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Chapter 15
‘First, I’ll need to recruit someone.’
Yujin thought.
Even though he had ore samples, identifying which ones could be refined into chromium and nickel didn’t require brilliance—it was just a tedious, repetitive task, like stamp collecting.
It was the kind of work that should be handed off to subordinates, while Yujin only made the final decisions.
But the current staff was already overwhelmed just running the existing equipment.
So he needed to hire someone new.
‘Where do I even start?’
The problem was—Yujin had never hired anyone before.
Not knowing where to begin, he decided to leave it to Edgar, who had previously brought Emily and Henry.
Although neither had met Yujin’s expectations—
‘…Now that I think about it, that makes me question him again.’
They had been described as capable alchemists, yet they couldn’t even properly understand electromagnetism.
Still, Edgar was more experienced than Yujin in this matter.
“Workshop Master Edgar.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“I’m planning to hire someone. Do you have any recommendations?”
“Someone… you say?”
Edgar fell into thought.
The problem was—his standards were completely different from Yujin’s.
‘Emily and Henry were both excellent alchemists…’
Emily had been dismissed from Workshop 35, but not due to incompetence—she had simply lent out a furnace without permission.
Had she stayed, she could have easily risen to a senior position.
Henry, on the other hand, had graduated top of his class at the academy, but failed to secure a position due to poor social skills.
They were both undeniably capable.
Yet Yujin had been dissatisfied, saying they “didn’t understand the nature of electricity.”
‘No matter how I look at it, the Young Master is the strange one… Is that even lightning magic?’
Yujin’s lightning magic was absurdly precise.
Normally, lightning was powerful but difficult to control, tending to spread unpredictably.
But Yujin’s Lightning Field and Coil Lightning behaved almost like water magic—flowing naturally and exactly as intended.
Trying to match his level of understanding was nearly impossible.
On top of that, all Magnus workshops had recently increased hiring, making recruitment difficult.
‘…No, I should just ask him directly.’
“Of course, I can recommend someone. But… do you have specific criteria in mind?”
“Criteria?”
“Yes. If I know what kind of person you’re looking for, it will be easier to find a suitable candidate.”
“Hmm…”
Yujin thought for a moment.
‘Someone suitable for this job…’
In truth, he didn’t need someone particularly skilled.
Most research in this workshop was led by him anyway.
What he needed was someone to handle tedious tasks like sorting ores.
And his budget was tight.
With ore purchases and facility upgrades ahead, money was scarce.
So—
“Please find someone inexpensive.”
That was his conclusion.
“I see… In that case, among those who applied to our workshop…”
Edgar handed him a list.
Yujin frowned as he read it.
‘There really are all kinds of people in this world.’
Edgar had conducted thorough background checks.
Among the applicants, very few were proper alchemists.
Most had issues—debt, alcoholism, womanizing…
‘Hmm, these are all problematic…’
Regardless of ability, he needed someone diligent.
Then—
‘Hmm?’
One name caught his attention.
[Name: Dunber]
[Background: Retired soldier]
Late twenties—relatively young, yet already retired.
“Edgar. Does this person have any issues like gambling addiction or criminal history?”
“None that I’ve found. However, he has no knowledge of alchemy.”
“I’d like to interview him.”
“…A soldier? This is an alchemy workshop…”
Edgar was confused.
But—
“It’s fine. What I need is someone who follows orders.”
Yujin didn’t need independent thinkers.
He needed someone who could handle tasks.
And for that—
A soldier was ideal.
“…Understood. I’ll contact him.”
A retired soldier.
Dunber worked at a construction site, earning his daily wage.
“Hey, young man. Want a drink?”
“No, thank you.”
His coworkers shook their heads.
“He works hard, but he’s cold.”
Dunber returned home after buying food and potions.
“Brother… you’re back?”
A weak voice came from the corner.
“Yes, Cecilia. Take your medicine after dinner.”
“You don’t need to buy it…”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Just take it.”
The potion wouldn’t cure her illness.
But it could ease her pain.
‘…If only I had endured back then…’
Dunber had once guarded the northern wall—protecting the empire from unknown threats.
It was harsh but honorable work.
And well-paid.
But everything changed.
A fellow soldier killed a civilian—and tried to bury the body beyond the wall.
Dunber reported it.
But—
“Stay quiet. Don’t make this bigger.”
The culprit had noble connections.
Dunber tried to report it to Ragnar Wolfdain, the lord of the north.
But—
“You don’t belong here.”
His voice was buried.
He alone was expelled.
After returning home, his parents died.
His sister fell ill.
Now, he could only survive through manual labor.
‘If I had just stayed silent…’
He regretted it.
Then—
“Brother, a letter came.”
From:
Magnus Workshop 43
They requested an interview.
‘Magnus…’
He had received offers before—but they wanted him as a weapon.
Still—
‘I have to go.’
The next day.
“I’m Yujin Magnus. Nice to meet you, Dunber.”
“Dunber.”
“What are your skills?”
“…Anything involving physical labor.”
‘So this is it…’
Dunber assumed the same.
“You served in the north. Didn’t criminal groups try to recruit you?”
‘He’s testing me.’
“They did. I refused.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want to do anything shameful in front of my sister.”
“I see. Then I’ll be direct. I need someone who follows orders. Can you obey any command?”
‘Here it comes.’
To be hired—
He should say yes.
But—
“As long as the order is not unjust, I will follow it.”
“…Good.”
Yujin nodded.
Dunber felt regret.
‘I should have just said yes…’
But then—
“Please start work today.”
“…What?”
“You’re hired.”
Dunber realized.
‘That was a test…’
Yujin wasn’t looking for a weapon.
He wanted someone trustworthy.
Dunber shouted:
“I will serve you with loyalty, Yujin-nim!”
Meanwhile—
‘Good, he doesn’t seem problematic.’
Yujin was relieved.
“Here’s your task.”
He handed over a paper.
It listed ore characteristics.
“Find samples that match these traits.”
“Understood! I’ll find them all!”
‘Well… even one or two would be enough.’
A few days later—
In Workshop 35:
“That half-commoner hired a soldier.”
Cassian laughed.
“He must be desperate.”
“Of course!”
“He’s preparing a bodyguard. How foolish.”
They laughed loudly.
Meanwhile—
At Workshop 43:
“Task complete!”
“…What?”
Yujin stared in shock.
‘…He found ALL of them?’
Dunber had perfectly identified every relevant ore.
