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Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 35

Chapter 35: Those Left Behind (4)

Chapter 35: Those Left Behind (4)

Swish.

Yu Jeong-yeong received the sword.

Carefully lifting the sword, he began to examine it closely with a sharp gaze.

‘First of all, the base is very similar to an old F-rank longsword…….’

This is a blacksmith’s workshop.

Naturally, they were knowledgeable about the items they handled. However, unlike its similar appearance, the sharpness of the sword was terrifyingly great. A flashing sharp energy. It felt like ordinary people’s skin would be sliced off if it touched them. It was impossible to think of it as the same item, so he immediately checked its stats.

“Huh?”

E-rank.

First of all, the rank was different.

That part could be considered as just a different item, but the surprising point was the special effect.

‘A special effect on an E-rank item?’

It wasn’t common.

Items sometimes have special effects, but those below D-rank mostly just function as simple weapons. Of course, there are exceptions for items obtained in special environments, but this item with a special effect in front of him was clearly in the category of ‘exception’. Moreover, if it was a bleeding effect. It could practically be considered the best ability at E-rank.

His mind became complicated.

If it was simply said that such an item exists, he would accept it, but the problem was that Kang San had done something to the item.

Especially since the sharp blade had the creator’s intention, Yu Jeong-yeong could put forth a hypothesis.

‘That person spent a week in this workshop, focused solely on the sword. Then, the result in front of me can be interpreted as the result of his hard work, not an item purchased from the Item Market. What did he do? It wasn’t the usual work of improving durability. He didn’t melt down the mana stones needed for the work, nor did he follow the typical work pattern. It’s hard to believe it was originally like this, as a craftsman myself, I can read the satisfaction in his eyes. Then…….’

Really.

It was just a hypothesis.

The hypothesis that the ability of the item might have originated from Kang San.

He couldn’t believe that the F-rank had been upgraded to E-rank, but there was room to accept the possibility that he might have added a special effect by sharpening it. Of course, it deviates from common sense. Even Yu Jeong-yeong wouldn’t have had such an absurd thought if he hadn’t witnessed the work process himself.

Craftsmen know.

Through the work.

What the craftsman is trying to say.

This sword, brimming with the purpose of the sword, was clearly the result of Kang San’s work.

He couldn’t say exactly what it was, but he was certain that something had happened.

Yu Jeong-yeong said.

“By any chance, this sword. Can you tell me how it was made?”

Once again.

He crossed the line.

If he heard the process, he would be able to understand the result.

The answer that came back was, of course.

“Impossible.”

A refusal.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

There is common sense in the world.

It is common sense that a blacksmith’s skill cannot imbue an item with any ‘ability’.

In that respect, Yu Jeong-yeong was amazing.

He asked about the work process because he had guessed the realm of the extraordinary, not the standard of common sense, based on the sword’s familiar appearance and the way it was crafted. It showed the years he had spent working in blacksmithing. If he hadn’t spent a long time here, he wouldn’t have reacted so curiously to Kang San’s results.

Yu Jeong-yeong’s experience.

He acknowledged it.

But.

‘That doesn’t mean he’ll tell me the method.’

The result of the creation.

It was a revolution.

The fact that humans, not magic, can directly enhance the abilities of an item, he couldn’t even begin to imagine what possibilities it could lead to. Think about it. Even a D-rank item costs over 10 million won in cash. But if Kang San could buy a D-rank weapon and add special effects like this, its value would surely increase by at least twice the initial purchase price.

A tremendous privilege.

He couldn’t share it.

Nevertheless, the reason he showed it was because he wanted to hear the evaluation of the work from a craftsman’s perspective.

Thanks to that, he gained certainty.

The certainty that this was a tremendous achievement.

At Kang San’s refusal, Yu Jeong-yeong said urgently.

“If you’re worried about the leak of the technique, we can draw up a ‘Scroll Contract’. I guarantee that the technique will never be leaked through me. I just want to confirm the possibilities I saw in this sword. As you know, the work I do isn’t well-regarded. It’s simply the work of restoring durability, and there’s no room to change anything. But if you’ve added something special to this sword, I sincerely want to learn. It’s okay if I don’t have ownership of the result of the technique. I just want to see that there’s a new possibility in what I do.”

He was sincere.

Kang San stared intently at Yu Jeong-yeong.

Was it really a coincidence that Yu Jeong-yeong happened to see his work, that he inherited the blacksmithing business from his family, and that his crafting skill happened to have the special ability of ‘Transmission’? Just as he had to accept the karma of the Blood Demon, perhaps the threads of fate had led to this encounter.

Scroll Contract.

If the terms of the contract were specified there, Yu Jeong-yeong’s proposal couldn’t be seen as a loss.

‘What I gained is only the possibility of a new world. My technical skills in direct crafting are significantly lacking. If the blacksmith’s skills and the new crafting techniques are combined, wouldn’t the sword I created be able to bloom with even greater stats?’

If that were possible.

It would be an ideal outcome.

Since Kang San couldn’t make blacksmithing his profession, someone needed to invest time in his stead.

Even so.

He couldn’t readily accept it.

“I have a condition.”

“I’ll do anything.”

“From now on, one week. Within a week, show me a sword you made yourself. Even if it’s not an ‘item’ as this world calls it, I’ll evaluate it solely on its value as a sword made of steel. If your skills as a blacksmith meet my expectations, I’ll seriously consider your proposal.”

That was enough.

An opportunity that came despite his persistence.

Yu Jeong-yeong replied energetically.

“Understood. I’ll see you in a week.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

The next day.

Yu Jeong-yeong immediately took a leave of absence.

Since he was usually a diligent worker, the blacksmith master grumbled but granted him the leave.

And he rented a private workshop.

In a situation where there was no mountain of work piled up, no sense of obligation to meet quotas, Yu Jeong-yeong stroked the anvil and was overwhelmed with a strange feeling.

‘There was a time when I really enjoyed this.’

To something that was nothing.

Giving it new value.

It was truly thrilling.

When he completed a magnificent sword or armor, the new value that the result brought gave him immense satisfaction. He remembered having aspirations until he became an adult. During the time when he couldn’t awaken as a Hunter and was looking for a job, he realized the harsh reality that his skills were useless. For the first 10 years, he seemed to have struggled to prove himself, but he accepted the harsh reality in the face of criticism that his work was nothing more than scrap metal compared to items.

In his late 30s.

Now, he worked like a machine.

There was no room for development, no hope for the future in his life, and he had no desire to put in more effort.

But now.

The situation had changed.

He didn’t know what kind of magic Kang San had used, but even a glimmer of hope made his heart pound.

“……Right. This is who I was. Even though I knew I was being looked down upon, this is why I couldn’t leave this place.”

Grip.

He clenched the hammer.

His parents, who had passed away.

When he recalled his memories, the image of his father placing the hammer in his hand was vivid.

When he went out of the workshop, sweating profusely, the image of his mother handing him ice-cold water was truly lovely.

Aspiration boiled within him.

Even with just the possibility of change.

Yu Jeong-yeong’s eyes sparkled with life.

The future hadn’t changed.

Reality was still a mess.

But at least.

‘I’ll prove that I’m the best blacksmith, in terms of skill.’

Kang San’s proposal.

He had no intention of failing it.

And so.

Flare.

Whoosh.

As if Yu Jeong-yeong’s aspirations were burning, a hot flame rose in the furnace.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

The week he promised Yu Jeong-yeong.

Kang San investigated Yu Jeong-yeong during that time.

The reason he didn’t give him a definite answer was that a person’s essence was the most important, regardless of the outcome.

He immediately commissioned a private investigator.

In this day and age, it was no big deal to find out someone’s past just by knowing their workplace and name.

『Yu Jeong-yeong』

━ Age: 38

━ Notable details: Born in Incheon. His parents ran a typical blacksmith’s workshop, but lost them to a Link incident when Yu Jeong-yeong was in middle school. He was sent to an orphanage immediately after and has been there ever since…….

It was a common story.

Just like Kang San’s parents and Yeon Woo-bin’s mother, this hellish world took the lives of innocent people. Yu Jeong-yeong was a victim just like Kang San. He lost his parents and lived in an orphanage, and continued to work as a blacksmith to carry on the only legacy his parents left him. In fact, according to the information, Yu Jeong-yeong in his 20s was a challenging person, but since the orphanage he was in was struggling financially, he needed to earn money. So he joined Iron Blacksmith and sent most of his regular salary to the orphanage.

‘He’s an amazing person. He had no obligation to take responsibility for the orphanage children.’

He’s already thirty-eight.

While he was grateful for the kindness shown by the orphanage, it was rare to see someone still showing responsibility.

Yu Jeong-yeong was different.

He considered the orphanage director who took him in as his parents, and treated the younger siblings he met there like his real family. Even though he lost his dreams and worked like a cog in a machine, repeating the same tasks. The reason he didn’t complain about reality and worked diligently was because he knew that the money he earned gave hope to his orphanage family.

The information was extensive.

The more he examined Yu Jeong-yeong’s life in detail, the more he realized that he had lived a life very similar to his own.

‘Actually, this is a typical life. Only a few are privileged to awaken as Hunters and live in a new world, and most, like me, like Yu Jeong-yeong, have to endure an unfortunate life day by day. Because they’re alive. Because they can’t die. The media talks about a bright future as a Hunter every day, but the reality is that the left behind also have to keep on living.’

It was the shadow of life.

Those who were born with special abilities from the beginning would have found that the misfortune of this world brought them wealth and fame.

They are a part.

A minority.

The majority were like him.

Like Yu Jeong-yeong.

Perhaps the phrase ‘not normal’ would be more appropriate for ‘Hunters’ than for people like himself.

‘At least there’s no problem with his character. If he’s someone who lived well without going astray in an unfortunate environment, there shouldn’t be any particular problems related to the contract. Even though the Scroll Contract restricts his words and actions, there are variables in dealing with people that can’t be controlled solely by a contract.’

He passed.

If there were any disqualifying factors in his life, Kang San had no intention of accepting Yu Jeong-yeong, no matter how skilled he was. It’s always people who are the problem. Just as Kang San had almost died against a mere F-rank monster because he followed an incompetent mage, he knew that the person himself was the most important thing.

Then.

Now, the important part was skill.

He had to confirm whether he was someone who could create a scissor effect with his own skills, something Kang San lacked.

A week passed quickly.

On the promised day.

Kang San visited the blacksmith’s workshop as promised.


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(🇰🇷)Blood Demon of the Past Life

🇰🇷)Blood Demon of the Past Life

Status: Ongoing Author: Released: 2024 Native Language: Korean
Kang San is the unluckiest man alive. Orphaned at a young age by monsters, betrayed by his relatives, and cursed with a talentless F-rank Hunter rating, misfortune seems to follow him everywhere. But everything changes when a mysterious messenger reveals a shocking truth: Kang San is the reincarnation of the Blood Demon, a legendary murderer whose karma now plagues his life. Offered a chance to atone through trials and tribulations, Kang San is granted Azmoon's blessing, a system that bestows powerful skills and stat boosts upon completing dangerous quests.

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