The entire alley was buzzing with commotion.

The shopkeeper, who had apparently already heard about what was happening, greeted Daphne without surprise.

“Oh my, who do we have here. Isn’t it Lady Daphne.”

The owner, who had removed her apron with many front pockets and gloves, extended her hand warmly to Seo Suji. Seo Suji grasped her firm hand in return.

“I want to enchant 8-tier and 9-tier items. Would that be possible?”

When Seo Suji got straight to the point, a look of dismay crossed the blacksmith’s face.

“Well, I had heard that your team members were planning to make such a request, but…”

The blacksmith trailed off.

Judging by the troubled expression on her face, one could guess the answer.

Indeed, there must be a reason why Peace and Saint couldn’t enchant them even after coming all this way.

“It’s difficult, isn’t it.”

“Yes… I’m truly sorry to say this to you, Lady Daphne, but as you know, there’s no need to raise production skills or enchanting skills to that level. Where would one ever need to enchant such extraordinary items?”

That was true.

Even Seo Suji hadn’t expected to collect such items herself.

“Is there no other way?”

“Even if you ask for another way… I’m sure all the blacksmiths in this alley have heard the news. If anyone could do it, they would have already stepped forward…”

The owner looked troubled, then glanced out the window.

“…Well, we have nothing to lose, so how about asking the most veteran craftsman here?”

“If you could tell me the location, I’ll go myself.”

“No, no. I’ll guide you there. Oh, if only I could be of some help to Lady Daphne who’s undertaking such an important task… I’m truly sorry I can’t be of more assistance.”

Seo Suji didn’t have a chance to refuse.

The owner immediately went outside the shop, shouted to the neighboring shop owner to watch her store for a moment, and then led the way.

“No, is it alright to leave your shop like this? You only need to tell me the location.”

Despite Seo Suji’s repeated attempts to dissuade her, the owner with her unwavering stride insisted on guiding the group all the way to a building that looked like a shabby thatched house.

It was completely different from the other shops with their shiny signs and displays full of items they had made or enchanted. The exterior made one doubt if it was even open for business.

“Old Lady Blacksmith! Old Lady Blacksmith! Lady Daphne is here!”

After the blacksmith knocked on the door several times, it opened from inside and an elderly woman with graying hair walked out, standing straight and tall.

Unlike other blacksmiths, she was impressively dressed in a beige hanbok ensemble.

Seo Suji only recognized who the person was upon hearing the title “Old Lady Blacksmith”.

There were mainly two ways to obtain weapons. One was to acquire them from towers or dungeons like Daphne did, and the other was to purchase crafted items from blacksmiths.

Usually, the former had better performance, but up to a certain level, the latter could sometimes be better depending on the blacksmith’s skill.

And among such crafted items, the most famous were the ones made by the “Old Lady Blacksmith”.

Although Seo Suji had never personally bought or used them, she had heard rumors that their prices matched the universal praise they received.

‘So this is her.’

Despite her advanced age, muscular forearms were visible through carelessly rolled-up sleeves, not looking like those of an elderly grandmother at all.

“What’s all this fuss about? I told you I’m not taking any more work. Go bother the young ones and get out of here.”

“Come on, I’m telling you it’s Lady Daphne.”

“Daphne or whatever. I don’t know her.”

“Oh, stop lying. How could you possibly not know Lady Daphne, old lady!”

No matter how much the owner waved her arms, the Old Lady Blacksmith seemed ready to turn away as if she had nothing more to say.

Seo Suji, who had been just listening to their conversation, suddenly opened her inventory, took out her three weapons and asked:

“Since you’re not taking work, I understand. But I’m looking for someone who can enchant these. I wonder if you could help, elder.”

The Old Lady Blacksmith waved her hand as if shooing away flies.

“There’s a limit to how much young people can mock an old woman. What? 9-tier enchantment? I’m just waiting for my days to end, is that it? Take these sword scraps and get the hell o…”

The word ‘out’ was never completed.

Because the Old Lady Blacksmith clamped her mouth shut upon seeing the three that Seo Suji held out.

Despite claiming not to have even heard of Daphne’s name, her eyes changed upon seeing the weapons.

The old woman, reaching out with her wrinkled hand to slowly caress the three rapiers, turned her head to look Seo Suji up and down.

“…Three swords that have drunk enough blood, and a child green as grass.”

“Can you enchant these three blades, elder? Please.”

“So the talk of 9-tier wasn’t just bluster. Where did you get such precious things? Aren’t these relics of the ? Are you the child of some terribly important politician?”

Seo Suji looked at her with slightly surprised eyes.

To be honest, she didn’t know much about blacksmiths’ skills or characteristics. But to be able to instantly identify even the name of the boss monster from the 78th floor where these swords were obtained.

Just as Seo Suji could easily check the status of most monsters, it seemed this old woman could readily discern the abilities and data of items.

‘…No wonder they call her the top veteran in this area.’

Somehow, she felt certain.

If anyone could enchant these swords, it would be none other than this old woman before her.

She spoke respectfully, with the deference due to a master craftsman who had held her place for many long years.

“I obtained them myself. Though fortune smiled upon me in acquiring them, whether one blade or three, it’s all the same if I cannot enchant them. If you can do it, please lend me your aid, elder.”

The Old Lady Blacksmith, her hair tied up in a single bun, stared intently at the swords in Seo Suji’s hands for a long while, then looked directly into Seo Suji’s eyes.

“You say you obtained these yourself? How am I to believe that?”

While it had been a problem that she became too famous while operating under the name Daphne, it had been a while since she met someone who treated her like an ignorant child, knowing nothing about her.

Indeed.

As expected of madmen who would put the entire human race on the betting table just for their own amusement, they seemed to find this situation entertaining.

Seeing their antics, she made a firm resolution in her heart.

These were equipment obtained through threats and struggles. They absolutely had to be enchanted.

Seo Suji glanced at the rising logs, then returned two of the swords to her inventory and took out a 1 gold coin.

Since she couldn’t suddenly start juggling swords together, she had no choice but to show an appropriate trick.

As she drew the rapier from its scabbard, the old woman stared directly at Seo Suji.

Feeling her teammates watching with amused eyes, having guessed what she was about to do, Seo Suji tossed the coin upward.

Once, twice, thrice, four times.

Before the coin hit the ground, the passed through it a total of four times.

Then Seo Suji retrieved the sword and simultaneously stretched out her hand to catch the coin in her palm.

The coin, which had appeared perfectly intact, split cleanly into eight pieces like a cut pizza when Seo Suji gently shook her hand.

“…No way.”

“…Good heavens.”

Exclamations of amazement burst forth from the onlookers gathered around.

The trick of cutting a coin with a sword was not easy to begin with.

If either strength or speed was lacking or excessive, the coin would simply fly off upon hitting the blade.

It was already an impressive skill to cut so precisely and cleanly, but to accurately pass through a single central point and cut at equal intervals while the coin was spinning and falling?

It was something only an SSS-rank could accomplish.

The old woman looked at Seo Suji’s palm once, then at her face once.

Unlike the other spectators, the old woman’s eyes were filled with pity rather than admiration.

“Fate is cruel. That such a young girl should possess such skill. It’s just… cruel.”

“Elder.”

“Having power isn’t always a good thing. Why would such a young thing…”

It wasn’t a particularly pleasant feeling to be pitied by someone.

But was it because the other person’s face was weary with the weight of life? Or because it reminded her of her departed grandmother?

“My poor child, how will this little one live without a mother.”

Why did she suddenly recall her grandmother’s voice, murmuring for a long time while stroking Seo Suji’s head as she pretended to sleep?

She learned the meaning of ‘a child dying before their parent is a great act of unfilial piety’ only after her mother passed away. After her mother’s death, her maternal grandmother cried every day. Perhaps that’s why they grew distant from each other.

Because every time they met, it reminded them of her mother’s death. Neither knew how to manage their emotions.

If she had known her grandmother would leave so early too, she should have learned to comfort each other instead of acting foolishly.

“Come in.”

Seo Suji, who had been lost in thought, suddenly raised her head.