Genius Blacksmith’s Game - Chapter 248

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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
Babylon (4)
[The system responds.]
[A remarkable Achievement.]
The notification arrived the moment I placed two Legendary Swords into the Furnace.
‘You think so too, don’t you? So do I.’
This notification came because I was progressing through the Quest “Sword God and Blacksmith God.”
As mentioned, that Quest carries no penalty upon failure.
That’s precisely why it was issued—because it was deemed an impossible realm.
But things have changed now.
‘If I forge an exceptional Legendary Sword in a situation where the Quest was judged impossible, what reward would I receive?’
The ??? reward.
For now, I had taken one step closer to that ??? reward.
And now I intended to demonstrate it.
Not a beautiful piece of trash, but a Legendary Sword that emanates the power of transcendence itself.
Bahala had logged back in at some point.
“The funds are sufficient.”
He spoke with a worried expression.
“Is it alright to work without rest?”
Not that working without rest would prevent me from crafting better Artifacts. He was genuinely concerned for me.
“No problem. I’m accustomed to this kind of intense work, and it’s quite urgent, isn’t it?”
I laughed wryly.
“You’ve got ‘I don’t have much time left’ written all over your face. How could I not notice?”
Bahala chuckled despite himself.
“It’ll take about four to five days. Go anywhere you like.”
“No, I’ll stay in this area.”
“It’ll be boring, won’t it?”
“That’s fine.”
Bahala leaned his back against one side of the Blacksmith Shop.
He felt he was different from usual.
Just moments ago, he had chuckled while looking at me.
‘…Have I ever laughed while conversing with a User?’
Never.
When he thought about why, it was because he had always received similar gazes whenever he encountered any User.
‘How are you so strong? Could your character name be…?’
‘Are you Bahala? The world’s number one ranked Bahala! Wow….’
‘Bahala. It wasn’t easy finding you.’
‘I’ve searched for you for so long. Let’s fight once.’
Standing at the highest place was like that.
There was a wall between them and Bahala.
But through my conversations with Hyeon-su, I came to understand something.
‘There are no walls.’
The admiring gazes directed at me, the careful words and actions meant to appear well—
The expression of adjusting one’s clothes while waiting for scraps of approval.
A relationship of equals.
I feel how that dissolves the barriers between us.
And yet.
Whoooosh—
Before the Furnace, flames erupting even more violently.
Bahala, advancing along the path of world ranking first through his genius game sense, was witnessing it.
The skill of a genius Blacksmith that distorted his own genius game sense.
“I’ll delete unnecessary elements and maximize evil-slaying power while raising attack effectiveness against evil. I’ll also need skills to handle other evils in case of unforeseen situations. In exchange, I plan to craft it with reduced stat growth and Sword Mastery growth.”
His voice carries no hesitation, his movements no uncertainty.
Not pausing for a moment, not stopping to think even briefly.
That is the essential strength that flows from his experience.
“And through the newly acquired 100 grams of Divine Ore, I’ll dramatically increase durability so it won’t break.”
That was it.
If Bahala subdued much through game sense.
Then Hyeon-su dominated this entire Blacksmith Shop.
Time flows forward.
Bahala becomes so captivated he barely feels time passing.
Every single motion, every single hammer strike—he commits it to memory and never forgets.
‘This is a Master Craftsman.’
Respect, awe, envy, longing, inferiority.
Emotions I have never felt once in my life stir within me.
Longing for how one can dominate a Blacksmith Shop like that.
Inferiority toward possessing what I do not have.
Respect felt watching one who concentrates yet finds joy in it.
Awe toward one who stands so impossibly high within this Blacksmith Shop.
Thump—!
For the first time in four years, Bahala feels turbulent emotion.
The turbulence in my chest gradually transforms.
Clang—!
Clang—!
Clang—!
He does not rest.
Even as he hears the rooster’s crow at dawn, he keeps the Furnace’s flames burning.
In the cold air of early morning, in the scorching midday when the sun heats the interior.
Even in that hour when night brightens and everyone clocks out.
Through this cycle of repetition, he gives his utmost with complete sincerity.
‘Is it for me?’
No, it’s the joy of touching a new ore.
The obsession and desire to create something better.
It’s because of the belief that I’m advancing through this.
But the end of that process is ultimately….
‘There exists something for me.’
Yes, in the end, that Sword is a Sword for myself.
To pour such passion into a Sword for someone else.
Hyeon-su’s work, which had absorbed him completely, was drawing to a close.
The Chinese characters ‘滅惡’ (Destroy Evil) engraved on the dark Sword Blade left a striking impression.
Finally, when I completed it.
Hyeon-su looked down at the completed Babylon. His expression was extraordinarily complex.
He spoke in a deflated voice.
“…I’m sorry, Bahala.”
Bahala realized that the creation of what he desired had failed.
As one who walks the Path of the Sword God, he could sense the aura of the Sword.
That Sword was quite decent, but it was merely an ordinary Sword.
Yet Bahala saw sincerity in him. He had done his best. And his skill was remarkable.
‘It’s not a lack of skill. Today, he simply lacked fortune.’
Ultimately, more than half of Artifact creation depends on luck.
It was something impossible from the start anyway.
Simply opening that possibility through replication deserves a standing ovation.
Bahala was not the type to give a standing ovation.
He merely thought about what comfort he should offer to the Master Craftsman who had created with sincerity.
He wasn’t accustomed to offering consolation to others.
But that thought changed in an instant.
Hyeon-su met Bahala’s gaze and spoke.
“Four billion won isn’t enough. Give me six billion.”
“???”
Bahala didn’t understand those words.
*
*
*
A single Babylon determined much.
‘The Sword God who said it was impossible, and the ??? reward of the God of the Blacksmith Quest.’
‘What can be obtained when successfully creating something with Mythic-grade Ore.’
‘The possibility that my stagnant skill might advance further.’
‘The vast sum of four billion won.’
And most importantly beyond that.
The connection with the Sword God.
All these intricate, multifaceted elements converge upon a single Sword.
That was the reason.
During the crafting of Babylon, I threw myself into the work with manic intensity.
And I reveled in it.
‘Ah, so this is what divine Ore feels like.’
‘I’m losing my mind—it’s exhilarating! Merely 200 grams of Ore can unleash such power?’
‘Perhaps it’s possible. When I obtain a complete divine Ore, I could forge a perfect Sword from it.’
In that immersion, I felt greed stirring within me.
That greed stemmed from a man named Bahala.
It was competitive spirit.
The strongest one who had not relinquished the top position for three years.
I could tell from the aura and level alone that emanated from him.
In my current state, I cannot defeat him.
Yet I wanted to show him what my true strength was. It had been so long since I felt this way.
And as I forged the Sword, messages arrived.
[The aura of Evil Destruction grows ever more immense.]
[With such an uncontrollable aura, someone may covet its owner.]
Babylon is said to be a Sword cast into hellfire by demons themselves.
Even at merely 40% Evil Destruction, it would have become dangerous.
But the current Babylon is different.
[The aura of Evil Destruction grows ever more immense.]
[The aura of Evil Destruction rages and seethes.]
[Evil Destruction shall endure even hellfire itself.]
[Babylon’s power may be felt by them.]
Yet my divine Restoration granted the desired effect.
I suppressed that maddening aura erupting from the Sword in my own manner.
And the moment I completed it by inscribing the pattern.
I was rendered speechless.
[Defined as the most superior Restoration.]
It surpassed every Restoration I had ever performed.
[Overwhelmingly transcends the original creator.]
[A Restoration that even the divine would marvel at.]
[You obtain the title: Restorer Whom Even Gods Admire.]
[A second transcendence is inscribed.]
As I examined the Sword, my mind grew turbulent.
‘This is on the level of the Twin Dragon Sword….’
No—against Evil, the Twin Dragon Sword could not compare.
I wondered if I should truly return this. But I corrected my thinking at once.
‘I cannot break my promise in such a manner.’
A promise made through commission must be honored.
Hyeon-su also knew this: he was more necessary to Bahala now than he was to himself, and when he handed this over, it would return far more valuable than the price of selling the Sword.
That was the honor and pride of the Strong Ones.
So he spoke.
“Four billion won won’t cut it. Give me six billion.”
Yes, this Sword’s worth at least six billion.
Bahala, freed from his mental paralysis, beheld the Sword.
Its form had grown even more magnificent than before, and the Sword Blade gleamed with razor sharpness.
It seemed sturdy enough to parry any Sword.
But Bahala, who walked the Path of the Sword God, sensed the Sword’s aura as mentioned.
‘I feel only the most ordinary aura imaginable, but what on earth…’
Bahala, unable to comprehend it at all, accepted the Sword.
In that instant.
[A Legendary Sword of such caliber that even archdemons fear it.]
His breath nearly stopped.
The notification spoke of archdemons—a class of Bell.
Incomparable to lesser demons or common demons.
Archdemons fear this?
Then why hadn’t he sensed it?
The mystery unraveled.
[A tremendous power to annihilate evil flows through it.]
[It will destroy any evil.]
[Transcendent beings of unknown origin related to evil pursue the Sword’s owner.]
Bahala’s mind went white at the revelation that transcendent beings hunted him.
But.
[The creator suppresses the Sword’s aura so none can detect its power.]
[Only the owner perceives its true strength.]
Kuuuuuugh—
A tremendous tremor emanated from the Sword.
He grew urgent.
He examined the six-billion-won Babylon.
(Babylon)
Grade: Transcendent
Durability: Infinite
Attack Power: 754
Restriction: Swordsman Level 450 or above.
Special Abilities:
·Cutting Power increased by 165%.
·Critical Hit probability increased by 130%.
·Attack Power against evil increased by 250%.
·Passive Skill Demon Hunter.
·Passive Skill: Judge of Evil.
·Active Skill: Before One Sword.
·Active Skill: Annihilate Evil.
·The aura of Annihilate Evil does not dissipate.
Description: A Restorer whom even the gods admired has recreated Babylon anew. Whoever wields this Sword fears no evil.
Every visible effect surpassed the previous version by several tiers.
‘The Sword’s durability, which seemed ready to shatter after only a few swings, has become infinite… Attack power against evil has increased by roughly 100%, sharpness has risen dramatically, and attack power itself has increased by 100.’
He recalled it.
His own figure, bringing a consumable Babylon and saying that an excellent Blacksmith wouldn’t raise its grade after Restoration.
Thinking back, it was truly a foolish appearance.
‘But he actually realized that…?’
And what deserved the most attention.
It was Annihilate Evil itself.
(Annihilate Evil)
Active Skill
Required Mana: 5,500
Penalty Upon Use: HP and MP 20%
Cooldown: Once per month.
Effect:
·Instantly deletes up to 80% of the maximum HP of all beings judged as evil.
·Deals additional damage of 2,300% to all evil within a 30m radius of the direct target.
‘I asked for Annihilate Evil that removes 70% of HP, but it removes 80%…?’
That wasn’t all.
‘It deals absurd damage to all evil surrounding the demon?’
At 2,300% of Bahala’s base attack power, it could wipe them out in one strike.
Bahala affirmed it.
“Will I ever be able to obtain another Sword like this?”
But soon, Bahala felt a chill run down his spine.
“Yeah, if you come to me.”
Hyeon-su had spoken far too casually.
And Bahala, he made his resolve and moved forward.
*
*
*
Hyeon-su’s lips itched to speak.
I wondered how to broach the subject.
That word was ‘Will you shake hands with me?’
Hyeon-su was sensing it.
Bahala.
If he applied his blessing to me, I would receive numerous blessing effects and tremendous blessing applications.
That was when Bahala stepped forward.
He had never done such a thing before.
He was certain he never would again.
He extended his hand for a handshake.
“I will not forget the effort you have given me.”
Hyeon-su gazed at that outstretched hand.
That he would offer his hand first, before I could—
It was the beginning of a bond he was extending.
The tale of the Blacksmith God and the Path of the Sword God was being written.
And the moment I grasped Bahala’s hand firmly.
[You are one who leads an era.]
[An unprecedented blessing of immense magnitude is felt.]
A tremendous force surged forth.

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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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