Genius Blacksmith's Game

Black Anvil Forge.

Black Anvil Forge was, in both name and reality, the top blacksmith guild on the Korea server.

It had the largest number of blacksmiths, and recorded the highest revenue.

Korea forge subscriber ranking: #1.

A guild whose subscriber count had an enormous gap compared to #2.

Rowoon, the guild master of Black Anvil Forge, stopped mid-hammer inside the forge.

‘At this rate, I can’t make a legend.’

He flung his hammer away.

Blacksmith ranking #2.

Even he—who owned the strongest blacksmith guild, Black Anvil Forge—had been weighed down with worries lately.

He sat down and pressed hard into his throbbing temples.

A few days ago, he left the group chat called Forge, where the blacksmiths ranked #2 through #10 gathered.

The reason was Blacksmith Hyun.

When Blacksmith Hyun released his second legend to the world, Rowoon made a choice.

‘Maintain a friendly relationship with Hyun.’

Rowoon had actually said it to Hyun, politely.

If the day ever came when Hyun’s Forge surpassed Black Anvil Forge, then he wanted Hyun to absorb Black Anvil Forge.

The problem started there.

Rowoon wasn’t the type to “maintain a friendly relationship” with words alone.

The group chat, ranks #3 through #10.

And countless other blacksmith rankers besides them insisted they had to keep Hyun in check.

They wanted Rowoon to take the lead.

But Rowoon refused outright.

Even though the private whispers between Hyun and Rowoon hadn’t spread, the blacksmiths sensed something.

And a small tide of condemnation formed.

Countless blacksmiths who chose to check Hyun.

They were already carrying out countless forms of pressure.

And they pressured Rowoon as if they couldn’t understand his choice.

Black Anvil Forge stood at the very top.

Dozens of forges were connected to it, functioning as supply and demand.

The supply of certain materials would suddenly dry up, or stories would arrive through intermediaries.

‘Guild master, I’m hearing that other blacksmiths can’t understand you.’

‘They’re offering contract terms that put us at a disadvantage.’

Of course, Black Anvil Forge wasn’t small enough to be shaken by that alone—but it still took damage.

Under that pressure, Rowoon had left the group chat himself.

There was also a reason he still wouldn’t bend, even under all the blame and attacks.

‘I want to make a legend.’

The limit Rowoon had reached.

He was stuck at “closest to legend,” and that was the end of it.

His forge was the biggest in the country because his business ability was exceptional—not his skill.

‘I think Hyun might be able to teach me that.’

Even if it was a game, Rowoon wanted to approach legend someday.

‘Already three.’

Rowoon had heard.

Hyun had crafted Barad’s sword, the Dragonlight Sword, and the Four Tigers Sword.

Of course, the truth of the Four Tigers Sword hadn’t been verified, but still.

Rowoon knew.

‘He only reaches Legend artifacts with swords.’

Rowoon knew where that rumor spreading at explosive speed had started.

The person who posted in the blacksmith community had been a member of the same group chat as Rowoon.

They created rumors in countless ways, and wrapped them up to look like truth.

‘Disgusting.’

And then they boosted him just enough afterward.

Because that made people believe it with even more conviction.

Still, even Rowoon had a doubt.

‘There is the Thousand-Weight Bow, but...’

It was “closest to legend.”

It couldn’t compare to three Legend swords.

‘Is he really the best only at sword crafting?’

Just then, a user who also served as Rowoon’s secretary and handled his various affairs came in.

He spoke respectfully.

“Guild master, how about you at least say you’ll keep Hyun in check? The guild members are getting anxious. And there are a lot of people who don’t understand.”

Of course they didn’t understand.

“Why would you, the best blacksmith in our country, do that?”

Rowoon gave a bitter smile.

“You’ll find out someday.”

Even as he said it, a small seed of distrust sprouted {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} inside him.

What if I’m wrong?

What if he can’t tell me how to become a legend?

Rowoon’s plan looked years ahead.

That small distrust was about to grow even larger—

“...!”

At that moment, Rowoon and his secretary both froze with startled expressions.

[A world message is being broadcast.]

A world message.

The privilege of those who accomplished something Pureum Co., Ltd. judged to be astounding.

A notification that hadn’t rung many times even within the country.

Rowoon thought,

‘Did someone hunt something that can’t be hunted?’

Or—

‘Did someone reach a new realm?’

It was neither.

[He has crafted another legend on top of legend.]

“...!?”

Rowoon’s eyes widened.

‘A legend above legend?’

Even if it was called “legend,” it wasn’t something you could call the same.

And the one who triggered the world message could choose.

Anonymous, or whatever nickname they wanted.

[His name is Master Blacksmith Hyun.]

That notification made Rowoon clench his fist.

The message ringing across the world proved it.

‘That I was never wrong...!’

And the expectation Rowoon held.

The possibility that Hyun could make Rowoon able to craft a legend.

Rowoon didn’t know.

That his choice would make him grow far more than he imagined.

*****

What are the conditions for a masterpiece?

NPCs and users didn’t know, but it was determined by accumulated data.

The supercomputer Ares recorded all data from billions of users.

A masterpiece was decided according to that data, so a certain level and a pile of crafted works had to accumulate.

After that data piled up, it was born.

How much understanding of artifacts did he display that day?

What level of skill did he display?

And what materials did he use?

Depending on those things, it could be born.

And just because a masterpiece was born once didn’t mean it would never appear again.

If data piled up again and again, and it was judged that it surpassed the current masterpiece, a masterpiece could appear again at any time.

And Hyunsoo—who had no way of knowing that—was stunned.

[A masterpiece is written.]

‘A masterpiece...?’

Hyunsoo had seen two people’s masterpieces up close so far.

One was Ren in the beginner zone, and one was Per, who became a blacksmith of Radiance.

They had something in common.

The most incredible crafted work they had never been able to make before had been born.

[The system judges that the Legend grade is insufficient.]

The notification made him frown.

Insufficient? And Hyunsoo realized one fact.

‘Maybe Ares doesn’t have any grade higher than this yet.’

As if proving it, more notifications rang out.

[It is the greatest Legend artifact among all existing legends.]

[It is a legend above legend.]

[Congratulations.]

[As the first user, you have reached the pinnacle of the previously greatest Legend artifacts.]

[World message.]

[Your achievement will be announced to users worldwide.]

[You may remain anonymous, or enter the name you want, or your character name.]

Hyunsoo was happy.

A statement that this bow was the greatest among all existing legends.

Even so, he became calm.

Was it okay to let the world know Hyun?

Was he ready?

‘I’m ready.’

[The name Blacksmith Hyun will be announced to users worldwide.]

[You gain 300 Fame.]

[You gain 50 Charisma.]

The rewards were enormous.

But there was one regret.

‘The God of Blacksmiths title effect triggers once per week.’

Hyunsoo had already received that perk after crafting Ben’s spear.

Then—

[It is a legend above legend.]

[All stats increase by 8.]

[You gain 500 Fame.]

[You gain 100 Charisma.]

But it also made him uneasy.

Even without the God of Blacksmiths title, this was an achievement that deserved rewards.

Hyunsoo rubbed his face with one hand.

‘Then what kind of power does this bow have, exactly?’

With a trembling expression, Hyunsoo checked the bow.

And after he read it, he ended up letting out a hollow laugh.

(Hyun’s 14th Custom-Made Bow)

Grade: Legend above Legend

Durability: Infinite

Attack Power: 619

Restriction: Level 350–450, Top-Grade horn bow mastery or higher

Special Abilities:

· Health +2.5%, Agility +3%.

· Accuracy +81%.

· Range +90%.

· On direct hit, ignites flame.

· Passive Skill: Crack Shot

· Passive Skill: Heir of Jumong

· Active Skill: Before the Greatest Bow

· Active Skill: Inferno Fire Guided Shot

· Effect that announces the appearance of the greatest bow.

Description: Legend above Legend. Hyun’s masterpiece, defined as such.

He felt like he understood why it was a legend above legend.

Legend-grade bows existed on other country servers.

Those bows had attack power around 530.

But this one was far higher than that.

Hyunsoo could be sure of one thing.

‘Over two billion won...’

An unknown pounding filled his chest.

Then—

[Nell: That was an excellent choice. Now we’re ready, right?]

Ready? What did that mean?

Hyunsoo had judged that he was ready to a certain extent, and he’d rung the world message.

[Nell: Ready to become the best forge in our country.]

Nell was a conservative person.

That was why he was curious why she was speaking with such certainty.

[Nell: You haven’t checked the outside reaction yet, right? Of course you turned off subscriber update notifications, too.]

Hyunsoo normally kept subscriber notifications off so he could focus on other things.

[Nell: You’ll be really shocked ㅎ?]

The Nell Hyunsoo knew wasn’t someone who talked big without cause.

And for Radiance and Hyunsoo, auction house ranking mattered.

Because auction house ranking was a measure of a blacksmith guild’s standing.

[You have logged out.]

When he came out of the capsule, news was playing on the TV that was already on.

[Just now, a world message rang out on the Korea server—a world message saying a legend above legend has been crafted. The one who crafted it is one of the domestic blacksmiths, Master Blacksmith Hyun...]

Hyunsoo couldn’t grasp it.

Breaking news flowing on TV.

Of course it was all game channels, but Ares was a game enjoyed by 2.5 billion people worldwide.

Hyunsoo sat down in front of his computer.

“...Holy shit.”

As usual, he clicked and entered Internet Exploration, and his eyes widened.

FindNet real-time search #1.

[Master Blacksmith Hyun.]

#2.

[Legend above Legend.]

Then Hyunsoo entered the Ares community.

[Where’d all those dickhead “experts” go who said a personal forge can’t beat corporate forges? lololol.]

[Wow, Hyun is insane.]

[Praise God Hyun.]

[This is Korean craftsmanship, you global bastards!]

The Ares community was nothing but talk about Hyun.

And it wasn’t just that.

Internet articles.

[Master Blacksmith Hyun draws the attention of the whole world.]

[Hyun, the first among 2.5 billion users to craft a legend above legend. Who is he?]

Hyunsoo watched those unbelievable headlines and tried to log into the auction house.

But something strange happened.

On a pure white screen, it wouldn’t move forward.

Then a notification appeared.

[Temporary error due to a massive subscriber increase.]

[Please try again later.]

‘This much...?’

Hyunsoo couldn’t hide his excitement.

How far would it rise?

This would decide what came next.

‘A masterpiece can appear again, but it’ll take a long time.’

That was why subscriber count mattered. Hyunsoo closed his eyes, trying to calm down.

Then Hyunsoo fell asleep.

Come to think of it, Hyunsoo hadn’t been able to rest while crafting the bow.

And when he opened his eyes, seven hours had passed.

Hyunsoo tried to log in again.

The server seemed far more stable than before, and he logged in smoothly.

Slowly, Hyunsoo clicked “Go to My Auction House.”

‘My previous subscriber count...’

After the Dragonlight Sword unboxing, Hyun’s Forge’s subscribers and ranking had kept falling.

Naturally.

Without supply, you dropped. Because of that, it had fallen to 680,000 subscribers and down to rank #23.

The moment Hyunsoo saw the updated subscriber count, he shot to his feet without realizing.

“N-no way...!”

He couldn’t believe it, so he checked again.

[Hyun’s Forge subscribers: 1,130,013.]

[Current Korea forge subscriber ranking: #9.]

It was the moment Hyun’s Forge settled into the Top 10.

At that time—

The VVIP hospital room where Kang Hyuntae was.

News the nurse had turned on was playing.

[...The blacksmith drawing public attention is known to be the owner of Hyun’s Forge.]

[Users worldwide are focusing on what method he used to craft it.]

The nurse who returned after wringing out a wet towel frowned.

‘What was that? It looked like he smiled a little. Was I imagining it?’

When she looked again, it was the same expression as always.

Click.

She closed the door and left.

A little later—

Twitch.

A small movement rose, then vanished.