The Return of the Transcendent Blacksmith - Chapter 75

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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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Transcendent Blacksmith’s Return 75
Ting—
A wind chime, swaying in the breeze, released a crisp and refreshing tone.
Down the long corridor where the chime hung, a single figure moved with measured, restrained steps.
Upon reaching the far end of the hallway, the largest room in the residence appeared before her.
Two women in kimono, standing guard at the entrance, offered their respects.
“Welcome, Tsukuyomi.”
Tsukuyomi.
An Awakener belonging to ITRO, and a Ranker of Japan—she received their greeting with a quiet bow of acknowledgment.
“Good afternoon. Is the young lady inside?”
“Yes. She has been waiting since this morning, having heard that you would be arriving.”
“She has waited long enough. I should like to meet her now—please inform her of my arrival.”
“Of course. One moment, please.”
One of the two women stepped inside.
After a brief interval, she returned and bowed to answer.
“She bids you enter.”
“My thanks.”
Tsukuyomi stepped into the chamber.
A room of tatami flooring, reinterpreted with modern taste yet preserving the elegance of traditional Japanese design.
The room’s mistress sat at its far end, waiting for Tsukuyomi’s arrival.
“Tsukuyomi. It has been such a long time. Have you been well?”
“By your grace, I have remained in good health. And you, young lady—have you been well?”
“No, I have not been well at all.”
A blonde woman, her hair braided neatly, covered her lips with a sorrowful expression.
Though one might have been startled, Tsukuyomi showed not a hint of alarm.
“I see. What troubles have been weighing upon you?”
“Our precious challengers in Japan remain trapped within the Gate, and it breaks my heart so. I have scarce been able to eat these days. Alas….”
The woman sighed, her complexion appearing fresh and rosy.
Her cheeks held a flattering fullness—neither plump nor gaunt—presenting a smooth and radiant appearance.
“Oh, if only Mystery would arrive soon, that I might be freed from this anguish. Time moves so terribly slowly.”
“…I apologize. I had hoped to have Mystery visit Japan first. My shortcomings alone are to blame.”
Tsukuyomi bowed her head in contrition.
The woman, who had been dabbing the corners of her eyes with her sleeve to extract tears, drew a deep breath.
“No, no. It is not your fault, Tsukuyomi. It is I who am lacking. I am the guilty one.”
‘…Hmm.’
Tsukuyomi barely managed to suppress the slight tremor threatening to overtake her body.
It was plainly visible that no tears had come, yet the woman persisted in dabbing her eyes as though weeping without ceasing.
“Mystery will arrive by tomorrow. The moment I meet with Mystery, I shall accompany them to the Gate. Please set your worries aside.”
“Ah, yes. There is one matter regarding that on which I must ask your assistance.”
The woman, having performed her utmost in this theatrical display, now straightened her posture, her eye corners dry as powder.
Tsukuyomi sensed that this was the crux of the matter and tensed.
“Of course. Please, speak freely.”
“Since you say so, I shall. I will accompany you and Mystery into the Gate.”
“…Pardon?”
Tsukuyomi, who had remained composed throughout, jerked her head up in surprise.
The woman seated in the chair smiled brightly, yet Tsukuyomi felt a chill run down her spine.
“Forgive me, young lady, but I fear that would be far too difficult.”
“Do not concern yourself with others’ objections. I have trained diligently to prepare for such circumstances.”
“What sort of training do you speak of…?”
Before Tsukuyomi could finish her question,
the woman in the kimono hastily disappeared behind the folding screen.
As Tsukuyomi stood bewildered, wondering what on earth was happening,
the woman emerged just as hastily—her clothing had been replaced with something entirely different.
“Well? What do you think?”
“…The garment appears unable to contain the young lady’s beauty.”
Tsukuyomi delicately rephrased what she truly meant—”your clothes are too small and exposing your bare skin”—in the most courteous language possible.
The woman, examining her appearance, gasped as she noticed her chest bulging out at the sides.
“Oh my. It seems I have grown again. I could have sworn this fit perfectly just a month ago….”
‘So she has been preparing this outfit since a month ago?’
Tsukuyomi barely managed to swallow the question rising to her throat.
The woman behind the screen changed her clothes with labored grunts.
When she emerged, her expression was serene, as if nothing had happened, and she gazed at Tsukuyomi.
“As you see, I’ve arranged everything carefully, so I do hope you’ll cooperate with me traveling together.”
“…But even if you change clothes, there are many eyes watching. How do you intend to manage it?”
“I’ll leave that entirely to you. You’re the sister I trust more than anyone.”
In other words, ‘you figure it out’—and Tsukuyomi felt a headache building.
It wasn’t proper to speak this way to the young lady she served, but the frustration and irritation boiling inside her spilled out before Tsukuyomi could stop herself.
“Every time you trust and rely on me like this, it reminds me once again that this is my duty… Oh.”
Tsukuyomi’s face turned pale.
She couldn’t even control this much anger, and now she’d spoken disrespectfully to her mistress!
Yet the woman’s voice returned bright and cheerful.
“It reassures me to hear you say so. There’s my reliable sister, Tsukuyomi.”
“…Yes. Thank you for your trust, miss.”
Tsukuyomi answered weakly.
Now that her mistress had spoken so kindly, and she herself had made that careless slip, there was no turning back.
She would have to find some way to accompany her mistress as she wished.
‘Mystery. My analysis of him isn’t complete yet, but…’
She would simply need to keep watch herself to ensure he didn’t act recklessly.
Tsukuyomi glanced sideways to observe her master.
Just as she had been given a new name when she Awakened.
Her master, who had named her Amaterasu, looked at her with the same harmless expression as always, smiling softly.
* * *
“Phew. Finally here.”
Marcus grumbled as he descended from the aircraft.
After more than twelve hours trapped on the plane, his body felt stiff and restless.
As Marcus stretched his creaking limbs, Mystery passed by him.
Marcus shook his head at the sight of Mystery.
‘The entire flight, he did nothing but lie down except for brief movements. He didn’t even drink a single glass of water. Is he seriously not human?’
Of course, when Mystery first boarded the plane, Marcus had tried his usual tricks—tampering with the lavatory, adding things to beverages.
But after patrolling a Gate together in the United States this time, he’d realized all such efforts were pointless.
Now he’d abandoned all of it—the cameras, the drugged drinks, everything.
And yet Mystery endured thirst and the call of nature for the entire flight without breaking.
‘Our hypothesis must be right.’
Marcus wasn’t simply following Mystery because he had time to spare.
Marcus followed Mystery to learn his combat methods, his weaknesses, and his true identity.
Mystery made meticulous efforts to reveal nothing, refusing even water.
But that very perfection had become a thread leading to his identity.
‘I’m almost certain. Mystery—this man very likely served in a special forces unit.’
It wasn’t just Marcus’s opinion; every ITRO operative who’d been surveilling Mystery shared the same conclusion.
ITRO only recruited personnel with the finest abilities in their respective fields.
Their deductive and investigative skills were the equal of the FBI’s.
As Marcus stepped off the aircraft while reviewing these thoughts,
Mystery, who had disembarked first, was already facing Tsukuyomi, who had come to greet him.
“It’s been a while. Welcome to Japan, Mystery.”
“What do you want from us?”
Mystery moved straight to business without acknowledging the greeting.
At such rudeness, Tsukuyomi’s eyebrows twitched faintly.
“I’ll explain that shortly. But… you promised to come alone, yet you’ve brought quite a few guests.”
Tsukuyomi smiled thinly, gesturing toward Marcus and the ITRO pilot.
She was mocking him for breaking the promise he’d made before going to the United States.
But Mystery was unmoved by her provocation.
“I didn’t bring them—they’re your fellow ITRO operatives. And you’re trembling over just seven people? Japan must be in quite difficult circumstances.”
“Wh-what…?!”
Tsukuyomi’s eyes flew open in shock.
Not only did he reject her words, but he dared mock Japan on Japanese soil?!
Caught off guard by the counterattack, Tsukuyomi trembled and found no words to strike back.
But Mystery didn’t wait for a response; he passed Tsukuyomi and approached the Management Bureau Director standing behind her.
“You’re the Director. Tell me what you need from me.”
“Ah, well… perhaps if we had some tea first, we could discuss…”
“Skip the tea. If you need time to organize your thoughts, I’ll rest and charge my Qi.”
One of the conditions for cooperating with ITRO.
It was to provide sufficient Qi for Mystery to carry out the request.
When I demanded what was already stipulated in the agreement, the Management Bureau Director could only nod without any protest.
“Ah, I understand. Please come this way then.”
The Management Bureau Director guided Mystery to where the Accumulator was kept.
As he did, Marcus approached Tsukuyomi, who was trembling with rage.
“It’s been a while, Tsukuyomi. Though I must say, it’s unusual to see you at a loss for words, just trembling like that.”
“…You speak in riddles. It’s simply cold—that’s all.”
Tsukuyomi answered, carefully collecting herself.
Having regained her composure, Tsukuyomi returned to her usual self and posed a question to Marcus.
“You witnessed his actions in the United States. What do you make of it? Is he truly someone worthy of entrusting with matters of national importance?”
“I vouch for him.”
Marcus answered tersely and directly.
Tsukuyomi was taken aback by such an unequivocal statement from Marcus, who rarely offered them.
“To that extent?”
“His fuel efficiency isn’t stellar. But with the fuel he carries, he accomplishes what should be impossible.”
The United States possessed a staggering quantity of Accumulators yet could not suppress all the Gates.
But Mystery succeeded in suppressing the Gates without using all that Accumulator, and without a single casualty.
That was no longer a matter of efficiency—it was a question of what was possible and what was not.
Tsukuyomi grasped the implication instantly, her expression shifting between astonishment and something more complex.
“To that extent, then. If he truly possesses such ability, it must be wielded properly.”
“Do as you wish. But as I said, his efficiency isn’t great, so you’ll need to think carefully about how you use him.”
“Hmph. You’re handing me something I can’t return. As if one person’s poor fuel consumption matters that much.”
Tsukuyomi, the secretary-general of ITRO, made a somewhat petty remark, and she laughed, covering her mouth with a fan.
But Marcus did not react with irritation to Tsukuyomi’s sarcasm, as he usually would.
“Well, if that’s what you think, I’m relieved. Do well, Lady Tsukuyomi.”
Marcus smiled meaningfully, lifting the corners of his mouth.
Continued in next episode ▶
The Return of the Transcendent Master Blacksmith
Author
Seal Breaker
Publisher
Kim Seok-hwan, Choi Se-ra
Published by
Grae Publishing
Inquiries
[email protected]
Publication Date
May 26, 2026
UCI
G720:N+A327-20260227067
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※ Pentagram awaits your precious manuscript.

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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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