Requiem Of A Failed Hero

"Look, I know what those darn celestials are like, they are selfish. They will give you divinity only to limit your capabilities and potential."

"Huh, who are celestials? What is that?"

Black was about to talk when he glanced at Raith, the dark look that Raith had on his face prompted him to come to an abrupt pause. His gloomy face this time was different and because Black was Raith's bound weapon, he could feel it.

"Sword god? Is something wrong?" Dong-Hyun asked, glancing at Raith.

"Ahem, such a thing is not something for a human like you to know." Black said, averting his gaze, 'Why was his look so much like that of master'

"A-a-anyway. Even if you want to reforge me, in order to melt my metal in Mountain ashes."

"Mountains ashes...? Is it the same mountain ashes?" Dong-Hyun exclaimed.

Mok Jae-Hwa shifted his gaze to him, "Is there something special about this mountain ashes?" he asked.

"Well, there's is this rumor from the World Association of Blacksmiths–

"Eeehhh? There's a thing like that in this world?" Mok Jae-Hwa asked.in disbelief.

"Yes of course! Blacksmiths are underrated because everyone only focuses on the hunters. But we matter too and we have our own association. Anyways, don't distract me. Mountain ashes is a wood that can only be gotten from trees that survive the harshness of the top of a mountain and their ability to grow. It is said that the fire produced from this wood has a purple color and is capable of burning even a blacksmith before he finishes forging a metal. It is only possible with a blacksmith that has some kind of heat resistance skill. Even a disaster-rank hunter who is a blacksmith could only stay with it for fifteen minutes and still come out with burns all over his body." Dong-Hyun explained.

'I could use skill Bestowal though...' Raith rubbed his chin but didn't speak, at least Dong-Hyun had not made his decision yet.

But it was clear at this point, if he decided to reforge Black, he was forfeiting the blacksmith blessing he was granted by a god but that also meant that he would be embracing growth.

"Sword god sir. I have come to a decision."

"Huh? So fast?" Black was surprised.

"Yes! As a blacksmith, nothing matters to me more than growth from a great ordeal. Even if I will lose my divinity, I think this experience will be worth it. I have mountain ashes but I don't know if I will be able to bear it for even two, no- one minute." Dong-Hyun worried, his gaze falling to the ground.

"I can help with that..." Raith announced, slightly raising his hand.

"Huh? What are you saying?"

"First you will have to light up the fire for me to see...before I finally do what I intend to do." Raith explained.

Everywhere was silent, Dong-Hyun's and Jae-Hwa's eyes were on Raith. He was very serious, even Black did not protest against his suggestion or curse him out.

"B-B-But hunter Raven, this heat can cause your fine skin to be filled with burns in just seconds."

Raith sighed, "Don't worry about me. Do you want to do this or not?" He asked.

Dong-Hyun looked at him for a while and gave up the idea of stopping him. "Follow me..." He said.

Raith and Jae-Hwa naturally turned in the direction of the door.

"Of course, my lord" Dong-Hyun was already beside the platform bowing his head, "If you don't mind great one, can I carry you."

"Ahem," Black blushed and averted his gaze, "W-w-well, I'll allow it this once." He said.

Dong-Hyun gently packed the broken sword into his hand and walked out of the room with Mok Jae-Hwa and Raith who shook their heads at how much of a fanatic he had become in minutes of meeting a true experience.

But for Dong-Hyun, this was a matter of great privilege, even blacksmiths of stronger skill than him have never seen an ego than could talk and materialize a form. This was a very very big privilege that he would brag about for the rest of his life.

The idea of repairing the sound itself was sounding like a suicide attempt but Dong-Hyun was the kind of person that believed that whatever the hard work is, it will always bring results.

The three of them, with Dong-Hyun's hand gently carrying something passed through a glass tunnel that connected to another side of the smithy. It was as if different sections of Smithy were carved into the stone and the underground still went deeper than they were all looking. Train ropes connected from height to height and were used to transport different kinds of ores for processing, the view was beautiful from the transparent glass tunnel.

"Dayum, Y'all really did something with this place." Black complimented as he looked around.

"I know right, I look at it every time and can't get used to looking at it. This is the heart of Rain guild." Jae-Hwa explained with a proud smile on his face.

"Nice work friend... don't be allowing some pretty boy to take your accolades though," Black said, completely ignoring Mok Jae-Hwa.

"Ah, ah, yes sir" Dong-Hyun replied with a sheepish laugh.

'I can't help but get angry, why the hell does he keep calling me pretty boy...' Mok Jae-Hwa frowned, but it was cute.

Raith chuckled. The situation that just played out now was understandable even to a slow-witted person.

They reached the smithy: a place where old craftsmanship meets contemporary design and technology. A large space spread open before their eyes, well-lit, with high ceilings and expansive windows that allowed plenty of natural light to flood in.

This questioned Raith's senses, "Wait this, this is supposed to be underground isn't it?"

"Oh, this is not underground. This is another location." Mok Jae-Hwa responded.

"What?" Raith was gobsmacked, "So the underground led us to another place?"

"Yes." Mok Jae-Hwa replied with that proud smile of his.

The interior was lined with polished steel walls and floors, altogether giving the space a sleek and industrious feel.

The centerpiece of the forgery was avant-garde, designed to meet the highest standard of safety and efficiency. The forge was made of top-quality materials and equipped with the highest grade of heating and cooling systems, which was supposed to allow whoever was working there to work with ease.

Dong-Hyun placed Black on a table and walked to a cupboard and opened it– The cupboard was stacked with white short woods. Dong-Hyun brought a number of them out and put them into the forge stepping away from the forge as he held a lighter in his hands and threw it inside.

Whoooooom!

The fire immediately ignited, first starting with a blue fire, then slowly turning to a purple color.

None of them could bear the intense heat that was coming from the fire, Dong-Hyun and Jae-Hwa were already behind the door in a matter of just a minute.

Raith looked down at his body, his clothes were being melted by the heat but he was fine.

Twenty minutes later...

"It's different... I can feel the heat," Raith said, he was already beginning to sweat.

Meanwhile, Mok Jae-Hwa and Dong-Hyun are outside.

"What the hell is that guy?! How long has it been and he is still there?!" Dong-Hyun asked with a disbelieving face.

"Or is he dead?" Mok Jae-Hwa's eyes widened at his suggestion.

"That is impossible, right?" Dong-Hyun replied. The gazes of the two of them stayed with each other for the next minute.

Thud!

They barged in– Raith turned to them.

"What?!!" They ran back outside immediately and locked the door. The smithy was laced with a system that cooled the heat from the forge but then it was still like that.

Dong-Hyun looked at his hand which had already burned from touching the heat-resistant doorknob. He looked at Jae-Hwa.

"What the hell is that guy?"

Mok Jae-Hwa shook his head too with a raised eyebrow, "I have no idea."

As Raith opened the door, both of them immediately backed away from him.

Even though this was beyond the thinkable, Mok Jae-Hwa's eyes were filled awe for Raith.

"I think I can help you stay in there for as long as thirty minutes." Raith said.

"What? You can do that?" Dong-Hyun asked, distracted by the thought of Raith's might.

"Yes, I can do that. But don't ask any questions." Raith said, waiting on him for his reply.

"Trust me, he might be good for nothing but he is a strong man!" Black's voice sounded from inside the room.

Dong-Hyun gulped, '...even the sword was not affected by that heat.'He looked at Raith who was standing in front of the opened door, the fire had gone off so the heat was slowly reducing.

Dong-Hyun stepped into the room and looked around, the rest of Raith's completely burned clothes were being carried away by the wind and the cooling system's work was finally being felt.

He stood in the center of the room, in front of the space, and stared at the forge, then narrowed his eyes and looked back at Raith.

"I accept, do what you must do."