"Capture another station?"
"Bear Mister, which way do we go if we want to get to Changi Station from here?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Just because?"
"...Don’t go off alone and get ganged up on by the people there. Wait."
"W-Who said I was going alone?!"
"Don’t yell. You’re hurting my ears."
Smack
"Ow!"
With that, I chopped Kim Namwoon on the crown of the head with the edge of my hand.
"You were about to do something reckless again and get hit by Mister, weren’t you?"
"That’s right. So what?"
"Hmph... Mister, come somewhere with me for a second!"
"Hey!"
Lee Jihye linked arms with me and pressed herself close, but Kim Namwoon grabbed her hand and dragged her off somewhere. Lee Jihye seemed unhappy about something as well, her expression darkening as she was pulled away.
That was when I heard something from the tunnel. I walked toward it.
Vroooom
It was the sound of motorcycles.
"I-Isn’t that the sound of motorcycles?"
"It is. And judging by the engine noise, it sounds like a 7M."
The distinctive roar of the motorcycles gradually drew closer. Then I heard voices.
"Damn. Chungmuro finally opened up."
"Seriously. It took forever to clear a stupid scenario like this."
"Hey, they’ll hear you. Keep it down. Besides, every station has a different scenario difficulty."
"Sorry it took so long to clear such a pathetic scenario."
"...!"
Screeeech!
When I suddenly appeared, the riders slammed on their brakes, and several of them nearly tumbled forward. Then I threw Mountain beside the man at the very front.
Whoosh
The man gaped in horror as the hammer skimmed past his side, then tipped over along with his motorcycle. His companions began to tense up as they watched, and I held out my hand to retrieve Mountain.
Whoosh
Thud
I brought the head of the recovered Mountain down beside the fallen man’s head and spoke.
"Why did you come here?"
"Th-That... m-my name is—"
Whoosh
Booom!
"Eek!"
"That wasn’t my question."
"An alliance! W-We came to form an alliance!"
"Why?"
"A station that has only just opened is an easy target. Especially right after it opens up."
"I see... Your name?"
"K-Kang Ilhoon."
"Right..."
My gaze fell on Kang Ilhoon’s pants, and I frowned. Kang Ilhoon and his party followed my gaze. A yellow liquid was running down Kang Ilhoon’s trousers. His companions looked at him with contempt, while his face turned red.
[Numerous constellations have begun teasing incarnation Kang Ilhoon.]
[Constellations aligned with Absolute Evil laugh as they look at you.]
[Constellations aligned with Absolute Good say that you went too far.]
"Tch. I’ll take you to our representative. Follow me."
"Y-Yes..."
Kang Ilhoon looked at me with murderous eyes. But what was I supposed to do about that? I walked over to the group, where Yoo Joonghyuk was standing as well.
"? Didn’t you go to another station?"
"I stepped out briefly because there was an item I needed to obtain. And..."
"?"
I looked around at the group. They were all looking at me as if I were terrifying. The exceptions were Kim Namwoon, Lee Hyunsung, and Lee Gilyoung. Kim Namwoon looked at me like I was cool, Lee Hyunsung had gone pale as though he had been reminded of something from the past, and Lee Gilyoung had worn an expression like he had wanted to tell me something ever since I came back.
"...Did you see?"
Nod.
"Anyway, Kim Dokja wants to meet you."
"What? Ah, okay."
I joined the group. While Kim Dokja was talking with those people, Kim Namwoon spoke up.
"Bear Mister, you were freaking awesome earlier!"
"Mm."
"Can I use that move next time?"
"No."
"Aww."
Then I looked at Lee Gilyoung, who had approached me at some point, and said,
"Lee Gilyoung, it looks like you’ve had something to say to me for a while now?"
"!"
"Say it. I’ll listen."
"W-Well..."
In truth, I already roughly knew what Lee Gilyoung wanted to say. Every time I worked materials or hammered iron, he looked at me the way I had looked at my grandfather as a child.
"Ever since I saw you make things out of iron, I’ve felt strange. Every time you make something with it... I keep thinking that I want to make something with it too."
"Mm."
"So I’m asking you. Please teach me that skill!"
"All right."
"Really?"
"Yes. But once you begin, you must not give up. Do you understand?"
"Yes! I’ll work hard!"
"Good. From now on, call me Master."
"Yes, Master!"
"Then first, you’ll need a hammer..."
"I have a hammer!"
"Hm?"
"Here!"
I accepted the hammer from Lee Gilyoung and swung it around a few times.
‘That’s a pretty good hammer. It has a suitable weight, no cumbersome decorations, and I can even sense magic power from it. Is it an item?’
"It’s a fine hammer. Where did you get it?"
"The Theater Dungeon, Master."
"This will do. Follow me."
"Yes!"
I took Lee Gilyoung to somewhere away from the others, looking at the system messages as I went.
[The Constellation "Blacksmith of the Volcano" congratulates you on gaining a disciple.]
[The Constellation "Mass-Production Maker" congratulates you on gaining a disciple.]
[Numerous constellations congratulate you on gaining a disciple.]
As I looked at the messages, I spoke to Lee Gilyoung.
"First, I’ll teach you how to swing a hammer."
"Yes!"
I taught him how to swing a hammer, then began making something.
"Master, what are you making?"
"An apron for you."
"For me?"
"Yes. My grandfather once told me, ‘If you ever take in a disciple, make them an apron. It means you fully accept them as the disciple to whom you will pass on the smithing techniques you learned.’ So I am fully accepting you as my disciple."
Lee Gilyoung’s mouth fell open. Then his eyes grew slightly moist. I did not know whether it was such a big deal, but he was my first disciple, so I figured I should do at least this much for him. Thinking that, I began removing the fur from the leather’s surface.
Scrape
Scrape
Scrape
Scrape
Scrape
After leaving a little fur behind, I handed Lee Gilyoung the tool I had used for shaving it.
"First, lay the leather over your thigh and gently scrape it with the tool I gave you."
"Like this?"
"Yes. Put a little more strength into it there—no, that’s too much. Ease up a little and go slowly. Yes, like that."
While Lee Gilyoung shaved the fur off the leather, I fetched a drying rack for the leather and a bucket to wash it in.
"I’m done shaving it!"
"Mm."
I washed about two-thirds of the leather, then had Lee Gilyoung do the rest.
"Use a little more force there. Yes, like that."
"Now I put this over there...?"
"Yes, hang it up."
As I hung up the leather, I spoke to Lee Gilyoung.
"We’re indoors, and it’s nighttime outside, so I’ll use my skill."
[You have used the skill [Fire Breath Lv. 1].]
Your skill level increases through continued skill use.
"Now mix monster brains with water. Would you like to try it yourself?"
"Yes."
While Lee Gilyoung mixed the monster brains and water, I checked my status window.
Status Window
Name: Cheolung
Age: 30
Sponsor Constellation: Blacksmith of the Volcano
Fable: Dwarf’s Successor
Stigma: Heart of a Servant
Description: A core used by the Blacksmith of the Volcano when creating his servants. This heart contains a servant’s thoughts and emotions, and it gives absolute loyalty to its master. However, the body is not generated automatically and must be made personally. It is bestowed only upon skilled blacksmiths. A Magitech skill is required.
Exclusive Traits: Dwarf Half-Blood (Rare), Blacksmith (Normal), Tall Stature (Normal), Poker Face (Normal), Fire Resistance (Rare), Pain Resistance (Rare)
Exclusive Skills: [Dwarven Smithing Technique] (Rare) Lv. 10, [Fire Breath] (Rare) Lv. 2, [Dwarven Axe Technique] (Rare) Lv. 10, [Welding] Lv. 10, [Butchering] Lv. 7, [Magitech] Lv. 1
Stamina: 20
Strength: 20
Agility: 10
Magic Power: 15
I closed the status window and spread the liquid Lee Gilyoung had mixed over the leather.
"This makes the leather softer."
"Oh..."
"And then we dry it again."
I dried the leather again, took down the leather that had been hung up, and told Lee Gilyoung to touch it.
"How does it feel?"
"It’s softer than when I first touched it!"
"Right. From here on, I’ll do it alone, so watch carefully and listen well."
"Yes!"
I explained each step to Lee Gilyoung as I made it, and then I finished it. As I tied the apron around Lee Gilyoung, I said,
"Welcome to becoming my disciple."
Lee Gilyoung answered with a joyful face and a vigorous voice.
"Yes!"
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