Chapter 31

Raon slowly opened his eyes. A warm energy firmly rooted in his dantian made a smile bloom on his lips.

'Finally.'

He had created the Aura of the Flame Art, breaking through Ras's fierce interference. Moreover, it was much larger and purer than expected.

'The Flame Art isn't everything.'

Next to the Aura of the Flame Art, which resembled a lump of lava, a cold aura, like a chunk of ice from the North Sea, had gathered.

It was a byproduct created when he used the heat from the charcoal kiln to push back Ras's cold energy.

'Can this turn out to be a blessing in disguise?'

The size of the Aura of the Flame Art was more than twice what he had expected, and a cold aura had also been generated beside it.

The price of risking his life and enduring excruciating pain had far exceeded his imagination.

"Huuu."

Raon calmed his thumping heart and looked at the message that appeared before his eyes.

[You have obtained <Flame Art>.]

[The characteristic <Flame Art (1-star)> has been created.]

[<Flame Art> has reached 2-star status due to intense heat.]

[The characteristic <Fire Resistance (2-star)> has been created due to the effect of <Flame Art (2-star)>.]

The message indicated that the Aura of the Flame Art had immediately reached 2-star status upon creation.

'I knew it would be like this.'

He was aware that the energy of the Flame Art, firmly rooted in his dantian, was much larger than expected, allowing it to reach 2-star status in one go.

'I can make the flower bloom right away.'

Since the Aura of the Flame Art had reached 2-star status, he could use the ability known as One Flower and One Fire.

As he smiled in anticipation, a second message appeared.

[Two strands of the cold from <Curse of the Harsh Cold> have melted.]

[The constitution <Low Vitality> has disappeared.]

[The melted cold has condensed into the characteristic <Harsh Cold>.]

[<Harsh Cold> has reached 2-star status due to the powerful cold from <Rage>.]

"Ah."

An exclamation escaped his lips.

The message indicated that two strands of the Curse of the Harsh Cold had melted, and the Low Vitality constitution had disappeared. More importantly, the cold from the mana circuit had condensed into the characteristic <Harsh Cold>, which had reached 2-star status.

'Cold... '

Actually, he had tried to accept the cold from the mana circuit rather than expel it to increase his fire resistance. The unexpected reward of the Harsh Cold made him feel both pleased and surprised.

Before he could fully grasp the situation, a third set of messages appeared.

[You have overcome <Rage>'s interference in a critical situation.]

[As a result of demonstrating extreme mental fortitude, all your stats have increased by 3 points.]

His stats increased as the messages appeared. A hot thrill surged through his body, which had expanded and then contracted.

'Is this a dream?'

He had only intended to master the Flame Art, but ended up with a 2-star Flame Art, a 2-star Harsh Cold, and increased stats.

Thanks to Ras's interference, he had achieved in one go what would have taken years of practice.

- Damn it!

As he smiled and dismissed the messages, a suppressed voice erupted from Ras.

- What are you? How could you overcome that situation?

His usual pretentious tone was gone. Ras was literally exploding with rage.

'You said it couldn't be done for me. No matter what I did, it was useless.'

Raon waved his hand dismissively.

- It's impossible! This is impossible! Even when I was in the Demon Realm, I never experienced such humiliation. How could this happen...

'Give up now.'

Though he feigned nonchalance, he had truly thought he was going to die. Thanks to the three months of reading the surrounding energy while moving around the charcoal kiln, he had barely survived.

'I need to be careful.'

It was now clear. Even if they had become a bit closer, Ras was still a clear enemy. He must never reveal his weaknesses or secrets to him.

"Are you, are you okay?"

As Ras trembled, Balkan approached. His eyes were wide with shock.

"I'm fine."

Raon stood up. With his increased stats and the two auras, his body felt as light as a feather.

"Did you get something?"

Balkan's lips were still trembling as he spoke in a low voice.

"Yes, thanks to you."

He nodded vigorously. The auras generated in his dantian gave him an overwhelming sense of power.

"Sorry, the kiln collapsed because of me."

Raon pointed to the collapsed charcoal kiln. The sturdy kiln had crumbled due to his actions.

"It's fine."

As Raon bowed in apology, Balkan patted his shoulder and approached the kiln.

"If there's no problem, it's fine. A charcoal kiln can be rebuilt... Hmm?"

Balkan's eyes widened as he examined the collapsed kiln with a smile.

"This is... "

He rummaged through the collapsed kiln and used tongs to lift three pieces of charcoal that glowed with a golden light near the hearth.

'What is this?'

He had seen white and black charcoal before, but never golden charcoal.

"Ah!"

He remembered. When they first met, Balkan had said he would make golden charcoal, not white or black. The golden glow confirmed that these were indeed golden charcoal.

"Your good fortune wasn't just yours."

"Ah."

"This is golden charcoal. It has a stronger heat than white charcoal and better durability than black charcoal, making it a master's charcoal."

Balkan placed the golden charcoal, which emitted a golden heat, on a steel plate.

"I've been trying to make this charcoal for over ten years, and to succeed like this... Life is truly unpredictable."

He gazed at the golden charcoal with a blissful expression.

"Thanks to you. Thank you."

"I didn't do much."

"Every time you practiced, the kiln's flames would dance, and your breathing would bring life to the fire. I'm just a blacksmith who has wielded a hammer all my life, but I can tell what you did. This is thanks to you."

Before Raon could say he hadn't done much, Balkan continued.

"What is your goal?"

"Goal?"

He couldn't answer immediately. Though he didn't know why Balkan was asking, his serious gaze made him feel he had to respond.

'Goal... '

As he had vowed while practicing, his ultimate goal was naturally to take revenge on Darius. But the most important thing now was Silvia. He wanted her to be happy.

To achieve that...

He needed a strength that wouldn't break in any situation, not just a brutal strength, but an unyielding, unbreakable strength.

It was like the flame that never goes out when he grasped the image of fire.

"I want to become a swordsman who won't break in front of anyone or in any situation."

"Unbreakable? That's not something a young man should say."

Balkan chuckled. It seemed more like a pleased laugh than a mocking one.

"Raon Zighart."

He called Raon by his name for the first time, a sign of his recognition.

"How many years until you can have your personal sword?"

"I'm not sure, but it will probably take 3 to 5 years."

To have his own sword, a Zighart warrior needed to complete basic training and pass the swordsman exam, which would take about 3 to 5 years.

"I see."

Balkan muttered that it would be bearable with that much time.

"When you have an unbreakable heart, come to me. I'll keep these for that day."

Balkan gently shook the golden charcoal on the steel plate.

"Are you offering to make me a sword? I thought you had retired."

"Changing one's mind about retirement is quite common."

He smiled. The wrinkles on his face, which had been filled with fatigue and resignation when they first met, now seemed to be brimming with vitality.

"Don't die."

Balkan waved his hand and walked down the mountain. It was a surprisingly light farewell for someone who had spent three months with him, but it was typical of him.

"Hmm."

Balkan's back, bathed in sunlight, looked 30 years younger than when they first met.

'Well, it turned out well.'

As Raon spread his hand, a red flame, like a snake's tongue, burst into flames. It was the Aura of the Flame Art.

Thanks to reaching 2-star status from the start, he didn't need to control it. The flames of the Flame Art perfectly followed his will.

Whoosh.

When he clenched his fist, the flames disappeared, leaving only a thin heat.

'This time... Hmm?'

As he tried to draw up the Harsh Cold, a very subtle presence was felt above the right tree.

It was so subtle that it could be mistaken for a mountain bird or a small mountain animal, but Raon knew who it was.

"Come out now."

Raon looked up at the tree and dusted off his palms. As he fixed his gaze, Rimer dropped down from the tree like a monkey.

"Ah, you knew?"

He scratched the back of his head and smiled awkwardly.

"I just found out."

"Tsk, I thought so. You were startled by the fire, weren't you?"

Rimer clicked his tongue. His green eyes still showed clear surprise.

"Have you been watching all along?"

"No, this is the first time."

He was smiling, but it lacked his usual ease. It was the look of a child caught in a lie.

'Of course, it's natural.'

Rimer wasn't the kind of person to abandon a trainee here. He had likely been watching closely for the past three months.

"Thank you."

Raon bowed.

"No, no. Hmm."

Rimer scratched his head and looked away.

'Unique.'

He seemed more embarrassed than grateful. This elf was far from ordinary.

"Though it's a bit late, you've generated an aura. Congratulations."

"Thank you. I don't really think it's late."

Raon extended a red flame from his fingertips. Rimer winced at the sight.

"To use an aura right after creating it..."

He sighed with a look of disbelief.

"Is that not normal?"

"I've never seen anyone use an aura right after mastering it."

Rimer muttered that it usually took a week to a month to use an aura skillfully.

"Now, go down. You need to arrive before training starts."

Rimer patted Raon's shoulder and smiled.

"Aren't you coming, Instructor?"

"I'm going to clean up here."

He pointed to the collapsed charcoal kiln. The flames were gone, but the heat remained.

"I'll help."

"You don't need to."

Rimer shook his head and stopped Raon, who was about to turn around.

"I'm the instructor, so I can be late, but trainees can't."

"..."

Raon's expression turned to "What the hell?" but Rimer ignored it with a wave of his hand.

"Anyway, I'll take care of it. Go down."

"...Understood. Thank you."

He bowed again and walked down the mountain.

"Hmm."

After confirming that Raon had left, Rimer looked at the charcoal kiln. Balkan had made it so the fire wouldn't spread, so there was no need to touch it.

The reason he stayed was not for the kiln.

"Come out now."

He looked up, just as Raon had, and called out to the man.

The air rippled silently, and a golden-haired old man in a black robe descended. It was Glen Zighart.

"Did you enjoy the show?"

"..."

Glen silently examined the collapsed charcoal kiln and the spot where Raon had sat.

"You came every day, worried about your grandson. Now you can rest easy."

"There was no such thing."

He shook his head and raised his finger.

Whoosh!

With Glen's gesture, the remains of the collapsed kiln gathered in one place.

Crunch!

The remains twisted and compressed like rose vines and then vanished.

No one would think a kiln had been there, except for the blackened ground. It was an incredible display of aura control.

"Thanks to the heat inside the charcoal kiln, the amount and purity of the aura are extraordinary. Moreover, he immediately used the aura he had anchored. Indeed, he has great talent."

"That's not all."

Glen looked down the mountain path where Raon had gone and closed his eyes.

"He has made even the shackles given to him his own."

* * *

In the south of Zighart, there is a village where the lights never go out. The city of blacksmiths, Mirtan Village.

At the heart of the village is a round, ball-like workshop. For over ten years, no fire had been lit in that forge, but now a fire had returned.

"What! There's a fire in the former village chief's workshop!"

"The former village chief. No, the former village chief has returned!"

"He's back? But he retired!"

"Didn't he go back to his hometown?"

Blacksmiths working, sleeping, and about to go on a trip all rushed to the former village chief's workshop.

And they asked why he had returned.

"I made a promise."

Balkan, the former village chief of Mirtan Village and a legendary blacksmith, swept the dust from the forge.

"I need to prepare my body for that day."

He picked up a hammer, lit the fire, and laughed heartily.

"I need to make a sword that surpasses the Heaven Sword."