Chapter 41

Even at an hour when darkness had fallen, there was a place glowing red-hot.

Shadows bustled back and forth within the blazing light.

The thunderous crash of metal being struck.

Heat so vivid it felt like you could see it with your eyes.

A place filled with all of that.

That was the Iron-Soul Workshop, the very foundation of the Iron-Gold Wi Clan.

“So the fire really does burn without going out, day and night.”

I muttered quietly.

I had heard of the Iron-Soul Workshop’s fame many times, but this was my first visit.

Now that I had come, I could tell the stories I had heard were no exaggeration.

“Let us go in.”

“Yes, Young Lord.”

I entered the Iron-Soul Workshop’s grounds together with Im Yeon and the others.

Then the sounds of work began to die out one by one, and soon an uneasy silence was all that remained in the firelight.

The cause, of course, was me.

Some glared in this direction, and some even raised the hammers they had just been swinging as if ready to strike at any moment.

Im Yeon, who had come along as my bodyguard, faltered and spoke.

“Th-the atmosphere seems off, Young Lord.”

“It is fine.”

The Iron-Soul Workshop was an inherently closed-off group.

Even without a special reason, being wary of a suddenly appearing outsider was only natural.

It was something that would be resolved once Wi Geum-myeong appeared.

‘He told me to come in four hours. Where is he?’

It seemed he had not even informed them there would be visitors.

As I was looking around, Wi Geum-myeong appeared right on cue.

In an easy tone, he asked.

“Have you been waiting long?”

“No. I just got here.”

With just that short exchange, the strained atmosphere changed at once.

The smiths returned to their work as if they had never been wary of us.

The sound of hammering rang out again, and the hiss of cooling heated metal filled the air.

I inwardly marveled.

That’s some impressive discipline.

It was a clear scene showing just how much weight Wi Geum-myeong carried for them.

‘It is not like he has some overwhelming presence. He must treat them very well.’

Things like discipline and loyalty often came from money.

While I was having that trivial thought, Wi Geum-myeong took the lead.

“This way.”

His steps were light despite his heavy build.

I followed behind him.

As we headed somewhere, Wi Geum-myeong did not stop talking.

About the internal standing the Iron-Soul Workshop had held in the cult for generations, and about the unique smelting techniques it prided itself on.

It felt less like pride in his family trade and more like he was talking about anything to fill the awkwardness.

I understood, so I simply listened in silence.

“Here we are.”

We arrived at a small doorless room set apart from the work area.

Inside was an elderly smith who looked like he could retire at any time and no one would find it strange.

Pointing to him, Wi Geum-myeong spoke.

“This is the head smith of the Iron-Soul Workshop. His skill ranks within the top three in the Divine Cult.”

“I see.”

I cupped my fist to the head smith and introduced myself.

At the words that I was the Heavenly Demon’s new disciple, he started in surprise and returned the salute.

“So you are the Seventh Young Lord whose fame has been spreading of late.”

“Fame, you say. That is more than I deserve.”

“It is not in the least. Are you not the Seventh Young Lord who caused an uproar as soon as you entered the cult? For a time even inside the Iron-Soul Workshop it was noisy with talk of you. They said a new star had risen who would one day lead the Divine Cult.”

I really had become famous, it seemed.

If a man I had never met before said this much.

“But, Patriarch, what brings you here together with the Seventh Young Lord?”

“I promised to have something he wants made for him.”

“Something he wants, you say. That is awfully vague. What will you do if the Seventh Young Lord strips you of a mountain of precious cold iron?”

Wi Geum-myeong’s plump cheeks quivered with laughter.

“The Seventh Young Lord is not that kind of person.”

“Heh heh, I suppose not. Well then, what weapon do you desire, Seventh Young Lord?”

The gazes of Wi Geum-myeong and the head smith turned to me at the same time.

They clearly expected some kind of weapon order, which made me feel oddly sorry.

I was going to have to throw the two of them off.

“You have good foresight, Head Smith.”

“Foresight? In regard to what?”

“In fact, I do need cold iron. Quite a lot of it.”

The gazes that had been on me shifted to each other.

Their expressions said they had never thought their joke would become reality.

Wi Geum-myeong spoke.

“What sort of weapon are you planning to make that you need so much cold iron?”

“Not a weapon. A stick.”

“So you are saying you intend to make not a weapon, but a stick out of cold iron…?”

“Exactly.”

When Wi Geum-myeong had offered free use of the Iron-Soul Workshop, I had secretly rejoiced.

It was because of this cold-iron rod.

I absolutely needed it for the Sacred Flame Festival that was two months away.

The Sacred Flame Festival was a ceremony honoring the Sacred Fire said to be the Demon Cult’s origin.

At the same time, it was an occasion to assess the Little Demons’ potential.

The method of evaluation changed every time, and I had taken part twice.

Both times I had produced disappointing results.

But in the iteration I had not been able to attend, a tremendous incident had occurred.

Because of it, First Sahyung had gained greatly.

I was going to snatch that away.

Using a cold-iron rod.

“The thickness about like this, and the length roughly like this?”

I roughly indicated it with a gesture.

A thickness about that of a child’s forearm, and a length from an adult’s shoulder to wrist.

The head smith immediately converted it into numbers.

“A diameter of just over 2.6 inches, and a length just shy of 2 feet. We will need thirty pounds of cold iron.”

“…!”

Wi Geum-myeong’s mouth fell open.

There were many precious kinds of metal in the world.

Magnetite iron, black iron, heavy iron, cold iron and so on.

Cold iron was a fairly costly material.

Among such cold iron, an especially rare kind was called Eternal Cold Iron, but that was not something you could easily even see.

“Mm. Thirty pounds of cold iron would easily exceed a thousand taels of silver.”

Wi Geum-myeong muttered under his breath.

Wanting to lighten that burden, I spoke as if doing him a favor.

“There is no need to think of it as such a burden. I will return it after I am done using it.”

“You say you will return what you have gone to such lengths to receive?”

“Yes.”

“And if you find yourself unable to do so?”

“I will be able to retrieve it one way or another. I stake Guard Im’s neck on it.”

“M-my neck, you say?”

Im Yeon grabbed her own neck in fright.

“I am joking.”

“Y-yes.”

“For now.”

“…Pardon?”

At that moment, Wi Geum-myeong asked:

“By when do you need it, Seventh Young Lord?”

“Patriarch?”

Wi Geum-myeong ignored the puzzled look in the head smith’s eyes.

“As long as it is done within two months, it is fine.”

“Two months… the Sacred Flame Festival?”

“Who knows.”

I played dumb.

He would figure it out anyway, but there was no real need to keep it secret.

I was the only one who knew what I would use the cold-iron rod for.

Wi Geum-myeong looked at me with an unreadable expression, then nodded to the head smith.

“Make it. The deadline is fifty days from now.”

“Understood, Patriarch.”

The head smith nodded without a word.

“I will be in your care.”

I cupped my fist to the head smith.

He answered with a hearty laugh in place of a reply.

We left the head smith’s room and returned to the workshop entrance. Unlike before, the smiths no longer paid us any mind and focused only on their work.

“Shall we walk a bit?”

‘We were just walking, though.’

I swallowed the words that were about to slip out.

It was because Wi Geum-myeong looked like he had something important to say.

I strolled outside the Iron-Soul Workshop with him, the escorts left at a distance.

Wi Geum-myeong suddenly asked something out of the blue.

“Merchants are the sort who put a value on all things in the world. How much do you think I have valued you at, Seventh Young Lord?”

“Let us see. I do not think it would be low.”

I shrugged.

Satisfied with my answer, Wi Geum-myeong smiled.

“Even if you are standing out these days, you are still but a lone skiff on a vast sea. Above all, you lack a solid backing.”

“And?”

“Yet merchants are also the sort who unearth pearls from the sand. That is why I agreed to such an outrageous request.”

“I would call it a fair demand more than a request.”

“Once thirty pounds of cold iron are being invested, it is better to remove the word ‘fair’.”

“Well, that is true.”

I admitted it readily.

Even if I intended to return it, it was something worth more than a thousand taels of silver.

It would have been embarrassing to insist it was fair.

Suddenly, Wi Geum-myeong let out a sigh.

“Do you know what I have heard said about me? That I am a master made of money. I wanted to deny it in my heart. So I wanted to raise the Sixth Young Lady, So-rang, properly and prove it. Yet now, it seems what people said was not entirely wrong.”

That self-mocking tone was because of Wi So-rang, no doubt.

He must have felt many things through what had happened.

“Did you enjoy your meal with Sajeo?”

Wi Geum-myeong gave a faint nod.

“I had taken meals with her many times before, yet I never knew she liked that dish. It had been a long time since I saw such a joyful face.”

“Spend that kind of time with her often from now on. Do not grind her down so much.”

“I have already lived this way for decades. I can no longer distinguish between conviction and stubbornness. I will end up forcing my way on So-rang again.”

There was bitterness in Wi Geum-myeong’s voice.

He fell silent for a moment, then stopped walking and turned to look at me.

“However, it might be different with you, Seventh Young Lord. Seventh Young Lord, will you continue to help So-rang in her achievements?”

“…And by that, you mean?”

“I am asking for personal instruction. As you know, even the Cult Lord cannot devote himself solely to So-rang. Yet if you guided her by her side, I believe the child would lean on you greatly.”

“I appreciate the offer, but frankly, I have my hands full just taking care of myself.”

I refused without hesitation.

I was far too busy to oversee Wi So-rang’s martial arts.

Training with the Heavenly Demon, my own cultivation and breathing exercises, visits to Demon Valley, and countless other tasks I had to do to prepare for the future.

“I am not asking you to do it often. Only to spare some time when you have leeway.”

“Aren’t you someone sensitive to power structures? If you hand Sajeo over to her sajae, people will question her ability. Outsiders will not look kindly on it either.”

“Hierarchy is not important. Exchanges between sahyungs and sajaes are common in both Orthodox and Unorthodox sects. And do not misunderstand. The Iron-Gold Wi Clan will stand with the First Young Lord.”

“You are very frank.”

“One must spread his feet as wide as he can. What will you do?”

I let the silence hang for a moment.

“Hmm. I really am busy, so it is a bit—”

“Thirty taels of silver.”

“…Sorry?”

“I will pay thirty taels each time you look after So-rang.”

“It is not a money issue—”

“Fifty.”

“Patriarch, excuse me.”

“One hundred. I cannot go higher.”

“…”

I was at a loss for words.

What in the world was this?

Was he trying to buy a person with money or what?

‘It is enough to tempt anyone, though.’

I forcibly shook off the temptation.

“You do not mind the tuition, it seems. Ten times would be worth thirty pounds of cold iron.”

“It is not a waste at all. So-rang’s achievements are the same as the Iron-Gold Wi Clan’s position. Besides, as I said, I hold your potential in very high regard. Think of it as investing for So-rang and for the Iron-Gold Wi Clan.”

Inwardly, I let out a short laugh.

He kept singing the song of being a merchant, yet he did have an eye for people.

“I appreciate the words, but I will refuse.”

“Why so? Is the sum insufficient?”

“Insufficient? It is more than enough. But I am simply far too busy.”

“…I see?”

Wi Geum-myeong’s expression darkened, as if disappointed.

“However.”

“However?”

“I can at least play with Sajeo from time to time.”

Wi Geum-myeong’s small eyes opened wide.

He had understood what lay in my words.

To be honest, I did need money, but it was better to make Wi Geum-myeong owe me.

If I built a friendly relationship, it would become a great strength later.

And more than anything.

‘I do not want my relationship with Wi So-rang to be tied together by money.’

Wi Geum-myeong looked at me as if I were some strange object.

“Merchants do not make lopsided deals.”

“It is not a deal. It is a favor.”

“I do not accept favors without compensation either. So I will pay a price.”

“I said it is fine.”

Acting as if he had not heard me, Wi Geum-myeong continued talking.

“I do not know if you are aware, but in two days the Grand Sacred Flame Council will be held.”

The Grand Sacred Flame Council.

As the name suggested, it was a gathering where the Demon Cult’s key figures met to prepare for the Sacred Flame Festival.

Faces I had not seen for some time would appear there.

“All Little Demons who participate in the Grand Sacred Flame Council must make a certain choice. When that moment comes, do not make your choice before the Fourth Young Lord.”

His advice was worth a thousand pieces of gold.

If I had not returned in time, that is.

On that day, I planned to make my choice faster than anyone.

I had a reason.

“The whip-wielding Fourth Young Lord is a terrifying master. You must avoid a clash with him.”

“I will keep it in mind.”

“For some reason, I feel you will not.”

As expected, he was quick on the uptake.

“Take this.”

Wi Geum-myeong took something out from his robe.

It was a small dagger.

“What is this?”

“A cold-iron dagger. One I had made with particular effort. Its hardness is beyond words.”

I blinked.

Could it be that he was going to give me a cold-iron dagger?

“I will lend this to you, Seventh Young Lord.”

Of course.

I had gotten my hopes up for nothing.

“Use it until your conflict with the Fourth Young Lord is over, then return it.”

“I will make good use of it.”

Hiding my disappointment, I quickly accepted it.

Weapons like this were hard to come by.

There was a time limit, but it might well save my life.

I parted ways with Wi Geum-myeong and returned to Hidden Cloud Pavilion.

The next day, I went to Demon Valley. I replenished the Demon-Gathering Stones and spoke at length with the Demon Valley Lord about Perfect Demonic Qi.

There was no major breakthrough, but some of the questions I had were cleared up a little.

Then another day passed, and at last the day of the Grand Sacred Flame Council dawned.

From that morning, the Demon Cult’s main compound was extremely busy.

Carriages carrying the heads of the Seven Demonic Houses and the leaders of the cult’s core factions rolled ceaselessly toward the Ten Thousand Demons Hall.

I too joined that procession, accompanied by Im Yeon and my guards.

And in that way, we arrived at the Ten Thousand Demons Hall.