Genius Blacksmith's Game

After the interview broadcast ended, the station sent Hyun back.

Hyun headed straight for the forge.

‘Rowoon, huh...’

Black Anvil Forge.

The top blacksmith guild in the country.

They had around five hundred guild members, and even among them, most were high-level blacksmiths.

That was how rankings worked.

The best people naturally gathered in the single /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ strongest guild.

In fact, Black Anvil was rank 1, monopolizing 40% of artifact sales market share in Korea.

Just then, a whisper came in to Hyun standing at the forge.

[Nell: I watched the broadcast. Amusingly enough, Rowoon’s helping make Hyun’s Forge more well-known.]

[Hyun: Yeah.]

For Hyun, it was a good opportunity.

[Nell: The three artifacts that’ll go on the broadcast will be the key. Have you decided what to make yet?]

[Hyun: Yes, I have.]

[Nell: Can I hear it?]

[Hyun: Review.]

[Nell: Review?]

[Hyun: Yeah, I’m going to recreate the artifacts I’ve made with God’s Emergency Crafting so far.]

[Nell: Ah...]

[Hyun: They were made through Emergency Crafting, but every one of them was based on my own knowledge. I’ve already drawn up their blueprints once before, so I can start crafting them immediately without any pauses.]

[Nell: I see. And you know why Rowoon placed that mission, right?]

Hyun let out a small laugh.

[Hyun: I do.]

[Nell: Are you okay with it?]

[Hyun: I don’t have Auto-Crafting, remember.]

Hyun also knew about the rumors floating around regarding artifacts made in a rush.

In fact, there was once a user who uploaded a video comparing an artifact he’d spent ten days on to one he’d spent three days on.

The artifact made over ten days with Auto-Crafting had overwhelmingly superior effects.

And the grade had come out way better in a row, too.

In other words, it was hard proof of the Auto-Crafting trap.

But Hyun’s case was a little different.

‘There’s nothing easier than making something you already know how to make.’

And Hyun decided it was time to focus on crafting.

[Hyun: Anyway, I don’t have much time, so I’m going to get started.]

[Nell: Okay, good luck.]

Standing in front of the forge, Hyun paused to think.

Up to now, he had created several artifacts through Emergency Crafting.

‘I can’t say I did my absolute best with them.’

Artifacts made in just a handful of seconds.

Even so, their effect application rates had come out excellent.

‘The time-attack dungeon is split into three stages total.’

He’d figured out the broadcaster’s intent.

One artifact per stage.

They wanted him to prove himself by using an artifact suited to each situation.

And Hyun had already decided on three Emergency-Crafted artifacts, each one matching a stage.

‘Let’s start by making this one first.’

[You begin God’s Custom Crafting.]

Hyun quickly began crafting.

****

The Ares community was on fire.

[Guild master Rowoon of Black Anvil just placed a mission on Blacksmith Hyun lolol.]

[For real?]

[Yeah, if you watch the AJ Internet Broadcasting Station teaser, it’s in there.]

[Wow, why’s a teaser sitting at 70,000 views?]

[The guy’s our national combined rank 41 and one of the Three Masters, that’s why. Plus, I asked a blacksmith friend, and he said Black Anvil is apparently trying to recruit Hyun.]

[Hoooh!]

[But more than that, the mission kind of felt like a showdown between Blacksmith Hyun and Rowoon to me.]

[+1.]

[+2.]

[Like he’s telling Hyun, ‘Prove yourself to me,’ you know?]

[And what happens if he proves it?]

[What do you mean what happens lol. Rowoon, who placed the mission publicly, will give him money, give him renown, and probably shower him with praise.]

[And if Hyun fails to prove himself?]

[Then Hyun’s value is going to drop. Lately, the reason he’s famous is because he’s better and more special than everyone else, but if that’s all he amounts to, people might decide ordinary ranked blacksmiths are better after all.]

[Public execution, for real lol.]

[I’m putting my vote on Rowoon winning.]

[Same.]

[Even if Rowoon’s only rank 2, he’s still guild master of the #1 guild. You think his eye for things is bad? He’s already calculated everything.]

[Uuuugh...]

At that moment—

Nell was full of anticipation.

‘What matters most is getting a lot of viewers for the main broadcast.’

Only then would more people be shocked and spread the word even further.

The problem was, even she had no way of knowing exactly how much interest there was in this teaser.

But she found that reaction close by.

Agent(?) Nell heard it from Rune, master of the Golden Shield guild.

“I’m going to watch this broadcast too. It’s Hyun’s first official crafting commission. Plus, from what I’ve heard, a lot of other rankers are planning to watch it this time.”

Agent Nell asked casually,

“Why?”

“Hyun’s been rejecting every commission until now. Because of that, people are grinding their teeth like, ‘Let’s see what kind of amazing stuff you’re making by turning me down.’”

“Ah...?”

Golden Shield’s Rune was also a member of a group chat crammed full of high-rankers.

“Wizard ranking #2, Broughn, archer ranking #4, Hansen, and the guild master of Dwarf Leg Forge. From what I’ve heard, quite a few forge guild masters are going to watch.”

And Nell could see it.

Even without her doing anything, Hyun’s Forge was gaining subscribers thanks to the Rowoon incident.

****

‘This should do it.’

Looking at the three artifacts he’d crafted to clear the stages, Hyun smiled with satisfaction.

And he knew broadcast time was drawing near.

‘I’d really like to maximize profit with these three artifacts...’

According to Nell, quite a lot of rankers might be watching.

The first condition for selling these artifacts at high prices was proving their value.

Next was how to maximize the price of something already proven.

And then, a thought flashed through Hyun’s mind.

‘That’s it...’

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

If it was that, it was enough.

Especially if proud rankers were watching the broadcast, the effect had a high chance of being maximized.

Soon, a notification popped up for Hyun.

[An invitation from AJ Internet Broadcasting Station has arrived.]

Hyun looked forward to it.

The more viewers the main broadcast had, the greater the impact it would have in making Hyun’s Forge known.

‘The great items are already ready.’

That was why the viewer count mattered.

Standing in front of the time-attack dungeon, Hyun could see the viewer number floating in the top-left corner.

[Current viewers: 88,414.]

****

Producer Kim Minwoo was floored.

“Holy...?”

Eighty thousand viewers.

And eighty thousand right at the start was a number he’d only seen back in the early days.

‘Was Rowoon’s impact really that huge?’

–Blacksmith Hyun. Let’s see if you actually made something good for my commission.

–I came just to see that lol

–I got rejected too... lol wouldn’t even reply.

‘No, it’s Rowoon, sure, but Hyun’s value from his mystique is huge too.’

And yet, the one actually appearing was Crazy Rookie.

Soon, as he was chatting with Hyun where the cameras couldn’t see, Producer Kim wore a puzzled expression.

“...You want to run a real-time auction?”

“Yes.”

“Of course, we don’t mind as long as we get good viewership, but...”

There was just one thing Producer Kim was worried about.

‘If the items turn out less impressive than expected, this is going to backfire.’

But Crazy Rookie gave a crooked smile.

“In that case, I’ll tell them Hyun approved, and I’ll run it myself.”

“Ah, okay. We’ll start the broadcast now.”

Soon, the countdown began on the screen the viewers were watching.

–5

–4

–3

–2

–1

–The broadcast is starting.

The first broadcast of Crazy Rookie and Blacksmith Hyun had begun.

****

The viewers soon saw Crazy Rookie entering the time-attack dungeon.

They could see him standing on a hill, and below his feet they could see a dense cluster of monsters around levels 80–100.

Producer Kim stood next to Hyun and explained.

“The first stage is simple. There are around forty monsters down below. You need to break the red jewel on the opposite hill, four hundred meters away, after breaking through them.”

When Crazy Rookie nodded, Producer Kim added,

“For reference, the current record holder, Prow, is ranked #7 on the national combined ranking. His record is 1 minute 23 seconds. No one has ever broken it. And our broadcast has prize money. If you update the overall #1 record, we’ll give you ten million won.”

At that moment, a broad smile settled on Crazy Rookie’s lips.

–He just heard “money” and his eyes flipped lolol

–A true capitalism user, I like honest players.

–What’s your time prediction?

–The people on this show usually take around 4 minutes. So, about 3 minutes?

–Crazy Rookie is also wearing the artifacts Hyun made for him.

–You watching this, big bro Rowoon!!!?

–Yes.

–Bro, why are you actually here?

–??? lololol

–Wow, Rowoon really showed up lolol

–Rowoon probably came to see what artifacts he made this time.

Finally, the countdown started inside the time-attack dungeon as well.

–Don’t people usually take up a running stance?

–Yeah, but Crazy Rookie isn’t.

All the viewers wore puzzled expressions.

And for the viewers’ benefit, the record information appeared in the top-left corner.

[Current #1 record holder: Prow. 1 minute 23 seconds.]

–Man, Prow’s record is insane any time you look at it.

–For real, is that even human lololol

–That’s why he’s combined rank 7.

–Oh, it’s starting.

All the viewers expected Hyun to bolt forward the moment the countdown ended.

But Hyun just stood there silently.

And then he did something no one understood.

Click—

–Isn’t that the same arrow from last time?

The black Orichalcum Short Arrow he’d used in the Super Rookie Tournament. He slid that black-gloss Short Arrow into the guide-tube.

Then he pulled the bowstring back with all his strength, aiming at the jewel four hundred meters away.

–???

–Is this guy insane?

–Is he in his right mind?

And then he loosed it with full force.

SWEEEE—!

The arrow ripped through the air, but fell to the ground before it could reach the jewel.

–What’s he doing?

–What a waste of time lolol

–I’m honestly speechless lol, he really thought he’d hit that? Something four hundred meters away?

–It still went pretty far, though. Looked like about two hundred fifty meters.

The viewers were endlessly questioning his absurd behavior.

Rowoon watching the broadcast was no exception.

‘What the hell is he doing?’

The arrow fell uselessly to the ground.

Soon, Hyun murmured,

“Recall.”

CHAAAAAK—

On screen, Hyun nodded as if this was exactly what he’d expected, and Rowoon’s brow furrowed.

Then Hyun on the screen spoke.

“I’ll reveal the first artifact.”

“No way...!”

Rowoon shot to his feet.

Hyun slipped a black gauntlet onto his right hand.

Clack—

Then he slid the Short Arrow into the guide-tube.

Click—

With the arm wearing the gauntlet, he drew the bowstring back with all his might.

TWAAAANG—

The bowstring drew taut.

And the changes to the equipped artifact appeared on-screen for the viewers as well.

[Strength increases by 111.]

[Range increases greatly.]

[With the further increased Strength stat, Penetration and Destructive Power rise, and Range goes up significantly.]

The moment Hyun released the bowstring—

SWEEEE—!

With a fierce sonic boom, the Short Arrow flew out and pierced straight through the jewel four hundred meters away.

PWOOOOOK—!

Seeing the jewel shatter completely, Rowoon’s eyes trembled.

“He boosted the range using a gauntlet and broke it...?”

At that moment, Rowoon saw the notifications popping up for Hyun.

[Congratulations.]

[You have set a new record for Stage 1 of the time-attack dungeon.]

[Your record is 41 seconds.]

The shock didn’t end there.

Rowoon had placed a mission on Hyun.

If he crafted a Rare, ₩1,000,000.

Epic, ₩3,000,000.

Unique, ₩10,000,000.

Soon, Hyun spoke.

“Rowoon, thank you for the ten million won donation.”

Rowoon understood exactly what those words meant.

“Unique...?”

Yes, that artifact was Unique.

A grade that 95% of blacksmith users would never craft even once in their entire in-game lives.