Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Emergency Production (3)
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Purum Inc.
The company that had created the miracle known as the virtual reality game, Ares.
Lee Se-jin called a meeting to inform the executives about the divine-class God of Blacksmiths.
The directors were all voting to implement a patch. In response, Lee Se-jin spoke in a firm voice.
“I refuse.”
“Sir, this is unacceptable. An artifact made with God’s Custom Production recently sold at the auction house for fifty thousand dollars. And it was made by a level 13 player. We have to patch it.”
But Lee Se-jin was resolute.
“From the very beginning, when I created this game, I promised not to interfere with what the users have achieved.”
The directors looked dumbfounded. Right, CEO Lee Se-jin had made a public promise.
That he wouldn’t ruin their accomplishments with something like a patch.
Lee Hae-seok, the head of the story team, who had been listening, spoke up.
“...How is obtaining an absurdly overpowered skill something the user achieved? Isn't it just the power of a divine-level skill?”
The other executives in the room looked on in agreement.
Right, it was all the skill.
That was different from what Lee Se-jin was saying. If it was accomplished through the power of a skill, then it wasn't the user's achievement, was it?
But then, Lee Se-jin, with a blunt expression, looked at Kim Tae-seok, the head of the Special User Management Team.
“Do you think so too?”
“No, sir.”
Kim Tae-seok sighed inwardly.
That ruthless CEO wanted him to explain in his stead.
All the executives turned to look at Kim Tae-seok.
“Why don’t you think so?”
“...Because the skill itself isn’t overpowered to begin with.”
Kim Tae-seok stood up.
Lee Hae-seok, the story team head with the horn-rimmed glasses, looked flabbergasted.
“What do you mean, those skills aren’t overpowered?”
Kim Tae-seok pressed a button on the remote.
The details of the God’s Custom Production skill appeared.
“I recently received some data from CEO Lee Se-jin.”
It was a privilege granted to him for being the first employee to witness the birth of the Divine Class.
“It was data from an experiment. This experiment started with people who knew nothing about blacksmithing—specifically, what would happen if a research team ignorant of blacksmithing obtained God’s Custom Production.”
He pressed the remote again.
The screen changed.
“...Surprisingly, when people ignorant of blacksmithing tried to create an artifact using God’s Custom Production, the success rate for applying the desired effect was only 10% to 15%. Even after hundreds of trials.”
The directors in the room furrowed their brows.
“Didn’t user Hyun-soo’s success rate exceed 60%?”
“It exceeded 60% when he applied the ‘Sword that Cleaves Swords’ skill. And the notification told him: ‘Try to craft a sword worthy of applying the ‘sword that can cleave swords’ effect you’re thinking of.’”
The murmuring in the room grew louder.
“That’s right. God’s Custom Production is, surprisingly, a skill based on actual ability. User Hyun-soo’s extraordinary blacksmithing skill—his experience, understanding, and knowledge. All these various factors enabled him to create a sword that could actually cleave other swords. And if I may add one more thing...”
Kim Tae-seok gave a bitter smile.
He knew what kind of impact his next words would have.
“User Hyun-soo has never once used auto-crafting, nor has he ever learned the auto-crafting skill.”
The directors began to buzz with conversation.
“Incredible... Is that even possible in the 21st century? Are you saying user Hyun-soo has never crafted with the system’s help?”
“He’s created better artifacts through system corrections, but he has never received system assistance in the actual crafting process.”
As all eyes turned back to him, CEO Lee Se-jin nodded his head.
“I had hoped that if someone were to obtain the first Divine Class, it would be someone who doesn't rely on mere luck or fortunate encounters.”
He pressed the remote.
An image of user Hyun-soo swallowing dryly as he watched a giant ghoul charge toward him appeared on the screen.
It was a live feed.
“I thought he might make it to the giant ghoul in the Kassel territory battle, and he actually did. But user Hyun-soo will have a hard time hunting it. At least, right now. However, surprisingly, a new skill is about to be unlocked for him.”
“...A new skill?”
“Yes, you’re aware of it, aren’t you?”
Lee Se-jin is called a genius, but also an eccentric. On the day Ares launched, he made an announcement.
‘Ares won’t grant you many skills just for changing your class. We plan to release them gradually, one by one.’
Yes, he was releasing them one by one, just as he’d said.
Even if a player was supposed to learn three skills, they weren't given all at once but were released step by step.
The directors had protested.
Why take such an unreasonable risk!
But surprisingly, it had generated a tremendous response.
Users grew curious about what skills would be unlocked next, what skills they were originally supposed to have.
It was one of the reasons they couldn't quit Ares.
The God of Blacksmiths was no different.
Pathetically, the class change had granted only a single skill.
“What kind of skill is it?”
At Lee Hae-seok’s question, Se-jin gave a small smile.
“It's the only blacksmith-related combat skill user Hyun-soo can obtain at his current level. And...”
A quirky smile spread across Lee Se-jin’s face.
“I've seen many geniuses in the world—archery prodigies, kendo masters, judo experts, math geniuses. In Ares, they all demonstrate their unique talents through their own skills. I wanted blacksmiths to be the same, and this skill is no exception.”
He looked at Hyun-soo on the screen.
The giant ghoul had already reached Hyun-soo.
“Now, watch what happens because of the skill that's about to be unlocked. It will all be the result of that user's own ability. No matter what he creates.”
*Kwwwaaaaang!*
On the screen, the giant ghoul's fist slammed into Hyun-soo.
***
The giant ghoul.
Resembling a blood-red golem, the giant ghoul had a grotesque appearance.
Hyun-soo, who had been about to flee, steeled his resolve, gripped Gwangmyeong tightly, and turned around.
The reason Hyun-soo turned back.
Yes, it was because of greed. If he could kill that ghoul right now, he would not only get 1,000 gold, but the monster would also drop something quite good.
Forced logout?
It was worth the risk.
And that wasn't the only reason. Something inside him just boiled up.
Hyun-soo was currently level 29. The monster was 79. He wanted to overcome that 50-level gap.
*Kkiiik-*
He took one step, then another.
*Click-*
He loaded a small arrow into his arrow guide.
[Sure Shot]
*Swissssh-!*
One of the monster’s shoulders was blown away.
Again.
*Click-*
*Fwoooosh-!*
*Craaack-*
*Click-*
*Craaack-!*
“Krrheeeeeeeeh!”
Three shots in total.
That was the number of small arrows Hyun-soo had managed to land before the monster reached him.
And then the fist of the madly charging beast struck Hyun-soo.
*Kwajaaak-!*
[HP has fallen below 75%.]
The damage defied all logic.
“Cough!”
Hyun-soo coughed up blood and quickly scrambled to his feet. He dodged another massive fist swinging his way.
*Kwwwaaaaang-!*
“Krrheeeh!”
In that moment, a follow-up kick sent Hyun-soo flying.
*Poooow-!*
[HP has fallen below 53%.]
To make matters worse, the giant ghoul looked up at the sky and let out a roar.
“Kuuheeeek!”
[Ghoul's Rage]
[Ghoul's Rage decreases your Agility by 10%, Attack Speed by 10%, and Movement Speed by 10%.]
Even with his speed significantly reduced, Hyun-soo quickly swapped to the water buffalo horn bow.
*Click-*
*Thwack-*
*Click-*
*Thwack-!*
He managed to make the monster stumble back.
[Giant Ghoul's HP has fallen below 80%.]
But Hyun-soo’s face turned pale as he saw the ghoul's ridiculously high HP, even after being hit by five small arrows.
*Kwwwaaaang-!*
The monster began to attack Hyun-soo wildly with its arms. Of course, he wasn't just taking the hits.
He tenaciously clung to the giant ghoul, fighting back.
But despite his efforts, the monster's HP was still at 50%.
“Huff... huff.”
Hyun-soo realized he had reached his limit.
[HP has fallen below 33%.]
[Your vision is blurring.]
Blood flowed endlessly. His vision swam, likely from taking too much damage.
“I'll go get the commander! Just hang in there!”
As expected, that man Rendeo wasn't much help. Just then, the ghoul's kick struck Hyun-soo again.
*Thwump-!*
[HP has fallen below 10%.]
[You may be forcibly logged out.]
There was no sign of victory. Hyun-soo realized that no matter how good his artifacts were, overcoming such a large level gap was incredibly difficult.
A bitter laugh escaped him.
‘If I can’t kill this thing, does that mean I can’t even check the Bell of Ramas? And I won’t get any reward either?’
A sigh escaped him automatically.
Just then.
*T-ring!*
[This is a moment of crisis.]
[The ‘God of Blacksmiths’ title begins to glow.]
‘God of Blacksmiths?’
Hyun-soo looked puzzled. Did the description for his God of Blacksmiths title say anything about activating in a crisis?
It didn't.
If there was anything close, it was this.
‘When performing any blacksmith-related action, additional skills may be unlocked.’
Hyun-soo recalled the moment he became the Successor to the God of Blacksmiths.
‘The only skill I got was God’s Custom Production.’
It was a stark contrast to other games where awakening a class unlocked most of its abilities at once.
And now, a new power had awakened in this moment.
*T-ring!*
[You have acquired God's Emergency Production.]
*Thump-*
As soon as he saw the notification, Hyun-soo used every last ounce of his strength to start running in the opposite direction of the giant ghoul.
As he ran, he checked the skill description, and his eyes widened.
‘This is...!’
Seeing the skill, Hyun-soo’s face lit up with hope.
‘I might be able to win...!’
He didn't hesitate.
[Commencing God's Emergency Production.]
***
“What...?”
Kal’s face hardened as he listened to the report.
What did I just hear?
Rendeo had been clear.
The stranger who had just asked to see the Bell of Ramas...
The stranger he had given an impossible trial to, just hoping he would get lost and stop bothering him, had apparently hunted over 30 ghouls.
But there was an even more shocking fact.
‘A giant ghoul appeared?’
Centurion Rendeo said in an urgent voice.
“At this rate, he'll die!”
Kal hurried off. The man had accomplished what he’d been asked to do.
As a knight, Kal was now obligated to let him see the Bell of Ramas.
But as he rushed, he was also amazed.
‘He said he was a blacksmith?’
How could he do something like this?
What's more, when asked his level, the man had replied that he was level 13.
His mind was a mess. But one thing was certain.
‘He can't kill it...’
Sure, maybe he could kill the regular ghouls.
But Kal, the knight, knew the gap between the stranger and the giant ghoul.
It was the difference between heaven and earth.
He had to hurry.
At this rate, the one person who might be able to repair the Bell of Ramas could die.
His brisk walk broke into a run.
As he ran, Kal soon saw the man, covered in blood, who had fled a good distance away.
The giant ghoul was closing the distance.
30 meters, 27 meters, 23 meters...
The giant ghoul was quite slow, waddling as if it had an arrow in its leg.
“Why isn't he running away...!”
But then, something bizarre happened. A translucent mineral suddenly appeared above the stranger's head.
‘What is that?’
The man’s hands moved swiftly, as if typing something into the air.
In just a second, the translucent mineral melted.
Smelting.
In another second, the molten substance hardened.
Refining.
And in a brief instant, impurities were purged, and it became a crimson blade, instantly forged in mid-air.
*Clang-clang-clang-clang!*
The cheerful sound was so fast it was baffling.
The red blade became a gleaming white one and combined with a hilt.
*Click-*
The entire process took no more than ten seconds.
And the stranger gripped it with both hands, holding it upright. He then charged toward the giant ghoul, which was now right in front of him.
*Fwoooosh-!*
An unimaginable white light erupted from his sword. The stranger slashed past the giant ghoul.
*Swoooosh-!*
The giant ghoul, having been cut, was engulfed by the white light, its entire body burning away.
“Grwooooooar!”
Its body incinerating, the giant ghoul fell to its knees and crumbled into a pile of ash.
“...!”
Kal realized it. That light he had just seen.
That light was undoubtedly the power of divine light.
‘What in the world is that sword...!’
Kal read the characters inscribed on the sword.
“Tiger Blade...?”
What was a Tiger Blade?
He had never seen a sword like it before.