He Became the Genius Blacksmith of the Namgung Family - Chapter 65

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 65

Episode 65

“Um… so, Young Master Namgung Cheon-gang wants to make martial attire along with martial weapons?”

“Yes! Cheonggung Clothing Shop is the best when it comes to clothing production.”

“Hoho. Even if it’s just flattery, thank you. Well, the intention is good. Making a complete set from the beginning is the right thing to do anyway. Do you know why?”

“Wouldn’t it look better than wearing pieces made separately?”

“Oh my? That’s exactly right. You must have a lot of interest in clothing normally?”

“Of course!”

Naturally.

I have blacksmith knowledge from my previous life.

How could I not know?

‘Well, even without blacksmith experience, anyone would know which looks better – making clothing pieces separately or making them together.’

Fashion gets treated worse than the Beggar’s Sect if it’s not harmonious.

‘Besides, if I want to take her as my master, saying I’m interested in clothing is better than saying I’m not.’

At least I’ll earn some points.

And would I stop talking here?

No way.

“Moreover, my Master Mak Noya always says this. There’s no law saying a blacksmith can’t hold a needle, and no law saying a seamstress can’t hold a hammer. Even if the professions are different, ultimately, they’re all work meant to benefit people, so they’re connected as one.”

Namgung Cheon-gang’s mouth, once opened to earn points, didn’t rest.

Sure enough.

“Same destination, different paths – benefiting things and helping people. Those are good words. That’s Master Mak Noya for you.”

“Right? Master Mak Noya is truly an intellectual.”

“Hohoho. As I heard, Young Master Namgung Cheon-gang is quite eloquent.”

Namgung Cheonggi laughed cheerfully.

Her cheerful laughter implied praise.

‘Got it! I definitely earned points! Now I’m one step closer to saving my life!’

Of course, she hasn’t said she’ll become my master yet…

Still a 3-hour death sentence.

But it’s better than before.

Anyway, I’ve taken a step closer to completing the mission, right?

“When you suddenly knelt down and shouted ‘Please become my master,’ I was so surprised… I thought you might have developed some mental illness unknowingly while traveling to and from Dongryang County. I wondered if you needed treatment.”

“…”

Mental illness treatment in this era.

What would it be?

Beating with clubs.

Of course, being the Namgung Family, there might be slightly more refined methods…

But it definitely wouldn’t be conventional treatment.

‘That person with such a noble and pure face holding a club and beating me…?’

While smiling, no less.

Just thinking about it was dizzying.

No, Namgung Cheonggi wouldn’t even need to lift a finger.

Just report it to Mak Noya, and it’s over.

He’d beat me with his breath-enhanced exclusive Seongcheol club.

Ugh.

Just thinking about it makes my joints ache and cold sweat break out.

“Ha, haha… That’s because my desire to learn was so intense that I… ha, haha… I-if I surprised you, I’m sorry, Lady Namgung Cheonggi.”

So, to prevent such a thing from happening.

I knelt down with a thud to apologize in advance.

What kind of man has such light knees?

Always kneeling at the drop of a hat.

Moreover, belonging to the Namgung Family.

How can someone bearing the Namgung name be so frivolous – something to be scolded for.

‘But it’s cheaper than my life.’

Also, do I kneel to just anyone?

This is kneeling to someone from the same Namgung Family, a direct descendant no less, someone much higher up than me.

Not regrettable at all!

“Stand up, Young Master Namgung Cheon-gang. What did you do so wrong that you kneel so easily? If you’re a man of Namgung, you shouldn’t kneel to just anyone.”

I’m being scolded.

But it’s not a scolding born of anger.

It’s like a sister worrying about her younger brother.

Plus, she’s helping me up personally, so how could this be seen as anger?

In times like this, the right thing is to nod and say big sister is absolutely right.

“Yes! I will engrave Sister Namgung Cheonggi’s words in my bones and never forget them!”

“Sister?”

“Ah, you somehow felt like a real sister, so I unconsciously… If it was rude, I’m truly sorry.”

My knees trying to bend again.

Namgung Cheonggi catching me again.

“Oh my, didn’t I tell you not to kneel? And calling me sister… I like it? Since we’re both direct descendants anyway, calling me sister isn’t bad. Fine, call me whatever you want. Rather than Young Master Namgung Cheon-gang, it’s much more comfortable for me to call you little brother too.”

“I’m so happy and feel like I could fly having such a pretty and beautiful sister like Sister Namgung Cheonggi! Please take care of me, Sister!”

“Hohoho, you really are eloquent. Hohohoh!”

Namgung Cheonggi’s mood soared to the sky.

“Hehe. Then, Sister, to commemorate becoming siblings, could I take lessons in seamstressing?”

Gaining a sister isn’t the goal.

The goal is still getting a master in seamstressing!

In the improved atmosphere, Namgung Cheon-gang once again stated his original purpose.

Originally, the master-disciple relationship in the martial arts world is lifelong devotion.

It means serving one master for life.

Therefore, serving a master from another sect is a great discourtesy.

One could even lose their life over it.

The martial arts world considers the master-disciple relationship as heavenly mandate.

‘But that’s limited to one field. Just as there can be a sword master, there can also be a different fist technique master, right?’

In other words.

‘If you don’t have multiple sects, you can have multiple masters within the same sect.’

As long as it’s not a single-successor martial family or sect.

‘Of course, Cheongeumjeong is a single-successor sect, but…’

That’s for the blacksmith sect.

Not for seamstressing.

Moreover, having masters other than the blacksmith master has been common before.

Mak Noya didn’t particularly prevent it either.

Therefore, having a master in seamstressing production isn’t illegal.

‘If it were illegal, Sister Namgung Cheonggi would have already mentioned it.’

Asking if I wanted to get beaten by Mak Noya.

Well, someone with such a noble appearance wouldn’t use such crude language…

‘She would have mentioned it similarly.’

So, since it’s fine, there’s no mention of it.

“Well, coming to me asking to become your master for clothing production is a very good choice. And if someone as outstanding as my little brother asks to become a disciple, who would refuse?”

“Then!?”

“Yes, I’ll do it. I’ll become your master for clothing production, little brother.”

Yes!

I did it!

Mission complete!

My limited lifespan has been extended again!

“Of course, not right away.”

It wasn’t.

I was still on borrowed time.

No wonder the mission completion window didn’t appear!

“No matter how much I’ve heard rumors about my brother being a skilled craftsman, that’s about blacksmithing, right?”

“Yes, sister.”

“And I’m quite picky when it comes to choosing disciples, so I can’t go easy on you even if you’re my brother. So I’m going to give you a test. If you pass here, then we’ll become master and disciple, brother. Is that okay?”

“Of course, sister!”

As soon as I gave permission.

Ding!

A mission window appeared.

The mission title and content had changed.

And my limited lifespan was put on hold.

‘Phew… At least I can breathe easy for now.’

At least the time wasn’t decreasing in real-time.

Of course, if I didn’t pass the test, that stopped time would start flowing again.

‘I have to pass, no matter what!’

What would the test content be?

‘Surely it’s not something like bringing goblin leather?’

No way, surely not.

‘But what if it really is?’

…Would painting pig leather green work?

* * *

“You see these silk fabrics here?”

“Yes, sister!”

Ten pieces of silk neatly arranged on the desk.

Namgung Cheonggi pointed to those silks and continued speaking.

“You must have heard about Cheonggung Clothing Shop’s reputation. That’s why each silk has clear performance differences. Finding at least medium-grade silk or better. This is the assignment I’m giving you, brother. This is also the test that tailors entering Cheonggung Clothing Shop receive.”

Fortunately, it wasn’t a test asking me to find something like goblin leather.

Well, of course.

How would you get goblin leather in the Martial Arts World?

That would just be telling me to die.

‘A test that’s the same as usual means it’s a fair test.’

If I couldn’t pass such a fair test?

I couldn’t even make excuses about the test content being strange.

“Is there a time limit?”

“I’ll give you one sik-gyeong (30 minutes). This is the same amount I give everyone.”

“Understood. That’s plenty.”

“Good confidence.”

Namgung Cheonggi picked up the sajong (hourglass) placed at the end of the desk.

“This is an hourglass set for exactly one sik-gyeong. When all this sand falls, you’ll unfortunately fail.”

“I will definitely pass and become sister’s disciple!”

“Hohoho. I’ll look forward to it.”

Namgung Cheonggi flipped the hourglass and stepped back.

Tick.

The sand of the falling hourglass.

Namgung Cheon-gang immediately turned his eyes toward the silk fabrics.

Ten red silk pieces.

To the eye, they all looked exactly the same.

Without any hesitation, he pointed to one of them and immediately handed it to Namgung Cheonggi.

“I’ll choose this one.”

A confident tone.

An expression as if he was certain this silk was the best.

“…”

Sure enough.

Namgung Cheonggi’s eyes widened greatly as she received the silk from Namgung Cheon-gang.

“…It’s correct.”

He pointed it out as soon as the hourglass was flipped.

And yet, that was the correct answer.

Had such a thing ever happened before?

No.

Then, was she confident she could point it out so quickly?

‘No.’

Even for her, one of the best tailors in the Martial Arts World, it was absolutely impossible.

Such an absurd speed.

“How on earth did you…!”

The surprise wouldn’t fade.

So she asked with a voice filled with shock.

“I just saw it.”

Namgung Cheon-gang answered nonchalantly.

As if asking whether breathing was difficult, just like that.

“…Yo, you passed the test. But I’m curious, so could I give you a few more tests personally?”

“Of course, sister!”

“Ju, just wait a moment.”

Namgung Cheonggi hurriedly went deep into the clothing shop.

In less than a moment, she appeared carrying a huge bundle.

When the bundle was unwrapped, various silks, fabrics, and tanned leathers appeared.

“Co, could you possibly sort these items by quality grade?”

“Yes!”

Namgung Cheon-gang confidently sorted them.

Tap tap tap, the fabrics and leathers were sorted without hesitation.

The time?

It didn’t even take a moment.

“How is it, sister? Are they properly sorted?”

Though he asked the question, his voice carried the confidence of already knowing he got the answer right.

“…”

Namgung Cheonggi silently nodded her head.

He had sorted them accurately.

Really, very properly!

“…You could see this too?”

“Yes. I can really see well.”

It wasn’t a joke.

Namgung Cheon-gang really could see well.

‘I have item identification ability, so how could I not see?’

The ability to examine items.

After completing the class change mission, one more ability had been added.

Because of this, I could know the contents of identified items more clearly.

How?

Like this!

How could it not be sorted out immediately this way?

Although it costs 10 internal energy, this is nothing.

‘It’s not 10 all at once, but a continuous type, so it can’t really be considered as consuming much internal energy. Well, if it were my previous life, I could just see it normally.’

It seemed like there were restrictions because this was the Martial Arts World.

‘But it doesn’t matter if there are restrictions!’

Being able to see the abilities of items is itself an insane ability!

‘By the way, there’s an additional ability?’

The meaning of ‘There may be hidden abilities beyond what is shown’ was probably this.

‘It’s really like my previous life.’

The items I got from dungeon runs in my previous life were like this.

That level is almost A-grade.

I feel touched, as if I’ve returned to my previous life.

“Little brother!”

Namgung Cheonggi grabs Namgung Cheon-gang’s hand firmly.

Namgung Cheon-gang, who was feeling touched thinking about his previous life.

‘Oh my, what a surprise!’

He jumps up in shock.

Sister, my heart almost fell out!

Suddenly grabbing my hand like that.

Despite her pure and elegant appearance, she’s more aggressive than expected.

Were you from the same aggressive type as Master Mak Noya, sister?

“Little brother is a genius!”

“Pardon?”

“Until now, no one has been able to identify the quality of silk like this at once and divide it so accurately! And in less than an instant! Even I can’t do that, so if you’re not a genius, what are you!?”

“Uh, um. Is, is that so?”

I feel guilty.

My conscience does.

But there’s nothing I can do.

As always.

Awakened abilities are inexplicable.

If they accept me as a genius, I’ll just go with it.

“Of course! As expected, there’s a reason you became a master-level blacksmith at 12 and caught the eye of Elder Mak Noya to become his disciple! You asked me to become your master, right? I’ll definitely do it! If I don’t become the master of such a genius, I should give up the Namgung name!”

“Then, what about the test?”

“You pass, absolutely! I already said I’d become your master, so how could there be any question about it!?”

Ding!

‘Kugh!’

Namgung Cheon-gang.

In the end, he survived today too.

‘I survived another ridiculous threatening mission again!’

By the way, why is this damn mission window so desperate to kill me?

‘Do you see my life as a snack!’

It’s absurd, but anyway, what’s important is that I survived!

‘Then, what’s left now?’

What else.

Learning to make martial clothing and martial accessories.

“Master!”

“Little brother, no, yes, little brother disciple!”

What kind of title is that.

Well, the title isn’t important, so let’s move on.

“Since you’ve become my master, you should receive the disciple’s bow first, sister master!”

Namgung Cheon-gang called her by an equally strange title and performed the disciple’s bow.

After finishing the disciple’s bow.

“Now I can learn to make martial clothing and martial accessories, right? Sister master!”

“Of course! Shall we start with sewing first? If it’s disciple little brother, you’ll master the sewing I teach you in just a few days!”

“Ah, before that, could I first watch sister master making martial clothing and martial accessories?”

“What? Watch me crafting? It’s not difficult, but are you curious about it?”

“That’s part of it, but there’s another reason too, sister master.”

“Another reason?”

What could that be?

Just as she was getting curious.

Namgung Cheon-gang approached quietly and whispered carefully.

“Well, it’s nothing else. This is something only Master Mak Noya knows about…”

“…?”

Something only Mak Noya knows?

What is it?

A story that only the world’s greatest blacksmith knows.

My heart suddenly starts racing.

Like a girl hearing martial arts secrets.

Just as she looks at him with her eyes saying to hurry up and tell her.

Namgung Cheon-gang continues speaking.

“Well, I have good eyes, so once I see something, I can usually do it all?”

Huh?

“Ah, of course. I can’t just do it normally. If you use items I made, cherish them, and like them, then I can master it right away.”

What?

“Sister master doesn’t have that much time either, right? So if you just show me how to make martial clothing and martial accessories, it saves time and I get what I need, so isn’t it killing two birds with one stone?”

“…So you want me to show you?”

“Yes! Of course, as I just mentioned, you have to use items I made. While liking and cherishing them! You have the sewing tools I made for you before, right? You really liked and cherished them, so could you make something with those? Oh, thinking about it, those were for tailoring, not for crafting. Should I make new ones for crafting?”

The Resonance ability.

I’m not going to just sit on this and do nothing, right?

I should use it to learn everything quickly.

But this is something only Namgung Cheon-gang would understand.

The expressions of those who heard the conditions for Resonance-related abilities?

They were no different from Mak Noya’s before.

“Are you insane?”

It just wasn’t violent.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————