episode_0238

Workshop in Basel.

The lights never went out on the top floor of the building.

It has already been three years since the Tei workshop owner stopped accepting requests.

Her last request was to craft a large quantity of the highest quality magic stones needed to crack the Alliance’s communication network.

Since then, Tay has been inactive.

More precisely.

There was no activity ‘externally’.

“Gongbang Master, meal…”

“Leave it and go.”

Crash, clap.

A studio where sparks fly and light flashes.

An apprentice craftsman carrying a tray inside flinched and trembled in surprise at the sharp voice.

Watching the back of the workshop master engrossed in his work, the apprentice froze in place for a moment.

There have been a lot of rumors about Gongbangju.

In fact, there were rumors that he was already dead.

It was also said that his hands were injured and he could no longer do crafts.

Some even said that he quit crafting and went to enjoy the rest of his life.

But that wasn’t everything.

The apprentice who rose to the top floor for the first time showed the appearance of a sane master of craftsmanship…

“Wow······.”

I was able to see a magic stone the size of which I had never seen before.

At first, I didn’t even realize it was a magic stone.

Most magic stones are about the size of a small jewel.

No matter how big it is, it is as big as your fist.

But what does that mean?

Is it possible that that magical stone that looks the size of a large person actually exists?

I had no idea how huge it must have been before it was processed.

Even at a glance, the arrangement was beautiful and top-class.

“What are you doing? Are you telling me to leave it behind?”

“Oh! Yes!”

Only then did the apprentice realize that he had been lost and hurriedly left the studio.

The door slams shut.

The studio was once again in a state where nothing that could disturb Tei, such as sound, magic power, or magical energy, could enter.

“This bastard! Where does the workshop owner’s assistant go and you come in!”

“Sorry, sorry. The workshop owner’s assistant was away, so I took his place…”

“Never open the door arbitrarily again. Lord Gongbang is doing very important work. They’ve been processing the magic stone, which can only be produced once in human history, for three years! A single mistake wastes three years of effort and ruins the history of mankind! Now you know how dangerous you were, right?”

“······!”

The apprentice’s face turned pale.

3 years. It was 3 years.

It is said that for three years, Workshop Manager Tei only touched that magic stone without going out, except for one day a year, the anniversary of the death of an unknown person.

It sounded so unrealistic.

A story that no one would have believed if they had not actually seen the magic stone.

However, the apprentice who saw the huge and majestic majesty with his own eyes could not help but believe it.

‘Then what on earth is that magic stone for…?’

All the way down to the lower level, the apprentice was lost in thought.

The largest magic stone crafted by Tei, the continent’s greatest craftsman, over three years.

I couldn’t figure out what on earth they were making it for.

Even without considering the incredible rarity of being unique in the world, even if you estimate the price conservatively, it is an astronomical amount.

It was a value that could build dozens of airship fleets and buy a few countries.

But who on earth could buy such a magic stone?

There was no one in this world who could buy that magic stone.

The more I think about it.

The apprenticeship felt like I was gradually falling into a labyrinth.

Then the elevator door opens.

Inside the workshop, where outsiders were not supposed to enter, a human I had never seen before appeared.

“Is this an elevator going up? Excuse me.”

“Now, wait a minute! How could an outsider get here…”

Ignoring the restraining apprentice, the man recklessly entered the elevator.

“Phew······.”

A sigh burst out of Tei’s mouth.

Her concentrated hands operate the machine.

The machine cut the magic stone in detail without any error.

This magic stone was discovered more than three years ago.

The day Eugene disappeared.

It was discovered beneath the collapsed dungeon, near the Necromancer’s Transcendence.

Its size could not be compared to any magic stone discovered so far.

It is tens or even hundreds of times the size of a typical high-end magic stone.

Even if all the highest-quality magic stones in the world were collected, it would only be two or three times the volume of this magic stone.

“Just a little more…”

The food on the plate on the table was getting cold.

Meal time had already passed.

After skipping meals and continuing to work, he almost collapsed without noticing that he had lost all his stamina. Since then, he has been eating every meal on time.

This time I couldn’t stop the work and continued as if I was possessed.

It was 3 years.

It’s been three years since Eugene suddenly disappeared, even though he said he would entrust her with a request.

Then Eugene didn’t come back.

I didn’t even entrust the request.

However, the moment Eugene discovered the magic stone in the dungeon where he disappeared.

Tay felt it right away.

This magic stone is the task Eugene left behind.

It was his request.

There will come a day when he will need this magic stone.

It was a request for that day.

That day, Eugene will return.

Tay believed this and started working without any doubt.

The original goal was 6 months, but it was not even possible.

The structure of the magic stone was much more complex than she thought.

“Now just a little more…”

The work period increased like crazy.

I couldn’t relax while I didn’t know when Eugene would return or when he would need this magic stone.

From that day on, Tay began to devote all of his time to work, except for a total of 8 hours a day, including sleeping and eating.

Tay literally eliminated all distractions.

No one could open the workshop door except during meal times.

As for other cases where the door can be opened, Tay only came up with two.

The first is when the attack or defense is on the verge of collapse.

And the second was when Eugene came to visit.

“Please…”

Besides that, the only day off Tei is allowed is the anniversary of Eugene’s death.

It was the only day of the year where I didn’t have to work, go outside and meet people.

Each time, Tei felt his own growth.

Tei feels that he is still the same as before.

She suddenly grew up and looked like an adult.

Tei’s skills were at their peak and this was reflected in his appearance.

“Ah…!”

widely.

With a sigh, Tay’s hand stopped.

The machine that was constantly cutting magic stones fell to the floor.

Tei’s mouth opened as he looked around at the firmly fixed magic stone.

My hand doesn’t rise.

My hands, which had been moving automatically and without hesitation for three years, stopped moving as if they were broken.

There is only one reason.

Now the magic stone was perfect.

It looks like there is no place to fix anything.

It was in absolutely perfect condition, maximizing all the potential of the gemstone.

“It’s done…?”

I couldn’t believe it myself.

The work that seemed like it would never end has just finished.

Only then did Tei look at his hands full of calluses and realize that three years had passed.

I lost track of time.

I was so focused on work that I didn’t have time to worry about anything else.

I ran with the sole intention of completing this magic stone.

When I actually finished it, strangely enough, I didn’t feel any sense of accomplishment.

Isn’t it the largest magic stone in history?

Isn’t it a magic stone whose value is impossible to even put a value on?

Isn’t this a legendary achievement that will be passed down for a long time?

Still, Tay wasn’t happy at all.

“It’s over…”

dump.

Tei sat down because his legs were so weak.

Goal achieved.

In other words, the goal has been lost.

What should I do now?

What should I do?

The future became bleak.

Waiting for Eugene.

For the day when Eugene needs it.

Just for that purpose, I ran like a racehorse, looking straight ahead.

When I arrived, I realized that there was now a cliff in front of me.

“Ahaha. Did you work too fast? Did you finish it before the investor came back?”

Tay laughed helplessly.

Was it too fast?

If you had known it would be like this, would you have worked a little more leisurely?

Tei’s laughter as he said these nonsense gradually turned into sobbing.

I knew it.

I knew, but I turned away.

I knew that Eugene was dead and might not come back, and that the probability of that happening was very high.

When everyone else lives in a world without Eugene.

Tay chose to stop time.

I built a wall with the world.

I lived only looking forward to the day when Eugene would return.

But now that magical time has come to an end.

The days when I could just focus on work without thinking are over.

When you come back to reality.

It was time for the stopped clock to start moving again.

“Kuhuhhh…”

Swallowing back tears, Tay looked at his hands.

My hands, legs, and body all grew significantly.

The woman she used to be is no longer here.

Isn’t this why I won’t recognize Eugene even if he comes back?

I even worry about that.

It was just as Tay was slowly returning to reality.

“No. I think I finished it just in time.”

“······?!”

chin.

Tay felt goosebumps all over his body as the hand touched his shoulder.

I couldn’t bear to turn my head.

My body became stiff.

Someone standing next to Tei looked at the magic stone and let out an exclamation.

“3 years? great job. He didn’t say anything, but he found the ingredients and completed the request. He’s my exclusive craftsman. But did you eat and sleep properly? When you start concentrating on one thing, you go into a trance. I’m worried about my health.”

“You don’t have to worry… Who runs a long marathon and runs at full speed the entire time? I lived by adjusting my sleeping and eating times appropriately…”

“You’ve grown a lot. I also know how to look at the long term.”

“That’s really true… I have grown… Compared to when the investor first chose me, it’s so, so…”

Tears obstructed Tay’s vision.

It was a long time.

Tay trusted Eugene.

I didn’t want to betray Eugene’s expectations.

Just for today.

Work continued at maximum speed and with maximum efficiency.

And Tei’s trust was not betrayed.

“I believed it. And it seems like I did well to believe it.”

“Hmm…!”

Tei was held in the man’s wide arms.

In the past, it was definitely wide enough to fit into Sook.

Now it felt much smaller than that.

It felt like I was being kicked when I was hugged.

“······.”

Mijeong tried to stop him by saying something for a moment, but then sighed and lowered her hand.

At this moment, I felt like I had to give Eugene away.