The Return of the Legendary Golden-Handed Blacksmith - Chapter 75

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

Chapter 75
Episode 75.
The Labyrinth Forest lived up to its name—finding your way through it was extraordinarily difficult.
“Kee-kee-kee-kee-kee…….”
“You can never lift it.”
“You can never get through.”
Choose the wrong path and a strange laughter would echo out, sending you right back to the entrance.
“Hmm.”
Jin-woo closed his eyes for a moment.
‘There’s no way to brute-force this.’
There was no strategy guide for it, and Jin-woo wasn’t particularly skilled at finding his way around.
“Then.”
Jin-woo focused on that sensation he’d felt each time he lost his way.
“Worth a shot.”
He opened his eyes and walked forward just as he had before.
His minions followed at his heels.
“Kee-kee-kee-kee-kee…….”
The laughter sounded again as he took another wrong turn.
That was when.
Jin-woo reached out his hand.
Snap!
—Soul Sight activates!
—Spirit captured!
“Works like a charm.”
Jin-woo smirked.
“Eh, eh-eh-eh……?”
The spirit, seized by Jin-woo’s collar, stumbled out of the darkness in shock.
“Surprised?”
Jin-woo asked.
“Try laughing again.”
“…….”
The captured spirit wore an expression of utter alarm. It was a massive shapeless form with eyes, a nose, and a mouth attached to it.
Three minions behind Jin-woo shone with azure light as they watched the spirit.
“Would you rather be absorbed or guide me through?”
“……I’ll guide you.”
The spirit replied.
* * *
“What did you call this place?”
“Inside the Labyrinth Forest lies the Elven City…….”
Elven City.
Just the name told him everything. A city of Elves.
‘Elven Lunastone was probably a specialty product of that Elf city, Forest Run, wasn’t it? So there are multiple Elf cities.’
“There’s an Elf city here?”
“Yes, there is.”
“Then the Elves sealed off the Labyrinth Forest because of it?”
“No, actually.”
As the Spirit of the Labyrinth seemed to be holding something back, Jin-woo grabbed his head as if to toss him to the minions behind him.
The minions’ eyes gleamed as they both reached out simultaneously.
“Ahhhhh! I’m sorry! I’ll tell you! The Labyrinth Forest was created by the Phantom King!”
“The Phantom King?”
“This misty forest was created by the Phantom King, and the Labyrinth Forest once led to his residence. But now the Elves live here, and the Phantom King is in conflict with them!”
The Spirit of the Labyrinth spilled out all the information.
‘The Phantom King?’
It seemed this misty forest was complicated in many ways.
“Do you know someone called Mirae?”
“Someone?”
The Spirit of the Labyrinth asked back.
“I know of an Elf named Mirae.”
‘Could Mirae be an Elf?’
“But why are you looking for Mirae…….”
The Spirit of the Labyrinth asked carefully.
From that response, Jin-woo could tell.
‘Something connects them.’
Not only does this spirit know Mirae, it’s asking why he’s looking for her.
“Why do you think I’d be looking?”
“……Ah! Could it be.”
The Spirit of the Labyrinth bowed its head twice in urgency.
Now it understood.
“The Phantom King sent you! So the Phantom King summoned you, Jin-woo, as a hunter to finally catch that Mirae!”
Jin-woo nodded naturally.
‘So Mirae’s entangled with the Phantom King.’
“I apologize.”
“You know quite a lot more than I expected.”
“Many things are heard in the Labyrinth……. And like this.”
“Playing tricks gets you information too?”
“……Yes.”
“Live right. Or you’ll be punished.”
“I’ve already been punished and died…….”
“What?”
“……I apologize!”
* * *
Thanks to the Spirit of the Labyrinth’s guidance, Jin-woo was able to clear the Labyrinth Forest with ease.
—Achievement unlocked!
—You have obtained the [Labyrinth Master] Achievement.
—Registered in the Hall of Fame!
[Achievement] Labyrinth Master
—Hall of Fame Rankings
1. Jin-woo
2. Romanoff
3. Cusen
4. Handmade
……
The Labyrinth Forest was a place many users had already challenged extensively.
Among those who had cleared this complicated maze, Jin-woo was the fastest. Of course he was—he’d captured the guide and gotten directions.
“Thanks to that, I made it through in thirty minutes.”
Jin-woo released the Spirit of the Labyrinth.
“If I come again, I’ll count on you.”
“……Y-yes.”
The Spirit of the Labyrinth vanished forward at full speed. It fled with all its might as if afraid Jin-woo might chase after it, then—poof—disappeared entirely.
“There’s something endearing about it.”
Jin-woo turned away from the maze and headed toward the Elven City.
“Oooh.”
After walking for some time.
Before Jin-woo appeared a beautiful verdant glow, rippling and undulating.
“Elven City.”
A city of Elves.
He arrived at the beautiful natural forest of the Elven City.
Whoooosh—.
In the center of the Elven City stood the World Tree, and around it spread the city. The buildings were beautiful and nature-harmonious.
“Mirae is here.”
The Quest Marker pointed precisely at this Elven City.
Jin-woo scanned the overall features of the Elven City.
“Hmm.”
Jin-woo narrowed his eyes.
—Hawk’s Eye activates!
“Something’s definitely wrong here.”
The city gates, which should have been open with guards, were sealed tight.
Jin-woo immediately rushed toward the gates, his minions following close behind.
“Greetings!”
As Jin-woo called out loudly, an Elf appeared atop the gates and drew a bow, immediately aiming it at Jin-woo.
“Stranger, turn back.”
“The city does not accept outsiders.”
“I cannot enter?”
“A ban on entry has been issued. The period is indefinite.”
The Elves were extremely wary. The minions looked ready to charge at any moment, but since Jin-woo remained still, they too did not act rashly.
“Has something gone wrong, perhaps? I believe I might be able to help with that matter.”
“Humans cannot help us.”
They were absolutely thorough.
Jin-woo paused to think.
‘To show them I’m not a threat.’
Naturally, he had to show them something familiar to them. He needed to appeal to them that he was harmless.
“Coco, Munzi.”
Jin-woo summoned his spirits.
“Chirp.”
“Trill.”
As the two spirits were summoned, the Elves’ eyes widened with interest.
“Look at these two spirits! I am also a Spirit Summoner. I came here drawn by the spirits. And at the same time, I am a Craftsperson!”
Jin-woo held up a hammer for them to see.
“I came all this way seeking good materials, but I wondered if there might be something I could help with. I’m willing to help with anything.”
At that, the Elves hesitated briefly. Jin-woo did not miss it.
‘They need help.’
Watching them waver, Jin-woo could be certain.
If they didn’t need help, they would have simply refused or told him to leave immediately.
‘So the Phantom King keeps dragging them around.’
With the information from the Spirit of the Labyrinth, Jin-woo was certain they were in quite a difficult situation because of the Phantom King.
‘The Spirit of the Labyrinth didn’t seem to be lying.’
The Spirit of the Labyrinth’s story had been entirely unreliable, so he’d believed only about half of it.
“I’ve come here after passing through the Labyrinth Forest. If there is something amiss in the Elven City, I have the strength to help. And I am a disciple of Rodin.”
Jin-woo made no more fuss and simply remained quiet.
After about five minutes had passed.
Realizing it was too difficult for them to do anything more by themselves, they gestured for Jin-woo to follow.
“We shall make a report inside first. Please wait.”
* * *
Elven City.
Inside the second largest building after the World Tree in the Elven City.
Elves were gathered there.
“A human has come saying they would help us?”
Long white hair.
A beautiful face.
These were the Elven Elders who governed the Elven City.
Though called elders, they all appeared quite young, but Elves were originally a race that did not age.
The Elven Elders shook their heads.
“Human strength cannot manage it. We are grateful for the sentiment, but at this moment, we cannot trust any other race.”
“We have a duty to reclaim the forest taken from us by the Phantom King.”
“Humans can never stand against the Phantom King’s power.”
The Elven City was under attack from a formidable enemy. Because of that powerful foe, they had been in constant distress, and this problem could not be solved simply by one human offering to help.
“Even Mirae, the greatest Tailor of the city, could not prevail with the equipment she made. What could a mere human craftsperson possibly do?”
The Elven City had the finest Tailor. Even with equipment made by that Tailor, they had failed to defeat the Phantom King.
So what could a single human do?
“He came alone, you said? A single person cannot accomplish anything. Had they brought a great army, we might have had a chance against the Phantom Legion led by the Phantom King. But they have no substance.”
All the Elders voiced their opposition.
“But how did that human even reach here?”
Then one of the Elders spoke up.
“It should have been impossible to reach here because of the Labyrinth Forest.”
“That human apparently passed through the Labyrinth Forest to get here.”
There were multiple routes leading to this Elven City.
The most prominent among them was the Labyrinth Forest. But after troubles arose with the Phantom King, very few humans had passed through the Labyrinth Forest.
The magical power of the Labyrinth Forest had grown much stronger, making it far more difficult to traverse than before.
“The Labyrinth Forest……?”
“He came through that Labyrinth Forest?”
The Elven Elders showed interest.
“And there’s more—that human is said to be a Craftsperson.”
“…….”
Until now, the few humans who had passed through the Labyrinth Forest all possessed exceptional abilities.
But among them had been no Craftsperson.
“And he says he is a disciple of Rodin. I’m not sure who that Rodin is, though.”
At those words, one of the Elders, who had been wearing a hooded robe, suddenly pulled back their hood.
The only Elf in this gathering with yellow-tinted hair.
“Rodin?”
“Mirae, do you know that name?”
That was Mirae.
“Yes. It’s the name of a fellow disciple who studied with Ollmaster alongside me.”
A disciple of her fellow student had come seeking her.
“Please bring him inside immediately.”
Mirae spoke.
“I cannot simply turn away the disciple of my fellow student.”
* * *
“Please come in!”
After waiting about fifteen minutes, Jin-woo stood before a massive gate.
The gate looked like the roots of a giant tree, and in an instant, those tangled roots unraveled and became a passage he could enter.
“You all wait here.”
Jin-woo first unsummoned his minions.
“Come this way, please.”
The Elf archer who had been wary before now greeted Jin-woo respectfully. Since he was now officially a guest, it was only natural.
Following them, he arrived at a place that resembled a temple—vast and grand.
About a dozen Elves were gathered there.
All beautiful, yet they regarded Jin-woo with expressions of clear displeasure.
‘Definitely an unwelcome visitor.’
“Greetings. I am Jin-woo.”
But Jin-woo paid little mind to their attitude. If anything, he found it welcome.
‘There’s something satisfying about shifting that.’
Though they remained silent at his greeting, one Elf stepped forward and offered him a proper salutation.
“I am Mirae. You mentioned being a disciple of Rodin—might I ask what brings you to the Elven City?”
‘So this is Mirae.’
Among the already remarkable Elves, Mirae stood out even more.
Tall stature.
Clear, bright eyes.
Jin-woo made his assessment of her the moment he saw her.
‘An artisan through and through.’
Artisans recognize other artisans.
“Hello, Mirae. Actually, I came here specifically to find you.”
“Me?”
At those words, the other Elves’ expressions turned vicious. This was entirely different from their earlier displeasure—it was open hostility.
“Yes. But I thought I’d be suspected if I said so from the start, so I didn’t mention it.”
“…….”
Now even Mirae regarded Jin-woo with suspicious eyes.
It was only natural. Mirae was currently a target of the Phantom King.
Given that situation, someone seeking her out would naturally be suspected of being the Phantom King’s agent.
‘That’s why I didn’t say so from the start.’
If he had said from the beginning that he’d come to find Mirae, he would never have been allowed inside.
‘It was the right call.’
Seeing their suspicious looks now convinced him even more that coming in and speaking had been the wise choice.
“You’re being suspected, it seems……. You appear to know something. Are you really Rodin’s disciple?”
Jin-woo took out the Star’s Tear right there.
It was one of three precious minerals he had received from Yur.
Whoosh—.
Jin-woo drew out the Whetstone Engraving Knife and began to engrave it on the spot with Fire Engraving.
‘As expected.’
The Star’s Tear was quite soft.
‘Easier to work with than the Essence of Purple Purple.’
Soft gems meant gems that were difficult to handle. But Jin-woo already had experience working with the Essence of Purple Purple, a gem of extreme difficulty.
Because of that, the Star’s Tear could be carved more boldly.
Scratch— scratch—.
As Jin-woo demonstrated his engraving skill right there, Mirae’s eyes suddenly widened.
—Equipment created!
—Star’s Tear Necklace created!
—SR-Grade equipment created!
Jin-woo had crafted a necklace from the Star’s Tear.
It was a necklace with distinct Fire Engraving work.
In an instant, as the necklace was engraved, the surroundings fell silent.
“Is that proof enough?”
Having faithfully reproduced Rodin’s Fire Engraving right before them, Mirae could only nod.
“That Fire Engraving—you are truly Rodin’s disciple. But then, why did you come seeking me?”
“I came to learn Tailoring from you. Rodin said that if I wanted to properly master leather and cloth armor, I should seek you out.”
Jin-woo spoke.
“Since I’d have to learn from you eventually anyway, there seemed no point in learning twice.”
Mirae’s expression softened perceptibly.
As a Craftsperson, Jin-woo understood the weak points of other craftspeople very well.
‘If I received praise like that.’
He would surely melt away.
Mirae nodded.
“Previously I learned from Master Hodz and Rodin. They said it would be better to learn from Ollmaster, and I’ve been seeking out his disciples.”
As Jin-woo showed the Map Fragment, Mirae finally nodded with complete understanding.
“Hodz, Rodin. Such cherished names. I understand now. That’s why you came to find me.”
Assured that he was not the Phantom King’s agent, Mirae’s expression brightened again.
But that was limited to Mirae alone.
“Mirae Elder is the finest Elf in the Elven City. While the desire to learn from such an Elf must be ardent, I’m deeply sorry to say it’s simply impossible.”
“We need Mirae Elder right now.”
“This is not the time for Mirae Elder to take a student and teach Tailoring at leisure!”
One of the Elven Elders suddenly raised his voice in anger.
Then that angry Elder approached Jin-woo.
“It won’t work, it simply won’t. This is not the time to be teaching him. So please leave. I don’t wish to grow any angrier. So please.”
Jin-woo cut in.
“I heard there’s a problem. In the Elven City.”
“……!”
“How do you know that.”
“I heard it from the Spirit of the Labyrinth.”
“……The Spirit of the Labyrinth?”
In that instant, they understood who Jin-woo was referring to.
“How did you get that spirit to talk.”
“I have some small skill for it.”
“There’s no way a small skill could open that stubborn thing’s mouth!”
The Elven Elders expressed shock. In the Labyrinth, there existed a spirit that had long guarded it.
That spirit had a reputation for being quite troublesome, and the Elves had been toyed with by it several times.
But the Spirit of the Labyrinth was so powerful that they couldn’t capture it.
To have obtained such information from that spirit.
“Perhaps.”
“I even learned that the Phantom King is targeting you, Mirae.”
“My.”
So it spilled everything.
“How exactly.”
“I frightened it a little.”
“That’s not a thing that scares easily.”
“Ahem. In any case, you understand the situation completely.”
The Elven Elder looked at Jin-woo.
“Then there’s no need for lengthy explanations. Give up on learning from Mirae.”
“If it’s because of the Elven City’s problem, then I shall resolve it for you.”
“Resolve it? What could you possibly resolve?”
Jin-woo said with a smile.
“Everything.”

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