The Return of the Transcendent Blacksmith - Chapter 18

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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 – Episode 18
‘Of course it turned out this way.’
Back in his room, Shin Tae-ho scratched at his cheek.
Even now, Shin Tae-ho’s meridians were brimming with the Qi he’d received from the World Tree.
As a recipient of such a generous gift, he should have at least offered his gratitude.
When his time in the tower ended, he’d left without even saying goodbye to Ephiel, and that weighed on him.
‘Well, we’ll meet again next time. I can thank her then.’
Shaking off his thoughts, Shin Tae-ho began preparing a meal.
He hadn’t eaten anything during his time in the tower, so his hunger was overwhelming.
Though he’d consumed a substantial amount of Qi, Yong Ryong-i was equally famished—he drooled helplessly at the aroma of grilling meat.
“Let’s eat, Yong Ryong-i.”
“Ryong!”
Yong Ryong-i eagerly devoured the finely cut meat Shin Tae-ho offered him.
As he ate, Shin Tae-ho’s eyes swept through his inventory.
The inventory was packed with items that had accumulated on his climb through the tower.
Among them, two items in particular captured his attention.
‘The World Tree Leaf I received as a gift from the World Tree. And the Skill Orb I got as an S-Rank reward.’
First, Shin Tae-ho retrieved the World Tree Leaf and gazed at it quietly while chewing his meat.
[Leaf of an Unknown Entity]
Description: A leaf left as a gift by an entity of unknown identity. It appears to possess special properties.
“What kind of description is this?”
Shin Tae-ho felt bewildered.
The system kept referring to the World Tree as an unknown entity—that had been suspicious from the start.
Now the system couldn’t even properly display the item’s information.
He’d only experienced this once before in his lifetime.
‘It’s just like looking at the description of the Core before my return.’
Before his return, there was a core named the Unknown Core, its true nature shrouded in mystery.
Because of that, Shin Tae-ho had been forced to interpret on his own what abilities the core possessed.
He’d had no choice but to experiment and learn its usage firsthand.
‘This leaf will be the same. I’ll have to discover how to use it through trial and experience.’
Shin Tae-ho returned the leaf to his inventory and retrieved the Skill Orb next.
Inside the transparent sphere, about the size of a plum, wisps of Qi circulated endlessly.
‘I hope it’s a useful skill.’
Shin Tae-ho held the orb in his hand and studied it intently.
Unlike the World Tree Leaf, the Skill Orb’s information displayed clearly.
[Skill Orb – Invisibility]
Description: An orb containing the skill ‘Invisibility’.
Break it to acquire the skill.
When activated, the user can conceal their body, Qi, and scent.
However, depending on proficiency, it may be detected by those who move actively or use specific skills.
Shin Tae-ho’s expression fell slightly.
He’d been hoping for a combat skill, not Invisibility.
More than that, it didn’t synergize well with the War Smith class, which relied on wielding a hammer and moving boldly.
‘Not a skill I’d use. Should I sell it?’
Shin Tae-ho found himself torn.
Even if the skill didn’t suit him, Skill Orbs were rare items, hard to come by.
He could earn a fortune selling it, but it felt wasteful to part with such an item just for money.
As he turned his head in deliberation, his eyes landed on Yong Ryong-i.
The creature lay sprawled across the table, his belly distended from consuming two kilograms of meat, pressed upward in contentment.
As Shin Tae-ho stared vacantly at Yong Ryong-i, his eyes suddenly widened.
“Yong Ryong-i. Come here for a moment, would you?”
“Keuruk? Ryong?”
Confused by the summons, Yong Ryong-i lifted himself and floated down to land on Shin Tae-ho’s extended hand.
Shin Tae-ho met the creature’s gaze directly.
If there was one vulnerability in Shin Tae-ho’s current arsenal—one uncontrollable risk factor—
it was Yong Ryong-i, still small and underdeveloped, vulnerable to danger.
But what if Yong Ryong-i could learn Invisibility?
What if he could remain hidden, unseen by anyone, safely concealed within Shin Tae-ho’s armor?
Then Shin Tae-ho could concentrate fully on combat without worry.
“Yong Ryong-i. Do you think you could break this?”
“A dragon? Wait, you mean—?!”
“No, I don’t mean eat it. Just bite it or smash it to pieces.”
“Ryo, ryong.”
Yong Ryong-i, who’d briefly panicked at the thought of another feeding frenzy like the World Tree fruit incident, released a relieved sigh.
Yong Ryong-i clamped down on the orb held in Shin Tae-ho’s hand with his jaws.
Young as he was, Yong Ryong-i’s bite force was more than capable of grinding through meat.
Crack!
The moment he tensed his jaw, the section of the orb between his teeth shattered cleanly.
The skill contained within the orb spilled out like smoke, flowing directly into Yong Ryong-i’s mouth as he held it between his teeth.
Immediately, a message window bloomed before Shin Tae-ho.
[Summoned Creature ‘Yong Ryong-i’ has used a Skill Orb.]
[Skill Invisibility is being absorbed by Summoned Creature ‘Yong Ryong-i’.]
‘There we go.’
The tension that had gripped Shin Tae-ho—worry that summoned creatures might not be able to use skill orbs at all—dissolved.
“Can you feel the skill, Yong Ryong-i?”
“Ryo? Ryong-ryong.”
Yong Ryong-i bobbed his head in confirmation.
“Good. It’s a useful skill for you, so practice it whenever you can. It’ll come in handy.”
“Ryong!”
After Yong Ryong-i curled back up, Shin Tae-ho finished his meal.
Just as he was putting the last dish away, his pocket began to vibrate.
‘What now?’
Shin Tae-ho pulled out his smartphone.
The vibration was a message from Choi Yu-hwa.
[Hi Shin Tae-ho! How’s the egg doing? I’ve joined the Phoenix Guild! It’s normally really hard to get in, but because of our Pipi—]
‘This is practically a letter.’
Despite the fatigue creeping in, Shin Tae-ho read through the entire message carefully.
The actual purpose appeared at the very end.
[—which is why Tamers have an obligation to register their summoned creatures. If the egg has hatched, would you want to come to the Management Bureau with me when you visit?]
‘The Management Bureau, huh.’
Stroking Yong Ryong-i’s sleeping form, Shin Tae-ho gathered his thoughts.
His hammer was currently broken from the fight with the Stone Skin Ogre.
For the days it would take to repair, he couldn’t climb the tower.
Besides, his inventory had accumulated quite a bit of loot—he’d been meaning to use the Management Bureau shop anyway.
‘And I need to check out the forge too.’
During his climb to the fifteenth floor, Shin Tae-ho had never felt a shortage of weaponry.
But the Stone Skin Ogre he’d just fought had driven home a hard lesson.
Moreover, his armor bore heavy dents from the creature’s blows.
Unlike his hammer, armor had no self-repair—Shin Tae-ho would have to fix it himself.
‘No point dwelling on it.’
Having decided what to do while his hammer recovered, Shin Tae-ho placed Yong Ryong-i on a soft blanket and lay down beside him.
There was work to be done, but Shin Tae-ho, who’d been awake for over twenty-four hours, needed sleep too.
Soon the room was filled with nothing but the sound of Shin Tae-ho and Yong Ryong-i snoring.
* * *
A few days later.
After two days of solid rest, Shin Tae-ho set out for the Management Bureau with Yong Ryong-i.
During the train ride and his walk, Yong Ryong-i stayed draped around Shin Tae-ho’s neck.
Yet no one gave Shin Tae-ho a second glance—they simply passed by as if nothing were there.
It was exactly what he’d expected, but their indifference satisfied him.
“Perfect. You’re doing great. Just keep it up like that, Yong Ryong-i.”
“Ryong!”
A reply came from the empty space around his neck.
The reason Yong Ryong-i seemed not to exist at all.
It was the Invisibility skill obtained from the skill orb.
So long as Yong Ryong-i didn’t make large movements or loud sounds, the skill rendered him truly invisible.
It wasn’t limitless, but from Shin Tae-ho’s perspective, this level was more than sufficient.
After getting off in Sejong City and taking a taxi, Shin Tae-ho finally arrived at the Management Bureau Awakener Support Center.
‘It’s quite a distance. Once I sell these items, maybe I should buy a car.’
As he approached the entrance, someone waved to him enthusiastically.
It was Choi Yu-hwa and Pipi, whom he’d arranged to meet at the entrance via message.
“Shin Tae-ho! Over here~!”
“Hello. It’s been a while, Choi Yu-hwa.”
“It’s only been a week, so ‘a while’ sounds a bit odd! Haha. But did you come alone?”
Choi Yu-hwa tilted her head, peering at Shin Tae-ho.
She’d heard his summoned creature had been born, so had he perhaps stuffed it into his pocket?
Even Pipi, who’d been wary of the egg at the registration office, stopped her vigilance and cocked her head in confusion.
Shin Tae-ho shook his head.
“No. It came with me. You’ll see in a moment.”
“It came with you? But I don’t see anything?”
“That’s right. Let’s go inside first.”
“Got it! Oh, I can’t wait to see!”
Choi Yu-hwa dashed into the Management Bureau building.
Only after she’d gone did Shin Tae-ho stroke Yong Ryong-i’s head.
“Well done, Yong Ryong-i. Outside the tower, don’t dispel your Invisibility or use it until I tell you to.”
“Ryong…”
Yong Ryong-i, sensing Shin Tae-ho’s intent, answered in a soft whisper.
Shin Tae-ho had no intention of revealing to anyone yet that Yong Ryong-i could use Invisibility.
‘Invisibility is Yong Ryong-i’s trump card. With no way of knowing when, where, or who might be watching, I have to save it for when eyes aren’t upon us.’
Contrary to what most people assumed, the Management Bureau was an organization that moved with far greater precision and secrecy.
Especially since this was where the Management Bureau’s main headquarters stood.
There was no way of knowing who might be watching from where.
“Why aren’t you coming? Is something wrong?”
“No. I’m coming now.”
Prompted by Choi Yu-hwa’s eager calls about seeing the new summoned creature, Shin Tae-ho stepped into the building.
* * *
Inside the Management Bureau Awakener Support Center.
In the room reserved for Tamer-class Awakeners, Choi Yu-hwa bounced her leg impatiently while waiting for Shin Tae-ho, who’d gone to the bathroom.
Choi Yu-hwa, who’d loved animals even before becoming an Awakener, spoke excitedly to Pipi.
“Pipi, what kind of friend do you think will come? I’m so excited!”
“Pipi…”
Pipi, reluctant to match Choi Yu-hwa’s enthusiasm, obliged half-heartedly.
But her heart wasn’t in it.
Ever since that moment when she’d faced Shin Tae-ho earlier, something had unsettled Pipi.
A creeping dread, as though she’d encountered an invisible predator.
It was a sensation she’d never experienced before—not even when facing the fully grown summoned creatures she’d met while climbing the tower with Choi Yu-hwa or at the Phoenix Guild.
So what on earth was this feeling?
Oblivious to Pipi’s inner turmoil, Choi Yu-hwa’s ears caught the sound of a knock, and she yanked the door open.
“Shin Tae-ho! What on earth were you doing that took so— wait? Huh?”
Choi Yu-hwa froze in the doorway.
It was indeed Shin Tae-ho who’d knocked.
But cradled in his arms was a creature that hadn’t been there before.
A long body with sleek scales, small horns perked upright.
And…!
“Yong Ryong-i. Say hello, won’t you?”
“Ryong!”
As Yong Ryong-i’s large eyes fixed on her and one tiny clawed hand rose in greeting, Choi Yu-hwa simply collapsed.
Shin Tae-ho was startled, but Choi Yu-hwa sat there with tears welling up, both hands covering her mouth.
“You’re so… so incredibly cute…!!”
“Ryong…?”
“Peep!”
Pipi came fluttering frantically from behind.
When Choi Yu-hwa suddenly collapsed, Pipi had panicked, thinking she’d been attacked by Shin Tae-ho.
Pipi had been diving toward him with her beak at the ready, but her eyes widened in an instant.
There, Yong Ryong-i was gazing at her with eyes full of curiosity.
“Ryong?! Ryong-ryong—!!”
“Peep-peep!”
Pipi let out a startled shriek and performed an emergency evasive maneuver, folding her wings sharply.
Provoked by the spectacle, Yong Ryong-i also launched himself from Shin Tae-ho’s arms.
“Ryong-ryong—!”
“Peeeep!”
“She’s too cute…!! Oh my goodness…!!”
“…Yes.”
Yong Ryong-i lunging to catch Pipi.
Pipi desperately dodging out of the way.
And Choi Yu-hwa, whose legs had gone weak at the sight of Yong Ryong-i’s cuteness.
Faced with a situation he couldn’t even begin to untangle, Shin Tae-ho simply nodded once and gave up trying.
Continued in the next episode ▶
The Transcendent Blacksmith’s Return
Author
Seal Release
Publisher
Kim Seok-hwan, Choi Se-ra
Published by
Grae Publishing
Contact
[email protected]
Publication Date
May 26, 2026
UCI
G720:N+A327-20260227067
※ This e-book is protected under copyright law. Unauthorized reproduction and reprint are prohibited, and violation of these terms may result in criminal and civil liability.
※ Pentagram awaits your precious manuscripts.

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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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