I Became an SSS-Grade Time-Transcending Almighty Blacksmith - Chapter 26

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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 26
Chapter 26
Elixir category.
The moment I searched it.
[ Troll Regeneration Serum ]
[ Ogre’s Blood ]
[ Mandrake Root ]
[ Phoenix’s Tear ]
…….
A dizzying array of elixirs populated the screen.
My reason for searching elixirs was simple enough.
Lately, whether summoning Toran or crafting his pickaxe.
I’d been growing acutely aware of my own limitations.
Breaking through a Breaking Point taxed me; reacting swiftly to sudden openings grew harder; and the stamina to swing a hammer steadily through hours-long work sessions simply wasn’t there.
Until now, I’d managed to scrape by.
But it was clear the road ahead would only demand more.
I’d boosted my raw strength by crafting the Beast Strength Gloves, but I needed to find another avenue.
Which is why I’d turned to elixirs.
“A billion? For a single vial?”
“Master, what’s wrong?”
“Something happened?”
“No, no. Please, eat.”
The prices were brutal.
Every single one of them cost an absurd amount.
Even mediocre elixirs ran well over a hundred million won.
Though, to be fair, elixirs that could boost your abilities simply by drinking them deserved their premium — that much was logical.
Any high-level Awakener with deep pockets would covet them.
And as I dug deeper.
“The returns are murky, though.”
The performance wasn’t spectacular.
The stat increases didn’t justify what you paid.
If I had bottomless wealth, it wouldn’t matter, and true, my recent earnings had been solid.
But I wasn’t in a position to casually burn money on elixirs like that.
“That much money would be better spent on Mana Stones.”
To level up my smithy, I needed exactly thirty-two Lowest-Grade Mana Stones.
Or alternatively, three Low-Grade Mana Stones and two Lowest-Grade Mana Stones.
In cash, that came to roughly thirty-two million won.
Buying Mana Stones to enhance my abilities made far more sense than sinking money into elixirs.
The one saving grace, though.
[ The Basic Iron Shield (S-Grade) has been sold. ]
[ The Basic Longsword (A-Grade) has been sold. ]
…….
My items were still moving briskly.
And no wonder — since I’d already hit Level 8, the maximum Grade of items I could craft had climbed to Level 8 as well.
Before, when I could only make Level 1 weapons, there was no reason for anyone but brand-new Awakeners to buy from me.
Now, Awakeners up to roughly Level 10 were practically clawing over each other to purchase my stock.
Just glancing at the Awakener community forums alone.
[ Wow, the Basic Series just hit Level 8! ]
Now’s the time!!
– Still too expensive ㅠㅠ
– Expensive? Compare it to other weapons at the same level and grade
– Right. It’s actually a steal at this price
– Think about it — buy the Basic Series to stabilize yourself and level fast. In terms of time-efficiency, the price is a bargain ㅇㅇ
[ Steel Hammer’s growth rate is insane tho ]
If items made by Steel Hammer scale with his Level, he’s already hit 8, hasn’t he?
– No joke
– Considering when he first started selling, isn’t he leveling faster than most rookies?
– How is this even possible?
– Wait, can blacksmiths even hunt?
– How would they? He must be getting sponsored by one of the big guilds ㅋㅋ
– I mean, Steel Hammer is the one the major guilds can’t recruit and keep pestering, so where’s this supposed support coming from? ㅋㅋ
– But it’s definitely fast though
The Trading Post is flooded with talk about the Level 8 items I’m selling.
Well, even so, it’s still only attracting attention from people around Level 10 and below.
But I’m not worried.
Serin handles the hunting herself anyway.
And because experience keeps flowing in on its own, my level is climbing steadily even while I sit idle.
Just as people in the community say, my leveling speed has already surpassed that of the promising prospects everyone calls rising stars.
And there’s one more thing.
[ So this confirms Steel Hammer is a Blacksmith Awakener, right? ]
Obvious conclusion.
– Definitely
– Right now everyone’s trying to contact Steel Hammer ㅋㅋ
– But nobody can actually reach him, can they?
– No, I heard some places did get responses
– Word is they just turned him down after hearing the contract terms ㅋㅋ
– Oh and apparently some rookie who just joined the Mir Guild got a custom whip from Steel Hammer and won the entrance exam
– For real??
– Yeah they said so in an official interview
– So he does take commissions
– How do you even submit a request?
– Tell me too;
Word is the Whip Master recently passed the Mir Guild entrance exam using a whip I crafted.
It’s certainly good news.
“An interview?”
A confused comment caught my eye.
Curious, I searched for it on Newbube.
“Wow, Mir Guild entrance exam champion?”
I heard good tidings about the Whip Master.
Mir Guild is one of the top guilds in Korea after all.
Especially since Mir Guild is famous for recruiting members based solely on skill and potential.
He confidently won their entrance exam and joined the guild.
But that’s not all.
– ……I think it’s thanks to Steel Hammer.
The Whip Master showcased the whip I’d made for him and mentioned my name.
As a result, the comments below the video were filled with—
– It’s different from the Basic Series?
– Steel Hammer doesn’t even sell whips in the first place ㅋㅋ
– No but seriously, all the Basic Series look mass-produced and similar, but this one has a completely different character
– Yeah that’s true
– Is this a custom order?
– If so isn’t that invalid?! If he won with a custom item shouldn’t he have to retake it?!
– What are you on about? The whip was good, but Chae Jinho is just insanely skilled. Globally speaking, there’s no other whip-wielding Awakener at that level.
– Anyway I don’t know, but could you please make me a custom order too, Steel Hammer!
– But how do you actually submit a request?
– I heard even the major guilds don’t get responses;
– Me too ㅠㅠㅠ
The comments were packed with this kind of thing.
Mostly asking how to place a custom order with me.
Sure enough, when I checked my message box—
[ Message Box ]
– Requesting a custom order!
– What would the conditions be for a custom order?
– Could you make Level 10 equipment?
– Please please please please please
My message box was flooded with requests for custom orders.
And among them were—
– This is Seohae Guild. Would bulk custom orders be possible?
– From Hangang Guild…….
– This is the Vice Director of the Gate Research Institute. I was wondering if you could craft parts for gate research as well, not just equipment…….
……
Major guilds, well-known domestic corporations, research institutes—they all had a presence here.
Beyond that.
– [Mandatory Summons] Forced Summons Notice for Awakeners Under My Jurisdiction
– Sweetheart
– I’m the Awakener Association Chair
Some people sent messages with deliberately provocative titles, willing to do anything to make me read their notes.
When I actually opened them, most turned out to be mundane requests.
I’d planned to take on a commission or two a day eventually anyway.
‘Not today.’
Today I’d already summoned Toran, crafted a pickaxe for him, and made myself a pair of gloves. I was spent.
After eating, though, some of my stamina had returned, so I could continue with ordinary crafting work.
But I had no energy left for Special Crafting.
So, I’d leave it for tomorrow.
“Well, since we’ve eaten, shall we move on to the next task?”
“Hoo-haha! A perfectly satisfying meal in ages! That’s the way! Let’s go, go, go!”
“Understood, Master.”
I returned to the smithy once more.
* * *
The next day.
The first thing I did wasn’t to search for commissions.
I planned to take on a quest later, but first.
[ Lowest-Grade Mana Stone ]
I searched the Trading Post for Mana Stones.
What I was looking for were Low-Grade and Lowest-Grade Mana Stones.
Mana Stones had almost no price volatility compared to other items, so they generally held steady at around one million won for Lowest-Grade and ten million won for Low-Grade.
From the Mana Stones currently listed, I selected and purchased the cheaper Low-Grade and Lowest-Grade stones.
And so.
[ You have purchased ‘Low-Grade Mana Stone’. ]
[ You have purchased ‘Lowest-Grade Mana Stone’. ]
[ You have purchased ‘Lowest-Grade Mana Stone’. ]
……
I emptied my remaining funds.
I bought thirty-two million won worth of Mana Stones.
The reason, of course.
[ Blacksmith’s Hammer Lv 2 ]
Was this.
I wanted to strengthen my hammer.
One way to reduce the difficulty of crafting was indeed to enhance this hammer.
Since I was already quite familiar with this process, I placed my hand on the hammer and called upon Ember.
[ Would you like to increase the Level of ‘Blacksmith’s Hammer Lv 2’? ]
[ Y / N ]
The familiar system message appeared.
The moment I nodded.
Thirty-two million won worth of Mana Stones scattered and dispersed.
[ Blacksmith’s Hammer has become Lv 3. ]
[ 1. Crafting Lv 3 ]
[ 2. Repair Lv 3 ]
[ 3. Disassembly Lv 3 ]
[ 4. Special Crafting Lv 3 ]
[ 5. Modification Lv 3 ]
The hammer had been enhanced.
The newly acquired skill was Modification.
I examined what the skill did.
[ Modification Lv 3 ]
Alters the materials, restrictions, and capabilities of an already completed item.
It was literally a skill for modifying items.
The first thing that came to mind was raising an item’s level.
When you raise an item’s level, its attack and defense stats increase proportionally to match that level.
I’d need to modify not just the Volcanic Revolver I was using, but also the gear of Serin and Toran, who were growing rapidly alongside me.
As my Crafting level increased, future crafting tasks would only become easier.
It was certainly a satisfying effect.
‘Thirty-two million won.’
A level-up that consumed thirty-two million won worth of Mana Stones.
And the next one would cost sixty-four million won.
The thought of it made me dizzy.
‘It’ll work out somehow.’
Honestly, if I just kept making and selling the Basic Series, I’d never want for money in my lifetime.
Even without further progress, as long as Serin kept hunting well, my level would continue rising.
Still, I had no intention of stopping here.
It would require enormous expenditure, but there was a certain joy in advancing steadily like this.
Someday.
‘The Black Dragon Nadan Execution Sword +20!’
The ultimate weapon I’d crafted in the Final Gate.
I’d make Nadan’s Execution Sword at +20 with my own hands.
And craft weapons that would surpass even that Black Dragon Nadan Execution Sword +20.
Every time I thought of it, anticipation surged through me like a rising tide.
Anyway, now that I’d raised the Blacksmith’s Hammer to this level.
“Should I get started right away?”
[ Beginning Crafting. ]
Before attempting Special Crafting, I’d loosen up with regular item crafting.
I began crafting immediately.
And then.
Clang!
“Oh!”
I felt it from the very first strike of the hammer.
The hammer had become much lighter.
Yet.
Zing!
The Breaking Points shattered faster than before.
Thanks to this, I could wield the hammer with even greater speed and force.
Though I hadn’t consumed the Elixir I’d originally planned, the Beast Strength Gloves and the Blacksmith’s Hammer Level 3 more than made up for it.
[ Crafting Complete. ]
[ Crafting Evaluation: S ]
[ You have obtained a Basic Spear. ]
I’d created an item in mere moments.
Not only had my crafting speed increased dramatically, but the finished items felt noticeably more refined.
So naturally.
Clang, clang, clang!
I threw myself into crafting with renewed enthusiasm.
Using the high-quality ore that Toran had mined.
Using the monster materials that Serin had hunted.
I crafted one new, superior piece of equipment after another.
In the meantime.
[ Your Level has increased. ]
With my level raised, I immediately challenged Level 9 equipment.
Though honestly, even Level 9 equipment posed no real difficulty.
My skill hadn’t declined so far that regular crafting—outside of Special Crafting—would give me any real trouble.
After quickly crafting dozens of items and listing them on the Trading Post.
Once I’d warmed up sufficiently.
“All right, which commission should I pick next?”
I opened my message box and began selecting a commission worthy of accepting after the Whip Master.

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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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