The Great Sage Who Did not Remain in Legend - 47.4

Talent…

“Lock, in my country, there’s a saying: ‘Just because you work hard doesn’t mean your dreams will come true.'”

“That’s a pretty realistic and unpleasant saying.”

“Right? But there’s a continuation to it, and it goes like this: ‘However, those who achieve their dreams are those who have worked hard.'”

“Those who achieve their dreams are the ones who worked hard…”

“Exactly. Dreams of those who don’t work hard are just dreams they have while sleeping; they’re no different from delusions. You might have worked hard, but don’t you think you’ve been half-hearted about it just because you’re the successor?”

“I did my best. But since he doesn’t teach me anything, I don’t understand!”

“Apparently, it’s hard to teach in the world of craftsmanship. While procedures and theories can be taught, the feeling can’t be conveyed. You have to see it and grasp it yourself. When I was at the smithy I used to visit, I learned to feel the temperature of the furnace. Like, ‘Ah, this is the heat for putting it in the furnace’ or ‘When the iron turns this color, I take it out.’ The number of strikes and the time in the furnace are always different, so even when I thought I was doing it right, I was kicked or hit multiple times.”

“Did you intend to become a blacksmith?”

“No, I was just interested. Don’t you think it’s amazing to see an ugly lump of iron transform into such a beautiful sword? I love watching things being created by a craftsman’s hands. Every time, I feel amazed that humans can do such things.”

“You sound like a kid. Aren’t you around the same age as my sister?”

“Rikka is about 21 or 22, right?”

“I think she turned 22 this year.”

“I’m 31 in this country.”

“What? You’re lying!”

“What would I gain by lying about something like this?”

“You’re an old man.”

“Don’t call me old man.”

“Once you hit 30, you’re an old man. No wonder you know so much. I thought we weren’t that far apart in age, so I panicked a bit.”

After hearing Mergin’s age, Rock felt somehow convinced and quickly went to bed.