Genius Blacksmith’s Game - Chapter 156

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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
The One Who Flies Above the One Who Runs (3)
The Blacksmiths of Balas Territory had achieved tremendous growth because of Hyeon-su.
Even now, the foundational texts Hyeon-su had created and his guidance continued to steadily improve the Blacksmiths’ skills.
During this time, the young Blacksmith Pic was called the eccentric Blacksmith.
The reason Pic was called an eccentric Blacksmith.
His skills were certainly outstanding, and he possessed a faster growth rate than others, but most of his masterpieces or well-crafted items possessed bizarre effects.
The effects found in Artifacts.
Except for Hyeon-su, these could never be guided in the direction one desired.
They merely reflected the materials and the directionality one considered while crafting.
Thus was born Pic’s creation.
(Bow for Making Enemies)
Grade: Unique
Durability: 3,500/3,500
Attack Power: 195
Restriction: Archer 150~350
Special Abilities:
·Strength +2, Agility +4
·Gain 30% additional experience on final blow.
·Gain significantly increased contribution on final blow.
·Active Skill: Arrow that gathers enemies.
·Active Skill: Invisible arrow.
·Passive Skill: Not me, but them.
Description: A masterpiece crafted by Blacksmith Pic. However, if used incorrectly, it’s the perfect Bow for becoming enemies with others.
A masterpiece and Unique grade.
When Pic first created it, he believed he had finally achieved his lifelong dream.
But upon closer inspection, something felt off.
The other Blacksmiths who confirmed this said:
‘Gain significantly increased contribution on final blow? In other words, you steal massive contribution by landing the killing blow on a monster someone else excitedly killed—isn’t that what the Outsiders call stealing?’
‘The arrow that gathers enemies is also strange. If every arrow shot summons monsters within a 50-meter radius, wouldn’t that be suicide?’
‘What about “not me, but them”? Wait, your own arrows summon enemies and then redirect their aggression to someone else?’
When the Blacksmiths pooled their assessments, this was the conclusion:
‘It’s a great Bow for when you want to mess with someone, but if you use it, you’ll become enemies with that person, so it’s better not to use it.’
In other words, Pic’s creations were so bizarre that they would all be shunned.
Most of his other Artifacts were filled with such problems.
All the Blacksmiths wore expressions of pity as they spoke:
‘Your skills are good, but everything you make….’
‘Your skills are the best, but every effect you imbue….’
Pic cursed his cursed hands.
But there was one person who didn’t.
‘Pic, every weapon exists for a reason. Someday your masterpiece will accomplish great things, and someone will desperately need it. I’m certain of that.’
It was the newly appointed Lord Hyeon-su.
Taking those words as solace, Pic didn’t abandon Blacksmithing and came to the Blacksmith Shop again today.
Then Chancellor Nel arrived.
“Pic, the Lord requires your Artifact.”
“Huh, the Lord?”
“Yes, the Lord sent 50,000 Gold. He wishes to purchase a Bow for his enemy.”
Having sold a Bow for 50,000 Gold, Pic felt his emotions stir anew.
Soon Chancellor Nel used the gifting function to send the Bow to the Lord.
On the other hand, I was puzzled.
‘What on earth does that enemy-slayer intend to use such a fine Bow for?’
*
*
*
Dun.
He was a veteran among veterans who had climbed this Beres Mountain Range hundreds of times over.
He was the person who understood all the geography, paths, and monsters best.
‘What is this situation?’
Yet something was strange.
A place where monsters didn’t usually appear in large numbers.
Dun, who had been cutting down monsters, wore a puzzled expression.
He had clearly stated it.
That he would take the lead and draw all the monsters’ aggression, and that the Blacksmith Hyeon-su would be kept from harm as much as possible.
To that, Hyeon-su agreed to provide support from behind with a Bow.
But suddenly, monsters from the surroundings swarmed toward them.
“Krrgh—ugh, what? Why, why are there so many of them?!”
From another direction, ice-attribute monsters rushed in.
The strange thing was that the monsters were swarming only toward Dun.
The reason lay in the Bow Hyeon-su held.
[Not Me, But Them]
[By concentrating all aggression onto another, you are spared from their damage.]
Surrounded by dozens of monsters, Dun was going mad.
‘No, why are they only coming at me!’
Dun becomes 30% stronger in the mountains.
He could manage somehow, but it was an exhaustingly difficult battle.
“I guess climbing the mountain was too much after all.”
From behind, Hyeon-su spoke in a frightened voice.
Dun had made a promise.
That he would take him to where Sage Artega was!
“We should head back down.”
Most critically, I had to get Hyeon-su to the Blessed Snowy Field.
“Even you’re struggling, Dun.”
Dun laughed confidently while laboring against the monsters.
“Don’t worry. This happens every time. Haha, I may look exhausted, but truthfully, I’m handling these beasts like it’s child’s play….”
Thwack—
Dun took the Yeti’s club across the back of his head and collapsed. Blood streamed from his skull.
“…?”
“?”
“…?”
“??”
Dun was bewildered. For just a moment, that man Hyeon-su’s expression had been like this.
‘What the hell is this bastard…?’
Had it been a misunderstanding?
Hyeon-su’s expression vanished quickly as he spoke.
“I guess I really can’t ascend after all.”
Dun gulped down a premium potion that cost 100,000 won per bottle—a fortune.
“No, no. Just give me some support, hahahaha!”
Dun decided to take the bright side of things.
‘More monsters means more hunting, which is great. Oh, this one’s a bloodfiend.’
That moment.
Whoosh—
An arrow from behind instantly killed the bloodfiend monster.
When two people hunt a single monster, the contribution system activates.
Experience is divided based on how much each person contributed.
But something odd was happening—usually, the User who lands the finishing blow gets a significant chunk of the contribution.
‘Huh? Even accounting for that, why am I getting so little experience?’
Dun couldn’t understand, but the truth lay in Hyeon-su’s Bow.
[You have landed the finishing blow.]
[You acquire 30% bonus experience.]
[You steal Dun’s contribution and raise your own.]
[You acquire 5,313 experience.]
Dun thought it was his imagination.
Every time it happened.
Thunk—
“Got it.”
Thud—
“Ugh!”
Snap—
“Ohhh…!”
“Wh-what are you doing?”
“Huh? Why? I’m doing my best to help you, Dun!”
Dun felt something strange at Hyeon-su’s bright words.
‘Why do I feel so damn irritated?’
In any case, I was secretly celebrating inside.
Dun continued to tank while chugging down top-tier potions like water.
When things were somewhat cleared out, the arrows I fired would summon monsters from within a 50-meter radius.
And I was cleverly aiming only for the killing blows.
I was incredibly comfortable.
Pulling arrows from behind, landing only the finishing blows, and reaping the experience points—how convenient could this be?
[You have leveled up.]
And Dun, who had been chugging top-tier potions, found some consolation.
‘Still, the Yeti’s Gauntlets dropped earlier, and there were plenty of Gold and miscellaneous items scattered around. If I just pick those up and sell them, I can cover the potion costs… huh?’
Suddenly, Dun turned around.
Hyeon-su was quickly picking up all the dropped items from the ground.
“Hey, you bastard!”
“?”
“…?”
“??”
Dun was flustered.
‘A mistake. How could a veteran like me make such a mistake.’
He quickly found a way to escape this situation.
“Hey, you damn monsters!”
Dun could only hold back tears.
His enraged blade slashed through the monsters.
And I received a notification.
[You have entered the Beres Mountain Range for the first time.]
[You are climbing the Beres Mountain Range at an impossible speed.]
[Experience gain increases by 10%.]
I was comfortably gaining experience, easily obtaining Gold and Artifacts, and effortlessly climbing this cursed mountain range, the Beres.
‘Let’s see, I leveled up twice, gained 2 Dexterity, and with the Gold and items sold, that’s about 500,000 won? This is jackpot!’
I couldn’t help but rejoice watching the solid(?) figure of Dun from behind.
Dun, battered and bruised, succeeded in hunting all the surrounding monsters.
‘Huff, huff, I’ve never hunted this many before.’
Dun didn’t know he could fight this well.
It stemmed from his unwavering resolve to take that bastard to the Blessed Snowy Field and kill him no matter what.
Dun spoke half lies and half truths.
The half-lie was about taking him to the Blessed Snowy Field and killing him.
And the half-truth was this.
‘This Sage’s Tower is located close to the Blessed Snowy Field.’
Walking alongside Hyeon-su, Dun pointed toward the Sage’s Tower, which was beginning to appear dimly in the distance.
“Well? We’ve really made it to Sage’s Tower, haven’t we?”
Dun boasted.
“This is likely unprecedented. A User who arrived here for the first time climbing this far in such a short span—it’s remarkable.”
His chest burned with resentment, but to this extent, Dun had swiftly elevated this irritating bastard to this height.
And Dun had soon reached the vicinity of the Blessed Snowy Field.
Dun explained the Blessed Snowy Field to me.
“It’s a truly magnificent place where stats rise by three times.”
Walking ahead of Hyeon-su, Dun received a notification.
[You have entered the Blessed Snowy Field.]
Notifications of experience gain and drop rate increases came through, along with information about penalties.
Dun conveniently omitted mentioning the penalties.
Then he turned back to look at Hyeon-su and smiled wickedly.
“Once you overcome this Blessed Snowy Field, you’ll be able to reach Sage’s Tower.”
And he waited.
For that bastard to enter the Blessed Snowy Field.
“Yes, thanks to you, Dun, I’ve come comfortably. Because of your….”
Finally, Hyeon-su entered the Blessed Snowy Field.
At that, Dun’s expression turned cold.
“Thanks? You’re dead meat anyway.”
Dun could see his waiting allies appear.
Dun’s allies were formidable warriors.
It had to be that way.
Those who typically sought Sage’s Tower were high-level Users.
Since they had to face such Users, these men were equally formidable.
“Is this the one? The bastard who made you eat dirt?”
[Wind Mage Won Lv.341]
“Hah, a Blacksmith with only a Bow on his back thinking he could solo climb the Beres Mountain Range.”
[Assassin Buns Lv.349]
“Wow… those Artifacts are really something, huh?”
[Swordsman Bon Lv.351]
And.
“Do you know how long I’ve waited for the moment to kill you? I’ll make sure you die as painfully as possible. I’ll leave you so traumatized you won’t even be able to log back into the game.”
[Gatekeeper Dun Lv.361]
They were all rankers within the top three hundred.
Wind Mage Won ranked 131st.
Assassin Buns ranked 115th.
Swordsman Bon ranked 107th.
And Gatekeeper Dun, called a high-ranker as a User within the top hundred, ranked 99th.
They soon saw Hyeon-su’s bewildered expression.
“Why would you do something like this…?”
“It’s simple. Artifacts are rare. Even rankers can’t easily obtain Rare, Epic, or Unique items, and high-level Users have accumulated wealth from hunting and equipped themselves with the finest gear. When you kill them, those precious items drop—at a whopping 3x drop rate. And with 100% certainty, they always drop the Artifact they’re currently wearing.”
Dun, the gatekeeper, smiled faintly.
“By killing them one by one like that, we sold what they dropped and finally became strong enough to arm ourselves with such magnificent Artifacts.”
“So you were stealing the fruits of their years of hard work?”
At those words, Dun and his companions laughed.
And Assassin Buns felt no need for further conversation with him.
‘I’ll pierce his throat in one strike…!’
Then he wore a puzzled expression.
‘My body… won’t move…?’
Buns could only move his eyes.
The others couldn’t move either.
Hyeon-su then drew the Sword he’d hidden in his Inventory and equipped it.
[You have equipped the Supreme Blade.]
Their eyes widened at the sight of the Sword.
At first glance, it was an extraordinary Legendary Sword.
Aura was drawn into the Sword.
[Rampaging Blade]
The essence of the Supreme Blade—its basic attack power determined by probability.
“You know what?”
His expression, which had seemed naive and inexperienced, transformed completely.
[Due to a 2% probability, the Sword’s basic attack power increases by 641%.]
[It lasts for 15 seconds.]
A Lord of a Territory.
One of fewer than ten Barons.
And the expressionless charisma of one who had reached the pinnacle in his field left them bewildered.
“You also get a 3x drop rate.”

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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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