The Return of the Legendary Golden-Handed Blacksmith - Chapter 204

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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 204
204.
Oson had been watching everything from the start.
When Jin-woo said he wanted to exchange techniques with Hamilton.
Oson had been thinking the same thing as Hamilton.
That this outsider might have come under the guise of an exchange to steal the techniques of the Oson Workshop.
Lately, more and more outsiders had been seeking the manufacturing method for Crystal Platinum. They needed quality materials to climb the tower, and they wanted to monopolize the supply of those materials.
But the Oson Workshop had never signed an exclusive contract with any faction.
This Crystal Platinum was Oson’s greatest strength. If he supplied it through exclusive contracts, he would lose the ability to sell it where it needed to go.
Oson didn’t want that. Money was plentiful enough anyway. What mattered was supplying this material to those who needed it, and seeing that supplied material become excellent equipment.
The previous master of the workshop, and the master before him—they had guarded this principle faithfully.
That was why his gaze toward Jin-woo hadn’t been particularly favorable.
But after witnessing the Crafting Exchange with Hamilton, he could be certain now.
“I can believe your words now—that you came here to exchange techniques.”
Oson nodded and extended his hand.
“How do you do, Master Oson. I’m Jin-woo.”
Jin-woo greeted him quietly, and because of that, his voice didn’t reach the ears of the others.
“A noble blacksmith you are. Well then, Jin-woo, I understand your words about coming to exchange techniques. But there must be a reason you sought me out specifically as your exchange partner, yes?”
“Yes, I heard that the Oson Workshop is the most skilled in this Blacksmith District.”
Oson nodded at that.
“So you came looking for the most skilled blacksmith in all of Avalon?”
It might have sounded arrogant, but it was the truth.
“Yes.”
“There is one other excellent blacksmith in Avalon besides me—he’s at the Royal Palace. A man who has long guided the Blacksmith District alongside me, but he became the Royal Palace’s exclusive blacksmith at His Majesty’s behest. You could have sought him out instead.”
“Is that so? Since I’ve only just arrived in Avalon, I don’t know the name of the Royal Palace’s exclusive blacksmith, but your name was easy enough to learn of.”
In other words, Oson was greater than that royal blacksmith.
At those words, Oson smiled faintly. He seemed quite pleased by Jin-woo’s praise.
Though he heard such praise daily, it felt different when it came from someone of Jin-woo’s caliber.
“I came hoping to engage in a Crafting Exchange with you, Master Oson.”
The Crafting Exchange with Hamilton had certainly had a positive effect on Jin-woo.
‘Hamilton possessed quite remarkable crafting skills.’
Especially that technique of wrapping flames around his hands—it had been quite impressive to Jin-woo.
‘And those delicate movements, like Glass Craftsmanship.’
He felt he’d come to exchange techniques for good reason.
‘It’s letting wonderful ideas spring forth.’
But what of Oson?
If Oson, the representative blacksmith of the Oson Workshop, were his exchange partner, Jin-woo thought it would provide him with far greater stimulus.
‘There’s still so much to learn.’
At Jin-woo’s words, Oson nodded.
“I think no further suspicion is needed. Seeing your skill, I’ve come to understand that you have no need to steal our Oson Workshop’s techniques.”
Someone of Jin-woo’s caliber had no reason to mask theft under the guise of an exchange.
“Let’s go inside and discuss this more thoroughly.”
Oson gestured to the blacksmiths around him—a signal to quickly repair the wall that had been blown open.
Apprentices, journeymen, and master craftsmen all moved quickly without distinction. The players who had been watching began to be ushered out.
“We need to do repairs, so please leave!”
“We’re sorry! Please visit again!”
“Ugh.”
“All right, all right.”
Though they wanted to watch more, there was no choice.
“That was quite a show.”
“Sigh.”
Still, even this much was a blessing.
After the players left.
A room deeper inside the workshop.
This was Oson’s personal workspace.
Crackle—crackle, crackle!
‘Oh.’
The flames in this furnace, like Jin-woo’s, were a mixture of different fires.
‘He’s blended the two flames quite well.’
But it was different from Jin-woo’s flames.
The Summoned Workshop’s flames collided with each other, releasing intense heat. Two different flames competing within the furnace itself.
That meant when Jin-woo placed materials into the flames, he had to suppress that raging power.
Difficult, yes, but this way the heat was far more powerful. That was why Jin-woo intentionally allowed the flames to clash.
Oson’s furnace flames, by contrast, were mixed but not colliding.
Stability.
Rather than pushing the flames to their limit, the approach was to take only their advantages at a moderate level.
‘Safety matters most.’
Yet even so, one could enjoy the advantages of both flames to a considerable degree—a good method.
‘Flames come in such variety.’
There was something appealing about collecting each type of flame.
“It seems you came intending to exchange techniques with me from the very beginning. I’ve done quite a bit of crafting exchange in my time, but there must be a reason you came specifically to this Oson Workshop.”
Oson said.
“I was curious about your crafting, Master Oson.”
Jin-woo spoke thus, sharing information he knew.
Then Oson, who had been standing with crossed arms, slowly uncrossed them and nodded.
“……And seeing the Crystal Platinum made me even more curious.”
“Growing alone is a difficult thing. My own shortcomings often remain invisible to me. But the strengths of others are so glaringly obvious that when I absorb those strengths and receive criticism of my weaknesses, I can grow dramatically.”
Oson too had repeated such Crafting Exchanges since his youth.
“I welcome the Crafting Exchange itself, but……”
Oson withdrew a piece of Crystal Platinum from his pocket.
“I’m afraid the method of crafting Crystal Platinum is not something I can share through an exchange.”
Oson shook his head firmly.
“The method for crafting Crystal Platinum is a Secret Technique passed down through our workshop. If you were to become an apprentice and start from the very bottom, that would be different, but it’s impossible to teach through an exchange like this.”
“Of course, that’s only right.”
“……That’s so.”
Oson’s expression suddenly showed bewilderment.
He’d naturally assumed Jin-woo would be seeking the method for crafting Crystal Platinum.
Oson had witnessed the contest with Hamilton.
Jin-woo was certainly a remarkable blacksmith.
The more skilled a blacksmith became, the larger his ego grew and the more certain his confidence in himself.
In other words, a stubborn streak would develop.
And it was precisely because of that stubbornness that one could be called a master craftsman.
That was why he’d expected Jin-woo to insist on somehow learning the Crystal Platinum method from him.
But when Jin-woo simply nodded in agreement, he felt taken aback instead.
Jin-woo observed Oson’s bewilderment.
‘They’re probing everywhere trying to obtain this technique.’
Crystal Platinum was certainly an excellent mineral, and a technique to manufacture it exclusively would naturally be coveted.
‘But not by me.’
Crystal Platinum was a fine material, but it wasn’t essential. There were plenty of better materials he could obtain.
‘What I really covet is Oson.’
Oson was a veteran blacksmith established in Avalon.
‘If I’m to establish myself in Avalon, getting close to Oson wouldn’t hurt.’
Moreover, Oson appeared to have extensive connections. Building a network through him could serve as a foundation for advancement.
‘Like the Royal Palace’s exclusive blacksmith.’
It seemed he likely had acquaintance with several skilled blacksmiths.
‘It would be convenient to be introduced.’
Through Oson, he could be introduced to them and engage in Crafting Exchanges.
‘It fits my purpose perfectly.’
“Master Oson, I came to Avalon to establish my own workshop.”
Oson’s eyes suddenly shifted.
“My choice to come here was for a very simple reason.”
The reason Jin-woo came to establish a workshop in Avalon was very simple.
“This place has the most underdeveloped Blacksmith District among the three kingdoms.”
“……You chose it precisely because it’s the worst Blacksmith District?”
“Yes.”
Jin-woo said.
“Because that way there’s meaning in lifting it from the bottom to the top. What meaning is there in keeping a first-place establishment firmly in first place?”
Jin-woo smiled and spoke without a trace of doubt.
“…….”
Oson was astonished at words that showed no consideration for failure whatsoever.
He’d encountered many skilled craftspeople over the years, but never had he witnessed such overwhelming confidence.
“Aren’t you concerned? This is the most backward of the three kingdoms. That means there are more disadvantages you don’t yet know about. The foot traffic is sparse, and visitors here only check the prices and leave. They don’t buy much.”
“Those disadvantages will disappear the moment I establish myself here.”
Jin-woo said.
Just as Oson had naturally accepted his own praise, so too did Jin-woo understand his own value precisely.
“Once I’m here, they’ll come.”
If Jin-woo opened a workshop here, people would have no choice but to come.
‘The foot traffic will increase.’
It wasn’t vague confidence. It was a proven fact through his MiTube channel, Netflix, and the Auction House.
‘And it was the same with Eternal Sunshine.’
“Ha, hahahaha!”
Oson laughed with genuine delight.
That confidence.
That attitude.
That way of thinking.
This declining Blacksmith District needed just such a master craftsman.
A star.
A shining light.
Perhaps only with such a presence could this district shine brilliantly once more, true to its name.
“Show me your crafting, Master Oson. And I’ll show you mine. If it pleases you, teach me the Crystal Platinum method. If not, there’s no need.”
“Yes. Good.”
Oson wanted to wager on Jin-woo’s confidence.
“If your crafting pleases me, as you say, I might well be able to teach you the Crystal Platinum method.”
At Oson’s words, Hamilton’s expression turned grave.
The words sounded almost like permission, but they were not.
It was a gentle refusal.
That Jin-woo possessed remarkable skill was certain—he’d handled Crystal Platinum beautifully on his first try and created a Glass Dagger in a single breath.
But now his master was making an excessive demand.
“Master……!”
“Be quiet, Hamilton.”
No matter who Jin-woo was, gaining recognition from his master was no easy task.
Oson’s standards were remarkably high.
In his youth, he had traveled the three kingdoms honing his craft, and through this, he had witnessed the work of skilled blacksmiths from multiple kingdoms with his own eyes.
Oson had been the fifteenth disciple of Lupema, once a renowned Royal Palace exclusive blacksmith.
To craft equipment that would satisfy such an Oson?
That might be something far beyond difficult—it could be impossible.
Satisfying Oson meant standing shoulder to shoulder with such masters.
Hamilton hoped Jin-woo wouldn’t experience despair here.
If, as he said, Jin-woo were to establish himself in Avalon and lead Avalon to glory alongside the Oson Workshop, instilling confidence in him would be far better.
But Oson’s expression remained unyielding.
There was nothing for it. All Hamilton could do was watch.
Then Jin-woo spoke to Oson.
Oson naturally expected Jin-woo to ask him to clarify these vague conditions further.
But he didn’t.
“Is that all?”
Gaining recognition. Crafting equipment that would please.
‘That’s my specialty.’
For Jin-woo, it was something far too familiar.

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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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