Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Live Auction (1)
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After the interview, the broadcasting station sent Hyun-soo back.
Hyun-soo headed straight for his smithy.
‘Roun…’
The Black Anvil Smithy.
The top blacksmith guild in the country.
It boasted around 500 members, most of whom were high-level blacksmiths.
That’s how rankings worked.
The most skilled players naturally gathered in the most skilled guild.
Indeed, Black Anvil was number one, monopolizing 40% of the country's artifact market share.
Just as Hyun-soo arrived at his smithy, he received a whisper.
[Nel: I enjoyed the broadcast. It’s funny how Roun is helping to promote Hyeon's Smithy.]
[Hyun-soo: He is, isn't he.]
It was a good opportunity for Hyun-soo.
[Nel: The three artifacts for the broadcast will be key. Have you decided what you're going to make?]
[Hyun-soo: Yes, I have.]
[Nel: May I hear what they are?]
[Hyun-soo: It’s a review.]
[Nel: A review?]
[Hyun-soo: Yes. I'm going to craft the artifacts I've made so far using God's Emergency Production.]
[Nel: Ah…]
[Hyun-soo: I made them with God's Emergency Production, but they were all based on my own knowledge. I've already drawn up the blueprints, so I can craft them right away without stopping.]
[Nel: I see. And you know why Roun issued that mission, right?]
Hyun-soo smirked.
[Hyun-soo: I do.]
[Nel: Are you okay with that?]
[Hyun-soo: I don't have auto-crafting, after all.]
Hyun-soo was also aware of the rumors circulating about hastily crafted artifacts.
One user had even uploaded a video comparing an artifact they'd spent ten days on with one they'd spent three days on.
The artifact crafted over ten days using auto-crafting was vastly superior in its effects.
Its grade also came out consistently better.
In other words, it was a confirmed case of the auto-crafting trap.
However, Hyun-soo's case was a little different.
‘Nothing's easier than recreating something you already know how to make.’
And so, Hyun-soo decided to focus on crafting.
[Hyun-soo: In any case, I don't have much time, so I'll get to work.]
[Nel: Okay, fighting!]
Standing in front of his smithy, Hyun-soo thought for a moment.
He had made several artifacts so far through God's Emergency Production.
‘You couldn’t exactly say I poured my heart and soul into them.’
Artifacts created in just a few dozen seconds.
Even so, their effect application rates had been excellent.
‘The Time Attack Dungeon is divided into three stages.’
He understood the broadcasting station’s intention.
One for each stage.
They wanted him to prove himself by using an artifact suitable for each situation.
And Hyun-soo had decided on three artifacts he had previously made with God's Emergency Production, one for each stage.
‘Let’s start with this one.’
[Commencing God's Custom Production.]
Hyun-soo quickly began to craft.
***
The Ares community was on fire.
[Roun, the guild master of Black Anvil, issued a mission to Hyun the blacksmith lololol.]
[fr?]
[yep, it's in the preview for the AJ Broadcasting stream.]
[Whoa, how does a preview have 70k views?]
[Well, he's rank 41 on the unified national rankings and called one of the three master craftsmen. Also, I asked my blacksmith friend, and he said it looks like Black Anvil is trying to recruit Hyun?]
[Sheesh!]
[But more than that, I got the feeling the mission is like a showdown between Hyun the blacksmith and Roun.]
[Seconded.]
[Thirded.]
[Feels like he's telling Hyun to prove himself?]
[What happens if he proves it?]
[What do you mean what happens lol. Roun, who officially issued the mission, will give him money, fame, and probably favor him.]
[And if Hyun can't prove it?]
[Then Hyun's value will probably drop. The reason he's so famous lately is because he's better and more special than others. If he's only that good, it'll just mean regular ranker blacksmiths are better after all.]
[A public execution fr lol.]
[My vote's on Roun winning.]
[Me too.]
[Roun may be rank 2, but he's the master of the #1 guild. You think he doesn't have an eye for this stuff? He predicted it all.]
[Fair enough…]
At that moment.
Nel was filled with anticipation.
‘The most important thing is to get a lot of viewers for the live broadcast.’
That way, more people would be surprised, and the word would spread further.
The problem was that even she didn't know how much interest the preview had generated.
But she found the answer close by.
Nel, the spy(?), overheard Rune, the master of the Golden Shield Guild.
“I'm planning on watching this broadcast too. It's Hyun's first official crafting commission, after all. And from what I hear, a lot of other rankers are tuning in as well.”
Nel, the spy, asked, feigning nonchalance.
“Why?”
“Hyun has turned down every crafting request so far. Because of that, they’re all grinding their teeth, thinking, ‘Let’s see what amazing thing you make after turning me down.’”
“Ah…?”
Rune of Golden Shield was also a member of a group chat filled with high-rankers.
“Beroun, the 2nd-ranked mage; Hansen, the 4th-ranked archer; and the guild master of the Dwarf's Leg Smithy. From what I've heard, it seems like a lot of the blacksmith guild masters are going to be watching.”
And Nel could see it.
Just by doing nothing, the number of subscribers to Hyeon's Smithy was increasing because of the Roun incident.
***
‘This should be enough.’
Looking at the three artifacts crafted to conquer the stages, Hyun-soo smiled with satisfaction.
Then, he realized the broadcast time was approaching.
‘I hope I can maximize the profit from these three artifacts…’
According to Nel, quite a few rankers might be watching.
The first step to selling these artifacts at a high price was to prove their value.
The next step was to maximize the price of what had already been proven.
And then, a thought flashed through Hyun-soo’s mind.
‘That’s it…’
A smile formed on Hyun-soo’s lips.
That would be enough.
Especially if high-and-mighty rankers were watching the broadcast, the effect would likely be maximized.
An alert immediately popped up for Hyun-soo.
[An invitation from AJ Broadcasting has arrived.]
Hyun-soo was expectant.
The more viewers the live broadcast had, the greater the impact it would have in promoting Hyeon's Smithy.
‘The excellent items are already prepared.’
That was why the number of viewers was crucial.
And as he stood before the Time Attack Dungeon, Hyun-soo could see the viewer count in the top-left corner.
[Current Viewers: 88,414]
***
PD Kim Min-woo was stunned.
“You’ve got to be kidding me…?”
80,000 viewers.
And 80,000 right from the start—that was a number he hadn’t seen since the early days.
‘Was the impact of Roun’s announcement really that big?’
-Hyun the blacksmith. Let’s see if you made anything good after turning down my request.
-I came to see that too lol
-I got turned down too…ㅋ didn’t even get a reply.
‘No, it’s not just Roun. Hyun’s value has grown due to his mystique.’
And yet, the actual guest was Mad Rookie.
Soon, PD Kim was speaking with Hyun-soo off-camera, a puzzled look on his face.
“…You want to hold a live auction?”
“Yes.”
“Of course, we don’t mind as long as we get the viewers, but…”
PD Kim was worried about one thing.
‘If they turn out to be less impressive than expected, it could backfire, you know?’
But Mad Rookie just gave a wry smile.
“Then I’ll announce that I got Hyun’s approval and proceed with it.”
“Ah, yes. We’ll start the broadcast now.”
Immediately, a countdown appeared on the viewers’ screens.
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
-The broadcast is starting.
The first broadcast of Mad Rookie and Hyun the blacksmith had begun.
***
The viewers could see Mad Rookie entering the Time Attack Dungeon.
They could also see the dense pack of monsters, roughly level 80 to 100, spread out below the hill where he stood.
PD Kim stood next to Hyun-soo and explained.
“The first stage is simple. There are about 40 monsters below. You have to break through them and destroy the red jewel placed on the opposite hill, 400 meters away.”
Mad Rookie nodded, and PD Kim added.
“For reference, the current record holder is Prow, who is ranked 7th in the unified national rankings. His record is 1 minute and 23 seconds. It has never been broken. And our show has a prize. If you set a new overall record, we’ll give you ten million won.”
At that moment, a deep smile settled on Mad Rookie's lips.
-Dude, his eyes lit up when he heard money. lol
-Oh, a capitalist user. I like honest users.
-What’s your predicted time?
-The average for people on this show is 4 minutes, so… maybe 3 minutes?
-But Mad Rookie is wearing an artifact Hyun made for him.
-Roun, are you watching!!!?
-Yes.
-Why are you actually here?
-??? lololol
-Whoa, Roun really showed up lol
-Looks like Roun came to see what kind of artifact he made.
Finally, the countdown began in the Time Attack Dungeon as well.
-Don’t people usually get into a running stance?
-You’re right. Mad Rookie isn’t doing that.
All the viewers wore puzzled expressions.
And for the viewers’ convenience, the record was displayed in the top-left corner.
[Current 1st Place Holder: Prow. 1 minute 23 seconds.]
-Damn, Prow’s record is amazing no matter how many times I see it.
-fr, is that guy even human lololol
-That’s why he’s 7th in the unified rankings.
-Oh, it’s starting.
All the viewers expected Hyun-soo to dash forward as soon as the countdown ended.
But Hyun-soo stood silently in his spot.
And he did something inexplicable.
*Click-*
-Isn’t that the arrow from last time?
It was the Black Light Fletching he had used in the Super Rookie tournament. He fitted it into his arrow case.
Then he drew the bowstring with all his might, aiming at the jewel 400 meters away.
-???
-Is he insane?
-Is he serious?
And he let it fly.
*Swiiish-!*
The arrow tore through the air but fell short of the jewel, landing on the ground.
-What is he doing?
-What a waste of time lol
-This is absurd lol. He’s trying to hit that? From 400 meters away?
-Still, it went pretty far. Maybe 250m.
The viewers continuously questioned his bizarre actions.
It was the same for Roun, who was watching the broadcast.
‘What in the world is he doing?’
The arrow had fallen uselessly to the ground.
Soon, Hyun-soo murmured.
“Retrieve.”
*Whoosh-*
On the screen, Hyun-soo nodded as if he had expected this, and Roun’s brow furrowed.
Then, the Hyun-soo on screen spoke.
“I will now reveal the first artifact.”
“Don’t tell me…!”
Roun shot to his feet.
He equipped a black gauntlet on his right hand.
*Click-*
Then he fitted a fletching into the arrow case.
*Click-*
He drew the bowstring with all his might, using the arm with the gauntlet.
*Zzwaak-*
The bowstring was pulled taut.
And the changes from the equipped artifact were displayed for the viewers to see.
[Strength increases by 111.]
[Range is greatly increased.]
[In accordance with the increased Strength stat, penetration and destructive power increase, and range is significantly extended.]
The moment Hyun-soo released the bowstring.
*Swiiiiiish-!*
The fletching flew with a fierce roar, piercing through the jewel 400 meters away.
*Shatter-!*
Watching the completely obliterated jewel, Roun’s eyes trembled.
“He destroyed it by increasing his range with a gauntlet?”
At that moment, Roun saw the notification that appeared for Hyun-soo.
[Congratulations.]
[You have set a new record for Stage 1 of the Time Attack Dungeon.]
[Your record is 41 seconds.]
The shock didn't end there.
Roun had issued a mission to Hyun-soo.
1 million won for a Rare.
3 million won for an Epic.
10 million won for a Unique.
Soon, Hyun-soo spoke.
“Roun, thank you for the 10-million-won sponsorship.”
Roun understood the meaning behind those words.
“A Unique…?”
Yes, that artifact was a Unique.
A grade that 95% of blacksmith users never got to craft even once in their entire lives.