Chapter 774: Ugh, Those Pesky Geoms!

TL: FoodieMonster007

Late at night, Gwak Yeong cleaned the smithy, her body feeling like it weighed a thousand pounds. She wiped the workbench with a damp cloth, then swept the ashes and metal scraps on the floor into a pile.

She had been the youngest master craftsman in the Murim Alliance, but now she did menial chores in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's smithy. Since arriving, she had silently devoted herself to her assigned tasks.

At first, many people looked at her with displeasure. They disliked that she was from the Murim Alliance, and they also disliked that she was a woman.

However, she silently endured their disregard and contempt, and never shirked from dirty work. Because of that, the way people looked at her had changed significantly.

The nature of those who worked with iron was like fire. They hated what they hate with a fiery passion, but they also had the character to acknowledge what deserved acknowledgment. Gwak Yeong had certainly worked hard enough to be recognized by everyone.

This was also a time for her to reflect on herself.

Right, this is how I felt when I first learned blacksmithing.

She wondered when it started. After becoming a master craftsman, she felt she had unconsciously become arrogant and lost her fierce determination.

Did the bastards who kidnapped my brother target me because my conceit created a weakness?

Sighing, she completed her exhausting work and prepared to leave.

"You may use the fire starting tomorrow," someone called out to her.

It was Master Craftsman Gwak, who had remained in his office instead of going home.

Gwak Yeong's face lit up. To use the fire meant to forge weapons. She had finally received the permission she had been waiting for. "Thank you!"

"There are still people who look down on you," Master Craftsman Gwak remarked. Although he had treated her indifferently, he had actually kept an eye on her all this time.

"I know."

"Prove yourself with the swords you forge."

"……"

Master Craftsman Gwak left the smithy, while Gwak Yeong bowed her head several times in gratitude.

She walked over to the extinguished furnace.

I can finally forge a sword! How long have I waited for this moment?

She fought back tears that threatened to spill.

No, I can't show weakness.

Her younger brother, who had enlisted as a low-level martial artist, had begun life as a demonic practitioner. She could tell from his face how hard and difficult it was, but he was also enduring it silently.

We can do this.

After looking around the empty smithy, she stepped outside and closed the door.

"Congratulations," a man said.

Startled, she turned to see Geom Muyang standing there. For a moment, a flicker of delight crossed her face before it hardened. "Could it be…?"

"If you're asking if I asked Master Craftsman Gwak to let you forge swords, then no. If I had done that, you would never be able to work here again."

Gwak Yeong nodded. He was right. The Master Craftsman Gwak she knew was not someone who would yield to external pressure, even from the First Young Lord of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. If he had made such a request, she would likely never be allowed to forge a sword in her life.

"I just wanted to congratulate you," Geom Muyang added.

Yesterday, Master Craftsman Gwak had visited him and informed him that he planned to let Gwak Yeong forge swords. As she had come all the way to the distant Heavenly Demon Divine Cult because of him, he couldn't completely ignore her.

He started to turn away, intending to leave, but Gwak Yeong stopped him.

"Please buy me a drink."

"……" Geom Muyang stared at her in shock. She had been meek lately, but now seemed to go back to the bold person she had been when they had first met.

Gwak Yeong tilted her head. "Why are you looking at me like that? You know I've always had this bold personality, don't you? I've just been holding it in since I came here. First Young Lord, please just put up with my temper for today. I am on the verge of collapsing from pent-up anger."

"Pfft!" Geom Muyang let out a small laugh at her confidence.

Encouraged by his favorable reaction, she continued, "Just for today, I want to be congratulated by someone. As for asking you to foot the bill, it's because, as you know, I'm not in a position to receive a proper monthly salary yet. I'll treat you when I receive my first paycheck."

Geom Muyang nodded. He had been debating whether to suggest a celebratory drink himself, but ultimately, he had given up, worried about burdening her. Since she spoke up first though… yes, he did want to congratulate her. She had worked so incredibly hard that he did not regret introducing her to Master Craftsman Gwak at all.

The two of them walked side-by-side toward the Demonic Village.

Some distance away, a certain someone spied on the two of them as they left.

It was Geom Mugeuk, who come looking for his brother just to see his face. A subordinate had told him he went to the smithy, so he had headed there after talking to his father.

To his surprise, his brother had not forgotten Gwak Yeong and was taking care of her. This was something the brother in his past life would never have done.

Seeing that his brother had changed, Geom Mugeuk's gaze deepened. "You have to become even cooler from now on, Hyung-nim!"

Geom Mugeuk went straight back to his residence. While waiting 10 hours for his father, he activated the Spacetime Manipulation Technique to train.

Since his father was learning the Spacetime Manipulation Technique, he would practice the Nine Calamities Demonic Art.

Of course, because he was using the Heavenly Space Secret Art, his training would last more than 10 hours.

The Heavenly Space Secret Art, which had once granted seven times the duration, now granted nine times. Ten hours in reality was ninety hours for him, almost four days.

Contrary to the Spacetime Manipulation Technique, though, he had no intention of telling his father about the Heavenly Space Secret Art, which slowed the flow of time.

He judged that his father would surely master the Heavenly Space Secret Art, just as he had. In doing so, he could become a demon god and ascend, or he might get lost in his martial arts training forever and never emerge from the Spacetime Manipulation Technique.

That was not a funny joke. He could really lose his father to an eternal illusion.

I'm sorry, Father. I trust you would control yourself well, but your son is just a worrier by nature.

He focused on his Nine Calamities Demonic Art.

I will break through the Tenth Star mastery and achieve the Twelfth Star!

Now that the Twelve Zodiac Kings had been defeated, there was no telling when Hwa Mugi might appear.

Therefore, Geom Mugeuk intended to work his hardest until the very last moment. If he still could not defeat Hwa Mugi despite all this effort, then he would admit it like a true martial artist, 'Alright, you win.'

Several hours later, when he grew tired from training, he created a hot spring and took a soak.

The second time he exhausted himself, he created an island and rested while feeling the sea breeze.

Throughout his training, he wondered.

Will Father really be able to succeed within the given time?

And so, ten hours passed in reality.

Geom Mugeuk went to see his father in the Cult Leader's personal training ground.

First, he tried to read his father's expression.

Did he learn it in time? Or did he fail?

Unfortunately, he could not tell from his father's expression whether it was a success or a failure. At times like this, only one thought came to mind.

Father, you really should've been a gambler!

Since it was possible he had failed, Geom Mugeuk consoled, "Even if you failed, please don't be too ashamed. Ten hours is an absolutely impossible amount of time. This son doesn't want such an inhuman father. So please, speak your mind freely. 'Son, ten hours is impossible. Give me a little more time.'"

One corner of his father's triumphant mouth curled up slightly.

SNAP!

Geom Woojin snapped his fingers, and the two of them stood in an empty white space.

He had succeeded.

"You did it!" Geom Mugeuk jumped up and down with joy. He was happier than when he had succeeded himself.

As long as his father could use the Spacetime Manipulation Technique, whether he actually would or not was a secondary issue. That was a matter for his father to decide. He was more than satisfied that his father had another trump card.

"I'll be sure to tell the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader that it took you ten hours."

"Eight hours."

"What?"

"I finished in eight hours."

"The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader will probably be shocked speechless!"

He probably won't be. He already knows I learned it in four hours. He'll probably say something like this. 'Ugh, those pesky Geoms!'

"That's truly amazing! I truly respect you, Father."

A satisfied smile spread across Geom Woojin's face. He felt that the intense concentration and effort he had poured into learning the Spacetime Manipulation Technique were fully rewarded. No, his son was even happier than that.

Geom Mugeuk beamed. In truth, there was another reason for his joy. He knew that his father had accepted this bet not just out of competitive spirit, but because he could sense his son's concern. He was so grateful for that sentiment.

Of course, his father still probably did not think a situation would ever arise where he would need to use the Spacetime Manipulation Technique to escape.

"When you first succeed, you can only create an empty space like this, but as your mastery of the Spacetime Manipulation Technique increases, you can create various things. You can even completely recreate a place from your memory. I'll show you a demonstration. I'm not sure if my Spacetime Manipulation Technique will work inside here, though."

He had never tried using the Spacetime Manipulation Technique within the Spacetime Manipulation Technique before.

SNAP!

He tried to activate his own technique, and… surprisingly, it worked.

WHOOSH!

The two of them stood together on the peak of a snow-covered field. The wind blew, fluttering their clothes and hair.

Geom Woojin touched the snow on the ground. It was real, cold snow. The ice cliff on the other side reflected the sunlight and shimmered.

"Amazing, isn't it?" Geom Mugeuk said, then snapped his fingers again.

A plum tree appeared next to them, and its blossoms bloomed in the snowy wind.

He snapped his fingers again, and a small rock appeared next to it.

"You can create anything you want like this. Oh, and you don't have to snap your fingers. I just do it for style."

Geom Woojin smirked. "Like this, you mean?"

SNAP!

The surroundings changed again. This time, Geom Woojin's Spacetime Manipulation Technique space was created inside the Geom Mugeuk's.

Geom Mugeuk looked around, stunned speechless. It was not a white space. He saw things that were all too familiar.

"No, how?"

The Heavenly Demon Hall had been created. Geom Woojin had not recreated it perfectly yet, but the three most important things were there. The path of blood, the stairs, and the throne.

His father walked up the stairs with the gait of a victor and sat on the throne, looking smug.

Geom Mugeuk jumped in exasperation. "I can't take this, I really can't! Father, how can you sit on the throne even in the Spacetime Manipulation Technique? Part of the reason I taught you this was so you could get away from that damned chair!"

With an expression that said, 'Is that so?', Geom Woojin stood up from his seat and snapped his fingers.

SNAP!

The newly created things, including the throne, disappeared.

Geom Mugeuk's jaw dropped in admiration seeing his father manipulate objects so freely, albeit still in a limited way. "You're truly incredible. To be this skilled without a Heavenly Martial Body… if you had one, it would've been absolute chaos."

He meant it sincerely. Although Geom Woojin's true genius did not lie with his physical constitution, he was certain that his own birth with a Heavenly Martial Body stemmed from his father's innate martial talent.

He pouted. "If you're going to create something, Father, it should be a pretty place like this!"

SNAP!

The next moment, the Geoms were standing on a white sandy beach. Since Geom Mugeuk could not maintain two spaces at once, the snowfield he created earlier disappeared.

Now, there was a blue sky and a hot sun. The ocean stretched endlessly into the horizon. On the beach, there was a tree with large leaves, and in its shade was a comfortable-looking chair.

Previously, he never intended to show anyone his private place, but now he wanted to show it to his father.

"This is my most cherished personal space."

He snapped his fingers again, and another comfortable chair appeared under the broad-leafed tree.

"Lie down here."

Geom Woojin lay down on the beach chair next to his son. Lying in such a beautiful place, with the warm sun shining down and soft sand beneath him, felt new.

In all my life, have I ever relaxed on a beach chair like this?

Geom Mugeuk muttered, "Lying here and looking at that blue sky makes all my worries disappear."

"What worries could a young man like you have?"

"Don't I go around meddling in everyone's business? On top of that, aren't I doing the most pointless thing in the world, trying to look good to everyone?"

"So you are aware that it's pointless."

The two of them looked up at the sky in silence.

Suddenly, Geom Woojin asked, "Are you lonely?"

Geom Mugeuk's eyes widened. Like the Smiling Demon, it seemed that his father had also realized that loneliness was a feeling one experienced not when alone, but when surrounded by many people.

"…Sometimes," he replied softly.

Geom Woojin stared wordlessly at his son.

Geom Mugeuk looked back at his father and said nonchalantly, "But everything feels better after I come here to rest. You must have times when you want to be alone too, right, Father? Without Uncle Hwi, without a bodyguard, just completely alone."

"If I asked you to leave now, I could be alone."

"No you can't! This space is truly and completely my own. You can curse all you want in here! You can run around naked!"

Geom Woojin gazed back up at the sky. No matter how real this blue, clear sky felt, it wasn't real. "No matter how hard reality is or how comfortable this place feels, don't get too lost in a mere illusion."

"Yes, I'll keep that in mind. Also…" Geom Mugeuk gathered his courage. "What about you? Do you never feel lonely, Father?"

"Never."

"But you must have worries, right? What is your biggest worry, Father?"

Geom Woojin glared daggers at his stupid son.

Geom Mugeuk giggled, "Hehe, I mean besides me."

I suppose it makes sense for him to be worried about me. I'm a son who stands in the way of his dream! That must be the worst kind of worry!

"Hmm, then I have none."

"How could you? When you put it like that, it makes me sound like such a troublemaker!"

Does Father really have no worries? That's impossible. Sigh, when will the day come when Father can comfortably speak his mind?

That goal felt more difficult than achieving Twelfth Star mastery of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art.

Still, I will keep trying until that day, Father.

At the very least, Geom Mugeuk was relieved that his father seemed more interested in the Spacetime Manipulation Technique than he had expected.

"I'm looking forward to the personal space you'll create, Father. I'm curious to know where you feel most at ease. Please let me see it someday. Oh, and the Heavenly Demon Hall is absolutely forbidden! The throne too!"

"……" Geom Woojin did not answer, but he did not say he would not create it either.

Geom Mugeuk glanced at him.

What kind of space does Father cherish the most? Will I ever get to see it? Is it right for the sight of you lying down comfortably to be so unfamiliar? Please take some breaks, Father.

"The sea breeze is quite nice," Geom Woojin remarked.

Oh? It seems he does like this beach quite a bit?

Beneath his chair, Geom Mugeuk's fingers tapped together quickly. A cool breeze picked up, cutting through the heat, while a flock of seagulls soared overhead. A line of crabs scuttled past his father's chair.

Please, rest comfortably, at least in here, Father.