The Return of the Legendary Golden-Handed Blacksmith - Chapter 304

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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 304
304.
The Blacksmith that Peran had brought with him radiated the aura of fire from his entire body.
Muscular frame.
And there was a Hammer at his waist, along with a splendidly embroidered work apron.
‘That work apron looks quite impressive.’
Jin-woo scanned him in an instant.
‘Excellent skill.’
The confident Blacksmith, Octber, bowed deeply to Jin-woo in greeting.
“It’s such an honor to meet you in person. Jin-woo. My name is Octber.”
“I’m Jin-woo.”
Blacksmith Ranking 58th—Octber.
Octber was a Blacksmith ranked considerably higher than Peran.
“Octber currently stands at 58th place in the Blacksmith Rankings and holds a higher ranking than I do.”
Peran explained Octber briefly.
“He was once with the Jiryong Guild and is now with the Blue Sea Guild.”
The Jiryong Guild was a rival to the Leap Guild.
Of course, the Leap Guild had Slayer and Kalantiir, so there was a considerable gap in weight class, but nonetheless the Jiryong Guild had numerous Rankers.
“Though I was with the Jiryong Guild, I wasn’t their main Blacksmith. The Jiryong Guild has an abundance of skilled Blacksmiths. I was ranked in the lower tier.”
So even a 58th-ranked Blacksmith couldn’t shine at the Jiryong Guild.
Octber failed to leave any notable achievements within the Jiryong Guild, overshadowed by multiple skilled main Blacksmiths.
It was unavoidable without the opportunity.
That was why he had now transferred to the Blue Sea Guild. The Blue Sea Guild was within the top twenty, and Octber was able to work as a main Blacksmith there.
“And in fact, I also operate a MiTube channel.”
Octber said with a smile.
The biggest reason he’d come to collaborate with Jin-woo was precisely this MiTube.
“I have some skill in assessment.”
Octber was running content similar to that of Fritz, who had previously reviewed Jin-woo—evaluating and reviewing the Crafting and equipment of various Blacksmiths.
Though the content was similar to Fritz’s, Octber had a distinctly different competitive edge.
Fritz was not a Blacksmith, but Octber was.
‘Being a 58th-ranked Blacksmith, the words of a practicing Blacksmith naturally carry more credibility.’
Even the same assessment would inevitably have more weight coming from a practicing Blacksmith.
“I was truly astonished by your equipment. Not only does it have specifications that shouldn’t appear at that Level, but… all of its Options have transcended their Grade. It felt as though the Grade was merely following behind.”
‘This one has a discerning eye.’
Jin-woo’s pursuit in equipment had always been Options.
Grade was merely a polished facade.
“You’re most discerning.”
At Jin-woo’s words, Octber’s expression grew bashful. Among Ranker-tier Blacksmiths, there would be few who analyzed Jin-woo’s equipment with such depth.
Octber took pride in that distinction.
‘To see that Option and not lose heart—remarkable.’
Jin-woo smiled.
It seemed they could have a stimulating collaboration.
“So I came here hoping to examine your Crafting in greater detail and also show you mine.”
At Octber’s words, Jin-woo extended his hand.
“Let’s do it. Let’s collaborate.”
“!”
Jin-woo accepted immediately, and Octber’s eyes sparkled. He hadn’t expected Jin-woo to accept the collaboration so readily.
‘There’s definitely something here.’
He possessed skill clearly a tier above Peran’s.
Moreover, his eye for assessment was quite keen.
‘I’m curious what kind of Crafting he does.’
“You’ve likely seen the collaboration I did with Peran. We plan to proceed similarly and upload it to JinTube—would that be acceptable?”
“Yes, absolutely!”
He wanted to upload the video to his own MiTube channel as well.
If it came to that, it would be mutually beneficial.
Octber broached the main point immediately.
“Thank you for accepting the collaboration! So, how should we handle compensation?”
This compensation was the most crucial part.
A Blacksmith of Jin-woo’s caliber doesn’t simply accept a collaboration. Therefore, proper compensation was necessary.
In any collaboration with a heavyweight Blacksmith, this compensation was always essential.
“Either Gold or materials could…”
Octber had clearly come prepared with compensation in mind.
“…Compensation?”
But Jin-woo seemed confused.
“Ah, compensation.”
“Yes!”
Octber’s expression grew slightly tense. He had his own certainty, but couldn’t predict what compensation Jin-woo might demand.
“Octber, compensation isn’t necessary.”
Jin-woo said with a smile.
“Instead, let’s both do our absolute best.”
“…Are you truly certain?”
Octber seemed confused instead.
Octber himself was eccentric, but Blacksmiths in general were temperamental.
Especially in collaborations like this. A collaboration means displaying one’s Crafting techniques in full.
The other party could understand your Crafting techniques and steal them, using that information to have other users analyze your weaknesses and strengths.
That’s why when someone like Octber made the request first, substantial compensation was necessary.
Octber had come prepared to pay that price.
But he says it’s not necessary?
“Will doing our very best really be enough?”
Concerned there might be awkwardness later, Octber asked once more.
“Yes.”
Jin-woo smiled again.
“Just give your best effort.”
“Understood!”
Octber replied quickly.
Octber was quite satisfied to find that Jin-woo possessed far more courteous character than he’d anticipated. Truly, great Blacksmiths do differ in character from the start!
“I look forward to it.”
Jin-woo smiled and gestured for them to follow.
“…That really shouldn’t be the case…”
Peran, knowing the truth, murmured quietly.
Peran understood perfectly well why Jin-woo had said compensation wasn’t necessary.
Octber’s mere arrival was itself compensation for Jin-woo.
Through the collaboration with Octber, Jin-woo would be able to engage in interesting Crafting.
Moreover, what constituted “best effort” for each of them would certainly differ.
“…You’re in for trouble.”
But Peran’s mouth curved upward despite himself.
“You should experience trouble for once.”
Then he followed the two of them with a grin.
* * *
The collaboration with Octber had begun.
“Let’s do our absolute best within our abilities.”
“Yes, don’t worry.”
Jin-woo gestured to Peran.
“Peran, I’m counting on you.”
“With Peran, we can trust and rely on him.”
Given that Peran had earned the nickname “mad dog,” his eye for assessment could be trusted.
Certainly not to Octber’s degree, but still, fair judgment was possible.
“Or once it’s complete, I can cross-check it once more as well.”
“Let’s do that.”
The three Blacksmiths here could handle the actual assessment. They would simply cross-check each other’s completed equipment.
‘I’m looking forward to this.’
58th in the Rankings.
Ranking-tier Blacksmiths possess special Crafting Skills.
‘Peran had a special Skill too.’
Octber likely had his own signature Skill as well.
‘Let me see what it’s like.’
“The material is this Pure Jet Stone. Its Grade is SSR, and Octber, you’ll be using the Crafting tools here at the Mansan Workshop.”
Unlike Jin-woo, who had a Summoning Workshop, Octber would use the furnace and work table of the Mansan Workshop.
Jin-woo decided to open his Summoning Workshop instead.
‘We start under the same conditions, but there’s a difference in Crafting tools.’
But this was a collaboration, after all.
It didn’t need to be perfectly fair. The purpose of collaboration was to display one’s Crafting and learn from the stimulation of seeing another’s work.
Octber was unbothered.
“Have you ever worked with Pure Jet Stone before?”
Jin-woo replied.
“First time.”
“…You’ve never used it?”
Octber was taken aback. Pure Jet Stone was a common mineral for those making M Grade and higher equipment.
It was one of the materials that could only be handled once you surpassed M Grade, and above all, it was a mineral frequently used when verifying skill like this.
“Ah, right—you’ve never joined a Guild.”
The vast majority of top Guilds used this Pure Jet Stone as a test material when recruiting Blacksmiths.
That’s why it was such a familiar material to Octber.
“As for the characteristics of Pure Jet Stone, it’s that…”
“That’s fine.”
Jin-woo raised his hand to stop Peran’s explanation.
“Let me check it directly. Besides, this is my Workshop where my Crafting tools abound. I can handle that much.”
“!”
At those words, Octber’s eyebrows twitched.
Jin-woo’s confidence had flipped a switch within him.
“Then I’ll start right away.”
Pure Jet Stone was distributed to both Blacksmiths.
“You could make the same thing, but in this collaboration, we’ll each make something different.”
Peran had done an exchange with sword versus sword. The collaboration where one of the two swords broke and lost.
But this time was different.
“One makes a shield, the other makes a weapon. You can make a sword or an axe. But the time limit will be the same.”
Jin-woo gestured to Octber.
“Choose what you’d like to make.”
“…Understood.”
If Jin-woo was being lenient, all the better. Octber intended to exploit that mercy and strike at Jin-woo’s weakness.
Octber had come with the determination to win by any means necessary.
There was no need to resent Jin-woo’s kindness in this regard.
The more merciful Jin-woo was, the greater the satisfaction when victory came.
“I’ll make a weapon.”
Octber chose a weapon. A weapon would generally be far more effective at breaking a shield.
Naturally, Jin-woo chose the shield.
Octber knew as well. Not long ago, Jin-woo had created an M Grade piece of equipment—the Wave Purification Shield, a masterpiece.
But M Grade was something any Ranker-tier Blacksmith could produce.
The Options might differ, but the Grade is the same.
So he wasn’t afraid.
“Then.”
Peran gestured.
“You can begin whenever.”
At those words, Octber moved immediately.
Pure Jet Stone was a very familiar mineral. He’d handled it dozens upon dozens of times already.
Whoosh—
He lit the furnace at the Mansan Workshop and placed the Pure Jet Stone inside.
The furnace currently held Jin-woo’s Threefold Flame divided among it.
Whoosh—
‘Oh.’
This furnace was one Jin-woo had created anew.
It had many deficiencies compared to the one Jin-woo was currently using in his Summoning Workshop, but its functionality had certainly improved from before.
‘For Octber’s use, there are no shortcomings.’
Whoosh—!
Despite the Threefold Flame raging madly, the furnace held firm.
Octber admired Jin-woo’s furnace.
“Truly a fine furnace. A great Blacksmith does indeed use a great furnace.”
Knowing that Jin-woo was sponsored by the gods and was the Successor of multiple deities, he naturally assumed he’d received this furnace from them as well.
“I too wish to serve the same god.”
Octber pulled out tongs and swiftly withdrew the Pure Jet Stone from the furnace.
Then he drew out his Hammer.
His Hammer was quite ornate.
Engravings and various patterns were carved upon it, giving it the impression of swirling vortices.
Shaa—
With a powerful grip, he brought the Hammer down upon the Pure Jet Stone.
Clang—!
“Mmh!”
Pure Jet Stone didn’t yield uniformly.
So no matter how many times you’d handled it, you had to strike first to understand its condition.
One of Octber’s eyebrows rose slightly. Indeed, Pure Jet Stone was Pure Jet Stone. Alongside the intense sensation that emerged, there came simultaneously the feeling of striking glass.
But Octber wasn’t bothered. The properties of Pure Jet Stone were precisely the material where his power worked best.
“Huu.”
Clang—!
Shaa—
Octber’s hands began to color.
“Material Overcharge.”
Clang—!
The power flowing through his hands into the Hammer transferred wholly into the Pure Jet Stone.
This Material Overcharge was a Skill that momentarily drew out the material’s inherent power and strengthened it.
Through such enhancement, powerful Options would be inscribed into the material.
“Option Enhancement.”
Octber simultaneously enhanced the Options.
Up to this point, most top-tier Rankers possessed these Skills.
“Option Growth.”
Clang—! Clang—!
In that moment, the power of nature suffused the Hammer.
‘Oho?’
The natural power in his hands bloomed into the material and began to flourish wildly.
Shaa—. Shaa—
That temperamental Pure Jet Stone began to unleash its full potential.
In this moment, Octber was a Blacksmith of nature.
Blooming flowers, growing trees, creating forests.
Clang—! Clang—! Clang—!
Octber’s Hammering carried the fierce power of nature.
Though Jin-woo should have started simultaneously, he stood with arms crossed, savoring Octber’s Crafting.
“Ooh.”
“…Jin-woo?”
“It’s excellent.”
Seeing Jin-woo savoring the work, Peran felt bewildered.
“I thought it best to watch for now.”
“…”
Jin-woo spoke and laughed. In that smile, Peran sensed something like a beast baring its teeth.
“I’m glad I watched.”

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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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