The Return of the Transcendent Blacksmith - Chapter 40

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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 Chapter 40
Shin Tae-ho, who had just finished inscribing new marks onto the elf warriors, immediately moved toward the World Tree.
The moment he crumbled a leaf from the World Tree, he found himself inside it, just as he had when entering the tower.
Shin Tae-ho retraced his memory and made his way to Epiel’s Cottage.
Though it was late, the cottage had a light burning inside — a sign that Epiel was there.
“Epiel. Are you in there?”
Shin Tae-ho knocked on the door and called out to her.
A loud clatter came from inside the cottage, and the door swung open.
“Shin Tae-ho? Is that really you?”
“It’s me.”
Shin Tae-ho answered while taking in the sight of Epiel’s disheveled state.
Her hair was tangled and wild, her face smudged thick with soot — whatever she’d been doing in there had left its mark.
Epiel’s eyes blinked in disbelief before she suddenly threw her arms around him.
“You’re really here! It’s been far too long.”
“Has something happened while I was gone? Did the Guardians say anything to you?”
Her unusually fervent welcome struck Shin Tae-ho as strange, and concern crept into his voice.
He found himself regretting, too late, that he hadn’t given the Guardians some warning before leaving the tower.
Epiel released him and shook her head.
“No, not at all. Thanks to you, I was even recognized as one of the Guardians. A lot happened after you left.”
“This time I have plenty of time. I can listen to everything slowly.”
“Of course. Come in.”
Epiel opened the door wide.
The cottage interior was sparse and simple.
A cookfire burned in the center, its flames conjured by some technique or art.
Around it, seven cauldrons of different sizes simmered with various liquids, each bubbling steadily.
“You were doing Alchemy.”
“Yes. After the War of Glorious Flames, the Guardians finally acknowledged my potions.”
“The War of Glorious Flames?”
“Ah, you wouldn’t know about it. Your instinct about that day’s battle is right — the Guardians gave it that name.”
Epiel brought out tea.
The warm aroma of the brew drifted through the cozy cottage.
After taking a sip of the tea, Epiel regarded Shin Tae-ho with a gentle, probing gaze.
“By the way, Shin Tae-ho — the Divine Beast didn’t come with you today?”
“Divine Beast? You mean Yong-ryong-i?”
“Yes. I mean Yong-ryong-i.”
“Yong-ryong-i?”
“Ryuu-ryuu~?”
Yong-ryong-i woke at the sound of being called by that name.
While Shin Tae-ho had been inscribing the elf warriors, the creature had grown bored, wrapped itself around his neck, and fallen asleep in hiding.
The moment Yong-ryong-i revealed itself, Epiel’s eyes lit up.
“Divine Beast Yong-ryong-i!”
“Wait. I understand calling Yong-ryong-i a Divine Beast, but why are you adding an honorific?”
Shin Tae-ho asked, utterly baffled.
Yong-ryong-i tilted its head with wide, curious eyes, equally puzzled.
Epiel, her expression alight with excitement, explained.
“Right now, among the Guardians, you are called a great warrior sent down by the World Tree itself. But the Guardians hold Yong-ryong-i, the Divine Beast, in even greater esteem.”
The fire that Yong-ryong-i had manifested.
It was a blaze so enormous it seemed poised to consume the entire world.
Yet mysteriously, that very fire had not burned a single leaf of the World Tree.
The flames had consumed only the monsters and beasts that attacked the World Tree.
Moreover, Yong-ryong-i’s ability to soar freely through the sky without wings had been nothing short of shocking to the Guardians.
“A creature unprecedented in all of history. A spiritual being that sets enemies ablaze with mysterious fire and moves freely and effortlessly through nature itself. That is Yong-ryong-i.”
‘They’ve been completely enchanted,’ Shin Tae-ho thought.
He hid his dumbfounded expression behind his teacup.
Her flowery words aside, she was simply infatuated with how mystical Yong-ryong-i appeared.
‘Well, what can I say? It’s not a bad thing that Yong-ryong-i is revered as a Divine Beast here too.’
“Ryaaaa-oooong!”
At Epiel’s explanation, Yong-ryong-i flew about the cottage with unmistakable pride.
Epiel stood transfixed, her hands clasped together in reverence as she watched Yong-ryong-i glide through the air. It was then that a message window appeared before Shin Tae-ho.

[An unknown entity senses your presence.]
[The unknown entity says it’s been a truly long time since you visited.]
“Yes. It has been a while, World Tree.”
Shin Tae-ho murmured softly, as if speaking to himself.
Epiel was too absorbed in watching Yong-ryong-i’s flight to hear his quiet words.
[The unknown entity says it witnessed you protecting its child from beyond the Barrier.]
[It expresses its gratitude for your efforts.]
“I appreciate the acknowledgment. But not just for myself—for the sake of your child to come. Could I perhaps receive that gratitude in material form?”
Shin Tae-ho revealed his true intent.
Climbing the tower now, words of thanks alone were of no use.
In the past, he would have refrained from asking, fearful of drawing the World Tree’s enmity.
But having already aided Pure Elves, Dark Elves, and now World Tree Elves, he felt justified in making such a request.
[The unknown entity is troubled by your words.]
[It says that while it wishes to give you what you desire, for some reason it cannot simply grant it.]
Cannot simply grant it.
Shin Tae-ho understood what that meant—there was a system rule preventing the World Tree from handing items to a Challenger except through the form of a reward. He explained this aloud.
“You could issue a Quest. Just as I received your Leaf before, when I helped the Guardians.”
[The unknown entity acknowledges this.]
[But it says that while it would like to give such a Quest, it cannot.]
‘So Quests have a cooldown period? That’s something new to learn.’
Shin Tae-ho carefully turned over the World Tree’s words in his mind.
Now that he thought about it, there was no rule saying he had to receive Quests only from the World Tree.
“Epiel.”
“Hmm?”
Epiel, who had been entranced watching Yong-ryong-i fly, snapped back to attention and looked at Shin Tae-ho.
“Remember before, when you asked me outside the Barrier to deal with that Stone Skin Ogre? Do you recall that?”
“Of course I do. Why?”
“Would you ask me for something again—anything—the way you did then? In exchange, I’ll give you a Potion you made.”
“Ask you for anything? Right now?”
Epiel was confused, not understanding his intent.
“Then… could you pour some tea into my cup?”
Epiel held out the cup she’d just finished drinking from, making her request.
But no message window announcing a Quest appeared.
Shin Tae-ho poured the tea and shook his head, asking again.
“Make a different request. Something you truly wish for—something you genuinely need.”
“Something I truly want?”
Epiel paused, thinking seriously for a moment, then glanced sideways at Yong-ryong-i, who was still flying about showing off.
Her face flushed slightly with embarrassment, and she made her request carefully.
“Then… would I be able to touch Yong-ryong-i for a moment? If you could arrange that, I’d give you as many Potions as I’ve made.”
[A Quest has occurred!]
[Epiel’s Request for Physical Contact with Yong-ryong-i]
Description: Epiel, who devotedly reveres Yong-ryong-i as a Divine Beast of the World Tree, wishes to touch him.
Obtain Yong-ryong-i’s permission for Epiel to touch him.
Reward: All Potions in Epiel’s Cottage
‘…?’
Shin Tae-ho was startled.
So she liked Yong-ryong-i that much.
And that affection was powerful enough to generate a Quest.
Moreover, he’d made this request as a mere test to see if a Quest would occur, yet the reward was absurdly generous.
But from this, Shin Tae-ho discovered a crucial truth.
A Quest could be obtained when you requested something a tower’s resident truly desired.
And the reward for a Quest—if the person giving it possessed the item—was unlimited in quantity!
“…I accept.”
Shin Tae-ho, having received the Quest, extended his hand toward Yong-ryong-i.
Following the pattern of their usual interactions, Yong-ryong-i descended gently onto Shin Tae-ho’s hand like a trained falcon.
“Yong-ryong-i. Epiel would like to touch you for a moment. Would you mind letting her?”
“Ryeong?!”
Yong-ryong-i was taken aback.
Not just petting—she wanted to touch him?!
As Yong-ryong-i reacted in alarm, Shin Tae-ho hastily added an explanation.
“You admire me so much that you just want to touch my hand. I’ll make sure you don’t do anything beyond that.”
Yong-ryong-i glanced to the side.
Now Epiel was fully flushed crimson, leaning heavily on the assumption that this was allowed.
Yong-ryong-i, who had been regarding Epiel with reluctance, nodded as if bestowing a favor.
“Ryong. Ryong-ryong.”
[Quest completed!]
The moment Yong-ryong-i consented, the quest cleared immediately.
Shin Tae-ho extended his hand, on which Yong-ryong-i sat, toward Epiel.
“Go ahead. Touch her. But don’t pet or stroke her—Yong-ryong-i might not like that.”
“Really? You’re sure it’s okay, Yong-ryong-i?”
“…Ryong.”
Yong-ryong-i nodded reluctantly.
Epiel extended her fingers carefully.
The moment her fingertip brushed against Yong-ryong-i’s scales.
“-!!”
As if an electric shock had run through her, current rippled from her finger and surged up her spine.
Thud.
“…….”
Shin Tae-ho looked down at the collapsed Epiel with a complicated expression.
“Epiel. You can stay lying down. But I’m taking those potions like we agreed.”
Epiel nodded.
Leaving Yong-ryong-i, who had resumed swimming through the air, behind, Shin Tae-ho carefully stepped around the fallen Epiel and gathered the displayed potions.
Shin Tae-ho opened his inventory nervously, holding the selected potions.
‘…It worked.’
Confirming that the potions had been stored in his inventory without resistance, Shin Tae-ho clenched his fist tightly.
* * *
The day after leaving the tower.
Shin Tae-ho, checking his inventory while eating, looked satisfied.
His inventory held not only the rewards he had accumulated during his climb,
but also the potions he had received from Epiel, packed generously inside.
‘The potions being made now are intermediate grade. While not the highest quality, at this point in time, they’re more than sufficient.’
Alchemists were rare enough to be classified as a Special Class among Awakened Ones.
In fact, at present, there was no alchemist capable of producing intermediate-grade potions.
Alchemy was an ability that required time and accumulated experience like magic did, demanding constant refinement.
Magic could occasionally see sudden breakthroughs through unexpected opportunities.
But alchemy, with no such shortcuts, was truly an ability that grew stronger in direct proportion to time.
‘Looking at it this way, it’s a class that pairs well with long-lived races like elves. That must be why they made Elixirs too.’
Shin Tae-ho checked the news while organizing his thoughts.
Having just climbed the 66th floor yesterday, every channel he turned to was broadcasting only content about the Mystery.
Most of it consisted of coverage of the Mystery’s appearance and video footage filmed at the gate.
But the channel operated by the Management Bureau was broadcasting something slightly different.
⌜Challenger, Mystery. If you’re watching this broadcast, please confirm. Our Management Bureau is ready to support you at any time. Should you contact us, we promise maximum consideration and assistance.⌟
As expected, the first part was a message expressing the desire to make contact with him.
However, what followed next was somewhat different.
⌜Furthermore, by clearing the 66th floor, we have secured a grace period of one month. We ask that you not ascend the 67th floor immediately, but instead fill out the grace period before beginning your climb.⌟
⌜This is a critical matter affecting not only the peace of South Korea but also that of Asia. We repeat: the Mystery is—⌟
“That’s right. That’s exactly it.”
Shin Tae-ho nodded, turning off the news.
Whether it was the Management Bureau or other challengers,
even for his own sake, now was not the time to rush up the tower.
Rather, during this one-month grace period, he needed to prepare for the next ascent and take time to rest.
‘I need maintenance myself, too.’
Shin Tae-ho stroked his chin, eyeing the Throwing Hammer undergoing self-repair in his inventory.
With the tower climbs followed by combat with the World Tree elves, the hammer’s durability was gradually reaching its limits.
‘I’ll need to upgrade it over the next month.’
Shin Tae-ho checked his account.
He saw the balance of 3.57 billion won that he had obtained from selling items last time, still intact.
To be continued ▶
Return of the Transcendent Blacksmith
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
※ This e-book is protected under copyright law. Unauthorized reproduction and copying are prohibited, and violations may result in criminal and civil legal liability.
※ Pentagram welcomes 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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