I smiled at the people staring at me.
“Of course. I’m coming back, so don’t worry.”
“Then that’s enough. While you’re gone, I’ll work even harder and be waiting up higher.”
“I’ll be looking forward to it. You know what happens if you don’t meet my expectations, right?”
“Ah... yeah. I know.”
Watching them flinch, I chuckled under my breath.
“Keep training.”
“You’re leaving already?”
“I’m not leaving yet. Before I go, I’m going to give you all a gift.”
“A gift? What gift? I already got an incredible gift. You don’t have to give me anything.”
“Same for us.”
When they refused, saying it was fine, I smiled.
“I want to give it. Train properly. I’ll come again tomorrow.”
“Yeah. Got it.”
If I said I wanted to give it and they kept refusing, that would be rude in its own way, so everyone nodded.
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I waved to them and turned my steps toward Heavenly Forge.
“You’re here already?”
“Yes. Grandfather Geum.”
At the sound of “Grandfather Geum” from my mouth, Geum Hwangryeok’s grin stretched to his ears.
He was a man being called “Grandfather” by the greatest person to ever exist.
What could be happier than that?
“Where’s Yeomhwa?”
At Yeomhwa’s name, Geum Hwangryeok’s expression brightened even more.
“That bastard is truly incredible. He plays with fire like it’s a toy, and if you teach him one thing, he realizes ten. I can’t even keep up with how fast he wakes up to things. Hahaha!”
“Sounds like you really like your disciple.”
“Like him? It’s beyond that. He was born to become a blacksmith. He has more talent than I do.”
“I think so too.”
“What? You little punk. Couldn’t you at least say, even as empty words, that I’m better?”
“It’s the truth. You know it better than ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) anyone, Grandfather Geum.”
“Grrr... it is true, but... you’re too blunt.”
“Isn’t that my charm?”
“What charm? Yours froze to death.”
He grumbled, then asked me.
“Anyway, at this hour you should be in Martial Star Hall. Why are you here? Do you need something?”
“Martial Star Hall is all sorted out.”
“Already? You haven’t even been there that long.”
“About four months, right?”
“You normalized Martial Star Hall in four months?”
I grinned.
“So it’s true... Well, because of you, even this Heavenly Fire Road is starting to run properly again.”
“How is it? Working as the head? Is it doable?”
“It’s a headache. I just want to hammer iron all day. But no one leaves me alone. There’s so much paperwork—now I feel like throwing up just looking at paper.”
He clicked his tongue like he was sick of it and shook his head.
“I’m going to make some weapons.”
“Oh? Then I’ll lend you my furnace. If there’s any material you want to add, take it from my warehouse and use as much as you like.”
“Then I won’t refuse. I’ll borrow it.”
“If someone better than me says he’ll use it, my furnace will be happy too. Don’t feel burdened—use it until you’re satisfied. Besides, I have to go sign that damn paperwork again.”
“Have a safe trip.”
“Yeah.”
He looked like he truly didn’t want to go, dragging his feet so miserably that I couldn’t help laughing.
Then I heard Yeomhwa’s voice behind me.
“My lord?”
“Yeomhwa. You been well?”
At my words, Yeomhwa dropped flat on the spot and greeted me.
“This one, Yeomhwa, greets my lord!”
“Get up.”
“Yes!”
“Did you improve at all?”
“I am still insignificant.”
“Want me to check?”
“Yes?”
“Come with me.”
“R-right now?”
“When else?”
“No— I mean, yes.”
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
For months as Master Smith Cheon’s disciple, Yeomhwa had firmly secured the position of Heavenly Forge’s “young master.”
He wasn’t the clueless Yeomhwa from before anymore.
He was the second-in-command of Heavenly Fire Road, a man who could bend people with a glance alone.
But in front of me, he could never be that.
He could only keep his head lowered and follow behind me, hoping he’d get through this safely.
“You’ve definitely improved fast.”
“It is only possible because Master Tae and Master Chu’s teachings are extraordinary.”
I could see it in his movement—how much he’d ground himself down in training so he wouldn’t disappoint me.
“You can train well on your own now, right?”
“On my own? Where are you going?”
“Yeah. I have to go take the Metropolitan Exam.”
“Ah...”
He’d forgotten.
I was a scholar.
Even thinking about it again, it was unbelievable.
That strong, and a scholar.
“Are you taking the Metropolitan Exam and coming back?”
“I don’t know. If I pass, I might become an official.”
“...What? Become what?”
“Why are you so shocked? I said I might become an official.”
Yeomhwa stared at me, stunned.
An official.
The strongest power in all ages... and an official.
Wasn’t this exactly what people meant by saying a tiger was going to graze on grass?
“W-why would you become an official?”
“I don’t know. I’ll find out if I become one. I’ve never done it, so how would I know?”
“T-that’s true.”
“Why? Does me being an official not suit me?”
“No.”
At Yeomhwa’s blunt answer, I let out a small laugh.
I understood Geum Hwangryeok’s mood a little.
“I’m not planning to do it for long. It’s just curiosity. What are officials like? What kind of place is the Imperial Palace? That kind of curiosity.”
“I see. Then... it won’t take long.”
“What?”
“How long could a tiger stay in a place full of rabbits? You’ll get bored and come out quickly.”
“I hope I come out right away.”
My face must have looked like I had a reason, because Yeomhwa decided not to ask further.
“It’s something my lord is doing, so there must be a reason.”
I smirked.
“Yeah. There’s a reason for everything. I’ll tell you later, so hurry up and get strong.”
“Yes!”
“Here.”
I held out a leather pouch. Yeomhwa took it carefully, staring with a questioning look.
“It’s a pill infused with fire energy. Take it when the full moon comes, and do energy-circulation breathing. You have to take it when yin energy is at its strongest—only then will it harmonize with the pill’s strong yang energy and amplify your energy even more. At that time, focus and absorb as much of that amplified energy as you can.”
Yeomhwa held the pill like it was sacred, his expression overflowing with emotion.
“Yes! My lord! I will repay the grace of my lord, who thinks of this insignificant one, by becoming strong no matter what!”
“Good. Do that. That’s the right way to repay grace.”
“Yes!”
“Alright. Then shall I do my work now?”
“Ah! You said you were making weapons, right? This one will help.”
“Isn’t it time for training?”
“Ah! It’s already—”
“It’s fine. I’m more comfortable alone. Go train hard.”
“Yes! My lord.”
*****
The next day.
Hwang Jinhyeok opened the wooden box I handed him and froze.
“What is this?”
“Can’t you tell just by looking? It’s a gauntlet.”
“I know it’s a gauntlet, but...”
“If you know, why ask?”
“No... I’m asking because it doesn’t look like a normal gauntlet.”
“I just threw it together.”
“You threw it together? You made this?”
“Yeah.”
“...Huh.”
As he stared at the gauntlet with a shocked expression, the Heaven-Night Wasteland Sovereign inside him went insane.
—F-fast. Put it on! That gauntlet is c-calling me.
“Hey. Calm down. I’m being moved by my friend’s gift right now.”
—Now! Now! I want to feel it.
Hwang Jinhyeok looked at me.
“What the hell did you make? Heaven-Night Wasteland Sovereign is losing its mind.”
I smiled faintly.
“Put it on. I want to see how it is too.”
“Should I?”
Hwang Jinhyeok carefully put the gauntlet on.
WHOOOOOO—
A vortex of energy began to whip around violently.
—Kekekeke! Ooooo! This power! It’s my complete power, the power I used to have!
The Heaven-Night Wasteland Sovereign started rampaging in delight.
—KWAHAHAHA! Foolish human trash! You’ve made a huge mistake!
Hwang Jinhyeok panicked.
“W-Wigang. The beast is going wild!”
“You have to control it.”
“Me? This kind of power?”
“If you can’t, you get eaten.”
“Tch! Fine!”
Hwang Jinhyeok closed his eyes and focused on the gauntlet’s power.
—KWAHAHAHA! Too late, human! I’ll show you! The true power of the Heaven-Night Wasteland Sovereign!
He concentrated and concentrated, trying to seize the rampaging energy.
Then—
A bright light spread from the gauntlet and wrapped around him.
Warm.
Hwang Jinhyeok accepted that feeling as it was.
And then the Heaven-Night Wasteland Sovereign’s voice rang out, flustered.
—W-what is this? M-my power— N-no!
Hwang Jinhyeok could feel it.
He could use the Heaven-Night Wasteland Sovereign’s energy fully, according to his own will.
Hwang Jinhyeok snapped his eyes open, grinned, and charged straight at me.
Everyone else flinched.
Charging at me out of nowhere?
Had he been eaten by the beast’s power?
Then Hwang Jinhyeok shouted.
“WOLF-FANG SHATTERS HEAVEN!”
GRAAAWR—
He overlapped both hands and thrust them toward me. A gigantic beastly image shot out at speed.
I lightly punched it away.
And above my head, Hwang Jinhyeok’s sharp nails were already slashing down.
KAGAGAGAGAK—!
Deep claw marks gouged the ground.
“LION FULL-MOON SLASH!”
Hwang Jinhyeok sprayed claw-energy like a net toward where I’d moved.
A massive net of energy slammed down over me.
KWAKWAKWAKWANG—
Watching, the others swallowed without realizing it.
This wasn’t the strength of the Hwang Jinhyeok they’d known.
Hwang Jinhyeok glared into the thick dust.
Then—
Tap. Tap.
He felt someone poke his back and turned his head.
I was standing there, smiling.
“Performance is solid. I’ve confirmed it, so stop now.”
“Grrr!”
He was so excited he’d worked himself into a frenzy.
SMACK—
THUD—
Still baring his teeth, Hwang Jinhyeok went down cold from a single punch.
The people around us made faces like, of course.
After that, I handed out weapons to each of them—ones tuned to their energy.
They accepted the weapons, moved to the point of trembling.
“C-can we really accept something this good?”
“Yeah. It’s nothing. You can take it.”
Nothing, he says.
I’d be scared to sleep, thinking someone would come for it.
“Why? Because you’re afraid someone will come after it?”
“Yes. That’s right. Who wouldn’t covet a weapon this good? I’m never sleeping again.”
“Then that’s even better. No—actually, I should spread the rumor. That there are incredible things here.”
“...What?”
“Until I come back next time, you have to protect them no matter what. If they’re gone...”
I let the rest hang.
“Th-then I’ll refuse—”
“You’re refusing something I made with care?”
A second ago it was “nothing.”
“Ah— n-no.”
“If you want to survive while protecting that, you’ll have to train hard. Right?”
When I smiled, I could see a devil in my own reflection.
“Then... later, let’s meet alive.”
It felt ominous.
Like I was hinting they’d be dead.
They clenched their teeth.
They would survive—no matter what—and prove they were worthy owners of these gifts.
Watching those burning eyes, I smiled in satisfaction.
I should have Milyeong spread the rumor that those bastards had extraordinary famous blades.
Hopefully plenty of fools would get greedy and come running.
Then their real combat experience would grow on its own, and they’d train like mad to protect what was theirs.