The next day, in the dining hall.
The entire squad was assembled, and the general atmosphere had improved significantly; it was written clearly on their faces. Jin stood in the center of the hall.
"Guys, I am establishing a fifth team," Jin announced. "Its specialty will be espionage and intelligence gathering. Does anyone among you have experience or talent in this field?"
After a brief period of discussion and consultation, only two stepped forward. Jin pondered for a moment.
If they could use magic, I would have taught them how to manipulate shadows. Training them in martial arts will be harder than magic, but so be it.
Jin handed them the manual: [Shadow Steps].
"Now," Jin continued, "those of you who have written requests for your custom weapons, bring them forth."
Jin collected the requests. A short while later, standing before the squad headquarters, he turned to Song.
"Song, once you finish printing copies of the new technique, distribute them immediately to the members."
"Ya Yuan: I will be gone for a while. Look after the squad well—and don't kill any humans, you psychopath."
With that, the youth departed. His destination... the Tower.
Later, in the First Floor City, inside Borin's Smithy.
Borin was as he always was, standing before the forge, clutching his pipe. Jin entered. He was dressed in traveler's clothes, his hair tied back—an unusual sight, as he hadn't styled it this way in a long time.
"Hello, old man. It has been a long time once again," Jin said.
Borin smiled and spoke calmly. There was no annoyance or cursing as was customary.
"Welcome, lad. you've started disappearing for long periods and returning so quietly. What has happened to you?"
"Much has changed, truly," Jin replied. "But it depends on my mood; sometimes I might arrive just as I did when we first met. But what about you? You are quiet and haven't cursed at me as you usually do."
"My state is like yours," Borin said. "Sometimes I cannot be vibrant. Let us set that aside. What do you wish for us to craft?"
Jin produced dozens of drawings. "There are special designs here, and the rest of the swords are as requested on these sheets."
"Are you going into trade or what? Haha!" Borin laughed.
Jin smiled. "I have become a squad leader now. I figured I should care for my followers a little."
Jin then brought out his golden sword, the one that had melted in the previous battle of the transcendents. Astonishment washed over Borin's face.
"What is this, lad? How did this happen?"
Borin took the sword and examined it for a moment. His shocked expression shifted; he knew exactly what kind of forces the blade had been subjected to for it to reach such a state. He had witnessed this many times in his life. To Borin, this sword was a witness to a great transformation within the boy. He was certain of it without even asking.
"I think this sword shall remain as a memento of that great event," Borin remarked. "Now... do you truly wish to craft custom weapons for sixty followers?"
"Yes. I have brought the required materials and will bring anything else we might need."
Borin fell silent for a moment, looking at Jin intently.
"Lad, you have changed greatly. You have become visibly stronger. Why would you come to the Tower again? Do not try to convince me you came only to craft weapons."
Anxiety and suspicion invaded Jin's mind, reflecting on his face.
"To be honest... I have witnessed truly strange things," Jin confessed. "I need to reach the next stage of power. I know I have only a few trials left before I reach Trial Fifty, and that from then on, a single trial can sometimes take years. But I truly need a rapid leap right now."
"What could have happened to make you say such things?" Borin asked.
Jin began to speak. He told him of all the wonders he had seen and what had transpired.
"A new Regressor... and the Heavenly Demon is pulling all the strings just so I can be present within them. But what I truly cannot understand is... what is a Constellation?"
Borin watched him, his mind flooded with thoughts. He was trapped between telling the boy what he knew and the weight of the burden that knowledge would place upon him.
"Lad," Borin said, "do not confine your path to a few swords. Try dozens of blades. Try every martial art and magical style you encounter—your talent allows for it. Experiment with one metal after another until you refine your own style and your perfect sword."
"Why are you telling me this now?" Jin asked. "And why do you speak as if you have experienced this, rather than just giving advice?"
"It has been three years since our first meeting," Borin replied. "Have you never asked yourself why people do not know my name? Why I refused to tell it to you when we first met? Why I asked you to tell no one? Why I craft ordinary weapons for the masses while crafting unique ones for you alone? Why would someone with the ability to craft transcendent weapons from any material work in a small workshop on the first floor?"
Jin was silent. He had no answer. Despite his sharp intellect and photographic memory, some things escaped his mind entirely—as if it were a fated blind spot.
"Honestly... I don't know... I never asked myself before."
"Lad," Borin said, "every Sword Throne... I am the one who crafted the weapons they have used for the past seventy years. Had they not turned to the Primal Swords, I would have continued to do so."
Jin was utterly stunned. He could never have expected this, no matter how much he pondered.
"Then... Chun Ma, and Virgil, and the Sword Emperor... did you live with them for a long time? And... what are the Primal Swords?"
Borin sighed and smiled—a smile that carried the joy and sorrow of ages past.
"Cheon Mun-woo... I met him when he was twenty. I crafted his first custom weapon. His talent transcended human logic; he needed a special weapon to contain that explosive talent. And Virgil... I met him when he first entered the Tower. He was a complete barbarian. His style was incredibly violent, and no ordinary sword could withstand it. I crafted the first Great Sword of my career then. They were reckless youths, much like you, and I have many memories with them. But... time is no longer what it once was. And the Sword Emperor... well, his age is many times my own. He possessed one of the three greatest swords in the world, so I did not craft many for him. But he was the finest person I have ever known."
"What about the Fourth Throne?" Jin asked. "Who is he, truly?"
"Let us leave the talk of that person for another time," Borin requested. "Please, do not ask me now."
Curiosity and doubt gnawed at Jin, nearly killing him, but he respected Borin's request and did not press further.
"Then... what about the Primal Swords?"
"Heh," Borin chuckled. "Those... that is a grand tale from a very ancient time. Those swords—each one was forged from a material the world never saw again. Each sword carries its own philosophy, and those swords choose their wielders. The first to carry them were among the strongest entities across all ages."
Jin was fascinated. He couldn't help but ask, "Can you tell me about them?"
Borin hesitated, but eventually began.
"Haaa... where to begin. The Ancient Great Sword, carried by the first Sword King in history. It was crafted by the Sovereign of Blacksmiths, the greatest smith in history. Its material is unknown, and now that sword is carried by Virgil. The sword of the Founding Heavenly Demon—a transcendent spiritual blade. It was forged from the horn of the former Black Dragon King, the life essence of one of the nine Dukes of Hell, and the souls of hundreds of tyrants from that era. It is carried by the Chun Ma whose power you saw for yourself."
Borin paused, while Jin's wonder grew at everything he heard.
"And there is... the greatest sword in the entire history of the Elves," Borin continued. "The Star-Shatterer. This sword... was crafted by the Star-Shattering Emperor himself from a star that fell upon Elvenheim in his era. No one could use it after him until the current Sword Emperor."
Jin spoke in sheer amazement: "What is all this? A Sovereign of Blacksmiths? A Dragon King and Dukes of Hell? What in heaven's name is this? And by the way... who is the Star-Shattering Emperor?"
"Do you now know the meaning of Chun Ma's words when he told you that you are an insect in this world?" Borin asked. "I will not tell you of dragons and hell for now; there is no need for details. But the Star-Shatterer? Well... that person... was the first King of the Elves, eighty thousand years ago."
Jin was completely floored. "Do you mean the current Sword Emperor managed to wield a sword that no one could use for eighty thousand years? How great and powerful is that man?"
"When you are qualified... you will meet that man yourself one day," Borin said. "Enough talk of these things. Lad, do not ask anyone about the dragons specifically; erase that from your mind for now. Now, leave and train until I have finished crafting your weapons."
They laughed for a moment, and Jin turned to leave. But... Jin stopped at the door.
"Since you were a companion to the Sword Thrones and possess all this forbidden information... what is a Constellation?"
Borin hesitated for a long time. He knew the full truth, but speaking of it would do nothing but heavy the youth's burdens. Yet...
"Constellations... they are transcendent beings. Their abilities surpass any logic you will ever know. Some humans have abandoned their humanity to become Constellations. I believe you have already met one and have gained an idea of this."
"Thank you, old man," Jin said. "I think this was the best conversation we've ever had. I'll be going now."
"Wait, lad," Borin called out.
Jin looked back. Then, the status window appeared...
Jin's eyes widened to their limits. Shock covered his face, and he was speechless. Borin was looking directly at Jin, but the system window read:
> [System]
> The Constellation [The Last Descendant of the Sovereign of Blacksmiths] is looking at you.
>
Jin could not utter a word after seeing the message. He stared at Borin, shock written all over his features.
"Lad... please," Borin said. "Do not search for anything now. Stop asking about these things. Do not try to obtain any more information. It is best if you erase this day from your memory. Trust me, if you continue this now, you will surely be harmed. When the time comes... you will know everything. When we meet next... I want things to be as they always were."
Jin could not move his tongue. He walked out, his mind ablaze, but he suppressed the fire and restrained himself from asking more. He had known Borin for over three years, and in 그 time, he had confirmed that this man was a true mentor. Therefore, he had to listen.
And so... the youth learned... things he should not have known so soon.
End of Chapter