Chapter 51

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter 51: Blaga’s Gift (1)

After returning to the Hyukcheon Clan, Kwon Hanul was bedridden for some time.

The aftermath of using Vassal Bloodline multiple times was still not over.

“Great power comes at a cost.”

It was something he’d heard in a superhero movie long ago—but he never imagined he’d experience it firsthand.

“I didn’t think I’d pay for it with my body.”

A few days later, once his body had recovered, he began researching Thunder Step.

Normally, Memory Pages couldn’t be used unless certain conditions were met. Fortunately, that problem was solved by Genius Bloodline.

<‘Genius Bloodline’ interprets the Memory Page.>

<Skill ‘Thunder Step’ acquired.>

<However, since conditions are not met, the skill cannot be used.>

The Memory Page shattered, and he succeeded in acquiring Thunder Step.

But acquiring it wasn’t the end. He still had to analyze it and adapt it for his own use.

Just imagining the work ahead made his mind reel.

“Lord Kwon Hanul, may I enter?”

With a knock, Joo Hayun entered the room, carrying a box roughly the size of a basketball in her arms.

“This is White Soil sent by Lord Kwon Jiseok.”

Exactly one week had passed since he returned to the Hyukcheon Clan. As promised, Kwon Jiseok delivered the gift.

“Now all that’s left is to get the Golden Apple.”

“It won’t be easy. It requires immense dedication and care.”

“With S-rank stats within reach, that level of effort is worth it.”

Grinning from ear to ear, Kwon Hanul opened the box. As its name suggested, it was filled with fine, pure white soil.

“Huh?”

Curiously, a sheet of paper was placed atop the White Soil.

-Use it well.

This was unlike Kwon Jiseok. For him to go out of his way like this, there had to be a reason.

Now that the White Soil was in hand, only one problem remained.

“Is Master Park Tae-sik still busy?”

“Unfortunately, it seems so.”

He had hoped to repair Aryongtae for the next battle, but the master craftsman Park Tae-sik, its creator, kept replying that he was too busy.

It wasn’t hard to understand. Park Tae-sik was already renowned, and people inside and outside the clan constantly sought him out.

“Guess I’ve no choice but to wait.”

After a month of waiting, Kwon Hanul finally managed to schedule a meeting.

When he arrived at Park Tae-sik’s workshop—

“Why won’t you take my order?”

“I’m not so free that I have time to make things for a brat like you.”

“Watch your mouth, Master Park. My patience has limits.”

“Brat. Your threats are just as pathetic as your skills.”

Kwon Hanul arrived to see Park Tae-sik in a shouting match with another blood relative of the clan.

“Let’s hear it. What’s your problem with me?”

“You’re beneath my standards. Go home and drink some more of your mama’s milk.”

“…I told you to watch your mouth.”

The man’s face flushed red and blue. Though still restraining himself, he looked ready to explode.

“Watch my mouth? Screw off. You’re not even worth dealing with.”

The issue was that Master Park Tae-sik wasn’t someone who knew how to “watch his mouth.”

Craftsmen were known for being eccentric, but Park Tae-sik was on another level.

As the provocations continued, the blood relative’s expression grew more and more dangerous.

Kwon Hanul asked Joo Hayun, “Who is that?”

“That’s Lord Kwon Maru. He’s active in Southeast Asia.”

“Is he a big deal?”

“Absolutely. He’s considered a key figure in the future of Hyukcheon. Already a big name in Southeast Asia.”

Given his status, it made sense he was furious at being treated this way.

Still, Kwon Hanul couldn’t let things spiral. If Park Tae-sik were harmed, it would be a major problem.

“Ahem.”

Kwon Hanul cleared his throat, and both men turned toward him.

Upon seeing him, Park Tae-sik’s face lit up.

“Oh, you’re here? Come on in. You, get lost.”

Waving his hand like swatting a fly, he dismissed Kwon Maru. Kwon Maru glared at Kwon Hanul.

“Who the hell are you to butt in?”

“I have an appointment with Master today.”

“I arrived first. Come back later.”

Kwon Hanul began wondering how to de-escalate this peacefully.

Then, one of Kwon Maru’s companions whispered to him,

“Hyung, that man is Kwon Hanul.”

“…What? That bastard’s the son of the traitor?”

Kwon Maru’s eyes widened, while Kwon Hanul sighed inwardly.

Being called the son of a traitor—he knew it meant trouble was brewing.

“You…”

Sure enough, Kwon Maru’s expression twisted menacingly.

Kwon Hanul braced himself. If a fight broke out, he wouldn’t back down.

But then, Kwon Maru said something unexpected.

“If you have an appointment, then it can’t be helped.”

“…?”

Kwon Hanul was stunned. Why back down so easily?

“I’ll leave for today. Tell the master I’ll visit again.”

Even his companions looked shocked.

“But hyung isn’t this urgent for you? You arrived first…”

“Enough. I won’t tolerate further noise.”

Kwon Maru cut him off coldly.

“And that man is worthy of respect.”

Kwon Hanul felt like he’d been hit with a hammer.

Respect—a word he’d never once heard in this clan.

“Ah, right.”

After walking a few steps, Kwon Maru turned back.

“If you run into the European Branch members, be careful. They don’t seem to think highly of you.”

With that, Kwon Maru and his group left the workshop.

Kwon Hanul looked after him, still surprised.

“That’s a first.”

“Looks like you’ve earned recognition. In Hyukcheon, power dictates everything.”

It was unthinkable how far he’d come since first arriving here.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming in?”

Park Tae-sik barked gruffly. Kwon Hanul quickly followed him inside.

“So, why are you here?”

“I sent someone to inform you. Didn’t you hear?”

“I’m busy. No time to care who’s coming or what they want. Barely have time to remember it all.”

That was Park Tae-sik, through and through.

Kwon Hanul opened a spatial pocket and took out Aryongtae. The once-beautiful gray-scaled armor was now dented and riddled with holes.

“I came to ask for Aryongtae’s repairs… Uwah!”

Suddenly, a hammer came crashing down toward his head. Kwon Hanul barely dodged it.

“W-What are you doing?!”

“What am I doing? WHAT AM I DOOOING? You DARE ruin my masterpiece like this and ask what I’m doing?!”

Master Artisan Park Tae-sik was practically foaming at the mouth as he shouted, his rage so intense it seemed he had lost all sense of reason. His bloodshot eyes blazed with fury.

“Get over here right now! I’m going to make you feel the pain my child suffered firsthand!”

Brandishing his hammer, Park Tae-sik lunged at Kwon Hanul. Just then, two of his apprentices quickly grabbed him from either side.

“M-Master, p-please calm down!”

“Calm down? Don’t worry, I’ll calm down just fine after I smash that brat’s skull in!”

“N-No, you mustn’t!”

Only after quite some time did Park Tae-sik finally regain his composure, exhaling heavy breaths as he spoke.

“Right... weapons are made to be broken. It’s their fate to die in place of their masters.”

Kwon Hanul glanced at Park Tae-sik’s hand. He was still gripping the hammer tightly.

“Who the hell did this to my child... no, to Aryongtae?”

“Someone named Ruyn Aspadam…”

“You let my child be destroyed by some third-rate nobody I’ve never even heard of?!”

“He’s a disciple of the Thunder Lord.”

“…Ah, I see. Well, then, that couldn’t be helped.”

Park Tae-sik lowered the hammer he had raised over his head.

His reaction alone was proof of the Thunder Lord’s incredible reputation.

“So, what do you want me to do about it?”

“Please repair it.”

“That’s not happening.”

“Pardon?”

Without hesitation, Park Tae-sik brought his hammer down on Aryongtae. With a loud crack, the armor split clean in half.

“I told you, didn’t I? It’s already dead. Even if I repair it, it won’t perform like before.”

Kwon Hanul looked down at Aryongtae with a bitter gaze.

To him, the armor wasn’t just equipment. It was the first legendary gear he had ever obtained—and a comrade that had fought through countless deadly battles with him.

In a way, it was also a memento from his father.

“I’ll have to make you a new one. Honestly, this armor didn’t really suit you anymore anyway.”

“It didn’t suit me?”

“I mean you’ve outgrown it. You’re too strong now for this armor.”

Aryongtae had been forged from the scales of an Imoogi—a serpentine monster of merely platinum rank.

For someone like Kwon Hanul, who could easily slay diamond-ranked monsters, it was no longer fitting.

“You grew too fast, that’s the problem. Any other bloodline would’ve used that armor for years.”

Park Tae-sik grumbled, clearly upset. Considering how much he’d cherished Aryongtae, it was no surprise he was frustrated.

“Then, I’d like to commission a new one…”

“You’ve got the materials ready, then?”

“….”

Kwon Hanul fell silent. He didn’t. Just as Park Tae-sik pointed out, he didn’t have the materials necessary to forge new armor.

“No need to worry about the materials. I’ll prepare them.”

At that moment, Joo Hayun spoke up. Her words stunned Park Tae-sik.

“…You? Really?”

“Yes.”

“You’re serious?”

“You’re not doubting whether I’m capable of that, are you?”

Park Tae-sik stared blankly.

“Of course you’re capable… but you, the stingy witch of Hyukcheon… spending your money… and on a man, no less… I’ve lived too long…”

Kwon Hanul grabbed Joo Hayun’s hand.

“Hayun, you really don’t have to go this far for me…”

“I understand your concern, but there’s no need to worry. I can handle this much.”

For a brief moment, it was as if Joo Hayun radiated light. Kwon Hanul was reminded again that she held a high position even within the Hyukcheon Group.

“I’ll repay this debt as quickly as I can.”

In response, Joo Hayun simply smiled without a word.

“Hate to break up the mood, but I’m not making you any armor.”

The abrupt statement made both of them look at Park Tae-sik.

“Pardon?”

“When did I say I’d make it? I just asked if you had the materials.”

He was right. All he’d asked was whether the materials were prepared.

“I’m busy as hell. I don’t have time to make armor for the likes of you.”

Park Tae-sik was firm.

A moment of silence followed.

Kwon Hanul tried to gauge what Park Tae-sik was really thinking. He claimed he was too busy, but it seemed like an excuse.

‘Could he be under someone’s influence?’

Though Park Tae-sik didn’t seem like someone who could be coerced or bribed, you never really know.

While Kwon Hanul was deep in thought, Park Tae-sik’s apprentices hurriedly interjected.

“Master! You can’t say it like that!”

“What? I’m just telling the truth.”

“You should’ve said there’s no need to make new armor!”

Kwon Hanul and Joo Hayun looked at each other at the same time.

“…Now that you mention it, you’re right. Yeah, there’s no need to make armor for you.”

“What do you mean?”

“There’s something the Blaga family sent you.”

The Blaga family?

Kwon Hanul immediately thought of Catalina Blaga. If something had been sent from them, it could only have come from her.

“This is the first I’m hearing of it.”

“Of course. Any equipment sent from outside has to be inspected by us first. Could be cursed, or have hidden effects that aren’t exactly... beneficial.”

Park Tae-sik pointed behind him.

“Good timing. The inspection’s done. Go see for yourself.”

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]