Muka forged as his hammer’s song endlessly echoed.

He stacked the shizteel, veteel, yazoteel, and tamateel together and said, “Be nice to each other.”

— Of course! We’re friends now!

The steel, which had become four layers, answered simultaneously. Muka smiled faintly as he elongated the steel and folded it once.

“Here’s some tasty powder,” he said as he grabbed a fistful of borax powder and sprinkled it on the folded part.

He repeated the process, adding layers to the steel. He heard a voice once he folded up to 512 layers.

— Hmm... I think I’m getting a bit too wrinkly.

“I see,” Muka replied, realizing the steel did not want more than 512 layers.

He began to shape the steel. He did not come up with a design like the other blacksmiths.

“I move as my hammer and hands will it, listening to the metals...”

It might look as if he were hammering aimlessly, but he believed there was no point if everything in life went as planned. If he wanted uniformity in his creations, he would just use a mold.

— Wow! I look pretty cool!

The metal sounded satisfied. Muka thoroughly examined the product and saw that it took the shape of a beautiful hunting knife with a mild curve.

“It’s not a traditional shape, but I will stop if you want me to.”

Muka respected the metal’s feelings. It was now time for quenching, the most important step. He slowly swung the heated knife around to have it make contact with the air and circulate the heat.

— Yay! This is fun! More!

After a few more swings, he plunged the knife into a blood-red solution, the arcane art of the Red Hammer tribe.

— Yaaah!

The knife shouted, understanding this was an important process for itself. A mystical purple vapor fumed from the solution.

It’s done, Muka thought.

He did not even need to test it to know that the quenching was perfect. All that remained now were simple tasks. He made a handle by carving a yew tree with a carving knife, and used resin and a pin to combine it with the knife.

These days, I noticed they smear a newly developed adhesive instead, but the traditional method is sometimes the most refined.

Muka attached the handle and sharpened the knife with a whetstone. It sounded like the rowing of a fisherman pushing through the open seas.

— Ahhh! That’s the spot! Right there! It tickles!

The knife was also satisfied by Muka’s technique. Muka stared at the perfectly sharpened blade emitting a faint blue light and a beautiful Damascus pattern of 512 layers. The pattern resembled a slowly spreading ripple, or a smooth wave slowly moving toward a beach.

“Since you resemble a wave, how does the name Minute Tide sound?”

— I like it! My name is Minute Tide from now on!

[Minute Tide forged.]

[The Akasha acknowledges Minute Tide as an item.]

...

[Minute Tide (Item)

Rank: F(0)

Description: A variant hunting knife forged by Muka of the Red Hammer tribe. The knife has a distinctly beautiful wave pattern formed by his extraordinary technique of folding the metal into 512 layers. Muka’s Artisan’s Soul has elevated the metal’s potential to its maximum.

Skill: Infinitesimal Wave.]

“Nice. It’s been a while since I’ve hammered so joyfully.”

Muka smiled as he examined Minute Tide’s description. He was satisfied with its shape, weight balance, skill, and everything else. He was especially impressed by Infinitesimal Wave, a fatal skill that triggered internal injuries in those stabbed with Minute Tide.

[Artisan’s Soul depleted.]

[Lowering Mineral Force.]

“Alright, ten more minutes!” the host shouted with his amplified voice as Muka adjusted to the feeling of disconnection due to the rapid reduction of his Mineral Force.

Muka looked around but couldn’t see anything better than his Minute Tide.

“I didn’t like the time limit, but I suppose it wasn’t as bad as I’d thought,” he mumbled as he recalled what his master, Bafor, had said in passing.

“The true ability of an artisan shines under a restricted environment and limited resources.”

“This is a scam! This can’t be!”

“Yeah! I could’ve made a much better item with my equipment and in my smithy!”

“My arcane art shines when working with special steels! This exam is biased!”

Muka stared at the complaining artisans and mumbled an old dwarf proverb, “A true blacksmith can create a matchless sword with a brass bowl. What a bunch of ungrateful morons.”

“Time’s up! Put down your hammers!” The host announced the end of the first exam.

***

“Ahaha! Didn’t I tell you, Seong-Hwi?! I may not have an artisan rank, but my skills are top-notch!” the drunk Muka boasted to Seong-Hwi.

“You were amazing. You stood out the most in that yard.”

“Keh! That’s because the others are just trash. Gahaha!”

Seong-Hwi smiled and nodded, thinking, It’s no wonder he’s acting like this. He was ranked first in the first exam.

The judges announced the successful candidates after the first exam, with Muka placed first on the list. However, Muka was happier because of who had placed second.

“Kehehe! Kazafu? Whoever called that second-place dwarf the best should be ashamed of themselves! Ahaha!”

Once the ranking was announced, Kazafu of Blue Anvil had glared at Muka, his eyes filled with a sense of humiliation and fury. However, his terrifying gaze only fanned Muka’s unyielding pride. Muka had smiled arrogantly at Kazafu, who simply turned away as he gritted his teeth.

“That dagger looked quite nice. It’s a shame,” Seong-Hwi mentioned.

All weapons created during the artisan exam, including Minute Tide, were sold through the Faber auction house. The artisan who made the item was paid a proportion of its price when sold, but the fact that it was mandatory was a shame.

“Do you need a dagger, Seong-Hwi? Gahaha! What are you so worried about when you have an artisan like me as a friend? You only need to ask!”

“Oh, no, not me. I was thinking of giving it to a friend,” Seong-Hwi replied.

Muka hit his palm with his fist and said, “Aha! Come to think of it, that human woman... Jurie, was it? I was able to work comfortably in the Capital thanks to her. I have to repay the favor somehow.”

Seong-Hwi smiled and asked, “The second exam is in a week, right?”

“Yeah. A thousand will fail this time, though it has nothing to do with me.”

“How does the second exam go?”

“It’s pretty much the same as the first. Gahaha! I don’t have anything particularly planned. After all, a true artisan must display their unparalleled prowess in any situation.”

“Then what about the fourth exam?”

“Hmm... I have to prepare for that one. I need something that will outshine one of the A-rank artisans,” Muka answered as he scratched his head. He slapped Seong-Hwi’s back as if telling him not to worry and said, “But I have you! The steel I’m developing is lasting longer and longer against the Rust of Ruin! If I modify it a little more... I should be able to showcase it on the fourth exam!”

He clenched his fists and continued, “A steel that can withstand the Rust of Ruin! That is the dream of every dwarf! There will be an uproar once it’s announced!”

Various scenes flashed past Muka’s head. He would be acknowledged not only by his grandmother and House Haswell, but the entire Red Hammer tribe and the dwarven race itself.

My methods aren’t wrong! I will prove it to all those who disrespected me as old-fashioned! Muka shouted inwardly.

Just then, Seong-Hwi stopped in his tracks and asked, “Are you drunk, Muka?”

“Huh? I’m a dwarf, my friend. We don’t get drunk.”

“Then stay well-hidden.”

“What?”

“We have night guests,” Seong-Hwi said as he lowered his stance and unsheathed the Zanaka Karambit.

Dozens of arrows split through the darkness at him.

***

Twenty-eight golden pentacles appeared to block every arrow. Around thirty goblins in black robes surrounded Seong-Hwi and Muka.

“Kerek! Who are you, human?! Hand over the dwarf named Muka, and we will let you live!” Jazathura shouted.

He had come to eliminate Muka at Hadafu’s command. Clan Green Hunters specialized in such dirty business. On top of that, they had become the infamous artisan assassin after receiving the help of Blue Anvil, one of Ferrum’s pillars.

“So, you guys must be the assassins who have made a name for yourselves alongside the iron thief,” Seong-Hwi said as he controlled the pentacles.

“Krrrk! Sir Jazathura! That’s him! That’s Cheon Seong-Hwi!” said Sakozati, the vice clan leader, once he saw Seong-Hwi’s face.

“What? Cheon Seong-Hwi?”

This was the second time he heard the name. The first was when Sakozati had asked for permission to hunt him if they found him. Jazathura had ignored him at the time because the artisan assassinations had been the only thing on his mind, but he did not expect the human to be with the artisan named Muka.

“Kererek! You must be the one who killed Tutobure!” Jazathura said.

“Were you two friends?” Seong-Hwi asked.

“Krrrk! Friends? Nonsense! That arrogant prick could never have friends!”

Jazathura pulled the string of his item, Sorcery Bow, which generated a cursed purple arrow.

He’s powerful, Seong-Hwi thought as he stared at the arrow and glanced at Muka.

The attackers were all goblins. He could tell from their blockage of all escape routes that they were masters at this.

It would be a different story if I were alone, but I can’t escape them with Muka. In that case... I have to fight!

A thick bloodlust filled Seong-Hwi’s eyes. He smiled widely, showing off his teeth.

His mana is sharp, and I can feel an unsettling energy from him. He’s... an upper Ranker, Seong-Hwi thought as he stared at Jazathura, mumbling a sorcery spell as he aimed his arrow at Seong-Hwi.

He surmised from Jazathura’s aura that he was on the cusp of Single-S in terms of stats. On the other hand, Seong-Hwi was a Double-A; Jazathura was above him in power output. However, he trusted in the caliber he had accumulated and his unique skills.

“Annihilating Clan Earthly Branches showed me that I won’t be pushed around so easily anymore!” Seong-Hwi shouted.

[Activating Trait: Thousand-Man Killer.]

[Activating Trait: Scorn for the Weak.]

[Operating Wings of Evolution.]

[Nine Wings.]

AHHH—!

Bloodlust from Thousand-Man Killer and the aura from Scorn for the Weak froze every goblin except for Jazathura. The nine wings that sprouted from Seong-Hwi’s back amplified his stats more than threefold.

Sensing the unsettling aura, Jazathura fired his arrow as he activated a skill and shouted, “Krrrk! Die!”

[Activating Race Skill: Contagion Sorcery - Death Sentence Projectile.]

The purple arrow instantly reached Seong-Hwi, who deflected it with the Zanaka Karambit. However, the arrow exploded and turned into a mist.

“Kekek! You fell for it!” Jazathura shouted.

“Kurgh!” Seong-Hwi grunted once he inhaled the mist.

[Death Sentence Mist inhaled.]

[Applying Debuff: Hand Tremor.]

[Applying Debuff: Vertigo.]

[Applying Debuff: Dizziness.]

...

His hands trembled uncontrollably, and he felt nauseous as his head felt like it was spinning. Sakozati and the other Green Hunter clansmen did not miss that chance and charged at Seong-Hwi, holding spears, halberds, longswords, daggers, and other weapons.

“Die!”

“The hundred million Coins are ours!”

Seong-Hwi immediately pulled a card from the Tarot Deck of Destiny.

[Activating Unique Skill: Symbol Embodiment.]

[Fruit of Life, one of the symbols of No.6 The Lovers]

The Fruit of Life that resembled a flame appeared in his hand. He quickly ate it.

[Consuming Fruit of Life.]

[Halving the effects of all debuffs except for Death for 3 minutes.]

The effects of the debuffs from the Death Sentence Mist were halved thanks to the Fruit of Life. Seong-Hwi pulled the next card.

[Activating Unique Skill: Symbol Embodiment.]

[Rose Wreath of Strength, one of the symbols of No.8 Strength]

[Temporarily boosting the Strength stat as per the effect of Rose Wreath of Strength.]

[Strength B(99) → A(22)]

[Duration: 00:00:59]

[Duration: 00:00:58]

...

A rose wreath appeared on Seong-Hwi’s head, and he felt his red muscles filling to the brim with mana. He felt like he could bring down even a mountain with one punch.

“Haaah!” he shouted as he roundhouse kicked a goblin at the front of the group, destroying the goblin’s shield and body, and sending him flying.

“Kerek!” Another goblin swung his sword at Seong-Hwi.

Seong-Hwi gripped the Zanaka Karambit normally, hooked it to the goblin’s sword, and spun. It twisted the blade, the goblin’s hands, and ripped his arms off. Seong-Hwi punched the armless goblin’s head, causing it to explode and splatter brain matter everywhere.

“Fire!” Jazathura shouted.

Several arrows, each imbued with an unsettling curse, flew toward Seong-Hwi.

He shouted inwardly, The pentacles have to protect Muka!

He trusted in the Steel Tortoise Heart Guard’s defensive capabilities.

[The Steel Tortoise Heart Guard detects danger.]

[Activating Item Skill: Steel Plate.]

A rectangular steel plate three meters tall and two meters wide appeared before Seong-Hwi. The hexagonal pattern on his wings changed into a feather pattern as the cursed arrows collided with the steel plate.

[Converting Destiny Force to Kinetic Force.]

[Activating Unique Skill: Symbol Embodiment.]

[Chasing Bow, one of the symbols of No.3 The Hunter]

A black bow appeared in Seong-Hwi’s hand. He pulled the bowstring and fired countless arrows infused with the secondary force of the birdfolk, multiplying their speed and power.

“Kerek!”

“Kraaah!”

The goblins became Swiss cheese from the arrow shower. Just then, Seong-Hwi sensed danger from a hidden presence behind him and immediately ducked.

“Kurgh!”

His neck stung. Jazathura had used his subordinates as bait to divert Seong-Hwi’s attention to approach him and swing his scimitar. The Wings of Evolution flashed, and Seong-Hwi instantly flew to the sky, out of Jazathura’s range, with the added speed from Kinetic Force.

“Huff! Huff!” The goblins panted heavily.

The thirty goblins had been reduced to half. Seong-Hwi had incapacitated them in that short time.

“Krrrk! You’re fast. Kekek!”

Jazathura stared at his scimitar in satisfaction despite the condition of his subordinates. Seong-Hwi’s blood was on it. Seong-Hwi caught his breath as he healed the wound on his neck with the power of the Cups.

He thought, Time is on my side. This is Ferrum. Even if they have someone backing them, they can’t hide this commotion forever—

However, Seong-Hwi’s eyes widened from seeing Jazathura’s peculiar behavior.

“Krrrk! This battle is over, idiot!” Jazathura shouted as he grabbed a straw doll from his pocket and smeared Seong-Hwi’s blood on it.

“That can’t be—”

Jazathura interjected, “Gahaha! I’ll vent my humiliation and irritation I’d endured from appeasing Hadafu on you!”

An unsettling purple aura enveloped the straw doll. Seong-Hwi quickly tried to take the doll from Jazathura, but the skill activation was faster.

“The straw doll is Cheon Seong-Hwi! Cheon Seong-Hwi is the straw doll!”

[Activating Race Skill: Imitative Sorcery - Equation.]

Jazathura stabbed the straw doll’s abdomen with the tip of his scimitar.

“Kurgh!”

Seong-Hwi lost his balance as he flew downward and crashed to the ground.

“Gurgh!” he grunted as he clenched his profusely bleeding abdomen.