He Became the Genius Blacksmith of the Namgung Family - Chapter 17

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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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Chapter 17

Episode 17

The status window I checked after a long time.

Unlike before, many things had changed.

My martial arts had increased.

My internal energy had also risen tremendously.

Additionally, a Divine Arts section had appeared with the Thunder Emperor Divine Art registered.

I had learned countless abilities like cooking and so on.

“….”

I tried to ignore it, but that Divine Arts section really caught my eye.

“A-anyway, up to here is within the realm of understanding.”

But ‘Mission’ wasn’t.

This was supposed to appear when entering dungeons.

Why is it in the status window?

After staring at it for a while, an explanation appeared clearly before my eyes.

“….”

This is ridiculous.

“…Phew.”

Only after about one hour had passed did the thousands of words inside me come out as a sigh.

“I don’t know why a kind neighbor uncle who has nothing to do with me gave me such a trial. Even the constellations back then couldn’t understand awakening or the system itself, so what would a mere human like me know? Let’s understand. Understand. But still.”

“Isn’t this a bit too much!?”

Death upon failure!

Severing limbs and meridians as taking responsibility!

What kind of unreasonable nonsense is this!

“What kind of penalty is this for failing an early mission!”

This isn’t even a trashy game!

No, even trashy games wouldn’t do this!

A person’s life is at stake!

Squeak squeak!

Thump thump!

Namgung Cheon-gang screamed like a duck that had eaten rat poison.

He jumped around like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

But nothing changed because of it.

Like a tragic heroine from a romance novel, he plopped down and glared at the mission window with hollow eyes.

Like a woman who would appear with a dot and plot terrible revenge.

Could death really be decided by just a few letters….

“The system doesn’t lie.”

The truthful system.

Thanks to it, I had instantly become someone with a two-month terminal life.

Heh, heheheh.

Damn it.

“At least it’s fortunate that it’s not a disease.”

You know, don’t you.

Those absolute incurable diseases that commonly appear in martial arts novels.

Like Nine Yin Severed Meridians or Nine Yang Severed Meridians.

Thinking about it this way, being able to extend life by passing a test is actually better.

“If it had been an incurable disease, I really would have been in trouble.”

Perhaps because it was so absurd.

I found inner peace rather quickly.

Since there was nothing I could do about it anyway, I think I accepted reality quickly.

“Ugh.”

Let’s do it. Do it.

They’re telling me to do it, so I have to.

What choice do I have.

Well, it’s not just penalties. There are rewards too.

I wasn’t really interested in being a direct descendant.

Sigh.

It’s annoying having to practice noblesse oblige.

Phew.

I don’t want to be the youngest.

Pfffffff.

“…Let’s think positively about this too. And considering the martial arts I’ll create if I keep crafting, having the position of direct descendant is better, right?”

Just a few days ago, I said I didn’t need it because the direct descendants’ eyes were scary.

But now that this situation has come up, if I think about it carefully, I just need to be careful in the beginning.

I can’t hide behind soul-infused lies forever anyway.

Sigh. Life.

“In the end, it’s become troublesome.”

That’s right.

* * *

Because I can’t give you happiness~

Did they say to smile when things get tough?

Namgung Cheon-gang sang a song to shake off the misfortune that had befallen him and headed to the director’s office at Cheongeumjeong.

Restaurant tour~ goodbye~

Just for a while~ goodbye~

It was to fill out an application form to participate in the test.

“Are you in?”

Knock knock knock.

“Namgung Gungsang Chongwan-nim. This is Namgung Cheon-gang. I had something to tell you.”

“Come in.”

A voice coming from behind the door.

Huh?

That’s not the director’s voice?

But it’s not an unfamiliar voice either.

I carefully opened the door.

I could see the table and chairs in the neat director’s office.

An old man was sitting in that chair.

Someone full of stubbornness but emanating an atmosphere like an absolute master of the era, similar to Namgung Cheon.

Namgung Cheon-gang’s eyes widened as soon as he saw the old man.

“Huh? What brings Mak Noya here?”

* * *

Cheongeumjeong belongs to the Namgung Family.

So while the owner could be said to be Namgung Cheon, the head of the Namgung Family, the actual ‘owner’ is someone else.

The one who conducts final reviews of all items produced at Cheongeumjeong and educates all smiths belonging to Cheongeumjeong.

Furthermore, one of the few people called a Grand Master in the Martial Arts World.

That was Mak Noya.

This was acknowledged even by Namgung Cheon.

‘Mak Noya’s authority at Cheongeumjeong is equal to mine, Namgung Cheon. Therefore, those who disobey his commands are the same as disobeying my commands, so serve Mak Noya with sincerity as you would serve me.’

Namgung Cheon had commanded thus.

Moreover, Mak Noya was someone who could never be ignored not just at Cheongeumjeong, but anywhere he went.

Because the weapons of Namgung Cheon who leads the current Namgung Family, the swords of previous family heads, and even the weapons of renowned absolute masters of previous generations in the Martial Arts World had all come from Mak Noya’s hands.

If he’s someone who made weapons for the absolute masters of the previous generation, then wouldn’t that mean there are only a handful of people in the martial arts world who can match Mak Noya’s distribution of martial knowledge?

A living history of the martial arts world.

A living legend of the martial arts world!

Being such an existence, how could the martial arts world treat him carelessly!

And that very person is now sitting right here in the Head Office of Cheongeumjeong!

“Tsk tsk. Boy. I’m the old man who manages the affairs of Cheongeumjeong, so it’s not strange for me to come here, is it?”

“But Mak Noya, you’re usually not at Cheongeumjeong most of the time, are you?”

Mak Noya isn’t just absent from Cheongeumjeong.

He’s rarely in Anhui Province or at Huangshan either.

Appearing and disappearing like a ghost, never leaving his door.

Like a legendary Pokémon!

Yet he appears like a ghost right on delivery deadlines to check everything thoroughly, truly a ghostly person indeed.

“What? Ghost? You little bastard, calling this body that still has plenty of days to live a ghooooost!!? Damn it, just, gah!!”

Wow.

He really is like a ghost.

How does he know my thoughts and scold me for them?

This ghostly person has a fiery temper too.

Fearing sparks would fly, Namgung Cheon-gang prostrated himself flat.

“Oh my! I’m in my turbulent youth! Please forgive what comes out of my mouth before I can even think, elder!”

Grovel grovel grovel!

Mak Noya has such depth in his face that it’s hard to gauge his age.

But his triceps rival those of any decent strong man.

And it’s not just his triceps?

Look at those muscle lines clearly visible through the clothes he’s wearing.

He’s extraordinary.

Such clear muscle definition through fluttering hemp clothes.

Our elder Mak Noya.

He must regularly consume things like wild ginseng.

“Tch. Turbulent youth my foot. It disappeared halfway through.”

“Ah!”

Damn, I got caught!

Thinking it was all over, Namgung Cheon-gang curled up his entire body, protected his head with both hands, and shielded his body with internal energy.

The martial arts obtained through enlightenment have techniques that come to mind clearly and can be imitated.

It’s like using them as if they were part of your own body.

Divine arts are the same way.

Though only 1-star, that alone is already X-grade level.

Therefore, internal energy operation is also far superior to before.

However, making his entire body solid wasn’t difficult.

He was prepared.

Even if he gets hit now, it should only hurt moderately!

“…?”

But there was no falling fist massage.

Even as time continued to pass, nothing happened.

Namgung Cheon-gang slightly raised his head while still protecting it.

Mak Noya’s half-closed, cooled gaze entered his field of vision.

“…What are you doing.”

“…Well, self-defense for survival, you could say?”

“So you know you did something deserving of a beating?”

“Hehehe.”

“….”

“…Hehe….”

“….”

“….”

It’s quiet.

It’s cold.

It feels like a fist that could break rocks will fly over and crack his skull.

“…Sigh. Forget it. At my age, getting into a scuffle with a young punk doesn’t make sense either.”

Mak Noya lets out a deep sigh and relaxes his hands.

“Heh, hehe. Thank you for sparing me, Mak Noya.”

Namgung Cheon-gang made a foolish smile and got up hurriedly.

Seeing this, Mak Noya, who had plopped back down in his original seat, chuckled.

“Oh my. Anyone who heard would think it’s a big deal. And don’t smile. You’re not cute at all.”

“Hehehe.”

“There, boy, you smile so ugly. So then. What business brought you all the way here?”

“Ah, it’s nothing special. I want to participate in the Direct Lineage Promotion Exam too.”

“Ah. Then you should come. Of course, of course.”

Understanding the reason, Mak Noya nodded his head.

“Gungsang Fellow is temporarily out on an errand for me, so I’ll give you the application form. Wait a moment.”

“Yes, elder.”

Mak Noya got up from his seat and approached the head’s desk.

Like the neat room, the desk was also tidy.

So finding the Direct Lineage Promotion Exam application form neatly placed in the center of the desk wasn’t difficult.

Picking up one sheet and also taking the brush placed beside it, Mak Noya returned to his seat and placed the application form and brush on the table with a tap.

“Here. Fill it out.”

“Thank you!”

Swish, swish, swish.

“But didn’t I hear from Gungsang that you originally weren’t going to participate?”

Mak Noya, who had been staring at Namgung Cheon-gang filling out the application, spoke casually.

Namgung Cheon-gang nodded his head.

“Yes. That’s right. Originally that was the case, but circumstances arose.”

“Circumstances?”

“Yes. Well, circumstances where I’d die if I don’t participate, you could say?”

It was summarized, but it was a definite fact.

However, to Mak Noya who doesn’t know the reality Namgung Cheon-gang faces, it sounds like nonsense.

“What kind of talk is that?”

“Uh… I didn’t want to take the exam unless I had life-or-death resolve, but this time I gained that life-or-death resolve so I’m doing it, should I say?”

“You sure talk nonsense with great enthusiasm.”

“….”

“Well, still, I can tell you’re not doing it thoughtlessly. Good. Do your best. If it’s you, well. It should be possible.”

“Oh my, you flatter me.”

“Flattery nothing. Just looking at how you made the new Baekryeonjeonggang, you’re already at passing level.”

“Come on. There are many smiths more excellent than me, elder. If those people just had time, they could have made it sufficiently, right?”

“Really?”

“No.”

Namgung Cheon-gang answered firmly.

‘How could the Divine Baekryeonjeonggang come out without even awakening?’

Though the craftsmen of Cheongeumjeong are excellent, making the Divine Baekryeonjeonggang is a separate matter.

However, the person before him is different.

“But if it were Mak Noya, my master, or other craftsmen, it would definitely be possible.”

A living legend.

One of those called a divine craftsman among blacksmiths in the current Martial Arts World.

That was the Mak Noya that Namgung Cheon-gang knew.

Whatever it was, he was more than capable of creating new refining stones.

“Tsk. If only you could speak properly.”

Mak Noya made an expression as if finding it bland.

Of course, he couldn’t hide that he was secretly pleased inside.

The pleasant emotion was evident in his flowing voice.

“Did you write the application properly?”

He asked if the application had been completed.

“Yes! Here it is!”

Namgung Cheon-gang quickly handed over the completed application to Mak Noya.

“Good. I’ll deliver it well. If you have no more business, go and tend to your work. It’s useless when a Cheongeumjeong blacksmith leaves his post.”

“Understood. Then, I’ll see you again next time, Mak Noya. Stay healthy!”

“Good.”

Namgung Cheon-gang cupped his fists in a deep bow, then walked backward.

Just as he stood at the door and turned to leave.

“Come to think of it, you’ll be entering practice now that you’re taking the exam.”

Mak Noya’s voice was heard.

As if there were words left unsaid, just like that.

Namgung Cheon-gang turned around again and answered.

“Yes. I must practice. When preparing for an exam, only practice and effort can produce results.”

“That’s true. But what do you think will be on the exam?”

“Hmm. Weapon types, perhaps? Most of the Master Blacksmiths of Cheongeumjeong practice by making weapon types.”

“I can’t say you’re wrong. After all, the exam question that comes up every time is weapon crafting, so there’s nothing to hide.”

“Then I should practice with weapon crafting.”

“Right. You know well. Go. Go and practice diligently.”

“Thank you! I’ll give it my all!”

“Now, let me ask one more thing before you go.”

“Please ask me anything, elder.”

“Now that you’re entering exam practice, it’ll be hard to take general commissions coming to Cheongeumjeong, right?”

“Huh? Why?”

“Eh? There’s only about two months left until the exam, isn’t there? Then, even if you invest all your time in practicing and honing your skills, it won’t be enough. In the midst of that, wouldn’t it be hard to handle Cheongeumjeong’s commissions?”

“Cheongeumjeong has more general item crafting commissions than you’d think, right? That means there are many people who want Cheongeumjeong’s items.”

“That’s true, isn’t it?”

“But I can’t not do them. What if I don’t do them and the commissions dry up later? As I said earlier, if I don’t want to die, I have to do them. If I don’t want to starve to death.”

“Is there no other reason?”

“Isn’t a blacksmith someone who makes items that people want? If that’s the essence and life, then even with a blade at my throat, even at the moment of death, I must hold the hammer.”

“Even if the commission target is a vicious person?”

“Just as a doctor treats any sick person as a patient, and a cook treats any hungry person as a customer, it’s the same for blacksmiths.”

“…I see. Yes… Then, you’ll continue taking commissions?”

“Yes. I have to. I can study while doing that.”

“Won’t it be hard?”

“Where in the world is there work that isn’t hard?”

Namgung Cheon-gang spoke as if it was nothing significant.

“I see.”

At that answer, a deep smile bloomed on Mak Noya’s face.

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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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