Genius Blacksmith's Game

Deputy Commander Bella of the Kingdom of Goyard’s Knights.

Leading the Second Knights, she was a talent recognized by the kingdom.

Also called by the name of Divinity, she had risen to the post of deputy commander at the mere age of twenty-one; her capability was already proven.

Such Bella also often handled various tasks ordered by King Barad.

She listened from right outside the door to the conversation His Majesty Barad and Hyunsoo were having.

The king had commissioned the making of the long-awaited sword from the blacksmith called Hyun.

Then he sent Hyun out and called her in for a moment.

“Bella, I intend to depart soon for the Fire-Dragon’s Nest.”

His Majesty gave a bitter smile.

“I want you to bring me the sword made by the blacksmith called Hyun. You are a blacksmith’s daughter; you should know well.”

Bella had more of a grasp of blacksmithing than other knights.

“It is not easy for a good-grade sword to come out.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

Once, thinking of the king’s desire for a sword, Bella had spoken of knowledge she knew.

There were many famed swords in the world to tempt the king, and not a few that had outstanding grade.

But the problem was that few swords possessed the effect the king desired—and there was another problem.

“Blacksmiths say that out of one hundred swords, one sword of Rare is made.”

This was the average data.

“And a sword of the grade called Epic is one out of five hundred. A sword called Unique might come out once in a lifetime, or not at all.”

He gave a wry smile.

“That means that for one Rare to be born, there were ninety-nine ordinary swords, and that to make a sword called Epic, there were four hundred ninety-nine ordinary swords.”

From Unique onward, the figure could hardly be specified.

“That is why I have been unable to obtain that sword; thus I hang a sliver of expectation.”

What expectation did the king place?

“He is a blacksmith who said his own source of power comes from skill. Every human being has innate talent.”

Sword King Barad and Bella, standing here, were living proof.

A force that, even when one has skill, places one in a higher place still.

“Because he is a blacksmith who dared to speak of skill before me, I place my stake.”

From that voice, Bella sensed it.

The king would treat this raid on the Fire-Dragon’s Nest as his last attempt.

Thus he had been bold enough to grant all the materials.

“Perhaps I am feeling a limit now. But I am curious: where does the limit of his skill lie?”

At this point, Bella asked:

“What degree of sword do you wish him to bring?”

“Hundred-Year Cold-Iron is a special material; such special material would have the power to overturn the ‘one Rare out of a hundred.’”

Therefore people went mad for special ores.

“If I am greedy, I want a sword with the name Unique. A sword that ordinary blacksmiths cannot obtain even if they devote a lifetime.”

There was bitterness in his voice.

Only enough material remained to make three swords.

“Of course it is greed. Even if he brings an Epic sword that draws out to the maximum the power of Hundred-Year Cold-Iron, I will be satisfied. Fire-attribute Resistance, too, must be at its maximum. If it is at least that much, he will have proven his statement.”

A sword that is one out of five hundred. On top of that, a sword made with as much Fire-attribute as desired.

“If even such a sword is not enough, then the problem is my skill, Bella.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Go # Nоvеlight # yourself and see the power of what he called skill.”

The king’s voice held a small expectancy.

“See whether he is a blacksmith who has the power to overturn that one-in-five-hundred. Also, when the sword-making that could satisfy me is finished, run to the Fire-Dragon’s Nest with that sword at once. In the meantime I will endure with a sword Kurs made.”

“I receive your command.”

Bella immediately led Hyunsoo and headed for the royal forge.

After nodding to the man who said he would briefly go to his own world, she fell into thought.

“A person who can say such words before His Majesty...”

Arrogance, or confidence?

Then Bella, recalling His Majesty, let out a sigh.

“Please return safely.”

The king had already challenged twice and failed. And this time would be the last.

Even Sword King Barad had failed.

Then worry came.

“His Majesty is desperate—but is he also so?”

That mindset at times draws out the best result.

And the man who had vanished returned.

When he returned, his fist was clenched tight.

And he spoke without her having asked:

“I think this sword might change my life.”

“...A good mindset.”

Bella wore an interested expression. And Hyunsoo, who had finished a call with Nell, was brimming with drive.

“This sword will change my life.” 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Hyun activated God’s Custom Crafting.

[God’s Custom Crafting begins.]

“His Majesty said he wants Fire-attribute Resistance raised to 45% or higher, correct?”

Hyun confirmed once more through Bella.

“Correct.”

“Let’s try to maximize it further.”

He once again opened the information of Hundred-Year Cold-Iron and confirmed its effects.

Fire-attribute Resistance +56%

Ice-attribute Skills rise up to Epic.

Swords Cutting Power +112%.

Durability increases to Infinite.

Sword Skill Damage +35%.

What is written on an ore or crafting method signifies the maximum.

This maximum is not an absolute value, as it is overridden by various factors such as the user’s level and the power of skills.

“Raise Fire-attribute Resistance to an extreme.”

[Raising Fire-attribute Resistance to an extreme is not easy.]

[You will forgo Durability, Cutting Power, and Sword Skill Damage and attempt crafting.]

Hyun tuned it appropriately.

Durability did not absolutely need to be extremely high, and though it would be nice to have high Cutting Power and Sword Skill Damage, it was not necessary.

A sword imbued with the power of ice can, when paired with Fire-attribute Resistance, deliver additional damage.

Therefore, if he removed those three and went all-in on Fire-attribute, it was possible to produce a better effect.

At last Hyun put the material into the furnace for crafting.

And Bella, standing to one side, spoke:

“As soon as a good sword is crafted, I will deliver it to His Majesty Barad at once.”

“Understood. Even if a good sword is crafted in one go, I should keep crafting, right?”

“Yes.”

“You’re going to get busy.”

Bella wore a puzzled expression.

Get busy?

She would soon understand what that meant.

Barad wished that even an Epic-grade sword, once produced, be brought to him at once.

Hyun’s words sounded like he expected she would have to make three quick round trips.

He was a man with tremendous confidence.

“Let’s see, then.”

Her father had not been outstanding, but he had been a blacksmith in his own right.

Having watched blacksmithing since childhood, she could tell roughly what level someone was.

Bella began to watch him with calm eyes.

****

The Fire-Dragon’s Nest was counted among the highest-difficulty hunting grounds in Ares.

A place known as a hunting ground for minimum levels between 300 and 450.

And even within this Fire-Dragon’s Nest, the difficulty differed vastly by area.

The place where Sword King Barad had entered was Ifrit’s Tomb, the highest-difficulty part of the Fire-Dragon’s Nest.

A hunting ground not to be coveted unless one was Lv.400+.

So far, Outsiders had never entered.

No—when they did, most were wiped out at the very entrance.

On the fourth day since entering this Ifrit’s Tomb—

Barad’s face, locked in fierce clashes with them, twisted.

CHIIIIIIIK—

At the moment his sword met a creature called a Flame Warrior, it melted.

DRIP, DRIP-DRIP—

Running down as molten metal, that sword was of Rare grade.

At that, Barad gripped another sword at his back and cleaved them all in two.

After he had cut them all, he stared vacantly at his sword.

“...It’s melting.”

This second sword he had drawn was also Rare.

Fire-attribute Resistance was 25%.

Considering Attack and various other factors, it was an excellent sword.

Of course, if he set his mind to it, he could easily obtain swords of grade surpassing this one.

The problem was that the monsters of this Fire-Dragon’s Nest all bore the “weapon-melting power.”

No famed sword could avoid melting; a sword with high Fire-attribute Resistance was essential.

Moreover, at Barad’s level, a hunting ground of this level was not especially difficult.

The problem was the unreasonable high heat.

Could one not tell from this heat that was melting even the sword right away?

A tremendous thirst pressed in as well.

He turned his body.

“I cannot advance.”

His weapons were already ruined, and another step would be a truly pointless death.

“...In the end, can I not do it?”

Barad’s body trembled faintly.

The reason Sword King Barad obsessed over the Fire-Dragon’s Nest and forging a sword—

“At the end of this, there is the one who killed my son...”

As Barad turned his body with a look of despair, he saw a woman running.

“...?”

It was Bella.

Barad’s face crumpled.

“Bella, I told you clearly: come to me when a good sword has been produced!”

Bella, who had rushed over, shook her head at once.

“A good sword has been crafted—that’s why I’m here.”

“...What!? Already?”

How many days had it been? Four? Five?

It was enough time for the first sword to be crafted.

A sword that could satisfy him in one go?

At that moment Bella held out the sword.

“The first sword. Please check it.”

The instant Barad gripped the sword, he felt a sensation transmit through his whole body.

Cold. Even in this scorching heat, the sword wrapped his whole body in chill.

The sweat that had run like rain stopped, and the thirst that had dried his throat subsided.

Just as he was about to check the sword—

Barad spotted a massive flame golem dropping from the sky.

A Magma Golem.

A creature that lived only here, its whole body was formed of magma.

On contact, one’s whole body melted, leaving only bone.

“Bella, get clear!”

Danger. The thing was dropping to seize Bella.

But it was already too late. She was already beneath the falling mass.

Then Bella said:

“Your Majesty, cut it!”

Barad’s gaze met hers.

He took her voice into his ear.

And he cut the Magma Golem shrouded in lava.

[When attacking Fire-attribute monsters, the power of ice-attribute is imbued.]

[Against ice-attribute monsters alone, Attack Power rises by 75%.]

KR-R-R-RRACK—

In that instant, the Magma Golem boasting high defense at Lv.420—

The creature whose whole body was magma froze solid from the cut outward.

KUUUUUUNG—

As he watched the Magma Golem fall to the ground as an ice statue, Barad stared at the sword in his hand, astonished.

“This is the first sword crafted?”

And with a trembling chest he checked it.

(Hyun’s Fourth Custom Craft Sword)

Grade: Epic

Durability: 3,000/3,000

Attack: 351

Restriction: None for creator, 200–450

Special Abilities:

· Fire-attribute Resistance 98%

· Ice-attribute Attack Power +25%.

· Against Fire-attribute monsters, Ice-attribute Attack Power +75%.

Description: Hyun’s fourth custom-crafted sword, crafted for King Barad.

“...?”

Barad wore a puzzled expression.

“I said Fire-attribute Resistance of 45% or higher would suffice...”

Yet Fire-attribute Resistance of 98%?

Moreover, against Fire-attribute monsters it produced a synergy that raised Attack Power by 75%.

Just now, when he swung the sword and froze the golem, it had happened because this Ice-attribute Attack Power was high.

Soon Bella said something that surprised him even more.

“For the second sword, he says he will maximize the mysterious power of ice-attribute and send it. He said you may choose whichever suits Your Majesty’s taste.”

What was this? This insane confidence?

But the artifact proving that confidence was in his hand.

And Bella said:

“I asked him: if you craft one hundred swords, how many Rares do you craft?”

Average blacksmiths need to craft a hundred to obtain one Rare.

“He answered thus: ‘I have never once crafted an artifact of ordinary grade.’”