[ORV] The Indomitable Blacksmith*

It was awkward. So, so awkward. The four of us were inside a Green Zone large enough to hold about four people. This was how things had happened: after I saved the girl who introduced herself as Lee Jihye, we entered a suitably large Green Zone. Since we entered the Green Zone at exactly midnight, a Monster Wave began. What was I doing right now?

Scratch

This time, I was seriously drawing up a blueprint to make a pickaxe. Because I was almost out of iron ingots. Then Lee Jihye spoke to me.

"Um... thank... you..."

"Hm..."

‘Damn, this is fucking awkward.’

Yoo Joonghyuk and Kim Namwoon were asleep. What was I supposed to do here? Grandpa, if you’re watching me, tell me the answer. Come to think of it...

"You..."

Flinch!

"Are you an incarnation?"

"Yes? Y-Yes! Y-yeah..."

"Then what weapon do you mainly use?"

"That... I’m not really... sure..."

"Does this girl have a sponsoring constellation?"

"!!!!"

[The Constellation who has yet to reveal their modifier says that they do.]

"What weapon is this girl planning to use in the future?"

[The Constellation who has yet to reveal their modifier says, "Hwandao."]

"A Hwandao... Hm. Could you show me your hands?"

"What!? ...Okay."

I looked at Lee Jihye’s hands. Then I touched her palms.

"Eek."

[The Constellation who has yet to reveal their modifier berates me, asking what I am doing to their incarnation.]

[The Constellation "Blacksmith of the Volcano" calms them down, saying that we should trust him for now.]

[The Constellation who has yet to reveal their modifier flies into a rage, asking how they could trust that incarnation.]

[The Constellation "Blacksmith of the Volcano" says that he guarantees it.]

[The Constellation who has yet to reveal their modifier says, "But..."]

Ignoring the constellations’ conversation, I examined Lee Jihye’s hands before looking at her face. Her face had turned as red as a tomato, and her eyes were even brimming with tears.

"Hic."

Only then did I let go of her hand. I took out a suitable piece of wood from my bag and began carving it.

Tap

I kept carving the wood, and once the handle was mostly finished, I took leather from my bag and began working it. By then, about an hour had passed since Lee Jihye woke up, and Kim Namwoon had latched herself tightly onto my arm.

‘Kim Namwoon is bigger than I thought.’

Anyway, after finishing the leatherwork, I applied adhesive to the wood and waited for it to dry. In the meantime, I unfolded the Portable Anvil and Furnace. I took out a lighter to ignite the furnace, but it was out of fuel. Left with no other choice, I used a skill.

[You have used the skill [Breath of Fire].]

Carefully, making sure not to damage anything nearby, I lit the furnace. I gripped an iron ingot with the tongs hanging from my apron and waited for it to heat up, when I heard a conversation.

"Hey, what’s that mister doing?"

"Obviously, Bear Mister is making your weapon!"

"Bear Mister?"

"He’s built like a bear! That’s why he’s Bear Mister!"

"That’s true...!"

"But did you cry or something?"

"Th-that’s..."

Then I moved the fully heated ingot onto the anvil.

Boom

"Haha, the sound is better than usual! Something pretty amazing is going to come out of this!!"

Clang

[The Constellation "Mass-Production Maker" asks what I am making so early in the morning.]

[Numerous Constellations agree with the "Mass-Production Maker."]

"Whew... a Hwandao..."

Clang

Splash

Hissss

Once all the parts were finished, Kim Namwoon handed me a towel.

"Whew. Thanks."

"It’s nothing, Bear Mister. And look at the system messages. They’re fucking hilarious right now, haha."

"?"

I looked at the message window. There, I saw...

[The Constellation "Demon-like Judge of Fire" greets you good morning.]

[The Constellation "Demon-like Judge of Fire" watches you work.]

[The Constellation "Demon-like Judge of Fire" stares intently at your face.]

[The Constellation "Demon-like Judge of Fire" grins foolishly as she watches you smile.]

[The Constellation "Demon-like Judge of Fire" looks at your sweat-soaked upper body and drools...]

"??????????"

[The Constellation "Demon-like Judge of Fire" says that isn’t what she meant...]

[The Constellation "Abyssal Black Flame Dragon" clutches his stomach and laughs.]

[The Constellation "Prisoner of the Golden Headband" falls over backward.]

[The Constellation "Secretive Plotter" looks at the Constellation "Demon-like Judge of Fire" with pitying eyes.]

"...Pervert."

[Numerous Constellations burst into laughter.]

[The Constellation "Demon-like Judge of Fire" buries her face in a pillow.]

There had been that little incident, but I started assembling the sword regardless.

Click

Tap

Click

After finishing the assembly and testing the Hwandao’s sharpness, I placed it in its sheath and recited the incantation.

"May this weapon’s sharpness never fade."

Hum

"May this weapon never break."

Hum

"May this weapon protect its owner."

Hum

[Congratulations! You have completed a weapon. Please name the weapon.]

"...Hm. [Aberration-Slaying Blade]."

[You have named the item: [Aberration-Slaying Blade].]

[Item Information]

Name: [Aberration-Slaying Blade]

Grade: S

Description: A sword forged by a blacksmith who poured his heart and soul into it, just as its name means to annihilate aberrations.

[Congratulations. You have created an S-grade weapon with a mortal body.]

[You have obtained the Fable [Dwarf’s Successor].]

"!!!!"

[The Constellation "Blacksmith of the Volcano" congratulates you on obtaining a Fable.]

[Numerous Constellations congratulate you.]

As I blankly stared at the sword, Yoo Joonghyuk, who had apparently gone somewhere after waking up, approached me. She looked at the Aberration-Slaying Blade and said—

"That thing you made first thing in the morning is...!!!"

Yoo Joonghyuk’s eyes widened in an instant. Then she looked at me. I checked my Trait Window.

Trait Window

Name: Cheolung

Age: 30

Sponsoring Constellation: Blacksmith of the Volcano

Fable: [Dwarf’s Successor] (Historical Figure)

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, [Magitech] Lv. 1

Vitality: 15

Strength: 15

Agility: 5

Magic Power: 10

"Huh."

After checking my Trait Window, I handed the Aberration-Slaying Blade to Lee Jihye. She looked at me with a startled expression.

"I... I-Is it really okay for me to receive something like this?"

"Yes."

"B-But I can’t just accept something like this for free!"

I placed my hand on Lee Jihye’s head and said,

"I made it for you in the first place, so I will not take payment. If you really want to repay me, help me when I’m in danger someday."

"Y-Yes."

Then Lee Jihye’s face turned red, and steam rose from her head. Meanwhile, there was something strange about Kim Namwoon’s eyes. There was no life in them as she stared back and forth between Lee Jihye and me. She especially glared at Lee Jihye with eyes full of killing intent. Then a message from Lee Jihye’s sponsoring constellation appeared.

[The Constellation who has yet to reveal their modifier asks whether it is truly okay to give this to their incarnation.]

"Yes. I made it for Lee Jihye in the first place."

Then my sponsoring constellation sent a message.

[The Constellation "Blacksmith of the Volcano" says that it is about time to begin.]

"Hm? Ah, it’s already that time!"

"That time? What are you talking about?"

"It is time to inherit a Stigma."

"Has that much time passed already?"

"Hm."

"Um, could you teach me how to fight?"

Lee Jihye said to Yoo Joonghyuk. Yoo Joonghyuk answered,

"Fine."

"Really! Then I’ll call you Master from now on!"

"Do as you wish. Kim Namwoon, you come too."

"Me too?"

"Yes."

"All right. Then, Bear Mister, we’ll be back."

"Hm."

Once I confirmed that my companions had left,

"Then let’s begin."

[The inheritance of the Stigma of the Constellation "Blacksmith of the Volcano" begins.]

"! ...Urgh."

[The Constellation "Blacksmith of the Volcano" tells you to endure.]

It was more excruciating than I expected. It felt like someone was branding letters onto my heart with fire. Four hours passed like that.

[You have inherited a Stigma.]

I had successfully inherited a Stigma.

Trait Window

Name: Cheolung

Age: 30

Sponsoring Constellation: Blacksmith of the Volcano

Stigma: [Heart of a Servant] Lv. 1

Fable: [Dwarf’s Successor]

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, [Magitech] Lv. 1

Vitality: 15

Strength: 15

Agility: 5

Magic Power: 10

I checked my Trait Window and read the description of the Stigma.

Stigma: [Heart of a Servant]

Description: The core used by the Blacksmith of the Volcano to create his servants. This heart contains the servant’s thoughts and emotions, and the servant gives absolute loyalty to its master. However, the body is not automatically generated and must be created personally. It is bestowed only upon skilled blacksmiths. The [Magitech] skill is required.

Servants Owned: 0/1

After reading the Stigma’s description, I fell asleep as though I had fainted.

Chapter 6: Chapter 5

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Chapter 6: Chapter 5

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