Genius Blacksmith's Game

“It’s begun.”

Special User Management Team.

At last, the rumor that the first-ever God-class has been born in a virtual reality game brought CEO Lee Sejin to visit.

Arms folded, Lee Sejin watched Hyunsoo on the monitor and gave a wry smile.

“He’s certainly sharp. He already figured out how to leverage God’s Custom Crafting.”

Hearing that, Lee Jihee looked puzzled.

In truth, when Lee Jihee confirmed the God of Blacksmiths title, she couldn’t help exclaiming.

The first SSS-grade title a user has ever obtained!

On top of that, he could be both a blacksmith and a strong warrior.

Heck, God of Blacksmiths can even raise all effects of an artifact by 20%.

Yet CEO Lee Sejin spoke as if God’s Custom Crafting was even more impressive.

“Jihee, you know this, right? Even ordinary blacksmiths in Ares can embed desired effects.”

“Of course.”

“Do you have the % by grade memorized?”

“Yes. Novice blacksmith up to 5%, Intermediate 10%, Advanced 15%, Master 20%, Artisan 25%, Grandmaster 40%.”

“How does that strike you?”

“...It seems like a very low chance.”

“Why would we put such low rates?”

At that question, Lee Jihee thought hard.

It was a setting established at the same time Ares first opened. Because of that, she’d never really thought about why the %s were so low.

“Do you remember the Fire Dragon’s Nest party?”

“Of course.”

Fire Dragon’s Nest.

A famously high-level hunting ground in Ares.

Recently, high-rankers formed a party to try clearing Fire Dragon’s Nest, but they failed.

Fire Dragon’s Nest was boiling with lava, and they couldn’t endure the absurd heat.

“Why did they lose? Looking strictly at the mobs’ levels, they were more than capable of clearing it.”

“Because of Fire Resistance.”

“Right, because of Fire Resistance. And yet they were all wearing artifacts that dramatically boosted Fire Resistance, weren’t they?”

They certainly were.

Mulling it over, Lee Jihee murmured.

“They stripped off the artifacts they normally wore and equipped only fire-related gear, so that was likely the problem. Moreover, the Fire Dragon Armor raised Fire Resistance, but it also came with skills and stat effects that were unnecessary for them.”

“That’s the answer.”

“Sorry?”

“Unnecessary skills and stat effects.”

Lee Sejin pulled up the Fire Dragon Armor’s info on the monitor.

Fire Resistance +54%.

Defense 656

Wisdom +3%.

Skill: Fire Dragon’s Smash.

Skill: Salamander’s Rage.

When Lee Jihee, checking it, wore a baffled expression, Team Leader Kim Taeseok beside her spoke with a frustrated look.

“Jihee. What determines an artifact’s grade?”

“...Its composite information.”

“Correct. Even if there’s a stat the user doesn’t need, if it raises something by a lot and has skills that look decent, that’s how the grade gets determined. But listen.”

Kim Taeseok let out a hollow laugh.

“On an armor worn by a warrior there’s a useless function that raises Wisdom by 3%? And if they use Fire Dragon’s Smash and Salamander’s Rage—fire-element attack skills—on monsters with Fire Resistance, what happens?”

“Because they’re fire monsters, damage is halved.”

“Exactly. That’s the trap of artifacts. There’s no artifact in the world that ‘perfectly’ fits a user.”

“Ah...!”

Understanding dawned on Lee Jihee’s face.

And she checked the Fire Dragon Armor’s info again. As she looked, her eyes went wide.

“No way...!”

With a wry smile at the naïve junior, Lee Sejin moved the mouse.

“That ‘no way’ is right. Now then, if we delete from this artifact the Wisdom +3%, Fire Dragon’s Smash, and Salamander’s Rage—the effects that user doesn’t need—what happens? Does the artifact grade go down?”

Now fully understanding, Lee Jihee answered.

“No. By the force of God’s Custom Crafting, you could raise Defense and Fire Resistance by as much as you removed Wisdom +3%, Salamander’s Rage, and Fire Dragon’s Smash. And if you wanted, you could also swap the skills for ones exactly suited to the current situation, ones the user absolutely needs.”

“This is precisely God’s Custom Crafting. And God’s Custom Crafting can apply at 100% of what the user sets. Even an Artisan blacksmith can only set 25%.”

“...”

Lee Jihee was in awe.

A power that completely excludes the unnecessary.

A power that lets you embed only what that user absolutely needs.

That was “God’s Custom Crafting” for someone—or for oneself.

*****

A blacksmith artisan who has forged weapons for decades has something called intuition.

Today, it feels like he can create a weapon far more special than usual.

Today his condition is excellent.

An intuition that today he can make anything.

The moment he lit the furnace, Colson sensed it.

Rrrrrrr—!

Today, I will forge an outstanding sword.

The reason he is Tower Master of the Blacksmith’s Tower of the Bow is because he makes bows superior to anyone else.

Because of that, when it comes to sword-making, he fell endlessly short of Deng.

But today was different.

He felt as if he might finally touch something Deng had made.

He had been waiting for this day.

Colson, who had long felt inferior to Deng, had struggled to make a truly good sword.

Though this sword would not be aimed at Deng, at the end of that struggle Colson completed it.

A single crafting method.

Someday...

He held a dream of dueling Deng, Tower Master of the Blacksmith’s Tower of the Sword, in a blacksmith’s duel.

And he even imagined ruthlessly shattering the sword of Deng, who stands at the pinnacle of all blacksmiths.

It was possible.

If Deng’s condition that day was poor and, conversely, his own condition was good.

A crafting method that might let him defeat the Tower Master of the Sword.

With that method, he made the same thing dozens, hundreds of times.

It was to raise my understanding.

Unlike the outsiders’ auto-buttons, NPCs compete with skill and special powers.

Thus Colson ceaselessly raised his understanding of that method.

“What do you plan to do about the sword that outsider made?”

To the question from Lex, Tower Master of the Blacksmith’s Tower of the Shield, Colson answered with confidence.

“I will make that sword lose its function.”

They could clash swords three times.

However, if he inflicted at least 60% Damage Degree at that time, he could make it lose functionality.

A sword whose edge had completely gone was nothing but a blunt club.

Watching Colson begin forging before anyone realized it, the tower masters spoke.

“You’re striking a livelier note today.”

Taaang—!

Taaaanng—!

“I’ll show that greenhorn with the cumbersome name of God’s Heir. I’ll show him how wide the world is, and that there are things even a God’s Heir cannot do.”

The tower masters also did not look kindly on the outsider named Hyunsoo, who had fallen into arrogance.

Time flowed quickly.

Even so, Colson’s body still felt as light as if it could fly.

The sword he had made through that method dozens of times was taking shape.

Tsssss—!

As he passed through quenching and finally moved into polishing, he felt it.

The power transmitted through his fingertips.

This is...

That it would be an extraordinarily excellent sword, among all the swords he had made thus far.

At last, he finished it.

“...Wow.”

“A tremendous sword.”

“Tower Master Colson, you show remarkable mastery even with swords!”

Colson fell into ecstasy as he looked at the sword he himself had made.

Beautiful...

A blade-body wrought in jet black.

An edge that seemed sharp enough to destroy any sword.

Materials rightly chosen by a tower master’s wisdom, proper forging, proper quenching.

And his own experience poured in.

“Please, check it!”

Amid everyone’s wonder, Colson checked.

(Black Night)

Grade: Unique

Durability: 12,000/12,000

Attack: 664

Restriction: None for maker, Level 200–380.

Specials:

· Strength +4%, Agility +7%, Intelligence +4%.

· Cutting Power +35%.

· 40% chance to trigger Critical Hit damage.

· Sword Mastery +2 levels.

· Active Skill: Weapon Breaker.

· Active Skill: Light of Black Night.

Description: A jet-black longsword created with astonishing craftsmanship by the Tower Master of the Blacksmith’s Tower of the Bow.

“Woooow...”

“Amazing... truly amazing!”

“You’ve achieved a new feat!”

Receiving the other blacksmiths’ congratulations, Colson was dumbfounded.

A Unique bow.

Up to now, he had crafted 41 Unique bows. But a Unique sword was a first.

Emotion welled up in him.

“Looks like they’re done over there as well.”

Lex of the Shield possessed a mysterious power. It was an ability to perceive without directly checking.

[Insight]

[You check the opponent’s artifact grade.]

[It is Rare grade.]

Slowly opening his eyes, Lex gave a wry smile.

“They’re Rare. It’s over.”

“...Is that so.”

A victor’s smile floated to Colson’s lips.

A match not even worth watching any further.

Even so, Colson gripped Black Night tight.

God of Blacksmiths.

As he imagined the sight of the God’s Heir’s sword being mangled and rolling across his own forge floor, an unknown thrill seized him.

A complete success.

Colson, an artisan-grade blacksmith, had guided this sword to disable the opponent’s blade, and here was the proof.

(Weapon Breaker)

Passive Skill

Mana Cost: None.

Description: Triggers at a 25% chance and, according to the sword’s Attack, greatly reduces the opponent weapon’s Durability.

With this power, just as he first aimed, it would be possible to break the man’s sword below 50% Damage Degree.

No—if it’s even worse than I expect...

Over 60% was possible too.

The outsider named Hyunsoo walked out of his forge.

It looked like a fairly decent sword, but compared to Black Night, the jet-black blade, it seemed far inferior.

Deng stepped between them to start the blacksmith’s duel.

And Colson did not miss the twist in Deng’s expression.

You saw it too, didn’t you? The sword I made.

Colson burst into manic laughter inside.

He sneered at the outsider named Hyunsoo standing opposite him.

“If you declare surrender even now and simply come under me, I’ll give you the position I offered earlier.”

“I’m fine.”

“Stubborn, °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° aren’t you. Even at a glance, the grades of the artifacts you and I made are worlds apart.”

The gap between Rare and Unique was immense.

Yet was he unable to gauge his artifact’s grade?

Hyunsoo wore an unconcerned expression. He’d find out soon enough anyway.

[The Blacksmith Duel begins.]

[You may clash swords 3 times.]

Colson gripped Black Night in both hands and drew it back.

Hyunsoo looked at Deng for a moment.

“Is this the right way to draw back?”

“Further back. Draw it so you can bring it down with full force.”

Colson couldn’t help but smile. His eyes gleamed like a wolf’s.

[Attempt 1.]

Clutching Black Night, Colson swung diagonally with all his might.

He saw the other side also swing diagonally.

The instant the two swords met—

KAAAAAANG—!

[Weapon Breaker]

[Triggers at a 25% chance and, according to the sword’s Attack, greatly reduces the opponent weapon’s Durability.]

[You reduce the opponent weapon’s Durability by 18%.]

The outsider Hyunsoo’s blade chipped badly.

[Attempt 2.]

KAAAAAANG—!

[Weapon Breaker]

Luck was with him.

Weapon Breaker triggered two times in a row.

[You reduce the opponent weapon’s Durability by 16%.]

Visibly, Hyunsoo’s blade chipped.

No, at this rate, one more chip and his sword might become unusable.

And the last—

Skaaaaa—!

Colson, swinging his sword, was awash in rapture.

[Weapon Breaker]

Once more, Black Night spewed light to devour his sword.

Today, everything was perfect.

He’d made an excellent sword, and Weapon Breaker had triggered three times in a row.

It’s over...

Then—

Huh?

The man’s sword was wrapped in an unknown white light.

And then—

Skaaaak—!

What is this...?

His sword and the man’s sword collided. No—it felt like they collided.

But the opponent’s sword passed through, cleaving his own.

And the incomprehensible occurred.

Srrrr—

Black Night was sliced off and fell to the floor.

Clang—!

The sword... was cut...?

His thoughts froze.

No, this was impossible.

It could not be.

Swords break; they don’t get cut. In his life, he had never experienced such a thing.

Yet that thought was proven.

[The Blacksmith Duel ends.]

[Black Night’s Damage Degree is 99%.]

Yes, it was cut.

A sword was cut by a sword.

The man watching his own trembling pupils—Hyunsoo—sheathed his sword.

Srrrng—

With an indifferent gaze, he turned his body and spoke.

“A sword isn’t decided by grade alone.”