221. Aurora Skal (1)
#221
The griffon which was circling slowly landed. The runway carved out of the glacier was shining a soft white color. Ronan got off first pounding the floor with her feet.
“Wow it’s really ice.”
Even when she stepped on it herself she couldn’t believe it. I was just wondering how he came up with such a crazy idea. After stroking the griffon’s head once he held out his hand to Adeshan.
“Now get down.”
“Thank you so much….”
Adeshan hesitated and took Ronan’s hand. It was a small act of kindness that was usually done but it felt different than before. Ronan seeing her with her head down asked worriedly.
“What where does it hurt?”
“Uh no. just.”
Ade Shan looked away from her and shook her head. She couldn’t make eye contact.
She was happy and embarrassed but also a little intimidated. Unlike herself who still felt like her face was about to explode Ronan’s demeanor was as nonchalant as her usual self. She is the one who did such a thing.
‘You’ve definitely dated a lot of people other than me.’
Even though she knew she couldn’t help it she felt a little resentful. Until now I’ve never had a crush let alone a relationship. Of course Ronan was going through his own difficulties.
She said ‘Miss you’re in big trouble.’
Once she started to become conscious she continued to look pretty. She was pretending to be calm but in fact she was in this state right after the kiss. In a way she was more serious about this as Ronan had never felt her love for someone of the opposite sex in her two lives in the first place.
If she was of the same mind she was a blacksmith and all and she wanted to check out the feel of each other’s lips but she couldn’t. She needed to divert her attention to something else. He took a deep breath to control her emotions and looked around.
“Anyway where should I go?”
There was no entrance or exit visible on the vast ice plain. It is clear that there is a blacksmith shop inside as the regular sound of hammering is heard from underfoot. Ade Shan barely raised her head and opened her mouth.
“Let’s take a look around. “It might take a little while…”
“yes. “That would be nice.”
Ronan nodded her head. She had to find the entrance quickly to keep the griffon from freezing to death. Suddenly a man’s loud voice came from behind the two people.
“What are you a guest?”
“ok?”
For some reason it was a voice I was familiar with. Ronan and Adeshan turned around almost simultaneously. About twenty steps away a large man who was one head taller than them was standing in short sleeves.
“Are you…?”
“This is such a voyage you’re lucky to find this place.”
The giant muttered as if in admiration. He was holding a large bucket in each hand. It seemed like we ran into each other by chance while working rather than going to meet him. He continued.
“It’s cold here. “I will guide you to the entrance so follow me.”
It was a kind attitude that contrasted with his harsh impression. It was the car that the giant was about to turn away from. Ronan who was studying him closely raised his eyebrows.
“Wait a minute aren’t you Didican?”
“What is that name…?”
He glanced at Ronan and dropped the bucket. Hollow! A clear liquid of unknown purpose poured out. The giant’s eyes grew so big that they seemed to pop out.
“Oh my god Ronan?”
“Of course it’s true.”
It became clearer when I saw his panic. The identity of the giant was Didican a werewolf blacksmith who worked in Gran Cappadocia. A geek who created a machine that turns moments into eternity.
“How long has it been since this? “I heard at first glance that you came back from Haeju.”
“It’s been a little over two years. “You’ve grown a nice beard.”
“Haha it suits you right? “It’s been a while since the girl next to me.”
“Hot hello…!”
Adeshan who was dumbfounded bowed and greeted. Didican whom I met for the first time in a while was in human form.
He had grown a thick beard which made his originally harsh appearance appear to have softened somewhat. It was truly a strange reunion. Ronan tapped his arm.
“Why are you here anyway? What about Gran Cappadocia and Old Man Doron?”
“I sent that theory because I thought it would be a good study. Without changing his expression he told me to study for two or three years. What is the sense of time of a truly long-lived race?”
Didi Khan shook his head as if he was fed up. However judging by the smile on his face it didn’t seem like he was particularly dissatisfied. He grabbed the bucket and turned around.
“Just follow me. “I will guide you to our teacher.”
“Master?”
“okay. The blacksmith who teaches me here is truly amazing. “Give me the reins.”
“Oh yeah.”
Ronan did so. Didican who was handed the reins of the griffon took a step forward. Two people followed suit.
Because it was so wide I had to walk longer than I expected. The night sea bathed in polar lights was beautiful. The sound of waves crashing could still be heard beneath the colorful dance of light.
Only after they reached one end of the glacier did they discover a stone road downhill. From here you could often meet people who looked like blacksmiths or workers but unlike Gran Cappadocia which was mainly dwarves most of them were humans. Didican who had been chatting with Ronan for a long time asked in surprise.
“What was it you who saved us?! Then what about killing Jager?”
“Jiger was killed by someone other than me. He was a pathetic bastard but he ended well.”
“I can’t believe it. Now that I think about it I heard that two humans saved us but I never thought it was you…”
Didi Khan stuttered his words. The number of artisans kidnapped by Jager’s subordinates was approximately 30%.
The remaining people of Aurora Skaar held a sit-in war for about a month or two with the doors tightly locked but the blacksmith shop was said to be in operation even during that time. Because I knew that I would not be able to penetrate this glacial fortress anyway. Didican said in a somewhat excited voice.
“If that’s true you guys are heroes. “I don’t know how to thank you for this.”
“Thanks only for making good equipment.”
“No problem. Don’t worry I’ll tell you that well. “Oh please take care of this here.”
Suddenly Didican handed over the reins of the griffon to a young man he met at a crossroads. The young man accepted the reins with skillful movements. He looked at the back of the griffon and opened his mouth.
“Don’t worry about the griffon. “Our stables are as well-insulated as our lodgings.”
“But when I look at it later it doesn’t mean it’s frozen chicken.”
“Hahaha depending on your constitution you might sweat even if you sleep in short sleeves. “Now we are here.”
Didican who had been walking for a while finally stopped. The stone gate which seemed to be embedded in the glacier was high and wide enough for prisoners to enter without bowing their heads.
When I opened the stone gate a fairly long passage appeared. With each step he took the sound of hammers getting closer. As soon as I left the passage Aurora Skaarl’s true appearance unfolded before my eyes.
“Then welcome to Aurora Skal the world’s only mobile blacksmith shop.”
Didican said in a triumphant voice. The mouths of the two people who followed opened their mouths. Adeshan who had been quiet the whole time let out an exclamation.
“Wow….”
“That’s amazing.”
Ronan also nodded his head in approval. There was a wide space comparable to the grand banquet hall of the imperial palace. Of course it wasn’t that flashy but it had its own rugged charm.
The floor walls ceiling and pillars…most of the elements that made up the interior were made of bluish ice. It was no different from a battleship carved out of glacier. People were walking around and talking loudly.
“Hey bring me some condensed water!”
“We need to feed the light before this polar lights end. “Hurry up!”
“What happened to the weapon the man in black requested?”
It was much warmer than outside but it was still absolutely cold so they were still wearing thick fur clothes.
Just by looking at it it was busy and gave me a similar impression to Gran Cappadocia. The difference is that even though it is night it is as lively as during the day and that words that you would not hear in a typical blacksmith shop are often used. Ronan tilted his head.
“What is condensing water?”
“It is a liquid applied to metal and equipment to smoothly absorb the power of the polar light. Why did I spill something earlier? Adding light refers to the entire act of moving equipment outside and applying light-concentrating water.”
“Aha…I see.”
Ronan’s eyebrows furrowed. Despite the friendly explanation I couldn’t quite understand what was being said. Didi Khan who was guiding the two suddenly wrapped her hand and shouted.
“Hey where’s Katan?”
“Katan?”
Perhaps because he was a prisoner he definitely had a good voice. One of the workers who were talking in small groups turned his head and answered.
“Workroom 3. “Are the two people behind you guests?”
“okay. But they are not just guests they are the heroes who saved Aurora Skaarl. “It is thanks to these two that the colleagues kidnapped by Jager were released.”
“What?”
The workers turned around all at once. Everyone seemed to have a lot of questions but Didican ignored them and walked on.
“It would be better to finish the IK request and have a conversation. “It’s all chatter.”
“I think that would be better.”
Ronan nodded. They crossed the square passed several stairs and hallways and arrived at a room. There was a large sign on the wall that said Studio 3.
The space carved out of the glacier was as large as three large blacksmith shops placed together. The first thing that caught my eye was a furnace made of ice and a blue flame flickering within it.
“It is a flame that blooms when a special ore is used as fuel. “It’s much hotter than a normal fire.”
Didican explained even though there were no questions. It was surprising that the ice did not melt despite the extreme heat. Five or six craftsmen were doing their own work around the furnace.
Some people used hammering while others hardened the sword body by driving it into ice after it had just been taken out of the furnace. Didi Khan approached one of them a woman who was looking at the brazier with her arms crossed.
“Master.”
Didican called but there was no answer. She was wearing bold clothing with wide pants and a top that only covered her breasts.
But she didn’t seem particularly sensual which she attributed to her hair being short like a man’s and her forearms just as thick as her own. Her muscle-covered back was tattooed with a Wen Dragon.
‘That’s amazing.’
Even if I threw it on the battlefield without a weapon it seemed like it would just catch about 10 people. Even just looking at her her fists looked spicy which made me understand why Didi Khan who used to treat Doron so carelessly treated her with such deference. Didican embarrassed cleared his throat.
“Hmm Master. I brought her guests.”
“Is it Didican? “A guest?”
“yes. He said he was looking for the most skilled blacksmith in Aurora Skal. “They are also the benefactors who cleared away Jager’s soldiers.”
“What?”
Only then did the woman turn her body. Marya also showed off her abs that would have to be folded. Compared to her wild body her facial features were quite beautiful. Didi Khan continued pointing to her woman.
“Ronan this is my teacher Katan. “He is the best blacksmith in Aurora Skal.”
“I won’t deny it. “By the way these little guys saved us?”
“yes. therefore…”
The woman called Katan coolly admitted that she was the best blacksmith. Didican briefly explained the truth of the incident he heard from Ronan. She looked at Ronan and Adeshan in turn and let out a small exclamation.
“Huh I guess that’s definitely true. “You still look young but you have this much energy… Please forgive me for calling you a brat just based on your appearance.”
“are you okay. “I was quick to apologize and I was used to being treated like that.”
“Thank you. As I heard from Didican my name is Katan. “First of all I would like to sincerely thank her for saving her colleagues.”
Katan expressed his gratitude and offered to shake hands. Ronan who held hands without thinking was shocked. It felt like I was touching tree bark not a human hand. It was because of the extremely stubborn calluses and scars.
‘There was reason for confidence.’
Ronan laughed. With just this one handshake I was able to get some idea of Catan’s level. He was a blacksmith with incredible skills. she said
“Okay now tell me what business you came for. “Seeing as you came at this time I don’t think it’s a normal situation.”
“It’s nothing in particular…but let’s start with this.”
Suddenly Ronan who had been rummaging through her inner pocket handed her one of her luxurious envelopes. It was a letter of recommendation handwritten by the elders of the Sword Festival. Katan who was reading the recommendation letter whistled.
“Wow this is the first recommendation I’ve seen in a while. “This is the first time I’ve seen the old people of Heiran give such high praise.”
“What does it say?”
“It’s a sight. “I’m sure you’ll feel flattered when you see it so try reading it on days when you feel like your self-esteem is low.”
Katan giggled. It seemed like it was written with a certain amount of gratitude. I gave her recommendation letter back and she took her word.
“I’m going to have to work really hard at this. “It’s almost time for the black man to arrive so we’ll start as soon as he leaves.”
“Black man?”
“okay. There are always customers who come around this time. “I saw earlier that the weapon he requested has finally been completed so let’s just start by handing it over.”
Ronan shrugged his eyebrows at the inexplicable sound. It was the car he was trying to say something. An indescribably ominous and powerful energy flashed behind me.
“What the fuck?”
The hairs on her entire body stood up at the same time. A feeling of intimidation that one could never feel in everyday life was weighing on his shoulders.
“Are you okay?”
“Ronan? what’s the matter?”
Adeshan and Katan tilted their heads. The craftsmen were continuing their work just fine. After catching her breath Ronan opened her mouth.
“…Are you two okay?”
“Huh…? what?”
It seemed like no one else except him felt anything. Even so there was something strange about Katan that the sensitive Adeshan could not sense. At that time an unfamiliar voice came from behind Ronan.
【Hey have I requested it yet?】
