Babylon (3)

As mentioned, every notification has a reason.

The Blacksmith God Heir class.

Hyun-soo, the sole possessor of it, could uniquely sense God's Ore.

He could also easily read Babylon's emotions.

Those were the reasons behind the first notification that had rung out, revealed one by one like solving a workbook.

And Hyun-soo's prediction had been spot on.

When he finished reading Babylon's emotions, a quest notification appeared.

Hyun-soo nearly fainted in shock.

A user walking the path of the Sword God.

And the quest title itself was Sword God, and Blacksmith of God.

In other words, both the quest and the current situation were telling him this.

If he succeeded, Hyun-soo would become someone who had earned the Sword God's favor.

But after checking Babylon's current state, he concluded definitively.

It was impossible.

As he had already explained to Bahala.

And just like the reason there was no penalty on failure.

'This isn't a quest meant to be completed.'

Hyun-soo explained everything point by point to Bahala before accepting the commission.

He didn't show that he knew the man was walking the path of the Sword God.

He only watched as the man, after entrusting the restoration, slumped his shoulders and trudged away before logging out.

Hyun-soo gave a wry smile.

'The sense of loss when you realize what you've gained falls short of your expectations is indescribable.'

Moreover, the quest notification made it clear.

That Babylon would help the Sword God walk their path more steadfastly.

But he shouldn't give false hope.

However.

'I'll give it my all.'

Of course, the reasons for accepting the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠commission were varied and intertwined.

The commission fee he offered, perhaps a bond with the Sword God.

And most decisively, it would serve as a learning experience and another stepping stone for Hyun-soo's growth.

He whispered to Nel.

Hyun-soo wondered if Nel might know something.

Well, even Hyun-soo hadn't known divine classes existed beyond his own.

"……!?"

Hyun-soo panicked.

He had known it would be someone beyond his wildest imagination.

With server integration, he'd encounter many hidden powerhouses.

But this was beyond powerhouse level.

The apex users of each nation.

Currently, in Korea, that was Hyun-soo himself.

Bahala stood above all other apex users.

Learning this, Hyun-soo asked Kabel.

'Why did you send Bahala to me?'

The meaning was clear right away.

Kabel wanted to protect Bokdeongi.

To do that, Atlas had to be protected as well.

Hyun-soo looked outside the forge.

He could almost see the afterimage of Kabel walking Bokdeongi.

That afterimage was looking at him.

"……."

Hyun-soo realized he was one of the people Kabel had to protect.

Proven in the Endless Maze.

Proven in the current Atlas.

But Hyun-soo knew.

"It all depends on my hands."

Even if he couldn't do it, he resolved to give it his all.

Clang—

Babylon placed on the anvil.

His best now was merely turning this consumable into a superior consumable.

'Myeolak currently deals 40% damage. I need to raise it to 70% and boost the durability too.'

Durability of 50.

In truth, if Myeolak at 70% activated, Bahala would achieve his goal.

The problem was Babylon's durability of 50.

As mentioned, his prediction was that it couldn't withstand skill use.

'The moment power infuses it, Babylon will shatter.'

Thus, Myeolak wouldn't even reach a demon before crumbling.

Yes, Babylon in its current form.

He defined it thus.

'Pretty trash.'

Gleaming on the outside, but unable to even use Myeolak.

The reason it could gleam at all was thanks to 100g of God's Ore.

'If ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠its creator was that great, they would have compensated for the durability of 50.'

Hyun-soo pondered.

'Bahala wants permanence. Is there truly no way to achieve it?'

He had declared to himself there wasn't and told Bahala as much.

It was only natural.

He couldn't torment him with false hope for something nearly impossible.

Yet he still searched for a way.

'100g more would solve it.'

The problem was obtaining that 100g.

Even if it existed and he got it, if it was a different type of God's Ore?

'Incompatible synergy, no desired effect.'

Impossible. He'd sink into the swamp of what a blacksmith couldn't do.

Closing his eyes in thought, Hyun-soo shook his head.

As he opened them, his hammer caught his eye.

'Huh?'

That hammer was the one he'd gotten from blacksmith examiner Books.

And another hammer he owned flashed in his mind.

'Could it be……?'

He checked it.

Notable was the replication of consumables.

20% chance to replicate what is being made.

'This could work……?'

Hyun-soo didn't use Daeng's Hammer of Replication.

It was another shiny dud.

It replicated consumables being made at 20%.

Blacksmiths in Ares had very few consumables to craft.

Arrows, maybe.

No need to use this when better hammers abounded for replicating arrows.

But this hammer synergized massively with Babylon.

'Babylon is one of those rare consumable artifacts.'

Ares was full of consumables, but consumable artifacts were nearly nonexistent.

Blacksmiths didn't waste expensive ores on consumables.

This idea struck.

'20% chance.'

A low probability.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

And this hammer was overall inferior to Books' hammer.

'But if the 20% triggers?'

Hyun-soo could get an extra Babylon.

Melting it would yield 100g of God's Ore.

Then, he could turn the consumable permanent.

But.

'Too risky to bet on 20%.'

But there was another way.

Rumble—

Hyun-soo lit the furnace.

Whoosh—

What he threw in: the Hammer of Replication.

Consumables' pros and cons: superior effects, but limited uses.

Permanents' pros and cons: average effects, but infinite uses.

Hyun-soo needed consumables' pros and cons.

'Turn the Hammer of Replication into a consumable.'

That would boost the odds.

And pour all other special abilities into replication.

Impossible for other blacksmiths, but possible for Hyun-soo.

Thanks to his unique Custom Repair effect.

And Hyun-soo knew.

'When replicated, its greatest power will come from this Babylon.'

Yes, this method could only be used once.

So, craft the ultimate consumable hammer for maximum synergy.

Clang!

Clang!

And soon, it was complete.

God was helping Hyun-soo.

His obsession to turn impossible into possible.

Now, the consumable-converted Hammer of Replication held two stages superior effects.

It didn't stop there.

He confirmed the power of Replicate Consumable.

Now, 60% chance to replicate.

Of course, one use and it vanishes.

'Need even higher odds.'

Hyun-soo had accumulated many enhancement stones from hunting named monsters.

Enhancement stones vary probability by artifact grade.

And skyrocket for consumables.

But no one wastes blessed enhancement stones on consumables.

They were too expensive for mere consumables.

But Babylon was different.

'If I can duplicate 100g of God's Ore, I can use a hundred of them.'

Clang—!

+1 Enhancement.

Clang!

+2 Enhancement.

Clang, clang, clang, clang—

After slathering on insanely expensive enhancement stones, it was done.

An enhancement level possible only because it was a consumable.

Hyun-soo checked the superior Replicate Consumable.

'This is the best I can do.'

70% for one replication.

It had risen this far.

Enhancements didn't purely boost desired effects.

70% replication was the limit, with other bonuses added.

But he wasn't complacent.

'If luck is bad, 30% failure wastes the hammer on vanishing.'

One shot only.

Hyun-soo placed Babylon in the furnace.

Rumble—

Using the Hammer of Replication, he poured all his strength into restoration.

When the promised time arrived.

The final step.

Completion notification rang.

'Please, please, please, please…….'

He prayed the 30% bad luck wouldn't strike.

Hyun-soo cheered at the notification.

Replication success.

And…….

'Huh?'

***

"Prepare 4 billion."

Hyun-soo's confident expression.

Bahala couldn't believe it as he watched him grip two Babylons.

Hyun-soo explained everything.

"Replicate an artifact? Is that possible?"

"Normally impossible, so I pulled out all the stops to defy the norm."

Bahala nodded in agreement.

Normally impossible.

He must have given it his all.

If a notification had rung, it would have been like this.

And Bahala had something to do here.

"Pardon the late introduction. I am Bahala."

He who never revealed his name to anyone.

By volunteering it, it was clear: Bahala was showing respect to Master Craftsman Hyun-soo.

"I entrust you with the perfect Babylon."

Bahala felt infinite trust.

With the base 100g, plus 100g made his way, he could believe.

And knowing his identity, Hyun-soo accepted calmly.

"I'll give it my all again this time."

Hyun-soo turned away.

Soon after, Bahala vanished.

After he left.

Rumble—

He tossed both Babylons into the furnace.

'Who would've thought it'd turn out like this.'

Calming his trembling heart, Hyun-soo checked his inventory.

Just now, he'd thrown two Babylons into the furnace, but two more remained in his inventory.

Recall the notification.

Yes.

Hyun-soo had said it replicated, but never how many.

'Now these are mine.'

Hyun-soo smiled contentedly. Then he grinned.

'Heh heh heh heh heh.'

Materials' power depends on who obtains them.

The moment a Master Craftsman secured the best materials.