The Return of the Transcendent Blacksmith - Chapter 22

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Return of the Transcendent Blacksmith – Episode 22
‘A skill?’
Shin Tae-ho stared at the message window in disbelief.
Each Class possessed a signature skill that embodied its nature, and there were two primary ways to acquire one.
The first was to accumulate Class Experience through activities befitting one’s Class.
The second was to obtain it upon reaching a certain floor while ascending the Tower.
According to what Shin Tae-ho had learned from Awakeners, the first skill was typically obtained at the 20th floor.
Yet here he was, about to acquire one already?
‘It must be because I defeated the Stone Skin Ogre on the 15th floor.’
Shin Tae-ho considered the possibility as he processed the situation.
The Stone Skin Ogre was ordinarily a creature one would never encounter, let alone fight, on the 15th floor.
Had he not met Yepiel, Shin Tae-ho would never have imagined it existed there at all.
Regardless, acquiring a skill was a welcome development, and he found himself waiting eagerly for the message to appear.
‘What skill will it be?’
War Smith was a special Class that blended crafting and combat.
Which meant the probability of receiving a crafting skill was roughly equal to that of receiving a combat skill.
Whatever skill he obtained, Shin Tae-ho was confident he could make good use of it.
After a brief moment, the details of the skill materialized before him.
But it was not quite what he had anticipated.
[The skills available for acquisition are: Engraving, Explosion Strike, and Quick Repair.]
[Please select the skill you wish to learn.]
“I get to choose which skill?”
Shin Tae-ho, encountering this situation for the first time, was taken aback.
But once he examined the options, his hesitation dissolved quickly.
‘Explosion Strike falls short of the Hammer’s unique abilities anyway. And Quick Repair—there’s no real need to acquire that.’
Shin Tae-ho was already deeply versed in crafting and repair work.
Even if his repair speed improved further, he found it hard to imagine that would provide any substantial benefit.
And the final remaining skill’s potential was far too alluring to pass up.
‘To obtain Engraving already—!’
Engraving was a skill that even ordinary Blacksmiths could acquire.
The problem was that it represented such an advanced technique—a final milestone—that it took an enormous amount of time to unlock.
Yet War Smith could obtain it as the first skill.
‘The gap between a special Class and an ordinary one is far greater than I imagined.’
Without hesitation, Shin Tae-ho selected Engraving.
[Skill acquired: Engraving.]
[Skill – Engraving]
-Description: By inscribing an engraving, you may grant special powers to your creations.
You may apply up to 2 engravings to items you have personally crafted, and only 1 engraving to all others.
‘Two engravings? And no conditions for inscribing them at all?’
Though it bore the same name, the War Smith’s Engraving was far more versatile than its counterpart.
When he was an ordinary Blacksmith, engravings came saddled with countless conditions, and even then held no guarantee of success!
‘That doesn’t sit right with me.’
The gap felt almost like cheating, and Shin Tae-ho’s brow furrowed.
But the feeling faded as quickly as it had come.
‘No—to climb the Tower to its very end, this level of ability is what’s required.’
Climbing the Tower himself, changing the future he had witnessed.
Reminding himself of his purpose, Shin Tae-ho rose from his seat.
The War Smith’s traits, skills, and two new weapons.
And after adding Literanium and repairing the Transcendent Hammer, his entire body itched with anticipation.
* * *
The day after Shin Tae-ho returned home.
Having rewarded the exhausted Yong-ryong-i with marbled beef and prime short ribs, Shin Tae-ho entered the Tower.
[You have entered the 16th Floor of Korea’s Tower.]
“Roooarrgh—!”
The moment he stepped inside, Yong-ryong-i inhaled deeply, drawing in the energy around him.
When he had exited the 15th floor, Yong-ryong-i had absorbed the World Tree’s essence abundantly.
But in the blacksmith workshop, while assisting Shin Tae-ho and breathing forth much flame, his energy had been significantly depleted.
Knowing this, Shin Tae-ho did not stop him.
‘Yong-ryong-i’s fire proved so useful. I never realized that flight and flames both demanded so much of his reserves.’
Through his work at the forge, Shin Tae-ho had gained a deeper understanding of Yong-ryong-i.
From now on, he’d need to be more careful when asking Yong-ryong-i to breathe fire.
‘Come to think of it, Yong-ryong-i seems to have grown quite a bit in just a few days.’
As Shin Tae-ho examined Yong-ryong-i.
The Trial content for the 16th Floor materialized before his eyes.
[16th Floor Trial: A horde of Forest Goblins has arrived with their warriors to seize the lush, verdant forest where the elves dwell.]
[Both the Pure Elf Forest and the Dark Elf Forest are under attack.]
[Decide which faction you will protect.]
From the 16th Floor onward, elves would appear in earnest, so he had to choose which faction to support.
The faction he selected this time would continue to appear as he climbed the tower, so the choice demanded careful consideration.
Shin Tae-ho was aware of this fact, but the decision was far from simple.
‘The faction that isn’t chosen will be annihilated on this floor. I won’t be able to meet them again going forward.’
Shin Tae-ho’s face clouded over.
Even hearing about it secondhand from other Awakeners had left a sour taste in his mouth, but facing the actual choice felt infinitely worse.
As Shin Tae-ho stood still, making no selection.
Yong-ryong-i, who had rapidly absorbed all the ambient Qi, pressed its face against Shin Tae-ho’s cheek.
“Rong?”
Yong-ryong-i seemed to ask what he was doing.
Though words didn’t pass between them, Shin Tae-ho sensed the intent in its cry and answered.
“You’ve eaten all the Qi? Right now I have to choose between Pure Elf and Dark Elf. I just can’t sit right with picking only one.”
“Ryong?”
Yong-ryong-i tilted its head with puzzlement and turned to look at where Shin Tae-ho was gazing.
Yong-ryong-i stared at the choices for a moment, then nodded its head.
Releasing its coils from around Shin Tae-ho’s neck, Yong-ryong-i moved its tail to lift his hand.
“Yong-ryong-i? Are you choosing?”
“Rong-rong!”
At Yong-ryong-i’s bright response, Shin Tae-ho broke into a wry smile.
Somehow it felt like he’d passed his own indecision on to Yong-ryong-i to decide.
But the path Yong-ryong-i’s tail led him to was neither the Pure Elf nor the Dark Elf option.
Tap!
“…Huh?”
Guided by the tail, Shin Tae-ho’s hand pressed the button that closed the message window.
When Shin Tae-ho looked down at Yong-ryong-i in surprise, it nodded approvingly.
“Rong, rong!”
“…Ha. Right. I see now.”
Shin Tae-ho smiled.
Just because you’re given options doesn’t mean you have to choose from them.
“You’re wiser than me, Yong-ryong-i.”
“Ryoo-ong~.”
Shin Tae-ho stroked Yong-ryong-i’s chin.
Waiting without selecting anything, another message window appeared after some time had passed.
[No faction was selected.]
[Due to non-response, your starting position will be arbitrarily designated between the two factions.]
[Clear Condition 1: Protect the selected faction and hold back the incoming enemies until the time limit expires.]
[Clear Condition 2: Annihilate all incoming enemies within the time limit.]
[Time Limit: 10 hours]
[You cannot use Clear Condition 1 due to not selecting a faction.]
“A single answer. Clean and straightforward—I rather like it.”
Shin Tae-ho opened his inventory.
Reaching in, he withdrew a Hammer in his grip.
One. Two.
Drawing out all three Hammers, Shin Tae-ho hung them on his clothing.
He hung the two Throwing Hammers Forged with Dragon Fire at his waist, left and right.
Finally, shouldering the Transcendent Hammer, Shin Tae-ho looked at Yong-ryong-i.
“Let’s go, Yong-ryong-i.”
“Rong-rong~!”
As if crying out that they were departing, Yong-ryong-i answered vigorously.
* * *
In the western part of the forest, within the Dark Elf encampment.
The Dark Elves attacked the incoming Forest Goblins with bows and spears, raining projectiles down upon them.
Yet the forest they had to defend was far too vast compared to their numbers.
Forest Goblins had brought so many tamed beasts that they filled the entire sprawling forest.
“Screech!”
A Dark Elf cried out as an arrow shot by a goblin struck him.
A nearby comrade rushed over at once.
The Dark Elf warrior who examined the arrow, also serving as a medic, ground his teeth.
“It’s an arrow poisoned with Giant Poison Centipede venom. We have to remove it immediately!”
“But it’s lodged so deep—there will be severe bleeding.”
“There’s no time to worry about that! Giant Poison Centipede venom is lethal! Once it spreads through the body, it cannot be treated!”
“Yes, understood.”
At his commander’s shout, the Dark Elf who had rushed over exchanged a few words before yanking the arrow out with all his strength.
The barbed arrowhead, designed like jagged teeth, tore through flesh as it was pulled free.
The Dark Elf Commander’s expression darkened as he tended to the soldier, who had lost consciousness without even a cry.
‘How in the world did they manage to tame so many beasts? Especially the Giant Poison Centipedes—they should have almost no intelligence…!’
The Forest Goblins commanded all manner of insectoid creatures, having developed their own unique techniques over centuries.
All the Dark Elves fought desperately, but in truth, defeat was already all but certain.
‘Are we to return to the World Tree in such disgrace…!’
The Dark Elf Commander squeezed his eyes shut in rage and shame.
Then, amid the cries of his soldiers, a stirring murmur rose up.
“C-Commander! Look! Look over there!”
At the soldier’s words, the Dark Elf Commander turned his head.
His first thought was that even the final defensive line had been breached.
But what he saw before him was nothing like what he expected.
Thud!
Bang!
“Shrieeeek!”
“Krrrahhh!!”
Heavy impacts rang out, and the colossal centipede laden with Forest Goblins toppled to the ground.
Not merely toppled—its body was marred with burns and frostbite.
The Dark Elf Commander, watching in astonishment toward the source of the sound, saw something flying through the air.
‘Is that… a hammer…?’
Two hammers soaring through the sky.
Each time those hammers struck their targets, fire and frost erupted like explosions.
The colossal centipede that had been about to attack a Dark Elf was hit by a hammer and now lay entangled by freshly grown wooden vines.
The hammer that had fallen to the ground was drawn back through the air as if pulled by an unseen hand.
In moments, it flew forth again to strike the enemy.
‘Am I dreaming? Can this be real?’
A commander born to the warrior’s path, who had spent his entire life defending his tribe as a warrior.
Through long years, he had endured countless battles both great and small.
Yet this moment was a shock even he had never experienced.
And there was something even more shocking.
“Why do you stand there dazed! Come to your senses, Children of Shadow!”
“You are…!”
Those who were called the Children of Shadow, born from the darkness beneath the World Tree itself.
There was only one such being in all the world.
The Dark Elf Commander turned his head toward where his soldiers shouted in surprise.
There, Pure Elves stood wielding weapons, attacking the enemy.
Though contact between their peoples was rare, the Pure Elf Commander—who like him led warriors and protected his tribe—called out again.
“Rise now and aid the hero who has come to save you!”
“A hero? What do you mea—”
“Roooaaarrr—!!”
Just as the Dark Elf Commander was asking his question.
A great roar echoed, and a massive flame erupted from the midst of the enemy forces.
All the Elves fighting in chaos turned their gaze toward it as if drawn by a magnet.
The Pure Elf Commander spoke with a voice full of emotion.
“Yes. That is the hero who saved our tribe from the enemy. And after persuading us, he has come to save you, our kin, as well.”
“A hero….”
Every Elf with keen hearing listened to the commander’s words and gazed, entranced, into the flames.
Two flying hammers hovered around the inferno like guardians.
Yong-ryong-i, breathing fire, was draped around his neck.
And in the midst of the flames, Shin Tae-ho crushed the skull of a Giant Poison Centipede with his hammer—a figure that shimmered like a vision.
To be continued in the next chapter ▶
The Transcendent Blacksmith’s Return
Author
Bong Unsealjae
Publisher
Kim Seok-hwan, Choi Se-ra
Published by
Gerae Publishing
Inquiries
[email protected]
Publication Date
May 26, 2026
UCI
G720:N+A327-20260227067
※ This e-book is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized reproduction and distribution are prohibited. Violations may result in criminal and civil liability.
※ Pentagram welcomes your precious manuscripts.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————