The Returned Genius Blacksmith has Awakened as an all-Master - Chapter 10

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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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Chapter 10
010. The Young Master Craftsman
Geumsohn took the hammer from Tuban and immediately examined its properties.
He’d expected the hammer to be well-crafted, but it exceeded his anticipation.
[Forgotten Craftsman’s First Hammer]
– Grade: Legendary (Lv. 50 Requirement)
– Crafter: Geumsohn
– Status: Bound
– Attack Power: 150–200
– Effects:
1. Crafting success rate increased by 20%.
2. Crafting Critical Success probability increased by 10%.
3. Crafted item base stats increased by 15%.
4. Passive Skill ‘Extremity of Forging’: Hammer efficiency maximized; crafting time reduced by 20%.
5. Passive Skill ‘Companion Growth’: As the wearer’s level increases, the hammer’s potential unfolds.
– Description: The forgotten blacksmith Geumsohn’s first masterwork, forged with all his dedication. Still a young instrument that must grow alongside its master, yet infinite possibilities slumber within.
Geumsohn studied the description.
There was no doubt—a Legendary-grade hammer.
The effect of Critical Success had clearly been instrumental.
Thanks to it, the hammer had been crafted at a rank higher than he’d anticipated.
‘I used only the finest materials, so I’d expected at least a Unique rank… but this is genuinely insane.’
The standard grade hierarchy for Lepion items.
‘Common’ – ‘Rare’ – ‘Unique’ – ‘Legendary’ – ‘Ancient’ – ‘Mythic’ in ascending order.
So when Geumsohn began work on the hammer, he’d aimed for a minimum of Rare.
If everything went well, he’d thought Unique was within reach.
All the materials he’d used were of the highest caliber, after all.
But this wasn’t merely a well-crafted item.
He’d created something one tier above his own expectations—a Legendary-grade weapon.
And the effects granted to the hammer.
Of course, it had a level requirement and was bound so only he could use it, but that was irrelevant.
In the early, low-level brackets, even the finest weapons had an attack power ceiling of 0–150.
But Geumsohn’s hammer was different.
Its minimum was 150.
And its maximum reached 200.
A hammer—not a blade.
A mere hammer boasted overwhelmingly superior attack power compared to any edged weapon.
In particular, the ‘Extremity of Forging’ effect that boosted his crafting efficiency, and especially the ‘Companion Growth’ effect that circumvented level restrictions—even Geumsohn could only marvel at them.
At how the hammer would evolve.
‘It’s excellent, but… can I really accept this?’
He questioned whether he should.
This path differed from his previous life.
The grueling hours he’d once spent to craft a Legendary-grade item came flooding back.
He’d burned through time. He’d spent real money.
And that wasn’t enough—for rare items, he’d swallowed his pride and served other players like a subordinate.
Through such suffering, he’d reached that height.
Yet in this life, he’d achieved it far too easily.
‘Was it… easy for me?’
On reflection, that didn’t seem right.
All that grueling experience, accumulated over time, had culminated in this item.
There was no difference between the past Geumsohn and the present one.
He was the same Geumsohn.
The past Geumsohn had been a blacksmith who’d crafted items up to Ancient grade.
That was who he’d been.
And now, that same Geumsohn needed even a Critical Success effect just to craft a Legendary item.
If anything, it should wound his pride as a craftsman.
‘I still have far to go.’
Unlike the thrill of crafting his first Legendary item, cool reason showed him the distance ahead.
Of course, considering his current level, the tools he used, and the materials, a Legendary grade was a thoroughly satisfying result.
But he mustn’t forget.
Geumsohn wasn’t playing Lepion merely for enjoyment.
I’m fighting desperately to stave off destruction.
I can’t settle for this.
And then there was the mysterious description of that hammer.
I couldn’t overlook it.
‘Forgotten… I see.’
The system had referred to me as the “Forgotten” craftsman.
It was enough to plant a seed of suspicion in my mind.
‘Does the system know I’m replaying Lepion? Or is it because I’m using techniques that haven’t been revealed yet in Lepion?’
I couldn’t be certain which.
Whether the system knew about my regression, or whether it was simply glossing over my exceptional technique by calling me “Forgotten”—I had no way of knowing.
But such thoughts didn’t linger long.
More messages began to surface.
[You have crafted your first Legendary Grade item.]
[The system commends your craftsmanship and dedication, which exceed all expectations.]
[You have achieved the Hidden Condition ‘Perfect Crafting’.]
[You have acquired the Hidden Skill ‘God-Touched Dexterity’.]
In crafting an item of Legendary Grade, I’d apparently achieved a Hidden Condition I never knew existed.
A message I’d never once seen in my previous life, even during all those years alongside Tuban.
I checked the newly acquired Hidden Skill.
[God-Touched Dexterity Lv.1]
[Passive Skill]
– Description: All actions performed by hand achieve divine refinement in precision and speed.
[Effects]
1. Crafting, mining, and all dexterity-related work speed increased by 50%.
2. When crafting, basic item stats increased by 20%.
3. In combat, weapon attack speed increased by 10% and precision strike probability increased by 15%.
‘This is a craftsman’s skill, but… it could have incredible utility in combat too?’
I already possessed Resolve Intuition.
With Resolve Intuition at my disposal, combined with increased attack speed and precision strike probability from God-Touched Dexterity…
Not to mention synergies with other skills.
It was an exceptional skill for me.
‘Work speed increased too… so then?’
A greedy smile crossed my face.
I cast my gaze over the premium materials neatly organized in the corner of the forge.
Tuban noticed.
He had only one thing to say.
“You’ve already made something that impressive… aren’t you leaving?”
“Pardon? Where would I go?”
“That’s how you Foreigners are. Once you’ve gotten what you came for, you’re off like a shot—that’s just how your kind operates. Besides… to be honest, I can’t teach you anything. I mean, what would there even be to teach?”
Having witnessed my creation, Tuban’s spirit visibly flagged.
A craftsman who’d just forged an item of Legendary Grade right before his eyes.
Here he was, the same man who’d presumed to criticize such a craftsman about strength and muscle.
So it was no wonder Tuban couldn’t meet my gaze directly.
He felt ashamed.
But I simply spoke to him with courtesy.
“There’s still more to make. And you said to think of this place as my own and use it freely, didn’t you?”
“Huh? I suppose I did, but… you’re saying there’s still more to make?”
“If a craftsman still has materials, where else would he go? I have to finish what I started.”
At those straightforward, unpretentious words,
Tuban could finally meet my eyes again.
Those transparent eyes that thought of nothing but craft.
The eyes of a true craftsman.
Like the eyes of Tuban’s father—no, like the legendary Grand Master blacksmith of the kingdom I’d once glimpsed—those were the eyes I carried.
“Is that so? A craftsman should be like that. But… are you truly a Foreigner?”
“A Foreigner… yes, I suppose I am.”
“You don’t seem like a Foreigner at all. The others of your kind—they either complain that there’s nothing more to take, or they gripe about everything they’re asked to do.”
My face grew hot at his words.
That was precisely how most players conducted themselves with the NPCs of this place.
Perhaps the resentment creatures like Tuban harbored toward Foreigners was justified.
“Ahem. In any case, I’ll continue with my work.”
“Well then. I won’t be in your way anymore.”
Tuban stepped aside without a word.
Generous to a fault, he yielded his own smithy without hesitation.
Leaving Tuban behind, Geumsohn took the newly forged hammer in hand.
‘With the hammer in my grasp and the skill acquired… I can work even faster now.’
Geumsohn’s eyes were keen.
He’d discovered that Legendary Grade items were within his reach.
That meant his path forward was clear.
Every piece he made from this moment on would aim for Legendary Grade.
Of course, some items would fall short of Legendary and turn into failed crafts.
But that was no obstacle.
Premium materials towered around him like mountains.
As long as they were there, he could simply start again if something went wrong.
Clink—
Clang! Clink-clink!
The cheerful ring of the forge resumed its song.
* * *
With a Legendary Grade hammer in hand, Geumsohn’s work speed was incomparable to before.
Thanks to the God-Touched Dexterity skill, his hands moved so swiftly they became a blur.
Work that should have taken Tuban several months, Geumsohn finished in mere days.
[Geumsohn’s Silver Helmet]
– Grade: Legendary (Lv.50 Restricted)
– Crafter: Geumsohn
– Defense: 300
– Effects:
1. All status ailment resistance increased by 15%.
2. Grants vision in darkness.
3. Passive Skill ‘Will of Steel’: When HP falls below 30%, grants 10 seconds of 50% reduction to all damage received. (Cooldown: 10 minutes)
[Geumsohn’s Dragon Scale Breastplate]
– Grade: Legendary (Lv.50 Restricted)
– Crafter: Geumsohn
– Defense: 500
– Effects:
1. Fire resistance increased by 30%.
2. Upon taking damage, 5% chance to reflect damage.
3. Passive Skill ‘Heart of the Dragon’: HP recovery per second +10.
.
.
.
Beyond these, gauntlets, steel greaves, and pauldrons as well.
Messages flooded Geumsohn’s vision in dizzying succession.
He had spent several sleepless nights perfecting his own set of Legendary Grade heavy armor.
The moment he donned every piece, a crimson aura shimmered from his body like heat haze.
[The ‘Geumsohn the Crafter Set’ effect activates.]
– 2-Piece Set Effect: Strength +20, Stamina +20
– 3-Piece Set Effect: Defense increased by an additional 10%
– 4-Piece Set Effect: Attack Power increased by an additional 10%
– 5-Piece Set Effect: Active Skill ‘Indestructible’ becomes available.
Indestructible Lv.1
– For 15 seconds, you enter an invulnerable state that nullifies all incoming attacks. (Cooldown: 1 hour)
The effects cascaded before him.
Every piece in Legendary Grade.
Equipment crafted by Geumsohn’s own hands and tailored perfectly to his form.
Even the set effects had materialized.
Geumsohn’s appearance had transformed completely.
From crown to heel, a hammer warrior clad in Legendary Grade heavy armor, etched with delicate damascene patterns that caught the light.
His mere presence seemed to weigh down the very air around him.
Tuban’s eyes glistened as he beheld him.
“Go on, now. If anything, I learned far more from you, Geumsohn. I’m grateful.”
Tuban bowed his head deeply.
It was respect for Geumsohn.
The blacksmithing skill of Geumsohn that Tuban had witnessed beside him was far more than that of a mere Foreigner.
A Grand Master.
He did not realize that he was witnessing the birth of a young Grand Master who had surpassed him by a vast measure at this very moment.
To such a Tuban, Geumsohn offered a smile and bid farewell.
Tuban’s eyes held something like burden, but Geumsohn stepped out of the smithy without hesitation, leaving him behind.
His next destination was clear.
‘Now I should go settle that old man’s Hidden Quest.’
The preparation was complete.
The reason he had chosen Neman Village.
It was time to go resolve it.
Yet a single secretive, adhesive gaze clung to Geumsohn as he departed.
A gaze heavy with unmistakable, unwelcome hostility.

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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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