Strike 20

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Hyun-soo was thrilled at the mention of 200 million won.

The amount spoken by the Golden Hammer Guild Master was simply the money promised for joining the guild.

“Stay calm.”

However, Hyun-soo quickly regained his composure and continued reading.

[If you join our Golden Hammer Guild, we plan to supply you with the materials you desire.]

[In addition, since you’ve already created a Rare Artifact, we will help you create an Epic Artifact, with the help of the best blacksmiths in our guild.]

[It’s true that Rare Artifacts can be relatively easily made with the help of a class. However, making Rare and Epic Artifacts is worlds apart, and we can pass on the know-how to you.]

“Hmm…”

Hyun-soo unconsciously fiddled with ‘Light’ at his waist.

[We look forward to hearing from you.]

After reading all of Rune’s messages, Hyun-soo checked another message box.

[Hello? From the Sky Blacksmith Guild… signing bonus is 50 million won…]

[Hello. Our Hanareum Blacksmith Guild…]

[Hi, do you take personal item crafting requests?]

Most messages were similar in content.

Notably, there were many notes about personal item crafting requests.

But after a moment of contemplation, Hyun-soo shook his head.

‘Not yet. It’s too soon, I haven’t even changed my class yet.’

Hyun-soo still believes his true value hasn’t been fully determined.

He hasn’t even changed his class yet.

It wouldn’t be bad to decide after raising his level a bit after changing classes.

‘I can change classes once I leave the beginner zone, right?’

He politely declined for now, and soon received a notification that his auction item had been sold.

[24 hours have passed, the auction time is over.]

[Hyun’s second bow has been sold to Black Hammer Jack for 2,450 gold.]

“Wow…”

That’s about 2.5 million won!

He had earned about 3.5 million won in a month.

As it was equivalent to the monthly salary of an average person, Hyun-soo smiled contentedly.

“Finally leaving the beginner zone.”

After a month, he finally entered the Prime Kingdom.

[You have left the beginner zone.]

[You have entered the Prime Kingdom.]

[You can change your class now.]

‘I should head to the Blacksmith’s Tower right away.’

Hyun-soo set off for the Blacksmith’s Tower to change his class.

***

“He restored a Rare grade bow and ended up making an Epic grade one?”

Special User Management Team.

Lee Se-jin, the CEO of Blue Inc., rushed over upon receiving a call from Team Leader Kim Tae-seok.

In the monitor, Hyun-soo, the user heading towards the Blacksmith’s Tower, caught his eye.

“Just two conditions left to fulfill, huh?

Ares’s first God-class.

User Hyun-soo is just two steps away from becoming the God Blacksmith.

“President.”

Then, Employee Lee Ji-hee cautiously spoke up.

“Do we know what conditions must be met in the tower?”

The method to become a God-class was top secret.

Only CEO Lee Se-jin or the senior executives of Ares were aware of it.

Team Leader Tae-seok told Ji-hee because she was monitoring user Hyun-soo at the time.

“We don’t know either.”

“…What?”

Se-jin’s words were somewhat shocking.

“We know what the final condition is, but there’s no specific condition set for the Blacksmith’s Tower. If there is, it’s hard to call it a condition, but it’s to move the Tower Master, Dang, of the Blacksmith’s Tower.”

“Dang? You mean…”

Ji-hee knew about Dang.

Tower Master Dang of the Blacksmith’s Tower.

There are Blacksmith’s Towers in each kingdom and empire of Ares, and the one in the Prime Kingdom where Hyun-soo is heading is the most famous.

This is due to this NPC named Dang.

Though he held the same rank as other Tower Masters, he was revered like a king by them due to his exceptional blacksmithing skills.

“Only the Tower Master can guide to the last condition, they alone have received the oracle of the God of Blacksmiths, and only they can guide the worthy.”

“It seems unlucky for user Hyun-soo. He ended up going to the tower managed by Dang.”

Just listening, it was clear.

User Hyun-soo must accomplish something significant enough to move Tower Master Dang.

However, as Ji-hee knew, when the former number one blacksmith Smith visited the Blacksmith’s Tower for his class change, the Tower Master remained unmoved.

How high then must Dang’s pride be?

‘Can he really move such a Tower Master…?’

Ji-hee unconsciously watched Hyun-soo, who had just entered the Blacksmith’s tower.

***

Han, an NPC in the Blacksmith’s Tower, watched as Philip, a foreigner who had just finished crafting a dagger, approached the ‘Stone of Talent’.

Philip soon struck the stone with all his might using the dagger he had made.

Clang!

At that moment, the dagger Philip was holding snapped in two.

Looking at his broken dagger, Philip asked with a puzzled expression, “How good is my talent?”

Han, who not only initiates class changes but also measures foreigners’ talents, chuckled bitterly at Philip’s question.

“Pretty average. Most daggers break. I’ll process your class change.”

“Oh, is that so? Well, that’s somewhat of a relief.”

Though the dagger was broken, it indicated an average level of talent.

In the Blacksmith’s Tower, measuring talent isn’t hard. Foreigners craft a dagger in a special ‘Magic Forge’, with some assistance from the system.

Then, they test their talent by striking the stone with the dagger.

Most foreigners’ daggers break upon striking the Stone of Talent.

However, merely completing the dagger is enough for a pass and class change.

But Han knows the truth.

‘After all, it’s made with the help of mystical powers. It would be foolish not to.’

Those ignorant in blacksmithing create their first item in the Magic Forge, aided by mystical powers.

‘Even leaving just a scratch, instead of breaking it, is quite an achievement.’

Han noticed various scratches on the Stone of Talent. Those who left scratches usually became quite renowned blacksmiths later on.

Han smirked as he looked at the stone, particularly at a deeply indented part.

‘Blacksmith Smith. Could there be no one else with such talent?’

Smith was the only foreigner whose impact felt more like digging into the stone than merely scratching it.

This Stone of Talent exists throughout the Blacksmith’s Tower.

Moreover, its scratches and indentations are shared across all towers.

Smith made such marks in another tower, but they are visible here too.

Then Han marveled at the center of the Stone of Talent.

“Wow…”

Tower Master Dang, a legendary blacksmith.

This was the mark he left when he first came here.

A dagger had penetrated to the center of the stone.

Truly a legend in itself.

‘Carving stone with a dagger?’

Just the thought is awe-inspiring, isn’t it?

To craft a mere blade that could delve so deep into stone…

Thanks to this feat, Master Dang caused a huge stir 30 years ago and eventually became the most esteemed Tower Master in the Blacksmith’s Tower.

Knock-knock.

Just as Han was lost in these thoughts, someone knocked.

“The next foreigner has arrived.”

“Let them in.”

A new foreigner entered.

He was about 6 feet tall with a sturdy build, reminiscent of a blacksmith.

‘But that’s probably just an appearance.’

Han knew that foreigners sought mystical powers and usually became blacksmiths through them.

“Thank you for choosing the path of the blacksmith. What’s your name?”

“Hyun-soo.”

“Alright, let me explain.”

Han repeated his spiel, something he did dozens of times a day.

“Do you see that door over there?”

“Yes, I see it.”

“When you open that door and enter, you’ll find the Magic Forge. Inside, you can craft any dagger you wish. Additionally, you’ll have unlimited access to materials suitable for your level.”

Hyun-soo listened intently as Han continued.

“You might be wondering how to make a dagger.”

“…Hmm.”

Hyun-soo gave a meaningful smile.

Han tilted his head briefly. Most foreigners were ignorant about blacksmithing, so not knowing was the norm.

Not needing to delve into the meaning of that smile, Han continued.

“Inside, you’ll be guided on how to craft a dagger by mystical powers. Also, time inside the Magic Forge flows differently than outside.”

Han glanced towards the Magic Forge.

“You could spend a whole day crafting inside, but only 5 minutes will have passed outside.”

Hyun-soo, the foreigner, smiled slightly.

“So, you’re saying that in this Magic Forge, there are no limits to crafting, materials are provided as needed, and only 5 minutes of real time pass?”

“That’s correct. And after you’ve crafted your dagger, there’s one last step.”

Han pointed to the Stone of Talent.

“Strike the Stone of Talent with your crafted dagger. It’ll probably break, but don’t be alarmed. That’s common. Also, the dagger will disappear after striking the stone, as it’s made with the temporary power of the Magic Forge.”

“What about that deeply indented part in the middle?”

Han, after explaining and boasting about the legacy left by Tower Master Dang, turned to the newcomer with enthusiasm.

“Isn’t he amazing? To achieve such a feat with just a blade. Oh, and by the way.”

Han paused, struck by a thought.

“Master Dang once jokingly said that if someone could even come close to his skill, he’d give them his old hammer. Now, you can go in.”

Han opened the door to the Magic Forge.

Hyun-soo, the newcomer, stepped into the Magic Forge.

Creak, thud…

***

[You have entered the Magic Forge.]

Inside the Magic Forge, Hyun-soo crossed his arms, intrigued by what NPC Han had explained.

Especially one thing he mentioned.

‘So, if I match Tower Master Dang, I could get his hammer?’

Thinking of the Stone of Talent, Hyun-soo smirked.

That was the beauty of this Magic Forge.

‘The ability to create any kind of dagger I want.’

Materials were provided endlessly.

Hyun-soo closed his eyes, pondering the type of dagger to create. Smiling, he opened his eyes, an image of the dagger flashing through his mind, along with a memory of a conversation with his father.

‘-Hyun-soo, would you believe if I said there’s a sword that can cut through stone?’

***

Tower Master Dang, a legendary blacksmith, stood with his arms crossed, looking at the Stone of Talent.

Clang! Bang! Ting!

As usual, the sound of foreigners striking stones with their daggers echoed in each blacksmith tower.

The Stone of Talent in Dang’s room was special.

The stones in other class-changing locations didn’t make any sound.

But in Dang’s room, he could hear them in real-time.

Ting…

‘How many today?’

Dang chuckled to himself.

He wondered how many daggers crafted by these modest foreigners had shattered just today.

Probably hundreds.

The tingling sound was a testament that not even a scratch was made.

‘Such pitiful foreigners…’

Dang decided to ignore it.

30 years had passed, and in that time, no one had made a mark on the Stone of Talent as deep as his.

Dang was about to turn back to his artifact-making when suddenly…

Scraaaape!

“…?”

Dang froze.

That unfamiliar sound.

He slowly turned, in disbelief.

‘This can’t be happening… It’s impossible…’

That sound, that impact.

‘A sound of cutting through stone?’

Slowly turning, Dang saw it. The Stone of Talent, seemingly unchanged, then split cleanly in half and fell to the sides.

Crash!

Seeing this, Dang rushed out of the tower.

‘Who could it be? Who is it?’

Forgetting even to put on his shoes, he dashed out frantically.

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