I Become a Mafia in the Academy

Chapter 138

Gwak Chunshik's Aura Technique Dojo Jeju Island Branch's Ornament Technique at the Cheongyacha Workshop.

Their leader, Yoon Gwangsoo, succeeded in creating a new technique by combining the general-purpose Aura Technique learned at the dojo with their own know-how acquired here, leading to the establishment of a new branch in Jeju Island.

A technique to refine items using only hands cloaked in aura, without fire or water, as if the hands were hammers.

Ornament Technique.

In the game, it was known as one of the essential techniques for those following the blacksmith route due to its versatility.

However.

"Even my apprentices spend years training just to barely reach the entry level. No matter how much of a Master you are, learning the Ornament Technique might be a bit difficult──"

"What did you say?"

I manipulated the shape of aura freely over my hand as I questioned him back.

For someone capable of handling aura, changing its shape like this wasn't too difficult, but transforming it into smooth forms in real-time was a whole different level.

A control method I mastered while learning the operation of the Aura Technique from Gwak Chunshik.

If he had attended the dojo, he would have an idea of the level I had reached by now.

"Do you still think I don't meet the standard?"

"......There seems to be no issue."

Of course. Since the mechanism itself is based on the Aura Technique, it shouldn't be too difficult for someone like me who has mastered the original.

Creating something new is difficult, but learning itself is relatively easy.

However, it requires an Aura Technique and aura control capable of handling it.

"Can you show me the flow?"

"It will take quite some time. Are you okay with that, Master?"

"The title of Elder's Disciple wasn't earned for free."

Unlike in the game, I had to learn it directly, but for someone like me who had already grown accustomed to the sensation of aura, it was a very simple task.

The flow and the feeling of familiarity itself were different.

In the game, it merely added a buff to the speed of acquiring secret techniques, but as I expected.......

I smiled widely.

"I'll teach you as you said, Master, but......."

He trailed off as he turned around.

The apprentices, who had been staring at us blankly, tilted their heads in confusion.

"Even if the Master is here, what are you doing standing around! Start hammering immediately!"

At Yoon Gwangsoo's shout, the apprentices returned to their stations and infused aura into their fists.

They resumed their training, smashing the objects in front of them with their fists.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Leaving behind the echoing sounds of impact in the cavern, he looked back at me and raised his fist, showing his hand cloaked in aura.

"This is our Cheongyacha's secret technique, the Ornament Technique. It's a skill to refine items anew by cloaking your hands in aura."

Saying so, he took out a mana stone from his pocket and placed it on his hand.

Moments later.

Zzzzzzt──

The mana stone on his hand began to glow red and gradually lose its shape.

Grabbing it with both hands, he kneaded it like clay and soon placed the mana stone, now shaped like an ingot, onto a rock.

And then.

Clang─! Clang─! Clang─!

Though it was the meeting of metal and hand, the sound resembled that of metal striking metal.

Before long, the mana stone stretched out, and as the forging stopped, it quickly cooled and solidified into a rod.

"By rapidly and strongly rubbing aura to generate heat, you weaken the hardness and then reshape it by hammering with the other hand. This is the basic principle of the Ornament Technique. And items reshaped with aura retain their original properties to the maximum extent."

Saying so, he heated the elongated mana stone once more and placed it on the rock in front of him, pounding it with his fist.

The long mana stone began to take shape. Finally, a dagger made entirely of mana stone appeared before us.

"......So this is the Ornament Technique."

"That's correct. Moreover, since there are monsters, villains, and radars scattered around, it's easy to gather materials."

This is why they settled in Jeju Island.

Of course, the mere fact that they chose such a labyrinthine area just to gather materials was already unconventional.......

"Are the materials not good enough? It seems like it needs more refinement."

Watching him crumple the mana stone dagger with his bare hands and hammer it again, I realized that trying to understand it in the first place might have been a mistake.

No, what kind of blacksmith would think of doing the entire refining and forging process barehanded?

Yeah, let's not overthink this.

I just need to skim off the benefits.

Leaving him engrossed in his new creation, I manipulated aura as he had shown me.

The red aura began to cover my hand, feeling different from the usual sensation of cloaking my fist.

Grasping the rock beside me, pieces broke off easily, as if I were peeling clay.

"Oh."

It worked.

I didn't expect it to succeed on the first try.

Finding the sensation amusing, I eagerly kneaded the rock.

"Ah, no. M-Master, what are you doing?"

"Hm? I'm using the Ornament Technique as you taught me."

"No, that's not it...... I mean what you're holding in your hand."

"What's wrong with this?"

Is there a problem with the clay?

"......That's the Granite Golem's head."

"Huh?"

Hearing his words, I slowly looked at the clay in my hand.

It certainly felt a bit brighter than regular rock.

"This squishy thing is the Granite Golem's head?"

"Yes. Normally, it wouldn't be squishy at all and would require pouring in a significant amount of aura just to break off a piece...... As expected of the Great Master! For you, this is only natural."

No, how was I supposed to know?

Granite Golem.

One of the monsters in Jeju Island known for its exceptional hardness.

Even in the game, it was a monster people avoided because its materials were unnecessarily hard compared to their value...... And this, the hardest part of it, its head?

"I, Yoon Gwangsoo, am truly in awe of the Great Master's miraculous and perfect skills. To handle a material that took me several days in just a few minutes...... As expected of the Master!"

"......Of course."

......Even though my senses had improved, I didn't expect it to be to this extent.

* * *

Pulling the accelerator to the max, I sped along the coastal road on a motorcycle.

"To think I'd live to see the day where I enter the Sanctuary first. If I told the apprentices, they wouldn't believe me."

Sitting in the back seat, Yoon Gwangsoo muttered in disbelief, laughing softly.

"The Cheongyacha Workshop Master being afraid of the Sanctuary, how surprising."

"Isn't it natural? Just approaching it feels like a cross is falling on your head. I've encountered the Bishop of Halla Cathedral a few times for work, but that woman is far from normal."

The Bishop seemed to have quite the notorious reputation, befitting her status as one of Jeju Island's major powers.

"......You remember what I told you beforehand, right?"

"Yes. To treat you not as the Master, but as a Hitman from the Calione family. Correct? I never would have imagined the Master was part of Calione. Well, considering your talent and strength, it makes sense that they would choose you as the successor of the Aura Technique."

Fortunately, they didn't seem particularly bothered by the fact that I was affiliated with Calione.

Maybe it was because they had heard that Calione and Gwak Chunshik had formed an alliance.

The spire of the cathedral began to come into view in the distance.

Along with it came a palpable tension from behind.

They instinctively realized that with a single gesture from Augustus, they could be attacked.

Augustus was sitting in front of the cathedral, as if waiting for us, smoking a cigarette on a camping chair.

She hadn't even glanced in our direction, as if she'd been watching us since we arrived at the Sanctuary.

Turning off the engine, I sat in the camping chair set up across from her.

Only then did she stub out her cigarette on the ground and lift her head.

"......You really brought them."

"I told you I would prove it. So, has your mind changed a bit now?"

At my words, she scoffed and turned her gaze toward the entrance of the cathedral.

The cathedral doors opened, and Johan, holding a box that looked sacred at first glance, slowly walked toward this place and stood behind her.

"Is that it?"

At my question, the bishop nodded.

"That's right. This is the Holy Relic Ascalon, which maintains the sanctuary and is the source of my power. Since I've kept my promise, I should show the item at the transaction site, right, Johan?"

"Yes, Bishop."

At her call, Johan solemnly bowed his head, knelt on one knee, placed the box on his leg, and slowly opened it, revealing an ancient-looking sword.

"This is Ascalon. You can tell from that guy's expression whether it's real or fake... but it's definitely authentic."

At those words, I looked at Yoon Gwangsoo's expression, who was sitting next to me.

"Oh... That, that is the Holy Relic...! Uhehe, uhehehehe!"

Yep. Judging from his reaction, it's certain.

Still, just in case.

"May I take a closer look for a moment? I have an appraisal skill."

"Appraisal skill? ...As long as you don't do anything stupid, I don't mind."

With her consent, I stood up and slowly reached out my hand toward Ascalon.

[You have acquired a new item!]

[Name: Ascalon]

[Grade: Relic]

[Type: Holy Relic]

[Description: A sword said to have been used by Saint Georgius to sever the Evil Dragon Fafnir's breath.

Explosively increases the user's divine power and can activate a sanctuary in the vicinity.

Deals 2.5 times holy damage to enemies with the Evil Attribute and up to 7 times damage against Dragon-types.]

"It's certain."

Judging by its ability to deal additional damage to the Evil Attribute and devastating damage to dragons, it's clear why it earned the nickname Fafnir Slayer.

Dual special effects against evil and dragon species.

When attacking Fafnir, who meets both conditions, it deals up to 7 times the damage, making it the ultimate weapon against Fafnir.

"Even with Ascalon, defeating Fafnir easily is impossible. There's a saying that even Saint Georgius couldn't pierce Fafnir's scales with just Ascalon and had to use another weapon."

To inflict such damage, one must penetrate the 'Dragon's Scale,' the hallmark and strongest shield of Dragon-types.

Ascalon lacks penetration ability, so as she said, it is unlikely to defeat Fafnir with this alone.

Therefore.

"Here. Since the Cheongyacha Workshop Master is here, you don't need to worry about that."

After all, I was the one who brought him here.

"...You did say you were going to tweak Ascalon a bit. So, what exactly are you planning to do? Are you going to enhance Ascalon?"

Since I brought a blacksmith, she naturally assumed I would enhance the weapon.

At her words, Yoon Gwangsoo also stood up excitedly, clenching his fist.

"Ah, are you saying you'll give me the chance to enhance Ascalon? Are you serious, Mr. Hitman?!"

Facing the two, who were both flushed with excitement for some reason, I responded calmly.

"Huh? Enhance it? I have no intention of enhancing it."

"Huh?"

"What?"

Both of them looked dumbfounded at my expression.

Wait a minute. You said you'd tweak it, but you're not going to enhance it? Then, did you bring that guy here just to polish it? Do you think you can pierce the scales with just that?

"Wait, did you seriously call me here just to polish it?"

"...It seems like both of you are seriously misunderstanding something."

"Misunderstanding? Misunderstanding about what? Then what exactly are you planning to do with Ascalon?"

The bishop's expression showed she couldn't understand at all.

I said I wouldn't enhance it, but I never said I'd polish it.

Just...

Aura flared up in both of my hands. Roughly, yet softly burning aura.

And then, with Ascalon placed beneath my hands──

Crack──!

"Ah."

"!!"

"!?"