Chapter 140
Chapter 140: The Blacksmith
“The police and the Hero Department, along with the large guilds, are planning to conduct a joint raid on the IUPC because of their connection to monsters.”
“That’s good news.”
While Yoo Ji-han and Kim Si-hu continued to skim through incoming news about the IUPC, Min Yu-ri focused on a single article among the many.
[IUPC is suspected of developing a forbidden technique to forcibly mutate monsters into mutations……]
The development of a technology that forcibly mutated monsters. The article stated that a substance confiscated from a suspected member of the IUPC was injected into a normal monster, leading to confirmation that the monster had undergone mutation.
‘They’ve really lost their minds…….’
What on earth could be the reason for wanting to create intentional mutations?
It was an action that couldn’t be understood with an ordinary hero’s mindset.
As she read through the details of the article, Min Yu-ri reached out and gently patted Chilla’s side.
“Chirp.”
Feeling the familiar and gentle touch of his owner, Chilla slowly closed his eyes.
‘I have to be more careful from now on.’
Min Yu-ri vowed as she watched Chilla, promising not to expose him to the forbidden drug supposedly developed by the IUPC.
Many heroes classified as tamers likely shared similar thoughts right now.
“I wish the IUPC would just disappear.”
“Unfortunately, it’s not that easy.”
“Still, since a large guild is stepping in, we should trust them.”
As soon as the article went live, the IUPC issued a statement claiming that all accusations against them were false.
Considering the strong backlash from both the domestic and international offices, it was only natural that friction with them would occur soon.
Yet, no matter how much resistance there was, righteous and capable heroes getting involved meant that the situation would be sorted out quickly.
Yoo Ji-han turned off the screen of his mobile phone and said, “It’s nice not having to deal with these people for a while.”
Given the mood of the media towards the IUPC had drastically changed, the frequency of their activities, like protesting in the MA, would likely decrease significantly.
Yoo Ji-han found this most satisfying.
*
The next day.
Yoo Ji-han and Kim Si-hu rode in Min Yu-ri’s car heading to the open market where Nam Ho-yeol was.
Thanks to having some ideas about what equipment they wanted to create, they were going to place their orders.
“Whoa! You’re from Yoo Ji-han’s party, right?”
“Yes, that’s us.”
“I-I’m such a huge fan after watching that movie!”
At the entrance of the open market, the hero identity check was being conducted.
The official conducting the identity check recognized Yoo Ji-han’s party and beamed with joy.
Thanks to that, they swiftly passed through the entrance and arrived at the parking lot.
They headed toward the street packed with blacksmiths and workshops.
But then……
“Hey, Yoo Ji-han’s party! Come to our workshop! We’ll give you a special discount!”
“Don’t go anywhere else! Our owner has a personal discount for you!”
“Yoo Ji-han! Your sword looks a bit worn, doesn’t it?”
As soon as they entered the main street, people recognized Yoo Ji-han’s party and came closer.
From staff working at famous workshops to blacksmiths personally showing off weapons they had crafted, there were numerous attempts to reel them in.
However, they merely waved their hands and shook their heads at the approaching individuals.
They entered the alley of the open market that was as dark as it was dirty as planned.
“Yoo Ji-han’s party!”
“Seriously?”
“Whoa! Is that a real chinchilla?!”
There were people there who recognized them.
Yoo Ji-han responded to them similarly as before and walked forward.
“Kim Si-hu! How about this instead of that unattractive staff?”
“……Unattractive?”
Among them was a blacksmith calling an artifact made from top-quality Florun “unattractive.”
Kim Si-hu cast a bewildered glance at the blacksmith who disrespected his parents’ heirloom and cracked a ridiculous smile.
He didn’t want to trust any equipment to a blacksmith with such poor judgment.
“There they are.”
As they ventured deeper into the alley, their destination, Nam Ho-yeol’s workshop, came into sight.
The owner, Nam Ho-yeol, happened to be standing in front of the shop.
“Ho-yeol!”
“…….”
Yoo Ji-han cheerfully called out Nam Ho-yeol’s name, but despite being close enough to hear, Nam Ho-yeol showed no reaction.
Feeling something was off, he approached the entrance of the workshop.
Then, it happened.
“What’s that?”
“Gah!”
“……!”
Yoo Ji-han’s party was taken aback by the state of the building.
The sign symbolizing Nam Ho-yeol’s workshop, known as the Knife Workshop, had a large red X painted over the imagery of a sword and shield.
Moreover, graffiti in various colors was visible on the door and walls of the workshop.
[Selfish bastard!]
[Trash with no skill]
[Business suspended]
[Heroes, don’t buy anything here]
[Please get lost]
…….
…….
Every piece of graffiti condemned and insulted Nam Ho-yeol, the one running this workshop.
Nam Ho-yeol was staring at the messages with a blank expression, seemingly unaware of anyone approaching him.
“Nam Ho-yeol!”
“Gah! Yes!”
At Yoo Ji-han’s shout, Nam Ho-yeol shrank back and snapped back to reality.
Then Kim Si-hu pointed at the wall filled with graffiti and asked, “What’s all this about?”
“Ah….”
Instead of answering, Nam Ho-yeol looked around at the people who had gathered in the alley to watch Yoo Ji-han’s party.
He was keeping an eye on those surrounding them.
“Let’s talk inside.”
He guided the three of them into the workshop.
Chilla, being a big chinchilla, had to stay outside.
Min Yu-ri handed a piece of paper with writing on it to him.
[Touching without the owner’s permission will result in injury. No responsibility will be taken if you get hurt.]
As soon as they entered the shop, Yoo Ji-han asked again, “What happened?”
“……Recently, more and more people have been interfering with our business.”
Nam Ho-yeol spoke with a dark expression, indicating that there were those who were hindering him.
The graffiti on the wall was all the handiwork of those people.
“Who is it exactly?”
“It seems to be the work of the other blacksmiths around here.”
The graffiti wasn’t ordinary paint but rather special dye used for equipment.
The only ones who would be using such a thing around here were blacksmiths like Nam Ho-yeol.
Min Yu-ri, looking confused, asked, “Other blacksmiths are sabotaging Ho-yeol? Why?”
“Well….”
Nam Ho-yeol hesitated to respond immediately.
“I’ve been doing pretty well with sales around here lately…”
“And?”
“Most importantly, it seems that I’ve turned down requests to introduce you a number of times.”
Yoo Ji-han blinked in surprise.
“The other blacksmiths asked you to introduce us?”
“Yes. They said I shouldn’t monopolize such a popular party.”
“No, we can choose whichever workshop we want ourselves.”
So because of something like that, they resorted to similar treatment as bullying?
Hearing the full story made Yoo Ji-han feel incredulous.
But since this was happening to Nam Ho-yeol, he realized his current position had changed compared to before.
“Isn’t this too much? We should be helping one another, not making things worse!”
Kim Si-hu fumed as if he had been personally wronged.
Though Nam Ho-yeol, the aggrieved party, would naturally feel angry too, he appeared resigned after having been interfered with several times.
Then he dropped a bombshell.
“I’m really sorry, but I think I might quit being a blacksmith.”
“What?!”
A declaration of retirement from blacksmithing.
He had hinted at contemplating closing shop due to insufficient income the last time they visited, but now his tone sounded like someone who had already made a decision.
“I feel like it would be better to just get a normal job at a company and earn a steady salary rather than deal with this constant stress. My wife might not say it directly, but I think she’d find that much more comfortable.”
“But….”
“Coincidentally, the game company I used to work for is starting a new project.”
The game company where Nam Ho-yeol previously worked told him that if he returned, they would treat him almost the same as when he was a design team leader before, due to the need for design personnel.
With all his previous work experience, Nam Ho-yeol would be a perfect match.
“Did you come here to get some equipment?”
“Yes.”
“If you like, I can take your last order and then quit.”
Nam Ho-yeol offered to make one last piece for Yoo Ji-han’s party, who had come seeking him.
Yoo Ji-han stared intently at him, as if he had made a significant resolution, seeing his expression was noticeably more relieved than a few minutes ago.
Maybe their visit to the workshop today had spurred his decision.
‘Huh, where are you planning to go?’
Then Yoo Ji-han spoke again.
“Ho-yeol, you said you think earning a salary at a company would be better, right?”
“Yes.”
“If that’s the case, we’ll provide you with that salary.”
“……Huh?”
Nam Ho-yeol frowned at Yoo Ji-han’s words.
“Si-hu, is that okay?”
“Of course, it is.”
“What about you, Yu-ri?”
“I’m fine with it if it’s Ho-yeol.”
After seeking the agreement of all party members, Yoo Ji-han looked back at Nam Ho-yeol.
“Close this workshop and join us at Sweet Fun.”
“That can’t be, right…?”
“Become our exclusive blacksmith.”
A request to be their exclusive blacksmith, beyond just being a personal blacksmith.
It seemed like a completely unexpected proposal, and Nam Ho-yeol’s eyes widened.
“We’ll offer you contract conditions better than the industry average for blacksmiths, and on top of that, we’ll give you absolutely better treatment than the company you used to work for.”
“Why would someone like me, just a back-alley blacksmith…?”
When Nam Ho-yeol first met Yoo Ji-han’s party, they were just an unknown, budding group.
But now they were heroes receiving immense interest in the recent heroic community.
Wherever they went, they would be welcomed with open arms.
For them to recruit a blacksmith from a dark, dingy alley!
“We believe in you, Ho-yeol.”
“……!”
They believe in him.
It wasn’t just any hero’s words but those of the Wind Spirit Master, who had used Nam Ho-yeol’s sword long before he gained this spotlight.
Nam Ho-yeol could sense the sincerity behind those words.
“Let’s go together.”
Yoo Ji-han stretched out his right hand.
Nam Ho-yeol stood frozen, staring at the outstretched hand before him.
At that moment when he took that hand,
He would surely open a new future for himself.
“Phew….”
Taking a long breath, he spoke to Yoo Ji-han.
“Um, is there a maternity leave policy?”
“You may take as much leave as you want.”
A shocking response, saying he could take as much leave as he wanted.
Nam Ho-yeol slowly grasped Yoo Ji-han’s hand with his trembling hand.
“Thank you so much…!”
“No, thank you.”
With tears brimming in his eyes, Nam Ho-yeol bowed his head.
Smiling broadly, Yoo Ji-han firmly griped the rough blacksmith’s hand.
