TRGBM 109

Episode 109

109: A Small Gift

CRACK!

One strike of the hammer, splitting the empty air.
With each single, resounding blow, the wall of magical energy shattered like glass, crumbling away.
Jeong Harin, following behind him, couldn’t close her gaping mouth.

“This… this is really a path? It’s clearly a tree… but we’re passing through? It really was the path.”

She kept exclaiming in amazement.
To her eyes, there was only an endless expanse of snowy fields and skeletal trees.
But every time golden hand swung his hammer, a new path would open as if by deceit, and the tightly blocked space would be breached.
It was almost an illusion, as if golden hand was creating a new road to walk on with each step.

“Just keep following. Space out and get lost, and you’ll end up lost for good.”

Geumson replied nonchalantly and resumed walking.
Jeong Hajun, carried on the Iron Walker’s back, simply wore an excited expression, perhaps having already forgotten about Jeong Harin.
Then, Geumson asked Jeong Harin a question.

“But why did you two come all the way to this dangerous northern region? Isn’t the road a bit too rough for a kid like Hajun?”

Even without being hindered by Mr Jincheol’s maze, it was a harsh journey.
After all, the vast snowy fields themselves were a challenging natural environment, maze or not.
Even golden hand had ridden a griffin to get here.
That’s why he asked, but after a moment’s hesitation, Jeong Harin gave her answer.

“Actually… Hajun isn’t very well. In the real world, it’s hard for him to even leave the hospital. So, I wanted to let him run and play to his heart’s content, even if it’s just in this ‘Lepione’ world. I wanted to show him the wide world….”

Hearing her words, Geumson felt a pang of regret.
He had actually heard there were many cases like this recently.
‘Lepione’ was rapidly gaining popularity as an excellent method of mental care for patients.
And it was reportedly quite effective.

‘So that’s why she was so overprotective.’

He understood now, in his past life, why she had tried so desperately to protect her brother.
However, Jeong Harin’s next words pricked at Geumson’s conscience.

“Originally… we were planning to go to Airtoss.”
“Airtoss?”
“Yes. Since it’s a city of magic, I thought there would be lots of wondrous things Hajun would like. And I heard public order was good too. But when we arrived in Airtoss… complete chaos had broken out.”

Now it was starting to make sense.
Originally, the Jeong Harin siblings would have been active in Airtoss and caught Astrid’s eye.
But this time, the Airtoss defense battle had changed things.

“They said a monster wave was coming, people were frantic trying to evacuate… I heard Prellia was a quiet place, so we came here, but we got trapped in this maze right after arriving.”

Jeong Harin let out a sigh.
They had left seeking a safe place, only to end up in an even more difficult situation.
Geumson scratched the back of his head.

The monster wave in Airtoss.
In the end, his own actions had created a butterfly effect that led these siblings here.

“Ah, I see… Sorry about that.”
“Huh? Why are you sorry, Mister Golden Hands?”
“No, it’s… just. The commotion in Airtoss is somewhat related to me.”
“I saw the broadcast. How is that your fault? It was because of those guys, what were they, Arachnes or something!”

Jeong Harin gnashed her teeth at the Arachne.
Though the fact that she didn’t even remember the name correctly suggested she wasn’t as bothered as her words implied.
For Jeong Harin, the time spent with JeongHajun in ‘Lepione’ seemed to be what mattered.
Still, she seemed to have some curiosity about Geumsong too.

“But… Mister. Are you really not involved with the admins or something?”
“I told you, stop with the ‘mister.’ And what do you mean by that? Admins?”
“No, it’s just. People said others wander for days without escaping this maze… but you just smash through and get out. It’s like you already know where all the paths are.”

A feat impossible for a normal player.
To sense the invisible magical walls and accurately strike and destroy their focal points.
This was impossible unless one could discern the ley lines, perceive the boundaries, and create a real-time map to break through.

In truth, even Golden Hands would have been in a somewhat difficult situation without at least one of his three skills.
So Jeong Harin’s doubt was valid.

“Other people said it. That this was a bug only an admin could solve. But you’re acting so nonchalant about it…”
“Bug? Nonsense. I just have a good sense for these things, a good sense.”

golden hand evaded.
It was too complicated to explain skills like ‘Intuition of Resolve’ or ‘Insight of pulse.’
Moreover, these skills were hidden among hidden ones.
Not something to be casually revealed.

“A good sense? Ah, you’re lying.”
“It’s true. When you’ve worked as a blacksmith for a long time, you start to see the weak points in objects. This maze is ultimately a ‘structure’ made by someone, so it must have weak points.”

golden hand offered a plausible excuse.
But Jeong Harin still looked unconvinced.
That’s when it happened.
Jeong Hajun, who had been quietly listening from atop the Iron Walker, suddenly chimed in.

“Sister! What is this hyung hitting! When he hits that thing, it goes whoosh and gets wide!”

At the child’s abrupt words, Jeong Harin tilted her head in confusion.

“Huh? Hajun-ah, what do you mean? What is he hitting?”
“Umm… the blue thing! Hit the blue thing and the road goes boom open! It happened before too!”

Hajun spoke while pointing at the empty air with his tiny, bud-like fingers.
The place his finger pointed.
That was precisely where the blue dot from ‘Insight of the Pulse,’ visible only to Golden Hand, was located.

‘Well, well, look at this.’

golden hand’s footsteps halted abruptly.
He looked up at JeongHajun with astonished eyes.
The place Jeong Hajun had just pointed to was a magical focal point, invisible to the naked eye.
The maze’s critical point, visible only to golden hands who possessed the ‘Insight of the pulse’ skill.

“Hajun-ah, you… you can see that?”
“Yes! The blue light sparkles! There’s one there, and there too!”

Jeong Hajun excitedly pointed here and there.
Astonishingly, every place Jeong Hajun pointed to accurately held a magical focal point.
Geumson felt a chill run down his spine.

‘This kid… can see the flow of magical energy without even having a skill?’

This was beyond simply having a good sense.
It was innate talent.
No, even the word ‘talent’ felt insufficient.
This was ‘innate, natural sense.’

‘I knew Jeong Harin became a Great magician in my past life… but her younger brother Jeong Hajun too?’

golden hand was bewildered.
In his past life, Jeong Hajun had not awakened.
No, he never even had the chance.
His sister, Jeong Harin, had overprotected him, not even letting him near battlefields.
And eventually, he lost his life in a tragic accident, becoming merely the trigger for Jeong Harin’s awakening.

But now, the Jeong Hajun before Geumson was different.
Still young and frail, yet the potential talent hidden within him exceeded imagination.
Perhaps he possessed qualities surpassing even Jeong Harin’s, the makings of a Great wizard who could shake an era.

“Hajun-ah, then what about over there? Next to that big rock.”

golden hands pointed to another spot as a test.
That was a place with a trap installed, where red and blue dots were complexly entangled.

“Hmm, the blue one there is a little faint… Ugh, it hurts my eyes. That one isn’t pretty.”

Jeong Hajun frowned and turned his head away.
golden hands was convinced.
This kid was the real deal.
However, while he could see through the flow of magical energy, he seemed unable to find the physical weaknesses.

‘Even this much is incredible. It’s a waste to let such talent rot…’

Geumson’s mind raced rapidly.
His plan to make Jeong Harin a disciple of the Great magician Astrid.
Perhaps that plan needed revision.
No, not revision, but expansion.

‘Two Great Archmages…’

The mere thought sent a thrill through him.
Jeong Harin and Jeong Hajun.
The image of the two siblings standing side by side as Great Archmages, sweeping across battlefields.
That would be an unparalleled blessing for humanity, a powerful hidden card to prevent destruction.

But the problem was Jeong Hajun’s age and health.
He was still too young, and due to his real-world illness, long-term immersion or vigorous activity was impossible.
If left like this, his talent might be crushed before it could ever bloom.

‘Isn’t there something that could help?’

Geumson’s mind whirled.
Then he looked around.
Coincidentally, in a corner of the maze, he spotted a cozy space sheltered from the wind.

“Let’s rest here for a bit. Walker, find us a spot. Light a fire for the kids to rest by too.”
“Woooorker! Spot! Spot! Fiiire!”
“Tia, don’t just play, keep watch around us. Just in case.”
“Tia-t!”

As Tia flew up, the Iron Walker cleared the snow and made a flat spot.
Then it uprooted nearby trees and lit a fire.
And then…

Krrrrrrrrumble—

golden hands summoned the Giant’s Forge.
Jeong Harin and Jeong Hajun beside him started making a fuss, looking incredulous at the sudden change in environment.
But Geumson calmly prepared his work despite their reactions.

“Mister, what are you doing? All of a sudden?”
“I’m going to make a little gift for Jeong Hajun.”
“A gift?”

Jeong Harin’s eyes widened.
golden hands rummaged through his inventory.
Among the materials he had gathered, he selected those suitable for a child’s use while still possessing powerful strength.

[Faded Silk Handkerchief]
[High-Grade Magic Stone]
[Crystal Beetle Fragment]
[Purchase ‘Faint Moonlight Crystal’ from the Prestige Shop. -2,000P]
[Remaining Prestige Points: 8,000]

‘Materials that are too strong could actually burden the child’s body. I need something that can gently circulate magical energy and protect from external threats… something like that.’

golden hand took out the ‘Faded Silk Handkerchief.’
It was a miscellaneous item obtained from the ‘Forgotten City of Giants,’ but it was an item once used by an ancient giant queen.
Despite the long passage of time, it was still soft and held a faint, warm protective magic.