Jin-seop received a call from Hyun-soo.
He stroked his chin thoughtfully.
‘I did plan to administer the K-31 injection for the right-hand treatment.’
The K-31 injection is like a miracle shot that revives paralyzed nerves for several days.
However, it could only be used once, and before treatment, it was used to check the level of performance achieved prior to its use.
Because rehabilitation and treatment are ultimately about how much improvement has been made compared to the state before.
“There is, however, a condition. Medical staff will always be on standby in case of any situation.”
-Medical staff?
“Yes, I am likely to be included among that medical team.”
After ending the call, Jin-seop smiled lightly.
In fact, Dr. Jin-seop was a very busy person, not someone who would usually be waiting on standby.
But Jin-seop was curious too.
‘What kind of power does Hyun-soo, the blacksmith, have?’
His curiosity was intensified.
***
Kim Jin-su, an employee of the National Museum, sighed.
Not long ago, a relic of the Baekje era, the Chiljido, was discovered in Daejeon.
What is Chiljido (七支刀)?
It is a sword with one central blade and six branches.
Astonishingly, one such sword has been designated as a national treasure in Japan and is currently housed at the Isonokami Shrine.
Although made in Baekje, it is in Japan because it is said to have been gifted to the King of Japan by King Geunchogo, and it remains a mystical sword with various interpretations.
This time, ‘pieces’ of such a Chiljido were found.
The problem was that these pieces were just two small blade-like branches.
The Chiljido was rusted beyond recognition and its shape was indiscernible.
Jin-su searched for someone who could restore or replicate the Chiljido.
However, no such person existed anymore.
‘Kang Hyun-tae…’
Employee Kim Jin-su’s mouth felt bitter.
Unknowingly, he stood before the Yonggwang sword.
Soon, Park Gwang-hoon, the director of the National Museum, stood beside him.
“The journalists are making a fuss.”
Gwang-hoon was one of the country’s top historians and a professor.
Now in his later years, he had become the director of the National Museum.
“They press on whether we can restore it or not. Is our country’s restoration technology only this much?”
What Gwang-hoon found absurd was this.
“Restore? Without a blacksmith, how can we restore this? And a mere imitation can indeed be produced.”
They could easily print it using 3D technology.
“Then they will say this. Are you saying you’re printing Baekje’s Chiljido with machines? Wasn’t the real Chiljido made by hand?”
What the National Museum currently needs is a Chiljido crafted by a true master.
“What should we do?”
“There’s no way but to exhibit it as it is.”
For now, this was the cleanest solution. Naming it as Chiljido’s blade and then broadcasting a video of the real Chiljido on a monitor.
However, both employee Jin-su and museum director Gwang-hoon were individuals with a strong professional ethos.
They themselves were not satisfied.
What is a museum supposed to be?
It’s a place meant to vividly show people the artifacts from history.
Sometimes the past’s original form is good as is, but the problem was that only two pieces of the blade remained of the Chiljido.
It was difficult to only show these to visitors coming to the National Museum to see the real Chiljido.
A call came to Jin-su.
He smiled happily.
“Hyun-soo, how have you been? What? You want to see the Chiljido…?”
Gwang-hoon’s face twisted suddenly.
‘Is he using his connections to come see it?’
Given the public’s interest, such people do appear, don’t they?
But it was strange.
Given Jin-su’s usual character, he would have declined immediately.
Soon after ending the call, he asked cautiously.
“Can he come see it?”
Gwang-hoon’s face turned red.
“Are you saying that now…”
“He’s the son of Kang Hyun-tae.”
“What?”
Kang Hyun-tae?
The restorer of the Yonggwang Sword?
Many artifacts in national museums across the country have been newly reborn by the hands of Kang Hyun-tae.
The National Museum was indebted to him.
‘Whatever the reason…’
It seemed possible.
Being the son of a blacksmith, he must also be interested in ancient swords.
Moreover, since the master had left many things, it was possible to extend this grace once.
Gwang-hoon consented.
Not long after his approval, seeing the person who entered the National Museum, Gwang-hoon chuckled.
‘He’s just a kid?’
Gwang-hoon had been expecting someone in their early thirties at least.
Soon, the boy named Hyun-soo, who had been observing closely, asked.
“May I reproduce this sword?”
***
Hyun-soo understood the situation at the National Museum.
The people had great interest in the Chiljido.
Thanks to the director’s consideration, he could see the fragments of the Chiljido.
Although just fragments, they were precious items.
And between restoration and reproduction, he judged that reproducing it was appropriate.
“May I reproduce this sword?”
“What? You?”
Jin-su’s face was colored with dismay, and Director Gwang-hoon openly displayed his discomfort.
“Ahem!”
“That’s a bit…”
Jin-su expressed his dilemma.
He couldn’t entrust an object that might become a national treasure to an unverified person.
Then he realized.
‘It’s not about entrusting it, is it?’
Restoration and reproduction are entirely different.
Restoration means restoring something to its original state or fleshing out what remains.
On the other hand, reproduction means literally making something similar.
‘There’s no real risk on our part.’
Jin-su had seen Hyun-soo a few times.
Even when Hyun-soo was a minor, he didn’t seem immature.
Hyun-soo went on to explain the conditions.
Director Park initially listened to the story.
That is, Hyun-soo was suggesting to display the blade fragment and the reproduction together.
Listening to the story, Director Park showed his discomfort.
“…There certainly won’t be any loss on our part. But this is no child’s play. It’s different from what you’ve learned over your father’s shoulder. Moreover, you just said it, to keep the fragment and the reproduction together. That’s a good idea, indeed.”
This is what the original looked like.
It’s much better than broadcasting it via video.
However.
“Do you know that although there are no more blacksmiths, there are plenty of appraisers? I was a university professor, but I also worked as an appraiser.”
In fact, there were still many competent appraisers.
“If it’s just a whim to try, don’t do it, as many appraisers will come to see the reproduction, and if it’s mediocre, the press will make noise. ‘This is what they call a reproduction?'”
Hearing that, Jin-su suddenly recalled a memory.
‘Wow, this is really cool. If it weren’t for Mr. Hyun-tae, what would we have done! Sir, please remain our national treasure master for a long time.’
At that time, Hyun-tae had chuckled.
‘It’d be fine even if I weren’t here.’
‘No way, sir, it wouldn’t work without you. Hahaha!’
‘Maybe…?’
Jin-su cautiously spoke.
“What if we let him try?”
Director Park frowned.
Why is this guy acting like this today?
Of course, there’s no loss.
“Who knows?”
“Umm…”
Director Park had already warned.
Yet Hyun-soo did not relent.
After all, if the appraiser himself thought it was poor, it simply wouldn’t be displayed.
At that moment, Hyun-soo said, “If you are satisfied, I would appreciate it if you could give an interview.”
Glancing sideways, Jin-su checked Director Park’s reaction. It was a request for an interview, directed at Jin-su.
Worried about how the fiery-tempered Director Park would respond, Jin-su quickly mediated, “Yes, that would be fine. If it’s well-made, of course. Oh, I can observe too, right?”
“Of course,” Hyun-soo replied, having finally received approval after some difficulties.
***
Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gyeongju City.
Cars are arriving at the forge.
People getting out of the cars signed a contract prepared by Hye-in. The contract included a clause not to disclose any information about the Chiljido’s production process or its creators.
The medical team consisted of Jin-seop and Nurse Ji-hye, and from the National Museum, there was Jin-su. The filming was to be handled by Ho-beom and his team.
Soon, Jin-seop brought the K-31 injection. “You may feel a hot sensation once it’s injected.”
Hyun-soo then received the injection in his right hand.
Zzzzzz—
“Ah…”
Hyun-soo let out a faint moan. He felt an unfamiliar sensation in his long-unused right hand. In fact, there was no problem with daily activities with his right hand, just that detailed work and overexertion affected it.
After the heat subsided, Hyun-soo’s heart pounded. “It’s been four years.”
Nel and Hye-in, watching him, were also anxious.
‘The first production video to be revealed to the world…’
It was the Chiljido of Baekje, a sword that held considerable international interest and was currently the hottest archaeological find in the country.
‘If it’s successfully executed…’
What impact would it make? And what reaction would there be if people knew it was the work of the current blacksmith, Hyun?
Soon, the production began.
Rrrrr—
Everyone watched the furnace spewing flames.
Melting.
Refining.
Hyun-soo used tongs to secure the glowing red ore for forging.
But something strange happened. Hyun-soo’s right hand, which was about to strike, didn’t move.
‘I’ve waited so long for this moment…’
Sweat trickled down his back. For a moment, he felt as if the pillar he was about to strike with his hand whizzed past him, and a fear crept in that if he struck it, he might never be able to strike again.
“Why is he behaving like that?” someone beyond the camera screen wondered. The group that came with Ho-beom, working for a broadcasting station at Ho-beom’s request, questioned, “Is he scared?”
A blacksmith scared of forging?
Is this filming really okay?
Then Jin-seop, who realized what was happening, said, “Trauma…”
One of the concerns Jin-seop had was that even if Hyun-soo’s right hand was healed, past trauma could still torment him.
A man was watching this unfold. It was Director Park Gwang-hoon, who had just arrived. Soon, the conversations being had by Jin-seop reached his ears. ‘Did something like that happen?’
He felt he had heard it too. His son had rescued Hyeon-tae in the forge and sustained serious injuries. Of course, that was separate from blacksmithing skills.
Initially reluctant, Gwang-hoon had come anyway. Why? He was quite curious about the reproduction of the Chiljido. But he hadn’t been hopeful. In fact, he hadn’t expected much.
When he first saw Hyun-soo yesterday, he thought, ‘Is this young guy trying to commercialize this?’
The artifacts.
And the national treasures that have been preserved by countless people who dedicated their lives to the country. Hyun-soo was young. It seemed like the young man took these matters lightly.
Finally, beyond the camera screen…
“Ah!”
Hyun-soo collapsed, slumping down.
“Heok-heok.”
He gasped for breath.
“Stop the filming!”
“Bring some water!”
The set became chaotic.
Hyun-soo, sprawled on the ground, gasped for air.
Director Park’s mouth turned sour.
‘That shouldn’t even be possible.’
The year 2040.
Everything is mechanized, and robots have replaced human roles.
The new generation no longer cares for relics of the past, and the same goes for their professions.
Moreover, the Chiljido is a royal gift that has endured over a thousand years.
‘There’s no way that young man could make it.’
Director Park turned away.
He felt foolish for having harbored any expectations.
Then.
“Wait, I can do this.”
A voice came through.
***
Hyun-soo, catching his breath, knew.
The reality of working in a forge was as important, if not more so, than in Ares.
The anxiety and fear of never being able to use his right hand again.
If he couldn’t overcome this, he was sure he would never be able to hold a hammer with that hand again, even if his hand improved.
Suddenly, a story about his father came to mind.
‘Remember this well and keep it in your mind.’
His father had drawn countless methods of crafting artifacts in a book.
It was a sad thing to say, but his father had told him, ‘Hyun-soo, protect our history.’
It was a difficult saying.
But finally, he came to understand the meaning of those words.
“Wait, I can do this.”
His ragged breathing steadied, and his body relaxed.
Everyone looked at Hyun-soo with puzzled expressions.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes.”
Hyun-soo answered Jin-seop’s question with a wry smile.
Then, he grasped the hammer again.
As time passed, he finally understood what his father meant.
The countless artifacts that exist in the world.
‘I am the only one who can reproduce and restore them.’
Chiljido was one of them.
With that thought, a surge of infinite confidence welled up within him.
Unconsciously, he looked around at the people present.
None of those here had ever seen Hyun-soo’s real work as a blacksmith.
‘I want to show them.’
Hyun-soo raised the hammer.
Finally.
Daaaang—
One blacksmith moved for history.
Cliche Novel 