Chapter 37 - Beginner Blacksmith
• First equipment crafted
• Dexterity +1
"Huuuuhhh."
—...You're really that happy about it?
"I'm the happiest guy in the world right now."
—Anyone would think you just forged a mythic item or something.
Watching him celebrate like he'd hit the lottery was almost ridiculous.
"Alright, let's keep this momentum going—next up, helmet and greaves."
—Yeah. Now that you've got the hang of it, it'll be quick. Hurry up and craft 'em so we can level—
"Please wait a moment, my lord. It's not finished yet."
"Huh?"
Carpe turned to Tina at her cryptic words.
Her gaze was fixed on the freshly crafted sabaton.
"Finished? This is the completed product."
The notification had clearly said it was done...
It was a perfectly reasonable question from Carpe's perspective, but she slowly shook her head.
"Perhaps to ordinary smiths, but you are no mere blacksmith, my lord."
"Eh?"
Now that he thought about it, she was right.
He'd gotten so thrilled by the success that he'd yelled like he'd created a masterpiece, but calmly speaking, it was nothing special.
He'd shaped an iron ingot into a single plate shoe.
That was it.
Something even a basic blacksmith could do.
There hadn't been a single trace of Magic King or Magic Engineering anywhere in the crafting process.
"The Magic King was exceptional as a smith, but his true brilliance lay elsewhere."
That was when it happened.
You've completed over 90% of the crafting process with 'Excellent' ratings.
Rune Engraving is now available on the crafted item.
Rune Engraving is a form of enchantment magic—a Magic Engineering technique applicable only to successfully crafted equipment.
"Rune Engraving?"
—Whoa. Isn't that a Magic Fist Lord exclusive skill?
"My lord. This way."
Tina led him to another area inside the workshop: the alchemy lab.
A massive desk was cluttered with all sorts of experimental tools.
As Carpe sat in the chair by the desk, another notification popped up right on cue.
Place the crafted equipment on the workbench to begin Rune Engraving.
Use the Magic Pencil to engrave the rune. The completed rune's effect will activate randomly.
"Magic Pencil? Oh, this thing?"
There was a pen-like tool in the corner of the desk.
Unlike the name, it resembled a ballpoint pen more than a pencil.
A thick one, like a three-color ballpoint.
The unusual parts were its transparent barrel, letting you see inside, and the rubber eyedropper-like tip on the back.
"First, inject the Magic Solution."
Tina picked up a beaker and walked to the end of the desk.
—So that's what the dispenser was for...
"Dispenser? What's that?"
—Think of it like a water cooler, but for chemicals instead of water. Common in university labs.
"Bro, with that face and build, you were in the sciences? What a waste of physique."
—What'd you say, punk?
Tina approached the dispenser, held the beaker under it, and pressed the button.
A murky gray liquid flowed out, filling the beaker.
"This is the Magic Solution?"
"Yes. It's made by melting magical materials in precise ratios. Using higher-grade materials increases purity, bringing it closer to silver."
"Oho. Did you make this yourself, Tina?"
"No. Regrettably, my knowledge of Magic Engineering is limited. This was given as a reward for unlocking the workshop."
"Hmm."
A unlock reward, huh.
So maybe more solution came as rewards when the workshop leveled up, like the iron ingots?
Otherwise, he'd have to mix it himself, as Tina said.
"Whatever, we'll figure that out later. Rune Engraving first."
He instantly got how to use the Magic Solution.
Carpe dipped the Magic Pencil into the beaker and pressed the rubber end with his finger.
Sluuuurp!
The gray solution sucked up inside, filling it.
A few repeats, and it was full.
Click.
The pen tip extended from the front.
—Filling it switches from eyedropper to pen mode? Neat.
"That's it?"
"Yes. All preparations are complete."
"Good."
Carpe nodded and placed the sabaton on the workbench.
Rune Engraving has begun.
A change occurred with the notification.
Geometric patterns began floating on the sabaton's surface.
"These are the runes?"
From the pen, patterns, and "engraving," the task was obvious.
"Trace these, right? Mess up and go outside the lines, and it fails."
"Indeed, my lord. Remarkable insight."
"Not sure it's insight worthy, but yeah, I get it."
No more explanation needed.
Carpe straightened up and carefully touched the pen tip down.
"Ugh?!"
Close call.
More solution flowed out than expected, nearly spilling over the lines.
Failing Rune Engraving has a high chance of destroying the item.
"Warn me about that stuff first!"
His heart nearly stopped.
Carpe exhaled deeply, steadying his breath.
"Okay, focus. Focus."
He continued engraving.
Unlike crafting the gear, no weird patterns—just maintain concentration.
"Phew."
At about 10%, sweat beaded on his forehead.
Carpe rolled his sore shoulders and spoke.
"This is surprisingly tiring. Feels like tracing drawings on transparent paper as a kid."
—Music class, now art class? At this rate, you're not the Magic King—you're the King of Fine Arts.
"In truth, the Magic King had deep knowledge of the arts as well."
—...Really.
He'd compared it to tracing on paper, but it was way harder.
The sabaton had curves everywhere, unlike flat paper.
Tricky spots galore.
"Gotta finish in one go."
—That line just flagged it. You're definitely failing.
"If it's you, my lord, you will surely succeed."
"Kyuu kyuu!"
Some time passed like that.
A few more close calls, but he powered through.
"Done!"
You've completed the Rune of Recovery.
Rune Engraving successfully completed. Item grade has increased by one level.
First Rune Engraving completed. Title 'Rune Crafter' acquired.
A barrage of delightful notifications!
Carpe grinned.
"Told ya I'd finish in one go."
—Damn, this guy's lucky.
"Now, let's check the fruits of our labor."
Carpe inspected the sabaton's info.
◈ Equip Requirement: Level 15+
◈ Physical Defense: 20
◈ Magical Defense: 18
◈ Vitality +3
◈ Magic Power +2
◈ Bonus: When HP falls below 60%, recover 1% HP per second (lasts 10 sec, 15 min cooldown)
"Ooh!"
It had jumped from magic to rare grade, with "of Healing" added to the name.
Stats boosted across the board.
But the real kicker was the new bonus option!
—This is huge.
Post-crafting enhancements existed here and there.
But skills adding quality bonuses like this? Rare even among 9-star crafting skills.
—An 8-star skill doing this... Must be the mythic class perk.
The destruction risk on failure existed, but Repeat mastery could overcome that.
—And that's not even the end of it.
"Huh? More left?"
Carpe tilted his head.
The item seemed done, but another process?
He glanced at Tina, who shook her head cluelessly.
—Not 'left'—more like a bonus.
Then it hit.
Rare-grade item crafting completed.
Vitality +1, Dexterity +1.
"Huh?"
—Remember what I said? Production classes are inherently weak.
"Yeah. Not enough skill points for combat skills."
—Right, but even production classes need to level. That loophole? Crafting bonuses.
They gave extra stats to offset the weakness.
"How much do they give?"
—Varies by item grade. Rare is just +2 stats, but Legendary nets +16 total.
"Whoa, insane. +16? That's three levels worth. Grind this and..."
—Obviously, there's a cap to prevent exploits. No free lunch.
"Tch."
—Patches exploits like a ghost. Anyway, that's why crafting bonuses aren't special—you get 'em just for being a crafter...
Crafter's class grade is Mythic.
??? blesses this great pathwalker.
Crafting bonus doubled.
—This busted game again! Hey! No sense of balance?!
"Kya! God game for real. Devs deserve a Nobel."
—And what's with the ???... This game peels like an onion, endless weird crap...
Whether Cheonma screamed or not, Carpe, high on crafting bonus dopamine, churned out more.
About an hour later.
"Alright! Done!"
He'd nailed greaves and helm, runes perfect!
Rare-grade Rather Fine Plate Greaves of Defending crafting success.
Strength +2.
Rare-grade Rather Fine Plate Helm of Magic Healing crafting success.
Vitality +1, Magic Power +1.
Crafting bonus doubled.
"That's what I'm talking about!"
Rune of Defending boosted physical defense by 10%—solid.
Magic Healing was mana recovery version of Healing.
"Just hammering and drawing fills the belly."
Three items netted a whopping +12 stats, plus solid bonuses.
His lips curled up involuntarily.
—Guess that wraps up the workshop tour.
"Yeah. Gear's sorted—time for real hunting."
—Not yet. One more spot first.
"Huh? Pretty sure we saw all of Room."
He thought maybe another facility, but Cheonma named an unexpected place.
—My room.
"Your room?"
—Yeah. Room unlock added something unexpected to my room. Follow me.
"What's there..."
Just Carpe and Cheonma headed to the room.
Cheonma said it was important talk for just them.
The two men entered.
"What the...?"
Carpe said in disbelief.
"Why's that in your room?"
The 10-Star Player Strengthened by Draws