My Catastrophic‑Level Summon Devours Gates - Chapter 63
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Episode 63
I learned a lot from the fight with the Blue Raptor.
“I need to get stronger.”
I had become complacent.
That was my honest assessment.
Two Otherworldly Souls with extraordinary strength beyond normal standards.
The Armed Zombie Warrior and Skeleton Mage also possessed combat power exceeding D-rank summoned beings.
I thought with this much power, I wouldn’t get a single hair harmed in Gates.
【It was my oversight.】
【Our failure to properly assist Master is our sin.】
“I’m not trying to assign blame.”
The fact that you never know what variables might arise in real combat.
I had learned this painfully during my five years as a Hunter.
To become complacent just because I gained some power.
It’s time to return to my original mindset.
【Original mindset?】
“I’ll grow stronger in a way befitting a Necrosmith.”
Bone Metallurgy.
Corpse Processing.
Honing these two abilities to strengthen the undead.
I’m someone who focused solely on Corpse Processing for five years.
Spirit Eye?
When did I ever have such a convenient skill before?
I used to combine corpse byproducts this way and that.
I built up data by comparing the specs of completed undead one by one.
“I’ve become lazy.”
Right.
I’ve been living too comfortably lately.
With my two vassals, I could clear SSS-rank dungeons while twiddling my thumbs.
Maybe I forgot the essence because my familiars’ combat power was so outstanding.
Today happens to be the day I’m going to the forge anyway.
“I’m thinking of asking them to teach me something.”
【Advanced techniques are a craftsman’s symbol.】
【While it’s true the artisans have taken a liking to you, would they readily share their secret techniques?】
“Well, I’ll ask once and if they refuse, so be it.”
I didn’t have high expectations.
As my two vassals said.
A craftsman’s secret techniques aren’t shared with just anyone.
“I’m not hoping for anything that grand.”
Maybe I could learn one applied technique.
If they say no, then so be it.
“Hunter Park! How about learning my secret technique, the Spiral Mana Plate Smelting Method!”
“Hey. That old man is washed up. How about the Layered Smelting Technique.”
“Don’t do that. I’ve prepared some amazing liquor, so while we have a drink…”
Huh.
What the hell.
What’s going on here?
* * *
Clang! Claang!
When Min-ho came to learn blacksmithing.
The Three Craftsmen cleared their schedules and went to Hanil Forge as if they had made an appointment.
“Hmmmm.”
“Hooh.”
“Impressive indeed.”
His natural talent and instincts were amazing, and he even had persistence.
Seeing him absorb Nam Jin-woo’s teachings like a sponge made the Three Craftsmen’s hearts burn with excitement.
“Just as Elder Han said.”
“That fellow. He’s learning the joy of hammering.”
“He’ll master all the basics soon enough.”
A talent that would surpass Nam Jin-woo, the chief apprentice of Hanil Forge!
The Three Craftsmen shared the same thought.
‘I want to pass on my secret arts to Park Min-ho!’
They say you can recognize a promising tree from its first leaves.
With the Dexterity bonus combined with Min-ho’s talent and passion, his skills improved rapidly.
They realized within just a few days.
This guy couldn’t be monopolized by any one of them.
In that case.
Wouldn’t it be better to teach him all of our secret arts instead?
If he could master all three craftsmen’s secret techniques.
Becoming the world’s greatest blacksmith beyond just South Korea wouldn’t be a dream.
Of course.
They weren’t offering their secret arts from pure intentions.
‘I can’t stand to see him become just one person’s disciple!’
Not being chosen themselves was a secondary issue.
If Min-ho chose another craftsman, their wounded pride would make them burst with frustration.
The thought of not being able to stand seeing others benefit.
Was the cause that led to the strange conclusion of a joint disciple.
They had reached an agreement at yesterday’s drinking session.
And now he’s asking to learn more techniques – how could they hold back?
“All three of you, please calm down.”
“Where does a young punk get off interfering!”
“It’s problematic to try and monopolize such a spirited newcomer!”
“Back in my day! If you didn’t drink, you couldn’t put strength into your hammering!”
Nam Jin-woo broke out in a cold sweat.
‘These gentlemen seemed fine, but here they go again.’
Right.
Let’s acknowledge what needs acknowledging.
Considering the Three Craftsmen’s usual stubbornness, they had held back quite well up to this point.
It was actually surprising.
To think they’d even talk about something as ridiculous as a joint disciple while offering to share their secret arts.
‘They never said anything like that to me.’
Nam Jin-woo had been called the material for South Korea’s next number one blacksmith.
Even to someone like him, they had never mentioned anything about being a joint disciple.
‘Well, I did choose my master right away.’
But still.
Even if he had taken the same stance as Min-ho.
He wasn’t sure if the Three Craftsmen would have pleaded and begged like this.
In his eyes too, Min-ho was excellent material for a blacksmith.
‘These are gentlemen who wouldn’t budge even if I borrowed Master’s name.’
How could he calm down the Three Craftsmen?
Nam Jin-woo, who had been pondering for a moment, came up with a decent idea.
“Look how pale Hunter Park has turned.”
“Huh?”
“What are you going to do if the craftsmen throw a tantrum and refuse to come back?”
Ultimate move! Shifting the blame!
“Hunter Park. You must have been quite shocked, right?”
“Ah, um. Yes.”
“See!”
The three craftsmen flinched at Nam Jin-woo’s sharp rebuke.
The point that the three craftsmen feared!
It was Min-ho.
His consistent attitude of not being devoted to ‘blacksmith work.’
If you can’t teach me properly, it’s your loss, not mine! Only this meta approach could calm the three craftsmen down.
“And furthermore. Hunter Park can’t even do mana folding yet.”
“Ah. That’s right.”
“You need to know mana folding to learn the secret techniques.”
“Heh heh heh, if he wets his lips with a drink, he’ll learn folding in no time.”
The heat disappeared from the three craftsmen’s expressions.
“Apprentice Nam Jin-woo. Please teach Hunter Park well.”
“Teach him quickly so we can teach him our secret techniques too.”
“If it gets tough, have a cup of makgeolli.”
The craftsmen soon turned away with disappointed expressions.
Nam Jin-woo wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.
“Shall we begin then?”
* * *
I was dumbfounded.
It was like the atmosphere after a torrential downpour had finally stopped and we could catch our breath.
“Are you alright?”
“Me? Oh my. I’m fine.”
You don’t seem fine though.
The craftsmen’s eyes were blazing with fire.
【Haha. To think that renowned craftsmen are desperate to teach their secret techniques to our Lord!】
【Amazing. You’re truly the girl’s Master!】
Ugh.
Why is the embarrassment my share to bear?
“I haven’t done anything, yet you’re giving me such high praise.”
“Just looking at your learning speed, I can tell.”
I tried to change the subject, but he wouldn’t give me an opening.
Jin-woo wiped away his smile and put on a serious expression.
“Anyway, have you decided to seriously learn blacksmith work?”
“I want to learn more.”
“Good. Then let’s learn mana folding today.”
Mana folding.
It was the technique one of the three craftsmen had mentioned earlier.
“Have you heard of folding?”
“I’ve seen it on YouTube.”
Damascus steel.
Or the blacksmithing technique famous for Japanese sword making methods.
“Japanese swords are supposed to be that strong, right?”
“That’s greatly exaggerated.”
“What?”
The purpose of folding is to remove impurities.
“Japanese iron has many impurities, you see.”
Without folding, swords would break easily, so it was unavoidable.
Simply for making swords, machine production has much better durability, he said.
“I see.”
So folding wasn’t actually a technique?!
In novels and manga, it was mentioned like the ultimate secret!
Give me back my dreams!
“Then isn’t mana folding the same thing?”
“It’s a bit different.”
Folding iron while imbuing it with mana.
You can induce special properties or increase durability itself.
“Once you get used to mana folding, you can make rare items with ordinary materials.”
Main ability Lv 30 or higher.
That’s the condition for rare items.
Since the Lv attached to items amplifies effects every 10 levels.
The performance difference between Lv 29 and 31 was over 30%.
In my case, when smelting with iron, I get magic-grade items between Lv 18 and 22.
Using bone, I create results between Lv 22 and 28.
Learning mana folding means I can exceed Lv 30 regardless of materials.
“Rather than explaining a hundred times, showing you once would be faster.”
Jin-woo rolled up both sleeves.
He put a lump of iron into the forge.
When it was sufficiently heated, he took it out.
Clang! Claang!
Up to this point, it was the same as the existing process.
“Watch carefully.”
He grabbed the flattened metal with tongs.
Folded it over and swung his hammer again.
Claaang!
“Huh?”
It’s different from ordinary forging.
The moment he folded the iron and struck down, blue flames erupted from the contact surface.
It was fire created by Jin-woo’s mana combusting.
“What do you feel?”
“I think I might understand if I watch a bit more.”
“It’s not work that’ll be finished in one go, so take your time watching.”
Claaang!
Clang!
Each time he folded the iron, part of his mana combusted.
That was the identity of the blue flames that appeared when hammering.
As some mana combusted, the remaining power accumulated more solidly.
With what Jin-woo had explained beforehand.
And watching the work process, the principle of mana folding roughly entered my mind.
【This is the girl’s first time seeing the process of refining mana too. It’s beautiful.】
【It seems our Lord has already gotten the hang of it.】
The hang of it?
I don’t know.
Whether I’ll succeed on the first try.
Or whether I’d fail spectacularly was impossible to gauge.
However.
There was one thing I was certain of.
Clang!
Nam Jin-woo set down his hammer for a moment and turned his gaze toward me.
“You want to try, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
He stepped aside slightly and waved his hand lightly, gesturing for me to come over.
“But you were working on something.”
“I wasn’t trying to make a finished product anyway. I can just melt the iron down again.”
Taking over the hammer where someone else had been working felt a bit awkward.
But I didn’t refuse twice.
The technique Nam Jin-woo had shown me.
My hands were itching with the desire to try it myself.
【Lord. Do your best.】
【The girl believes without a doubt in Master’s success!】
Encouraged by my two vassals’ cheering, I stood before the heated metal.
Gripping the hammer in my hand.
Huuuuu.
I took a long deep breath and visualized the scene Nam Jin-woo had shown me.
[Bone Metallurgy]
Though the material I was handling wasn’t bone.
To infuse mana during the refining process, the skill had to be activated.
Calmly.
Following the image etched in my mind, I swung the hammer.
Claaaaaang!
“This is!?”
From behind me, I heard Nam Jin-woo’s voice filled with shock.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
