Grace of Anvil (2)

“Aren’t you used to fire? Could you make a sword suitable for containing the power of fire?”

“A sword.” They were in the temporary workshop built in the castle. Kang Shin-hyuk was still casually facing the handsome young man, Mirang. He was tracing his fingernails over the table, using the energy of fire to burn a picture into it-an image of a greatsword with a long, sturdy blade.

“Okay. My natural energy is strong, hmm.. of course, it is incomparable to those with true strength, but it’s enough that most weapons can’t handle it.”

“Well, that’s right.” Mirang had said he was a wolf the moment he was born. It was relatively recently that he had been able to take on a human form. After taking on a human form, he started becoming interested in handling weapons… The problem was, as he said, there was no weapon able to withstand his energy.

“The human body is delicate… and the distance between each other is narrow.” He must’ve been talking about the modernized form of human society; no other animals willingly lived in confined areas as humans did.

“So if you can’t control it, you’ll inadvertently hurt people. Correct?” Why did Mirang want a human form in the first place? Such a fundamental question was raised. Kang Shin-hyuk thought he couldn’t make what he wanted without knowing that.

“What I want is one extremely sharp tooth. It has to be small enough that it won’t hit targets other than the ones I want, but it’s fatally sharp and can inflict damage to them.”

“..I know what you want. Let’s try it.”

“I thought Anvil would say so!”

“But…” Kang Shin-hyuk held out his hand to him. Mirang reached out and grabbed it without thinking, just as Kang Shin-hyuk wanted.

“Okay, wait a minute like this. I’ll be going over some basics with my spiritual power, but don’t resist.”

“It’s an honor, rather.” Mirang nodded happily. Kang Shin-hyuk felt a bit relieved. Mirang wasn’t a person who treated spiritual power as casually as Kang Shin-hyuk did, but he recognized that he had spiritual power and instinctively used it. If so, he had to understand how dangerous it was to leave yourself vulnerable to another who used spiritual power, but he had done so without hesitation for Kang Shin-hyuk.

-Because you’re like an idol in the Hero Universe. Most members would probably buy a hundred million CDs if they could shake your hand.

‘I hate that analogy.’

-To get an artifact from you, maybe even five hundred million CDs…

‘I won’t become a singer.’

-Keh.

After thoroughly crushing the administrator’s idea, Kang Shin-hyuk began to let his spiritual power flow into Mirang bit by bit.

“It’s very delicate.” Mirang let out a voice of admiration.

“To manipulate the essence of the soul by dividing it so easily… mine is a lump. It’s strong as it is, and if I try to force it, I lose it.”

“It’s natural because everyone has different spiritual powers.”

“Is that so? Is this the spirit of a craftsman… no, it’s also a warrior’s spiritual power. How fun.” Mirang closed his eyes with a smile. Kang Shin-hyuk struggled to accept the information flowing in from Mirang.

‘It’s not normal, but…’ As long as he could fully analyze his opponent with spiritual power, he would no longer be afraid. Kang Shin-hyuk had always thought that way since he had learned how to use it properly. However, he didn’t think he would be in trouble because of the depth and breadth of the source.

A being with a different origin than mine. It’s difficult to understand…’ The fact the source was different meant that the way of viewing the world was different. For Kang Shin-hyuk, flame emitted heat and light, and thus, had a warm image in his mind. At the same time, it also symbolized creation to him as a blacksmith. However, for Mirang, who had been with flames since he was born, the flame was his body, breath, weapon, and shield.

“Ah…’ It was completely different. How could he accept it, understand it, and apply it to the object he planned to make? Kang Shin-hyuk now realized that understanding was a completely different matter.

Still.’ It wasn’t his first experience. The first object he had communicated with was the Godslayer sword, which wasn’t alive. However, he never had to worry about understanding the origin of the metal. He first found what he could sympathize within the sword, then pulled out what he could work with. Understanding began with finding common ground with the other person. If he searched for that, he would be able to realize even the parts he couldn’t understand little by little.

“Thank you.” Kang Shin-hyuk murmured quietly as he closed his eyes.

“This production will be a very special experience for me.”

“It’s the same for me.” Mirang also quietly nodded.

“Your spiritual power is very warm. I don’t think it was wrong to come visit you.”

Although it was in his previous life that he had become friends with Mirang, Kang Shin-hyuk thought that he and Mirang could communicate as friends for the first time. He began to understand the source of Mirang.

-… Should I have been vigilant of other men as well?

He ignored the useless things the administrator was saying.

***

Of course, understanding Mirang wouldn’t end in a day. After five hours of holding Mirang’s hand (Zeke, who had seen the scene through the door of the open workshop, had left silently without them noticing), Kang Shin-hyuk decided to stop for the day.

“We’ll do this again tomorrow, then I’ll start work the following day.”

“This world is slower, so it’s no issue if I need to stay longer.” It was Kang Shin-hyuk’s perception that was faster, as it was passing by at fifteen times as much, but Mirang’s standard was different. It wasn’t wrong to say that time was passing slower here, he supposed.

“That’s the standard for those who live very long.”

“Hmmm?”

“No, it’s nothing.” It’s those who lived short lives who felt the passage of time the most. Humans, at most, had a hundred years. So, as they faced the passage of time head-on, they had the perception of it being fast. However, Mirang lived a very long time. Eventually, for him, the impression that this world moved slowly remained.

“…Mirang.” Kang Shin-hyuk came to think of the future this world would face as he considered Mirang’s perspective.

“I want you to ask you something.”

“Anything.”

“What will happen to this world in the future? Will they keep sending those monsters?”

“No way. Jormungand can’t waste that sort of thing. If they kept sending monsters to this weakened world, the Hero Universe could capitalize on it to reduce their power.” That, too, couldn’t come from a human’s point of view. No, in the future, Kang Shin-hyuk might have to think that way.

“So how come they did this time… ah.”

“It’s because of you, Anvil. You are what everyone wants.”

-Did I not say you were like an idol to everyone?

“No, you said I’m just an idol of the Hero Universe.”

-I was being humble… 130,000HP bonus for shy members!

Kang Shin-hyuk frowned at the administrator. He had roughly expected something along those lines, but was that really the case? He arrived to save this ruined world, but in the end, he had brought those monsters? If he left, would Jormungand stop looking at it?

-It is surprising that they recognized your existence and opened a passage right away. However, if you leave this world, they wouldn’t dare send excessive power here.

“They’ll continue to invade in a form tailored to this world. That’s why it’s currently out of balance.”

“Balance.”

“Balance is something we all value. Because either side can’t collapse.” Kang Shin-hyuk wanted to inquire more about that part, but a knock on the door stopped him. No, it wasn’t from the door. It was coming from the window.

“Hmm?” Mirang’s expression stiffened. On the other hand, the administrator was quick to complain.

– No way! She infiltrated us using the support request!

“What is it?” Mirang was still sitting, so it probably wasn’t an enemy. Kang Shin-hyuk stood up from his seat despite his confusion and approached the window. Like a will o’ wisp, a pale silver-blue flame turned around in the air outside the window. Inside of it, he could feel an endless affection radiating out towards him through his spiritual power.

“Well, I think it’ll be okay.”

-Cheh…!

“There’s no way to stop her, so open it up, Anvil.” Mirang smiled bitterly, having received the administrator’s message as well. Kang Shin-hyuk had a rough idea of what was happening now. Opening the window, the light flew in and stopped before him. Shortly after, Tsukuyo, a woman wearing a black silk garment embroidered with gold, appeared in its place.

“Anvil!” Tsukuyo held him in her arms, exuding an unbearably alluring scent.

“I came to meet you!”

-…!

Only

Kang Shin-hyuk accepted her hug while flinching, remembering how he had suffered before. He was wary of her, but she only laughed. It was the laugh of a lion aiming for its prey.

“You’re still cute.”

“You have bad taste, Tsukuyo, to arrive when the work is over.” Mirang spoke up for Kang Shin-hyuk, who was frozen in place.

“I just slowed my steps a little to see Anvil looking cool.” Tsukuyo pulled away, revealing a small porcelain bottle in hand.

“Are you hungry, Anvil? I brought food and alcohol, so let’s share a cup to celebrate our reunion.”

“Alcohol? Good.”

“… It’s not for you.” Tsukuyo responded calmly to Mirang, who was quick to open a drink in the workshop. Kang Shin-hyuk remained stuck in place as he watched the two move around, barely able to open his mouth after a long pause.

“I can’t drink because I’m a minor.”