Daddy is too Strong-Chapter 176

Seoul saw an average of six new Fissures cropping up each month.

The Fissure Exploration Unit in the Fissure Management Division was tasked with investigating new Fissures, while the managing civil servant evaluated and ranked each one.

[Welcome to the Fissure Management System.]

[Fissure in Yongsan-dong 6-ga-003 in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, has been registered.]

[Please select the rank of the Fissure. If you enter the rank of the appearing monster, the Fissure rank will be automatically assigned. If the Fissure is deemed to be ranked higher than what is assessed by the system, please select the Exception option.]

The Fissure that appeared in Yongsan-dong 6-ga was a forest-type. An Orc Warlord, clad in plate armor and wielding a double-edged axe as large as its own body, had emerged. Without hesitation, Do-Jun set the Fissure’s rank to B.

He recalled the agreement with the Hunter’s Bureau that allowed Seoul City Hall to manage Great Fissures of up to B-rank, thanks to the high caliber of available Hunters.

Ye-Ji leaped into action, slicing through the armored Orc Warlord with a single stroke. Do-Jun was about twenty meters behind her, taking pictures of the surroundings for mapping, when his gaze landed on Ye-Ji’s sword, a B-rank artifact she had obtained during a Fissure Break.

“Hunter Ye-Ji.”

“Yes?” Ye-Ji turned at Do-Jun’s call, blood dripping from her sword onto the ground. The blade, compared to when it was first acquired, now bore numerous nicks, showing the marks of time and wear.

“Never mind.” Do-Jun pressed the power button on his SpacePad, turning off the screen. “Shall we call it a day?”

Ye-Ji smiled and nodded. “Yes!”

***

The Treasure Goblin Company served as a marketplace frequented by adventurers from the Core, a hub where they often came to acquire artifacts for their journeys. In a secluded corner of the first floor, a dwarf named Dakum worked at his forge. Dwarves, a race skilled in iron and fire, were renowned for their exceptional blacksmithing skills, and Dakum was one of the finest, albeit with a cantankerous personality.

He was a perfectionist who destroyed any of his creations that didn’t meet his standards, regardless of how many he had to discard. His insistence on perfection often led other dwarves to click their tongues in exasperation.

“That’s why you’re always in debt. Just make something half-decent and overcharge your customers. If you stick to your ways, you won’t make a living.”

“Hey, Dakum. I heard some adventurers from the sixth floor placed a bulk order for artifacts at five navy mastery stones per piece. An order like that could have set you up for life—why did you turn it down?”

Despite their efforts to bring him work or offer sympathetic advice, Dakum never wavered in his beliefs. For him, a blacksmith’s role was to breathe their soul into the metal.

Hoo, hoo.

He carefully pumped the bellows as if tending to a newborn, convinced that even a one-degree difference in heat could alter the outcome. Submerging the glowing, red-hot iron into water induced rapid cooling and a burst of steam. The process of tempering—reheating and cooling repeatedly—strengthened the iron, enhancing its durability and hardness.

Finally, a finished steel sword lay before him.

This particular sword was sold to an adventurer from the fourth floor for two green mastery stones. When the adventurer, feeling guilty, offered to pay five stones instead, Dakum refused, taking only the agreed-upon two.

Clang! Clang!

The hammering resumed. Sweat beaded on Dakum’s forehead as the heat of the forge enveloped him, but he paid it no mind. Fire was his lifelong companion, a source of comfort rather than distress.

It was then that an adventurer approached Dakum. He said nothing to the occupied Dakum and simply sat on a nearby wooden chair, watching him work. His attire was unusual: a dress shirt with sleeves rolled up to the elbows, tailored pants that were slightly loose, and polished shoes—a stark contrast to the armor-clad adventurers who typically frequented the forge.

Yes, it was none other than Do-Jun.

Dakum briefly glanced at Do-Jun, finding him peculiar, before focusing back on his work. The man clearly had business with him, but since he wasn’t interrupting, Dakum decided to carry on.

As Dakum hammered away at the glowing steel, Do-Jun checked his wristwatch. A day in Treasure Goblin Company was equivalent to an hour on Earth. He figured he could afford to wait until Dakum finished his work. Watching the hammer strike the heated iron, Do-Jun’s gaze softened as if he were reminiscing.

***

“Can I help you?” After seventy-two hours of work, Dakum finally addressed Do-Jun, who had been waiting patiently.

He already knew who Do-Jun was, since he was nothing short of a legend at the Treasure Goblin Company. Rumor had it that the Jade-Faced Noble, Wei Zhongqi, once served him.

“I’d like you to forge a sword for me,” Do-Jun said.

“If it’s a sword you want, pick one from the display.”

“I would like to place a custom order.” Do-Jun pulled a metal ingot from Ivela’s Pouch.

At first glance, it appeared to be an ordinary ingot, but Dakum’s eyes widened upon examining it.

“I-is that Everfrost Steel?!”

It was a legendary material said to have been tempered for ten thousand years, more precious to blacksmiths than any treasure could be. This was only the second time in his life that Dakum had seen such material, and his heart pounded uncontrollably.

“I’d like you to make a sword with this,” Do-Jun requested again.

“A-are you sure you want to entrust something this precious to someone like me?”

“Where else would I find a blacksmith of your caliber?” Do-Jun smiled faintly.

In truth, part of the reason Do-Jun had quietly observed Dakum at work was to respect his craft. However, he had also been assessing the blacksmith’s skill.

“Your craftsmanship is extraordinary,” Do-Jun added.

Strangely, instead of feeling offended by being judged by someone who wasn’t a blacksmith, Dakum experienced a curious sense of connection.

“And the design? You mentioned a custom order.”

“There’s a specific sword I’d like to have recreated. But of course, whether you accept my request or not is up to you.”

“A recreation...?” Dakum trailed off.

“Yes. A sword called Falling Moon Blade.”

The sword, whose name suggested that it could bring down the moon, once belonged to a scholar of the Imperial Palace, known as the Sword Saint.

***

Working with Everfrost Steel was a lifelong dream for any blacksmith.

For an entire month, Do-Jun stayed by Dakum’s side, observing his work and offering assistance when necessary. Of course, the actual crafting of the sword was solely Dakum’s responsibility as the blacksmith. Do-Jun’s role was restricted to minor tasks, such as handing him water or providing a clean cloth to wipe his sweat, allowing Dakum to concentrate on forging the sword.

Splash!

At last, the final quenching was complete.

The finished sword shimmered with a brilliant blue light. Just brushing a finger near its edge felt as though it could slice through flesh—it radiated a sharp, chilling aura.

For Dakum, this was his magnum opus. He had poured his very soul into the blade as this material, the Everfrost Steel, was one of the most treasured for a blacksmith.

“Thank you. I’ll live the rest of my life grateful for the chance to craft such a sword with my own hands,” Dakum said sincerely.

Understanding his feelings, Do-Jun shrugged lightly and smiled faintly.

“It’s meant to be your sword?” Dakum asked.

“No, there’s someone I want to give it to.”

“I see. I hope it finds a worthy owner.”

“She is worthy. There’s no one who suits this sword more than she does. By the way, what would you like as your payment?” Do-Jun asked.

“I’ve already received more than enough. This has been the most enjoyable time of my life.”

Do-Jun pulled a steel ingot from Ivela’s pouch. “Take this.”

It was another Everfrost Steel ingot.

Dakum’s eyes widened. “Are you serious...?”

“Of course. This is my way of showing respect, so I hope you’ll accept it.”

Do-Jun placed the ingot in Dakum’s hands. “Oh, and one more thing.”

“H-huh? I-is that...?!” Dakum’s eyes grew even wider.

Do-Jun smiled mischievously and said, “It seems this is quite popular lately.”

It was a box of chocolate bread, inscribed with the Chinese character for “affection.”[1]

Dakum’s face lit up with a wide grin.

***

It was Monday, and Do-Jun was back at the same Fissure in Yongsandong, where Orc Warlords had been appearing, to complete the mapping.

Schring!

A sword slashed in graceful arcs toward the Orc Warlord. Ye-Ji had shown noticeable improvement over the past few months. Do-Jun followed at a steady pace from about thirty meters behind her. In her swordsmanship, he glimpsed the image of Jin Suyun[2], the Sword Saint.

She really loved the sword, Do-Jun thought, recalling his days as a scribe for the Martial Alliance.

On the eve of her duel with the Martial Alliance Leader, Jin Suyun had been alone in the training grounds, practicing her swordsmanship. That was when he first met her.

What did she say back then...?

He set the thought aside for the moment, alternating his gaze between Ye-Ji, who was pressing forward, and the lifeless bodies of Orc Warlords strewn along her path. Then, Do-Jun reached into Ivela’s Pouch and pulled out a sword.

“Hunter Ye-Ji,” he called out.

“Yes?” Ye-Ji swiftly took down the Orc Warlord she was fighting and approached him.

“I found this lying around,” Do-Jun said, holding something out.

“What’s that...?”

It was a deep blue sword that exuded an extraordinary aura even at a glance.

“I think you should use it.”

“M-me? Really?”

“Didn’t this drop from the monsters you defeated?”

“A sword like this? Did it really?”

For some reason, the sword felt strangely familiar to Ye-Ji. Though it was her first time seeing it, it didn’t feel foreign.

A wave of longing stirred in her chest, and she muttered, “Falling Moon Sword.”

Before she knew it, the name of the sword came to her unbidden. Ye-Ji flinched, startled.

“W-what is this?”

[Stage 5 of Scholar’s Swordsmanship can now be accessed.]

A light shimmered briefly around Ye-Ji’s body before fading.

“Um, Mr. Administrator, I...”

Do-Jun silently observed the scene.

“A message just appeared—it says I can now access Stage 5 of Scholar’s Swordsmanship,” Ye-Ji explained.

Do-Jun appeared momentarily surprised as memories of the time he had crossed swords with Jin Suyun surfaced. After their sparring session, Jin Suyun bowed deeply, saying she had reached an epiphany.

“I... must have met quite an important person,” Jin Suyun had said.

Reflecting on the past, Do-Jun smiled as he watched Ye-Ji rejoice in her newfound growth.

“Congratulations,” He said with a smile.

Witnessing someone’s growth was, truly, a joyous thing.

1. In case you didn’t catch on, this is the amazing, new currency introduced by our very own Byeol—the Choco Pie. 😉 ☜

2. Previously, Jin So-Un (in chapter 7). We changed her name to a more appropriate Chinese name :) ☜