Genius Blacksmith's Game

Having acquired God’s Emergency Crafting, Hyunsoo put as much distance as he could between himself and the Giant Ghoul.

Then he checked the skill called God’s Emergency Crafting.

(God’s Emergency Crafting)

Active Skill

Grade: God

Level: 1

Penalty:

Effect:

· You can create a weapon within 20 seconds.

· You can apply materials you possess to the weapon being created.

· If there are no suitable materials, the basic materials generated by the skill will be applied.

· You can embed the desired effect up to 100%.

· A weapon created via Emergency Crafting can only be used for 30 seconds.

Hyunsoo was more than a little shocked.

A blacksmith’s greatest weakness as a class lies in being unable to display a combat class’s resourcefulness.

Other classes like Swordsman or Archer can immediately fight monsters with their special offensive skills.

But most blacksmiths cannot.

That is why ordinary blacksmiths are looked down on in hunting parties.

Yet this skill compensates for that flaw.

You’re telling me I can produce a weapon in 20 seconds...?

Hot euphoria surged through him.

I might be able to win...!

The distance to the Giant Ghoul was about 30 meters.

The fortunate part was that the Giant Ghoul coming at him had been struck in one leg by a Short Arrow, greatly slowing its speed.

Hyunsoo immediately tried activating this newly gained power.

[You are beginning God’s Emergency Crafting.]

[You can manifest your desired effect up to 100%.]

God’s Emergency Crafting, like Custom Crafting, allowed you to embed a desired effect.

“A powerful skill that can emit holy power.”

[You can craft a sword imbued with holy power.]

[However, because you are not a church blacksmith, crafting a sword imbued with holy power will not be easy.]

[You may need a crafting method based on holy power.]

[The application rate of the desired effect may drop significantly.]

“...?”

Hyunsoo’s face twisted. The alert meant that even if it was possible to craft a sword imbued with holy power, he shouldn’t expect much from the effect.

The reason was that Hyunsoo was not a church blacksmith.

On top of that, swords with holy power seemed to have a special crafting method suited to them.

But Hyunsoo no longer had time to hesitate.

[Please select the materials.]

Hyunsoo had no proper ore on hand. He chose the most basic materials.

At that moment, a translucent ore floated up above his head.

[To elevate the desired effect, there are various factors such as your skill, insight, and luck.]

[Depending on these various factors, the effect can be applied up to 100%.]

[Within the scope of the maker’s knowledge, please craft a sword to which holy power can be applied.]

[In accordance with that, the application rate of the effect may vary.]

It was a notification similar to Custom Crafting.

Back then, the alert told him to make it so the sword could be a sword that cuts swords within his knowledge.

So Hyunsoo made it thinking he was crafting a sword that actually cuts swords.

The blade, sharper and keener. The sword’s strength, even higher.

Watching the Giant Ghoul barreling toward him, Hyunsoo let out a breath.

In the end, because I’m not a church blacksmith, it’s saying it’ll be hard to make...?

Bitterness colored his face. Seeing how close the Giant Ghoul had gotten, he found himself momentarily stupefied.

Now this looked so real that even fear began to swallow him whole.

Slightly, his arm started to tremble.

Then he realized.

...You idiot.

Hyunsoo smiled with self-mockery.

Since when did you start relying on the system? You’re a blacksmith, not a pro gamer.

Right. Hyunsoo was not a pro gamer. Nor was he a user with outstanding gameplay skill.

He was a blacksmith.

From the start, he didn’t need the system’s help.

In ordinary games, blacksmiths receive 95% of their help from the system.

But Hyunsoo said with utter confidence,

“System. Keep up with me.”

Hyunsoo was the opposite.

As a blacksmith, his own ability was 95%, and this mere system’s help would be about 5%.

Yes, the system was assisting Hyunsoo; Hyunsoo was not relying on the system.

He closed his eyes.

In the span of a mere instant, he had this thought.

He was none of these: a church crafting method, church materials, a church blacksmith.

However, the enemy was undead.

Undead receive far greater damage from the noble force called holy power.

If so...

Then he just had to make something imbued with holy power as well.

Thud, thud, thud—

Listening to the sound of its footsteps, he recalled it.

A sword that once truly existed in Joseon.

A sword whose crafting method existed only in Joseon—neither in Japan nor in China.

A sword known for driving out evil spirits and dispelling calamity. The name of that sword was Four Tigers Sword.

Hyunsoo’s eyes opened, calm.

“Shall we begin?”

He looked at the translucent ore.

He had decided what to make.

Hyunsoo looked at the alert window that appeared right in front of him.

[Set the furnace temperature.]

[Set the smelting time.]

[Set the refining time.]

[Set how you will forge it.]

[Set the number of quenches.]

[Set the pattern or characters you wish to engrave.]

His fingers began to move.

The Four Tigers Sword was not a sword made for the purpose of cutting down people.

And the reason this sword was special was that it was usually made in the year, month, day, and hour of the Tiger.

Thus, the Four Tigers Sword was a special sword typically crafted every twelve years when the Year of the Tiger returned.

Even in modern times, the Four Tigers Sword can still be found in fair numbers.

Dozens of blades are in our country at the National Museum or in private collections, and the “In (Tiger)” of ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) the Four Tigers Sword signifies the tiger.

Hyunsoo’s fingers moved quickly.

Input furnace temperature setting.

Input smelting time.

Input refining time.

Input number of forging cycles.

Input number of quenching cycles.

Input the pattern and characters to engrave.

All of this took place in just 7 seconds.

And with each round of inputs, the translucent ore had already begun its crafting.

Dozens of Four Tigers Swords remain.

Hyunsoo had already made this Four Tigers Sword many times together with his father.

And in a world where countless blacksmiths have disappeared.

No maker of the Four Tigers Sword remains anymore—only Hyunsoo is left now.

Smelting, refining, forging, and quenching flashed by in an instant.

[In applying holy power, your knowledge is exceptional.]

[Your experience is astonishing.]

[Your understanding is outstanding.]

[Effect application rate increases by 8%.]

[Effect application rate increases by 9%.]

Sssssss—

The long, extended red blade cooled rapidly.

Polishing and finishing followed.

A smooth sword body revealed itself.

On its front, the name Four Tigers Sword was engraved.

And then very small stars appeared before Hyunsoo.

Twenty-eight stars, representing the east, west, south, and north, seeped into the blade to form a single pattern.

Click—

The blade and the handle joined.

Ordinarily, the production period for a Four Tigers Sword is at least three months.

Hyunsoo, who had finished the Four Tigers Sword in an instant, set it upright at a right angle and gripped it tight with both hands.

Ding!

[The artifact created via God’s Emergency Crafting is complete.]

[Because the experience, knowledge, hand-skill, etc., of a blacksmith with Artisan-or-higher ability were applied, the effect application rate defies common sense.]

[Effect application rate is 91%.]

[The title God of Blacksmiths shines.]

[Will you apply all stat increases associated with artifact creation that can activate only once per week?]

“Yes.”

[You gain All Stats +1.]

[Novice Sword Mastery Lv.1 proficiency increases by 23%.]

[You gain Dexterity +10.]

(Four Tigers Sword)

Grade: Rare

Durability: 1,000/1,000

Attack: 186

Restriction: none for maker, Lv.60–140.

Special Abilities:

· Damage against Undead or Evil (惡) +55%.

· Active Skill Tiger’s Roar.

Description: A sword born of Emergency Crafting. Thanks to the maker’s outstanding experience and knowledge, the effect application rate exceeded 90%.

An alert sounded.

[The usage time for the Emergency-Crafted artifact is 30 seconds!]

[30.]

[29.]

[28.]

A timer popped up in the upper-right corner. But a small smile formed at the corner of Hyunsoo’s mouth.

Once would be enough.

Before he knew it, the Giant Ghoul had reached right in front of Hyunsoo.

Tat-tat-tat-tat—

His vision blurred.

Hyunsoo’s current HP hadn’t even 10% left.

Already exhausted physically, he had consumed a great deal of mental strength by using Emergency Crafting.

One eye isn’t seeing well either. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

And Hyunsoo saw the Giant Ghoul swing its fist at him.

Slowly, calmly.

Ssrak—

He twisted his toes.

Shifting his position, Hyunsoo activated the power embedded in the Four Tigers Sword called Tiger Rush.

[Tiger Rush]

[Movement Speed +30%, Attack Speed +50%.]

[You cut the enemy in a single pass; against Undead or Evil, Attack Power +410%.]

In an instant, a powerful holy force dwelled in the blade.

The Four Tigers Sword’s effect states Damage against Undead or Evil +55%.

It was, in other words, an extraordinary sword against Undead or Evil.

On top of that came the additional effect of Tiger Rush.

Skaaaak—

Hyunsoo slashed through the Giant Ghoul in one go.

Writhing in pain, the thing burned with pure white light starting from the cut inflicted by that sacred power, until its entire body was consumed.

It looked like a vampire burning up upon meeting the light.

Thud—

At last, the Giant Ghoul sank to its knees.

Its body began to crumble, drifting away as ash.

[You have hunted the Giant Ghoul.]

[You gain 11 Gold.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up... ]

[You obtain Giant Ghoul’s Molar.]

[You obtain Giant Ghoul’s Cloak.]

[You obtain the title Hunter Who Defies Common Sense.]

Hyunsoo had leveled up 7 times in one burst. He also checked the newly acquired title.

(Hunter Who Defies Common Sense)

Multi-Title

Grade: A

Special Ability:

· When fighting a being 50 levels higher than yourself, All Stats +1.5%.

It was quite an excellent title.

Additional alerts came at once.

Ding!

[Impromptu Quest: Hunt the Giant Ghoul complete.]

[The reward for hunting 50 ghouls will be applied.]

[You have hunted a total of 83 ghouls.]

In an instant, Hyunsoo’s HP and MP refilled to 100%.

“Haa, haa.”

But his ragged breathing did not easily steady.

[Emergency Crafting usage time has elapsed.]

Srrr—

Soon Hyunsoo watched the Four Tigers Sword he held in his hands scatter away.

He couldn’t help feeling regret.

This isn’t a complete Four Tigers Sword...

A Four Tigers Sword is more precise than this, more beautiful.

You can tell just from the fact it came out as Rare grade.

Had he used excellent ore and devoted himself as if crafting a true Four Tigers Sword, it would have been far superior—so the regret went.

Yes, this was only a hastily made fake Four Tigers Sword.

...I’ll have to make a real Four Tigers Sword later.

Hyunsoo gave a wry smile. And he learned one fact.

Emergency Crafting is a double-edged sword of a skill.

You could use the ordinary materials supplied by the system, sure.

But if you needed an artifact that was stronger and more excellent, you might have to use your own materials.

Creating an artifact you can use for 30 seconds, at the cost of permanently consuming materials, huh.

He smiled bitterly.

Even so, he thought there was no skill like this in a pinch. Even with ordinary materials, its effect defied common sense.

Right then.

Centurion Render and Knight Commander Carl came running fast. Knight Commander Carl’s face, panting hard, was close to astonishment.

Carl stared at Hyunsoo for quite some time.

“I added more than enough.”

Carl’s voice had become courteous. He handed over a pouch of gold.

It was an amount greater than Hyunsoo expected.

[You gain 2,000 Gold.]

A hefty sum amounting to roughly ₩2,000,000.

“I misjudged you. I thought you were the same as the other outsiders.”

He had not trusted outsiders. But Hyunsoo had slain this many ghouls.

And though it vanished like a mirage, he had actually produced something imbued with holy power.

He had proven it.

Knight Commander Carl lowered his head.

“G-g, Commander...!”

Centurion Render was shocked.

Knight Commander Carl was an NPC approaching Level 300. Moreover, he was the overall commander of this territory.

That Commander Carl would bow his head?

[Affinity with Carl becomes MAX.]

And Carl spoke with formality.

“I ask this of you.”

At first, Carl had said that if he wanted to check the Bell of Lamas, he should go hunt ghouls. It had been practically the same as telling him to get lost.

But now it was different.

“Please check if you can repair the Bell of Lamas!”