The Return of the Transcendent Blacksmith - Chapter 60

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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 60
Shin Tae-ho couldn’t tear his eyes away from the World Tree Leaf information.
This was an item so far beyond common sense that even Shin Tae-ho found it impossible to rank.
As Shin Tae-ho read through the item information repeatedly, as though unable to believe his eyes,
the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hall, and the doors of the Hall of Heroes burst open.
“Shin Tae-ho. Are you conscious?”
“Your Highness!”
“Yong-ryong-i!!”
Epiel, Eldein, and Kider—all three whom the elf had gone to fetch—entered together.
Yong-ryong-i, startled awake from sleep, flew over in a daze and wrapped herself around Shin Tae-ho’s neck.
“You’re all safe. Thank goodness.”
“But what happened? Why did the World Tree, who was isolated in a separate space, disappear? Where did she go?”
Epiel, who had lived her entire life as the World Tree’s guardian, asked urgently.
Eldein and Kider hadn’t spoken, but their silence said everything.
As elves who revered the World Tree like a god, they felt the same way as Epiel.
“Calm yourself. I’ll explain slowly.”
The ordeal was over, and now that he had succeeded in climbing to the tower’s highest floor,
all that remained was to ascend to Tower Peak before leaving the tower and receive his reward.
“First, the monsters that have been attacking you all this time were being controlled by a creature called the Apostle.”
Shin Tae-ho began explaining what had transpired to the elves, who stared at him with rapt attention.
* * *
After hearing the full explanation, the elves stood speechless in shock.
What kind of power did this Apostle possess to command monsters and attack them for so long?
Was the World Tree truly dead?
Did the remaining World Tree branch still count as the World Tree, or not?
Yet despite these doubts, one thing was certain.
“Now you have transcended both the Great Warrior and the Hero—the World Tree herself has recognized you as her Proxy, Shin Tae-ho.”
“Then should we address you as Proxy from now on?”
“I don’t mind. Call me Proxy, Hero, or whatever is comfortable for you.”
Shin Tae-ho shrugged as he took the potion that Epiel offered him.
Just as Shin Tae-ho was about to drink the Recovery Potion, he sensed something odd and stopped the flask mid-tilt.
‘What is this? My body feels so refreshed?’
His body, which had been tattered to the point where even his Ki Circuitry was failing and he could barely move a finger before losing consciousness,
now—without even drawing upon his Ki—thrummed with vitality, and he felt strength far beyond his normal state.
‘Come to think of it.’
Among the World Tree’s final words was her promise to meld her body into him through her roots.
Recalling that, Shin Tae-ho stared quietly at his hands, then gripped the haft of the Combat Hammer he had set beside him.
Crack!
He had used no Ki—only pure physical strength—but
the sturdy Combat Hammer haft split and shattered with a grotesque ease.
The impossible strength he displayed without using Ki made Shin Tae-ho understand what had occurred.
‘It was true, just as she said. The World Tree’s body has melted into mine through her roots.’
“Wait, Your Highness? What just happened?!”
“You didn’t even use natural force. How did you…?”
“Just as I said—the World Tree has melted into my body. My body overflows with vitality, and I can’t even measure how much stronger my flesh has become.”
Shin Tae-ho opened his hand.
Shattered fragments fell like dust.
After brushing off his hands, Shin Tae-ho recapped the Recovery Potion he had been given.
With no injuries remaining, drinking it would only be a waste.
Instead, Shin Tae-ho withdrew the World Tree Leaf from his Inventory and overlaid it with his Ki.
As the leaf accepted his Ki, a message window appeared before him.
[Would you like to save your current location as a Designated Space?]
“Yes.”
[Confirmed. Space will be saved.]
As Shin Tae-ho answered, the Ki held within the leaf seeped into the Hall of Heroes.
Once the Ki had fully permeated the space, a new message appeared.
[Space saved successfully.]
[Designated Space 1 will be updated as Sinterhon—Hall of Heroes.]
After reading the message, Shin Tae-ho placed the leaf back into his Inventory.
‘Whether I can return after leaving the tower remains to be seen. But I should at least try.’
“Hero. What was that just now?”
“Preparation so I can return here again. Whether it works remains to be seen.”
“Where are you going?”
Eldein asked, anxiety evident in her voice.
Shin Tae-ho nodded, his hand stroking Yong-ryong-i’s head as it coiled around his neck.
“I have matters to attend to. Of course, if I can return here again, I’ll visit often. Don’t worry.”
“Isn’t it your role as the Proxy of the World Tree to remain here with us?”
“The opposite. Now that I’ve become the Proxy of the World Tree, I need to focus even more on what I must do.”
Kider fell silent.
He’d thought that after fighting through so many great battles and becoming the Proxy of the World Tree, Shin Tae-ho might finally rest.
Instead, empowered by his new strength, his determination to focus on his true calling struck Kider as nothing short of magnificent and admirable.
“Understood, Hero. Whenever you visit, we’ll have everything prepared so you can rest comfortably!”
“That won’t be necessary. Just keep any promising potions you create in the future. Those will be a real help.”
“I’ll keep that in mind!”
Alchemical skill was invaluable to someone like Shin Tae-ho—both hero and Proxy of the World Tree.
Eldein and Kider’s eyes gleamed as this truth sank deep into their hearts.
It was then that Epiel, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward.
In her hands she held the ultimate potion that Shin Tae-ho had glimpsed once before.
“I made this after hearing your advice.”
Shin Tae-ho took the Elixir from Epiel in surprise.
Epiel glanced sideways at Yong-ryong-i.
“I originally made it to give to Shin-su, who saved my life and rescued Yul countless times. But if you need it, you’re welcome to drink it.”
“How could I drink it after you said that?”
Shin Tae-ho laughed and uncorked the Elixir.
As he brought it near Yong-ryong-i’s face, the creature sniffed at it and screwed up his face.
“Dragon!”
“…It’s good for you. Just squeeze your eyes shut and drink it, Yong-ryong-i.”
Shin Tae-ho was taken aback as Yong-ryong-i whipped his head away.
Bitter medicine for the body’s benefit was always the way of it.
When Yong-ryong-i continued to refuse, Shin Tae-ho thought for a moment, then remembered the Recovery Potion he’d set aside earlier and mixed it into the Elixir.
“How about this?”
Yong-ryong-i sniffed again, unconvinced.
Thanks to the sweet Recovery Potion, the smell was diluted enough to be tolerable.
After a deep sigh, Yong-ryong-i squeezed his eyes shut and opened his mouth.
Shin Tae-ho poured the Elixir in one quick stream so the creature wouldn’t have time to taste it.
“Drraaagon!”
Yong-ryong-i thrashed as he gulped down the Elixir.
Holding the creature’s jaw shut to keep him from spitting it back up, Shin Tae-ho hurried through his farewell.
“Well then, I’ll be going. Let’s meet again later.”
“Understood, Hero.”
“We’ll be waiting! Please come back and see us!”
“Take care of yourself.”
After nodding to the three of them, Shin Tae-ho opened his information window.
There, collected together, were all the various achievements he’d earned climbing the tower.
[Shin Tae-ho]
Class: War Smith
Achievements: First Tutorial Conqueror, Rebirth, Savior of the Pure Elves, Savior of the Dark Elves, Hero of the Elves, Proxy of the World Tree, Tower Conqueror
Unlocked Traits: Ki Infusion Forging, Battlefield’s Blessing
Learned Skills: Ki Circuitry (Lv. 8)
Conquest Record: Tower of Korea (70 floors)
※ You have conquered the entire tower and are eligible for a special reward.
Do you wish to proceed to Tower Peak to claim your reward?
‘Yes.’
The moment the thought crossed his mind, Shin Tae-ho’s form vanished from the Hall of Heroes, his grip still firm on Yong-ryong-i’s jaw.
* * *
[You have entered Tower Peak, the summit of the tower.]
Shin Tae-ho opened his eyes and surveyed the landscape of Tower Peak.
A breathtaking, reverent vista—a colorful cosmos where countless stars gleamed like grains of sand.
It was a scene reminiscent of what he’d seen in the Tutorial Tower.
Six months spent crafting items in the Tutorial Tower, then achieving conquest and meeting Arimyr.
Shin Tae-ho chuckled softly at the memory of receiving Yong-ryong-i as an egg, back when she hadn’t yet been born.
“Yong-ryong-i, I remember what you looked like back then.”
“Yong-eek?”
Yong-ryong-i scrunched her face, stuck her tongue out, and licked at it with confusion, as if asking what he meant.
Shin Tae-ho laughed and stroked Yong-ryong-i’s head.
‘But how do I claim the reward? Is there some kind of administrator here too?’
The answer came quickly.
Before Shin Tae-ho could even take a step, a message window materialized before his eyes.
[Reviewing the Conqueror’s climbing record.]
[Multiple S-rank clearances confirmed.]
[Several Immeasurable Rank clears confirmed.]
[All record confirmation complete.]
[Based on the record thus far and the Conqueror’s requests, your reward is being formed.]
Light poured down from the countless stars scattered across the sky.
The light that flowed toward Shin Tae-ho and Yong-ryong-i converged and began to coalesce into a single form.
Yong-ryong-i, awestruck by the mystical beauty of it all, licked her lips and opened her eyes wide, gleaming with wonder.
[Please claim your reward.]
Shin Tae-ho, reading the message, reached out his hand.
An item fashioned from starlight and floating in the void flew smoothly into his grasp.
The moment Shin Tae-ho recognized what he held, a chill ran from the tips of his toes to the base of his spine.
‘This can’t be real. How is this even…!’
A square piece of metal, dark as pitch, with crimson bands that shimmered like blood, moving slowly across its surface.
It was a metal Shin Tae-ho had handled only once before.
‘Abysteel…!’
Abysteel was a metal whose properties remained undefined—a material whose capabilities varied wildly depending on the smith who worked it.
It was so precious that even Shin Tae-ho had only learned of its existence just before the Tower fell.
More than anything, it was one of the core materials of the Unknown Core that had enabled his regression.
Shin Tae-ho urgently pulled up the item information for the Abysteel.
[Abysteel]
-Description: A mysterious metal that cannot occur naturally. Neither the method of forging it nor processing it is known.
Confirming the name “Abysteel” through the item information, Shin Tae-ho’s expression went slack.
“Yong? Yong-yong?”
Concerned by Shin Tae-ho’s shock, Yong-ryong-i fluttered anxiously in front of his face.
Shin Tae-ho cupped Yong-ryong-i in both hands and held her close, patting her back.
“It’s alright, Yong-ryong-i.”
“Yong??”
Confused by his continued inexplicable behavior, Yong-ryong-i tilted her head in bewilderment.
After holding Yong-ryong-i for a long while and savoring the overwhelming joy, Shin Tae-ho finally set her down.
‘This amount is enough to cover my entire body.’
What had been destroyed this time were the Combat Hammer and Armor.
The Combat Hammer could be replaced with a Throwing Hammer, but the Armor would need to be crafted anew.
Yet at a moment like this, to obtain metal—and Abysteel at that.
What’s more, unlike the meager amount he’d barely scrounged together to create the Core, he now had an abundance sufficient to forge new Armor.
‘If I’d had this before the regression…’
Perhaps even if the Tower had collapsed, he might have survived against the Dragons.
Reaching that thought, Shin Tae-ho shook his head and dispelled the fantasy.
‘No. Even then, I wouldn’t have been able to use it, and it would have fallen into the hands of the traitors of humanity. Besides, I would never have met Yong-ryong-i.’
Shin Tae-ho gazed at Yong-ryong-i floating in the sky.
Yong-ryong-i stared upward with her head tilted, seemingly fascinated by the stars scattered across the heavens.
Just as Shin Tae-ho was about to call her down so they could leave.
Yong-ryong-i, who had been gazing steadily at the sky, suddenly set her expression with determination.
“Ryoong!”
“Yong-ryong-i? What are you—”
Shin Tae-ho fell silent as he called out to her.
Just as the stars had given him the Abysteel, light began to pour down from them once more.
The light converged and gathered together just as before.
But this time, what formed was not an item.
Gulp!
As Yong-ryong-i swallowed the cluster of starlight, Shin Tae-ho gasped in shock.
His eyes wide with astonishment, he stared at Yong-ryong-i.
An enormous surge of Ki—unlike anything Shin Tae-ho had ever felt—erupted from Yong-ryong-i’s body.
‘What is this quantity of Ki? No—if it’s this much, Yong-ryong-i’s body will burst!’
Shin Tae-ho wrapped his own Ki around himself and pushed back against the torrent flooding outward in all directions.
Then, in an instant, the Ki that had been pouring out like an explosion stopped abruptly.
Shin Tae-ho hurried to scan the sky, but Yong-ryong-i was nowhere to be found.
“No—Yong-ryong—!!”
“Why are you calling me?”
“?!”
Shin Tae-ho jumped at the voice coming from beside him.
But that wasn’t even the most startling part….
‘Did she just… speak?’
Shin Tae-ho slowly turned his head, his eyes wide open like someone watching a horror film.
There stood a small child he’d never seen before, looking up at him.
Continued in the next episode ▶
The Transcendent Blacksmith’s Return
Author
Seal Unlock
Publishers
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 distribution are prohibited. Violators may face criminal and civil penalties.
※ Pentagram welcomes submissions of precious manuscripts from authors.

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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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