-Interlude violence is the answer of everything, right?”

After walking without much of sleep and eating on the way, we finally reach my hometown Borneo.

The city of blacksmith. It's said the origin of craft is made here.

Honestly, there's no good memories here. My family is originally rich, but thanks to a certain conman making a fake mass order, we got too much of unsellable weapon and gone bankrupt in blink of eye.

My parent gone missing after that. My sister is taken and killed, i desperately trying to kill the the murder but a child have no power or influence.

If my teacher didn't take me i would have died already.

Before taken under my teacher i got acquaintance with kids in slum and we become friends.

Just when i decide to leave the town and becoming a hero instead of a blacksmith some things happened and i have to return here.

Dammit, i don't want to show up my face here. At least, not like this..

“Shit.. that bitch”

“Tom, i was tired hearing the same thing. Can you talk about other things?”

“Shaddup! If i didn't at least complain i won't be satisfied! We already worked like a slave and betting our lives too! The truth is i wanna slap that bitch until she cried, but i’m scared with my live so i didn't do it”

So you didn't even have the courage.. won't that making it impossible since the start?

“Also, this damn metal junk keep following us. Hey you! Stop following us and go back to your owner!”

“CANNOT COMPLY, YOU ARE NOT AUTHORIZED “

“tsk”

Although he know it's useless he still try it anyway. Perhaps his action deserve a praise.

But, getting observed 24 hours a day without a lot of privacy and forced to move after sleeping for so little time makeing them so exhausted that they can't think straight.

Deciding the only way out is finishing this as soon as possible, he come to his teacher house.

“OI GEEZER! YOU STILL ALIVE YET!?”

He screamed in front of the house.

Waiting for answer but nobody come, he start to scream louder.

“GEEZER! I GOT A WORK FOR YOU! STOP PRETENDING TO BE NOT AT HOME AND COMING OUT ALREADY!”

With some loud clack, the door opened.

Coming out from there is a worn out looking dwarf.

he looked surprisingly muscular for his age, and his eye is sharp for his age.

“YOU FINALLY COMING OUT JIJI! WHY DIDN'T YOU ANSWER ME IF YOU'RE IN HOME?.. WHOA!”

A flying wrench is thrown to him.

And the dwarf start to move in front of him.

Fast! He didn't even have time to react...

And with a headbutt,

he headbutted his stomach and he was sent flying.

“SHADDAP! I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF WORK! DON’T DISTURB ME! WHO ARE YOU ANYWAY”

“THAT HURT! YOU OLD GEEZER! ITS ME, YOUR APPRENTICE TOM! DID YOU FORGOT MY APPEARANCE ALREADY!?”

Hearing that, he only frowns

“HAH! DON’T LIE! MY APPRENTICE TOM IS A PURE HEART BOY WITH A GOOD SENSE OF JUSTICE! BEING THE SON OF LOVELY LINA HE WON'T HAVE SUCH A EVIL LOOK LIKE YOU!

“YOU STILL HAVE FEELINGS ABOUT MY MOTHER? JUST GIVE UP ALREADY OLD GEEZER, SHE WAS ALREADY MARRIED”

“WHAT DID YOU SAYY!? OTHER THAN METAL AND ORES SHE WAS THE ONLY OASIS IN MY HEART! DON'T TALK TO HER LIKE SHE WAS A SLUT THAT SPREAD OPEN HER LEGS TO ANY OTHER MAN!”

“WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT JIJI! YOU ALREADY BEEN REJECTED MANY TIMES ALREADY! FACE THE FACT ALREADY!”

Doesn't seem to accept it, the old man and Tom is starting to beat each other.

Everyone start to stopping them when Tom is already half dead.

…..

“...”

Inside this silence, Tom and the old man only look at each other without speaking anything.

“Hmph, if you're Tom then say it from the start! I thought you're another spy trying to stole my creation like what the king does”

“I ALREADY SAID THAT FROM THE START! YOU’RE THE ONE THAT IS NOT BELIEVING ME!”

Not seem like have any intention to apologize, the old man ignore him and continue anyway.

“So, you need my help? You know that not even the king himself can even paid for my demand right?”

Tsk i know that, is what Tom replied.

…

The dwarf Gordes.

Even inside this militant country Granada his name is renown as one of the top tier blacksmith.

Some people even said that any country that have his support can take down any country in matter of time, or even defeat the Demon king.

However, he only done work that he is having interest to. Even his disciple cannot convince him if he’s not interested.

Many representative from another country try to get his favor only to be shot down in spot.

His asking price is enormous too, so everyone decide he was too hard to handle and given up.

However the king of Granada value his ability highly and allowed him to have his own workshop in country in hope that someday he change his mind and wants to work to him.

However, this time….

“Hmph, fine. where should we go?”

He accepted it so easily.

Tom looks at him with disbelief.

“Whoa, what's wrong with you geezer? Usually even if it takes a month you still not budging”

“You fool! The longest record is twenty years!”

He start to point out the mechanical doll.

“That. Where did you get it?”

“Huh? Oh.. it's been forced by us by a crazy woman to be exact. It's not ours to begin with and i honestly wants to get rid of it as soon as possible. What of it?”

Hearing that he start to yell and punch him.

“FOOL! ARE YOU REALLY MY APPRENTICE?”

“Stop punching a wounded man! You damn geezer”

Looking at him like he really didn't understand, he start to explain while sighing.

“That thing is something that even i cannot reproduce. The material is clearly made with something that even i don't know of or never seen. With such a simplicity design it manages to move around without losing energy at all. You said it follows you from the city nears demon territory right? Considering it was moving for four days and didn't even losing speed or balance the energy source must be something with enormous power and compact size. She said it won't stop moving even while pursuing you to the end of earth? Then it can be considered a endless energy with that compact body. Furthermore how is he floating without any mana flows from him? Any blacksmith would like to take it apart and studying it. Even the king of any country would wants its source of endless energy. It's basically a priceless treasure”

Surprised that he didn't even expect this murderous doll “borrowed” from that girl is that priceless, he opened his eye wide.

Did she expect this and lending it to them? Nah.. probably it was purely to harass them..

“I was still curious of this thing, but considering the owner have something like this lended to you she would probably have another tools that won't lose in performance. I would be crazy to missed this opportunity.”

Hearing that, he start to continue.

“Then geezer, can you bring everyone along? For the size of this project, we need as much hand as possible”

“Gathering them is not difficult using my name, but...”

He start to grin with a playful smile.

“Making them following you is another matter, boy”

Realizing he was this sort of person, Tom accepts begrudgingly.

….

After gathering about all of the blacksmith numbered around ten thousand in front of gordes house.

“Whoa looks at this crowd”

“Ah, that's the flame blacksmith Burdo, there's even that stylish blacksmith Axel”

Thinking it's the first time they saw this many blacksmith gathering in one place the two thugs other than Tom was surprised.

However, the atmosphere is clearly not friendly...

“I’m curious, what is Gordes gonna show us?”

“I heard it's a invention called gun that can kill enemy from afar without any use of magic”

“Nah, i heard its a vacuum cleaner that it said able to absorb any dust around your house without exception”

Realizing they didn't come for them, they can't speak anything wrong or else those guys would be in bad mood...

“So, i’ll leave it to you boy. Whatever happened from here is not my business”

“OI GEEZER? YOU’RE NOT HELPING ME CONVINCE THEM?”

“Didn't you said you accept this job because you're interested anyway? Then stop depends on someone else and just be a man, boy”

Tsk...

Realizing he didn't have a choice he got into stage

“Hey, i just remember something” ask the smallest thug.

“What is it?”

“Can Tom.. convince them?”

Char look away and starting to avert his eyes.

“....let’s just pray he does”

Once Tom is in the front, everyone start to whisper it's not Gordes and they become uneasy.

While Tom...

*ssh haa shh ha..*

Pulling out long breath.

(Dammit! I’m not used to speak with this many people! when harrasing someone, all i need to say is some few simple words and they agree. This is too hard!)

Trying to resolve himself, he start to speak.

“LISTEN UP YOU MAGGOTS!”

“I DON'T LIKE HOW YOU GUYS LIVE WITHOUT A CARE OF THE WORLD, SO FOLLOW ME!”

“I DON'T WANT TO SUFFER ALONE FROM THAT DEVILISH WOMAN SO HELP ME !”

“IF YOU REFUSE I’LL GOUGE YOUR EYES AND MAKE YOU SUFFER! HEAR ME MAGGOTS?”

………

Everyone stared at him.

“That idiot! This is not the guys that we usually rob in the street!”

“Ahh right, i heard he was originally bad at talking with customers so he end up becoming a thug”

“That boy is weak against people stronger than him or crowd of people since before. I guess he hasn't changed”

Making a comment like it was someone else trouble, the three speak nonchalantly.

Then...

a riot has occurred.

“WHAT THE HELL DID YOU SAID BALDIE?”

“YOU’RE GONNA MAKE US SUFFER? I AM GONNA MAKE YOU CRY INSTEAD!”

“YOU'RE UNDERESTIMATE OUR PROWESS? WE BLACKSMITH ALWAYS BET OUR LIFE FROM THE EXPLOSION AND FLAMES FROM HEARTH YOU KNOW!”

“LET’S KILL THIS THUG! TIE HIM OUT AND MAKE HIM AS A RAW MATERIAL FOR WEAPONS!”

Crap this isn't good, think his friends.

Gordes thought the situation is gonna become uncontrollable and start to preparing to run away.

Tom become pale and didn't know what to do…

Ah hey guys, don't you recognize me? I used to be behind Gordes when i was younger, remember?

Also that one is Michel right? Didn't we promise that we would get married when we get older? So why did you threaten me to be made into a material of a weapon?

While he was thinking for some useless things, the mechanical doll start to move with a pair of red light like eyes.

*giiin*

Like starting up an engine, it cut the earth while changing his arms into sword.

*KABLAMM*

…..

The earth is split into two with incredible strength, and the group of blacksmith is surprised while separate into two group.

“UNABLE TO ACCEPT. MASTER ORDER IS FOR THOSE GUYS TO DOING THEIR JOBS. YOUR REFUSAL IS CONSIDERED AN ACT OF DISOBEYMENT AND CONSIDERED A OBSTACLE OF MY DUTY”

It can talk? gordes looks surprised.

However, the crowd is becoming silent seeing this scene.

But, not long after that...

“..some..”

Someone mutters.

Just like a storm, they start to cheer.

“AWESOME! WHAT IS THAT! SO COOL!”

“WOAH, GORDES REALLY DONE IT NOW! WHAT IS THAT WEAPON?”

“SO COOL! I WANT TO MAKE SOMETHING LIKE THAT TOO!”

“IF WE FOLLOW HIM, WOULD WE BE ABLE TO MAKE SOMETHING LIKE THAT TOO!?”

“LET ME DO IT! I’LL BECOME THE FIRST TO MASS PRODUCE THAT THING”

“AHH, YOU STOLE MY LINE! LET ME THE ONE DOING IT INSTEAD”

“HAH! YOU GUYS ARE NOT CAPABLE FOR THAT! LET ME THE FLAME BLACKSMITH DONE THAT INSTEAD”

“HUH, YOU LACK ELEGANCE YOU WILD MONKEY! SOMETHING SO ELEGANT LIKE THAT IS DESERVED TO BE CREATED BY ME, THE STYLISH BLACKSMITH INSTEAD”

The crowd is starting to make a noise and getting excited.

This is a blacksmith city after all, all of them are artist with passion for amazing weapons.

Thinking it was finally be done smoothly, Tom release a sigh of relief.

However…

The real hell comes after that.

“BEGINNING DISCIPLINE MODE, BECAUSE THIS IS FOR DISCIPLINING, NON LETHAL MODE HAS BEEN ACTIVATED AND STARTING TO USE NON DEADLY WEAPON INSTEAD”

He start to glow some red light like eyes.

Hearing that, everyone stopped

Then,

oo-kun start to letting out enormous kind of weapon.

racket,punch,hammer,whip,iron maiden,cooking tools,fireworks,non harmful rocket,baseball bats and even a critters and bug.

All of them are weapons with intention of torture instead of killing, but there's no doubt nobody wanna get hit by that.

Starting to sense what's going to happened next, everybody getting pale.

“ACT OF DISCIPLINE IS STARTING NOW. HOPE YOU WILL REFLECT FOR YOUR ACTIONS”

In no time at all, everybody begins to run away. But they can't run from oo-kun

“EYAAH! MY BUTT, STOPPP”

“I AM SORRY, I AM SORRY!”

“NOO DON’T HIT MY FACE! AT LEAST MY FACE!”

“HAHA, THIS IS INTERESTING! BRING IT DOLL! GUOH!?”

Flame got hit by a flying fist and fly away.

“STOPP! GET AWAYY! DON’T COME NEAR MEE!”

“I HAVE A WIFE AND CHILDREN! PLEASE SPARE ME!”

“I CAN’T! I CAN’T EAT THIS! GUBOFAHH!?”

…….

Inside this scenery of hell, the three thugs only able to look without able to do anything.

Gordes only sit while drinking and mutters.

“Well i guess once in a time this is a good lesson for them too. They get too snobby lately. Let them learn the price of being lazy and being too dependant on me”

Thinking like he should just see the show, he began drinking

……

After the devastation that happened for hours...

Nobody is standing.

Everyone collapsed and didn't move

Tom seems worried that they're died, but checking they still breathing he breaths a sigh of relief.

After the “discipline” is over, oo-kun start to talk.

“ENDING THE DISCIPLINE MODE. IN CASE YOU ALL STILL NOT COMPLY TO MASTER ORDER AND STILL RESIST, HELL MODE DISCIPLINE WILL ACTIVATE AND I WON’T BE SO KIND ANYMORE”

Saying that, oo kun start to turn off his red light and stopped moving.

What is hell mode? And this is still “kind?”

After they recovered, they all start to panicking and move to mines after finished packing.

Indeed, “violence” is the most simple answer.