Chapter 318: The Transfer Student is a Singularity (6)
Nb4mgMIn the kitchen, there exists something superior to the chef—and its name is the ingredient. That was one of the chief’s favorite sayings.39Pik
wo0VdgnAnd he was a stubborn old man who stuck to his philosophy no matter what.JuDO6
nasVAThat’s how, even though his disciple flat-out refused to go, he ended up dragging him all the way to the sea in front of Tongyeong.XlgYOj
BEAEIn“Let’s just go to Oido, Oido instead!”ShCDkq
lWadQ“Idiot, do you think the West Sea and the South Sea are the same?”1LERy
zXEQVtn“In the end, it’s all just water, who cares where it’s from!”g0w1DdT
rejFL“I’d like to deny it, but today you hit the exact point I wanted to teach you, so I have no comeback. Anyway, let’s go. The morning at sea starts earlier than on land.”zhj3y
5EHxWThe chief said it all with just a look.Ur4Eh7O
P8Ry6jG– You’ve been kidnapped.AYQ
bKyJd4j…..!KiW
TgTkUThat’s how, several hours later, the salty sea breeze greeted me.2Tc
Z0McFAs soon as we arrived in Tongyeong, the chief went straight up to a fisherman preparing to set out.vHWvU
Hph“Would you mind letting us borrow the boat for a bit?”8sQNRP
9hDc0“Eh… all of a sudden…?”Khq
j6ba“I’ll pay you properly.”NqvS
O9vOTUThe boat owner hesitated for a long time, net in hand, but finally agreed. I guess it was the aura the chief gave off.sTRK
BqSZpcd“You’re not bringing barrels or anything shady, are you?”MrP
Arr“Of course not. The guy with me is my disciple.”ba5
Fm2qz“…Everyone says that before they board.”rOH
dyOkFiYThe boat’s stern gently sliced through the water’s scales, but my stomach wasn’t faring as smoothly. It was my first time ever on a boat, and I ended up puking everything I ate the day before.CSaJzSI
LKRVhh“Do you know where this salty seawater comes from?”FYu
xX0yThe chief asked just like that, as if it didn’t matter that his disciple was on the verge of dying.I3p
xa4URWBeing dragged out to sea was unfair enough already…j9X
Sxb“Uuugh!”DKcv9H
sXu7Just the thought that he was about to start one of his corny philosophies made my stomach turn even more.g133
Zc85What a cruel man. Unlike the kind words he would later receive, the Founding Hero was someone so hard you wouldn’t get blood even if you stabbed him.F8fN
X0IY“I don’t know where it comes from, but I do know it just left my stomach.”3EW
oiiL“….”d31Lg
8ZjI earned a smack right on the head (+1). Only then, seeing his disciple was ready to listen seriously, the chief continued.kb0co
jDt“Rivers, streams, brooks, pipes, even the sky. Every flow of water moves and moves until it reaches the sea.”ngFm
ahUZZ“Master, have you gone insane? That’s why I told you to stop drinking. I, your concerned disciple, am so worried the sea breeze is making my eyes blur.”VdCvq
WtxJgIn that moment, the beloved disciple received an even harder blow as a gift.Zjr0
FnOsKHe was so moved he almost died right then.Zw05
6grfoBehind the chief, the boat’s captain frantically searched for any barrels.19Ox2ML
JmZn71The Founding Hero gave a gesture to calm him down.Trz
XD7“Manryugwijong (만류귀종).”JEQt
sficXAnd then, with the aura of a sage, he said, mixing in classical Chinese.vkfm
LSIcSE“In the end, everything comes together in one place. That’s what you need to understand.”xA26Sd
1MhceTRAt the time, I thought he was just trying to sound profound.1tX
zo9“Are you suggesting I sign up for a funeral plan?”96yP
AxMoWith a thump, the boat shook, and the seagulls flew off in a panic.cQWVl
jpZAte4Anyway.CmLDB
5d1GpNow—only now—this clumsy disciple finally understands that the chief’s words weren’t just to sound cool.Plx
sn0x9oIHe was a , and the knowledge he’d gathered through countless experiences must’ve been close to truth itself.idegN3
yZDnSjk.rXdy0
WgRldRAt the end of all things.7vh2d
joHI, Kang Geom-Ma, savor those words once again.QxxqQ
2j1G8***Wzi7H
ZNoq5Rf“You nap no matter the time, huh?”sd0oyhC
Nk9veThat was the first thing I spat out as soon as I woke up.BGa
w7dEK“Maybe I should change the bed…?”SpZDx
WI2f8eXThey said it was top quality, but that didn’t mean it suited my body. Especially not for someone like me, who’s lived a life using cheap stuff.APW
1CsoWkStill, I was glad I had met the chef in my dream, even if the end of the dream had been a bit strange.stU
RwfM869I muttered it out loud.UXlA3
5RVUBut it came out raspy, like I’d swallowed sand.q2tdvF
rxA1CS2I pressed on my throbbing temples as I got out of bed.rYVyamE
9xwpISince Ryozo was sleeping deeply beside me, I got dressed and left the bedroom as quietly as possible.tpdwUZ
Y2VWFptIt was the weekend.UXhH1
pMM8dz3Even the crowded Joaquin Academy, always full of people, had at least one day of rest.BXKApD
84r1SYThe weekend atmosphere was very different from my days as a cadet. Back then, the rules didn’t even allow us to leave the grounds during weekends.m4gaKrv
oytPOThat absurd rule was something Ryozo had abolished.D5hfL
nTQaBUcWhy?6uMm
2UBNo idea.pEt
TpfdI can only guess it had something to do with her past. She spent her childhood like a princess locked in a tower, thanks to the pressure from Kojima, the Absolute Archer.P4DMzJ
fFt‘Ryozo must have hated that.’2Fumo
ZvF1kThat’s why she gave freedom to the cadets. If I had to compare Ryozo to a season, she’d be April. Even if she seems cold like an April breeze, deep down she has a warm heart.MsJrQ
fyglLzaI started walking aimlessly around the academy.CZng
xANjVEvery now and then, cadets who passed by let out squeals when they saw me. I returned their greetings with a polite wave, and they melted with excitement.fFl
8lb3u‘Back when I was a cadet, I wasn’t this popular.’XigHP
Tr2lAnyway, it’s the title that makes the man.rvTAeBT
BPsI gave a wry smile and kept walking, leaving the girls behind.jqo6
L9kYsI“March flew by.”NK0z
LIFWkThe air still carried a faint scent of winter, quite chilly still. But you could tell spring equinox had already passed.tphp
x99RjP6As I walked, staring at the bare branches of the trees, I unconsciously pulled Murasame and Eternal Frost from my clothes.bywHD
s3AMSlide.RGd
axS940PI unsheathed them just a few centimeters. The blade came out easily.oQgUCk
1G1That was because it had worn thin.XKaUojv
MbnfHwdI had been sharpening it every time I had a spare moment. Eternal Frost wasn’t made to be a weapon. It was just a very expensive sashimi knife.kt88k
OP9jUF7‘I still use it because it was a gift. Besides, I’ve never been the kind to throw away things I grow attached to.’tcaz
caLPPFIt’s time to let it go. It deserves it, after all it’s done so far.1ylSYrA
xLpvr“But using only Murasame makes me feel like I’m abandoning my left hand.”u1E
3yu56tDual wielding had become my signature style. It wasn’t something I chose willingly. If the chief had seen me, he would’ve yelled at me for playing with knives, but oh well.LDn9J
fcWSince the class placement exam, I hadn’t stopped using the dual style, and now I couldn’t feel comfortable with just one blade.i88qjup
Exj‘What should I do…?’I0f
MhyEternal Frost had weakened after so many battles. The fault was with its clumsy owner.MxC
htBFinding a replacement wouldn’t be hard. After all, I was a Seven Star Hero. I could buy an S-rank weapon with a single order.6mKjH
nRAbi“But I don’t want to.”F5jc
BmzNLike I mentioned earlier—just because something is good for others doesn’t mean it’s good for me.nnsJ
3tzCIn fact, I value the time shared more than performance.Btr
jd7uvWhether it’s S or A-rank weapons, they all feel the same to me. B-rank was already crossing a line. And honestly, talking about weapon ranks didn’t even make sense in my case.1ixqb
M8rmAfter all, I’m the God of the Sword.k3U0
KK0When a blade touches my hands, even a Daiso sashimi knife becomes an EX-rank weapon.oqyH
xaYBut this is just selfishness. A petty wish to have a new sword to replace Eternal Frost.6z1Bz
Np2AjHAnd there’s one person I can talk to about this, openly and honestly.lu4xAI
9B6HqP“Haven’t heard his greeting in a while.”0epilP
aaCOoD6A smile slipped out.2EKcd8
VbMjj2And with that, I changed my direction.9ChK
qwc***2rq6g6
0UVGnThe blacksmith, Volundr.Zdu8YWi
iyAB9GoTo users of Miracle Blessing M, he’s a figure of love and hate.ceSL
7ie5wAt least for me, though, the scale tips more toward “love” than “hate.” Not to say I feel no resentment—I’m still a bit bitter over the time he totally wrecked Murasame’s classification.Vfnf8o
YG8iHe thinks he’s made up for it by helping me so much since then.mbY5
JrdWABut Koreans never forget when someone gives them something and then takes it back. That gets remembered for generations.z476VHM
detNgCClang! Clang!JdORJ2
ynxchwWLoud metal bangs echoed through the air.EEPjRuo
rjtaI hadn’t even entered yet, but I could already feel the floor shaking from the vibrations. What strength for a man in his seventies.i3oQE
2beUZj“You here, ahjussi?”uD5
IK9vGqVolundr paused mid-swing, hammer held high. He squinted.kwQeBtl
P5kXWhen he recognized me, he raised both hands in cheerful greeting.PUtpKVx
M8V“What’s someone so important doing in a humble place like this?”vkwc7
bOZ6“Yes, yes. I’ve graced your humble corner with my illustrious presence.”D1sf
uoU0“You’re still as shameless as you were in your teens.”R7U
rdub“And you’re still the same as always. Hope you’ll still be like this in twenty or thirty years.”pZVjNPb
e6DDHe wiped off the soot with a grin.kV0
U8tpw8His muscular arms didn’t look like those of an old man. The sweat gave them a special shine.MSoi1N
f2yLFor some reason, that made me happy. Watching someone close grow old can be a heavy feeling.raCs1cq
nW2Ms9Even if I’m being sentimental, I want Volundr to stay by my side for a long, long time.Wmrivt
I5OQlXOI grabbed a chair and sat down. Since I’d come unannounced in the middle of his work, Volundr kept hammering the metal.lZA87
YE7uI watched as iron turned to steel while I spoke.6cm8
RDFT9AI“So how long do you plan to keep working in this forge? Volundr Forge is at its peak. You used to go on and on about money, and now you’re still hammering away.”MoL
rAqzI said it out of concern.aMrQU5
2HnAs a smith constantly working with fire, his eyesight was getting worse by the day. That’s why he hadn’t recognized me right away.5Hw
jAZ7“You used to wear a suit and be called ‘President.’ What made you come back to the forge?”Rt1
LBBP“When I put it on, I realized it didn’t fit.”ygK
Qqq4qlVolundr quenched the steel in water. The steam condensed in droplets along his wrinkles.QVIXhh
NOzq“Then at least take on an apprentice. It’s not good for someone your age to work this hard.”Et3x
BTJ“If you came here just to make an old man feel useless, go back the way you came, Heavenly Sword. When you’re old, there’s no time to waste.”fLm9
t4dDoc5“I’m saying this because I care.”HFHrCe
zFrp8“Instead of worrying about me, worry about the world. You’re the one in a position to do that, Heavenly Sword.”weJNV
wsHnnCEvery word from this artisan carried immense weight. That’s how the chief was, and so is Volundr.kBmyYEZ
sZWdh3“Don’t tell me someone as busy as you came here just to say hi. What brought you here? Don’t waste my remaining seconds on pleasantries.”vMWTK
j68“…Sharp as ever.”d4nCMhX
0fybYuI had no choice but to tell him. Eternal Frost had reached the end of its life, and I needed a new weapon.rzyq8
qc86bwTVolundr was indifferent about small talk, but when it came to metal, his eyes lit up. A blacksmith’s heart never cools.Nhf
zXzARMN“Making a weapon isn’t hard. With my skill, I can make an S-grade weapon easily.”C0NFxQ
TWLWOHe didn’t stop hammering.mxNuK1o
Mrm1N“What matters is the material. You worked in a Japanese restaurant once, didn’t you? What did the chef always say? Probably the same as me.”LkBfs
5iHW“Exactly the same.”XFMIL
TdoHe nodded, reminiscing.lnKTimX
1T7v“The material has to be good. Even if they call it S-grade, the quality depends on what’s used.”AfeNj
2HAQoT“What do you think is the best material for a weapon?”Htix93
T7HBt“That’s a broad question, so I can’t give a single answer. But in my experience, there are two main criteria. First, it must be extremely rare in this world. Second, it must be closely tied to life.”PkoqPi5
aKa4BHHTo explain it better as an outsider—fD1R
vA6FaThe reason rarity matters is because the world of Miracle Blessing M is based on a game (a mobile gacha game).2SL9p
D7zWANaturally, rarer materials improve a weapon’s performance more than common ones.UNtUc
l4cBjWWhile Volundr explained it in technical terms, I interpreted it with gamer logic.hKowCeX
5RPbIHe also explained the second reason.NHO
uEljC“A weapon isn’t just a blade.”If5
8aoDf6It was more like a living organism that responded to a hero’s unique blessing.3vhI6
N1VlQDThe closer it is to life, the stronger the connection and synchronization with the hero.HMJ
778The rarer and more tied to life it is, the better the material.ksCu
Ny0Pko“But finding something that meets both conditions is extremely difficult. The first one alone is already tough. Dragon scales, for example, were once a precious material. But now that human-demon relations have improved, they’re no longer rare. There’s even smuggling.”tKw7xs
S6f5mA weapon needs an aura of mystery. If it can be explained by science or becomes too common, it loses that mystique. Even if the composition is the same, its effect drops drastically.PGjzQ6
RO0a4Q“Hard to imagine anything rarer than dragon scales.”Ejz
PgzWXi“Exactly.”fEycla0
JUYyGg3Volundr finally set down his hammer. He sat beside me, refreshed himself with some makgeolli, and sighed.ilWl
gKpdZP“Still, nothing beats dragon scales. So bring me at least one. I heard you have a good relationship with the Dragon Lord. Ask him for a scale, even if it’s just one.”CL2
OPOT5B“…And what would you do if someone asked for your underwear?”I9D2RF
InfSD4“I’d bash their head in with a hammer.”Dpa3I09
vSn“Then the dragon would roast us with fire breath.”7Qkija
deDu“Either way, dragon breath isn’t much of a threat to you.”qBuX
PLrLu“Just when things were calming between the human and demon worlds, I’m about to ruin it all.”8gFRhR
Kzu9qgiVolundr joked lightheartedly.RcHSUIp
4h4avr“I’ve always wanted to forge a weapon with an ancient dragon’s scale.”FRABW
R6u3G“You’re practically endangering humanity out of greed.”Ph5tN9O
l35EZf“What danger? You’re here, aren’t you?”lRQtNQW
Xt8P9SHe said it like it was nothing. But without meaning to, his words hit me deeply.uJJaoxK
J7yA world where even non-heroes can live in peace.AUuYU
UAQkrThat’s why I live so busily, constantly moving between the human world and the Demon Realm.DqgtE
HaSE‘…Wait a second.’Ebw8YIn
hk5pe3EThe moment an idea struck, I voiced it.jk7
hlMNVif“Hey, could you use an egg as material?”2ZP
9nRuV“If it meets those conditions, even cow dung could be weaponized.”nDnjaj
uThe00MI ignored his sarcasm.A5QK
iuHUURI immediately called Speedweapon.Miu
iFaqQVr***j87t1
GcWdAt that moment, he was on a mission in Gehenna as a representative of the Hero Association. In other words, they had sent him to do the dirty work. And I was about to pile on even more.mab5S
nfLWhen the call ended, Speedweapon looked visibly confused, and Deputy Director Kim from the exploration team tapped him on the shoulder.e7D
U3iUZ“Who called you, boss?”eFA8
ZZ8“Ah, ah. The President. No, Kang Geom-Ma.”rsGq22u
96gaq“Huh?!”rIJc5
985HTvPSpeedweapon said it without thinking, and Kim quickly covered his mouth with both hands.M8Y7Y
7OXM“I’m… I’m a fan!”1HkSlp
7fluRm“It’s not that big a deal.”sMlxpKn
BEurZ40“No, I’m not talking about you, boss. I’m a fan of the Heavenly Sword!”pkJUY
JXLUq“I hope you don’t forget it’s me who evaluates your performance, Deputy Director Kim.”DuYQ
yyBTYmSpeedweapon sighed so deeply that even the weeds on the ground seemed to bend over.u3xBzV
UhklbLThat was Gehenna for you. A place so worn out that even the grass wilted at a human sigh.XiaWye1
TWJwr“What did the Heavenly Sword say?”QyESIx
LsM2nO3“He asked me to bring him something.”CORsH
W36hxHe didn’t elaborate.Tcvj1l8
UUJ“Let’s prepare it right away.”naV1Ys
W65dV“Y-yes…”9meV
JlCoKim didn’t ask for details. He hesitated a bit, then wisely went off to help prepare the equipment.cixyd
Htj3T0NSpeedweapon looked around.V0Nuiy
iodOHe and his exploration team were setting up camp. These weren’t the old-fashioned kinds of tents.zKg4xQl
3pvPOThey had already established camps scattered throughout various zones of the Demon Realm.I93zCql
wriIKUJ“For the president to have less work, the Hero Association needs to put in more effort.”nCFbPNR
bdSHe murmured to himself, when, in the distance, he spotted a black dot on the horizon. It was moving slowly, but clearly heading toward them.Rng3
QhX1MqYAs the silhouette became clearer, Speedweapon was startled. The others didn’t seem to have noticed yet.m1u
J47He thought it was a demon, but as it got closer, he saw it wasn’t. The black dot was a human girl.eLj
wjOMjbIf she had been an elf, she would’ve had pointed ears; if a vampire, her skin would’ve been pale.mM3Xt
0Y7Speedweapon was a healer. His blessing gave him the ability to sense the difference between humans and demons.NQY3
eimH2He extended his perception toward her, and the answer was clear she was human.2z3E
QjmSpeedweapon was the first to move. He approached the girl quickly and spoke to her.0JX
3j3x“A-are you okay? No, more importantly, why are you here?”IKH
xjv8The girl was wearing mismatched clothes, thrown on carelessly.UEgT
fWn0NFHShe walked past without replying, but at his persistence, she looked up.K4t
ZpuWhen their eyes met, Speedweapon’s eyes went wide open.5KY6RK
Hu7YThat she was beautiful wasn’t the issue. What mattered was that her eyes were identical to those of a “certain person” he had just spoken with on the phone.De0c
Og6gQ4‘President… don’t tell me…!’eDq
ZR8Was this the reason he traveled so frequently between the human world and the Demon Realm?LQYIBd
b0lhAs Speedweapon put on his best expression of shock, the girl’s perfectly shaped lips began to move.C7cO
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