The Hero Returns

"…And that's what happened, so using that guy from now on should not pose a problem."

Su-hyeun sucked in the remaining coffee with a straw after finishing his story.

Kim Do-ui received a phone call a few days after that meeting and quickly made his way to the same cafe. And now, he was rendered speechless for a moment or two from what he had just heard. He needed some time to organize everything Su-hyeun had told him so far.

"S-so, what you're saying is, you want to use Petro to forcibly clamp down on the distribution of Blending. Is that it?"

"Yes. I ask the association to provide the necessary system and personnel to oversee the process. I believe it'll be easy enough to find a handful of awakeners willing to reside permanently on the 31st floor."

"For that, I've already started my search according to what you asked me earlier, but…"

To think that he'd finish everything before the search had been concluded. This was way too fast.

Su-hyeun continued on. "As for the strand of magical energy injected into Petro's body, the liquid solution I'll provide periodically should be sufficient enough to suppress it. Since we're allowed to take objects from reality to that side, you can simply deliver the solution via awakeners you hire in the future."

"You have come up with a really great idea, using Petro to suppress the distribution of Blending."

"I had been thinking of a different method initially, but things became simpler thanks to a skill I lucked upon recently. Nothing in this world should be as urgent as the matters involving your life, after all."

It didn't look like Su-hyeun came up with this idea in one or two days. Indeed, this wouldn't have been possible to pull off unless you knew the power structure of the 31st floor's world as well as Petro's existence.

<<Well, at least one problem got resolved, so there's that.>>

All matters related to Petro had been top secret even within the corridors of the association. Because they didn't have a good way to stop that man, and they were also too preoccupied with preventing the distribution of Blending as it began infiltrating the real would.

This was basically proof of the association's powerlessness.

Kim Do-ui spoke. "I apologize, but your feat this time must be kept as a secret among ourselves. Of course, you'll be rewarded sufficiently for your efforts, but…"

"I don't mind. I didn't do it while expecting something in return."

Su-hyeun's reply brought about a relieved expression on Kim Do-ui's face.

If, by any chance, Su-hyeun wanted to publicly declare his feat and thus raise his fame even further, that would've put the association in a very awkward spot. Thankfully, he didn't express much interest in that regard as initially anticipated.

"Thank you."

"Ah, by the way. For that reward you mentioned." Su-hyeun put the empty mug down on the table before asking a question. "There is this one item I'd like to own, so can you get it for me?"

"You want an item…?"

Su-hyeun openly requesting for something like this would be the first time.

He had never before demanded rewards for the things he accomplished so far — not after the Anyang city incident, and not even after finishing his battle against the Dump Guild.

<<But then again, there are all of his achievements so far….>>

Kim Do-ui readily nodded his head. "Please tell me, whatever it is. If it's within our means, then we'll try our best to acquire it for you."

"I don't think it'll be that difficult to procure it, though." Su-hyeun smirked and explained what he wanted from the association.

Kim Do-ui's previous expression of a man willing to fulfill any request was soon replaced by a deeply troubled one. "That is a bit…"

"Will it be too hard for you?"

"Well, I'll send the request upstairs, but…I can't predict how things will turn out."

"There's no rush, so it'll be fine. Please give me a call as soon as you acquire it."

Su-hyeun got up from his chair and exited the cafe while leaving behind these words, "Acquire the item no matter what." It seemed that he wasn't interested in anything else besides this item. But that only left Kim Do-ui feeling even more troubled.

<<It would have been better if he asked for money, instead.>>

He let out a pained groan and dropped his head lower. In all honesty, there was nothing stopping him from acquiring that item. Hell, he didn't even need the time either, as the very item Su-hyeun wanted was currently being held by the association.

"I guess the director will yell at me once more."

Kim Do-ui shook his head and stood up from his chair. For some reason, it felt like the tiresome matters needing his attention had increased in their numbers lately.

Act 5

A few days later, Kim Do-ui came to visit Su-hyeun at the latter's home. It was to report on the progress made so far, as well as to discuss the reward for this matter, as well.

"Thankfully, it wasn't too difficult to recruit the awakeners residing on the 31st floor. There are quite a lot of people who almost died trying to pass the 30th floor and have developed a certain aversion to climbing higher up on the tower, you see."

For the past few days, Petro diligently focused on recovering all the batches of Blending circulating out in the open. It seemed that, as his life was on the line, he decided to move quickly and decisively. Since he had far too much to lose now, as his attachment to life had grown just that much stronger.

"And also, this…is the item you asked me about earlier."

Kim Do-ui, settling in the living room couch, opened his briefcase and took out a small box.

Su-hyeun received this box, opened it, and spoke up. "You acquired it quicker than I thought."

"The association happened to have it on hand, actually. When I requested the item, the higher-ups really came down hard on me, just so you know."

"I'll gratefully accept it. Give my regards to the director, as well."

"You think the director will be happy to hear your regards?"

"That's why I'd like you to deliver it to him."

"That makes sense. Ah, and about the incident this time…."

"Don't worry, I know. I'll keep my mouth shut. I mean, I've received something from you, after all. Was that everything you came to see me for?"

Su-hyeun packed the box away and stood up from his spot.

He then got ready to leave, prompting Kim Do-ui to ask, "Are you going somewhere?"

"Yes. I have an important prior engagement, you see."

"A prior engagement? Is it a woman?"

"No, it's a very sweaty older uncle."

"Damn, man…"

That pitying look of Kim Do-ui caused Su-hyeun's expression to crumple in a rather unsightly manner.

After leaving his house along with the guest, Su-hyeun then headed towards the underground parking lot and climbed into his car. The destination he reached a little while later was Kim Dae-ho's workshop, located in Yangpyeong.

Clang—

"Uncle, it's me."

Clang, clang, clang-!

The loud noises didn't want to stop.

Either Kim Dae-ho was too focused on his job and couldn't hear, or he was currently doing something that couldn't be stopped in the middle.

Su-hyeun waited for a bit before opening the front door to enter. As expected, Kim Da-ho was too focused on his hammering to notice a guest coming to visit him.

<<I guess I'll wait.>>

Su-hyeun stood there in silence and waited for Kim Dae-ho to finish.

For the next two hours or so, the master craftsman continued to work on the equipment with his trusty hammer before eventually standing up while trying to straighten his aching back. "Urgh, my back."

"Are you finished, Uncle?"

"Yeah…Eh?"

Kim Dae-ho's head hurriedly spun to his rear and spotted Su-hyeun standing there. A surprised expression quickly filled the older man's face. "When did you get here?"

"It hasn't been that long."

"Really? You hadn't been waiting for long or anything like that?"

"Yes."

"A guy wanting to give me a present is left waiting like this and all. Why didn't you say something when you arrived?"

"I've always been in your care, so it'd be way too shameless for me to interrupt your work."

"Oh, so at least you do know. Urgh," grunted Kim Dae-ho. His back must've been damaged after working for such long hours because his steps were rather strained. "Come with me. I'll brew us some tea."

Su-hyeun replied as his face brightened up in an instant. "Thank you, Uncle."

This would be the first time Kim Dae-ho had invited Su-hyeun into his private residence in this lifetime. The latter couldn't help but feel that this was the sign of how much the master craftsman cared about him, so he ended up following the older man with a slightly excited frame of mind.

Unlike his rather flashy workshop, Kim Dah-ho's residence was simply furnished. Like a nice Airbnb found in Yangpyeong, the house's square meter footprint was rather small.

The tea brewed in Kim Dah-ho's kitchen was soon brought out, and the master craftsmen personally poured Su-hyeun a cup of this savory refreshment. He then filled his own cup next and settled down on a chair.

While looking at Su-hyeun's face, he asked, "What do you find so amusing that you're grinning nonstop like that?"

"Well, it's just that I like coming to your workshop, that's all. It's more relaxing here than back in my own house."

"Is that why you show up here way too often? You come whenever you have downtime."

"I haven't been coming here that regularly, you know."

"Just drink your tea."

"Thank you."

Su-hyeun blew at the piping-hot tea and sipped a little bit.

Meanwhile, Kim Dae-ho lightly drummed on his shoulders and shifted his gaze over to the small box his guest had brought along. "Is that the so-called wonderful raw material you told me about?"

"Ah, yes, it is."

Su-hyeun hurriedly put the teacup down and pushed the box forward.

Nothing could light the fire in Kim Dae-ho's eyes other than matters involving his workshop, so he began peering at the small box with some intensity.

"I did get my hands on another very good base material for you not too long ago, but my Miru ended up eating it, so…."

"Miru ate a material?"

Su-hyeun blurred the ends of his words in clear ruefulness, so Kim Dah-ho asked back while sounding puzzled.

Materials for equipment should be either minerals or special catalysts, so he was wondering whether it was fine or not for a divine beast to eat something like that.

Su-hyeun then explained what happened inside the blue-colored dungeon, plus how Miru swallowed up the reward from that place.

After hearing all of that, Kim Dae-ho nodded his head. "You did the right thing. I hear your dragon usually only drinks water. So, you should let it eat what he wants when he feels like it. He's a still a youngster, no?"

"H-hahaha…" Su-hyeun could only smile awkwardly at Kim Dae-ho's words.

The older man was saying that now because he had no clue what that item was, but once he got to learn of its true value later on, well, he wouldn't be this relaxed anymore.

<<But then again, this is the substitute, so it should be fine.>>

Su-hyeun pointed at the small box while raising the teacup. "Please take a look."

"Alright, then. Let's see…."

Click-

Kim Dae-ho lifted open the box's lid.

A small, vivid yellow stone was resting within the box. This stone, no bigger than a young child's clenched fist, outwardly seemed completely unremarkable.

He slowly and cautiously picked it up. He inspected it by placing the stone under the rays of light, then scratched its surface with his fingernail before shifting his gaze back to Su-hyeun slowly savoring his tea.

"Is this…could it be that thing?" Kim Dae-ho asked.

"I believe it is indeed the thing you're thinking of."

The clearly-excited Kim Dae-ho shoved his chair back noisily and shot up to his feet. "This is really the adamantium?"

Kim Dae-ho rarely smiled, but there was an unmistakable grin spreading on his entire face right this moment. This would be Su-hyeun's second time witnessing such a grin.

"Yes, it's the real deal."

"Huh, huhuh…."

After hearing Su-hyeun's assured reply, Kim Dae-ho remained standing on the spot and began inspecting the adamantium once more. Chuckles that rarely, if ever, left his lips now continued to leak out. No matter how many times he looked at it, he just couldn't believe it.

"This is the adamantium…"

Adamantium. A legendary metal that only appeared in myths, a substance shrouded in plentiful rumors but believed to not exist in reality.

However, a mineral that possessed the closest properties to the legendary adamantium everyone heard of made an appearance inside a green-colored dungeon that opened up in Britain a few years ago.

This was the dream of all blacksmiths, as well as their ultimate fantasy.

Even the master craftsman like Kim Dae-ho was no exception. Ever since learning of the adamantium's existence, he set a clear goal for himself, which was to craft something, anything, out of that rare material.

However, he had no method of procuring it.

As all the reserve currently in existence came from that one appearance, and not even someone like Kim Dae-ho could easily procure something of adamantium's value.

But now…

"H-how did you get this?"

Now, Su-hyeun had brought some to him.

"I coincidentally happened upon a chance. I thought you'd like it, Uncle. But, if you don't like it, then I…"

"There's no way! Of course I like it! Very much so!"

Kim Dae-ho's face reddened up and he roared at the top of his lungs. Su-hyeun felt his ears go numb, but he still felt chuffed by this reaction. Seeing Kim Dae-ho looking so happy like that made him feel like he managed to pay just a little bit of his debt back to the master craftsman.

<<With this, he might not bite my head off.>>

Indeed, he might be forgiven for using up every single dragon-slaying spear that took so much work to create. Su-hyeun felt pretty good about himself as he began emptying the teacup. But then…

"Your sword, you're still using it, right? Was its name? Gram?"

Kim Dae-ho suddenly asked him an unexpected question.

Su-hyeun reflexively took the cup away from his lips and replied. "Pardon? Ah, yes. I'm still using it."

"Give it to me." Kim Dae-ho alternated his gaze between the sword mounted on Su-hyeun's hips and the lump of adamantium held in his hand. "This gift is from you, so obviously, I shall return it to you."