The Return of the Legendary Golden-Handed Blacksmith - Chapter 111

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 111
111.
Shrieeeeek!
Fin spread his massive wings.
“I hear the Eastern Region has quite a few developed cities.”
The reason for heading east was simple.
That’s where the Dwarf city was located—the home of Hairun, the Master Craftsman of All Things.
“I’ll need to stop at another city on the way. Ah, there it is.”
Jin-woo patted Fin’s shoulder. Understanding at once, Fin began a steep descent.
-Entering the metropolis of Lukesion!
-Achievement unlocked!
-Achievement [Rising Star] unlocked.
-[Rising Star]
Effect: You have visited a metropolis for the first time! Unfold your dreams in this colossal city! You receive 3,000 Gold as a reward.
“A nice little bonus. Looks like everyone gets this achievement on their first visit to a metropolis.”
Jin-woo pocketed the 3,000 Gold.
“This is why mounts are so good.”
A distance that would have taken hours on foot was covered in moments.
“Fin!”
“Thanks for the work, Fin.”
Jin-woo dismissed Fin and proceeded into Lukesion.
* * *
Lukesion was a city brimming with vitality.
Of all the cities Jin-woo had visited so far, this was by far the largest—and most notably, there stood a colossal forge at the city’s heart.
The forge: Lukesion’s Flame.
Jin-woo read the signboard affixed to the forge.
“It’s marked as my destination.”
Lukesion’s Flame was exactly where the Quest marker pointed.
“Looks like one of Hairun’s associates is here.”
“Welcome!”
A receptionist greeted Jin-woo as he entered.
Inside, countless other Travelers were already conducting transactions.
“Could you knock a bit off the price?”
“I don’t sell to those who don’t understand the value.”
“Oh, I understand the value just fine! But isn’t this a bit steep?”
“Do you have any smaller daggers?”
“Is custom work possible, by chance?”
“We don’t accept private commissions!”
Haggling customers.
People searching for items.
‘So the blacksmiths’ apprentices are handling the reception too. Are there that many smiths here? There are quite a lot of apprentices.’
Just as Jin-woo suspected, Lukesion’s Flame employed an impressive number of full-time blacksmiths.
From deeper within came the unceasing sound of hammers.
“What are you looking for?”
“I’m seeking Hairun. I am a disciple of Hoz and a disciple of Mirae. Would you be able to pass word to the master craftsmen?”
Jin-woo spoke with measured politeness.
Then he produced something with a quick gesture.
“I apologize, but the masters are quite busy at the moment. Even if you offer…”
The apprentice naturally assumed it was Gold.
In a metropolis, such things were common—many sought to solve their problems with money to expedite matters.
But to the apprentices, Gold held little meaning.
If they needed money, they would have worked elsewhere.
“…!”
What Jin-woo offered was not Gold.
“This… this is…”
It was a Gargoyle Stone he’d brought from the Tower.
“The… the Grade…!”
At the sight of such a rare mineral, the apprentice’s eyes lit up.
The best way to approach a craftsman is the way a craftsman himself would.
“Could you pass the word?”
Jin-woo asked with a smile.
“Would you mind delivering the message?”
“Yes, yes, of course!”
The apprentice rushed inside like the wind. Watching his beaming form disappear, Jin-woo smiled with satisfaction.
“Apprentice or not, a true craftsman shows himself through his eyes—turned by materials, not money.”
Not long after the apprentice disappeared, a blacksmith of enormous build emerged.
Brown beard, and a head cleanly shaved.
Muscular frame, one hand gripping an enormous hammer.
“…You came looking for Hairun?”
Larson, owner of Lukesion’s Flame and its chief blacksmith, regarded Jin-woo with suspicion.
“Who are you?”
“I’m a blacksmith.”
“Hah. So now that’s the excuse people use?”
Shrieeek.
-Your integrity shines through.
“But… you don’t have the look of a liar, I’ll grant you that. Still, I can’t simply tell you where he is.”
“Is something wrong?”
“Mm.”
Larson considered for a moment, then opened up.
“There are Travelers hunting Hairun.”
Travelers was what NPCs called players.
“Hairun is… an excellent blacksmith. Among the Dwarves, he has outstanding skill. He can craft anything his hands touch. But because of that, many have begun seeking him out.”
“Seeking him out?”
“They want to work him like a slave. Since Hairun can make anything.”
Larson let out a long sigh.
“Travelers belonging to some massive guild, apparently. Hairun ended up running. I couldn’t help him.”
He went on to explain that Hairun had gone into hiding.
“What is your relationship with Hairun?”
“We’re friends.”
Larson tightened his grip on the hammer.
“Now I’ll ask you: why are you searching for Hairun?”
“I wish to learn from Hairun. Do you know where he might be?”
“…”
Despite his integrity score, Larson fell silent for a moment.
“You said you wish to learn from Hairun? Then prove it. Show me proof of your intentions.”
“How should I demonstrate this?”
“You said you’re a blacksmith, didn’t you? Prove it. If you wish to learn from Hairun, your skill must be certain. Once I’ve confirmed that, I’ll tell you what you need to know.”
Ding!
-Quest updated!
-Quest accepted!
* Quest: Larson’s Test
Grade: S
Description: Larson is worried about his friend Hairun. He trusts you to a degree, but not completely. Earn his trust.
Reward: Location of Hairun
“Then…”
Jin-woo quickly surveyed the forge.
At a glance, the scale was extraordinary.
‘The heat output looks solid too.’
And the equipment was all high-grade.
‘There should be some good gear to pick up here today.’
This was an opportunity to add equipment to his mobile workshop.
“Would it be alright to demonstrate my skill inside?”
“By all means.”
Jin-woo followed Larson into the forge.
“Then regarding materials…”
“Use these.”
Larson gestured toward the material vault.
“Feel free to use whatever’s in there.”
“Anything at all?”
Jin-woo smiled.
“You’re sure about that? Anything?”
* * *
Jin-woo cleaned out Larson’s vault.
There were materials ranging from S Grade all the way to SSS Grade.
“Lately I’ve been working only with quality materials.”
Making fine equipment from fine materials.
That was indeed a joy.
But making high-grade equipment from low-grade materials was equally pleasurable.
Jin-woo extracted every material from the vault.
“You told me to use them.”
And he set to work at once.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
-Equipment created!
-Equipment created!
Clang!
-Equipment created!
“Oh, this one’s a synthesis of two minerals!”
Clang!
-Equipment created.
Jin-woo warmed up his hands lightly. Larson had said he’d be handling some forge business, so he wasn’t here yet.
“Let me just loosen up before he arrives.”
What he’d meant as a quick warmup had already surpassed five pieces. He’d used eight of the ten materials from the vault.
“Hands are loose now.”
Just then, Larson returned.
“Now let’s see what you can do. Or are your hands not loosened up yet?”
“Already loosened up.”
“Good? Then let’s begin at once.”
Whoooosh—
Jin-woo observed the flames inside the furnace.
‘Even warming up, the heat output was excellent.’
Jin-woo turned to Larson.
“Larson, by chance—where did you acquire the flame for this furnace?”
“From Hairun.”
‘Just as I thought.’
Finding Hairun seemed like it would resolve several things at once.
Jin-woo selected the lowest-grade material among those remaining. In truth, that was all that was left.
“There are other better materials available.”
“This will be enough.”
What Jin-woo held was Platinum Steel.
He placed it in the furnace, extracted it with tongs, and struck it in a single motion.
Clang!
‘Nice.’
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Jin-woo struck the hammer in rapid succession. Platinum Steel was one of the harder minerals, but just before, he’d been working with Orichalcum and Skystone—high-difficulty materials.
With his hands warmed to their peak, the Platinum Steel took shape in an instant. Truly, an instant.
“…Hm?”
Larson, the chief blacksmith of a metropolis, naturally possessed considerable skill.
And through his exchanges with Hairun, he’d established himself confidently as the city’s main smith.
“That…”
It was like shaping clay.
“Huh.”
He was left breathless at such skill.
“Came looking to learn from Hairun, and yet…”
To Larson’s eye, that level of mastery seemed beyond the need to study under anyone.
Of course, Hairun had advantages beyond mere crafting skill.
Clang!
The skill was unmistakable. Jin-woo was a blacksmith without a doubt.
Before Larson could even say to stop, Jin-woo had finished the equipment.
“…”
S Grade material.
The result: SR Grade equipment.
“Phew. The material was decent, so the Grade came out higher. I was lucky.”
“…If luck can produce work like that, then I’m the unluckiest man on the Flam Continent.”
He shook his head in disbelief.
“There’s no question about it.”
S Grade material into SR Grade equipment—no further doubt remained.
-Quest cleared!
-Reward obtained!
“I’ll tell you where Hairun is. He’s hiding in the Serendirin Cave out on the outskirts, avoiding those Travelers hunting him. Just cross the Lake to get there.”
“Thank you.”
“If you have any capacity to spare… help Hairun out.”
After Jin-woo left,
Larson checked the material vault.
“…?”
The vault was empty.
“Wait… could it be?”
He’d certainly said he could use whatever was inside.
“But in that short time, he used it all and… left?”
Larson pressed his palm to his forehead.
“Hairun…”
He found himself worrying about Hairun all the more.

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