I Became an SSS-Grade Time-Transcending Almighty Blacksmith - Chapter 60

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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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Episode 60
Episode 60
Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump.
“Wow…….”
Right now, I’m suspended in the sky.
In other words, I’m riding in a helicopter.
I never thought I’d actually get to ride in one.
I’d only ever seen helicopters flying on television, never in person.
I have no idea what’s happening.
And beside me.
“M-Master, please don’t worry. I’ll keep you safe.”
Serin sat there.
In truth, both Toran and Grom had wanted to come along.
But if they’d come together, it would have drawn too much attention, and Grom’s massive frame made it impossible to board the helicopter.
So the two of them headed to the Smithy instead, and only Serin followed me.
Of course.
“……Serin, are you scared?”
“Oh, no. Scared? That can’t be right.”
“Your hands seem to be shaking rather badly for someone who isn’t.”
“That’s not—eeek! D-Didn’t we just lurch? I really think this is too dangerous! We should definitely get down to solid ground as soon as possible!”
I hadn’t expected Serin to be afraid of helicopters.
Meanwhile, the man sitting across from me.
The Association President hadn’t uttered a single word.
He simply kept staring at me.
‘……This is awkward.’
Feeling the weight of his gaze, I turned to look out the window instead.
The view from a helicopter wasn’t something you saw every day, after all.
And not long after.
“We’re here.”
Whir-whir-whir-whir.
The helicopter touched down.
And the place was.
“Welcome to the Awakener Association.”
The Central Headquarters of the Awakener Association.
On its rooftop, at the Helicopter Landing Pad.
I’d heard that only important figures from politics and business, along with Rankers, were permitted to use this place.
And yet here I was, setting foot in such a location.
Truly, one astonishing experience after another.
Following the Association President, we arrived at a Reception Room.
Or rather, a VIP Room.
From the look of it, this seemed to be where conversations with Rankers took place.
The moment we arrived there.
“Association President.”
“What is it.”
“I have something to report.”
Reports came pouring in to the Association President in quick succession.
Thanks to that, Serin and I had to sit and wait, snacking on the pastries set before us.
‘These are delicious.’
Perhaps because this was a space meant to receive VIPs.
These weren’t ordinary sweets.
I’m not sure what kind of pastry they are, but I’ve never tasted anything so delicious while being so subtly sweet.
I’d want to stock them in my own home.
And the tea—how could it smell so fragrant?
For someone like me, who’d only ever drunk tea bags, the aroma was almost shocking.
And a moment later.
“Sigh…….”
The Association President, having finished listening to the reports, let out a short breath before speaking.
“There’s good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?”
“Hmm, the bad news first?”
“Jeokbyeok sold information to the enemy.”
“……What?”
“Everything Jeokbyeok discovered has been exposed—where Kang Cheol-mangchi lives, all of it. The only saving grace is that they’ve mistaken a dwarf for him instead of you.”
What is he talking about?
My information was sold?
This is truly troublesome.
Jeokbyeok did come looking for me, but I’d managed to drive him off well enough, so I thought somehow it would work out.
But if my information has been completely exposed?
That means criminals like Jeokbyeok could show up at my door whenever they pleased, doesn’t it?
‘What kind of bolt from the blue is this……’
My assistants are strong.
But no matter how strong they are, there’s a ceiling at Level 20.
Even today alone—didn’t they struggle against Jeokbyeok?
I hadn’t been too worried about bad news, but this is worse than I’d imagined.
As I stood there in a panic.
“The good news is…….”
The Association President delivered the next piece of information.
“That information didn’t only reach the wrong people.”
Saying so.
The Association President rose from his chair, drew back the curtains, and opened the window.
I stood up as well and looked out.
Whoooosh.
I could see a multitude of people gathering in front of the Awakener Association.
“The Seohaе Guild.”
The first to arrive was the Seohaе Guild, which had once even extended a scout offer to me.
But not just the Seohaе Guild—the Hangang Guild, the Mir Guild, and so on.
All of the Five Great Guilds and every major guild that had heard the news were pouring in.
That wasn’t all.
“Taesung Corporation.”
The prestigious megacorporations of Korea.
All the ones involved in business related to Awakener goods and Mana Stones were gathering.
“The Gate Research Institute.”
Korea’s largest research facility.
And even.
“……Howard showing up as well.”
“Howard?”
“An Awakener dispatched from America to Korea. Though they call it a dispatch, his role is likely more about surveillance and such.”
Even foreign countries were sending Awakeners.
The situation was more serious than I’d thought.
More people continued to arrive, so it wasn’t over yet.
Swish.
The Association President drew the curtains shut as if he had no need to see more.
“Most of them have filed protests with our association.”
“Protests?”
“That the association taking away Kang Cheol-mangchi is oppression. That they would protect Kang Cheol-mangchi instead. That Kang Cheol-mangchi should be given the choice. ……Something along those lines.”
I understand what he’s saying.
They’re all couching it in pleasant language, but the conclusion is that they want to scout me.
It’s not arrogance—it’s simply a fact.
If I hadn’t been ignoring them, even a quick glance through my Notes would show they’re packed with scout offers.
In fact, most of the names the Association President mentioned just now were ones I’d seen in my Notes.
In the past, I would have dismissed this situation.
‘But things are different now.’
Kang Cheol-mangchi’s whereabouts have been revealed.
Though they seem to believe it’s Toran instead of me, that won’t last long.
The moment they find out who signed the lease on that property, my name will be exposed.
In a situation like that, to keep myself safe.
‘I need someone to protect me.’
Affiliating with somewhere isn’t necessarily a bad position to be in.
If I belonged somewhere, they’d protect me desperately just to make use of me.
“What will you do? I’ll leave the choice to you.”
At that.
“It seems everyone’s already arrived. Would it be alright if I heard what they have to say?”
For my own safety, if nothing else.
I decided to hear what they had to offer first.
* * *
Central Headquarters of Awakener Association.
Renowned Awakeners had begun to gather there.
Guild Masters from the Seohaе Guild, Hangang Guild, Mir Guild, and other Five Great Guilds.
Not just the Five Great Guilds, but also masters of other enormous organizations, and even representatives from major corporations.
“Everyone must be busy, yet they’ve come so quickly.”
“How could they not, given the circumstances?”
“They’re saying that Kang Cheol-mangchi has finally revealed himself. How could anyone not come?”
“For now, he can only craft low-level equipment, but should he continue to grow, he possesses the potential to fundamentally reshape the world’s balance of power.”
There was only one reason they had all gathered.
Kang Cheol-mangchi.
The news that Kang Cheol-mangchi, whose identity had been unexpectedly exposed by this Gate Break, had come to the Awakener Association—
Or rather, had been brought in.
A figure of such magnitude could not be allowed to fall into the Association’s hands, so everyone had rushed here in desperation.
“Indeed, even now, at this very moment, Kang Cheol-mangchi’s potential is already proving itself.”
“Exactly. Accessories, beds, and things like that—everyone wants them regardless of level.”
Kang Cheol-mangchi’s fame and reputation only grew with time.
At first, he had been nothing more than a blacksmith crafting low-level equipment.
But as time passed, it became clear that Kang Cheol-mangchi’s items weren’t just for low-level Awakeners.
And the fact that Kang Cheol-mangchi’s growth rate defied imagination had already been revealed.
And so.
“Is everyone about here?”
“Quite a crowd.”
“These are people who can barely be gathered even if you set aside time just for them, all in one place like this.”
The Grand Conference Hall of the Awakener Association’s headquarters.
The vast hall was filled with people.
And the moment the Association President finally took his seat at the head of the table.
Click.
The doors of the conference hall opened.
“……Is that fellow Kang Cheol-mangchi?”
“I wouldn’t think so. According to the intelligence, Kang Cheol-mangchi was supposed to be a dwarf.”
“I see. No matter how I look at him, he doesn’t appear to be a dwarf at all.”
Kang Cheol-mangchi began to enter.
However, his appearance differed from the intelligence.
The man didn’t look like Kang Cheol-mangchi by any reasonable measure.
But the suspicion wouldn’t last long.
And for good reason.
“Emergency Summon.”
The moment the man muttered it quietly.
“Huh?”
“Squeak?”
“A dwarf!”
“It really is a dwarf.”
“Wait, he summoned Kang Cheol-mangchi? This is…….”
The legendary dwarf from the rumors had been summoned.
But something was odd.
If this man had summoned the dwarf, didn’t that mean this man was the dwarf’s master?
While they were processing this strangeness.
The man who had taken his place.
“I am Kang Cheol-mangchi.”
Began to introduce himself.
Kang Cheol-mangchi.
Hearing those words, it seemed they hadn’t made the trip in vain.
Even so, there was still ambiguity, as they couldn’t be entirely certain this was really Kang Cheol-mangchi, even after hearing the introduction.
“Would you all like to send Notes to Kang Cheol-mangchi?”
The man said this.
And everyone gathered here nodded in agreement.
She could guess how the man intended to prove his identity.
True to his word, everyone in the room sent a note to Kang Cheol-mangchi.
[ I am Kang Cheol-mangchi. ]
“Huh.”
“It’s real.”
“So it really is Kang Cheol-mangchi.”
The reply came back immediately.
The meaning of that fact was singular.
The man before them was Kang Cheol-mangchi.
The world’s first and only master blacksmith.
Kang Cheol-mangchi himself.
With Kang Cheol-mangchi having proven his identity,
“Let’s begin.”
The Association President opened his mouth.
“Excuse me! Let me go first, please!”
Someone eagerly thrust their hand up.
“State your affiliation first.”
“Yes! I’m Han Sori from the Siren Guild!”
At the Association President’s request, she introduced herself.
The Siren Guild.
To be honest, it was a guild she’d never heard of.
Still, from the whispers around her, it seemed the guild had made enough of a name for itself in public circles, even if not quite at the level of the major powers.
“Proceed.”
With the Association President’s permission, she began confidently laying out her contract terms.
“Yes! The Siren Guild is prepared to provide a signing bonus of two billion won in a lump sum! Afterward, we’ll offer an annual salary of one billion won plus performance incentives each time you create an item!”
The Siren Guild representative spoke of the contract terms with obvious pride.
Yet the reaction from those around her was tepid.
An indifferent response that betrayed no hint of concern or alarm.
As expected.
The moment the next person stood and mentioned their contract terms,
“Taesung Corporation will provide a signing bonus of eighty billion won in a lump sum upon contract execution.”
The Siren Guild representative, who had been confident only moments before, could do nothing but slump her shoulders.

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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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