Genius Blacksmith's Game

God of Blacksmiths.

Deng knew the story of that one who had now vanished long ago.

The one who forged artifacts so extraordinary that even legends dared not approach.

The most shocking part was this.

“A blacksmith is weak.”

This is an eternal, unchanging truth.

However, the God of Blacksmiths told of in the story was different.

It was said he split his enemies with weapons he himself had made and was as strong as the average combat classes.

Fssss—

Deng watched the Damascus Dagger in his hand dissolve after a set span of time.

And, according to the oracle he knew, he had to guide the outsider before him so he could approach that final path.

“Would you like to walk a blacksmith’s path that’s different from everyone else’s?”

****

Hyunsoo was startled by Deng’s words.

A blacksmith’s path that’s different from everyone else’s?

A special blacksmith’s path.

In truth, Hyunsoo had already noticed he was far more special than ordinary blacksmiths.

Even during this production, a notice had popped up that he was crafting differently from the established Damascus method.

Am I going to become a Legendary class, too?

Suddenly, the world’s #1 blacksmith, Smith, surfaced in his mind. He, too, held the Legendary class, the Blacksmith of Dusk.

“You will join the Prime Kingdom’s Orc Subjugation Force. If, by joining the Orc Subjugation Force, you accumulate enough subjugation contribution for me to acknowledge you, I will allow you to step onto that path.”

Ding!

[Class Advancement Quest: Join the Orc Subjugation Force is created.]

[Class Advancement Quest: Join the Orc Subjugation Force.]

Grade: SS

Restriction: One who has received Deng’s proposal.

Reward: Advance to ???’s Heir.

Failure Penalty: Cannot advance to ???’s Heir.

Description: Join the Orc Subjugation Force and achieve results worthy of recognition by Deng, Tower Master of the Blacksmith’s Tower of the Sword. Quest completes upon achieving Subjugation Contribution ≥ 70%.

SS grade?

Hyunsoo couldn’t help but be shocked.

He had heard of S-grade quests and knew they were by no means easy.

Yet the grade for this very “Join the Orc Subjugation Force” that had just triggered was SS.

In the one year since Ares opened, 99% of users never got even one of these, right?

Soon, Deng spoke.

“This is my modest gift. I never imagined you would split the Stone of Talent.”

He handed Hyunsoo a rather lustrous hammer.

[You have obtained Deng’s Hammer of Replication.]

(Deng’s Hammer of Replication)

Grade: Epic

Durability: 3,000/3,000

Attack: 109

Restriction: Lv.25–70.

Specials:

·Chance for a higher-grade artifact to appear +15%.

·Dexterity +5%.

·Passive Skill: Consumables are replicated.

·Active Skill: Craft Time Reduction.

Description: A hammer used long ago by Deng, Tower Master of the Blacksmith’s Tower of the Sword.

Deng’s Hammer of Replication looked quite good.

In particular, Craft Time Reduction, when triggered, literally reduced crafting time by 20%.

In addition, the part about consumables being replicated was unusual.

On crafting a consumable: 20% chance to obtain one additional identical item.

It seemed like a skill that would prove quite useful.

The downside was that he couldn’t equip the artifact yet.

“The subjugation force’s mission will likely not be as easy as you think.”

Hyunsoo nodded.

“I’ll do my best.”

He left the tower to join the subjugation force.

****

“You told him to scratch the Stone of Talent and he split it?”

CEO Lee Sejin, visiting the Special User Management Team, watched as User Hyunsoo left the tower and marveled.

“A user who does truly illogical things. Will he pull off the illogical again this time?”

Now, if User Hyunsoo completed that last subjugation quest, he could rise to a God-class.

“It won’t be easy.”

said Lee Jihee.

For no particular reason, CEO Lee Sejin grew curious about how well the employees had been trained.

“Do you know why it won’t be easy?”

“Of course.”

The Orc Subjugation Force.

This Orc Subjugation Force can be taken by users from Level 1 to Level 10.

It’s a “tutorial subjugation force” for users who have just left the Beginner Zone, and a single user proceeds alone.

“Users who accept the Orc Subjugation Force tutorial quest are also given a proposal to raise their contribution by a certain %. And if they fill that %, they ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) complete the tutorial quest and receive the reward.”

When Sejin nodded, Associate Lee Jihee continued.

“Ordinary users complete the quest once they raise contribution by just 10%, successfully finishing the tutorial. But right now, User Hyunsoo is being told to raise contribution to 70%.”

Lee Jihee let out a hollow laugh. In fact, there was something she couldn’t quite gauge.

“Sir, is it even possible to achieve 70% or higher?”

Lee Jihee thought back carefully about the Orc Subjugation Force.

To begin the orc hunt, the user and soldiers advance.

The soldiers assist the user, whose nerves are burnt out during their first subjugation.

They climb to the peak of the subjugation, and then the force retreats.

It’s because an Orc Warrior appears leading reinforcements.

With the Orc Warrior’s appearance, the subjugation force retreats and ends.

As Lee Jihee saw it, no matter how exceptional User Hyunsoo was, it looked difficult to achieve 70% contribution within that flow.

“Is there truly no way? To raise contribution.”

At Lee Sejin’s question, Lee Jihee thought hard.

But her expression still said she couldn’t find an answer.

Then Team Leader Kim Taeseok tossed a hint.

“Why retreat?”

“Because an Orc Warrior reaching Level 50 appears leading reinforcements, and—”

Soon, Lee Jihee’s eyes grew round.

She shot to her feet and stared in shock at the monitor.

At some point, User Hyunsoo was submitting an application at the subjugation force’s enlistment post.

“Don’t tell me you’re asking a Level 1 to hunt a Level 50 Orc Warrior?”

Lee Sejin nodded.

Lee Jihee was appalled.

However, she also felt that a trial this illogical and difficult might be only natural.

The very first God-class wouldn’t be for just anyone.

****

Orc Subjugation Force enlistment post.

Having submitted his application, Hyunsoo joined the marching column of the subjugation force just before departure.

“Move out!”

Hyunsoo could see the Subjugation Captain, Hans, at the very front.

[Subjugation Captain Hans Lv.48]

Not long after departure, an NPC approached Hyunsoo.

His name was Ben. A common soldier, Level 13.

“Do you know where we’re headed?”

At the soldier named Ben’s words, Hyunsoo tilted his head.

Ah, come to think of it, they never explained why we’re going to the subjugation.

It seemed the tutorial subjugation force delivered information via an NPC while moving toward the subjugation area like this.

“We’re going now to sweep up the orc bands making trouble outside the Prime Kingdom. Orc bastards are vicious and strong, and there are a lot of them.”

He knew the orcs’ average level was 10.

“But don’t worry. No matter how many of them there are, we’re much stronger.”

Ben, who looked to be in his thirties and wore a roguish grin, added:

“Oh, and once we reach a certain point, an Orc Warrior will come to protect his underlings. A very cunning bastard. No one has ever pierced the armor he wears.”

“No one’s ever pierced it?”

Hyunsoo looked puzzled.

“Right. The armor that bastard wears, made of an excellent material, won’t be cut or pierced. When he shows up with reinforcements, he uses that armor to kill our allies. So at the proper time, we have to run.”

Hyunsoo nodded.

Then—

[The Orc Subjugation begins.]

[Join the subjugation force with the soldiers.]

Along with the notice, a shout rang out.

“It’s the orcs! Everyone, prepare to attack!”

It was the cry of Subjugation Captain Hans, mounted on his horse.

Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud—

Rough footfalls pounded.

Even amid the urgent situation, the seasoned-looking Ben asked quickly:

“What class did you choose?”

“Ah, I haven’t chosen yet. I’m an aspiring blacksmith.”

“...An aspiring blacksmith?” 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

At those words, Ben looked a bit perplexed.

This tutorial subjugation force usually accepted outsiders who had completed their class change.

Then I’ll have to be more careful. He hasn’t even changed class yet—he’ll be weak.

Ben well knew the difference between those who had and hadn’t class-changed.

Those who hadn’t were generally weaker by close to 30%.

Upon class change, they receive stat and skill calibrations. For example, a swordsman learns Sword Mastery and their damage rises by close to 30%.

He also knew about blacksmiths.

Though he was only an aspirant, blacksmiths were, by nature, weak.

It couldn’t be helped.

They were the ones who made weapons, and we were the ones who fought with those weapons.

Resolving to look after him more closely, Ben turned his body.

“Now then, we should—”

Right then.

Ben was rattled.

An orc’s thrown hand-axe came flying to strike squarely between his brows.

“Hrk...!”

The hand-axe had already reached right before his nose.

Ben went dizzy.

That axe would bite into his brow and he would meet death—

Twang—

A crisp sound rang out that instant.

Ben was flustered.

“...!?”

The user named Hyunsoo had drawn in a flash and deflected the hand-axe.

And then—

“At last, I can test them.”

“...Test what?”

“What I made.”

Ben was at a loss, and Hyunsoo gripped his Radiance tight.

I’ve never properly used an artifact I made myself.

Hyunsoo spotted an orc charging from the front.

Ben, snapping back to his senses, spoke.

“At your current level, there’s no way you can kill that thing. We’ll need the soldiers’ help—”

Tak—

Hyunsoo’s sword, sprinting fast, moved with elegant grace.

Skaak—

His blade grazed the orc’s neck as it passed.

Thunk—

Just once.

[You have hunted an Orc.]

[You have gained 86 EXP.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have achieved Contribution 3%.]

Seeing the orc’s head drop in a single stroke, Ben was aghast.

Moreover, that graceful movement and swift blade—

That’s...

The posture of one who has learned swordsmanship.

Ben stared, dumbfounded, at the man named Hyunsoo as he charged toward the orcs.

What on earth am I supposed to teach him...?

And Hyunsoo, sprinting, felt good on that first level-up.

Hyunsoo had stayed in the Beginner Zone for over 80 days.

He checked the ridiculous stats he had accumulated during that time.

Status Window.

(Hyunsoo)

Level: 1

Class: None

Strength: 38 Agility: 39 Endurance: 37 Wisdom: 22 Intelligence: 22 Dexterity: 583.

He was confident he could exert power equal to that of someone close to Level 30.

Radiance is really good.

The effects of Radiance, tested properly, were tremendous.

This time, he quickly swapped from Radiance to the Bow of Water Buffalo Horn.

Right ahead, he saw a raging orc spot him and charge.

“Chriiieeek!”

Of course, Hyunsoo knew nothing about archery.

But when he first made this bow, he crafted it so even beginners could use it easily.

Hence the attached option.

[The Marksman’s Horn Bow effect is applied.]

[Accuracy +60% increases.]

Shaaak—

Drawing the bowstring with all his might, Hyunsoo aimed at the orc barreling toward him.

****

Subjugation Captain Hans watched the orc subjugation proceeding as smoothly as always.

That damned Orc Warrior bastard.

His teeth ground whenever he thought of the one who showed up every day mid-subjugation to sabotage them.

In particular, the bastard’s armor was so hard that even Hans—who was on equal footing—couldn’t pierce it.

The bastard would likely appear soon. As always.

Just then—

“Mm?”

Hans’s face twisted wretchedly.

Surveying the battle from horseback, he spotted an outsider standing up front drawing a bowstring.

“You’ve got to be kidding me...!”

Even an outsider, if he’d joined this subjugation, was his subordinate.

And the soldiers bore the duty of safely shepherding that outsider to complete the subjugation.

They let that clueless outsider fight an orc one-on-one?

“Rescue that outsider at once!”

Hans’s shout turned urgent.

What a fearless outsider.

But he felt it was already too late.

In that instant—

Twang—

The released bowstring sang, and the arrow buried itself in the orc’s abdomen.

But then—

Thwump—

The orc, with an arrow in its abdomen, flew about 4 meters, then toppled to the ground and scattered into ash-gray.

“...!”