episode_0089

When the anonymous craftsman’s skills caused a commotion outside.

“Whew, let’s take a break.”

Park Gwang-deok, who was repeating the same hunting routine as always, sat down against an unknown tree for a moment to catch his breath and enjoy a long-awaited rest. He lifted his chin, rested his head against the tree behind him, and let out a deep breath.

His day is long. On weekdays except weekends, he wakes up early in the morning, prepares breakfast for Hanbyeol, sends her to kindergarten, and then heads to Donggureung for work.

After doing some warm-up exercises to warm up your body, you immediately enter the gate and diligently hunt and collect the monsters you encounter from the entrance to the exit after completing the attack. Then, when you are full of loot, you go out and pour the loot into the temporary storage area and enter the gate again. If you feel that you have not filled up enough, you can go back the way you came from the exit to the entrance and continue hunting.

The inside of the gate is like a tangled ball of yarn. The entrances and exits are usually at the ends, and unless there is a crack of a rather unusual shape, they do not deviate greatly from this frame.

The same goes for the mountainous terrain of [Chakgapsa]. You climb up the ridge, go up the foothills, cross the valley, reach the peak, and then come down the other side. Unlike ordinary mountains in reality, the course is not set, so it may seem inconvenient at first, but anyway, if you go up and down, you will quickly see a large exit or entrance, so you don’t have to worry about getting lost.

There is a slight slope, but unlike other gates, there are no traps set up at the intersection or mid-bosses to encounter. This is definitely a plus for the conqueror. If there is a problem… .

“I’m tired… .”

It wasn’t that rugged or steep, but it was still a mountain.

For Park Gwang-deok, who had been hunting repeatedly, it was no different from continuing to fight and march for hours. While resting, the exposed skin dried with sweat and cooled down, but inside, it was still boiling. It felt like his heart had multiplied and he could feel his pulse here and there, and his head was heavy and drowsy from fatigue. The inside of the armor he was wearing was sticky with sweat, making it unpleasant and cumbersome.

“Oh, one-armed uncle. See you here? You’re working hard today too.”

While he was loosening the leather strap of the helmet he had been wearing, someone approached him and spoke to him.

The young man with yellow hair and flashy equipment that didn’t fit the low-grade gate had a face I remembered, although I couldn’t remember his name.

“Oh, hello.”

As Park Gwang-deok awkwardly greeted him with a quick smile, the young man who had been chewing gum continuously and making a clicking sound slowly looked around while leaning on his shins. He saw monster fragments scattered everywhere, and a pile of leather and magic stones.

“You’re really pitiful, old man. Why are you working so hard? Even if you work twice or three times as much as others, you still don’t have much left. You should bet on sports or climb the ladder instead.”

“Haha… .”

“Look at me. You changed your equipment like this after you hit it big once. I don’t understand why you would take the easy way out instead of the difficult way. Even if you work so hard, the people watching from the outside don’t notice.”

“… … .”

“I’m sorry for saying such harsh words, but no matter how hard you try, nothing will change. To be honest, when I see you, I wonder why you work so hard, and I feel burdened because I think you should be like that. I’m not the only one who thinks this way, right? Since we’re both in the same situation, try to get along better. And skip the drinking parties every time.”

“I’m sorry. I have a child, so I can’t attend gatherings or anything.”

“No, I know that, but.”

The young man let out a sigh at Park Gwang-deok’s words.

To be honest, the young man didn’t like him. I don’t know why he’s living so solidly. I can’t say that it’s bad, but there’s such a thing as social life. He was stuck here all the time, and he didn’t even try to hang out with his friends, but he worked so hard all day long. It was annoying and incomprehensible.

It was because I had absolutely no sympathy for the sense of responsibility and mission of parents with children.

“Oh my, I thought you were feeling better lately, but you’re doing this again… No. Just take a break and think about it slowly. I’m going now. I had a total meltdown yesterday.”

The young man gave up meddling and waved his hand.

“Already?”

“Why would I stick around here for something good? I’ll just drink and pick up girls. Among the visitors today, there was a guy who was half and half. Well, thanks for your hard work.”

The young man shrugged his shoulders in response to her question and then left. He had been walking so leisurely that there was not a single scratch or dust on his back.

“… … .”

Park Gwang-deok watched the young man walking away and kept his mouth shut.

Growling, my stomach was growling. I missed lunch because I was stuck at the gate.

Park Gwang-deok took out the thermos flask he had on his waist. Usually, he would eat during his breaks, drinking the millet powder he had brought with him and eating the dry bread he bought cheaply through mail order.

“… … .”

As the physical labor was intense, my body was craving rich and oily food. My tongue rolled up and my throat became blocked like a snail whose eyeball had been poked by the dry and tasteless meal.

After forcing himself through it, he tightened his helmet strap again and stood up.

Maybe the young man was right. Maybe there was no need to torture my body like this. But… .

-Oh my god!

… it was time to get back to work.

=====

It was almost 6 p.m. when Park Gwang-deok finished his weekday work.

It was dinner time now, and if I were to delay any longer, I wouldn’t be able to make it to Hanbyeol’s house. I had already begged the kindergarten teacher to take care of my child until she got off work, so making her wait would be too much of a hassle.

He quickly moved the piled up loot onto the public cart within the premises and moved to the side of the gate. This place, where the stalls for the Awakened were gathered, was always bustling with buying and selling, regardless of whether it was a strategy or production type… .

Taaang-!

“My dagger is reborn…!”

“Look at these well-polished shin guards, what do you think? They’re so well-maintained they’re shiny!”

“God, is he a blacksmith? The tinker brother who brought that man, is he a god?”

…unusually, it was filled with excitement and enthusiasm.

The sound of hammering. And a commotion.

It was noisy, but the result was different. The street vendors’ streets, once filled with unpleasant energy and the voices of those shouting with piercing eyes rang in my ears, now had a gentle air.

Every passing tactical unit was smiling brightly, holding their well-repaired equipment. Taaang! Every time a strangely ringing hammer sound was heard, amazement and cheers arose from the crowd gathered in the center.

“What the heck is this…?”

Although he had been living here for several years, this was unprecedented. While Park Gwang-deok was dazed for a moment, unable to adapt to the new space, someone approached him and tapped him on the shoulder.

“Brother?”

“Park Gwang-deok, why are you standing there like that? Are you done with your work?”

The tinker was Heo Yong-tae.

The question itself was as usual indifferent, but for some reason his voice was quiet and the parts of his bronze face that weren’t covered by sunglasses were bright red. Park Gwang-deok nodded, but answered sincerely.

“Yes? Oh, yes. I came to sell it now. By the way, brother, what the hell is going on? Why are people gathered here, and what is that hammer sound… .”

“You brought me here and you don’t even know that?”

“Yes?”

An unexpected situation, an answer that didn’t make sense. In response to his question, Heo Yong-tae let out a deep sigh filled with complicated emotions.

“… Okay. Lee Si-hyuk told me to let him know when you come.”

The tinker slowly nodded his head as if he could see the foolish Park Gwang-deok and took a deep breath.

“Lee Si-hyuk-!! The guy you’re looking for is here-!!!”

Did his shout, with the blood running down his neck, reach you?

The hammering sound heard in the center of the crowd stopped for a moment. Taaang! Taaang! Then, after two quick bangs, someone suddenly stood up. A tall man, much taller than the average person, stood out in the middle of the crowd.

“… Teacher?”

That face had features that even Park Gwang-deok was familiar with.

Lee Si-hyuk. Then, the owner of the clear hammer sound that had been ringing since earlier, could it be? At the moment when his expression was about to become mysterious, Heo Yong-tae kicked his buttocks. Park Gwang-deok felt a tingle in his tailbone and tears welled up in his eyes at the exquisite skill with which he kicked while avoiding the defensive equipment.

“Oh my! It hurts, brother!”

“What are you standing there absentmindedly for, Inma! Hurry up and go.”

The tinker who had scolded him harshly clapped his hands and forced the gathered people to move.

“You little bastards! He’s done with work today! Get out of here!”

Despite being short, he had thick muscles in his arms and was pushed back by his authority, and I couldn’t even resist, so I let out a sigh of regret here and there.

“No, where is that! I just got here!”

“Wow, this is tyranny! Let’s do this for just one more hour!”

“It was my turn next!”

Of course, that scream was no match for the tinker who was known to be second to none in terms of his temper.

◦ You are a good guys who are in the first place! I can’t do it! ”

The angry voice that left no room for even the slightest hope was no small feat.

There was no one who dared to go against the tinker brother in [Chakgapsa]. The crowd dispersed and returned to their original places, muttering grumblings. The voices of people buying and selling things grew louder one by one, and the street became the usual market place that Park Gwang-deok knew. In the meantime, only Si-hyeok, the novice craftsman, and Heo Yong-tae remained there.

“I’m going out for a bit. And, do your best. Maybe you could… .”

“Brother?”

While watching Si-hyeok talking nonsense to the novice craftsman, the tinker put his hand on Park Gwang-deok’s shoulder and left after blurting out some incomprehensible words.

I don’t know, but there’s something. Park Gwang-deok swallowed hard and stood within arm’s reach of Si-hyuk, pulling a cart.

“Teacher.”

“… Are you here?”

Shi-hyeok turned his gaze and looked back and forth between the craftsman and Park Gwang-deok, who had been listening to his words, before finishing his final advice to the novice craftsman.

“Keep in mind. If you always listen to the advice of Master Heo Yong-tae and train yourself, you will definitely get good results someday.”

“Yes! I will do that!”

“Okay. And… Mr. Park Gwang-deok.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Do you have a moment? I have something to ask you.”

“Oh, that’s… .”

Park Gwang-deok’s eyes shook back and forth. He would have liked to listen to his benefactor’s words, but he also had to sell his goods. It was not without reason that the commotion had taken longer than expected. He also had to go pick up Han Byeol, who would be returning home soon.

While he was struggling to make a quick decision, Si-hyuk looked at the cart that Park Gwang-deok was pulling and roughly remembered his situation.

“I will buy all the materials loaded on the cart, including the magic stones.”

“Yes, yes? No, but that’s a bit… . I wonder if it won’t be too much of a bother… .”

Park Gwang-deok was surprised and hesitated. The total amount of money in the cart was not that great, but half of it was useless low-grade magic stones. However, Shi-hyeok continued talking as if it was nothing.

“It’s okay because you’re buying not only things but also Mr. Park Gwang-deok’s time. However, the materials are.”

He glances at the novice craftsman who is standing there blankly.

“I will give it all to this person.”

“Huh?!”

This time, it was the novice craftsman’s turn to be surprised. Shihyuk tilted his head to the side as he watched him jump at the unexpected gift.

“It is quite common practice here for a senior craftsman to treat a promising junior craftsman.”

“D, I’ve heard of it. But… .”

“You don’t have to feel pressured. I did it because I thought so and hoped it would help you grow.”

“Still, someone like me, like that… .”

“You are a talented person who can do well. Be confident.”

An unexpected favor. And words of affirmation and encouragement for his future that everyone had laughed at.

Tears welled up in his young eyes. He opened and closed his mouth slightly, but his voice was blocked by his emotions. Sihyuk turned his head, smiling faintly at his future father-in-law who was bowing his head.

“Then, now I have to pay for renting the stove and tools-”

“There’s no need for that.”

Heo Yong-tae suddenly appeared and cut off the conversation.

He was breathing heavily, as if he had been somewhere in a hurry. After thoroughly checking the mana melting pot and furnace that Shihyuk had used, the tinker determined that there were no problems, closed the pipe valve, and loosened the tight connection.

“You don’t have to pay. I showed you something much more valuable than some measly money, so you should get change from me instead.”

Then, he took something out of his bosom and threw it at Sihyuk.

A handkerchief wrapped around something. When you lift the piece of soft, neatly folded cloth, you find a cylindrical stick the size of a fountain pen hidden inside.

“… What is this?”

“[Yeouicheol]. It’s a [high-grade crafting material] that can be obtained with a very rare probability by defeating O-Gwang, a boss monster at [Yonggung], a famous gate on the coast of China. … It’s something that was left over from when I challenged Grand in the past.”

Heo Yong-tae’s voice was soft and relatively calm compared to before. No, perhaps it would be more correct to say he felt relieved.

“It’s a material that’s dirty and difficult to handle, but its elongation and compressive strength are incredible. It’s a wild horse that even masters with some [titles] have a hard time touching. However, if it’s you, Lee Si-hyuk, you’ll definitely be able to handle it easily. Take it. It’s a change instead. ”

“… I didn’t do anything great to deserve such a precious item.”

No matter how much Shihyuk refused, he was stubborn.

Heo Yong-tae, who was being stubborn, seemed to have been liberated from some of the worries he had been holding in his heart, and his copper-colored skin that had been tanned by sin somehow seemed a little lighter.

He smiled broadly as he stuffed the materials into Shihyuk’s pocket, who kept handing him the items he had received. Only a bittersweet emotion remained in his eyes hidden behind sunglasses, and there was no longer any sign of self-mockery.

“Put it away. Even if I keep it, I’ll regret it later. At best, I’ll just sell it for money. But if it’s you… . You’ll make it into a great piece of equipment for me.”

The circuit breaker tripped, and he continued, disconnecting the furnace and the melting pot, which had stopped working completely.

“Thanks to you, I had a good dream. It seems like the two of you had something to talk about, so why don’t you go? … ? You, Inma, why are you sulking there? Anyway, don’t cry like a girl, follow me! So how can you become a good craftsman… .”

As he moved the brazier with a rattling sound, the back of the craftsman who was once called [Barisan] walking with his young craftsman – no, his apprentice – no longer felt the same bitterness or loneliness as before.