Genius Blacksmith’s Game - Chapter 189

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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
Continental War (1)
Jin-seop, Hyeon-su’s attending physician, never forgot the day he first met him.
When they first consulted in his office, Hyeon-su was drowning in despair.
He was so lost that the memory remains vivid even now.
‘But he overcame it.’
Thinking of him brings a smile to Jin-seop’s face.
Perhaps it was the strong will of a young man so much younger than himself.
Somewhere along the way, both Hyeon-su as a patient and Kang Hyeon-tae had become precious to Jin-seop.
That’s why Jin-seop participated in the vegetative state conference held this year.
Attending the vegetative state conference, Jin-seop was somewhat surprised.
Michael, the most prestigious doctor in the field of vegetative states, began with a shocking revelation.
“Many of you here are likely administering the therapeutic agent 54-K to your patients.”
This is the injection that patient Kang Hyeon-tae currently receives periodically.
This injection, which requires an enormous cost per dose, is known to awaken vegetative patients with only a slim probability.
“Recently, anomalous phenomena caused by this 54-K therapeutic agent have been occurring. The reported cases account for approximately 1 to 3 percent—news that cannot be anything but rare for the families of those who have fallen into vegetative states and for us physicians.”
It was rare to see the face of the famously cold-blooded doctor Michael flushed with such emotion.
With all the physicians’ attention fixed upon him, he held up the syringe and spoke.
“What has been reported is that among those who received this therapeutic agent, some are temporarily awakening.”
“…!?”
The physicians stirred with commotion.
Jin-seop was among them.
Jin-seop hurried to ask a question.
“What do you mean by temporarily awakening?”
“Exactly as I said. They awaken briefly. Remarkably, those who awakened experienced no memory loss, and their physical movements were healthy enough to conduct daily activities. Some remained awake for as little as six hours, others for as long as two days. After that, they returned to their vegetative state.”
It was an astonishing account.
“Were there no side effects from this?”
Michael smiled faintly.
“In cases where patients temporarily awakened, the number who fully awakened months later increased. Though it remains an extremely small minority.”
Unable to conceal his excitement, Jin-seop soon found himself in agreement with Michael’s words as he held up the syringe.
“I have chosen to call this the Miracle of a Day.”
This conference had been held in Korea.
Returning after the conference ended, Jin-seop fell into contemplation as a physician.
‘Should I tell him?’
He soon shook his head.
It was certainly hopeful and good news.
However, the Miracle of a Day occurred in far too few patients.
He judged that such a small glimmer of hope could become poison to the families instead.
Returning to the hospital shortly after, Jin-seop went directly up to the VVIP Hospital Room.
The most expensive ward in this hospital, and the one where sunlight streamed in beautifully.
Hyeon-tae basked in that sunlight.
“I can’t fathom who your son takes after—he’s truly remarkable.”
Jin-seop offered a bitter smile.
During his rounds, he would often speak to Hyeon-tae, sharing various stories.
Even among those in vegetative states, there were rare individuals who could actually hear.
Though exceedingly few, he spoke this way hoping to share tales of the proud Hyeon-su.
“It’s been nearly five years now.”
Jin-seop gazed at Hyeon-tae, whose eyes remained peacefully closed.
With a gentle smile, he left the hospital room.
*
*
*
Early morning.
I woke and poured myself a bowl of cereal.
While eating, I watched the Ares exclusive channel.
A Korean Ares expert and MC were discussing the upcoming Continental War.
-How is China preparing for this massive event?
-China appears to be making thorough preparations for this unprecedented event. The most striking aspect is Artifacts.
-Artifacts?
-Yes, with China’s large population comes an abundance of exceptional Blacksmiths. Wang Gang, ranked third among world Blacksmiths, is participating in the Continental War, and I’ve heard that his Blacksmith Shop is crafting Artifacts for participants before the event begins.
-What preparations are our country’s Users making?
-Our country’s Blacksmith Shops are also moving actively, but with our smaller population compared to China, it will be difficult to match their efforts….
I turned off the TV.
A natural response.
And I’d heard that the nation’s finest Blacksmith Shops, including Black Anvil, were endlessly stoking their Furnaces.
But there was a world of difference between ten people stoking and two hundred.
That’s why I felt the necessity of an aggressive Twin Dragon Sword even more acutely.
Three Legendary Artifacts were needed to rival something beyond legend.
But what if it were Transcendent grade?
A single true Transcendent grade would be worth more than ten Legendaries.
I harbored no sense of mission for my country or anything like that.
Simply, the more pessimistic the situation, the brighter an aggressive Twin Dragon Sword would shine.
After finishing my cereal, I logged into Ares.
A sword that could rival a hundred Unique-grade blades.
I sketched the design for an aggressive Twin Dragon Sword.
Because it was aggressive, I made the blade sharper and designed it to be lighter than the buff-type version.
‘This should be excellent.’
Time remaining wasn’t abundant. I needed to craft the Twin Dragon Sword twice with quality ore, then create the true version using Mythril.
I began the long, arduous crafting process.
And finally, the first aggressive Twin Dragon Sword was completed.
[Epic grade.]
[Effect application rate: 64%.]
To be honest, it wasn’t a bad sword.
For a large blade, the balance was excellently applied, allowing me to wield it with ease.
Moreover, with its destructive power, it was a sword capable of cleaving even stone.
However, it was merely at the Epic grade level.
‘Four days have passed.’
The fortunate part was that thanks to the 20% crafting time reduction from the Crown Forged by Gods effect, two more opportunities remained ahead.
I turned crisis into opportunity instead.
I approached the second Twin Dragon Sword with greater meticulousness and passion, immersing myself completely in the crafting.
[Epic grade.]
[Effect application rate: 70%.]
“Ugh….”
My face contorted.
My thoughts grew heavier.
Only five days remained until the Continental War.
And I found the reason.
When Users craft Artifacts, if they’ve already made one before, reaching that grade becomes difficult.
A Blacksmith who has crafted a Legendary item serves as an example.
If a Blacksmith who has already crafted one Legendary item were to craft again a week later using the same crafting method and materials, and a Legendary item were born once more—what would happen?
‘They could mass-produce Legendary items like a factory.’
Therefore, when crafting something similar, there are two necessary elements to achieve a high grade again.
Either much time has passed since making it before, and even if what you want to make is nearly identical, something special is imbued within it.
Or there is another method.
‘Craft it far more excellently than that.’
Ares’s system rewards User growth.
Previously, something crafted similarly was Rare, but days later, if he crafted it in a far superior and magnificent manner.
And if he possessed greater understanding and made it superior to the Rare version, even crafting something similar would yield a higher grade.
‘In other words, for me to now craft an offensive Twin Dragon Sword at Transcendent grade, I must be able to craft a Twin Dragon Sword that surpasses the buff-type version.’
A moment of fear flickered through me.
Of the two Twin Dragon Swords in total, I had only learned the crafting method of one.
Suddenly, my Father’s words seemed to echo.
‘Hyeon-su, at first you’ll make them by following along like this, but someday when your skills mature, you’ll be able to create something truly excellent that’s uniquely yours.’
Those words were engraved upon my heart.
I may have been under the pressure of having to craft a Twin Dragon Sword I didn’t even know about.
And now I had become someone capable of creating something truly excellent of my own.
I add the final ore. At last, I begin crafting my own Twin Dragon Sword.
[It will be the most perfect crafting method.]
As I forge the large blade, all my experience and knowledge as a genius Blacksmith up to this moment are imbued within it.
Within the time remaining until the Continental War.
Clang—
Clang—
I burned hotter and hotter.
I felt joy.
Not merely copying, but creating my own Twin Dragon Sword—that made my heart race.
[Effect application rate is high.]
Then I proceeded to engrave patterns onto the Twin Dragon Sword I had forged myself.
I held my breath in anticipation.
This was a creation I had poured my full effort into.
And within that anticipation, I heard it.
[The ninth legend is being written.]
My strength drained away.
Yet even now, I thought this Twin Dragon Sword was extraordinary.
‘…It was Transcendent grade.’
The buff-type Twin Dragon Sword was such an absurd blade.
To craft two such weapons in less than a month might have been greed.
But I had gained one thing: confidence.
‘The confidence that even what I create purely from my own innovation will one day reach Transcendent.’
Of course, regret lingered.
But this sword’s ore wasn’t even Mythril—merely quite high-quality mineral.
Had it been superior ore, a legend beyond legends would have been born.
I logged out immediately.
There was someone I wanted to share this bittersweet feeling with.
I visited the Hospital.
Entering the Hospital Room, I told Father everything that had happened.
“Still, it was Legendary grade. Even though Ares’s system doesn’t award high grades when you craft something similar in such a short time. Somewhere along the way, I went from merely copying to actually being able to create my own true Artifact.”
I knew this.
“What exactly is the Twin Dragon Sword that Father knows about? Could it surpass the buff-type Twin Dragon Sword I created?”
It probably did.
Father had told me.
‘The first Twin Dragon Sword is not a blade to be wielded. It was a sword symbolizing the nation and Admiral Yi Sun-sin.’
That’s why it was crafted as a sword for everyone.
And the second Twin Dragon Sword was one actually meant to be wielded.
I smiled bitterly.
“…I’m curious about the crafting method for the second Twin Dragon Sword that Father possesses.”
I told Father many things.
“I should get going now. There’s no true Twin Dragon Sword, but I’ve thought of a way to create an upset. I’m thinking of refining those calamity Artifacts I obtained. There’s only one day left, but with those, it’ll be a huge help.”
I rose from stroking Father’s hand.
“I’ll visit again. Oh, and be sure to watch the broadcast.”
The VVIP Hospital Room had a wall-mounted television.
Hyeon-su left the hospital room with a faint smile.
Time passed within the room.
Night gave way to morning.
A nurse entered and turned on the television.
-The Continental War will begin shortly.
-The entire world is heating up with anticipation.
After wiping down Hyeon-tae with a damp cloth, the nurse grasped the remote before leaving.
Then she shook her head.
It was Ji-hye. She simply lowered the volume slightly before departing.
-We’re eager to see what ingenuity our Korean users will demonstrate against these formidable Chinese competitors!
-Members of Hyeon’s Forge Guild, who stirred up quite a buzz recently, are visible here.
-They haven’t been receiving much attention.
-That’s likely because this gathering includes the highest-ranked players.
-At last, the fierce war between the two nations begins!
The commentators’ voices echoed through the hospital room alongside the mechanical beeping.
Beep- Beep- Beep- Beep-
It was the vital signs monitor tracking the heartbeat.
Then.
A twitch.
The fingers of one who had slept for so long stirred.

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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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