Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: The All Master Who Returned to Bronze
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Pop!
With a burst of brilliant light, Choi Shin-hyeok returned home. Despite the dark night outside, the living room was lit up like daylight, drawing a hollow chuckle from him.
"If you're tired enough to sleep, go crash in your rooms. No need to wait out here like this."
The food prepared for the guild founding celebration party had gone cold long ago. Sprawled face-down on the table laden with those dishes were Han Su-ah and Bang Se-jin, who had dozed off waiting for him.
At the sight, Shin-hyeok quietly fetched thin blankets from the rooms and draped them over their shoulders.
Then he headed back to his own room and plopped down on the bed.
"Whew, that was a damn ordeal."
His encounter with the Heavenly Demon had definitely been tougher than with the War God.
Fortunately, the Heavenly Demon had fully healed his internal injuries, so he didn't pass out right away, but fatigue was fatigue.
Still, with all he'd gained, Shin-hyeok checked the final title he'd earned.
[Little Heavenly Demon Candidate]
• Proficiency of Heavenly Demon Divine Technique increases.
• Proficiency of Heavenly Demon Divine Art increases.
• Receives the reverence of Heavenly Demon Divine Cult followers.
"Nice. This is definitely on par with Disciple of the War God (Temporary)."
The Little Heavenly Demon Candidate title from the Heavenly Demon was solid.
Raising proficiency in the newly acquired Heavenly Demon Divine Technique would help build up his demonic energy, and boosting Heavenly Demon Divine Art proficiency would aid in combat.
But there was a downside.
"Hmm, I've only got one title slot right now..."
You could only equip one title at a time.
He could expand slots later via the Achievement Shop, but—
"Expanding a title slot costs 50,000 points. I've got... 13,000 achievement points right now. Still a long way off."
His current achievement points were nowhere near enough.
"Guess I'll have to switch them out as needed. Until I unlock another slot."
Resolving to swap titles situationally, Shin-hyeok wrapped up his thoughts and promptly sat cross-legged.
Tzzzzz...
He first circulated the Tai Chi Divine Art to boost his mana stat.
Fwoooosh!
Next up was the Heavenly Demon Divine Technique.
Circulating both the Tai Chi Divine Art and Heavenly Demon Divine Technique took about two hours each.
The fact that a mere two hours bumped two stats by 10 and 5 respectively proved their immense value.
They were labeled D-rank, but they couldn't be confined to that box.
Once circulation was done, Shin-hyeok flopped straight onto the bed.
'Haa, gotta recruit Baek Hyeo-rin, repair the demon spear, hit the Dimension Arena... so much crap to do...'
Mountains of tasks awaited, but the crashing fatigue was too much to fight, so he surrendered to sleep.
The next day.
At the breakfast table, Shin-hyeok faced Han Su-ah and Bang Se-jin again, along with worried looks from his parents and little brother. He waved it off casually.
"I've got the attention and recognition now, so no downsides moving forward."
"Still dangerous, though, right?"
"A constellation's interest is like a poisoned chalice. If you can handle it, it's a golden opportunity. Su-ah, I recommend scouting a good constellation yourself. For you... hmm, the Pantheon would suit."
"If that's your advice, Shin-hyeok..."
A constellation's interest was a necessary evil.
Fail to digest it, and it was disastrous; succeed, and you'd leap to new heights.
Recommending the Pantheon to Su-ah came from his past life experience.
'Su-ah got tons of attention from Pantheon gods back then. Probably the same now. Just play the line without a full apostle contract and snag the goodies.'
The Pantheon.
It was the gathering of Earth-born gods and their worshippers.
Naturally, members specialized in divine power as their main stat.
Perfect for Su-ah's dual cleric/holy knight class, which relied on divine power.
"What about me?"
"For someone like Se-jin hyung, the Pantheon works too. They've got blacksmith gods. But honestly..."
"Honestly?"
"You don't need it with your skills. Constellations connect to grant power, traits, skills—but you've got enough on your own."
"Do I really have that kind of talent...?"
"If you don't trust yourself, trust me."
"Right. No way you'd bother lying about something like this."
Bang Se-jin, on the other hand, wasn't the type who needed constellation help.
All he required was heaps of materials and hands-on experience.
With that, he'd climb to rub shoulders with them sans any divine aid.
'He never made it pre-regression, but this life will be different. I'll make sure of it.'
Of course, pre-regression Se-jin was already an incredible blacksmith.
Called the Hand of God, crafting legend-to-myth-grade gear.
A distant tale for now, but still.
After roughly consulting on futures for Su-ah and Se-jin(?), Shin-hyeok pulled the demon spear from his inventory.
"Gaaah! What the hell happened to my demon spear?!"
As expected of a heavenly blacksmith, Se-jin leaped up at the mangled spear.
High enough to nearly graze the ceiling.
His shock was that profound.
It was a Unique+ grade demon spear.
Unique-grade items had insane durability.
For one to be shredded to near dust—even if not his work—naturally horrified Se-jin.
"I trusted you as a blacksmith! How could you trash your own creation like this?!"
"Ugh, ugh, ugh... hyung, I'm dizzy."
In the end, Shin-hyeok got grabbed by the collar and shaken like a ragdoll.
True to a hammer-wielding smith, Se-jin's physical prowess was no joke.
Feeling the world spin, Shin-hyeok barely calmed him and pulled out a stabilizer from his inventory.
"A mana core. Legend-grade material."
"...!"
Mana core.
Compressed essence of the Heavenly Demon's demonic energy, it shimmered iridescently.
Se-jin stared entranced at the rippling black core. Shin-hyeok handed it over with the wrecked spear.
"Wh-what? Why give this to me?"
"Too advanced for me yet. Need you to hold onto it, hyung."
"Can't do that. Handling something like this will boost a smith's skills and even their rank. You have to do it."
"I lack the ability right now. Someday, sure—but until then, the spear stays wrecked."
"Ugh..."
Se-jin wanted to refuse but couldn't.
Shin-hyeok had blacksmith talent aplenty, but excelled in far more.
Factoring that, it'd take time for his smithing to master legend-grade stuff perfectly.
Ultimately, Se-jin accepted the wrecked spear and mana core.
"I'll make it right."
"That's all I ask. Your growth benefits our guild too. Legend+ grade, please."
"Hey! If it were that easy, I'd do it!"
"I made Unique+ already. What, scared...?"
"...Bring it. You'll never live down begging like that again!"
"Looking forward to it."
He didn't forget to poke at Se-jin a bit in the process.
Shin-hyeok knew innate craftsmen like him produced even better work when prodded.
'Artisans and engineering majors thrive on scratches.'
Recalling that eternal truth, Shin-hyeok turned to his quietly eating father, In-gyun.
"Oh, and Dad, got a favor to ask."
"Hm? Me?"
"Can you connect me with the Alchemist Korean Branch via distribution channels?"
"Alchemist Korean Branch? Why there all of a sudden?"
"Someone I need to recruit."
"Not spilling details, huh?"
"...Sorry."
"It's fine. No need to share everything. Just introduce me to whoever you bring in."
"Obviously. They're key for future distribution supply anyway—meeting you is a must."
"Got it. I'll set something up. Shinwa Distribution, Guild, and All Mighty on the invite—they won't outright refuse."
"Thanks."
He requested In-gyun's help bridging to the Alchemist Korean Branch where Baek Hyeo-rin was.
No specifics shared, but In-gyun trusted him without prying.
With business done for Su-ah, Se-jin, and In-gyun, Shin-hyeok stood.
Meal finished, talks wrapped.
One thing left for him.
"Off to grind Dimension Arena tiers. Need achievement points too."
"Dimension Arena? Without your spear?"
"It's just one of my weapons. No reason to pause Arena over it."
Dimension Arena.
Time to climb tiers.
With his Unique+ demon spear—one of his powerhouses—in ruins, Se-jin fretted, but Shin-hyeok brushed it off.
Reassuring family, comrades, friends completely.
Back in his room, he geared up and summoned Kkamak.
-Kkaek?
"Please take good care of me today too, Kkamak."
-Kkaak!
He gently scratched the crow's head and chin as it cawed happily.
"Enter."
With nothing more to see, Shin-hyeok dove into the Dimension Arena.
Dimension Arena waiting room.
So familiar now it felt like home, Shin-hyeok fired up his broadcast immediately.
"Hey everyone. Choi Shin-hyeok here."
As if they'd been waiting, viewers flooded in the moment he went live.
Plenty pre-Gold promotion, but challenging Integrated Silver League—and clinching MVP—skyrocketed his fame beyond Korea worldwide.
Meanwhile, he spotted other messages.
'Nice. That brings me to 28,000 achievement points. Just 22,000 more for another title slot.'
Notifications for Integrated Silver MVP and Gold promotion achievements.
Eyes scanning the rapidly scrolling chat like a hawk, Shin-hyeok vowed.
'Gonna rack up those 22,000 today.'
The shortfall of 22,000 achievement points.
Resolved to claim them today, a message popped up before Shin-hyeok.
Matching end notice.
With that, Shin-hyeok warped to the main arena.
-Waaaaaaah!!!
The massive colosseum.
To a arena packed with roaring spectators, their cheers thundering like an avalanche.