I Became an SSS-Grade Time-Transcending Almighty Blacksmith - Chapter 98

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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 98
Episode 98
Japan suffered chronically from Underwater Gates.
Then again, Japan was an island nation surrounded by sea on all sides.
It was only natural that more Underwater Gates appeared.
Though the nation had produced many outstanding Underwater Awakeners as a result.
“We need more Underwater Breathing Items!”
What they had wasn’t enough.
Given Japan’s unique situation where Underwater Gates posed a greater threat than land-based ones,
no amount of Underwater Breathing Items could ever be sufficient.
But there was something else.
“If we use this right, we could actually profit from it.”
As mentioned, Japan—like Taiwan—had a large number of well-trained Underwater Awakeners.
So if they could obtain more Underwater Breathing Items,
and managed to clear all their domestic Underwater Gates, securing themselves in the process,
wouldn’t they be able to dispatch those Underwater Awakeners to other nations and profit handsomely?
With such thoughts in mind,
Japan made an additional request to Korea for Underwater Breathing Items.
This time, however, Kang Cheol-mangchi said he would handle the transaction directly rather than go through the association.
The problem was,
“Payment in Mana Stones?”
“Yes, that’s what we were contacted about.”
“How many?”
“It’s not excessive. They say they’ll accept only what corresponds to the fair price.”
“Hmm…….”
The terms of the deal had changed.
On one hand, this meant Korea didn’t need to grovel diplomatically,
but being asked to accept payment in Mana Stones—
that was problematic.
Mana Stones were treated as strategic materials globally, and while domestic trade was manageable, international transactions were heavily restricted.
However.
“Approve it.”
“But… sir—”
“Strategic materials, my foot! Right now, Underwater Breathing Items are what matter most!”
“Still—”
“If we increase our supply of Underwater Breathing Items, we secure our own safety and at the same time spread Japanese influence through our dispatches, earning foreign currency on top of it all!”
“…….”
“I’ll negotiate with the higher-ups myself. We give a hundred Mana Stones and make two hundred in return—what kind of fool turns down a deal like that?”
Japan didn’t miss this opportunity.
Mana Stones as strategic materials?
Why would that matter now?
We’ll naturally obtain Mana Stones by clearing Underwater Gates.
And if the dispatch plan succeeds as intended, we can even mine Mana Stones from foreign territory.
There was no way they could reject such favorable conditions just because Mana Stones were classified as strategic materials.
“Execute it immediately!”
And so, Japan was able to purchase Underwater Breathing Items from Kang Cheol-mangchi using Mana Stones as payment.
* * *
“This is actually working.”
After selling Underwater Breathing Items to Japan
and receiving Mana Stones in return.
Korea faced a shortage of Mana Stones, and nations rarely traded them with one another,
but through this method, he could secure Mana Stones without any problems.
And it wasn’t just Japan.
As Drake brought in gills, they were fashioned into Underwater Breathing Items,
and each time, they were sold to nations that wanted them,
“Kang Cheol-mangchi, sir—Mana Stones!”
and payment was received in Mana Stones.
And there was one more thing.
“We finally got approval!”
“For export?”
“Yes, now I can sell items besides the Underwater Breathing Item! There are a few conditions, though.”
“A few?”
“There are certain countries where sales are restricted. Naturally, those are places that are globally dangerous or diplomatically at odds with Korea, but there aren’t that many of them.”
“That’s unavoidable.”
“And whenever we conduct trades, we have to file proper reports and pay tariffs. The chairman handled that skillfully, so we’re applying the minimum rates. Also…….”
I had officially received export authorization.
Now I could sell items freely not just domestically, but internationally as well.
This was a significant development.
If I chose the export destinations and items carefully.
Even accounting for tariffs, I could earn far more than selling items only within Korea.
Of course, I had no intention of exporting everything I produced right away.
I planned to prioritize the domestic market while conducting exports only occasionally.
With that established.
The next step was.
“I’m thinking of starting to recruit guild members.”
Guild recruitment. That was next.
The Steel Guild had been founded, but the only guild members were Lee Seo-yun and myself.
We didn’t have a single Combat Awakener.
Now that I’d taken on the burden of managing my affairs, I had some breathing room to start recruiting Combat Awakeners.
“How are you planning to do it? Your name would certainly attract plenty of applicants, but frankly, the real gems will be few and far between.”
“I’d imagine so.”
“Yes. Whether their levels are high or low, most promising Awakeners with genuine potential are already affiliated with guilds.”
That was right.
That was the problem.
I needed strong, talented Awakeners.
But most Awakeners like that were already affiliated with other guilds.
Some Awakeners operated independently, but the higher-tier the Gate, the closer to impossible it became to clear it alone—making guild membership practically mandatory.
“While your name does carry weight, the Steel Guild is still new, and filtering down to the truly promising Awakeners will be difficult.”
So what should I do?
The answer was simple.
‘Chae Jin-ho.’
A gamer I’d come to know in the Final Gate.
Chae Jin-ho, the Whip Master.
His abilities were exceptional, but he couldn’t fully display his power because he lacked a proper whip to wield.
I wanted to take in Awakeners like him.
Awakeners with high potential who were trapped by their equipment limitations, unable to fully realize their capabilities.
I wanted to find those kinds of people.
When I mentioned this.
“That’s a good idea. I’ve also heard about Chae Jin-ho. With that approach……you’ll definitely have a chance.”
Fortunately, the response was positive.
“May I handle the recruitment method myself?”
“Hmm, I was thinking of posting it on the Awakener Community. Would that be alright?”
“The Awakener Community?”
“Yes, it seems like the most effective way to reach Awakeners directly.”
“Hmm…….”
I could sense why Lee Seo-yun hesitated.
If we solicited guild membership through the Awakener Community, we’d get inquiries from all sorts of questionable characters.
That would make screening Awakeners even more difficult.
Knowing this.
“We can take on more people. There’s no rush, so we don’t need to process it quickly.”
I added the suggestion.
“Then I’ll do that. I’ll consolidate the applications and filter them as carefully as possible to match what you’re looking for, then show you the final candidates.”
“Thank you.”
She nodded.
Immediately after.
[ This is Kang Cheol-mangchi. ]
I posted a message on the Awakener Community.
The guild I had created.
The Steel Guild was recruiting new members.
In other words, I was recruiting the first members for this guild.
And, that instant.
“Even so, this is far more support than I expected…….”
Sponsorships from countless Awakeners began pouring in.
* * *
One day.
A post from Kang Cheol-mangchi appeared on the Awakener Community.
Its content was this:
[ This is Kang Cheol-mangchi. ]
I have decided to establish the Steel Guild under my name.
And I am now recruiting my first guild members.
It was a guild recruitment notice.
– Steel Guild?
– Kang Cheol-mangchi’s making a guild?
– Wait, when did he make a guild?
– Look at the guild name lol obviously it’s Kang Cheol-mangchi’s guild
– But why make a guild in the first place?
– Guilds originally meant associations of merchants and craftspeople in medieval Europe. A blacksmith like Kang Cheol-mangchi is the perfect fit lol
– That’s true, but there’s only one blacksmith in the world right now, isn’t there? Even if he makes a guild, there won’t be any crafting Awakeners to recruit
The world’s first and only blacksmith.
Why would such an Awakener make a guild, and what kind of members would he be selecting?
Curiosity got the better of everyone, and they clicked on Kang Cheol-mangchi’s post.
And.
– Read the details—he’s recruiting Combat Awakeners?
There it was: Kang Cheol-mangchi was recruiting Combat Awakeners.
Level didn’t matter.
Experience didn’t matter.
What the Steel Guild looked for was passion and potential alone.
Nothing else.
At first, they thought there wouldn’t be much incentive to join such a fledgling guild.
But it wasn’t like that.
– Wow the benefits are insane
– What are these welfare perks lol
– Full custom equipment sets made by Kang Cheol-mangchi, and gear level adjustments every time you level up. That’s crazy for real lolololol
– Custom equipment omg
– Even Rankers barely get requests for custom work these days, and he’s offering full matching sets lol
– So he can set the armor and accessories with set effects too then
– omg
Item provision.
This was a benefit beyond imagination.
With armor set effects combined with accessory set effects, combat power would skyrocket from the gear alone.
– What level gear can Kang Cheol-mangchi make now, Level 33?
– Nothing could be better than this for Level 33 and below lol
Level 33 and below—the maximum level Kang Cheol-mangchi could craft—meant peak performance.
Because of that.
– I already applied lol
– Me too
– Can’t pass this up!
– Forget the big guilds, Steel Guild is the best for Level 33 and below
– Sure it’s Level 33 and below now, but basically Kang Cheol-mangchi will keep growing too, right? So you’re armed with his top-tier gear for life?
– Facts lol
– This is insane I’m definitely joining
– I’ll be Steel Guild’s first generation member!!
Awakeners at Level 33 and below rushed to apply for the Steel Guild.
Of course, it wasn’t only Level 33 and below Awakeners who submitted applications.
– Level 33 and below is the peak with full armor sets, but isn’t this good even at higher levels?
– Just accessory sets alone are already huge
– Yeah, didn’t Yeom Je’s combat power shoot up from just getting one accessory?
– But what if you set three accessories with the set effect? That’s the real hit, right?
– That’s the hit, the real hit!
– Since when did that become a catchphrase;
– Anyway, if Kang Cheol-mangchi just fixes the Accessory for you, it’d be way better than most places;
– That’s true enough
– I’ve already applied
Even if your Level is high, you can still equip an Accessory.
And Kang Cheol-mangchi’s Accessories are already famous.
Starting with Yeom Je and Blood Lion, renowned Rankers have acknowledged the power of Kang Cheol-mangchi’s Accessories.
Haven’t people said that even the one called the Card Mage became a Ranker anew with Kang Cheol-mangchi’s help?
With such a reputation as the King Maker, no less.
If they join the Steel Guild now, wouldn’t they too have a chance at becoming Rankers?
With thoughts like these,
far more Awakeners applied than what Kang Cheol-mangchi and Lee Seo-yun had anticipated.
And then.
“I hear Kang Cheol-mangchi is equipping us with everything.”
Dense full plate armor covering every inch of skin.
Armed in a Full Plate Armor,
a man gripping a Greatsword in both hands that looked so heavy he could barely swing it.
“Should I apply too……?”
The man muttered as he lifted the eye guard of his helmet.

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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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