The Returned Genius Blacksmith has Awakened as an all-Master - Chapter 118

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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 118
118. The Bold Child
“Upgrade? What exactly are you planning to do……?”
Ma Jin-chul’s face goes blank at Geumson’s cryptic answer.
But Geumson leaves only a small request with Ma Jin-chul and Baek Jin-ju before turning away.
“Look after the people, will you?”
“Don’t worry about that. But…… are you really sure you’re alright?”
“I can do whatever—but rest first, will you? You look terrible right now!”
Both Ma Jin-chul and Baek Jin-ju regard Geumson with concern.
His face is hollowed by exhaustion.
Moreover, whether from the cold or sheer fatigue, his lips have taken on a purplish hue.
That’s why they worry.
Yet Geumson simply picks up his hammer in silence.
Compared to the Age of Ruin, cold like this is nothing—child’s play, really.
As long as he can still lift the hammer, that’s enough.
‘First…… I need to work on the gauntlets.’
Geumson placed his Delicate Leather Gauntlet on the workbench.
To use a skill that shoots cold energy from his hands, cold resistance in the hand-protecting gauntlet was essential.
‘The armor already has flame resistance, so it’s risky to touch that. The gauntlet is perfect.’
Geumson opened his inventory.
He needed materials with properties that could resist cold.
But the special minerals like Cold Steel or Eternal Frost Steel that he’d once favored weren’t available.
‘No teeth, so gums will have to do.’
Without hesitation, he opened the Reputation Shop and searched for the materials he needed.
Fortunately, something usable caught his eye.
It might even be better than what he’d originally planned.
[Eternal Snow Crystal purchased. -1,000 Reputation Points]
[Remaining Reputation Points: 7,000]
Then he dumped out all the loot from the monsters he’d hunted during the defense of Aerthos.
[Frozen Mane Hair]
[Essence of Cold]
[Bone Wing Feather]
.
.
.
He used them all without reservation.
And then Geumson’s hammering began.
No hesitation showed itself in his movements as he worked.
In fact, every eye gathered at the Ice Barrier turned toward Geumson.
Still, he never lost his concentration.
Only the sound of his hammer rang out, steady and relentless.
Clang!
Ding-ding!
Ding-ding-ding! Clang!
His hands moved with precision and speed.
Soul Forging and Possessed Craftsmanship activated as he restructured the gauntlet.
He ground the Eternal Snow Crystal fine into powder, then worked it carefully into every seam of the leather to seal out the cold.
Then he wove in Frozen Mane Hair to reinforce the lining, maximizing insulation.
Finally, using Mana Inscription, he carved runes of Frostbite Immunity into the gauntlet.
Then a message appeared.
[Crafting successful!]
[New blueprint added.]
[Blue Index skill advanced to Level 4.]
[Soul Forging skill advanced to Level 8.]
[Critical Success achieved!]
[Delicate Leather Gauntlet has evolved into Gauntlet of Extreme Cold Resistance.]
[Grade increased to Ancient.]
[Equip requirement level raised to 150.]
[Gauntlet of Extreme Cold Resistance]
.
.
.
– Additional Effects:
1. Cold Resistance increased by 50%.
2. Ice attribute skill power increased by 20%.
3. [Frostbite Immunity]: The wearer takes no damage or action penalty from the cold.
4. [Soul Inheritance]: Inherits the effects of the previous item.
Geumson examined the completed gauntlet.
A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
“Perfect. This turned out right.”
He’d expected the cold resistance.
Nothing surprising there.
But the Soul Inheritance effect—
The option that would carry forward the abilities of the old Delicate Leather Gauntlet pleased him greatly.
Click.
Geumson slipped on the finished gauntlet at once.
A cool yet comforting sensation wrapped around his wrist.
Now he could use the Moon’s Left Hand freely without fear of his hand freezing solid.
But Geumson didn’t stop there.
This time, he set the Sturdy Earth’s Iron Boots onto the workbench.
Cold rises from the ground up.
Protecting the feet mattered just as much.
Geumson opened the Reputation Shop again.
He needed materials befitting the boots.
[Purchasing ‘Glacier Giant’s Claw Fragment’. -1,000P]
[Remaining Reputation Points: 6,000]
His hard-won Reputation Points drained away rapidly.
It stung, but there was no choice.
‘When should I run a Reputation Quest? Earning points is getting tight…’
The Reputation Shop was convenient, but that was precisely the problem—gathering points took tremendous effort.
Still, this was no time for such concerns.
All he could afford was focus on the Sturdy Earth’s Iron Boots before him.
‘Right Hand of the Sun.’
Geumson placed the purchased Glacier Giant’s Claw Fragment into the furnace, adding the sun’s heat to melt the material down.
As blue-tinged molten metal poured forth, he spread it across the sole and surface of the boots.
Then, using the Essence of Cold, he began drawing a magic circle to absorb and reflect the frigid aura.
“Mana Inscription!”
Blue mana erupted from his fingertips.
Like a living serpent, it coiled across the boots, etching intricate patterns into their surface.
Ancient runes symbolizing Absolute Zero.
Clang!
Clang-clang!
Boom!
Another barrage of hammer blows followed.
This time, his Luck Stat shone brilliantly.
With each strike against the boots, golden light flashed and blazed in dazzling splendor.
Like meteors falling from the sky.
“Wow! It’s so pretty!”
“Quiet, quiet! You’ll break my focus!”
“Aww, but it’s pretty… Mister, mister! Can I see it? Please?”
People watching Geumson work.
Among them, a little girl seemed utterly captivated by the falling sparks that shimmered like meteors.
As if bewitched, the child gazed upon his labor.
Among all the refugees, she alone showed such unbridled vitality.
Yet Geumson’s work continued without faltering at the distraction.
And the result:
[A miracle occurs through the influence of the Luck Stat!]
[The material’s limits are surpassed.]
[‘Sturdy Earth’s Iron Boots’ evolves into ‘Boots of the Glacier Walker’.]
[Grade rises to ‘Ancient’.]
[The equipment restriction level has increased to 150.]
[Mana Inscription skill has reached Lv.7.]
[The system sends its praise for your ability to craft superior items even in extreme circumstances.]
[Possessed Craftsmanship skill has reached Lv.10 [MAX].]
[Your craftsmanship has reached its pinnacle.]
A cascade of messages assaulted his vision.
Yet Geumson paid them no mind.
Only the newly forged boots held his attention.
Nothing else mattered but their effects.
[Boots of the Glacier Walker]
.
.
.
– Additional Effects:
1. Cold Resistance increased by 50%.
2. [Glacier Running]: Movement speed on ice increased by 50%, no slipping.
3. [Giant’s Footstep]: Your footfalls impose an Intimidation effect, preventing obstructions to your path.
4. [Soul Inheritance]: Carries forward the effects of the previous item.
The completed boots were transparent and beautiful, as though carved from ice itself.
Thanks to his Luck Stat, not only had Soul Inheritance appeared as an engraved effect, but Giant’s Footstep had manifested as well—a rather unusual occurrence.
‘Intimidation effect?’
Even Geumson found this one unfamiliar.
But thinking it through simply, it seemed to mean that minor monsters would no longer be able to approach him.
‘It’ll do. Now… I won’t need to worry about the cold anymore?’
His existing 20% cold resistance plus the gauntlet’s 50% and the boots’ 50% totaled 120%.
Now Geumson possessed enough resistance to walk through extreme cold wearing nothing but a short-sleeved shirt.
Click.
Geumson fastened the boots into place.
Only then did the color return to his lips.
Even his exhaustion-worn face seemed to recover somewhat.
At the sight of him, Ma Jin-chul laughed.
“Kekeke, this fellow… come to think of it, we’re cut from the same cloth, aren’t we?”
“What do you mean?”
“The type who finds relief only through work. The sort who can’t rest until they’re doing what they want—stubborn fellows like that.”
Geumson didn’t particularly agree.
Yet Ma Jin-chul seemed determined to find kinship with him anyway.
Like one craftsman recognizing another.
“Good heavens… I’ve seen it on broadcast, but you really did all that enhancement on the spot?”
Baek Jin-ju was equally astounded.
She’d seen Geumson’s performance on air before, but witnessing it in person was something else entirely.
Moreover, it was obvious the item’s effects now operated on an entirely different level than before.
Which left Baek Jin-ju thoroughly bewildered.
The commanding presence he’d displayed while rescuing people.
That skill and ease.
And his true profession—blacksmithing—was in a class of its own.
Standing beside him, she found it impossible to define who Geumson truly was.
“It’s less enhancement than creation, really… it’s all part of what a blacksmith does.”
“A blacksmith does all of that? That’s nonsense—ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to speak so harshly.”
“You… probably need to rest for a bit.”
Baek Jin-ju bowed her head, acknowledging her misstep.
His bewildering answer had stirred her emotions without her realizing it.
But through their exchange, a small voice cut in with a question.
“Mister! Mister! It’s so pretty! How did you do that? Could you make one for me too? Please?”
A bold little girl.
Like the other refugees, her face was smudged with ash and her features worn with fatigue, yet she hadn’t lost her bright, radiant smile.
A thread of light breaking through the darkness of despair.
A child whose very presence made the weary find reason to smile.
Geumson gazed at the little girl, and for once, he seemed to consider something carefully.
Rarely did he do such a thing.

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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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