The Return of the Legendary Golden-Handed Blacksmith - Chapter 394

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 394
394.
Whoooosh—!
Jin-woo gripped the pickaxe he’d just created.
‘It turned out incredibly well.’
Steam rose from the surface.
It was far superior even to Yur’s improved pickaxe.
‘An Ultra High-Grade Runestone. This is the real deal.’
Jin-woo had fashioned an Ether Magic Amplification Core from the Ultra High-Grade Runestone.
‘The effect was substantial.’
The power of the Ether Magic Amplification Core was now influencing the robust output and durability of his newly crafted Mechanical Engineering Pickaxe.
What’s more, the output itself was unlike anything before.
‘It comes down to the quality of materials.’
Both were crafted by Jin-woo. Since he’d merely improved them recently, his skill level hadn’t changed.
Yet the difference arose purely from the superior grade of materials.
‘Even with high-grade materials, average results come out often enough.’
Jin-woo’s craftsmanship was so refined that unless materials differed drastically, he produced average-tier equipment.
But this time was different.
‘The material gap is enormous.’
High-Grade Runestone and Ultra High-Grade Runestone.
Just a single tier apart in name.
‘The quality difference is staggering. I’ll definitely need to handle this restoration in Sacra.’
He’d need to develop a method for mass-producing Ultra High-Grade Runestones.
Jin-woo swung the pickaxe back and forth, testing it.
“Hmm.”
‘Artemus might find it difficult to handle.’
It was an exceptionally powerful piece of equipment. Still, Jin-woo had faith in Artemus.
‘He’ll struggle at first.’
But he’d adapt quickly enough.
“Artemus.”
Jin-woo handed the pickaxe to Artemus.
“I’m counting on you.”
Artemus accepted the pickaxe slowly.
“!”
Then his hand trembled.
L-Grade.
“It’s not MR+ Grade…… is it?”
“The grade has risen recently.”
“…….”
Did grades rise that easily?
Artemus swallowed hard.
That wasn’t the important part right now.
He had a new pickaxe.
Shhhhhh—.
Steam billowed forth.
He could tell immediately upon grasping it.
This pickaxe was extraordinary. It operated on an entirely different level from anything he’d used before.
“Among the pickaxes I’ve made, this one is in a different class. In terms of tier, it should be comparable to the one Yur is using.”
From Grade M onward, and especially from MR Grade, Jin-woo’s equipment had become significantly more demanding.
‘It chooses its wielder.’
Of course, whoever used it would see definitive stats, but if they lacked the qualifications, the equipment wouldn’t grant them its full potential.
“I can’t wait to put it to use.”
Yur watched the scene unfold.
In truth, after winning the competition with Artemus, Yur felt an odd uneasiness. Or perhaps it was less uneasiness than regret.
Having a rival in Artemus had allowed him to grow rapidly.
But now that he’d overcome that competition and claimed first place, he felt strangely unsatisfied.
Still, acquiring another piece of Jin-woo’s equipment wasn’t something easily done.
“Now there’s real worth to this.”
And once that obstacle was removed, the blockage in his chest seemed to lift entirely.
“I apologize for the delay.”
“Not at all.”
At Artemus’s words, Yur broke into a grin.
“Things aren’t worth doing unless there’s someone chasing you, wouldn’t you say?”
* * *
With the equipment complete, Jin-woo led Yur, Artemus, Mengka, and the High Goblins into the Millennium Cave.
Shhhhhh—.
An intense, bitter cold swept toward them.
Yet Yur and Artemus were equipped with high-grade gear.
“Mines are always dangerous. Cold like this is nothing we can’t endure.”
“Though it is rather strong.”
Mines are fundamentally places filled with countless monsters and traps.
Rare ores don’t simply sit exposed.
Sometimes they had guardians, sometimes traps, and often magical protections were in place.
Because of this, they came fully prepared.
“Excellent.”
True professionals, indeed.
Jin-woo arrived swiftly at the location of the Eternal Ore alongside these experts.
The moment the two miners saw the Eternal Ore, they gasped in wonder.
“I’ve never seen a premium mineral like this before.”
“And the sheer size…….”
The vein was enormous.
“You’ve truly blessed us.”
“Thank you for giving us this opportunity.”
Even two expert miners rarely encountered ore of this caliber.
Mining this would naturally grant them massive experience gains.
They might even level up their profession.
Gulp—.
Yur gripped the Mechanical Engineering Pickaxe firmly. Then he glanced at Artemus.
“I could mine this alone, of course.”
Saying so with a grin, Artemus too gripped his pickaxe tightly.
“But then there’d be loss, wouldn’t there?”
Yur and Artemus gripped their pickaxes simultaneously.
Whoooosh—.
Steam erupted outward.
“That Mechanical Engineering Pickaxe—you’ll need to control it well. The output is immense.”
Crack-crack-crack—! Bang—!
Yur moved first.
Bang—! Crack—!
As Yur struck, Artemus immediately followed.
Watching Yur and Artemus work, Jin-woo nodded in approval.
‘Distinctly different.’
Moreover, Yur wielded both the Mining Technique and the steam and core of the Mechanical Engineering Pickaxe with considerable finesse.
‘He understands the traits intimately.’
Artemus had only just received the Mechanical Engineering Pickaxe, so he was somewhat lacking in that regard, yet with each strike he demonstrated growing comprehension of the equipment.
‘He’s understanding it in real time.’
Truly exceptional miners are different.
‘This is when the joy truly comes.’
Watching those who wielded his creations with perfect understanding and skill was deeply satisfying.
“Huh…….”
Jin-woo was quite pleased, though the two miners were reacting with shock.
It wasn’t that the Eternal Ore was so hard it was difficult to mine.
“This is…… insane…….”
Artemus kept gazing at his pickaxe, his words faltering.
The destructive force felt through his fingertips.
Overwhelming power.
The pickaxe was sinking in where it shouldn’t have been able to.
Crack—! Bang—!
Artemus was deeply disconcerted. But he pressed onward with control, or else he’d be swept up by the pickaxe.
It felt as though the pickaxe was becoming the master, not him.
So he sharpened his focus.
Bang—!
Yur too was astounded.
He’d acquired one of Jin-woo’s Mechanical Engineering Pickaxes and used it quite extensively in a short span.
It was partly to repay a debt, but also because he simply wanted to try the Mechanical Engineering Pickaxe Jin-woo had made.
Everyone wants to use good equipment.
Yur indulged that desire, and each time he was amazed.
This was a completed form. The birth of a pickaxe never before seen.
“So I thought…….”
But it wasn’t.
The Mechanical Engineering Pickaxe Jin-woo had upgraded for him was the true completion.
“……Or was it?”
Could this too be a transitional stage?
Yur abandoned that line of thinking.
He focused on wielding this Mechanical Engineering Pickaxe. Else he’d be consumed. Devoured. By all appearances, the pickaxe was the master and he might become its tool.
Crack—!
The two miners, channeling all their power and absolute concentration, struck with frenzied intensity.
Bang—! Bang—! Bang—!
“Wow…….”
“That Eternal Ore…….”
“Terrifying. Terrifying, these humans……!”
The High Goblins overseeing the Eternal Ore excavation trembled as they watched Yur and Artemus.
Not from cold. They’d mined this Eternal Ore themselves and knew better.
This was not how it should be mined.
Raw power.
And precise control coupled with constant fine adjustments were required.
The process of turning power on and off as needed—and these two human miners were executing it flawlessly.
Crack—! Crack—!
With each strike, more of the buried Eternal Ore revealed itself.
It was far more beautiful than what lay exposed.
“Wow.”
“It was that beautiful……!”
“What we mined before was just a fraction!”
“Phew…….”
Yur and Artemus were quite satisfied watching this unfold.
Among all the ore deposits they’d encountered, none had been this demanding.
Crack-crack-crack—! Crack—!
Yur and Artemus began to accelerate their pace.
Sweat covered their bodies.
Their wrists ached and their breathing turned rough.
Yet a powerful euphoria washed over them—a sensation of becoming one with the Mechanical Engineering Pickaxe, Jin-woo’s creation.
If they let themselves be pulled along by the pickaxe’s overwhelming output, control would slip away.
So they had to command it.
‘There’s no help but to enjoy it.’
They felt as though they were being tested for their qualifications as premier miners.
‘Until now, they’ve never experienced anything like equipment testing their worth.’
Combat-class professions had so many excellent tools that the unqualified couldn’t even grip certain equipment.
But mining equipment had nothing like that.
So there was nothing but joy in this.
Crack—! Crack—! Crack—!
The two miners felt gratitude toward Jin-woo.
The opportunity to encounter such a demanding ore deposit came solely from his consideration.
As a miner himself, Jin-woo surely knew what he was doing in calling them.
Only great miners can extract great ore.
He was already regarding them as great miners!
Crack—! Bang—!
The Eternal Ore slowly, gradually revealed its enormous form.
“Oh…….”
Mengka’s eyes gleamed. The Eternal Ore filled his gaze.
Bang—! Bang—! Bang—!
Ding—!
-You have successfully mined the Eternal Ore of the Millennium Cave!
Crack—!
Crack-crack-crack-crack-crack-crack-crack—!
The mined Eternal Ore blazed with light.
A Wave spread outward, intense enough to shake the surrounding walls.
“Wow…….”
Mengka and the High Goblins stared blankly at the extracted ore.
“We really…… mined it.”
Rumble-rumble-rumble—!
With the mining of the Eternal Ore, the bitter cold of the Millennium Cave began to vanish instantly.
And.
Splash—!
The ice beside the Eternal Ore shattered, and in its place rose a lake.
-The lake of the Millennium Cave reveals itself.
-Your Integrity Score increases.
Yur, Artemus, and Jin-woo.
The Integrity Score of all three Users rose by 1.
The beautiful lake of the Millennium Cave gleamed brilliantly.
Mengka approached it and glimpsed something living within the waters.
“There are fish here…….”
The fish were alive.
Despite being frozen for so long.
Mengka examined the fish closely.
“!”
And quickly realized what it was.
“That fish…… I saw it when I was young.”
It was the fish that, when given to the wounded to consume, would cure every ailment without trace.
“Jin-woo.”
Jin-woo also confirmed the fish in the lake.
‘This could be useful for potions.’
The lake was teeming with fish. A few could certainly be hunted.
Jin-woo gestured subtly to Mengka, and together they caught some fish.
-Essence of Millennium Fish [L]
-Blood of Millennium Fish [L]
-Meat of Millennium Fish [L]
‘Nice.’
An unexpected bonus reward.
Jin-woo carefully secured all three materials.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Phew…….”
“Phew. Huff.”
Yur and Artemus collapsed backward where they stood, still gripping their pickaxes.
“Seriously…….”
“We almost couldn’t do it.”
But they did.
They mined this massive Eternal Ore!
“Jin-woo, thank you. We gained a wonderful opportunity thanks to you. For giving us the chance to mine such an incredible deposit.”
“And we earned Integrity Score as well. Now we have 5 points. All thanks to you for granting us this rare Integrity Score.”
The two miners expressed their gratitude to Jin-woo, quite satisfied.
“I’m the grateful one.”
Jin-woo smiled and caressed the Eternal Ore.
Finally, he had obtained it.
‘It was right to call the professionals.’
It was a flawless ore, without a single loss.
-Eternal Ore [L]
Legend Grade. The Eternal Ore blazed with frenzied light in Jin-woo’s hands.
Shhhhhh—.
The radiant Eternal Ore bore an ethereal hue.
‘Its color shifts constantly depending on the angle.’
“We haven’t finished mining.”
“We’ll extract it all.”
They’d only extracted one ore so far.
After a brief rest, Yur and Artemus mined every last Eternal Ore from the vein.
“It appears there’s more Eternal Ore deeper within.”
“Should we continue?”
Jin-woo shook his head for now.
‘This is enough.’
What they’d obtained totaled 20 pieces.
‘We can always come back if needed.’
Jin-woo had no intention of keeping all 20 Eternal Ores they’d mined.
“I can’t keep it all to myself.”
Jin-woo distributed the ores, giving one each to Yur, Artemus, and Mengka.
“I’ll accept it gratefully.”
“Thank you!”
“Gulp. Am I worthy of receiving such a thing……?”
“Hmm?”
At Mengka’s words, Jin-woo withdrew his hand. Mengka’s hand shot out urgently.
“Thank you so much!”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————