The Return of the Legendary Golden-Handed Blacksmith - Chapter 202

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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 202
202.
“An exchange?”
Hamilton, the blacksmith, looked at Jin-woo.
“Yes, I’d like to discuss matters related to Crafting.”
Thanks to Jin-woo’s high Integrity Score, Hamilton showed him respect, but at the mention of “exchange,” his expression betrayed considerable discomfort.
“May I ask where you’ve come from?”
“From the city below.”
Jin-woo told him the name of the city he’d departed from.
“Hmm.”
Yet Hamilton’s unease remained visible.
“Is something the matter?”
“The truth is.”
Hamilton let out a heavy sigh as he spoke.
“Other cities have been targeting Oson Forge.”
On Forge Street in Avalon, the pride of the city’s brilliance was none other than this very smithy—Oson Forge.
Since Master Oson, the chief blacksmith, possessed the finest craftsmanship in all of Avalon, people constantly came seeking to extract his knowledge and techniques.
They all arrived claiming they wanted to exchange knowledge or receive instruction, but their true intent was to steal Oson’s techniques.
“Without Oson, Forge Street has no competitive edge. Avalon loses its draw.”
It seemed like excessive confidence at first, but it was an entirely objective assessment.
Oson was currently the one safeguarding Avalon’s brilliance.
Because of this, the word “exchange” was bound to grate on his nerves.
There were far too many who came under the guise of “exchange” seeking to steal techniques.
So despite Jin-woo’s high Integrity Score, Hamilton couldn’t help but regard him with suspicion.
‘Fair enough.’
In fact, one could argue it was precisely because of his high Integrity Score that he was being treated with such courteous explanation.
Jin-woo gestured to Hamilton.
“Then let’s do this.”
There was a simple way to dispel Hamilton’s suspicions.
“Whether I came here for exchange or to steal your techniques—”
Jin-woo said.
“Let’s see for ourselves.”
There was no need for lengthy words.
Any true blacksmith speaks through their craft.
Hamilton pondered his words briefly.
“Very well. Then.”
Hamilton nodded.
As Jin-woo said, observation was the first step.
Hamilton then gestured toward the inner workshop.
“However, if I suspect anything amiss, I will throw you out without mercy. You won’t object to that, will you?”
No matter how high Jin-woo’s Integrity Score was, if Hamilton perceived something suspicious, he would expel him without hesitation.
“As you wish.”
Jin-woo nodded with a smile.
Hamilton, his expression resolute, led Jin-woo into Oson’s workshop.
Whoooosh—
Clang! Clang! Clang!
A space filled with intense heat. Jin-woo smiled as the warmth embraced him.
Oson Forge’s workshop was packed with apprentices, craftsmen, and customers working there.
‘Certainly.’
This Oson Forge easily deserved to be called Avalon’s representative workshop.
Not only was the Crafting skill of these workers impressive, but their tools were exceptional.
Jin-woo’s gaze turned toward the flames in the forge.
The quietly burning flames were of different types.
‘The flames are different.’
In Crafting, fire was of paramount importance.
‘Melting materials and pressing them down.’
The difference between having good fire and merely ordinary fire when refining minerals was like heaven and earth.
That’s why Jin-woo had sought out a dragon to obtain quality flames.
‘This fire is as good as the Eternal Flame I possess.’
The fire here was excellent.
‘What is it?’
What kind of fire burned in this place?
Jin-woo’s curiosity began to stir.
“Excellent flames.”
At those words, spoken by someone who could recognize quality fire, Hamilton chuckled.
“You know quality when you see it. This is fire brought from Unlimited Mountain. The Eternal Flame Snake dwells there. Where that snake breathed, a lake of flames was born—this fire comes from there.”
The Eternal Flame Snake.
Even the name appealed to him greatly.
‘No ordinary fire indeed.’
“And this.”
Just as Jin-woo mixed two types of flames for his use, Oson Forge also employed multiple flames.
Besides the fire breathed by the flame snake, what stood out was this intensely orange flame.
“You may not know this, but Avalon was originally blessed by the Guardian Deity of Fire and Craftsmanship. Our Oson Forge’s predecessor Master received that blessing and was given this flame as proof of that grace. However, in this age, the location of the Deity’s Temple has been lost, and so we cannot obtain this flame again even if we desired it.”
Whoooosh!
As Hamilton explained, the flame burned even more fiercely. At the same moment, Jin-woo’s eyes gleamed with the reflection of that fire.
‘Aha.’
-Your Quest has been updated!
-You have obtained information about the Temple of the Guardian Deity of Fire and Craftsmanship.
Whoooosh—
As his Quest updated, the Guardian Deity of Fire and Craftsmanship began to speak to Jin-woo.
-The Guardian Deity of Fire and Craftsmanship asks you to find their submerged temple!
-They say the connection to their temple has grown faint and they can no longer sense it!
‘Not forgotten.’
Hamilton clearly remembered the Guardian Deity of Fire and Craftsmanship.
Only the information about its location had vanished.
‘A temple of such scale—it shouldn’t be possible not to know its location.’
Jin-woo pondered for a moment.
‘Has someone concealed it?’
The Guardian Deity of Fire and Craftsmanship spoke of their temple as submerged.
‘Underground? Or perhaps beneath water.’
Jin-woo leaned toward the latter possibility.
‘Magic could have filled the location where the temple stood with water. Or perhaps the temple itself was lifted and cast into the depths.’
Either way, one thing was certain: the Guardian Deity of Fire and Craftsmanship’s temple existed somewhere within Avalon.
‘The rewards might be even better than I initially thought.’
Since it was a Quest received in the early days, he hadn’t thought much of it.
Jin-woo looked at the flame before him. The fire of the Guardian Deity of Fire and Craftsmanship burned with remarkable intensity.
‘If I add that flame to my forge.’
The forge’s experience would certainly accumulate significantly.
And.
‘I want to try it.’
He wanted to craft equipment using those fierce, intense flames.
‘If I play this right, I might even obtain that flame.’
Jin-woo gave a nod to the Guardian Deity of Fire and Craftsmanship.
It was a gesture affirming that he would accept this Quest and find the temple.
Ding!
-The Guardian Deity of Fire and Craftsmanship promises you the reward of your choice!
The Guardian Deity of Fire and Craftsmanship was a deity who had watched over Jin-woo since his early days in New Gene.
And so they understood perfectly well what he desired.
-The Guardian Deity of Fire and Craftsmanship asks for your earnest effort!
“I’ll take it on.”
Jin-woo looked at Hamilton.
“Then, are you also receiving the blessing of the Guardian Deity of Fire and Craftsmanship?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Hamilton spoke with evident pride.
“Though I’m not their Successor—merely receiving their patronage. It’s an honor beyond measure. Yes, so I work hard to not bring them shame.”
Whoooosh—
Suddenly, intense flames erupted from Hamilton’s body.
“Then that settles it.”
Since the Guardian Deity of Fire and Craftsmanship had asked him to give his all.
“Let’s have a good exchange.”
“That remains to be seen.”
Hamilton still didn’t trust Jin-woo.
“I’ll demonstrate first.”
Hamilton smiled confidently.
“I’m the second-best craftsman in Oson Forge. Right beneath Master Oson himself.”
Hamilton was the second-most skilled blacksmith at Oson Forge.
He was Master Oson’s first disciple, and had wielded a hammer for more than twenty years.
Having picked up a hammer since his teenage years, he had spent two decades swinging it as an apprentice, craftsman, and now as a core blacksmith of the forge.
Now in his thirties with physical strength at its peak, Hamilton was one of the leading craftsmen driving Oson Forge forward.
Whoooosh—
His muscles rippled with motion.
The intense strength radiating from his entire being—the very picture of a master blacksmith.
Whirrr—
He twirled his hammer.
“Here I go.”
Ding!
-Quest Received!
-Demonstrate your skill to Hamilton, the master blacksmith of Oson Forge!
-If you earn his recognition, you can meet Oson!
The moment the Quest was received, Hamilton’s crafting began.
Hamilton retrieved a rather thick piece of ore.
Whoooosh—
‘Platinum.’
Jin-woo could tell immediately.
This glimmering ore was the Platinum he had worked with before.
But something was different about it.
‘Not ordinary Platinum.’
Normally, Platinum was a mineral suited for jewelry work. If you threw it into flames and struck it with a hammer like that, it would simply shatter.
Whoooosh—
Hamilton threw the Platinum into the flames and immediately brought his hammer down.
Clang!
Though it appeared to be a forceful blow, the strike revealed remarkable finesse.
‘It should shatter.’
Yet the Platinum did not shatter.
“Since you’re visiting Avalon for the first time, you probably haven’t seen this Platinum before.”
Hamilton spoke with a smile.
“This is Crystal Platinum. It’s a synthetic mineral produced exclusively by Oson Forge.”
Hamilton spoke to Jin-woo.
“This is what those seeking to absorb Oson’s techniques most desperately wish to learn.”
He then placed the Crystal Platinum back into the flames.
Whoooosh!
“It’s far sharper than ordinary Platinum, specialized for offensive power. However.”
Hamilton swiftly removed the Crystal Platinum that had been resting in the flames.
“If your power control slips even slightly, it shatters immediately.”
It was evident just from observation.
Sensitive and delicate.
A material that would shatter instantly if power control faltered even a touch—it seemed far more finicky than any material Jin-woo had handled before.
‘There’s a similarity to obsidian, I suppose.’
Obsidian, too, was highly specialized for offensive power and was quite a sensitive material.
‘Though this one might have greater potential.’
The properties of crystal combined with the properties of Platinum.
It appeared to be a material that fully leveraged the strengths of both minerals.
‘Curious.’
He was quite eager to feel how it worked.
“I’ll make a sword.”
Making a sword from a material unsuitable for swords.
He intended to prove his skill with that.
Hamilton lifted his hammer.
Then the apprentices and craftsmen working elsewhere in the workshop began to murmur and turn their attention this way.
Moreover, the players who had ventured deep into the workshop to purchase equipment also looked over.
“What?”
“Hamilton’s crafting?”
“Doesn’t Hamilton usually avoid crafting here?”
“Rare sight!”
“But.”
“Who’s that player?”
“Hamilton’s incredibly cold to players.”
Hamilton was an NPC who rejected outsiders.
Whether answering questions or attempting to make purchases, he maintained a dismissive attitude, and in extreme cases, he’d tell people to leave.
But because he was a skilled blacksmith, those wanting equipment from him had to humor his disposition.
Clang! Clang!
With the players and the forge’s blacksmiths watching intently, Hamilton’s crafting commenced.
“!”
“Wow.”
“Look at that Hammering. Insane.”
“Is that Crystal Platinum?”
“Wow. How is he handling Crystal Platinum like that?”
“Even with an Engraving Knife it’s hard not to break it.”
“His power control is insane.”
“What’s he making anyway?”
Hamilton’s skill was certainly impressive.
As the players admired his work, the Crystal Platinum took shape rapidly thanks to his perfect power control.
“Insane. He’s making a sword.”
“How is he making a sword from that!”
“His confidence is crazy.”
Clang! Clang!
Delicate work. And occasionally throughout the process, Hamilton caressed the Crystal Platinum with his bare hand.
Through that series of actions, Jin-woo focused on Hamilton’s hands.
‘Heat.’
Suddenly, intense heat radiated from Hamilton’s hands.
‘The forge’s heat transferred to his hands.’
And using that heat, he was making delicate adjustments to the Crystal Platinum.
‘Like Glasswork.’
Jin-woo thought that Hamilton’s work resembled Glasswork.
‘A new technique.’
It was a method he had never dared attempt in Eternal Sunshine.
‘But it works in New Gene.’
A technique he had initially written off as impossible—now, in New Gene, it was one of the standard approaches.
‘I keep forgetting.’
Jin-woo smiled.
‘Coming here for an exchange was the right call.’
“A Glass Dagger.”
“Making something that difficult look so easy.”
The apprentices and craftsmen of Oson Forge, watching Hamilton’s Glass Dagger creation, recalled his teachings.
Understand the nature of the material and bring out its grain.
Strike the hammer with strength, yet delicately.
Hamilton was hammering exactly as he preached.
A Glass Dagger was equipment that only those with exceptional finesse could craft.
At Oson Forge, only Master Oson himself and Hamilton, second in command, could make one.
Everyone hoped to learn the skill, but because Crystal Platinum was such a rare material, no one dared attempt it carelessly.
Whoooosh—
The Glass Dagger was complete in Hamilton’s hands.
“Whew, the speed alone is amazing, but the quality is incredible.”
“Avalon’s brilliance really does depend on Oson Forge feeding everyone.”
“Without Oson Forge, the city would’ve fallen a dozen times over by now.”
The players offered their own commentary.
Jin-woo looked at the completed Glass Dagger.
“Ah.”
Beautiful enough to draw admiration at first sight.
‘He has every right to be confident.’
“What did you think?”
Hamilton asked Jin-woo.
“My eyes have been opened.”
‘Coming was worthwhile.’
Exchange truly was invaluable.
Watching Hamilton’s crafting, good ideas began to spring forth from his work.
‘This is New Gene.’
Things Jin-woo had dismissed as naturally impossible in Eternal Sunshine were possible here.
Hamilton was proving it.
‘More delicately.’
The pinnacle of delicacy.
Using flames to create a dagger much like glasswork.
“Then it’s your turn now, Jin-woo. For materials, …”
“Could I use the same ones?”
Jin-woo asked.
“And.”
Jin-woo took the Glass Dagger that Hamilton had made from his hands.
“Hmm.”
‘More delicate than I thought. There are some nuances I missed.’
Jin-woo smiled brightly.
‘This will be fun.’
“Would it be alright if I made the same thing?”
“…What?”
Hamilton asked back in confusion.
“This isn’t something made easily. If you have the skill, you could certainly make it, but to copy it from just one viewing…”
To replicate a technique from merely watching once was something nearly impossible.
Yet Jin-woo nodded as if he understood perfectly.
“Because it’s an exchange.”
Jin-woo said.
“Making the same thing gives it meaning, doesn’t it?”
Everyone, including Hamilton, looked at Jin-woo in astonishment.
“He’s bluffing way too much.”
“Who is this guy anyway?”
“Just because Hamilton made it easily doesn’t mean he can make it easily.”
“He’ll find out how hard it is once he swings the hammer.”
“Crystal Platinum’s about to get destroyed.”
Whoooosh—
Jin-woo placed the Crystal Platinum directly into Oson Forge’s flames.
Watching the burning Crystal Platinum, Jin-woo nodded.
“Got it. I know what I was missing.”
From a single piece of crafting by Hamilton, Jin-woo had discerned what he himself had overlooked.
Whoooosh—
The Crystal Platinum blazed in the forge’s flames.
Jin-woo quickly removed the Crystal Platinum with tongs.
“Here goes.”
The players looked toward Jin-woo with anticipation.
Of course, it wasn’t optimistic anticipation. They were confident that Jin-woo would ruin everything the moment he swung the hammer.
But that expectation.
Clang!
Shattered along with the hammer strike.

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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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