The Return of the Transcendent Blacksmith - Chapter 94

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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 Master Blacksmith’s Return, Chapter 94
The month of grace earned with each floor climbed passed swiftly.
Since they were still in the early stages, most challengers met the passage criteria without much difficulty.
Moreover, Awakeners who’d gained courage from witnessing the Mystery had flooded in as challengers in great numbers.
With the items Challengers received as rewards, modern tower-related technology advanced by the day.
“Good. For now, it’s manageable.”
Shin Tae-ho, having skimmed through TowerDotCom and the news, felt reassured.
Since they were still in the lower floors, there were no Challengers worn down and struggling, nor any nations facing serious crises.
As Shin Tae-ho switched off his smartphone and set it on the desk.
Yong-ryong-i, who’d been rummaging about in his room preparing for the tower, came running with a small canvas pouch in hand.
“I’m ready to go to the tower!”
“What are you taking? We’ve already packed everything we need.”
“This is something I need! I absolutely have to bring it!”
“Hmm. Can I at least see what it is?”
“No way! It’s a secret!”
Yong-ryong-i spun his upper body and hid the pouch slung over his shoulder.
In that moment, an unmistakable sweet aroma of chocolate wafted through the air, but Shin Tae-ho pretended not to notice.
“Fine. I won’t look. Just make sure you take good care of the bag and don’t lose it.”
“Got it!”
Yong-ryong-i, his tension eased, nodded enthusiastically.
Shin Tae-ho, smiling faintly, took Yong-ryong-i’s hand and entered the tower.
Bianca, who’d arrived earlier and was replenishing her Mana, welcomed them both.
“Long time no see. You’re Shin Tae-ho, right? And the cute little girl next to you was Yong-ryong-i. How have you been?”
“Bianca, it’s been so long!”
“Oh, you remembered my name? How adorable.”
Bianca smiled and reached out to ruffle Yong-ryong-i’s hair.
But Yong-ryong-i dodged away, and Bianca’s hand swept through empty air.
“Don’t touch my head!”
“You don’t want me to? That’s too bad. Well, if you don’t like it, there’s nothing I can do.”
Though Yong-ryong-i appeared far younger by conventional measures, Bianca’s individualistic nature meant she respected their wishes.
While Yong-ryong-i was waiting and consuming Mana, Choi Yu-hwa arrived belatedly and greeted them hastily.
“Hello, Shin Tae-ho! Bianca! I’m sorry I’m late!”
“Late? We didn’t even set a specific time to meet in the first place.”
Bianca shrugged as she replied.
Choi Yu-hwa, laughing awkwardly as if embarrassed, opened her eyes wide upon seeing the change in Shin Tae-ho.
“Wait, Shin Tae-ho? You’re wearing Armor? You didn’t have that last time. Did you have it custom-made?”
“Yes. I took your and Bianca’s advice and had it tailored for safety.”
“Really? It wasn’t that noticeable. Are you actually the type to care about fashion trends?”
“What Challengers do collectively has meaning. If it means even a little more safety, it’s worth doing.”
Shin Tae-ho answered Bianca’s remark matter-of-factly.
Bianca, who’d meant to tease him, let out a deflated sigh and nodded.
“True. Since Armor became widespread, Challenger mortality and injury rates have dropped sharply. When you think about it, it should’ve been obvious. Why didn’t anyone think to wear Armor before seeing the Mystery?”
“At the time, we thought modern combat suits could serve as a substitute. After they failed to stop attacks infused with Mana, though, everyone dropped that idea.”
“Right. That was already several years ago.”
The three moved toward Dwarf Village as they talked.
On the first floor, they’d headed beneath the mountain.
On the second floor, they’d gone straight to the Mine entrance.
But having already gained experience from the Elf’s Tower, they had a rough sense of the surrounding terrain.
“There it is. We should be able to climb up if we go this way.”
Bianca, spotting the cave leading to the village, drew up her Mana.
As she slowly rose into the air, envy flickered across Choi Yu-hwa’s eyes.
“Wow. Mages really are amazing. Flying around like that and everything.”
“Can’t fly? Want me to carry you?”
“Really?!”
“But I can’t move both of you at once. The weight increases, so the Mana I burn per second grows, and the speed slows down considerably.”
“I’ll work on my fitness and climb up myself. Just take Choi Yu-hwa up with you.”
“That works? Alright then.”
“W-wait, Shin Tae-ho! Then shouldn’t I just climb up with you—”
“Bianca is offering her kindness. Besides, once we’re up there, the real Trial will begin. Don’t waste your strength.”
Shin Tae-ho waved his hand to stop Choi Yu-hwa, who was about to exhaust herself for his sake.
Still, when Choi Yu-hwa hesitated, Bianca pulled her into a tight embrace.
“We’ll freeze standing here. Come on, let’s climb faster. It’s better for Shin Tae-ho too.”
“Ah, yes, yes. Thank you for your help.”
As Bianca rose slowly into the sky with Choi Yu-hwa in her arms, Shin Tae-ho began his ascent.
Fortunately, the cave entrance wasn’t far from the village—just twenty minutes of climbing brought them to it.
“You’ve arrived. I’ve been waiting.”
When they reached the cave where the Dwarf Village lay, the Chief Dwarf was already standing at the entrance to greet them.
Shin Tae-ho bowed and asked after their welfare.
“Good day. I’ve dealt with the orcs that attacked the mine. The dwarves who were miners—they’ve returned safely to the city?”
“Yes. I was worried at first, seeing how worn they looked, but it seems you handled it well.”
As the subject of the mine came up, the Chief Dwarf stroked his beard thoughtfully.
Seeing Shin Tae-ho and Choi Yu-hwa, the Chief Dwarf smiled faintly.
“What’s more, I hear you even helped mine the minerals of your own accord. That’s the right attitude. True craftsmanship demands that one gather materials for what one will use—only then does the soul dwell within.”
“Hmm. The treatment really is different. Maybe I shouldn’t have backed out, saying it was too hard. I should’ve done it too.”
Bianca, who had only recharged her mana before leaving instead of helping mine the minerals, murmured regretfully.
Seeing the Chief Dwarf’s expression soften, Choi Yu-hwa stepped forward.
“Is there anything else we can help with? After what you’ve seen, you know we’re quite strong!”
“Indeed. You fight very well. Though it seems you’re not one-dimensional—you have other strengths too.”
The Chief Dwarf spoke those weighted words while regarding Shin Tae-ho.
Unlike the other dwarves, the Chief Dwarf—a master craftsman who had reached the pinnacle of his art—sensed something familiar in Shin Tae-ho.
‘The other two feel ordinary enough, but this one… there’s something oddly familiar about him. I thought perhaps it was simply a similar history, but… no, it’s definitely more than that.’
An oddly metallic scent.
He moved with apparent lightness, yet from his core radiated an unmistakable, unshakeable resolve.
It was a feeling one could only sense in a master blacksmith.
“To be honest, our situation right now is dire. We have problems piling up like mountains.”
“What kind of problems? We can help!”
Choi Yu-hwa’s eyes gleamed at the thought of undertaking a trial, and she asked eagerly.
The Chief Dwarf hesitated.
This matter touched upon their sensitive history—something he found difficult to mention to those he couldn’t trust.
Then the Chief Dwarf’s eyes met Shin Tae-ho’s gaze.
Even in this moment, that quiet, steadfast look in his eyes.
And the action of Shin Tae-ho and Choi Yu-hwa, who had voluntarily mined minerals after completing the trial, had earned them no small amount of goodwill from the dwarf.
“If you put it that way… we heat metal, refine it, and forge it into works. But right now, we lack the fire to heat the metal.”
“Fire? Do you need wood?”
“We don’t use wood to make fire. It doesn’t burn well, and the efficiency is terrible.”
“Then what do you need?”
Frustrated with the circling conversation, Bianca asked directly.
The Chief Dwarf looked toward a spot, and a dwarf behind him handed over a stone about the size of a pebble.
“That is Carnix. It’s a stone obtained from the depths of a living volcano, one that holds the heat of lava.”
“Lava? This?”
Bianca peered at the Carnix with Mana, her expression perplexed.
Less than two seconds into using Mana, Bianca jumped back in alarm.
“What—what is this! Wow, it’s like a complete bomb!”
“You sensed that? Even if your methods differ, your sense for the essence of things is remarkable.”
The dwarf chuckled and took the Carnix back.
“What we’d ask of you is to investigate where the Carnix can be found.”
“Just an investigation? That sounds more like running an errand than helping us.”
When Shin Tae-ho expressed his doubt, the Chief Dwarf smiled, pleased by the response.
“It may sound simple, but it won’t be easy. There’s an orc settlement near that area.”
“Ah, so the orcs are making it difficult for you to investigate directly.”
“Exactly. If our combat-trained members go out, those creatures will certainly target our village or mines.”
The items crafted by dwarves possessed many wondrous powers.
However, dwarves were few in number to begin with.
Combat-skilled dwarves were even rarer, so any careless move could put their base in danger.
Once all the explanations concluded, a message window appeared before the three of them.
[A trial has been proposed.]
[Proposed Trial: Venture into the depths of the volcano and investigate where Carnix can be found.]
[Clear Condition: Locate and report the area where Carnix is concentrated.]
“A volcano. My main magic won’t be very effective there, so I’m a bit concerned.”
Bianca frowned, clearly displeased at the prospect.
In sharp contrast, Choi Yu-hwa, cradling Pipi in her arms, offered Bianca reassurance with quiet confidence.
“Besides, our Pipi will be able to use her strength well. Since I received your help on the second floor, this time I’ll try harder!”
“Hmm.”
Bianca turned her gaze toward Shin Tae-ho.
Shin Tae-ho nodded in agreement.
“We must pass the Trial to advance to the fourth floor. And given that the keyword ‘volcano’ has already surfaced, I suspect any alternative Trial would be much the same.”
“Well, that’s fair enough.”
Bianca exhaled slowly.
Moreover, it seemed the Chief Dwarf had taken a liking to Shin Tae-ho and Choi Yu-hwa.
If that were the case, the initial Trial offered might be easy, but any alternative one they requested seemed unlikely to be any gentler.
“Fine. Then I’m in favor.”
“I accept as well.”
With three voices of consent, they surpassed the majority threshold, and the Trial was formally accepted.
The Chief Dwarf, sensing that all three had agreed to his proposal, turned to look behind him.
“Orum! Come here!”
At the Chief Dwarf’s shout, a dwarf hurried forward.
Unlike the Chief Dwarf, whose beard hung down to his navel, this one sported a beard grown only far enough to cover his neck—a striking contrast.
“This one will serve as your guide. Orum, take them to Komuto Volcano and find the Carnix.”
“Komuto Volcano?”
“Ch-Chief, Komuto Volcano is—”
The elder dwarves behind him called out in alarm.
But when the Chief Dwarf fixed them with a glare, they could only clamp their mouths shut without finishing their words.
“It will be a long journey, so pack provisions and supplies generously. Orum, lead the way.”
“Yes, Chief. This way.”
Orum led the three deeper into the cavern settlement and vanished from sight.
Only then did the elder dwarves, having fallen silent, speak up again.
“It’s far too dangerous. There are treacherous and base traitors in that place, are there not?”
“That’s precisely why I’m sending Orum. Don’t worry.”
“But no matter how skilled Orum is at crafting, or how he’s positioned as the next warrior, that still—”
“I’m lending him my hammer.”
At the Chief Dwarf’s words, the disputing dwarves fell silent once more.
The dwarves, whose eyes had widened in shock, soon lowered their heads in acceptance.
“The Chief’s Hammer, then… That should suffice.”
“Indeed. No matter what happens, Orum wielding the Chief’s Hammer should be able to protect himself.”
“If you understand, stop your babbling and get moving! Your constant jawing will rust my hammer!”
“Yes, understood.”
The Chief Dwarf drove them all out and remained alone.
The Chief Dwarf cracked open a barrel of beer, drained a cup in one swift motion, and let out a long belch as he exhaled.
“One cannot avoid it forever. Eventually, you must face what must be faced.”
The Chief Dwarf muttered this with bitter resignation, set down his cup, and rose from his seat.
Continued in the next chapter ▶
The Return of the Transcendent Master Blacksmith
Author
Seal 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
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※ Pentagram welcomes the precious manuscripts of our 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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