Chapter 60
Chapter 60
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: The Sword King's Swordsmanship (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
When he heard he had to land three successful attacks, Hyun-soo had an idea.
‘Benson must know about my Emergency Production.’
And how to disable it.
Most skills dissipate when the caster is attacked.
That led him to a new approach.
‘I’ll apply an effect that makes the sword explode the moment the blade turns red.’
And he added one more thing to the God’s Emergency Production effect.
The shattered sword fragments scatter into hundreds of pieces.
This sword was, quite literally, a useless, one-time-use item.
But it was the perfect tool for passing Benson’s qualification test.
‘Because I don’t even need to deal damage.’
And when he succeeded in striking him for the fifty-ninth time, Hyun-soo felt a thrill of joy.
[Skill Quest: The Sword King's Swordsmanship Complete]
[Completed with a marvelous result.]
[You can now learn The Sword King's Swordsmanship.]
Then came the question from Benson, who was staring down at himself with a dazed expression.
“Sir Hyun-soo, what level of mastery have you reached as a blacksmith?”
Hyun-soo immediately understood the intent behind the question.
But revealing this was incredibly dangerous.
He surveyed the room.
Only the Sword King Barad, Bella, Benson, and himself were present.
He felt confident the secret would not get out.
“I am the God of Blacksmiths.”
“Well? Is that proof enough?”
“Not at all. I am simply overwhelmed with emotion that the God of Blacksmiths has learned Your Majesty's swordsmanship!”
[Your affinity with Benson has increased.]
Increased affinity with the kingdom’s commander.
This would surely prove beneficial in the future.
But it didn’t stop there. Benson bowed his head to Hyun-soo.
“…Please, spread the word far and wide about His Majesty's swordsmanship.”
Benson’s perspective had changed in an instant.
The God of Blacksmiths.
He was a god, no less. Of course, he was likely not yet a complete god.
Even so, the name itself held immense value.
As time passed, he would become more famous, and so too would the swordsmanship he wielded.
All of Benson’s talk about qualifications had stemmed from his concern for His Majesty.
And Benson felt an inexplicable warmth.
‘To think that His Majesty Barad is friends with the God of Blacksmiths…!’
At first, he had wondered why His Majesty would befriend a mere blacksmith.
But now, he felt it was a truly fine thing.
“…I will do my best.”
Barad smiled, satisfied.
‘I am pleased.’
That my friend is a person of far greater worth than I had thought.
“All of you, leave.”
Barad dismissed Bella and Benson.
“Take up your sword, Hyun-soo. For the next two weeks, you will receive my instruction.”
“Yes.”
And so, his two weeks of training began.
“This is how you thrust.”
“Put your weight into your swings.”
“Use the balls of your feet, and you must also learn to use your wrists properly.”
As time went on, Barad grew a little surprised.
‘He's quite skilled.’
It was hard to understand. The outsiders he had met revealed they’d never held a sword in their lives after just a few clashes.
‘Didn't the outsiders call it ‘control’?’
‘Godly control’ or something of the sort.
Hyun-soo didn’t seem to have that.
He had something else.
“…His ability to understand and apply force according to the sword's weight and the sharpness of its edge is astounding.”
Was it because he was a blacksmith?
That was surely part of it. But he could also execute unorthodox sword techniques with ease.
‘That lord named Banya seems to have laid a solid foundation.’
But this was on a different level.
One day, a week into the training, Barad asked.
“At what age did you first hold a sword?”
“Since I was ten.”
Barad smiled faintly.
‘A different kind of genius.’
Among the outsiders, was there anyone who had held a sword since the age of ten?
He knew of none.
He had heard their lands were far too peaceful.
In such a world, Hyun-soo must have been the only one who could handle a real sword at the age of ten.
“Who bought your swords?”
“Those who cherished swords.”
Yes.
It was starting to make sense.
In a world that had no need for swords, there were still those who wielded them.
Many among them must have reached a high level of mastery.
Of course, they couldn't compare to the people who lived here.
“The men would often teach me with wooden swords.”
Dozens of them must have patted the smithy’s child on the head, finding him endearing.
‘Did those dozens of people create this talent?’
As Barad was about to walk away for a break, Hyun-soo spoke from behind him.
“Aren't we continuing?”
A shiver ran down his spine.
‘This talent they created is also a tenacious one.’
Barad smiled as he taught.
‘I have no regrets.’
It wasn’t because he was the God of Blacksmiths.
‘A man like this is worthy of my swordsmanship.’
He also felt a tinge of regret.
‘If you weren't a blacksmith, I would have wanted to make you my successor.’
And on the final day.
“This power will now protect you, Hyun-soo.”
Barad smiled gently.
***
[You have learned The Sword King's Swordsmanship.]
Hyun-soo checked it without delay.
(The Sword King's Swordsmanship)
Active Skill
Grade: Legendary
Level: 1 Proficiency: 0%
A swordsmanship skill.
·Chapter 1: Aura of the Beast.
·Chapter 2: Sword of the Raging Waves.
·Chapter 3: The Sword's Cry.
(Chapter 1: Aura of the Beast)
Active Skill
Mana Cost: 300
Cooldown: 5 minutes.
Effect:
·For 1 minute, increases Physical Attack Power by 22%, Cutting Power by 25%, and Piercing Power by 30%.
·Applies the 'Killing Intent' status effect to all enemies within a 10m radius.
(Chapter 2: Sword of the Raging Waves)
Active Skill
Mana Cost: 100
Cooldown: 2 minutes
Effect:
·Fires a raging sword wave at the enemy's vital point, dealing 100% additional damage on hit, and 140% additional damage on a successful vital point strike.
·3% chance to deal 200% damage.
(Chapter 3: The Sword's Cry)
Active Skill
Mana Cost: 400
Cooldown: 10 minutes.
Effect:
·Paralyzes all senses of beings identified as enemies within a 20m radius for 3 seconds.
·Slashes all identified enemies, dealing 190% additional damage.
·Can slash enemies within the radius without direct contact.
·Ignores all defense.
‘This is insane…’
The framework was similar to the Prime Swordsmanship he already possessed.
But the effects themselves were overwhelmingly superior.
‘The Sword’s Cry is a wide-area attack like the Rampage I used to use, and it even ignores all defense?’
This alone nearly doubled his damage output. Unfortunately, he had only managed to learn three chapters.
“It seems you are not yet ready to learn the other chapters.”
Naturally, skills had level requirements to learn them.
“There are still five chapters remaining. When you have mastered all the chapters to their fullest, you may come find me.”
Hyun-soo's level was low, and since he had just learned the skill, its effects were at their weakest.
‘As time passes and my proficiency increases, the level of the chapters will grow.’
And every time he swung his sword, his proficiency with sword-related skills would rise.
Hyun-soo marveled at the notification that appeared.
[You have learned from the Sword King.]
[Beginner Sword Mastery evolves to Beginner Sword Mastery Lv.9.]
Each level of Beginner Sword Mastery increased his sword's attack power, cutting power, and piercing power by 3%.
That was a boost of over 15% all at once.
And Hyun-soo had something he needed to do.
“Do you remember the promise you made before?”
“A promise?”
“Yes, the promise to tell me where the Hundred-Year Cold Iron is.”
“Of course.”
Barad smiled faintly.
“Cold Iron can be obtained in the Frost Mine. The Hundred-Year Cold Iron was a rare find from within. Bella, come in.”
Bella entered immediately.
“Give Hyun-soo an entry pass to that place.”
Bella disappeared and returned in an instant.
[You have acquired an Entry Pass to the Frost Mine.]
As he received it, Barad spoke.
“Have you any thought of becoming the royal blacksmith of the Goyad Kingdom? I will give you the authority to lead them.”
*Tiring!*
[Barad offers you the position of Royal Blacksmith.]
“We are friends, but I have things I must do.”
Barad had heard about these things he had to do.
‘A guild…’
As far as Barad knew, outsiders could establish one starting at level 100.
An idea struck Barad.
“Will you come and see me on the day you create your guild, Hyun-soo?”
“Of course. I plan to stay in the Goyad Kingdom for the time being, so I’ll visit often. And, by any chance, is there a mineral in the Frost Mine superior to Hundred-Year Cold Iron?”
Barad shook his head.
“I am on the receiving end of tributes, so I do not know the specifics. But it’s possible. Go and find a miner named Rek.”
[Quest: Meet Miner Rek]
Grade: B
Requirement: One who has received Barad's offer
Reward: Mineral Information
Failure Penalty: Unable to learn information about the mineral.
Description: Miner Rek may know if a mineral superior to Hundred-Year Cold Iron exists. Let's go meet him.
After bidding farewell, Hyun-soo set off in search of a mineral superior to Hundred-Year Cold Iron.
‘Could Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron really exist?’
Of course, even if there was only Hundred-Year Cold Iron and not the ten-thousand-year kind, Hyun-soo would be satisfied.
‘I need to make one more ice-attribute artifact.’
There was someone who brought a smile to Hyun-soo’s face just by thinking of him. It was Kang Hyuk-soo.
Hyun-soo had never once forgotten his promise to him.
When he had sold the smithy back to him, Hyun-soo had promised to craft him an artifact.
Come to think of it, he had repaid Ji-hoon, his landlady, and the hospital staff, but he had yet to do anything for Hyuk-soo.
‘Should I check it again?’
He had received the information for the artifact Hyuk-soo needed on a small memo.
He opened the screenshot he had taken of it.
[A shield with high fire resistance, preferably with an offensive function as well. Does not melt in extreme heat. Would be good if it had the power to freeze a 2m radius.]
“Heh.”
A small chuckle escaped Hyun-soo.
At the time, Mr. Hyuk-soo had tilted his head in confusion when he had suddenly offered to gift him an artifact.
He had looked particularly puzzled when asked to write down the effects he wanted.
And yet, hadn't he done his best to write down the information for the artifact he needed?
‘Mr. Hyuk-soo is my benefactor.’
Shouldn’t he repay the kindness he received?
‘I wonder if the artifact information he wants has changed?’
That was also important.
Hyun-soo sent a whisper using the unique code written at the bottom of the note to say hello, but a reply didn't come for a long time.
‘Is he busy?’
Hyun-soo walked on toward the Frost Mine with a curious expression.
After some time had passed, a whisper arrived.
***
The Lair of the Fire Dragon was a vast land divided into several hunting grounds.
One of them was the Salamander's Dungeon. It was the easiest hunting ground in the Lair of the Fire Dragon.
However, the Salamander's Dungeon had never been conquered.
While the Sword King Barad had cleared the most difficult area, Ifrit's Tomb, even this easiest hunting ground was too difficult for the players.
A middle-aged man sat on a rock there.
He was the unofficial ranker, the tanker, Bakeu.
Bakeu was a man who could rival the official 3rd-ranked tanker.
Bakeu sighed, looking at his completely melted square shield.
[Durability is below 30%.]
[All shield effects are reduced by 60% or more.]
“…Dammit.”
Bakeu, who was in the middle of a class quest, had challenged the Salamander's Dungeon several times but had failed.
‘What can I do when all my artifacts melt?’
What good was being an excellent tanker if all his equipment melted?
And this was despite Bakeu having high fire resistance due to his class.
‘The rumor is that the Sword King Barad obtained a superior sword from a crafter and used it to slay Ifrit.’
But that was still just an unconfirmed rumor.
“Are there any decent shields out there?”
But they were hard to find. An artifact’s grade was usually determined by its effects.
The problem was that while there were unique-grade items, many of them had a lot of effects he didn't actually need.
The shield Bakeu held was one such item. He had plenty of money. The problem was that there were no crafters who could make the kind of shield he needed.
‘I think I got a whisper?’
Bakeu, who hadn't checked it because he was hunting, finally looked and smiled warmly.
There are some people who make you smile just by seeing them or hearing from them.
For Bakeu, the person who had just whispered him was one of those people.
[Hyun-soo: Hello, this is Hyun-soo. I was just wondering how you've been, so I thought I'd reach out.]