"To think I'd live to see the day the Martial God would ask for guidance in blacksmithing."
"I only wish to learn, Elder. Please teach me."
"Well, I guess I've grown old enough to not be surprised by anything anymore. Come inside. You'd better repay me for this."
"…"
"Hah!"
---
Ri-hyun's eyes snapped open.
He lay in his room, drenched in a cold sweat as remnants of his dream clung to his mind like mist. The scent of ash and molten steel faded into the reality of stone walls and soft morning light bleeding through the curtains.
"My lord, are you awake?" Ciro's voice came from behind the door.
"Yes. What is it?"
"The first batch of star iron and arcanite has been harvested."
"I see. Well done. Tell the hunters to rest. I'll be heading out."
The sun had barely begun to rise, casting long shadows through the Mara Mountains. Under Ael's command, the hunters had worked through the night in the cave, mining relentlessly. Their labor had yielded enough to fill two carriages with the rare metals.
Ri-hyun dressed in the garb of this world—his blood-soaked hanbok, a relic of the past, long discarded. He emerged fully clothed in muted leathers, trimmed subtly with golden thread, more fitting of a merchant or traveler than the man he truly was.
---
At the Foot of the Mountain
"Where are we headed?" Ri-hyun asked, stepping into the carriage where Ciro waited as both escort and transport guard.
"The Altaria Empire, my lord. It lies north of the Beleville Kingdom," Ciro replied, adjusting the straps on his armor.
"Though the Beleville Kingdom is closer to the Mara Mountains, only merchants in Altaria possess the infrastructure and demand to handle a trade of this scale."
Ri-hyun gave a small nod. "Very well. Lead the way."
"Yes, my lord!"
The carriage rumbled down the mountain path. Trees towered over them, cloaking the road in shadow. The deeper they ventured, the more twisted and unnatural the forest became.
"Monsters roam these woods, don't they?"
"They do. This is the Demonic Forest—so named for the beasts within. They're corrupted by demonic energy."
As if summoned by the words, a massive shadow loomed ahead.
"What is that?" Ri-hyun asked, narrowing his eyes.
Ciro stepped in front of the carriage, blade drawn. "Lord Ri-hyun, please step back! It's dangerous!"
An ogre emerged from the foliage—a hulking creature, its flesh mottled and dark, a crude greatsword clutched in its fist.
Without hesitation, Ciro lunged and drove his knife into the ogre's shoulder. But the blade barely pierced the skin. Muscle too thick. The weapon stuck.
"Ciro," Ri-hyun said, calm and cold, "don't use that move."
"My lord—"
"There are a dozen ways to kill that thing using what I've taught you."
With a flick of his energy, Ri-hyun pulled Ciro back, knife and all.
"Hand me your blade. I want to show you something."
"Ah—yes!" Ciro handed it over with both hands, reverent.
Ri-hyun stepped forward, twirling the knife in his hand.
"This style was once used by a rogue assassin. It focuses on speed, not strength—striking before the enemy can react."
The ogre roared and charged.
"A martial art capable of piercing even the heaviest defenses."
Lightning sparked along Ri-hyun's form as he exhaled.
True Heaven Flying Knife: Storm Fang Draw.
He vanished.
A moment later, he appeared behind the ogre. Its body locked in place before collapsing in a mess of slashes, each line glowing with faint, crackling lightning.
"A-amazing…"
"Here," Ri-hyun said, handing the knife back. He mounted his horse once more.
"Let's go. It'll get dark soon."
---
They rode hard and made camp halfway to the empire's southern gate.
Ciro prepared a modest fire while Ri-hyun reclined beneath a tree, arms behind his head. The crackle of flames and chirping insects filled the silence until Ciro spoke.
"My lord, may I ask something?"
"Go ahead."
"Did you… come from another world?"
Ri-hyun's eyes opened slowly.
"What made you ask that?"
"Everything I've seen—it goes against what I know. The way you fight… the way you speak… your very presence."
"I did. I was summoned by the Beleville Kingdom's princess."
"Then you're one of the champions meant to defeat the Demon King?" Ciro's voice was filled with wonder.
"I was," Ri-hyun said quietly. "But I have no interest in that now."
"…I see."
"My world was filled with nothing but war and fleeting peace. Families moved from one kingdom to another just to escape the endless conflict between great sects and empires."
He paused, staring into the fire.
"I've had enough of it. I came here for peace."
"I'm sorry for asking," Ciro said, bowing his head.
"Go to sleep," Ri-hyun murmured, closing his eyes once again.
---
But peace never lasted.
"Ciro," Ri-hyun whispered, eyes opening once more. "Wake up."
"Eh? What's wrong?"
"There are multiple presences nearby. They're closing in."
Suddenly, an arrow whistled through the dark.
Ri-hyun caught it inches from his head.
Seventeen? No… fifty. The rest are hidden.
"Ciro, grab your weapon."
"Yes, my lord!" Ciro unsheathed his knife.
"It must be bandits. They've likely sensed the arcanite's energy."
"Bandits, huh? They'll make decent laborers…"
"What?"
"Nothing."
The forest erupted with movement as shadowed figures emerged, surrounding the camp and carriage. Ri-hyun slipped into the shadows, suppressing his presence.
"L-lord? Where did you go?" Ciro whispered, wide-eyed.
"Kill the boy! Take the cargo!"
"Tch," Ciro muttered, spinning his blade into a ready stance. "Why does this always happen to me?"
Above, Ri-hyun soared through the treetops, taking down crossbowmen in silence. His eyes scanned the terrain.
There. Fires. Armaments. That's their main camp.
He landed in the center of their ranks, sending a burst of wind across the clearing. The fire wavered. The men froze.
"If you don't surrender," Ri-hyun said, voice low and even, "I'll torture you until you beg to die."
"Who the hell is that? Kill him!"
They charged.
"Good."
[Aura of Annihilation]
A black fog rolled out from Ri-hyun's form. The bandits screamed, clutching their heads. They saw their own deaths on repeat, hallucinating their worst defeats in vivid, agonizing loops.
Ri-hyun watched in silence.
"Remarkable. I should use this more often."
He dispelled the aura a few moments later.
"Now… ready to surrender?"
"We surrender!" they cried, trembling, dropping their weapons.
"Head to the Mara High Mountains. Shelter awaits. Refuse, and I'll find you."
He left them there and returned to the camp.
What greeted him made him pause.
Ciro stood amidst a ring of corpses, blood spattered on his cheeks. His knife dripped red, and on the bodies—distinct, electrified slash marks.
Storm Fang Draw.
"Well done, Ciro," Ri-hyun said, pride hidden behind a quiet smile.