Chapter 165 : As Expected, People Don't Change Easily (1)
As Expected, People Don't Change Easily (1)
Just because someone is an awakened doesn't mean they're only specialized in fighting.
Some people are born with healing traits and work as healers or doctors.
While it's not a combat field but a support field, it's still a job that's essential.
Healers go without saying, and buffers are a must when entering a high-rank gate.
Especially, equipment is always necessary when entering a gate.
The supporters who make this equipment are called blacksmiths.
Currently, Eunseol and I visited a guild made up only of blacksmiths.
"Welcome to the Vajra Guild. What brings you both here today?"
The "Vajra Guild" is a blacksmith guild.
As soon as we opened the door and stepped inside, an employee, as if waiting for us, spoke up.
"We came to look at some equipment."
"But you don't look like hunters."
"We're Hand students. We have a gate practical coming up soon."
"Then please follow me."
Eunseol and I showed our bracelets, which were practically our Hand student IDs.
Only then did the employee accept our story and began to guide us.
All throughout the guild, countless weapons and armor were on display.
Most were equipment for combat, but there were also potions and support scrolls here and there.
"Seongjin, is this really a guild?"
"It's a guild. A blacksmith guild."
"It feels more like we came to a weapon shop than a guild."
Just as Eunseol said, the blacksmith guild was more like a shop.
Unlike normal guilds that accept jobs and fight in the gate, this is a support guild that makes equipment for a fee.
From Eunseol's perspective, who had only ever seen ordinary guilds, it looked unique.
Actually, I felt the same way.
It felt like a weapon shop out of a fantasy—or, more accurately, an electronics plaza.
― Hmm.
Sang-gun, who had been nestled in Eunseol's arms, let out a small whimper.
At that sound, the employee glanced at Sang-gun.
"Is that your dog? I've never seen that breed before."
"It's our pet dog. Cute, right?"
"Cute is one thing, but please make sure your dog doesn't touch the equipment. All of these are expensive items."
"Yes."
Eunseol answered a bit nervously at the employee's warning.
What would happen if the dog suddenly got out of control and scratched the equipment?
It would never actually happen, but we, as the owners, would have to take responsibility if it did.
That's why some shops ban pets. The same logic applies to "no kids" zones.
"These do look expensive."
"Right? Skilled blacksmiths on the second floor made them themselves."
Glancing over the equipment on display, I could get a general sense of their value.
The high-grade items, which took a lot of effort to make, were priced at around one million or even ten million won.
In contrast, the common equipment barely reached the hundred-thousand range.
'No wonder it actually feels like coming to H Mart.'
You can even appraise items by measuring the strength you feel from them.
After measuring, I could tell that most items matched their price in terms of strength.
Then I frowned.
'What the heck is that?'
I saw a particularly flashy greatsword.
A diamond-set hilt and a blade that glittered like sunlight.
It looked expensive, and sure enough, its price was over ten million won.
But the moment I assessed its strength, I couldn't believe my eyes.
'It's trash.'
Though there were signs it was made with fine materials—
Nearly 90% of its components seemed to come from an A-rank gate.
Yet its actual value was only at a hundred-thousand level.
The issue wasn't the material but the blacksmith's skill.
'He's selling a hunk of scrap metal for over ten million?'
There were other items too—low-value but boasting high price tags.
They all shared the characteristic of looking exceedingly flashy.
Products with only glitzy packaging and inflated prices.
In other words, rip-offs.
But there were also cases where it was the opposite.
Next to that greatsword lay a shabby dagger.
Made of low-grade materials and appearing rusted, but measuring its strength showed it was overwhelmingly superior to the greatsword beside it.
A level that would be worth a million won easily.
'And yet they're selling that for only 80,000?'
There was something off about the atmosphere of this guild.
Eventually, we reached the second floor and met the blacksmith hunters.
Fitting their trade, every one of them wore an apron.
One of them spoke to the employee.
"Who are they? Customers?"
"They're Hand students. They said they're here for equipment since they have a gate practical soon."
There were several masters.
The team was made up of awakeners whose traits suited equipment crafting.
A blacksmith guild like this was made by gathering such awakeners.
"Welcome! What kind of equipment are you looking for?"
"Little miss over there, are you a mage? Then come this way, magic tools are my specialty."
"Hey now~ It's better over here. I can make scrolls too, you know."
They were all eager, competing to handle our request.
Unfortunately for them, Eunseol didn't want a magic tool for her weapon.
"A spear."
"A spear? You mean a spear as in...?"
"Yes."
When Eunseol stated it so clearly, the magic tool artisans slumped their shoulders in disappointment.
Instead, one artisan who mainly crafted cold weapons lifted the corners of his mouth.
"Then come over here! I'm in charge of that kind of thing."
A blacksmith with tanned skin and dyed silver hair waved his hand.
There were other artisans nearby, but they seemed more like supporting staff.
Since cold weapons seemed to be the specialty of this silver-haired guy, we decided to follow him.
"Seongjin! Seongjin!"
Just then, Eunseol whispered quietly in my ear.
"What's wrong?"
"That person... feels strange."
"What about him?"
"I sense a bad aura."
Song Minseok, who was beaming confidently now.
Eunseol's expression hardened the moment she saw him.
Eunseol's ability to sense aura never fails.
Even at age eight, when she couldn't see, she could immediately detect those who bullied her.
So, just in case, I asked the artisan a question.
"On the way up here, I saw a greatsword with diamonds set in it. Did you make that?"
"Yes, it's my masterpiece. Really cool, right?"
Sure enough, the sword was made by this guy.
He acted so proud, as if he'd crafted a true masterpiece, when it was really a cheap sword.
What's funnier is he's selling that cheap sword for over a million won.
"Are you the guildmaster?"
"That's right. I'm Song Minseok, the Guildmaster of Vajra. But just call me hyung. I'm only twenty-five."
"Song Minseok?"
This didn't match the information I knew about this guildmaster.
The previous Vajra Guildmaster's name was Kang Junsu, not Song Minseok.
"Did the previous Guildmaster leave the job?"
"He got in big trouble once, so he stepped down. Are you here because you heard rumors about him?"
"Yes."
"Don't worry! This hyung can make things even better than that guy!"
Song Minseok puffed out his chest and boasted thunderously.
But I'd never heard the rumor that this guildmaster got into trouble.
No, aside from that, this Song Minseok guy just isn't cut out to be a blacksmith.
So how did someone like him end up as guildmaster here?
"Seongjin, what should we do?"
"...."
There was no need to think it over.
It was probably best to look for another guild.
But then I remembered the dagger lying next to the great
sword.
On the outside it looked like junk, but it was truly valuable.
As I was thinking that, I noticed a juvenile standing beside Song Minseok.
"That kid next to you, is he a guild member?"
"He's just a part-timer. He's got a talent for making little things, so he helps out on the side."
"So the dagger next to the greatsword was...?"
"He made it."
The juvenile looked at us with a withdrawn expression.
He seemed timid, but his equipment was overwhelmingly better than what Song Minseok had made.
But the magic power I felt from the juvenile was minimal.
Most supporters are like that, but this boy's levels were especially low.
He was an awakened, but hardly treated as one.
Still, as a blacksmith, his talent might be top notch.
Forget what I said about leaving earlier.
"Then can I make a commission?"
"As much as you want!"
"For that kid, please."
"Huh?"
When I pointed to the boy, Song Minseok looked puzzled.
Naturally, the juvenile was also surprised.
"Is that possible?"
"It's possible, but wouldn't it be safer to use equipment made by a skilled artisan like me?"
Song Minseok now spoke as if showing utmost sincerity to a customer.
But his words were a lie.
First off, calling himself "skilled" was plain wrong.
"If you take low-rank gear into a gate, you could die, kids."
His sudden raised voice startled Eunseol.
He was acting as if he'd hurt us if we didn't use his equipment, not that we'd just die in the gate.
But what did I care—I was the customer.
"It's just a practical at the gate. Simple weapons are enough."
"What if you can't kill the monsters with those simple weapons?"
"Why not? Even monsters in D-rank gates can be killed with bullets."
"...."
For a D-rank gate, you only need weak gear to survive.
Plus, in a practical, the faculty make sure you never encounter a boss or elite monster.
A pistol would be more than enough, and even weak hunter gear is stronger than that.
"We're just here to get what we need. Think about it: if the school asks us to build a rubber band-powered model airplane, would it make sense to bring in a real plane?"
"...."
We want a model airplane,
not a real one made by you, okay?
Of course, the real airplane might seem much grander, but that's not the point here.
Hearing my meaning, Song Minseok clicked his tongue and said,
"Fine... You guys can place your order with him."
"Thank you."
"I don't know how good it'll be, but for a disposable weapon, he'll do. Just show your ID."
Eunseol and I stepped up to the counter and laid down our bracelets for the juvenile.
A Hand student bracelet could serve as ID.
A holographic card with our profiles projected out from the bracelets.
Song Minseok scanned it and said,
"Your client registration is complete, so now—"
"Guildmaster! There's a visitor...!"
Suddenly, the employee at the entrance ran up to the second floor.
The sight of him dashing busily made Song Minseok frown.
"Why the fuss? The customers are right here."
"No, not them... it's The One."
"The One?"
"The one who helped us oust the previous Guildmaster..."
As soon as he heard that, Song Minseok was startled.
While he was trying to figure out who it was, a man started coming upstairs.
"Nice to see you, Minseok. Have you been well?"
A middle-aged man in a suit walked over and spoke.
Song Minseok welcomed him and shook his hand.
"Attorney, it's been so long."
"Has it? We just spoke on the phone recently."
"Yeah, but that was just over the phone. How long has it been since we've met face to face like this?"
His face seemed familiar.
Soon I remembered where I had seen him.
It was Choi Seungjin, the current parliamentary candidate and attorney.
I'd heard from my father that he was an old friend of his.
"Hm? You have customers?"
"Yes, business is good, and customers are up."
"Looks like things have changed completely since school days."
"If you hadn't defended me back then, I never would've succeeded like this."
Song Minseok came out from behind the counter and hugged Choi Seungjin.
"You were the only adult who gave me an 'opportunity' back then."
I could tell the two knew each other.
It seemed Choi Seungjin was involved in Song Minseok's school days.
'And he called it an 'opportunity'?'
My dad once told me about Choi Seungjin.
He used to work as a juvenile rights attorney, defending troubled youth.
So now I could guess what their relationship was, and what sort of a school life Song Minseok had.
Roughly, at least.
'So that's why I felt off about him.'
Back then, Song Minseok was rescued by Choi Seungjin's legal defense and given an "opportunity".
If he'd changed his ways and become a blacksmith for real, it would make sense.
But looking at him now, selling shoddy goods with inflated prices, makes me doubt he's truly changed at all.
As expected, people don't change easily.
"Hm?"
Just then, Choi Seungjin's eyes met those of the juvenile.
The boy immediately shrank back, like a frog seeing a snake.
"Seungcheol, are you getting used to life here?"
"Yes..."
Hearing his question, the juvenile quietly nodded.
Then he covered the back of his aching thigh with his hand.