Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: The Bet at Shinwa Workshop
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Shinwa Workshop.
Located within the ultra-high-rise building of the Shinwa Guild in Gangnam, the place buzzed with intense heat and constant foot traffic from countless people.
"Stack the gear for One Heart Guild over here!"
"Where'd they send the stuff that was here?"
"Sorry, I'm with White Tiger Guild, and we need a bit more stock this time..."
The apprentices hauled weapons crafted by the artisans.
The artisans scolded those apprentices.
And then there were the staff from other guilds who had come to pick up deliveries from Shinwa Workshop.
The workshop was always bustling without fail, day in and day out.
It was right there that a middle-aged man, the de facto owner of the workshop, made his appearance.
"Ahem, lively as ever today."
The workshop master, Kim Jun-hwan, strolled in with an expensive brand-name coffee in hand, surveying the place with an air of utter arrogance.
Every time his gaze fell on someone, they flinched and bowed their heads.
With each such reaction, the smirk on Jun-hwan's lips grew even wider.
But his good mood didn't last long.
"That Bang Se-jin guy's still not giving up, huh? Tsk, what an idiot. I told him I'd take good care of him, but he couldn't wait and just up and left the workshop."
Thinking of Se-jin soured Jun-hwan's expression.
It was only natural from his perspective.
Jun-hwan had spotted Se-jin's talent the moment he joined Shinwa Workshop.
But instead of letting that talent shine for the world, Jun-hwan chose to hoard it for himself.
He kept Se-jin locked in the workshop, forcing him to churn out only the items he wanted.
Then he'd slap his own name on them and take the credit.
Treating Se-jin not as a person but as a tool, Jun-hwan flew into a rage when Se-jin finally rebelled and fired him on the spot.
"Tsk, the guild master’s been asking if we have anything new lately... He should've just given up quick and come back. Where else does a guy like him have to go but this workshop?"
But for Jun-hwan, who had fattened his own pockets off that talent for years, Se-jin's departure was a huge loss.
That's why he was making daily efforts—through people or texts—to persuade Se-jin to return.
Of course, if he did come back, Jun-hwan would work him like a tool again and squeeze out more gear.
It was right then.
"B-Bang Se-jin? You've come back!"
The workshop door swung open, revealing the familiar face of Se-jin.
At the sight, Jun-hwan dropped his coffee cup without a care and rushed toward him.
"Hahaha! Good thinking. No place treats you better than our workshop. Work under me for a few years, and you'll be the next workshop master!"
Reaching Se-jin in an instant, Jun-hwan pulled him into a bear hug and unleashed a torrent of flattery.
Pouring out only sweet words, Jun-hwan already acted as if Se-jin had rejoined the workshop.
But that was just Jun-hwan's delusion.
"Sorry, Workshop Master, but I'm here to rejoin Shinwa Workshop—not to work under you."
"...What?"
Gently pushing away the embracing Jun-hwan, Se-jin spoke words that left him staring in disbelief.
Se-jin, who hadn't mustered a single proper rebellion during years at the workshop and only spoke up at the very end, now declared with bold confidence that he had no intention of working under him.
It was only natural for Jun-hwan to be flustered.
But as people often do, when someone he saw as beneath him rebelled, his fluster quickly turned to fury.
Jun-hwan was no exception.
"You little shit. After I fed you, clothed you, and let you sleep here all this time, you forget that grace?!"
"Yes, and in return, every weapon I made got stamped with your name."
"That's because things sell better with my name on them! How many times did I tell you I'd put your name on them after a few years?!"
"You said that when I was in my first year, second year... right up until I left."
"...How dare you talk back to your elder like that?!"
Se-jin's every word rang true, turning Jun-hwan's face beet red.
It was a perfect case of the farter getting mad, but Jun-hwan—used to always coming out on top—assumed Se-jin would bow his head.
Artisans, apprentices, even staff from other guilds always cowered when he yelled.
But Jun-hwan was missing one key thing.
"Yeah, I've put up with your bullshit long enough. You gotta act like an adult to get treated like one, right?"
"...And who the hell are you?! Security! What're you doing letting an outsider wander around inside?!"
"Uh... Workshop Master, this is Choi Shin-hyeok, Chairman Choi Cheol-ho's fourth grandson."
"What?"
His booming voice only worked on his underlings.
Jun-hwan, trying to boot out Shin-hyeok—who had casually dismissed his words as bullshit—froze in shock upon learning his identity and gaped at him.
"H-Ha, haha, what brings you to a sweaty dump like this? If you need gear, you could've just called."
No, more than gaping, he switched attitudes like a flip, rubbing his hands obsequiously with a sycophantic grin, which Shin-hyeok eyed like filth.
"No need. I have no business with someone who only makes Rare-grade gear."
"...Only? There aren't many in Korea who can stably produce Rare-grade gear! And I've crafted Rare+ a few times. Take that back!"
That scraped at Jun-hwan's nerves.
It felt like a denial of his life's work, so his reaction was understandable.
But Shin-hyeok just sneered in response.
"Is that true, Se-jin hyung?"
"No. The Rare+ gear was all mine. He just took them and registered them under his name."
"There you have it, Workshop Master?"
"L-Lies! That guy's incompetent—that's why we kicked him out!"
Because his achievements were no different from Se-jin's.
Shin-hyeok smiled at Jun-hwan, who scowled while recalling the past, pointed accusingly at Se-jin, and trashed him in a rage-filled voice.
"Then let's make a bet."
"A bet?"
"You and Se-jin hyung duel it out. Use your own materials or whatever's in the workshop."
"What do I get if I win?"
"I'll overlook the corruption you just admitted to. And I won't care how you treat Se-jin hyung."
"If that's all, then sure—"
"But if you lose, you step down as workshop master. That seat belongs to Se-jin hyung."
"...What?!"
Jun-hwan was about to nod eagerly at the reward for winning, but the penalty for losing left him unable to hide his incredulity.
"The workshop master position is appointed directly by the Shinwa Guild Master. Even as the fourth young master of Shinwa Group, you have no right to decide that!"
"True. But what if it's someone higher than the Shinwa Guild Master?"
"...Pardon?"
Jun-hwan stared at Shin-hyeok, utterly dumbfounded by his follow-up.
It was right then.
Bzzz—
The firmly shut door of Shinwa Workshop slid open smoothly, filling the space with dozens of men in black suits.
"Wh-What's this—"
"The Chairman is arriving. Clear the way for his safety. Don't make me say it twice."
"B-Bodyguard Chief... The Chairman's really here?"
Recognizing the man leading the suited group as the head of security, Jun-hwan's face drained of color.
He'd only met Guild Master Choi In-ho a handful of times at most.
For someone far above In-ho like Choi Cheol-ho to show up in person, it was no wonder he felt choked.
But Choi Cheol-ho showed Jun-hwan no such consideration.
"So this is Shinwa Workshop. Haven't been back since the opening. Came for my grandson, but looks like I'll get a fun show."
Instead, he casually toured the workshop like it was his own home.
And in truth, it might as well have been.
Every cornerstone of Shinwa Workshop had been built with Choi Cheol-ho's money.
Ignoring Jun-hwan entirely, he spent a good while looking around before settling into the seat prepared for him and waving a hand dismissively.
"Let's get started then. If you win, Workshop Master, Shinwa Group will back the workshop with full support. But if my grandson's right and you lose, you'll have to step down."
"...Gulp!"
A duel personally endorsed by Choi Cheol-ho himself.
At that reality, Jun-hwan swallowed dryly without thinking.
"I'm confident."
"Heh, that youthful spirit appeals to me. The rules are simple: Use workshop materials or your own to forge a single sword. You can get help from other artisans or apprentices if needed."
Choi Cheol-ho's eyes gleamed with amusement at Se-jin's bold stance, holding back a laugh.
And the conditions that followed were clearly stacked against Se-jin.
Shinwa Workshop was under Jun-hwan's thumb.
He knew every material in stock, every skilled artisan and apprentice inside out.
Yet Se-jin didn't lose his composure.
"No need for other artisans or apprentices. Shin-hyeok's help is enough. For materials, I'll use what I brought plus the Blessed Steel from the workshop."
"Blessed Steel... A Unique-grade material that rarely shows up, paired with Rare-grade White Lotus Steel... Not a bad combo."
He even declared he'd forgo help from others, relying only on Shin-hyeok.
And on top of that, he'd forge the sword using just Blessed Steel and White Lotus Steel.
"Cocky brat. Then I'll mix Heavenly Refinement Steel with low-grade Cold Iron."
"Oh? Unique-grade Heavenly Refinement Steel with Rare-grade low-grade Cold Iron. Same conditions, then?"
"Yes. Chairman, I'll show that punk exactly why I'm the master of Shinwa Workshop."
"This'll be fun. Begin."
Jun-hwan, boiling with indignation at Se-jin's near-arrogant words, selected materials on equal footing.
The grades matched perfectly, even if the specifics differed.
Of course, unlike Se-jin, Jun-hwan planned to enlist the other artisans and apprentices.
With Choi Cheol-ho confirming that much and signaling the start, Jun-hwan and Se-jin swiftly moved to their stations.
The contest for ownership of Shinwa Workshop had begun.