The Return of the Transcendent Blacksmith - Chapter 89

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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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The Transcendent Blacksmith’s Return: Episode 89
Clang!
A large cup was set down on a table carved from stone.
Beer brimmed in the glass, its surface dancing with delicate, foamy bubbles.
“Come now, let’s talk while we drink.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll enjoy it!”
“Ryong, ryong~!”
Yong-ryong-i, who had answered cheerfully, naturally reached for a cup to join in the drinking.
But the attempt was thwarted when Shin Tae-ho snatched the cup away first.
“Yong-ryong, you’re not drinking yet. I brought Milk Tea for you instead—have that.”
“Yoooong?! Why not, yong! I’m over twenty now, so I can drink, yong!”
“Aha! Yong-ryong is over twenty? But you still seem so young and adorable~!”
Choi Yu-hwa laughed, taking Yong-ryong-i’s words as a joke.
At being called young, Yong-ryong-i bristled.
“Not young, yong! I’m over twenty, so I’m an adult, yong! I can drink beer, yong!”
“Aw, it’s so cute when you say you’re grown up~!”
“Yoooooong!”
As Choi Yu-hwa continued laughing, Yong-ryong-i huffed indignantly.
In the meantime, Shin Tae-ho retrieved Milk Tea from his Inventory and presented a cup.
“Yong-ryong, try this first and think it over.”
“Don’t want it, yong— Ryong?!”
Yong-ryong-i, who had been about to push the cup away, stopped short at the sweet aroma wafting from it.
Sniff-sniffing at the scent, Yong-ryong-i’s eyes sparkled as he looked up at Shin Tae-ho.
“Th-that smell! Could it be, yong?!”
“I dissolved plenty of chocolate powder in the Milk Tea. It’ll have a unique flavor. Bet it’s much tastier than beer.”
“Ryong, ryong~!”
Yong-ryong-i’s face bloomed with delight as he lifted the cup and drank.
The Milk Tea melted soft with cream and sweet with chocolate, and Yong-ryong-i’s expression turned blissful.
“It’s good, ryong~.”
“Wow, I envy Yong-ryong. This stuff is bitter.”
“Hmph! You made fun of me, so I won’t share, yong!”
“Oops. Did I upset you? I’m sorry~.”
“This is getting tedious. Shall we get the conversation started?”
Master Dwarf, who had been watching while sipping his beer, asked with a flat expression.
Shin Tae-ho, who had been nursing his beer, nodded.
“Of course. What would you like us to help you with?”
“It’s simple enough. Lately, the miners in our Mine have been under frequent attack from monsters. Drive them out for me.”
The moment Master Dwarf finished speaking, a message window appeared.
[You have been offered a Trial.]
[Proposed Trial: Extermination of monsters attacking the Mine]
[Completion Condition: Exterminate multiple monsters attacking the Mine]
Hearing that they would only face monsters, as in the first tower, Choi Yu-hwa looked at Shin Tae-ho with an expression of agreement.
But Shin Tae-ho, who had taken a draught of beer and leaned back against the table, shook his head.
“Extermination—does that mean you want us to root out every last one? I want to help, truly, but that’s asking too much.”
“Sh-Shin Tae-ho?”
“Ho.”
Master Dwarf’s eyes gleamed.
It was not an expression of finding him presumptuous, but one of approval for his caution.
“I put that out there to test you, and I’ll be damned if it isn’t remarkable. The way you examine the conditions carefully—you’re truly kindred to us.”
“I sensed you were testing, so I spoke up. Had I accepted that condition, you would have rejected it anyway, wouldn’t you?”
“Right. Only the kind of bastards who’d cheat good labor out of fair pay deserves to have their skulls crushed.”
Master Dwarf stroked his beard as he answered.
It was a habit that emerged when conversing with someone he respected.
“Then I’ll be frank. The ones attacking the Mine are varied. But the most dangerous are the Orcs.”
“O-Orcs!”
Choi Yu-hwa, who had been listening thoughtfully while sipping her beer, started in surprise.
Having met them in the tower, she knew well how strong and dangerous Orcs were.
Master Dwarf drained what remained of his beer in one gulp and set the cup down with a bang.
“Exactly one hundred. Hunt down the hundred Orcs in the vicinity of the Mine. Can you manage that?”
[The proposed Trial has been modified.]
[Modified Trial: Hunt 100 Orcs attacking the Mine.]
[Completion condition: Hunt 100 Orcs of any type.]
With the Trial terms now clearer and more straightforward, Shin Tae-ho finally nodded.
“Understood. I said I’d help, so I should see it through. I’ll bring back 100 of them.”
“Good. I trust you.”
The moment Master Dwarf accepted, a message window appeared.
[Trial accepted.]
[The accepted Trial is now a requirement to advance to the next floor.]
[Floor 1 Trial cleared.]
[Current Cumulative Points: 400.]
“Oh? Shin Tae-ho!”
“Yes. It’s done.”
Shin Tae-ho answered Choi Yu-hwa’s call while watching the message window closely.
Shin Tae-ho’s message window matched hers in form, but the content differed.
[Current Cumulative Points: 1,000.]
Choi Yu-hwa had been with Shin Tae-ho the whole time.
But since she had merely followed along rather than taking the lead, her points had only accumulated to 400.
In contrast, Shin Tae-ho — who had personally convinced the Dwarf and found the path — received bonus points, bringing his total to a full 1,000.
‘They said the average clear score for Floor 1 was 150 points back then. This isn’t a bad showing at all.’
[Trial cleared. Exiting the Tower.]
“Huh? Shin Tae-ho, what’s—”
“It seems unlike the first Tower, you can’t choose to remain here.”
“Oh, I see. I’ll message you as soon as I’m out!”
“What are you talking about?”
Master Dwarf was bewildered by the cryptic exchange.
But before he could respond, Shin Tae-ho had already returned to his room.
“Yong-ryong-i! I’m home!”
“That you are. Wish I could’ve stayed longer.”
“I didn’t even get to say goodbye to Epiel….”
Yong-ryong-i’s shoulders drooped.
Shin Tae-ho chuckled softly and patted the creature’s head.
“Don’t worry. You’ll see them again when we climb the Tower next time.”
“Really? For real?”
“Yeah. We should keep running into each other up to Floor 9. After that, I’m not so sure.”
“Yay! That’s awesome!”
At the news that he’d see Epiel again, Yong-ryong-i cheered and threw his tiny fists in the air.
Just then, Shin Tae-ho’s smartphone rang.
“Hold on. I need to take this call.”
Shin Tae-ho checked the screen, saw Choi Yu-hwa’s number, and answered.
—Shin Tae-ho! Did you arrive safely?
“Yes. I closed my eyes and when I opened them, I was here.”
—Oh, right, of course! Ha ha!
Choi Yu-hwa laughed awkwardly at his matter-of-fact reply.
—I had no idea I’d meet you on Floor 1! I was really happy!
“So was I. I look forward to working with you.”
—Yes! Um, so actually, I wanted to talk about how we should climb the Tower going forward. When would you be free?
“I’m in Seoul right now. Where are you?”
—I’m in Sejong City, which is near Sejong City! Seoul’s easy to get around in, so I’ll just drive up there!
“Shall we meet today then?”
—Really?! I’ll head out right away!
Choi Yu-hwa’s voice brimmed with excitement.
After arranging a meeting place and time, Shin Tae-ho looked at Yong-ryong-i, who had just finished washing up.
“Yong-ryong-i, want to come along? I need to go out for a bit.”
“No way! I just got clean! Don’t wanna go out!”
Yong-ryong-i shook his head vigorously.
Shin Tae-ho, masking his disappointment, checked his watch.
“Then how about I visit Sinterhone? I think I can make a round trip in about three days.”
“Now that’s good! Let’s go sightseeing in Sinterhone!”
“All right. Let’s go.”
Shin Tae-ho, holding Yong-ryong-i, rubbed a World Tree Leaf.
Just as when entering and leaving the tower, Shin Tae-ho and Yong-ryong-i vanished from the room in an instant.
* * *
Yong-ryong-i, who had lived long in Sinterhone, raced through the city with delight the moment they arrived, as if coming home.
Shin Tae-ho answered the greetings pouring from those around him, then dismissed the elves and entered the Workshop.
“Hmm? What’s this?”
Shin Tae-ho examined the Workshop desk and tilted his head in puzzlement.
There sat a stone on which the elves had made a check mark every single day at Shin Tae-ho’s request.
Checking the stone and calculating the time difference with reality, Shin Tae-ho drummed his fingers on the result in confusion.
‘The gap has gradually leveled off, but the time difference kept shrinking. This time there’s no difference at all.’
Once, ten hours in reality had equaled thirty-six days in Sinterhone.
But that gap had continued to narrow, and now one hour in reality barely amounted to a week in Sinterhone.
Yet now it matched exactly what he’d confirmed the last time he left—one hour in reality corresponding to roughly four days in Sinterhone.
‘Has the gap stopped shrinking?’
“Shin Tae-ho. You’re here?”
At the sound from outside, Shin Tae-ho turned his head.
Epiel stood in the doorway, Yong-ryong-i perched on her shoulders.
Shin Tae-ho was about to tell Yong-ryong-i to come down when he caught sight of Epiel’s flushed face and closed his mouth.
“Everything good?”
“Of course. It’s been less than a year, and Yong-ryong-i has grown even more dignified.”
“Dragon! That’s right, dragon. I’m not cute, I’m dignified! Pet my head, pet it!”
“Oh! It’s an honor, Yong-ryong-i! Right here!”
“Pat, pat~.”
Epiel raised herself up to make it easier for Yong-ryong-i to pet her, and the dragon contentedly stroked her head.
Watching Epiel close her eyes in enjoyment, savoring Yong-ryong-i’s touch, Shin Tae-ho let out a small sigh.
Then, remembering Mandragora and Qi Recovery Potions, Shin Tae-ho regarded Epiel with a suspicious gaze.
“Epiel. How’s the Qi Recovery Potion production coming along?”
“It’s going well. Don’t talk to me now—this is a truly precious and gracious moment.”
“Understood. Savor it.”
Shin Tae-ho, deciding not to disturb Epiel’s happiness, walked to one side of the Workshop.
There, stored in a case, lay a breastplate of black and gold blended together, shaped like body armor.
The breastplate was not a single plate, but a structure formed by countless overlapping scales linked together.
At first glance, it appeared simple beyond measure—a seemingly unfinished suit of armor that was merely a breastplate.
Yet this armor was Shin Tae-ho’s greatest masterpiece to date, perfected through countless failures, improvements, and refinements over a long span of time.
Shin Tae-ho opened the case and placed his hand on the armor, spreading out his Energy Sensing.
Outwardly, a simple-looking suit of armor.
But when examined through Energy Sensing, its true nature proved the exact opposite of its appearance.
Through his Qi Sense, the armor felt as complex and densely intricate as a computer GPU.
Fortunately, Shin Tae-ho, having crafted the armor over many years and revised its structure countless times, had memorized every pathway.
‘Good. It’s cooling nicely.’
The exterior was a completed suit of armor.
But within, Tempering work was still in progress.
However, this Tempering was not meant to stabilize properties the way iron was treated—it was Tempering to ensure each scale connected and settled into place perfectly.
When Shin Tae-ho, having sweated from his focus on the armor, finished his inspection.
Epiel approached, still wearing an expression of wonder that had not yet faded.
“Shin Tae-ho. Eldein and Kider have arrived—they’re asking us to have a meal together. Will it take long?”
“I just finished the inspection. Let’s go.”
Shin Tae-ho closed the armor case.
The case locked firmly—a case that no one but its creator could open or destroy.
To be continued ▶
The Return of the Transcendent Master Blacksmith
Author
Seal Release
Publisher
Kim Seok-hwan, Choi Se-ra
Publishing House
Grae Publishing
Contact Email
[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 violations 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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