The Cursed Blacksmith Who Regressed - Chapter 21

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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 21

Choi Hyun held up a bundle of microphones and spoke.

“Thank you all for taking the time to come here despite your busy schedules. I’m Hunter Choi Hyun, who ranked first overall in this Hunter exam.”

Choi Hyun greeted them politely.

Then questions slowly began to follow.

“You received a perfect score on the written exam, even getting the notoriously difficult killer questions right. Did you do any special studying beforehand?”

“I just bought a few problem books and solved them. That’s all.”

“You also received perfect scores in almost every category during the practical exam, and survived as the final survivor in the last survival test. What was your previous occupation?”

“I’m twenty years old this year, and I didn’t have any particular job before becoming a Hunter.”

At Choi Hyun’s answer, exclamations like “What?”, “Wow.”, “Oh my…” poured out.

No matter how they thought about it, it didn’t make sense.

“If you don’t mind me asking, what class did you awaken as?”

This was actually one of the things they were most curious about.

Since he was young but had defeated formidable competitors to claim the top spot.

That’s why everyone thought he was likely a combat class, especially physical combat.

It was common knowledge that magic classes were weak in the early stages.

However, an answer that completely defied the reporters’ expectations came from Choi Hyun’s mouth.

“I’m a blacksmith.”

“As expected, a swordsman… What?”

“I’m a blacksmith.”

“What do you mean… The final survival test footage hasn’t been released yet so we couldn’t confirm it, but according to Association officials, you fought very well. Are you really saying you’re a blacksmith?”

Choi Hyun summoned the Hammer of Repair to show them.

“Yes, that’s correct. And I’m planning to grow specialized in repair.”

“What? What do you mean by that? Don’t blacksmiths usually grow toward crafting?”

“That’s true, but I prefer the repair side. I think it suits me better too.”

“What do you mean by it suits you better?”

“I’m not planning to be a blacksmith who only works in a workshop, but one who directly goes to sites and conquers dungeons and gates.”

Choi Hyun transformed the hammer to show them a claw hammer.

“You’ll see this in the Association exam footage that will be released later, but when I don’t have weapons, I mainly use a claw hammer. If I have one, I’m planning to mainly use swords. Of course, I have plans prepared for this as well.”

People began to murmur.

That was because most of the world’s famous blacksmith Players were only providing support from the very back lines.

‘Fighting blacksmiths didn’t really appear until after the 2nd Great Upheaval.’

Choi Hyun said.

“Of course, I’m not saying this out of simple competitive spirit. I’m currently level 1 and have finally finished all my preparations. I’ve arranged this occasion to show you my future growth direction and to show you what kind of person I am.”

“How will you show us?”

At the reporter’s question, Choi Hyun pointed to the Growth Tower behind him with the summoned claw hammer.

“I understand the current world record for the Growth Tower is the 49th floor. Today, I will challenge the Growth Tower alone and break that record solo.”

“…!”

“…!”

“…!”

Breaking the world record.

At those words, the reporters began to stir and flash their cameras.

Choi Hyun deliberately didn’t mention Daesan.

Revealing Daesan was something he could do after breaking the record.

“Finally, thank you for attending for the sake of an insignificant wandering Hunter. I’ll see you again after challenging the Growth Tower.”

“When will you challenge it?”

“Right now.”

Flash! Flash! Flash! Flash!

The flashes go off.

In their urgency, the reporters showered him with questions, but Choi Hyun entered the Growth Tower without looking back.

Han Yeong-min, who was watching the news with a dumbfounded expression, cursed without realizing it.

“This guy is completely fucking crazy?”

And he got angry.

“Wait, so these bastards got beaten up by a blacksmith who isn’t even a combat class?!”

“P-President, please calm down…!”

“Do I look like I’m in a state to calm down? Do I look calm?! Aaaahhh!!”

Han Yeong-min regretted it.

He should have killed that bastard before he did the interview.

And at the same time.

“Huh…”

Jang Hae-hyeon, who was watching the news with the Secretary Manager in the President’s Office, also let out an exclamation.

“I knew he wasn’t ordinary, but I didn’t know he was to this extent.”

“Yes, if Advisor Choi really does break the world record, it seems like it will have a positive impact on our Daesan as well.”

“So this is why you suggested an advisor position instead of guild membership…”

The corners of Jang Hae-hyeon’s mouth rise.

He was very much looking forward to Choi Hyun’s future growth.

* * *

“You may enter.”

The staff member managing the Growth Tower helps Choi Hyun enter.

The staff member was naturally from the Association.

Unlike ordinary gates or dungeons, the Growth Tower exists commonly throughout the world, and Players can immediately declare withdrawal whenever they want, so it’s managed by the state for the balanced growth of Hunters.

In other words, it’s a public gate.

Choi Hyun walked into the portal.

[ Qualifications are met. ]

[ Entering the Growth Tower. ]

Whoosh!

Light flashes and his vision changes completely.

What appeared in his restored vision was a spacious field the size of a sports ground.

[ You have entered the 1st Floor. ]

‘It’s been a while.’

The information Choi Hyun remembered about the Growth Tower went up to the 49th floor.

This was the world record through both past and present, and it was also a record made by Yang Hui, who said he ultimately had no choice but to give up because he couldn’t defeat the enemy on the 49th floor.

That’s because the Growth Tower had a maximum entry level limit of 30.

‘That’s why some Hunters would form elite parties at level 30 and make one final challenge to raise their value.’

But even so, Korea’s official highest record was the 44th floor.

Choi Hyun planned to shatter that record in one go today.

[ Beginning the 1st Floor challenge. ]

The tower’s notification.

At the same time, slimes appeared.

Choi Hyun drew the tutorial sword instead of the claw hammer.

It was the one that had become more complete through disassembly repair.

He deliberately drew the sword because his opponents were slimes.

When facing opponents with body structures similar to humans, nothing beat a claw hammer, but since most weren’t like that, swords were generally better when facing monsters.

Choi Hyun immediately ran toward the slimes.

[ Hyper Focus is activated. ]

[ Nimble Feet is activated. ]

[ Nameless Footwork is activated. ]

Three skills activating simultaneously as he runs.

Slash!

[ Dexterity is activated. ]

[ Nameless Swordsmanship is activated. ]

[ First Strike is activated. ]

[ Critical is activated. ]

Four skills activated simultaneously as he swung his sword.

[ You have defeated a Slime. ]

Choi Hyun succeeded in wiping out all the slimes with one-hit kills.

[ You have cleared the 1st Floor. ]

[ You have leveled up. ]

[ You have gained 1 bonus stat. ]

[ Heavenly Martial Body is activated. ]

[ Strength, Stamina, Mana, and Sense stats increase by 1 each. ]

[ The door to the 2nd Floor has opened. ]

His first level up.

It was more like a warm-up exercise, but since he was level 1, he leveled up immediately after clearing the 1st Floor.

And Choi Hyun smiled.

‘5 stats from a single level up.’

An insane growth structure.

How could he not smile?

Choi Hyun invested the bonus stat he gained into Dexterity and immediately entered the portal leading to the next floor.

[ Moving to the 2nd Floor. ]

His vision changed completely.

Then several times more slimes than before appeared.

[ You have entered the 2nd Floor. ]

[ Beginning the 2nd Floor challenge. ]

Choi Hyun rushed forward first this time as well and swung his sword.

Growth Tower.

The surface reason was to break the world’s best record, but Choi Hyun had other goals.

Among them, clearing the 49th Floor that Yang Hui couldn’t conquer was basic, and obtaining at least 2 or more skills.

And if possible, he planned to show overwhelming combat without taking a single hit.

The System was more meticulous than expected, so when you performed acts worthy of such Achievements, it would grant appropriate rewards.

How much time had passed like that?

[ You have cleared the 13th Floor. ]

It was right after he had just conquered the 13th Floor.

[ You have leveled up. ]

[ You have gained 1 bonus stat. ]

[ Heavenly Martial Body is activated. ]

[ Strength, Stamina, Mana, and Sense stats increase by 1 each. ]

[ The door to the 14th Floor has opened. ]

Another level had gone up.

[ You have reached level 10. ]

[ You have achieved outstanding growth. ]

[ A new trait is being added. ]

[ You acquire the job trait ‘Materials’. ]

Choi Hyun was finally able to obtain his second job trait.

A gleam appeared in Choi Hyun’s eyes.

‘Finally, the second trait.’

He immediately checked the information.

[ Materials ]

– Type: Trait

# A secondary job exclusive trait for the Blacksmith Class.

# Grants material-related abilities to Blacksmith Players.

# Can use skill ‘Hammer of Materials’.

# Can use skill ‘Basic Gathering’.

# Can use skill ‘Basic Processing’.

All Players can obtain a secondary job trait when they reach level 10.

In that sense, the Blacksmith’s secondary job trait was ‘Materials’.

Blacksmiths not only make and repair items directly, but without the materials needed for those things, it would be meaningless, so being able to prepare materials directly was what made one a true blacksmith.

He immediately checked the Skill Information.

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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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