episode_0177

Episode 177: The Swordsmith Village (3)

We had no choice but to be dragged around by Ju-hwang’s headstrong behavior. As if he were the very person who created the dwarves, he was extremely stubborn from our first meeting.

We arrived at his warehouse like that.

The warehouse was a mess and dirty, as if he never bothered to clean it. Even the neat-freak dwarf, Toreka, frowned. However, he didn’t express any dissatisfaction with his god.

“Let’s see, it should be here….”

Ju-hwang began rummaging through his warehouse. Every time he did, the items he had made flew into the air. As he did, Ju-hwang said,

“The Saint and Saintess are representatives of Justia. As such, they need to pay attention to their attire. Not wear such trash.”

“Trash? How much effort went into making these equipments.”

Then Ju-hwang glanced at me and continued,

“Okay, I’ll admit the ring is good. I don’t know who made it, but it’s well-made. But the rest is all trash. The clothes, the shoes, the gloves. The magic enchantments are well done, but the foundation is trash, so there’s a clear limit. Oh, here it is.”

Just then, Ju-hwang pulled something out of a pile of his creations. It was a pair of leather shoes.

“Try these on. They’ll be thousands of times better than what you’re wearing now.”

I changed into the shoes without complaint. As soon as I did, the shoes clung to my feet, and I felt so light that it was as if I wasn’t wearing any shoes at all.

Moreover, the shoes themselves possessed more than just that ability. The only problem was that they were imbued with divine power.

“How is it?”

“It’s light, so it’s good.”

“That’s all you have to say?”

What more do you want? That’s enough.

Ju-hwang, seeing my expression, clicked his tongue and said,

“Tsk, tsk, your personality is as bad as I’ve heard. As bad as Estella’s.”

Anyway, Ju-hwang continued to hand over various pieces of armor after that. He replaced all the equipment that bothered me with his creations.

“This is a passable attire. Now, finally….”

Ju-hwang nodded and reached into the pile of creations again. As he did, Ju-hwang said,

“Since ancient times, I have made the clothes for the Saint and Saintess. The clothes Estella is currently wearing were also born from my hands, and I made clothes for when a Saint would be chosen later. Even if it’s just a spare, you’re qualified to wear these clothes.”

A piece of clothing was pulled out by his hand. Like Estella’s clothes, it was white.

Ju-hwang’s hand emerged from the pile of creations. A piece of clothing was in his hand.

“Here, try it on.”

“……”

I stared blankly at the clothes he handed me.

“Hurry up and try it on?”

“…How am I supposed to wear clothes like this? Even the color is weird.”

Pure white clothes. The clothes Ju-hwang gave me were as white as Estella’s. Still, it was men’s clothing, so it didn’t flutter like hers, but the color was too noticeable.

“The concept of the Saint and Saintess was created by White. In honor of that achievement, it’s tradition to make the Saint and Saintess’ clothes white.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Oh, a Saint shouldn’t be like this. I see I have no choice.”

At that moment, Ju-hwang emitted divine power. Reacting to the energy, the clothes rushed at me and forcibly put themselves on me. There was no time to resist.

“Hmm, the clothes are good, but the person is not so good. It doesn’t suit you.”

“Pfft!”

“……”

Ju-hwang spat out such a comment, and Evan burst into laughter at my appearance. Judging by Toreka’s tightly closed lips, he seemed to think it was strange, as I had expected.

I immediately took off the Saint’s clothes.

“If you ever try to make me wear clothes like this again, I’ll tear them all up.”

“Just like an Arden. You could have just worn it. Alright, then try this on.”

Next, he handed me a body suit-shaped garment. On closer inspection, it was made of metal.

“How about that?”

“It’s much better than the last one.”

It was better than the last one in terms of convenience and design. It was easy to move around in, and I could wear it as an inner layer of clothing. I wore this kind of clothing a lot during my hunter days.

“I’m glad you’re satisfied.”

“I’ll put it to good use.”

“If you’re grateful, correct the way you speak. Who would think well of a Saint who speaks like that?”

“…Don’t expect too much from me. Who do you think is suffering under the name of Saint?”

That’s a separate issue. I’m grateful for the armor, but I will never speak respectfully. Even now, I’m being more gentle than when I’ve dealt with other gods.

“That’s enough about this….”

Ju-hwang turned his gaze to Evan.

“Your name was… Evan, was it? I heard about you from Green and Estella. That you’re just as amazing as this Saint here.”

“I am good, but compared to my hyung….”

“How can someone like you say such cheesy things? Whatever. Since you’re here, I’ll take care of your equipment too.”

He handed Evan some of the equipment he had taken out. Evan received it with a bright face and changed into it on the spot. After putting everything on, Evan whispered to me quietly.

“Hyung.”

“What.”

“Um, Ju-hwang’s… sense of design is a little weird.”

“So what do you want me to do?”

“No, well, I’m grateful for what he gave me, but if you could ask him to exchange it for something else….”

“Do it yourself. Don’t ask me.”

“Ah, please, hyung.”

“You shouldn’t have laughed at me earlier. Consider it a punishment and try standing in front of others wearing that. You’ll be able to feel how I felt earlier.”

“Ack!”

I left Evan, who was clutching his head, alone. I turned my head to Ju-hwang.

“Let’s get to the main point now.”

“Yes, I’ve heard the story. What exactly do you need me to do?”

At those words, I took Karsa and Raman from Evan from my waist and handed them to Ju-hwang.

“I want you to enhance these two swords. Preserving their current characteristics to the fullest extent.”

“So these were the swords that Toreka was talking about.”

Ju-hwang received the swords. He looked at the two swords intently, his eyes shining.

“Indeed, as I heard from Toreka, the fate of these swords is extraordinary. Such similar fates…. Moreover, one even has an ego.”

Having finished his examination, Ju-hwang threw the swords into the magma. An extremely rough action. But there’s no problem. Even though he’s a god, Ju-hwang’s foundation is as a blacksmith. His skill is the best of all the blacksmiths on the continent.

“It will take about 1 to 2 weeks.”

“I thought it would take 3 days.”

“If they were just ordinary swords, it would have. But the two swords are in the process of being completed. To interfere with that midway would be a difficult task even if Toreka and I combined our strength.”

“If that’s the case.”

Blacksmithing is an unknown realm. The words of Ju-hwang, who is a blacksmith, are certain. That’s why I’m talking to him with as much respect as possible.

“Use this sword until it’s completed.”

Ju-hwang threw a sword to me and Evan. It was definitely inferior in performance to Karsa, but it was good enough to use temporarily.

The purpose of meeting with Ju-hwang ended with this. Once I received the upgraded swords, there would be no need to meet him again. He said it would take time to complete, so I was about to leave.

“If you have anything else to say or give, say it quickly. I’m tired because of the exchange meeting.”

“Let’s talk for a moment before you go. As a god and a Saint.”

A rather heavy voice. And he even mentioned a god and a Saint. I didn’t leave right away and moved to talk to Ju-hwang.

“If there’s another reason you called me, tell me that first.”

“I can’t do that. You’re the first Saint to be chosen in 200 years.”

“…So what’s the reason you wanted to see me separately?”

At those words, Ju-hwang stared at the hole in the distance where magma was flowing out. He didn’t say anything, and only opened his mouth after a long time.

“Each god has a different meaning for the Saint and Saintess. In White’s case, he tends to treat them like children.”

As he poured out those words to me, I asked him.

“I’m curious to know what Ju-hwang, the god of fire and blacksmithing, thinks.”

“I….”

He thought deeply again before continuing.

“I don’t place much importance on it. What’s important to me is pounding iron with my children.”

That was truly a blacksmith-like thing to say.

“For that reason, I don’t place much importance on the Saint and Saintess. You can see it in history. The two are close to being expendable items that can be filled at any time.”

“……”

“But that doesn’t mean I don’t cherish them. After all, the two existences are determined by my choice.”

“I see.”

“That’s right.”

I moved my feet and approached Ju-hwang.

“So, what do you want to say? Say it quickly.”

“A ruffian, indeed. Your personality is as bad as I’ve heard. You’re ruining the atmosphere.”

He clicked his tongue and continued.

“Red came and went a while ago. He’s clearly up to something. So I’m warning you. I don’t know what kind of hand he’ll extend to you, a Saint.”

Well, Red would be moving soon. Because he was a traitor.

Of course, it would take quite some time to convince him, so the time when the destruction would befall the Justia Theocracy would be next year. When Evan becomes a third-year student.

“Have you ever met Red?”

“No. Would a guy who didn’t even show his face in the arena have asked me to meet him?”

“I guess so.”

Ju-hwang laughed at the obvious words.

“Anyway, be careful. A being who has reached transcendence is a perfect vessel in itself.”

“It’s an unnecessary worry. I have no intention of being taken by anyone.”

Above all, no matter how much of a god he is, he cannot control my soul and body. If he did such a thing, he would be turned on instead.

“Well, if the talk is over, I’ll be going now.”

“I’ll send Toreka to contact you later.”

“Okay.”

After that, I took Evan and left the smithy.

***

We came out to the surface and walked around the village for a while.

“Oh, hyung. These clothes are totally awesome. They’re not hot at all!”

Evan shouted like that. I looked at his clothes and said,

“How come your clothes are different?”

“I asked Toreka to change them for me. No matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t bring myself to stand in front of people wearing the clothes that Ju-hwang gave me….”

“How can someone like you laugh at my clothes like that?”

“Hey, hyung. Can you compare that to this? Honestly, the design of those clothes was fine, it was just the color that didn’t suit you.”

“Shut up, you bastard.”

I raised my fist and struck his head. But because of the equipment, the damage didn’t go through.

“Haha, hyung! It doesn’t hurt… Ack!”

That doesn’t mean it doesn’t work at all. I can send the shock internally.

I left the guy who was clutching his head in pain alone and moved on. Evan stroked the bump on his head and approached.

“By the way, hyung.”

“What.”

“What are you going to do now? If you don’t have anything to do, how about sightseeing with me?”

“Sure, whatever.”

“I knew you’d say that!”

Evan ran to the village with an excited face. I followed behind him.

The Swordsmith Village has several markets formed. This is probably because various ores are mined. Basic metals such as iron, as well as the rare mithril, are sometimes found.

So merchants who smelled money visited this volcano, and in the process, another market was formed with the goods they brought.

Of course, there are various stores as well. Where there are many people, there are many stores.

So I went around the market with Evan. First, we visited the ore market. I came here hoping there would be some useful metal.

“There’s nothing special here.”

“It may have already been sold. Valuable things don’t come out easily.”

“I guess that’s possible.”

But no matter how many times I looked around, there was nothing worth buying. It was already afternoon, so everything was already sold. To see new ore, I would have to come back in the evening.

“Do you want to go somewhere else? It’s not very fun here.”

“Sure, whatever.”

“Then this time….”

While Evan was choosing the next market. Someone’s figure came into my sight.

“That’s….”

A woman who was visible at a glance among the many people. I approached that person.

It seemed that Ruina-sunbae was looking for materials to use for alchemy, as she was looking at the ore on the market. She was so engrossed that she didn’t notice that I was nearby.

I slowly approached and stood behind her and said.

“Sunbae. What are you doing here?”

Then her ears perked up and she turned around. As soon as she saw me, a faint smile appeared on her face. And then she said softly.

“It’s been a while, my disciple.”

After nearly two weeks, I faced Ruina-sunbae.