Genius Blacksmith's Game

Even though Hyunsoo had refused decisively, a trace of regret lingered.

One-point-five billion won a year would be enormous...

They said the Vice Tower Master of the Blacksmith’s Tower of the Bow held at least a baronial rank, but it would likely be more than that.

Highly likely due to ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) the peculiarities of the blacksmith profession.

No. Don’t regret it.

Hyunsoo quickly steadied his mind.

He pondered his own value.

First, the two items he had sold on the Auction Board.

Hyunsoo had checked whether artifacts crafted by newly transferred blacksmiths had ever sold for prices like that.

They’d never sold for even half of that.

Moreover, although the Tower Masters of this tower were very capable, they too possessed “the power of skills.”

To his knowledge, the ones before him were estimated at artisan level.

Am I truly inferior to them in skill? And what if I were the same level as they are?

When he reached their level, would Colson truly be someone who should stand above him?

He would not.

The god-class is the very first of its kind.

He did not think he had obtained that god-class by sheer luck.

Just then—

“Ha, hahaha—hahahahaha!”

Deng suddenly burst into roaring laughter. The Tower Masters showed discomfort at his guffaw.

But he paid them no mind and laughed to his heart’s content.

He had the right.

The Tower Masters had attacked Deng in concert.

Isn’t it impossible? Why would you make him attempt something so absurd!

Yet the man had completed the mission far more brilliantly than they imagined, and he had not taken Colson’s bait.

Colson glared at Deng.

“Ah, my apologies.”

As Deng made a gesture of wiping tears, Colson snapped his head away.

Then he stared at Hyunsoo as if to devour him.

Colson was thinking the exact same thing Deng had felt.

You won’t come under me...?

Hyunsoo had certainly refused with courtesy. But Colson felt he had been slighted.

And that also stemmed from his inferiority complex.

The Stone of Talent.

All Tower Masters had once struck the Stone of Talent in their tower.

Deng had cut it with a deep furrow; Colson had left only a scratch. For that, he bore a sense of inferiority toward Deng.

But now his inferiority burned hotter toward the outsider in front of him.

He was, from the start, a small-minded man. The moment his offer was refused, this was his first thought—

I want to break this brat.

The myth meant little to him.

If he could not possess him, wouldn’t it be better to ruin him?

Besides, even if the outsider had “unlocked the god’s power,” he was no more than a fledgling.

One who has just set foot in this land.

Nor did he know how the Stone of Talent had been split.

Outsiders arrive in this land bearing all manner of irregular variables, different from those who live here.

He could have encountered some other fortuitous chance.

The Tower Masters could not claim they were the best among blacksmiths.

On this continent live reclusive masters unknown to them.

Just look at the Legendary class that Blacksmith Smith attained.

He reached that path thanks to the blacksmith of legend.

What kind of fortuitous chance did you obtain?

Even so, he was still green.

Colson spoke.

“You little wretch, you dare refuse my offer?”

Hyunsoo’s face contorted at those words.

Little wretch?

Colson’s lips twisted.

“Do you think you can survive in this cramped blacksmithing world?”

Deng realized the situation was dire.

I knew he was a jackass, but...

He hadn’t expected him to come at him like this. He felt the need to mediate.

Just then, the outsider named Hyunsoo spoke.

“Survive? Isn’t blacksmithing proven by skill?”

“...!?”

The Tower Masters present wore startled expressions. It was too bold, too arrogant a statement.

To say such a thing right to a Tower Master’s face?

Deng felt it as well.

So this is the kind of man he is...?

Come to think of it, Deng didn’t actually know him well. He only knew he split the Stone of Talent and completed the mission.

Then Deng looked at his expression.

...Calm.

There was no wavering in those eyes.

And the arrogant have a peculiar arrogant look that takes root on their faces.

He was not arrogant at all.

If so—

Is he steering this situation?

With an intrigued expression, Deng decided to watch.

And Hyunsoo was truly accepting it with utter composure. Colson himself had said it:

Could he survive in this cramped world?

Countless Tower Masters were present here.

In this place, Hyunsoo must not say “I’m sorry,” nor should he shout in anger.

He had to show it.

And Hyunsoo had the skill to show it.

If this doesn’t unfold the way I want...

Then it could become a problem. But since he knew this type of human well, he would coax him gently.

“Really? By skill? You’re saying you’ve got such extraordinary skill, are you? Hm?”

Colson sneered.

And Hyunsoo’s eyes took on a glint.

“Then how about this.”

He had taken the bait.

“A blacksmith duel.”

“A blacksmith duel?”

“Swordsmen contest with swords. Archers with the bow. Mages with magic. We blacksmiths are the same.”

Colson looked around at the Tower Masters.

“Right here, we each forge a sword and then clash those swords together.”

“What do you mean by ‘clash the swords’?”

“When two swords are struck together, the superior, higher-hardness sword will chip the inferior sword’s edge and cause damage.”

Hyunsoo nodded.

“The one whose sword takes damage loses.”

Deng, who had been listening, furrowed his brow.

“What are you doing? Even if he’s unlocked the god’s power, it’s still feeble in the extreme.”

“Ah, of course.”

Colson grinned.

“We’ll count it as your victory if, across three clashes, you inflict even 5% damage. And all materials shall be the same.”

Colson chuckled with a smirk.

Hyunsoo’s mind spun quickly.

He’s got countless adjustment skills, but I don’t—yet.

For now Hyunsoo had only a single title and a single skill of the God of Blacksmiths.

At least I’m no longer bound by restrictions.

Whether a Level 1 artifact or a Level 500 artifact—

If he had the materials, he could make it.

Then one thought struck him.

Inflict 5% damage?

And suddenly Hyunsoo remembered something—the skill he had just obtained: “God’s Custom Crafting.”

As he mulled it over and fiddled with the system, a peculiar light came into his eyes.

It really works?

When he first checked the title God of Blacksmiths, then checked God’s Custom Crafting, he’d felt it was a little underwhelming.

Seen like this, this is even more busted...

The single skill he obtained upon becoming Successor of the God.

But the problem—this “single” skill enabled things that leapt far beyond his common sense.

Especially in a situation like this.

Inflict 5% damage.

Now certain it was possible, Hyunsoo hauled up the Colson who had taken the bait.

“Why should I do something so troublesome?”

Colson stroked his chin.

Indeed, he had no particular reason to accept this proposal.

They are blinded by rewards.

Colson mistakenly believed he was good at handling outsiders.

“If you win, I’ll give you a crafting method in my possession and 5,000 Gold; furthermore, the higher the damage you inflict, the better the crafting method will be. In return, if you lose, you’ll have to work in my forge for one month.”

Ding!

[[Quest: Blacksmith Duel] has been created.]

[Quest: Blacksmith Duel]

Grade: S

Restriction: One who received Colson’s proposal.

Reward: Bow crafting method, 5,000 Gold.

Failure Penalty: One month of service at the Blacksmith’s Tower of the Bow.

Description: Achieve 5% damage and win the blacksmith duel against Colson!

Hyunsoo’s eyes went round.

5,000 Gold?

A hefty sum of ₩5,000,000.

And the bow crafting method felt alluring. A crafting method is similar to a restoration method, but different.

This crafting method can drop from monsters, but it can also be obtained from blacksmiths.

And the better the blacksmith, the higher its value.

If he had this crafting method, an ordinary blacksmith could gather the materials specified by the method and press “Auto-Crafting” to obtain something close to that artifact.

But a crafting method from the Tower Master of the Bow?

Of course, this would vary entirely depending on how much damage Hyunsoo inflicted.

If my expectations are correct...

He might obtain an outrageous crafting method.

“I accept.”

Hyunsoo accepted the quest. Colson’s mouth curled into a vicious grin.

One way or another, I will have you under me.

A month working beneath him—

One way or another, I’ll win you over in that month.

The Tower Masters watched this. They looked upon Hyunsoo with pity for having made such a reckless choice.

Rex, Tower Master of the Blacksmith’s Tower of the Shield, spoke.

“...You were arrogant. If you cannot prove that arrogance, you will lose the trust of the Tower Masters here.”

Others chimed in one by one.

“Why would you make such a choice...?”

“Even now, apologizing might be your only way to live.”

“What a pity, a pity. Tsk!”

Saying so, they all stood behind Colson and looked at Hyunsoo.

Only Deng remained at Hyunsoo’s side.

Soon they moved.

They went to the floor just below, where the forges were.

Hyunsoo and Colson stood before forges facing each other.

Deng flicked his fingers.

Ttak—

At that moment—

The materials used to forge the hundreds of swords permissible for use within the tower appeared as holograms.

Similar to the Magic Forge, but different.

Those were all real.

Moreover, unlike a sword from the Magic Forge, the sword Hyunsoo would obtain here would be his property.

In other words, Hyunsoo had gained not only 5,000 Gold but also the chance to use materials unobtainable at his level.

“Begin.”

At Deng’s word—

Colson entered his forge and immediately lit the furnace.

Deng, too, entered the forge with Hyunsoo.

Inside, Deng looked at Hyunsoo.

Deng was not at his side because he liked him. He was there simply because he wished to see the myth.

And to be frank, Deng’s heart was the same as the other Tower Masters’.

“You were reckless. Why did you do it? Even if he is Tower Master of the Bow, he is still a blacksmith at the very top.”

Having said so, Deng sighed.

“My apologies. You did no wrong—it was that bastard.”

Deng was a frank man.

To anyone’s eyes, Hyunsoo had done nothing wrong.

If anything, it would be arrogance.

Then he asked,

“What sword will you forge? Can you craft a sword capable of inflicting at least 5% damage?”

But the man named Hyunsoo wore a look of deep deliberation.

“Hey?”

“Ah, yes. A sword that can cut a sword.”

Seeing Hyunsoo emerge from his thoughts and say that, Deng gave a wry smile.

So he misspoke.

A sword that cuts a sword?

When swords clash against swords, swords are not cut.

Considering a sword’s elasticity and hardness, the proper expression is that it breaks.

Is he saying he wants to break Colson’s sword?

Well, of course he would think that.

So Deng did not take it seriously.

****

Rrrr-r-r-r—!

Firing the furnace, Hyunsoo allowed himself a wry smile.

Can this really work?

But, judging by the description written in the skill God’s Custom Crafting, he inferred it should be possible.

Hyunsoo activated “God’s Custom Crafting” for the first time.

[You begin God’s Custom Crafting.]

[You may proceed to custom-craft for someone, or custom-craft for yourself.]

[Through custom crafting, you can embed your desired effect; depending on chance, the desired effect can manifest up to 100%.]

He could embed the desired effect.

Hyunsoo desired only one effect, and whether it was possible he would only know by trying.

Apply the effect: “Cuts swords.”

[Beginning custom crafting by applying the effect “Cuts swords.”]