episode_0086

“Take this. This too. That would be good too.”

Park Gwang-deok glanced at him as he carried the blacksmith’s supplies onto the cart as instructed by Heo Yong-tae, and moved the portable brazier next to him.

Honestly, it was a mess.

Even though he is the older brother I follow, it is difficult to say that he has a good personality.

Of course, if you get to know him for a long time, you will realize that he is a deep, affectionate, and respectable person. However, if there is a problem, it is that he is rude and does not hesitate to talk, whether it is our first meeting or an old acquaintance.

-Hey, you punk! I told you not to lean against the stove and smoke!

-What the hell, what kind of kid would light a fire in the brazier and take his eyes off it? If I catch you, I’ll break your legs!

In particular, Heo Yong-tae was known in the neighborhood for his eccentric temperament, especially when it came to blacksmithing. He had never once tried to persuade the few novice craftsmen in [Chakgapsa].

[Chakgapsa] Management position. The kingpin, old fart, and instructor of the production department.

So, while introducing him to Si-hyuk, Park Gwang-deok was secretly nervous. He was worried that this tinkerer brother, who was always angry, would scold his benefactor.

But, alas, it ended up being nothing more than a wish.

Park Gwang-deok had never seen Heo Yong-tae treat someone he was meeting for the first time so kindly, especially his father-in-law.

That wasn’t all.

He looked over the things loaded onto the cart: a hammer, tongs, rope and chisels, a chisel, even a water jug and a towel with an ice pack attached to cool the sweat.

There was more to it than what Shihyuk had asked for.

Even to Park Gwang-deok, who was not a craftsman, they were unusual. They were well-maintained and in good condition.

Even the brazier was not an ordinary gated public brazier that anyone could use if they paid money, but a private brazier owned by Heo Yong-tae.

That tinker is lending me his brazier, which he has only used a few times and cherished so much? Why on earth?

Is it because Mr. Lee Si-hyuk came after receiving his introduction? Ah, that can’t be.

“Hey kid, why are you glancing at me instead of just walking forward?”

“Oh, no.”

They say curiosity killed the cat. Park Gwang-deok, who was needlessly scolded for being mildly curious, shrank his neck.

“What is that? Tsk, hey! Lee Si-hyuk! Have you been waiting long?”

Heo Yong-tae clicked his tongue as he looked at him and waved his hand to find Si-hyuk in the distance.

He walked slowly toward Heo Yong-tae’s call as he circled the stalls scattered around, inspecting the few braziers and pipes connected to the public melting pot, like a large dog that had found a bone buried in the ground.

“There are a lot of things.”

“Wouldn’t it be disappointing if you only had a hammer and a stove? Wouldn’t it be nice to have something like this to do something properly?”

“… Thank you.”

For the first time, the faint, quiet voice contained highs and lows. Heo Yong-tae noticed the eyes that were half-hidden by the beanie hat sparkling and snickered.

“The fee will be calculated later. It’s still 10 o’clock… . There are 30 minutes left until the melting furnace can be used, so fix the furnace and connect it to the pipes. Park Gwang-deok, you go ahead. You have to go around the gate. ”

“Yes? No, but I can’t just leave the teacher like this… .”

What comes out after being used is a curse. He waved his hand at Park Gwang-deok, who was hesitating while looking back and forth between himself and Si-hyeok.

“You came to work. You have to earn your daily wages. Do you think I’ll eat your teacher? I’ll take care of it foolishly, so go.”

That was right. He wouldn’t be of much help if he stayed, and I remembered my daughter, who was a good eater, who I had just sent off to kindergarten. I had to earn money.

Park Gwang-deok, who had hesitated for a moment, eventually agreed with those words and bowed to Si-hyuk.

“Okay, I’ll go. I’ll see you later, teacher!”

“Take a look. See you later.”

Si-hyuk, who had been watching him walk away, soon turned his attention and grabbed the hammer.

It’s not a bad hammer, compared to the one I left at home, but it’s not bad. And these things, the stove…

Sihyuk looked at Heo Yongtae.

“… … .”

The quality of the common braziers and artisan items I had seen before was much better. Anyone could tell that it was an excessive amount of consideration.

Shi-hyuk sensed that Heo Yong-tae was smiling at him with clear goodwill, but also with hidden intentions.

But that was a little strange. Since we were meeting each other for the first time, there was no reason for him to be joking around, and I didn’t feel like he was up to something sinister.

“Why? What’s on my face?”

“… Nothing.”

He swallowed his question and held back his words. He was curious about my intentions, but decided to wait and see.

“Huh, that’s pointless.”

The tinker continued, snorting.

“As I just said, the public melting pots installed in this gate site will start operating at 10:30. The circuit breaker is down, so no matter how much mana you pour into it, it won’t move until then. Usually, from that time until noon, all sorts of people start to flock here. That’s when the work starts.”

Shihyuk touched the melting pot that had just been connected to the pipes.

At first glance, it looked like a large multi-vending machine. However, the large funnels and pipes attached to both sides emphasized the fact that it was a completely different machine.

“The closing time is 6:30 PM. If you put in the magic stone in advance, you can run it for about an hour more, but it will automatically turn off when the fuel runs out. Remember that.”

In the case of the makeshift stove that Heo Yong-tae brought, it was like a small wheeled astronomical observatory. It had a structure where if you connected a pipe to the hole in the center, a spark would come out from above.

Of course, both sides had power limits set in case of an accident. Compared to the installed type, the firepower was half. The sustaining power was slightly lower.

“It’s a shame, but I guess this is the limit.” Heo Yong-tae asked him, nodding his head.

“Do you have any other questions, such as how to use it?”

“Yes.”

What, he had lived his life seeing the fire of the blacksmith’s furnace more than the sun.

Nothing changed just because it was unfamiliar. I had long since passed the point where I was tied down by tools and held back by facilities.

Shihyuk declared.

“No problem.”

=====

“… … .”

No, there was a problem.

Shihyuk sat leaning against the brazier and looked around lonely.

Before we knew it, it was past noon and the number of people going back and forth to the gate had increased.

Even the empty stalls were filled and dozens of Awakened people were loitering around, but no one was walking up to the makeshift blacksmith shop where he was seated.

Learn about people. Try new things. Take on challenges. The intentions were good and the attempts were good, but this is how it ended up being a waste of time.

What’s the problem? There was a hand tapping Sihyuk’s head as he looked embarrassed.

I looked up and saw the tinker leaning against the stall.

“Hehehe, you said it was okay? Why are you just preheating the stove?”

“… I have nothing to say.”

He chuckled, puffing on a cigarette stuck out of one corner of his mouth.

“Well, if it’s obvious, then it’s obvious. Compare your forge to other places. There’s no sample material to speak of. Who would give work to a strange craftsman who doesn’t know how to do it?”

“… … .”

“Well, there are other problems. It’s not your fault, but it’s the bad things about this place. Look around you.”

After hearing that, Sihyuk looked around.

“Selling low-grade magic stones! Also have leather and herbs!”

“Selling all monster teeth!”

Most of the people occupying the surrounding area were from the strategy group, not the production group.

Wearing worn-out gear, they were screaming to sell even a little bit of materials and get more for it.

There were a few people who looked so precariously fragile that it was worrying that they might have an accident at the gate, as the durability of their weapons, helmets, and equipment was precariously low. They were shouting at the top of their lungs that they were selling magic stones and materials with tired expressions.

Something… .

“Something… .”

“Isn’t it too focused on buying and selling items, and bartering? Most of the stalls are for raiding. As you can see, there are some who will repair your equipment, but the number is overwhelmingly small. Did I say why I came all the way here to experience it? This is why.”

Heo Yong-tae threw away his cigarette butt and spat on the floor.

“Unlike before, this place is not much help to beginner craftsmen since a few years ago. There is not much to touch on the equipment anymore. The furnaces are just taking up space. Even beginners in the strategy series don’t come here in the first place. They just attack the gate, and when they feel comfortable enough, they go somewhere else, or if they need repairs, they use the [guild] workshop they joined.”

“… … .”

“Then who are they? They are craftsmen or auction house merchants who came from other regions to buy materials at a low price, and mayflies who have not been able to join a [guild] or even level up, so they are just rotten and have no time to take care of their equipment. They are busy trying to make a living.”

The tinker chuckled.

“The term “the home of newbies” is an old one. [Chakgapsa] is now nothing more than a half-workplace, a gate for the aggro. A hotbed of failures, a place where ordinary people who don’t know anything come to watch the struggles of the awakened who are having a hard time making a living. That’s Donggureung.”

The distorted smile beneath the sunglasses was bitter.