I Became an SSS-Grade Time-Transcending Almighty Blacksmith - Chapter 17

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Just as it had been with the Volcanic Revolver.
Since Special Creation produced entirely new items not found in any codex, a perfect blueprint was essential.
So I began inputting the blueprint I’d designed with Serin, exactly as she’d instructed.
“The bow’s form is a recurve bow, yes?”
“Yes, Master.”
“And the size would be about this.”
A recurve bow.
Or what they call a recurve bow in modern parlance.
The very same bow used in contemporary Olympic competitions.
Only, this one would be considerably shorter than the bows I’d seen at the Games.
When I asked the reason behind this choice—
“Long bows are cumbersome to carry. Since we need to move quickly through the mountain ranges while hunting prey, a shorter bow is far more practical.”
That was the reasoning.
Well, considering Olympic recurve bows typically measure around 170 centimeters—
carrying something like that would certainly be unwieldy.
“All right then, let’s settle on this basic structure.”
The moment we finalized the form together—
[ Blueprint creation complete ]
[ Please select materials. ]
I’d completed the blueprint without any significant issues.
The blueprint felt even more carefully crafted than the one for my Volcanic Revolver.
After that.
I began selecting materials.
First, the bowstave.
Since the bowstave was so crucial, it seemed wasteful to fashion it from ordinary wood gathered in the forest.
So despite the expense, I purchased a high-quality wooden item from the Trading Post and broke it down.
[ White Rin Wood Armor has been successfully disassembled. ]
[ White Rin Wood Lumber has been generated. ]
I’d obtained the wood I needed.
The White Rin Wood Armor was easy to purchase because its price had dropped thanks to all the defensive gear I’d been crafting.
Though it was still quite expensive.
White Rin wood possessed excellent elasticity—perfect for a bowstave.
I added a small amount of sinew and leather from Ssangdurang, materials Serin had brought back after defeating it.
[ Beginning production. ]
I started the crafting process.
Clang!
The refreshing ring of the hammer.
I felt it from the very first strike.
A firmness of material I’d never experienced before.
I swung the hammer with renewed force.
Each time I shattered through that solid resistance, a pleasure washed over me, and a smile spread across my face.
Clang!
With every swing of the hammer, the materials began to transform before my eyes.
The White Rin wood bent smoothly into the shape of a bowstave.
Ssangdurang’s sinew became the bowstring, secured at either end.
But that wasn’t all.
As Serin had suggested, I wrapped the creature’s leather around the grip of the bow.
Apparently, wrapping it this way not only made it easier to hide one’s presence from enemies—it also improved the stability of one’s aim.
After countless swings of the hammer—
[ Production complete. ]
[ Crafting evaluation: SS-rank ]
[ You have obtained ‘Tracker of Snow, Icaya’. ]
I’d finished Serin’s bow.
But there was something different from usual.
“SS-rank?”
The crafting evaluation.
Usually, no matter how well I performed, I could only achieve S-rank.
But SS-rank?
It was the first time I’d seen this grade since becoming an Awakener.
And for good reason.
[ A Masterpiece has been born. ]
[ A masterwork worthy of spreading your name across the world has been completed, and through it you gain inspiration to increase your abilities. ]
[ Agility increases by 2. ]
[ Strength increases by 1. ]
I recalled the system message from when I’d crafted the Volcanic Revolver before.
No, wait.
It looked similar, but it was different.
That time the system message had been “Masterwork”.
But this message was something even higher—”Masterpiece”—and the stat gains were nearly double.
Startled, I checked the item information.
[ Tracker of Snow, Icaya ]
Type : Bow
Grade : SS-rank
Requirement : Level 4 or higher
Description : A Snow Bow crafted by blacksmith Jang Gangcheol, recreating the memories of Serin, a hunter of the Icaya Mountain Range.
Attack Power : 60
Abilities : Frost Lv 3, First Strike Lv 2, Critical Lv 2, Aiming Lv 2, Concealment Lv 2
Indeed, it was SS-rank.
The abilities of the item I read next were equally impressive.
First, the attack power.
An SS-rank weapon at level 4 normally has 50 attack power.
That alone was absurdly high compared to other weapons, but Icaya had an additional 10 attack power attached to it.
But that wasn’t all.
“Five abilities attached to it?”
A full five abilities.
Every single one was level 2 or higher, and the Frost ability in particular was level 3.
Each of those abilities was extraordinary in its own right.
The Frost Arrow Lv 3 not only coated the arrow with cold damage but also sharpened the arrowhead with ice, further increasing its attack power.
First Strike Lv 2 was an ability that dealt additional damage when attacking first at the start of combat.
And the rest—every single one was perfectly suited for Serin.
Honestly, it made my Volcanic Revolver look shabby by comparison.
But I felt no jealousy.
Rather, I was thrilled beyond measure.
I’d created a weapon with my own hands that didn’t even exist in the Final Gate.
“Here, take it.”
“Truly…… are you giving this to me?”
“Of course. Like I said, this is partly for my own sake too. I haven’t been an Awakener long, but this is the finest masterwork I’ve made so far—I’m counting on you to wield it well.”
“I…… am truly grateful. From now on, I will do my utmost to support you with this bow.”
Serin’s voice trembled with emotion.
Hearing it, a deeper sense of pride washed over me.
But the work wasn’t finished yet.
In fact, we were only just beginning.
I still had to craft her dagger and armor.
“Now shall we make the dagger? This time I’ll craft it as close as possible to the one you used before, so watch carefully.”
“Yes, Master!”
And so.
With Serin’s voice pitched even higher in excitement.
[ You are using the Special Creation skill. ]
[ Please provide a design blueprint for the special creation. ]
I began crafting her equipment once again.
The next item I created was her dagger.
Since she was a hunter, her bow work was exceptional, but her skill with the dagger was equally formidable.
So I crafted the dagger with the same care.
The result.
[ Crafting complete. ]
[ Craft Evaluation : S ]
[ You have obtained the Fang of Snow. ]
I had successfully crafted the dagger.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t secure an SS-rank evaluation, but that was just the bow craft being exceptionally lucky.
An S-rank is a respectable outcome on its own.
[ Fang of Snow ]
Form: Short sword
Grade: S
Requirement: Level 4 or higher
Description: A short sword crafted by blacksmith Jang Gangcheol, recreating the memories of Serin, a hunter of the Icaya Mountain Range.
Attack Power: 44
Abilities: Bleeding Lv 2, Ferocity Lv 2, Critical Lv 2, Savage Attack Lv 1
The item’s performance turned out quite well.
Serin, receiving the short sword, appeared quite satisfied as well.
And then.
[ Crafting completed. ]
[ Craft Evaluation: S ]
[ You have obtained ‘Snow Wolf Hat’. ]
[ You have obtained ‘Snow Wolf Gloves’. ]
…….
I’d made all of her armor in one go.
Since I’d crafted everything through Special Creation with careful attention, my fatigue level rose quickly.
I found myself thinking I’d need to rest once I finished all of her equipment.
Fortunately, Ssangdurang’s hide was substantial enough that I could craft defensive gear for every piece.
And at that moment.
A system message appeared that I hadn’t anticipated.
[ You have created the Snow Wolf Set. ]
[ Set Effect applied to the Snow Wolf Set. ]
[ Set Effect ]
1. Movement speed increases by 10%.
2. When attacking first, attack power increases by 10%.
“Set effect?”
A set effect, no less.
Of course, it existed during the Final Gate as well.
But I hadn’t known Awakeners’ items could have something like this.
Shocked, I searched the Awakener community, but sure enough, set effects as a concept didn’t exist.
In other words, the Snow Wolf Set was the first set item ever created in the Awakeners’ world.
It seemed to be because I’d made it through Special Creation.
I thought that perhaps if I made similar items with comparable materials using ordinary crafting, I might achieve a similar set effect.
Well, I’d confirm that later.
“Would you like to try this on?”
“Thank you, Master.”
I handed her the armor I’d made.
The Snow Wolf Set had the basic form of cold-weather attire.
Since the Icaya Mountain Range where she’d been was said to be a snowy peak in the north.
I’d mentioned it wouldn’t be too hot worn this way, but she insisted this form was most familiar to her and requested this style of armor.
And the moment she donned the Snow Wolf Set.
“How does it…… look, Master?”
“Wow. It suits you incredibly well.”
Now her character finally felt complete.
Her long hair, her pale skin, the bow and short sword.
All of it harmonized with the Snow Wolf Set, appearing perfect.
“How do you feel about it, Serin?”
“I’m very pleased. It feels exactly as I remembered it.”
“I’m glad you’re happy with it.”
“Since it’s armor bestowed by you, Master, I shall treasure it for the rest of my life.”
“A lifetime, no less. But if I find better materials later, I’ll craft something even finer for you.”
Serin’s satisfaction made me feel even better.
Selling crafted items at the Trading Post and having my work’s value recognized was rewarding.
But there was something more gratifying about watching someone wear equipment I’d made and see them satisfied.
Serin gazed at her reflection for a moment, her expression wistful.
Then, as if she’d made a decision, her face grew firm.
And then.
“I’ll execute the mission right away.”
“Already? We’ve barely had time to catch our breath since capturing Ssangdurang. Why don’t you rest a little longer and take it slow?”
“No, sir. You’ve gone to such lengths to prepare this equipment for me. I couldn’t possibly rest now. I’ll execute the mission at once.”
She bolted straight for the Hunting Ground.
Before I could even protest.
I started to follow her, but then—
“Phew. Let me rest for a moment.”
I returned to the One-room Apartment and poured myself a glass of water.
The bow, the short blade, and the Snow Wolf Set.
I’d crafted quite a number of items in succession, and since these were going to my first assistant, I’d made every single one with Special Creation—was that why the fatigue was setting in so heavily?
The exhaustion was considerable.
But wasting the rest of the day felt like a shame.
[ Brown Bear Bile Potion ]
Type: Potion
Grade: B
I decided to drink the potion.
It was a fatigue recovery remedy I’d bought in advance.
In the past I’d been too stingy to use them often, but now that my income had grown, I figured it was worth buying a few in bulk—crafting a handful more items after drinking one would pay for itself.
Of course, the taste was—
“Ugh…….”
Abysmal.
How could something be this bitter?
Unable to bear it any longer, I gulped down the cola that was left over, and yet the bitter taste lingered on my tongue.
Still, true to its name as a potion, the effect appeared immediately.
My mind grew clearer, and my energy returned.
And then, at that very moment—
[ Your level has increased. ]
A level-up notification came out of nowhere.
My level had only just risen not long ago.
Serin had only just entered the Hunting Ground moments ago.
How was my level rising again already?
A thought struck me.
“Ember, take me to the Forge of Time.”
A deep rumble—
I entered the Forge of Time and made my way toward the Hunting Ground, and then—
I understood at once.
The Blacksmith’s Hunting Ground.
This place that had always been teeming with monsters no matter where you looked—
“What on earth…….”
Not a single monster was visible.
All that lay scattered across the ground were materials.
Not a living thing could be seen across this vast meadow.
Well, there was one.
“I’ve cleared them all, Master.”
“All of them yourself……?”
“I wish I could continue the mission, but I suppose I’ll need to wait a little while for the monsters to respawn.”
My S-rank assistant and the monster hunter of the Icaya Mountain Range.
Serin.

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