The Return of the Transcendent Blacksmith - Chapter 37

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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 Return of the Transcendent Blacksmith — Episode 37
“Shin Tae-ho? Are you communing with the World Tree right now?”
“I’m not sure about communion, but we are talking. It says it’s been a while and is glad to see me.”
Epiel’s mouth fell open at Shin Tae-ho’s words.
The Guardians who had kept watch over the World Tree from the very closest, for the longest.
Even they could commune with the World Tree only in the brief moments the Tree desired.
And even then, only after a Guardian had made countless requests would it grant them audience.
Yet here was the World Tree itself approaching first — not to a Guardian, but to this outsider, Shin Tae-ho — and speaking to him?
It was enough to surprise Epiel, who among the Guardians felt the least attachment to the World Tree, and even stir in her a pang of jealousy.
“The… the World Tree is speaking to you? What is it saying?”
“I just told you. It’s offering greetings.”
“No, not that! Is there anything else it said?”
Shin Tae-ho glanced at the Message Window.
The World Tree’s message, conveyed through the Message Window, consisted of two things.
“It says Yong-ryong can drink its energy as much as she wants. And that it has something to ask of me.”
“A request? What kind of request?”
The instant Epiel asked Shin Tae-ho the question,
the Message Window appeared again, and the World Tree’s request became clear.
[A Quest has been issued.]
[Request: Large-Scale Monster Extermination]
Description: An unidentified entity is requesting the extermination of monsters that kill Guardians and ravage the forest.
Help the Guardians and eliminate as many monsters as possible.
‘I accept.’
Shin Tae-ho accepted the Quest without hesitation.
He still had plenty of time remaining, and besides — this was a Quest from the World Tree, which the elves revered as a god.
Given that he would likely return to the World Tree frequently in the future to replenish his energy, he had no intention of refusing.
“Epiel, if I go to the Guardians and tell them I’ve received a request from the World Tree and ask them to fight alongside me, what do you think they’ll say?”
“The Guardians…? There’s a very high chance they’d accuse you of impersonating the World Tree and attack you outright.”
“That won’t work, then.”
At Epiel’s answer, Shin Tae-ho gave up cleanly.
The Guardians, with their command of Qi, would certainly be a tremendous help, but he had no desire to go through the trouble of persuading them.
“Epiel. Will you help me? Let’s go hunt down the monsters together.”
“Me? But I…”
“It’s the World Tree’s request, and besides, you’re the only Guardian who can help me right now.”
Shin Tae-ho looked at Epiel with unwavering eyes.
At that gaze and the mention of the World Tree’s request, Epiel’s words of evasive refusal died on her lips.
No hesitation, no wavering, and perhaps it was simply because he spoke so little — but
in moments like this, Shin Tae-ho carried a strange trust and an undeniable pull.
Epiel, who had been deliberating, suddenly rose from her seat.
“All right. I’ll help. But I should warn you — my combat abilities won’t be much use. Instead, I can help in a different way.”
“That will be more than enough. Thank you.”
“Then wait a moment. I need to prepare and gather a few things.”
“Are you going to gather weapons? I could help with that if you need.”
“No, not weapons. I’ll explain while we gather what I need.”
Having said something cryptic, Epiel disappeared into the Cottage.
Shin Tae-ho gently stroked the head of Yong-ryong, who was still drinking in the energy without pause.
“I’m not sure what she means, but it doesn’t matter. That’s good news for you, Yong-ryong. You keep filling yourself with energy and get some rest.”
“Rrrrooooo.”
Yong-ryong nodded, continuing to drink the endless flow of energy.
Shortly after, Epiel emerged from the Cottage carrying a leather satchel nearly as large as herself.
“Done. Let’s go. I’ll show you the way.”
“All right. But is that satchel what you meant by preparing?”
“Yes. It might look a bit strange, but I have more talent for making things like this than for combat.”
Epiel rummaged through the satchel hesitantly and handed Shin Tae-ho a small vial.
As Shin Tae-ho studied the potion quietly, information materialized before him.
[Lesser Potion of Agility]
-Description: Increases agility slightly for 10 minutes.
Shin Tae-ho cast a sidelong glance toward Epiel.
Epiel was waiting anxiously to see what reaction he would show.
Seeing her expression, Shin Tae-ho understood at once why she was so nervous.
“Epiel. You’re an Alchemist.”
“…What? Yes, yes—how did you know I was an Alchemist?”
Epiel’s eyes widened in shock as her long-guarded secret was laid bare.
* * *
As she ran along the branches, Epiel’s movements were swift and light, befitting an elf.
Even as they moved, she kept her promise and explained how she had become an Alchemist.
“All World Tree elves are born as Guardians. We spend our lives training our bodies and protecting nature to guard the World Tree.”
Epiel, too, as a World Tree elf, had practiced archery and learned to commune with the spirits that dwelt in nature.
Yet her talent fell far below the average for World Tree elves.
Because of this, when the Guardians marched into battle to defend the World Tree, she could only stay behind.
Even when she first met Shin Tae-ho, she had been alone, facing down monsters that assailed the barrier.
“Then one day, something strange appeared before my eyes. Something square-shaped, with letters only I could see.”
‘A Message Window from the Tower’s system.’
Shin Tae-ho recognized it at once for what it was.
And so Epiel had been transported to an unknown space.
There she fought a creature she had never seen before and gained a Class.
“It was Alchemy.”
“That’s right. At first, I didn’t understand what it was. But as I kept practicing the ability, I gradually came to know what it could do.”
Epiel began crafting various potions, believing her power would prove useful to the Guardians.
But the Guardians treated her unknown, non-World Tree power with wariness and rejection.
Epiel, already a thorn in their side for her weak combat ability, found her standing grow even narrower.
In the end, she had no choice but to hide her ability and devote herself to strengthening her fighting prowess.
But then…
“The Silver Treasure. The keyword you gave me back then—it must have been the potion you’ve been making all this time.”
“…Yes. I was making it in secret, in that cottage.”
Having finally discovered her true talent and calling, Epiel could not abandon Alchemy.
She built herself a cottage in a remote place and quietly honed her craft, unknown to anyone.
Shin Tae-ho nodded inwardly.
‘If she can create an Elixir, calling her naturally talented would be understating it.’
The Elixir was the ultimate potion—one that only the most accomplished Alchemists could create.
The fact that she had crafted an Elixir through self-study alone was proof that her Alchemical talent was nothing short of innate.
“And so, here we are now.”
As Epiel finished her story,
the outposts where the Guardians had pushed back the monsters came into view.
Shin Tae-ho’s eyes widened with astonishment as he looked down at the outposts from the high roots of the World Tree.
‘There are so many.’
Shin Tae-ho had defended Sinterhorn and fought countless battles over the years.
Yet the scale of the enemy force visible beyond the World Tree’s roots was nearly ten times what he had seen before.
‘So Epiel wasn’t exaggerating when she said she fought thousands of monsters.’
“Do you think we can do it? Fight them?”
Epiel asked anxiously.
Though the World Tree had asked this of them, she couldn’t imagine the two of them standing against such a vast army.
But Shin Tae-ho’s answer was as clear and steady as it had been before they set out.
“We can. If there are three of us.”
“Three?”
“Roar!”
As Epiel tilted her head in confusion, Yong-ryong cried out with vigor.
Having been fed well on the World Tree’s energy, he was bright-eyed and brimming with enthusiasm.
Shin Tae-ho reached down and stroked the back of Yong-ryong, who was coiled about his neck.
“I had wanted to let you rest and eat your fill. I’m sorry, Yong-ryong.”
“Purr, purr~.”
Yong-ryong shook his head.
If anything, with the elf warriors fighting in his stead and Shin Tae-ho moving far too cautiously of late, he had been growing restless.
Seeing the burning resolve in Yong-ryong’s eyes, Shin Tae-ho felt it and let out a soft laugh.
“You’re right. It’s been too long. Let’s fight together, old friend.”
“Roar~!”
“What about me?”
Epiel asked from beside him.
Shin Tae-ho, who had already thought through her role, answered without hesitation.
“Climb up to the roots of the World Tree where you can see the entire battlefield. Watch the enemy’s movements and report them to us. Use Signal Arrows to show us the way.”
“Signal arrows? But like I said, even with natural force layered on them, my attacks don’t pack much power.”
“It doesn’t matter. We just need a signal they’ll understand. I’ve already figured out how.”
Shin Tae-ho handed the arrows to Epiel.
They were three types of arrows, carved from branches as he’d rushed here.
“I’ll explain, then we start fighting right away. We don’t have much time.”
The floor Shin Tae-ho was currently climbing was the 61st.
He could only prevent the next Gate from spawning if he cleared the 66th floor during the grace period he’d gained by destroying the Gate.
“All right, listen carefully. I’m going to explain the plan.”
Shin Tae-ho focused Yong-ryong and Epiel’s attention as he laid out his strategy.
* * *
A few hours later.
The Guardians who had rushed from their dwelling raced across the treetops at maximum speed, as if flying.
Originally, they’d planned no combat for today and were supposed to rest.
But a sudden dispatch from a scout had set them in motion.
-Guardian Epiel and an individual claiming to be Epiel’s acquaintance are currently engaged in combat at the monsters’ outpost.
The message was brief, yet the shock was immense.
Even they could only hunt by exploiting geographical advantage against creatures that burrowed deep into the roots of the World Tree itself.
Yet these two dared to touch an outpost teeming with thousands of monsters without a shred of fear!
‘Epiel. I always thought she had her peculiarities. But to pull off something this reckless…’
The Guardian Captain’s expression twisted grimly.
Still, they’d turned a blind eye to oddities because she was one of their own.
But this situation had crossed that line—and then some.
Through their keen ears, the Guardians could hear the clash of steel and the screams of monsters.
That much was unsurprising, as they’d expected it.
But when a sharp, whistling sound pierced through—like someone blowing a pipe—the Guardians exchanged puzzled glances.
“What is that sound? A bird call?”
“No. It’s similar, but different.”
It was odd, but there was no time to dwell on bird calls now.
The Guardians rushed forward, and the sight of battle came into view.
They’d expected Epiel and the outsider to already be dead, with enraged monsters pouring toward the World Tree like a wave.
Running toward what they thought was certain, the Guardians’ mouths fell open at a scene utterly at odds with their expectations.
Thud-!
Crack-crack-boom-!
Roaaaaargh-!!
A type of weapon they’d never seen before soared through the air, striking the monsters with devastating force.
Each time it struck a monster, both weapons erupted—flames and ice spraying out like liquid.
The surroundings ignited and froze in an instant—a sight that defied reality.
Yet among it all, something far harder to believe was happening.
“Ryooooo-ryong-!!”
Crash-boom-boom-!!”
Yong-ryong spewed flames dozens of times his own body’s size.
As the ground turned into an inferno, the Guardians gasped in alarm and moved to strike at Yong-ryong.
The Guardian Captain, eyes wide, surveyed his surroundings and stopped the other Guardians from attacking.
Remarkably, the flames burned only enemies.
Not a single leaf of the natural world around them caught fire.
Shreeeee-!
Then came the strange, bird-like sound they’d heard earlier, from somewhere high above.
When they looked up, Epiel was firing arrows they’d never seen before into the air.
The grooved arrowheads created a distinctive sound as they flew.
Hearing that signal, Shin Tae-ho and Yong-ryong launched a preemptive strike on the Baguestor Rider preparing to ambush from behind.
“G-Guardian Captain! What… what is happening…?!”
The Guardians cried out in bewilderment, calling to their captain.
Even they could only maintain balance against the massive swarms of monsters by exploiting geographical advantage.
Yet now, those three stood fighting in the very heart of the monsters’ outpost.
They weren’t losing ground by an inch, smashing through the surging horde.
But even the Guardian Captain, confronted with a sight beyond imagination, could offer no answer.
Toward the battlefield where the Guardians gazed in shock,
only the endless echoes of monsters’ screams as they were crushed by the hammer resounded.
To be continued ▶
The Legendary 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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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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