Visiting one of the closest workshops recommended by the Association, he could see that the demand for weapons from each of them is so immense that he could probably have to wait for weeks on end for his own order. By then, he is already running into debt with his living expenses.
“I should have trained and registered to become Hunter earlier”. Jihoon spoke with some regret, but it is too late for that.
After having checked nearly all the Association’s workshops, the endless waiting line separating him between everyone of them effectively deterred him from approaching any of them. If he had the time to wait, then he wouldn’t have gone in such roundabout way as such, but he doesn’t even have that either.
“The final place is… this…”. Jihoon spoke as he checked the address again and see that this workshop is rather… dilapidated and there’s no one around at all. That doesn’t bode too well for him either.
But it gets recommended by the Hunter Association thus it must have some merit. Thus, he bravely enters the place. The inside is a little cleaner but not by much. Melee weapons of all kinds hung on the wall, but they’ve been collecting dust for a while. The forge is cold which spoke of how long since the last time it has been put to work.
He started to have the idea of just returning to the previous workshops but F-rank Hunters like him have no privilege or right to fast-forward the waiting line at all. Thus accepting his only way forward, he decided to ring the service bell that is placed on the reception desk that has no one behind.
“Coming!” An old voice spoken from the backroom. Jihoon however couldn’t ignore the lethargy and listlessness within because he himself was once in that state before obtaining the power of Song Magic.
An old man with a short stature came through the door. His muscle is well-defined showcasing his long experience with the smithery. If anything, the difference between him and a fantasy dwarf isn’t so much at all.
However, carrying with him is an unmistakable scent of alcohol which likely spoke of how seemingly down his spirit is.
“You’re the first customer that I have had since a long while ago. What do you want?” The old blacksmith gets straight to the point, no one comes to a workshop to have idle banter after all.
Jihoon was certain to take advantage of the situation, but his intuition spoke of how he shouldn’t let the old man stay so downtrodden anymore or otherwise.
“Sir, I heard that your workshop has enough renown to be recommended by the Hunter Association, so why is it so empty here?”. Jihoon asked as he is unsure of how someone like him can’t possibly have no customer at all while other Association-related workshops have lines that stretch across the streets.
“Oh, you… It’s nothing for someone like you to get involved with! You either come here to order something or get lost!”. The old man spoke with already bad temperament.
Jihoon looked around his dimly lit surroundings and how it is decorated. From the way it looks, it must have been crowded in its heyday yet now it harbors only him and the old blacksmith right now.
But catching his attention is the piano in the corner of the reception room. The only thing that looks well-preserved while nearly everything else is covered in a coat of dust.
Without additional time spent thinking, he knew that piano carries some great importance to that old man. If it is anything melody-related, then he will be the expert that takes the step toward.
Jihoon approached the piano in this dilapidated workshop. Gently running his hands through the polished woods.
“This piano looks immaculately kept, it must have been holding such great significance to you to keep it clean in a forge like this.” Jihoon made his inquiry.
The old blacksmith’s eyes flicker with emotions for a brief moment before he hardened his features again.
“Aye, that old thing… it was my wife’s most prized possession”. He sighed deeply before answering after a momentary pause.
"If you don't mind me asking, what role did it play for her? For an instrument to be so well-maintained in a forge like this, it must have held profound meaning." Jihoon said as he quickly seizes the opportunity.
The blacksmith's calloused hand reached out, almost reverently brushing against the piano's surface. "She was the talent, y'see. Had a voice like an angel when she sang. This here piano was her favorite accompaniment."
Gazing wistfully around the dimly lit workshop. The old man spoke of how this place was packed to the brim with folks coming here to listen to her music whilst he forges their weapons.
There are no doubt better blacksmiths than him, but they still come for his masterwork regardless. Merry songs played while red-hot steel being reshaped. A melancholic smile crossed his lips at the memories.
“So, what happened to her? Don’t mind me asking, since she must be so extraordinary to draw such a crowd to here”. Jihoon carefully pressed further as he can imagine the tender remembrance linger in the atmosphere.
“Accursed monsters, a Gate conveniently opened right in our beloved workshop during her usual performance. Before I could have done anything…”. The old smithy squeezed his eyes shut, not wanting to recall the details that transpired. Pain etches on the creases of his face.
No further words were spoken as silence hung heavy. The outcome was obvious. Jihoon could feel the weight of the man’s loss heavily as he himself lost many things before regathering the will to step forward again. Slowly, an idea took shape as he appraised the piano again.
While he couldn’t replicate what the old man’s wife’s specific style of her piano, he had an idea of how to create an uplifting piece of piano music. And with a dash of his signature electric guitar, an imaginative work slowly formulated in his mind.
“Mister, if you wouldn’t mind. While I can’t exactly formulate the spirit of her works, I can still reignite her musical spirit that still resonate.”. Jihoon said as he carefully select his words. “My own ability are centered around magical prowess of music. Perhaps, a reunion of hammer and melody is needed to reforge your spirit once more”.
Jihoon sat down in front of the piano again. He knew enough about music theory to play an actual piano without too much struggle. He isn’t a master with it but even just the ability to play it is enough. The old blacksmith didn’t stop him from doing so, thus Jihoon knew that he had been given his approval.
“Let’s do this”. Jihoon said as his fingers placed in positions.
The first few piano notes played in simplistic progression but fast-paced and upbeat. As if representing a new day has come and so too it its daily challenges. The usual kind that one has dealt and lived with so many times that it is normalcy.
The following chords played with slowed pace by comparison, represented with the feeling that all this hurdles suddenly felt more difficult than usual despite it being the same. The reason behind didn’t matter, what matters is that you can felt the weight more than ever.
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Then the chord progression becomes lower and lower even with the upbeat undertone, it felt like you are stuck in a mire that only slows you down to standstill. All of it is only in the mind, but the impact felt so real that one would question if they have reached a plateau or not.
With a brief defiance that follows, the notes played are much louder and higher than usual. The note progression is repeated a few times but each repeat lowered the height of the note. Signified how even the temporary resistance if not committed is going to just tire you out even faster.
However, Jihoon himself reached a dead end here. What he wants to emulate in this piece of song requires two instruments played concurrently but he only has one pair of hands focused on the piano.
Questioning himself whether he should forgo one of the instruments in favor of the others. This reflects into the composed song as the low notes of quite contemplation as he tries to drag out the piece a bit longer. This minute dilemma that he has is immediately answered with the System’s response.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Doppelganger
Classification: Illusion Magic
Rank: Intermediate
Effect:
-Create a temporary clone that has no stats but can interact with mundane objects with equal proficiency as the user.
Last for 15 seconds. Cooldown: 6 hours.
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
The notification popped up right when he was wondering. And he just immediately knew that the little goddess was definitely observing him right now to give that skill in the heat of moment.
“Alright, time for the climax to go!”. Jihoon said as he moved into the crescendo of his composed song.
Suddenly, a clone of Jihoon appears beside the Jihoon who is playing the piano. The old smith nearly has a fright of his day before seeing the doppelganger equipping the electric guitar out of thin air.
Then together, the piano and the electric guitar played in combined crescendo. The electric guitar played with high notes of gritty defiance while the piano followed suit. A melody progression so inspiring and upbeat that it felt like all that grueling effort before suddenly paid off in due.
It’s like being reassured that even if today felt more difficult, they have already overcome similar challenges. Do not fret about being under-spirited in the present because as long as you draw breath, one should live with pride that they have not given up despite the daily challenges.
The crescendo ended as the doppelganger of Jihoon disappeared into a shower of light as he played the beginning notes of the song again, signify the da capo point. After that, he slowed down before showing the old smith the result of his work.
The designed philosophy of the song he composed is similar to that of a battle theme of a RPG game. The song that you always hear first at the start of any journey.
Because of it, it must be impressionable, catchy and memorable so that one doesn’t get bored of it even if listening to it for over a hundred hours consecutively. And that one can come across it again and listen to it with fondness instead of tired annoyance.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Glint of Cold Steel
Classification: Song Magic
Rank: Intermediate
Effect:
-+15% to all Physical Attributes to all allies within Song Magic’s range.
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
In other words, it’s a damn good song. But Jihoon is ultimately unsure if it fits the old blacksmith’s criteria or not. It might not be his taste and the old smith gets disappointed.
When he turned around, however, the old smithy was holding himself from crying. It seems that Jihoon has touched something else inside the old man’s heart, differently from his wife.
“Is there something wrong?”. Jihoon asked as he awaits his examination.
“No, it’s alright. The way that you composed the song just now is similar to the way my daughter actually played the piano. The way she played was upbeat and uplifting, different than her mother a lot but I still enjoyed it the same. And it seems that you were more masterful with the guitar than you did with the piano right?”. The old smith said as he too is opening up to Jihoon too.
“Is she alright? Considering what happened to your wife…”. Jihoon asks carefully, unknown if he is going to step into the old man’s sore spot or not.
“She’s still alive, fine even. However, after the fallout of my wife’s death, both of us become unable to communicate with one another due to how much our loss made us fixated on it. Eventually, we’re unable to reconnect as she left this place. She got my talent for tool smithing and also awakened as a decently powerful Hunter too. Thus from what I heard, she is in charge of the arcane forge of the Association. Many top-class Hunters come to have their weapons made by her even”. The old blacksmith spoke fondly as he gazed around the weapons hung on the wall. From the looks of it, he has never recovered since then.
Jihoon has never gotten himself up to date in Hunter’s information at all. And that kind of information is probably withheld with some secrecy to protect their own talents. But still, he was interested in it should in case of the far future where he has climbed high enough to warrant her need.
“Can I see what she looks like?”. Jihoon asked. Even if partially aware that he might look like he is aiming for the old man’s daughter.
The old man in his bout of melancholy didn’t particularly care for Jihoon’s words or its context much as he took out an old and faded photo in his even older wallet that looks like it was taken about a decade ago. The girl in the picture however… is a textbook description of a tsundere.
Twintails, bratty face, a prideful expression and personality. If that’s her as a child already then, he wouldn’t be able to imagine what she’s like now currently. With a deep sigh he breath, he unfortunately comes to aware that his future interaction will be interesting in both positive and negative ways.
It’s been a very long time ago so it might not be accurate. Either way, you said that you wanted a suitable weapon, right? Then come with me and we’ll have something that you can rely on without fear”. The old smith said as he returns to his backroom, then he waits for Jihoon to follow him too.
With a sigh of acceptance, Jihoon followed. Thinking back again, the reason why his workshop is still in the Association’s recommendation list is probably because of his daughter’s request. The last trace of filial connection that she had toward her own wayward father.
Upon entering the backroom, he is met with numerous other weapons that even at amateur observation can tell that their quality is better than what is displayed outside in the reception area.
Pick what’s natural to you. Because of your performance, I decided to give you a piece of my work, free of charge”. The old man said as he appreciated Jihoon for allowing him to remember the old days that he will never be able to return to.
Numerous weapons of different types awaited him to select yet he sort of already had an idea in his mind of what should be chosen. Amidst many with equally pristine quality, Jihoon chose… the halberd.
Ten thousand days to master the sword, a thousand days for the saber and only a hundred for the spear. The halberd has its natural versatility of a spear and is capable of covering all three forms of attack: slash, pierce and strike.
“Can I pick another side weapon, just in case that I can’t use the halberd for some reason.”. Jihoon asked the old smith.
“Go ahead. Not to say just in case my weapon isn’t up to quality or anything”. The old blacksmith hid his expression away as he permitted Jihoon.
Jihoon’s mind however interpreted what the old smith said like the following: “It’s not like my weapons that I made for you aren’t up to your expectations or anything, baka!”. That tsundere-ness that extrapolated from seemed farfetched, but it would explain where his daughter gets that personality from.
Picking up a hand-axe with spikes installed at both the back and top of the shaft, this would be his emergency weapon in case his halberd is out of reach. Can’t be too safe when it comes to things Hunter related, as many webnovels in pre-Gate era love to prove.
Once he is done with selecting his weapons and about to leave the workshop. The old blacksmith called out to Jihoon again.
“Kid, I see potential in you. Should one day that you climb to a great height and obtain the Association’s permission to meet my daughter, remember to tell her that I was there at your foundational day. Tell her that I always loved her”. The old man said with all of his wholeheartedness. For many years, he was unable to express his true feelings until this fated meeting with Jihoon himself.
Tragedy is built upon what’s left unspoken. Even if it is too late to resolve anything at all, it is important to express your feelings to others so that all the lies made between can be erased.
“Yeah, see you again soon”. Jihoon thought that he may eventually return to see the old smith again one day.
After a rather eventful exchange that occurred in this dilapidated workshop. He has finally obtained the weapons necessary to enter a Gate. Yet as he departure away, he can’t help but give one last look toward the workshop.
He wonders, just what this place would be had his wife is still alive. Still playing her melody that draws people in. Perhaps, there was still appreciation of music even in this world that had no time for it. Yet such fragility of life makes him realize just how important it is for him to become stronger, so that his wishes won’t be snuffed out like a candle in the wind.