Chapter 17

17. Explosive Growth, and Opportunities – 2

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Lieutenant Seo Eun-ha got out of the driver's seat, wearing a beige coat and jeans. It seemed to be her day off, as she was not in her combat uniform despite it being a weekday.

“Salute!”

Sergeant Son-tap-ja saluted her and briefly reported the current situation. After inspecting the scattered orc corpses, she approached Lee Hyun-wook and Yoo Hae-na. Yoo Hae-na then smirked.

“Oh, who’s this? The third daughter of the Knight Commander? You’ve grown so much?”

Though she pretended to recognize her, she was wrong. It was the second daughter.

“...I am the 2nd Battalion Assault Squad Leader of the 3rd Anti-Demon Brigade.”

Despite her casual pretense, Seo Eun-ha responded very formally and professionally, and Yoo Hae-na’s expression turned cold. There was an uncomfortable sense of disappointment, as if their bad blood had been brewing for quite some time.

“What, a squad leader? Hmm, someone like Seo Eun-ha would be a waste in AMT.”

“...”

“Well, that’s good. Do you want to take this business card, Seo Eun-ha? You’re still young, so it’s a good time to start anew.”

Yoo Hae-na waved the business card that Lee Hyun-wook had not taken.

‘Thinking about it, Seo Eun-ha was one of Yoo Hae-na’s obsessions.’

At first, she tried to conquer her, but when she couldn’t, she decided to destroy her out of a twisted desire. And eventually, she achieved that desire.

“The authority to tackle the gate that appeared in this area has been given to the 1st Battalion of the 3rd Anti-Demon Brigade. Players without authority should not be here, in the ‘Red Ground.’ Please leave.”

“Ah, you’ve already claimed it? You’re quick. But...”

Yoo Hae-na sneered and pointed to her SUV.

“...We’re not really interested anyway.”

Her teammates, who seemed to be part of her group, leaned out of the car.

“An orc gate isn’t suitable for our level. We just came here because of an emergency support request, out of humanitarian concern.”

“...”

“Since we came with such good intentions, it’s a bit disappointing to be treated so coldly... It makes me feel a bit...”

That was true.

Yoo Hae-na’s team was among the top players in the Blue Flower Guild and would only engage in something like a troll gate.

“Then, please understand. Could you move your car from our operation site?”

“Ah, I get it! But wait a moment...”

Yoo Hae-na’s gaze shifted to Lee Hyun-wook.

“...Hey, Private Lee Hyun-wook?”

Seo Eun-ha looked at Yoo Hae-na and Lee Hyun-wook with a cold stare.

Yoo Hae-na approached Lee Hyun-wook very closely.

“Since my area of responsibility is around here, we might meet again when a big dungeon opens. Wouldn’t it be better to make a good first impression? Don’t regret it later.”

Saying that, she slipped her business card into Lee Hyun-wook’s combat uniform pocket.

“Think about it and if you want to contact me... well, do it. I’m not as picky as I look.”

With that, Yoo Hae-na turned and got into the SUV.

As the Blue Flower Guild’s SUV drove away, Seo Eun-ha looked at Lee Hyun-wook. Her expression had turned to a peculiar annoyance.

Judging from the situation, it seemed to be due to Yoo Hae-na.

“Lee Hyun-wook... are you on leave?”

“Yes, I am.”

“...”

A few seconds of silence...

She nodded without a word and turned away.

‘She seems to have something to say...’

Lee Hyun-wook knew Seo Eun-ha’s style well. When she asked about someone’s well-being with a complicated expression and hesitated for a moment, it meant she had something to say but was hesitant.

‘She’ll probably bring it up after mulling it over a few times.’

That’s how she was, with a somewhat timid inner self.

A short while later, the AMT Military Police investigation team arrived and began investigating the monster attack scene. It took about 30 minutes, after which they could finally start their leave.

***

Arriving at Seoul Station two hours later than scheduled, Lee Hyun-wook and Choi Seon-a stood there.

“Squad Leader, I’ll see you next time.”

“Huh? Private Lee Hyun-wook isn’t taking the train? I thought you were going in the same direction.”

Lee Hyun-wook said his goodbyes, and Choi Seon-a seemed disappointed.

“Ah, I have someone to meet in Seoul, so I’ll go down later.”

“Okay, if that’s the case, there’s nothing I can do. See you when you return. Bye!”

“Yes, have a safe trip.”

Lee Hyun-wook had no intention of going to his address in Suwon.

After losing his parents long ago, he had lived with relatives, but it was a time filled with bad memories.

In other words, they were people who didn’t need to be recorded in his future.

First, he bought and changed into civilian clothes.

It wasn’t exactly comfortable, but it was a blazer and slacks with some weight, to maintain formality in front of the person he mentioned to Choi Seon.

Next, he took the subway to Yeongdeungpo Station. Checking his watch, it was already past 11 PM. Various unexpected events had wasted a considerable amount of time.

“To stick to the plan, I need to move as quickly as possible.”

The first thing he needed to do was, of course, find high-quality metal to absorb.

He arrived at ‘Blacksmith Alley’ in Munnae-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu.

This place used to be known as ‘Steel Alley,’ but after the game began, blacksmith players started gathering here to start businesses in ‘Magic Material Engineering’ and ‘Item Crafting.’

Over time, the scale grew, and a few years ago, the ‘Blacksmith Guild’ was established to protect the interests of blacksmiths, becoming one of the major pillars in the player world.

‘It’s called a guild, but it’s just a pile of entrenched interests for a few privileged blacksmiths.’

Lee Hyun-wook knew well that the Blacksmith Guild was a typically corrupt organization.

‘And I know a real talent who is being suppressed by that entrenched system.’

Clang! Clang!

The sound of metal being hammered and forged could be heard from the entrance of the alley.

Lee Hyun-wook entered the ‘Guild Office’ at the entrance of the alley.

To trade with a blacksmith, one had to go through the guild, which meant paying a commission, a ridiculous procedure.

“Welcome.”

The employee sitting in front of the computer greeted him indifferently, not even lifting his head as Lee Hyun-wook approached.

To force customers to use the guild counter and still provide such poor service... it was a telling scene of the guild’s standards.

“Hello.”

“Eh, yes, what brings you here?”

“Just a moment...”

Lee Hyun-wook pretended to look for a business card in his wallet and placed a few others on the table.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The business card of Lieutenant Cheon Myung-ho, the tactical instructor of the Black Tiger Unit,

The business card of Catherine Yoo, the Seoul Operations Director of the Blue Flower Guild,

And the business card given by his battalion commander, Kim Gang-sik, in case any problems arose during his leave,

The three dazzling names on the table...

“...”

The employee’s expression changed significantly.

‘What? Who is this guy?’

He thought.

If a man with such business cards appeared and confidently handed over his own, it meant something.

‘...This guy is a big shot!’

It was a natural conclusion.

The employee got up from his chair and put on a visible smile.

“Oh, how could I leave my business card behind?”

“Haha, it’s fine, sir. Please, have a seat over here.”

Business cards were nothing important, but the employee pointed to a sofa in the corner of the office with a very polite gesture.

“Sir, if you tell me what you’re looking for, I’ll show you the best quality items.”

“I’m actually here to find a person, not an item.”

“Oh! You’re looking for a dedicated blacksmith? Then, may I recommend a craftsman who is best suited for your item needs?”

Weapons that could penetrate a monster’s barrier and cut through flesh and bone, and the equipment items of combat players, always needed repairs, and that was the job of blacksmith players.

Especially, top-tier players wouldn’t entrust their expensive equipment to just anyone and would have a ‘dedicated blacksmith’ to manage their items.

“No, I’m looking for a specific person.”

“Oh... I see.”

The employee’s expression was uneasy.

The guild’s power lay in its ability to recommend blacksmiths to new customers, which meant more opportunities for the blacksmiths who supported the guild’s core power.

“By any chance, do you know the name of the craftsman you’re looking for?”

“Master Kang Jeong-doo.”

“...”

The employee’s expression hardened even more.

‘Probably because he’s been excluded from the recommendation list.’

Master Kang Jeong-doo was someone who didn’t follow the guild’s structure obediently.

That’s why he fell out of favor with the guild and was now in a cold state.

‘But he’s one of the most skilled blacksmiths.’

The employee hesitated before speaking.

“Sir, he’s not performing well. Would you like me to recommend someone more skilled...?”

“No, I specifically want Master Kang Jeong-doo.”

“...”

“Did you not hear me?”

“Haha... If that’s what you want, I understand.”

The employee was trying to exclude Kang Jeong-doo.

If not for the business card strategy, he might have been turned away at this point.

A short while later, the door opened, and an old man with white hair appeared.

‘Master Kang Jeong-doo, I’ve heard his name countless times, but this is the first time I’m meeting him in person.’

He would pass away in just four years, but before that, he would create incredible items.

‘If I can, I want to have all the items he creates.’

Lee Hyun-wook was thrilled just to meet this great figure.

“Sir, I heard you were looking for this old man. I’m Kang Jeong-doo.”

The old man with white hair bowed deeply.

“Sir, if it’s not too much trouble, could we go to your workshop and talk?”

“...My place is quite shabby.”

“That’s fine.”

The employee’s expression hardened again.

Going to the workshop of a blacksmith on the ‘blacklist’ instead of the guild office was not something he liked. But since he had already mistaken Lee Hyun-wook for a big shot, he didn’t dare to stop him.

Lee Hyun-wook entered the shabby building at the far end of Blacksmith Alley.

The workshop, with its rusty shutter half-open, had a small anvil, a forge, and a rusty workbench.

“This is quite shabby, I’m sorry. You can just look around if you like.”

“No, I can feel the history of your work here.”

“I’m glad you say so.”

The place was shabby, but the items hanging inside were not.

Lee Hyun-wook discovered something incredible right at the entrance.

It was a black spear.

‘That’s a javelin made from orihalcum.’

In the future, it would become one of the javelin weapons used by the ‘Dragon Knight’ of Salzburg.

‘It doesn’t seem to have the barrier-breaking effect yet, but it will be completed in about a year.’

He swallowed hard.

However, he couldn’t obtain it right away.

If he asked to buy it, even Master Kang Jeong-doo would know its value, and Lee Hyun-wook didn’t have enough money yet.

‘Master Kang never easily parted with this, even when he put everything else on the table.’

According to what Lee Hyun-wook had heard, just before his death, the Austrian hero Dragon Knight personally came to him and, after half a day of persuasion, finally obtained the spear to pierce the heart of the dragon ‘Tarask’ that appeared on the European continent.

And that spear eventually became the ‘Dragon Slayer.’

‘Well... First, I need to absorb magic-infused metal, which is suitable for me.’

He would grow by absorbing any metal, but as he had often reminded himself, he needed to find high-quality metal, especially magic-infused metal, to absorb.

In that case, not only would his metal control improve, but he would also gain ‘resistance’ to specific magic, and if it reached a certain level, it would become ‘immunity.’

For example, if he kept absorbing metal enchanted with fire attributes, he wouldn’t get burned even if engulfed in flames.

‘Right now, I need poison immunity.’

It was necessary for the prelude to the 4th Wave, which would occur in two days.

“Sir, I don’t work alone; I have an assistant. I’ll have him introduce himself.”

“Haha, that’s good.”

“Hey, Hee-sul!”

The old man had a good voice.

From inside the workshop, footsteps were heard.

“What?!”

A high-pitched female voice, matching her grandfather’s volume.

“I was practicing enchantment!”

The door to the inner room opened, and a girl with short hair and a face smeared with soot came out.

‘Kang Hee-sul, still so young.’

She was probably in high school, 1st or 2nd year.

‘Master Kang Jeong-doo will pass away in four years.’

It wasn’t due to any serious illness but old age, and there was no way for Lee Hyun-wook to prevent it.

‘But this girl, Snow White Kang Hee-sul, will grow and eventually create the first Master-level item with seven dwarf blacksmiths.’

The game has a ‘Family System.’

In simple terms, a player’s abilities can be influenced by their family.

For example, if a father awakened as a mage player, his children would have a higher chance of gaining mage-related traits when they awakened.

Lieutenant Seo Eun-ha, the second daughter of General Seo Baek-jin, the commander of the Army Holy Knight Regiment, was a Holy Knight player, and Kang Hee-sul, as Master Kang Jeong-doo’s granddaughter, awakened with blacksmith traits.

“Huh? Who’s this uncle?”

“Uncle? He’s a customer!”

“Ah! Customer~”

“This brat, c-c-customer! What a mouth!”

“No, Grandpa always...”

“This brat! When will you grow up?”

Lee Hyun-wook chuckled.

‘As expected, she’s still a brat. She won’t grow up anytime soon.’

Especially, he knew she had learned that foul mouth from her grandfather, Master Kang Jeong-doo.

‘Master Kang Jeong-doo, he looks gentle but is a stubborn and strong-willed old man.’

Why else would he have a major falling out with the Blacksmith Guild?

“Haha, it’s fine. Your granddaughter is also a blacksmith player, I see.”

“It seems fate has brought us together this way.”

“With a family business like this, I can trust you even more.”

Lee Hyun-wook’s words made Master Kang Jeong-doo look humbled.

“I’ll do my best.”

At Master Kang Jeong-doo’s workshop, Lee Hyun-wook bought as much magic-infused metal enchanted with poison attributes as possible.

The weight was a whopping 11 kg, and the price was 22 million won.

In addition, he bought a dagger made of magic-infused metal and 20 steel balls.

Especially, these 3 cm diameter steel balls were made of mithril-tungsten alloy, with a good weight and inherent anti-magic properties, making them effective for breaking down a monster’s ‘barrier.’

Moreover, the steel balls were easy to control because their center of gravity was in the middle, requiring almost no effort to maintain balance.

‘20 magic-infused steel balls for 2.9 million won, quite a good deal.’

AMT soldiers could purchase and bring in personal weapons like this.

‘Luckily, I’ve been saving regularly at this point.’

As a professional soldier in AMT, he received a monthly salary like a regular employee, but since he was mostly in the base, he had almost no expenses.

Thus, his bank