billion as the technique's owner. But if Yu Jeong-yeong developed the technique and devoted a lot of time here, earning 10 billion, then even 30% of that would be 3 billion for Kang San.
It was straightforward math.
The matter of effort.
Kang San couldn't be serious about this work, so Yu Jeong-yeong seemed like a solid alternative.
Her character, as experienced firsthand, wasn't bad either, and the fact that she came straight here showed she wasn't the type blinded by immediate gains. Of course, contract restrictions existed, but the world was full of trash beyond imagination. And above all, even if he handed the pioneer's position to Yu Jeong-yeong, Kang San could still hone and use his own technique comfortably.
By reinforcing items.
And if needed, auction them anonymously.
Considering the reality of the trials, Kang San judged that he needed to prioritize and focus.
The words he spoke aloud differed from his thoughts.
Rather than drawing a line by revealing his true intentions, it was better to dress up the situation with kind words.
Kang San said,
"I agree. In the end, the income coming my way would only be a portion of what I could claim fully, but even so, I don't think I'm suited to be the pioneer. I haven't devoted anything to blacksmithing. I just stumbled upon a lucky opportunity and gained something special that others don't have. The pioneer people want is clearly someone like you, Ms. Yu Jeong-yeong, who has dedicated her life to this work. So, I got a bit greedy in my own way. My plan is to take 30% of the profits you earn from now on working hard, without passing on the technique or putting in much effort myself."
He smiled.
Since accepting the trials, he found himself using polished words more often than he'd like.
"And if someone like me were called the pioneer, that crown would feel pretty heavy, wouldn't it?"
This situation.
C caught off guard by the unexpected turn, Yu Jeong-yeong was at a loss for words.
In truth, from the moment she first met Kang San.
Yu Jeong-yeong had thought this.
"......Why didn't someone like Mr. Kang San's ability awaken in me sooner?"
Yu Jeong-yeong's life.
She had devoted it to the forge.
From the moment she opened her eyes until she closed them, she had given her life to the blazing furnace, yet Kang San said his sight of mana flow had started suddenly. It was pure chance. Destiny, perhaps, or a miracle born from Kang San's uniqueness. Either way, it was undeniably without precedent.
Yes.
What an unfair life.
Glancing down, her hands were covered in calluses.
No blade remained pristine from the grueling labor.
If a master craftsman's lucky break were granted to anyone, shouldn't it be her, and no one else?
Life was always like that.
Some succeeded without effort because their parents were wealthy, others became world-class hunters through sudden innate awakenings. Birth was like a brand. Successful people claimed life could change with enough hard work, but the existence of those who succeeded without it bred despair.
It was a hidden truth even she didn't recognize.
While acknowledging Kang San, deep down, envy and jealousy toward him had begun to sprout.
'How pathetic I am. This person is showing me such kindness, and yet......'
It was truly ungrateful.
Kang San sharing the technique in the first place was already huge, and now he was yielding the pioneer's spot too. That wasn't empty talk. If he wanted business gains, he could have demanded more than 30% from the original terms. Things were different now; even asking for over 50% would leave her no grounds or right to refuse.
70%.
In truth, he had intentionally left it untouched.
Kang San knew motivation was crucial for people.
Just as his life had transformed after gaining hope from Kang San, the profit split would eventually become a shackle. If Yu Jeong-yeong later earned 10 billion or 100 billion, would Kang San—who did nothing—taking 5 billion or 50 billion look good? A grateful person might say sharing the technique was enough, but excessive shares could kill motivation.
So he gave 70%.
With more profits for her, she'd maximize sales and revenue.
It was Kang San's intent to commit fully to prioritize and focus, but Yu Jeong-yeong interpreted it differently.
'To think there's someone like this in the world.'
She felt ashamed.
She seemed small in comparison.
Perhaps the limited opportunity went to Kang San because he deserved it.
Having surrendered to reality and done nothing, it was natural her hands claimed nothing. Life was unfair anyway. She should have accepted it and strived for change somehow.
Like Kang San before her.
Yu Jeong-yeong's eyes changed.
"Understood. I accept those terms. And I promise you here and now: I won't let you down, Mr. Kang San. I'll become someone worthy of this choice so you never regret it. Don't worry about the technique leaking. As per the contract, I only gained the right to use it—I won't reveal its principles to anyone else."
"Good."
A new relationship was forged.
Finally.
Kang San had one thing to confirm.
"By the way, could you show me your work in action?"
They moved to another location.
The forge was swarming with crowds, so they headed to Yu Jeong-yeong's private workshop, whose address wasn't exposed.
To her, he said,
"I want to verify your success firsthand."
Whoosh.
She lit the furnace.
Yu Jeong-yeong was visibly tense at the thought of performing for Kang San, but soon fell into her familiar rhythm. The setup matched her successful run exactly. Only the weapon was F-Rank; she used high-grade mana stones.
Clang!
Clang, clang, clang!
The crisp sounds rang out.
At first, nothing seemed special.
But as the work progressed, at some point, mana began sparking with each of her hammer strikes.
'She really succeeded.'
It was certain.
Mana visibility alone wouldn't confirm it, but he could see her intentionally directing where the mana seeped in. She couldn't manipulate qi directly, so the effect wasn't dramatic. Thinking about it, it was actually impressive. Even with clumsy mana handling, boosting attack power by 1 meant her crafting skill was exceptional.
'Crafting isn't just about mana control or skill alone. Their balance produces superior results.'
He looked away.
The workshop was near an orphanage.
A child who usually followed Yu Jeong-yeong around had begged to watch, and Kang San allowed it. Yu Jeong-yeong looked awkward, but third-party eyes were needed anyway.
Kang San took the child's hand.
And.
'Transfer.'
He instilled the abstract experience.
Showing it directly would be most dramatic, but this sufficed for now.
"Do you see that blue haze over there?"
"Yeah, I do!"
"Really?"
Yu Jeong-yeong's awakening.
It clearly stemmed from the transfer.
What Kang San wanted to check next was this.
He let go and asked,
"How about now?"
"Huh? Where'd it go?"
The child looked around.
The blue haze visible moments ago had vanished completely.
This supported one hypothesis.
Yu Jeong-yeong's awakening came from ongoing transfers, and without Kang San, leaking the technique was impossible. Thus, the item reinforcement craze was something no one else could comprehend— a technique Kang San alone could monopolize.
Kang San was thorough.
Yu Jeong-yeong might think she bore risks, but he didn't see the world as kind enough to hand over his secrets easily.
Had she ever considered it?
Secrets weren't kept—they were unbreakable.
After parting with Kang San.
Yu Jeong-yeong returned to the forge.
Business had stalled because of her, so she needed to resolve the commotion.
Yu Jeong-yeong's appearance.
The crowd guarding the forge surged forward.
"Is it true you succeeded in item reinforcement?"
"How on earth did you do it?"
"Ms. Yu Jeong-yeong, are you aware that as a blacksmith—not through artifact engraving—you achieved the world's first item enhancement?"
It was chaos.
Yu Jeong-yeong pushed through to enter the building.
And let only one person inside.
Rather than answering everyone, she planned to state her position through a trustworthy reporter.
An awkward atmosphere.
A somewhat stern-looking female reporter melted it with a bright smile.
"Your first interview, right?"
"......Yes."
"No need to be so nervous. Even if you ramble, I'll tidy it up nicely for the article."
The reporter was Kim Min-young.
Her good reputation in the industry had let her fend off colleagues and secure this face-time with Yu Jeong-yeong.
Kim Min-young said,
"Alright, questions. People are dying to know if you really succeeded in item reinforcement. Is it true?"
"Yes. As you saw on the news, I confirmed the customer's item's attack power increased, upgrading its rank."
"Then......"
The questions continued.
They were appropriate, not intrusive, aimed at grasping the situation.
The interview neared its end.
In the wrapping-up mood, Yu Jeong-yeong spoke.
"Can I say something I want to?"
"Sure, go ahead."
"Thank you."
She looked at the camera.
This event.
She was truly grateful to Kang San.
On the way back to the forge, no matter how she thought about it, this wasn't easy.
The reporters crowding outside.
Attention meant wealth and fame.
And he'd casually given it up in that short time.
Kang San claimed he didn't need pioneer fame, but Yu Jeong-yeong didn't buy it. It was consideration. And if someday Kang San wanted everything she'd enjoy, she needed to lay the groundwork to yield it.
"Truthfully, this technique wasn't something I grasped alone. Without the one who helped me realize it, I'd be no different from other blacksmiths."
"What exactly do you mean?"
She chose her words carefully.
She wanted to say Kang San taught her, but that might draw unwanted attention.
Even as the pioneer.
She left some ambiguity.
"My success came from that person's unwavering faith in me all this time."