Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Clang Clang, Pre-Check
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Clang, clang—preliminary inspection.
Clang! Clang!
The cheerful sound of hammering ringing through the dawn.
Ever since the auction, my days always started with this steady rhythm of hammer strikes.
Clang! Clang!
“Ugh, I don’t wanna.”
Is it because I skipped breakfast?
Or maybe I’m just getting sick of making Molrang Tails?
Sweat pouring from every inch of my body in the sweltering heat.
Arms going numb from the endless hammering.
The first few times were fun enough, but now that it’s turned into straight-up ‘work,’ it’s hard to feel any positivity.
Crafting each one by hand with artisan spirit is no joke.
Of course, the Molrang Tails were handmade too, but...
‘At least they can be mass-produced.’
The Molrang Tory was practically fully automated, and the Molrang Tex was at least half-automated thanks to Seolbaek.
If I’d known it’d be like this, I should’ve taken fewer pre-orders.
I turned my head slightly and eyed the huge whiteboard on the wall, taking in the production schedule amid all the info scribbled there.
[This Week’s Production Quota]
[Basic Type / 12 units / 500 million won each] - Total 6 billion
[Short Sword Type / 10 units / 300 million won each] - Total 3 billion
[Throwing Type / 30 units / 30 million won each] - Total 900 million
“Whew. When am I ever gonna finish all that?”
Sigh after sigh— who knows how many I’ve let out today alone.
Clang! Clang!
I hate my past self. Hate you.
Humans are so arrogant.
We always set plans assuming our limits are ‘average,’ right?
I aim for a five-day workweek too, so to hit those numbers, I’d need to make 2.4 basic, 2 short sword, and 6 throwing types per day.
‘Even smithing for 10 hours straight wouldn’t cut it.’
If I’d known, I would’ve planned for fewer units.
Just starting sales made the endless demand feel bleak.
‘250 people jumped on orders the first day...’
Simple math said I’d be stuck doing this for at least six months.
How could something so horrific happen...!
Of course, whenever it got tough, I’d glance at the note at the bottom of the whiteboard—
-A whopping 990 million won a week 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
—read it once, then clang!
It was like miser meta to keep going, but there were unavoidable limits.
Especially since my body wasn’t built for this kind of grunt work.
Squeeze.
Look at these taut, soft, slender limbs.
How’s a body like this supposed to smith?
I was basically burning through my life force to make them.
Argh. If only I had mana reinforcement for my body.
In the end, there was only one way to overcome this ordeal.
“......”
I gazed lovingly at Seolbaek, stirring the cauldron a short distance away.
Kiiing... Woo-ee!
Seolbaek, disguised as a mini golem.
Catching my gaze, it flashed a happy smile and waved at me.
Stirring that pre-Molrang Tex slime blob was surely tough work.
Swish! Swish!
Yet Seolbaek handled it with total ease—one-handed, even. Humming woo-ee-woo-ee all the while.
Seolbaek’s the answer, no doubt.
Isn’t it about time for one or two more tails to sprout? I’ve been feeding it dragon meat every day.
Clang!
Maybe I should seriously consider a real dragon heart.
Clang!
Anyway, by 11 a.m., after who-knows-how-many hammer strikes...
I’d finished about half of today’s quota.
“Yaaawn!”
Stretching big produced a crackle-crackle-crunch from this 15-year-old girl’s body that you wouldn’t believe.
Okay.
That’s it for today.
I’d do the rest on Saturday, my day off. I had other stuff in the afternoon.
That’s why I’d gotten up at the crack of dawn to hammer away.
Thud thud thud!
I quickly climbed the stairs to the rooftop room.
Stairs were a hassle—maybe install an elevator?
Creeeak!
The old rooftop room chill from my poorer days? I kept the boiler cranked to fend it off.
“Ahh... this is flexing.”
Warmth hit me as I opened the door, and I headed to the bathroom.
“Whoa... this is bad.”
The mirror showed a total mess.
Eyes dark red and bloodshot, silver hair matted with sweat.
Still cute, of course.
Come to think of it, I really should post some pics on SNS now...
This look? Kinda unique concept?
“Pffft... what am I saying.”
Ridiculous.
Some fans might like it, but nah, this won’t do.
Shoooo!
Showered clean, threw on some casual clothes.
Just a basic fit with a long padding coat over. No need to dress cute.
“Let’s go, let’s go.”
Ready to head out, I bounded down to the second floor with gusto.
Target: Hayoung’s room.
Not her old workshop— the one opposite, where she’d basically been crashing.
She mostly commuted, but stayed there three days a week.
Naturally, I’d furnished it with top-shelf stuff. Employee perks.
Not a big deal for someone who worked so hard.
*Ahem.*
At her door, I cleared my throat pointlessly and knocked: knock knock.
Hayoung had off today... but I needed her.
I knew full well bosses calling on days off were the worst.
But I had no choice. Without Hayoung, I couldn’t do jack today...!
What if she doesn’t answer? Should I just go in? As I thought that...
Creeeak...
“Dawn...? What’s up?”
Hayoung appeared. Eyes half-shut, fresh from waking. A massive yawn to boot.
“Oh... right, we’re going out today. Wasn’t it 2 p.m.?”
She was right— we’d set 2 p.m. It was only noon now, two hours early.
“......Yeah, but... there’s a spot I wanna hit first...”
“Got it. Yawwwn...”
Hayoung was so sweet, no hint of annoyance, but I still had a conscience.
“Sis... any chance...?”
Out came my rarely used ‘sis’ card, with maximum puppy eyes.
“...Okay. Wait a sec? I’ll be quick.”
Score— it worked.
Hayoung stroked my head a few times, then ducked back in to prep.
I pick my employees too well.
Gonna stuff her paycheck with a fat bonus this month.
Click.
“Kept you waiting? Let’s roll.”
Exactly 10 minutes later.
Awakened in hand skills? She prepped crazy fast.
Clunk!
“Ahh... cold. Even with the seat cover, the sheet’s freezing. You okay, Dawn?”
“Yeah. Not a big deal.”
It was pretty cold, but how could I complain?
Just grateful for the ride— that’s the vibe.
“So, where to? Straight to White Night Castle? Or...?”
“Mollang Park first.”
“Oh, like a final check?”
“Yep.”
Tilt my head up, and there loomed the towering elevator.
Whoa... how do they even build that? Just looking makes my head spin.
Looks wobbly in the wind, but they say it’s super stable.
Something about magic engineering techniques.
Quantum developed it independently; White Night borrowed it for elevator construction.
Screech!
The car pulled up to the entrance quick.
Not just any entrance— a two-story building like a train station or terminal.
‘Like 5,000 square feet or so.’
Designed for crowds.
Waiting lounge plus convenience store, bathrooms, restaurant, and Mollang Mall store— all the amenities crammed in.
“Wow... they built this nice. And it opens in three days?”
“Yeah. Big corps are on another level.”
Bet they shelled out big.
But they’d recoup way more.
Entry fees pricier than regular parks, paid experiences locked in revenue, Quantum rides incoming...
Yeah. Solid.
Four elevators total.
Three general, one VIP— up to 30 each.
Beep!
VIP, naturally.
[Doors opening.]
Inside: three glass walls welcoming me, one half-glass.
Full front glass originally planned, but design hid my factory.
Two general ones had blocked fronts—for acrophobics.
I’d considered them at first.
‘Gotta test it first for my precious VIPs.’
...Already scary, though.
Learned fear? Like PTSD— body shaking already.
“Sis... hurry up and get in.”
Voice trembling unwittingly, I urged her. She stepped in; I glued to her side.
[Doors closing.]
One minute to Mollang Park. One whole minute to endure.
“......!”
Eyes squeezed shut, arms locked around Hayoung’s waist, face buried in her chest.
“So that’s why you needed me.”
“N-Not like it’s scary or anything...!”
“Sure, sure.”
Sharp Hayoung hugged back tight. Even patted my back.
Feeling her kindness, I distracted from the fear with random thoughts.
Not scared on dragon-back— why so terrifying now?
Open floor below the difference?
Ding!
[Doors opening.]
Finally at the gate entrance after the ordeal. I bolted out.
200-square-foot observation deck. Insane height overlooking Seoul and beyond.
“High... so high.”
Any other spot in Korea with this view?
Doubt it.
Towering over all five skyscrapers.
This vista alone worth 30% of the ticket price?
Even a harnessed terrace walk outside— long glass-floor diving board style.
Later, skydiving or something...
Crazy how many thrill-seekers out there.
“Dawn, wanna try the railing walk? Seems fun.”
Hayoung grinned mischievously.
Me? On that? Insane talk.
“Let’s do it together. What do ya say?”
“......”
Teasing offer, knowing no staff to allow it.
I ignored it hard and slipped inside the gate.