Strike 61

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Bark counts not selling the blacksmith shop and waiting as one of the best decisions he’s ever made in his life.

When Hyun-soo came with the money to buy the blacksmith shop, he was overjoyed.

It was kind of like seeing the real side of a son.

Just a hope that the guy would live well.

Hyun-soo whispering to him was proof that he had been living well recently.

[Bark: I’m doing well. The weather is getting hotter, so be careful of the heat.]

Bark looked around and chuckled wryly.

‘It’s definitely getting hotter…’

This place was so hot it could melt everything.

[Hyun-soo: Do you remember the promise we made before? About crafting an artifact for you.]

“Hmm?”

Of course, Bark remembers. At that time, he was also doing his best, attacking the Salamander’s dungeon.

[Hyun-soo: Is there any change in the details of the artifact? I’m planning to craft and send it soon.]

[Bark: I’m fine…]

Bark started to whisper but then shook his head.

He had done a favor for Hyun-soo, and if Hyun-soo couldn’t repay it, it would become a lifelong regret.

‘Maybe…?’

He asked, a flicker of hope arising unexpectedly.

[Bark: No changes in the crafting details. You said you’re a blacksmith class, right? What level are you?]

[Hyun-soo: Still low, level 59^^;;]

Bark wasn’t too disappointed. It was only a tiny bit of hope.

‘I’ll have to keep it well in my inventory.’

A level 59 blacksmith, he roughly knew what kind of artifact Hyun-soo would send.

Usually, that level means a beginner blacksmith.

But Bark would cherish it because it was a token of Hyun-soo’s attempt to repay the favor.

[Hyun-soo: I’ll send it to you soon!]

[Bark: Alright, I’m looking forward to it.]

After ending the whisper conversation, Bark stood up with a small smile.

‘How many times left?’

The job quest to conquer the Salamander’s dungeon.

There weren’t many opportunities left, and failing would mean the quest would be deleted forever.

His chance to rise to the unofficial rank 1 tank would disappear.

“Should I put in a request to the Sword King’s swordmaker?”

Then he shook his head.

‘The other rankers keep putting in requests, but they’re not being accepted.’

An unknown like Bark wouldn’t likely have his request accepted.

Today, Bark was again looking for a good shield at the auction house.

***

After finishing his whisper conversation with Bark, Hyun-soo soon arrived at the portal leading to the Frost Mine.

[You have entered the Frost Mine.]

[You are the first entrant.]

[Experience and drop rates are doubled for one week.]

[You gain 30 fame.]

[The story will begin in a few days.]

“Wow…!”

Exciting. Double experience and drop rates for a week.

‘After all, they wouldn’t let players into the Frost Mine.’

The Frost Mine is considered a pride of the Goyard Kingdom.

On the other hand, he was curious.

‘A story starting in a few days? Does it start as soon as a player enters?’

Of course, this was something Hyun-soo would have to experience.

Then, a young miner passing by looked puzzled.

“You seem like a stranger, how did you get here?”

He appeared to be about nineteen years old.

“I got an entry ticket from the royal family.”

“I see, I’m Banya, a miner.”

“I’m Hyun-soo, a blacksmith.”

“A blacksmith? It’s unexpected to see one in the mines.”

Banya looked intrigued, and Hyun-soo asked curiously.

“Do you know a miner named Lek?”

“He’s my father, why are you looking for him?”

“There’s something I need to ask.”

Banya, the boy, was kind to Hyun-soo.

“I’ll take you to my father, and feel free to ask if you have any questions.”

Hyun-soo walked with Banya, continuously observing the mine. Then, he noticed something odd.

‘Huh…?’

There were many entrances to the mine, about eleven.

Among one of the entrances, there were monsters swarming around, all made entirely of stone.

These monsters were confined within a certain range by a blue barrier.

“It’s fascinating, isn’t it? This place is a kind of dungeon. Monsters emerge throughout the mine. Normally, they should appear everywhere, but a wizard who came here 100 years ago cast a spell.”

This was an intriguing story, and Hyun-soo realized something while looking at the mine.

“Are those minerals attached to the monster’s Century Cold Iron?”

Indeed, each of the stone monsters had Century Cold Iron attached to them.

“That’s right, it’s Century Cold Iron, but getting greedy can lead to big trouble.”

“…Why?”

“You know, what foreigners talk about, the… the…”

“Level? I’m level 59.”

“The ones there are all around level 110, tough to kill as their bodies are made of stone.”

Hyun-soo looked interested as Banya continued.

“It’s a pity; the dungeon has the most minerals left, but our miners aren’t up to the task.”

As time passes, the amount of minerals that can be mined decreases. Minerals aren’t infinite, after all.

Hyun-soo and Banya continued walking.

“By the way, not just anyone can enter this mine. It’s dangerous, you know. That man over there is my father.”

Soon, Banya stopped, pointing to a spot where a man controlling the miners stood.

[Miner Chief Lek Lv.231]

“I should get going now.”

“Thanks for the info.”

Hyun-soo thought the boy was very kind and approached Lek.

Lek, wearing a hard hat, looked like a middle-aged man in charge of the place.

“A blacksmith?”

“Yes.”

“I see, what brings you here?”

“I want to know if there’s a mineral here superior to Century Cold Iron.”

Hearing this, Lek frowned.

‘A mineral superior to Century Cold Iron, huh. Such a thing does exist.’

But Lek didn’t feel a need to tell him.

Lek believed this information should not be disclosed.

If word got out that such minerals existed in the Frost Mine, greedy foreigners might come searching.

Of course, Hyun-soo had a royal entry ticket.

If someone living in Ares had this ticket, Lek would have been more understanding.

‘But not to a foreigner.’

Therefore, Lek needed a polite way to turn him away.

“Are you learning the miner’s trade?”

“No.”

“Average miners mine three minerals a day, 90% iron ore and the rest Century Cold Iron. If you can mine 40 in a week, I’ll tell you if there’s a mineral better than Century Cold Iron.”

Other miners had gathered around.

“Did you hear that? Mine 40 minerals in a week. 40 in a week! I can barely mine 20.”

“Blacksmith sir, better turn back. The mine’s dangerous.”

Lek had set an impossible task for Hyun-soo.

Lek said, “Do you understand? The mine’s much more dangerous than you think. Better to leave.”

“Ha ha ha ha, go back to your forge and make artifacts!”

Hyun-soo understood their concerns.

He had heard countless times from his father about the dangers of mining. Miners used to risk their lives for minerals.

‘So they won’t easily reveal information about the minerals?’

The miners seemed to be acting tough, but they didn’t appear to be bad people.

It seemed like they were trying to turn him away. Then, an interesting idea struck Hyun-soo.

‘I know more about stones than anyone; maybe it’s possible if I actually do it.’

He asked, “If I bring more than 40, will you apologize for laughing at me?”

Regardless of their intentions, Hyun-soo was offended. Several miners had gathered around, mocking him.

Lek was certain.

‘It’s impossible.’

He himself could barely mine more than thirty a week.

“If you do it, I’ll give you my Decade Cold Iron.”

“And if I mine much more?”

Lek laughed at his unknown confidence.

“Then I’ll give you something even better.”

Ding!

[Linked Quest: Mine 40 minerals in a week]

Grade: A

Restriction: Accepted Lek’s challenge

Reward: Varies with the number of minerals mined.

Penalty for failure: No information on minerals surpassing Century Cold Iron.

Description: Prove your worth as a miner by mining more than 40 minerals.

“I’ll see you in a week.”

Lek smirked bitterly. He had hoped that by setting an impossible task, Hyun-soo would leave, yet Hyun-soo was filled with an inexplicable confidence.

Hyun-soo then walked away from the mine to a different location. While walking with Banya, he had discovered an old, abandoned forge.

Stepping into the forge, Hyun-soo smiled to himself.

“You’ve given me a task that’s too easy for me.”

Hyun-soo quickly decided to craft an artifact, a Damascus longsword.

‘It’s easy since I’ve made it before.’

He had crafted one in the Blacksmith Tower, and another while hunting Stone Golems.

Regrettably, despite making two, this was his first time crafting one for permanent use.

He felt confident that the task was not difficult.

Hyun-soo began the crafting process.

‘I already have two successful creations.’

And Hyun-soo had one more thing he was confident about.

When he made the Damascus dagger in the Blacksmith Tower, there was something different now.

‘Back then, I didn’t have the skill of Divine Customization, but now I do.’

This skill allowed him to eliminate unnecessary effects and maximize desired ones.

He also added a new feature to the longsword.

‘Transforming the longsword temporarily into a pickaxe. That way, it can be used as both a Damascus longsword and a pickaxe.’

Four days later, he completed it.

(Hyun’s Seventh Custom-made Sword.)

Grade: Unique

Durability: 12,000/12,000

Attack: 332

Restrictions: No restriction for the creator, Levels 50~200.

Special Abilities:

· Increased cutting power against stone by 170%.

· Reduced durability damage against stone by 70%.

· Active Skill: Damascus Pickaxe.

Description: Hyun’s seventh custom-crafted sword made solely for cutting stone, and can occasionally transform into a pickaxe.

He left the forge with a satisfied expression.

* * *

“Chief, that blacksmith entered the mine on the side?”

While mining, Chief Miner Lek stopped abruptly.

“He didn’t leave?”

He had assumed Hyun-soo had left since he hadn’t been seen for days.

“No, chief, he entered the mine 4 or 5 days after you challenged him to mine 40 minerals.”

Lek smirked again.

“So he’s been mining for three days?”

“Yes.”

“No need to see for myself.”

After finishing his work for the day, Lek stepped outside and spotted Hyun-soo emerging.

‘Foreigners have it easy.’

They use something called an inventory.

‘Or maybe he couldn’t mine even one?’

It’s possible for an inexperienced person to fail completely at mining.

After all his confidence, Lek asked, “How did it go? Did you mine a lot?”

“Yes.”

“…Really?”

Lek looked puzzled. How much could he have mined in just 2-3 days?

If he mined a lot, it would be about seven minerals.

“Show me.”

Hyun-soo reached into thin air. Minerals began to fall out.

Thud, thud-thud-thud, thud-

Soon, minerals poured out.

Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-

Lek counted quickly.

‘Ten… twenty… thirty… forty… ninety!?’

Staring at the small mountain of minerals, Lek asked,

“Are you… hiding your true identity? Were you a legendary miner?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

Hyun-soo laughed.

“I’m a blacksmith.”

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