The Return of the Transcendent Blacksmith - Chapter 51

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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-Grade Blacksmith’s Return – Chapter 51
Shin Tae-ho stared at the water column in astonishment.
He’d never witnessed one directly, but having observed the abilities of numerous Awakeners, he could identify what it was.
‘A Spirit? That size… it looks like at least a High-Grade Spirit?’
Spirits—living beings born from the harmony of nature and Qi.
Among Awakeners, there existed a class called Spirit Mages who could command such creatures.
But High-Grade Spirits were formidable beings that only a handful of Spirit Mages had ever managed to contract, even in the past.
The moment this realization struck him, Shin Tae-ho understood the situation.
“Yeoooong?! Yeong-!”
As the Spirit displayed hostility, Yong-ryong-i let out a warning growl.
Shin Tae-ho quickly noticed the flames gathering in the Divine Beast’s mouth—ready to be unleashed at any moment—and hastened to restrain him.
“Wait, Yong-ryong-i. That Spirit isn’t an enemy.”
“Yeong?! Yong-yong!”
Yong-ryong-i gestured pointedly at the Spirit, whose body had swollen with an imposing aura.
The question seemed clear: by what measure was that not an enemy?
Shin Tae-ho was contemplating how to respond when—
a figure emerged hurriedly from within the massive roots of the World Tree.
“No! Stop, Waloraeum! They’re not enemies!”
Epiel rushed forward and cried out to the water spirit.
The water spirit, which had been condensing its Qi to unleash it like a shotgun blast, suddenly ceased.
“What do you mean, contractor? Are you saying someone other than you can cross the Boundary?”
“This one is a great warrior acknowledged by the World Tree! And the one beside him is a Divine Beast treasured by the World Tree!”
‘Wait. Why am I “this one” and Yong-ryong-i is “the one beside him”?’
Shin Tae-ho’s expression turned sour at Epiel’s manner of address.
At the mention of the World Tree, the water spirit—which had remained guarded until now—released its aggressive stance.
“Inform me in advance of any being treasured by the World Tree, contractor.”
“Sorry. My visits have been so irregular that it slipped my mind.”
“I shall remember henceforth. I will return now.”
The water spirit, having lowered its guard, dissolved like a wave and seeped back into the roots.
Meanwhile, Epiel approached Shin Tae-ho swiftly and offered an apology.
“My apologies for the fright, Yong-ryong-i. I hope we didn’t upset you too much.”
“Ryong? Yong-yong.”
Yong-ryong-i shook his head as if to say it was no trouble.
Epiel, who had been holding her breath, exhaled in relief.
“Thank goodness. If I had hurt your feelings, I would have apologized more sincerely.”
After bowing apologetically to Yong-ryong-i, Epiel turned her gaze to Shin Tae-ho.
“Shin Tae-ho. Were you frightened?”
“…No. I wasn’t frightened.”
“That’s a relief. I thought you wouldn’t be.”
At the odd distinction she drew between him and Yong-ryong-i, Shin Tae-ho’s expression darkened.
“Is that the spirit you contracted? It looked like a High-Grade Spirit.”
“Sharp as always. Yes. I was able to contract with a High-Grade water spirit thanks to the Spirit Stone you gave me.”
Epiel gave Shin Tae-ho a brief account of what had transpired.
How she had contracted with a High-Grade water spirit through the Spirit Stone.
How she periodically left the Boundary to teach Alchemy and Spirit Magic to the elves.
When he learned how she had used that power to repel the monsters attacking the Boundary, Shin Tae-ho was genuinely impressed.
“You managed to hold back all the enemies that came flooding from outside?”
“Yes. We succeeded because those who learned Alchemy drank the recovery and Body Enhancement Potions they created, and we wielded the weapons you forged.”
“Still, holding back that many monsters would have been nearly impossible. Truly remarkable.”
Shin Tae-ho recalled the trials he had endured before crossing into the Boundary.
The 68th Floor trial was certainly difficult enough to make even world-class rankers struggle.
Moreover, from what he had observed thus far, the monsters attacking the World Tree were stronger than those in the trial, and they were coming in even greater numbers.
He had hurried here fearing they might be struggling, yet they had repelled such overwhelming forces.
It was almost incomprehensible given the combat prowess he had witnessed from the elves until now.
Following Epiel’s guidance down into the roots where the water spirit had seeped, Shin Tae-ho gasped in wonder.
Within the vast root system, Epiel had constructed a space as large as a palace—her home and workshop combined.
Though its exact dimensions were difficult to gauge, by eye it seemed to span an area roughly the size of the Jamsil Olympic Stadium.
Upon seeing the variety of potions that filled one entire section of this enormous space, Shin Tae-ho’s eyes widened.
“Extraordinary. Did you craft all of these by yourself?”
“No. I received help through exchanges with the outside. Though of course, I gave back in equal measure.”
“Yong-ryong-i, Yong-ryong-i.”
Shin Tae-ho couldn’t tear his eyes away from the potion.
Yong-ryong-i, draped around his neck, tugged at his armor.
The way the creature pointed at its gaping mouth with one claw was unmistakably a question—was it allowed to consume Qi?
“Epiel, Yong-ryong-i says it needs natural force. Is it alright if it takes some?”
“Of course. If the Divine Beast Yong-ryong-i wishes to consume it, let it have its fill.”
“All right, then.”
As Shin Tae-ho nodded, Yong-ryong-i’s eyes glittered and it began drawing in Qi.
An enormous quantity of Qi was instantly pulled under Yong-ryong-i’s dominion and sucked into its open mouth.
Watching Yong-ryong-i consume the Qi, Shin Tae-ho suddenly remembered a question he wanted to ask Epiel.
“By the way, after the World Tree was isolated, didn’t the natural force run dry?”
While not as abundant as before, the World Tree’s Qi now permeated the space—no longer the barren wasteland of old.
Epiel nodded and began to explain.
After the World Tree was isolated in another dimension,
Epiel, along with Eldain and Kider who remained outside the Barrier, fought against monsters and defended the boundary.
With the Spirit Stone Shin Tae-ho had given her, Epiel even contracted with a water spirit, and she tended the roots of the World Tree with devotion.
For centuries, she watered and nurtured the roots—the only part remaining after the World Tree’s trunk was severed—through the agency of spirits.
As if answering Epiel’s unwavering dedication, a miracle began to sprout from the lonely roots of the World Tree.
“And so from those roots, absorbing natural force to be reborn—this is the World Tree.”
Epiel pointed to one side.
There stood a tree no larger than an apple tree, dwarfed by comparison to the massive roots.
“In scale, it’s incomparably smaller than the World Tree’s true form. But this tree is undoubtedly an avatar of the World Tree.”
“I see. So it’s a sapling, then.”
Shin Tae-ho nodded.
Since the World Tree took the form of a tree, even if its trunk—its main body—died, the possibility of new growth remained as long as the roots endured.
“In any case, Epiel, you’ve been managing well. I’m relieved. Now I should venture beyond the Barrier.”
“Before you go, one moment.”
Epiel extended a hand toward Shin Tae-ho.
Confused as to what this gesture meant, Shin Tae-ho tilted his head.
A message window materialized before Shin Tae-ho’s eyes.
[A Quest has appeared!]
[Accept the Gratitude-Filled Handshake of Epiel, Elf of the World Tree]
Description: Epiel, who alone survived, harbors profound gratitude toward you and Yong-ryong-i for rescuing her and uniting her kindred.
Epiel hopes that the potion she crafted will be of some service to you.
Accept Epiel’s handshake, infused with her thanks.
Reward: Unlimited joint ownership of all items in Epiel’s possession.
“Epiel. You…?”
“Looks like it came through.”
Seeing Shin Tae-ho’s reaction, Epiel nodded.
Before Shin Tae-ho could even speak, Epiel opened her mouth first, cutting him off.
“You helped not only the World Tree and its guardian, but me as well—and even my kin, whom I could scarcely attend to.”
Epiel recalled those memories.
When she alone struggled to hold back the monsters assaulting the Barrier,
when she built a solitary cabin and lived unacknowledged by the guardians,
until the swarms of countless monsters attacked the World Tree—
Shin Tae-ho appeared at her side every time danger threatened, and he saved them all with desperate effort.
“Shin Tae-ho. And Yong-ryong-i. You two are my true heroes. I don’t know where you are or what you do, but if there’s anything I can do to help, I wish to do it, without reservation.”
Shin Tae-ho gazed at Epiel.
Epiel’s eyes were clear and transparent as she met his gaze.
Shin Tae-ho felt the sincerity in those eyes, and he nodded in turn.
“I understand. Thank you, Epiel. This will be a great help.”
“I hope so. And even if I’m not here, you’re free to come and take what you need whenever you wish.”
“I will.”
The Quest reward was unlimited joint ownership of all items in Epiel’s possession.
In other words, Shin Tae-ho could take Epiel’s items freely whenever he pleased.
‘I didn’t know rewards could take such a form. Remarkable.’
Quest rewards were proportional to the gratitude of the one offering them.
That Epiel could offer such a reward spoke to the depth of her appreciation for Shin Tae-ho.
While Yong-ryong-i consumed Qi to its heart’s content, Shin Tae-ho shared tea with Epiel and reminisced over old times.
After spending a day in conversation with Epiel and resting comfortably at home, Shin Tae-ho stepped beyond the Barrier.
The landscape beyond the Barrier had changed so much that Shin Tae-ho couldn’t even remember what it had looked like when he’d first arrived as a refugee with nothing but the clothes on his back.
Beyond the great stone walls lay a densely packed cluster of buildings.
It was a city constructed in an architectural style more advanced than Sintherhon had been before its destruction at the hands of monsters.
But the changes went far beyond the city’s appearance.
“Yong-ryong-i?”
The sweet scent drifting from the town—as though someone had sprayed perfume everywhere—made Yong-ryong-i tilt his head in confusion.
As Shin Tae-ho approached the city, the elf warrior standing guard was startled.
“H-hey! Do you see that person over there?!”
“That person? If it’s just Epiel again, we saw her last time, so why the fuss—”
The elf warrior’s reply trailed off mid-sentence.
Catching sight of the armored Shin Tae-ho at the end of his gaze, and Yong-ryong-i drifting lazily beside him, the warrior cried out.
“S-Shin Tae-ho and Yong-ryong-i have returned!”
“What?! Is that really true?!”
The entrance to the city wall erupted into chaos in an instant.
Before Shin Tae-ho had even reached the stone wall, the gates swung open as if they’d been waiting.
An elf warrior leaped down from the watchtower without bothering to take the stairs, landing in a perfect kneel on one knee.
“We honor the hero Shin Tae-ho and the Divine Beast Yong-ryong-i!”
“Good. Have you all been well?”
“Of course! Thanks to you sheltering us in this place, we’ve all managed to survive!”
At the warrior’s declaration, Shin Tae-ho felt awkward.
As Shin Tae-ho was led by the warrior through the city gates,
he spotted a familiar yet strange elf hurrying toward him.
“Hero Shin Tae-ho!”
“Could it be? You’re… Eldain and Kider?”
Shin Tae-ho was taken aback.
The last time he’d parted with them, both lords had appeared youthful.
But the two approaching him now bore the appearance of those well into old age, having long passed middle years.
One of them—Kider—knelt on one knee before Shin Tae-ho, his expression full of emotion, and answered.
“Yes, Hero! It’s been such a long time since we’ve seen you!”
“It truly has been far too long.”
“Enough with the formalities—both of you, stand up.”
Shin Tae-ho quickly helped them to their feet.
It felt strange to see these two lords, who now appeared far older than himself, kneeling before him.
Shin Tae-ho entered the city under the guidance of the two lords.
As he walked through the city and spoke with the elves, he could see that their way of life had changed considerably.
“You’ve named it Sintherhon again? And now it’s not just a city, but a kingdom?”
“Yes, Hero!”
“Since there are no other surviving cities besides those of us whom you saved, we had no choice but to establish ourselves as a kingdom.”
Kider gave a brief answer, and Eldain added further explanation.
‘Eldain and Kider had called themselves lords, not kings. And they’d said there were other cities besides this one.’
So there had been an existing elf monarchy before.
If the kingdom had fallen in that last attack, there was ample justification for calling themselves a kingdom now.
That alone was remarkable, but there was yet another thing to astonish Shin Tae-ho.
“Most of the elves can now use Spirit Magic and Alchemy? And this sweet scent is from Alchemy production?”
“Yes. Thanks to Epiel, the World Tree elf you connected us with, we’ve been able to revive and develop Spirit Magic that was lost to us.”
“While we haven’t yet been able to contract High-Grade Spirits like Epiel has, nearly half the kingdom has at least formed pacts with Low-Grade Spirits!”
‘Ah, that explains how they were able to maintain the Barrier even after exhausting all the weapons I made for them.’
As Shin Tae-ho heard the explanation, his expression grew deeply moved.
The elves who had been so desperately close to death that their demise would have been no surprise.
To think they’d rebuilt a kingdom from nothing and honed their crafts to such a degree.
“You’ve done magnificently. I’m truly proud of you both. Eldain, Kider.”
“You’re too kind.”
“It’s all thanks to you, Hero!”
At Shin Tae-ho’s words of deep praise, the two lords—
or rather, the two kings that Eldain and Kider had become—smiled warmly in response.
To be continued ▶
Return of the Transcendent Blacksmith
Author
Seal Release
Published by
Kim Seok-hwan, Choi Se-ra
Publisher
Grae Publishing
Inquiries
[email protected]
Publication Date
May 26, 2026
UCI
G720:N+A327-20260227067
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※ 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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