Third Liberation (2)

[When a new world is born, mana sprouts out, and humans adapt to it…]

[In them, mutations begin to appear. Yes, the beings commonly referred to as superhumans in your world are such a thing.]

[If so, a new life is born from the sea of mana that responds to the unique waves they emit. A new life called a monster.]

[There is no way to know exactly why. It is only the clear truth of the matter.]

[Yes, it’s an unfavorable fight.]

[If it weren’t for you, everything would already be over. So don’t bother, Anvil. No matter how many monsters you have created, countless more have been slain by the weapons you made.]

[I’m not kidding. Since the birth of this universe, you have been one of the most effective forces in controlling the balance between humans and monsters.]

[Now, do you realize what you need to do?]

[I believe you now realize that Tsukuyo is not the only one watching the trading board.]

On top of the anvil was a piece of metal glowing an angry red. The loot that had been left by the dwarves at the SS-class gate was their nails. It was more or less their only means of attack, and by investigating them with spiritual power, it seemed possible to craft them into various tools. Dig, chop, pierce, or craft… it was no exaggeration to say that it was a soul weapon in which all the dwarves’ abilities had been concentrated.

“Wow, it’s one of the best materials I’ve ever seen…” Being able to use it in so many ways meant it had a variety of abilities. Lee Na-hee muttered in excitement as she examined it while Kang Shin-hyuk smiled.

“If that surprises you, wait until you see what the SSS-class monsters dropped.”

“Show me!”

“It’s something we can’t handle yet with our own abilities.” With that declaration that he would keep it, Lee Na-hee pouted. However, Kang Shin-hyuk quietly turned his gaze away. Lee Na-hee noticed it with a glint in her eyes.

“What was that just now?”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Hmm?” Lee Na-hee provoked him further, puffing her thick lips out further. Kang Shin-hyuk resisted the urge to grab onto them with the clamps and shake her.

“Let’s work.”

“Sheesh.” Although her trait had evolved, his collaboration with Lee Na-hee hadn’t changed much from before. First of all, Kang Shin-hyuk still melted and beat the metal into a basic frame for her to place her mana into. And, while Kang Shin-hyuk hammered and hardened the metal, she would observe his work and create a magical character, a rune, from her mana to plant into it. It seemed easier, but in fact, the labor of processing mana was much more intensive than before.

“But, basically, it’s similar to the enchant trait.”

“But my demands have increased. For the best effect, you have to analyze your opponents that much.”

“Does this mean it’s different from the enchantments given by selecting the desired attribute?” Kang Shin-hyuk could feel her mana flowing into the red metal as he shaped it. It felt similar to spiritual power, as it was exploring the essence of the object. However, if there was one difference, it would be that Kang Shin-hyuk’s spiritual power reinforced the essence of what it understood, while Lee Na-hee was attempting to add something new to it.

‘Certainly, it’s a useful ability.’ Lee Na-hee’s ability had been a shock to him. Even with enchantment, he wasn’t sure if it would be in perfect harmony with his own abilities. In some of the works, the addition of her abilities had even felt a bit burdensome. But not now. The rune grew together and bloomed with his spiritual power to create a valuable piece of work. Instead of addition, it was now more like they were working with multiplication.

“It’s great, Na-hee.”

“It’s subtle, but I’m happy. It’s trickier to use, though, and it’s hard to use with objects I don’t understand well.” Lee Na-hee seemed pleased with Kang Shin-hyuk’s honest admiration as she subtly smiled.

“Also…” Kang Shin-hyuk paused in his hammering. The metal on top of the anvil was taking the form of a red glove. It was similar to the thread gloves he wore as Shin Eun-hyuk. He wanted to create a metal glove that could move naturally even when worn on the hand by making a thin plate of this red metal. They would look like ordinary silk gloves on the outside, but to the touch, one could feel the hard and cold texture they possessed. Now that his metallurgy had reached the A+ rank, he could craft such a thing with little difficulty.

“What is it? Just this for today?” It was already evening. However, Lee Na-hee knew that once he started, there would normally be no way to stop him until he was done.

-Member?

‘It would be better to check.’ Kang Shin-hyuk removed his work gloves and reached a hand out to Lee Na-hee.

“Senior, your hand.”

“Oh, hand?! Didn’t I wash them?”

“It’s okay, so give it to me.” He snatched Lee Na-hee’s hand, who was blustering. While struggling with her embarrassment, Lee Na-hee still showed no intention of pulling her hand away as he began to let his spiritual power flow.

“How do you feel?”

“How do I feel? Uh… I don’t think it’s bad to come out so strong.

-Did you have to choose that method, member?

As Kang Shin-hyuk began to feel pathetic, Lee Na-hee was quick to comfort him.

“Big and warm? That feeling?”

“…” Kang Shin-hyuk quietly let go of her hand.

“Let’s keep working.”

“Uh?! Oh, what is it? What is it now?!”

“I’m sorry.”

“So, what is it?!” Did he make a mistake? He had felt like her trait was definitely related to spiritual power. Maybe, as she had boasted, it might appear if she evolved once more. He had already promised to help, so he could observe her trait in the future and intervene if there was anything hinting at spiritual power.

“Hey, wasn’t that a bit too sudden?”

“Some people kiss like that, but is that how it is?”

“That’s! That’s just an enchantment…”

“Have you tried that enchantment a few times?”

“Ha, once.” Kang Shin-hyuk stared at her blankly.

“It’s really only once. Do I look like the sort to casually kiss anyone?”

“A kiss? I thought it was an enchantment?”

“Ah…” Lee Na-hee quietly sank as Kang Shin-hyuk resumed working. She hovered nearby, her spirit in tatters.

“Forget all about this.”

“Huh?”

“Forget it!”

“Ah, sure.” The two started working again in silence. Kang Shin-hyuk struck with his hammer, and Lee Na-hee released her magic. He was able to focus once more on his work, but Lee Na-hee kept passing glances at him.

-Shall I kill her?

‘Why are you so aggressive? She’s a person who might join the Hero Universe sooner or later.’ Kang Shin-hyuk saw a path of possibilities that Lee Na-hee had. If she could deal with spiritual power, she would prove her qualification to join the Hero universe. If she were a bit luckier, it might be possible within a few years.

-That’s why I have to kill her now before the contacts with you increase.

‘Calm down.’ Kang Shin-hyuk had a bloody chat with the administrator as his hands were constantly moving. Carefully grinding the surface of the gloves, he then added a dwarf’s gemstone powder to it. The final process was to make five small holes, one in each fingertip, and trim them neatly.

‘This part will spray the thread…’ Even though it was designed to shoot threads, no threads were used in making it.

‘The metal thread is limited, and the spider thread is too weak. Then what would be best?’ That, of course, was his spiritual power. It wouldn’t have been something he dared to do without the soul poison skill, but now it was possible. All that remained was to create a way to utilize spiritual power as a specific means of attack. In other words, these gloves were a way of adding physical power to one’s spiritual power. So even if someone else wore these gloves, they wouldn’t be able to grasp their utility.

“Na-hee, do you still follow?”

“Huh. I can’t understand the material, but somehow I’ve figured out the rest.”

“If you had realized it earlier, your work would’ve been much easier.”

“What?”

“No, that’s it, I suppose.”

“Huh?!” What Lee Na-hee was adding to the gloves was speed. Just wearing them would make him faster and allow him to spray threads quicker. It was possible for her to do after she had seen him fight before. When the work was almost finished, Kang Shin-hyuk suddenly put it down on the workbench. Lee Na-hee raised her head in amazement; her concentration broken.

“Did you screw it up? It was going so well.”

“No, we have to make the other one. I’m thinking of making a matching pair this time.”

Only

“That’s why…”

“I will do the rest of the work tomorrow. Is that okay?”

“Yes.” Lee Na-hee still had an awkward look on her face. Kang Shin-hyuk stood up and began to stretch with a laugh.

“Then I’ll go. Are the weekends okay with you?”

“Ah, that’s completely okay.”

“Then, I’ll work on the weekend.”

“…” Lee Na-hee stiffened as Kang Shin-hyuk left, leaving her to remain in the club room for some time after that, swaying alone.

She was filled with a complete sense of defeat.