Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: A Weapon for Someone
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The difference between an ordinary skeleton and an awakened one was stark.
From rekindling their past abilities to absorbing new knowledge from the old man.
No matter what, Bone-il, Bone-sa, and Bone-o could never catch up to Taeyang-i or Eldrin.
Well, even if they had the same body.
It was a fact that a body led by a peak master who had already reached the pinnacle would perform better.
Anyway.
Because of that, the skill gap between the skeletons was widening day by day.
Not just skill proficiency or stats.
The very know-how of operating their bodies was on another level.
The texture was just different.
At this rate, wouldn't the weaker ones feel left out because the balance was off?
"Hey, don't worry too much."
Today, too.
After finishing the set time for the massage, the old man shook out his arms.
"...Still, it's worrying."
I gave a wry smile.
What was once agonizingly painful had now become something I could endure while entertaining random thoughts, a sign of how much leeway I'd gained.
"I don't know if the way I'm growing them is the right direction. Games at least have guides... I don't even know if the balance between summons is right."
"Tsk tsk, seeing you worry about such things shows the Great Method is working after all."
The efficacy of the Great Method?
Ah, so he's indirectly saying I never even thought back then.
Perfect timing.
"That's why I'm saying, Elder?"
"What's with that uneasy smile?"
The old man frowned and took a step back.
"You said you've been taking the Great Method well lately, so how about taking a short break? Like a week or two."
"What?"
The old man bellowed.
But I didn't back down.
"I have some things to do."
"...Hm, now that you mention it."
The old man looked around.
"It's not the usual clearing, but the workshop."
"Yeah, I was thinking of properly making another weapon... Last time, I got too absorbed and broke my promise."
"Ahem, right."
Administering the Taecheong Supreme Rejuvenation Grand Method for 30 minutes a day.
That was the promise between the old man and me.
So, when something came up, I always let him know.
He rarely allowed it.
"Well, go ahead."
"Huh?"
I was surprised.
Normally, he'd throw a fit and tell me to drop the forging and everything.
What was with him today?
"You see, lad, forging is the main thing, and the Great Method is secondary."
"Yes?"
"Forging comes first. The Great Method only assists in achieving forging more easily. Swinging the hammer is the one moment you can truly immerse yourself right now—how could I, as your master, stop that?"
"Ooh...?"
As expected, only the Elder truly cared about my growth?
"But if you're doing it, do it right. If you can't immerse and just waste time, next Great Method session, I'll double the intensity."
"Got it, Elder!"
I answered firmly.
And rub rub! I rubbed my hands together.
"Master, shall we begin?"
"Yeah."
Up front, Demir picked up the hammer as if he'd been waiting.
I'd gotten the Elder's permission, so no need to hesitate.
Wooong!
The manifestation of the Taecheong Heart Method, allowing me to feel the mystical 'energy' that forms the world with my whole body.
"Hoo, I can feel the master's emotions connecting. Is this how you make it together?"
The method was the same as before.
Just like empathizing with Bone-yuk-i while hammering.
This time, empathize with Demir.
'What weapon should I make?'
'What should I make to satisfy the master?'
'Hammering alongside the benefactor of my clan. It's an honor.'
Demir's thoughts flowed into my mind as well.
Though not direct conversation, but emotions unpacked, the content was commendable.
"Master."
"Yeah."
"There are countless blueprints. What weapon shall we make?"
"Give me a sec."
Hm.
A moment of dilemma.
Can't make them often, and only one for the foreseeable future.
Should I make something that would sell the best?
Or something rare?
Either way, it had to be something promotable.
'Promotion, promotion...'
The thing with the clearest promotional effect in this world.
My dream, a Ranker.
Make a weapon targeting a Ranker?
'Ranker.'
The first person that came to mind.
Undoubtedly, the Ranker closest to me right now.
The nearby Ranker.
'Gi So-yul.'
The one who forged the bond between the Elder and me.
Also the benefactor who protected me from the terrorist group.
She might seem cold, but she was definitely not a bad person.
"Hoo, master?"
Reading my thoughts, Demir's eyes gleamed.
"A remarkably beautiful woman? Matches you well. We make a weapon for her?"
The guy was grinning ear to ear.
I could tell exactly what he was thinking.
"Yeah, someone I'm really grateful to."
In two ways.
A token of gratitude. And promotion.
If Gi So-yul just accepts and uses a product from 'Demir's Workshop', the effect would be huge.
It'd be exposed in all kinds of interviews, and one mention from her would skyrocket the brand value.
"Hmm."
Demir stroked his chin.
After a brief ponder, he nodded.
"Good, this blueprint will do."
He held up a bundle of paper.
B-rank assassin-exclusive dagger blueprint.
Extracted via alchemy, it was utterly ordinary.
Demir knew better blueprints, but they were impossible at current skill level.
"Shall we start then, master?"
"Sure."
Kclang! Kclang!
The hammer began striking the anvil.
Iron ingots were lined up on the floor.
[Completion: 1%]
The weapon forging had begun.
* * *
Gi So-yul was an assassin.
An assassin must be quiet and light.
Specialized in stealth to hide their presence.
'Light, light but extremely fast and sharp.'
To do that, couldn't condense the iron.
Had to spread it thin and pointed.
Maximize lightness.
Kclang! Kclang!
The ingot gradually took shape.
[Completion: 14%]
That shape clearly contained the image I'd envisioned.
A dagger with a cold, aloof aura.
Blacksmithing was akin to an art form.
Thus, its performance and design varied based on the subject envisioned.
'Hmm.'
All good.
All good, but.
Too light.
Endlessly light, it felt like it'd shatter powerlessly against a slightly strong opponent.
Then its value as a weapon was zilch.
Kclang! Kclang!
A dilemma.
"Haha! Master, why worry over such a thing!"
Kclang! Kclang!
'Weapons are like perverts by nature!'
'Perverts?'
'They get stronger the more they're hit—that's a weapon! No need to fret, just pound away!'
'Ooh!'
Kclang! Kclang!
'You might wonder, how long? But we smiths have no such thing. Just don't give up until it's done. Keep hammering with upright spirit until either my arm or the weapon breaks!'
'Cool.'
Kclang! Kclang!
'We call that infusing 'soul'!'
'Alright, let's pour in our full soul power.'
[Completion: 40%]
Grr rumble!
When hungry, chew a chocolate bar.
I closed my eyes and munched a snack.
Fatigue?
None.
Taecheong Heart Method drove it away, and the hammering heat stimulated my nerves.
Kclang! Kclang!
Feeling Demir's hammering, I kept envisioning Gi So-yul.
Her haughty eyes and toned muscles.
Her sharp, fierce presence.
I infused the energies I'd received from her into the dagger.
Chilling aura.
Thus, a cool energy settled into the dagger.
'Right, no matter how you package it, an assassin is ultimately a killing machine.'
A weapon must match its performance.
Ruthlessness and coldness.
I strove to infuse that into the weapon too.
[Completion: 60%]
How many days passed?
People began gathering one by one in front of the workshop.
"Is this the famous Demir's Workshop?"
"Hey! Is the owner in?"
"They say no more items at the auction house—do you take commissions here?"
Word of mouth had spread, drawing them in twos and threes.
But they all had to leave.
The neighboring merchants, including the lady next door, shook their heads.
"Aw, go home. The owner's there but won't come out. Hear that? Clang! Clang! Hammering sounds."
"Don't even. That young man in there is stubborn... It's been a week already, and he's still just hammering?"
"Well, hammer sounds are common in Gothamol, but this guy's overdoing it. Doesn't sleep? Knew he wasn't ordinary..."
Everyone marveled.
One mother dragged her kid there, nagging that if he wanted something, he had to work that hard.
Various program PDs came for coverage but left empty-handed.
[Completion: 80%]
"Ugh..."
Now growls came from his mouth.
Harder than when making in the dwarf district last time.
Not even my hammer striking, yet my arms ached like they were breaking.
At some point, I couldn't tell if I was Demir or he was me.
That deep the immersion.
[Completion: 99%]
'A bit regrettable.'
Everything was complete.
But the slight regret was the materials.
'If only the skill level was a tad higher.'
Namely, mithril or adamantite, the legendary stuff...
Didn't exist on Earth, but I definitely had them—how great that would've been.
Wanted to use the best materials for a limited-edition from Demir's Workshop.
Kclang! Kclang!
'But.'
It's the first one, right!
Antiques hold value despite wear not from performance, but rarity.
Who knows?
This first dagger I made on Earth might sell for dozens of times more than future ones.
Yeah, not the best, but I gave it my all.
Let's wrap it up.
[Completion: 100%]
[Congratulations!]
['Soul' has been infused into the created weapon.]
"Huff, huff!"
Rough breaths escaped.
Thick sweat streamed down my forehead, body soaked in cold sweat.
The fatigue repelled by Taecheong Heart Method crashed back at once.
"Master."
Thud!
Demir set down the bone hammer, looking at me with fervent eyes.
"It was an honor. To produce this with this body... Makes me think I learned blacksmithing in vain."
"...You worked hard."
With an emotional expression, I gazed at the dagger.
A sleek, refined weapon dyed in ink-black.
Felt like looking at a child I'd birthed through agony.
[The weapon's grade has been upgraded!]
[Acquired 'Dagger for an Assassin' (S-rank).]
"Ahh."
I exclaimed unwittingly.
As expected.
A satisfying rank.
My second S-rank weapon made with my own hands.
But different from last time: made S-rank from a B-rank blueprint!
[Item: Dagger for an Assassin]
[Rank: S]
[Type: Dagger]
[Description: A weapon made by legendary blacksmith Demir and his master, thinking of a certain assassin! It boasts performance transcending the blueprint through astonishing focus and passion.]
[Effect 1: Agility +50.]
[Effect 2: Attack Speed +200%.]
[Effect 3: After stealth, first strike damage +500%.]
[Effect 4: 30% resistance to ice magic.]
"...Insane."
Insane performance, literally.
No race restriction like last weapon, yet this.
Is this just the difference between ordinary Bone-yuk-i and Demir?
Legends aren't legends for nothing.
'Especially Effect 3.'
500% damage on first strike from stealth.
Just this alone, I could see how satisfied Gi So-yul would be.
'I'm pretty great too.'
I was usually pretty calculating.
But thinking of gifting to someone, feeling this proud and joyful.
I get why dwarves love making and gifting weapons.
Wanting the best to wield what you made.
A craftsman's spirit.
"Haha, master!"
Demir grinned contentedly beside me.
"Feels like my skills pumped up ridiculously after all that hammering!"
['Demir's status has been adjusted.']
[Proficiency +3.]
[Proficiency +2.]
[Skill 'Intermediate Item Crafting' (Lv.6) level increased by 1.]
[Proficiency +6.]
....
[Proficiency +3.]
[Proficiency +5.]
[All stats +3!]
Demir's skill level rose again.
Now level 7.
Three more levels to 'Advanced'.
Incredible speed.
'Good.'
Weapon forging done.
Now, time to meet the gift recipient? I thought just then.
"This place is the hot workshop lately. Do you take orders?"
A familiar woman's voice came from outside the workshop.
A presence that appeared suddenly from nowhere, without a trace.
Ah, Gi So-yul.
As expected, was this woman no saint in her past life either?
It'd been a while since seeing Rank 379.
The Dark Emperor had arrived.