Tack

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Tack (塔克) 80
Alias(es)	Blacksmith Tack; Mr. Tack 80 87
Gender	Male 80
Affiliation	Sean Winchester's servant and blacksmith 95 294
Occupation/Role	Blacksmith, Cold Forged Steel researcher, prospector, and lead-type caster 86 98 136
Status	Active; continues serving Sean and managing assigned production work 294
First Appearance	Chapter 40 (mentioned); Chapter 80 (appears) 40 80

Background / History

Tack was an old blacksmith abducted by the Gil River Bandit Group to collect a bounty placed by Max of the Max Bandit Group. Max wanted Tack alive because of his ability to locate and assess a silver vein; as a result, Tack was kept in noticeably better condition than the other enslaved captives. 80

After Sean's forces reached the bandit camp, Sean compelled Tack to persuade the other slaves to return and assist with the operation. Tack later witnessed Sean defeat Max and learned that Sean was a Formal Knight, leaving him initially terrified but still quick to pursue personal advantage. 80 85

Tack had spent decades pursuing the lost art of refining Cold Forged Steel, an ancient metal he believed essential to forging a divine weapon that would preserve his name. His obsession centered on a sword hilt bearing the inscription “Land of Shining Thunder,” which he identified as a relic connected to the Thunder Knight Saint Albert Saint Augsburg. 87 88

Appearance

Tack is a short, scrawny old man nearing fifty, with a wrinkled face and an expressive, often ingratiating grin. While enslaved by Max's bandits, he wore comparatively clean and neat clothing because of his usefulness. 80 85

• Short stature and thin build. 86 95
• Wrinkled face frequently described as wearing a sly, lecherous, or fawning smile. 85 94
• Was dressed far better than the other captives in Max's camp. 80

Personality

Tack is boastful, shameless, and intensely motivated by fame. He repeatedly seeks opportunities to display his skill, whether by bragging to other blacksmiths or proposing flamboyant names for his future divine weapon. His ambition is not merely wealth: he wants his craftsmanship and name remembered by future generations. 95 115 135

He is also greedy and opportunistic. Even after seeing Sean kill Max, Tack immediately tried to bargain for access to Max's secret treasury and later repeatedly attempted to recover the sword hilt he considered his treasure. 85 86 93

Despite his cowardice and poor judgment around Sean, Tack is persistent when pursuing his craft. Once Sean connects Tack's desire for lasting recognition to the creation of weapons and newspapers, Tack becomes an eager and useful subordinate. 95 136

Abilities & Skills

Blacksmithing

Tack is an exceptionally skilled blacksmith whose expertise made him valuable enough for Max to have him kidnapped and later persuaded Sean to retain him.

• Analyzed the materials used in the ancient sword hilt and worked toward recreating Cold Forged Steel. 94
• Successfully refined Cold Forged Steel after nearly a month of experiments with Sean's assistance. 98
• Forged Sean's Cold Forged Steel longsword, later named Purple Lightning. 98
• Produced weapons, armor, and other equipment with assisting artisans. 106 294

Prospecting and Treasure Hunting

Tack claims proficiency in prospecting and treasure hunting, skills demonstrated by his knowledge of Max's underground vault and the nearby silver vein. 80 86

• Informed Sean that the bandits' depleted vein was part of a potentially much larger silver mine. 80
• Located Max's hidden treasury beneath a rockery despite being held captive in the bandit camp. 86
• Was later assigned to lead a team surveying the territory's mineral reserves, particularly deposits resembling Natural Crystal. 294

Lead-Type Casting

Tack was recruited to cast lead type for Sean's newspaper plans because his craft skill and loyalty made him easier to control than an outside artisan. 134 136

• Understood the fine carving and casting required for movable lead type. 136
• Completed the requested templates and lead type by the time of Sean's later inspection. 294

Equipment / Works

• Purple Lightning — A Cold Forged Steel longsword forged for Sean; its mirror-smooth blade can shatter drifting leaves with its chill. 98
• Cold Forged Steel armor — Traditional half-coverage armor forged for Sean and plated with Fine Iron to conceal its true material. 106
• Cold Forged Steel long spear and bow body — Custom equipment forged for Sean's martial training. 109
• Printing templates and lead type — Components produced for Sean's newspaper project. 294

Relationships

• Sean Winchester — Master. Their relationship begins with Sean coercing Tack's cooperation, then changes when Tack begs to become Sean's servant so his weapons can gain lasting fame through Sean's future achievements. 80 95
• Max — Former captor and bounty issuer. Max had Tack abducted for his knowledge of the silver vein and took the sword hilt that Tack coveted. 80 86
• Coleman — Sean's steward, whom Tack fears almost as much as Sean after suffering under his supervision in the Imperial Capital. 293
• Thor — Sean's knight squire; worked alongside Tack during the search of Max's mansion and vault. 87 89

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Captivity under the Max Bandit Group — Tack is discovered among the enslaved captives and reveals information about Max's silver mine. Sean forces him to bring the other slaves back to the bandit camp. 80
• Max's Secret Treasury — After the camp falls, Tack leads Sean to the hidden vault in hopes of reclaiming the sword hilt made from Cold Forged Steel. Sean claims the relic instead. 85 86 88
• Defense of the bandit camp — Tack gathers slaves to move defensive materials, then hides behind logs while trying to reclaim the hilt. 93
• Recruitment as Sean's servant — Sean convinces Tack that a weapon's legend comes from its wielder's achievements, prompting Tack to pledge himself to Sean and repair the West Gate. 95
• Cold Forged Steel production — Tack refines the lost metal and forges Purple Lightning, as well as further weapons and armor for Sean. 98 106 109
• Printing project — Sean exploits Tack's longing for fame to secure his cooperation in casting lead type and establishing the newspaper. 134 136
• Territorial development — Tack completes printing work and receives responsibility for surveying mineral reserves within Sean's territory. 294

Notable Quotes

“Tack's Hardness...” 95

“My dream... is to replicate the long-lost Cold Forged Steel and forge a divine weapon with my own hands... so that my name will be remembered alongside that weapon...” 87

Trivia

• Tack also proposed the alternative weapon name “Tack the Ever-Stiff.” 95
• He refuses to take apprentices, treating the prospect of passing on his craft as though someone were trying to steal his most prized possession. 294
• Sean considers Tack unreliable and difficult to tolerate, but repeatedly keeps him close because of his irreplaceable forging skill. 106 109