I Transferred to the SSS-rank Crafting Field - Chapter 14 - The Sword that Cleaves Heaven and Earth (1)

Chapter 14

04 – The Sword that Cleaves Heaven and Earth (1)

TL: Hello! This is Lil-Valley. I’m moving this novel over to this site from Foxaholic in order to experiment with aesthetics. Don’t worry, I’m still the same translator! Feel free to leave feedback about the site.

My long-awaited holiday–

Seoul Station was crowded despite the early hours. However, this wasn’t my final destination.

“I guess this still counts as Seoul Station.”

The former Seoul Station, separate from its more modern successor elsewhere, regained its former glory after the World’s Towers were established. That was because the gate that took people to and from the World’s Towers was installed here.

Although the area near this Station was already busy and well-trafficked (and was made even more crowded in the recent years), this was still heaven compared to France’s gate, which was installed in front of the Louvre, and China’s gate, which was installed outside of Beijing–made all the more inaccessible through inconvenient transportation. ¹ The original states that Seoul’s gate is like a ‘noble-man’ 양반, which is a poetic way to say that it’s high-class or luxury. I switched it for something more idiomatic in English.

As Korea’s location was quite accessible, there had been frequent postings praising the gate on Towers.com.

“Umma, look! The tower! It’s really the World’s Towers!” A child, holding their mother’s hand, pointed to the red brick building to the right of the Seoul Station. To be precise, they were pointing at the vague shape that fluttered and waved atop the building.

The tower that stretched so high you couldn’t possibly visualize its end… The World’s Tower. Though that image was clearly just a mirage that was reflected onto the backside of the building, it was still magnificent.

“It wouldn’t be strange if it crosses over into reality soon.”

Compared to when it first appeared, surrounded by gray fog, the World’s Tower seemed to have become clearer and more explicit.

“Agh, maybe I’m delusional.”

Scratching the back of my head, I entered the old Seoul Station to enter the real Tower.

***

“Player-nim! Truly, thank you so much!”

As soon as I entered the 33rd floor, Charlotte welcomed me joyfully. The clover basket she had always carried in her arms was nowhere to be found.

I suppose her dilemma had been resolved well!

“Charlotte, have you been well?” I asked.

Charlotte nodded emphatically. Well, since it was Carlos that helped her, I’m sure he wouldn’t have been clumsy or half-hearted.

I was about to say my farewells to leave her, but Charlotte grabbed me by the sleeve. “Mother really wants to see you! If you’re not busy, won’t you come to my house?”

“Mmm… What should I do? I have to go somewhere soon.”

“Carlos Ahjussi is at my home! Please just say hello before leaving!” ² Ahjussi is just a way to say older man in Korean. Since I’m keeping all the honorifics/addresses, I decided to keep Ahjussi as well.

Carlos was there!? I almost missed him.

“In that case, please guide me well.”

“Yes–Please follow me.”

Charlotte guided me to her home as she chatted with me about various news and updates. Above all, the most surprising thing I had heard about was that her home was newly built on this clover hill.

As the house was built in such a quick time, it must be Carlos’s handiwork.

“Ours used to be a house in the back alley all the way over there. But Carlos Ahjussi built a new house, saying that living in a place like that would make anyone succumb to even curable diseases!” Charlotte said.

That certainly sounded like my Master.

Within the Clover Knoll, which started to seem more and more familiar the closer we approached, I started to see the shape of a house. The red-roofed home, which resembled both Carlos’s own home and buildings that might be found in Rome, stood out between the green hills.

A large shadow from behind the window caught my eye–Carlos!

“Master!” As soon as I opened the door, delighted, I ran to the man.

No, wait. This person isn’t Carlos…?

“Why are you here…” A strange but familiar man looked back at me. His eyes looked as if they were mired in disbelief, as if he had not expected to meet me in such a place.

“Guildmaster-nim?” I asked.

“Master?” Choi Kwon-young, the leader of the Wastelands guild and one of the best Hunters in Korea, stood before me.

Why is he here? Not only that, why did he look so comfortable and natural in Carlos’s house?

“Hunter Yoon Gaho, what brings you here?”

“What about Guildmaster-nim…”

“What is it? Why is it so noisy here!?”

As soon as I was about to question why my guild leader was here, Carlos suddenly appeared, lumbering into the room.

Carlos frowned as soon as he saw me; he even retreated a few steps.

Honestly, Master. You may find me exhausting, but you don’t have to react like that.

Charlotte popped out from behind me and clung to Carlos’s legs. Carlos stroked Charlotte’s peach-colored hair; the gleam in his eyes was so warm–different from when he looked at me.

“I brought Player-nim here!” Charlotte chirped.

“Ahh–Charlotte you brought her here? Why?”

“Mother was curious about her! She’s the benefactor that allowed us to meet.”

“Why now of all times…”Carlos pinched his forehead. He reluctantly guided me towards the sofa.

What do you mean, ‘why now?’ ‘Why here?’ Master, you’re too mean! Still, conversation flowed between us.

Meanwhile, Choi Kwon-young continued to stare at me. The persistent gaze kept my eyes trained on Carlos; there was no reason to avoid Choi Kwon-young–rather, I was actually searching for him as well–but I somehow felt discomfited by the stare.

‘Normally, he doesn’t even look at C-classes like me…’

If Gyun Jiwoon, whom I met recently, was an oddball to end all oddballs, then Choi Kwon-young was a rebel to end all rebels.

According to public opinion, without Kim Jihwa he would probably have run wild without any ties or belonging to any organization.

To put it nicely, Choi Kwon-young was free-spirited; to put it harshly, he listened to others with the back of his ear and only followed his own interests.

So, then, what would someone like that want with me?

“You came sooner than I thought. You brought the right stuff, right?”

“You should check them.”

Only when Choi Kwon-young switched his attention to Carlos was I able to breathe. While I breathed hard, Charlotte came to my side with something in her hands.

A clover basket. I see–she stored it well. Charlotte took a five-leaf clover from the basket and placed it on my palm. “Thank you, Player-nim.”

A five leaf-clover represented a miracle on the 33rd floor.

Knowing how Charlotte had painstakingly gathered these clovers, I assured her that I’d keep this one carefully.

Soon, Charlotte went inside the house and brought Violetta out. A woman with pale pink hair, who resembled Charlotte closely, shook hands with me. “I’m glad to finally meet you; you’re the player Charlotte used to talk about every day. Hello, I’m called Violetta.”

“Ah, it’s nice to meet you. Please call me Gaho.”

When Violetta appeared, Carlos began to pay noticeable attention to us. His sly side-glances were so unusual compared to his normal blunt attitude. Violetta smiled slightly when she saw the blacksmith, “Thank you for delivering the letter. I didn’t have enough courage to do so, so I kept putting the task off.”

“No, it was no trouble. Rather Charlotte was the one that worked hard.”

“Look how humble you are. Omo! Where did my manners go? I should treat you to something…”

“Violetta! Leave that punk alone and go into the room and rest.”

“Carlos, I’m all better now.”

“I told you, you’re not all recovered yet. I’ve already conveyed to her your thanks, so you don’t have to treat her to anything. You should go in quickly, hm?”

Violetta, perhaps feeling some regrets, kept pacing; Carlos turned around to push her back towards the room. Violetta looked back at me with a subtle gleam in her eyes, as if she couldn’t believe Carlos’s words.

I said, “Master is right. Violetta, I’ve already been rewarded handsomely.”

Only after I supported Carlos’s words did Violetta nod, convinced.

Honestly, I should be the thankful one. Most people don’t get S-ranked traits from simple delivery quests.

I wondered if I should repay Charlotte somehow.

Violetta , unable to overpower Carlos’s urging, moved back to the room; Charlotte, who had been hovering around her mother and gripping the hem of her mother’s skirt, followed Violetta.

Carlos guided my awkwardly standing self back into a seat. “Sit down–you’re being a distraction.”

“Ah, Master!”

“Just eat this.” Though he wasn’t related to Doraemon, ³ Doraemon is the titular mascot character of a children’s TV show. It has the ability to pull things out of nowhere. Carlos suddenly took out a snack from who knows where and threw it onto my knees.

“Ah–I like these.” I could nitpick many things about this interaction but, since he had given me something, I should at least taste my treat. The crunchy nuts suited my tastebuds.

When I sat down and began to eat the snack, Carlos moved back towards the window–where Choi Kwon-young was located.

The two handsome men standing side by side made for a very aesthetic picture. A very beautiful painting.

“Carlos, you know Hunter Yoon Gaho?” Choi Kwon-young asked.

Carlos simply stood firm and held out his hand. Despite being blatantly ignored, it didn’t seem as if Choi Kwon-young minded. Leaning against the window, he handed a mysterious package to the blacksmith.

Carlos untied the thread that cinched together the entrance to the pouch and checked its contents. The pouched seemed to contain something that appeared to be a medicine bottle. Carlos, closing the pouch once more, looked between us.

“You–do you have some sort of relationship with that girl?” He asked.

“She’s my subordinate.”

Carlos suddenly approached me and cuffed me over the head. I believe he controlled his strength so as to not hurt me, but I felt a bit aggrieved because of the sudden hit.

“Why did you hit someone who’s done nothing wrong?” I protested. But, my words did nothing.

Carlos, pushing cookies into my mouth to shut me up, began to verbally abuse me, “Sure, you have to work under someone…but, someone like him?”

“Aghawhfh… Nmmphm…”

“Speak when you’re finished eating.”

“Apparently, Hunter Yoon Gaho knows nothing.” Choi Kwon-young said.

“That’s right–We met separately from my dealings with you.” Carlos responded.

‘How did the two get to know each other? And what do I not know?”

I wanted to ask many questions, so I quickly munched and swallowed the nutty cookies. Carlos watched my hurried movements and sighed–a rumbling sound that imitated an earthquake. “…I was originally going to give you a different reward.”

“I know it’s an unreasonable request. Still, can’t you make it happen?” Choi Kwon-young said.

“That’s not the problem.”

Choi Kwon-young’s submissive attitude was quite unlike him.

What’s wrong with him? Suddenly, Kim Jihwa’s words–the fact that S-class Hunters were obsessed with weapons and equipment–flashed through my mind. Did my guild leader make a request to Carlos to craft him some equipment?

Judging by his plaintive questions, Choi Kwon-young must have asked for something S-rank? Or perhaps SS-rank?

Carlos began to speak once more, “We, those affiliated with the World’s Towers, cannot escape our assigned stratum ⁴ Essentially, each floor is its own realm You know that too, right?”

“I said I would supply all necessary materials to the 33rd floor.”

“That’s not enough. I’ll need the best ingredients to produce what you requested. The amount and quality of ingredients you’ve requested is always tricky to handle. Most often, one will have to take special measures as soon as the materials drop.”

The two’s expressions grew more and more grave. Excuse me, you two~I’d like you both to explain to me the situation as well!

I wanted someone to resolve the question mark that grew bigger and bigger inside my head. Carlos and Choi Kwon-young did not even raise a single eyebrow even though I gazed at them with eager eyes.

“How troublesome. I’ll have to airlift ingredients from all over the World’s Towers if you want the best quality.” Choi Kwon-young muttered.

“…There was no way to proceed until now. I didn’t expect you two to know each other.” Carlos pointed towards me with his chin.

I was the ‘way forward?’

Carlos nodded as he pointed at me with his index finger for extra emphasis. “That’s right. I’m talking about you, Yoon Gaho.”

“What?”

TL: The elusive guild leader~

I did find it hilarious that Carlos is acting a bit like Yoon Gaho’s tough-love father figure.