We kindly ask for your understanding regarding the inconsistency of character pronouns, particularly for the Entities (ex. The Greedy Predator). In Korean, pronouns are rarely used, making it challenging to ascertain a character's gender or identity until later narratives unfold. Update twice a week [SUN] & [THURS] starting August 2024!
Even inside the boundary, the air was warm. Seora untied the scarf that Do Junyeong had given as a gift.
“How is it warm here?”
“We’ve gathered all the fire from Mount Gwanak to create a better fire here. Is it too hot?”
“No, it’s just right.”
As they sat on the wide porch, Shin Dowon soon brought refreshing cold tea. Thanks to the clinking ice, their insides cooled down.
“Are you here for sponsorship offers?”
“No. In truth, I have enough with the items I have. Rather than sponsorship, I’d like to entrust mine for repairs. Is that alright? Of course, I’ll pay. I also brought a letter of recomndation.”
As she handed over a letter of recomndation with Song Hanna’s na on it, Shin Dowon lightly brushed it with his rough fingertips. It was a touch filled with longing. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen this na. Is she doing well?”
“I believe so. I’m sure she’ll be fine for the next hundred years.”
“That’s so unexpectedly good news. She’s always been so strong, and that made worry. I can now put my mind at ease.”
“You’re worried even though she’s strong?”
“Being too strong also ans being easily broken. Just a small scratch, and it can shatter in an instant.”
Seora understood imdiately what Shin Dowon was trying to convey. Her mother’s death was the biggest reason Song Hanna had beco so strong. The words implied that her mother’s death had also broken soone like Song Hanna.
“I’m glad she’s okay now. Perhaps your presence has erased those scratches.”
It seed he had also heard about Seora and Song Hanna’s relationship. At the ntion of being sowhat relieved, Seora nodded emphatically. She had survived, and now Song Hanna’s spirit wouldn’t waver.
‘I’d feel even less worried if that damn monster were dealt with once and for all.’
She must never let her guard down. Seora wondered if there was no way; her mind raced.
“So you’re here not for item sponsorship but for repairs.”
“Ah, yes.”
Seora set down her teacup and retrieved the broken Crimson Mace and the Regeneration Jacket from her inventory. Shin Dowon, who had furrowed his brow at the sight of the damaged mace, looked genuinely astonished when he saw the jacket.
“You’re entrusting this to for repairs?”
“Is it too difficult? The mace might be, but the jacket isn’t that damaged…”
Shin Dowon blinked, wearing a peculiar expression. His touch was careful as he handled the jacket. “I’m not sure if I should be happy or sad about this.”
“Why?”
“I’ve been looking for soone to wear my last creation. But a repair for the Regeneration Jacket… This is an honor.”
Last creation. Seora’s eyes widened. “Last? That ans…”
“I don’t have much ti left to live.” Shin Dowon, who looked so incredibly healthy, calmly confessed about his impending future. Seora felt her head spinning.
“Why would you bring up sothing so important…!”
“It’s not that important. I’ve been expecting this day to co since thirteen years ago.”
13 years ago, a period of upheaval. And Shin Dowon was a first-generation Awakened. There must’ve been conditions in his awakening process or contract with his Entity.
【Activates ‘Title—Contractee of the System Administrator’. You can access information on the person you desire.】
For the first ti in a long while, Seora confird another person’s information.
【The Awakened Information】
Na: Shin Dowon (Class A)
Title: Master Blacksmith Adorning Flas (Class S), Descendant of a Pirate (Class S)
Specialty: Unique Ability — Blacksmith
Contracted Entity: None
Notable Traits: Previous contractee of the Entity ‘God of Fire and Volcanoes’. Afflicted with arsenic poisoning.
The Entity ‘God of Fire and Volcanoes’ and arsenic poisoning. Just knowing that, Seora could deduce the situation.
Hephaestus, one of the 12 gods of Greece, was known as the master blacksmith and the ‘God of Fire and Volcanoes’. While many blacksmiths dream of contracting with this god, there was one problem. The contractee would inevitably fall terminally ill due to arsenic poisoning. In exchange for that, Hephaestus would elevate the contractee to the best blacksmith.
Shin Dowon had undoubtedly beco an exceptional blacksmith through his contract with him. However, he, too, couldn’t escape the fatal illness, and as a result, he now stood on the brink of death. Growing weaker and weaker, he sought a place where he would finally ignite his body and hamr for the last ti.
“Are you ill?” Seora asked, knowing everything already. Shin Dowon’s face showed no hint of wavering from the beginning till now.
“I suppose you could call it that.”
“Are you in pain?”
“Thankfully, there’s no pain or symptoms. Just the reduction of lifespan. What a blessing it is.”
His fist-clenched arm remained robust, signifying that he was still in his pri. With no pain or symptoms, his arm could still wield the hamr.
“Don’t sympathize with . It was a choice I made from the beginning, and I have no regrets about that choice. I did everything I wanted to do. Except for one thing.”
“What is that?”
“To create an unbeatable weapon.” His eyes, like flas blazing in a furnace, stared directly at Seora. He wasn’t dying at this mont. Quite literally, he wanted to ignite his life. “That’s why I proposed the sponsorship to you. You, who killed that insufferable monster in the Cheorwon Dungeon that my crafted weapon couldn’t kill, have more than enough qualifications.”
“…”
“I chose you, Yun Seora. I’ll create an unbeatable weapon for you. Take it.”
It was a chilling determination. The heat in this room felt like not from Mount Gwanak but purely his own. For Seora, who had only been thinking about her own life until now, it was a desire truly difficult to comprehend.
“I can’t understand your life.”
“You don’t have to. We’re pretty much the sa, in the end.” Shin Dowon regained his calm as if he had never been excited. “So, will you accept? If you want, I can also repair the Regeneration Jacket. It might be best to let go of this mace for now. It has reached the end of its lifespan.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Take them back.” Without a trace of hesitation, Shin Dowon handed over the jacket and the mace fragnts. As if devoid of any lingering attachnt, he rose from his seat. The black leather jacket draped over his shoulders swayed lightly with his movents. “It was still nice to et you. I was glad to hear about President Song’s news directly. Send my regards as well.”
“You seem impatient. I asked what you would do if I didn’t accept. I didn’t firmly say I wouldn’t.”
When Shin Dowon turned around, Seora stood, placing her teacup down. Her eyes were fixed on the man.
“Alright. I’ll accept your proposal. I do want to see the skills of the best blacksmith among Korea’s first-generation creators firsthand. And if it doesn’t impress , then that’s all for you. If you want to ignite the end properly, you’ll have to do it right.”
Seora took out Hit from her inventory. Shin Dowon, with exceptional eyes for weapons as a blacksmith, was visibly moved.
“As you can see, I’m soone who uses this as my main weapon.”
“How on earth…?”
“Try making one so well that it makes you feel like you’d die hamring if you don’t want to face a shaful end. Just as you said.”
In response to Seora’s radiant smile, Shin Dowon let out a suppressed sigh. He was certain he had overwheld her with his determination, but it was arrogance.
The location where all the fires embraced by Mount Gwanak were gathered was trembling under Yun Seora’s spirit. Shin Dowon began to feel deeply the gravity of his actions.
For a mont, Shin Dowon was distracted by Seora’s montum, but soon, he let out a hollow laughter and sat back down. Seora also neatly composed herself and took a sip of cold tea.
“Indeed, one shouldn’t judge an Awakened by age. Being the greatest contributor to the Labyrinth Dungeon isn’t sothing just anyone can do.”
“I guess I’m sowhat skilled. It’s all thanks to my god. Respect my deity.”
【Administrator: (*´∀`*)ゞ】
“Are you on good terms with your Entity? That’s fortunate. Many Awakened suffer because of their Entities, especially when a strong power is granted, the price tends to be high.”
Seora, sipping her cold tea, montarily stopped. Maybe it was because of reading his information, but she couldn’t just overlook that statent. “Excuse , but could your illness be related to a contract with an Entity?”
“I ntioned that I knew from the beginning, didn’t I? I was aware even before making the contract. It was my choice.”
If that’s the case, Seora no longer had the right to argue about him.
“I’m okay. My Entity doesn’t ask anything of .” Ironically, having to do nothing at all made her feel a bit indebted. She wanted to do sothing for him, always receiving and not being able to give. She didn’t even know where he was to do sothing.
Even if it wasn’t everything about giving, it was still a human desire to want to do sothing, especially for soone you care about.
【Administrator: ⁄(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)⁄】
‘Don’t just be moved by words, try asking sothing. Even the small things are okay.’
【Administrator: ( *˘╰╯˘*)】
In response to the answer that he was already satisfied, Seora snorted. Well, whatever.
“You’ve been blessed. Maintain a good relationship if it’s one. If one day the relationship is severed, the feeling of loss is beyond words.”
Seora suddenly raised her head. However, the way he was sipping his tea conveyed a firm ssage, making her unable to ask anything further.
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