Genius Blacksmith’s Game - Chapter 160

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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
Artea’s Wish (1)
(Crown Forged by a God)
Grade: Legendary
Defense: 101
Restriction: Descendant of the Blacksmith God
Special Abilities:
·All Stats increase by 3%.
·All acquired Masteries increase by 2 levels.
·Status Ailment Resistance increases by 50%.
·Artifact Crafting time decreases by 20%.
·Fire Resistance increases by 40%.
·Probability of obtaining superior Artifacts increases by 15%.
·Stackable Artifact.
Description: A crown personally forged by the God of Blacksmiths for his descendant who achieved remarkable feats.
Hyeon-su marveled the moment he examined it.
This crown possessed both the advantages of a Blacksmith and the benefits of unleashing formidable power.
First, in terms of martial prowess, all acquired Masteries increased by 2 levels.
Sword Mastery, Bow Mastery, Shield Mastery, and so forth.
I possessed at least seven or more Masteries.
This stemmed from the effects embedded in the Blacksmith God title.
Even considering Sword Mastery alone, a 2-level increase elevated cutting power and basic Sword attack by 6%.
Moreover, the 50% Status Ailment Resistance would prove invaluable in battles against boss-tier monsters.
‘What about the 20% reduction in Artifact Crafting time?’
I was a Handcrafting Blacksmith.
Therefore, a reduction in Crafting time felt unfamiliar.
‘Does it only apply to Auto-Crafting?’
Auto-Crafting could simply reduce time by 20%.
I immediately opened the detailed description.
[All time required for Crafting decreases by 20%.]
[Example: When 10 minutes of Smelting time is required, it reduces to 8 minutes.]
[Example: When 100 strikes of forging are required, it reduces to 80 strikes.]
“…!?”
I felt this principle applied to me as well.
Considering that each Crafting session required 4 to 5 days, this meant saving an entire day!
I could now understand why Fire Resistance was embedded in the crown.
‘I’m constantly battling the flames inside the Blacksmith Shop.’
The interior of the Blacksmith Shop exceeded 50 degrees Celsius.
Have you ever been to a jjimjilbang?
Typically, wet saunas that emit intense heat exceed 40 degrees Celsius.
As fire resistance increased, I could better withstand the heat and grow less fatigued.
‘During Blacksmithing work that stretched across days, this translated directly into crafting superior Artifacts.’
Hyeon-su marveled at the realization.
Then he slowly donned the white crown.
The reason this white crown seemed absurd to Hyeon-su was precisely this.
‘A stackable Artifact…!’
Hyeon-su had heard of such things before.
A special Artifact so rare that fewer than ten existed in the entire world.
A stackable Artifact was, quite literally, capable of being layered.
Ordinarily, Hyeon-su wore Fenrir’s Helm.
This helm possessed a defense rating of 249.
Yet it could be overlaid with the Crown Forged by God.
In other words, the 249 defense from Fenrir’s Helm combined with the Crown Forged by God’s 101 defense, yielding a total defense of 350.
Similarly, the special abilities of both Fenrir’s Helm and the Crown Forged by God applied simultaneously.
Hyeon-su placed the Crown Forged by God upon his head.
Whoosh—
The magnificent crown vanished from sight.
[You have equipped the Crown Forged by God.]
Hyeon-su was utterly delighted with this reward that God Asca had bestowed upon him.
It was then that Sage Artea approached.
“Would you be willing to hear out a request of mine?”
Through him, Hyeon-su could discern something.
There remained more to be gained from this place.
*
*
*
Sage Artea.
He harbored a cherished aspiration.
From the outset, he had never entrusted this wish to anyone.
Least of all had he dared speak of it to the Legends.
It was simply too embarrassing.
‘Even divine recognition at 227%….’
Yet that 227% recognition had kindled a spark of hope within Artea’s heart.
“A request? I would first like to hear what it entails.”
“There are things I have sought for three hundred years—items imbued with the power to heal any wound or affliction.”
“For instance?”
“The Essence of Elves, obtainable from the Elven Mother’s Land. Divine Holy Water descended from the realm of God Ares. Or perhaps the blood of the Giant King, slumbering somewhere in this world.”
Artea laid out the reward.
“Should you bring these to me, I shall grant you one opportunity to pose a question—though I suspect it will take considerable time.”
To Artea, this assessment felt entirely reasonable.
But then Hyeon-su spoke up.
“I think I can do it quickly.”
Sage Artea couldn’t help but be taken aback.
“Your confidence is admirable, but this isn’t such a simple matter. Even I, who knows all the information in this world, couldn’t find it.”
“…For me, it’s actually simple.”
Sage Artea was left speechless.
Was this man always so arrogant and presumptuous?
“If you bring it within a week, I’ll grant you two opportunities to ask me questions. Since this task is far from easy, I hope you’ll approach it with the proper mindset.”
“You’ll really give me two chances to ask questions?”
Sage Artea thumped his chest.
“As the saying goes, a promise from a sage is worth more than gold. I swear it by the name of Sage Artea.”
In that instant.
Whoosh—
Hyeon-su pulled something from his pocket.
Then he raised his thumb and flashed a bright smile.
Sage Artea was startled.
‘Why is the Giant King’s blood coming from there…?’
*
*
*
The moment Hyeon-su heard Sage Artea’s words, he was shocked.
‘What? The Giant King’s blood?’
And Sage Artea had said it.
That he would grant opportunities to ask questions.
Hyeon-su was clever.
Sage Artea was, after all, a sage.
But no matter how much of a sage he was, he couldn’t do everything.
In reality, Sage Artea knew all information, but he wasn’t a strong fighter.
I had guided the situation.
Gently, softly.
And then he spoke.
[Sage Artea swears by his own name.]
And I quietly triggered it.
[Chain Quest: Sage Artea’s Wish…]
[Chain Quest: Sage Artea’s Wish Complete.]
[You can ask Sage Artea two questions.]
The quest completed in just one second.
And Hyeon-su spoke to Sage Artea, who was about to take the Giant King’s blood.
“Questions first.”
Sage Artea acquiesced without hesitation.
“Please tell me how to become a Legend.”
This was what I most desperately wanted to know right now.
The rank of Legend—a position no User had ever reached.
Moreover, I harbored a secret desire to become a King.
A User becoming a King.
Countless people in Ares speak of it.
They say it’s impossible, even after ten years.
But if I became a Legend, everything would change.
It could truly become reality.
Sage Artega, who had been studying me for a moment, finally spoke.
“Create a new grade of Artifact.”
“…!”
I was genuinely astonished by those words.
‘A new grade?’
In other words, a completely unfamiliar grade that only I could create.
My heart raced with anticipation.
‘An Artifact that exists nowhere else in Ares.’
I asked him.
“How can I create it?”
Sage Artega’s expression suggested it was an obvious question.
“You must far surpass Legend itself. I believe it will be far more difficult than anything you’ve ever crafted before.”
Sage Artega found him somewhat irritating.
‘Pretending not to have what you possess!?’
So even while speaking the truth, he emphasized his words with a sharper tone.
‘If you can create something that doesn’t exist in this land, something entirely new….’
Even Sage Artega found such a grade beyond imagination.
‘Even I cannot fathom how to craft it at this moment.’
Perhaps it would have to rely solely on fortune and skill?
At that moment, my expression turned serious.
“I have a second question.”
Sage Artega leaned in attentively.
“Please tell me about the Ore most suited to me.”
“…!?”
This might seem like a simple question, but it wasn’t.
The most fitting thing for oneself. The most appropriate thing. What one truly needs.
If one grasped that and crafted with it, it would create a synergy far stronger than usual.
‘A clever one.’
And I knew better than anyone that this was the only path toward Legend.
“You may feel some discomfort for a moment. It’s necessary to find the Ore most suited to you, so accept it peacefully.”
One of Sage Artega’s unique traits activated.
[Sage’s Eyes]
[Pierces through all information about your opponent.]
Artea observed everything I had created.
‘This is…?’
Fascinating works indeed.
‘So he crafts Artifacts based on legends? But what’s even more astounding is that God Ares himself acknowledged this and granted power befitting its quality. Just how flawlessly must he have crafted them….’
Though Artea felt envious, in this moment he recalled a particular ore.
“…There exists an ore perfectly suited for this.”
By his understanding, that ore would unleash the greatest power for Hyeon-su, and the synergy resulting from it would transcend imagination.
“What ore is that?”
I was curious.
Only the ore most befitting me.
And it was an ore that Sage Artea himself would reveal.
“Legend Stone.”
Artea spoke of that ore.
“When a story dwells within an ore, it becomes a special mineral that produces stronger and more exceptional power.”
I marveled at this.
I could understand why Artea had mentioned Legend Stone.
“Legend Stone is of Legendary grade, and I judge it most suited for you, who has birthed countless masterworks based on the legends and tales passed down through ages.”
“How can I obtain it?”
“That far I cannot say.”
A regrettable matter.
Yet I understood.
Simply knowing this truth meant I had drawn one step closer to legend.
[All questions have concluded.]
I wore a puzzled expression.
‘Why did Artea search for the Giant King’s blood for three hundred years?’
Did he bear some indelible wound?
I shook my head at Artea, who extended his hand.
“Since it can be used once, I shall pour it upon your wound instead.”
“….”
Soon Artea quietly seated himself before me.
‘Why is he lowering himself?’
Then the bare scalp of Artea, who had been bald for three hundred years, was revealed.
“….”
“….”
Both Hyeon-su and Artea wept.
*
*
*
I could see Artea running his fingers through his newly grown hair, letting it flow.
The effects of the Giant King’s blood were truly remarkable.
“Hmm.”
Toward the embarrassed Artea, I simply gave him a thumbs up.
Then.
[You have achieved Artea’s deepest wish through an extraordinary feat.]
I furrowed my brow in confusion.
That Quest had already been completed.
So why was this notification sounding now?
‘Most of these notifications typically….’
A new story.
Triggered by something of a higher difficulty.
I was becoming a veteran of Ares.
Artea spoke.
“One who has slain the Giant King—I believe there is much to expect from you.”
I could face Artea as he approached me.
“Do you know why I am a legend?”
It was an absurd question.
‘Of course, because I know all the information in the world….’
But then I felt confused again.
Something was missing.
For me to become a legend, I would need to create a new tier.
Sword King Barad.
Spear Heaven Ven.
Those like Ruwon are the supreme masters who dominate this Ares.
Honestly, the very notion that one becomes a legend simply by knowing information doesn’t make sense.
“It is because of the trait I possess.”
[Artea had long been searching for one person who could fulfill his true desire.]
[Your high recognition and proof of slaying the Giant King have satisfied those conditions.]
The notification that reached my ears signaled that something extraordinary was about to begin.
“Allow me to tell you of the trait I possess.”
I focused intently on Artea.
What could this trait be—the one that made me a legend in his eyes?
“I can create Skills.”
“…!?”
I was astounded.
‘C-create Skills?’
That held far more boundless power than I had imagined.
“I can create a Skill exclusively for you—one that will allow you to wield the greatest power.”
A Skill that could make a Territory even more exceptional.
A skill that could make me stronger than I am now.
Or a skill that could help me discover talented individuals.
Or perhaps a skill related to Blacksmithing.
The power inherent in my trait is boundless.
“Would you like to hear about my true desire?”
A notification sounded at that moment.
[Another story begins.]

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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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