The Cursed Blacksmith Who Regressed - Chapter 52
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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 52
“Huuuu.”
I wipe away the sweat.
After acquiring Parrying 2 and starting to kill the invaders, in less than exactly one hour, I had eliminated most of the invaders existing on the island.
And.
Thud!
[ You have defeated a Vile Invader. ]
Finally, I cut off the last invader’s breath.
[ All enemies have been eliminated. ]
[ The mission is terminated as it is determined that further mission progress is impossible. ]
[ Gate ‘Invaders’ Playground’ has been conquered. ]
[ The Gate conqueror is Player ‘Choi Hyun’. ]
[ ‘Choi Hyun’ has been selected as the top conqueror. ]
[ Additional experience points are provided to the top conqueror. ]
[ A bonus stat is provided for being selected as the top conqueror. ]
[ You have succeeded in conquering alone a Gate that no one else could conquer. ]
[ For achieving a great Achievement, the System gifts you 3 bonus stats. ]
[ Your level has increased. ]
[ You have acquired 1 bonus stat. ]
[ Thousand Martial Physique activates. ]
[ Strength, Stamina, Magic Power, and Sense stats each increase by 1. ]
[ Since the Gate has been conquered, all traces of the Gate will completely disappear after 24 hours. ]
A stream of notifications poured out.
It wasn’t much different from the Whispering Darkness.
I was selected as the top conqueror due to the solo conquest and received bonus stats for the additional Achievement.
My level also increased by one as an unconditional reward for conquering the Gate.
However, despite this, the reason Gates have higher value than dungeons is because Gates provide guaranteed physical rewards.
[ Rewards for Gate conquest will be distributed. ]
[ Please select your reward. ]
Sure enough, several face-down cards appeared before my eyes.
The number of cards is always random.
Now I just need to pick one from here.
People commonly called this process ‘reward drawing’ or ‘card drawing’, and while it seemed like a random draw where everything had to be left to pure luck, there was one small secret hidden here.
[ Additional benefits are provided to the top conqueror. ]
That is, the top conqueror is provided with a better drawing method.
In that sense, the card Choi Hyun would draw was already decided.
It was the card that alone glowed golden among the several cards.
Thanks to this, there was no need to worry or amplify luck like with the Divine Bow.
Just by becoming the top conqueror, one of the best rewards obtainable from the Gate becomes visible.
The types are mainly skills, traits, and items.
I drew it immediately.
[ Reward will be distributed. ]
[ You acquire the trait ‘Invader’. ]
“Huh?”
A trait?
A trait can be drawn here?
Choi Hyun’s eyes widened as he immediately checked the trait information.
[ Invader ]
– Type: Trait
# When engaging in destructive acts without justifiable reason in other domains, all abilities are enhanced by 10%.
The corners of my mouth rise.
It was a reward I had never even thought of.
‘Wow, I’m getting a challenge trait from a place like this.’
Challenge traits referred to traits that automatically triggered buff effects when challenging Gates or dungeons, and the Invader I just acquired was that type.
That makes sense because Gates and Dungeons are domains taken by the System, so challenging them to reclaim those places could itself be viewed as an act of invasion.
‘I got something good.’
I immediately checked my status window.
[ Choi Hyun ]
– Lv: 32
– Class: Blacksmith
– Traits: ＜Demon’s Eye＞＜Repair＞＜Curse of Memory＞＜Anonymous Artisan＞＜Thousand Martial Physique＞＜Material＞＜Noble Spirit＞＜Qualification of Beyond＞＜Invader＞
– Strength: 37
– Stamina: 37
– Magic Power: 37
– Sense: 37
– Dexterity: 116
– Unallocated Stat Points: 5
One more trait was added, making it 9 traits total.
Demon’s Eye is questionable to call a trait, but anyway, 9 traits at this level.
I couldn’t help but smile.
I invested all bonus stats into Dexterity and headed outside through the Exit Portal that appeared.
* * *
“Oh! The Entrance Line! The Entrance Line!”
At the worker’s excited shout, the gazes of the waiting people gathered.
The director, as well as Oh Seok-hyeon and Jeong Cheol-min, immediately rushed out and soon showed the same reactions.
The portal was shrinking as the Entrance Line disappeared.
Soon, Choi Hyun appeared where the Entrance Line had been.
“I’m back.”
A simple greeting.
Everyone gathered around Choi Hyun, unable to close their mouths.
“Su-surely, you conquered it?”
“Yes, I conquered it. Didn’t you see? The portal over there is disappearing too.”
“Ah, no, I saw it. I saw it, but… it’s… so amazing…”
“Haha…”
Oh Seok-hyeon’s reaction made me chuckle.
Probably this kind of reaction would continue for a while.
Checking the time, it seemed like there was enough time to visit one more place, so I asked to move.
“What? Again?!”
“If we move quickly, it seems possible. Ah, if it’s because of work hours…”
“Ah, ah, no! It’s fine! I’m just worried about you, Hunter.”
“I’m fine. Then please, I’ll ask for your help.”
“Understood!”
Oh Seok-hyeon immediately prepared to move.
Just like before, taking only Jeong Cheol-min, we moved to the next Black Area.
The third Black Area was a dungeon.
And Choi Hyun succeeded in conquering the third Black Area without much difficulty this time as well.
“Wow…”
“Crazy…”
“This is possible?”
“The third one?”
“Three rounds in one day…”
“Isn’t he just from another world?”
This was the reaction of the workers there after the third Black Area was conquered.
Right after the conquest, Choi Hyun checked the time and said with a smile.
“We barely saved quitting time. Then, since you two have work hours to consider, shall we call it a day here?”
“Thank you for your consideration. But when you say ‘today’…?”
“I’m thinking of conquering Black Areas tomorrow as well, but do you perhaps not have time tomorrow?”
“Pardon?”
“Tomorrow too?”
The two people doubted their own ears.
However, they quickly came to their senses and rubbed their hands together.
“No, we’re people who have nothing but time on our hands.”
“If Hunter-nim helps with conquests, we’ll make time even if we don’t have any and come.”
“Thank you. Then please just take care of the conquest confirmation documents later.”
“Understood. Don’t worry. I’ll take full responsibility for that part and send it to you by today.”
“Hunter-nim, you really worked hard today.”
“Not at all. I just did what I should naturally do as a hunter. I’ll contact you about tomorrow’s schedule and movement route through my secretary. Oh, and regarding the fact about conquering the Black Areas, would it be okay if our side announces it first?”
“Ah, of course. We’ll put an embargo on it until then.”
“Thank you.”
After a brief greeting, Choi Hyun got into his car.
Soon after Choi Hyun’s car left, Oh Seok-hyeon and Jeong Cheol-min stood in place until Choi Hyun’s car disappeared.
“Wow…”
“Haha…”
Only after Choi Hyun’s car disappeared from view did the two finally let out the breath they’d been holding.
It felt like they had been dreaming.
“Three rounds in one day… Does this even make sense?”
“I feel like I was dreaming too.”
“Isn’t this a case that doesn’t exist anywhere in the world?”
“Yes, this is the first time I’ve seen a case where one hunter cleared three Black Areas in a single day, and solo at that. It’s probably an unprecedented case worldwide.”
“If we report this to higher-ups, it’ll be absolute chaos.”
“Not just chaos, looking at the scale, he might even get a commendation… But how long will Hunter Choi’s actions like this continue?”
“Well… Honestly, even if he stopped after just today, it would be incredibly grateful, but I can’t predict at all what he’s thinking.”
“I’ll prepare everything we need for now.”
“Right, since we don’t know when he might change his mind, let’s accommodate him as much as possible. If he needs anything else, we’ll accommodate that too.”
“Understood.”
The two men’s eyes began to gleam with greed.
* * *
A little later, this time it was Daesan Guild’s turn to be in chaos.
“P-President! Y-you need to see this!”
“Hmm?”
Han Yu-won, who had rushed in urgently, held out documents that had arrived by fax.
The documents she handed over were none other than Black Area conquest confirmation certificates.
Jang Hae-hyeon’s eyes widened as he saw them.
“Huh? Black Area conquest confirmation certificates? Why are these coming to us?”
“The Association just sent them. I was informed that Choi Advisor conquered all of them solo.”
“Choi Advisor did?! And alone?!”
His mouth fell open.
Just then, speak of the devil, news of Choi Hyun’s visit arrived.
When Choi Hyun appeared in the President’s Office, Jang Hae-hyeon asked with his mouth still agape.
“Advisor, what is all this? Black Area conquest confirmation certificates? Three of them at that?!”
“Ah, they arrived already? Good timing. I was just about to meet with you and tell you about it. It’s exactly as you’re seeing. Those are all from conquests I did during today alone, and I asked them to issue confirmation certificates. That’s the most reliable way. And I also asked the media for an embargo, so we can announce this fact first.”
“No, what is all this…”
“There’s no need to be so surprised. More than that, there’s something I’d like to ask of you separately, President.”
“A request? Just say anything. I’ll grant it all.”
“Then I’ll speak comfortably. Do you perhaps have any thoughts of creating a new department or guild centered around combat-type hunters rather than production-type ones?”
“…What? Suddenly?”
Jang Hae-hyeon and Han Yu-won blinked their eyes.
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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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