The Returned Genius Blacksmith has Awakened as an all-Master - Chapter 119

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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 119
119. Grind It All Away
I couldn’t bring myself to disappoint that bright child’s laughter.
The other refugees, too, were watching with barely concealed hope in their eyes.
But Geumson spoke to the little one as if coaxing a stubborn child.
“Well, if you want one. Though I’ll need you to wait just a bit, yes? Can you do that for me?”
Geumson chose his words carefully, so the child wouldn’t feel disappointed.
But the little one pouted, scrunching up their face in protest.
“Why? Why not? Can’t you make something right now? Please?”
Even their puffy cheeks and petulant expression seemed endearing somehow.
Yet even faced with something so adorable, Geumson didn’t waver an inch.
Instead, he pointed toward Iron Walker, who was struggling to hold back the tide.
“My friend is having a hard time. Just wait a little longer, all right?”
“Ah, a friend…… you say.”
“Yes, a friend.”
The little one seemed to consider the word for a moment.
Soon they broke into a grin, flashing their white teeth in a gleeful smile.
The child took a step back and spoke up.
“Hehe! Then you have to play with me after you help your friend, okay? Promise? You really have to?”
“Yes…… I promise.”
“So you’re keeping your word to me? Then I’ll wait!”
With a beaming smile, the child scampered off, disappearing into the crowd.
Geumson let out a shallow sigh of relief.
Strangely, it was Ma Jin-chul who began to lecture him.
“If I’d just gotten married to my girlfriend, I could’ve had a daughter like that by now.”
“You’ve never had a girlfriend in your life, sir. Not once.”
“W-what nonsense are you spouting! What do you know! You think just because you don’t know, it didn’t happen? I’m telling you, I’m a popular guy! Believe me!”
Ma Jin-chul’s voice rose defensively.
I knew the truth, though.
We’d lived through the Era of Apocalypse together, swapping enough trivial stories to know each other well.
When Geumson didn’t bother to argue, Ma Jin-chul cleared his throat and went on.
“But…… doesn’t it bother you, seeing that kid disappointed? Couldn’t you have just slapped something together quick? You did make stuff real fast back then.”
“Sir, don’t you have anything to do? Can’t you see the ice melting over there?”
“Huh? Ah! It’s melting again, isn’t it! Those damned undead never stop!”
Geumson easily shut down Ma Jin-chul’s rambling.
He clenched and unclenched his fists, checking his condition.
‘My problem is solved now…… next is Walker.’
The warm-up was over.
His frozen fingers had completely thawed.
Now it was time to prepare new parts for Iron Walker.
‘I need materials that……’
Geumson carefully scanned through the Reputation Shop’s inventory.
With even more care than when he’d enhanced his own gear.
He began gathering materials for Iron Walker.
[‘Eternal Permafrost Ice Crystal’ purchased. -2,000P]
[‘Ancient Mechanism Rotation Shaft’ purchased. -2,000P]
[Remaining Reputation Points: 2,000]
“Points are running tight. Well then…… shall we begin the real work?”
A substantial amount.
It had cost twice as many points as enhancing his own equipment.
Yet not a single point felt wasted.
This was a gift for Iron Walker, who was toiling alone out there.
Geumson took out the materials he’d purchased from the Reputation Shop, along with the materials he already had.
[Earth Crush Fang]
[Giant Fang of Sand Stalker]
[Desert Cobra Fang]
[Hardened Giant’s Blood Stone]
.
.
.
Hard, razor-sharp materials.
It was no exaggeration to say that Geumson had scraped together every scrap of material in his possession, starting with the Earth Crush Fang obtained from the Corrupted Earthworm.
He had already decided what new parts to craft for Iron Walker.
A flamethrower for the right hand.
Then what for the left?
‘A drill infused with ice properties!’
Flame and frost.
A hybrid golem wielding two opposing elements at once.
He was designing Iron Walker as if projecting his own image onto it.
Moreover, the new part would be no mere striking fist, but a powerful rotating weapon that could grind and pierce through enemies.
He would embed an Eternal Permafrost Ice Crystal within it to grant it the ice attribute.
‘This way, even if overheating occurs from the flames, the left hand’s cold can cool itself down.’
Not only would Iron Walker’s overheating problem be solved, but even if the drill’s blades became damaged, it wouldn’t matter.
Iron Walker’s ice drill would repair itself.
Geumson’s mind had settled on the design.
Now it was time to move.
Clang—
Clang-clang—!
Clang-clang-clang—!
Geumson’s hammer strikes accelerated.
Centered on the Ancient Mechanism Rotation Shaft, he carved the massive fang in a spiral pattern to form the drill’s edge, then embedded the Eternal Permafrost core at the center to create the power source.
Then he covered the exterior with the Earth Crush Fang from the Corrupted Earthworm that had once tunneled through solid earth.
Geumson’s hammering continued.
Clang—
Clang-clang!
Clang-clang-clang!
He subdued the repelling materials with his hammer, and when they became one.
The message Geumson had been waiting for appeared.
[Crafting successful!]
[A Transcendent Great Success has occurred due to the influence of the Luck stat!]
[The Possessed Craftsmanship skill has activated, completing a precise bond.]
[Golem Remodeling Evolution skill has advanced to Lv.2.]
[Frost-Sealed Rotating Drill has been completed.]
.
.
.
[Frost-Sealed Rotating Drill]
– Grade: Ancient
– Crafter: Geumson
– Effects:
1. [Absolute Penetration]: The rotating drill ignores enemy defense and pierces through.
2. [Rapid Cooling]: Upon attack, absorbs surrounding heat and converts it to cold.
3. [Blizzard Spin]: Spins the drill at high speed to create an ice storm in the surrounding area.
4. [Self-Repair]: Automatically recovers the drill’s damaged blades.
The newly completed part for Iron Walker.
A remarkable finished product that went beyond mere parts—it even granted skills to Iron Walker itself.
But Geumson had no time to rejoice.
Iron Walker’s condition had become unstable.
“Wa… lker……”
Iron Walker’s voice came strained and labored.
At that sound, Geumson quickly grabbed the completed drill and rushed toward Iron Walker.
The battle still raged fiercely.
Iron Walker was overwhelmed, fending off the horde of undead.
Screeeee—
Sputter-sputter-sputter……
The flames from the flamethrower were sputtering out, and the overheated body rang with metallic groans.
It was at its limit.
“Walker! Extend your arm!”
Geumson shouted.
Iron Walker strained to extend its left arm.
Crack!
Without hesitation, Geumson tore away the left arm assembly with brutal efficiency.
Sparks flew, and gears scattered across the ground.
It was a reckless maneuver that no ordinary magitech engineer would dare attempt.
Replacing golem parts mid-combat, on a moving construct no less.
But for Geumson, it was second nature.
During the Era of Apocalypse, he had repaired and modified broken weapons even as artillery fire rained down around him.
No—he’d had to make it work during those dark days.
There were precious few times when he’d been able to work on equipment in the quiet comfort of a maintenance shop.
Those memories had carved themselves so deeply into his body that his hands moved of their own accord.
Click—
Click-click—
Whirr-click—
Metal snap!
Wheeee!
The Premium Magitech Tool Set that Ravi had gifted him proved invaluable once again.
Geumson swiftly replaced Iron Walker’s left arm.
Screech!
The drill spun with a loud roar the moment the connection locked into place.
At the same time, a wave of pristine cold air erupted from it.
The frigid blast began rapidly cooling Iron Walker’s overheated frame.
Even Iron Walker’s right arm, which had been glowing dangerously as if about to melt, gradually returned to its original color.
“Waaalk-ker! New! Mine! Waaalk-ker! Ker!”
Reinvigorated, Iron Walker spun the drill with gusto, making it whine and whir.
It was clear the golem was absolutely delighted with its new limb.
Geumson chuckled and gave Iron Walker’s back an approving pat.
“Good. Want to run a performance test?”
“Waaalk-ker? Test? Teest?”
“That’s right—we need to put the new hardware through its paces.”
Geumson pointed toward the undead pouring through the gaps in the ice barrier.
During the brief lull in flames, they had closed the distance.
They were nearly within arm’s reach now.
But Geumson felt no sense of danger.
If anything, his lips curled into a grin.
“Walker, shred them!”
“Waaalk-ker! Go! Go! Get out of here! Waaalk-ker!”
At Geumson’s command, Iron Walker burst forward.
No longer content merely to hold the line, Iron Walker had shifted into a new mode of operation.
Now it began pushing back the tide of undead, driving them out rather than simply holding them at bay.
Whoosh!
Screech!
Flames poured from the right hand while the left wielded the Frost-Sealed Rotating Drill, wreathed in icy cold.
No undead could stand against Iron Walker’s overwhelming power.
“Waaalk-keeeeer!”
The exultant cry from Iron Walker made it clear the golem absolutely loved its new parts.
There was no more overheating.
Iron Walker had become an unstoppable engine of destruction, tearing through the undead legions.
At the same time, Geumson’s system messages began flooding in at a furious pace.
[You have defeated a Burning High Zombie.]
[You have defeated a Flame-Resistant Skeleton Knight.]
[You have defeated a Plague Ghoul.]
[Your level has increased! Lv. 85]
[Your level has increased! Lv. 86]
[Your level has increased! Lv. 87]
.
.
.
[Your level has increased! Lv. 90]
The high-pitched whine of the rapidly spinning drill was nightmarish to the undead, but to Geumson it was music.
It was the sweet sound of experience points rolling in automatically.
‘Good. If we can hold like this…….’
Even the undead legions occupying Prelia were not infinite.
The red dots marked on the Prelia map had noticeably dwindled in number.
If they could endure like this, the witch Elmarie would reveal herself.
Time was on Geumson’s side.
That’s what he thought.
If only Baek Jin-ju hadn’t spoken.
“Sorry to ask in the middle of battle… but do you have any food to spare?”
Baek Jin-ju’s apologetic expression suggested she wasn’t contributing to the fight.
Only then did Geumson properly register the faces of the refugees.
The faces of those driven to the brink of collapse by starvation.

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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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