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"You found it?"

"Yes, the mortals I caught did a good job. I couldn't catch him because he was too strong, but I kept watch on him. I think we can find Wei Jicheon's whereabouts through him."

"Then let this end here and let’s focus on monitoring for now. And... I guess the system reward didn't go up because of this?"

"It didn't since we strengthened the skills of the mortals we dragged to our side. The system cannot interfere with matters between mortals."

"How likely are they to intervene?"

"They won't intervene with this either. It's expedient, but we didn't intervene directly. However..."

"Is there a problem?"

"As a result of the investigation, we've concluded that the mortal's skill is too suspicious."

"What are the grounds for that claim?"

"According to the Gate Manager's report, he is too powerful for the current Gate difficulty."

"Really? Did the difficulty adjustment fail?"

"They tried to gradually raise the Gate difficulty to match the level of the Awakened mortals, but that mortal was abnormally strong."

"If we want to find Wei Jicheon, we must deal with that mortal quickly… How long will it take for the Third Erosion?"

"There is still not enough negative energy, but at this rate, it will take about three years."

"That’s too long. Can we increase the number of Gates so the mortals’ negative energy will accumulate more quickly?"

"Are you planning to hasten his resurrection?"

"How long are we going to be dragged around by them?"

"It’s possible. However... we still have a shortage of Gate Managers."

"I will request a dispatch to another dimension."

"Are you referring to the dimension Gaia manages?"

"It's a failed dimension, and that bitch is too strong! Now it's just a matter of harassing them into doing it. I'll speak convincingly with the person in charge of that dimension."

"I will continue here."

"Find Wei Jicheon."

"Alright. And there's another interesting fact."

"What is it?"

"After investigating Wei Jicheon's past activities, we discovered that the group he belonged to was a cult that worshipped a Demon God."

"Is that why he has traces of a Demon God?"

"It seems so."

"It's ridiculous they worshiped that bastard. I don't even like that he's given the title of Immortal!"

"That title was bestowed upon him."

"Anyways! We wouldn't have suffered this much if he had been on the mortal side."

***

That day, I mentioned the Gate Detector to Yoo So-eun. She promptly arranged a meeting with Koh Tae-wook, and I explained the concept behind it.

I proposed a business partnership, and Koh Tae-wook instantly accepted. He began assessing the Gate Detector for installation.

The Gate Detector had the same principle as a sensor, but I patented it and even registered the trademark as 'BnS Gate Detector.'

Also, at So-eun's suggestion, I registered the trademark of BnS Vitality Potion. This eliminated the need to worry about money in the future.

Even if those exclusive rights disappeared, a specific commission would come in monthly, so I would accumulate wealth even if I didn't do anything.

Since the Hunter Management Bureau had completed its due diligence regarding the establishment of our guild, I celebrated with a simple foundation ceremony with my parents.

After the business part was sorted out to some extent, I welcomed the members of Team Seolhwa as new guild members.

[Okay, what are you going to do next?]

"Even between guilds, there is a difference in strength. In order not to be disregarded, we must increase our strength. A few guilds already have their eyes on the BnS Vitality Potion. If we’re weak, we will be forcibly merged into their ranks."

[You're thinking of showing off your strength? I like it. So, what are you going to do?]

"There will be a big event hosted by the Management Bureau in a few months."

[And you’re going to showcase your strength at that event?]

"Yes. I may not be able to reveal all of it, but I will be able to show our presence."

[Presence… Wasn't any hope of a positive image over after you dressed like a pervert that day?]

"You're too noisy."

[I feel that too. When the hell is this construction going to end?]

“…”

The Heavenly Demon cleverly changed the topic.

But he was correct, the new construction was going on in full swing, and noisily at that.

This was because, at Seol-ah's strong request, using her authority as co-leader, one floor of the guild building was being renovated into lodging for Team Seolhwa.

Now, they were sweating in the newly created training room...

“…”

[What are they doing?]

‘Seol-ah is training... Eun-joo is dancing while looking in the mirror, and Hye-jong is sleeping.’

[And Ji-young?]

‘She has Shion in her arms and is putting makeup on Mitchell.’

Mitchell was the name that she’d given to the skull.

After our battle with the Skeletons, Kim Ji-young became strangely obsessed with that skull.

Even now, she was trying on colorful wigs after putting makeup on them.

[They are definitely strange, strange kids.]

My head throbbed with pain.

‘I'll have to go down and do some weapon crafting or research.’

[Let's make a blade first.]

‘That’s exactly what I was about to do.’

I had already commissioned and received the molds needed for weapon production from the factory run by my father.

I went down to the second basement floor of the guild building.

The place was divided into three spaces.

One was set aside to craft weapons and armor, and another was designed for potions.

The other served as a shelter for family and guild members to evacuate in an emergency. Construction was still underway there.

Reinforcement work was being done so that it wouldn’t break under any kind of impact.

I made sure to pay a lot of attention to the interior design of this place so they could stay as cozy as possible, even during an emergency.

[Did you build the shelter because of your trauma?]

‘Isn't it better than nothing?’

[…]

I didn't want to explain, so I headed straight to the weapons production room.

Although it was called the production room, it wasn't huge. In fact, even with the knowledge of the Dwarves that I had acquired from the Skill Book, there wasn't much I needed to make weapons.

I could craft them with a forge, an anvil, tongs, and water. That, and metal ingots, formed the basis for making weapons in the production room.

Now, all that was needed was fire.

[Will the weapons you make here work for them?]

"According to this Skill Book, modern weapons are unable to cause fatal damage to monsters due to the lack of magic power, or Qi."

[I felt that way too. When I carefully looked this time, I saw Seol-ah put a lot of inner power into her weapon when she attacked.]

"You're right. I think I could deal with monsters without an attack skill in the past because of the Goblin's Sword. If I had only the Trainer's Sword, I wouldn't have been able to withstand the Third Cataclysm."

[Now I understand. In fact, I was curious about that.]

"That's why mana stones are needed for crafting. Only weapons made from mana stones and monster parts can resonate with the user's magic power."

[I see.]

"It is possible to attack using inner power without a weapon, but it is nothing compared to an attack with a weapon. Compared to the consumption of inner power, the damage to monsters is small."

[In the future, if your internal energy increases, that won't be a problem.]

"I'll have to try it first."

I tossed the Stone Golem core I received from Yoo So-eun into the forge.

[You're making fire with the Stone Golem's shattered core!]

"It also needs inner power."

When I injected inner power into the forge, sparks sputtered out.

PajiJiji!!!-

[Hoo!]

A flame of a color that couldn’t be seen in this world rose from the Stone Golem's core.

***

<SYSTEM: Weapon crafting was successful.>

<SYSTEM: Your dexterity has increased to 21.>

<SYSTEM: Recorded as the first user to create a weapon with Dwarven technology. You obtained the title 'Blacksmith.'>

<SYSTEM: As a title effect, additional stats are randomly assigned to crafted items with a 10% chance.>

<SYSTEM: Unverified weapon. The system is searching the database.>

It must have been defined as an unverified weapon since neither the system nor the monsters dropped blade-type weapons.

Whooosh-

The weapon appeared with a flash of light.

[It’s finally finished!]

"It took longer than I expected."

If it were a normal crafting Skill Book, it would have been possible to make it instantly, like casting a spell with magic power and materials.

However, it took me three days to craft the weapon, as I had to use Dwarven tools that I was not yet accustomed to. Fortunately, I had Dexterity, a basic statistic I had been granted as a reward from '???', which enabled me to save some time.

If my Dexterity reached Max, I could save even more time.

After a while, the light disappeared, and a strange blade appeared.

The Demonic Dragon Blade! The weapon that went around the Martial Arts Society with the Heavenly Demon in the past was reborn by my hands.

[The shape is a bit different... but it's molded by your taste, so it can't be helped. Pick it up.]

I carefully raised the Demonic Dragon Blade at the Heavenly Demon's urging.

A new system notification popped up.

<SYSTEM: The search is complete. Search result 1: Ancient Demon God's Weapon.>

[Ancient Demon God’s Weapon (Imitation)]

[Rating: Rare]

[Attack power: 45]

[Endurance: 150/150]

-It is the first imitation weapon of its kind made by a novice blacksmith with Dwarven technology. Just because they look similar doesn't mean they have the same performance.

[Ha!]

"What does this mean? It's not a 'Demonic Dragon Blade', but an 'Ancient Demon God's Weapon'? And it's a fake, too."

[Ancient Demon God... I think I've heard of that.]

According to the Heavenly Demon, the Demonic Dragon Blade was a sacred object passed down from generation to generation.

A legend also followed that thousands of years ago, bizarre creatures appeared and disturbed the Martial World.

At that time, the Demon God appeared and vanquished the creatures with overwhelming might, wielding the 'Demonic Dragon Blade.'

The faction formed by those who followed the Demon God was the Heavenly Demon Cult.

[It had been a long time ago, so I could scarcely recall the details of the tale. I had assumed it was merely a myth.]

"Looking at the system notifications, it seems like there was a real Demon God."

[I see. According to the explanation, there might be an authentic Demonic Dragon Blade somewhere in this world too.]

"Since it was an item you used, you must know where it is."

[I don't know. According to the rules set by the sect, I handed it over to the next leader.]

"You should've gone to the World of Immortals and checked it out."

[I can't catch up to a bus that has already left.]

"That analogy is really…."

[Still, if you get a chance later, you could look for the Demonic Dragon Blade.]

"Okay."

[When are you going on the next Gate hunt? I wish I could borrow your body for a while then.]

In other words, 'Now that I have a toy, I should play with it.' His excitement was palpable.

"I'm leaving tomorrow. I'll need more poison pouches, Golem Cores, and mana stones. And I have to collect all the weapons that are dropped."

[Why weapons?]

"I'm going to melt them down and make new ones. It's a waste to buy metal ingots with money. I'm also thinking of making new equipment for the Seolhwa team."

[You have to practice martial arts...]

"Am I not doing it occasionally?"

[The amount of time you spend practicing now isn’t enough. I'm worried because you keep finding more and more things to do.]

"I won't craft weapons until I get better materials."

[I get it. But why are you taking out that bone?]

"I want to work on this to improve it."

[Are you going to melt down the Goblin's Sword and reuse it?]

"I think there will be materials left if I do, so I'll make one for Ji-young too."

***

I complied with the Heavenly Demon's request.

Over the next few days, I let him borrow my body in a Gate hunt with Team Seolhwa.

Although I couldn't lend my body for an extended period, the Heavenly Demon wielded the Demonic Dragon Blade with wild abandon when he could. He acted like a kid with a brand new toy.

The Heavenly Demon, making full use of the title Two Hearts, demonstrated a variety of skills.

Thanks to that, I was forced into cramming training mode.

I reached 60% on the Heavenly Demon's Origin Arts and the Heavenly Demon Air-Stride, 40% on the Heavenly Demon Stealth, and 30% on the three forms of the second stage.

Most importantly, the time I needed to form Strong Energy had significantly decreased.

Seol-ah was impressed by my high attack power in comparison to my level, and so were the others.

In any case, I collected a lot of poison pouches and broken cores from the hunts, and I acquired various weapons and monster parts.

In the process, I learnt how to slaughter and tan leather from the Heavenly Demon, and since Ji-young showed great interest in those skills, I also imparted them to her.

To demonstrate Ji-young's natural aptitude for this type of thing, the speed at which she picked it up was remarkable, although it wasn't pleasant to behold her petite body covered in blood as she cheerfully butchered monsters.

But with what we had gathered and the Dwarf Production Set, I made new equipment for Team Seolhwa.

"Thank you, Oppa.

"Thank you."

"CEO, you're so cool!"

"…Thank you.”

“I’m not the CEO. Seong-jin Hyung and Seol-ah are co-presidents."

"You're the real president, so we feel better calling you this way."

"Do whatever you want."

Team Seolhwa seemed quite happy as they examined their equipment, which was composed of leather armor sets made by disassembling the Warrior Armor Set obtained in Hyehwa-dong and improving it with Werewolf leather.

"You really made it red, huh?"

That was done at Seol-ah’s request. The color of Team Seolhwa had been decided to be red, so the leather armor set was made to match.

"Do you like the color?"

"Yes, this is my first time seeing this type of red. How should I put it... It feels mysterious. What did you dye it with?"

At Seol-ah's question, the entire team looked at me all at once.