The Great Sage Who Did not Remain in Legend - 46.3
“There’s no way we’re finishing this today. Your hammering’s getting slower.”
“What? No, I can still…”
It was only after Mergin pointed out that his hammering was slowing down that he realized his grip strength had weakened.
“If the hammer slips out of your hand, it’s dangerous. There’s no rush, so why don’t we continue tomorrow?”
“Sorry, I didn’t even notice my hands losing strength.”
The old man gazes at his slightly trembling hands. However, he feels fulfilled.
“Mergin, stay over tonight. We’ll continue tomorrow.”
“I have plans for tomorrow. It might end early in the morning, or it might drag on.”
“Then you won’t be able to forge the magic steel!”
“Have Rock manage the furnace. It would be pointless to have good coal if we don’t use it, right?”
“Rock can’t handle it…”
“Dad, let me do it too!”
“It’s too early for you!”
“Why is that, Dad? You left it to someone I just met today!”
“Rock, listen. Mergin adjusted the temperature without any instructions. There’s no one else I can trust this much. Can you do that?”
“I can do it! So let me!”
“Dad, I won’t be in this workshop forever. Let your son try.”
“B-but…”
“I understand you want to take care of your child, but if parents don’t trust their children, they’ll feel lonely. Isn’t that why Rock is struggling too? I’ll leave extra magic steel, so if I fail, I can keep trying until I succeed.”
“You would use such valuable material…”
“Even if something is valuable, it’s still just a thing. If it’s gone, I can just go look for it again. Compared to that, a person’s growth happens in a short time. The time when someone truly wants to do something is when they grow. If you lose that opportunity, you can’t go looking for it.”
“You’re so cheeky for a young man… Rock, no matter how tough it gets, don’t run away midway.”
“I-I won’t run away!”
With that, today’s work ended, and everyone decided to have a late dinner together.
“Mergin, if you were to price the sword I forged, how much would it be?”
While Mom prepared the meal, my younger brother Rock asked.
“The price of that sword? Hmm, I’d say around 20,000.”
“Whaaat? 20,000? You didn’t even factor in the cost of the materials! Are you kidding me?”
“I’m not joking. That sword looks good, but that’s what makes it dangerous. If it looks obviously dull or cheap, the user will be cautious while using it. But if they buy it for 300,000 or 500,000, they’ll use it thinking it has that performance, right? That’s why it’s dangerous.”
The old man nodded at Mergin’s explanation.
“W-what do you mean?”
“Shall we test it?”
“Test what?”
“If you try to cut me with it, you’ll understand.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll stand in front of you for a match before dinner. Then I think you’ll understand what I mean.”
Rock spat out that he wouldn’t know if he died, and went outside with Mergin.