A Regressor's Bucket List

Clang—!

The distinct sound of a heavy piece of iron striking another echoed through the air.

Accompanied by that crisp rhythmic beat, U-jin arrived once again at the blacksmith shop.

The acrid smoke, the metallic tang of iron on the tip of his tongue, and the sweltering heat provided a sense of deja vu.

However, not everything was the same.

Because every other element was identical, one particular factor felt exceptionally out of place.

‘…It’s quiet.’

The loud voices that usually pierced through the typical clamor of a forge were absent.

The only sound resonating through the smithy was the heavy ‘clang—’ of a single hammer.

U-jin wondered for a moment if it was lunchtime, but looking at the forge from a distance, people were clearly gathered there.

“Ho-ho.”

Kim Satgat also seemed to find it strange, tilting his bamboo hat as he muttered.

“…They aren’t even whispering. What on earth are they doing?”

From his perspective, the scene was even more bizarre.

He had observed this forge for more than a year or two; whenever he visited the Floating Territory, these men were moving without a moment’s rest.

They usually rushed out to eat whenever they felt like it, so the forge’s heat never really had a chance to cool down.

For everyone to fall silent during work hours like this was something even Kim Satgat, who had lived in the Floating Territory for decades, was seeing for the first time.

‘…….’

Of course, judging by the sound of the hammer, it wasn’t hard to tell that the one currently forging was Shuten.

Even without a point of comparison, that characteristically massive sound was something only someone of Shuten's stature could produce in this forge.

Clang—!

As they drew closer to confirm with their own eyes, it was indeed Shuten wielding the hammer, while all the other blacksmiths stood around watching him.

A massive height of at least five meters.

Great horns sprouting from both sides of his head.

Sharp protrusions lining his right arm, mirroring the shape of his horns.

And the symbol of a Dark Knight tucked haphazardly into his waist—the ‘Pitch-Black Greatsword.’

Without even having to think about it, it was unmistakably Shuten.

“…Let’s have a look. Aren’t you curious as well?”

What could be so impressive that even these noisy blacksmiths had shut their mouths?

Driven by curiosity, Kim Satgat didn't announce his arrival with a "I'm here," but instead quietly stifled his footsteps to slip in among them.

U-jin followed suit, walking through the crowd. As he got closer to Shuten, he realized that the object everyone was so focused on was the ‘prototype’ he had handed over.

‘…….’

Clang—

Clang—

Clang—

How many more times did Shuten’s hammer strike, vibrating against their eardrums?

“Phew.”

With a short sigh, Shuten set the hammer down and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

And almost simultaneously.

—Hey! Is it done?

A somewhat familiar voice shouted from nearby.

***

The person shouting from a distance was Jang Yeong-sil.

It was difficult to understand why he—who was supposed to be holed up in the Inner Palace adjusting the self-proclaimed ‘Arc Reactor’—had come out personally to meddle with U-jin’s ‘prototype.’

However, from the explanation that followed, U-jin and Kim Satgat were able to roughly grasp the circumstances.

“…That ain’t no simple task. It’s easy to say ‘adjusting,’ but it doesn’t just happen just ’cause someone barges in and starts yappin’ about changin’ this or that, normally.”

“…….”

“I’m only doin’ it ’cause it’s me.”

This was something that could be glimpsed from his attitude toward Sejong in the Inner Palace.

Even without that, anyone with common sense could guess.

As he said, changing the ‘magic input method’ so that the Arc Reactor—the core device of the Floating Territory—could interpret it…

To put it simply, he had to create a total translation device.

It was impossible for the Priests of the Order, who had used the language of ‘Magic’ their entire lives, to suddenly learn a new language and use ‘Arts (Sulbeop).’

Therefore, he was making it so the Arts device could interpret the ‘Magic Circles’ used by the Order.

To be honest, that was a task of extreme difficulty that an ordinary person wouldn't even be able to conceptualize.

“Workin’ my tail off to make it, and then he’s tellin’ me to put a persimmon here, a pear there… Great King or whatever, he’d only know if he tried it himself.”

“…….”

“Ain’t that right?”

“Ho-ho.”

Instead of nodding at Jang Yeong-sil’s words, which bordered on treasonous, Kim Satgat chuckled and asked.

“So, did you come out for a smoke?”

“Watchin’ that dummy mumble while he spectates next to me gets my blood boilin’ so much I can’t help but have one.”

“…….”

That was it.

Jang Yeong-sil had been making adjustments to insert a new stage into the Arc Reactor to interpret ‘Magic Circles.’

In the process, he couldn't handle the rising stress and left the Inner Palace to smoke.

Of course, no one would have stopped him if he smoked inside, but he took great pride in his invention, the ‘Arc Reactor.’

Fearing he might foul its energy, he stepped out of the Inner Palace to walk with a tobacco pipe in his mouth.

In the process, his feet had naturally led him toward the noisy blacksmith shop.

…And upon arriving at the forge, he had witnessed the ‘prototype.’

Jang Yeong-sil’s gaze turned toward U-jin.

“Is this yours? Right?”

Nod.

“It was killer. Best thing I’ve seen lately.”

“…….”

Pure admiration was buried in his voice.

It wasn’t just polite praise or a level of ‘curiosity,’ but as if he had truly been ‘impressed’ by seeing the object.

Reacting to Jang Yeong-sil’s response, Kim Satgat’s eyes gleamed with interest.

A reaction like that from Jang Yeong-sil was not easily earned.

“…Was it really that good?”

“Why make me say it twice? It was exquisite.”

During the hundreds of years the Floating Territory had drifted through the sky, it was Jang Yeong-sil who had created an independent mana core comparable to the Order’s ‘Central Satellite Magic Device.’

While it was true that many talented individuals had put their heads together to develop it, he was the chief officer in charge of the actual work, leading them all.

While Sejong was in charge of consolidating records and information on technology, it was a fact that Jang Yeong-sil’s influence was absolute when it came to the practical aspects functioning within the Floating Territory.

To the point where even Sejong, the ruler of the Floating Territory, would back down.

Without needing to explain much, it was clearly evidenced by the fact that he was the only person in the Floating Territory allowed to touch the ‘Arc Reactor’ directly.

If others could have been involved even slightly, he likely would have taken an assistant to save time, but Jang Yeong-sil had not done so.

Of course, that confidence in himself could simply be a lack of trust in others, but…

‘…That’s not it.’

It wasn't as if U-jin didn't know Jang Yeong-sil.

He had experienced a fair amount indirectly during the First Round.

He was not a man who would take the long way around if there was a shortcut.

Rather than being swayed by formality or emotion, he had a personality that pursued only ‘efficiency.’

Anyway.

The understanding of mana and various technologies amassed during the growth of the Floating Territory had reached a level rivaling the Church Allied Forces and the Demon King’s army.

And the one who held that entirety in his head—the living proof of it—was Jang Yeong-sil.

It was no easy feat to surprise the very man who could be summarized as the embodiment of ‘Joseon’s technology’ with ‘mana-related technology.’

…Well, in the first place, unless it was of a significant caliber, he wouldn't have been able to read the excellence of its principles and intentions just by a brief look.

‘…….’

Unfortunately, Emily and Jang Yeong-sil had no real contact in the previous life.

By the time U-jin had created the prototype through Emily, the defeat of the Church Alliance had already been decided in the First Round.

At that time, Jang Yeong-sil had already ascended to the Transcendence Plane along with the Floating Territory.

‘…Now that I think about it.’

One might think it is similar to magic, but the unique magic system used in the Floating Territory was actually closest to ‘Magical Engineering’ in that it could be combined with technological prowess.

Jang Yeong-sil, in particular, was a man specialized in handling objects imbued with mana.

Though he hadn’t considered it before, whatever would result from the combined skills of these two prideful geniuses was unlikely to be ordinary.

And as if to prove U-jin’s thoughts were correct.

Jang Yeong-sil’s lips had been twitching for a while now.

The reason wasn't hard to guess.

“…Somethin’ like that caught my eye; you think it’s right for me to just watch? Of course, I went over and touched it.”

“…….”

Jang Yeong-sil’s reaction was proactive enough to momentarily surprise Kim Satgat.

There was no way he could ignore an object he found ‘exquisite.’

It was like a sparrow trying to pass by a granary.

He was the type of person who wouldn't be satisfied until he had at least disassembled and reassembled anything he didn't know.

…If U-jin’s guess wasn't wrong.

That twitching mouth didn't seem to mean just disassembly and reassembly.

For now, if he was anticipating something, it could be taken as a positive sign.

Because it was equivalent to saying that, ‘theoretically’ at least, there were no errors.

In the first place, it was unlikely that ‘the’ Jang Yeong-sil would have negatively affected his prototype, even if it meant neglecting his own duty with the ‘Arc Reactor.’

‘…Actually.’

Entrusting it to the blacksmiths of the forge hadn't been done with any certainty; it was more of a hesitant, ‘Try it if you can,’ sort of thing.

In fact, U-jin had inwardly thought the possibility of failure was higher.

And for good reason—these were men who had lived their entire lives immersed in the mana system of ‘Arts.’

And the prototype that Emily had spent days and nights improving and completing was something difficult to even understand without a significant grasp of magic.

From U-jin’s perspective, it was only natural not to have high expectations.

However, the story changed if ‘Jang Yeong-sil’ personally touched it.

No matter what anyone said, he was an out-of-spec genius who had created the space known as the ‘Floating Territory.’

U-jin had excluded him from his options because he assumed it wouldn't happen.

But if Jang Yeong-sil had personally refined it, it was only natural to be even more pleased.

He was well aware of that man's skill.

“…Well then.”

Clap—

“What’re you waitin’ for?”

“…….”

“Ain’t you gonna fire it?”