[ORV] The Indomitable Blacksmith*

Something feels strange. That was my first thought the moment I saw Ghost Iron. I had felt this way before. Right—when Grandfather showed me an ore I had never seen before.

'Grandpa, what is that?'

'It's an ore that was rare even in my homeland.'

'What's it called?'

'Mithril.'

Yes, this was the feeling I had when I first saw mithril. The joy of seeing a new ore, and the desire to refine it and make something from it. But it wasn't quite the same as when I had first seen mithril. I could tell by instinct. I could handle Ghost Iron. Grandfather had told me that I still couldn't handle mithril. That was why the raw ore was still at my home and workshop.

'What should I make with this?'

But this wasn't the time for that. There were still many fiends rushing toward us. Then a loud noise came from behind us. A gigantic snake had severed the bridge.

"...Tch."

'...This is troublesome. Are the others safe for now? They're safe.'

Just then—

[Someone has received a constellation's blessing.]

[The scenario activates [Deus Ex Machina] through a constellation's blessing.]

A brilliant light poured from the severed bridge. Then a bridge made of light appeared.

['Deus Ex Machina': Bridge of Even Numbers]

Description: A bridge created through a constellation's blessing. Only an 'even' number of people may cross this bridge. Should an odd number of people attempt to cross, the bridge will immediately vanish.

The moment I saw the system window, Han Myeong-oh took Yoo Sangah and crossed the bridge. Then I spoke to Hyunsung.

"...Take the kid and cross the bridge."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Hurry!"

"...Okay."

Hyunsung carried Gilyoung and crossed the bridge. Next, I spoke to Kim Namwoon.

"You take Kim Dokja and cross the bridge too."

"What about you, mister?"

"There should be someone who was kicking down the iron door earlier."

"You're going with that person?"

"Yeah."

"Haaah... Do whatever you want. Come on, sis."

"Huh? What about my opinion?"

"Do you think that mister would consider something like that? Let's just go."

With that, Kim Namwoon grabbed Kim Dokja's hand and crossed the bridge. I put the Ghost Iron into my bag and took out a fresh iron ingot.

[The Constellation "Blacksmith of the Volcano" asks whether you intend to get more Ghost Iron.]

"While I'm going to meet the person who struck the iron door earlier, I'll get some if I can."

[The Constellation "Blacksmith of the Volcano" says the probability of Ghost Iron being produced is extremely low.]

"How low?"

[The Constellation "Blacksmith of the Volcano" says that, to use one of your metaphors, it's like pulling a rate-up character with one single pull.]

"Hmm... Then I should switch to a saw."

I gripped a folding saw in my left hand and a work hammer in my right. Then I slashed the neck of a fiend rapidly approaching me with the saw, and its head fell cleanly off. Holding the saw in a reverse grip, I cut through the other fiends' stomachs.

Then someone appeared. It was a woman. I asked her,

"Were you the one trying to open the train door earlier?"

"What if I was?"

"I see. Then may I explain the situation to you?"

"I'll hear you out."

And so I explained the situation to her.

"That's what happened."

"I see. Then let's go to the bridge."

"Yeah."

A variable had appeared in this round. In the car where there had only been Lee Hyunsung and Kim Namwoon in the previous round, there was another survivor. And I knew the man before me. He was a former military superior of Lee Hyunsung's, someone he stayed in touch with from time to time. That man had told Lee Hyunsung to strangle him, and that was how Lee Hyunsung had survived. Yet he was alive now. So I observed him from afar.

[You activate the skill [Sage's Eye].]

[You peek into the target's Trait Window.]

Trait Window

Name: Cheolung

Age: 30

Sponsoring Constellation: Blacksmith of the Volcano

Exclusive Traits: Dwarf Half-Blood (Rare), Blacksmith (Common), Tall Stature (Common), Poker Face (Common), Fire Resistance (Rare), Pain Resistance (Rare)

Exclusive Skills: Dwarven Smithing (Rare) Lv. 10, Breath of Fire (Rare) Lv. 1, Dwarven Axe Technique (Rare) Lv. 10, Welding Lv. 10, Butchering Lv. 7

Vitality: 10

Strength: 10

Agility: 3

Magic Power: 4

As an incarnation of Hephaestus, he possessed the Blacksmith trait and Dwarven Smithing as well. Those were exceptionally useful abilities in the early stages. If I raised him well, he would likely be quite useful even in the later stages. And judging from the battle I had watched earlier, he had considerable combat ability as well.

---------------------------------------------------

I crossed the bridge with the woman who introduced herself as Yoo Joonghyuk. As she looked over the group, she studied Kim Dokja closely. Then her expression abruptly changed. She approached Kim Dokja and suddenly seized her by the collar, lifting her up. They began talking to each other.

I walked toward them. No, I tried to. But Kim Dokja told me to trust her, so I stopped where I was. Then Yoo Joonghyuk walked toward where the giant snake had been, taking Kim Dokja with her. Kim Dokja said,

"Fine, Yoo Joonghyuk. Let me make two things clear first."

"...What?"

"First, I'm not your subordinate. So from now on, I expect you to treat me fairly."

"..."

"Second, just as I cooperate with you, promise that you will cooperate with me as well."

"Well? What's your answer?"

Kim Dokja smiled as she spoke.

"Let go of me and fuck off, you bitch."

Kim Dokja fell as she said that, and I thought,

'Why?'

'Why the hell?'

'Why did she make that choice?'

As I was thinking that, Yoo Joonghyuk approached.

[You have cleared the scenario!]

You have been awarded 200 Coins.

Then Yoo Joonghyuk said,

"From now on, we're going to Geumho Station."

A day passed. We arrived at Geumho Station, and I was hammering iron.

Clang

[Numerous constellations are listening to this as ASMR while they sleep.]

"Now, if I just put the handle in here!"

Thunk

[You have successfully crafted an item! Please name the item.]

"...Mountain."

[You have named the item. Item Name: Mountain. The item's information will be updated.]

[Item Information]

Name: Mountain

Grade: A

Description: A battle hammer made from Ghost Iron and iron ingots. It possesses considerable destructive power and durability.

"Whew..."

[The Constellation "Blacksmith of the Volcano" tells his incarnation that he did well.]

"Don't mention it."

"Are you done?"

"Yeah."

"Then sharpen this sword's edge for me."

"All right."

I began sharpening Yoo Joonghyuk's sword blade with a whetstone.

Scrape

While I was engrossed in sharpening the sword, Kim Namwoon came over.

"Mister! Mister!"

"Hmm?"

"Make me a weapon too."

"What kind do you want?"

"Really? Anything dagger-like!"

"All right. I'll make one once I'm done sharpening the sword."

"Really? Yes!"

"Then show me your hand."

"Huh? Why my hand?"

"That way, I'll know what shape to make the handle so you can grip it properly."

"Okay!"

I took off my glove, held her hand, and examined it as I touched it.

'Hmm. I have a general idea of what shape to carve it into.'

Then Kim Namwoon called out to me.

"Mister, what are you doing?"

Her face was bright red, too.

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

"I... I... It's nothing!!"

She vanished as though fleeing.

[The Constellation "Blacksmith of the Volcano" says that his incarnation has no awareness when it comes to romance.]

I wore an expression that said I truly had no idea what was going on.

[Numerous constellations agree with the Constellation "Blacksmith of the Volcano."]

Once I had finished sharpening the sword, I took an iron ingot from my bag and lit the furnace.

Sss... sss... sss! Whoosh!

I gripped the iron ingot with tongs and began heating it.

"Whew..."

As I watched the iron heat up, a smile crept onto my lips. Once I confirmed that it had heated to just the right temperature, I moved it to the anvil. Then—

Bam!!!

"What a nice sound! Let's hammer away!"

Clang

'Sprinkle borax here.'

'Again!'

Clang

'The iron has cooled.'

When the iron's heat dropped, I put it into the furnace and heated it again. That was when Yoo Joonghyuk returned.

"You've already started making something else. Is my sword finished?"

I nodded.

Yoo Joonghyuk took the sword back.

Clang

'The blade is complete. Now for the handle?'

I began carving the wood. Then Hyunsung came over.

"Have something to eat while you work."

"Mm, okay."

Tap

"Whew."

It was finished.

[You have successfully crafted an item! Please name the item.]

"Custom Iron Knife."

[Item Information]

Name: Custom Iron Knife

Grade: D

Description: An iron knife made by the incarnation Cheolung for the incarnation Kim Namwoon.

Chapter 4: Chapter 3

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Chapter 4: Chapter 3

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