Possessing Nothing

(T/N: Please deal with the change in names. I’m sorry.)

“Sorry for being late.”

In actuality, here was no need to say that. Nevel had only been gone for five minutes, after all. As always, he took a deep bow towards Sungmin and spoke.

“I have come in contact with the blacksmith. The other side wished for a conversation. Is right now fine?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Understood.”

Nevel raised his hand at Lee Sungming’s answer. When he slashed down with one of his long fingers, the scenery cracked apart.

“I’ll leave this place for now, then.”

After saying that, Nevel disappeared into Sungmin’s shadow. Sungmin didn’t understand what just happened, and only blankly stared at the gap in space.

“Quite young.”

He heard a voice. The one who stood up from behind the spatial crack was a dark elf with murky blonde hair. At first, Sungmin didn’t realize that she was a dark elf. It was the first time he saw one, after all.

“Don’t be so surprised.”

Seeing Sungmin’s surprised expression, the dark elf laughed. She brushed her hair and spoke.

“Selgerus. I don’t know how many times I’ll see you in the future, but we should know each other’s names at least. Don’t you think so?”

“…Uh… I’m Lee Sungmin.”

Sungmin stuttered his name. Elves and dark elves were classified as sub-humans – beings other than humans that possess intelligence. Strictly speaking, orcs were capable of communication, and were classified as sub-humans, but most people classify orcs as monsters. After all, the term ‘sub-human’ was created by humans.

“What weapon do you use?”

Asked Selgerus. She had baggy work clothes on, as well as a large apron. However, due to her muscle development, her body figure could be seen through the baggy clothes.

“I use… the spear.”

He was supposed to be introduced to a blacksmith, but never did he imagine that the blacksmith would be a female, much less a dark elf. This made Sungmin surprised. In his head, the image of a blacksmith was a muscular, big male, or a dwarf if it was a sub-human. Of course, it wasn’t like he saw a dwarf for real anyway. Sub-humans were small in number and were hard to find.

“Spear. The spear, huh… is there a particular shape you prefer?”

“…Something like this.”

Sungmin took out the spear from his interspatial pocket. Selgerus nodded his head after looking at the spear.

“It’s the martial world style. A martial artist?”

“I’m not from the martial world though….”

“Can you show me what spear techniques you use?”

(T/N: martial world may have been translated as ‘murim’ or ‘wu lin’ before)

Asked Selgerus. Hearing that, Sungmin hesitated a little. Demonstrating one’s martial techniques was a taboo for martial artists after all.

“Why. You don’t want to?”

“…Is it necessary?”

“It is necessary.”

Replied Selgerus without hesitation.

“I need to know what kind of techniques you use and create a spear that matches it.”

“You mean you can match it after seeing my martial arts?”

“You seem to be mistaken on something.”

Selgerus laughed. It was as though she was laughing at Lee Sungmin’s ignorance.

“I’m not a martial artist. I’m a blacksmith. My job is not to comprehend what kind of martial arts you are using, but to comprehend the you that is using the martial art. The way you swing the spear, the way you hold the spear, the way you use the spear. I’m going to use that. If you don’t want to, then it’s fine if you don’t. For me, I just need to craft the spear with the money I was given.”

Only then Lee Sungmin understand what Nevel was trying to say before. Either lower your standards, or lower your pride; that blacksmiths are all stubborn. He took a deep breath and replied.

“Understood.”

“You’re quite quick to the catch. I thought you’d be more stubborn. You don’t suspect me?”

“I do not know you, but I trust a little in Erebrisa that connected you to me.”

Since he hadn’t used Erebrisa properly, he couldn’t totally believe in it. However, Erebrisa was something that even the God of suffering and trials, Msh, was using. Although he couldn’t know for sure, Erebrisa should have that much worth.

“I’m 400 years old.”

Selgerus suddenly spoke. 400 years old. Lee Sungmin’s eyes trembled hearing that unrealistic number. However, he wasn’t that surprised. He knew well that elves and dark elves had long lifespans.

“I started hammering since I liked to. That was around 350 years ago. Of course, my starting point was different from dwarves who are innately blacksmiths, but…. My 350 years as a blacksmith is definitely real. Do you know why I’m saying this?”

“I don’t.”

“What you need to trust in is not Erebrisa, but me.”

Selgerus smiled bitterly.

“Well, I know that it’s funny for me to say this to someone I’ve just met.”

Sungmin bit his lips after hearing that. What moved his heart was not when she told him to trust her, it was that their starting points were different.

The race of dwarves were born talented in smithing. All of their products are top-tier. Dwarves, just by being dwarves, receive the love from the god of passion and flames, Ather, and the god of the land and creation, Gaën. An item created by a young dwarf was miles better than a human crafter that had practiced for decades.

Compared to that, the 350 years of hammering from the dark elf Selgerus may mean nothing. However, the 350 years of her work was the real deal. The starting point was different – the talent possessed was different. This was something that Sungmin was agonized over several times.

“I will trust in you.”

Sungmin came to a decision and raised his spear above his head. When he started demonstrating, Selgerus was surprised instead. Until now, she had met many people through Erebrisa, but there weren’t many martial artists who showed their arts just because she asked.

To a martial artist, a martial art was a technique to kill the enemy, and a technique to protect oneself. Considering that, it would be difficult for them to demonstrate it to others. Selgerus did tell Sungmin to show her his techniques, but didn’t expect him to actually do so.

First, he started with the three basics moves of the spear; deflect, block and pierce. Starting from the three moves, he then continued into the Nine Skies Infinity Spear. He didn’t just do that though, he mixed it with Shadowless Phantom. In practice, he would use his stepping techniques along with spear techniques. After all, it wasn’t like the enemy was going to stand still.

Selgerus silently watched as Lee Sungmin swung his spear. Only after a long time did his spear demonstration end. Selgerus observed all of it without blinking even once, and spoke.

“You trust me?”

“Yes.”

“Why? Because I asked you to?”

“Because you said your 350 years of effort was real.”

Selgerus laughed at his answer.

“Aren’t you too easily trusting?”

“It’s the first time I’ve heard that. I’ve always heard that I’m uselessly doubtful though.”

“I guess I can’t betray your trust then.”

Selegerus giggled and took out her hands from the apron.

“27 million erre. I’m usually strict with payments, but I feel good today, so I’ll make you something worth more. Though, it would take some time.”

“That doesn’t matter to me.”

“I think you’ll be a fine regular customer.”

Selgerus shrugged her shoulders.

“As long as you don’t die, that is.”

The spatial gap closed up. Not long after, Nevel appeared from inside Sungmin’s shadow. He took a deep bow and asked.

“Is the blacksmith I mediated for you to your liking?”

“She said I’ll be a fine regular customer.”

Hearing his answer, Nevel made a weird expression. After observing Sungmin for a while, he spoke. (T/N: is it ‘he’?)

“There are things called first impressions, or biases. Actually, Miss Selgerus is not the style of blacksmith that people prefer.”

“Because she’s a dark elf?”

“Yes. As I have told you, we, Erebrisa, only provide the best among the things that our members want. The best blacksmith… most members think of dwarves when they think of one. A dark elf, much less a female one, is out of the question.”

Nevel smield bitterly while saying that.

“The reason why I connected you, sir Lee Sungmin, to Miss Selgerus, was also because of that. She is not usually preferred as a blacksmith, and is usually underevaluated compared to her skills. Thanks to that, she’s also on the cheaper side compared to blacksmiths of her level.”

“As long as her skills are real, I do not care.”

Seeing Sungmin nonchalantly reply like that, Nevel giggled.

“Did I not say so? That we only provide you with the best. Miss Selgerus’s skils are indeed real. She is the first dark elf to earn the title of a meister. Originally, Miss Selgerus does not like customers that we bring her, but… if she said that you’ll become her regular, then she’ll most definitely create the best of weapons for you, sir. Oh, under the 27 million erre line of course.”

“You mean she won’t do more than that?”

“That is up to her to decide. After all, we’re only mediators.”

Sungmin nodded his head at Nevel’s reply. After a bit of silence, he asked something else.

“I wish to ask about quests that can be received as a mercenary. I heard that Erebrisa takes 5% as mediation fee, but if I accept a quest through Erebrisa, what happens to the mercenary guild’s fee?”

“It will be waived.”

Nevel replied immediately.

“The fee that Erebrisa takes includes the mercenary guild fee. The rewards are also given not through the tuild, but through us.”

“What about the achievement records then?”

“That is automatically updated on the mercenary guild. Would you like to check?

“No, it’s fine for now. I don’t have a rank tile yet.”

“It’ll probably arrive soon. I will organize a list of decent S-rank quests for you.”

“Is that for free?”

“You’re my exclusive member, so I can do you that much. And also….”

Nevel stared at Sungmin’s face for a while.

“Somehow, the more I face you… the more I feel like I should help you. It’s just a feeling, but… this is quite strange.”

“It’s the first time I’ve heard of that.”

“It’s just what I feel after all. Isn’t there something called goodwill? It is sudden, and there is no reason for it. It’s not like you feel goodwill towards someone for any reason, right?”

After saying that, he laughed.

“Then I’ll see you next time.”

Nevel disappeared. Sungmin felt slightly weird after listening to Nevel’s words. Goodwill? He didn’t think that Nevel was into men, but felt strange because this was the first time he heard such words.

And thinking about it.

He felt that he was strangely lucky until now. Whether it was Jack, Hans, Wiji Hoyeon, Baek Sogo, etc. the people who were quite deeply relate to him all showed him good intentions.

There are no coincidences.

What Msh told him not to forget kept rolling around in his head.