Chapter 260
Chapter 260
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 260
>Chapter Title: The Proof of Iron
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Chapter 260
>260.
>Was it thanks to Ison's enthusiastic welcome(?) or something?
>The blacksmiths' gazes toward Do-hyun no longer held any wariness. Curiosity and interest had taken their place.
"So, this young man is the talent Lord Ison mentioned?"
>"Huh, those hands have definitely held a hammer before...."
>"Are you doubting Lord Ison's eye for talent right now? If there's one thing he's reliable about, it's that."
>"He's wearing that suspicious hood, so of course I'd suspect. Ugh!"
>"He was moping for days about it.... I've been wondering forever, and now that I see you, it's fascinating."
He had seemed pretty disappointed when Do-hyun turned down the apprenticeship, but apparently, the rumors had spread even more than expected.
>The way they swarmed like they were gawking at a monkey in a zoo, picking him apart and whispering.
"Hmm."
Even Dran, who was leaning against the wall at a distance pretending to be uninterested, was sneaking glances with clear intrigue.
He exuded the aura of a martial artist, yet possessed exceptional blacksmithing talent. It was intriguing.
And Do-hyun found it equally fascinating. The Dran he'd met in person exceeded the rumors.
'That's the guy barely scraping into the top 100.... Just that brief glimpse of his aura earlier was no joke.'
'Yes. His power surpasses even the outstanding apostles I saw in the tomb.'
'Stronger than your average high ranker. You'd probably need someone from a Top 10 Guild to beat him.'
'....This is a scary place, Master.'
'Lizaliza.'
If the tail end of the top 100 was already like this, he couldn't even imagine the 70s or 30s—the walls that couldn't be crossed.
And this was just the official rankings, excluding the Seven Rivers.
The Empire was said to be full of hidden masters like the Magic Tower elders, and who knew what other monsters lurked.
'On the other hand, the gap between the Top 10 Guilds and the rankers here is massive.... No way they'll surpass the Empire's forces for at least a few years.'
That was when he thought about why even the cocky users kept an eye on the Empire.
"If you all have nothing better to do, why don't you shut up? There's a mountain of work piled up next door. If you're that bored, maybe help me out."
"Heh heh, no one does reinforcements like you, Lord Ison. Such jokes...."
When one blacksmith tilted his head in confusion, a fellow blacksmith scolded him.
"Hey, you clueless idiot. He's telling us to scram because he buttered up the kid himself."
"Oh, is that it?"
"You're the one with the problem when it comes to reading the room. That's why your wife rips you a new one every time.... Didn't she go off on you for a month after you dragged her to her parents' for your anniversary as a 'surprise gift'?"
"Hey, why bring that up? And I still don't get what was wrong with it...."
"Enough chit-chat. Let's go."
Grumbling, the blacksmiths shrewdly cleared out.
Some headed off to tackle the backlog, others took a break, and Dran glanced once more before turning away.
"Now we can talk comfortably. So, what brings you all the way here? Are my expectations spot on?"
"Ah, not exactly."
"Then why...?"
Ison openly smacked his lips in disappointment, but his eyes went wide when Do-hyun handed over what he was holding.
"!?! Isn't this the Sword Emperor's silver badge?!"
"....What?"
"The Sword Emperor's badge!? Why does this young man have it?"
The blacksmiths, who had been pretending not to listen, shot to their feet.
The forge instantly grew chaotic.
Heads popped up like meerkats, eyes urging him to spill—though they were far too muscled for meerkats.
"The Sword Emperor told me to get some new armor. He said this would get me something top-notch."
"You've come to the right place for that.... Huh, the Sword Emperor rarely gives out silver badges. Quite the marvel."
Do-hyun's response amplified the murmurs.
The Sword Emperor handing a silver badge to someone was a rarity, countable on one hand.
Especially to an apostle—it was practically unheard of.
"Does that kid really have that kind of value?"
"But didn't Lord Ison say he had the makings of a master smith? The Sword Emperor giving a silver badge means he's a martial artist with exceptional talent."
"Lord Dran, what do you think? You've received a silver badge from the Sword Emperor yourself, haven't you?"
The noisy room fell silent at one blacksmith's words.
Dran, who had been quietly standing by, drew out his pause before answering as all eyes turned to him.
"....The Sword Emperor bestowed a silver badge on me in only one case."
"What was that?"
"Satisfying the Sword Emperor with the 'sword.'"
Whether it was current strength or future potential.
Dran ended it there, saying something had to be shown, and now he was openly showing curiosity—unlike before, with eyes itching for a spar.
The blacksmiths' gazes toward Do-hyun had changed too.
'A blacksmithing talent Lord Ison coveted, and a sword that satisfied the Sword Emperor....'
"Huh, if someone else said this crap, I'd call it bullshit and curse them out."
'But with that badge right there as proof.... Hard not to believe it.'
'Lord Artlam would find this intriguing.'
Their eyes shifted from admiring a promising talent to staring at an unfathomable monster.
Even Ison stopped showing greed and adopted a solemn expression.
"You're more outstanding than I thought."
"....You're too kind."
"Too modest. If the Sword Emperor acknowledged you, you're beyond mere talent. Right, he wants me to make your armor?"
Nodding as he meticulously examined the silver badge, Ison continued.
"Just making sure, but it's genuine. So, when do you want to take the test?"
"Test?"
A test out of nowhere?
Ison cocked his head at Do-hyun's puzzled reaction.
"Hm? You didn't hear about it?"
"....No."
"Well.... Considering the Sword Emperor's personality, that makes sense."
Ison's lips curled up knowingly.
"Come with me. It'll be a mystical experience."
"....?"
It was a smile brimming with conviction.
* * *
Following Ison led to a hidden room deep at the end of the corridor.
'....Nothing here?'
An empty space.
The odd part was the reinforced glass dividing it into two rooms, with what looked like a strange switch inside.
Did it appear differently to mana-sensitive eyes like Jihad's and Eliza's?
-....What is this? I sense such pure mana?
>-Lizaliza.
>-Hm, nothing to me.
As Do-hyun puzzled over their impressed reactions, Ison approached proudly.
"You look like you're wondering why I dragged you to an empty room."
"....No."
"Heh heh, sure."
Caught off-guard, Do-hyun's delayed reply made Ison grin mischievously, like a kid despite his age.
Then he casually stepped beyond the glass and inserted his hand into a box-like contraption.
The switch.
['The Proof of Iron' checks the target's physical abilities and mana.]
>['The Proof of Iron' checks the target's aptitudes.]
>['The Proof of Iron' checks the target's potential.]
Messages popped up abruptly, the area shook, and bizarre phenomena unfolded.
What had been a small square box spread from his hand up his arm to cover his entire body.
Soon, only Ison's eyes were visible.
Then, a gray light laced with silver flooded the space beyond the glass, and Ison's eyes flashed.
[Check complete.]
>[Selecting the optimal mineral for armament materials based on the above information.]
>[Stored minerals confirmed.]
>['The Proof of Iron' dispenses 'steel' and 'silver.']
The simultaneous messages ended the spectacle.
The box, as if never activated, returned to place and spat out steel and silver as stated, utterly still.
"What in the....”
-Wow....
>-Li, Li-za....
Do-hyun and the guardians, who had watched from start to finish, gaped in awe.
Ison emerged holding steel and silver in each hand, beaming with pride.
"What do you think of the previous White Magic Tower Lord's masterpiece? It analyzes physical abilities and potential, even aptitudes you yourself don't know, to recommend the perfect mineral. A product of magitech that can't be replicated anymore."
"....I'm stunned."
"Based on the mineral best suited to you, analyzing your physique for custom armor."
Stunned was an understatement.
Top artisans in the Empire crafting from the ideal mineral?
Theoretically perfect custom gear that couldn't fail.
'This is insane.'
No wonder Ison boasted so confidently.
The Argetlam Workshop only made from a preset list of armaments.
They never crafted bespoke pieces for one person.
'....Master, this is an unbelievable perk. Don't let it slip.'
'Lizaliza.'
'Is this common, Master?'
'No, among users, probably just that Sword Saint guy, Annihilation, and Slayer. Not even sure.'
Only those three users were publicly known to have silver sword badges.
He'd heard they got massive rewards, but nothing like this.
"Your shocked face saves my reputation."
Shoulders squared proudly, Ison lowered his voice conspiratorially.
"It's here, but it's the Sword Emperor's property, so we can't use it casually. Only with a silver sword badge."
"....I see."
"That's why the silver badge is special. Even in this great empire, only those granted one by the Sword Emperor get this privilege."
Ison's words went in one ear and out the other.
Do-hyun couldn't process them.
'What'll come out?'
What material? What perfect armor from it?
He was dying with anticipation.
Like a kid before unwrapping Christmas gifts, he took deep breaths to steady his flaring nostrils.
"Go on in."
"....Yes."
He bowed slightly to Ison, who stepped aside, and entered.
Standing before the box as Ison had, he inserted his hand.
['The Proof of Iron' checks the target's physical abilities and mana.]
The same messages appeared, the box morphing and crawling up his arm.
Like being sucked into an iron hole—cold, eerie sensation.
More unsettling than it looked, he thought—
--!
A colorless light burst forth.
The gray hue typical of common iron ores.
"Hmm, steel.... Hm?"
Ison muttered analytically at the light.
Then it intensified, embracing silver and gold.
"Gold? It's been ages since gold was rated suitable."
Ison reacted with interest.
As expected of this extraordinary young man. Do-hyun was pondering armor from steel, silver, and gold when—
Paaht-!
"....Blue and black? Bronze and black steel too?"
Flash!
"W-Wait. How far is this light spreading?"
The light showed no sign of stopping.
As colors blended into a cosmic radiance dominating beyond the glass, Ison couldn't hide his bewilderment.
"My god!"
A completely different light erupted, dyeing the entire space.
The overwhelmingly intense aura swallowed all prior lights effortlessly, expanding like a predator. Ison's pupils shook violently.
"Unheard of. If this is possible, it could only be that....?"
But impossible.
That mineral was forbidden to all.
Even the Sword Emperor.
'What in the world is happening? Who exactly are you....'
Ison swallowed hard, staring at Do-hyun.
And Do-hyun was.
['The Proof of Iron' checks the target's aptitudes.]
>['The Proof of Iron' checks the target's potential.]
>['The Proof of Iron' detects an alien energy. Attempting deeper scan.]
>[A portion of the deeply latent aptitude is revealed.]
'This is....?'
Lost in the unprecedented sight before him.