The Return of the Transcendent Blacksmith - Chapter 79

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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 79
A Nested Massive Gate that had been Japan’s lingering worry, a bomb that could detonate at any moment.
When Mystery obliterated that Gate and rescued all the missing, not just Japan but the entire world erupted.
The fervor from Mystery’s exploits in the United States had barely cooled.
But when this new deed piled on top of that, the interest didn’t just spike—it detonated.
<Mystery seriously seems unhinged>
-He single-handedly erased a Gate that was too dangerous for even the US to handle. Now he’s succeeded in Japan too. Is that really one person’s power??
⌎For real, this doesn’t make sense. They need to do a doping test on him
⌎Doping? If something like that existed, every other Challenger would’ve been using it already lol
⌎Haha, it just means he’s that incredible~ Let’s have a drink~
Legacy media—newspapers, broadcasts, magazines—all carried the same tenor.
Tower.com was plastered with articles marveling at and celebrating Mystery’s power.
But the brighter the light, the deeper the shadow it casts.
<But why doesn’t Mystery return to his home country??>
-No matter how impressive he is, it makes no sense for a satellite nation Awakener to visit foreign countries and Japan before his own homeland. That ungracious Mystery should spend his whole life serving the people.
⌎These bastards spouting nonsense again
⌎Smells like that Northeast Project crap. Seeing Mystery makes me sick??
⌎Ahem. Let’s be honest here. He’s not mid-project, he’s mid-wet dream~
⌎Ah, that figures. Judging by his condition, looks like his pants and shirt are both soaked?
⌎Ah I just burst out laughing on the subway you crazy bastards ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
The more extraordinary Mystery’s feats became, the more voices rose to disparage him.
Some nations even attempted to leverage diplomatic relations to control Mystery’s movements.
Having succeeded once before in moving Mystery, their approach grew ever more brazen and aggressive.
With tensions escalating, all eyes fixed on which nation Mystery would visit next after Japan.
And as if responding to that attention,
Mystery proceeded to startle the world with a string of revelations.
⌜A new Ranker emerges in Japan… Amaterasu, the Goddess of the Sun—why that name?⌟
⌜Investigation reveals Amaterasu was a distant member of Japan’s imperial line… officially recognized by the Imperial Household⌟
⌜Amaterasu officially bestows the name Susanoo upon Mystery, who saved the Japanese people. What is Susanoo?⌟
Amaterasu—another Ranker Japan had long kept hidden.
Yet after suppressing the Nested Massive Gate,
Amaterasu chose to reveal her true identity herself.
It was ostensibly merely the formal process of bestowing the name Susanoo upon Mystery.
But those who coveted Mystery’s power refused to interpret the gesture as anything but calculated.
⌜Is Japan attempting to lure Mystery into citizenship under the name Susanoo?⌟
⌜Mystery shows no reaction to the Susanoo designation. Opinions diverge sharply as tensions mount…⌟
⌜Korean President calls Japanese government on hotline last night⌟
⌜Korean government announces provisional suspension of Mystery support⌟
Sensing the threat, Korea moved to halt its support for Mystery and demand his return.
But the backlash was predictably fierce.
Above all, because Mystery himself had yet to make any statement, the world held its breath waiting for his response.
Then, days later,
journalists gathered in Japan anxiously awaiting Mystery’s reaction began churning out urgent bulletins once more.
⌜Japan refuses to pay the price Mystery demanded!⌟
⌜Mystery’s demand revealed to be the Joseon Royal Protocols Record and the Royal Seal… what historical value do these artifacts hold?⌟
Surprisingly, Mystery’s request was not for items or materials, but for artifacts of historical significance.
Moreover, each was no mere relic but something capable of stirring historical controversy, so Japan’s refusal was inevitable.
Faced with this unexpected turn, articles began flooding out explaining Korean history for those unfamiliar with it.
And in a twist of timing, Mystery finally issued his statement.
⌜Mystery vows to cease Gate suppression operations through ITRO, angry at Japan’s hard refusal and ITRO’s tepid advocacy!⌟
Mystery’s world tour destroying Gates had been at ITRO’s behest.
In exchange, ITRO had promised enthusiastically to secure whatever compensation Mystery desired.
Yet after the United States, it was now revealed that ITRO had failed to obtain Mystery’s requested compensation in Japan as well.
A flustered America claimed they had provided a national-treasure-grade item, but no one believed them.
The Aeon Relic given to Mystery was an item whose information couldn’t even be viewed.
Whether it truly was an item at all,
or merely a decoration with no actual power—even America didn’t know. This fact was already common knowledge across most nations.
Naturally, the arrows of condemnation flew not toward Mystery but toward America, Japan, and ITRO.
Among them, China, which would be next in line,
and Wang Xiaomei, China’s Ranker, were particularly vocal in denouncing Japan and America.
Shin Tae-ho smiled with satisfaction as he read through the profanity-laden comments attached to the news article.
“This is working well.”
He knew perfectly well that artifacts couldn’t be obtained as rewards for subjugating Gates.
Yet the reason he’d stirred up this problem was crystal clear.
“I can’t let myself be bound to fruitless work any longer.”
Before the Regression, far more Gates had emerged than now.
But there had been no cases where nations collapsed or suffered catastrophic damage because they couldn’t seal the Gates.
Most nations either received aid or possessed sufficient strength to seal the Gates on their own.
Still, the reason they called on him was obvious.
‘They want free labor without any intention of offering proper compensation. Or they’re simply curious about the power of Mystery.’
Knowing this, Shin Tae-ho supported other nations through ITRO in order to fulfill at least a minimum responsibility.
If he had remained hidden and shown no action until now, the damage would likely have fallen on Korea and its people.
Since that could intensify Mystery’s pursuit, revealing himself at an appropriate moment was the right choice for the future.
As Shin Tae-ho checked the news on his smartphone,
urgent footsteps echoed from outside, followed by a knock at the door.
“Susanoo! Are you in there? Could we speak for a moment?”
At the sound of Amaterasu’s voice from beyond the door, Shin Tae-ho pressed his lips firmly shut.
There was no reason to avoid her, but Amaterasu’s ingenuous and candid manner made her an awkward person for Shin Tae-ho to face while playing the role of Mystery.
When he didn’t respond, Amaterasu grew flustered.
“Tsukuyomi. There’s no answer. Do you think he’s stepped out?”
“No. He’s definitely inside.”
Tsukuyomi answered with certainty, having already scanned the room through the shadows using his Shadow Assassin ability beforehand.
Shin Tae-ho rose with a deep internal sigh and opened the door.
“What is it.”
“Oh! You were here! I’m sorry if we woke you. Could we talk for a moment, Susanoo?”
“Call me Mystery. If you have something to say, say it here.”
“Mystery. I apologize for the sudden visit, but—”
“It’s Susanoo, Tsukuyomi!”
“…My apologies, miss. Susanoo. In your country, perhaps turning someone away at the gate is custom, but in Japan, such behavior is considered terribly rude.”
“It’s rude in Korea too. But I only show rudeness to those who’ve been rude to me first.”
“This…!”
Tsukuyomi’s brow tightened at the sarcastic remark, then hastily relaxed.
He didn’t want to show weakness in front of Amaterasu.
Turning her head with an urgent expression, Amaterasu listened and nodded in understanding.
“I see. Privacy is important after all. Susanoo. Are you really stopping your activities after Japan?”
“Of course. I’ve already experienced twice that you don’t keep basic agreements. Why would I continue?”
“Mystery! That’s because you demanded something unreasonable—”
“It’s Susanoo, Tsukuyomi.”
“…My apologies, miss. It’s because you demanded historical artifacts, not rewards related to the Tower, is it not?”
“Since when did you think my demands were limited to Tower items?”
‘Wrong. He has no intention of changing his mind.’
Tsukuyomi’s brow furrowed at Mystery’s swift reply.
Born and raised in Kyoto, where schemes and stratagems flourished, Tsukuyomi could be certain of one thing.
‘Mystery is using this as a pretext to stop supporting us and return to Korea.’
“I know from our sparring that your power is far from hollow. To possess such strength and yet bear no responsibility—you certainly live freely.”
Tsukuyomi pressed the conscience of one with power, attacking Mystery’s sense of duty.
But that was exactly what Mystery wanted.
“I’ve fulfilled my responsibility by freeing America and Japan.”
“Freed us, you say?”
“Yes. I took direct action and handled the insurmountable problems both America and Japan faced. Now they have breathing room.”
‘Ah…!’
Tsukuyomi’s eyes widened in alarm as he stared at Mystery.
Mystery nodded at the reaction that showed Tsukuyomi understood his meaning.
“If you understood, you can go. I have nothing more to say.”
“Um… I don’t understand what you mean.”
“…Ask Tsukuyomi.”
Mystery closed the door without another word, shaking his head at the sight of Amaterasu raising her hand like a child asking a question.
The startled Amaterasu said something to Tsukuyomi, and soon their voices faded into the distance.
‘Now he’ll know my intentions clearly.’
After confirming there was no one nearby, Shin Tae-ho stepped into the bathroom.
Just before the door closed, Shin Tae-ho rubbed the leaf and found himself standing instantly within the Hall of Heroes.
The elves who had been cleaning the hall no longer looked startled, greeting him warmly instead.
“Welcome, hero!”
“Yes. I’ll be using the hall, so clear the space for me.”
“Of course! Thank you so much!”
The elves departed with brightened faces, bowing respectfully.
Having endured the Tower’s trials and witnessed war, these elves still revered Shin Tae-ho as a legendary hero.
And since he inscribed weapons with Engravings each time he visited, their gratitude was hardly surprising.
‘I gain experience in Engraving, and the elves get inscribed weapons to use—it’s mutual benefit.’
Shin Tae-ho stowed his armor in his Inventory, and with his body now lighter, he entered the Blacksmith Workshop with a spring in his step.
Inside the workshop, he inspected the state of the metal he’d been working on each time he visited the hall.
‘Good. It’s coming along well.’
A lump of metal moving slowly like a ribbon of blood-red flowing between deep black—the color shifting and rippling with deliberate grace.
The Abyssal Steel he’d obtained at the tower’s peak was being shaped steadily, slowly, beneath the careful work of his hands.
‘Before, I had to rush, scrambling to find a way out of the situation. But this time, I can do it properly.’
Only at the end had he understood Abyssal Steel’s true nature.
To properly work its fundamental power required time that transcended ordinary comprehension.
Even now, the work he was doing amounted to nothing more than the heating preparation stage if this were ordinary iron refining.
But Shin Tae-ho, who had once crafted an item from Abyssal Steel before, understood that this process was far more critical than it appeared.
‘From now on, I’ll have more time. I’ll need to prepare while continuing the work.’
Thinking of the new combat hammer he would craft for himself, Shin Tae-ho smiled with satisfaction.
Continued in the next chapter ▶
The Transcendent Blacksmith’s Return
Author
Bongeunh Haejae
Publisher
Kim Seok-hwan, Choi Se-ra
Published by
Grae Publishing
Contact
[email protected]
Publication Date
May 26, 2026
UCI
G720:N+A327-20260227067
※ This e-book is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized reproduction and distribution are prohibited. Violations may result in criminal and civil legal liability.
※ Pentagram awaits your precious manuscript.

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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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