Genius Blacksmith’s Game - Chapter 1

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Genius Blacksmith’s Game

Prologue

Ares, the first virtual reality game, is beloved by 1.2 billion people worldwide.

An interview is being conducted with Lee Se-jin, the CEO of Pureum Corporation, the company that created this game.

A man called the god of the gaming industry.

The richest person in the world.

The genius Lee Se-jin!

‘It’s about time for that question to come up.’

Lee Se-jin thought as he received camera flashes and questions.

As expected.

“It’s been a year since Ares officially launched. The event challenge you proposed at launch—breaking the Wooden Dummy in exactly 10 attempts—still hasn’t been accomplished by anyone.”

On Ares’ launch day.

A shocking event announcement was posted.

The content stated that if someone could break the Wooden Dummy in the Beginner Zone in exactly 10 strikes, they would receive a reward.

“That reward being an Ares VVIP Capsule worth 50 million won plus a 5-point increase to all stats, which prompted all 1.2 billion people to attempt the challenge.”

Even if you didn’t want to challenge it, you had no choice but to try.

When users start the game, they first begin in one of hundreds of Beginner Zones.

The first thing they do in that Beginner Zone is learn to attack.

In other words, hitting the Wooden Dummy.

A whopping 1.2 billion people attempted it, and they all failed.

Even though you can retry after a certain amount of time passes following your 10 attempts.

“Still, not a single person has succeeded. When do you think someone will?”

People were curious.

Who would break that Wooden Dummy!

Currently, archery gold medalists, kendo gold medalists, and even mixed martial arts fighters have all failed.

“I think someone will succeed in the near future.”

After saying that, Lee Se-jin thinks that it might not actually happen.

Pureum Corporation needed something to ignite users’ motivation, and this was the event they implemented for that purpose.

The result was a huge success.

Initially, the simultaneous user count exploded as people declared they would break this Wooden Dummy.

‘I can’t easily give away a VVIP virtual reality capsule plus 5 to all stats.’

Starting with +5 to all stats is something beyond common sense.

At level 1, all stats are standardized at 5.

But if someone succeeds, they would essentially start at 10.

What’s interesting is that when that user reaches level 10, they’ll still be 5 points higher than other users.

The same goes for level 100, or even level 500.

In other words, it’s establishing a foundation to get ahead from the very beginning.

‘The power of +5 in the early stages is quite tremendous.’

There are several reasons why breaking the Wooden Dummy is difficult.

In the Beginner Zone, you can’t level up, change classes, or acquire skills.

Breaking it in the Beginner Zone is nearly impossible from the start.

“You’re giving the same answer as always.”

Lee Se-jin smiled slightly at the reporter’s provocative question.

“The world is vast and there are many geniuses. In the near future…”

Just then.

“What? A World Message!?”

A reporter who had answered his phone shouted in surprise.

World Message.

A message heard by all connected users. It usually sounds when a user accomplishes something tremendous that others haven’t been able to reach.

Everyone’s attention focused on the reporter who had answered the phone.

Soon after.

Ring-ring-ring-ring-

Brrrring-brrrring-!

Hey bro, you got a call-!

The reporters’ phone ringtones began going off like crazy.

“…The Wooden Dummy was broken!?”

“A World Message really appeared saying the Wooden Dummy was broken!?”

“This is insane!”

“It’s a scoop!”

“After a whole year, it’s finally been broken!?”

Whoosh-!

In an instant, all the reporters’ eyes turned to Lee Se-jin.

Lee Se-jin maintained a calm expression.

“If that’s true, I’ll need to prepare to gift that user a VVIP Capsule, haha.”

He laughed leisurely, but that wasn’t the case.

Soon the Press Conference Hall became noisy as reporters answered their phones.

Lee Se-jin quickly wrapped things up and ended the press conference before heading to the Waiting Room.

“S-Sir!”

Employees were running toward him.

One employee was waiting in the Waiting Room with a screen displayed.

He was the team leader of the Special User Management Team.

“Did a user really break the Wooden Dummy in 10 attempts?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Turn on the replay.”

Click-

The screen began playing when he clicked the mouse.

-I wonder if I can succeed this time.

It was a fairly handsome young man.

Lee Se-jin soon noticed something strange.

“What’s that weapon? Did he break it with that weapon?”

The man on the monitor was holding a sword with a sharp edge.

“I’ve never heard of such a weapon existing in the Beginner Zone?”

Occasionally, special users receive artifacts from NPCs to attempt the challenge.

But even those weapons ultimately couldn’t break the Wooden Dummy in 10 attempts.

So what was that?

It was an unfamiliar weapon he’d never seen before.

Soon the young man began striking the Wooden Dummy.

-Thwack, thwaaack, thwaaaack!

A heavy sound echoed through the Waiting Room.

Soon, Lee Se-jin’s eyes widened as he watched the Wooden Dummy break on the eighth strike.

“No way…!”

He turned to look at the Special User Management Team employee.

The Special User Management Team monitors users, so they would know what actions that user had taken.

“That ‘no way’ is correct.”

“He crafted that sword himself? What’s the sword’s grade?”

“Epic.”

“…?”

Lee Se-jin’s face was colored with bewilderment.

“What are you talking about? How could a level 1 who hasn’t even changed classes create an Epic grade sword?”

Despite his denial, the Special User Management Team employee said.

“From watching that user’s gameplay, he definitely made it himself.”

As mentioned, in the Beginner Zone, you receive significant bonuses from real-world talents.

Archery athletes with bows, Kendo athletes with swords, Judo athletes with Judo.

Lee Se-jin suddenly recalled a conversation with the development team who had struggled while creating the Blacksmithing class.

‘Getting blacksmith consultation is the hardest. They say there are less than 10 left in the world.’

‘Isn’t there that famous blacksmith named Smith?’

‘He is famous, but Smith said this. He’s ashamed to be called a blacksmith.’

‘Ashamed?’

‘His blacksmithing techniques are adapted to machinery. There’s no one who does forge work completely by hand from start to finish.’

‘Hmm…’

‘There was one master craftsman in Korea who did that handwork though…’

‘There was…?’

‘He became a vegetative patient. Smith said he was the best blacksmith he’d ever seen.’

‘It’s unfortunate but can’t be helped, we’ll have to proceed by consulting past information and various blacksmiths.’

Lee Se-jin’s eyes, awakened from his reverie, fell upon him.

-When will the capsule arrive?

Watching the young man humming and smiling happily, Lee Se-jin couldn’t understand.

There was exactly one master craftsman in the world, and he had become a vegetative patient.

‘Then who is that user…?’

Lee Se-jin couldn’t take his eyes off the mysterious user.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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