The Return of the Transcendent Blacksmith - Chapter 119

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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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Master Blacksmith’s Return, Chapter 119
The Northern Dwarf examined his concealment wall.
True to his own craftsmanship, behind the barricade there was no sign of life, no leaking spirit to be sensed.
Yet he had detected their presence instantly?
‘He knows how to manipulate souls, that much is certain. And his senses are sharp enough to be frightening.’
The Northern Dwarf regarded Shin Tae-ho with a look of curiosity and anticipation.
Shin Tae-ho narrowed his eyes and met that gaze.
“You’ve prepared quite a lot of them. Did you know we were coming?”
“Prepared? What are you talking about?”
The Northern Dwarf feigned innocence, hiding his shock beneath a casual tone.
Faced with the dwarf’s shameless act, Shin Tae-ho answered not with words but with action.
Bang—!!
His foot infused with qi struck the ground with tremendous force.
In that instant, several traps around the captured dwarf informant triggered and shot upward into the air.
Arrows flew, spikes erupted from the earth, and the intact ceiling collapsed.
These traps were designed not only to kill intruders but also to eliminate the informant dwarf if circumstances required it.
But as Shin Tae-ho stomped, the rising floor protected the informant dwarf.
And all the traps, striking nothing, dissipated uselessly.
“…Hmm. I thought you were merely a hound from the South. A monster, then.”
“There are no traps left, are there? Should I just crush your head and be done with it?”
“Temperamental, aren’t you? Calm yourself. Before we resort to pointless violence, wouldn’t you consider a moment of conversation?”
Despite having just threatened to kill him, the Northern Dwarf maintained his composure and proposed dialogue.
Shin Tae-ho lowered his left arm, which was fitted with the Crossbow, and the Northern Dwarf nodded.
“A wise choice. I’m relieved my assessment was correct—that you’re not merely some oafish orc with strength alone.”
“You speak carelessly of your own allies?”
“Allies? Gahahaha! They are nothing but subordinate races, servile beings attached to us! I’d prefer you not compare them to us.”
The Northern Dwarf laughed heartily.
At those words—calling orcs inferior servants—Shin Tae-ho’s eyes hardened.
“Servile beings attached to you? Then who attached them in the first place?”
“Before we discuss such important matters, let us exchange names first. I am Kogarum, the tribal chief of the dwarves who relocated to the North.”
At the name Kogarum, Shin Tae-ho’s eyes narrowed.
He recognized that name.
‘Kogarum. Though he calls himself tribal chief, he’s essentially the Northern equivalent of Zetaum from the South.’
While Shin Tae-ho recalled what he knew, Kogarum studied him intently.
Sensing without words that this was Kogarum’s way of asking for his name, Shin Tae-ho spoke.
“Shin Tae-ho. A being akin to dwarves from another world, and as you say, a foreigner aiding the southern dwarves.”
“Akin to dwarves? What do you mean by that?”
In response to Kogarum’s question, Shin Tae-ho recounted how he had enchanted Zetaum.
As Kogarum listened, his initial skepticism gradually gave way to widening eyes of astonishment.
“Extraordinary! If your soul hadn’t proven the truth of your words, I could never have believed such a thing. How can such a world even exist?”
“This chatter grows tedious. If you’re waiting for orcs to rescue you, think again.”
Shin Tae-ho raised his Crossbow as if to dismiss further pretense.
But his words contradicted the truth.
‘They’re all here.’
Through his expanded Energy Sensing, he felt not only Amaterasu, who had entered with him, but also Tsukuyomi and Han Ji-hyun gathering.
The three moved into position at adequate distances from one another, standing ready.
Yet through the faint qi they emanated, he could sense they were listening to the conversation while prepared to fight at any moment.
But Kogarum simply chuckled and shook his head.
“I have no such intention. If you don’t attack me, I’ll ensure you and yours retreat safely.”
“Help us? You expect me to believe that?”
“Of course. Unlike those rigid and stubborn fools from the South, we are flexible and rational, you see.”
“I doubt it. I’ve never felt that the southern dwarves were such a way.”
“Do you know why we came to be divided?”
At Kogarum’s question, Shin Tae-ho shook his head.
Kogarum, as if he expected as much, let out a sardonic laugh.
“Of course they wouldn’t even understand what they did wrong. Let me enlighten you. We split because of survival.”
“Survival?”
When Shin Tae-ho responded, Kogarum’s expression softened.
Kogarum explained their history—one that even Shin Tae-ho did not know.
“The mountains where we dwarves dwell are mostly mines, so the environment is harsh. Yet because of the abundance of resources there, we developed our technology and endured. But we didn’t know then—we didn’t realize those resources would one day run dry and be depleted.”
“What does resource depletion have to do with the clan splitting apart?”
“Everything. It came down to ideology, tradition, and acceptance.”
Kogarum reached into his garment and withdrew something.
Shin Tae-ho’s eyes widened at the sight of liquid sloshing inside the mechanical container.
“What is that?”
“A miraculous substance from another world, one brimming with power unknown to this realm. We call it Heavenly Blood—the energy bestowed by the heavens themselves.”
“Is that your answer to the resource shortage?”
“Precisely. As the veins of Karnikhs grow barren and harder to find, this is salvation itself—more than enough to replace them.”
Karnikhs—the core lifeblood of the dwarves, the very substance Shin Tae-ho had journeyed to the Komuto Volcano to obtain by passing the Trial.
At the mention of that name, a memory surfaced: Yong-ryong-i swallowing Karnikhs like candy.
‘That did happen. I let it pass without much thought since nothing went wrong with Yong-ryong-i afterward.’
Kogarum carefully returned the Heavenly Blood to his possession.
“Yet even with this lifeline handed down from the heavens, those fools in the south refused absolutely to use it. They clung to their precious talk of tradition and providence, as if such noble words could stop our ruin.”
Kogarum’s smile turned bitter.
Then a commotion outside drew nearer, growing louder.
Recognizing the sound of orc footsteps, Shin Tae-ho glanced at Kogarum, who merely shrugged.
“Don’t worry yourself. I keep my word. Take that passage in the back and go. I’ll hold the orcs off.”
“And why should I trust that promise?”
“You’ve come this far—don’t go soft on me now.”
Kogarum’s gaze cut right through him.
Though Shin Tae-ho had pretended caution, the truth was orcs held no fear for him—so he fell silent.
As Shin Tae-ho hoisted the unconscious informant onto his shoulder.
Kogarum, heading toward the approaching orcs, called back.
“One more thing—take this with you.”
He tossed something to Shin Tae-ho.
Shin Tae-ho caught it by reflex—a badge the size of his fist.
“Proof that you know me. Show them that, and at least the dwarves won’t attack you.”
[You have obtained Kogarum’s Token of Friendship.]
[You can now sense Kogarum’s affinity.]
The message window confirmed it was no lie.
As Shin Tae-ho silently placed the badge into his Inventory, Kogarum’s face lit up with satisfaction.
“If you wish to learn more of us, come to Orerum Snowy Mountain in the north. Pay the price, and you’ll obtain whatever masterwork you desire.”
With that, Kogarum strode toward the charging orcs.
Shin Tae-ho emerged from the secret passage with the informant still on his shoulder, and his companions, hidden nearby, rushed to his side using Tsukuyomi’s Shadow Movement.
“Did it all work out, sir?”
Amaterasu asked as if she’d heard nothing.
Shin Tae-ho knew it was an act, but he played along.
“Yes. Everything went better than expected. Let’s move out.”
“I’ll relocate us. Everyone, please join hands.”
At Tsukuyomi’s word, the group linked hands.
They vanished soundlessly into shadow, leaving no trace—as though they had never been there at all.
* * *
Shin Tae-ho’s party emerged roughly three hundred meters from where Kogarum had been.
Shadow Movement—the ability to traverse space through shadows—consumed energy proportionally to both the number of people and the distance traveled.
Even expending every scrap of remaining energy, six people in total—including Yong-ryong-i and the unconscious informant—represented the absolute limit for simultaneous transport.
“I apologize. The infiltration consumed so much energy that I could only manage this distance.”
“Don’t say such things. What you’ve accomplished is extraordinary.”
Shin Tae-ho wasn’t exaggerating.
To traverse hundreds of meters through shadow with no restrictions, completely ignoring the harsh mountain terrain—it was magnificent.
With Tsukuyomi, already an assassination specialist, now wielding Shadow Movement, it was as if they’d given a tiger wings.
Confirming no orcs had followed, Shin Tae-ho checked the informant’s condition.
‘Badly hurt, but not in immediate danger. No need to waste a potion.’
Shin Tae-ho, who had been prepared to use the potions the elves had provided, relaxed.
Han Ji-hyun, who had been quietly observing Shin Tae-ho’s movements from behind, spoke up.
“By the way, sir—what was that item the dwarf gave you?”
“A badge of some sort, called a Token of Friendship. Since you heard the explanation as well, you should understand its use.”
“…Ah, no.”
Tsukuyomi faltered at the casual exchange.
It was surprising enough that Han Ji-hyun asked so bluntly about something they’d overheard.
But that Shin Tae-ho knew they’d been listening all along? That was unsettling.
Shin Tae-ho rose to his feet with the informant on his back.
“Let’s put some distance between us first, then we can finish explaining. It’s not far—if they chase us, we won’t be hard to catch up to.”
“Yes. And this person looks quite hurt as well.”
Amaterasu nodded in agreement, looking at the informant strapped to Shin Tae-ho’s back.
Unable to use Shadow Movement, Shin Tae-ho’s group descended the steep mountain slope like fugitives fleeing downhill.
The others moved their bodies with practiced ease, but Han Ji-hyun, being a mage, had not—and their pace suffered for it.
Just as Tsukuyomi was weighing whether to abandon his pride and carry Han Ji-hyun down the mountain to speed things along.
Several powerful auras suddenly erupted across the summit they’d left behind.
“What? An energy surge?”
Before Tsukuyomi could finish his startled cry, a deafening boom split the air, and the mountain trembled.
Unnaturally fractured boulders cascaded down from above, hurtling toward Shin Tae-ho’s party.
The moment he saw the rocks, Shin Tae-ho shouted to his companions.
“Amaterasu! Protect Tsukuyomi and Han Ji-hyun!”
“Of course! But you—”
Her words cut off as the tumbling boulders crashed down upon them.
Shin Tae-ho, wreathed in energy, drove power into his legs and bolted away from the falling rocks.
In moments, he’d put the others far behind. Finding a place large enough to conceal the informant, he gently laid her down.
That same instant, five shadowy figures came rushing toward him, encircling him with swift, practiced movements.
“Excellent! The plan’s working perfectly!”
“It’s always been thus—the strong fight with strength, the wise fight with terrain.”
“Haha. True enough. And that Japanese ranker being exhausted from his fight with the orcs was a stroke of luck. Heaven itself favors us.”
Shin Tae-ho fixed the challengers with a cold stare, watching them revel in their apparent advantage.
Unlike when Park Su-hyuk, bound to the same Trial, had been in danger.
Five Chinese challengers, their strength now fully revealed, looked down at Shin Tae-ho and Yong-ryong-i with a sinister gleam, smiling.
Continued in the next episode ▶
The Transcendent Master Blacksmith’s Return
Author
Seal Release
Publisher
Kim Seok-hwan, Choi Se-ra
Published by
Grae Publishing
Inquiries
[email protected]
Publication Date
May 26, 2026
UCI
G720:N+A327-20260227067
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※ 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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