The Cursed Blacksmith Who Regressed - Chapter 60

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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 60

“That level of swordsmanship?”

At the same time, killing intent burst forth from Kim Ha-geom.

However, Choi Hyun still replied without batting an eye.

“Yes, that level of swordsmanship.”

“Aren’t you a blacksmith?”

His tone changed.

From formal speech to casual.

It was inevitable.

Kim Ha-geom was someone who had tremendous pride in his swordsmanship.

But to Choi Hyun, it was merely amusing.

‘What kind of Sword Saint is he with that level of skill.’

While waiting for them, Choi Hyun had checked not only the data on Master and Hyper, but also the overall abilities of the hunters they possessed.

He had especially made sure to check the Sword Saint’s swordsmanship and the Bow Demon’s archery.

And the conclusion he reached was that both were remarkable people.

‘If they’ve survived this long with just that level of skill, they must be among the top survival specialists.’

Perhaps even cockroaches might come asking to be friends.

But Choi Hyun maintained his courtesy.

“Yes, I’m a blacksmith.”

“What does a mere blacksmith know to be babbling about swordsmanship?”

“I can babble.”

“What?”

Instead of answering, Choi Hyun took out the complete sword, defense sword, and silent sword he had used in the Growth Tower one by one and said.

“Because I conquered the Growth Tower with these.”

“What does that…”

“Didn’t you watch the interview video? I climbed up while repairing these weapons. Do you think I just swung them around simply?”

“You might have just swung them around?”

“Then why couldn’t the Sword Saint, who’s supposedly the pinnacle of domestic swordsmanship, conquer the Growth Tower that even a blacksmith who only knows how to swing around managed to clear?”

“What?”

“Should I repeat that?”

“Puhaha!”

Then someone burst into laughter.

It was An U-ju, the Bow Demon, who had been listening quietly.

At her laughter, Choi Hyun said.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Because it’s funny.”

“Bow Demon, this isn’t the time for you to be laughing either.”

“Me? Why not?”

“By my standards, you’re the same, Bow Demon. How did you reach 3rd place in the rankings with such a low accuracy rate?”

“…What?”

This time, An U-ju’s expression changed drastically.

“You do know I’m 1st in domestic archer rankings and 1st in ranged attack categories, right?”

“Is that so? But you’re not 1st in the world, are you?”

“Then President Choi, you are…”

She was about to say ‘you’re not 1st in the world either,’ but the words got stuck.

Conquering the Growth Tower.

It was a unique achievement that neither America nor China had accomplished.

So he was indeed 1st in the world.

But calling him 1st place blacksmith seemed odd since he was already the undisputed 1st in repairs.

Choi Hyun shifted his gaze back to Kim Ha-geom and said.

“I’m not criticizing without basis.”

“Criticism? Not condemnation?”

“I can prove it. How about making a bet with me?”

“A bet?”

“Let’s have a sparring match… no, a duel. Then I’ll directly prove why your swordsmanship is lacking, Sword Saint.”

“Huh?”

A hollow laugh escaped.

This was absurd.

You want to do what with me?

However, Choi Hyun’s eyes were firm.

“Since it’s a bet, we should put up stakes too. If I lose in the duel, I’ll modify the recruitment conditions for our Paragon Guild members that I announced on today’s broadcast in whatever direction you want, Sword Saint.”

“What?”

It was Kang Hwi-rak who reacted to those words.

“Really?”

“Really. However, this would give Hyper Guild an unfair advantage, so Bow Demon, why don’t you join this bet too?”

“Ha, this is really ridiculous… you want to bet with me too?”

“Yes.”

“What kind of bet would you make with me?”

“The same thing, let’s have a duel. I’m confident I’ll never get hit by your arrows, Bow Demon.”

“What kind of…! Fine, let’s do it. I understand you requested this meeting anyway, and honestly, I can’t just let this matter slide either. Because I really love our guild.”

“Because you invested shares in it?”

“You really know everything.”

“How could I not know something that comes up quickly when you look it up? I’m also a guild president now. In that sense, Sword Saint, you also have some shares in Master, don’t you?”

“Is that important?”

“It’s important. If we take market share from you, you’ll also take a hit, Sword Saint. So, will you make the bet?”

“…”

“…”

He asked the Sword Saint and Bow Demon.

But there was no response.

Kang Hwi-rak and Lee Yong-u looked at the two strangely.

Why weren’t they accepting?

Could they be scared?

Of course, they didn’t press or urge them.

Those were their companies’ signature hunters.

They thought there must be separate reasons.

The presidents’ expectations were correct.

The two who received the bet proposal also found it difficult to easily accept.

While it certainly sounded like an absurd proposal, Choi Hyun’s attitude was so confident that they thought he might have some ulterior motive.

Moreover, it wasn’t just anyone else, but Choi Hyun.

The one who conquered the Growth Tower alone and conquered 10 Black Areas alone in just a few days.

That was an achievement that even they, who were in the domestic top 3, couldn’t dare accomplish.

An U-ju, who had been silent, asked.

“What about you?”

“Me?”

“You said it’s a bet. What do you gain from this bet? You’re not suggesting a bet just because you want to criticize our skills, are you?”

“That’s exactly right though?”

“What?”

“I’m suggesting a bet because I’m confident in the first place. So I don’t particularly think about gaining anything from you through this bet. Rather, if I can’t handle you all, how could I handle the Great Cataclysm in the future? So if anything is at stake in this bet, it would be honor.”

“What kind of…”

“I’m fine with it, but if your pride won’t allow it, you can put up anything as stakes. Oh, by the way, I won’t say things like ‘I’ll maintain the recruitment conditions if I win.’ I was planning to keep the conditions the same anyway, and they were going to become even more aggressive in the future. But to do that, it would be better to have the foundation of being the industry’s top, right?”</Human: You are an ELITE PROFESSIONAL TRANSLATOR for Korean web novels (COMMERCIAL QUALITY).

“….”

“….”

Strong.

If that’s bluffing, I’ve already been drawn in.

But I can’t back down.

Even if those watching are high-ranking industry officials, at this point it was a matter of pride.

The first to nod was Geomseong.

“Yeah, that’s right. If I don’t have the skill to handle one rookie who just became a hunter recently, then I don’t have the right to boss people around in the first place. In that spirit, let me make a proposal too. If I lose, I’ll acknowledge your skill and leave Master Guild to join Paragon.”

“What? Wait, Hunter Kim. What are you saying right now?”

Kang Hwi-rak is shocked.

However, Kim Ha-geom had already made up his mind.

“Exactly what I said. If someone is stronger than me, the industry’s number 2, honestly speaking, I shouldn’t be stubborn about pride but should acknowledge the criticism and humbly go in to learn again.”

“Hu, Hunter Kim?”

“Frankly speaking, I’m a hunter, so getting stronger is more important than these power struggles. That’s how I survive in Areas, not just making a living.”

An U-ju nodded at those words.

“Then I’ll do the same. I’m supposedly the number 1 archer, but if I lose to someone whose hunter license ink isn’t even dry yet, it would be embarrassing to call myself an archer from then on. And frankly, at this rate, we’ll lose all our market share and my guild shares will become worthless, so what’s the point of continuing to be stubborn?”

“No, why are you doing this too, Hunter An?”

Even Lee Yong-u, who had maintained composure, is flustered.

Jang Hae-hyeon laughed.

Because this entire situation was enjoyable to him.

Jang Hae-hyeon, who had been laughing, said.

“Then how about… should we call a lawyer to get it notarized? I think there are some people left in the legal team right now.”

“Is that really necessary? These are people who have some standing in this industry, so surely they wouldn’t pretend not to know just because we didn’t write a contract… And verbal contracts are contracts too, right?”

“That’s right, verbal contracts are contracts too. Then shall we proceed like this? And conveniently, we have a training facility in the basement of our company, and it’s quite good.”

Jang Hae-hyeon spoke as if introducing a restaurant he knew.

Geomseong stood up abruptly and said.

“Let’s go, to the basement.”

Thus the bet was made and everyone moved down to the basement together.

* * *

Underground Training Facility.

The facilities are larger and cleaner than expected.

There are no combat staff, but it was built just in case, they say.

The center of the training facility looked like that of a sparring hall, and when Han Yu-won pressed the control button, a cage for fighters only was created.

“If you fight inside this, you won’t get caught up in stray arrows or skill accidents.”

“Good.”

Choi Hyun entered the cage first and said.

“Who wants to go first? For reference, even if just one of you two wins, I’ll consider myself as having lost the bet and keep the promise I made earlier. So, I’ll beat both of you.”

“Ha…!”

It was An U-ju who let out a hollow laugh.

Listening and listening, it had reached a level she couldn’t tolerate anymore.

So she stepped forward first and entered the cage.

“I’ll go first. I’m 3rd place, so I should go first.”

“Good. Ha-geom, watch carefully too. If you observe my movements first, it’ll be very helpful when it’s your turn later.”

“….”

Kim Ha-geom doesn’t respond.

Instead, he gritted his teeth hard enough to break them, suppressing his anger.

Then he looked at An U-ju and said.

“I’m really confident I won’t get hit, so you need to face me with everything you’ve got.”

“Yes yes, that’s the plan. But I was too flustered earlier to ask – what’s your current level?”

“45.”

“You know I’m 86, right?”

“I see, so what?”

“What do you mean ‘so what’? Are you saying we should spar without considering stat differences and such?”

“If I worry about every little thing like that, I can’t be a guild president. It’s fine, so come in right away.”

“Ha…!”

At Choi Hyun’s provocation that wasn’t quite a provocation, her killing intent also rose to its peak.

Like a pufferfish in season.

Soon she drew her personal bow and equipped her quiver.

Han Yu-won said.

“Then we’ll begin.”

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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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