Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: For Boneflesh: Class, Blacksmith
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Class, Blacksmith.
And smelting, weaving, alchemy, and all sorts of crafting skills.
"......"
I'd never picked up a hammer in my life, so of course I had no clue.
"Hmm, I'm not great with production jobs either......"
Gi So-yul was in the same boat.
There was no way the woman known as the Queen of Assassins would know anything about blacksmithing.
She'd spent her life slicing up people and monsters, after all.
That left only one option.
[Skill: 'Teaching of Myriad Arts' (S-Grade) used.]
[20 Stamina used.]
['Myriad Arts Master' appears.]
The very next morning.
I summoned the old man right away.
"Hoh, this guy."
"Yes, Elder."
"You've grown a bit already, have you?"
The old man instantly clocked that I'd reached C-Grade.
"Heh heh, you've grasped the basics of the Azure Clarity Heart Method?"
"That's right."
"Well, it's a bit slower than I'd hoped. Still, unsealing one undead isn't bad. Name's Boneflesh, eh?"
"O......"
He even knew about Boneflesh's seal being broken?
My eyes lit up as I asked.
"So, Elder."
"What."
"Do you happen to know anything about Blacksmithing?"
"Blacksmithing...... you mean blacksmith work?"
"Yes. You're a master of myriad arts. Making things is just another skill, so surely you've mastered that too?"
I nodded confidently as I spoke.
I was certain of it.
The Myriad Arts Master would give me clear guidance on how to raise Boneflesh.
My heart raced.
'Once he hits max-level Blacksmith, he'll crank out S-Grade items like they're nothing.'
As I'd felt last time.
S-Grade items were worth a fortune.
In other words, Boneflesh.
Raise this guy right, and I'd never have to worry about money again.
Plus, I could easily outfit my other skeletons and myself.
"Eh? Why ask me about blacksmithing? Don't tell me the new undead that showed up is a blacksmith or something?"
"Haha, yep, that's right. Want to see?"
[Skill: 'Balanced Skeleton Summon' (C-Grade) used.]
[10 Stamina used.]
['Bone 6' appears.]
I showed the hammer-wielding Boneflesh to the old man.
But the old man's face soured, like something didn't sit right with him.
"Tsk tsk, you fool."
"Yes?"
Something felt off.
A bad feeling washed over me.
Like he was about to crush all my expectations.
"Listen up. My myriad arts were made solely for fighting people. Skills have their own specialties. Did I look like some shut-in smith hunkered down forging away?"
"......Yes?"
No way.
"Think about it. I was an absolute being with no equals in a whole world. You think I'd waste time making weapons? I'd just take the best ones from others. Asking me about lowly blacksmithing is an insult and a disgrace!"
"......"
"Look at that clueless face. That's all because your mindset hasn't been fixed. You know what the guys who can't even fight well do?"
"......What?"
"They blame their gear. Blame their gear. A true absolute should be able to crush foes with a mere twig. Tsk, already whining about gear!"
"It's not about blaming gear...... I was just asking about Blacksmithing......"
I was at a loss for words.
What had I even expected from this old man?
'And besides.'
Just take the best ones and use them.
It felt like there was a massive gulf between the world he came from and mine.
Like the standards for human decency and morality were worlds apart.
"Didn't you say before, Elder? You'd teach all my kids!"
The old man had once said he'd teach me.
-I've mastered countless talents, earning me the title of Myriad Arts. With all those skills, you think I'd hold back at just ten? I'd teach them all.
He'd specifically said ten skills back then.
That had to include Boneflesh......
"Tsk tsk, fool. When did I say I'd teach blacksmithing? He's got a hammer—teach him flashy Hammer Arts instead."
"......Hammer Arts? No thanks."
No way.
I already had five combat skeletons.
This ridiculous stroke of luck had brought me a production skeleton.
The dream of full S-Grade gear sets.
I couldn't just give up.
"Hey! You ignoring my Hammer Arts? Smashing with a big hammer has a different thrill from swords or spears......"
"No! I said no!"
"You punk! Have you lost your mind?"
The old man glared at my defiance.
But I had to say my piece.
"The Myriad Arts I learned aren't limited to ten thousand techniques—they're all techniques. Didn't you say so yourself? Any skill mastered to the peak becomes one."
"Hmph, I'm the creator of Myriad Arts. So it's my call."
"I can't accept that. How can you rank techniques? No skill in the world deserves contempt."
"It's not about ranking. Get strong first. You think you have time to hammer away at an anvil with your weak ass? Spend that time swinging a sword. Tsk."
"Your Myriad Arts and mine are different. I want Blacksmithing in mine."
"Heh, you ungrateful......? What's with that pigheaded stubbornness?"
The old man looked exasperated, but my eyes burned with resolve.
'Boneflesh is a blacksmith.'
This kid was born a blacksmith.
Born one, and I wanted to raise him as one.
I absolutely refused to turn him into some brute hammer swinger.
That was the summoner's mindset.
My bones were like my children.
A parent's heart is to let their kids follow their own path!
I turned away.
"Hey, you punk! Where you going? Wait!"
Heh.
I smiled.
If neither Gi So-yul nor the old man worked out.
I'd just find another way.
'There's one holy land for production jobs in Korea.'
Gotomall.
The underground mall at Gangnam Express Bus Terminal.
'It used to sell mostly fashion clothes back in the day.'
Now it housed every production profession and hunter item business imaginable.
"You punk!"
The old man called desperately from behind.
"What?"
"If you're going, at least take the Azure Vault Replenishment Grand Method first!"
"......"
I should, but.
I just wasn't in the mood today.
I'd hit C-Grade yesterday anyway.
And I was more curious about Boneflesh's potential right now.
"Sorry, but I'll pass today and take double tomorrow."
"What? You little!"
"See you tomorrow, Elder. Please understand."
"You damn......!"
I hurriedly unsummoned the ranting old man.
A petty revenge against the old man for dismissing Boneflesh's class as lowly.
* * *
Gotomall's underground mall had everything.
From dungeon items to hunter-crafted goods.
It was swarming with hunters.
Packed with mysterious items.
Even regular tourists flocked here.
"Man, never thought I'd come back here."
The day I got my unique ability 'Cursed Necromancer.'
I'd bought a cheap staff here.
[Item: Summoner's Worn Staff]
[Grade: E]
[Type: Staff]
[Description: A staff infused with mysterious magic. Worn by the ravages of time.]
[Effect 1: Skill cooldown -2%.]
[Effect 2: Summon-related skills +3% power.]
"......"
Still using it to this day.
I'd shelled out a whopping 500,000 won to boost my skeletons' power even a little.
'Time to upgrade soon, I guess.'
Honestly, nothing caught my eye.
Probably because of Bone Ogre's 'Fire Dragon Staff'—my tastes had gotten picky.
"Whew."
I exhaled and looked around.
Clang! Clang!
The sound of metal being hammered.
Squeak! Rattle!
The cheerful whir of looms.
It was music to my ears.
'Still packed as ever.'
I marveled at the endless stream of hunters and tourists.
Gi So-yul, who'd followed me, was hidden nearby.
She was famous, so she preferred staying out of sight.
'First things first.'
I picked one of the nearby forges.
A rundown place with a shabby sign, dealing in cheap gear.
'Don't have much money yet, so......'
Plus.
There was another reason for choosing it.
[Smith's Forge]
[Beginner Blacksmiths Welcome!]
[Furnace, Anvil, Artificial Well, etc. Rented Cheap!]
[Build Proficiency Freely! Plenty of Rooms!]
'Beginner Blacksmiths Welcome!'
'Boneflesh might be mid-tier.'
But without a master, he needed to start from basics—that was my thinking.
It was rundown, so fewer hunters around, which was a bonus.
"Hello."
As I greeted and entered, a man in his early fifties stood up.
"Welcome. Here to buy?"
"No, I saw the ad out front?"
"Ah, a blacksmith, eh? Beginner? F-Grade? Or E?"
"E-Grade."
I jangled the white badge on my belt.
'Need to update it soon.'
Association rules: renew every six months.
Miss it after a rank-up, and you're a 'fraud registrant' with penalties.
I had 4-5 months left, so fine for now.
"Right! Here for a room then?"
"Yeah, can I see it?"
I'd already checked production job basics on the 'Hunter Board' on the way.
Pretty game-like.
Smelting, weaving, alchemy, etc.
Skills leveled up just by grinding proficiency.
'And item crafting skills are the heart of blacksmithing.'
Using materials from basic skills.
And blueprints from dungeons.
To make items.
"Look around all you want. Like it? Rent it."
The room was spartan.
Empty space with just! the essentials plunked down.
A pure proficiency factory.
"Hmm, how much?"
"Two hundred a month."
"Two hundred......? Two hundred won?"
"Heh heh, good one. Two hundred thousand, obviously. No day rates either."
"......"
No wonder no customers.
Way pricier than expected.
Even after C-Grade dungeons lately, my savings weren't huge.
[Account Details]
[Holder: Joo Dong-hoon]
[Hunter Premium Account E-Grade]
[Balance: 8,602,000 won]
About 8.6 million won?
25% of my net worth.
"Take it or leave it. Nowhere cheaper nationwide. Know how much furnaces and anvils cost to install? Plus we've got looms and mini alchemy benches."
"Hmm."
Tough call.
Not usually a sucker.
But the guy wasn't wrong.
Most production hunters were guild-backed with full support.
No need for spots like this.
No demand, no supply.
Probably all other rentals folded, leaving this one limping along.
"Alright."
I nodded.
An investment in my kid, anyway.
Once Boneflesh grew proper, it'd pay back dozens-fold, right?
"One month, please!"
I slapped down my card with gusto.