Strike 4

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Hyun-soo felt a rush of excitement in his heart.

Why is blacksmithing enjoyable?

It’s because even with the same ore, completely different items are crafted.

The struggle in front of the blazing furnace.

And the satisfaction of creating my very own piece after that struggle.

Every time he brought a creation to life, Hyun-soo felt an indescribable sense of achievement and became addicted to it.

It had been three years since that day.

‘Can I really do it?’

He wasn’t entirely sure.

It had been nearly three years since he last held a hammer.

That’s when Len, who was standing behind him, said,

“If your skills don’t match your arrogant talk, I’ll beat you thoroughly.”

“If I succeed, would you grant me a request?”

Len was flabbergasted.

It wasn’t that there had been no strangers who acted like they knew everything, like Hyun-soo.

Every time, when they were actually given a hammer, they would do the strangest things.

But Hyun-soo looked at him sincerely with earnest eyes.

‘I really need this forge.’

He had heard that quests didn’t always have to be activated by NPCs.

“Fine, but be prepared if you fail. What is it that you want?”

“I would like to use this forge.”

“This forge?”

Len laughed incredulously.

“Go ahead.”

Ding!

[Quest: The Bet with Len]

Grade: C

Requirement: Accepted by those who take Len’s challenge.

Reward: Use of the forge.

Penalty if failed: Significant decrease in friendship with Len.

Description: Forge an excellent sword to prove yourself to Len.

Len watched Hyun-soo, who had accepted the challenge, and crossed his arms, looking at him.

‘Foolish boy.’

He seemed to have picked up some general knowledge about blacksmithing from somewhere.

However, the actual skill of blacksmithing was not as glamorous as he knew.

Creating a single weapon as a blacksmith takes a very long time.

It looks simple but involves many complex steps.

Before starting, Hyun-soo looked around.

‘Now I see why he’s a beginner blacksmith.’

[Beginner Blacksmith Len Lv.15]

He was at the level of just starting to walk.

Hyun-soo first used tongs to take the heated ore out and placed it on the anvil.

Then he began to hammer with the one in his right hand.

After hammering for a while, the ore took on a long shape.

He literally bent the heated, elongated ore as he struck it.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

And with each bend, sparks flew.

Hyun-soo repeated this action.

Once, twice, four times, eight times. Continuously.

“What are you doing?”

Len frowned, puzzled.

He asked because he couldn’t understand what Hyun-soo was doing.

At that question, Hyun-soo almost lost his words.

‘Doesn’t he know this…??’

Is a beginner blacksmith in this game just about imitating?

Well, if such blacksmiths actually existed, they wouldn’t be able to earn their keep, but he is a level 15 blacksmith.

“Do you know why you haven’t been able to make a better sword?”

Len looked puzzled.

“It’s because you’re not using the folding technique.”

“Folding technique…?”

“By repeating the hammering process with the folding technique, you can remove more impurities, and the steel becomes tougher.”

Len’s eyes widened as he looked at him.

No, Len still didn’t fully trust him.

But Hyun-soo kept on adding,

“The type of sword you’ve been trying to make seems to be close to a katana. The folding technique is often used when refining steel for such blades.”

With that, Hyun-soo began to move faster.

Now, for quenching, he dipped the metal in cold water to cool it.

Hiss!

Blacksmithing was a cycle of quenching and hammering.

The more you quench, the tougher the steel becomes.

Time had passed by several hours before he knew it.

But Hyun-soo had lost track of time.

‘It’s fun…’

It had been a full three years since he last did hammering and quenching.

At first, it felt awkward and seemed to not go well.

But gradually, he was regaining his past skills.

Bang!

Watching the sparks fly, he couldn’t hide his excitement.

It was fun.

So fun that he was going crazy.

The work he had wanted to do.

However, the indescribable pleasure and joy of being able to do the work again with his right hand, which had been damaged and unusable, was immense.

And Len watched with amazement the focus of Hyun-soo as he worked.

After countless cycles of quenching and hammering, Hyun-soo finally began to give shape to the metal.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Len watched, eyes wide, as Hyun-soo hammered away in front of the hot furnace.

‘This is different…’

Until now, Len had thought it was just part of the process.

But as Hyun-soo began to hammer in earnest, Len’s thoughts began to change.

And Hyun-soo was receiving notifications that were beyond his understanding.

[You are displaying blacksmithing skills beyond the expected level for your current rank.]

[You have gained 1 Dexterity.]

Hyun-soo looked puzzled.

‘Is it always this easy to gain stats?’

Then another notification came to Hyun-soo.

[Your Intimacy with Len is increasing.]

‘Oh…??’

Hyun-soo had learned about the intimacy system from the instructor.

Think of it as a favorability rating. The higher the intimacy, the more favorably NPCs will treat you.

Especially when the intimacy is at its highest, you might get something from the market that costs 10 silver for 8 silver instead.

And Len continued to watch Hyun-soo as he began to shape the weapon.

He was becoming enchanted with Hyun-soo.

****

[An extraordinary event is occurring that does not correspond to the level.]

(Special User Management Team at Blue Inc.)

Employee Lee Ji-hee, who was monitoring the screen, looked shocked.

‘What is this…?’

The Special User Management Team is responsible for monitoring hidden pieces or users who undertake incredible quests or show unusual behavior.

This was the first time Lee Ji-hee had heard such a notification.

“Team Leader!”

Team Leader Kim Tae-seok hurried over.

“An extraordinary event that doesn’t match the level…?”

Kim Tae-seok saw a user named Hyun-soo inside the forge through the monitor.

Kim Tae-seok had seen this kind of notification before with chefs who, despite being level 1, performed amazing knife skills like hotel chefs.

But it wasn’t something to worry about too much.

After all, once a dish is cooked, it’s done.

At the start of the Ares game, such notifications were quite common, but they became rare after the thresholds were raised.

But now, after a long time, the notification had reappeared.

‘What’s happening…?’

The monitor blinked again, spitting out another alert.

[A level 1 user is displaying skills at least on par with a top-tier blacksmith.]

[An extraordinary event is occurring that does not correspond to the level.]

“Top-tier!?”

The ranks of blacksmiths are divided into beginner, intermediate, advanced, top-tier, master, and grandmaster.

And those of top-tier level are at least level 300 or higher.

What’s more fascinating is that among those level 300+ blacksmiths, there are fewer than five users worldwide who possess top-tier blacksmithing skills.

Most of these users also have passive skills.

But this user is demonstrating top-tier skills without any skills.

And in a beginner’s zone, no less.

Kim Tae-seok hurriedly explained the reason for the occurrence to Lee Ji-hee, who was astounded.

“Do blacksmiths even exist in real life these days?”

“There are a few left, as far as I know…”

The situation was so surprising that Kim Tae-seok just stared blankly at the monitor.

Then, Lee Ji-hee became curious.

“If a low-level user has exceptional skills, what happens to the artifacts they create?”

The chance for users to produce high-grade artifacts is split in half.

Half is luck, half is skill.

In reality, blacksmith users utilize blacksmith skills, but when they hit the ‘auto-craft’ button, the crafting begins automatically.

Naturally, there are limitations to the details in automatic crafting.

Kim Tae-seok, sweating on his back, said,

“If it’s well-made, then a good quality weapon that’s suitable for their level will come out.”

It was an obvious answer.

Even without skills, even with a low level.

If it’s well-crafted with excellent skills, naturally, a good product will result.

“What we need to worry about isn’t that.”

Employee Lee Ji-hee swallowed dryly and looked at the monitor.

“We should be concerned about the rewards that a user gets for creating with extraordinary skills.”

****

Before long, Hyun-soo’s work was nearing completion.

He was in the process of engraving a pattern on the sword after going through the oil quenching process.

‘Have I gained five dexterity points already?’

It sure was an easy game for gaining stats.

Finally, the moment he finished engraving the pattern.

Bang!

He received a notification.

Ding!

[You’ve crafted an unbelievable sword in the beginner’s zone.]

[The grade is being determined.]

[It’s a Rare grade.]

[Please name the sword.]

[You receive a reward for crafting a Rare grade artifact for the first time.]

[You gain +1 to all stats.]

[You gain +10 Dexterity.]

[You gain +30 Fame.]

[You earn the title: Unique Artisan of the Beginner’s Zone.]

‘Why are there so many notifications?’

Hyun-soo looked puzzled as he inspected the sword he had finished crafting.

He knew that artifacts and skills are categorized as Common, Rare, Epic, Unique, Legendary, and Divine.

Additionally, the first person to create an artifact of any grade receives rewards like stat boosts, dexterity, and fame.

Of course, creating another artifact of the same grade afterward doesn’t yield these bonuses.

(Unnamed)

Grade: Rare

Durability: 1,000/1,000

Attack Power: 36

Restrictions: Levels 1-30.

Special Abilities:

– Increase Strength by 2, Agility by 1.

– Active skill: Quick Draw.

Description: This is the best sword that a level 1 user could wield, made from the most basic materials.

‘Oh, seems pretty good.’

The description kindly notes that it’s the best sword a level 1 can use.

Hyun-soo pondered briefly what to name the artifact.

Then, not great at naming, Hyun-soo quickly decided.

“The First Blade of Hyun.”

[You have named the sword The First Blade of Hyun.]

It was quite an absurd name.

But if he continued to play Ares, Hyun-soo thought he might create many artifacts like this.

If such works had his name attached, it might become a brand of its own.

Next, he checked the title.

(Unique Artisan of the Beginner’s Zone)

Title Grade: A

Special Abilities:

– All stats +1.

– 2% improvement in artifact crafting.

– 10% increase in dexterity acquisition rate.

– 10% increase in dexterity.

‘An A-grade title?’

Titles are divided into multiple titles and unique titles.

Multiple titles are those any player can earn by achieving certain milestones.

Unique titles are awarded to only one player, the first to achieve a specific feat.

Naturally, unique titles are far better, and title grades range from D to SSS.

‘Is it really that good?’

But there was something more important at hand.

It was the piercing gaze he felt from behind.

Hyun-soo offered his finished product to Len.

Len’s eyes widened in disbelief as he inspected the sword.

“It’s… impossible…”

It was a Rare artifact.

Blacksmith Len knew what this place was.

It was where strangers first set foot.

Even though he was considered insignificant, Blacksmith Len possessed skills.

But the man before him couldn’t possibly have any skills.

Pure skill alone.

“Does this prove it?”

Moreover, just by watching Hyun-soo’s crafting process, Len felt as if he had become a better blacksmith himself.

Hyun-soo waited for his response, and Len gave the best possible reply.

The blacksmith Len knelt down.

[Quest: The Bet with Len completed.]

[You may now use the forge.]

“Please…! Teach me your blacksmithing skills!”

A peer in the same profession wanted to learn from him.

It was a recognition of the gap between their skills and a sign that it wouldn’t be shameful for Len to learn from him.

In other words, it was the highest compliment.

Then, another notification arrived.

[Hidden Quest: Assist Len’s Growth has been initiated.]

‘A hidden quest, huh…??’

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