The Return of the Legendary Golden-Handed Blacksmith - Chapter 98

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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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Episode 98
98.
“Well-carved…….”
Well-made.
Jin-woo’s wooden bow commanded such considerable quality that there was hardly need for further comment.
“And you made it so quickly.”
The detail was remarkable.
It wasn’t that he’d prioritized speed; rather, he’d crafted it well, and the speed had followed naturally.
“Is there anything lacking, perhaps?”
…….
Katri’s father fell silent for a moment.
There was much he hadn’t taught Katri.
So he’d learned woodworking from Katri, and now he wanted to both assess Jin-woo’s skill and pass on his own woodworking technique.
He’d hoped, moreover, that it would reach Katri as well.
But.
“There’s nothing left to teach…….”
There was nothing to teach. Jin-woo’s woodworking skill was excellent. He’d already surpassed the father’s own level.
“Does Katri have this level of skill too?”
“Yes. She possesses truly excellent skill.”
“Hm.”
At the word “excellent,” Katri’s father felt a small bloom of satisfaction.
“If that’s the case…….”
-You’ve received the quest clear reward.
-You’ve obtained the Elven Light!
Jin-woo received as his reward a jewel called the Elven Light.
-Elven Light [SR+ Grade]
‘I didn’t catch the full quest details, so I couldn’t confirm the reward beforehand.’
It was a rather beautiful jewel.
‘Perfect material for Flame Crafting.’
“I’ll show you the location of the Sacred Ground.”
-The location of the Sacred Ground has been marked on your map.
“Oh, and Katri asked me to relay a message. She wondered where you’d hidden the money you’d saved, before you left.”
“……Tell her it’s under the cabinet. Is that all?”
At those words, Jin-woo let out a quiet laugh.
“And she also said that since you’ve become the finest carpenter in the City as you said, there’s no need to worry.”
“……Yes. I’m glad to hear that, at least.”
Katri’s father smiled faintly.
* * *
The Sacred Ground marked on the quest.
It lay at the southern edge of the City.
“It’s concealed by magic.”
Jin-woo narrowed his eyes.
-Hawk’s Eye activates!
Through the Hawk’s Eye effect, he saw magic with a liquid-like texture. Jin-woo stepped into it.
Then the space tore open and drew him in as if absorbing him.
Shwiiiiish—.
-You’ve entered Sacred Ground Arwen!
-You’ve received the first discovery reward for Arwen!
-All stats increase by 50!
“A place that brings peace to the heart.”
The Sacred Ground was remarkably tranquil. It felt like a forest clearing with verdant grass stretching wide.
Countless butterflies fluttered above the grass, and following their flight, he glimpsed the heart of the Sacred Ground.
“There’s something there.”
Something stood quietly at the center of the Sacred Ground.
At first glance it resembled a colossal living creature, but thick green moss covered it. It seemed to have stood there for quite a long time.
‘It doesn’t seem alive.’
The moment Jin-woo stepped deeper into the Sacred Ground, the massive creature moved.
Grooooowl—.
-The Guardian of the Sacred Ground has awakened!
Crackle-crack—!
A colossal golem emerged from the earth where it had been embedded.
‘This isn’t just any golem.’
Jin-woo examined the massive golem carefully.
-Hawk’s Eye activates.
“It’s made of excellent materials?”
Everything that looked like stone was actually mineral.
Moreover, it carried a faint bluish luminescence.
“It doesn’t look light, so it probably isn’t Mithril.”
Jin-woo smirked.
“I’ll know once I engage it.”
“Intruder…… go…… away…….”
A gravelly voice.
The golem spoke its threat in a markedly faint tone.
“It thinks I’m an intruder.”
Jin-woo didn’t bother mentioning that he’d received the quest from the Divine Being of Nature and Harmony.
“First.”
Shwiiiiish—.
First, now a Dark Knight King, cut a striking figure from the moment of summoning. Scattering powerful darkness, he burst forth from it as if shooting out of shadow itself, mounted and gleaming.
“Pur.”
Pur, too, appeared with equal majesty.
“Time to test out the new gear.”
It was time to put his two key damage dealers’ weapons to the test.
“Let’s see how SSR+ Grade equipment performs.”
Shwiiiiish—.
The two summoned servants gripped their weapons firmly.
Pur beheld the now-towering First. And saw the Light Sword he held. Similarly, First beheld Pur’s imposing Club.
Each observing the other’s weapon, they charged at the Sacred Ground’s Guardian without hesitation, in perfect unison.
Crash—.
Boom—!
First took the left, Pur the right.
Both servants unleashed their decisive strikes without reservation.
-The Guardian of the Sacred Ground has fallen into eternal rest.
-Your Level increases.
-Your Level increases…….
-You’ve achieved an Achievement!
-You’ve achieved the Achievement [Was the Boss Really Just a One-Shot?].
With the new achievement unlocked, the Sacred Ground’s Guardian collapsed.
-[Was the Boss Really Just a One-Shot?]
Effect: All stats increase by 100!
‘That’s an amusing achievement.’
After reviewing the achievement, Jin-woo immediately approached the Guardian of the Sacred Ground.
He needed to check the most important thing.
“Oh.”
The material that emerged from the Sacred Ground’s Guardian was a mineral he’d never seen before.
-You’ve obtained the Everglowing Stone!
-You’ve obtained the Guardian’s Core!
“Everglowing Stone?”
-Everglowing Stone [SSR Grade]
Description: A mineral called the stone that shines eternally. Its luster endures for an extended period.
“Having slept for quite a long time, it still shone with remarkable brilliance.”
Its Grade was nothing short of SSR.
“That’s why it gleamed so brightly, being made of SSR Grade mineral.”
Jin-woo secured the Everglowing Stone. As he took it, he ran his fingers lightly across its surface, and the feel was extraordinary.
“Heh.”
Already he was eager at the thought of working with it.
“No soul, though.”
Unfortunately there was no soul, but Jin-woo found the battle highly satisfying nonetheless.
“First, Pur. Both of you performed excellently.”
This was First’s first battle since becoming a Dark Knight King.
‘The skill with which they handle their equipment has improved now that their Grade has risen.’
Normally, Jin-woo would have needed to provide some supplementation himself and instruct them on how best to wield their gear.
In other words, adjustment was necessary.
‘It wasn’t needed this time.’
But this time it wasn’t. First already understood the Orichalcum Light Sword.
‘Not quite at my level. But far beyond the point where I’d need to correct him.’
As they continued, they would come to understand it entirely naturally, capable of self-correction as needed. Their comprehension had reached that degree.
‘What’s remarkable is that Pur is the same way.’
Pur appeared unchanged, but his learning capacity itself had grown significantly.
“I’d just need him to focus a bit more on impact at the finish.”
Jin-woo gave Pur a light tap on the back.
“You’ve improved quite a bit, Pur.”
“…… Thank you!”
The simple words made him so pleased that Pur produced quite a number of clanking sounds.
And what had improved wasn’t merely his servants’ skill.
‘SSR is different.’
The SSR+ Grade equipment he’d given his two servants possessed power of an entirely different caliber.
‘In terms of pure numbers, it’s roughly three times the power of the Orc Axe and Blood Stone Hammer.’
One could safely say it boasted overwhelming attack power. Yet beyond that, the very character of the equipment felt distinct.
‘I need to refine the hammer technique a bit. The Crafting process, too.’
It seemed that this was precisely the divide separating the true top hundred Crafters from the rest.
‘Whether you attend to the details, or whether you stop without even recognizing that the details have degraded.’
He felt this threshold was exactly now.
‘This is interesting. Truly interesting.’
Jin-woo sent his two servants ahead and took the lead himself.
“I need to examine a bit more.”
He’d dispatched the Sacred Ground’s Guardian far too easily.
‘The tower would be just about right.’
Deep within the Sacred Ground stood a building that resembled a temple.
-The Divine Being of Nature and Harmony says there is a legacy inside the temple!
As he entered, resplendent verdant light greeted him.
Having been left unattended for quite some time, rust was visible in various places, yet green had settled atop it all, creating a peculiar atmosphere.
In the center of this quiet space, where only Jin-woo’s footsteps echoed, sat a chest.
-You’ve found the legacy.
-You’ve cleared the Quest!
Within it lay power.
-You’ve obtained a Rune.
-You’ve obtained the Shining Nature Rune.
[Shining Nature Rune]
Effect: Restores 5% of maximum Health per second. This effect lasts for 100 seconds.
After 100 seconds, there is a cooldown period.
“Interesting.”
At first glance, the Shining Nature Rune appeared to be a Rune of fairly modest stats, yet for Jin-woo it proved quite useful.
“Crafting going forward will likely demand considerably more stamina.”
He’d need to dedicate himself more intensely to Crafting, and in that process stamina shortages could force him to pause again.
He’d felt on the edge during his crafting of SSR+ Grade equipment.
“This will compensate for that.”
Next, Jin-woo reviewed the other rewards. This too was quite a useful reward.
-The Divine Being of Nature and Harmony says you are worthy of becoming an Elf!
-You’ve obtained a Fragment of Forest Elf Power.
-Your Racial Trait is being absorbed!
-Elf has been added to your Resonance of Soul.
-Nature and Harmony settle within your body.
-Perfect Sewing Technique is enhanced!
The Racial Trait of the Elf, the power of Nature and Harmony, settled entirely into Jin-woo’s being.
-Spirit Affinity increases further!
“The Elf Racial Trait is quite excellent?”
Just as with the Int Orc Racial Trait, the Elf Racial Trait possessed many worthwhile abilities.
“Thank you! I, Honorary Elf Jin-woo, greet you. I humbly request your continued blessing.”
-The Divine Being of Nature and Harmony bestows a blessing upon you.
-For 100 seconds, your movement speed increases!
Jin-woo swiftly departed the Sacred Ground.
* * *
Ding—!
“Dongwoo calling.”
-Hey, hey. Can you talk right now?
“What, did you mess something up?”
He’d left the editing to Dongwoo, who’d said he’d handle it himself and upload the video. Something seemed to have already gone wrong.
-Yeah, I can talk.
The moment he sent the message, Dongwoo’s call came through.
-Hyung! Did you check the JinTube channel?
“JinTube? Our channel? No, not yet. Why? What’s going on?”
-Something’s up, hyung. This is insane, this isn’t a joke! Check the channel now!
“What’s the problem?”
Jin-woo slowly opened JinTube.
The moment he did, he saw the video that appeared.
“Wow.”
Dongwoo had been right.
“This isn’t a joke?”

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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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