Chapter 60
My daily routine was simple.
As usual, I trained in the clearing behind the mountain.
Then, after training, I headed to the workshop to tidy up and help out.
My basement studio?
I just left it trashed.
The workshop was cleaner and more comfortable now anyway.
[Dmir’s Workshop]
The moment I walked in, the workshop’s sign greeted me.
And along with it:
[You have entered a ‘Clean Air’ (Rank B) zone.]
Seeing the system message made me smile.
Truly, ritual magic was fascinating.
With Eldrin’s will alone, it felt like she could manifest anything.
“Such fresh, clean air. Thanks, Eldrin.”
“Think nothing of it.”
‘Clack clack.’
Eldrin clicked her jawbones in a cheerful laugh.
At this point, I avoided unsummoning the three who had awakened.
Just thinking about them being stuck somewhere unknown, unable to move or speak, felt suffocating.
The old man had a time limit, so that was unavoidable, but still.
“Hmm.”
‘Clack.’
Eldrin kept moving her jaw.
“This body… It was uncomfortable at first, but I think I’m slowly getting used to it.”
“…”
Now that I thought about it—
What must it feel like for a soul that remembers its original body to live on as a skeleton?
Probably not great.
I stared at her in silence, and Eldrin let out a soft chuckle.
“Don’t look at me like that. We’re just grateful to still be able to think and feel in this form.”
“Ah.”
So she read me.
Well, she was a former queen who ruled a tribe for hundreds of years.
She was bound to have incredible insight.
She could probably read the heart of a 20-something newbie like me without even trying.
“Hmm, Master. You’re here early?”
‘Clang!’
The clanging stopped.
Dmir had noticed my presence.
Behind him were piles of weapons—swords, spears, bows, hammers, daggers—you name it.
I was impressed.
“Wow, you’ve already made this much?”
“Haha! You named the workshop after me, didn’t you? How could I sit still as a blacksmith? I’ve made a variety of items with specs similar to the sword from last time.”
“Damn.”
“Hmph, don’t get too excited. I still have a long way to go before I can craft real weapons. It’s frustrating—my head knows what to do, but my body can’t follow… Tch.”
Dmir shook his head in frustration.
It was the system’s limitation.
Even though his ‘Intermediate Item Crafting’ was at level 6, he could only create weapons at that level—no matter what.
Still, without any mistakes, he could craft the best weapons possible within that range, which meant he was quickly building experience.
“It’s a bit humiliating to sell these under my name, but…”
“…”
“There’s joy in growth too, right? I’ll do my best.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you’ll level up fast, Dmir.”
“Thanks for the encouragement.”
Dmir smiled and grabbed his hammer again.
Behind him were neatly stacked piles of ore.
It was clear he was eager to gain proficiency as fast as possible.
‘Once I earn some money, I should expand the workshop and build training rooms for each skeleton.’
Another reason I needed to make money.
I couldn’t keep wasting time walking back and forth to the clearing.
From Bone One to the future Bone Twelve.
Including myself, that made eleven rooms.
Each one a luxury training ground tailored to their specialties.
“Ahh…”
Just thinking about it felt good.
I found myself humming.
Anyway.
I gathered up the weapons Dmir had made.
‘Since we sold a sword last time, I should get a sense of the price for the others too.’
I headed back to the GoTo Mall auction center.
As usual, the middle-aged appraiser with glasses was at the desk.
“Good afternoon, sir.”
“Oh! It’s you?”
His eyes lit up when he saw me.
“You’re the young man who left that B-rank sword, right?”
“That’s me. How did it do? Did it sell well?”
“More than well—it was a huge hit!”
“Oh, really?”
“Way more popular than expected. Forget just the stats—it had ridiculous durability, and the design? Absolute art.”
“How much did it go for?”
“Twenty million. Double what we expected. You really struck gold.”
Twenty million won.
That was insane for a weapon I could basically mass-produce.
“…”
I was speechless.
I knew it was good, but it didn’t feel real.
‘Twenty million in a single day…’
It felt like just yesterday I was doing mercenary work trying to scrape together a few bucks.
It was deeply moving.
“The final bid, minus a 10% commission, will be transferred to the account you registered within two business days. But what brings you here? Didn’t you get a notification text?”
The appraiser looked puzzled.
I smiled, dropped my backpack, and began pulling out items.
Dmir’s batch of standard gear.
The appraiser’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.
“W-What is all this?”
“What do you mean? Weapons for the next auction. You said the last one was popular, right? Let’s go even harder on the promotion.”
“G-Goodness…”
He picked up each weapon to inspect them.
“All B-rank? And the design—so clean it’s like fine art…”
“Heh, they’re all from Dmir’s Workshop.”
“You… Where did you find a blacksmith like this?”
“That’s not really important, is it?”
I dodged the question, and he flinched before nodding.
“…I guess not. Ahem. Alright, I’ll list them. Some bidders were disappointed they missed out last time. Word will spread fast.”
“Perfect.”
At this rate, I’d make enough seed money for the business in no time.
And since I was limiting the supply, it’d build some nice buzz.
Now that we’d started, we were going all in.
—
Buzz buzz—
The late-night auction house was packed with energy.
Hunters who’d seen the ads were there, eyes filled with anticipation and tension.
“Those hot weapons are up again today, right?”
“Yeah, but it’s not swords this time. I heard it’s other types.”
“What kinds?”
“Not sure. We’ll find out soon.”
“You got your cash?”
“Of course. Whatever it is, if there’s a whip, it’s mine. Hands off.”
The rumors had spread faster than expected.
GoTo Mall’s auction site was already well-known.
And I’d also posted on the Hunter forums.
[Welcome to the Hunter Forum.]
[User ‘Mercenary4Hire_E’ (Lv. 10) has logged in.]
Of course, after that S-rank item incident last time, I posted anonymously.
▶ “Yo, these weapons are solid. Design’s top-tier.”
▶ “Damn, I’d buy it just for the looks, even if it sucked.”
▶ “Dmir’s Workshop, huh? Isn’t that the place with the skeleton workers?”
▶ “Hmm, might be time to upgrade. Maybe I’ll check it out.”
▶ “Forget it. Too expensive.”
▶ “Exactly why it’s tempting. I’m going.”
The buzz brought in more and more people.
Reporters chasing headlines. Curious hunters. Those in desperate need of new gear.
“18 million! Any higher?”
“Sold for 19 million!”
‘Bang! Bang! Bang!’
“Next is a bow! Same performance as the listed pamphlet. Only one exists in the country right now.”
“20 million!”
“21 million!”
“Sold for 24 million!”
The weapons were flying off the shelves.
Prices ranged from 18 to 24 million won.
Crazy for B-rank weapons, but no one batted an eye.
‘So this is dwarven craftsmanship…’
The designs were insane.
The auction ended in a roaring success.
Some hunters raised their hands.
“Are there more?”
“I missed out. Can I place a custom order at Dmir’s Workshop?”
Lots of inquiries.
But I shook my head.
This was the end of the auction round.
We’d tested the waters enough. Time to build a proper store and expand.
And more importantly—
‘Time to make new weapons.’
I remembered the hammer I made for the dwarves.
[Item: Special Titan Thunder Hammer]
[Rank: S]
[Type: Hammer]
I had borrowed Bone Six’s body, but I made it with my own hands.
A hammer I poured my entire being into.
The thrill I felt while making it?
Unforgettable.
‘S-rank weapons will be limited edition.’
Want to raise Dmir Workshop’s brand?
Simple.
Release top-tier weapons in limited quantities.
Just like luxury leather brands—Herm*s, Ch*n*l—where each item bears the name of its artisan, enhancing its value.
‘Let’s do it.’
Of course, I’d have to drop all training for a while.
It takes an insane amount of mental energy.
So I couldn’t do it often.
‘Thump.’
My heart pounded with excitement.
It had been a while since I felt this fired up.
—
‘BANG!’
“What the hell?!”
A man slammed his desk.
Shin Jongoh, third-generation heir of the Osung Group.
He was pissed.
“He ignored my invitation and went off to start a business?”
“…Yes, Director.”
The secretary in glasses flinched and bowed.
When he was in a bad mood, you didn’t want to push him.
“You followed my instructions, right?”
“Just as you ordered… we hired some guys to rough him up. We even left a note with the location…”
“Then why’s he like this? He should either be scared or show up. Right?”
“S-Sorry.”
She apologized even though she didn’t know what for.
But apologizing meant you wouldn’t get fired.
This spoiled rich punk?
He was dangerous enough to ruin someone for looking at him wrong.
“Hey. Do you think just saying sorry cuts it? Huh? We’ve worked together a while, haven’t we?”
“…W-Well…”
“And what’s this? Dmir’s Workshop? That’s the same industry Osung is pushing, isn’t it?”
What made Shin Jongoh truly mad—
Was the fact that the Osung Group chairman, Shin Jooyong—his grandfather—had entrusted him with the workshop project.
“Shoo… Fine. You wanna play?”
‘Grit.’
He ground his teeth.
“I had a feeling when I saw you hanging around Smith’s Forge.”
“…”
The secretary was baffled.
He picked a fight himself, and the other guy was just minding his business.
Why did he feel like he was the one being attacked?
She didn’t understand—but stayed quiet.
“I-I-Director!”
A hunter burst through the door.
One of the C-rank hunters supported by Osung.
One of Shin Jongoh’s lapdogs.
“What is it?”
“Big news. That guy—Joo Donghoon—you mentioned?”
“Him again?”
“His workshop is being called the next big thing. He released over ten B-rank weapons, and they’re blowing up.”
“What?”
Shin Jongoh scowled.
He only had one blacksmith capable of making B-rank weapons.
And now what?
“Ten of them?”
Was that even possible?
His own guy took fifteen days to make one weapon.
“Something smells fishy.”
Maybe another chaebol was backing him?
“I can’t let this slide.”
“What should we do?”
The hunter asked, and Shin Jongoh grinned wickedly.
“What else? Find out who owns that GoTo Mall shop.”
“The owner?”
“Yeah. Buy up the whole area. Anyone who thinks they can outspend Osung needs a lesson. Him, and anyone backing him—wipe them out.”
Still caught in his own fantasy, Shin Jongoh plotted in only one direction—his.