Masterpiece (2)
Hyun-soo's forge.
Hyun-soo recalled his conversation with Nel.
'Someone accepted a crafting commission, right? Is there a reason for that?'
Hyun-soo had already told Nel it was because the man was desperate.
Though it might seem like he didn't check, Hyun-soo occasionally reviewed the countless recruitment restrictions and crafting commission notes at Hyun's Forge.
Right now, a flood of high-rankers were sending him notes.
But among them, only one—Ian—had sent crafting commission notes for over a month, nearly 100 days, and kept posting on Hyun's Forge.
'Even in the face of public ridicule.'
That spoke volumes about his desperation.
It also tied into his father's blacksmithing spirit.
His father never sold weapons to just anyone.
'Hyun-soo, our profession is one that helps the desperate—those who want something so badly it consumes them. Fulfilling that desperation will bring blessings back to us.'
And Hyun-soo had seen that desperation fulfilled once before.
Ian's note at Hyun's Forge.
I can only use the composite bow. I vividly remember shooting it with my father as a child.
He wanted to ask more.
2040.
In a world that had turned its back on Korea's traditional bow, the composite bow.
Instead, recurve archery had become the Olympic event embraced worldwide.
And in Ares, the composite bow was a rarity, barely seen at all. Why cling to it?
I've always believed the composite bow is a source of pride for our people. Back in the Joseon era, there were three iconic weapons representing China, Japan, and Korea.
It wasn't just fondness for the composite bow.
He understood it deeply.
China had the spear, Japan the matchlock, and Korea the bow.
The matchlock looked the most powerful.
The matchlock's range was 80 meters. And the bow our Japanese neighbors mocked—the composite bow with baby arrows—reached 200 meters.
Plus figures like Yi Seong-gye, Yi Sun-sin, Jumong...
Hyun-soo smiled reading those words.
Those stories shaped me, putting the composite bow in my hands. Here's my stat window and skill window.
It was rare for a high-ranker to share their stat and skill windows.
Those were their secrets, their aces.
His bow mastery was a mere Beginner Lv.3.
Beginner level, literally.
But his unique composite bow mastery had reached Supreme Lv.5.
The moment he saw it, one truth hit home.
'The one who can shoot the bow I craft the best.'
It was Ian.
Of course, Hyun-soo could craft recurve bows too.
But Ian's understanding of the composite bow ran deeper.
The combo of the best shooter and best maker creates unmatched synergy.
Of course, that wasn't the only reason.
I'll pay 30% above the completed bow's value.
He'd offered that much extra.
And Hyun-soo had already decided what to craft, deep in his mind.
He sent the details, and a reply came quick.
If that's really possible and it satisfies me...
A bit later, another reply.
I'll make one promotional video for Hyun's Forge. Three years ago, I was a video editor—pretty famous. I quit when I started Ares. Hyun's Forge is ranked 23rd now, pushed down after the Dragon Light Sword unboxing.
Hyun-soo looked surprised.
'Video editor?'
Truth be told, he knew little about that world.
But he knew skilled video editors in 2040 were hard to buy, even with money.
Top Ares guilds all had at least one.
Promotion was that crucial.
I'll get you back inside the top 20.
Hyun-soo was stunned.
Ian's confidence sparked excitement.
'Climb three ranks with just one video?'
AJ Internet's unboxing teaser flashed in his mind.
It had drawn tens of thousands of viewers with just a preview.
'As expected.'
Hyun-soo knew his instincts were right.
He didn't know why Ian quit editing.
But fulfilling his desperation had prompted this gesture in return.
'Time to get started?'
Hyun-soo pulled materials from his inventory.
The Supreme Small World Tree.
◈ Archer-related skills + up to 4 levels.
◈ Fire attribute attack power + up to 431%.
◈ Fire attribute skills up to Legend.
◈ Arrow penetration +120%.
◈ Accuracy +130%.
◈ Critical hit chance +80%.
◈ Durability up to infinite.
Supreme difficulty.
That meant an incredibly finicky material.
This haul could make exactly two bows.
'Supreme difficulty, huh.'
Hyun-soo began crafting.
***
Ho-beom—Ian—was thrilled.
'Could I actually get a legendary bow?'
Blacksmith Hyun had made more legendary artifacts than anyone in Ares.
'Keep it secret for now.'
He wasn't dumb enough to blab everywhere.
Once the commission was accepted, he searched up Hyun.
And stumbled on a shocking post.
Blacksmith community.
From an anonymous poster, presumed top-10 blacksmith ranker.
'Something we don't know?'
Ho-beom frowned curiously.
'Whoa...!'
Ho-beom was overjoyed instead.
'Three legendary artifacts!?'
But the next lines furrowed his brow.
"...Only swords?"
Yes, all three were swords.
Ho-beom felt a jolt.
The post wasn't blind hate.
Fair where due.
And the comments below.
Ho-beom could only wipe his dry face.
'What if it's true?'
For him, a top-tier composite bow was his only shot at solving his crisis.
Without it, he'd drop out of the top 50 soon.
Ian's worries deepened.
***
Hyun-soo's hands moved with expert grace as he worked.
He'd once restored Lord Bans's composite bow from the beginner zone.
This Small World Tree was tougher.
The material was notoriously tricky.
Yet Hyun-soo tamed it with masterful strokes.
One secret people didn't know.
'They might think swords are my best.'
Sure, he excelled at swords.
But if given the finest materials and free choice, he'd pick without hesitation.
'A composite bow.'
Not innate talent alone.
His father's forge with Kang Hyun-tae.
Surprisingly, sword and composite bow commissions were neck-and-neck.
Why?
'True swords are hard to hobby with.'
Yet Korea still had many hooked on the composite bow's allure.
Like young Ian.
Thus, swords and bows dominated requests.
Between father and son, one shone brighter per weapon.
Hyun-soo on bows, father on swords.
Hyun-soo handled composite bows, father swords.
Father had said,
'You're the best bowmaker I know.'
Hyun-soo had smirked bitterly.
'With so few blacksmiths around.'
But father shook his head.
'Not that. You have a gift for bows. In Jumong's era, out of thousands of blacksmiths, he'd have chosen you.'
'Ahem.'
'But swords? You're behind me.'
'Whoa...?'
Not master craftsman level behind, of course.
Take soccer players.
Eleven pros average 100 talent vs. normals at 70.
Even among them, 108s and 110s stand out.
Hyun-soo's general skill was that elite tier.
But bowcrafting? 120, 130—immeasurable.
That was Hyun-soo's bowmaking.
Shaped water buffalo horn, tautening bowstring.
'Small World Tree's elasticity defies norms.'
Did Jumong's bow really exist?
Hyun-soo didn't know.
But he envisioned it creatively.
Saga Jumong hit targets at extreme range.
'Meaning strings that endure ultra-tight draws for max distance.'
Blacksmith knowledge plus prime material equals perfection.
Bowstring issue solved.
Now, a bow worthy of Jumong's composite bow.
Soon, tempering over a small flame.
For true Jumong status: range and accuracy.
Opposites.
'Arrow from afar with pinpoint accuracy?'
Impossible in reality.
Absolutely.
Yet...
'It'll work here.'
Displaying a composite bow crafting method beyond common sense.
The most perfect composite bow crafting method.
Why? Reality says no, but the system rewards greatness.
Tempering done, he engraved patterns.
One thing not to forget.
'Small World Tree.'
Its small fire and great fire.
Fire attack boost, fire skills to Legend.
'This is the ultimate fire-attribute weapon material...!'
Gripping the finished bow grip.
Whoosh—!
Flames erupted from the bow, spreading through the forge.
To Hyun-soo, they weren't hot.
But it was the world's fiercest blaze, the one that once tried to burn him.
Soon, all flames sucked back into the bow.
The glowing red grip returned to pristine white.
Fwoosh—!
Hyun-soo had a habit.
Deep in crafting, he ignored all alerts.
Senses reopened, anticipation built.
Legends honed his instincts.
'This'll be legendary.'
This bow deserved it.
So he waited for his fifth legend alert.
But upon sensing again, disappointment hit.
No 'Approaching Legend' amid the alerts.
No 'A new legend is written.'
Hyun-soo gave a wry smile.
'It's just a game, after all.'
Even great bows needed luck.
'Bad luck this time...'
Then, an unexpected alert.