The Path of the Giant (1)

The day after the meeting ended and a new top ranker was announced, Lee Manwoo appeared in the club room after school with several papers in hand.

“A request came from Amatsuki. They say they want ten B-rank combat artifacts. Here are the details.”

“B-rank.” Kang Shin-hyuk nodded calmly as he looked over the list. Amatsuki was the best fighting guild in Japan and famous enough that it was well known in Korea. It was also, for reference, the guild where Bomber Girl once belonged to.

“But, it’s only B-rank.”

“Right. I already know your abilities well.” Now that he was familiar with the standards of the Hero Universe, for Kang Shin-hyuk, B-rank artifacts were something on the level of Kieron’s knights, not for Earth’s superhumans. No, there was a time he thought that B-rank artifacts could only be used by advanced superhumans.

“It’s difficult to deliberately make it low rank.”

“B+ or A- would be fine, so long as it doesn’t significantly affect material costs.”

“Then, let’s do seven B-ranks, two B+, and one A-rank?” Lee Na-hee helped Kang Shin-hyuk figure it out, and Lee Manwoo arranged it.

“It seems like it would be good to focus on versatile abilities.”

“Then let’s do that.”

“I’ll be busy again for a while. I’ll have to let Claire know.” Lee Na-hee smiled at the thought of being busy with work again. Kang Shin-hyuk tilted his head but eventually shook it off and let Claire know.

“You brought us a lot this time.”

“Yeah? I am a teacher who brings you such good requests every time.”

“Thank you, as always.” As Lee Manwoo had planned, Kang Shin-hyuk’s name as an artifact artisan was gradually gaining notoriety. He had been able to win orders from various famous companies and guilds for him and Lee Na-hee the past months.

“Though I’m still less well known than Shin Eun-hyuk.”

“You’re quite famous too, though, as a member of Masked Bacchus.”

“Ah, right. I’m so cool, huh? Hey, didn’t you meet Red Shoes?”

“Yeah, we saw her in Paris too.” Red shoes, that referred to the new seventh ranker named Bridget Poulsen. Like Eunah, she had gained fame at a young age because of her excellent abilities, but she prioritized her main job more than fighting at gates. However, it was no exaggeration to say that the general society’s image of superhumans relied on her for being a famous supermodel and actress.

“It’s odd to manage that stuff on the side despite being a top ranker. But she is pretty.”

“Claire is much prettier.”

“…” Lee Na-hee froze for a moment, then suddenly loosened a couple of the top buttons of her shirt for no reason. She then moved closer to Kang Shin-hyuk and fluttered her eyelashes at him.

“Is she prettier than me?”

“You’re prettier than Bridget, of course.”

“Really?”

“Why don’t you become a model too?” If he left it be, it felt like it might become something more serious, so he answered as she wanted. Lee Na-hee moved away with a smile of satisfaction.

“Well done.”

“Sometimes, it’s best to give up.”

“Yes. You have to get what you want sometimes.”

“Let’s get to work.” Kang Shin-hyuk shook his head and put his work apron on. Lee Manwoo tried to take a seat to watch them work, but Lee Na-hee kicked him out.

“If your business is done, go ahead and leave grandpa.”

“What else are you planning to do without me?”

“Hah, don’t say anything that might be misunderstood.” Lee Na-hee steadfastly kicked him out, although he was right that she had been thinking of doing something other than working. Kang Shin-hyuk felt a bit sorry for him, but he wasn’t fooled.

“Well, there’s no reason to be sorry since he was the one who was working with Siara before.”

“Keh, that child has loose lips.”

“Grandpa, leave quickly.” There was no one he could trust, apparently. Kang Shin-hyuk started working in earnest once he shuffled off.

-Klang! Klang! Klang!

“Hmm, you’ve gotten even better.” While he worked, Lee Na-hee planted the seeds of runes and instilled magic power into the raw materials.

“I’ve been practicing.”

“I’ve been curious from the start, but where on earth?”

“I’ll tell you someday.” If her traits continued to evolve, she might also handle spiritual power and reach the Hero Universe. He couldn’t tell her about that beforehand.

“What, you’re just working on that?”

“I did accept the order.”

“I’m kidding.” Lee Na-hee’s shirt was still open, and Shin-hyuk made a point of avoiding looking at her.

“What are those traits? Are you manifesting something?”

“It shouldn’t be difficult to organize it. All you need to do is concentrate.” Kang Shin-hyuk nodded and continued to focus. It was Lee Na-hee, who was watching him and not paying attention to her work, but that was often the case.

-Klang! Klang! Klang!

They were working together, but it almost felt like they were alone. Lee Na-hee continued to look at his face while she engraved her runes into the metal. His gaze was fixed on a single point on the metal without any deviation. His eyes sparkled a soft golden as his trait was expressed. She couldn’t help but think he was really beautiful as a craftsman. If she had to imagine her ideal type, he would be such a person.

‘But he really has developed immensely… how the hell?’ Lee Na-hee wanted to ask as there were times she felt he had grown up by himself. His abilities kept growing by leaps and bounds as he had gone to another world unbound by time. Even Lee Na-hee, who was confident in her own abilities, felt desperate.

‘Is it because of Claire?’ Did he feel like an adult because he was with her? No, but that was a different problem. While thinking about that, she suddenly realized the artifact was almost complete.

‘Oh, I have to enchant it. One such change was that work that took at least a few hours ended even quicker these days. Despite that, the quality of the work hadn’t degraded at all. Kang Shin-hyuk was pouring out great works that could be compared to other artifact artisans.

‘Whoo…! It was true her own ability was growing rapidly when she worked with him, but she wanted to walk with him in harmony, so she couldn’t help but be frustrated.

‘Complete.’ She always did her best when it came to crafting. Her enchantment was completed, so now Kang Shin-hyuk just needed to finish the work. But… his hand was still.

“…Junior?” Lee Na-hee tilted her head and called out his name, but he didn’t budge. He seemed to be staring blankly in the air, not at the artifact or at her.

“Junior…?” His face somehow looked very mature and sorrowful, unlike the usual Shin-hyuk she knew.

“Junior, are you okay?” She approached him and asked once more, but he couldn’t hear her.

“You…” She felt fear rising inside her. What if he had gone somewhere and never came back? It was a childish thought, but it felt plausible.

“Hey, if you keep playing like that, I’ll kiss you. No, I mean, it’s an enchantment.” Speaking urgently, she brought her face close to his. His eyes, shining bright and golden, caught her gaze and didn’t let her go. Her lips felt dry all of a sudden.

“Junior…? Kang Shin-hyuk?”

“Ah.” With only a centimeter left between them, the focus returned to his eyes. They went cold as he realized Lee Na-hee was right before him.

“Senior, no matter what…”

“What? I was worried.” As he seemed to have regained his sanity, she exhaled a sigh of relief and then kissed him hurriedly. He jumped back and shouted.

“Do you usually do that?!”

“No, it’s because you made me worry. It’s a bonus, so don’t feel bad.”

“Oh, really.”

“I don’t like it.”

“There wasn’t a problem.”

Only

“You can’t get upset.”

“Should I say thank you, then?”

“Hey.” Kang Shin-hyuk, who was getting upset, Lee Na-hee suddenly pointed at Kang Shin-hyuk, who was getting upset.

“I like you.”

“Huh?”

“Ah. Of course, I know who you like, but just know that.” Lee Na-hee caught his gaze.

“So, don’t go anywhere weird again.”

He smiled bitterly and nodded.