He Became the Genius Blacksmith of the Namgung Family - Chapter 37

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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 37

 

Episode 37

 

“About 3 days left?”

 

“You mean the mining rights auction day. Yes, that’s correct. It starts in 3 days.”

 

The mine in Dongling County where Seongcheol was discovered.

 

Numerous mining groups, martial arts sects, and martial families gathered there.

 

So, how will they mine?

 

Will they all rush to the mine where Seongcheol was discovered and fight with pickaxes to dig the ore veins?

 

‘Take my Namgung Twelve Curved Steel!’

 

‘Kraaak! As expected of Namgung!!’

 

Well, then Namgung would win decisively.

 

No matter how impressive their reputation or how great their titles.

 

How could anyone defeat the Namgung Family with martial arts in Anhui?

 

Do they think the Namgung Family’s martial arts are like water?

 

‘So, there won’t be any curved steel battles.’

 

Even if there were, would Namgung do it?

 

It would damage their dignity.

 

Naturally, they compete for mining rights through auctions.

 

Mines are large-scale energy resources that cannot be owned by individuals or ordinary groups in this martial arts world.

 

Therefore, the government intervenes and gets involved in auctions, making martial arts brawls difficult.

 

‘We must be careful not to be driven into treason and have three generations exterminated.’

 

Even in modern times, when large corporations compete, the state steps in.

 

The martial arts world was similar in this regard.

 

‘Even if I don’t get involved in martial arts affairs, working as a blacksmith doesn’t mean I have no ears to hear, so this much is common sense.’

 

Then, if they compete through auctions, is there any force that can match Namgung’s financial power?

 

There isn’t.

 

Is the world’s greatest martial family only strong in military might?

 

Their wealth is also the greatest under heaven.

 

If they attack with capital, this too would be Namgung’s overwhelming victory.

 

However, this auction is different.

 

It’s about mining.

 

More precisely, whoever mines even a handful of Seongcheol first can secure the mining rights.

 

“I didn’t know such auctions existed.”

 

“They happen occasionally. When large martial families like our Namgung get involved. Of course, this wouldn’t happen for ordinary mines.”

 

“So this type of auction only occurs in places where special minerals like Seongcheol are mined.”

 

“Exactly right.”

 

“Well, that’s why most of the renowned Upper Grade Departments have gathered here.”

 

“Even so, it will eventually end up in Namgung’s hands. Even if it goes to auction, we’ll later buy back the rights to those mining claims by paying extra.”

 

“That money would be considerable, wouldn’t it?”

 

“Yes. At least double, or perhaps even more.”

 

“Considering Seongcheol, it’s not bad, but since we don’t know how much will come out, it would be a loss considering the amount spent in the first auction.”

 

“Yes. That’s correct. Therefore, acquiring it from the beginning of the auction is most ideal.”

 

“Considering Namgung’s dignity and prestige, that point is certainly better.”

 

Small and medium sects or martial families wouldn’t think about dignity or prestige over such matters.

 

But people of the upper world can have their dignity and prestige damaged even by such things.

 

The names of the Five Great Families of the Martial Arts World and being the Greatest Under Heaven are like that.

 

They fight each other over dignity and prestige, and if they lose?

 

They secretly wail in great sorrow at home, claiming injustice.

 

Honey, how much more so would fights with other places be?

 

As if Namgung Cheon-gang’s prediction was correct.

 

Namgung Cheonggi answered with a not-so-bright smile.

 

“Um, Young Master Namgung Cheon-gang.”

 

Namgung Sohye carefully called out to Namgung Cheon-gang.

 

“Yes. Please speak, Third Young Lady. And you don’t need to add ‘nim’ as an honorific.”

 

Oh my.

 

The Master’s family member is speaking formally to me.

 

This is like the chairman’s daughter coming and speaking politely to a mere blacksmith department manager.

 

It’s burdensome.

 

The Master would be angry if he heard this.

 

“No. Namgung Cheon-gang nim is someone who deserves to be treated with respect and more. My father also said that those skilled in a field should rightfully be treated with respect. It’s just speaking politely, so please don’t feel burdened.”

 

“As expected, the Master of the Namgung Family is excellent.”

 

Well, even to Mak Noya, our master, the Master of the Namgung Family always spoke politely even unto death.

 

Indeed, when the upper water is clear, the lower water is also this clear.

 

She’s grown up so well.

 

Her appearance, personality too.

 

Her figure as well.

 

‘Ahem, ahem.’

 

She won’t notice what I’m thinking in my head, right?

 

Just in case.

 

I should quickly change the subject.

 

“So… th-therefore, what did you want to ask me?”

 

“Ah, it’s nothing else. About the curved steel wea—”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Ah, no, honestly, we were curious whether we could win against those people.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

I think I know what she means.

 

Namgung Cheon-gang has completely replaced all the curved steel tools of the Kang Clan Mining Company.

 

Every single one is a masterpiece.

 

And not just ordinary masterpieces, but custom masterpieces.

 

Wondering how good they were, he took them to a nearby mine for a day’s trial.

 

‘As a result, everyone in the Kang Clan Mining Company rose about half a level from their current state.’

 

This wasn’t just from observation.

 

How could you tell without mining ability just by looking?

 

The Kang brothers told him.

 

While shedding tears of excitement.

 

He barely stopped them from trying to praise him.

 

‘In other words, generally there’s nothing to worry about. I properly used equipment buffs.’

 

If a half-level ability increase isn’t equipment buffs, what would it be?

 

But the problem is still level.

 

No, the abilities of veterans are different.

 

Wasn’t I once such a veteran and high-level S-grade blacksmith?

 

I know this all too well.

 

“To be honest… we can win against half, but half will be difficult.”

 

“That half you mention…?”

 

“High-level veterans, no, let me correct that. Mining groups with Upper Grade Department members of higher realms will be difficult.”

 

“To that extent?”

 

“Yes. Let me give you an easy example. Just because a first-rate martial artist holds a famous sword and rises about half a level doesn’t mean they become absolute peak level, right?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“Exactly.”

 

Absolute peak isn’t just anyone from the neighborhood.

 

If everyone who held a famous sword became a peak master just because they were first-rate, everyone would be searching for famous swords instead of enlightenment, wouldn’t they?

 

“That’s exactly the case. No matter how famous a sword a first-rate warrior holds, they remain first-rate, and thus cannot aspire to reach the peak realm. That difference in realm is difficult to overcome even with superior equipment—I mean, even with premium pickaxes, at least for now. Unless one is extremely lucky.”

 

That said, completely replacing all the pickaxes wasn’t a pointless endeavor.

 

A realm elevated by half can turn 10% luck into 30%.

 

There’s a reason warriors search for famous swords.

 

Even if they can’t immediately gain enlightenment about the next realm, they can at least imitate it with a famous sword.

 

‘And in doing so, they might obtain clues about the next realm.’

 

Or they might be consumed by the weapon.

 

Well, if someone gets consumed by a weapon, they weren’t ready to advance to the next realm anyway, so there’s no point blaming the weapon.

 

“I think I understand what you mean.”

 

Namgung Cheonggi, who had been listening beside them, nodded.

 

“The difference in realms… In the end, that gap from experience truly cannot be reduced.”

 

“It can’t be helped.”

 

If it were my previous life’s realm, it might be different.

 

For now, the realm I can elevate with the tools I make is limited.

 

‘If I could learn enchanting, one of the skills I had in my previous life, it might be different.’

 

With things like ‘Mining Skill + LV2’, I could show proper equipment bonuses.

 

‘But would that work in the martial arts world?’

 

I’m the only one with a status window.

 

Item descriptions don’t even appear, so how could I attach abilities to things?

 

I can only make customized improvements to whatever abilities someone already has.

 

“For now, it’s better to be satisfied with this much. If you get too greedy, even the luck you have will run away.”

 

“Indeed, pursuing fortune while abandoning blessings leads to ruin.”

 

“Exactly. Moreover, isn’t the Kang Clan Mining Company training at a nearby mine to improve their skills even a little? Just seeing that shows they’re excellent people, so for their sake too, we should be satisfied with what we have now.”

 

“Third Young Miss and Young Hero Namgung Cheon-gang are right. For us, the Kang Clan Mining Company is both a blessing abandoned and a great fortune, so there’s no need to lose big by being greedy for small gains.”

 

“That’s right. And who knows? The Seongcheol might fall into our hands.”

 

Seongcheol was like a miraculous opportunity to begin with.

 

Miraculous opportunities are bound to fall into the hands of those with the right connections, aren’t they?

 

The saying that it falls to those with mining luck means exactly that.

 

Well, we’ll only know once the auction is held.

 

‘Come to think of it, I’ve been having frequent connections with competitions lately. The Direct Lineage Promotion Exam was like that too.’

 

The Direct Lineage Promotion Exam aside, who would have known that obtaining mining rights would also become a mining competition?

 

‘Huh? Wait a minute?’

 

Now that I think about it, this mining competition.

 

It’s not an individual competition but a group competition, isn’t it?

 

‘That means there’s no rule saying only the Kang brothers and the Kang Clan Mining Company can participate in the competition, right?’

 

I could do it too, couldn’t I?

 

And so could peak-level warriors.

 

‘Can’t find upper-grade miners to recruit?’

 

Then just create them and work together!

 

A thought suddenly flashed through my mind.

 

Still, you never know.

 

There might be restrictions preventing warriors or blacksmiths from participating.

 

So I carefully asked Namgung Cheonggi.

 

“There are no such regulations. As long as they can mine, warriors and blacksmiths are allowed. However, there’s not much for warriors to do, is there? Mining work isn’t easy, and there’s also the matter of dignity.”

 

Right.

 

Warriors don’t do it because they consider their dignity and prestige.

 

Who would mine with a sword?

 

Even if we understand, other warriors wouldn’t.

 

The Heterodox Faction would use this as an excuse to mock us properly.

 

Then the self-esteem of Namgung warriors would also fall.

 

That won’t do, absolutely not.

 

Then, in what cases do warriors enter mines together?

 

As guardians, to prevent interference from other miners and warriors.

 

‘Well, since it’s a group mining competition, there’s bound to be interference.’

 

There’s a reason martial families and sects work together with mining companies.

 

Of course, there probably aren’t any crazy enough to attack the Namgung Family.

 

‘But when has the martial arts world ever been full of sane people?’

 

There will definitely be troublemakers.

 

‘In the end, having Namgung Sohye, Namgung Cheonggi, or even the Namgung Jeonggeomdan do the mining is impossible.’

 

I have to preserve the Namgung Family’s dignity.

 

But what about myself?

 

‘Do I really need to worry about appearances?’

 

I’m a blacksmith.

 

If a blacksmith needs ore, they can hold a pickaxe instead of a hammer!

 

Then, has Namgung Cheon-gang ever mined ore because he needed it himself?

 

No.

 

‘It’s fine, I can learn.’

 

Mining isn’t like cooking instant noodles.

 

It’s not such an easy skill that you can learn it just by trying.

 

Like blacksmithing, mining was a skill that required years of shedding blood and sweat like waterfalls.

 

‘But what about me?’

 

I can do it overnight.

 

What is this trait of mine?

 

It’s an incredibly overpowered trait that lets me steal and learn others’ skills by using, cherishing, and loving the weapons and items I’ve made!

 

‘So I’ve already learned it.’

 

Thanks to the Kang Clan Mining Company.

 

The status window that appeared before.

 

Looking at it again, it’s incredible.

 

I can’t help but smile.

 

Just a little more and my basic mining will become intermediate.

 

‘But I can’t be satisfied with just intermediate.’

 

To beat the expert miners, I need to be at least advanced level.

 

Then, how?

 

‘Make more miners prefer my pickaxes!’

 

How?

 

By replacing the pickaxes of everyone participating in the auction!

 

‘Not customized ones, but I’ll be satisfied with high-quality standard ones.’

 

Even that level would be more than satisfactory.

 

Pickaxes bearing the Cheongeumjeong Master Blacksmith’s mark aren’t from some neighborhood hardware store, after all.

 

‘It’ll cost an enormous amount of money, but so what?’

 

Life is more important than money.

 

Of course, I won’t distribute them for free.

 

They’re not even on our side.

 

I have to sell them.

 

In other words, the money I spend will come back, so there’s nothing to worry about.

 

‘Now that I have a plan?’

 

Execute it!

 

Namgung Cheon-gang stood up abruptly.

 

“Everyone. I’m going to the forge for a moment to make some pickaxes.”

 

“Curved steel?”

 

“Is it for us?”

 

Namgung Sohye and Namgung Cheonggi’s eyes sparkle.

 

It seems they still can’t let go of their lingering attachment to the curved steel I only gave to the Kang Clan Mining Company before.

 

“…??”

 

No, I mean, why do you all want curved steel?

 

This is really absurd.

 

‘…I should make custom swords for them soon.’

 

I’m afraid they might actually try to perform martial arts with curved steel at this rate.

 

I don’t know about Namgung Cheonggi, but Namgung Sohye absolutely cannot.

 

‘The third daughter performing martial arts with curved steel?’

 

The Namgung Master would be thrilled about that.

 

Even Master Choi’s household cherishes their third daughter immensely, so how much more would the Namgung Master?

 

‘How is it that everyone seems to be threatening my lifeline from all directions?’

 

Life in the Martial Arts World really isn’t easy.

—————
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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