The Return of the Transcendent Blacksmith - Chapter 106

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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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The Transcendent Blacksmith’s Return – Chapter 106
“Oh, what’s wrong, sister?”
Choi Yu-hwa stared in astonishment as Bianca bounded about like a monkey, clutching the Staff in both hands.
Unable to contain her excitement, Bianca rushed toward Choi Yu-hwa at full speed.
“Yu-hwa! This—this is incredible! Amazing! Absolutely perfect!”
“I-is it really that good?”
“It absolutely is! Look! Let me show you!”
When Bianca granted permission for Item Information Exploration, the Staff’s details appeared before Choi Yu-hwa’s eyes as well.
As she read through the information, Choi Yu-hwa’s eyes grew wider and wider.
“Wow! Sister! This is incredible! Congratulations!”
“Ha! Right? The best, isn’t it? You stay right by my side! I’ll make you a World Ranker!”
“Yes! Amazing! I’m so happy!”
Beside the bouncing Bianca, Choi Yu-hwa hopped clumsily in celebration as well.
Watching them, warmth bloomed in Shin Tae-ho’s eyes.
‘As always. It’s still satisfying to see someone happy with a work I’ve created.’
Even if the context was nothing like before.
For an instant, the memory of his own creations—weapons that had stabbed humanity in the back in humanity’s final hour—darkened his expression.
But the feeling didn’t linger.
He’d already repeated the regret countless times.
And after running without rest to ensure he wouldn’t repeat the same mistake,
the situation before him now had shifted 180 degrees from that failed past.
‘As long as I keep moving forward like this. I just need to avoid rushing and making careless errors.’
Shin Tae-ho’s will and conviction were too firm and stubborn to be ensnared by old regrets.
And though Shin Tae-ho himself didn’t realize it, his actions were already sparking small changes.
The Guardian’s hand-to-hand technique combined with the Hammer Combat Technique.
And when unexpected fortune like Bianca and Choi Yu-hwa—blessings he’d never dared hope for in his past—was added to the mix, each step grew firmer and more formidable.
After bounding about like an orangutan for a while, Bianca finally grew tired and collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily.
She swept her sweat-dampened hair back with one hand, revealing a face that, despite her wild behavior, was refreshingly attractive and likable.
“Shin Tae-ho. I’m really grateful. I’m sorry I hesitated about giving you those Runes at first. If I’d known it would turn out like this, I wouldn’t have minded giving you four more.”
“You have four more?”
“No! I was just speaking figuratively!”
At Shin Tae-ho’s interested question, Bianca yelped in alarm.
Choi Yu-hwa, seeing Shin Tae-ho make a joke for the first time, was startled before bursting into laughter.
“Ahaha! For a second there, I thought you were actually going to ask to see his Inventory!”
“Exactly. This guy never jokes—where did that come from? You scared me!”
As Choi Yu-hwa laughed, Bianca laughed too.
Shin Tae-ho also laughed awkwardly and let the moment pass.
But his true thoughts were different.
‘Did that sound like a joke?’
Swallowing the thought that would make both their spines crawl if they’d heard it, Shin Tae-ho began to summarize the situation.
“The items have been delivered safely. Now we just need to meet again on Floor 11, and everything will fall into place.”
“That’s right. You two—don’t you dare leave my side. I’m the strongest Ranker alive now that I have this Staff.”
“Yes! I really want to climb with you and Shin Tae-ho!”
In the warm atmosphere, the three exchanged glances.
As if touched by that sentiment, Yong-ryong-i gazed at Pipi with quiet affection.
Pipi, peeking out from Choi Yu-hwa’s arms, met that gaze, puffed up her feathers, and withdrew back into the embrace.
* * *
After confirming that Bianca and Choi Yu-hwa had left,
Shin Tae-ho returned to the Dwarf Village as he always did and sought out Orum.
Orum, who had just finished recovering and was about to resume his work, greeted Shin Tae-ho.
“Welcome. So, did you come to spar with me again?”
“No, I came for a different reason this time.”
Shin Tae-ho’s voice carried a gravity and composure that wasn’t usual for him.
Sensing the unusual atmosphere, Orum too shifted his expression and stroked his beard, which had grown nearly to his collarbone.
“Is this something we need to discuss alone?”
“That would be preferable. Eventually it can’t be hidden anyway. But I think my mind would be easier that way.”
“I’m not sure what you mean, but since it’s you, I’m intrigued. Fine. Let’s go to my home.”
“Your home?”
“Yes. There’s no better place to have an important conversation than one’s own home, wouldn’t you say?”
Orum led Shin Tae-ho away from the workshop toward his dwelling.
When a dwarf invites someone to his home, it means he trusts them and considers them a friend.
Shin Tae-ho, who had spent considerable time with dwarves, understood this fact well.
Orum entered his home and settled into a seat, setting down a cold beer.
“All right. Now tell me. What’s this about that has you wearing such a grave expression?”
“I have some questions about Soul Infusion, something I learned from Zetaum.”
“Soul…? Wait. Don’t tell me. You succeeded at Soul Infusion?!”
Orum grew excited.
He himself had failed to imbue items with soul for over a hundred years, yet this human had managed it in such a short time?
If younger dwarves heard this, they’d destroy their anvils in despair.
Fortunately, Shin Tae-ho shook his head from side to side.
“No, I came because I want to learn the method. Zetaum gave me direction, but I have many questions.”
“Ah, ah. I see. Haha. Yes, that makes sense.”
Though it was a relief, Orum seemed somehow deflated as he took a swig of his beer.
“Right then. Which part are you curious about? I’ll explain what I know.”
“Yes. First… is Soul Infusion only possible during the creation phase? Or is it possible after the item is made?”
“It’s possible after creation too. Though at that point it would take the form of enhancement rather than creation itself. You can never know how much soul a finished work can hold.”
“Then it’s merely a matter of efficiency. What matters is that it can be done.”
“That’s right. It seems you have a particular piece you’d like to infuse with soul? If you do, why didn’t you mention it sooner? It would’ve been better if you’d asked beforehand.”
“I can’t show it to you unless it’s now. The same reason applies to my questions.”
“Guffaw guffaw! The way you speak in riddles—sounds like you’ve got some masterwork hidden away! I like it. Go on, surprise me!”
Orum laughed heartily, finding Shin Tae-ho’s earnest expression endearing.
Though he was outmatched by Shin Tae-ho in the Hammer Combat Technique.
Orum possessed enormous confidence and pride in his own craftsmanship as a dwarf.
Such confidence before him, of all beings.
It would be less laughable than a pupa sitting before a butterfly, trying to impart wisdom.
“Understood. Then I should mention this first. My apologies.”
“Hmm? Apologies for what—”
Orum began to ask, but Shin Tae-ho said nothing. Instead, he reached into his Inventory and withdrew an item.
The moment Orum saw what lay in Shin Tae-ho’s hand, his endearing smile froze.
His eyes widened as though he’d seen a ghost, and his gaze locked onto the Chest Plate Suit Shin Tae-ho held, unable to look away.
Cold sweat poured down Orum’s forehead like rain.
His jaw trembled as he barely managed to open his mouth.
“Wait. Wait just a moment. You… you made this? Just now? You… made this…?!”
“Yes.”
Orum stared at the Chest Plate Suit with disbelieving eyes.
Though he couldn’t examine item information the way an Awakener could, Orum, being a dwarf, could perceive the truth.
This was an impossibility.
He couldn’t even believe it was possible to make such a thing, even as he watched it with his own eyes.
The intensity of the soul flowing from the Chest Plate Suit, the pulsing rhythm of its current.
Orum could see through to what it truly was—violence and destruction given wearable form.
When Orum remained silent, Shin Tae-ho brought the Chest Plate Suit to his chest.
Drawing energy from the Circuit, the Chest Plate Suit came alive, separating and enfolding itself around Shin Tae-ho’s body.
Click. Click. Click.
Smooth, metallic resonance—!
The separated joints locked into place of their own accord.
The connection that began at his torso extended to his arms and thighs, his hands and toes.
The sections that climbed his shoulders missed not a single strand of hair, enveloping him completely, forming a perfect helmet.
Hummmmm!
The fully activated suit began drawing Shin Tae-ho’s energy in earnest.
As his energy flowed through the suit, overwhelming pressure and presence filled the entire space.
“Huff… huff…!”
Orum’s breathing grew ragged.
Clutching his chest as hyperventilation seized him, Orum’s trembling eyes beheld Shin Tae-ho in the full suit, towering like a mountain.
Seams so tight and seamless that not a drop of water would seep through if submerged.
Yet simultaneously, the strength to withstand a hammer strike without even a scratch was palpable.
And paradoxically, there was a rubber-like flexibility—this contradiction manifested perfectly as threads of energy seeped across the surface like embers glowing faintly.
Boom boom boom!!
Crash crash crash!
The Dwarf Village, carved deep into the mountain for generations, began to crumble from the mere energy seeping out as the suit’s minimum operating requirement.
The mountain’s cry of anguish mixed with the screams of dwarves outside, filtering into the house.
When Orum was lost as though staring into a nightmare.
From within the helm came Shin Tae-ho’s mysterious voice, transformed so completely that neither gender nor age could be discerned.
“There is no time. Having shown you my true form, I shall ask you properly now.”
Shin Tae-ho took a step and appeared directly before Orum.
He closed the distance of some five meters like a phantom in a single stride, standing before Orum, and posed his question.
“If I learn the method of Soul Infusion, could I enhance this suit by infusing it with soul in a way that surpasses its current state?”
“Gasp—huff! H-huff!”
Orum’s eyes began to roll slowly backward.
At the sight of Shin Tae-ho standing like Mount Taishan, asking him this question.
Into a consciousness receding impossibly far away.
Orum’s lips, independent of his will, began to open slowly.
* * *
⌜Breaking news! An incident has occurred in which an Israeli challenger who entered the same tower has murdered an Iranian challenger.⌟
⌜The crime has been attributed to international conflict, similar to the murder of a Ukrainian challenger by a Russian challenger three days ago.⌟
Shin Tae-ho, who had emerged from a cold shower, frowned as he listened to the news playing like a radio.
No matter how much he knew of future events, there were inevitably things that even individual effort could not prevent.
“Shin Tae-ho! Are you alright?”
Yong-ryong-i, wearing an anxious expression and eating chocolate for mental stability, rushed over to Shin Tae-ho in a flurry.
Shin Tae-ho quickly softened his expression and scooped Yong-ryong-i up into his arms.
“I’m fine. I was just worn out from using too much Qi.”
“That’s a lie! You used a lot of Qi, but you said that puts a heavy burden on the body too! That’s why you haven’t worn everything until now!”
“Yong-ryong-i is too clever—I can’t hide anything from you. You’re right. Truth is, I’m starving.”
“Want some chocolate?”
“Not chocolate. Let’s eat. I’ll get plenty of the meat you love.”
“Yes! That sounds great too! I want lots of tender, seasoned, savory, sweet meat—not that bland Shin Tae-horn meat!”
Yong-ryong-i flailed his limbs happily.
Shin Tae-ho, smiling as he stroked Yong-ryong-i’s head, recalled the answer he had received just before leaving the tower.
The question he had asked on Floor 10, just before Floor 11 where the tower’s structure would be reorganized because such overwhelming power would certainly bring mountains crashing down.
Fortunately, Shin Tae-ho had been able to receive a definitive answer from Orum, the dwarf said to possess the greatest talent of all generations in the not-distant future.
‘Good. If Orum said it, I can trust it.’
His suit, even incomplete in its manufacturing phase, could fully contain a soul.
Shin Tae-ho, recalling Orum’s definitive confirmation—that of a genius unmatched throughout history—rested his cheek against Yong-ryong-i’s head, whom he held in reassurance.
Continued in the next chapter ▶
The Return of the Transcendent Blacksmith
Author
Seal Release
Publisher
Kim Seok-hwan, Choi Se-ra
Publishing House
Grae Publishing
Inquiries
[email protected]
Publication Date
May 26, 2026
UCI
G720:N+A327-20260227067
※ This e-book is protected under copyright law. Unauthorized reproduction and duplication are prohibited, and violation thereof may result in criminal and civil legal liability.
※ Pentagram welcomes precious manuscripts from authors.

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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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