My Catastrophic‑Level Summon Devours Gates - Chapter 64

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 64

 

Metal that split apart with a bright flash of light.

 

“It’s a mess.”

 

A sharp voice pierced straight into my eardrums.

 

Ugh.

 

A fact flew straight into my chest and stuck there.

 

I had nothing to say.

 

“Do you know what the problem is?”

 

“Both the force and mana were excessive.”

 

“70 points.”

 

Uurgh.

 

I didn’t think I’d be satisfied with the first spoonful.

 

No.

 

Actually, I did a little.

 

While learning work at the blacksmith shop, I never once thought it was difficult.

 

For 5 years, while handling byproducts.

 

My dexterity had steadily improved.

 

I was confident in delicate work like force control too.

 

The wide-eyed reactions of the artisans had boosted my confidence even more.

 

Wait, wasn’t I actually a genius?!

 

“I’ll try again.”

 

“Please do.”

 

I gathered the scattered metal fragments and put them in the furnace.

 

When they were heated to the right temperature, I took them out and hammered them into one lump.

 

“Whew.”

 

I folded the flattened iron.

 

This time for sure.

 

Clang!

 

“Uurgh.”

 

My wrist is numb.

 

If earlier the metal split because I infused too much mana.

 

This time the recoil came back because I lacked force.

 

“Hiya. This is difficult.”

 

Attempting mana folding additionally would be pushing it.

 

The force didn’t enter the impact point evenly, so it lost commercial value.

 

Just from learning work at the blacksmith shop for a few days.

 

This much caught my eye.

 

“Will you try again?”

 

“Yes.”

 

But so what if I’m not a genius.

 

Since when did I rely on talent?

 

If I had talent, I wouldn’t have spent 5 years as an E-rank Hunter.

 

Ehehehehe.

 

Don’t worry.

 

I’m more confident than anyone in persistently challenging things.

 

I put the iron back in the furnace.

 

While waiting for it to heat up, I massaged my numb wrist.

 

Claaang!

 

This attempt failed too.

 

“Will you try again?”

 

I nodded at Nam Jin-woo’s question.

 

“Oh right. How many points this time?”

 

“65 points.”

 

“That’s good.”

 

A laugh slipped out.

 

【Master. Are you alright?】

 

【Don’t overdo it. You’ll get in big trouble.】

 

Don’t worry.

 

The fact that the score dropped was actually a positive reaction.

 

The point where I applied force was different just now.

 

I made a difference from the first attempt, but the completion level dropped.

 

This confirmed that the point where I made changes was the wrong answer.

 

【To my eyes, there seems to be no difference though.】

 

【Since this is the first time seeing mana acting in the refining process, I don’t really know either.】

 

Yeah.

 

I don’t know either, so don’t worry about it.

 

I’ll get the hang of it through trial and error.

 

If I got the same score as the first time, I wouldn’t have been able to figure out the cause.

 

I just need to pick out the point deduction factors, right?

 

“This is actually good.”

 

Competitive spirit wells up inside me.

 

Let’s see who wins, you or me.

 

I took out the heated iron again.

 

Claaang!

 

I struck down with all my might.

 

Iron fragments that shattered to pieces.

 

“68 points.”

 

“The first attempt was the most generous.”

 

“Will you try again?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Good.

 

Metal chunk.

 

Let’s go all the way to the end today.

 

* * *

 

When Min-ho broke the iron on his first attempt.

 

Nam Jin-woo wasn’t disappointed.

 

‘It’s a natural result.’

 

Mana folding is a technique that’s not easy even for a second-year apprentice blacksmith.

 

To someone who’s an outsider, there wouldn’t seem to be much difference.

 

‘You have to precisely match the timing of applying force and the timing of imbuing mana.’

 

That’s the core technique in mana folding.

 

The metal breaking on the first attempt was a phenomenon that occurred when the layered mana collided with the hastily applied force.

 

‘Still, once he knows the trick, he’ll learn it quickly.’

 

Just as Nam Jin-woo was about to give advice about mana folding.

 

Nam Jin-woo ended up seeing it.

 

Those blazing eyes.

 

An intense obsession to definitely accomplish it with his own hands was dwelling there.

 

“Will you try again?”

 

he asked.

 

“Yes.”

 

The answer came back as if it had been waiting.

 

Clang!

 

Clatter—

 

Clank!

 

“Ugh.”

 

Until the sun that had risen high in the sky tilted westward.

 

Without leaving his position even once.

 

Min-ho steadily swung his hammer.

 

‘What tremendous concentration.’

 

It felt like watching Master.

 

Like that.

 

Nam Jin-woo stood there blankly, continuing to watch Min-ho’s work.

 

‘The average period to grasp mana forging is 2 weeks.’

 

That was based on apprentices working in the Blacksmith District.

 

Since those who pride themselves on talent take 2 weeks.

 

If we base it on all blacksmiths in Korea, it would take much longer to learn mana forging.

 

‘Did it take me two days?’

 

Nam Jin-woo chuckled as he recalled the moment he mastered mana forging.

 

How long would Min-ho take?

 

Wouldn’t he manage it within two days?

 

He didn’t feel jealous.

 

Rather, watching Min-ho’s progress sparked his competitive spirit.

 

Not the previous generation like Han Yo-han or the Three Craftsmen.

 

It was the joy that the day wasn’t far when he could compete with a blacksmith of similar age.

 

‘Is this what they call raising something to devour it?’

 

Nam Jin-woo’s skill was enough to set up a workshop in the Blacksmith District.

 

Skill and talent worthy of carrying the title of Chief Apprentice of Hanil Forge!

 

Beyond his peers, at the ‘apprentice’ level, there was no one comparable to him.

 

Even blacksmiths who had set up workshops under their own names had to acknowledge his superiority.

 

In the midst of this.

 

The appearance of Min-ho, a blacksmith who handled bones, provided great stimulation to him.

 

‘Hunter Park. Let’s keep going just like this.’

 

How long had the metal chunk been repeating heating and forging?

 

Claaang!

 

“Hm?”

 

A different resonance came from the hammering.

 

Nam Jin-woo’s eyes trembled.

 

Whoosh!

 

Blue flames emerged from the folded iron.

 

It was a phenomenon that occurred when mana combusted.

 

Wait.

 

He accomplished this in just one day?!

 

The emotion of shock flashed across Nam Jin-woo’s pupils.

 

* * *

 

Forgetting everything.

 

I repeated heating the metal, taking it out, and striking it down.

 

How many times was it?

 

After the fifth time, I gave up counting.

 

I put the metal that failed forging back into the furnace.

 

Even during breaks, I kept ruminating to not forget the sensation remaining in my fingers.

 

“Whew.”

 

Now I think I’m starting to understand.

 

The core of mana forging.

 

If you imbue mana in sync with the moment of striking.

 

The mana compresses and seems to improve the metal quality.

 

The problem is it’s not an easy technique to succeed at just because you know the trick.

 

“Still, shall I try?”

 

Wiping away the beads of sweat on my forehead.

 

I lifted the hammer once more.

 

Appropriate force.

 

Amount of mana.

 

And timing of imbuing.

 

When all three beats align.

 

[Mana Forging] activates.

 

Claaang!

 

As the hammer struck the iron, blue flames flickered and disappeared.

 

[Bone Metallurgy]

 

[Sub-skill – Mana Forging has been acquired.]

 

[Mana Forging]

 

Grade: B

 

Imbues mana during the forging process.

 

Depending on the nature of the imbued mana, the completed item is enhanced or additional options are granted.

 

Understanding: 8%

 

Before the sense of achievement could set in.

 

My right arm reflexively swung the hammer.

 

Claaang!

 

[Mana Forging]

 

Blue flames flickering twice in succession.

 

Folding the iron.

 

Repeatedly striking it.

 

[Mana Forging]

 

By the fourth time.

 

Now even folding wasn’t easy.

 

But I didn’t want to lose this feeling.

 

Clang!

 

[Mana Forging has failed.]

 

[When crafting items with this metal, durability will decrease by 38%.]

 

“Huff. Gasp.”

 

I was so absorbed in hammering that I forgot to breathe.

 

I collapsed from the belated fatigue.

 

【You’ve overexerted yourself!】

 

【Master. You need to take deep breaths.】

 

Both arms trembling.

 

My vision spun in circles.

 

【It’s exhaustion.】

 

Good grief.

 

I invested quite a bit in stamina stats too.

 

I got exhausted from just hammering a bit?

 

【A little? You’ve been hammering iron from morning till night.】

 

Whoa.

 

It really was.

 

Outside the blacksmith shop was shrouded in darkness.

 

“Please have some water.”

 

I didn’t refuse the cup Nam Jin-woo offered and gulped it down.

 

Huh.

 

The water tastes a bit salty.

 

“Salt is good for dehydration.”

 

My goodness.

 

What a useful tip(?).

 

“Seeing how familiar you are with this, you must have experienced it often.”

 

“Both me and Master sometimes collapse from exhaustion when we get too focused.”

 

It was all moves that came from experience.

 

No wonder.

 

He didn’t show any signs of panic.

 

【These people also live with chivalry in their hearts.】

 

I don’t really know what chivalry means to you.

 

【Concentration is good, but please take care of your health too, Master.】

 

Ingrid’s telepathy was full of worry.

 

Ugh.

 

This is the first time I’ve been so immersed since becoming a Hunter.

 

I didn’t have the strength to move even a finger.

 

I don’t know how I managed to swing a hammer in this physical condition.

 

“It means Hunter Park has the makings of an excellent blacksmith.”

 

“Ah, ahaha. Thank you for the compliment.”

 

“I’m being sincere.”

 

Why did your eyes suddenly become so passionate too?

 

It’s like looking at the Three Craftsmen.

 

“To succeed at folding three times in just one day. Amazing!”

 

“I felt like I could do more, but it didn’t work out as I thought.”

 

“Mana folding becomes more difficult the more you repeat it.”

 

“Really?”

 

“The more you fold, the thicker the iron becomes, so you have to be careful with both strength and mana control.”

 

Ah.

 

“There’s never been a case of someone succeeding at folding three times in just one day.”

 

That seems a bit exaggerated.

 

Blacksmith District is the ultimate stage that aspiring blacksmiths in our country dream of.

 

It’s a bit much for me to set a first record, beating out all those people.

 

“It’s true.”

 

Okay, I get it, so please don’t look so serious.

 

【As expected of Isra’s Lord.】

 

【I believed in you all along.】

 

Believed in what?

 

Sigh.

 

Everyone around me is just a flatterer, so I can’t trust them.

 

Still.

 

I couldn’t help the corners of my mouth twitching upward.

 

After resting a bit, my energy quickly returned.

 

It was worth investing in the stamina stat.

 

Once I caught my breath, I noticed Nam Jin-woo.

 

“You couldn’t even leave work because of me.”

 

“I’m waiting for Master to come out anyway, so it’s fine.”

 

“But all the other apprentices have already left work?”

 

“I’m the Chief Apprentice, so I should take care of Master.”

 

I thought he couldn’t leave work because of me.

 

I felt a little less guilty.

 

“Next time, I’ll buy you a meal.”

 

“Oh. I’m looking forward to it.”

 

“Do you like tripe?”

 

“I can’t eat it.”

 

Ah.

 

That’s a shame.

 

“I can’t eat it because it’s not available.”

 

“That’s a relief. I recently discovered a great restaurant.”

 

It’s a restaurant that the Response Department Director himself, a hero of our country, personally recommended.

 

Nam Jin-woo would definitely be satisfied.

 

On the way back after receiving such valuable teachings.

 

【Immediate power enhancement would be difficult.】

 

【You could just make equipment for those Iron Heads of yours.】

 

【Ah. Mage. You do use your head well after all.】

 

【Hmph. I’m pretty smart.】

 

While walking and listening to the conversation between the two vassals.

 

An idea suddenly flashed in my mind.

 

Mana folding.

 

I wonder if I could use it for minion enhancement?

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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