Free Web NovelChapter 107: Good Damn Means Genius
Time passed without Vulkara even noticing.
The furnace burned hotter and hotter, sweat soaked her clothes, and her arms slowly became heavier with every strike, but she did not stop.
Every time there was a mistake, she corrected it.
Every time the ingot became uneven, she redid it again and again.
At first, Garron had only watched and taught her casually, but as the hours passed, his expression became stranger and stranger.
The steel ingot that Vulkara made by the end of the day had changed completely. freēwēbnovel.com
It could even be said that it was almost perfect.
Vulkara wiped the sweat from her forehead and asked, "Elder, how is it?"
Garron looked at Vulkara and grinned widely. "Goddamn."
Vulkara blinked. "Is that good damn or bad damn?"
Garron rubbed his beard and stared at her like he was looking at some strange monster. "Good damn."
Vulkara’s eyes brightened.
Garron placed the steel ingot on the table and said slowly, "I really didn’t expect you to succeed in one day."
Vulkara grinned. "So it’s perfect?"
Garron snorted. "For a beginner? This is more than perfect. This is ridiculous."
Vulkara’s grin became wider.
Garron crossed his arms and continued, "Most disciples need weeks just to understand how to control their hammer properly. Some need weeks before they can make an ingot this good."
He glanced at her. "But you did it in one day."
Vulkara lifted her chin proudly. "Of course. I told you my talent is good."
Garron’s mouth twitched. "Brat, don’t get too cocky."
Vulkara laughed. "Too late."
Garron shook his head helplessly, but there was a faint smile on his face.
Then he pointed at the steel ingot. "Fine. Since you made a proper ingot, tomorrow we can start producing the blade."
Vulkara’s eyes shone immediately. "Really?"
"Really," Garron said. "But don’t think forging the blade will be easy. Making the ingot is only the first step. Tomorrow, if your control is even slightly wrong, the blade will bend, crack, or become trash."
Vulkara clenched her fists, her excitement burning brighter. "Yes, Elder. I’ll do it properly."
Garron nodded with satisfaction.
Only then did he notice that the sky outside had already turned dark.
Garron looked at Vulkara and asked, "So? Do you want to sleep here, or are you going back? It’s already dark."
Vulkara looked outside, then back at the furnace.
After thinking for a moment, she answered directly, "Here."
Garron raised an eyebrow. "You want to sleep in the Blacksmith Hall?"
Vulkara nodded. "Yes. I want to start early tomorrow."
Garron laughed. "Good answer."
Then he waved his hand toward the back of the smithy. "Alright, then sleep here. There is a small room behind the storage area."
He paused and added, "The other rooms are filled with those men, so don’t go there unless you want them to panic all night."
Vulkara’s mouth twitched. "I don’t want that."
Garron snorted. "Good. Then use the small room. It is quiet enough."
Vulkara cupped her fists respectfully. "Thank you, Elder."
Garron waved his hand. "Go rest, little girl. Tomorrow, we make your first blade."
Vulkara looked at the steel ingot one more time, and a grin appeared on her face. "Yes, Elder."
That night, Vulkara slept inside the Blacksmith Hall with the sound of dying embers beside her.
For the first time in a long while, she felt like she had found a path that truly suited her.
---
Damian was now dragging his half-dead body back after surviving Selvara’s hellish training. "Damn it... Master really doesn’t know the meaning of mercy."
But Damian ignored the pain and continued walking toward his disciples’ courtyard.
After all, he wanted to tease Vulkara for relaxation, but the moment he arrived, it was surprisingly quiet.
Usually, Vulkara would be shouting somewhere, swinging her hammer, arguing with Violetta, or making some smug comment about getting stronger. freēwebnovel.com
But there was nothing.
Damian blinked. "Where’s the fiery brat?"
Violetta was sitting under a tree nearby with her flute resting gently on her lap.
She looked up and smiled softly. "Master, did you forget? Junior Sister Vulkara went down the mountain to the Blacksmith Hall."
Damian walked over and sat down beside her with a long sigh. "Yeah, I know about that, but how come she isn’t back yet?"
Violetta tilted her head. "Master, could it be that she will stay there for a few days?"
Damian thought for a moment and nodded lazily. "Probably. That girl is obsessed now, and Elder Garron is not bad. He probably let her sleep there."
Violetta looked toward the mountain path and chuckled softly. "I see. So I am alone then."
Damian turned toward her, and suddenly, a playful smile slowly appeared on his tired face. "Alone? Then you can live with me."
Violetta froze.
Her fingers tightened slightly around her flute, and her calm smile almost cracked.
For a second, her beautiful face showed a rare stunned expression.
Damian noticed it and immediately waved his hand. "Hey, don’t take it that way."
Violetta blinked. "Then what way should I take it, Master?"
Damian coughed. "I mean, if you’re alone, I can accompany you. That’s all. Just accompany you. Don’t look at me like I’m some kind of lecher."
Violetta stared at him for a moment before smiling again, softer than before. "Then, Master, accompany me for today."
Damian nodded seriously. "Okay then. I’ll accompany you."
He directly put his head on Violetta’s lap, and after only three breaths, he fell asleep.
After all, he was already too tired.
Meanwhile, Violetta blinked in surprise when Damian fell asleep on her lap so suddenly.
But she was not angry at all.
Instead, she smiled.
She slowly brushed Damian’s hair while laughing softly. "Master, you really tried your best, so I should too."
She carefully lifted her flute and began to play a gentle melody that echoed through the courtyard.
Soon, her Qi stirred quietly inside her body.
The barrier between Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment trembled faintly.
With Damian sleeping beside her, Violetta’s heart felt strangely calm.
Because of that, her song became clearer, smoother, and more beautiful than ever.
