episode_0029

“Hello?”

[… … Here you go, Lee Si-hyuk.]

“! How have you been? I wanted to call first, but the teacher told me not to, and Eun-ha was worried about Si-hyuk a lot. I was feeling a bit uneasy, so I just waited for him to call.”

[I’m sorry for calling you so late. I was a little delayed because I was preparing a ‘gift’.]

“A gift? Suddenly?”

[I originally wanted to come see you in person, but I’m not feeling well right now.]

[If it’s not too much trouble, I’ll leave the address, so I hope the two of you can come.]

-.-.-

The day after Woojoo received his call, the sisters climbed the mountain early in the morning.

The fresh scent of grass and wet earth welcomed the universe and galaxy that set out on their morning hike.

Woo-joo, who had never had the chance to walk along a dirt road and admire such a peaceful scenery because he was too busy with his daily life, felt like he was enjoying a light stroll while heading to the meeting place, and he thought this small leisure was endearing.

How far up did they go? They went off course and onto a side road. After turning the corner twice, they came across a small chimney-shaped house with a fence.

The small house, built in a relatively modern style, had a peaceful and simple design, but it gave off an atmosphere that was somewhat disconnected from both nature and society.

Beyond the wall, where there was no sound of insects or birds, there was a certain solemnity. Feeling as if he had encountered another world, the universe broke the silence and swallowed without realizing it.

In comparison, Eunha seemed unfazed.

The girl, with her short stature, hopped up and down and looked at the view of the house beyond the fence. Then, with a clear laugh like a bell and a joyful expression, she stood in front of the gate and shouted, “Hurrah, we’ve arrived!”

“Sister! Is this the right place?”

“Perhaps. A house on a mountainside like this is rare. Now I think I understand a little why Sihyuk felt somehow isolated from society.”

“Are you inside? I can’t feel the ‘wind’ yet. Did we come too soon?”

“I don’t know about that. In the first place, some troublemaker was urging us to hurry up and go.”

“Hehehe.”

“It’s so funny that it’s pointless… .”

Woo-joo pinched his little brother’s cheek because he thought he was cute while he was sulking annoyingly. Then, feeling nervous for some reason, he took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

“Mr. Sihyuk, are you there? We’re here!”

“We’re here!”

“… … .”

No response.

For a short while, the universe briefly turned on the map app to double-check the address and location, and then suddenly got scared and was about to shout again, wondering if something had happened, when the front door of the house opened.

It was a revolution.

He walked slowly out into the yard and belatedly answered their greetings.

“You’re here. Please wait a moment. We’ll open it for you shortly.”

The universe sighed, relieved by the calm, low-pitched sound that seemed to be going well without any major problems. However, she suddenly noticed that Eunha’s expression had become subtly worse.

“What’s going on? Isn’t that Sihyuk you wanted to see so badly?”

“I’m hurt.”

“Huh?”

“It doesn’t look like it, but the gait seems a little unsteady. Above all, the ‘wind’ that can be felt has also decreased in size. Sihyuk, it seems like your health is not so good.”

When her friend got hurt, Eunha’s expression became gloomy, like a crying puppy. Hearing that, Woojoo looked at Sihyuk, who was getting closer, and was able to understand Eunha’s words.

His complexion was pale, and his face had sunken in the past few days. He was wearing gloves, and his once sturdy, towering appearance now looked a little shabby.

“It’s not a big deal, is it?”

“Probably not. The wind is slowly picking up. Still… , I’m a little worried,”

Sihyuk, who had arrived at the front door without realizing that the universe and galaxy were having such a serious conversation, opened the door and welcomed them.

“Welcome. I’ve been waiting for you. I haven’t been able to sleep well lately, so please understand that I’m responding a little late.”

It wasn’t like he couldn’t sleep. He guided them into the house quite calmly.

The sisters were drawn to his hospitality, trying not to show the worry that was growing in their hearts.

The inside of the house was more ordinary than I thought.

There were a variety of furniture for daily life, including branded soft cushioned sofas, chairs, tables, and cutlery, and even the bright-colored sheets and light-brown flooring reminded me of the interior of a middle-class home.

Except for the fact that it was neatly organized to the point of being a bit impersonal, I felt quite comfortable in that restrained atmosphere.

“Please sit down for a moment. I will get in the car.”

After saying that and thanking Shi-hyeok as he walked into the kitchen, Woo-joo and Eun-ha took a moment to look around the house.

“Sihyuk’s house. It’s kind of ordinary.”

“Well, I think I know what you mean. It’s a weird feeling where you have to live with what you have, and live without it if you don’t.”

While the sisters were briefly sharing their impressions, Si-hyuk brought out a tray of snacks and tea.

There was a delicious-looking carrot cake, sprinkled with cinnamon, served on a plate, a teacup filled with thick, melted chocolate that was clearly meant for the galaxy, and two cups of black tea, apparently reserved for the universe and its share.

“I ordered this in preparation for when you two came, and I’m glad the timing was right. I hope you enjoy it.”

Ha-ap! Eun-ha, who had put the cake in her mouth, shook her head reflexively. As Si-hyuk smiled faintly at her, Woo-joo, who had been enjoying the scent of his share of black tea with his nose, opened his mouth.

“First of all, thank you for inviting me. Honestly, I was surprised when I first got the call, but I didn’t expect to be treated this well.”

“This is something you should do for your guests.”

The two shared a dignified expression of gratitude and humility, leaving Eunha, who was preoccupied with eating cake, behind.

Woo-joo asked, slipping his plate to his younger brother.

“But when he suddenly said he would give me a gift, I was a little taken aback. I didn’t expect it at all. Of course, I appreciate the thought, but… We haven’t really done anything for Sihyuk.”

“I didn’t receive anything material, but I received positive stimulation from Mr. Universe and Mr. Galaxy.”

“Stimulus?”

“I don’t know people very well.”

Unexpected words came out of Sihyuk’s mouth. Woojoo was momentarily speechless at that sudden confession.

“Because I have some kind of past that stems from my surroundings, and because I am an immature person, I tend to feel a sense of rejection and wariness when dealing with others. Because of that, I have few acquaintances and my emotional line is shallow, so I am indifferent to my surroundings and do not feel any particular stimulation.”

“… … .”

The calm tone of voice was honest, and Woo-joo was surprised at first when he heard those words, but soon he felt sorry and pitiful for Si-hyuk, whose heart was broken somewhere.

I knew he was a somewhat stone-like person, but I never thought there would be a story behind it.

“When I, who was like that, came out into the world for a while to get to know people, I met Eunha by chance and fate. And, as if by fate, the moment we met, I had a strange feeling.

”I felt like I wanted to know about you two.“

”… … .“

”Although the meeting was short, seeing the two of you being honest with me… . And hearing the stories of the past from Galaxy and Universe, I, who am so dry, was able to feel a strong impulse.“

Click, Sihyuk put down the teacup he was holding.

“I thought I wanted to give you both something as a gift.”

The gaze was warm yet indifferent, and contained a spoonful of tenderness.

The eyes of the universe that met him slightly widened.

As he watched Shi-hyuk try to understand and help himself and his younger brother amidst all the jealousy, envy, and insults, something welled up inside him. His eyes were filled with sadness and gratitude.

“I was once in the same production guild as Kim Jin-hyung, and although I ended up cutting ties with him and leaving, I still felt bad thinking that Eunha and Woojoo had a hard time because of the guild I had enemies in.”

Shihyuk touched his gloved hand. He had put a tissue soaked in potion inside his glove. If it was the regeneration of his body, it would surely heal in no time, but he didn’t want to make them worry.

“Recently, I’ve realized some power and am now acting like a pretty decent craftsman.”

“That’s why I was able to repair [Rare Grade Weapon] in that short moment in the exhibition hall… .”

“Yes. At the time, I thought it was just a passing relationship, but since it ended up like this, I guess you could say it was fate.”

Shihyuk bowed his head. Woojoo bowed his head politely in response.

Eunha, who had cinnamon powder messily on the corner of her mouth, also lowered her head, although she didn’t know the details.

“I made this equipment for the two people who inspired me and the sisters who wished me happiness. I hope you will accept it.”

After finishing a short tea time, Shihyuk led the galaxy and the universe to the entrance to the underground blacksmith shop.

“It looked like an ordinary house on the outside, but who would have thought it had these facilities underneath… .”

“Wow…!!”

As they descended the stairs, the universe gave a brief exclamation of admiration, and the galaxy felt excited and thrilled as if it had been invited to a secret base.

“I’ll turn on the light.”

As Shihyuk pressed the fluorescent light button with a short low sound, a giant blacksmith shop appeared.

The blacksmith shop that his master had once built for him and that became the headquarters of Shihyuk was as large and well-equipped as the workshops of any large guild.

It was certainly an overwhelming sight, but it was something else that captured the gaze of space and galaxies.

Three items placed on the central shelf of the blacksmith’s shop.

The beauty of the masterpieces revealed in the fluorescent light was so great that even the universe and the galaxies that had been excited were momentarily speechless and silent.

“This is for you.”

There was a hint of joy in that flat voice.

First of all, the earrings that were originally pieces of a cosmic dagger.

The earrings, which were originally a cloudy yellow like burnt copper with black marks here and there, now had a soft, bright luster like pure silver.

I felt a purity more noble than anything else, free from all the filth of the world.

The exterior, which had been unsightly due to lack of polishing, actually stood out thanks to the newly engraved scratches that accented the design.

Above all, the twinkling starlight that filled the space of the scratch reminded me of the Celestial Star, which was brighter and more intense than any other star in the night sky.

And the dagger placed next to it.

The dagger was so thin and beautiful that its body appeared translucent. When viewed under the direct light, it looked like a beautiful white light like ivory or milk, but when viewed differently, it was a bright pink light like lotus or cherry blossoms.

What adds beauty to it are the countless stars engraved on its body.

They were stars. Each star was shining brightly, big or small, and they were forming a long path along the dagger, forming the Milky Way.

The weapon, which resembled a beautiful ornament, was also functional. The handle, which drew an elegant curve like the round shoulder line of a beauty, was perfect for the person holding it, and the sharp aura hidden among the Milky Way seemed like it could cut through anything.

The best of them was the sword placed last.

The slender blade, closer to an esterk than a rapier, was as elegant as a flower stem, light green in color. Looking closely, the inside was circulating with natural vitality like waves, pulsating and creating wind around it like a living creature.

The lower part of the hilt was the sepal and petals. The petals, dyed red, were beautifully translucent like a dagger, hiding the stamens.

Each leaf had a soft and gentle elegance, yet was sturdy enough to protect the user’s hands and wrists.

The handle was a stamen. The stamen, shyly hidden among countless petals, was slightly tilted to the side, creating the illusion that it contained a soft fragrance, and arousing the urge to dare to touch the flower bud.

All three were works that gave me a feeling that was difficult to describe, but if I had to pick one, it would have to be The Sword Like a Flower.

The earrings planted with the brightest stars and the dagger containing the Milky Way were also great.

But the black something was so great that it even felt disjointed.

It may look like a flower that blooms once in a hundred years, but it also looks like a wildflower that blooms without knowing the season.

The gorgeous red petals were certainly breathtakingly beautiful, but the impression they gave was more that they were small and pretty than beautiful.

It felt like the most noble thing in the world, but it also felt like one of the most common things in the world.

The black one, which made one feel those conflicting emotions, had a strange magical power that made one’s senses blur just by looking at it.

If there was a divine sword, this would be the divine sword, and if there was a demonic sword, this would be it.

‘In the midst of extreme beauty, yet with a clear glimpse of practicality, I’m amazed to see such an amazing thing…!’

The universe used [Skill] to fully see the clear performance hidden behind the beauty of these works of art.

She had been going back and forth between B-class and A-class gates, collecting and evaluating countless byproducts, gatherings, and loot. That was why, even among the Awakened members of the strategy series, Woojoo had a fairly high [Item Appraisal] skill level.

But-

“Ugh…!!”

“Sister?!”

“Are you okay?”

Excruciating pain gripped the universe.

The thing she was trying to examine was something that went against the system set by the world, so she instantly cut off the fuse of [Skill] in her brain. The pain felt like opening her skull and poking her finger into the center of her brain.

Fortunately, the pain was very brief and there was no residual pain, but the flustered Woo-joo fell over and landed on the floor, and the surprised Eun-ha clung to her.

As Shihyuk approached her to examine her, Woojoo opened his mouth with a trembling voice.

There was only a brief moment of confusion in the system, but [the skill] worked.

“Those things, they don’t have a set ‘grade’… ?!”