Chapter 138
Kwak Chun-sik’s Blue Moon Workshop of the Jeju branch of the Aura Formula Dojo.
Their master, Yoon Kwangsoo, succeeded in creating a new technique by combining the universal aura techniques learned at the Dojo with his own know-how, which led to the creation of a new sect on Jeju Island.
The art of forging items without fire or water, using only aura-clad hands as hammers: Adornment
In-game, this skill was considered so versatile that it was considered one of the essential skills for the blacksmith route.
However,
“It’s a skill that even my apprentices can barely master after years of training. Even if you’re a master, it might be a little difficult for you to learn the technique──”
“What?”
I ask him back, freely transforming the aura form in my hands.
Changing the shape of aura like this isn’t too difficult for someone who can manipulate it, but changing it into a seamless form time after time is a different level.
It’s a control method I only learned from Kwak Chun-sik, who taught me how to operate aura.
If he had attended a martial arts academy, he would have been able to guess my current level of skill.
“Will this still be below the standard?”
“……No problem.”
Of course not. After all, the mechanics are based on the Aura Formula in the first place, so it shouldn’t be too much of a challenge for someone who knows the original.
Creating something new was the hard part, learning it was pretty easy.
You’d have to have an aura and aura control that could handle it, though.
“Can you give me a flow chart?”
“It will take some time, are you sure you don’t mind, apprentice?”
“I didn’t get the title of Master’s Apprentice for free.”
It’s not a game, and I have to learn it, but for me, already accustomed to the sensation of manipulating aura, it was easy.
It’s just that the flow and familiarity is different.
In the game, it was simply an additional buff to the speed at which I improved my skills, which I expected…….
I forced a smile on my face.
“Well, I guess I’ll just have to let you know what Master said…….”
With that, he slurred his words and turned around.
The apprentices, who were staring at us blankly, shook their heads.
“Even if the master is here, what the hell are you doing, start hammering right now!”
At Yoon Kwang-soo shout, the apprentices return to their seats and form auras in their fists.
They resume their training, each punching the objects in front of them.
Quang! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Turning back to me after the cacophony of blows, he raises his fist to show me his aura-wrapped hand.
“This is the vision of our Blue Moon, the Ki Sik: the art of forging new items around auras in your hands.”
As he said this, he pulled a single gemstone from his pocket and placed it on his hand.
A moment later
Tsk, tsk, tsk──
The gemstone in his hand glowed red and began to slowly lose its shape.
Grasping it with both hands, he began to mold it into a clay-like substance and placed it on a rock.
And then
Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!
the sound of metal clashing against metal echoed through the air.
Soon the gem was elongated, and when he stopped quenching it, it quickly cooled into a rod.
“Rubbing the aura quickly and hard to generate heat and weaken its hardness, then hitting it with the other hand to reshape it – that’s the basic principle of the technique, and the advantage is that the aura-transformed object’s original nature is left as untouched as possible.”
With that, he turned the long stone red once more before placing it on the rock in front of him and slamming it down with his fist.
The long gemstone began to take shape, and finally a dagger made entirely of gemstone appeared in front of him.
“…… So, this is what you call skill.”
“That’s right. Luckily, monsters, villains, and raiders are all around us, so we have the advantage of easy access to materials.”
This is why they settled on Jeju Island.
Of course, the idea of settling in such a magical place just to get materials is beyond common sense, but…….
“Maybe it’s because the materials aren’t very good, I need to refine them a bit more.”
Watching him bend and re-bend the magical dagger with his bare hands, I realized that maybe I shouldn’t have tried to understand it in the first place.
No, what kind of blacksmith would think to go from smelting to forging with his bare hands in one fell swoop?
Okay, let’s not overthink this.
I just need to get through the beans.
I leave him behind, already engrossed in his new creation, and follow the path he shows me to operate the aura.
The red aura begins to cover my hand with a different sensation than my usual fist.
I squeeze the rock next to me, and it comes off as easily as clay.
“Oh.”
This works.
I didn’t expect it to happen at once.
The sensation is fun, so I squeeze the rock harder.
“Ah, no. What are you doing?”
“Huh? I’m using the formula as you taught me.”
“No, not that one, but…… the one you’re holding in your hand right now.”
“What’s wrong with this?”
Is there something wrong with the clay?
“……That’s the head of a granite golem.”
“Huh?”
After hearing his words, I slowly looked at the clay in my hand.
It was definitely a little too light to be a normal rock.
“This lumpy thing is the head of a granite golem?”
“Yes. Normally, it would take a lot of aura to break it off, let alone make it stick, but……this much is expected of Master personal disciple.”
No, it was me.
Granite Golem was one of the strongest monsters in Jeju Island.
“I’m truly in awe of your skill and perfection. In just a few minutes, you were able to forge materials that would have taken me days to handle…… You, too, are a master!”
……I knew I improved but I didn’t know it was this much.
* * *
Pulling the gas pedal to the floor, I push the motorcycle along the coastal road.
“To think I’ll live to see the day I enter the Sanctuary first. If I told the apprentices, no one would believe me.”
Yoon Kwangsoo, sitting on the back seat, mumbles in a tone of disbelief.
“I’m not surprised that a Blue Moon Workshop apprentice is afraid of the Sanctuary.”
“It’s natural, isn’t it? Who wouldn’t be afraid of a crucifix falling on their head just by coming near it? I’ve encountered the bishop of Halla Cathedral a few times in my work, and he’s not normal either.”
Apparently, the bishop has quite a bit of notoriety as well, being the head of one of Jeju Island’s largest factions.
“I assume you’re familiar with what I’ve told you before……?”
“Yes. Treat you as a Hitman of Corleone. I never thought you would be a member of Corleone, unless you count your talent and strength, which would make you the heir apparent to the Aura Formula.”
Fortunately, they didn’t seem too concerned about my affiliation with Corleone.
Well, maybe they were convinced when they heard about the alliance between Corleone and Kwak Chun-Sik.
The spires of the cathedral begin to appear in the distance and the tension is palpable.
We realize that they could be attacked with a wave of Augustus’ hand.
We see Augustus sitting in a camping chair, smoking a cigarette, as if he’s waiting in front of the church.
He had been watching us since we arrived at the Sanctuary so he didn’t even glance our way.
I turn off the engine and sit down in the camping chair across from her.
She stubs out her cigarette on the ground and looks up.
“You really did bring……with you.”
“I told you, I’d prove it. So, have you changed your mind a little now?”
She snorts at my comment and turns her head to look at the entrance of the church.
The doors open, and John, carrying a box that looks holy at first glance, walks slowly toward it and stands behind her.
“Is that it?”
The bishop nods at my question.
“That’s right, the holy artifact that maintains this sanctuary and is the source of my power, Ascalon. Now that I’ve kept my word, I’ll show you the item at the trading post. John?”
“Yes Bishop.”
Bowing solemnly at her summons, John knelt down on one knee and placed the box on his leg, slowly opening it to reveal an old-looking sword.
“This is Ascalon, I can tell by the look on his face if it’s real or fake…… but I know it’s the real thing.”
I looked at the expression of Yoon Kwangsoo who was sitting next to me.
Yep. Judging by his reaction, I’m pretty sure but just in case.
“Do you mind if I take a closer look at it for a moment, I have an appraisal skill.”
“Appraisal skill? ……I don’t care, as long as you don’t bullshit me.”
With her agreement, I stand up and slowly bring my hand to the Ascalon.
[You have acquired a new item!]
[Name: Ascalon]
[Class: Artifact]
[Type: Relic]
[Description: A sword said to have been used by St. George to choke the life out of the evil dragon Fafnir.
Explosively increases the user’s holy power and can activate a sanctuary around them.
Deals 2.5x holy damage against enemies of the evil element, and up to 7x against dragons.]
“I see.”
Seeing the ability to deal extra damage with the Evil attribute and devastating damage to dragons, I realized that it wasn’t nicknamed the Fafnir Slayer for nothing.
“Even with Ascalon, it is impossible to defeat Fafnir easily, for even St. George is said to have used other weapons because he could not pierce its scales with it alone.”
In order to inflict such damage, I would have to pierce the dragon’s scales, its most distinctive feature, and its strongest shield.
Ascalon doesn’t have piercing powers, so, as she says, it’s hard to imagine Fafnir being taken down by this alone.
“The Blue Moon artisan is here, so you don’t have to worry about that.”
“……You said you were going to tinker with Ascalon a bit, so what are you going to do, strengthen it or something?”
I had brought a blacksmith with me, so of course I would strengthen the weapon.
At that, Yoon Kwang-soo also jumped to his feet with his fists clenched in excitement.
“Ah, you’re going to give me a chance to strengthen Ascalon, are you serious? Hitman?!”
I replied calmly, looking at the two of them with an unexplained feverish excitement.
“What? Enhance? I don’t want to beef up.”
“Hmm?”
“Huh?”
They both look dumbfounded at my expression.
“No, wait, you said you weren’t going to strengthen it. Does that mean you brought him here just to polish it, so that it can pierce the dragon scales?
“No, you brought me in to do a little polishing?”
“…… I think you’re both firmly misunderstanding something.”
“Misunderstanding? Misunderstanding, what the hell do you think you’re going to do with Ascalon then?”
The bishop looked utterly confused since I said I wasn’t going to harden or polish it.
Roughly, but gently burning aura flared in both my hands.
And Ascalon beneath my hands-──
Kwajik──!
“Ah.”
“!!”
“!?”
