Where is My Max-Level Reward?

Shouldn't there be a perk ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as a matter of course...?

"Just one more, and I'm done..."

Standing before the workbench, I continued to swing my hammer. My sweat-soaked work clothes clung tightly to my skin.

Clang! Clang...! Clang!

Every time I struck the glowing metal, a deafening ring echoed through the smithy. Sparks flew from the dark red, heated iron.

A sword forged from the carved horn of a dragon. Even without looking, it was bound to be of legendary grade.

"Hey, friend! Come on out for a bit! Surely you can take a break on a festival day like today!"

The NPC from the neighboring smithy, whom I was usually on friendly terms with, called out to me.

He clearly had no idea that the game service was ending today.

Users gathered from all over the world were probably busy enjoying the ending festival.

Idiots... They don't even know it's all about to end...

There was no longer any reason to reply to a mere NPC.

I gave a brief nod and went back to hammering with single-minded focus.

Soon, accompanied by the NPC's sigh, the sound of footsteps faded into the distance.

Service Shutdown.

Today was the final day of the game I had played for ten years.

It might have been a massive hit in the past, but that was already a decade-old story.

Ever since the developer launched a new hit game two years ago, updates had ceased entirely.

Everyone had abandoned it, calling it a dead game, leaving only the hardcore veterans behind. It wasn't unexpected.

Even so, I couldn't stop. I still had a goal I hadn't achieved.

I stared at the level displayed at the top of the screen.

The experience bar below it was almost completely full.

Reaching the maximum level, level 100, was right before my eyes.

Lost Kingdom.

A masterpiece of its era, released by a company that had revolutionized VR technology.

It was a game that had become a massive hit thanks to its high degree of freedom, diverse races, over a hundred classes, and a vast worldview.

My goal had been singular from the very beginning.

To reach the very pinnacle of the game. Before anyone else.

To be the first to reach rank one, anyone would naturally think of the meta classes first.

Highly efficient classes like Warriors, Mages, Knights, Barbarians, and so on.

But ever since I was young, I had a fondness for off-meta classes.

That was why I chose the unfamiliar path of a Blacksmith, rather than a Barbarian or a Paladin who engaged in flashy combat.

While most people were drawn to the game by dazzling gameplay videos, I was different.

I felt a strange allure in the figure of a blacksmith silently hammering away to craft the ultimate gear.

Even without flashy battles, there was a unique dignity in the hands that quietly shaped weapons.

Inside the heated forge, the crisp ring of the hammer hitting the anvil with every strike—I loved that sound more than anything.

A weapon taking shape beneath my fingertips was a work of art in itself.

I loved every single step of the process.

The thrill of holding a completed weapon in my hands was far more satisfying than any flashy battle.

From selecting the materials to tempering and engraving magic. Every process was executed by my own hands.

There was no room for error.

I had to pour my heart into every single detail.

Despite countless failures, I never despaired. Rather, each failure taught me something new, making it all the more enjoyable.

The path of a blacksmith was grueling, but I fell deeper and deeper under its spell.

It took ten long years to finally reach my current level.

Before I knew it, this game had become a part of my life.

But even so...

"To think I'd be swinging a hammer even on the final day of service..."

A hollow laugh escaped my lips.

In an RPG played for the thrill of adventuring in a new ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠world, most people considered the Blacksmith to be the least popular class.

For them, the charm of the game lay in its immersive systems, gorgeous graphics, and realistic combat.

However, these very strengths worked against the Blacksmith.

Due to the hyper-realistic systems, a blacksmith had to spend the vast majority of their in-game time hammering away in a forge.

To players who enjoyed flashy combat, this was mind-numbingly boring.

Consequently, as the game entered its later years, finding a blacksmith was like finding a needle in a haystack.

Some players didn't even know the class existed.

Hearing reactions like "Wait, that class existed?" was no longer surprising.

But is it even possible to level up? What if I'm already at the cap and it just won't budge?

Because leveling up became absurdly difficult and required fulfilling numerous conditions, the number of players who had surpassed level 90 could be counted on one hand.

But I couldn't stop. I had seen it.

Tucked away in a corner of the early setting documents on the official website before the game's release.

It was a tiny clue that had likely been deleted after the game's release, making it virtually unknown among gamers, but I resolved not to miss the opportunity.

That was the very reason I was still hammering away even as the game was drawing to a close.

Reaching the absolute peak of a game. And the dazzling reward waiting for me.

That would make all the effort of the past ten years worthwhile.

I was growing increasingly anxious.

The server shutdown was fast approaching.

I wanted to see the fruits of all the hardships I had endured with my own eyes.

But how much longer do I have to hammer? I've been at this for three hours already.

A material dropped from a monster equivalent to the world's final boss.

While a weapon's grade was heavily influenced by the creator's skill and proficiency, the materials used ultimately played the deciding role.

The higher the grade and rarity of the materials, the higher the grade of the resulting weapon. Occasionally, weapons with unique skills or properties were born.

As I drew closer to the maximum level, crafting anything below legendary grade yielded virtually no experience.

But my experience bar was now at 99%.

If I could just produce one legendary weapon, I was guaranteed to level up.

"With this, it'll definitely be legendary..."

Clang...! Clang! Clang!!

As I hammered, a dark red light began to leak out, followed by a flash of light and a puff of black smoke.

Then, a series of notifications popped up before my eyes.

"I did it... Holy shit!"

The veins on my neck bulged.

I had finally reached the pinnacle I had yearned for so desperately.

The moment all my efforts up to now bore fruit.

Tossing aside the legendary item I had barely managed to craft, I opened my inventory, swelling with anticipation. My fingers trembled with curiosity about what the perk could be.

"Now, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠let's see..."

I searched through the inventory window, looking for the mysterious item that had to be hidden somewhere.

...Huh?

There didn't seem to be anything new. No matter how much I checked, there were only my usual, ordinary items.

What is this? Why is there nothing? That's weird...

In an instant, my mind went blank.

"What is... this? Where is the perk?"

Even after thoroughly scouring my inventory, there was no new item, let alone any change whatsoever.

"Huh? There really isn't anything? Where is it supposed to be?"

My heart began to race. This couldn't be happening.

It clearly said a perk would be granted.

With trembling hands, I checked every nook and cranny of the interface, even my skill window, but there was still no trace of any perk.

"Fuck. You've got to be kidding me, right?"

Even when I re-read the system message, there was no explanation other than the single line: 'A special perk will be granted.'

I don't get it. What's going on?

Was it really just a foolish delusion?

No way. There had to be something.

"No, this is weird! You said I reached the max level! Then shouldn't there obviously be a perk?!"

In my confusion, I kept the inventory open, checking it over and over as I shouted.

"What is this? Nothing? No, stop messing with me. There's really nothing? This is bizarre. There's no way."

Don't tell me... was all of this a waste of time?

I felt dizzy, as if I'd been struck on the back of the head. I felt like I was about to lose my mind.

Then, something suddenly occurred to me.

I remembered that the mention of the perk had been deleted from the developer's website before the game's release.

No way, was the perk a lie?

What on earth did they do?

Did they plan to give something amazing and then change their minds? Was all of this for nothing?

Then what was this system message?

The message window floated there, seemingly mocking me.

"Did they just forget to delete it during a patch or something?!"

"Don't bullshit me!!!"

"Oh? You're here. Yes, on a day like today, you've got to have a drink. Hey, barkeep! Bring a stout over here!"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The middle-aged blacksmith greeted me warmly.

I sat down across from him.

"Whoa, hey now."

I snatched the mug he was holding and downed it in one go.

I was so thirsty I couldn't stand it.

I needed something to clear this suffocating feeling in my chest.

"Ahhh...!"

Sweet foam and cool carbonation rushed down my throat.

A refreshing sensation spread throughout my body.

Having hammered without rest for three hours, my throat had been bone-dry.

As the cold stout washed down, it felt as if the blockage in my chest had been swept away.

"Hey, slow down. I guess you wanted to have a drink with me after all this time."

I didn't even reply, just kept drinking.

Right now, I needed alcohol. I wanted to forget reality and find a moment of peace.

"Here is the extra stout you ordered."

The moment the barmaid set the mug on the table, I immediately began chugging it again.

Heat spread through my body, and the alcohol quickly rushed to my head.

I felt like I could forget all of this if I just got drunk.

"Dear me. Did you get dumped or something?"

The man asked with concern.

I mumbled, my tongue already slurring.

"Pe..."

Dumped my ass. Fuck.

Give it back. My perk.

"Come on, talk to me. Get it all out. What's the lady's name?"

"Hic... Perk..."

I blabbered whatever came to mind in my drunken state.

"What?"

A sudden surge of resentment welled up inside me.

"Give me my max-level perk..."

How hard had I worked for that damn perk? For it to not exist now, did that make any sense?

"Give me my perk, you scammer bastards...!!"

Unable to contain my rage, I suddenly stood up.

Stumbling around in my drunken state, I ran wildly through the tavern.

I swung a chair, grabbing whatever was within reach.

In truth, even though it was a virtual reality game, it only simulated the feeling of being drunk; I wasn't actually intoxicated.

I was simply using the excuse of alcohol to vent my despair.

The game's servers were going to shut down soon anyway.

If I didn't let off steam like this, I wouldn't be able to bear it.

"Fuuuuuck!"

I threw the mug in my hand with all my might.

The mug shattered, splashing alcohol everywhere.

The tavern turned into complete chaos in an instant.

Thud!

Right then, I felt a sudden impact.

Had I run into something hard?

At the same time, my vision went pitch black.

This is weird. It's just a VR game...

No matter how realistic the virtual reality was, I was ultimately just wearing a helmet with a display and holding controllers.

Feeling such vivid pain was completely incomprehensible.

In my panic, I reached up to tear off the gear, but strangely, I couldn't feel the sensation of wearing any equipment at all.

Nausea welled up, and my stomach churned violently.

I felt intensely dizzy, as if the world were spinning at a rapid pace.

My mind grew distant, and my consciousness slowly faded away.

When I regained consciousness, what stretched out before my eyes was the world inside the game.