Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Restoration of the Gakgung (4)
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Ron stared at the auction item that had appeared before him, his expression trembling.
[Auction starting price: 500 Gold.]
The starting bid was five times higher than that of the first sword.
The newly listed item was a bow.
(Hyeon's Second Bow)
Grade: Rare
Durability: 2,400/2,400
Attack Power: 94
Requirement: Level 0~60
Special Abilities:
· Agility +7.
· Accuracy +13%.
· Passive Skill: Powerful Shot.
· Passive Skill: Piercing Arrow.
Description: A bow made exclusively from materials found in the beginner zone, the likes of which will be difficult to ever see again.
As Ron examined Hyeon's Second Bow, his heart pounded.
‘What is this? How did he make it…?’
He couldn’t understand.
Just then, his vice guild master, Kei, rushed over to him.
“Guild Master, did you see?”
Ron nodded.
“It’s insane. A truly insane artifact!”
Ron couldn’t deny it. Kei continued, his voice filled with excitement.
“This one was also made in the beginner zone. A bow made in the beginner zone has an attack power of 94.”
Bows inherently had lower base attack power than swords.
That was because a bow’s total damage was calculated from the bow’s attack power plus the arrow’s attack power.
And it was only natural for attack power to increase as the item’s level requirement rose, since higher-level users would be the ones equipping it.
“On top of that, it has two skills among its special abilities. And they’re pretty decent skills, too.”
Ron and Kei had no choice but to rate this bow highly.
“How did someone craft an artifact with a level 0 to 60 requirement in the beginner zone…?”
Hyeon’s first sword had also been crafted in the beginner zone.
Since users in the beginner zone were level 1 and used materials with no level requirements, it made sense that their creations would have no level requirement.
So how could someone create an item with a level 0 to 60 requirement in the beginner zone?
Furthermore, the owner of Hyeon’s Smithy was still presumed to be level 1.
“Take a look at this.”
Kei brought up a hologram.
“This is a bow that Black crafted when he was level 10. The level requirement, 0 to 60, is the same.”
Black was currently the number one ranked blacksmith in Korea.
(Orc Fang Bow)
Grade: Rare
Durability: 1,100/1,100
Attack Power: 76
Requirement: Level 0~60
Special Abilities:
· Agility +2.
· Critical Hit Damage +13%.
· Passive Skill: Quick Reload.
· Active Skill: Farshot.
Description: A bow made from an orc’s fang. It is quite well-made and suitable for general use.
The difference between the two was clear. The bow being sold by Hyeon’s Smithy was overwhelmingly superior.
They had the same requirement and the same Rare grade.
Kei wore an expression of disbelief.
“Guild Master…”
“Yeah, it’s that.”
There was only one way for there to be such a stark difference between two items of the same Rare grade.
Only one possibility came to both of their minds.
“The class.”
“The skills.”
The two spoke at the same time.
“This pretty much confirms it, doesn’t it? The owner of Hyeon’s Smithy has a legendary class.”
Ron’s heart pounded in his chest.
The reason the two were so certain.
Among a blacksmith’s skills, effects like these existed.
‘When crafting a Rare artifact, all effects increase by 9%.’
‘When crafting an Epic artifact, all effects increase by 11%.’
But comparing the Orc Fang Bow and Hyeon's Second Bow, there was a performance gap of nearly 20%.
Frankly, while it fell a little short, Hyeon's Second Bow could pass for an Epic-grade item.
“There’s no way to create such a gap between artifacts of the same grade without a legendary class.”
As Ron said this, he was suddenly reminded of Smith, the world’s number one ranked blacksmith.
Smith.
His real name was also Smith, and he was someone Ron admired.
Smith was known to have provided a great deal of assistance in the blacksmithing department during the development of the game Ares.
Moreover, Smith had once said this:
‘It’s possible to craft an outstanding high-grade artifact even from a crude design by utilizing one’s class, skills, level, and titles. After all, we receive help from the system. But there is a way to craft an even more superior artifact.’
At the time, Ron had been focused on him, wanting to become like Smith.
‘Not crudely, but with precision and perfection. If you can achieve that state and then receive the effects of your class, skills, level, and titles on top of it, the result will be a magnificent artifact the likes of which we have never seen.’
It was something Ron couldn’t dare to imitate.
Of course, he too could craft artifacts with precision and care under the influence of his level and skills.
But he knew that wasn’t what Smith was talking about.
It was about truly understanding the essence of a weapon or a piece of armor.
On one’s own, not through the system.
‘Impossible.’
It was possible for Smith because his actual profession was a blacksmith, but for 99.9% of the existing blacksmiths, it was an impossible feat.
And for that reason, Ron had never even considered it a possibility.
‘To think it’s pure skill… that’s just absurd.’
As he was lost in thought.
[Current bid: 970 Gold.]
[Current bid: 990 Gold.]
“Guild Master, the bid keeps rising. What should we do?”
“Keep up for now. Those bastards, they’ve caught the scent.”
How many blacksmith guilds were there in South Korea?
Just like him, others had been waiting for Hyeon's Smithy to prove its worth, and now that it had, they were all trying to win the bid.
For the same reason as them.
To establish a connection, no matter what.
“This is the second legendary class blacksmith after the world’s number one, Smith. We can’t miss this. Tell them to put in an exclusive offer right now. No, wait.”
Kei watched Ron, who was failing to hide his excitement, a rare sight.
“What should I do?” Ron muttered to himself, then said.
“I’ll make the offer myself. And don't bid an absurd amount. The other guilds will stop eventually if the price gets too high.”
Ron let out a wry smile as he watched the number of his subscribers increase in real time.
“They won’t want it to become a big issue, either.”
Ron immediately clicked on the message icon to compose a message to send to Hyeon’s Smithy.
‘We will bring him in, no matter what.’
This was the first time Ron had ever wanted to recruit someone this badly.
[Hello. This is Ron, the Master of the Golden Shield Guild.]
He began to write his proposal.
***
Hyun-soo stretched his body to its limits.
“Ughhh!”
He had been cooped up in the lord’s castle smithy for over 50 days in game time.
After listing Hyeon’s Second Bow on the auction house yesterday, he had logged out immediately.
He had also gotten a good night's sleep for the first time in a while.
Hyun-soo, who had a quick breakfast and lunch of cereal, gave a bitter smile.
‘If you subtract the cost of the capsule, I’m in the red…’
He had acquired a VVIP capsule for a month.
And while he had earned 1 million won from selling Hyeon's First Sword, considering that a month had passed in real time, he might as well have been operating at a loss.
‘I’m almost out of money, too.’
He had spent nearly all of the 1 million won in his bank account.
‘I’ll have to exchange some currency.’
The earnings from selling the sword and the profits from the sale of the bow this time.
‘Well, I guess this is how you move forward, step by step.’
Considering he was still only level 1, it wasn’t a bad result.
‘But at this rate, when will I ever be able to treat my burn scars…?’
He wanted to go out into the world.
He just wanted to walk through the world like any ordinary person.
Having finished his simple meal, Hyun-soo logged back into Ares.
With a pleased expression, he re-examined the things he had obtained yesterday.
First, the swordsmanship.
(Prime Swordsmanship)
Active Skill
Grade: Epic
Level: 1 Proficiency: 0%
A swordsmanship skill.
· Chapter 1: The Unyielding.
· Chapter 2: Vital Strike.
· Chapter 3: Rampage.
(Chapter 1: The Unyielding)
Active Skill
Mana Cost: 30
Cooldown: 5 minutes.
Effect:
· For 1 minute, increases Physical Attack Power by 13%, Slicing Power by 7%, and Critical Hit Chance by 20%.
(Chapter 2: Vital Strike)
Active Skill
Mana Cost: 20
Cooldown: 1 minute
Effect:
· Identifies the enemy’s vital points. A successful vital point attack deals 45% additional damage.
· 15% chance to deal 60% damage.
(Chapter 3: Rampage)
Active Skill
Mana Cost: 50
Cooldown: 10 minutes.
Effect:
· For 20 seconds, unleashes a barrage of indiscriminate attacks on all recognized enemies within a 10m radius.
· During Rampage, Attack Speed increases by 70% and Physical Attack Power increases by 30%.
The Prime Swordsmanship he had learned from Vans was excellent.
‘As the skill proficiency increases, it’ll level up, so…’
It was a swordsmanship skill good enough to use all the way to level 100.
It was an incredible power, especially considering Hyun-soo’s production class.
Next was the Water Buffalo Horn Bow that Hyun-soo had crafted for his own use.
(Water Buffalo Horn Bow)
Grade: Epic
Durability: 3,000/3,000
Attack Power: 128
Requirement: None for the creator. Level 0~70 for others.
Special Abilities:
· Bow Accuracy +60%.
· Active Skill: Armor Breaker.
· Active Skill: Sure Shot.
Description: A masterwork bow born from the fingertips of a master craftsman in the beginner zone, the likes of which will never be seen again.
The Water Buffalo Horn Bow didn’t increase his stats, but the 60% increase in bow accuracy was a huge merit.
In truth, Hyun-soo was clueless when it came to archery, and that accuracy bonus would serve to assist him.
Moreover, Hyun-soo had deliberately made the Water Buffalo Horn Bow easy to use.
‘Is that why it has a bow accuracy bonus?’
And finally.
(Armor of the Mad Lord)
Grade: Rare
Durability: 2,000/2,000
Defense: 119
Requirement: None.
Special Abilities:
· Strength +4, Stamina +2, Agility +1.
· Passive Skill: Damage Reflection.
· Passive Skill: Damage Reduction.
Description: Armor once worn by the legendary Mad Lord. After 300 years, many parts had been broken, but a certain blacksmith has repaired it cleanly.
The once-rusted Armor of the Mad Lord was now quite shiny.
Furthermore, after Hyun-soo had repaired it, several sealed special abilities had been added.
A prime example was the Damage Reflection passive skill.
It was a skill that reflected an enemy’s attack with a 3% chance.
Before leaving the smithy, Hyun-soo did a final check.
‘I said my goodbyes to the lord yesterday…’
Now, the only thing to check was the auction house.
He had logged out last night and logged back in around noon, so quite some time had passed.
‘I wonder if it sold for more than the last one?’
To be honest, he had some concerns.
The blacksmith from the Golden Shield Guild, Blam, had proudly stated in his blind purchase review that he had intentionally paid a high price.
Hyun-soo had an inkling as to why he had said that and spent the money.
‘It certainly left an impression.’
Hyun-soo checked the auction price.
[Auction starting price: 500 Gold.]
[Current bid: 1,950 Gold.]
“…Huh?”
Hyun-soo rubbed his eyes.
But the number before him did not change.
No, in fact, it was still climbing.
[Current bid: 2,000 Gold.]
[Current bid: 2,050 Gold.]
‘Two million won?’
A gasp of admiration escaped his lips.
Someone was going to buy a single artifact for 2 million won?
And then he discovered another, even more surprising fact.
[Current Subscribers: 3,205.]
The number of subscribers had multiplied tenfold overnight.
On top of that, his inbox was flooded with hundreds of messages.
Most were about exclusive contracts, just like last time, and there were also a few messages from individual users requesting custom artifact productions.
Among them, one stood out.
[Hello. This is the Master of the Golden Shield Guild…]
“The Master of the Golden Shield Guild?”
Hyun-soo clicked on it with a puzzled expression.
[Hello. This is Ron, the Master of the Golden Shield Guild. As Ares’s second legendary class user, my expectations for Hyeon's Smithy are incredibly high.]
“…?”
What was he talking about?
Hyun-soo couldn’t understand. He opened and closed his own status window for a moment.
‘I’m classless, though…?’
He continued reading.
[I will be direct. I would like to extend an offer to recruit you, Hyeon of Hyeon’s Smithy, into the Golden Shield Guild.]
It was the result he had expected.
However, what was written below was quite shocking.
[The signing bonus is 200 million won. This is the condition for you, Hyeon, to join our guild.]
“…200 million?”
Hyun-soo’s eyes went wide.