The Curse of Being Hated Has Been Lifted

36 – The Power of the Master

“No… You want me to believe that now?”

Arna and Logan had been talking almost all night.

There were so many stories they wanted to share and so many they needed to share.

They talked until morning and then, after explaining the situation to the shop owner who came to work early and paying compensation for the floor and various equipment, they immediately moved to Redrika’s forge.

She had been in a state of shock until Arna kicked the floor a few times, jolting her back to consciousness.

“Uh.”

“So, you’re saying the Black Star is your master?”

“Uh.”

“And you’ve been doing everything in your power for ten long years to kill Stella?”

“Uh.”

Redrika forcefully tapped her forehead.

The information was too overwhelming for her to process.

“It’s a hard story to believe, but…”

Yet, it was hard not to believe it.

After thinking about the dignity Arna had shown yesterday, it seemed more plausible that the woman in front of her, with a sharp gaze, was the Black Star, rather than a Black Dragon manipulating Logan and herself. “But why is she glaring at me like that?”

Redrika thoroughly searched her mind.

She wondered if she had done something wrong to the Black Star, and if she had, she immediately bowed her head, thinking about asking for forgiveness.

‘But I can’t find anything?’

The time she spent facing Gyeomseong was too short for her to commit a sin against him.

They hadn’t even properly conversed, so how could she have committed a sin against him?

“However, what about my disciple?”

A heavy wave washed over Redlica.

An overwhelming pressure was pushing Redlica down to the ground, making it hard for her to breathe and causing her body to tremble uncontrollably.

“Ugh…”

She couldn’t open her mouth.

She couldn’t even lift her head.

If she didn’t exert all her strength to withstand it, she felt like she would collapse to the ground at any moment.

“Master, are you feeling very unwell? I’ve committed a breach. Due to this unworthy disciple, if Master’s mood has been affected, I should die.”

As Logan suddenly stood up, seemingly trying to hit his head against the wall, the force pressing down on Redlica vanished in an instant.

“That’s not it, don’t worry about that!”

Fortunately for Redlica, Logan knew the best way to handle Gyeomseong.

“I’ll answer Master’s question on behalf. Simply put, it feels like being a technician.”

“A technician?”

“Yes. Thanks to Master breaking the curse, I could also conduct my own business.”

“Oh, the technician I mentioned yesterday… is a woman?”

“No matter how you try to twist your words after saying it all, it won’t have much effect, Master.”

Redlica contemplated deeply.

“What did I do wrong?”

“I suppose I look like an exceptional blacksmith.”

“Thanks to you, I was able to develop many machines. I think I understand why my master feels uneasy. It’s probably because I’m doing too much compared to what I gave to Redrika.”

“That’s right! It’s because of that reason!”

Arna exclaimed with a look of realization, but even Redrika, who didn’t know much about her, could immediately tell that wasn’t the reason.

“Don’t worry. Redrika is someone you can trust.”

“If Logan says so, then I have nothing else to say.”

A brief silence filled the air.

Just as Logan was about to speak again to smooth out the situation, a customer entered the workshop.

To be precise, it would be more accurate to call them an unwelcome guest.

They didn’t come to the workshop to buy something.

“Ge… General Sung.”

Entering through the workshop door were Selena, the deputy commander of the Royal Knights, and her subordinates.

Since the workshop door had never been locked, their entry itself was not impolite. However, it was enough of a gesture to be considered disrespectful when exceptional individuals like them, who were on the verge of joining the Royal Knights, barged in armed to the teeth.

“Ah, long time no see, Selena.”

“I’ve been searching for a while. Where on earth have you been?”

“I was just talking with my disciple.”

Logan had hidden the fact that he was Logan’s disciple until he fell under the curse.

It was partly to avoid unnecessary attention towards Logan, but also because he didn’t want it to be known that a talentless child like Logan was his disciple.

“That’s why Ishadan is better off.”

No matter how much you try to hide, those who know will still know.

If Arna had publicly revealed Logan as her disciple, the title of Master’s disciple would have offered Logan some protection.

Arna didn’t want to make the same mistake again.

Since Logan didn’t seem to want to push him away, Arna would announce Logan Asrian as her disciple to the world.

“Did you say ‘disciple’?”

Selena’s gaze naturally turned to Logan.

Redrika, standing beside her, thought the chances of Logan being a disciple of the Master were low.

If someone like Redrika had been the Master’s disciple, rumors would have spread long ago.

“I did think Asrian’s talent was remarkable, but being the Master’s disciple, it’s only natural.”

From the royal knights’ perspective, having the vice-captain rather than the captain present was fortunate.

If an oblivious captain had come here, they would have provoked the Master’s anger by saying, “Logan Asrian, the Master’s disciple? He seems too inadequate for that.” Fortunately, the royal knights close to the Master would have prevented his existence from disappearing into history, but Selena had nipped that possibility in the bud.

“My disciple is quite remarkable, isn’t he?”

The Master was truly an easy person.

She possessed overwhelmingly irresistible power that no one could stop, so she didn’t bother hiding her emotions.

“Was it your disciple’s help that got you out of the Gate?”

“I suppose so. If it wasn’t for Logan, I might still be inside. Perhaps forever.”

In Selena’s mind, Logan’s importance rose to about the 27th degree.

From Noble mtl dot com

Up until now, he had been a genius entrepreneur worthy of some respect, but now he had become someone extremely precious who must not be let go at any cost.

“Please spend peaceful time with your disciple. If you have the time, bid farewell to the Royal Knights. Many have been waiting eagerly for Lord Geomseong for a long time.”

“Got it. I’ll visit if I have the time.”

Selena gracefully stepped back.

Though her subordinates hinted with their eyes if it was okay to withdraw as it was, Selena knew that striving to take Geomseong along would only lead to losses.

“Asrian… He was more remarkable than I thought.”

Though Asrian was Geomseong’s disciple, it was odd that he was more famous in business than swordsmanship. However, capturing Geomseong’s attention meant there was something more.

“Let’s go, everyone.”

Under Selena’s unexpectedly cold and firm tone, her subordinates, snapping to attention, followed her out of the forge.

“By the way, Logan.”

Once again, the atmosphere in the forge grew heavy.

‘Please, just stop! Everything is breaking down!’

“I heard you wanted revenge on those who tormented you. If you need this master’s strength, I’ll help as much as you want.”

“Your offer is appreciated, but I don’t wish to involve the master in my affairs. He’s suffered enough. Instead, he should contemplate how to live happily with the money his disciple sends.”

“You’ll give money to me?”

Though sorry to say it to Logan, it was truly a comical idea.

Whatever amount Logan sent to Arna, who could scoop up all the empire’s gold if desired, would only be pennies.

“Yes, of course.”

“You mentioned earning money through business, right? But it hasn’t even been a year since the curse was lifted. It’s unlikely you’ve made such a huge profit. Don’t bother thinking about giving money to the master. Just accept some spending money.”

Even if it’s called a business, it’ll probably be cute and trivial things.

Arna’s thoughts shattered upon seeing the contraption spinning and making eerie noises.

“What is this…”

“I made this machine. You can call it an engine.”

Gyeomsung, well-versed in mana, could instantly understand the operating principles upon seeing the machine.

“To think that such power could come from a circuit that merely raises the temperature with mana… remarkable.”

However, anything not related to mana was beyond his understanding.

“It’s a device that generates power by boiling water at high temperatures.”

“Just boiling water can produce this much energy… unbelievable. Can I try catching it?”

“Of course.”

-Thunk

The moment Gyeomsung grabbed the disc, it fixed in place.

Soon, due to safety measures Logan had put in place, the machine stopped.