NOVEL NEXT chapter 26 - God of Blacksmiths (2)
The Tower Masters of the Blacksmith’s Towers let out cries of shock.
“How can this be…?”
“Why would the sword bestowed by the god…?”
The moment Hyunsoo opened the door and stepped into the place of the rite, the top floor was seized by tremors.
The sword driven in the center.
The sword that had not so much as quivered even when Deng, Tower Master of the Blacksmith’s Tower of the Sword, tried to draw it—now pulled itself free and hovered before the outsider called Hyunsoo.
“…He did it.”
Deng, who first grasped the reason, wore a face filled with rapture.
Anyone could tell from the sword’s bearing.
Hurry and grasp me!
You have the right!
Ah, I’m overjoyed to madness to meet a blacksmith like you!
“Just how exceedingly did he complete it…?”
Trailing off, Deng glanced at the Tower Masters. Before he knew it, their faces were brimming with greed.
In their eyes burned the desire to claim that man for themselves no matter what.
From here on, the Tower Masters of this place would struggle desperately to take that man.
They must have sensed that with him under their command, they could seize much.
Even if he were to become the successor of the god, right now he was a fledgling. Of course, he was an extraordinary being whose start differed from ordinary people.
One who would shine all the more as time passed.
Naturally, Deng wanted him as well.
But not now. He must go out into the world, experience more, and grow.
If he were to go beneath any tower, he could grow quickly, but in the end he would become a belonging.
Is the choice his to make…?
For the moment, Deng saw no way to stop it. He saw Hyunsoo reach out his hand to grasp the sword.
****
At last—the Legendary class…!
Hyunsoo’s chest burned hot as he reached for the sword.
He simply loved the profession of blacksmith.
He had devoted his entire life to this blacksmith’s work that no one else would do.
Even if it was inside a game, the fact that here, too, he could advance as a blacksmith more special than others filled him with joy.
He also wondered what the name of that Legendary class would be and what path it would take.
At last, Hyunsoo grasped the sword.
[The sword left by the God of Blacksmiths marvels at the achievement you have wrought.]
[You will become a beacon upon the blacksmith’s path that was shunned.]
[You will reveal a new strength along the blacksmith’s path that was scorned as weak.]
[The name of that class.]
[Successor of the God of Blacksmiths. Successor of Asca!]
Hyunsoo, who had been thinking he would obtain a Legendary class, was taken aback.
There’s a class like that?
A god-class.
It was a class he had never heard of in his life.
Prior to the appearance of Legendary classes, users knew of them in advance through CEO Lee Sejin’s remarks.
“Legendary classes. Those classes will become every user’s dream classes.”
Users around the world were ecstatic at that.
On the single hope that they, too, might become Legendary class.
But a god-class?
Additional alerts chimed.
Ding!
[Congratulations.]
[The first god-class.]
[You have transferred into Successor of Asca.]
[Successor of Asca is special.]
[You are a blacksmith yet also a mighty warrior.]
[Your stats will change so you can take a step up as a mighty war—]
[Correction.]
[Your current stats are already sufficient as a mighty warrior.]
[Reward changes to All Stats +10 and is superior to the prior adjustment.]
Hyunsoo could hardly steady himself.
All Stats +10…?
Hyunsoo currently possessed seven stats: the five core stats, plus Dexterity and Charisma.
Total stats gained thereby: seventy.
Considering that one receives +5 bonus stats per level up, he had just received what would require fourteen level-ups.
And the alerts were not over yet.
[Correction.]
[Your blacksmithing skill is already judged artisan-level or higher.]
[Reward changes to additional acquisition of an active skill.]
[You acquire the title God of Blacksmiths.]
[You acquire God’s Custom Crafting, formerly obtainable only upon reaching Level 100.]
I’ve never heard of this class before, but…
He was certain. It far surpassed the Legendary class.
He first checked the title God of Blacksmiths.
(God of Blacksmiths)
Unique Title
Grade: SSS
Specials:
·Mastery proficiency rises according to the type and grade of artifact crafted.
·Example) Crafting a sword → Sword Mastery rises; crafting a shield → Shield Mastery rises.
·Maintain the stat increase effect for first-time artifact grade crafting.
·Example) On crafting a Rare artifact → All Stats +1; Epic artifact → +2; Unique artifact → +4; Legendary artifact → +6. Applies to one artifact per week only.
·No restrictions on artifact material usage.
·Artifact enhancement chance +50%.
·When you accomplish astonishing feats as a blacksmith, others may respect you more or gain enlightenment.
·When doing anything related to blacksmithing work, additional skills may unlock.
Huh…?
Hyunsoo blinked for a moment.
Did I read that wrong?
But rubbing his eyes changed nothing.
The title God of Blacksmiths was SSS grade.
I’ve never even heard of anyone with an SSS-grade title…
Of course, he had heard of users with SS-grade titles.
But even worldwide, they numbered fewer than twenty.
Even so, users were certain that someday someone with SSS grade would appear.
And that user is me?
Suppressing his pounding heart, Hyunsoo mulled over the title’s effects.
Mastery rises just by crafting something?
Mastery.
All users obtain something called mastery upon transfer.
A swordsman gains Sword Mastery.
An archer gains Bow Mastery.
A tank gains Shield Mastery.
A cook gains Cooking Mastery.
There are dozens upon dozens of mastery types.
What matters is that this mastery, obtained at the moment of transfer, becomes the core of each profession.
At the moment a user transfers into a swordsman, his sword attack power rises by about 30% compared to an untransferred user.
By the power of Sword Mastery.
Of course, that is only at the level of Basic Sword Mastery, but it still yields that much power.
But I…
Craft a sword, and Sword Mastery.
Craft a bow, and Bow Mastery.
Craft a shield or armor, and Shield Mastery rises? Then even as a blacksmith I can become strong, can’t I?
On top of that, the title also lets him maintain the first-grade crafting reward.
When Hyunsoo crafted a Rare artifact, all stats rose by +1.
This is common to all blacksmiths.
A compensatory system prepared for the blacksmith profession.
But after that, even if you crafted another Rare grade, you could not receive this reward.
However, the Successor of the God of Blacksmiths class could receive that reward permanently—albeit limited to one per week.
It’s absurdly broken…
Hyunsoo’s mouth fell open.
He felt that with this single title alone, he could advance overwhelmingly beyond ordinary classes.
I’m no longer subject to material level restrictions…
When Hyunsoo obtained the Beginner Zone’s Mithril Ore, he had spent an extraordinarily long time due to the usage level restriction.
But such restrictions were no more.
Level 100 materials.
Level 300 materials.
It meant he could craft arms without any level-based restriction.
It utterly transcends the Legendary class…
After checking the title, he also checked God’s Custom Crafting.
(God’s Custom Crafting)
Active Skill
Grade: God
Level: 1
Effect:
·You are guided to custom-craft the artifact someone currently needs most.
·You can custom-craft the artifact you currently need most.
·You can embed desired effects into the artifact you intend to craft.
·However, absurd effects cannot be crafted.
·You can embed desired effects up to 100%.
Hmm…
Hyunsoo wore a puzzled expression. At a glance the title screamed, “Ah, this is insanely good!” but for this, he thought he needed to learn more.
Then Hyunsoo saw the sword in his hand slip of its own accord into his inventory.
[[Job Quest: The Sword Left by the God of Blacksmiths] can be progressed at Level 100.]
Once users transfer into a profession, they can receive job quests whenever they level up or fulfill conditions.
Ordinary blacksmiths are known to learn only about two things upon transfer: “Auto-Crafting” and “Beginner Blacksmith’s Skill.”
And they are known to gain skills by leveling or to receive job quests upon reaching certain levels to acquire additional skills.
As Hyunsoo levels up and advances, matters related to the God of Blacksmiths will unfold.
Even just the title “God of Blacksmiths” far transcends that of ordinary users.
No need to rush.
Even this much would greatly help Hyunsoo.
When he finished checking everything and stepped outside, a blacksmith blocked his path.
He was the Tower Master Colson, whose clothes bore °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° the emblem of a bow.
****
Colson, Tower Master of the Blacksmith’s Tower of the Bow, was a greedy man, and he knew well how to handle outsiders.
They cannot see the future for the rewards right before their eyes.
And that’s not all.
They wish to build virtue with, or get beneath, those in positions like his in this land.
Knowing this, Colson, the number two who stepped forward, spoke.
“Congratulations, Successor of the God of Blacksmiths.”
“Thank you.”
The outsider named Hyunsoo gave a small smile. Colson wanted to take this outsider with him.
To that end, he cast bait.
“Would you come with me to the Blacksmith’s Tower of the Bow? I will aid your growth to the utmost; moreover, I am thinking of recommending you as Vice Tower Master of the Blacksmith’s Tower of the Bow.”
[Colson offers you the position of Vice Tower Master of the Blacksmith’s Tower of the Bow.]
[The Vice Tower Master of the Blacksmith’s Tower of the Bow holds at least a baronial rank.]
[The Vice Tower Master of the Blacksmith’s Tower of the Bow receives an annual tribute of 50,000 Gold.]
[The Vice Tower Master of the Blacksmith’s Tower of the Bow may command 500 blacksmiths and operate a forge.]
“…?”
Hyunsoo wore a startled expression.
A baronial-equivalent rank was one thing, but most tangible to the eye was the money.
50,000 Gold annually?
Ares runs three times faster than reality.
Thus, in real terms, that amounts to 150,000 Gold.
Meaning, in one year, just by becoming Vice Tower Master, Hyunsoo could earn 1.5 billion won.
Watching that, Deng’s expression filled with pity. He understood Colson’s thought.
He plans to keep him under his wing and exploit him thoroughly.
A Vice Tower Master’s position is beneath a Tower Master’s. He would have to live in subordination.
Deng knew Colson better than anyone.
He would exploit the one bearing the office of the God of Blacksmiths thoroughly, then aim for his seat.
But Deng fervently wished the myth to be fulfilled. The myth says this:
The God of Blacksmiths is the one who will lead all Tower Masters—and further, all blacksmiths.
It is not a place to remain as some paltry Vice Tower Master.
In other words, the moment Hyunsoo becomes Vice Tower Master, he will make a name only as a blacksmith of the bow within that sphere.
A stagnation in growth will come.
However, this was solely his choice.
To stop him might be Deng’s own greed.
Just then Hyunsoo replied.
“I’m fine.”
“…?”
Colson’s face showed bewilderment.
Why?
“Think again, won’t you? The position of Vice Tower Master is one any outsider would be dying to obtain. Even though Blacksmith Smith now surpasses the Tower Masters, in his day he yearned for the Vice Tower Master’s seat.”
“No. I have no intention of going under anyone. I’d ask that you refrain from such offers.”
Deng’s eyes wavered as he looked at him. Colson didn’t know, but he read the outsider Hyunsoo’s expression.
That expression said exactly this:
How could a tiger cub crawl under a cat?
Having understood him, Deng could not help but burst into roaring laughter.
“Ha, hahaha—hahahahaha!”