Chapter 73: Recognition (2)

Dexter stared at Louis.

This kid…

While Dexter found it absurd that Louis was demanding his recognition, he secretly admired Louis’s ambition.

Tsk, if only the others were half as good as this boy, I would’ve already stepped down.

Aside from his young age, Louis possessed both the talent and personality to succeed Dexter as headmaster.

“So? Will you accept my challenge?”

There was such confidence in him. Who’d ever guess he was just ten years old?

Louis flashed Dexter a rather provocative smile, which made the older man chuckle despite himself.

Dexter met Louis’s provocation with his own defiant gaze. “Sure thing. Bring it on!”

“Great. Don’t come crying to me later.”

“Don’t worry about that. If you prove yourself worthy, I’ll hand over my position as headmaster without hesitation—even if it’s tomorrow!”

The air between Dexter and Louis crackled with tension. They glared at each other for some time until Louis turned away abruptly, ending their stare-down.

“Well then, good night! See you tomorrow!”

As he watched Louis confidently walk off, Dexter couldn’t help but marvel aloud.

“I can’t believe he’s only ten years old!”

Are all geniuses this mature beyond their years?

Is he just being cunning? Dexter pondered this as he muttered to himself, “Come to think of it, how many days has that brat been here now?”

After some consideration, he realized Louis had arrived at the Wish Tower less than ten days ago.

Dexter felt disoriented. “Huh… I could’ve sworn we’d lived together for several years already.”

Perhaps it was due to Louis’s larger-than-life personality? The liveliness his presence brought hadn’t been unwelcome after so long without company. If Louis left like this, the house would feel empty…

Lost in these thoughts, Dexter stared at the door through which Louis had exited.

The next morning:

Clang! Clang!

Dexter jolted awake at the strange noise echoing in his ears.

“What?!” He abruptly sat up, his brow furrowed deeply.

“You little…!”

Recently, all the peculiar occurrences within the Wish Tower stemmed from one particular brat. Dexter was certain this racket disturbing his sleep was also due to him.

Who said I don’t mind the noise?!

Ever since Louis arrived, there hadn’t been a single quiet day. Dexter promptly discarded his earlier sentiment.

“What mischief is he up to now?!”

With a scowl on his face, he hastily put on his shoes and rushed outside. Following the source of the clamor, he headed toward the back of the tower.

Clang! Clang!

The loud sound of metal striking metal was coming from behind the Wish Tower. Dexter raised an eyebrow at this unexpected noise.

What’s going on over there?

Behind the tower lay a workshop that had been vacant for quite some time. Technically, it was still considered a forge, but it might as well have been abandoned. Douglas used to own the place, but after he was expelled from the tower, no one ever set foot inside—until now, apparently.

Clang! Clang!

What in blazes is happening over there?!

Dexter rushed toward the workshop and threw open its door. A blast of hot air greeted him, eliciting a scowl.

“What nonsense is this?”

Dexter scowled as he surveyed the workshop. Douglas and Pablo were bustling about, swinging their hammers here and there while Victor, Erica, and Floria cleaned every nook and cranny.

Dexter approached them incredulously. “What on earth are you doing this early in the morning?”

“What? Oh, good morning.” Douglas paused from hammering to glance at Dexter, then downplayed his work with a nonchalant response. “It’s been quite some time since we’ve used this place, so there’s much to be done. We need to relight the furnace, replace old or rusted tools, and such. With Pablo around, it’s easier than when I had to do everything by myself. Considering my arm, I wouldn’t have managed alone.”

“Yes… I think I have a rough idea of what you’re doing here, but…” Dexter’s shoulders shook uncontrollably before he finally erupted. “Why is a banished smith fixing up this workshop? That’s what I’m asking!”

Dexter glared at Pablo and his four companions, who could only look helplessly at the ceiling.

Well, that’s exactly our question…

We wonder why we’re even here.

How did it come to this…?

It wasn’t as if they had gathered voluntarily. Louis had forcibly summoned them early in the morning to clean the workshop. In fact, they were also victims of circumstance.

Hence, the answer to Dexter’s question came from behind him.

The mastermind behind this whole ordeal spoke up from behind them.

“Oh, I asked him to fix it for me.”

“What?” Dexter turned around.

Louis had joined them at some point and now stood there with his hands casually stuffed in his pockets.

“So you’re behind this again?”

Louis was suspected of foul play once more, and sure enough, he seemed guilty as charged.

Louis grinned at Dexter’s reaction. “If I want Grandpa’s approval, I need to show her how hardworking I am.”

“How does that have anything to do with this?”

“Of course it does!” Louis snapped his fingers. “After all, every item here is related to Tower of Wishes, right? And Tower of Wishes encompasses everything within these walls!”

“…I suppose.” Dexter’s expression clearly conveyed his confusion about where Louis was going with this.

Louis casually brushed off Dexter’s concern and confidently declared, “As someone aiming to become the head of the Wish Tower, I must create at least one trascendence!”

“Create a trascendence? Who would do that? You?”

“Well, if not me, then who?”

”…”

Dexter stared incredulously at Louis for a moment before bursting into laughter.

“Hahahaha! Create a trascendence? You?”

”…What’s with that fake laugh and insincere mockery?” Louis narrowed his eyes.

Still chuckling, Dexter replied, “Young man, do you think crafting a trascendence is such an easy task?”

“There’s nothing I can’t make.”

“If anyone could create talismans just by studying theory, there would be no need for the Wish Tower, Inseok! Tsk, don’t underestimate trascendence creation…”

“I’m not underestimating it. I believe I am capable enough to attempt it.”

“Heh heh, sure you do. Then go ahead and give it a try.”

”…Your eyes look very cunning, Grandpa. It makes me quite uncomfortable.”

“Phewwww.” Dexter’s provocative gaze, daring Louis to prove himself, ignited a fiery passion within him. With determination not to lose, Louis glared back at Dexter before posing a question:

“What will happen if I truly succeed in creating a trascendence?”

“Tsk tsk, go ahead and try. I don’t know what kind of trascendence you’ll create, but if it’s truly worthy, I won’t be able to deny your talent.”

“All right then. See you later.”

“You betcha, heh-heh-heh. Good luck.” Dexter smirked at Louis before leaving with a dismissive wave.

Unbeknownst to him, his mocking laughter had ignited the pride of a dragon.

“Grandpa…you just watch me.”

Witnessing Louis’s seething rage, the others quietly moved away from him.

Hmm… This doesn’t concern me anyway…

I’ll just focus on my tasks…

Let’s just clean up…

Clang! Clang!

Soon, the sounds of repair echoed throughout the empty workshop once more.

One week later:

Clang! Clang!

Early in the morning, loud noises echoed behind the Wish Tower.

“…Is he at it again?” Dexter’s ears twitched at the metallic sounds.

Does he really think he can pull this off?

No matter how much of a prodigy Louis was, as a ten-year-old kid, there was no way he could understand what crafting a trascendence entailed or just how difficult it would be. Dexter had lightly goaded him, thinking that experience would teach him some humility…but the problem was, the boy seemed to actually be making progress.

At this rate, will he really create a trascendence?

Dexter’s anxiety slowly grew. He’d already been taken aback by Louis’s genius multiple times, so the once-unthinkable notion that Louis might succeed started creeping back into his mind.

The absurd thought that Louis might actually succeed kept creeping back into Dexter’s mind.

Should I…take a peek?

With this notion, Dexter heaved his hefty frame off the chair.

Clang! Clang!

Dexter observed the workshop echoing with metallic sounds.

What on earth is he making?

Talismans varied greatly in size and shape depending on their intended use, requiring different crafting techniques accordingly.

Judging by the noise…it seems to be something quite large.

For several days now, the sound of hammering had reverberated from within. Given the intensity, it was clear Louis was working on no small object.

Wait…does he even know the art of forging?

But Louis was too young to have achieved such mastery. Yet, the hammering sounded remarkably consistent, indicating that whoever wielded it struck with equal force each time. Even if Louis had started wielding a hammer since he turned one year old, this level of skill seemed impossible for him.

Is it that half-dwarf man or Douglas?

Louis could likely command either of them, so Dexter nodded knowingly.

That crafty brat is at it again!

Having pieced together much about Louis by now, Dexter flung open the workshop door. A blast of heat hit him as his eyes landed on the furnace in the center of the room.

“…?!”

Dexter’s eyes nearly popped out of his head at what he saw inside.

“H-h-how…?!”

Bathed in the glow of the furnace, Louis was hammering away. It was hard to believe his own eyes.

I-is this for real?

But it certainly was. The small boy swung a hammer bigger than Dexter’s own arm with each strike ringing loud and clear.

Even if she started swinging that hammer while still in her mother’s womb, this just isn’t possible!

Dexter’s gaze flickered wildly as Douglas and Pablo approached from behind.

“What’re you doing here?” asked Douglas.

“What’s going on?” wondered Pablo.

They stared curiously at the frozen dwarf.

In desperation, Dexter blurted out:

“Um, has he ever mentioned learning blacksmithing from someone else before?”

“Oh.” Douglas nodded as if finally understanding Dexter’s bewilderment. He knew exactly how Dexter felt because he’d been equally astonished just days ago. With a slight shake of his head, Douglas explained:

“Well, ‘learned’ is not quite accurate. The rookie—ahem, I mean, the youngest among us—first picked up a hammer five days ago.”

“What?! What do you mean?!”

Douglas patted Dexter on the back to console him at this revelation.

“It’s best to accept it and move on. There will always be…people who defy our common sense.”

“That’s right,” Pablo chimed in. “Some individuals are born with extraordinary talents that others can only dream of possessing.”

Despite their words, both Douglas and Pablo looked utterly dejected, recalling the events from several days earlier.