I Became an SSS-Grade Time-Transcending Almighty Blacksmith - Chapter 77

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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 77
Chapter 77
Toran, a miner in the Forge of Time.
The moment he entered the third sector and swung his pickaxe, he felt it immediately.
“Solid stuff.”
It was solid.
Considerably harder than the second sector.
The walls themselves were tough, but when he reached the ore veins, the hardness only increased.
Still, thanks to the SS-Grade Rampaging Pickaxe that Crumbles Mountains, it wasn’t terribly difficult.
Since the walls were so much harder than in the second sector, it was inevitable the work would take longer.
But then again.
Compared to the weapons he’d used before, his current situation was far better.
So even if it took longer, he’d finished the mining without complaint and returned to the forge.
“Toran, welcome back! Take this with you!”
His master.
Jang Gang-cheol held out a new pickaxe.
He’d marveled at how well Serin’s short sword had turned out, but to think his master would forge him a new pickaxe…
After offering his thanks, he’d returned to the mine.
“Still, it’s a shame. I’d just gotten the old one broken in.”
He was genuinely reluctant about this.
It hadn’t been that long, perhaps.
But it was the pickaxe he’d been using constantly since being summoned by Jang Gang-cheol.
Apparently they were even the same grade.
If that was the case, there shouldn’t be much difference in performance—so wouldn’t it be better to stick with the familiar weapon?
“Might as well try it out.”
Still, since Jang Gang-cheol had forged this weapon for him personally, he ought to give it a fair test first.
If there was no significant difference in performance…
He’d feel bad toward Jang Gang-cheol, but using the old pickaxe seemed the smarter choice.
Besides, Jang Gang-cheol rarely came out to the mine anyway, so he could just say he was rotating between the two.
Thinking it over like this.
The instant he swung the new pickaxe—Iron Giant’s Final.
“Whoa?!”
Toran had no choice but to be astonished.
A wall that had become incredibly hard, being the third sector.
That very wall.
Crack!
The pickaxe drove into it far too easily.
Was this section of wall particularly soft?
It couldn’t be.
Toran’s eye was sharp.
The wall was still hard.
Yet the pickaxe had plunged deep into it as though defying the wall’s hardness entirely.
That was it.
This was the effect of the special ability—Iron Giant’s Fist.
[ Special Ability: Iron Giant’s Fist ]
The Iron Golem’s fists crush any armor, any stone.
The ability ignores a portion of the enemy’s defense in proportion to the user’s attack power.
Defense penetration, then.
It was essentially a superior version of the Penetration skill.
Such abilities usually worked well against monsters with hard shells or those wearing heavy armor.
“What is this?! This is incredible!”
The catch was that this ability didn’t just apply to monsters.
The special ability Iron Giant’s Fist.
It worked on the mine walls as well.
The hard walls of the third sector were being pierced effortlessly by this power.
Moreover, the effect wasn’t fixed.
The percentage of defense penetration increased proportionally with the user’s attack power.
Which meant…
“Hahahaha!”
Crack, crack, crunch!
Toran started swinging his new pickaxe with enthusiasm.
Unfortunately, his old Rampaging Pickaxe that Crumbles Mountains had been carefully tucked away inside the Blacksmith’s Bag.
* * *
After handing over the new pickaxe.
Toran’s mining speed increased dramatically.
Thanks to that.
“Here it is, little one!”
“How’s that pickaxe treating you, Toran?”
“What’s there to say? It’s the best, the absolute best!”
I was able to gather large quantities of high-quality iron ore from Zone Three.
So is it really just the same iron ore as always?
Absolutely not.
The iron ore from Zone Two is better than what comes from Zone One.
And the iron ore from Zone Three is better than Zone Two’s.
That’s proven even in item crafting.
For example.
[ Standard Iron Sword ]
Form: Sword
Grade: S
Restriction: Level 26 or higher
Description: An iron sword crafted using decent iron.
Attack Power: 150
Abilities: Sharpness Lv 1, Penetration Lv 1
That’s the basic iron sword made from low-quality iron ore obtained from Zone One.
[ Standard Iron Sword ]
Form: Sword
Grade: S
Restriction: Level 26 or higher
Description: An iron sword crafted using decent iron.
Attack Power: 157
Abilities: Sharpness Lv 2, Penetration Lv 1, Heavy Strike Lv 1
Though the numbers are modest, the attack power is higher.
There are more abilities, and the ability levels are higher as well.
But compared to items made using monster materials, they don’t measure up, right?
That’s true as well, but even when making items from monster materials, it’s not common to use only monster materials exclusively.
When crafting items from monster materials, small amounts of iron or timber must inevitably be incorporated into the base structure.
When the iron used in that process is of good quality.
Even if only a small amount is used, the quality of the finished product improves—that’s a given.
Thanks to that.
“Master! The quality of the items has improved across the board!”
“Right? The foundational materials really do make a difference.”
The quality of the items I was crafting had improved further.
And naturally, both Noom and I felt better about the work.
[ Haven’t Kang Cheol-mangchi’s items gotten even better lately? ]
They were always good, but they seem better now.
– Not just feeling that way, actually better
– I have an older item, and the similar ones coming out now seem to have one extra ability
– The ability levels are higher too
– What’s going on, is his skill improving?
– There’s still room for improvement?!
[ Praise be to the Divine Kang Cheol-mangchi !! ]
Finally bought a Level 27 sword made by Kang Cheol-mangchi!!!!
– So jealous;
– How’d you manage that, the competition rate is insane
[ Kang Cheol-mangchi really is different ]
Once I started using this, I couldn’t go back to other gear. Before, I was barely scraping by hunting monsters, but with this? The monsters just shred like tofu
– Once I switched to Kang Cheol-mangchi’s stuff, I couldn’t settle for anything else;
– Aaah hurry and make Level 30 gear!!
– Where are you getting the nerve to make demands of our great King, our divine general Kang Cheol-mangchi? He needs to make Level 28 gear before Level 30, obviously. Kang Cheol-mangchi, please, I’m begging you, make Level 28 spears soon
The response from the Awakener Community had been positive.
I’d raised prices as the item levels improved and quality increased.
Perhaps it was because Awakeners who leveled up also thickened their wallets proportionally to the level restrictions that rose?
Even with prices this high, items sold briskly each time I crafted something new.
Though occasionally.
[ Honestly, aren’t Kang Cheol-mangchi’s items way too expensive? ]
Seems like you raised the price again this time
—such comments did appear.
But whenever they did, I didn’t even need to respond myself.
– Shut up
– How dare you say that to Kang Cheol-mangchi?
– Compare it to items of the same level and tier first. The quality difference versus monster-dropped gear is obvious, so the price is naturally higher
– If you buy Kang Cheol-mangchi’s equipment, your growth speed and survivability literally change—how is being expensive even a question?
– Honestly, this isn’t even expensive right now. His stuff constantly sells out, and if it were me, I’d charge even more every time
– ㅇㅇ At this point Kang Cheol-mangchi is practicing restraint and selling with a conscience
– Don’t post things like this—I’m scared he’ll raise prices again ㅠㅠ
– Still, at this price point, anyone grinding Gates and saving up can definitely afford it. Especially since Magic Stones are selling better these days
– Please don’t post comments like that!!!
Many Awakeners stood up for me and left their own comments.

Honestly, the Awakener Community was a place where anonymity meant plenty of people spouted harsh language.
So when they stepped up to defend me like this,
I couldn’t have been more grateful.
In any case, as I continued crafting items like that,
“Chirp! Master!”
a Boss Monster appeared in the forest too.
* * *
Blacksmith’s Forest.
The Boss Monster that appeared at the end of Zone 2
creaked and groaned—
“That’s it?”
“Chirp! This time I can’t cut it down by myself!”
was a black tree.
Of course, it wasn’t an ordinary tree.
Its size was massive, and black sap dripped continuously from the branches—clearly dangerous at a glance.
According to Grom,
“That sap transforms like a weapon!”
“The sap?”
Once combat began, the viscous sap would harden into weapon forms
and, wielded through the branches, it would attack anything that drew near.
At range, it would also harden into sharp projectiles and lob them as attacks.
But regardless,
“Let’s go.”
“Chirp!”
it was an enemy that had to be defeated.
Without hesitation, I ordered my companions to attack.
As expected,
the sap hardened with a crack—
solidifying at the branch tips.
It hardened into weapons both sharp as blades and blunt as clubs.
The sight of dozens of hardened-sap weapons wielded from the branch ends was profoundly threatening.
Yet.
“Chirp-chirp-chirp!”
my companions proved far stronger than expected.
Grom weathered those attacks with his body and charged in,
and in that opening, my other companions burrowed straight into the tree’s trunk,
“Wahahahah!”
swinging—
their Pickaxes,
and with a scrape—
their daggers,
“Noom!”
Noom followed right behind and mimicked the attack, landing a second consecutive blow.
Then Grom, regardless of his injuries, drew out his axe.
“Kee-yah!”
Crack!
He swung it toward the tree.
The battle grew fierce enough, but the outcome came quickly.
Serin’s twin blades had created countless weak points across the creature’s body.
Toran dropped a Pickaxe weighted to maximum force down upon it.
Noom swung his wooden hammer overhead.
And Grom added his axe to the assault.
No matter how violently the tree thrashed, it couldn’t withstand the onslaught.
So in the end.
Grrrack—
The trunk was cleaved more than halfway through, and the creature’s movements ceased.
Still, it felt like the strongest Boss Monster we’d faced so far.
No wonder—the creature’s attacks had left Grom’s entire body covered in wounds.
For Grom’s sake.
[ You have purchased ‘Beast Recovery Potion’. ]
“Grom, drink this. And spread half of it over your wounds.”
“Kee-yah, Grom fine! Spit fix it!”
“I’m the one who’s not fine with that. Come on.”
“Thanks, Master!”
I handed him the potion.
With this, the third zone of the hunting grounds, the mine, and the forest had all been unlocked.
And that wasn’t all.
‘Now it’s Grom’s turn.’
Since I’d already crafted items with special abilities for Serin and Toran.
It was time to make an item with a special ability for Grom next.
After a short wait, Grom finished the potion and his wounds healed. He grabbed his axe and rushed at the fallen tree.
Thunk, thunk, crack!
His axe swung powerfully.
Each time it fell, the hard wood splintered away rapidly.
“Kee-yah, Master! Here it is!”
“Thank you, Grom.”
[ Black Sap Ancient Tree Sap ]
[ Black Sap Ancient Tree Branch ]
He’d completely dismantled the Boss Monster and brought me the materials.
The moment I took the materials, a design blueprint formed in my mind instantly.
I’d make a handle from the branch, and if I smelted the sap carefully to forge it into an axe blade.
One fine axe for Grom, ready in a snap.
The weapons that Boss Monster made from its sap were as sharp and sturdy as those forged from ore.
A quality result was guaranteed.
Satisfied with this, I turned to head back to the Smithy of Time.
“Kee-yah, Master!”
“Yes?”
“It was lying next to the tree! Something shiny!”
Grom handed me another item.
What on earth was this?
It looked just like a Mana Stone.
But it was different from a Mana Stone.
I could tell, having consumed more Mana Stones than anyone else so far.
A Mana Stone burning bright red like flame.
No—something fundamentally different from a Mana Stone altogether.
What revealed its identity was.
– You have obtained an Awakening Stone.
– Congratulations, Jang Gang-cheol.
“An Awakening Stone?”
– You should be able to confirm its nature immediately through the item information.
It was Ember.
An Awakening Stone, no less.
I couldn’t judge from the item name alone, so I decided to check the item information as Ember suggested.
[ Awakening Stone Lv 4 ]
Form : –
Grade : –
Restriction : Blacksmith of the Smithy of Time
Description : An Awakening Stone that raises the level of equipment corresponding to Level 4 among the elements of the Smithy of Time.
I could confirm the shocking information about the item.
“So you’re saying I can raise the Smithy’s level with this?”
The Mana Stones I’d need the next time I raised the Smithy’s level would be roughly sixteen high-grade Mana Stones.
In other words.
Converting it to money.
This ‘Awakening Stone Lv 4’ was worth a staggering sixteen billion.

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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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