The Return of the Transcendent Blacksmith - Chapter 86

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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-level Blacksmith’s Return Episode 86
Shin Tae-ho stood before the mirror with the broadcast still playing.
His hair, which he’d been trimming carelessly whenever it grew during his time in Sintherhorn, had now grown long enough to reach past his hips.
Snip, snip.
As Shin Tae-ho cut his hair with practiced ease,
various news reports played before the countdown began.
⌜The rules for displaying Awakener grades through the E-Valuator developed by ITRO have now been formally announced!⌟
⌜Multiple nations are fiercely objecting, claiming the measurement method cannot be trusted.⌟
⌜However, most Awakeners within ITRO have already completed their measurements, and since advanced nations are also proceeding with grade assessments, it appears unlikely the tide will turn.⌟
‘The E-Valuator already exists. It appeared nearly a year ahead of schedule.’
The E-Valuator—a device that measured Awakeners’ physical abilities and their command of Qi to determine their grades.
But in the original world, the E-Valuator that would eventually reshape even the rankings of top-tier Awakeners was supposed to arrive roughly a year from now.
Shin Tae-ho could guess why.
‘It’s because of me.’
The sight of a lone climber ascending a tower no one else could reach, toppling it single-handedly, and overwhelming the world’s top-ranked Awakeners—the figure of Mystery.
It was only natural that ITRO would feel provoked and grow impatient.
⌜Now, ten seconds remain! Beginning the countdown!⌟
Hearing the countdown begin, Shin Tae-ho dismissed his distracting thoughts and finished cutting his hair.
⌜10!⌟
Shin Tae-ho recalled the time he’d spent in Sintherhorn.
⌜9!⌟
Thanks to the difference in time flow between Sintherhorn and reality, he could step outside once a day and dedicate extended hours to his work,
⌜8!⌟
allowing the Abysteel to absorb as much time as possible until it could hold no more.
⌜7!⌟
With prepared Abysteel, sufficient time, and ideal conditions, Shin Tae-ho had spent vast stretches employing every ounce of his skill to forge armor—
⌜6!⌟
a masterwork he’d only imagined in his mind before his return, something he’d never dared attempt to create.
⌜5!⌟
And beyond the armor, a Battle Hammer—so powerful and rare that he wondered if he could ever obtain another, carrying a supreme-grade Lightning Rune.
⌜4!⌟
What’s more, Shin Tae-ho carried in his mind knowledge of the second tower’s structure.
⌜3!⌟
He’d prepared thoroughly enough that he couldn’t think of anything else to add—yet unfortunately, problems remained.
⌜2!⌟
This tower couldn’t simply be climbed through sheer strength alone, and Mystery had become too exposed to move freely.
⌜1!⌟
Having weighed all these factors together, Shin Tae-ho reached his conclusion.
‘This time, I’ll climb as a Tamer—as Shin Tae-ho—not as Mystery.’
The moment his hair and thoughts were settled,
the countdown ended, and a message window materialized before his eyes.
[The second tower has been completed.]
[Entry into the tower is now available.]
After reading the brief message about the tower’s completion, a longer announcement appeared beneath it.
[The second tower will organize Awakeners worldwide into groups of one hundred and subject them to trials.]
[Even if Awakeners from different nations are randomly mixed together, individuals remain affiliated with their respective nations.]
[Each time a trial is cleared, participants earn National Score for their country.]
‘There was absolute chaos around this time.’
Shin Tae-ho smiled bitterly as he recalled the past while reading the announcement.
Below that, more text remained.
[National Score earned through cleared trials will only be recognized once you complete the trial, and all such points accumulate as National Score.]
[The required National Score varies by nation and increases with each tower level.]
[Nations failing to meet the minimum score will experience Gate emergences, with the number and difficulty of Gates determined by the point deficit.]
[In the second tower, a national change does not take effect immediately; recognition occurs in ten-floor increments.]
[This concludes the announcement. Best of luck.]
⌜W… what the hell….⌟
The BJ broadcasting seemed to stare blankly into space, having read the announcement.
Viewers asked in chat whether the broadcaster was frightened by the drastically altered tower rules.
But the frozen BJ suddenly let out a cheer and leaped from his chair.
⌜One hundred people climbing together?! Does that mean we could encounter other Challengers?! Could we… could we possibly run into Mystery if luck is on our side?!!⌟
—Wait. You’re serious, right?!!
—No way, hold on. I was freaking out, but our country has Mystery. Plus, we might even meet him?!
—Insane. I’m so jealous of the room host!!!
The chat, which had been filled with fear hearing the Tower’s completely changed rules, transformed in an instant at the broadcaster’s words.
Shin Tae-ho, reading the chat, let out a small sigh.
‘As I thought. I can’t keep operating as Mystery. Both those who admire Mystery and those who see him as a thorn in their side will cling to me relentlessly.’
Shin Tae-ho turned off the broadcast and looked at Yong-ryong-i.
By then, the program had finished, and Yong-ryong-i lay sprawled out with a satisfied expression, breathing heavily.
“Yong-ryong-i. All done?”
“All done, ryong! That was so much fun!”
“Then wanna come along for a bit? I need to get my hair trimmed.”
“Hmm. Um, can’t Yong-ryong-i stay here and watch TV, ryong?”
Yong-ryong-i glanced back and forth between the screen about to play and Shin Tae-ho, asking.
In the past, she would have immediately transformed into a dragon and wrapped around his neck, refusing to leave his side.
But after spending so much time together in Sintherhorn, Yong-ryong-i had long since moved past the stage where she’d grow anxious being apart from Shin Tae-ho even a little.
Shin Tae-ho, too, knew that going around with Yong-ryong-i would certainly draw attention, so it was better to go alone.
“Sure. Things will get busy soon, so rest up and watch TV.”
“Ryong-ryong! Got it, ryong! Will rest, ryong! Be careful on the way, ryong~.”
Yong-ryong-i waved eagerly and started the next episode.
‘…A bit lonely, though.’
It was natural, given how much time had passed since she’d grown.
But unlike before, Shin Tae-ho felt a pang of disappointment at how Yong-ryong-i had so readily chosen watching TV over being with him.
* * *
As the Tower’s notice appeared, the world that had been at peace for a year burned hot again.
The reasons varied from person to person, but for the Guilds, it was a joyous cry of relief—they had work again.
“Phew, the Tower finally showed up. Now I can actually make some money.”
“When the Tower was gone, I was worried we’d have to leave the Guild. But a day like this really does come!”
A Guild was an organization that generated profit by selling byproducts obtained from climbing the Tower.
So after Mystery eliminated the Tower, Guilds that hadn’t prepared for diversified revenue simply survived on their reserves, twiddling their thumbs.
But now they could climb the Tower again.
Moreover, this time it wasn’t solo climbing—a hundred people climbed at once, which made the burden far lighter.
“Whew, our Brownie! You’ve had such a rough time eating bland food all this while? Now let’s switch back to Two-Plus!”
“Growl!”
When the Tamer suddenly embraced her, the black wolf bared her gums, displaying displeasure.
Another Guild member, sensing danger, quickly pulled the Tamer away from the wolf.
“Be careful. What will you do if you get bitten?”
“Oh! That was close. Thank you. I was just so happy….”
Tamers were those with the ability to command Tower beasts as pets.
Because of this, people commonly thought Tamers were masters and pets received care in a hierarchical relationship.
But that was only rare exceptions; the accurate description was that they were companions who traveled together because their desires aligned.
Tamers climbed the Tower using their pets’ strength, and pets received food and shelter from their Tamers in this unknown world called Earth.
But if the quality of food and shelter fell far short of what the pet desired, or if the Tamer wasn’t to the pet’s liking?
Then there were cases where the pet killed the Tamer.
“B-Brownie. Were you startled? I’m sorry.”
“Roar!”
As the Tamer extended a hand in apology.
Brownie, already in a foul mood, snarled threateningly and glared at the Tamer.
The sudden tension made the atmosphere go cold in an instant.
There was no pet in this space strong enough to overwhelmingly subdue Brownie.
If Brownie attacked the Tamer, the only way to stop her would be to attack Brownie as if to kill her.
As everyone held their breath in that tension, unable to open their mouths.
A bird shot through the open window and cried out loudly.
“Chirp-eee-ek!”
“Pi-Pipi!”
The Tamers brightened and welcomed Pipi.
As Pipi looked down and cried out to Brownie threateningly, Brownie, who had been baring her teeth, closed her mouth and slowly turned her head away.
“Heck! Heck! Pi-Pipi! Why did you suddenly fly off?”
“Tamer Choi Yu-hwa! Thank you so much for coming!”
Another Tamer briefly summarized and explained the situation.
Only then did Choi Yu-hwa, understanding Pipi’s actions, let out a sigh of relief.
“So that’s what happened. Phew. Thank goodness.”
“Squawk!”
“There, there—Pipi, thank you too. Sorry for the misunderstanding. Come here.”
Choi Yu-hwa extended her hand, and Pipi alighted on it, gripping with her talons to steady herself.
Pipi’s size was as formidable as any hawk, large and powerful.
But the Foldrun that Choi Yu-hwa wore meant that even Pipi’s talons left no mark on her skin.
“Wow, that’s really impressive. I can’t believe how much Pipi’s grown…”
“Hehe, I know. I used to worry because she was such a coward. But now she’s become so dignified—I feel like I can actually rely on her.”
“Squawk! Squawk!”
Pipi puffed out her full-feathered chest with satisfaction and gave Choi Yu-hwa’s head a light peck.
A warning not to say such unnecessary things.
“Ow, ow. All right, all right. I won’t mention it again.”
With the situation settled, the tension among the Guild members eased.
After a long period without contact, there was only one reason they’d gathered at the Guild today.
“So, shall we head into the Tower?”
“Yes! Let’s count to three and all go in at the same time!”
“Even if Tower members are drawn randomly, if we enter simultaneously, we should be able to find each other.”
“I’m nervous. What if I end up alone somewhere remote?”
The rules announced for the second Tower that had recently appeared.
Because they were so different from the first Tower, Challengers were naturally bewildered.
But of course, anyone would rather climb with people they could trust than with strangers they’d never met before.
So people around the world devised this simultaneous entry method to increase their chances of ascending the floors together.
“So once we count to three, we all go in together?”
“Sounds good. All right—one. Two. Three!”
The Guild members timed their entrance together and stepped into the Tower simultaneously.
Choi Yu-hwa closed her eyes against the dizziness of entering the Tower, then opened them and gasped.
“Amsan?”
The first Tower had been set in a forest where elves dwelled.
But the second Tower was its complete opposite—a barren, arid rocky mountain looming impossibly high.
Overwhelmed by the towering peak that seemed to stretch endlessly upward, Choi Yu-hwa quickly gathered her wits.
Right now, the most urgent thing was finding her Guild members who’d entered with her.
“Pipi, scout the area. If you spot any Guild members who came in with us, let me know right away.”
“Chirp!”
Pipi shot skyward in an instant and surveyed her surroundings.
With almost no trees to obstruct the view, scanning the area wasn’t difficult.
As Pipi’s sharp raptor eyes swept across the landscape, her feathers bristled.
Without thinking, her plumage stood on end—a sign that something dangerous was near.
“Screee…!”
Pipi tensed, her head whipping back and forth alertly.
It was an effort to command her vision, ready to block or dodge an attack from any angle.
But her opponent was far faster than she’d anticipated.
It rose at a speed that outpaced even Pipi’s keen tracking, and appeared behind her.
“Screee?!”
Her rear was exposed?!
Pipi spun around in shock, preparing to breathe fire.
But the moment she saw her opponent, she forgot to unleash the flames entirely.
“Dragon?! Yong-ryong-i, Yong-ryong-i!”
“SQUAAAWK!!”
Confronted with a long-forgotten nightmare she’d finally put behind her, Pipi shrieked, all reason abandoned.
Continues in the next episode ▶
Return of the Transcendent-level Blacksmith
Author
Sealing Release
Publisher
Kim Seok-hwan, Choi Se-ra
Publishing House
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, and violation of these terms may result in criminal and civil 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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