Arte's Aspiration (1)

(God-Forged Crown)

Hyun-soo marveled at it the moment he checked the details.

This crown offered benefits both as a blacksmith and as a source of raw power.

For starters, it boosted all owned masteries by 2 levels without any conditions.

Sword Mastery, Bow Mastery, Shield Mastery, and more.

Hyun-soo had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at least seven masteries under his belt.

Thanks to the effects embedded in his Blacksmith of God title.

Just the Sword Mastery alone jumped two levels, boosting cutting power and basic sword attack strength by 6%.

On top of that, the 50% status ailment resistance would shine in battles against boss-level monsters.

'Artifact creation time reduced by 20%? What's that about?'

Hyun-soo was a hands-on blacksmith.

So a reduction in creation time felt foreign to him.

'Does it only apply to auto-fabrication?'

Auto-fabrication could just shave off 20% of the time, after all.

He soon pulled up the detailed explanation.

"……!?"

Hyun-soo felt the rule apply to him immediately.

Considering his creations took 4-5 days each, this shaved off a full day!

He could guess why it included fire resistance too.

'I'm always battling flames inside the forge.'

The forge interior often exceeded 50 degrees.

Ever been to a sauna?

Even the steamy ones that blasted intense heat topped out around 40 degrees.

Higher fire resistance meant better tolerance to the heat, less fatigue.

'In marathon blacksmithing sessions spanning days, that translates to better artifacts.'

Hyun-soo was impressed.

Then, slowly, he donned the white crown.

The real absurdity of this white crown, in Hyun-soo's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mind, came down to this.

'Stackable artifact……!'

He'd heard of them before.

Rare artifacts, fewer than ten in the entire world.

Stackable artifacts lived up to the name—they could stack.

Normally, Hyun-soo wore Fenrir's Helmet.

Its defense was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠249.

But he could layer the God-Forged Crown on top.

Total defense: 249 + 101 = 350.

All special abilities from both applied simultaneously.

Hyun-soo equipped the God-Forged Crown on his head.

Swoosh—

The stylish crown vanished seamlessly.

Hyun-soo loved this reward from God Asuka.

That's when Sage Arte approached.

"My friend, could you grant me a favor?"

Through him, Hyun-soo realized there were more rewards to claim here.

Sage Arte.

He harbored a deep aspiration.

He'd never asked anyone to fulfill it before.

Especially not the legends.

It was too embarrassing.

'Divine Recognition 227%......'

But that 227% recognition sparked a flicker of hope in Arte's heart.

"A request? I'd like to hear it first."

"I've spent 300 years seeking certain items—things imbued with the power to heal any wound or illness."

"For example?"

"Elf Essence, said to come from the elves' mother. Divine Holy Water descended from the land of God Ares. Or the Giant King's Blood, slumbering somewhere in this world."

Arte revealed the reward.

"Bring them to me, and I'll grant you one chance to ask me a question. It'll probably take quite some time, I imagine."

To Arte, it seemed obvious.

But then Hyun-soo replied.

"I can do it right away."

Arte couldn't help but be baffled.

"Confidence is good, but this isn't easy—even I, who knows all the world's information, couldn't find them."

"……For me, it is."

Arte was dumbfounded.

Was he always this arrogant and cocky?

"If you manage it in a week, I'll give you two questions. It's not simple, so don't approach it lightly."

"You'll really give me two questions?"

Arte thumped his chest.

"A man's word is his bond, as they say. I, Sage Arte, swear on my name."

At that moment.

Swoosh—

Hyun-soo pulled something from his inventory.

Then he flashed a thumbs-up and a bright smile.

Arte panicked.

'Why is the Giant King's Blood coming out of there……?'

Hyun-soo was stunned the moment he heard Arte's words.

'Huh? Giant King's Blood?'

And Arte offered a question in exchange.

Hyun-soo was clever.

Arte was a sage, after all.

But even a sage couldn't do everything.

In fact, Arte knew all information but wasn't a powerhouse.

He steered the situation.

Gently, smoothly.

And when he swore on his name.

The quest completed in one second.

Hyun-soo spoke to Arte, who reached for the Giant King's Blood.

"Questions first."

Arte nodded readily.

"Tell me how to become a legend."

This was Hyun-soo's top curiosity right now.

The legendary rank no user had reached.

And Hyun-soo wanted to be a king too.

A user becoming king?

Countless in Ares said it wouldn't happen even in 10 years.

But if Hyun-soo became a legend, the story changed.

It could become reality.

Arte, gazing at him, replied.

"By creating an artifact of a new grade."

"……!"

Hyun-soo was genuinely shocked.

'A new grade?'

A completely unfamiliar grade, one only he could create.

His heart raced.

'An artifact unique to Ares.'

Hyun-soo asked.

"How do I create one?"

Arte looked at him like it was obvious.

"You must surpass legends by a mile. Far more difficult than anything you've made so far."

Arte found him a bit insolent.

'He has it and pretends not to!?'

So he emphasized a bit.

'Something not of this land, created anew......'

Even Arte could only imagine it.

'I wouldn't know how to craft it now.'

Leave it to luck and skill?

Then Hyun-soo's expression turned serious.

"My second question."

Arte leaned in.

"Tell me the mineral most suited to me."

"……!?"

It seemed simple, but no.

The best fit. The most worthy. What he needed.

Crafting with it would synergize stronger than usual.

'Clever one.'

Hyun-soo knew this was his only path to legend better than anyone.

"You may feel a brief discomfort. It's part of finding the mineral suited to you—accept it calmly."

One of Arte's traits activated.

Arte examined Hyun-soo's creations.

'Oh......?'

Interesting works.

'Artifacts based on sagas? Even more astonishing—God Ares acknowledged them, granting fitting power. How perfectly crafted......'

Irritating, but one mineral came to mind.

"……A mineral perfectly suited to you exists."

Within his knowledge, it would unleash peak power for Hyun-soo, with unimaginable synergy.

"What is it?"

Hyun-soo was curious.

The mineral most worthy of him.

Revealed by Sage Arte, no less.

"Saga Stone."

Arte explained the mineral.

"A special ore that grows stronger, yields greater power, when imbued with stories."

Hyun-soo was awed.

He understood why Arte chose Saga Stone.

"Saga Stone is legendary grade, and for you—who's birthed countless masterpieces from handed-down tales—it's the perfect fit."

"How do I obtain it?"

"That's it. I can't say more."

A shame.

But Hyun-soo realized knowing this alone brought him a step closer to legend.

Hyun-soo looked puzzled.

'Why did Arte search for Giant King's Blood for 300 years?'

An incurable wound?

He shook his head at Arte's outstretched hand.

"It can be used once, so I'll apply it to the wound myself."

"……."

Soon Arte sat demurely before him.

'Why lower himself?'

Then Arte's bald scalp—bald for 300 years—revealed itself.

"……."

"……."

Hyun-soo teared up. Arte teared up.

Hyun-soo watched Arte stroke his newly grown hair, swishing luxuriously.

The Giant King's Blood was incredibly potent.

"Ahem."

To the embarrassed Arte, Hyun-soo just gave a thumbs-up.

Then.

Hyun-soo looked puzzled again.

The quest was already done.

Why this notification?

'These usually mean......'

A new story.

Something of higher difficulty.

Hyun-soo was becoming an Ares veteran.

Arte spoke.

"One who slays the Giant King... I can have expectations."

Hyun-soo faced Arte, who drew near.

"Do you know why I'm a legend?"

An absurd question.

'Obviously, because he knows all the world's information......'

Then Hyun-soo frowned.

Something was off.

To become a legend, he needed a new grade.

Sword King Barad.

Heavenly Spear Ben.

Figures like Ruwon dominated Ares.

Frankly, becoming a legend just from knowing info made no sense.

"It's because of my trait."

The notifications signaled something extraordinary beginning.

"Let me tell you about my trait."

Hyun-soo focused on Arte.

The trait that made him a legend—what was it?

"I can create skills."

"……!?"

Hyun-soo was stunned.

'C-create skills?'

The possibilities were endless.

"I can create a skill tailored solely for you, unleashing your peak power."

A skill to elevate his territory.

One to make him stronger.

Or to find talent.

Or blacksmith-related.

Its potential was boundless.

"Will you hear my true aspiration?"

At the end, a notification rang.