I Became an SSS-Grade Time-Transcending Almighty Blacksmith - Chapter 95

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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 95
Chapter 95
Of course.
The Underwater Breathing Item wasn’t provided to the Awakener Association for free.
I’d sold it to them.
At quite a steep price, too.
The Association itself had been exploring various approaches to resolving the Gyeonggi Bay Gate.
Among them was the option of hiring overseas mercenary units composed of Underwater Awakeners.
Compared to the cost of bringing in mercenaries, purchasing the items I’d crafted seemed far less burdensome.
‘Besides, my items aren’t single-use.’
If they hired mercenaries to breach the Gate?
The next time a problem arose,
they’d have to call in the mercenary unit again and pay up.
By contrast, purchasing my items meant they could tackle Underwater Gates on their own from that point forward.
Even at the premium price, it felt like they were getting the better deal.
And I wasn’t stopping there.
[ Using Crafting Skill. ]
I began making a new item.
Clang!
The scales and fins of the fish Drake had brought back.
I shaped them into armor by pounding away.
Underwater armor, learned while crafting Drake’s gear.
The materials weren’t nearly as good as what I’d used for Drake’s armor, but it would do.
Clang!
The result of striking the hammer with such vigor,
[ Crafting Complete. ]
[ Crafting Evaluation: S ]
[ ‘Wave Suit’ obtained. ]
I’d managed to craft the item I wanted.
Since it was based on the armor I’d made for Drake.
[ Wave Suit ]
Type: Armor
Grade: S
Requirement: Level 33 or higher
Description: Underwater armor crafted from fish-type monster materials, designed to match aquatic movement underwater.
Defense: 184
Abilities: Swimming Lv 3, Acceleration Lv 2, Temperature Control Lv 1, Underwater Breathing Lv 1
The item I’d just made was also underwater armor.
Using the scales, fins, and other materials Drake had procured, I’d crafted various forms of underwater armor.
My reason for making these items was simple.
“Association President, I’ve finished crafting.”
– Thank you.
It was a commission from the Association President.
This time, I’d cleared the Gyeonggi Bay Gate thanks to the Underwater Breathing Item.
But the strongest power underwater belonged to the Underwater Awakeners.
The problem was that standard equipment didn’t suit underwater combat well.
Because of this, it was hard for them to find gear, which made growth difficult.
The plan was to provide them with equipment through me from now on.
The equipment I could craft was limited to roughly level 33, unfortunately.
But the Association President said it would be a tremendous help even so.
After completing the Association President’s commission,
I was planning to rest briefly after such a busy day,
Ring.
when the Association President called again.
Since I’d spoken with him just moments ago, I hadn’t expected to hear from him for a while.
Curious about what this was about, I picked up.
– Apparently, Japan wants to import Underwater Breathing Items.
“Underwater Breathing Items?”
– Not just Japan. Taiwan’s already reached out, and now countries with significant coastlines are making requests one after another.
Suddenly, I was hearing the names of foreign nations.
Japan, Taiwan—I had no idea what any of this was about.
– I suppose I should explain from the beginning.
– Korea is surrounded by sea on three sides and faces threats from Underwater Gates, but many nations have it far worse.
– Island nations surrounded by sea on all four sides.
– Take Japan, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, the Philippines as examples.
– Places like those face particularly severe threats from Underwater Gates.
– Some nations have already experienced Gate Breaks, with monsters now appearing in their coastal waters.
“Ah…….”
The Association President’s explanation made it clear at once.
“So those countries want to import the Underwater Breathing Items and tackle their Underwater Gates more smoothly, is that it?”
– Precisely.
I’ve sensed it while watching the Awakener community.
The value of the Underwater Breathing Item I created is far greater than I’d imagined.
Seeing foreign nations clamoring to obtain it is proof enough.
After hearing that, I checked my Notes folder just to be sure.
Sure enough.
[ Japan Maritime Agency Special Response Bureau. ]
Greetings, Jang Gang-cheol.
Due to the nature of our nationally divided systems, we apologize for reaching out through a representative.
To be direct: our Special Response Bureau wishes to purchase the Underwater Breathing Items you’ve crafted.
Japan faces threats from Gates comparable to Korea’s Gyeonggi Bay Gate.
Or rather, from even more powerful ones.
Therefore…….
[ Chen Wei-rong of Taiwan’s Central Awakener Management Bureau. ]
Our Central Awakener Management Bureau has found hope in the Underwater Breathing Items you’ve created.
Taiwan has always been the place where the most Underwater Gates emerge, and so we’ve been cultivating the most Underwater Awakeners.
However, the number of Gates grows by the day, and Underwater Awakeners alone are no longer enough…….
My Notes folder was filled with messages from foreign countries.
So many had arrived that they’d been buried and overlooked.
This wasn’t even half of it.
Just as the Association President said, not only Japan and Taiwan but various island nations were attempting to contact me.
[ Deep Blue Mercenary Corps. ]
We’re reaching out because we’d like to purchase your Underwater Breathing Items.
Mercenary companies.
Guilds.
Messages from all sorts of organizations were arriving regardless of nationality.
It’s certainly good that my items are in such high demand.
But when so many countries, guilds, and mercenary companies contact me simultaneously, I’m at a loss.
On top of everything else, my Notes folder is already at capacity.
‘Maybe I should hire a manager…….’
Or a secretary, for that matter.
With the volume of items I’m selling increasing, managing market rates and posting listings individually has become tedious.
To focus more on crafting items.
I need someone to handle everything outside of production.
Well, that’s one thing.
First, I need to sort out this current matter.
– If you’re willing, the Association would like to take the lead on these negotiations.
The Association President said he’d handle everything himself.
Well, if it’s the Association President, he’s trustworthy enough.
“Really? That would be wonderful. What about the commission…….”
– Instead of a commission, there’s a favor I’d like to ask.
– Orders from above, but they want to gain a Diplomatic Advantage from this transaction.
– I’ll make sure there’s as little inconvenience to you as possible…….
A Diplomatic Advantage.
I’m not sure what kind of advantage they’re after.
But this helps Korea too.
And they’re not taking a commission.
The Association President should be able to negotiate the best possible price.
“I don’t mind.”
– Much obliged.
I left this matter entirely to the Association.
As a blacksmith should,
Clang!
I swung my hammer
and began crafting the Underwater Breathing Items everyone wanted.
Fortunately, Drake brought an enormous quantity of gill materials, so I was able to produce a substantial number of items without running into supply problems.
* * *
Not long after,
I delivered the Underwater Breathing Items I had made to the Awakener Association.
As expected, the Association sold every last item abroad at an excellent price.
Without taking a single cut for themselves.
I’d wondered whether, having sold them at such a high price, the Association President might forfeit the diplomatic advantage he’d mentioned.
– This is Yang Hye-jin from Gate Report.
– Today I’ve brought you some genuinely good news for a change.
– The Awakener Association has apparently concluded an agreement with Japan’s Maritime Agency Special Response Bureau through Kang Cheol-mangchi’s items.
– In exchange for importing the Underwater Breathing Items, Japan has agreed to provide the Awakener Association with research information on underwater-type Gates and monsters…….
I was wrong.
The Association had secured fair compensation for exporting the items.
Not only did I get paid well for the items, but I also gained international recognition for my name.
The Association, in turn, was able to easily obtain Japanese research data.
It was, in every sense, a win-win strategy.
Moreover, since the Underwater Breathing Items I’d made were hardly in short supply,
the Association proceeded to negotiate not only with Japan, but with various other nations as well.
And the result was,
– Through negotiations with Taiwan, we have received expertise and tactical knowledge on underwater-type Gate raids.
– Taiwan, being the nation most specialized in underwater-type Gate raids in the world, has accumulated considerable knowledge.
– Receiving this information will undoubtedly prove invaluable to Korea, which is surrounded by sea on three sides.
– The Association announced that it would provide this acquired information to underwater-type Awakeners and support their development…….
Including Taiwan,
– the United Kingdom, Philippines, Indonesia, and many other nations
– have been showering Korea with requests.
– Kang Cheol-mangchi’s Underwater Breathing Items
– are nothing less than a beacon of salvation for island nations threatened by underwater-type Gate exposure.
– Thanks to this, Korea has gained numerous diplomatic advantages,
– and is not merely profiting, but contributing to global stability through worldwide cooperation.
– Accordingly, the government has decided to confer a Diplomatic Service Medal upon Kang Cheol-mangchi…….
I sold Underwater Breathing Items to numerous countries.
Since each nation was requesting a minimum of a hundred units, I’d been swinging my hammer quite frantically all this while.
Just how busy was I?
“There are hardly any gills left….”
“That’s all?”
“I’m going to need to hunt down the third boss soon…….”
“Ah, I see. Just tell us as soon as you find one. We’ll help you.”
“I can manage on my own…… taking it slow is fine…….”
Drake was struggling to keep up with the gill supply.
Still, by hunting down practically every fish up to the 3rd Zone, I was able to meet the quotas,
and thanks to Noum quickly picking up my crafting method, I managed to complete the full quantities.
True, there are still others who want Underwater Breathing Items,
but since I’ve handled the major requests, I’m planning to stop making them for a while.
The materials are running low anyway.
While I was making these,
[ Iron Steel Stone ]
[ Rough Bark Wood ]
[ Red Mane ]
…….
materials that Serin, Toran, and Grom have gathered are piling up in the warehouse.
I need to process those quickly.
Otherwise Drake would collapse from overwork before I knew it.
Of course, unlike before, Noum is now at my side,
[ Crafting is complete. ]
[ Crafting Evaluation: S ]
[ You have obtained ‘Light Iron Steel Armor’. ]
[ You have obtained ‘Rough Bark Club’. ]
[ You have obtained ‘Red Mane Helmet’. ]
…….
With materials I’d never seen before, all I needed was to understand the crafting method for turning them into items.
“Leave it to Noum!”
[ Light Iron Steel Armor ]
[ Rough Bark Club ]
[ Red Mane Helmet ]
…….
Noum followed through, making efficient use of the materials.
Fortunately, since all the assistants were staying in the 3rd Zone, the quantity of new materials was modest.
I was able to teach Noum all the new crafting methods in no time.
And so.
“Phew.”
After wrapping up.
I let out a breath.
I’d taught Noum all the recipes, so normally I would have started repair work right away.
But things were different now.
“Association President.”
– What is it?
I called the Association President the moment I finished the work.
He’d told me from the start to contact him immediately if I needed anything.
And in the current situation, he was the only person who could handle this matter.
My purpose was straightforward.
“I’m looking to establish a guild.”
Guild establishment.

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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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