The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board

Chapter 52

Seol headed to where Kibo told him to go.

It was to confirm the information he received as a reward for beheading Heka.

Thats that, but the timings way too tight.

Due to being swept up in various events during his rest, Seol only had 15 days before his next Adventure started.

He planned on using the remaining days to look for Chaos traces, but because he was heading to somewhere that was contrary to his original plans, he was feeling impatient.

If it looks like its going to take a while, I should just save it for next time.

Since uncovering Chaos whereabouts was what was most important right now, Seol didnt need to desperately clear this as well.

Even so, Seol was excited at the thought of directly meeting Hamun, Orgos successor.

Is it really the same Hamun?

Seol planned on visiting Hamun even if his plans went awry, even if he was unable to get anything from him.

Hamun himself was a mark that Seol left in The World of Eternity. Even though it was a considerably sad memory for Orgo, Seol wanted to meet Hamun.

It should be around here somewhere

It was a rather unpopulated region of Nobira, Seol went through one deserted area after another to reach a street nearby.

He wasnt sure if people simply just didnt live around here or if something happened, but it was completely empty.

- Its so sketchy here

- Kibo: Kuku just according to keikaku.

- So there was a place like this in Nobira too shiiiiiet

Just as Seol was starting to feel nervous as well, he felt a presence.

Rustle

Seol instantly turned and looked.

He saw a handsome young man.

A mole near his eye

Seol instantly caught the young mans unique physical characteristic.

A handsome young man with copper skin and a mole near his eye.

Hes Hamun.

He looked exactly like the Hamun he remembered as Orgo. Well, other than the fact that he was much older than then.

As Seol was looking at Hamun with reminiscent eyes, Hamun spoke to him. I heard about you from old man Kibo.

I apologize, was I intruding?

Hamun shook his head. Old man Kibo is my savior. If it wasnt for him, I wouldve been buried in the sands.

Seol was glad that Hamuns favor for Kibo hadnt disappeared.

Hamun gave Seol a bow and turned around. Follow me. I doubt theres any pleasant conversation we could have while standing around here.

Okay.

It wasnt normal for rows of houses like this to create a creepy atmosphere. These buildings, surprisingly, had no windows, so it was impossible to look inside either.

Even so, even if it were the slums, there should at least be traces of humans.

Did something happen? Seol continued to follow Hamun, thinking things like that to himself.

Hamun entered into a creepy, crude house and Seol followed.

He prepared tea for his visitor ahead of time so the moment Seol entered the house, Hamun offered him tea.

I hope its to your tastes.

Ah, Im fine without tea.

...Why?

I dont normally eat or drink anything offered to me by someone else, so its just a habit from my job, I hope you can understand.

Thats exactly what my master used to say, quietly responded Hamun.

What?

Its nothing. Regardless, it does look quite weird for the homeowner to be the only one drinking tea while the guest has nothing.

Its not your fault at all.

Sip.

Hamun watched Seol while drinking his tea. Hamun was a quiet person.

Its exactly the same as when he was young.

Hamun even surprised Seol when he was young as his dialogue script was much shorter than the other children around his age. Seol, even now, couldnt believe that the same Hamun was right before him.

Is there an issue?

Its nothing.

Still, you never know how things go in life. I thought Kibo had forgotten about saving me in the desert, and now Im repaying the debt from that day to someone I had never met before.

Seol was curious about how that happened, so he asked a question. Who were you being chased by?

People who wanted my masters works. Ah, have you heard about my master?

Seol knew everything about him. I know him somewhat.

Have you also heard about him before he got that disgraceful nickname?

...Orgo, the Golden Hand.

Since everything Orgo made had strange effects, it wasnt a stretch to give him that luxurious title.

Youre exactly right.

Why are you so curious about whether I know your master or not?

I find it very pleasant when I hear his name from other people. Dont tell me did I upset you?

Not at all, I just thought it was unique.

Hamun then continued, As my master became more and more disillusioned by the world and resolved to depart, his works had already either fallen to the hands of evil individuals or were hidden so that no one could find them.

So you were being chased down despite all that?

Seol hid the items so that no one could find them to be considerate to Hamun.

It was so that Hamun could live his own life. Seol knew that even if he left those items to Hamun, he wouldnt have been able to protect them.

And if those items were left in the world, it would only torture Orgo further.

I realized then that evil is more tenacious than good. They exhaustively kept an eye on me. They wanted to see if I was living a normal life or if I was in contact with Master Orgo.

And that eventually led to you running away.

Yes. I thought they would give up if I chose a difficult path, but I didnt expect them to follow me all the way into the desert.

It really was good that you met Kibo.

If it werent for him, I wouldnt be able to live like this today. It was thanks to him that I was able to settle here.

And nowadays, you

Hamun gave a bitter smile.

It has been a long while since Ive forgotten the anvil and hammer. Currently, I run a tea shop in the city.

...I see.

Ah, the debt I have to repay Kibo is still a debt. I planned to repay Kibo no matter what. Now, tell me, Snowman, what do you want?

As Hamun finished his sentence, Seol saw options.

[[Hamun has asked you what you want. What will you ask from him?]

1. [Required: Hamuns Changed Mind] A weapon.

2. [Required: Hamuns Changed Mind] A set of armor.

3. [Required: Blacksmith] To learn his secrets.

4. Repairing or enhancing an item.

]

It was a disastrous list of options.

Everythings locked up.

The options were grayed out.

Other than a select few options, they were all grayed out.

Hamuns Changed Mind I dont have the time to fulfill this condition.

Since it was a reward that Seol didnt anticipate, he didnt have the luxury in time.

Even now, Seol was worried about finding Chaos traces. There was no way he could afford to waste time on something he knew nothing about.

Seol, in the end, gave up on requesting a new item from Hamun and chose another option.

Seol then pulled out two items from his inventory.

The first was Karunas Moonlight Sword which boasted a sharp, blue edge and the other was a crushed helmet.

[[Helmet of Control(Destroyed)]

Quality: Abomination

Recommended Level: N/A

Defense: 0

Durability: 0/0

Weight: 5kg

A helmet made with a rare material called spirit stone. It had been corrupted after it was influenced by its makers grudge. It is completely destroyed now and wont have its power returned even if it is repaired.

Basic Effect: N/A

Bonus Effect: N/A]

It was a helmet Seol received in The Hall of Self-Control and a treasure that Borgo used.

Oho

Hamun started inspecting the Moonlight Sword and Helmet of Control as if he were interested in them. This passion was still hidden inside of him.

So youre still the same, Hamun.

Whenever Orgo made a new item, Hamun would always give him a thumbs up.

Though Orgo left, he remained.

"This helmet is made out of spirit stone."

"Correct."

"Then wed have to melt this helmet down and remake it. If I simply tried to repair it as it is right now, it wouldnt be able to bring out half of the spirit stones powers."

Is that so?

Hamun then took his eyes off the helmet to look at the Moonlight Sword.

Seol waited. He predicted that soon, Hamun would give a similar reaction to the reaction that he gave when he saw the helmet.

But then

Hm

Even though quite a bit of time had pressed, Hamun didnt say anything.

Urm

Whats wrong?

Hold on a second

Hamun pulled out a hefty book from his bookcase and flipped through the pages.

And after that, even more time passed.

- Hamun A hamun shouldnt keep people waiting

- Do you want Private to fuck you up?

- Hes taking so damn long

Seol waited, quiet as a mouse.

And after a long, long while, Hamun finally spoke.

Where did you get this?

Where? I dont really

Is it something thats difficult to tell me?

Since it really wasnt anything special, Seol gladly told Hamun everything he knew about the Moonlight Sword. He told Hamun that he found the sword in a moon ruin forgotten by humans.

...As expected.

Why, whats wrong?

Items are always bound to have a record. Like when they were made or what they were made for. And its embarrassing to say but I am someone who has the knowledge and eyes to uncover those records.

Seol hesitated for a moment.

Are you telling me that the Moonlight Sword has no such records?

Yes, precisely. I wonder how a weapon like this could exist It makes me wonder if my master wouldve known if he saw this.

He wouldnt have known either.

Huh?

Its nothing.

Hamun continued to talk to himself. It probably is a weapon from a civilization right before ours.

What?

Im sure you might think its strange, but in my eyes, thats the only way. Everything about this sword is a mystery to me, from the materials used to make it to the powers hidden inside. And the biggest question to me is how exactly the unprecedented power is working in reverse to the swords powers.

What do you mean?

In other words, the sword is restricting the powers inside of it. Im assuming the spells engraved on the sword probably have something to do with it.

Seol wasnt asking Hamun for the origin or history of the Moonlight Sword. And as such, he didnt care for the question after question.

So?

Im interested, very interested! Could you perhaps tell me whos using this sword? I dont think that youre using it yourself, Snowman.

Glow

Frss!

Karuna stood stalwart by Seols side.

...A shadow?

Yes, its his weapon.

A weapon for a shadow How interesting.

So which of the two items will you be taking care of?

If Hamun chose the Moonlight Sword, Seol would ask him to enhance it and if Hamun chose the Helmet of Control, he would ask him to repair it. Even if the Helmet of Control would have reduced powers from it not being remade completely, there was no way Seol could ask him to make a new item for him.

However Hamuns answer shocked Seol.

Ill take care of both of them.

What?

Ive become interested in this sword.

Then all he had to do was accept the sword? Why did he accept the helmet too?

As Seol thought to himself while looking at the Helmet of Control, Hamun answered him.

If it was something I was uninterested in, I wouldve rejected the helmet. But right now, theres a fire lit within me. And it made me want to accept the helmet as well.

I only have half a month though, Hamun.

Half a month is plenty of time. Leave it to me. I am one of the few people on this continent who can awaken the hidden powers sleeping in this sword.

...I understand.

* * *

After Seol left, leaving behind his sword and helmet, Hamun grabbed the two items and headed somewhere.

Thud

Creak

He was headed underground.

Obviously though, it wasnt an ordinary basement area.

The basement area had a long tunnel that connected elsewhere.

Clunk

Fuu its been a long time.

It was his equipment, covered in dust. His anvil and hammers. His bellows and furnace.

Hamun, contrary to his words about not working as a blacksmith anymore, had all of the equipment he needed in this area.

This area was also the windowless houses that Seol was curious about.

Hamun had connected all of those houses by breaking down and connecting the interior walls to make a giant smithy.

However, the Helmet of Control and the Moonlight Sword werent the only equipment here.

Unsheathe

A sword that radiated a myriad of colors

It was beautiful to the point that it would leave you speechless.

This items name was Storm.

And it was also his masters, Orgos, first work.

It was a Treasure quality item. It was amazing for someones first work, but it was still a bit lacking compared to the other amazing items throughout the continent.

Hamun wasnt chased down by his pursuers simply because of a vague reason like wanting to know his masters whereabouts. It was also because of the sole legacy his master left behind.

Its just a treasure quality item at best Why do they want to take even this from me?

Click

Hamun, after putting away Storm, let out a calm sigh and spoke to himself as if he were trying to resolve himself.

Orgo, with this, I will finally surpass you.