The Returned Genius Blacksmith has Awakened as an all-Master - Chapter 35

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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 35
035. Blue Cave
[‘Soul Forging’ skill proficiency has increased.]
[‘Inspired Craftsmanship’ skill proficiency has increased.]
[Great success probability has increased slightly.]
.
.
.
Time passed, and at last Geumsohn brought down his final hammer stroke.
Hissssss—!
Through the rising steam from the coolant, an elegant spear suffused with a subtle blue glow revealed itself.
[The blueprint has been saved to the Blue Index.]
[A great success has been achieved!]
[The item’s grade has been upgraded by one tier!]
[Blue Flash Spear]
– Grade: Unique
– Crafter: Geumsohn
– Attack Power: 80-120
– Effects:
1. Attack speed increased by 15%.
2. Penetration power increased by 20%.
3. Passive Skill [Flash]: When attacking, there is a low probability that a blue flash bursts from the spear tip, blinding the target for 1 second.
Geumsohn examined the details.
The grade was solid, and the effects were appropriately balanced.
For Yeom Tae-hun—a weapon that was neither overkill nor underwhelming.
“A bit lacking, perhaps, but this should be more than enough to help you pass the trial.”
Geumsohn handed over the completed spear to Yeom Tae-hun without hesitation.
The hands that received it trembled slightly.
Whoosh—!
Yeom Tae-hun grasped the spear and gave it a light thrust through the empty air—that was the sound.
He’d simply tested it without much force, a casual stab into nothing, yet the sound of parting air was distinctly different.
Yeom Tae-hun stared at the spear in his hand, his expression one of pure disbelief.
“I—can I really accept something this precious?”
It wasn’t merely because it was Unique grade.
The grip fit his hand perfectly.
It was light as a feather, yet possessed a solidity that felt substantial and unyielding.
Moreover, the length of the spear was precisely the ideal length for him to wield.
It felt as though someone had stood beside him for ages, watching, and then fashioned this spear in perfect accordance with his needs alone.
Yeom Tae-hun felt an odd sensation wash over him.
Geumsohn, however, did not seem entirely satisfied.
‘Unique… the grade is fine, but the performance is a bit underwhelming, isn’t it?’
The grade itself had turned out Unique as he’d intended, unlike the Moonlight Viper Sword.
But the functionality left something to be desired.
‘If I’d paid more attention to the details, I could’ve squeezed out more attack power or special effects even within the same Unique tier…’
Geumsohn was genuinely disappointed.
If he’d had a carving skill or similar related technique when crafting the shaft, it would have achieved a higher level of completion.
Though he regretted this, he didn’t let it show on his face.
He simply said what needed to be said to Yeom Tae-hun.
“Didn’t we agree I’d give it to you? Besides, it’s not free.”
“But I don’t have the money to purchase something like this…”
Yeom Tae-hun fumbled through his pockets.
He clearly loved the spear that much.
Geumsohn grinned and tapped him on the shoulder.
“I mentioned it before, didn’t I? That I’d ask a favor of you someday. Just keep that promise, and we’re even.”
The other players watching nearby let out incredulous reactions.
“Wait, I can do favors too! I can start right now!”
“If Geumsohn gave me a spear like that, I’d follow him for the rest of my life! Give me one too! Me!”
“Would you really? But Geumsohn is just giving away items like this for free? That spear looks insanely expensive.”
“Is he the developer’s son or something? Or at least the youngest heir of some mega-rich family?”
“If I were him, I’d just keep crafting and selling. Why give anything away?”
Geumsohn heard the voices of other players too.
At such remarks, he could only sigh quietly to himself.
‘If only I hadn’t known about it, I could’ve just made money…….’
The Age of Apocalypse was coming.
So in this moment, money held little meaning for Geumsohn.
What mattered far more to him was growing stronger and planting seeds for the future.
“Well then, shall I add you as a friend?”
[You have registered ‘Y태후니Y’ as a friend.]
[You can now send personal messages.]
A system message appeared.
Geumsohn confirmed the message.
Catching sight of the ID, he let out a quiet laugh.
“From your ID, I’d guess you’re Yeom Tae-hun?”
“Ah, yes! I’m Yeom Tae-hun. If you ever need anything, just send me a message! Anytime, I’ll come running…….”
“No. You send me the message instead.”
“Me? Send you a message?”
Geumsohn nodded and spoke as if to say—
—that the Blue Flash Spear he’d provided was merely a taste of things to come.
“If you ever need special items or run into trouble, send me a message. I’ll help you when the time comes.”
“But why would you…….”
“Well, we both learned the spear from the same teacher, after all.”
Geumsohn left, saying something Yeom Tae-hun still didn’t quite understand.
Watching his receding figure, Yeom Tae-hun remained dazed.
Yeom Tae-hun—the Spear Ghost of the future.
The thread of their first fateful meeting had just been tied firm and true.
* * *
Thump-thump-thump-thump—
“I wonder if it went down well…….”
Heading toward the Blue Cave, located west of the city, Geumsohn muttered to himself.
Only Iron Walker responded to his voice.
“Walker! Walker?”
Iron Walker seemed to tilt its head in confusion.
At that, Geumsohn chuckled and spoke.
It was nothing more than idle thoughts—whether Iron Walker understood or not.
“Kang Mu-jin and Yeom Tae-hun are quite different, you see.”
In Kang Mu-jin’s case, he’s the type who wants to monopolize items everyone desires and gain attention.
He has a kind of attention-seeking inclination.
So though the item was meant for Kang Mu-jin, I deliberately posted it on the auction house instead of handing it over directly.
He has more than enough wealth to acquire it, and in fact, obtaining it that way will make him treasure it all the more.
But Yeom Tae-hun is different.
Yeom Tae-hun is the type who, left alone, will stubbornly dig down a single path.
He’s someone who can push forward with just a little help from the sidelines.
That’s why I offered it.
“I wonder if Yeom Tae-hun will even send me a message, Walker.”
Geumsohn didn’t expect a message from Yeom Tae-hun.
No matter how difficult things get, he’s the sort who stubbornly tries to solve everything himself.
But thinking of Yeom Tae-hun, Geumsohn smiled softly.
“Still, Walker? Later I’ll wring out several times the value of that item from him, won’t I?”
“Wurrr…….”
“I’ll have to work him for all sorts of things, interest included…….”
As Geumsohn continued a conversation that bordered on muttering to himself with Iron Walker, a system message suddenly appeared.
[Crafter’s Resonance skill has reached Lv. 2.]
[Your rapport with Iron Walker increases.]
The Crafter’s Resonance skill had leveled up out of nowhere.
In that instant, Geumsohn’s eyes gleamed.
‘What? It leveled up just from talking? Then…….’
Crafter’s Resonance.
This was the skill that allowed him to sense emotions even when words didn’t fully reach Iron Walker.
And it seemed that through their constant, if trivial, conversations, his rapport with Iron Walker had grown deeper.
‘I’ve gained a companion to talk with?’
Geumsohn actually thought this worked out well.
Stories of the Age of Apocalypse that no one would believe.
But Iron Walker would listen to even such preposterous tales.
The timing simply wasn’t right yet.
“Walker, pick up the pace. We need to reach the Blue Cave before sunset.”
“Walker! Walker!”
Iron Walker responded vigorously and quickened his step.
At last, a cavern mouth glowing with an eerie blue light appeared before them.
“Here it is.”
Geumsohn leaped down from Iron Walker’s back and stepped into the cave.
Damp, cool air brushed against his cheeks.
The interior of the cave was suffused entirely in blue light, just as he’d anticipated.
Moonlight Moss spread across the walls and ceiling emitted a soft glow, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.
“Well then, shall we begin?”
Geumsohn retrieved the materials he’d prepared beforehand from his inventory.
He carefully applied a solution made by dissolving Flame Salamander Venom onto his leather gloves, then sprinkled Mithril Powder over it.
It was a precaution to neutralize the subtle magical toxicity.
He carefully reached toward the Moonlight Moss adhered to the wall.
With a specially treated small scraper, he gently scraped away the moss and placed it in a special glass vial.
[Moonlight Moss has been harvested.]
[Inspired Craftsmanship skill proficiency has increased slightly.]
He had no dedicated gathering skill, but he made do reasonably well.
After all, Geumsohn possessed the Inspired Craftsmanship skill.
Yet his brow furrowed.
“The yield is far too meager.”
The amount obtained from a single harvest was barely the size of a fingernail.
To contend with a Corrupted Earthworm, he needed at least two fistfuls of the moss.
At this rate, he couldn’t gather enough even if he stayed up for several nights.
“I’ll need to venture deeper into the cave.”
Without hesitation, Geumsohn pressed forward into the depths of the cavern.
As he went deeper, the blue light grew more intense, but simultaneously the unpleasant dampness and ominous aura intensified as well.
Shrieeek!
A swarm of insects that glimmered like fireflies in the darkness.
Beautiful to behold, but in reality nothing more than dangerously hostile monsters.
[Crystal Beetle Lv.22]
“Walker, deal with them.”
“Waaalker!”
Iron Walker’s flamethrower erupted with fire.
Though the Crystal Beetles possessed hard carapaces, they were helpless before the searing heat of a furnace’s flame.
[Crystal Beetle defeated.]
[Crystal Fragment obtained.]
[Level increased! Lv.22]
The battle ended in an instant.
Yet Geumsohn’s expression had not improved.
“There’s barely any moss here either. And why are there so many monsters?”
In his memory, the Blue Cave was not a place where monsters particularly spawned.
If they had, the cave would have been crowded with players by now.
It was simply a cavern where unusual moss grew.
The occasional low-level slime or bat might appear—that was all.
That’s all it should have been, yet the cave now looked entirely different.
Monsters swarmed everywhere, while the Moonlight Moss he truly needed was sparse as beans in a drought.

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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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