Genius Blacksmith’s Game - Chapter 173

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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
Enhancement (1)
World Ares, the daily publication exclusive to Ares, wielded considerable influence.
World Ares delivered stories from across the globe with each edition.
Because of this, a significant portion of Ares Users worldwide made it a point to follow World Ares.
And in Washington, where World Ares headquarters stood.
A woman in the conference room spoke.
“Hyeon has made the list of the hundred most influential this year—the second Blacksmith to do so after Smith.”
Deputy Director Hannah was remarkably young.
Having climbed through multiple elite career tracks, she spotted Hyeon’s name among this year’s selected hundred Users displayed on the screen.
She reviewed the information about Hyeon listed in the report as well.
The employee who had advocated for his selection spoke.
“That’s correct. To be honest, we initially felt that triggering a single legendary-tier World Message and climbing the time attack rankings to first place was somewhat insufficient for selection.”
The reason was that Hyeon’s face remained unknown to the public.
The probability of selecting individuals whose faces are unknown is significantly lower in the hundred most influential.
Had his face been known, the difficulty would have been considerably easier.
“We determined that the World Message generated by demon hunting was sufficient to warrant inclusion among this year’s hundred most influential.”
“An excellent choice.”
Hannah nodded in approval.
“Korea now has one of the hundred most influential Users for the first time. This Blacksmith Hyeon will have gained considerable subscribers.”
Snap.
She closed the report.
“Of course, whether he can maintain this position next year remains to be seen.”
With her fingers interlaced, she moved to the main topic.
“Two months remain this year, and there is one thing we must focus on.”
There was something that captured people’s attention most at World Ares.
The hundred most influential Users in the world?
That was merely the foundation for this one thing.
“Who will become the single most influential User in the world this year.”
World Ares selects the hundred most influential Users in the world in October.
And in December.
They select the single most influential User in the world.
Hannah observed the screen displaying the names of the hundred Users.
At the apex of the pyramid-structured names stood the title of the world’s most renowned ranker.
“Bahala—for three consecutive years he’s been selected as number one. Of course, I acknowledge it; he’s a User who deserves it.”
Hannah felt disappointed.
“That’s why it’s tedious. If he’s selected again this year, people will cease to anticipate who the most influential one will be.”
It was an inevitable progression.
“World Ares needs a new number one.”
The problem lay in the fact that they could not create that number one themselves.
Everyone in the Conference Room nodded in agreement.
When the same name kept appearing over and over, people would lose interest, thinking, “Ah, it’s just him again anyway.”
“If a new number one emerges at this moment, the impact will exceed what Bahala had as the sole top ranker for three years—especially if he possesses star quality.”
“That’s inevitable. A newcomer has dethroned Bahala, who maintained the top position for three years. That title alone would be enormous.”
Hannah nodded in agreement.
“Exactly. Especially if it’s someone with low expectations, the explosive impact would be even greater. For instance, someone like Hyeon from just moments ago.”
Hannah lifted the report she had just reviewed and spoke.
“In truth, even if Hyeon were to craft another legend beyond legends, he couldn’t be selected as number one—it’s already happened once. But if he were to showcase something we can’t even imagine, then an opportunity might arise.”
Who would be the one to display something unimaginable?
“Someone no one expected becomes number one. How thrilling would that be?”
People would click into World Ares.
And that number one would wield tremendous power.
But this was merely a wish.
After the meeting concluded, Hannah rose from her seat.
She entered the deputy director’s office and sat down.
“Only two months remain now…”
She chuckled softly to herself.
She had just spoken.
About how thrilling it would be if someone no one expected became number one.
She had used Hyeon as an example.
There was no deeper meaning.
She had simply brought him up because they were discussing his story.
So even now, she imagined it with Hyeon in mind.
‘What if he were selected as number one?’
Before entering the meeting, she had heard that Hyeon’s Forge had nearly reached the top subscriber count among Korean blacksmith channels.
“…If he became number one, would Korean subscribers be an issue?”
Of course, it was merely meaningless speculation.
It would be an extraordinarily difficult feat.
Moreover, there weren’t many ways to make Hyeon achieve such a thing.
Suddenly, Deputy Director Hannah gazed at one corner of her office wall.
On the screen in her office was a pyramid-shaped ranking of the top 100 Users.
At the very bottom of that pyramid was the name Hyeon.
*
*
*
After a deep sleep, Hyeon-su woke and poured himself some cereal.
News was playing on the television.
[The entire world is watching with only two months remaining until the selection of the most influential User globally.]
[Current analysis overwhelmingly suggests that Bahala, called the top ranker for three consecutive years, will claim the number one position again this year as we enter the fourth year.]
‘I’ve been selected into the World Ares top 100, and my Forge’s domestic subscriber count is practically first place.’
Quite the achievement.
Even now, his name could be found scattered across various corners of Korea.
Hyeon-su had certainly risen far.
Yet as he watched the news coverage, a thought crossed his mind.
‘How wonderful it must be to become the one chosen by World Ares.’
He was different from ordinary people.
Rather than succumbing to jealousy, envy, or resentment, he contemplated how he himself might one day stand in that position.
‘Hunting demons—a remarkable achievement indeed. But it’s not entirely my own.’
In truth, Hyeon-su had contributed only about thirty percent to the hunt against Graut.
Without Barad and Ben, it would have been impossible.
The moment he finished his cereal, Hyeon-su rose to his feet.
He needed to grow stronger.
[Logging into Ares.]
The instant he materialized in Alhyeon Hall, Hyeon-su made straight for the Blacksmith Shop.
The easiest method for him to improve.
It was Blacksmithing, after all.
He withdrew the Legendary Stone from his pocket and examined it.
The path for Hyeon-su to become a legend.
‘Create a grade that doesn’t exist in this world.’
And he contemplated further.
The first grade.
“Would that bring me even slightly closer to that position?”
A wry smile crossed his face.
Of course, he couldn’t yet know what kind of impact such a creation might have.
And that was only if he succeeded in completing it.
Hyeon-su returned the Legendary Stone to his pocket.
He hadn’t yet decided what to craft.
The reason he’d come here this time was to become stronger.
He withdrew a different Ore.
This Ore was none other than what the demon Graut had dropped.
However, it wasn’t used for Artifact Crafting.
This was an Enhancement Stone.
Artifact Enhancement.
Countless RPG games that were popular decades ago possessed an Enhancement system.
It referred to strengthening Artifacts using Enhancement Stones or Enhancement Scrolls.
The Enhancement Stone Hyeon-su had obtained this time was called Blackstone.
(Blackstone)
Grade: Legendary
Requirement: Blacksmithing Level 300 or higher
Difficulty: None.
Special Ability
·Enhancement success rate is 200% or higher compared to ordinary Enhancement Stones.
·No matter which Artifact you attempt to enhance, the Artifact will not dissipate.
·Enhancement up to +3 is possible.
·Artifacts of any grade can be enhanced.
·When enhanced, it surpasses ordinary enhancement.
Description: This is the Blackstone, an Enhancement Stone from the Demon Realm that the demon Graut possessed. It is a special Enhancement Stone that cannot be found anywhere on the terrestrial plane.
Hyeon-su obtained eight Blackstones.
‘This is truly an incredible Enhancement Stone.’
First, 99% of Enhancement Stones in Ares will destroy the Artifact if enhancement fails.
Second, ordinary Enhancement Stones can only achieve +1 enhancement per stone.
Even the Blessed Enhancement Stone sold on the market for 2 million won can only reach +2 with a single stone.
But Blackstone can reach +3 with just one.
Moreover, enhancement failure rates skyrocket the higher the Artifact’s grade.
According to the official Ares website, if an unenhanced Common Grade Artifact has a 50% success rate, Unique grade only has a 2% success rate.
‘And most importantly, the Artifact won’t disappear—something Users fear most.’
Enhancement is the easiest way to transform an Artifact into something better.
But many Users don’t attempt it.
They fear losing a precious Artifact if the attempt fails.
However, this Blackstone only consumes the material—the Artifact never dissipates.
And it succeeds at enhancement with 200% higher probability than ordinary stones.
There is one drawback.
‘Enhancement isn’t determined by skill.’
It operates purely on luck.
You place the Enhancement Stone on the Artifact, strike it with a Hammer, and enhancement is attempted.
But here, Hyeon-su had a new idea.
‘After all, it’s just Ore.’
The Blackstone Hyeon-su observed was an Ore containing a tremendous amount of impurities.
As a test, he placed one Blackstone into the Furnace.
Then he extracted the molten material and Refined the impurities from the hardened substance.
And then.
[You have removed the impurities from the Blackstone.]
[The Blackstone’s effectiveness has become far superior.]
Eureka!
Hyeon-su marveled.
(Blackstone)
Grade: Legendary
Restriction: Blacksmith Level 300 or higher
Difficulty: None
Special Ability
·The success rate of Enhancement is 250% or higher compared to ordinary Enhancement Stones.
·No matter which Artifact you attempt to enhance, the Artifact will not dissipate.
·Enhancement up to +4 is possible.
·You can enhance Artifacts of any grade.
·When enhanced, it surpasses ordinary Enhancement in quality.
Description: This is the Blackstone, an Enhancement Stone from the Demon Realm that the demon Graut possessed. It is a special Enhancement Stone that cannot be found anywhere on the terrestrial plane, and a certain Blacksmith has removed its impurities through Smelting and Refining.
An ordinary User could never accomplish such a feat.
Their skills lacked the power to Smelt or Refine Enhancement Stones.
‘The success rate has increased by a full 50%, and now I can reach +4 Enhancement with just one attempt.’
I finished Smelting and Refining the remaining Blackstones as well.
Next, I placed the Supreme Blade on the Anvil.
I tensed.
‘How far can I enhance it? +2? No, even +1 would satisfy me.’
This was Enhancement of the Supreme Blade itself.
The value of enhancing an exceptional and rare Artifact becomes astronomical.
For example, in a game called Lanije from long ago, when a magnificent Artifact of Supreme Blade grade was enhanced, it acquired an astronomical value.
“Alright, let’s do this.”
I applied my full skill and crafted it to the best of my ability.
Now only luck remained.
After all, Enhancement has always depended entirely on the user’s fortune.
But this is supported by a certain power.
[You currently possess the title: God of Blacksmithing.]
[Enhancement success rate increases by 50%.]
I brought down the Enhancement Stone with anticipation.
[Enhancement has failed.]
“It’s just one attempt.”
I still had seven remaining.
I immediately attempted the second Enhancement.
Clang—!
[Enhancement has failed.]
“…?”
Third attempt.
Clang—!
[Enhancement has failed.]
Fourth attempt.
[Enhancement has failed.]
[Enhancement has failed.]
[Enhancement has failed.]
“Ugh….”
I staggered. Seven of the eight precious Blackstones had vanished in an instant.
Enhancement Stones that easily cost at least ten million Won per piece!
But there was one consolation I could take from this.
‘It wasn’t a failure of my skill.’
Wasn’t that what they called a luck-dependent game?
Hyeon-su’s fortune had simply been poor.
And thinking about it more carefully, Common Grade Artifacts have a 50% success rate, while Unique ones have 2%.
Legendary has a 1% chance, and Legendary above Legendary might show success rates in decimal places.
Even if I couldn’t obtain an Enhanced Supreme Blade, there was nothing to be done about it.
To my knowledge, a Legendary Grade Artifact has never been successfully Enhanced before.
Hyeon-su set his mind at ease and brought the black stone down.
‘…Someday I’ll obtain something similar again. When that time comes, I’ll keep trying, keep attempting.’
I lowered my expectations slightly and eased my mind.
Then.
Clang—
A brilliant light burst forth from the Supreme Blade, filling the entire Blacksmith Shop.
‘I’ve never seen light burst out like this before…?’
Hyeon-su had watched Enhancement videos several times.
Light would seep out slightly from an Artifact, but never to the extent of covering the entire Blacksmith Shop like this.
Moreover, successful Enhancement notifications came in several varieties.
Ordinary Enhancement.
‘It shines brightly.’
Decent Enhancement.
‘It shines very brightly.’
Excellent Enhancement.
‘It shines radiantly.’
But this was not one of those.
[The Supreme Blade shines with the most brilliant radiance.]
Hyeon-su swallowed hard and examined the Supreme Blade.

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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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