Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Epic Artifact Production (3)
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“This is the finest ore in my possession.”
Ren smiled as he looked at Hyun-soo.
Mithril ore.
Resting on a cloth inside a wooden box, the ore glowed with a faint silver light.
“I feel as though this mineral has finally found its true master.”
Ren smiled.
Blacksmiths were like chefs.
Give them the same ingredients, and they will still produce entirely different results.
Ren was certain that, in this beginner zone, Hyun-soo was the one who could best handle mithril ore.
“Thank you, Ren.”
Hyun-soo didn’t refuse. He was more than worthy of it.
As Hyun-soo reached for the mithril ore, his heart pounded like mad.
‘A new mineral…’
A new mineral he had never encountered before.
While mithril didn't exist in reality, it was a well-known mineral in RPGs and various fantasy novels.
(Mithril Ore of the Beginner Zone)
Grade: Rare
Restriction: Level 30 or higher
Difficulty: Medium-High
Special Abilities
· Increases attack power against undead by up to 7%.
· Increases attack speed by up to 11%.
· Increases Strength and Agility by up to 7.
Description: Though far inferior to regular mithril, this is likely the best mineral obtainable in the beginner zone.
After examining the mithril ore, Hyun-soo looked puzzled.
‘Level restriction 30 or higher?’
Did this mean only those level 30 or higher could refine this mithril?
Hyun-soo stroked the mithril ore, placed it on the anvil, and then gave it a light tap with his hammer.
‘It works?’
Despite the restriction, it clearly took the physical impact.
That meant he could, in fact, attempt to refine it.
Then what was this restriction for?
‘Ares has various level ranges.’
In truth, Hyun-soo was the best master swordsmith a level 1 could be.
However, a rare sword made at level 1 was far inferior to a common sword worn by a level 30 user.
As levels rose, so did the quality of everything.
Monsters, quests, and users.
Artifacts had to continuously evolve to match.
This ‘restriction’ might also be a necessity.
Most artifacts came with an ‘equip restriction.’
It was to ensure only users who met the level requirement could equip them.
‘How game-breaking would it be if a level 1 user equipped a sword meant for a level 300?’
But the mithril could clearly be hammered. This was a completely different issue from equipping an item.
“Ah…!”
Hyun-soo realized.
Ares was, after all, a game.
He understood the meaning of ‘usable from level 30 or higher.’
“Does this mean I can only refine it using auto-crafting once I’m level 30 or higher?”
In reality, there were plenty of blacksmiths, but 99.9% of them crafted with the system's help.
In other words, they proceeded with crafting at the press of a single ‘auto-craft’ button.
Hyun-soo had actually seen several videos of blacksmith players.
They would start the auto-crafting process, and whenever a red or blue light flashed, all they had to do was pause it and strike the metal.
In other words, this restriction was a ‘condition for receiving the game's help.’
“……”
A smile formed on Hyun-soo’s lips.
For Hyun-soo, this restriction was a slightly different story.
Others were restricted to level 30 because they didn't know how to refine or handle it, but for Hyun-soo, it meant he could work it by hand right now.
‘I think I can do it.’
Of course, there would be trial and error.
Properties, characteristics, the degree of warping, the amount of impurities.
Countless variables existed.
But Hyun-soo had a reason to succeed in ‘Breaking the Wooden Doll,’ and this mithril might just help him.
After checking the mithril, Hyun-soo soon finished the process of removing impurities from the iron sand ingot.
*Ting!*
[You have succeeded in refining a new mineral not of this land.]
[You will receive accumulated rewards.]
[You have acquired 1 point in all stats.]
[You have acquired 219 Dexterity.]
[You have acquired 100 Fame.]
[The iron sand ingot becomes 10% more exceptional.]
[You have acquired the Iron Sand Refining Method.]
[You have acquired the title .]
The rewards he obtained were excellent.
Checking the ‘Iron Sand Refining Method’ reward, he found it was a written guide to the crafting process, just as the name implied.
Next was the title, .
()
Unique Title
Grade: A
Special Abilities:
· Dexterity +3%
· Mineral Comprehension 100%
‘Mineral comprehension?’
Hyun-soo touched the mithril again.
[Mithril of the Beginner Zone]
[Composed of iron, manganese, oxygen, phosphorus, silicon, and sulfur.]
“…!?”
Eureka!
Hyun-soo was ecstatic.
There was one thing that had felt like the biggest obstacle before he even tried to refine this mithril.
It was its composition.
But now, just by touching a mineral, he could learn its components.
‘I can do it.’
He had planned to refine the mithril regardless, but he’d thought he wouldn't be able to obtain it in its pure form.
He thought he might not even get half the mithril after all the trial and error.
But the moment he learned its composition, everything changed.
He immediately checked the completed iron sand ingot as well.
(Iron Sand Ingot)
Grade: Rare
Restriction: None for the creator.
Difficulty: Medium
Special Abilities
· Increases attack power by up to 17% compared to regular iron.
· Increases durability by up to 35% compared to regular iron.
· Increases critical hit chance by up to 40% compared to regular iron.
Description: An iron sand ingot whose crafting method is known only to the user Hyun-soo.
“…As expected.”
‘Of the Beginner Zone’ wasn't attached.
Hyun-soo’s breath hitched.
Ren smiled slightly, seeing him unable to contain his excitement.
He, too, had already heard what Hyun-soo was trying to do here.
Breaking the Wooden Doll, a challenge countless outsiders had attempted.
“I will assist you.”
Ren thumped his chest.
All the materials were ready.
“Ren.”
“Yes.”
The notification had said Ren would be completely loyal to Hyun-soo.
Indeed, Ren now seemed like his loyal subordinate.
He looked at Hyun-soo with an expression that said his joy was Ren's own.
“Will you join me in forging a legendary sword that will never again be seen in the beginner zone?”
Ren answered energetically.
“Yes!”
***
Special User Management Team.
Cold sweat continued to run down Kim Tae-seok's back.
The same went for employee Lee Ji-hee.
“Of all things, for him to get the title ...”
was a reward even they didn't know about.
In other words, it was a title that the supercomputer and AI, Ares, had created and bestowed upon him on its own.
The problem was that, due to the title's Mineral Comprehension, Hyun-soo could now identify the composition of minerals.
“Isn't this completely game-breaking…?”
A level 1 using a mineral that only level 30 players should be able to work with.
“But it's his own skill.”
A fact that no one could argue with.
But there was something Kim Tae-seok and Lee Ji-hee knew.
“The restriction from the level limit isn't just about not being able to get system assistance.”
It was the difficulty increase due to the level difference.
“Also, he only knows the components of mithril.”
“That's right.”
“Mithril takes three times longer than regular iron ore.”
Literally.
More time.
It required much harder grinding.
Of course, this was a restriction that disappeared as a blacksmith's level increased.
A level 30 blacksmith might take a week to work with a single piece of mithril.
But for a level 100 blacksmith, two days was enough.
A level 200 blacksmith needed only a day.
In this way, they could manage it with bonuses from skills and various other things.
From Kim Tae-seok's perspective, using mithril at level 1 was next to impossible.
‘Under normal circumstances, that is…’
Kim Tae-seok and Lee Ji-hee watched the monitor with anxious hearts.
***
Hyun-soo knew better than anyone.
He knew this sword would decide whether he could break the wooden doll, and that it would be a turning point in his life.
He began.
The furnace heated up intensely.
Into the blazing furnace, he thrust the mithril ore.
After some time, molten red metal flowed down a long channel.
He cooled the flowing metal.
Next, the process of refining to remove impurities.
With a sharp, knife-like tool, he manually scraped away the impurities from the lumpy piece of mithril.
This alone took a very long time.
‘What…? Why is this taking so long?’
Hyun-soo realized.
Even if its composition was similar to iron, this thing itself might just require more time.
Or…
‘Is it because of the level restriction?’
That might be it.
Then he put it into the refining furnace.
Just then.
[The carbon content must be lowered.]
[Failure to adjust the carbon content will render the mithril unusable.]
“…!?”
Hyun-soo's face twisted.
Controlling the carbon content was crucial.
The strength of iron changed completely depending on the carbon content.
“What the…!”
Ren also sensed something was wrong.
They needed a way to lower the carbon content immediately.
Just then.
“Ren, bring me iron ore.”
“Yes? What do you mean…”
“Quickly.”
Ren didn't understand Hyun-soo's intention to add unsmelted, unrefined iron ore.
However, when Hyun-soo added the iron ore, the carbon content began to drop.
[Carbon content is decreasing.]
[Carbon content is decreasing.]
Using iron ore to control the carbon content of the metal.
It was a secret technique he had learned from his father.
The silvery mithril, its impurities now removed.
And beside it, the iron sand ingot.
Hyun-soo intended to mix these two different materials.
‘Mithril is definitely similar to regular iron ore. I can do this.’
He began the process of mixing the two ingots.
Whenever he got hungry, Hyun-soo kept stuffing his mouth with bread and water.
All the while, he never stopped hammering the glowing metal on the anvil.
*Claaaang-! Claaaang-! Claaaaaaang-!*
He didn't know how much time had actually passed.
Ren already looked completely exhausted.
‘Dad.’
He was afraid, wondering if he could really make it well.
Sword prodigy, archery prodigy, judo prodigy, soccer prodigy.
There were many prodigies in the world, and they received rewards for their efforts.
People cheered watching the Olympic gold medalists.
And my father and I, the Master Craftsmen, some of the few left in the world…
‘I'm going to file a complaint!’
‘Seriously, a smithy in this day and age!’
‘A blacksmith? Do those still exist?’
‘Do you know how inconvenient the smoke from the smithy is!?’
We never received that reward.
That's what a blacksmith was in today's world.
‘You're a blacksmithing prodigy, Hyun-soo.’
My dad had told me.
But what had I gotten?
No cheers under the spotlight.
No love from the entire nation greeting me as I got off a plane.
There was no world cheering and placing a flower necklace around my neck.
‘Don't worry, Hyun-soo.’
But my father had told me.
‘Your effort, your will, your day, two days, a week—it's all proven by your work.’
The reason Hyun-soo was afraid.
It wasn't because he doubted his own talent.
From my first creation to my last.
It was because my father, who had created them with me, was gone.
‘Hyun-soo, you are the only Master Craftsman now.’
But he mustered his courage.
The words his father had said, the man whose hands had grown too weak to hold a hammer after so many long hours of smithing.
Now, the only Master Craftsman in this world.
The only prodigy.
The only restorer of legendary swords.
The only mineral crafter.
The only manual crafter.
The only one.
One of a kind.
Only you…
‘Can create the greatest sword.’
For a moment, he felt dizzy.
He staggered but did not back down.
Fighting against this mithril, which required far more strenuous labor than regular iron.
Fighting against the iron sand ingot, he did not back down.
He steadied his mind.
I am a prodigy the world ignored.
My creations were blades no one recognized.
But in this world…
*Claaaaaaang-!*
Something everyone needs, everyone desires.
*Claaaaaaaaang-!*
The greatest weaponsmith.
Sweat flowed ceaselessly from his drenched body.
Bulging, reddened muscles.
And the sword, gradually taking its final form.
*Sssssssssssss-*
A continuous process of quenching and hammering.
Quenching to increase its hardness, hammering to shape it.
Only grinding, grinding, and more damn grinding.
*Claaaaaaang-!*
*Claaaaaaaaang-!*
But there was one thing he could say with certainty.
Whether a sword prodigy, an archery prodigy, or any other kind of prodigy…
‘I, too, have worked just as hard as them!’
He sharpened the sword's edge.
He began the process of polishing.
Before he knew it, the deep night began to lift.
Once, after more than a week of work, my father and I had laughed while looking at our finished creation.
It was just like that day.
Our creation, born from hardship.
My father, watching the sun rise through the darkness, had said.
‘Hyun-soo, this creation is like a brilliant light.’
A light that came through the darkness.
‘Gwangmyeong means bright and radiant, but it has another meaning too. It means a bright future and hope.’
A beautiful morning that came after a night of work.
A brilliant light streamed into the smithy where Hyun-soo stood.
*Ting!*
[A legendary sword, the likes of which will never be born in the beginner zone again, has been created.]
It was finally complete. The result of an effort that would astonish the world, the work of a prodigy blacksmith no one had ever praised.
The memory of standing in the smithy with his father, smiling at each other, flashed through Hyun-soo's mind.
Now, he could say it.
That even without you, I think I can continue on the path of a Master Craftsman.
[Please name the sword.]
Hearing the notification, Hyun-soo decided on the sword's name.
“Gwangmyeong.”
The name of this sword is Gwangmyeong (光明).
Hyun-soo's bright future.