The Return of the Legendary Golden-Handed Blacksmith - Chapter 306

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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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Chapter 306
306.
“……?”
October’s expression turned bewildered.
What on earth was this situation?
“Fascinating material. Truly.”
Jin-woo was showing considerable satisfaction.
Pure Jetstone was a USSR Grade material.
He was making M+ Grade equipment from USSR Grade material?
Even with ordinary materials, it was extraordinarily difficult.
But this was Pure Jetstone.
You couldn’t do such a thing with Pure Jetstone.
At least not by conventional standards.
Peran was flustered, and October was equally flustered.
“M+ Grade……?”
October was taken aback by Peran’s words. Only Peran had examined Jin-woo’s equipment so far.
So October’s hands trembled at the mention of M+ Grade. Was the shield Jin-woo had made really M+ Grade?
“The Hammering……no. Like that……originally…….”
He fumbled through his words. There was no way around being at a loss for speech.
Was this right? Was he dreaming right now?
The M+ Grade result from over thirty absurd strikes of the hammer was something that shouldn’t exist in October’s understanding.
He could understand crafting M+ Grade from USSR.
It wasn’t as though he’d never done it himself.
“I can make M+ Grade from USSR too……. But this is Pure Jetstone, is it not!”
That was impossible.
More than that, the fact that Jin-woo had struck Pure Jetstone thirty-one times seemed unbelievable.
It was strange. Far too strange.
He’d used the same material, yet how could this be possible?
“I’ve never seen anything like it! Thirty-one hammer strikes on Pure Jetstone? No, is this even really Pure Jetstone…….”
For a moment, October was about to say something he shouldn’t.
Peran raised his hand.
Understanding his intention well, Peran hoped October wouldn’t make any further mistakes.
“October.”
If you couldn’t believe it, you could simply verify it yourself.
Peran handed over the Pure Jetstone Shield that Jin-woo had made.
“Examine it directly. Then there will be no need for further discussion.”
October accepted the Pure Jetstone Shield from Peran.
And he looked.
At everything about the Pure Jetstone Shield Jin-woo had made.
Defense, attributes, elements, durability.
All of it entered October’s eyes.
Normally, he didn’t spend much time penetrating and assessing equipment.
But Jin-woo’s equipment took longer.
“…….”
He had a good eye for these things.
So he couldn’t help but understand just how extraordinary this Pure Jetstone Shield was.
It was ironic. Something incomprehensible had happened, yet he could comprehend it.
“This is technique…….”
This was the product of technique.
The result of those who had trained for years and reached mastery, achieving perfection.
October had seen equipment like this before.
“……Starlight.”
A great Blacksmith and top-tier Ranker.
Starlight, the Ranker of Rankers and the pride of Blacksmiths, had created such equipment.
“Inclassic…….”
And Inclassic, who rivaled Starlight, also crafted such magnificent equipment.
Of course, it had been quite some time since October had seen that equipment.
By now, Starlight and Inclassic were likely crafting even more extraordinary pieces.
But when October had seen their equipment, they were already at the pinnacle.
This Pure Jetstone that Jin-woo had made was comparable to theirs.
No.
“……Superior, perhaps?”
October’s eyes spun wildly.
Those keen eyes only deepened his confusion.
The Pure Jetstone Shield Jin-woo had made had an almost impossibly high degree of completion.
Pure Jetstone normally lacked practical utility.
Equipment made from it couldn’t be used long, and it typically had pitifully low durability.
“……But why.”
He couldn’t believe it. The limitations that Pure Jetstone usually had were completely absent from Jin-woo’s equipment.
“Why is the durability so high……?”
If Pure Jetstone’s traits were fully reflected, the durability couldn’t possibly be high.
That was what Pure Jetstone was.
“……Jin-woo.”
The sword October had made also had many attributes.
His Option Growth Skill could both increase the number of these attributes and deepen them—a legendary skill.
So all his equipment transcended the material to gain attributes beyond its Grade.
The Power of Nature was that great.
……At least, that’s what he’d believed until now.
In this moment, October witnessed something greater than the Power of Nature he possessed.
“This……why is the durability…….”
Why did it have practical utility?
At October’s words, Jin-woo nodded and smiled.
“You have a keen eye indeed.”
Jin-woo was quite pleased.
“Why is the durability high, you ask?”
“Yes. Pure Jetstone isn’t that kind of material. No matter how much power you draw out…….”
Jin-woo cut off October’s words and spoke.
“I struck it multiple times to overcome that limitation.”
Jin-woo’s focus lay there.
Not only to draw out all of Pure Jetstone’s strengths, but to compensate for its weaknesses as well.
“…….”
From the start, his perspective differed fundamentally from October’s.
“Shall we test it immediately then? From here on is the true highlight.”
Gulp.
Just as Jin-woo said, what came next was the true highlight.
They had to verify each other’s equipment and test their strength.
In terms of equipment, he’d already lost. Even without Peran formally declaring the outcome, October himself couldn’t help but surrender from the depths of his heart.
But this was an exchange.
It wasn’t over yet. His sword was the finest equipment he’d ever made from Pure Jetstone.
October gripped the sword.
“Ah, let me first examine it.”
Jin-woo wanted to scrutinize the Pure Jetstone Sword October had made in detail.
‘The results are quite intriguing.’
So he needed to look first before they competed.
“It’ll break soon anyway.”
“……!”
October couldn’t rebut that. It was considerable humiliation, yet somehow October didn’t feel humiliated by it.
Taking the sword from October, Jin-woo examined it carefully from all angles.
‘Oh.’
October’s Pure Jetstone Sword held more attributes than Jin-woo’s own work.
‘This Option Growth skill. Quite an interesting ability.’
Attributes unrelated to the material had accumulated.
‘And the special attributes Pure Jetstone possesses have grown as well.’
Pure Jetstone’s pure power and critical strike chance were remarkably high.
‘I’d like to see more of this.’
He was quite curious about how far this power to grow attributes could reach.
‘The Elven Power flowing through me overlaps slightly with the Power of Nature.’
Jin-woo currently had Elven Power flowing through him.
Because of that, he could absorb the Power of Nature as much as he wished.
‘Next time I should try using the Flawless Seamstress Art more.’
Within the power of Flawlessness lay the Power of Nature.
‘Let me pay respects to the god sponsoring October.’
Jin-woo returned the Pure Jetstone Sword.
“Then let’s begin right away.”
Jin-woo immediately gripped the shield.
October grasped the Pure Jetstone Sword with all his strength and looked at Peran.
“I’m ready.”
“……Yes.”
Peran was curious too.
The shield Jin-woo had created was overwhelming.
No other words were necessary.
There was a difference of two full Grades between them.
October’s Pure Jetstone Sword was USSR+ Grade.
Jin-woo’s shield was M+ Grade.
Of course, even so, the weapon held the advantage.
Such were Pure Jetstone’s characteristics.
“You may begin.”
Peran gestured.
Then October raised his sword high.
Jin-woo held the shield lightly and shifted his weight forward slightly. Though not naturally talented at combat, his wealth of battle experience made his movements far more fluid.
Shriek—!
October’s Pure Jetstone Sword came down in a straight arc.
And there erupted a tremendous crash.
Boom-boom-boom—!
It shattered spectacularly.
“Ugh.”
As expected, it wasn’t the shield that broke—it was the sword.
October, struck with enormous recoil, collapsed on the spot.
-Critical damage received!
-Health has dropped below 30 percent!
-Your vision is impaired from the devastating impact!
October was a Craftsperson. Because of that, he rarely tested equipment in direct combat.
Of course, Peran hadn’t anticipated it either.
“October!”
To witness the wielder nearly die after swinging a weapon against a shield—he hadn’t expected that.
Looking at the catastrophically shattered sword, October blinked hard.
Even through the restricted vision, the fragments of the broken blade were painfully clear.
“……I lost.”
It was a complete defeat.
October’s mind went blank.
If only he hadn’t known the reason for his loss, he might have felt anger.
But the reason was all too obvious.
It felt like the tower he’d built all these years was crumbling.
Then Jin-woo extended his hand.
“That was excellent exchange.”
Jin-woo caught the crumbling tower of October and stood it upright again.
“I was truly surprised. Option Growth, you say. How did you learn such a Skill? Your mastery of Pure Jetstone was equally impressive.”
At Jin-woo’s praise, October only grew more flustered.
He had lost, so why was he receiving such kind words?
It almost felt like mockery.
“I……lost.”
“Is there winning and losing in exchange?”
For a moment, it felt like his head had been struck by a hammer.
That was right. This was an exchange.
Living only in the world of competition, he’d forgotten what exchange even meant.
“I’d like to see more.”
Light returned to October’s eyes.
“Was my equipment……acceptable?”
“The equipment? More than the equipment, your craftsmanship was excellent. Equipment is merely what follows after. Is that not so?”
At those words, October found himself smiling without thinking.
“Thank you……thank you, Jin-woo.”
“So, about that. You’re still in decent condition, aren’t you?”
Jin-woo was curious about his Option Growth.
‘The truth is, I want to see more of his craftsmanship.’
The limit of October’s talent.
He was intensely curious about what else he could demonstrate.
“We’ve only done one exchange. Plus, the material was Pure Jetstone—a demanding material at that. Why don’t we relax a bit now?”
Jin-woo smiled slightly.
“There’s still more, isn’t there? Craftsmanship techniques you haven’t shown. Finesse.”
“There is! There’s still much more to show!”
“Good then. Well.”
Jin-woo spoke.
“Will you show me?”

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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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