Genius Blacksmith’s Game - Chapter 9

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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

 

 

 

 

Epic Artifact Creation (3)

 

 

 

“This is the finest ore among all that I possess.”

Ren looked at Hyeon-su and smiled.

Mithril Ore.

This ore placed on the cloth of the wooden box emanated a subtle silver glow.

“I believe this mineral has finally found its true master.”

Ren smiled.

A blacksmith was like a chef.

Even when everyone cooked with the same ingredients, they would create completely different results.

Ren was convinced that Hyeon-su was currently the person who could handle this Beginner Zone Mithril Ore the best.

“Thank you, Ren.”

Hyeon-su didn’t refuse. He was someone who fully deserved to have this.

Hyeon-su’s heart pounded wildly as he reached for the Mithril Ore.

‘A new mineral…’

A new ore he had never encountered before.

Moreover, while mithril was a mineral that didn’t exist in reality, this mithril was commonly known in RPG games and various novels.

 

(Beginner Zone Mithril Ore)

Grade: Rare

Restriction: Level 30 or above

Difficulty: Medium-High

Special Abilities

·Attack power against undead increases by up to 7%.

·Attack speed increases by up to 11%.

·Strength and Agility increase by up to 7.

Description: Though far inferior to regular mithril, this would be the finest mineral obtainable in the Beginner Zone.

 

Hyeon-su wore a puzzled expression after examining the Mithril Ore.

‘Level restriction of 30 or above?’

Did this mean only those level 30 or above could smelt this mithril?

Hyeon-su caressed the Mithril Ore, placed it on the anvil, then lightly struck it with his hammer with a thunk.

‘It works?’

Despite the restriction, physical impact was definitely being applied.

That meant smelting attempts were actually possible.

Then what was this restriction about?

‘Ares has various level ranges.’

In essence, Hyeon-su was the greatest legendary sword creator that a level 1 could be.

However, this level 1’s rare sword was far inferior to a common sword equipped by a level 30 user.

When levels increased, the standard of everything rose.

Monsters, quests, users too.

Artifacts had to continuously evolve to match that.

Also, this ‘restriction’ might be absolutely necessary.

Most artifacts also had this ‘equipment restriction’ attached.

This was to ensure only users of the appropriate level range could equip them.

‘How game-breaking would it be if a level 1 user wore a sword meant for level 300?’

But mithril was definitely being hammered. This was a completely different issue from equipment.

“Ah…!”

Hyeon-su realized.

Ares was ultimately a game.

He understood the meaning of being usable from level 30 and above.

“Does this mean I need to be level 30 or above for Auto-Crafting smelting to be possible?”

In reality, blacksmiths were overflowing, but 99.9% of blacksmiths crafted with the system’s assistance.

In other words, they proceeded with crafting using a single ‘Auto-Crafting’ button.

Hyeon-su had actually encountered videos of blacksmith users several times.

They would proceed with Auto-Crafting, and whenever red dots or blue dots flashed, they would just disable Auto-Crafting and hammer at those moments.

In other words, this restriction was a ‘condition for receiving the game’s assistance.’

“…”

A smile formed on Hyeon-su’s lips.

This restriction might become a somewhat different story for Hyeon-su.

While others were restricted to level 30 because they didn’t know smelting methods or handling techniques, for Hyeon-su it meant he could work with it manually even now.

‘I think I can do it.’

Of course, there would be trial and error.

Properties, characteristics, degree of bending, level of impurities.

Various variables existed.

However, Hyeon-su had a reason why he needed to succeed at ‘Wooden Doll Breaking,’ and this mithril might help.

After examining the mithril, Hyeon-su soon finished even the impurity removal work on the Iron Sand Ingot.

 

Ding!

 

[You have successfully smelted a new mineral that doesn’t exist on this land.]

[You receive accumulated rewards.]

[You gain 1 to all stats.]

[You gain 219 Dexterity.]

[You gain 100 Fame.]

[Your Iron Sand Ingot becomes 10% superior.]

[You acquire Iron Sand Smelting Method.]

[You acquire the title Mineral Crafter.]

 

The rewards obtained were excellent.

The reward called Iron Sand Smelting Method, upon checking, literally had the crafting process written out.

Then there was the title called Mineral Crafter.

 

(Mineral Crafter)

Unique Title

Grade: A

Special Abilities:

·Dexterity 3%

·Understanding of minerals 100%

 

‘Understanding of minerals?’

Hyeon-su touched the mithril again.

 

[Beginner Zone Mithril]

[Composed of iron, manganese, oxygen, phosphorus, silicon, and sulfur.]

 

“…!?”

Eureka!

Hyeon-su was ecstatic.

Before attempting to smelt this mithril, the part that felt like the biggest obstacle to Hyeon-su.

That part was precisely these constituent materials.

But now, just by touching minerals, he would know their components.

‘I can do it.’

He was going to attempt mithril smelting anyway, but he thought he wouldn’t be able to obtain pure mithril.

Through trial and error, he might not even obtain half of the mithril.

But the moment he learned the constituent materials, the story changed.

He immediately checked the completed Iron Sand Ingot as well.

 

(Iron Sand Ingot)

Grade: Rare

Restriction: No restrictions for the creator.

Difficulty: Medium

Special Abilities

·Attack power increased by up to 17% compared to regular iron.

·Durability increased by up to 35% compared to regular iron.

·Critical Hit probability increased by up to 40% compared to regular iron.

Description: An Iron Sand Ingot whose crafting method only user Hyeon-su possesses.

 

“…As expected.”

It didn’t have “Beginner Zone” attached to it.

Hyeon-su’s breathing trembled.

Ren smiled softly seeing him unable to contain his excitement.

He too already knew what Hyeon-su was trying to do here.

The Wooden Doll Breaking that countless Outsiders had challenged until now.

“I’ll assist you.”

Ren patted his chest confidently.

All materials were prepared.

“Ren.”

“Yes.”

The notification said that Ren was completely loyal to Hyeon-su.

Indeed, now Ren seemed like his faithful subordinate.

He looked at him with an expression that said his joy was his own joy.

“Will you join me in creating a legendary sword that will never exist again in the Beginner Zone?”

Ren answered vigorously.

“Yes!”

 

 

 

Special User Management Team.

Cold sweat kept flowing down Kim Tae-seok’s back.

Employee Lee Ji-hee was the same.

“Of all things, to obtain the title of Mineral Creator…”

Mineral Creator was a reward even they didn’t know about.

In other words, this was a title that the supercomputer and artificial intelligence Ares had created on its own and bestowed upon him.

The problem was that due to that title’s mineral comprehension, Hyeon-su had come to understand the constituent materials within.

“This is completely game-breaking…?”

A level 1 using minerals that level 30 users could make.

“But it’s his own skill.”

A fact that no one could dispute.

However, Kim Tae-seok and Lee Ji-hee knew a certain fact.

“The restrictions due to level limitations aren’t just about not being able to receive system assistance.”

Precisely the difficulty increase due to level.

“Also, he only knows the components of mithril.”

“Right.”

“Mithril takes three times longer than regular iron ore.”

Literally.

More time.

More grueling labor had to be invested.

Of course, this was a restriction that disappeared as the blacksmith’s level increased.

A level 30 blacksmith might need a week to use one mithril.

But a level 100 blacksmith would need only two days to use one mithril.

A level 200 blacksmith would need only one day.

This way, they could accomplish it with corrections from skills and various other things.

In Kim Tae-seok’s view, using mithril at level 1 was nearly impossible.

‘From common sense perspective…’

Kim Tae-seok and Lee Ji-hee watched the monitor with anxious hearts.

 

 

 

Hyeon-su knew better than anyone.

Whether he could break the wooden dummy with this completed sword would be decided, and it would be a turning point in his life.

He begins.

The furnace heats up intensely.

He puts the mithril ore into that intensely heated furnace.

Time passed and red molten metal flowed down the long channel.

He cools down that flowing molten metal.

Then the refining process to remove impurities.

He manually removes the impurities from that bumpy mithril with a knife-sharp tool.

This alone took an extremely long time.

‘What…? Why is this taking so long?’

Hyeon-su realized.

Even if the components were similar to iron, this thing itself might require much more time.

Or…

‘Because of level restrictions?’

That might be it.

Then he put it into the Refining Furnace.

At that moment.

 

[You must lower the carbon content.]

[If Carbon Content Control fails, the mithril cannot be used.]

 

“…!?”

Hyeon-su’s face contorted.

Carbon content control is important.

The strength of iron changes completely depending on the carbon content.

“What the…!”

Ren also sensed something was wrong.

He needed a way to lower the carbon content immediately.

Then.

“Ren, bring me iron ore.”

“What? What do you mean…?”

“Quickly.”

Ren couldn’t understand Hyeon-su’s intention to add unrefined, unprocessed iron ore.

However, when Hyeon-su added the iron ore, the carbon content began to drop.

 

[Carbon content is decreasing.]

[Carbon content is decreasing.]

 

Using iron ore to control the carbon content of iron ore.

This was a secret technique he learned from his father.

Soon, silver mithril with impurities removed was created.

And there lay the iron sand ingot.

Hyeon-su wondered if he should try mixing these two properties.

‘Mithril is definitely similar to regular iron ore, I can do this.’

He went through the process of mixing the two ingots.

Hyeon-su kept stuffing bread and water into his mouth whenever he got hungry.

All while never stopping the hammering of the heated metal on the anvil.

Clang-! Clang-! Claaang-!

Actually, he wasn’t sure how much time had passed.

Ren already looked completely exhausted.

‘Dad.’

Actually, he was also afraid whether he could make it well.

Kendo genius, archery genius, judo genius, soccer genius.

There were many geniuses in the world, and they received rewards after their efforts.

People cheered as they watched Olympic gold medalists.

But the few remaining master craftsmen like father and me in the world.

‘I’m going to file a complaint!’

‘I mean, what’s the point of a blacksmith shop in this day and age!’

‘Blacksmith? Are there still such things left?’

‘Do you know how inconvenient the smoke from the blacksmith shop is!?’

Had not received such rewards.

That’s what blacksmiths in today’s world are like.

‘You are a genius blacksmith, Hyeon-su.’

Father told me.

But what did I gain?

No cheers under the spotlight.

No love from the entire nation greeting me as I got off the plane.

No world cheering while putting flower garlands around my neck.

‘Don’t worry, Hyeon-su.’

However, father told me.

‘Your effort, your will, your days, weeks – they are proven through your work.’

The reason Hyeon-su was afraid.

It wasn’t because he doubted his talent.

From my first creation to my last.

It was because my father, who had made everything together with me, was no longer here.

‘Hyeon-su, now you are the only master craftsman.’

But he gathered courage.

Words spoken by father, who had difficulty holding the hammer after too many hours of hammering.

Now the world’s only master craftsman.

The only genius.

The only legendary sword restorer.

The only mineral craftsman.

The only handcrafting artisan.

The only.

The one and only.

Only you.

‘Can create the finest sword.’

Suddenly, dizziness struck.

Even while staggering, he didn’t back down.

Fighting with this mithril that required much more arduous labor than regular iron.

Fighting with the iron sand ingot, he didn’t back down.

He straightened his mind.

I am the genius the world turned away from.

My work was a blade that no one appreciated.

But in this world.

Claaang-!

Everyone needs it, everyone wants to have it.

Claaaang-!

The greatest weapon craftsman.

Sweat flowing endlessly from his soaked body.

Muscles swelling red and inflamed.

And the sword gradually being completed.

Hissss-

The continuous process of quenching and hammering.

Increasing strength through quenching and shaping through hammering.

Nothing but hard labor, hard labor, damn hard labor.

Claaang-!

Claaaang-!

But something he could say with certainty.

Whether kendo genius, archery genius, or any kind of genius.

‘I too have worked as hard as they have!’

The blade of the sword was sharpened at his fingertips.

Going through the polishing process.

The deep night that had fallen was gradually lifting.

Once, father and I had smiled looking at our work completed after more than a week of labor.

It was just like that day.

Our work obtained after hardship.

Father looked at the sun rising from the darkness and said.

‘Hyeon-su, this work is like Gwangmyeong.’

Light that came from darkness.

‘Gwangmyeong means bright and radiant, but it also has another meaning. It means bright future and hope.’

A beautiful morning arrived after the night’s work.

The light of Gwangmyeong seeped into the blacksmith shop where Hyeon-su stood.

Ding!

 

[A legendary sword that could never be born twice in the Beginner Zone has been created.]

 

It was finally complete. The result of effort that would astonish the world, and the work of a genius blacksmith whom no one had praised.

Hyeon-su recalled the memory of standing in the blacksmith shop with his father, looking at each other and laughing.

Now he could say it.

That even without you, I think I can continue advancing as a Master Craftsman.

 

[Please give the sword a name.]

 

Hearing the notification, Hyeon-su decided on this sword’s name.

“Gwangmyeong.”

This sword’s name is Gwangmyeong .

Hyeon-su’s bright future.

—————
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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