Strike 27

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Despite Hyun-soo’s firm refusal, he still felt some regret.

‘If it’s 150 million a year, that’s a huge deal…’

The position of deputy tower master of the Archery Blacksmith Tower was said to be at least of a baron’s rank, but probably higher.

It’s highly probable due to the nature of the blacksmith profession.

‘No, let’s not regret this.’

Hyun-soo quickly composed himself.

He pondered his own worth.

First, the two items he had sold at the auction house.

Hyun-soo had checked whether there were precedents for artifacts crafted by newly transitioned blacksmiths being sold at such prices.

‘There’s never been a sale even at half that price.’

Moreover, while the Tower Masters were said to be outstanding, they also possessed ‘the power of skills.’

As far as he knew, these people were estimated to be of artisan level.

‘Would I really be inferior to them in skills? What would it be like if I reached their level?’

When he reached their level, would Colson still be above him?

Probably not.

‘The God class is the first of its kind.’

He didn’t think he had obtained this God class for no reason.

Then.

“Ha, hahaha, hahahaha!”

Dang suddenly burst into laughter. His laughter made the Tower Masters show signs of discomfort.

But he laughed it off without caring.

He had every right to do so.

The Tower Masters collectively pressured Dang.

‘-It’s not impossible. Why did you propose such a ridiculous thing!’

But the man completed his mission more brilliantly than they had thought and didn’t fall for Colson’s bait.

Colson glared at Dang.

“Oh, sorry.”

Colson, who had been glaring at Dang making a gesture of wiping tears, suddenly turned his head.

His gaze was as if he was about to devour Hyun-soo.

Colson was feeling the same thing Dang had felt.

‘He refuses to work under me…?’

Hyun-soo had certainly made a polite refusal. However, Colson felt as if he had been disregarded.

This also stemmed from an inferiority complex.

The Stone of Talent.

All the Tower Masters once had their talent stones appraised in the tower.

Dang had made a deep cut, and Colson only a scratch. This caused Colson to feel inferior to Dang.

But now, he felt even more inferior to this foreigner in front of him.

He was a narrow-minded person to begin with. Such thoughts came to him as soon as his offer was rejected.

‘I want to ruin this guy.’

Myths don’t matter to him.

If he can’t possess him, wouldn’t it be better to ruin him?

Moreover, even if he has opened the power of the God Blacksmith, he’s just a fledgling.

‘Just stepped foot on this land.’

Moreover, how he split the Stone of Talent is unknown.

Foreigners are those who appear with various unconventional methods different from those living in this land.

‘He might have encountered a different opportunity.’

These Tower Masters can’t be sure they are the best blacksmiths.

On the continent, there are unknown hermit masters living their lives.

Just look at the legendary class blacksmith Smith who rose thanks to the legendary blacksmith.

He was able to rise on that path because of a legendary blacksmith.

‘But he’s still a rookie.’

Colson said, “How dare you, of all people, reject my offer?”

Hyun-soo’s face contorted at those words.

“You, of all people?”

Colson’s lips twisted.

“Do you think you can survive in this narrow world of blacksmiths?”

Dang realized the seriousness of the situation.

‘I knew he was a jerk, but…’

He hadn’t expected him to act like this towards Hyun-soo. He felt the need to intervene.

Then, the foreigner named Hyun-soo said.

“Survive? Isn’t blacksmithing about proving your skill?”

“…!?”

The faces of the Tower Masters present were filled with surprise. It was a bold and arrogant statement.

Even so, to say such a thing right in front of a Tower Master?

Dang also felt it.

‘Was he this kind of person…?’

Thinking about it, even Dang didn’t know much about him. He only knew that he had split the Stone of Talent and completed his mission.

Then Dang looked at his expression.

‘…Calm.’

His eyes were unshaken.

Arrogant people usually have a certain arrogance in their expression.

Definitely not arrogant.

Then what?

‘He’s leading this situation?”

Dang decided to watch the situation with interest.

And Hyun-soo was really taking it calmly. Colson had said it with his own mouth.

Whether he could survive in this narrow world.

In this place where countless Tower Masters exist.

Here, Hyun-soo couldn’t say “I’m sorry,” nor should he shout in excitement.

He had to show them.

And Hyun-soo had the skill to show them.

‘If it doesn’t go the way I want…’

He could be a problem. However, knowing this type of person well, he had to be guided gently.

“Really? Through skill? Are you saying you have such remarkable skills? Huh?”

Colson taunted him.

And Hyun-soo was intrigued.

“How about this then?”

He took the bait.

“A blacksmith’s contest.”

“A blacksmith’s contest?”

“Swordsmen duel with swords. Archers with bows. Wizards with magic. It’s the same for us blacksmiths.”

Colson looked around at the Tower Masters.

“We’ll forge swords right here and test them against each other.”

“What do you mean by testing the swords against each other?”

“When two swords clash, the superior and more durable one will chip and damage the lesser one.”

Hyun-soo nodded thoughtfully.

“The one whose sword is damaged loses.”

Dang frowned as he listened.

“What are you doing? Even if this guy has unlocked the power of the Blacksmith God, his power is still extremely weak.”

“Ah, of course.”

Colson smiled slyly.

“You only need to inflict 5% damage with three strikes to win. Furthermore, the materials used will be identical.”

Colson grinned smugly.

Hyun-soo’s mind raced.

‘He might have numerous enhancement skills, but I’m not there yet.’

Hyun-soo only had one title and one blacksmith skill of the Blacksmith God.

‘At least I’m not limited anymore.’

Whether it’s a level 1 artifact or level 500.

As long as he had the materials, he could make it.

Then a thought occurred to him.

‘Inflict 5% damage?’

Then Hyun-soo suddenly remembered a skill he had just acquired, ‘Divine Customization.’

He thought deeply about it and explored the system, a look of realization dawning on his face.

‘It really works?’

When he first checked the title of God Blacksmith and saw the Divine Customization, he had felt a bit disappointed.

‘Looking at it now, this seems more overpowered…’

The only skill he gained after becoming a descendant of the Blacksmith God.

But the problem is this one skill makes what’s beyond his understanding possible.

‘Especially in a situation like this.’

Inflict 5% damage.

Convinced it was possible, Hyun-soo reeled in Colson who had taken the bait.

“Why should I bother with such a troublesome task?”

Colson stroked his chin.

Indeed, there was no real reason for him to accept this challenge.

‘These people are blinded by rewards.’

Colson was under the illusion that he understood foreigners well.

“If you win, I’ll give you my forging techniques and 5,000 gold. Moreover, the more damage you inflict, the better the techniques will be. But if you lose, you’ll have to work in my forge for a month.”

Ding!

[Quest: The Blacksmith’s Contest is created.]

[Quest: The Blacksmith’s Contest]

Grade: S

Requirement: Accept Colson’s challenge.

Reward: Bow crafting technique, 5,000 gold.

Penalty if failed: Work at the Tower of the Archery Blacksmith Tower for one month.

Description: Achieve 5% damage and win the blacksmith’s contest against Colson!

Hyun-soo’s eyes widened in surprise.

‘5,000 gold?’

It was a substantial amount, equivalent to 5 million won.

And the bow crafting technique was appealing. Crafting techniques are similar to restoration methods but different.

These techniques can be dropped by monsters but can also be obtained from blacksmiths.

And the more outstanding the blacksmith, the more valuable their techniques are.

With these techniques, ordinary blacksmiths gather the indicated materials and hit ‘auto-craft’ to produce something close to the specified artifact.

But a technique from the Tower Master of the Archery Blacksmith Tower?

Of course, this would entirely depend on how much damage Hyun-soo could inflict.

‘If my prediction is correct…’

He might obtain an outrageous crafting technique.

“I’ll do it.”

Hyun-soo accepted the quest. Colson’s mouth twisted wickedly.

‘I’ll find a way to put you under me no matter what.’

One month working under him.

‘I’ll find a way to persuade you in that month.’

And the Blacksmith Tower Masters watching. They pitied Hyun-soo for his reckless choice.

The Shield Blacksmith Tower Master, Rex, said,

“…You were arrogant. If you can’t prove that arrogance, you’ll lose the trust of the Tower Masters here.”

The others chimed in.

“How could you make such a choice…”

“Even now, apologizing might be your only way to survive.”

“Pitiful, truly pitiful. Tsk tsk!”

Saying so, they all looked at Hyun-soo from behind Colson.

But Dang alone still stood by Hyun-soo’s side.

Soon they moved.

To the floor below where the forge was located.

Hyun-soo and Colson stood facing each other in front of the forge.

Dang snapped his fingers.

Click-

At that moment.

Materials used for crafting hundreds of swords within the tower appeared as holograms.

It was similar to a magical forge, yet different.

All those materials were real.

Additionally, the sword Hyun-soo would create in this magical forge would become his property, unlike swords created in regular magical forges. This meant that Hyun-soo not only had the chance to win 5,000 gold but also the opportunity to use materials he couldn’t normally access at his level.

“Let’s begin.”

It started with Dang’s words.

Colson entered the forge and immediately started the furnace.

Dang also entered the forge with Hyun-soo.

Inside, Dang looked at Hyun-soo.

Dang liked Hyun-soo, but he wasn’t on his side just for that reason. He was there simply because he wanted to witness the myth.

And frankly, Dang felt the same as the other Tower Masters.

“You were reckless. Why did you do that? Even though he’s the Tower Master of the Archery Blacksmith Tower, that man is still the highest-ranking blacksmith.”

After saying this, Dang sighed.

“Sorry, the fault isn’t yours but his.”

Dang was an honest man.

Right now, anyone could see that Hyun-soo had done nothing wrong.

If anything, it was arrogance.

Then he asked.

“What sword will you make? Can you craft a sword that will inflict more than 5% damage?”

But Hyun-soo seemed deeply lost in thought.

“Hey?”

“Oh, yes. A sword that can cut other swords.”

Dang chuckled bitterly as Hyun-soo snapped out of his reverie and spoke.

‘He must be speaking nonsense.’

A sword that cuts other swords?

When swords clash, they don’t get cut. Given their elasticity and strength, it’s more accurate to say they break.

‘Does he want to break Colson’s sword?’

Well, that’s a natural thought.

So Dang didn’t take it too seriously.

***

Rumble!

Hyun-soo, who had started the furnace, chuckled.

‘Can this really work?’

However, considering the description of the ‘Divine Customization’ skill, it seemed possible.

For the first time, Hyun-soo activated ‘Divine Customization.’

[Initiating Divine Customization.]

[You can customize for a specific individual or for yourself.]

[Through customization, you can insert the desired effect, and depending on the probability, the desired effect can manifest up to 100%.]

He could insert the desired effect.

The effect Hyun-soo wanted was only one, and whether it was possible remained to be seen.

‘Apply a sword-cutting skill effect.’

[Initiating Customization with the sword-cutting skill effect applied.]

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