Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: 19. Spotlight (4)
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They changed locations.
Yoo Jeong-yeong decided to work in a public space, and the reporters watching her did so with suspicious gazes.
"...That thing just now. Is it really true?"
"No way."
One reporter shook his head at his colleague's words.
He wanted to believe it, but the result from moments ago was far beyond common sense.
"An F-Rank longsword upgraded all the way to D-Rank. Boosting attack power from 3 to 12 doesn't just mean she sparked a new technological revolution. This is a full-blown upheaval. If she can consistently produce results like that, just imagine what'll happen to the world from now on."
"It'll be chaos."
"Exactly. The whole world will flip upside down. You know how hunters are—they'd risk their lives for even a 1 or 2 point increase in attack power. If a blacksmith shows up who can massively boost item stats, people from all over the globe will flock to Korea."
This was irreplaceable.
One of a kind.
Something only Yoo Jeong-yeong in the entire world could do.
No matter how rationally he tried to think about it, if it was real, its value was beyond imagination.
The reporter turned to his colleague.
"So focus and document this right now. Whether it's true or not. If it's fake, she'll be the scam of the century. But if there's even the slightest chance it's real..."
His eyes gleamed.
Kang San or whatever.
That didn't matter now.
"We're witnessing history."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
It wasn't the ideal space for Yoo Jeong-yeong to work, but she calmly finished her preparations.
'Why on earth did Kang San teach me this technique?'
At first, she hadn't thought deeply about it.
She was captivated by Kang San's skill and truly passionate about this work, so she'd impulsively begged him to teach her.
But now.
Her mind was a whirlwind.
Kang San's technique had produced far greater results than expected, and soon she'd be sitting on an astronomical fortune. It wasn't just a hunch—it was certainty. Yoo Jeong-yeong had spent her life in the forge; she wasn't foolish enough to undervalue her own skills.
This incredible technique.
She'd received it practically for free.
Kang San had tacked on talk of shares or profits, but even just 10% would overwhelmingly benefit her. Before meeting him, she was just another cog in the forge machine. Now, she was a pioneer.
That lingering doubt.
From the moment her work started yielding overwhelming results, staring at them lost in thought.
And now, some clarity emerged.
'He's just that kind of person. Someone who shares what he has, sacrifices for others without hesitation. Kang San must have decided that teaching me was better for the world than hoarding it.'
Hadn't the forge master said it?
Kang San's actions.
Truly shocking.
Risking an E-Rank link to save people, giving away his entire fortune to help a stranger and his pitiful grandmother—stories of his good deeds were piling up. At first, it was his skill leading Project B-Team to victory that stood out. Now, people were questioning the man himself.
Did they know?
That this Kang San had taught her this technique.
That he'd acknowledged his own limits with steel and willingly shared, choosing progress together.
It was pure benevolence.
Nothing else fit.
So Yoo Jeong-yeong wanted to repay him sincerely.
Prove that choosing her out of countless people wasn't a mistake.
In a world that called such kindness foolish or meddlesome, show that it wasn't always so.
She set the stage.
The arena of proof.
Yoo Jeong-yeong had rehearsed this scenario countless times.
With familiar hands, she lit the furnace, and astonishingly, the reporters' chatter vanished in an instant.
Whoosh.
Roarrrrr.
She was entranced by the flames.
As Yoo Jeong-yeong exhaled steadily, the writhing flames snaked around her, awaiting command. She'd already entered a new realm. Accustomed to wielding intangible power, she preheated precisely, then slammed down the glowing red sword.
Clang—!
Sparks flew.
She immersed herself.
From then on, she hammered like a madwoman.
Ignoring everyone else in the space, captivated only by herself, the steel, and the fire.
Clang!
Clang, clang!
Silence descended.
Everyone watched.
An hour passed. Two. Three.
Her rippling muscles never ceased their explosive strikes.
The scorching heat forced reporters back, but Yoo Jeong-yeong, enveloped in flames, showed no fear. At some point, some reporters stared blankly. No skills manifested visibly, yet the scene defied logic.
The realm of the irrational.
Incomprehensible to those who gained power through the system and grew by its guidance.
Time flowed.
The sun set, darkness fell.
No one left.
They couldn't.
Hadn't one reporter said it?
If Yoo Jeong-yeong was telling the truth, they were living through history.
And finally.
Drip.
Silence blanketed everything.
"Haa."
She exhaled deeply.
Her steady breathing turned ragged, eyes trembling as they fixed on the sword.
'Success.'
A masterpiece.
The most perfect creation among all her works.
She turned.
Facing the dazed reporters, she spoke.
"Before starting, I clearly showed you this sword's stats right in front of your eyes."
As Yoo Jeong-yeong said.
She'd revealed the stats to the reporters.
📍 Name:Two-Handed Sword Imbued with the Will of the Giant
🛡️ Rank:D-Rank
⚔ Attack Power:+21
✨ Special Effect:Mighty Strike
A fine item.
It could fetch tens of millions on the market right now.
While her previous demo used an F-Rank item, this time she'd deliberately chosen a higher-grade one. That's why their eyes wavered. The F-Rank was just a low-tier example; now came the real, meaningful upper-tier difference.
Thus.
The stakes were higher.
Everyone focused on her words and actions.
"And this is the result I created right before your eyes."
📍 Name:Two-Handed Sword Imbued with the Soul of the Giant
🛡️ Rank:C-Rank
⚔ Attack Power:+42
✨ Special Effect:Mighty Strike
"Whoa."
"Gasp."
"This can't be real."
Exclamations erupted among the reporters.
They all widened their eyes.
Before enhancement.
The sword's attack power was definitely 21.
Now, it had doubled to 42.
The F-Rank had quadrupled, but no one expected that here. A mere double? From 21 to 42—that was 21 points up, far beyond the prior 9-point gain. The reporters weren't dumb enough to miss what that meant.
Flash, flash, flash.
"How is this even possible?"
"Is there a special skill for enhancing items?"
"What's your next move?"
Chaos erupted.
Those who'd watched suspiciously now dropped all defenses, bombarding her with questions.
Yoo Jeong-yeong gazed at the scene calmly.
This glory wasn't entirely hers to claim.
This situation wasn't born solely from her abilities.
'Kang San.'
Just one man.
She owed him repayment.
At first, she thought earning big money would suffice. But it was unfair for him to get none of this glory. Then Kim Min-young's article hit hard. Inspired by its portrayal of Kang San, Yoo Jeong-yeong wanted to add her lines.
Yoo Jeong-yeong spoke.
"First, I have something to say."
All eyes locked on.
Everyone leaned in.
"In a past interview, I mentioned someone who sponsored me to master this technique. Without him, I wouldn't exist today. As for my future path? I'll say it clearly here. I plan to actively use my skills, take on many commissions, and use the earnings to improve blacksmiths' conditions, invest in tech development, and create a positive cycle. The issue, as you saw today, is that enhancing one item takes considerable time. It's not a skill easily taught or learned. So I'll have to limit commissions. It might seem greedy, but I'll prioritize those with compelling reasons or the best offers."
This statement.
Its purpose went further.
She poured oil on the already blazing fire.
"And the final say on accepting commissions will rest with 'Kang San,' the one who sponsored me."
A few days later.
Kang San finally felt at ease.
'How long has it been since I had this kind of leisure?'
Thinking back, even after Azmun's trials, he'd never had such downtime before.
It had always been endless struggle.
Before the trials, he'd clawed desperately against a wretched life. After, trials crashed down without respite. Especially lately—the 900 days in that restrictive space, barely sleeping, pushing himself to extremes.
And now.
For the plan, sure, but he'd taken ample rest.
His mind cleared.
Until now, sudden trials had forced reactive fixes. Now, his path ahead was clearer.
'The next six months. I need to put myself out there maximally.'
Turning on his phone.
Messages would flood in.
As expected, Heavenly Firmament and Great Ocean would show the most interest, but to draw even more, he'd hold his own showcase. That was step one. To paint the picture he envisioned, his growth was key, but he needed buildup too.
Preparations complete.
After proper rest, Kang San powered on his phone.
But.
Bzzz.
Bzzz, bzzz, bzzz.
Bzzz, bzzz, bzzz, bzzz, bzzz.
It vibrated wildly.
Heavenly Firmament, Great Ocean, other managements.
That was anticipated.
But dozens of times more contacts made Kang San's eyes bulge.
"...What the hell?"
Only then did he realize.
In just a few days, far more had happened than he'd thought.