Chapter 74
Dolkin's familiar rough voice rang out for the first time in a while.
He slapped the desk and burst into laughter, clearly pleased that he'd managed to surprise me.
"Kehahaha! Look at that face!"
"I was waiting for that reaction."
"What? Surprised to see me somewhere I shouldn't be?"
"Kehahahaha!"
Piyong, sitting beside him, gave him a look full of contempt.
Dolkin only laughed even louder.
He wasn't the kind of person to care about something like that.
[ Ugh. That noisy dwarf is exactly the same every time I see him, nya. How can someone stay this consistent no matter how many times you meet them, nya? Change a little, nya! ]
While Leon grumbled, I looked at Dolkin.
"More importantly, why are you here?"
"Weren't you supposed to be on the 10th floor?"
"Took you long enough to ask."
Dolkin pointed at Piyong.
"If you want to know why I'm here, ask that smug cat bastard."
"He'll answer very kindly."
"...Five hundred years ago or now, you're still as rude as ever, Dolkin."
Piyong's expression darkened.
"Can you please shut your mouth for once?"
"That's part of my charm."
Dolkin snorted.
"If you don't like it, tough luck."
"I can always leave."
"..."
The fact that Piyong was enduring him meant he clearly needed Dolkin for something.
Most likely to make something.
Piyong let out a deep sigh.
Then he ignored Dolkin and looked at me.
"Enough."
"Let's get to the point."
"Lee Suhyeok, I called you here because I have a request."
"The same applies to why Dolkin is here."
"A request?"
"More precisely..."
His eyes narrowed.
"I need the ‘Divine Artifact Enhancement’ you possess."
Then his gaze moved to my waist.
"And I need that weapon of yours."
As expected.
Both of them were interested in Seong-a.
They probably intended to do something involving her as an Ego Sword.
I'll find out what soon enough.
Dolkin leaned closer.
"By the way, why isn't the little brat coming out?"
"Normally she'd already be running around causing trouble."
He grinned.
"What, is she going through puberty or something?"
Dolkin approached to inspect Seong-a.
Then he suddenly stopped.
"W-Wait."
His eyes widened.
"Where did you get this...?! I'm talking about the pattern carved into the sheath!!"
Even Piyong, who had been watching from farther away, looked visibly shocked.
Of course they are.
Engraving hasn't even been invented yet from their perspective.
Dolkin stared closely at the sheath.
"Hoh...."
"These lines are ridiculously precise."
"And every single pattern carries a different ability and attribute?"
He looked up.
"What master craftsman made this?"
"As far as I know, no one in the Tower should have this level of skill."
He glanced toward Piyong.
"Hey, smug-face. Know anyone?"
"Even among the Tower's craftsmen, very few possess technique this refined."
Piyong's eyes remained fixed on the sheath.
"Even if someone did, their skill would likely be less than half of this."
Then he looked directly at me.
"Did you make it?"
I nodded.
Dolkin lowered his head for a moment, apparently genuinely stunned.
Then he snapped his head back up and stared at me with wide eyes.
"Hey."
"Are you sure you don't want to become my disciple?"
"If you agree right now, I'll treat you really well!"
"Just a little while, all right?"
"Five years!"
He immediately changed it.
"No, fine! One year!"
"Just one year! How about it?!"
[Several blacksmith-related Constellations say becoming his disciple would be an excellent opportunity.]
[One Constellation who enjoys master-disciple relationships smiles warmly.]
Dolkin's offer was probably sincere.
He'd been interested in my smithing from the very beginning.
But in this situation...
His words were only half true.
"What a great opportunity, huh?"
Dolkin puffed out his chest.
"And let me tell you, the chance to become my disciple won't come a third ti-"
"At least wet your lips before lying."
Dolkin froze.
"Just be honest."
I looked at him.
"You want the Engraving technique."
"..."
"W-What are you talking about?"
Dolkin laughed awkwardly.
"Anyone listening would think I'm trying to steal your technique!"
He waved both hands.
[Using Trait ‘Lie Detection (A)’.]
[The target's statement is ‘false’.]
"...Tch."
Dolkin clicked his tongue.
"Why'd you have to go and get Lie Detection of all things?"
He threw up both hands.
"Fine!"
"Yes, I want that technique!"
He glared at me.
"You're way too damn sharp."
"It's less that I'm sharp and more that you were making it painfully obvious."
"Your intentions were practically written all over your fa-"
"Fine! Fine!"
Dolkin snapped.
"Your shit smells like roses, you bastard!"
"Now tell me why that little brat still hasn't come out!"
[Several Constellations shake their heads, calling his behavior pathetic.]
LMAOOOOOOOO
These two together are hilarious lol
Real reason elves hate dwarves ㄷㄷ
Important point: elves aren't any better either hahaha
Fact) Elves and dwarves are perfect for each other ㅇㅇ
Leon, who had been quietly licking Churu while watching, clicked his tongue.
[ Tsk, tsk. It's pathetic how you still can't let it go, nya. ]
I explained that Seong-a had remained asleep ever since I carved the Engraving.
Dolkin fell silent for a while.
Then his eyes widened as though he'd realized something.
"...Right."
"If my guess is correct, she's preparing for her third growth."
"Third growth?"
Dolkin stared at me with an expression that clearly asked whether I seriously didn't know.
Then he shook his head and began explaining.
"Humans, beastkin, dwarves."
"We all go through four major stages of growth."
"If you divide them broadly, there's infancy, childhood, adulthood, and old age."
He tapped Seong-a's sheath.
"Weapons are the same."
"Especially Ego Swords."
I might not have understood if I hadn't already experienced something similar during my encounter with Thanatos.
Seong-a had changed once then too.
In other words...
She was now entering adulthood.
She might gain another Trait like Form Change this time.
"Ahem."
Dolkin crossed his arms.
"Understand now?"
"You seriously hit the jackpot."
"Absolutely hit the jackpot."
While I was thinking, Piyong rose from his seat and floated toward me.
"Enough idle chatter."
"Let's discuss why you're here."
He looked at Seong-a.
"From this point onward, we're going to perform Divine Artifact Enhancement on your Ego Sword."
"Naturally, you'll be the one doing it."
I glanced behind me, then looked at Piyong.
"I noticed on the way in."
"This workshop looks like it's been abandoned for a long time."
"Does it even work properly?"
"Don't worry about that."
Piyong turned.
"Follow me."
Dolkin grinned.
"Heh. Been a while since I've seen this too."
The two of them left through the door.
I followed.
We returned to the dark workshop.
Dolkin folded his arms and laughed.
"Brat, watch carefully."
"You'll finally understand why that smug bastard is a Climber just like me."
Piyong pulled down a lever on the wall.
Red energy immediately began flowing through the circuits.
The dark workshop lit up.
Heat flooded the entire space.
Every dead furnace roared back to life.
It felt less like a workshop and more like an enormous factory.
Holy shit, that's insane lol
How many mana stones are powering that place...?
They're all top-grade too hahaha
With enough materials, you could mass-produce weapons there.
[Many blacksmith-related Constellations cannot hide their admiration.]
