Reality turned out very different from what everyone was hoping for.
Both Yeomhwa and I passed the promotion test without any trouble.
That was the moment when the apprentice smiths’ expressions split cleanly in two.
The ones who had failed the test actually looked relieved, even cheerful, while the ones who had passed went stiff and pale.
The successful apprentice smiths comforted themselves by thinking that once they moved to the main furnace, I wouldn’t be able to act there the way I did on Heavenly Fire Road.
That, at least, was what they wanted to believe.
*****
The first time I stepped into the main furnace area as a full artisan, I couldn’t help but be impressed.
Master Smith Cheon might be indifferent to everything else in life, but when it came to the furnaces that birthed iron, he kept every last bolt and brick in perfect condition.
The heat rolling out of the main furnace was so intense it made you feel like you were standing at the mouth of hell itself.
“You brats are the new ones they picked this time. Follow me.”
The forearms of the old man in ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) the lead were corded with writhing veins.
“I’m Refining Artisan Gam Hong, in charge of the main furnace. I’m only specially handling you lot today, so get that through your heads, and make sure you never come looking for me again after this.”
“Where are we going, sir?”
“Heh heh. You’re very lucky. Today you get to personally view a weapon Master Smith Cheon is unveiling.”
At that, the people around me began to buzz.
“Is that true? We really get to see something Master Smith Cheon made today?”
“That’s right. If he’d finished it just one day earlier, none of you would have gotten a look for quite a while. You’re truly fortunate.”
I let out a small snort.
I’d wondered when I’d finally get to see one of his completed pieces, and it turned out the day was today.
Good. Less wasted time for me.
Following Refining Artisan Gam Hong, we arrived at a place where a long line stretched out in front of us—smiths from all over Heavenly Forge, all waiting to view Master Smith Cheon’s weapon.
“The time you’re allowed to examine Master Smith Cheon’s work is half an hour. Within that time, you have to find a flaw.”
Everyone around me let out a collective sigh.
“Come on. How is anyone supposed to find a flaw in something Master Smith Cheon made in just half an hour?”
“I couldn’t find anything even if you gave me all day.”
“Look over there. Even the veteran artisans are coming out shaking their heads. That’s how perfect it is.”
Refining Artisan Gam Hong heard them and let out a little chuckle.
“This piece is the one Master Smith Cheon is most confident in. He said whoever finds a mistake in this work, he’ll take that person as his personal disciple, make them the successor to Heavenly Forge, and pass on everything he knows.”
“Is... is that really true?”
“It’s true. So do your best and fight for it.”
A chance to become Master Smith Cheon’s personal disciple.
Everyone’s eyes lit up.
Well—everyone’s except for two people.
Yeomhwa glanced up at me.
“Do you really think there’s going to be anything wrong with it?”
“I don’t know. I’ll have to see it first.”
“What if there isn’t?”
“Then I acknowledge it. Even if Master Smith Cheon can’t handle Heavenly Forge properly and the ground is rotting out from under him, I have no intention of tearing down his effort. If he’s a true artisan, I’ll recognize him and find another way.”
From the way Yeomhwa’s eyes shone, you’d think I’d just sliced the heavens in half.
Having this kind of lord, he was probably thinking, made his life worth it.
Time passed, and eventually our turn came.
The two of us stepped up as a pair to examine Master Smith Cheon’s weapon.
Yeomhwa shook his head.
No matter how he looked, he couldn’t find a flaw.
It was perfection itself.
Still, it was at least a feast for his eyes, and he used that to console himself as he looked over at me.
Could I find a problem in a blade that perfect?
I snorted and turned to the artisan standing guard over the sword.
“This sword is nothing but a display piece. No real swordsman could ever use it.”
People around us gasped.
The artisan guarding the sword exploded.
“What nonsense is that! This sword was forged by Master Smith Cheon himself!”
“Yes. I know. The sword itself is perfect. But when he forged it, he wasn’t thinking about the swordsman—he was thinking about himself. This sword can only be used by Master Smith Cheon.”
“So you’re saying you found a flaw in that sword?”
“Yes.”
At my answer, the surrounding artisans broke into a low uproar.
They were shocked that a brat who’d only just become a full artisan was claiming he’d found a flaw they hadn’t been able to see no matter how hard they stared.
“What the hell? What kind of flaw could a guy who just came up here have found?”
“He’s just making it up. He probably wants an excuse to see Master Smith Cheon’s face in person.”
“Could be. I mean, who is Master Smith Cheon? He’s every artisan’s idol.”
“Still, if he lies and they catch him, he’s going to get expelled from here.”
“Guess he thinks getting expelled would be worth it.”
“Or maybe he really did find something we don’t know about.”
“Damn it, now I’m dying to know!”
Just what kind of flaw could there be?
“Wait here. I’ll go inform Master Smith Cheon.”
*****
Master Smith Cheon was in high spirits, convinced he’d just birthed the most perfect masterpiece of his life.
He downed the liquor he always favored and once again evaluated the sword in his mind.
A flawless blade with not a single blemish.
That sword would remain a legend for a long time, and his name would be remembered for a thousand years.
Just thinking about it made him happy.
That was when—
“Master Smith Cheon!”
“What is it?”
“S-someone says they’ve found a flaw.”
FWUMP—
Master Smith Cheon shot to his feet, his face full of shock.
“What are you talking about? A flaw? That sword doesn’t have any flaws!”
“But there is someone who claims they’ve found one.”
Master Smith Cheon’s face twisted.
“I’m going to see what kind of bastard he is with my own eyes and hear it from his own mouth.”
“You don’t want him brought here?”
“What are you talking about! I’ll show everyone, right in front of their faces, just how perfect that sword is!”
“I-I understand.”
“That damned brat. If it turns out he lied about finding a flaw, I’ll smash his skull right where he stands.”
Face flushed red, Master Smith Cheon stomped out of the room in a fury.
*****
“We pay our respects to Master Smith Cheon!”
Countless artisans bowed at the waist to show their reverence, but Master Smith Cheon ignored all of them and walked straight ahead.
His eyes were fixed solely on me.
“You’re the brat who says he found a flaw in my sword?”
“Yes.”
“Speak. What flaw.”
His expression said he was ready to beat me to death at any moment.
I couldn’t help letting out a small snort.
“You’re laughing right now?”
“Yes. If you glare and bark at people like that, who’s going to feel comfortable giving you their honest opinion?”
At my words, Master Smith Cheon forcibly smoothed his expression.
“Is that better? Talk. Now.”
He only relaxed his face; his tone didn’t improve.
He was in a hurry.
He really was curious.
I opened my mouth.
“This sword is too perfect.”
“You little—are you making fun of me right now?”
“No. I’m saying the problem is that it’s too perfect. The intention to create a perfect sword got imbued into the blade, and that became poison.”
“What do you mean?”
“To pursue perfection, you poured in a current of energy that actually interferes with a swordsman’s energy. The sword-heart’s flow is running in the exact opposite direction. This is the way this sword has to be shaped in order to be perfect. But the result is a reversal of the Five Elements, and it’ll end up gnawing away at the swordsman’s life-force. This is a demonic sword that devours its wielder’s life.”
“Ridiculous! I used it myself!”
“Of course it felt fine when you used it, Master Smith Cheon. Your own energy is already steeped into it. If you really don’t believe me, call another swordsman and test it on him.”
“Fine. We’ll test it your way. But if you’re wrong, you’d better be ready.”
“Yes.”
“Go tell Flowing-Shadow Phantom Sword that I want to see him.”
“Yes, sir!”
*****
Flowing-Shadow Phantom Sword approached Master Smith Cheon with a bright smile.
“What brings you all the way out here to find me? You’re the one man who never leaves his workshop.”
“Cut the crap. You see that sword?”
Flowing-Shadow Phantom Sword followed the direction of his finger and spotted the weapon, a strange light flickering in his eyes.
“Oh ho. It looks perfect just from here. Don’t tell me? You’re giving that sword to me?”
His smile grew even wider.
“If you can wield it freely, I’ll give it to you.”
“Seriously? I was only joking.”
“I’m not.”
“In that case, I’d be grateful. What’s the sword’s name?”
“Soul-Azure.”
“Then I’ll put it to good use.”
Flowing-Shadow Phantom Sword walked up to the sword, practically bouncing with excitement, and picked it up.
He swung it a few times, then broke into a radiant grin.
“It fits my hand perfectly. It’s exactly my kind of sword.”
At that, Master Smith Cheon’s expression twisted and he glared at me as if he wanted to kill me.
I simply watched Flowing-Shadow Phantom Sword, completely unbothered.
“You’re awfully calm for a man about to die.”
“I don’t see why I’d be the one dying. If anyone’s going to die, it’ll be him over there.”
“What?”
“The moment he pours energy into it, it’ll turn dangerous.”
Master Smith Cheon gave Flowing-Shadow Phantom Sword a doubtful look.
That was when Flowing-Shadow Phantom Sword began pouring his energy into the sword.
VMMM—
The blade shone with brilliant light.
Seeing that, Master Smith Cheon smiled.
Of course.
The brat was wrong.
The sword was perfect.
Just as that thought crossed his mind—
“Guh!”
Flowing-Shadow Phantom Sword suddenly let out a groan of pain.
“D-damn it! M-my internal energy!”
He doubled over, struggling desperately to wrench the sword out of his own grip.
“I-it won’t come off! M-Master Smith Cheon! I can’t let go of this sword!”
He turned to Master Smith Cheon and shouted in panic.
The sword had begun sucking away Flowing-Shadow Phantom Sword’s life-force at terrifying speed.
Master Smith Cheon was thrown into confusion, seeing a swordsman he trusted being dragged to the brink by a blade he had forged himself.
Was the sword I made really a demonic sword?
That thought filled his head completely.
At that moment, I broke into a run.
I grabbed the sword Flowing-Shadow Phantom Sword was holding and forcibly tore it out of his hand.
“Huff... huff...!”
His whole body was drenched in cold sweat.
“Th-thank you.”
“Take this.”
Flowing-Shadow Phantom Sword accepted the pill I held out.
Just the scent alone was enough to soothe his frantic heart.
This is incredible medicine.
The moment that intuition hit him, he popped it into his mouth.
A cool, refreshing energy spread through his body, settling his rampaging blood and qi.
“Thank you. Truly.”
Flowing-Shadow Phantom Sword bowed to me with genuine gratitude.
Then he turned and glared at Master Smith Cheon.
“Master Smith Cheon. I think you owe me an explanation for what just happened. You didn’t use me as a test subject, did you?”
Master Smith Cheon’s face twisted with embarrassment.
“T-that...”
And then he admitted it.
“I’m sorry. That brat kept insisting my life’s masterpiece was a demonic sword, and I got angry. I wanted to prove him wrong the proper way. You’re one of the few I knew I could trust.”
At the words “life’s masterpiece,” Flowing-Shadow Phantom Sword’s anger cooled.
Master Smith Cheon didn’t lie.
He had probably been genuinely stung in his pride and called him here to show off.
Flowing-Shadow Phantom Sword thought, if Master Smith Cheon acknowledged him as a worthy martial artist, that wasn’t a bad feeling.
“Even so, you should have at least warned me.”
“I apologize. I never imagined that brat would be right.”
Flowing-Shadow Phantom Sword turned a fascinated gaze on me.
When he’d been unable to let go of the demonic sword, I had grabbed the blade with my bare hand and torn it away by force.