Strike 75

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As he began repairing Fenrir’s damaged helmet and torn cloak, Hyun-soo felt a sense of regret.

‘It’s different from the time of Rama’s bell.’

The bell of Ramas was melted down and recreated to reuse its holy power.

That’s why it was possible to use the divine custom-made option.

But this helmet and cloak were different.

They were literally being repaired.

What Hyun-soo regretted were the effects.

‘If I had recreated them, I could have tailored their effects to suit me.’

There were too many useless effects.

First, the increase of Ax Mastery by 2 levels.

The ax is an unpopular artifact among combat job classes.

Also, Hyun-soo didn’t feel the need to use an ax in the future.

Then, the increase in magic defense and resistance to brain attributes.

‘Magic defense is still okay since it increases resistance to magic.’

But at Hyun-soo’s current level, it would be better to have higher general defense.

And especially, resistance to brain attributes was the least appealing.

Hyun-soo didn’t need to fight monsters with brain attributes for now.

But then he thought about the concept of effect application rate.

‘Depending on how I repair or recreate, the effects I want can be maximized.’

Although regretful, Hyun-soo still trusted his skills.

He thought of maximizing the defense while going through the process of repair and restoration.

Then…

[The title ‘God Blacksmith’ shines brightly.]

[You have acquired Divine Custom Repair.]

Hyun-soo’s heart raced.

It had been a while since he acquired Divine Emergency Creation.

Now, Hyun-soo had unlocked three skills of the God Blacksmith: Custom Creation, Emergency Creation, Custom Repair.

And Hyun-soo looked forward to these effects.

(Divine Custom Repair)

Active Skill

Grade: Divine

Level: 1

Effects:

·Repair, restore, or recreate an artifact, removing unnecessary features and adding new effects.

·However, outrageous effects cannot be added.

·You can add desired effects up to 100%.

·If the artifact is repaired more skillfully than before, the effects may improve, possibly up to an additional 20%.

“Ah…”

Hyun-soo exclaimed softly. A power triggered by his blacksmithing work.

And certain conditions must have been met.

Perhaps it was because he had already manually repaired it, or maybe because he reached level 100.

[Beginning Divine Custom Repair.]

Upon activation, the hologram displays information about the artifact.

Then a screen appears allowing modifications.

Remove what’s unnecessary and maximize what’s needed.

Thus, over two days, Hyun-soo perfectly repaired the two artifacts.

[You have repaired with greater skill than the original creator.]

[The effects of Fenrir’s broken helmet have improved by 4%, restoring its original form.]

[Grade: Unique.]

[You have repaired with greater skill than the original creator.]

[The effects of Fenrir’s torn cloak have improved by 8%, restoring its original form.]

[Grade: Unique.]

“Ah…”

Hyun-soo smiled with satisfaction.

Upgraded to Unique grade!

In fact, Hyun-soo had anticipated this.

Given the extent of the artifact’s damage.

Moreover, since it was originally an irreparable artifact, he expected a higher grade if repaired.

Hyun-soo examined the newly transformed artifacts.

(Fenrir’s Helmet)

Grade: Unique

Durability: 6,000/6,000

Defense: 249

Restriction: No restriction for the creator, Level 250 or above combat job

Special Abilities:

·Strength increases by 1%, Stamina by 1%.

·Active Skill: King’s Howling.

·Passive Skill: Ripping Apart.

·When wearing two out of three set artifacts, all effects increase by 7%.

·When wearing all three, all effects increase by 15%.

·Something special might happen.

Description: Fenrir’s helmet, which was greatly damaged and lost its original form. It has been restored by a more skilled blacksmith.

(Fenrir’s Cloak)

Grade: Unique

Durability: 1,000/8,000

Defense: 333

Restriction: No restriction for the creator, Level 250 or above combat job

Special Abilities:

·Sword Mastery Lv.2 increase.

·Bow Mastery Lv.1 increase.

·Attack and defense increase by 10% against wolf-related monsters.

·Active Skill: Wolf’s Step.

·Passive Skill: King of Wolves.

·When wearing two out of three set artifacts, all effects increase by 7%.

·When wearing all three, all effects increase by 15%.

·Something special might happen.

Description: Fenrir’s cloak, which was too torn to retain its original form. It has been restored by a more skilled blacksmith.

Hyun-soo immediately tried them on.

[You have equipped Fenrir’s Helmet and Fenrir’s Cloak.]

[Set effect is applied, increasing all effects by 7%.]

Hyun-soo felt proud. The set effect that used to increase by 3% when wearing two artifacts had now changed to 7%.

Even more, wearing three pieces would previously increase the effect by 10%, but now it had been enhanced to 15%.

Additionally, the defense of the helmet had risen from 148 to 249, and the cloak’s defense from 201 to 333.

‘With this much difference in defense, the amount of incoming damage will be greatly reduced.’

Even the newly changed effects were satisfying, and what pleased him the most was their appearance.

Then, Hyun-soo made a puzzled expression.

‘What’s this?’

The content written in the effects.

‘It might cause something special to happen.’

This was written in both artifacts.

“Is it because I repaired what was supposed to be irreparable?”

There are small hints in Ares.

“Maybe it’s because I did the repair that originally should have been done by the creator.”

Of course, Hyun-soo currently had no idea what that effect was.

He would find out in time.

Hyun-soo immediately set off to meet King Barad. Along the way, he realized that he was quite noticeable.

He bought a mask from a street vendor.

As he walked, users murmured among themselves.

“Is he an unofficial ranker?”

“Wow… those artifacts are really cool.”

“Doesn’t he look like a wolf?”

Hyun-soo arrived at the castle and was guided by Bella into the garden.

In the garden, coincidentally, there were wolves.

[King of Wolves]

[Emanates the majesty of a king to monsters identified as beasts.]

[If their level is higher than yours, they tremble in fear for 4 seconds.]

[If they are similar or up to 30 levels below, they experience the status ailment of fear.]

Creak, squeak…

Watching the wolves back away, Hyun-soo realized his mistake.

He quickly took off his mask and greeted King Barad, who introduced him.

“Let me introduce you, my friend. This is Hyun-soo.”

Hyun-soo felt a sense of pride.

[Your affinity with Balo increases.]

A high-ranking noble standing beside the King smiled enigmatically.

“So it is. Now I see His Majesty’s intention. If someone tries to bend His will, I will lend my strength. I am also looking forward to it.”

Indeed, Balo was excited to see how far this person would rise in the kingdom.

And he acknowledged the King’s wisdom.

‘How fortunate that he can be bound by mere territory.’

Soon after, Balo bowed and left.

Then for a while, friends shared stories of their recent experiences.

They soon got to the main topic.

“There is a small territory called Ballas in the west. It used to be prosperous decades ago but not anymore. The nobility are even suggesting abolishing it altogether. But I am the King.”

In Barad’s eyes, there was a mix of love and hate.

The people were sometimes annoying but also dear to him.

“They will lose their homeland and leave. I want you to go there, find out why it has become this way, and revive the territory.”

As Hyun-soo listened silently, Barad continued.

“Try to prevent it from collapsing. Even achieving a 20% development, I will grant you a great reward. For 10% improvement, I’ll give you 20,000 gold.”

A sparkle appeared in Hyun-soo’s eyes.

‘That’s like giving 20 million won for a 10% improvement?’

But Hyun-soo realized one thing.

It was a territory, after all.

Improving a small territory by 10% is not an easy task.

‘A level 101 user is being asked to develop a territory?’

Then Hyun-soo had a realization.

‘Maybe there’s something there that only I can do.’

Barad then said,

“There’s an old forge there that I’ve set aside for you. You can start there.”

Hyun-soo needed a temporary base, and this was timely.

The ‘Quest: Develop Ballas Territory’ notification appeared, and Hyun-soo accepted.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

After greeting Barad, Hyun-soo immediately set off for Ballas Territory.

Upon arriving in Ballas, Hyun-soo understood why Barad had sent him there.

He saw rows of forges lined up on both sides.

‘A blacksmith’s territory…?’

Yes, Ballas Territory was a blacksmith’s land. Hyun-soo arrived at the temporary forge Barad had mentioned.

“Ha, haha…”

Upon reaching the place mentioned by Barad, Hyun-soo couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

Creak

Thump-

As if greeting Hyun-soo, the sign of the old forge fell in front of him.

The forge was the smallest among those nearby, and it seemed to need a complete overhaul.

Rolling up his sleeves, Hyun-soo entered the forge.

***

Old man Per, who ran a small forge, noticed the new owner of the forge.

He had heard a story when entering the forge: that the new owner’s level was 101.

Just a step up from a novice to an intermediate blacksmith.

In that sense, the forge seemed just right for him.

Moreover, it wasn’t even a purchase but a lease, indicating his financial situation.

But soon, others arrived.

A very beautiful woman dressed in beginner’s clothes said,

“Ho ho ho, a perfect disguise, right?”

“Yes, perfect.”

Shortly after, a middle-aged man dressed in worn-out armor, looking like a tank, also entered.

“It reminds me of my beginner days.”

Per laughed heartily at the sight of him.

‘They don’t seem like bad people, but they are certainly peculiar.’

Listening to them talk, they sounded like great reclusive experts.

But in reality, Per knew their master was a novice blacksmith of level 101.

And then, what about this one?

“Master Hyun-soo!”

A boy with his face covered in black soot, carrying a pickaxe on his back, ran towards them.

“This young man is the miner, Banya.”

The young boy, the woman, the middle-aged man, and the owner of the forge exchanged greetings.

Then, they stepped out of the now fully equipped forge, standing side by side, looking at it.

“It’s finally starting.”

“Yes, it is.”

The young miner Banya was more straightforward.

“This is a rental for now, but later we’ll buy our own forge and expand one by one.”

The middle-aged man laughed heartily.

“That’s certainly possible!”

The woman also laughed.

“I’ll support you all from behind, ho ho!”

And the young blacksmith at the center smiled brightly.

“Let’s aim high!”

Per watched them and chuckled.

It wasn’t that he saw them negatively.

He was just reminded of his youth.

Even if they lacked skill, were weak, or insignificant, they had the spirit to shout about reaching greater heights.

But he didn’t know yet.

He didn’t know that the level 101 blacksmith would be the one to save his life.

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