Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: The Forging Duel
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Roar!
No sooner had the duel begun than flames roared up from the workshop's furnace.
"Move it, faster! Mix the Celestial Steel with low-grade Cold Iron to make an alloy!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Right away, Workshop Master!"
Seeing the furnace blaze, Jun-hwan bellowed orders.
It was only natural—everything was on the line for him in this duel.
Watching his craftsmen and apprentices move in perfect sync, Jun-hwan glanced toward Se-jin and Shin-hyeok.
'He's impressive, sure, but getting help from a greenhorn who's never swung a hammer won't produce anything decent. This duel's mine for the taking!'
Jun-hwan smirked inwardly at Shin-hyeok, who gripped the hammer in an awkward stance, then shoved Celestial Steel and low-grade Cold Iron into the blazing furnace.
"Brother, you sure this is okay? I've never even held a hammer."
"If what you told me isn't a lie, it'll be fine. You're just assisting me anyway, Shin-hyeok."
"Well, if you say so..."
Suddenly handed a hammer, Shin-hyeok looked at Se-jin with worry.
If they lost this duel, Se-jin would be thrown back into that hellish slavery.
But Se-jin nodded calmly, unconcerned.
"The craftsmen and apprentices here would sooner sabotage me than help. Better to have you assisting—you've got talent, even if you've never touched a hammer."
"Ah."
Realizing why, Shin-hyeok let out a low exclamation.
The Shinwa Workshop was Jun-hwan's home turf, after all.
For Jun-hwan's victory, they'd obviously hinder Se-jin rather than aid him.
With that settled, Shin-hyeok rolled up his sleeves and dove into the work.
"We'll start by alloying Blessed Steel and White Lotus Steel. That way, we maximize efficiency without burning through all the Blessed Steel. Your friend Su-ah's a dual-class Holy Knight and Priest, right? We'll make her a weapon with the leftovers."
"Is that why you didn't pick anything at the department store?"
"Yeah. She's your friend—she deserves the best. Though what we're making now is even better."
"The best, huh... Sounds good."
Se-jin's foresight, not just for the duel but the future, filled Shin-hyeok with confidence. Smiling, he fetched the Blessed Steel and White Lotus Steel.
"They have different melting points, so melt the White Lotus Steel first, then the Blessed Steel right after, and mix them immediately. Got it?"
"Yeah, got it. Let's start."
After a quick explanation, they got to work.
Roar!
White Lotus Steel went into the roaring furnace first.
Sizzle—
Molten red White Lotus Steel poured out, replaced by Blessed Steel.
Once even that turned to glowing molten metal, Se-jin gravely blended the two with precise movements.
The messages made Shin-hyeok focus intently, his face serious.
The perfectly blended molten metal cooled briefly.
"Time to make the mold."
"Earth infused with spirit energy."
"Perfect. That'll make the best mold."
They moved to the next step without pause.
Se-jin praised Shin-hyeok for fetching the spirit-infused earth, then swiftly shaped the mold.
As he molded it by hand, the earth instantly formed into a sword mold. Shin-hyeok marveled briefly.
"Remelt the cooled alloy and pour it in. Not hard—you do it."
"Alright, I'll give it a shot."
Shin-hyeok took the remelted metal from Se-jin and carefully poured it into the mold.
The metal settled perfectly into the mold's shape, accompanied by more messages.
Shin-hyeok smiled, but Se-jin pulled something out.
Whoooosh—
"Mana Wind. Used in crafting—cools metal fast and infuses mana to boost the item's value."
"Crafting gear has some wild stuff."
Using the device to blow cold mana winds, they solidified the metal quickly.
"Grab the hammer. Now the real work begins."
"...Hoo, ready."
Clang! Thud! Clang! Thud! Clang!
The hammering began in earnest.
Beyond refining the imperfect shape from the mold, it was a tedious process to hammer it precisely into Se-jin's envisioned form.
'Insane focus. No wonder he gets called the Hand of God and reaches the pinnacle of blacksmithing.'
Se-jin wasn't bored—he hammered on with a satisfied smile.
Even assisting was exhausting for Shin-hyeok, but Se-jin kept going for hours without rest.
"Done."
"...This is incredible."
And the result was extraordinary.
Of course—
"I got a skill too. Metallurgy D-rank."
"D? Pretty high to start."
"It said it's because the item was outstanding. Thanks to you, Brother."
"All I did was hammer."
"That's the most important part."
"Glad you think so."
Shin-hyeok had reaped ample rewards too—a pre-regression skill, starting at D-rank without prior bonuses. Satisfied, he thanked Se-jin.
Se-jin, unused to praise, blushed and waved it off. Shin-hyeok chuckled briefly.
"Looks like both are done. Bring them up for inspection."
"Yes!"
"Right."
Choi Cheol-ho's low, weighty voice filled the workshop. Se-jin erased his bashfulness, standing sternly before him with his sword.
Jun-hwan sneered beside him.
"The masterpiece of the entire Shinwa Workshop. You think you can beat this alone?"
Se-jin stared at Jun-hwan's provocative display of the chilling longsword, then smirked unusually.
"Yeah. It's so crude, I think I will."
"What?"
"You go first. The real star shows up last."
"...Fine. Don't chicken out."
Grinding his teeth at Se-jin downplaying his work and yielding the reveal, Jun-hwan presented his sword.
"Ho, excellent options for Unique rank, and top-tier attack power."
Unique rank was expected from Unique materials, but the stats were impressive: +33 Strength, +28 Vitality. Mid-tier Unique attack power explained Jun-hwan's arrogance.
Even Choi Cheol-ho was impressed, sending Jun-hwan's ego soaring.
"Don't get too excited over that, Grandfather."
"...What?"
"Brother, show them. Your masterpiece."
"Our masterpiece. Anyway, this is our sword."
Choi Cheol-ho stared at Se-jin in shock at Shin-hyeok's words.
Meeting the gaze boldly, Se-jin placed his sword before him.
"...Heh."
"...What?!"
"N-No way!"
The Shinwa Workshop filled with shock.
Unique+ rank alone sealed Se-jin's victory, but the options dwarfed Jun-hwan's sword.
+38 to all stats outdid it already. Then +892 attack power.
Bound gear that granted the rare Holy Power stat—usually exclusive to Holy Knights and Priests.
As everyone reeled after Choi Cheol-ho,
Clap!
"Looks like the winner's clear."
"Indeed. No matter who you call, the victor stays the same."
Shin-hyeok's claps broke the stunned silence. Choi Cheol-ho nodded calmly.
"N-No! This can't be! One more chance! Please, Chairman!"
Sensing his doom, Jun-hwan clung to Choi Cheol-ho's leg, begging pathetically.
But Choi Cheol-ho wasn't soft.
"Kim Jun-hwan, age 47. Rose from employee to Workshop Master. But you embezzled materials, took kickbacks from other guilds—leaking Shinwa Guild gear multiple times. Harassed and toyed with staff, even registered Bang Se-jin's creations under your name. Need I give you more chances?"
"H-How did you...?"
"Remember, Shinwa's eyes are everywhere. Don't feel too hard done by. Even if you'd won, nothing changes. Eat your prison rice quietly."
"No! No! Chairman, please!"
"Drag him out."
"Aaaaargh!"
Choi Cheol-ho knew all his corruption from the start.
Jun-hwan was doomed before it began.
Realizing it, he wailed desperately, but guards dragged him away on Choi Cheol-ho's cold command.
The workshop folk—from artisans to apprentices—were dumbfounded by the fallen master's misery.
"Punishment's done. Now for the reward. What do you want, Shin-hyeok?"
Only Choi Cheol-ho smiled kindly at Shin-hyeok, unchanged.
In the hush, Shin-hyeok gave his prepared answer.
"Appoint my father as President of Shinwa Distribution."
"So be it."
And it became reality.
Shinwa Distribution.
The cornerstone for Shin-hyeok to swallow the entire Shinwa Group.