Strike 9

Prev I TOC I Next

“This is the finest ore I have among those I possess.”

Len smiled as he looked at Hyun-soo.

Mithril Ore.

This ore, placed on a cloth in a wooden box, shimmered with a faint silver light.

“I feel like this mineral has finally found its true owner.”

Len smiled again.

A blacksmith was like a chef.

Even with the same ingredients, they produce entirely different results.

Len was confident that Hyun-soo was the best person in the beginner zone to handle this Mithril ore.

“Thank you, Len.”

Hyun-soo didn’t refuse. He believed he was worthy of it.

His heart pounded wildly as he reached for the Mithril ore.

‘A new mineral…’

A never-before-encountered mythical ore.

While Mithril doesn’t exist in reality, it’s commonly known in RPG games and various novels.

(Beginner Zone’s Mithril Ore)

Grade: Rare

Restriction: Level 30 and above

Difficulty: Moderately high

Special Abilities

· Up to 7% increase in attack power against undead.

· Up to 11% increase in attack speed.

· Up to 7 increase in strength and agility.

Description: It’s far inferior to regular Mithril but is probably the best ore you can get in the beginner zone.

Hyun-soo looked puzzled as he examined the Mithril ore.

‘Level restriction of 30 and above?’

Does it mean that only those above level 30 can smelt this Mithril?

Hyun-soo gently tapped the ore with a hammer on the anvil.

“It works?”

Despite the restriction, physical impact was still applied.

This meant that actual smelting attempts were possible.

So, what was this restriction about?

‘Ares has a variety of level ranges.’

Essentially, Hyun-soo was the best at crafting swords even at level 1.

However, a rare sword at level 1 is much inferior to a normal sword worn by a level 30 user.

As the level increases, so does everything else.

Monsters, quests, users.

Artifacts must continue to evolve accordingly.

This ‘restriction’ might be necessary.

Most artifacts come with this ‘wear restriction.’

It’s to ensure that only users of a certain level range can wear them.

‘Imagine the imbalance if a level 1 user wielded a sword meant for level 300.’

But Mithril can definitely be hammered. This is a completely different issue from wearing it.

“Ah…!”

Hyun-soo realized something.

Ares is, after all, a game.

He understood the meaning of ‘usable from level 30 and above.’

“Does it mean I can only smelt automatically once I’m above level 30?”

In reality, while there were numerous blacksmiths, 99.9% of them relied on the system for crafting.

In other words, they craft using the ‘Auto-craft’ button.

Hyun-soo had seen videos of blacksmith users.

They would initiate auto-craft and then manually hammer when red or blue dots flashed.

So, this restriction meant ‘conditions to receive help from the game.’

A smile formed on Hyun-soo’s lips.

This restriction might mean something different for Hyun-soo.

While others didn’t know how to smelt or handle it and were restricted to level 30, Hyun-soo could manually handle it even now.

‘I think I can do it.’

There would be trial and error, of course.

Temperament, characteristics, bending degree, impurity level.

There are various anomalies.

But Hyun-soo had a reason. To succeed in ‘Breaking the Wooden Dummy’ and this Mithril might help.

After examining the Mithril, Hyun-soo also finished removing impurities from the Iron Ingot.

Ding!

[You have succeeded in smelting a new mineral not found on this land.]

[You receive accumulated rewards.]

[You gain 1 in all stats.]

[You gain 219 dexterity.]

[You gain 100 fame.]

[The Iron Ingot becomes 10% better.]

[You acquire the Iron Ingot Smelting Method.]

[You acquire the title ‘Mineral Craftsman.’]

The rewards he received were excellent.

The reward of the Iron Ingot Smelting Method was just as it said, detailing the crafting process.

Then, the title ‘Mineral Craftsman.’

(Mineral Craftsman)

Unique Title

Grade: A

Special Abilities:

· 3% increase in dexterity.

· 100% understanding of minerals.

‘Understanding of minerals?’

Hyun-soo touched the Mithril again.

[Beginner Zone’s Mithril]

[Composed of iron, manganese, oxygen, phosphorus, silicon, and sulfur.]

“…!?”

Hyun-soo was thrilled.

Before attempting to smelt this Mithril, the biggest obstacle he felt was its composition.

Now, just by touching a mineral, he could understand its components.

‘I can do it.’

He had planned to smelt the Mithril anyway, but he didn’t think he could obtain pure Mithril.

Going through trial and error, Hyun-soo might not even obtain half of the Mithril.

But the story changed the moment he learned its composition.

He immediately checked the completed Iron Ingot.

(Iron Ingot)

Grade: Rare

Restriction: None for the creator.

Difficulty: Moderate

Special Abilities

· Up to 17% increase in attack power compared to regular iron.

· Up to 35% increase in durability compared to regular iron.

· Up to 40% increase in critical hit chance compared to regular iron.

Description: Iron Ingot was created exclusively by user Hyun-soo.

The title ‘beginner zone’ wasn’t attached.

Hyun-soo’s breath trembled with excitement.

Len, seeing his uncontrollable excitement, smiled softly.

He already knew what Hyun-soo was attempting to do here.

The challenge of breaking the wooden dummy that many outsiders had tried and failed.

“I’ll assist you.”

Len thumped his chest with determination.

All the materials were ready.

“…”

“Yes.”

According to the notification, Len was utterly loyal to Hyun-soo. Now, he seemed like a faithful servant.

His expression conveyed that Hyun-soo’s joy was his own.

“Will you join me in creating an unparalleled sword in the beginner zone?”

Len answered energetically.

“Yes!”

***

Special User Management Team.

Kim Tae-seok’s back was covered in cold sweat.

Lee Ji-hee, the employee, felt the same.

“To think he’d acquire the title of ‘Mineral Craftsman’…”

The ‘Mineral Craftsman’ was a reward they didn’t even know about. It was a title bestowed by the supercomputer and artificial intelligence Ares on its own.

The problem was that this title allowed Hyun-soo to understand the components within the minerals.

“This is a complete game changer…”

A level 1 user using minerals that level 30 users could handle.

“But that’s his skill.”

A fact no one could dispute.

However, Kim Tae-seok and Lee Ji-hee knew something.

“The level restriction isn’t just about not receiving system assistance.”

It’s about the increase in difficulty due to the level.

“And he only knows the components of Mithril.”

“Right.”

“Mithril takes three times longer than regular iron ore.”

Literally.

Longer time.

More tedious work is required.

Of course, this constraint diminishes as the blacksmith’s level rises.

A level 30 blacksmith might spend a week using a piece of Mithril.

But a level 100 blacksmith might need only two days.

And a level 200 blacksmith can do it in a day.

This is how they manage with skills and various adjustments.

To Kim Tae-seok, using Mithril at level 1 seemed nearly impossible.

‘In conventional wisdom…’

Kim Tae-seok and Lee Ji-hee anxiously watched the monitor.

****

Hyun-soo knew better than anyone.

That the completion of this sword would decide whether he could break the wooden dummy, and it would be a turning point in his life.

He begins.

The furnace heats up intensely.

He inserts the Mithril ore into the blazing furnace.

Time passes, and molten iron flows down a long path.

He cools the molten iron.

Then comes the refining process to remove impurities.

Removing the rough impurities from the Mithril with a sharp tool took a considerable amount of time.

‘What’s going on…? Why is this taking so long?’

Hyun-soo realized.

Even if its components were similar to iron, this ore itself might take longer.

Or…

‘Because of the level restriction?’

Maybe.

Then he put it in the refinery.

At that moment.

[You need to reduce the carbon content.]

[Failure to adjust the carbon content will render the Mithril unusable.]

“…What?”

Hyun-soo’s face contorted.

Controlling the carbon content is crucial.

The strength of iron changes completely depending on the carbon content.

“What in the world…!”

Len sensed something was wrong.

They needed a way to reduce the carbon content immediately.

Then.

“Len, bring me some iron ore.”

“What? What for…”

“Hurry.”

Len didn’t understand why Hyun-soo wanted unrefined, raw iron ore.

However, when Hyun-soo added iron ore, the carbon content began to decrease.

[The carbon content is decreasing.]

[The carbon content is decreasing.]

He was controlling the carbon content of the iron ore with iron ore. It was a secret technique he learned from his father.

Soon, a silver, impurity-free Mithril was created, along with the placed Iron Ingot.

Hyun-soo intended to mix the properties of these two.

‘I can certainly work with Mithril as it’s similar to regular iron ore.’

He went through the process of mixing the two ingots.

Hyun-soo kept eating bread and drinking water whenever he felt hungry.

While doing so, he continued to hammer the heated metal on the anvil.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Truthfully, he lost track of how much time had passed.

Len seemed utterly exhausted.

‘Dad’

The truth was, he also felt fear about whether he could really make it.

There have been many geniuses in the world – in swordsmanship, archery, judo, football. They received rewards for their efforts.

People cheered for the Olympic gold medalists.

But the world’s few remaining master craftsmen like his father and himself…

‘-We’ll file a complaint!’

‘-What is this? A forge in this day and age!’

‘-A blacksmith? Are there still such things?’

‘-Do you know how inconvenient it is because of the forge smoke!?’

They hadn’t received such rewards.

That’s the reality of blacksmiths today.

‘-You are a blacksmith genius, Hyun-soo.’

His father had told him.

But what had he gained?

Not the cheers under the spotlight.

Not the love of the nation welcoming him off the plane.

Not the world cheering and hanging flower necklaces around his neck.

‘-Don’t worry, Hyun-soo.’

But his father had told him.

‘-Your efforts, your will, your days, weeks, they are proven through your work.’

The reason for Hyun-soo’s fear.

It wasn’t a doubt in his talent.

From his first to his last item.

It was because his father, who made them with him, was no longer there.

‘-Hyun-soo, now you are the only master.’

But he gathered courage.

His father, who could hardly hold the hammer after such a long time, had said.

Now the only master in the world.

The only genius.

The only legendary sword restorer.

The only mineral craftsman.

The only manual craftsman.

The only.

The truly unique.

Only you.

‘Can make the best sword.’

Suddenly, he felt dizzy.

He staggered but did not retreat.

Fighting with the Mithril that required much more labor than regular iron.

He did not retreat, battling with the Iron Ingot.

He regained his focus.

A genius ignored by the world.

His work, unacknowledged by anyone.

But in this world.

Bang! Bang!

Needed and desired by everyone.

Bang! Bang!

The greatest weapon maker.

Drenched in sweat, with muscles swollen and colorful.

And the gradually completing sword.

Shhhk!

The continuous process of quenching and tempering.

Quenching to increase the hardness, tempering to shape.

Just grueling labor, nothing but hard work.

Bang! Bang!

But a statement he could confidently make.

Whether a genius in swordsmanship, archery, or anything else.

‘I too have worked just as hard!’

The blade of the sword sharpened under his hands.

Going through the polishing process.

As the deep night gradually gave way.

There was a day when he and his father, after more than a week of work, laughed looking at their completed work.

It was like that day.

Their work, earned after hard labor.

His father, looking at the sun setting into the darkness, had said.

‘-Hyun-soo, this work is like a beacon of light.’

Light found in the darkness.

‘-Light means brightness and radiance, but it also carries other meanings. It signifies a bright future and hope.’

A beautiful morning following a night’s work.

The light of dawn seeps into the forge where Hyun-soo stands.

Ding!

[A legendary sword, unprecedented in the beginner zone, has been born.]

Finally completed. The result of an astounding effort and the work of a genius blacksmith unpraised by anyone.

Hyun-soo remembered laughing with his father in the forge, looking at each other.

Now he could say it.

That he might continue to advance as a master even without him.

[Please name the sword.]

Among the notifications, Hyun-soo named the sword.

“Light.”

The name of this sword is Light (光明).

Hyun-soo’s bright future.

Prev I TOC I Next