Genius Blacksmith’s Game - Chapter 146

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Genius Blacksmith’s Game
Video Shoot (3)
Hammering with my right hand for the first time in four years.
I had thought it would feel awkward. But it was as familiar as if I’d been gripping the hammer every day.
I understood the reason why.
‘They say Ares is used frequently for therapeutic purposes as well.’
I was a special case in Ares—one who received no system compensation whatsoever.
Because of that, my crafting in Ares had kept my skills from rusting.
‘No, they’ve actually improved.’
I finally took command of the Blacksmith Shop.
The Sword Blade of the Seven-Branched Sword required seven blades in total.
One central blade and six others expressing the branches.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The forging rang out briskly through the air.
With tongs in hand, I shifted positions ceaselessly.
The workshop fell silent for a moment.
Jin-seop and Ji-hye watched intently.
Jin-seop wore a wry smile.
As a physician, he had witnessed countless surgeries performed by brilliant master surgeons.
Sometimes unrestrained, sometimes bold, sometimes more careful and precise than anyone else.
And brimming with confidence.
‘So this is Hyeon-su’s true self….’
The image I’d only heard about in words.
And Ji-hye, the nurse who harbored a quiet affection for Hyeon-su.
Watching him absorbed in his work wearing only a black short-sleeved T-shirt, her cheeks flushed crimson.
‘Is this really the Hyeon-su I know?’
The same man who wore an expression like receiving a death sentence whenever hospital bills came up.
The man whose shoulders drooped and whose face crumbled as if the world had ended every time he came to the hospital—he was a completely different person inside the Blacksmith Shop.
More confident than anyone, his expression clearly conveyed ‘I am the best in this field.’
Furthermore.
The two cameramen who had come at Ian’s request.
Once colleagues of Ian at the same Broadcasting Station, they had said this after witnessing Hyeon-su collapse.
“Ho-beom, you swore you’d never do broadcasting again—why are you editing for someone like that?”
At first, they wondered if it was pity.
But now it was different.
They were watching Hyeon-su through the camera lens.
Only his image inside the Blacksmith Shop.
Shiver—
The filming crew felt goosebumps rise along their spines.
‘At that age…?’
‘This is practically a national treasure.’
His tall frame, handsome face, and the way he worked with sweat beading on his brow stirred even the male cameramen’s hearts.
‘This is incredible….’
Was it occupational habit?
They couldn’t help but connect everything to viewership ratings.
Moreover, those who knew about Blacksmith Hyeon also heard from Ho-beom when this footage would be released.
‘This is the video of the year.’
‘How far will Hyeon rise with this footage?’
The two anticipated greatly.
And the work continued day and night without pause.
People took turns sleeping in their cars or heading to temporary lodgings.
Then one person who had gone to the lodgings returned.
It was Park Director.
Standing beside Jin-seop, Park Director observed him intently.
‘How many hours have passed?’
The thought he’d had when first seeing him.
What could this young man possibly accomplish?
But that thought was changing.
He was a figure who reigned as the nation’s greatest historian.
Moreover, he was a professor of history at Korea University, the nation’s finest institution.
He had also worked as the nation’s premier appraiser.
Soon the sword blade neared completion.
One rising blade and beside it, six magnificent branches taking their place.
‘It’s real….’
Park Director marveled.
After countless quenchings and forgings, Hyeon-su proceeded to engrave characters onto the Seven-Branched Sword.
‘Gold inlay technique….’
The Seven-Branched Sword bore characters inscribed in gold.
To engrave these golden characters, he carved the letters with a chisel.
Next came the task of fitting gold thread into those grooves—an extraordinarily difficult technique, yet one carrying joyful meaning.
‘Proof of the Korean Peninsula.’
It was a technique that demonstrated how Baekje first realized the gold inlay method on the Korean Peninsula in ancient times.
Soon the gold thread began fitting into the characters, and after several hours, Hyeon-su spoke.
“It is complete.”
The filming crew hurried forward to capture the finished Seven-Branched Sword up close.
‘Beautiful….’
It was such an exquisite creation that even laypeople ignorant of blacksmithing could recognize its excellence at a glance.
And Park Director, who had been watching from a step away, moved forward as well.
All eyes turned toward him.
Now donning pristine white cotton gloves, he examined the Seven-Branched Sword with careful attention.
Hyeon-su tensed.
He was well aware that Park Director was the nation’s foremost appraiser.
Soon, Park Director, who had been observing him, spoke.
“A perfect recreation. I can think of no other words to describe it.”
Only then did Hyeon-su feel relief wash over him.
Hyeon-su received the Chilji Blade once more, and Ho-beom spoke.
“Now it’s time to conduct an interview with Blacksmith Hyeon.”
The interview began shortly after.
*
*
*
Ho-beom’s heart swelled as he conducted Hyeon-su’s interview.
The first video production for him exceeded satisfaction, leaving Ho-beom in awe.
‘Goodness, he actually recreated the Chilji Blade.’
Where did Hyeon-su’s potential end?
Suddenly, he felt genuinely fortunate to be working alongside this man.
‘There is one thing I wish were different, though.’
Nevertheless, Ho-beom licked his lips.
With such a masterpiece in hand, what remained was to showcase it properly.
Of course, Hyeon-su had agreed to be interviewed by a National Museum staff member.
And this came with a condition.
He would grant the interview only if the staff member was satisfied.
“Hmm.”
Watching him clear his throat, Ho-beom felt confident the condition had been more than met.
But therein lay the problem.
‘The public will simply think a single civil servant agreed to an interview.’
When we watch television and see a National Museum staff member being interviewed, do we think it’s a big deal?
No. We assume it’s just one of the employees.
We think they’re explaining how remarkable this artifact is.
That’s what troubled him.
‘If only the interview were with someone more influential….’
Then the filming crew spoke up.
“We’re all set. Let’s wrap up by getting the staff member’s interview.”
Soon, Jin-seop was seen adjusting his necktie.
At that moment, a completely unexpected figure stepped forward.
“I’ll conduct that interview.”
“…?”
Ho-beom’s expression shifted to surprise.
The one who had stepped forward was none other than Park Director.
Ho-beom knew exactly who Park Director was.
‘That person is quite well-known worldwide, after all.’
Of course, no matter how famous someone is, ordinary people rarely know appraisers.
But what if it were someone who had appeared on the program “Authentic or Counterfeit”?
Park Director had become quite familiar to the public after appearing on that program during his professorship.
“The, the Director?”
Jin-seop was flustered.
Hyeon-su found it equally bewildering.
Park Director, confirming the cameras weren’t rolling yet, turned his gaze toward Hyeon-su.
Four years ago.
“The state won’t support him? What do you mean by that, Kang Hyeon-tae is one of the few blacksmiths left in the world! Who else but the state will protect him?”
Unknown to anyone, it was Park Director who had rushed to the legislative office and fought most fiercely for Hyeon-tae’s hospital bills.
It was also true that he had dismissed Hyeon-su, surrounded by the prejudice that he was merely a young person.
There was a clear reason why he had majored in history and become the director of the National Museum.
Because he loved history.
“This much of a gift is nothing for one who has recreated the Baekje Chil-ji Sword so perfectly.”
Park Director smiled faintly.
Soon the interview began.
“This Baekje Chil-ji Sword is….”
Watching the interview unfold, Ho-beom marveled.
‘Indeed, someone who’s worked in broadcasting is different!’
He knew how to elevate the subject.
“As you can see, this Chil-ji Sword was crafted by hand using techniques from antiquity. It’s such an exceptional creation that it can be considered a true recreation of the original Chil-ji Sword.”
He had deliberately prompted the filming crew to ask leading questions.
“I see, then Director, what do you think of the creator?”
At that, Park Director smiled faintly.
“I believe he is the one and only Master Craftsman in our country, and indeed the world. As someone who has appraised hundreds upon hundreds of creations….”
Ho-beom was astounded.
‘Jackpot, absolute jackpot!’
Hyeon-su had crafted a masterpiece beyond legends, producing a legendary work.
And Ho-beom was certain this video would become his own masterpiece.
Hyeon-su’s personal story.
And the trauma he experienced during the creation process.
How he overcame it.
The perfectly recreated Chil-ji Sword.
And finally, Park Director’s confident words at the end.
*Gulp*
‘How many views will this get? Twenty million? Thirty million?’
Ho-beom thought it would reach at least that much, considering not just our country but people worldwide would watch it.
But his prediction was completely off the mark.
He didn’t know it then.
The view count would reach several times higher than his initial prediction.
*
*
*
The filming had concluded.
The National Museum needed to report to its superiors and assess the artifact’s value.
“The price will be determined and transferred shortly.”
At that, Hyeon-su smiled faintly.
“I’d like to donate the Seven-Branched Sword instead. And as promised, you’ll display it after my video goes up, correct?”
Donating such a precious Seven-Branched Sword for free?
For the National Museum, it was wonderful news.
Moreover, based on Hyeon-su’s words, they could display it within a few months, so it was entirely within the National Museum’s capacity to accommodate.
Soon everyone departed, and Ho-beom asked.
“Still, the amount must be considerable. Donating it—you’re quite generous.”
Hyeon-su smiled bitterly.
And Ho-beom thought that if the Seven-Branched Sword had been created in Ares, it would have been worth far more than in reality.
It was truly ironic.
That the value in the virtual world was greater.
But then Hyeon-su spoke with a subtle expression.
“Perhaps it will return with even greater value.”
Ho-beom couldn’t understand what he meant.
After finishing the filming, Hyeon-su returned to Seoul to visit his father.
Hyeon-su visited the hospital every week to tell his father about recent events.
Jin-seop had said that even though Hyeon-tae was in a vegetative state, he could hear everything.
Of course, it might have been said merely for comfort.
“…I think more people will become interested in our work, the dream we discussed. Of course, it’s also thanks to the virtual reality of Ares. This Seven-Branched Sword I donated will be the beginning of that.”
Hyeon-su smiled softly.
*
*
*
Several months later.
The National Museum.
Recently, the National Museum had been packed with visitors.
After the fervor had cooled somewhat, the children from Balgeun Kindergarten came on a field trip.
The children who had come expecting an amusement park or zoo were disappointed at the mention of a museum.
Six-year-old Su-hyeon was no exception.
Dressed in a bright yellow outfit like a bee, Su-hyeon wanted nothing more than to watch animations on a smartphone.
Then the guide teacher spoke.
“This replica is the Seven-Branched Sword of Baekje that’s been generating so much buzz. During the Three Kingdoms period, King Geunchogo of Baekje….”
Behind the tedious explanation, at the mention of something that had recently become a hot topic, Su-hyeon slowly lifted his head.
Then Su-hyeon was struck with astonishment.
A mysterious sword lay before him, its form evoking the graceful contours of a tree branch.
“Wow….”
“Amazing.”
“It really is a uniquely shaped sword.”
“This Seven-Branched Sword was crafted and donated by Master Craftsman Kang Hyeon-su, and recently at Ares….”
Su-hyeon gazed at the sword as if entranced.
He had only heard of it, only seen it in books.
And most of those had been corroded by rust and aged.
But this one was different.
So magnificent that it captivated his gaze, Su-hyeon spoke.
“Teacher, if I studied, could I create a sword like that?”
Hyeon-su alone could not change the world.
Yet the lives of several people were undoubtedly transforming.

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