Four days after Hyun-soo started crafting the first sword, he completed it.
[Effectiveness rate is 71%.]
[It’s an Epic grade.]
[Gain +2 to all stats.]
[Gain 30 points in Dexterity.]
[Gain 40 points in Fame.]
[Beginner Sword Mastery Lv.2 proficiency increases by 34%.]
[Beginner Sword Mastery Lv.2 upgrades to Lv.3.]
“Ah, leveled up in beginner mastery,” Hyun-soo thought with a small smile. Each level up in Beginner Sword Mastery increases sword attack power and cutting power by 3%.
Upon reaching level 9, it transitions to Intermediate Sword Mastery.
The first sword Hyun-soo crafted was focused primarily on resistance to fire attributes.
He then immediately started working on the second sword, aiming to maximize the power of ice attribute skills.
During this, Vice-Captain Bella asked him a question.
“If you were to make a hundred swords, how many rare ones could you craft?”
Hyun-soo, just about to start on the second sword, looked puzzled.
He’d never considered such a thing.
It was something he didn’t need to think about.
“I’ve never crafted just a standard-grade artifact before.”
“What does that mean?”
Bella was taken aback. This meant that every artifact Hyun-soo made had never been just standard grade.
“Really?”
“Why don’t you see for yourself?”
Hyun-soo replied casually and quickly refocused on his sword crafting.
Seeing the sword Hyun-soo made, Bella looked at him in astonishment.
‘What is he?’
Bella quickly rode off.
As Hyun-soo worked on the second sword, he thought deeply.
‘A higher grade would be more satisfying.’
After all, all three swords he was making were for King Barad’s use.
Bella returned soon, but Hyun-soo was still busy crafting.
“Shouldn’t you take a break?”
“I’m fine. Besides, His Majesty is in the Dragon’s Nest, so there’s no time to rest.”
Time passed, and Bella listened intently to Hyun-soo’s work.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Another sword was completed.
‘Another Epic, unfortunately.’
“?”
Was it worse than before?
Bella checked the second custom-made sword.
And blinked in disbelief.
“Two Epics in a row…”
Although it was Epic grade, one effect was beyond normal expectations.
“Deals 146% ice attribute damage to enemies within a 20m radius?”
Incredible.
Standard blacksmiths usually achieved around 65% ice attribute damage.
This was a unique and astonishing power.
Bella set off again to report to the king.
Hyun-soo focused on the last sword.
‘Epic isn’t enough.’
He needed something that would make Barad ecstatically happy, but it wasn’t easy.
The first two swords would bring significant rewards, but they weren’t enough to repay what he owed others.
Making swords for Barad was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
As he worked on the third, he felt an unknown urgency.
Bella returned.
“His Majesty has gone deeper into the lair.”
She didn’t explain why Barad went to the Dragon’s Nest, and Hyun-soo knew better than to ask.
Then, suddenly:
“Trouble!”
“Move quickly!”
“Summon the knights!”
Bella was confused by the sudden commotion.
A knight rushed into the forge.
Bella’s eyes shook. She sensed their anxiety.
“Vice-Captain… His Majesty… is trapped in the Dragon’s Nest.”
“What?”
Another person appeared.
He was the kingdom’s most skilled dungeon explorer, possessing a strange power and preparing for emergencies outside the Dragon’s Nest.
He could see into closed dungeons and unfolded a map, reporting quickly.
“His Majesty is here, where the Efreet is. All exits were sealed the moment he entered.”
Bella listened to him calmly.
“Also, the moment the door to the Efreet opened, I could detect its characteristics.”
The dungeon explorer could also discern the powers of the monsters inside.
He soon reported, “The Efreet can melt any weapon, even those of unique grade.”
“Does this mean His Majesty has lost all his weapons?”
“We can’t be sure if they’re lost yet. But they likely will be.”
Bella was thrown into panic.
The King was a swordsman, not a fist fighter. Without his sword and armor, he couldn’t defeat the Efreet he so desired to conquer. In the worst-case scenario, he might even perish.
“Send the knights… all our forces.”
As Bella gave this order, she knew something critical. The Efreet’s Tomb in the Dragon’s Nest only allowed three people to enter. This was meant for player party hunts, and NPCs didn’t know the exact reason.
Bella closed her eyes, deep in thought.
“Even unique grade weapons could be melted by it…”
The unique swords and fire-resistant gear were all meaningless now. Was the Efreet stronger than His Majesty? Not necessarily, but its fiery nature and ability were beyond normal comprehension.
“Fortunately, there’s a safe space here. His Majesty likely sensed something amiss and took refuge. He can survive a few more days.”
She needed a solution, but nothing came to mind.
“It’s impossible.”
Rescuing the King now seemed an impossible task…
“…but there’s still one sword left.”
At that moment, Bella turned towards a voice. There stood Hyun-soo, in plain clothes, holding a hammer.
Bella walked slowly towards him.
“I’ll try to imbue it with a non-melting effect.”
Of course, as a loyal subject, she didn’t want the King to die.
Bella bowed her head slowly.
“Please save His Majesty.”
Ding!
A new quest appeared for Hyun-soo.
[Emergency Quest: A Sword to Save the King]
Grade: S
Restriction: Accepted upon Bella’s request.
Reward: ???
Failure Penalty: Death of King Barad.
Description: King Barad is trapped in the Efreet’s Tomb. Craft a sword capable of saving him.
“I’ll speed up the crafting process. Everyone except Vice-Captain Bella, please leave.”
Hyun-soo needed to concentrate.
Everyone left the forge, and he began working swiftly.
As time passed, Bella grew increasingly pale.
Hyun-soo, while crafting, asked, “May I know why His Majesty went to the Dragon’s Nest?”
Under normal circumstances, Bella wouldn’t discuss the King’s private matters, but she started to speak.
“The King had a beloved prince… his wife passed away giving birth to him.”
The King cherished the prince above anyone else. At 20, the prince insisted on visiting the Dragon’s Nest and tragically died there, attacked by an Efreet on its outskirts.
Hyun-soo was engrossed in the story.
‘It’s a familiar story…’
His grip on the hammer tightened.
Hyun-soo became completely absorbed in the story, losing himself in a state of deep concentration. He became oblivious to his surroundings; the national emergency faded from his awareness, focusing only on the weapon.
All noise was blocked out; he was in total unity with his task. He lost track of time.
Eventually, he whispered, “It will be a fine sword.”
After finishing the polishing and engraving the sword, all his senses returned.
Then came the notification, confirming his intuition.
“It’s a good sword, but…”
It might not be enough to save the King. Even this sword might melt in intense heat.
Then…
[The Blacksmith’s Soul is Activated.]
[Your immersion in crafting this sword surpassed all others.]
[Your passion, perseverance, and empathy have led you into a state of profound concentration.]
Empathy.
What was it that he empathized with?
Hyun-soo empathized with Barad’s story because it resonated deeply with his own experiences. This deep connection drove Hyun-soo to immerse himself fully in his crafting. The effect of this deep immersion, known as the Blacksmith’s Soul, had a significant impact.
[The grade of Hyun’s sixth custom-made sword is elevated by one level.]
The sword he had already crafted was transformed, evolving to a higher grade. As Hyun-soo held the newly transformed sword, something remarkable happened.
***
Bella gathered her weapons, realizing that only three people could enter the Dragon’s Nest. She understood that relying on just one weapon to save the King was illogical.
She resolved to go alone if necessary. The leader wouldn’t go, not because he didn’t care for the King, but because he needed to protect the kingdom in the King’s absence. Bella’s choice was clear: she’d rather die trying to save the King.
Bella, who grew up under a drunken blacksmith and was saved by King Barad, saw him as someone who changed her life. He might have been stern and cold, but he was her savior. She was scared, her legs trembling with fear, but she knew she had to go.
Before leaving, she thought to take the newly crafted sword, hoping it might help. As she approached the forge to collect the sword, she noticed something odd.
The iron door of the forge was frozen.
When she opened it, a blast of cold air surged out. Inside, she saw Hyun-soo holding an enigmatic sword. With each breath he took, a white mist emitted from his mouth. Everything around him was freezing, forming shapes reminiscent of frozen waves.
Bella remembered a conversation with Barad about such rare swords, realizing their unique presence. Hyun-soo extended the sword to her. Echoing in her mind were Barad’s words, deeply ingrained.
‘This is a sword of Legendary grade.’
Holding the sword, Bella understood what Barad meant. She felt it immediately upon seeing it. Astonished, she looked at Hyun-soo and exclaimed, “What sword in the world could compare to this one!”
Cliche Novel 
Thanks for the chapter!!
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So the sword was not upgraded by skill in craftsmanship, but an external upgrade.
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