The Return of the Legendary Golden-Handed Blacksmith - Chapter 81

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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 81
Episode 81.
The moment Jin-woo’s command fell, three minions rushed forward to assault the trees. To any observer, it would have looked as though they were smashing the trees and draining all life from the forest, leaving it to wither.
Yet as they moved and stretched their hands, the trees regained their beautiful verdant color.
“Wha—what…?”
Katri’s body trembled at the sight.
The aura emanating from Jin-woo’s body.
And the aura radiating from those he had summoned was unmistakably similar to what poured out from the corrupted Forest of Glory.
“You said you were a Crafter, but…”
That was undeniably a Necromancer.
For the elves, Necromancers who wielded dark energy were deeply unsettling beings.
Yet now, as Jin-woo purified the Forest of Glory, he appeared as a savior wearing the guise of a Necromancer.
Whoooosh—!
For Katri, the fact that Jin-woo was a Necromancer no longer mattered.
The forest was being purified as he and his subordinates extended their hands.
“The trees…”
The trees were returning to their original state, and the stench was vanishing.
“They’re coming back. The Forest of Glory is returning to what it once was.”
Beautiful green was awakening once more.
“The forest.”
Katri smiled without realizing it.
“Reclaiming its glory.”
* * *
Whoooosh—.
-The number of minions you can control increases!
-5 -> 6
Jin-woo and his three minions accelerated the purification work on the Forest of Glory.
They moved past the halfway point, then to completion.
“Phew…”
Through Jin-woo and his minions’ strength, all corruption had vanished.
The foul stench that had made even breathing difficult was gone, and the rotting trees that had nearly toppled reclaimed their natural color.
“Well done.”
“Yes, sir!”
First and Pur returned.
“What about Moltus?”
Jin-woo stirred his hand.
“Something seems to be happening.”
While conducting the purification work, Jin-woo sensed Moltus’s aura deeper within and moved toward it. First and Pur followed close behind.
“!”
Katri also ran quickly upon seeing Jin-woo move with urgency.
Crackle—crackle—crackle—!
The sound of lightning echoed from within.
“My apologies!”
There stood Moltus. Before him loomed an enormous mass of darkness, assailing him with frenzy.
It was barely holding back through a release of dark energy, but it appeared to have reached its limit.
‘It’s trying to devour him.’
Just as Jin-woo and his minions had absorbed the dark energy of the Forest of Glory to strengthen themselves, this vast mass of darkness sought to consume Moltus and claim his power.
“Please… give… an order.”
Moltus had reached his limit. First, making a swift judgment, gripped his axe and readied himself to lunge forward. Pur was likewise prepared.
But Jin-woo shook his head.
“Moltus.”
This was a battle Moltus had started. Better to let him finish it.
Instead—
“Fall back for a moment!”
Jin-woo lunged forward. At the same instant, he caught the axe First had been holding.
“Subordinate Union.”
Then he swung.
Screeeeeech—!
The Orcish Stone Emerald Jade Axe cleaved the mass of darkness in two with a single stroke.
“Kyeeeeeeh!”
The darkness mass shrieked in agony.
“That… that enormous axe…!”
Katri, arriving just in time, witnessed it.
Jin-woo bisecting the mass of darkness with the massive axe. The darkness mass possessed such fearsome power that merely watching made one’s body tremble.
Yet he had split it cleanly in half in a single motion.
A Crafter.
A Necromancer.
“How does he wield such power…”
Katri could not decipher Jin-woo’s occupation.
But one thing became clear.
One must never cross Jin-woo’s will.
Crack—!
The dark energy recoiled sharply backward. Jin-woo tossed the axe back to First, then extended equipment to Moltus, who now had a moment to breathe.
“Moltus.”
Whoooosh—.
What Jin-woo produced was a Sunlight Shadow Robe.
Moltus, who had been cornered severely by the battle with the darkness mass, rattled his bones upon seeing the Sunlight Shadow Robe.
“Surely not something so precious…”
“New equipment. Made entirely for you.”
Jin-woo finally handed over the robe with a satisfied expression.
“It’s a robe I crafted for you. I learned a new technique recently.”
“This… this is mine!?”
Moltus, receiving the robe from Jin-woo, rattled considerably.
“My heart will cease beating!”
“It already has.”
‘Is this a trend among the undead?’
Jin-woo was quite satisfied with Moltus’s reaction.
Moltus donned the robe. Dark energy flowed forth.
This robe, crafted with the Flawless Sewing Technique, retained all the characteristics of a Necromaister.
“I shall equip it at once.”
They were in combat. Moltus quickly donned the robe.
Whoooosh—.
Wearing it directly, it suited him far better.
“And this as well. I made it alongside the robe.”
-You have given Minion Moltus the Silkray Gloves.
Jin-woo provided cloth gloves. He had inscribed these with Flame Engraving on Silkray fabric, rendering them jet-black. Because of this, they proved effective for Moltus, who wielded magic.
With robe, gloves, and staff in hand, Moltus was the very embodiment of a dark priest.
“Hmm.”
Equipment is not merely about function.
Some players prioritize design over capability.
‘It’s about which elements one values most.’
Both design and function are elements a Crafter must pour their heart into. A true Crafter must consider countless factors.
‘Crafting for myself alone is fine,’
but fulfilling the needs of those who would use the equipment was equally vital.
“I am more than delighted, Master. Especially this robe—it feels as though I’m not wearing anything at all!”
Swish—.
The Sunlight Shadow Robe clung to Moltus as though it had been his original equipment.
“Then I should test it out immediately.”
Jin-woo gestured to Moltus.
“First and Pur won’t fight. This battle is entirely yours, Moltus.”
“I shall prove myself.”
Moltus stepped forward slowly. Dark energy radiated with each step.
“Now that I wear your equipment, Master, I lack confidence.”
Then he spread both arms.
“Confidence that I’ll lose.”
Jin-woo gave a thumbs up.
“Grrrr. Kyehehehehehe.”
The darkness mass surged forward again in fury. The wound it had received from Jin-woo seemed shallow; it recovered swiftly.
But Jin-woo had deliberately swung the axe half-heartedly.
‘That way I can see how it performs.’
How well this newly crafted robe would serve.
“Kyehehehehehe!”
The darkness mass charged at Moltus with manic fervor. Moltus did not evade. What he needed now was to prove just how magnificent this robe truly was.
Seeing Moltus stand unmoving, the darkness mass believed he had become afraid. When his allies arrived but did not aid him, even the thought arose that perhaps he had been abandoned.
The mass’s body transformed into spines. It was the same attack as before, yet different. Before, it had sought to absorb Moltus slowly; now it meant to swallow him quickly, losses be damned.
Other enemies remained, so it needed to employ its full power.
Whoosh—!
The mass engulfed Moltus.
Swish—.
Yet like slipping through oil, the darkness mass simply slid away.
-Evaded!
The Shadow of the Abyss option attached to the robe had activated.
“Kyeh?”
The darkness mass was momentarily bewildered.
But Moltus was equally astounded. He had expected his defense to simply withstand an attack of this caliber, but that was not what had occurred.
He had not taken the hit at all.
“Wow.”
Moltus let out a short breath of admiration.
Then he swung his staff directly forward.
This robe possessed another special option.
Attribute Enhancement.
Moltus’s attribute was naturally darkness.
That darkness attribute’s power surged forth, amplified.
Boom—————!
The darkness mass was immediately consumed by Moltus’s darkness. Moltus did not miss the opportunity and absorbed it completely.
Whoosh—.
-You have hunted a fragment soul parasitizing the Forest of Glory!
Floating up—.
As the darkness mass was absorbed, an enormous soul rose into the air. Jin-woo reached out and seized it.
-Phantom King’s Fragment Soul [S Grade]
“So he split off his own soul and embedded it here?”
With the Phantom King’s power gone, the Forest of Glory completely restored itself.
‘Even just a fragment is S Grade? The main body must be incredibly powerful.’
Anticipation began to build.
-Quest cleared!
-Masterful quest completion!
-The Forest of Glory has reclaimed its verdant hue!
-Your level increases!
-Perfect restoration achieved!
The method Jin-woo had chosen was not the typical approach.
‘The basic method would probably be to fell all the trees. Or go straight to the Phantom King and eliminate him as the source of the corruption.’
Of course, there were other methods, but none could save the forest as cleanly and without loss as the path Jin-woo had taken.
‘Even if you cut down the trees or hunt the Phantom King, it takes considerable time.’
Naturally, the Forest of Glory would suffer damage in either case.
But Jin-woo came immediately after accepting the quest and purged all corruption.
“You did well, Moltus.”
“I’m overjoyed with the new equipment! Thank you so much for such a gift.”
Before Moltus could bow, applause erupted.
It was Pur.
Having learned from prior experience, Pur shook his head side to side as he clapped.
“Train. ing. Com. plete.”
First joined in applause, clearly satisfied.
“Looks like I’m a charlatan cult leader.”
Even as he said it, Jin-woo felt quite satisfied.
* * *
After restoring the Forest of Glory, Jin-woo first explained the situation to Katri.
“These are my assistants.”
Katri made no effort to hide her astonishment at Jin-woo’s words.
“The equipment your assistants are wearing… you crafted all of it yourselves? And that robe your assistant is wearing! That looks like it was made with the Flawless Sewing Technique…!”
Katri spoke with barely contained excitement.
That Jin-woo’s assistant was undead did not register with Katri. Her eyes perceived only the equipment the assistants wore.
She was a Crafter, after all.
‘Actually, this is convenient.’
Since he had not mentioned being a Necromancer beforehand, Katri’s shock was natural. But Katri was also a Crafter; her eyes could only fixate on the equipment.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Wow… this robe and those gloves don’t seem inferior to what Elder Mirey creates!”
Katri, full of admiration, shook her head in wonder.
“But we shouldn’t be standing here. The forest is restored. I must bring the elders at once!”
Katri rushed off urgently.
Shortly after, the elf elders arrived.
“!”
“Ah…”
The Forest of Glory had returned.
Brilliant sunlight pierced through the verdant canopy of the forest.
“Our forest has returned!”
“It was only yesterday… yesterday when we made the request…!”
Just one day.
In fact, it hadn’t even taken a full day.
There had been times they thought it could never be restored.
Even if it were, they had believed great scars would remain.
Yet the Forest of Glory had returned completely.
“Thank you. Truly, thank you, Jin-woo…!”
“We are grateful, Jin-woo!”
“Jin-woo, if there is anything you desire, we shall provide it in full!”
-The Favorability of the Elven City’s Elf Elders has reached MAX!
“In that case.”
Jin-woo pointed to the trees.
“I’d like to use some lumber. I must go face the Phantom King next.”
“!”
“Not even resting before…!”
“Jin-woo, you are truly the savior who has come to our city!”
“We shall never again turn away humans such as yourself.”
The elf elders gazed at Jin-woo with tears of gratitude in their eyes.
-Your Virtue score has increased.
Of course, Jin-woo simply wanted to try out some lumber.

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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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