The Returned Genius Blacksmith has Awakened as an all-Master - Chapter 7

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 7
007. Lighting the Fire
The interior of the Mine was nothing short of Geumson’s small, precious treasure vault.
While other players had to strike the rock face dozens of times to leave even a scratch, Geumson brought down the entire wall with a single blow.
Each time, Superior Iron Ore cascaded down in a luminous shower.
“Wait, that’s… that’s actually possible?”
“Isn’t that the person who was using a spear at the Training Grounds earlier? Who exactly is this person?”
“Huh? Now that you mention it… you’re right. Going from spear combat to pickaxe work? They said he was a streamer—his concept is pretty weird.”
“What’s the problem with that? How is he even doing that?”
“It’s not the pickaxe that’s the issue. That person’s skill itself seems absolutely insane.”
The players around him who’d been on the verge of giving up on Mining began to talk about Geumson.
In the past, even streaming hadn’t brought him the attention he sought.
But now, barely after Lepion opened, he was naturally drawing eyes to himself.
Yet their whispers never reached Geumson’s ears.
His vision held only the red dots and lines that Decisive Intuition revealed to him, and the minerals sleeping within them.
[You have obtained Superior Iron Ore. (4/5)]
[Mining skill has reached Lv.5.]
[Proficiency of Decisive Intuition skill has increased.]
[Due to the influence of your Luck Stat, you discovered a hidden gem!]
[You have obtained a Low-Grade Ruby.]
“Haha! This is absolutely incredible!”
Geumson couldn’t contain his laughter.
Not only the Superior Iron Ore required for the quest, but silver ore as well—and gems on top of that.
A genuine goldmine.
Moreover, the newly unlocked Luck Stat.
Thanks to the Luck Stat, he was managing the feat of Mining gems that were normally next to impossible to find.
It seemed the Luck Stat he’d gained from the “Narcissist” title was manifesting in this way.
Crack!
[You have obtained Superior Iron Ore. (5/5)]
[Class Quest: Tuban’s Doubt—success condition achieved.]
“Excellent!”
Upon confirming the quest completion message, Geumson’s face broke into a satisfied smile.
But he didn’t stop there.
The time frame Tuban had set was “before sunset.”
There was still plenty of time left.
‘Since I’ve already started, I should fill my inventory completely.’
Geumson picked up the pickaxe again.
The worn pickaxe was no obstacle at all as long as he used Decisive Intuition.
Crack!
Crack!
Geumson’s pickaxe swings never ceased.
The eyes of surrounding players grew more numerous.
While he was absorbed in Mining, more players seemed to be arriving—some to receive quests from Tuban, others simply hunting Goblins.
[Inventory space is insufficient.]
As he continued Mining without thought, a message appeared telling him his inventory was full.
Only then did Geumson exhale a satisfied breath and look around.
The path he’d carved through looked as though a massive mole had torn through it.
He felt a twinge of regret at having torn the Mine to shreds, even if other players might forgive him—but he couldn’t help smiling.
“At this rate, Tuban’s going to be shocked speechless.”
Thinking of Tuban’s reaction, Geumson’s feet grew lighter.
The walk back to the Blacksmith Shop felt short to him.
* * *
Clang, bang!
Clang-clang-bang!
Bang!
Tuban was still focused on his hammering.
His expression seemed to carry a certain anticipation.
But soon he could only sigh.
The sun was already tilting westward in the sky.
‘Hmph, so he’s just another ordinary foreigner after all.’
Tuban let out a quiet laugh, remembering how boldly Geumson had come to him declaring he’d become a blacksmith.
The soul of steel? Awakening its spirit?
Where did the kid even pick up such talk?
Once Geumson learned how grueling real blacksmith work truly was, he’d crack within a day and run off crying—that much was certain.
Still, the boy’s initial boldness and his talk of “soul” had left a surprisingly deep impression on Tuban.
Deep enough to kindle a spark of hope.
But as time passed, that hope had steadily curdled into disappointment.
‘Then again, expecting five Superior Iron Ore with that worn-out Pickaxe was probably too much. Did I set the bar too high?’
If he came back, Tuban decided, he’d at least lift the time restriction.
In hindsight, the conditions had been unnecessarily harsh.
Tuban was just raising his hammer when he heard it.
Footsteps. Footsteps.
Someone was walking into the Blacksmith Shop.
It had to be that reckless brat.
The kid had guts enough to come back even after failing.
With that kind of nerve, maybe he deserved another chance.
But Tuban couldn’t let that show.
So he didn’t even turn his head, calling out gruffly instead.
“Time’s up, kid! You failed, didn’t you? Don’t be too disappointed. About that time limit…….”
Crash—crash—crash—
Crash-crash!
Before he could finish speaking.
A mountain of ore came cascading down at his feet.
“This…… what is……!”
Tuban froze mid-motion.
His eyes trembled violently as if an earthquake had struck.
Half the Blacksmith Shop floor was buried under a heap of minerals.
Within it lay not just the Superior Iron Ore that had been his quest objective, but rare ores so precious that even Tuban rarely glimpsed them—all of them gleaming with a luminous brilliance.
“What…… what is all this……?”
At Tuban’s trembling question, Geumson shrugged casually.
“I put my soul into Mining, and there was time left over. So I picked up what I could.”
Picked up what he could?
What in the hell was this madman saying?
Tuban doubted his own ears.
With shaking hands, he approached the ore heap and lifted one of the Superior Iron Ores.
‘This purity…… this luster…… unmistakably Superior grade. No—premium Superior grade!’
Tuban prided himself on his eye for minerals as a blacksmith.
But these ores far exceeded his understanding of what was possible.
In fact, it astounded him that ores of this caliber came from the Mine behind the hill at all.
Tuban, too, was a blacksmith, and he visited the Mine occasionally.
To mine ore himself.
But he had never seen anything like this.
Raw ore of this quality.
And he’d never encountered anyone capable of mining high-grade ore like this either.
“Did…… did you really mine all of this alone?”
“Of course. I brought five Superior Iron Ores as promised. Here.”
Geumson pulled out five Superior Iron Ores from the heap and held them out to Tuban.
But Tuban’s gaze had already drifted past them, fixed on the mountain of other minerals stacked beyond.
At that moment, a new message appeared before Geumson’s eyes.
[Achievement: He Who Astounded the Blacksmith]
[You have brought an NPC Blacksmith materials of Superior quality in quantities that defy common sense!]
[The system marvels at your Mining ability, which transcends imagination.]
[Effect 1. Skill Experience gain from all Crafting-series Skills increases by an additional 50%.]
[Effect 2. When Crafting, there is now a low probability that a “Great Success” will occur, raising the grade of the crafted item by one tier.]
‘What is this? Getting an Achievement? Here?’
Geumson was momentarily dazed by the flood of messages.
A 50% bonus to Crafting Skill experience?
Combined with the 100% Skill Experience increase from the Narcissist title, he could now master Crafting Skills 2.5 times faster than anyone else.
True, unlike the Narcissist bonus, this Achievement’s effect was limited to Crafting Skills, which was slightly disappointing.
But it was hardly a problem.
And the fact that there exists a “Great Success” probability—however slim—that other players simply don’t have is an enormous advantage.
‘The difference between having a success probability and having none is vast.’
Zero percent means something is entirely impossible.
But even the most brutal of odds…
One percent, or even 0.1%—the mere existence of a success probability changes everything.
Especially for a blacksmith who crafts with his own hands.
‘If the odds are slim, I just brute-force it with volume.’
So long as a probability exists, no matter how minuscule, infinite attempts would eventually yield success.
Then, a new thought occurred to him.
What if he crafted Lepion’s highest-grade item—a Mythic Grade artifact?
And what if this effect applied to that crafted item?
‘Is there even anything beyond Mythic Grade? What would happen?’
He found himself curious about what would happen if this effect activated on a Mythic Grade item.
But that was a question for the distant future.
For now, he was simply elated to have gained an unexpected new Achievement.
While Geumson was quietly exulting inside, Tuban finally came to his senses.
He looked at Geumson with eyes entirely different from before.
“What’s your name?”
Only now did Tuban ask for it.
His expression had grown considerably more serious than at first.
To such a Tuban, Geumson replied,
“Geumson.”
“Geumson, is it? A fine name. Suits a blacksmith well.”
Tuban no longer called him a boy.
He clapped Geumson on the shoulder and laughed heartily.
With his acknowledgment came a message.
[Class Quest: Tuban’s Doubt completed!]
[You have acquired the Blacksmith profession.]
[You have acquired the Smelting skill.]
[Tuban’s Affinity has risen to maximum.]
Geumson smiled as he read the messages.
Now he had truly reached his starting point.
More so, having acquired the Smelting skill, his next steps were clear.
“Would it be alright if I used the Blacksmith Shop for a moment?”
“The Blacksmith Shop? Want to try some smelting?”
“Yes. I’d like to give it a try if I may.”
Tuban seemed to consider for a moment.
It was true that he’d acknowledged Geumson as a blacksmith.
But this was only the beginning.
To become a proper blacksmith, one had to learn the fundamentals first.
Ordinarily, he would have scolded this stranger—no, Geumson—for trying to run before he could walk.
Surely he would have.
‘But I’m curious.’
A request he would normally have refused outright.
The Tuban before him was different now.
His Affinity with Geumson had maxed out, yes, but Tuban himself had grown curious.
Geumson, who had exceeded all expectations in the simple task of Mining alone.
So when this same Geumson stepped forward to attempt smelting, Tuban couldn’t help but wonder.
“Fine. Since I was dismissive of you at first, I’ll allow it. But do you mind if I watch from your side?”
“Of course, I wouldn’t mind at all.”
“Good. It’s unlikely you’ll succeed at smelting on your first try, but give it your best.”
Tuban seemed intent on observing Geumson’s work like a proper mentor.
Geumson had come to this place wanting to become a blacksmith.
His will had been confirmed.
But his talent—that was still unknown.
This appeared to be Tuban’s chance to assess it.
Whoosh—
Whatever Tuban might have been thinking, Geumson deftly began preparing for his work.
The furnace’s flames roared fiercely, consuming the iron ore.
Geumson worked the bellows, adjusting the temperature of the fire.
His eyes fixed solely on the iron ore glowing a fierce crimson.
Geumson, who had failed to prevent the cataclysm.
Now that same Geumson kindled the first flame anew in Lepion.
That flame burned more fiercely still in Geumson’s gaze.
More intense than any spark from his past life, from any moment before.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————