Chapter 1253: Side Story – Flame of Creation (1)

Outskirts of Seoul. A dwarf workshop somewhere in Gangdong District.

In the workshop where the furnace fire never died down, magic stones were once again crackling hotly on the metal plate, sparks flying like embers.

-Kkang, kkang, kkang!

“Hoo, hooo….”

Thin beads of sweat trickled down between the flapping work clothes. Her arms, thin but sturdy, were exposed outside the shirt.

In one corner of the workshop, crucibles filled with molten metal simmered red, and tools hung neatly arranged on the wall.

Soo Areum.

Though short, she was a reasonably well-known blacksmith thanks to her tightly knit muscles and the formidable strength granted by her awakened ability.

In fact, she hadn’t been very famous until a few years ago, simply because she was mixed-blooded… but she became a celebrity in her own right after forging weapons for Sung Taekyung, the world’s only male Hunter.

From her flame-scorched face, her signature cute dialect mingled with her sweaty breaths.

“Hoo, I’m running low on mana stones. Gotta refill them quickly before I burn out the magic circuits….”

Soo Areum muttered quietly to herself in the sweltering workshop, engrossed in her work.

Just as she finished a round of work, put down the metal lump she was hammering, and wiped her forehead with the back of her hand, the workshop door creaked open and someone entered.

-Kkiiik.

“Areum-ah.”

“Ah, Oppa-ya!”

His signature deep voice. A rather sturdy build, even for a man.

Soo Areum felt as though the workshop’s temperature had risen even higher the moment Sung Taekyung appeared, even though the furnace hadn’t been stoked any hotter.

“What brings you all the way out here? If you need anything, just call me at Oppa-ya’s guild.”

“Never mind that. I didn’t come for anything urgent.”

“Ah, you came to repair the weapons for the girls at Oppa-ya’s guild, didn’t you?”

“I just came because I wanted to see Areum-ah.”

“…W-what are you saying? Coming all the way to the workshop after so long just to say something so embarrassing….”

Sung Taekyung, who immediately launched into expressions of affection upon meeting her after so long.

Even Soo Areum, a dwarf mixed-blood, was often taken aback by his actions, which lacked the usual distance expected from a man.

Sung Taekyung was bold to the point where it was hard to believe he was just a man, and his attitude always made Soo Areum’s heart flutter.

“Ah, don’t come too close, Oppa-ya. I just finished working and I’m covered in soot and sweat!”

“Really? I like it even better.”

-Ttok.

“E-eh?!”

Sung Taekyung approached her without hesitation and pressed his lips to her neck.

“Your sweaty scent right now is making me even hornier.”

“Ngh, Hiiik?!”

Soo Areum involuntarily let out a flustered groan at his words, which accompanied his outrageously bold physical contact.

“O-Oppa-ya, stop talking crazy and get off…. It’s so sticky…”

“I told you I like this stickiness. It’s hottest when Areum-ah’s scent and warmth linger on my body.”

“N-no…. Still…”

-Malkang!

“Ugh, Hhheut?!”

Sung Taekyung’s hand slipped under her overalls strap. And the sensation of his palm crawling over her sweat-dampened shirt.

Even though her shirt and bra were between her skin and his hand, they offered little resistance.

-Kkueok.

“Ngh, Hhheuyang…?!”

To Sung Taekyung, who had touched countless women’s breasts, clothes were hardly an obstacle, whether they were there or not.

He rubbed her breast over her shirt, then clasped it tightly, his fingertips teasing her nipple.

At the same time, Soo Areum began to feel her own lower body growing damp.

-Malkang, malkang!

“Ah, no…. N-not now, maybe later…”

She said that, but couldn’t bring herself to push his hand away.

Instead, with every breath she took, Soo Areum subtly shifted her hips, leaning her lower body against his crotch.

Separate from her consciousness, her instincts were always ready to accept Sung Taekyung’s body.

-Kkoook.

“Hoo, Hooeut….”

Soo Areum took a breath, her trembling fingertips cautiously gripping Sung Taekyung’s forearm.

Instead of pushing him away, she was holding him tightly. Sung Taekyung found her attitude endearingly cute.

“Areum-ah, turn your head.”

“Ah, Oppa-ya…. Uhh…”

-Cheueup.

“Eugh, Hhheung….”

Once again, Sung Taekyung stole her lips without asking for explicit consent.

His tongue pushed into her mouth, parting her lips.

The sensation of him exploring her mouth, thrusting deep with a hot, intense sweep.

-Cheueup, cheueup.

“Eugh, Aaah…. Haang….”

The sounds of their tongues tangling and lips being sucked echoed in the workshop.

Meanwhile, his fingers delved deeper into Soo Areum’s breast, pushing aside the fabric to press and twist her nipple.

-Kkuueok!

“Ngh-Hhheup?! Haa, I-I can’t…. O-Oppa-yaaa…”

A pleasure that felt like an electric current spreading from her throat to her waist surged within her.

All the while, Sung Taekyung’s tongue relentlessly explored her mouth.

After several minutes of deep kissing, their tongues intertwined, lips sucked, and his teeth gently nipping her lower lip.

-Cheueut….

“Heut, Hooeuu….”

Finally, Sung Taekyung pulled away, his lips and hands releasing her only after he’d kissed her to his satisfaction.

“Haa, Hoo, Haa-eut….”

Dazed eyes.

Though this intimate contact was familiar, her heart still collapsed just the same every time.

Soo Areum tried to hide the complex emotions swirling in her mind and spoke in a slightly petulant voice.

“W-what kind of person starts with a kiss, Oppa-ya…. If you’re going to do it, at least give me a heads-up…”

Soo Areum, her face flushed crimson to the tips of her ears, cautiously glanced at him before speaking.

She tried to act annoyed, but couldn’t hide the smile playing on her lips, so she mumbled, covering her mouth.

“Sorry. I haven’t seen you in a while, and Areum-ah was just too cute to resist.”

“Hmph…. You’re spouting nonsense again…”

Soo Areum turned her head away, trying to hide her embarrassment.

But her heart had been pounding harder and harder ever since the moment she first saw Sung Taekyung today.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

Areum-ah carefully averted her gaze from me, blushing quietly.

Perhaps the sensation on her lips hadn’t faded yet, as she still covered her mouth with her hand, catching her breath. She looked adorable and lovely.

‘As expected, she’s cute even after not seeing her for a while.’

Even after I grabbed her and gave her a surprise kiss, she didn’t get angry, just grumbled a little.

It was so obvious that she couldn’t even hide her feelings of enjoyment when she grumbled.

“S-so, why did you come today, Oppa-ya….”

“Well… it’s nothing else. I just wanted to see if you’d thought about what I mentioned last time.”

“What you mentioned last time?”

“If you’re thinking about moving your workshop. Not this place in Gangdong District, but one closer to our guild.”

“Ah….”

The moment she heard my words, Areum-ah paused slightly, cautiously sizing me up.

She quietly tucked a strand of hair, slightly mussed from our passionate exchange, behind her ear and met my eyes.

“As I said before, I’m not thinking about it. I-it’s comfortable here…”

“The workshop near the guild is built with the exact same structure as this one. Your equipment, the height differences, ventilation, even the forging machine’s vibration settings are all matched identically.”

“……”

“You just need to move your work from here. Once it’s done, you won’t have to bother traveling all the way out here anymore. Besides, most of the jobs you’ve been taking lately are deals with our guild anyway.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Areum-ah mumbled cautiously, avoiding my gaze as if feeling pressured.

Honestly, I couldn’t blame her for reacting this way. I’d heard the reasons for her refusal several times already.

“…Like I said before, I’m not moving the workshop. This was my first workshop, the first place I saved up money on my own to design, where I laid every single brick myself.”

“……”

“When the ignition system broke, I spent all night opening valves and nearly burned it down, and when the magic circuits got twisted, I forced alloys in to stabilize them. I’ve been through all sorts of hardships here…”

“……”

“I even repaired that sword you use, Oppa-ya… Anyway, I’m just more comfortable here.”

It was the same familiar, predictable answer I always heard.

I’d heard this same story so many times, I should have gotten angry by now.

The fact that she always explained it like this must mean Areum-ah has a kind heart.

“Well… it’s a bit of a shame it’s far from Oppa-ya’s guild, but I can get there quickly using the warp gate anyway. I’m fine just going back and forth like this, aren’t I?”

She tried to lift her head and give me a smile as she answered.

Her pride and lingering attachment weighed heavily on her workshop.