The Return of the Legendary Golden-Handed Blacksmith - Chapter 78

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 78
78.
When Jin-woo produced his Hammer at those words, Mirae shook her head with evident disbelief.
“I never thought there could be a blacksmith capable of such delicate hand movements.”
“Well, here I am, right before your eyes.”
“Indeed, truly.”
Mirae found herself growing increasingly delighted by this turn of events.
“We can move straight into the advanced technique without issue. To learn the advanced process, you’ll need to work alongside a spirit’s power, as you saw earlier. The method involves infusing the knots with spiritual force.”
“Ah, then should I summon a spirit?”
“What?”
Mirae hadn’t heard from the Elven gatekeepers that Jin-woo commanded spirits. They’d only mentioned that he was a crafter and Rodin’s apprentice.
“Coco, Munji.”
Jin-woo summoned both spirits.
“Chirp.”
“Whisper.”
As the shadow-flame spirit Coco and the material spirit Munji materialized, Mirae’s eyes lit with genuine intrigue as she beheld them.
“These are spirits I’ve never seen before.”
Spirits entirely unfamiliar to her. And more importantly—
“They’re so—”
Mirae extended a trembling hand.
“—adorable.”
The two spirits were extraordinarily, impossibly cute.
As Mirae’s hand reached out, both spirits eagerly pressed their heads into her palm.
“Contracts with spirits aren’t uncommon for blacksmiths. But spirits like these…” She trailed off, shaking her head. “Never encountered them before.”
Mirae petted the two endearing creatures, then summoned her own spirit.
“Silphium.”
A premier-grade spirit—Silphium.
Her spirit was wind itself. Though bodiless, one could sense its presence unmistakably there.
“You need both a spirit and trust to practice this art. Do you have that kind of trust with the spirits you’ve contracted, Jin-woo?”
Contracts were common enough, but deep trust was rare. Some craftspeople treated spirits merely as tools for their work.
“Yes, well. We’re essentially one body.”
“Chirp.”
“Whisper.”
Their cries seemed almost dismissive of the sentiment, yet both spirits naturally nestled against Jin-woo without hesitation.
“That’s sufficient, then. I’ll teach you now—the final stage of the Flawless Sewing Technique: the Knot-tying Method.”
* * *
Elven Elder Cain arrived at Mirae’s Mansion.
“Elder Mirae!”
Cain called out, but received no answer. Instead, the wind spirit opened the door with a soft whoosh.
“She’s inside, it seems. Must be teaching right now.”
Though considerable time had passed, her continued instruction suggested an inevitable outcome.
“She likely can’t teach it properly the first time through.”
She was probably repeating herself, which would naturally extend the session. And perhaps—
“—the situation might resolve itself before I even need to speak.”
Elder Cain stepped inside the mansion.
Voices echoed from within.
“……So what I’m saying is, this knot technique here……”
“As I suspected.”
Elder Cain moved quietly toward the sound. Jin-woo and Mirae were there, and Mirae’s flowing, graceful needlework was unfolding before him.
“Elder Mirae, our conversation has concluded. Jin-woo will learn the sewing technique, and in exchange, he’ll address the matter of the Forest of Glory first……”
But then.
Jin-woo’s hands moved.
“……Hm?”
Suddenly that wave-like motion captured Elder Cain’s gaze entirely. He forgot he’d even been speaking.
Swish—swish swish—
The cloth in Jin-woo’s hands became a river.
The river was cut down to size in his hands, shaped precisely as needed, then began to be sewn together.
Swish—swish swish swish—
The length of cloth took on the form of a robe.
In moments, Jin-woo had fashioned a cloth garment and raised his hand.
“Wha……?”
And then a spirit settled into his palm. Not an ordinary spirit.
The Elven City held many varieties of spirits, yet this one shared no resemblance with any of them.
“Two……?”
Two spirits infused his hand simultaneously, lending their strength.
Jin-woo completed the knot.
Mirae clapped her hands at the sight.
“Magnificent. Truly magnificent.”
From the basics to the advanced form.
Total elapsed time: three hours and five minutes.
“The Flame Engraving took three hours, didn’t you say?”
Mirae laughed.
“I’ve beaten Rodin.”
-Flawless Sewing Technique proficiency has increased!
-Flawless Sewing Technique Level has increased!
‘Not bad at all.’
Jin-woo smiled as he examined the completed robe.
‘The Knot-tying Method was the hardest part.’
What looked simplest had proven the most challenging for him.
‘It’s like a Finishing Touch—requires perfect synchronization with the spirits.’
Jin-woo glanced at his two spirits.
“We need to work on our coordination a bit more.”
“Chirp.”
“Whisper.”
“You two did well, did you?”
‘I’ll need to keep them disciplined.’
“Elder Mirae, is it possible to use both spirits simultaneously when tying a knot?”
“Of course. Though it becomes extraordinarily difficult. I’ve contracted with multiple spirits myself, but I use only Silphium for this reason.”
Silphium was the spirit with whom she achieved the best synchronization.
“The perfection of the knot rises when you work with your most synchronized spirit. If the knot fails, the cloth must be discarded.”
The knot is the finishing touch of all sewing work.
If you failed using Mirae’s spirit knot-tying method, all previous labor became utterly worthless.
“There’s risk involved.”
“Yes. I wouldn’t typically recommend it. But—”
Mirae spoke clearly.
“The rewards match that risk precisely.”
Would one prioritize safety?
Or accept the risk to craft superior equipment?
The answer was already written.
Jin-woo’s life was far from a safe one.
Mirae ceased warning him that anything was difficult.
Truthfully, she’d become curious.
How far could Jin-woo, her pupil who’d learned her Flawless Sewing Technique, ultimately reach?
Since someone other than herself using this technique was unprecedented, this situation filled her with delight.
‘So this is what it feels like to nurture a true apprentice.’
Mirae felt the urge to teach him everything she possessed.
“Then I’ll give it a try.”
Swish—
Jin-woo grasped the Silkria once more.
Cloth is freedom.
‘This delicate stitching is just as satisfying as striking a hammer.’
The slightest excess pressure would tear the cloth; the stitching would fail.
Cutting was the same. Even a hair’s deviation in the shears could create problems when sewing joined pieces together.
Much less the knot.
If the finishing touch of all work failed, it couldn’t be called complete.
Shaaaaaah—
Coco and Munji infused Jin-woo’s hands.
With two formidable forces present, Jin-woo found precise movements more difficult than before. Of course, even with imperfect knot-tying in this state, the equipment would gain acceptable attributes.
But “acceptable” wasn’t what Jin-woo wanted.
‘I don’t settle for acceptable.’
He always sought the finest equipment.
Swish swish—
In an instant, the knot was tied. He pierced through that critical moment where even an instant’s error was forbidden.
-Equipment crafted!
-SR Grade equipment created!
SR Grade.
-Silkria Spirit Hat created!
A Silkria hat infused with spiritual power had been made.
Jin-woo placed the completed hat on his head. The distinctive power of Silkria flowed through him completely.
‘Perfect for an archer.’
If he were to affix feathers to it, he’d look like Robin Hood himself.
“SR Grade equipment. You reached SR Grade on the third creation.”
Mirae beamed.
“And despite using two spirits simultaneously, there wasn’t a single mistake.”
Even Mirae hadn’t expected these words from her own mouth.
“You did wonderfully.”
It was pure praise, sincere and untainted.
“Thank you.”
Jin-woo understood the emotions behind her words and felt genuine joy.
‘This is truly worth learning.’
Jin-woo extended his hand to her.
Mirae understood it as an offer of a handshake and reached forward, then paused midway.
“There was a condition we agreed on.”
Jin-woo had set terms before learning the sewing technique.
If he properly mastered this art, she would provide him special materials he’d intended to use against the Ghost King.
“Here they are.”
Mirae presented various fabrics.
Several types of cloth created through special techniques unique to the Elven City. From them, Jin-woo selected the Gold Cloth.
“You’re only taking that one?”
“What? No, I want to use this one first.”
Then he gathered all the remaining cloth as well.
“Wasn’t I supposed to give you all of them?”
“Ah, right. Yes, you were.”
At this point, Mirae’s curiosity got the better of her.
“What are you planning to make with them?”
“What I’m going to make is……”
Then Jin-woo sensed a presence he’d overlooked.
“We have a visitor, Elder Mirae.”
“Hm? Elder Cain!”
“M-Mirae Elder.”
Elder Cain stood there like a sack of grain left unattended, his mouth hanging open as he sputtered wordlessly.
He seemed to be searching for words while uncertain whether what he’d witnessed was real.
“What brings you here?”
“The meeting concluded, so I came to relay word. I, I think I’ve seen something unbelievable.”
Elder Cain pointed to the cloth robe Jin-woo had created.
Then he gestured to the gloves beside it, which were presumably also his handiwork.
“Elder Mirae, did Jin-woo just learn your sewing technique now?”
“Ah, yes.”
“And he’s sewn using Silkria and tied knots……correctly? Did I really see that?”
“Yes.”
Elder Mirae wore an embarrassed expression.
“He’s learned it all, Jin-woo has.”
“Wow, really. Really true. So in this short span, he mastered everything from basics to advanced form?”
“Yes, exactly. So Elder Cain, what was decided in the meeting?”
“We accepted Jin-woo’s proposal to aid the Elven City—in exchange for learning your sewing technique. It’s been approved.”
Elder Cain had already shifted how he addressed Jin-woo.
“But he’s already…… mastered it all.”
Which meant, in effect, the matter was settled. Jin-woo had obtained what he sought, and the Elders couldn’t prevent it. How could they stop him when he’d already learned?
“Listen to my proposal, then. Since I’ve already mastered the sewing technique, this Elven City has become like my homeland.”
Both elves looked startled at his words.
‘The materials here seem incredibly abundant, after all.’
If that were the case—
‘Then this is my homeland.’
Jin-woo smiled with unmistakable confidence.
“Why the surprise? I’m already Elder Mirae’s apprentice. This being my homeland is only natural.”
“Jin-woo……!”
Though he’d been so brusque before—
How could one maintain such kindness?
“I once believed humans were incapable of goodness without reason. I was wrong.”
“Not at all. I’m not so virtuous as to be kind without cause. Rather—”
Jin-woo spoke clearly.
“I do what needs to be done.”
Elder Cain closed his eyes tightly where he stood. What have we done to such a fine human being?
Elder Cain bowed deeply then and there.
“Forgive us!”
-Elder Cain’s Favorability has reached MAX!

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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