The Return of the Legendary Golden-Handed Blacksmith - Chapter 309

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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 309
309.
After October’s departure.
Jin-woo had sent a letter to Peran.
-This time was quite worthwhile. Thanks to you, Peran, I was able to spend good time with an excellent craftsperson.
It was a message filled with sincerity.
‘Thanks to him, I was able to exchange with a proper craftsperson.’
Through his exchange with a high-ranking craftsperson, Jin-woo’s own insights had deepened considerably.
-I look forward to your continued support.
Jin-woo also asked Peran to bring along any other craftspeople he might want to collaborate with in the future.
Of course, if Peran desired it, Jin-woo was willing to exchange with him as well.
‘He seemed to be grinding his teeth at it.’
Jin-woo had felt that his skills had grown considerably compared to before.
‘His command of the flame was quite substantial.’
Jin-woo then sent a letter to October as well.
“I left the same request with October.”
Exchange was indeed supreme. This collaboration had given Jin-woo considerable stimulation.
If Peran was in the lower ranks of the Top 100, October occupied the mid-tier ranks.
Lower tier and mid-tier. Some might say it’s only a difference of a few dozen ranks, but among top-tier rankers, that gap mattered significantly.
‘The difference was substantial.’
Their potential.
And their skills became far more vivid through this exchange.
‘October can now craft equipment of a grade higher than M+.’
Jin-woo had learned this by casually asking October about it.
October’s current ceiling was MR Grade Equipment.
‘Creating that MR Grade isn’t something he does easily.’
The materials for MR Grade, his condition on that particular day, and supplementary materials were all quite important, October had said.
In total, October had created three pieces of MR Grade Equipment, he’d mentioned.
‘And recently he hasn’t been able to remake them.’
“You could say the ceiling for the Top 50 is MR Grade.”
However, that didn’t necessarily mean the Top 30 were crafting MR+ or higher grades.
‘From here on, it would be entirely different.’
There are limits even to crafting.
Also, depending on the ranking, the skill gap between positions could be quite dramatic, so ultimately one had to experience it firsthand.
“But for now, the next exchange is set.”
Jin-woo had already made contact with Pendant.
“It won’t be easy to do right away.”
After exchanging with October, Jin-woo had become certain of one thing.
“There’s still much I lack.”
Ranked 58th, October’s crafting had quite formidable aspects.
“The level gap is significant, and the skill gap is large too.”
Of course, he’d made up for it all with skill and technique.
Beyond October stood Pendant, currently the third-ranked craftsperson.
‘That means speculation is pointless.’
If Pendant came determined to the exchange, there was no way to predict where his limits truly lay.
And most importantly, there was something else.
“That’s the most crucial thing.”
Jin-woo felt considerable anticipation for the exchange with Pendant.
“It doesn’t seem like it’d be fun right now.”
In Jin-woo’s own assessment, an exchange at this moment would likely yield a half-baked result.
A half-baked result meant a half-baked process.
“Exchange has to be fun.”
Pendant was, in essence, like a mythical ore.
Treating such an ore with a half-hearted attitude would only bring regret.
“Then let me prepare a bit more.”
There were quests remaining.
“If I find All Master’s final disciple and clear the Twin God of Fire and Soul quest, I should reach a respectable level.”
Once the final disciple was found, what came next was All Master himself.
‘I’ll have found all the pieces. Finally I’ll be able to meet All Master.’
“That should be enough. For an exchange with Pendant.”
Winning and losing were secondary matters. As he’d told October, exchange was nominally about victory and defeat, but the priority was mutual enjoyment.
Jin-woo immediately summoned Free and his two familiars.
“I’ll be away. Keep the new system running. I’m counting on you.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Yes! Master! Do not worry!”
The two undead familiars, now hero-grade, were quite quick and eager.
“We will succeed.”
Free’s eyes gleamed with intensity.
In truth, Free had been restless throughout Jin-woo’s exchange with October.
‘It’s the prime time for crafting, but I couldn’t do it.’
A kind of withdrawal symptom had appeared.
‘Completely absorbed in crafting. Perfect.’
Jin-woo gestured to Free.
“From now on, craft freely.”
“Yes! Yes! Understood!”
Free responded in a loud voice.
“I’m leaving it to you.”
“Yes! Leave it to me!”
Jin-woo finished his preparations and left the Mansan Workshop.
Chanran, the craftsperson district.
Someone called out to Jin-woo as he was about to leave.
“Are you Jin-woo?”
As Jin-woo turned, he saw a user clad in equipment so overwhelming that merely looking at it was intimidating.
“This is our first time meeting like this. A pleasure.”
The man walked slowly toward Jin-woo.
Even his mere approach exuded an enormous presence that was intensely threatening.
With each step he took, the pressure grew palpable.
Instinct might have prompted Jin-woo to step back at such an imposing approach, but instead he walked slowly toward the man.
‘That equipment looks impressive.’
He wanted to examine the man’s gear more closely.
“I am Useless.”
It was a name Jin-woo had heard before.
‘Ah.’
The moment Jin-woo recognized him, the man continued.
“Vice-Guild Master of Leap.”
Useless, Vice-Guild Master of Leap.
Whether by his name alone or by his title, he wielded enormous influence in New Gene.
Because of that, he had felt countless times how a single mention of either fact would make his opponent’s spirit falter.
“Vice-Guild Master of Leap, I see.”
But this situation was rare.
Jin-woo seemed entirely unconcerned with the name and title.
If it had been mere bluffing, Useless, who had encountered many people, would have seen through it immediately.
……
Because it wasn’t bluffing, he found himself confused instead.
It reminded him of something.
Like when he’d first seen Starlight.
Useless’s expression darkened.
He recalled what his guild members had said.
Hearing it now in person made those words suddenly vivid before his eyes.
Jin-woo possessed a peculiar presence.
What had been faintly felt from Jin-woo in videos became starkly vivid in person.
“Would you like to talk in my workshop?”
He hadn’t even mentioned why he’d come.
Yet somehow, as if a guest had arrived at someone’s home, Jin-woo had already taken the initiative in the situation.
“Let us go in.”
Of course, Useless had no intention of easily surrendering the initiative.
* * *
“I heard your equipment was used in the confrontation with the Realize Guild.”
Useless got straight to the point.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Jin-woo admitted it immediately.
Useless fell momentarily silent at Jin-woo’s confident demeanor.
He had provided equipment to the Realize Guild.
So why?
That’s what the tone seemed to suggest.
In truth, if one were to be precise, he’d simply fulfilled the commission from the Realize Guild.
Nothing more, nothing less. It was natural for a craftsperson to take commissions, and how the commissioned equipment was used was the buyer’s responsibility.
Leap was the number-one guild in New Gene.
And so naturally, when such trouble arose, a craftsperson would inevitably be drawn into it.
But Jin-woo already understood.
‘It’s a battle of wills.’
Jin-woo thought Useless had come far later than expected.
‘It’s only been a short while since I sent the My East Wind guild.’
In truth, this fight was one Jin-woo had initiated first.
“The Realize Guild commissioned me to craft equipment. They wanted gear that would give them an edge in a confrontation with Leap. So I made it for them.”
For that reason, Jin-woo struck once more with a smile.
“You already knew, didn’t you?”
“Yes. Equipment must be used where it should be used.”
“Are you saying our Leap Guild was the place where it should be used?”
“No.”
Jin-woo opened his eyes wide.
“I mean it was used where victory lay. The Realize Guild desired victory, after all.”
They had commissioned him, and naturally they won.
That was what his words meant.
……
At that overwhelming confidence, Useless regarded Jin-woo anew.
Was he really this tyrannical in nature?
Now Useless had come as Leap’s representative.
Jin-woo showed no fear whatsoever.
Rather, he seemed to be enjoying the situation.
If that was the direction he was taking pleasure in, there was no harm in matching it.
“I understand your position. We too found your equipment quite impressive.”
He simply nodded at the statement that it should be used where victory lay.
Seeing such Useless, Jin-woo’s lips curled up slightly.
‘He’s not taking the bait easily.’
He hadn’t expected him to fall for the provocation so readily.
“Forgive me for asking so late. What brings you here?”
It was hardly the case that he’d come just because Jin-woo made equipment for the Realize Guild, the question implied.
Useless smiled.
It was merely a movement of the muscles around his mouth. A difficult expression to call a genuine smile.
“I came hoping to have a good exchange with you, Jin-woo. That equipment the Realize Guild was using was quite impressive.”
Useless spoke.
“The equipment we had been using was made by Pendant. It was old, but not something that would break easily. But I heard your equipment broke it.”
“I don’t know the details.”
Of course, he knew the details well.
The Realize Guild had brought him additional materials along with their victory report.
Even now, they were helping Jin-woo with conveniences here in Avalak.
“So I wondered if you might accept a commission.”
“Who will use it?”
“Slayer. Thus far Slayer has used various equipment, but none has truly suited him.”
This time it was Useless’s provocation. But Jin-woo simply smiled widely and nodded.
“Excellent.”
Jin-woo answered immediately. It didn’t matter if he was taking the bait.
In truth, Jin-woo had been quite curious.
He’d often seen the name in the Hall of Honor, and in various communities and Mytube, he’d seen Slayer’s name repeatedly.
‘I had indeed been curious about Slayer.’
The number-one ranker in the combat class.
Undoubtedly the greatest power of the current era.
That was Slayer.
“I have consistently done so.”
The strong of each age had always come to Jin-woo.
That was the only way to obtain equipment befitting them.
“Powerful users have come directly and requested equipment from me before. This is equally promising.”
At those words, even Useless, maintaining his poker face, could not help but emit quiet fury.
Of course, this was a city where combat was forbidden.
But among the Divine Powers and runes he possessed were forces that could breach that restriction.
He couldn’t strike directly, but he could show Jin-woo a glimpse of his power’s magnitude.
“I will relay the message.”
Shaaaaaaa—
Useless slowly rose from his seat.
“That’s formidable.”
Jin-woo smiled, reassessing the power of Useless he’d just felt.
“So Pendant isn’t the problem.”
Useless was a user carefully cultivated by the Leap Guild itself.
“And Slayer is stronger than such a Useless?”
And Slayer was said to be far stronger than such a Useless.
“They might break apart.”
Jin-woo laughed and shook his head gently.
“That’s quite a problem. Quite a problem indeed.”
Then he immediately left the workshop.
“It’s exciting — that’s the problem.”

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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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