The furnace was already in a preheated state.
The protective screen over the flames rattled slightly.
In an instant, the interior of the workshop was bathed in an orange glow, shadows dancing on the walls before the space dimmed again.
Powdered coal, crushed mana stones, and reagents... right?
I examined the interior of the furnace.
Inside, a layer of burning coal was evenly spread, mixed with powdered mana stones and reagents that influenced the properties of the flames.
It seemed this setup was part of the furnace’s standard configuration, given the preheating.
Alright.
I took a seat on a nearby chair and opened the protective screen.
A wave of hot air burst out, causing my hair and clothes to flutter. The searing heat seeped through the gaps in my clothing.
However, I didn’t feel particularly hot.
With Guhwa Flames already activated, I wasn’t bothered by such trivial heat. At most, my skin grew slightly warm, and a few beads of sweat began to form. Even that was merely a physiological reaction.
What about Baek Arin...
Glancing over at Baek Arin in the now-orange-hued, heated workshop, I checked if she was affected by the heat.
Despite her earlier assurance, I wanted to confirm she wasn’t uncomfortable.
There she was, sitting with her legs crossed, maintaining a composed demeanor.
Not a single bead of sweat adorned her skin. Upon closer observation, I could feel the cold energy emanating from her body, stronger than usual. She was actively channeling mana to block the heat.
No need to worry, then.
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Reassured, I turned my focus back to Guhwa Flames for one last check.
Although the output had felt different earlier, now that I had started controlling it, the flames had stabilized.
A detailed observation revealed no abnormalities. The flames were more turbulent than usual, but that was typical of Guhwa Flames, which were inherently volatile.
I extended my hand toward the furnace, letting the flames engulf it.
To an ordinary person, it would be a shocking and horrifying sight, but I calmly let the fire lick my hand.
The Guhwa Flames burning on my right arm flowed into the furnace. They merged with the coal, mana stones, reagents, and existing flames, swelling in size and intensity.
Calm your emotions and focus...
Given the output of Guhwa Flames, they could easily incinerate the entire workshop along with the furnace. Proper control was crucial.
I carefully regulated the flames to prevent them from destroying the furnace, suppressing any stray embers that might escape.
Mentally, I steadied myself, reigning in the rising impulses and emotions that threatened to overtake me.
The Guhwa family’s training had emphasized emotional control above all else.
I had absorbed nearly two centuries’ worth of accumulated knowledge through their rigorous crash course. This task was nothing beyond my abilities.
Gradually, the ferocious flames settled, adhering to the furnace’s interior.
Satisfied with the result, I withdrew my hand, observing the subdued flames. Like a docile puppy, the fire obediently burned without threatening to overtake the furnace.
Done.
The preparations were complete.
Nodding in satisfaction, I grabbed a black iron ingot from the pile I had prepared.
I shoved the ingot into the furnace with my bare hand.
After all, it was my Guhwa Flames, and ordinary heat wasn’t enough to harm me.
The Guhwa Flames within the furnace flickered and writhed.
The fiery waves embraced the black iron ingot, steadily heating it.
I carefully adjusted the flames’ output to prevent the metal from melting too quickly—or burning entirely.
When the ingot had softened to the right consistency, I removed it from the furnace.
The metal glowed white-hot, its surface shimmering. Placing it on the anvil, I picked up the hammer.
The hammer struck the ingot. Sparks flew as a resonant sound filled the workshop.
Again and again, I hammered the metal, shaping it. Each strike elongated and flattened the softened ingot.
Though modern magical tools and automated systems could assist in forging, I deliberately chose to work with my own hands.
In this world, many traditional techniques and inventions had been lost during the upheaval of the Great Cataclysm and the chaotic periods that followed.
Countless mechanical devices were destroyed, and the brilliant minds behind them perished. Written records of their knowledge were lost as well.
Even so, mechanical devices persisted in this world, augmented by magic and the existence of Towers.
There were tools right next to me—advanced ones like pneumatic hammers that automatically hammered metal, grinders for smoothing surfaces, and other mana-powered auxiliary devices.
Mass-produced armaments are all made in factories, anyway.
Most mass-produced weapons on the market fell into two categories:
Even superhumans couldn’t forge weapons endlessly without rest.
Factory-made weapons, produced around the clock, were cheaper and widely available.
They were the go-to option for underfunded or unsupported superhumans. Though disposable, such weapons were affordable and functional.
However, high-grade equipment was almost exclusively handmade.
It wasn’t just about the craftsmanship—it was because the performance of handmade gear far exceeded mass-produced counterparts.
I struck the metal again.
Mana flowed from the hammer into the molten metal, slowly merging with it.
As I finished one piece, I grabbed another ingot, dipped it in a catalyst, and placed it into the furnace, feeding it more Guhwa Flames.
Once the metal glowed red-hot, I transferred it to the anvil, sprinkled reagents over it, and resumed hammering.
Mana infused the metal. Guhwa Flames seeped in, augmented by catalysts and reagents.
And...
With every strike, I embedded my unique essence into the weapon.
This world really places enormous importance on uniqueness.
A single extraordinary trait could grant powers far beyond normal comprehension.
Creations made by individuals with such traits carried their own distinctiveness.
It was like the old saying: "Become famous first, and then anything you do will be celebrated."
In this world, a work made by someone unique inherently surpassed the ordinary.
I paused, flexing my stiff fingers.
Some time had passed.
On the anvil now lay a black sword, its surface smooth and polished.
The weapon had no distinctive features—a simple, crude design. From the hilt to the blade tip, it was forged entirely from black iron.
I inspected the finished product—a creation born from several ingots, reagents, and catalysts.
‘Hmm...’
I made a strange face.
I wasn’t dissatisfied with the quality. It could have been better, sure, but it met the minimum standard. It was good enough to use. I’d just store it in my subspace and pull it out when necessary.
But unintentionally, the sword I’d crafted looked nearly identical to the one my second iteration wielded.
‘...No, that’s only natural.’
For a moment, the resemblance left me feeling unsettled. But upon reflection, it wasn’t odd at all.
Its design was crude, so there wasn’t much room for deviation. And I had intentionally tried to replicate the sword my second iteration used, so it was only natural that the appearance would end up similar.
“Wow...”
As I mulled over this, a presence approached.
“Whoa, how did you manage to make something like this in such a short time?”
It was Baek Arin, who had been sitting behind me.
She walked over gracefully and knelt beside me, her sparkling blue eyes fixed on the freshly forged black iron sword.
[Hehe.]
Her reaction made me puff out my chest a little.
I felt a sense of pride in crafting something decent. The emotional intensity fueled by Guhwa Flames only amplified my satisfaction, leaving me in a slightly euphoric state.
And then...
“With quality like this, it’s not just technical skills—you’re practically a master craftsman, Hayul—”
As I worked the hammer furiously in front of the furnace, her cool breath brushed against my overheated ear.
[Ugh! Hwahhh—!]
“Whoa—! Hey! Are you okay?!”
Caught off guard by the sudden sensation, I spasmed and nearly sprung backward like a coiled spring.
I hammered away at black iron ingots, producing an abundance of weapons.
Swords of all types, spears, staffs, shields, hammers, blunt weapons, axes... Even exotic weapons like meteor hammers and spiked whips that my second iteration had used—I forged them all, one by one.
I had worried that crafting each weapon might take too long, but the process was easier than expected, allowing me to work efficiently.
The weapon forging was complete.
‘Next up is...’
“Hayul~ I’m sorry, please don’t stay mad at me~”
As I was about to move on to the next task, Baek Arin’s teasing voice came from behind me. I pursed my lips in response.
Just as I suspected, she was poking me playfully on the shoulder with a mischievous grin.
[I’m not mad.]
“I didn’t expect you’d be so startled! I thought you’d sense it, especially since you said your detection ability was active. My bad—I apologize.”
[No need to apologize. It was my fault.]
[And I’m not mad.]
Mad? Me? What a strange thing to say. There was no reason for me to be upset.
Sure, she had startled me so much that I jumped and screamed—loud enough to briefly experience the curse of silence again—but that didn’t mean I was mad.
Why was she making me out to be some petty guy who’d hold a grudge over something so minor?
“Hmmm...”
As I repeatedly denied her claim, Baek Arin let out a curious hum.
What was with that unsettling reaction?
“Then how about this?”
[...What?]
“Since we both made mistakes, let’s call it even and forget about it.”
[?]
Call it even?
Suspicious, I tilted my head, and she smirked before pointing at herself.
Specifically, at her chest, partially hidden by her windbreaker.
“You know, when you barged in with that horn on your head and started grop—”
[Aaaghh!]
The enchanted necklace of confession rattled harshly.
A memory I wanted to bury forever resurfaced.
I shot up like a rocket and lunged at Baek Arin.
[Fine! Fine!]
[It was my fault! I’m sorry!]
[So please, just stop!]
“Okay, okay, I accept. Let’s forgive and forget~”
...Finally, I received forgiveness for that incident.
“You’re planning to make magic tools next?”
[Yes...]
After receiving some care from Baek Arin and her Changae, I slumped my shoulders as I replied.
The next task after the black iron weapons was accessories—in other words, magic tools.
Magic tools were, simply put, devices inscribed with magical formulas.
Technically, even carving a shockwave formula onto a rock would make it a magic tool.
Of course, such a crude tool wouldn’t be very practical.
The weaker and more brittle the material, the harder it was to inscribe the formula. Even if you managed to inscribe it, the tool would break after a few uses.
Thus, the base material had to be strong and durable enough to withstand the formula—ideally, something both expensive and robust.
Even then, magic tools weren’t permanent.
Over time, the formula would wear down through use, and since it was artificially imposed, it was prone to damage from external shocks.
This was why weapons rarely had formulas inscribed on them.
Inscribing formulas required significant effort, time, and money, yet a few clashes could render them useless.
Proper maintenance was essential to extend the lifespan of a magic tool, but even with meticulous care, it would eventually reach its limit.
‘That’s why artifacts are so highly valued.’
Artifacts were permanent.
Unlike artificially inscribed formulas, artifacts derived their unique properties from the material’s inherent traits.
They didn’t lose their effects after a few clashes, and even if broken, they could often be restored.
‘Artificial artifacts... Maybe I could create one someday, given my mana affinity.’
I didn’t expect to make one immediately.
But the possibility was there. With the black iron weapons complete, I figured I could practice during my spare time.
‘For the formula... maybe a basic protective barrier.’
Typically, crafting the base and inscribing the formula were done separately.
However, I planned to do both simultaneously this time.
Whoosh! The Sky Wings extended.
Like a peacock spreading its feathers, the countless extensions of the Sky Wings sharpened into spiked tips.
I directed mana into the Sky Wings, concentrating it at the sharpened edges.
...It looked like some sort of tentacle monster, but this method was efficient.
“That artifact really is amazing every time I see it. The Sky Wings, right? Officially registered as mid-high grade, but it seems closer to top grade now.”
[It’s a perfect match for me.]
I replied briefly to Baek Arin’s admiration and refocused.
Though the side effects of Guhwa Flames had unsettled me earlier, I had calmed down significantly with her help.
Still, it was getting late, so I decided to make just a few tools and call it a day.
With that thought, I picked up a silver ingot to use as the base.
Gold was an option, but it felt wasteful to use something so valuable for practice, so I opted for the cheaper silver.
‘Let’s start with a ring.’
I ignited Guhwa Flames in my right arm.
The dim surroundings were bathed in red light.
Suddenly, my mind felt oddly subdued.
An incomprehensible scene appeared before me.
Lee Jiyeon, her fists pounding on her chest in frustration, shouted with exasperation.
And...
A man with a face eerily similar to mine waved dismissively, his expression rebellious.