The Return of the Transcendent Blacksmith - Chapter 25

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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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Transcendent Blacksmith’s Return, Episode 25
Once home, Shin Tae-ho opened his Inventory to check its contents.
There was no need to examine everything, but he needed to verify the High-Grade Spirit Stone and the Elpierem Ring.
[High-Grade Spirit Stone]
—Description: Material for forging a contract with a high-grade spirit.
When used on spirits of a lower rank, forced contracts are also possible.
[Elpierem Ring]
—Rank: Heroic
—Description: A ring possessed by only the rarest few among elves.
It generates Ki of its own and replenishes the wearer’s Ki reserves.
“It generates Ki on its own?”
Shin Tae-ho was startled as he read the description.
The high rank alone was remarkable, but the ability to generate Ki—even he had never encountered such a thing before.
He slipped the ring onto his finger and checked his Circuit.
Even though he’d left the Tower, Ki was flowing into his Circuit.
The rate was frustratingly slow, though.
‘At this pace, I’d need to wait a full day before using Destructive Strike even once.’
Shin Tae-ho felt the disappointment keenly.
Gaining the ability to replenish Ki was remarkable in itself, but precisely because it was, the slowness stung all the more.
“Reo-yong?”
“No, Yong-ryong. You consume enough Ki at the Tower. I need to use this one.”
“Yeo-oh-yong!”
When Shin Tae-ho refused to give up the ring, Yong-ryong puffed out his cheeks in protest.
Smiling softly, Shin Tae-ho reached over to pet the creature’s head and opened the refrigerator.
“You hungry? Let’s eat.”
“Yong-hung!”
Yong-ryong suddenly turned his head away as if still sulking and let out a small snort.
* * *
The next day.
Once his cooldown for re-entering the Tower had elapsed, Shin Tae-ho stepped onto the 18th Floor.
Yong-ryong, who had been sullen the previous day, seemed to have gotten over it and returned to his usual self.
[You have entered the 18th Floor of the Tower of South Korea.]
[18th Floor Trial: Elves who have repeatedly defended against external attacks thus far are now preparing a counteroffensive.]
[Help the elves destroy the enemy base outside.]
[Time limit: 12 hours]
‘External enemies? Have those Forest Goblins that poured down on the 16th floor been attacking repeatedly all this time?’
As Shin Tae-ho examined the trial details,
a sentinel patrolling the perimeter spotted him and rushed forward in astonishment.
An armored elf standing before Shin Tae-ho asked hesitantly,
“Forgive the intrusion! You… could you possibly be Hero Shin Tae-ho…?!”
“I am.”
Accustomed now to being treated as a hero, Shin Tae-ho answered naturally.
The sentinel elf’s eyes glistened with emotion.
“It… it’s really you! The lord told us about you! He said if ever an armored stranger were to arrive, we should treat them as the hero with the utmost courtesy…!”
‘That makes sense.’
Shin Tae-ho nodded to himself.
From the elves’ perspective, he vanished each time he left the Tower, only to reappear at will.
“I’d like to meet with Eldain and Lord Kider.”
“Of course! I’ll take you there at once!”
The sentinel elf answered eagerly, with no hesitation.
With the elf serving as escort and guide, Shin Tae-ho observed that the elven city had developed somewhat since his last visit.
As he ventured deeper, past the place where he’d previously met Eldain and Kider, the two lords were waiting for him, having heard of his arrival.
“Hero! You’ve returned to us!”
“It’s been a while. Eldain, and Lord Kider.”
“That you remember our names! What an honor, Hero!”
Both Eldain and Kider were deeply moved.
After exchanging greetings with Yong-ryong, Shin Tae-ho posed his question.
“It seems your lands have been under attack. Now you’re preparing to strike back—are you ready to march?”
“How did you…? Y-yes, that’s correct!”
“Truly you live up to your title as the World Tree’s hero—you see through our circumstances at a glance. This too must be the World Tree’s blessing.”
‘I haven’t even heard the details of the trial yet.’
Shin Tae-ho chose his words carefully.
Since this was a tower, and explanations of systems and such would be hard for them to accept no matter how many times he explained, it was obvious.
Since they believed him to be a hero sent by the World Tree, Shin Tae-ho decided to use that to his advantage.
“Right. I’ve come to help you attack their stronghold.”
“What?! Ah, but how could a hero such as yourself…!”
“It’s precisely because I’m a hero that I should go with you.”
Eldain and Kider were deeply moved.
Not only the two lords, but the elves who had been listening to the conversation in secret covered their mouths in emotion.
“The hero… walks with us…!”
“Excellent! This time we’ll drive those creatures out for certain!”
“Long live Hero Shin Tae-ho! Long live Divine Beast Yong-ryong!”
“Thank you, O World Tree!”
At that moment, a message window visible only to Shin Tae-ho appeared before his eyes.
[The elves’ affection for you has increased greatly.]
[Affection has reached maximum.]
‘I haven’t done anything.’
Shin Tae-ho was taken aback—he’d simply said whatever came to mind to create a reason to join them, yet his affection rating had already maxed out.
Kider, wiping away tears of emotion, puffed out his chest and shouted in a loud voice.
“Hear me! The World Tree’s hero and divine beast walk among us! Today, without fail, we shall destroy the lair of those creatures we have never been able to breach—!”
“Long live Lord Kider!”
“Long live Lord Eldain!”
The morale of the elf warriors awaiting deployment blazed up like fire.
Soon orders were given, and the elf warriors raced across the tree-tops of the village in organized formation, heading out of the city.
* * *
A place some distance from the forest where the elf city was situated.
There, a landscape entirely unlike the elf city unfolded.
Desolate land, cleared of trees with not even a stump remaining.
From the structure built upon it, thick black smoke rose ceaselessly into the sky.
“That is their stronghold.”
Kider, who had come to scout ahead while keeping the warriors behind, explained through gritted teeth.
Eldain, standing on the opposite side, supplemented the explanation in a cold voice.
“They have felled the trees and hunted mercilessly the creatures that dwelt within them. As a result, the forest and land in this region have died.”
‘Rather stings, doesn’t it.’
Though it was the goblins who had done this, Shin Tae-ho flinched—humanity had passed through a similar stage of development.
As he studied the stronghold while listening to the explanation, something caught his eye.
‘Their technology has advanced considerably. At this level, even their cold weapons must be improved.’
Even on the 16th Floor, the Forest Goblins had used weapons crudely forged from iron scraps.
Looking at the stronghold now, it was clear they would be wielding proper arms.
‘If we engage them head-on, the elves will suffer heavy casualties.’
Pure Elves and Dark Elves lived together in the same city.
Yet the elves’ rate of advancement was far slower than the goblins’.
That stemmed from their nature as a long-lived race—with lives stretched long, they felt no urgency to advance.
And they simply had never conceived of felling trees and building fires to work with metal.
It was a somewhat frustrating trait, but Shin Tae-ho respected the elves’ way of life.
‘I’ll just have the elves hold back and fight them myself.’
Having assessed the situation, Shin Tae-ho gave orders to Eldain and Kider.
“You two lead the warriors and catch any that try to flee the stronghold. I’ll handle them.”
“What are you saying? You mean the hero would fight alone?”
“It’s too dangerous. We’re grateful for your aid, but this is our battle.”
Kider was greatly startled, and Eldain refused politely but firmly.
Shin Tae-ho, who had been about to persuade them, fell silent.
‘Of course. If I step forward and solve everything myself, they’ll feel their pride is wounded.’
As Shin Tae-ho deliberated, another approach occurred to him.
“Then let’s do it this way. I’ll support your warriors from behind. But if either of you is ever in danger, I’ll step forward.”
“Thank you!”
“Your very presence is an enormous encouragement to us.”
Only then did the faces of Eldain and Kider brighten.
Though he gave no sign of it, Shin Tae-ho’s words just now had touched upon the pride of two who were elf warriors before they were lords.
“Attack, warriors! Bring judgment upon those who destroy our forest!”
“The Hero sees all! Do not shame yourselves!”
At the signal, the elf warriors behind surged forward with a battle cry.
One of the sentries heard the shouts from all sides and raised a horn to his lips with the ease of long practice.
The moment the horn’s call rang out, the vast base erupted into chaos.
Like an anthill disturbed, Forest Goblins poured forth, clad in steel armor and wielding iron blades and spears.
“Krrreeeek!”
“They’re coming! Attack—!”
At Kider’s command, Ki surged through the weapons of the elf warriors.
Arrows, sharpened from wood, rained down upon the goblins.
But even infused with Ki, wooden arrows could not easily pierce steel plate.
Bows without sufficient Ki channeled bounced harmlessly off the armor.
Ping! Ting!
“Kiiireek!”
The Forest Goblins sneered and pressed their counterattack.
The armor of the elves shattered against the goblins’ weapons as though it were paper.
The high spirits of moments before evaporated as the elf warriors began to fall beneath the goblins’ onslaught.
“Aagh!”
An elf warrior who failed to dodge a spear screamed as it pierced his leg.
A goblin rushed at him to finish the kill.
The elf warrior’s eyes clenched shut, knowing death was upon him.
Instead of the agony of his final breath came the sound of a crushing impact.
“Open your eyes.”
“Ugh… H-Hero…?”
Before Shin Tae-ho lay a headless goblin.
After ordering the fallen elf to retreat, Shin Tae-ho surveyed the battlefield and clicked his tongue.
‘So this is why they’ve never beaten the goblins.’
Shin Tae-ho opened his Inventory and drew out a Throwing Hammer.
He hurled the pair of Throwing Hammers in rapid succession.
With a War Hammer slung across his shoulders, Shin Tae-ho joined the fray.
Prioritizing the elves in greatest danger, Shin Tae-ho thought as he fought.
‘I may need the elves’ aid again in the future. But if they’re this weak, they’ll only be a burden.’
Though their techniques had improved somewhat, the Forest Goblins were hardly at a dangerous level.
The true problem lay in the disparity of weapons and armor between elves and goblins.
‘I’ll need to upgrade them.’
Shin Tae-ho glanced around the base visible beyond the goblins flying from his Throwing Hammers.
The base would serve well enough as a temporary forge.
‘Compared to the tutorial, this is pristine.’
Since this base would become his to use later, Shin Tae-ho hunted the goblins while avoiding unnecessary destruction.
The Forest Goblins had grown stronger as the Tower’s floors increased, it was said.
Yet they still fell far short of piercing his armor.
Before long, a message window appeared before Shin Tae-ho’s eyes.
[All enemies in the base have been eliminated.]
[Elf Warriors Lost: 0/302]
[Successfully protected all elves.]
[You have cleared the 18th Floor Trial.]
[Clear Grade: S-Grade.]
[Elf Warriors’ Affection for you has increased!]
[Affection has already reached maximum.]
[Excess Affection will be reflected in your rewards!]
[Reward: 1,700 Mid-Grade Ki Fragments, 3,500 Low-Grade Ki Fragments, 100 Forest Goblin Hides.]
‘The rewards this time are disappointingly meager.’
Despite the S-Grade, the rewards contained no special items like Runes or Rings.
As Shin Tae-ho closed his Inventory after reviewing the rewards,
Eldain and Kider, both wearing expressions of frustration, approached with their warriors.
“Great Hero, you have aided us immensely once again.”
“Thanks to you, we lost not a single warrior. We are deeply grateful.”
“It was my duty. But tell me—what did you learn from this battle?”
“What did we learn…?”
As the two lords exchanged glances, Shin Tae-ho’s voice grew cold.
“I saw you drive your warriors forward recklessly, without any strategy. You gave no thought to the difference in arms and armor between your enemy and your troops.”
“Th-that’s just. They used minerals cowardly—”
“So what was the result?”
No one could speak.
If not for Shin Tae-ho, it was certain they would have lost at least half their warriors.
While the lords remained silent, Shin Tae-ho spoke softly.
“No matter that elves are children of the World Tree, they cannot hold back enemies this way. I will strengthen the warriors’ weapons for you.”
“Y-you don’t mean to melt metal with fire the way those creatures do, do you?”
An elf warrior asked in shock.
But Shin Tae-ho shook his head.
“No. I know you have strong reservations about that method. And it doesn’t suit elves anyway.”
“Th-then how…?”
“Don’t worry. There are other ways.”
Normally, weapons made of wood and stone could not pierce armor forged of iron.
But Shin Tae-ho possessed the War Smith skill, which he had not yet used once since obtaining it.
‘I needed practice before using it in real combat anyway. This works out well.’
At the thought of using the Engraving skill, Shin Tae-ho’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.
To be continued ▶
The Transcendent Blacksmith’s Return
Author
Bonginhaejae
Publisher
Kim Seok-hwan, Choi Se-ra
Published by
Grae Publishing
Inquiry Email
[email protected]
Publication Date
May 26, 2026
UCI
G720:N+A327-20260227067
※ This e-book is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized reproduction and copying are prohibited, and violations may result in civil and criminal liability.
※ Pentagram welcomes the precious manuscripts of writers.

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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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