The Returned Genius Blacksmith has Awakened as an all-Master - Chapter 38

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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 38
038. Chaos
The acidic mucus served not only to soften the Earthworm’s body but also as a lubricant, allowing it to burrow freely through the soil.
But what if that mucus were neutralized and hardened?
The creature would be left vulnerable, unable to escape underground for a time.
‘I can solve both Parakel’s quest and Dusar’s quest at once. Two birds with one stone.’
Parakel seemed content to treat the Corrupted Earthworm as nothing more than a nuisance to be driven away.
But by fortunate coincidence, the very item Parakel had provided was the key to solving Dusar’s quest.
‘Even if I’d crafted something myself, I doubt I could have made anything this useful. This is going to make things much easier.’
The city quest he’d received from Dusar.
And Parakel’s profession quest.
It seemed he might be able to complete both simultaneously.
“I hope I’m not asking you to do something unreasonable… I’m worried.”
“Not at all. I swear I’ll return within three days, no more.”
“All right then—just don’t overexert yourself!”
He had only three days.
Without further hesitation, Geumsон set out toward the deepest reaches of the Krathum Mine.
* * *
Clang—!
Ting-ting—!
Ting-ting-ting—!
The cheerful sound of hammers rang out wherever you went in the city of Krathum.
Yet recently, shadows that seemed out of place in this vibrant city had begun to seep in.
They didn’t visit blacksmiths or trade in minerals.
They simply lurked in dark alleys and corners of taverns, waiting for something.
The Rusty Pickaxe—a tavern tucked into the most remote corner of Krathum.
A man sat in the corner booth, setting his glass down roughly with a growl.
“Damn it. Still scurrying around like rats.”
His nickname was Nachal.
He was an elite strike captain of the Asura guild.
His serpentine, cunning eyes swept across the players passing by outside the tavern window.
“Captain, aren’t you being a bit too tense? They probably want the same thing we do.”
A guild member seated beside him spoke leisurely.
But Nachal let out a derisive snort.
“Same purpose? Not a chance. Those fools are nothing but hyenas squabbling over prey.”
“And what are we? We’re also after the same…… person, aren’t we?”
“Did we come here to recruit him? Get your head straight! Don’t forget our real purpose.”
As he spoke, Nachal’s gaze turned toward a group of players walking across the street with unmistakable confidence.
They were all clad in gleaming armor and well-honed weapons.
Making no attempt to hide their affiliation, the two characters “Yeokcheon” were emblazoned clearly on their chests.
“Those Yeokcheon bastards…… they have an uncanny nose for money, but they’re stubborn fools who insist on fighting fair.”
Nachal clicked his tongue.
The Yeokcheon guild.
A massive organization that had firmly secured the number-one ranking on the server, backed by Kang Mujin and the vast financial resources of the HS Group.
Their movements were always bold and unrestrained.
As if there were nothing in the world that money couldn’t solve.
“And there’s another group besides them, isn’t there? The Mirae Group ones.”
“Those are the worst to deal with. If the Yeokcheon bastards would just charge at us head-on like they do, it’d be easier…… but those money-loaded fools are so damn meticulous about everything. Tsk.”
The Mirae Group.
They were no mere guild—they were a corporation.
A massive capital venture that had entered the market viewing Lepion not as a simple game but as a new frontier.
Their information analysis and financial mobilization capabilities were formidable enough to give even the Yeokcheon guild pause.
Asura, Yeokcheon, and Mirae Group.
Three massive shadows of different colors were now engaged in covert information warfare in Krathum, all focused on a single objective.
Their primary target: Geumsон.
The eye of the storm that had recently shaken Lepion.
The mysterious player who had crafted the Legendary-grade greatsword “Moonlight Viper Blade”—something no one would believe a player could make.
But the problem was that his whereabouts had become uncertain.
After crafting a spear for a player in Krathum, his trail had vanished without a trace.
“Damn it, where the hell did he disappear to? Did he head into the mines?”
Nachal tore at his hair in frustration.
They’d mobilized every information network at their disposal, but Geumsон remained as elusive as a mirage.
Just then, one of Asura’s guild members burst into the tavern in a panic.
“Captain! We found him! Geumsон’s location!”
“What? You found him? Where is he?”
“The Ashen Fang Mine! We just received a sighting report—someone saw Iron Walker, the Golem he uses, at the mine entrance!”
Nachal’s eyes gleamed.
He shot to his feet and barked orders.
“Everyone moves to the Ashen Fang Mine. We need to get there before Yeokcheon or Mirae Group. This time, we cannot let him slip away.”
Asura’s shadows began to move in silence.
The moment Yeokcheon and Mirae Group detected the movement, they too mobilized almost simultaneously.
All eyes in Krathum were now fixed on the Ashen Fang Mine.
On the single blacksmith who waited there.
* * *
Geumsон’s destination was Krathum’s largest mine: the Ashen Fang Mine.
The closer one drew to it, the more the air filled with curses, screams, and threats from those trying to extort items—louder than any marketplace.
“Damn it! That bastard stole my ore vein! Get over here!”
“I rented this spot! If you don’t like it, leave! A low-level punk like you has no business opening your mouth!”
“Healer needed! Ten gold per heal! No advance payment! I don’t scam, I promise! Please trust me!”
“That guy’s a scammer! He leaves the party right after getting healed! I fell for it yesterday!”
“Damn it! I went to buy ore and the bastard handed me nothing but junk and vanished! If you see that ‘Ore Merchant’ punk, smash his face in!”
The stench was suffocating—sweat and dust, rust and blood all mingled together.
The entrance to the Ashen Fang Mine, where players gathered, was pure chaos.
The Ashen Fang Mine.
True to its name, the mine’s entrance was covered in bizarre stalactites shaped like the sharp teeth of some fearsome beast.
Located on Krathum’s outskirts, this mine was home to monsters ranging from low to mid-level.
It was one of the popular hunting grounds for players freshly arrived in Krathum.
“Iron ore grind available! Need mental fortitude!”
“Guild recruitment! We aim for a family-like atmosphere…… Ow! Don’t step on me!”
“Cheap recovery potions! Chug this and…… you know? It’s amazing!”
.
.
.
The noise, the dust, and screams erupting from every corner.
The Ashen Fang Mine in its current state—crowded with players and utterly chaotic.
Geumsон shook his head.
‘A Corrupted Earthworm won’t surface in a place like this.’
Corrupted Earthworms are hypersensitive to ground vibrations.
But the irregular tremors and noise created by hundreds of players stampeding about randomly—
Such conditions would only drive it deeper underground.
‘I need to create something rhythmic and steady. A sound like a giant heartbeat.’
From his memories of his past life, the key to defeating the Corrupted Earthworm was Acid Neutralizer.
But equally crucial was luring it out.
‘I have to find it first, then I can fight or do anything else.’
After all, this creature moves through the earth as though it were its own home.
If it doesn’t emerge voluntarily, tracking it as a player is virtually impossible.
‘If I just start mining near the entrance like everyone else, it’ll never surface with all these players around. I need to go deeper, somewhere quieter.’
So Geumsон pushed through the crowded masses and made for the depths of the mine, where no one ventured.
There, he would begin mining to his own rhythm, drawing out his prey.
Thump-thump-thump-thump—
Iron Walker followed behind him, lowering its massive body as much as possible.
The surrounding noise gradually faded, leaving only the intermittent drip of water trickling down the damp cavern walls.
Then, from a crevice in the cave wall, a shadow shot out.
A lizard with basalt-textured skin, perfectly camouflaged among the surrounding rocks.
[Basalt Skink (Basalt Skink) Lv.28]
“Walker!”
Iron Walker blocked his path with its massive steel arm.
The reaction was instantaneous, as though it had anticipated Geumsон’s call.
Clang!
Sharp teeth scraped across Iron Walker’s gauntlet, throwing sparks, but failed to leave even a scratch.
‘Resolute Intuition!’
In Geumsон’s eyes, a soft spot beneath the lizard’s hard carapace—its throat—flared crimson, marking the weakness.
He hurled himself over Iron Walker’s shoulder, swinging his hammer in a wide arc.
Crack!
[Weak Point Strike successful.]
[Critical Hit confirmed.]
[Basalt Lizard defeated.]
[Level increased! Lv.25]
[Basalt Fragment obtained.]
[Tough Lizard Hide obtained.]
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.
.
Barely had they weathered the first ambush when the earth itself trembled.
A deep, grinding rumble—!
Directly beneath them, a colossal creature erupted from the soil, its drill-like mandibles churning through the dust.
[Rockworm Lv.33]
It coiled around Iron Walker’s legs, attempting to drag him underground.
But Iron Walker was massive, unyielding.
Such an attack stood no chance against him.
“Waaaalker!”
Iron Walker lifted his leg and brought it down hard, crushing the creature beneath him.
Splat—!
[Rockworm defeated.]
[Level increased! Lv.26]
[Rockworm Carapace obtained.]
[Chitin Teeth obtained.]
[Iron Walker has reached Lv.2.]
[Additional components can now be equipped to Iron Walker.]
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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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