Chapter 95 – Hwang Min-Su (4)
For several days a constant hammering sound rang in Gi-Gyu’s basement. Thanks to the soundproof barrier his mother and sister didn’t hear it from upstairs; unfortunately he couldn’t avoid the incessant noise with his sensitive player ears.
Clang!
Gi-Gyu quickly became sick of the continuous bangs and clangs and went to the basement. Min-Su was sculpting something out of the stone coffin; the boy honestly had terrific stamina and power as he kept hammering the coffin day in day out.
‘Isn’t sculpting done with a hammer and a chisel?’?Gi-Gyu thought in confusion. Surprisingly Min-Su managed to shape the coffin using just the hammer making Gi-Gyu doubt his knowledge. However he soon realized that Min-Su was just unique.
.
Gi-Gyu watched as Min-Su split the stone coffin in half shaping it delicately without a chisel. Watching Min-Su work was like watching a magic show: Every time he brought down the hammer the coffin broke exactly how and where he wanted.
-It’s because he’s Paimon’s descendant.
When Lou explained Gi-Gyu asked “Sounds like you were fond of Paimon?”
Usually when Lou talked about the other demons including Baal Gi-Gyu could tell Lou didn’t like them. However Lou seemingly had a sort of affection toward Paimon.
-He was one of the few demons that didn’t betray me.
“Hmm.” Gi-Gyu didn’t reply since he could hear the longing for his old life in Lou’s voice.
Clang!
The hammer went down again and Gi-Gyu continued watching Min-Su work.
***
“I might end up being arrested for child abuse” Gi-Gyu muttered. Indeed if someone saw Min-Su right now Gi-Gyu would be reported to the police for possible child abuse. Currently Min-Su was sleeping on Gi-Gyu’s lap; the week-long hammering had given him blisters and mild fever.
Gi-Gyu tried his best to stop the boy but Min-Su refused to take a break. The kid had actually created a weak barrier around him to gently push Gi-Gyu away. Realizing this was what Min-Su needed and wanted Gi-Gyu stayed away.
The result was Min-Su sleeping with uneven breathing on Gi-Gyu’s lap.
“Maybe I should’ve tried harder to stop him” Gi-Gyu muttered feeling guilty. Admittedly a part of why he didn’t try harder was selfishness. He remembered what Old Man Hwang told him before his death and wanted to see if it was true.
“Min-Su will become a blacksmith much more powerful than me.”
He felt apologetic for his selfishness but when he turned toward Min-Su’s work it reminded him he had made the right choice. Studying the coffin’s new shape in awe Gi-Gyu whispered “It was all meant to be.”
Just as Old Man Hwang claimed Min-Su had a great potential to be an excellent blacksmith. One may wonder how being a good sculptor translated to becoming a good blacksmith but Gi-Gyu knew better. The stone coffin barely took any damage from the giant magic explosion back then but Min-Su shaped it into something utterly different. What was it if not raw talent?
“I wonder if potions would work on him.” Gi-Gyu reached toward Brunheart’s gate and a skeleton walked out and handed him several potion bottles politely. Needless to say Gi-Gyu was now using his gate as a bag.
“Thanks Hart” When Gi-Gyu thanked the lich the monster replied.
-I am always at your command… Grandmaster…
Gi-Gyu closed the gate and picked up the potion. Min-Su’s aura was utterly different from players so he knew Min-Su wasn’t a player for certain. However Min-Su entered the Tower a place only players could enter and sculpted the stone coffin. So he knew it was worth a try.
Shwaaa…
After Min-Su gulped a few drops his face became less pale. Encouraged Gi-Gyu poured the same potion on Min-Su’s damaged hands.
“It’s working!” The potion was visibly healing Min-Su.
“Mmm… Dad?” Min-Su slowly opened his eyes and mumbled.
“Are you awake Min-Su?”
“Ye… yeah” Min-Su replied weakly.
“You must be hungry huh?”
“Uhm” When Min-Su murmured Gi-Gyu promised “Let’s just finish this part and we’ll get you some food.”
The potions relieved Min-Su’s fatigue so he remained awake. Patting the boy’s head Gi-Gyu lifted Min-Su. Since the little boy worked so hard for him it was now time for him to reward Gi-Gyu.
“In what order should I go about this?” Gi-Gyu murmured as he walked toward the sculpture. The sculpture was glowing brightly gleaming on Gi-Gyu’s face.
When Gi-Gyu stood in front of it Min-Su asked weakly “Dad… What are you going to do with it?”
With a smile Gi-Gyu raised his hand to summon the status screen. He announced “Combination. Hwang Ji-Chul’s fragment. Ego fragment.”
Old Man Hwang’s real name was Hwang Ji-Chul. The sub-material Gi-Gyu chose for the Combination was an Ego fragment. Old Man Hwang’s egofication had failed back then but…
“I know it won’t be perfect but close to perfect is possible” Gi-Gyu murmured with hope. After spending hours studying this process with Baal they had come up with the best possible solution.
Golden pieces appeared from Lou and Gi-Gyu and mixed into one in midair. Watching this process intently Gi-Gyu ordered “Nine!”
A skeleton soldier exited Brunheart’s gate and handed Gi-Gyu a sword glowing in dark and murky green light. While the golden pieces of light mixed there was something Nine needed to do.
Now in his sword form Lou clashed into Nine followed by a system announcement.
[Hwang Ji-Chul’s fragment is being accepted by Nine.]
Then Lou let Nine absorb his stats despite being capable of absorbing Nine itself. It was a controlled process; once Nine had absorbed a bit of Lou’s stats Gi-Gyu stabbed it into the giant golden light storm.
“Ugh.” Gi-Gyu groaned from the pressure. The energy Nine absorbed left the sword and was absorbed into the mixture of golden lights.
Admiring Min-Su murmured “It looks so pretty.”
The unexpected strain this process put on Gi-Gyu made him sweat bullets; however it was just a beautiful scene with firefly-like particles and intense lights to Min-Su.
Gi-Gyu couldn’t tell how much time had passed when he heard the sudden system announcements.
[Combination was a success.]
[Hwang Ji-Chul’s fragment has transformed into Ego Hwang Ji-Chul.]
“It worked.” Finally his day-long discussions had yielded successful results: He had succeeded in turning a fragment into an Ego.
***
Gi-Gyu wanted to stay and complete the rest of the process but he couldn’t because of Min-Su. The potions healed the boy physically but they weren’t enough to treat Min-Su’s psyche. Min-Su collapsed after watching the beautiful mix of lights for a few minutes.
When Gi-Gyu brought Min-Su upstairs Yoo-Jung glared at him and accused “Oppa what have you done?!” Gi-Gyu only scratched his head awkwardly failing to find an excuse.
While Min-Su slept soundly in Gi-Gyu’s bed Gi-Gyu’s mother suggested “How about we give Min-Su a room?”
When Gi-Gyu first introduced Min-Su to his mother he briefly explained the boy’s situation. He told his mother that Min-Su had lost his family and because he knew the boy’s grandfather he decided to take care of the now orphaned child.
They had plenty of rooms in their spacious home but Gi-Gyu shook his head after hearing his mother’s suggestion. “Not yet. I want to observe his situation for a bit longer Mother.”
“Hmm… I don’t know what you’re waiting for but please don’t take too long. Even a child needs his own space” Su-Jin said with a nod.
“All right.” Gi-Gyu had already thought of giving Min-Su a room; for now he needed more time to think.
“Mmmm…” When Min-Su moaned Su-Jin patted his head and asked “Oh are you awake Min-Su?”
“Grandma?”
“Hahaha” Su-Jin chuckled.
Grumble.
Hearing Min-Su’s stomach growl Su-Jin quickly stood up and announced “Let’s get some food into you. How could you stop eating for a week silly boy?” action
Yoo-Jung glared at Gi-Gyu who sighed “Haa…”
There were believable excuses; then there were facts that sounded like excuses.?Gi-Gyu knew no one would believe Min-Su had stopped eating of his own volition let alone his family.
***
Tae-Shik clenched his fists; his palm bled as his nails dug into his flesh. “I can’t believe this.”
“Kim Tae-Oh’s family was starving to death and they didn’t know where Kim Tae-Oh was either.” Sung-Hoon’s face was filled with rage as he reported to Tae-Shik.
While investigating Kim Tae-Oh’s whereabouts Sung-Hoon learned about his family’s situation: They were in dire straits after Kim Tae-Oh joined the Caravan Guild.
Tae-Oh’s family situation was similar to Gi-Gyu’s old life: A family of three with an unwell mother and a younger sibling. His family had been waiting for Kim Tae-Oh’s return all this time. They were living their last days; thankfully the association found them.
“All right… Just help them get on their feet” Tae-Shik ordered bitterly. The guilt was crushing him.
“Of course” Sung-Hoon replied with a nod and left the room.
After learning about Andras Tae-Shik knew this demon brainwashed Caravan players never to leave the guild. Consequently all Caravan players suddenly disappeared abandoning their families. The families of financially stable players survived but families like Tae-Oh’s waited for their loved ones till death.
A crimson flash of anger appeared in Tae-Shik’s eyes. “You better not underestimate us humans.”
Their hunt for the Caravan Guild had just begun. Lucifer and Baal were out hunting which meant Tae-Shik could no longer stay idle. It was time for him to make his move as well.
***
After Min-Su recovered he returned to the basement. Of course Gi-Gyu went with him.
Min-Su asked “Dad what will you do today? Will I get to see the pretty lights again?”
“Well… I don’t think it will be pretty but you’ll see something important” Gi-Gyu patted Min-Su’s head and replied. Due to the stone sculpture’s shape he was certain Min-Su would be ecstatic to see what was about to come.
‘I guess Min-Su’s subconscious made him shape the sculpture after his grandfather.’
When Gi-Gyu first saw the final result he couldn’t hide his shock. The stone coffin had transformed into a sculpture that looked exactly like Old Man Hwang. It looked like a younger and stronger version but there was no mistake that it was Hwang Ji-Chul in a stone form. It shone with golden light looking otherworldly.
Gi-Gyu said to Min-Su “You really are an incredible blacksmith.”
“Hehehe.”
Gi-Gyu still couldn’t believe how a sculpture not a weapon could shine like an Ego. Old Man Hwang alluded that Min-Su would be Gi-Gyu’s greatest asset; now it was time for him to give the little boy a gift.
Gi-Gyu placed his hand on the sculpture’s chest and announced “Sync.”
Based on Baal’s calculation Gi-Gyu’s shell could still accept a few more Egos.
[You have successfully synced.]
The sculpture wasn’t a full-fledged Ego; it was just a fragment. With how far Gi-Gyu had come no Ego fragment would refuse to sync with him. A bright light appeared along with the status screen but Gi-Gyu dismissed it and shouted “Grant!”
He selected Hwang Ji-Chul as the Ego…
The man known as Old Man Hwang…
The greatest blacksmith Gi-Gyu knew.
Fwooosh!
The blacksmith’s Ego entered the sculpture with a blinding flash.
