Rescuing the Sage and Forging the Perfect Hammer
Vulcan didn't head straight back to Rezina Village after escaping the ancient goblin village.
Logically, given the gravity of the main scenario quest—where even the lord had trusted Sage Hainel, who turned out to be a demon beast—he should've rushed back to report and claim his rewards. But something felt off.
"Huh, that?"
—It's a secret space. So that's what it was.
Was Hainel a fake from the start? Would a demon world serpent like Uros really possess the vast knowledge worthy of a sage? Or maybe... we didn't take it from him?
Harboring those doubts, Vulcan visited Hainel's cabin and discovered a spot glowing white beneath the sage's bed.
Thud!
With the owner gone, Vulcan flipped the space without hesitation. What looked like ordinary flooring at first glance was pried up by hand.
"Mmph! Mmmph!!"
"Sage Hainel?"
Inside, he found the real Hainel.
"Are you alright?"
"Hurry... we have to escape. It'll be back soon!"
Pulled from the cramped space barely big enough to lie down in, Hainel was gripped by terror. Trembling violently, as if fearing Uros's return, he urged Vulcan on.
"Don't worry. I took care of it."
"You... killed it? Really? Is that true?"
Even as Vulcan reassured him, Hainel couldn't accept it easily, shaking and glancing around wildly.
"Yes. Here's the proof."
With no choice, Vulcan pulled an item from his inventory—the demon world serpent's hide, a crafting material. Hainel flinched in surprise, then finally relaxed, his tension melting away. If Vulcan hadn't caught him, he'd have collapsed right there.
"Thank you... truly, thank you. You saved my life!"
"You're in bad shape. Here, at least eat this..."
Hainel's condition was wretched now that he'd regained his senses. Gaunt and starved, he looked half-dead. Vulcan started to offer chocolate cake—not ideal, but the best he had—then changed his mind.
—Who said you could?!
"Have this potion instead."
Snap! Tud lunged the moment the cake appeared, devouring Vulcan's hand along with it. In the end, Vulcan gave him stamina and health potions he'd crafted himself. Only after downing both bottles did Hainel catch his breath.
"So that's what happened while I was trapped."
As Hainel steadied himself, Vulcan gave a quick rundown of events. The demon world serpent that imprisoned him and impersonated him was a remnant of the demon king's forces from the Demon King War, mate to another serpent killed long ago while stealing ancient goblin secrets. He'd slain it with the weapon left behind that had killed its predecessor.
He had to reveal that much to back up his claim. At the same time, announcing the weapon's destruction created an alibi for diverting the dark iron. No blacksmith would dream of recovering and melting it down otherwise.
"...Remnants of the demon king's army. I knew it."
Hainel then shared his side. While researching in the area, the serpent approached with a request: translate ancient goblin script. Sensing its evil aura, Hainel pretended ignorance. When it revealed its true nature, it imprisoned and tortured him. Despite his silence, it impersonated him here, waiting for someone else to show up.
He'd wished for death at times, but it needed his knowledge, so it kept him alive. Instead, it used magic comms to answer questions from other users and NPCs.
"'I knew it'?"
Vulcan was surprised—not just that Hainel knew ancient goblin, but the implication he'd suspected something.
"My master warned me long ago that demon beasts or demons might still lurk in these lands. But I never imagined one could take human form."
"Your master...?"
"Alter the Count is my master. I kept it quiet to avoid tarnishing his reputation, but this is too serious."
"Alter the Count?!"
Vulcan knew the name well. A level 400+ 7-circle archmage. With his power, he could claim a marquisate—or even a duchy if ambitious—but he shunned politics, content as a count. Not in the Mage Tower but one of its strongest mages alongside the tower lord, players scrambled for connections, cozying up to his NPCs for influence.
Ride his coattails, and lesser nobles were no threat. But his eccentric personality and disdain for schemers kept contacts rare. Some avoided him entirely for fear of enmity.
"Yes. So, could you do me a favor? I must inform my master. This inept disciple is powerless, but he can act. Whatever they're plotting isn't trivial—we must stop it before chaos erupts."
"Of course! If the world's at risk, how could I not help?"
Alter was Hainel's master? Deliver the news personally? Vulcan's quick calculations ended in a salesman's grin.
"I'm in no position to offer much reward..."
"Psh, no need between us! I'm loaded anyway!"
—Have you lost it? A cheapskate like you saying money's no object...
Tud was baffled enough to scold him, but Vulcan's smile held firm.
Scenario branch point triggered. Main scenario quest content partially changes based on completion results.
Main Scenario Quest: Remnants of Darkness → Disciple's News
The main scenario quest update was welcome. It shifted from reporting to a noble or temple to specifically Alter—a golden connection.
Not just his power or status. Rezina's lord and Roona Temple lacked clout for the threat's scale. Even with clear allegiance, weak influence meant suppression before momentum built.
Vulcan had delayed reporting, pondering major nobles or mainstream temples. Alter falling into his lap was perfect.
He accepted instantly, receiving Hainel's letter of introduction for an audience. He escorted the sage safely to the village, treating him lavishly.
"Hm. Heresy interrogation not done yet?"
Back in the village, Vulcan handed Hainel to Rezina's lord. He considered explaining the Night Forest events but glossed over at Hainel's urging—lest the powerless lord face danger.
Sensible, so Vulcan agreed. After delivering him to the castle, he checked Roona Temple, but interrogation was ongoing; access denied.
"What the hell are they even getting out of him..."
Surely a temple wouldn't just coax gently? No weak methods explained the delay in heresy questioning. Vulcan frowned, sighing. They could rough him up a bit.
Unable to interfere, he focused on his tasks.
"Hammer first."
—Better not use dark iron from the start?
"Yeah, you're right."
He needed to craft the lord's statue, but first melt the dark iron for a crafting hammer. An upgrade option would pay off long-term.
But Tud opposed using dark iron immediately. Vulcan's crafting was F-rank; even with Dragon Eye guidance, a new form meant low odds for high rarity. Practice with iron ore made sense—dark iron was limited, hammers enduring.
"Iron ore for practice, then."
He bought easy-handling ore and supplies with Uros's loot. Normally stingy, the haul allowed splurging.
Or so he thought.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
"Arrrgh!! Why won't it work?!"
Borrowing the castle forge, Vulcan confidently started crafting hammers but hadn't succeeded after days. Not grinding for skill rank or epic+ items—just basic practice.
Yet dozens failed.
—What're you doing? Smash it and make the next.
Completion was possible. Not a massive miracle hammer, so quick shapes formed. But Tud demanded at least Rare.
Vulcan, who'd hit Unique before, expected easy. But only Uncommon max.
"Damn it."
Crash!
Common and Uncommon hammers were scrapped. Few blacksmiths existed; basic hammers were store-bought or self-made, unsellable.
Pounding to destruction with repair offered little rank-up help.
Destroyed Sturdy Crafting Hammer (Uncommon).
Blacksmith-exclusive, worthless to sell. Better remelt despite inefficiency. Vulcan separated heads and handles, tossing into the furnace.
"Any tips? Why no Rare?"
—Tch. Fine, a hint: Find the center of balance.
No tool fits perfectly without matching your hand, no matter the materials. Focus on the hammer you wield, not the product.
He'd smashed nearly 100. Routine for others, trial for him. Frustrated, he vented to Tud, who—after chanting "again"—reluctantly advised.
Center of balance. Sense the hammer in hand.
He sought his ideal tool.
"Center of balance?"
Vulcan pondered. Not mindless crafting.
"Balance, swing feel... Think as user, not maker? Hm..."
—Try various sizes and shapes. One'll feel right. Your stance is off anyway—takes time. No shortcuts; ponder it.
Impressed, Tud advised then buried in chocolate, slurping melted pools like a bath.
"I'll do it. I will!"
Shaking his head, Vulcan resumed—slower, rhythmic swings synced to breath and muscle. He tested new hammers before destroying, even smashing his old one. Experimenting forms to find his balance, size, length.
Destroyed Pounding Crafting Hammer (Uncommon).
Artisan's Pride [Rare]
Bestowed upon those who take pride in their creations and pursue perfection. No one can shatter an artisan's pride.
Effects:
• Mental +30
• Artisan's Aura: Destroying Common/Uncommon items boosts Rare+ crafting odds. Stacks until Rare+ crafted, then maintains.
• Destroy: Instantly destroy your own creations via command.
"...Huh?"
After more hammers and destructions, no crafting skill rank-up—instead, a new title: Artisan's Pride. Solid Mental boost and special effect.
Destroy Common/Uncommon to stack Rare+ odds? Max it to 100% for guaranteed? Thrilling.
Limited to self-made items via Destroy, resets on use—but viable for rare materials.
"Instant destroy? One-shot?"
Another perk: Blacksmith command for instant destruction. Meant to ease scrapping, but sparked ideas.
"Does this work on enemies using my gear?"
Legendary Artisan class. Few items now, but scaling up, many might equip his gear. Hostile? Destroy them?
If viable, hilarious chaos.
A wicked smile spread across Vulcan's face.