Genius Blacksmith’s Game - Chapter 76
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Genius Blacksmith’s Game
The Genius Blacksmith’s Game
The Genius Blacksmith’s Game
Evaluation (1)
Evaluation (1)
Evaluation (1)
Hyeon-su woke up early in the morning and called the construction company.
[You can expect it to be around 400 million won.]
400 million won.
That was the cost to rebuild the Blacksmith Shop from scratch.
Hyeon-su wanted a Blacksmith Shop that looked the same as before.
‘So Father won’t feel unfamiliar when he returns.’
Of course, that didn’t mean it would be a complete copy.
When he thought about it, that Blacksmith Shop had been in that spot for nearly 30 years, so there was a need to rebuild it.
In other words, while the exterior would be the same, the interior would be like new.
“I’ll see you later.”
Hyeon-su was scheduled to meet with a construction company employee in front of the Cafe in 2 hours to sign the contract.
The reason he was signing in advance despite not having the money was because he now had confidence in his own value.
On one hand, he thought.
‘Balas Territory…’
Developing Balas Territory was estimated to become a very important task for Hyeon-su.
It was an incredible Quest where he could get his hands on 20 million won just by raising it 10%.
Of course, it didn’t seem like it would be easy for a single User to develop an entire territory.
[You have logged in.]
Upon logging in, he was inside the Blacksmith Shop that had been cleanly organized last evening.
Hyeon-su had also roughly looked into Balas Territory last evening.
‘It was called the territory of Blacksmiths, but nearly half of the Blacksmiths had already left.’
He was curious about the reason. Just then, an NPC named Fer from the neighboring Blacksmith Shop visited.
“There’s no name on the sign.”
The elderly Blacksmith Fer let out a laugh. He looked at Hyeon-su with eyes like he was looking at a cute grandson.
“Where did your other companions go?”
“They visited because it was the first day I opened the Blacksmith Shop.”
In reality, except for Nel, the miner Banya and Bark had visited yesterday and all returned.
“You seem like an Outsider who just arrived at this territory yesterday, but I think you’ve chosen the wrong territory.”
Fer showed a bitter smile of unknown meaning. Interest flickered in Hyeon-su’s eyes.
The old man Fer was estimated to be a Blacksmith who had been in This Place for a long time.
That’s why he thought he might be able to get information from him.
“Did something happen?”
“Yes, something very big indeed.”
Hyeon-su made a puzzled expression.
Fer, with a serious expression, stroked his long beard and spoke in a voice mixed with sighs.
“About a year ago, the Edrol Trading Company came in and everything changed like this.”
“The Edrol Trading Company?”
“Yes, the Edrol Trading Company is quite a large trading company in this area.”
Hyeon-su caught on.
‘Did that trading company take control of the territory?’
“Their head of house made a bet with the Lord as soon as he arrived. For some reason I don’t understand, the Lord approved that bet and lost, so the Edrol Trading Company took over managing the Blacksmiths. The Edrol Trading Company, having taken over managing the Blacksmiths, raised the Blacksmiths’ taxes to 70% and doubled their working hours. That’s the reason.”
Fer looked at the remaining Blacksmith Shops around.
The Blacksmith Shops that had become completely empty.
“The Blacksmiths started running away, and the few remaining Blacksmiths are essentially doing forced labor. Those who couldn’t escape in time made another bet and lost, completely falling into slavery.”
Hyeon-su made a puzzled expression. Fer kept talking about bets.
‘A bet…’
There was one strange thing.
The idea that someone called a Lord would make a bet using the territory’s Blacksmiths sounded like nonsense.
“That’s why I’m saying you’ve chosen the wrong place. Fortunately though, you appear to be a beginner to intermediate Blacksmith, so at your level, fortunately the trading company won’t particularly covet you.”
It was quite a bitter story for Hyeon-su.
“Could it be because I’m not worth it?”
“That’s right, isn’t it? Hehe!”
The elderly Blacksmith Fer laughed heartily while trying to roast Hyeon-su with facts.
Of course, Hyeon-su didn’t actually get roasted with facts.
Fer placed his hand on Hyeon-su’s shoulder.
“But you’re young. You’re a Blacksmith with many paths for growth ahead. Fortunately, isn’t this a rented Blacksmith Shop? So leave when you can. If you become a higher-level Blacksmith, they won’t leave you alone.”
“Thank you for the advice.”
Despite saying such bitter words, Hyeon-su learned one fact.
The old man Fer was giving this advice because he genuinely worried about him and this Blacksmith Shop.
Then Hyeon-su had one curious point and asked.
“Then are you also doing forced labor, sir?”
“No.”
The old man Fer shook his head.
“I was originally a Blacksmith here too, but I served the Lord closely. And on the day the Lord lost the bet, he sent me outside the Lord’s Castle and told me to someday win that bet and save all the Blacksmiths. I’m quite a skilled Blacksmith, you know?”
He was an interesting old man.
In other words, the old man Fer could be seen as the last bastion the Lord had left behind.
“I went into hiding for a while and came back with improved skills. I think I’ll probably make a bet soon.”
Hyeon-su nodded.
“I’ll cheer you on.”
For now, Hyeon-su was in a position where he needed to observe the situation a bit more.
“Oh, and if you want to learn some Blacksmithing Technique, come visit me. Hehe!”
Looking at Fer saying that, Hyeon-su smiled slightly.
Then he went outside the Blacksmith Shop again and looked around at the Blacksmith Shops.
‘It’s definitely true.’
The condition of the remaining Blacksmiths was terrible.
They said the workload was doubled, so the Blacksmiths looked like they were on the verge of death.
‘With nearly 70% of taxes going to the trading company, the territory is ruined.’
In fact, Hyeon-su thought that just solving this problem would allow him to raise the development level to some extent.
And he also saw emblems drawn in various places that were presumed to belong to the Edrol Trading Company.
‘I should look into the Edrol Trading Company too.’
Then Hyeon-su logged out. It was because the time to meet with the construction company employee was approaching.
Late at night.
Fer was diligently working at his blacksmith shop.
Surprisingly, despite being a top-tier blacksmith, Fer was consumed by the pressure of needing to become a master craftsman.
Since he didn’t know exactly what kind of power the Edrol Trading Company’s blacksmith possessed, he was honing his skills.
‘I will definitely reclaim this territory.’
Fer recalled this place that was once filled with the laughter of blacksmiths.
There were even rumors that this territory, from which many people had fled, might soon disappear entirely.
‘This is this old man’s final regret.’
To restore the laughter to this place.
It was while he was earnestly training in blacksmithing.
Fer heard footsteps coming from inside.
Turning his head, Fer wore a puzzled expression.
It was because the man who had made a bet with the Lord had come together with the trading company’s knights.
“Are you the blacksmith named Fer who came here recently?”
“That’s correct, but what brings you here…?”
“I’m Bux, a blacksmith examiner from the Edrol Trading Company. I heard there’s a skilled blacksmith here, so I came to make a wager.”
At those words, Fer shook his head.
‘It’s not time yet.’
Fer wasn’t confident he could defeat someone called a blacksmith examiner yet.
And he wore a puzzled expression.
‘An examiner?’
Does he examine blacksmiths or something?
And though Fer didn’t know it, Bux was actually a being with unusual powers.
Blacksmith Bux, one of the quite special NPCs, literally possessed the power of an examiner.
Under the pretext of conducting examinations, he could make wagers and force those who lost to fulfill what he had staked.
If they didn’t comply, they would receive divine punishment by the power of the gods.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t want to make any wagers yet. Please come back next time.”
The old man Fer wasn’t stupid.
He wanted to sharpen his blade more inwardly.
However.
“No, the examination cannot be postponed. I will conduct the examination.”
[The examination begins.]
“…?”
Fer was bewildered.
Even though he hadn’t given his approval, the voice he heard was semi-forcibly making him participate in this.
‘So this is why the Lord…?’
He could understand why the Lord had approved that ridiculous wager.
Fer had only heard the Lord urgently tell him to flee.
[If you fail to pass the examination, you must fulfill his demands.]
[You may also state your demands.]
“If you fail to pass the examination, I shall take your head, Fer, the Lord’s blacksmith.”
Fer’s vision became dizzy.
From the beginning, this examiner Bux had come knowing everything about him.
“Those who fail the examination won’t be able to speak about this special power of mine. Ah, but it doesn’t matter, does it? You’ll die anyway.”
[If you fail to pass the examination, you must comply with him.]
Fer’s eyes trembled violently.
It seemed this was how he had silenced the Lord and other blacksmiths.
[State your conditions.]
Fer soon became calm.
“If I win, nullify all the wager contents you made with the Lord and all the blacksmiths.”
[Your life is at stake.]
[This is a possible condition.]
“Very well.”
Soon, as the blacksmith examiner moved his arm, two massive blacksmith shops appeared as holograms.
“This is called the Dream Forge. You can quickly craft weapons using the knowledge, judgment, experience, and thoughts in your head. It has mystical power that helps you finish blacksmithing work that would normally take five days in just one day.”
At those words, Fer nodded.
“I begin the examination.”
And Fer, as he said, moved his hands on the holographic forge using the knowledge in his head.
Then, according to his knowledge, smelting and refining began.
“Whoever makes the higher-grade sword wins.”
Fer quickly crafted as he had trained until now.
He did his absolute best.
Cold sweat poured from his entire body.
And he realized.
‘A good sword will emerge.’
He was a top-tier blacksmith.
Moreover, he was once called the most outstanding blacksmith in this territory, a rare talent.
However, Fer soon stopped when he looked to the side.
Dizzyingly, the artifact that Bux was making was transcending Fer’s.
Blacksmiths have intuition.
Mine is Epic.
His is Unique.
Fer knew.
He would die today.
And he thought.
Now forging, quenching, and various other processes remained.
In this situation, would it be meaningful for him to continue this duel?
Wouldn’t it be better not to engage in such a duel at all?
Then.
“Please pay more attention to refining the sword tip.”
“…?”
A strange voice was heard.
When he turned his head, a young man was standing there.
He was Hyeon-su, the beginner-intermediate blacksmith who had just entered the rental forge yesterday.
At those words, Fer, who had worn a puzzled expression, refined the sword tip with more care, grasping at straws.
Thwang, thwang, thwaang-!
He thought he had nothing to lose.
But then a strange notification came through.
[Your understanding of swords far exceeds your usual skill level.]
[You are receiving teachings from a Master Craftsman Blacksmith.]
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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