Strike 126

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The forge.

Hyun-soo recalled his conversation with Nel.

“Is there a reason you accepted the production request?”

Hyun-soo had already told Nel it was because he was desperate.

Although it might not seem like it, Hyun-soo occasionally checks the numerous recruitment restrictions and production request notes at Hyun’s forge.

Currently, many high-rankers are sending notes to Hyun.

However, among them, Ian is the only one who has been sending production request notes for over a month, nearly reaching 100 days, and leaving messages at Hyun’s forge.

“Even though it’s attracting public ridicule.”

It shows how desperate he is.

It’s also related to the spirit of his father’s blacksmithing.

His father did not sell weapons to just anyone.

“Hyun-soo, our profession can sometimes be a help to those who are desperately in need of something they want very much. And if we fulfill that desperation, it will bring us good fortune.”

And Hyun-soo had seen an example of that desperation.

The note from Ian that came to Hyun’s forge.

“I can only use a crossbow. I have vivid memories of shooting a crossbow with my father when I was a child.”

He wanted to ask.

The year 2040.

In a world where our country’s traditional bow, the crossbow, is neglected.

Instead, archery has been adopted as an Olympic sport worldwide.

And the reason he insisted on the rare crossbow in the game Ares.

“I have always thought of the crossbow as our nation’s pride. During the Joseon Dynasty, there were three weapons representing China, Japan, and Korea.”

He doesn’t just like the crossbow.

He understood.

“China had the spear, Japan had the musket, and Korea had the bow.”

The musket seemed the most powerful.

“The musket’s range was 80m. And our bow, the crossbow and the mini arrow, which the Japanese ridiculed, was 200m.”

“Also, Yi Seong-gye, Yi Sun-shin, Jumong…”

Hyun-soo smiled as he read those words.

“Growing up hearing those stories made me take up the crossbow. And here are my stat and skill windows.”

It’s rare for a high-ranker to share their stat and skill windows.

It was their secret and their trump card.

His bow mastery was just beginner Lv.3.

Literally at a beginner level.

However, his unique skill, crossbow mastery, reached the highest level, Lv.5.

At that moment, he realized one fact.

“The person who can shoot the bow I make the best.”

It was Ian.

Of course, Hyun-soo could make archery bows as well.

But his understanding of the crossbow was higher.

The combination of the person who can shoot best and the person who can make best produces the strongest synergy.

Of course, these are not the only reasons.

“I will value the bow at 30% more.”

He said he would value it more for that reason.

And Hyun-soo had already decided what to make in his mind.

As soon as he sent the message about it, a reply came.

“If that can really be realized and I am satisfied…”

After some time had passed since that reply, he sent a response.

“I will produce a video related to Hyun’s forge just once. I worked as a video editor three years ago and was quite famous. However, I quit when I started playing Ares. Currently, Hyun’s forge ranks 23rd. It has fallen behind significantly after the Dragonlight Sword unboxing.”

Hyun-soo was surprised.

‘Video editor?’

In fact, Hyun-soo doesn’t know much about that field.

But he knows that in the year 2040, finding a skilled video editor is hard even with money.

Even the renowned guilds in Ares have at least one video editor with them.

That’s how important promotion is.

“I will help you get back into the top 20.”

Hyun-soo was amazed.

Ian’s confidence made him look forward to it.

‘Just one video can raise three ranks?’

Suddenly, he remembered the unboxing trailer from AJ Internet Broadcasting Station.

At that time, just one trailer had attracted tens of thousands of viewers.

‘Exactly.’

Hyun-soo knew his thought was correct.

He didn’t know why he quit his job as an editor.

But when he decided to fulfill his desperation, he extended a hand of repayment.

‘Shall we start?’

Hyun-soo took out materials from his inventory.

It was the highest-grade Minor World Tree.

(Minor World Tree)

Grade: Legendary

Restriction: Blacksmiths level 250 and above

Difficulty: Highest

Special Abilities

– Increases archery-related skills up to +4.

– Increases fire attribute attack power up to 431%.

– Increases fire attribute skills up to legendary.

– Increases arrow penetration by 120%.

– Increases accuracy by 130%.

– Increases critical hit chance by 80%.

– Durability increases to infinity.

Description: The most precious material that can be obtained only 1% from the Minor World Tree, and as such, boasts the highest difficulty due to its sensitivity.

This time, the obtained Minor World Tree is enough to make only two bows.

‘The highest difficulty.’

That means it’s a sensitive material.

Hyun-soo started crafting.

***

Ho-beom was excited.

‘Maybe I’ll get a legendary bow?’

Blacksmith Hyun was the most prolific legendary artifact maker in Ares.

‘First, keep it a secret.’

Ho-beom wasn’t foolish enough to go around telling everyone in the neighborhood.

Once the production request was accepted, Ho-beom looked up information about Hyun.

Then, he soon came across a shocking post.

Blacksmith community.

A post by someone who operates anonymously but is presumed to be a user within the top 10 of the blacksmith rankings.

“Hyun’s forge has become quite hot recently, hasn’t it? But let me tell you a fact that you don’t know.”

‘An unknown fact?’

Ho-beom made a puzzled face.

“Currently, there are rumors that the Death Sword, designated as a treasure of the Ares Church, was also the third legendary artifact made by Hyun. No user has seen its detailed information yet, so this hasn’t been confirmed, but I too think it could be possible.”

“Wow…!”

Ho-beom was rather pleased to hear that.

“Three legendary artifacts!?”

But his brow furrowed as he continued reading.

“If you think about it, something is odd. Barad’s Sword, Dragonlight Sword, Death Sword. Do you notice what they have in common?”

“…Only swords?”

Yes, all three were swords.

“Correct. All the legendary artifacts made by Hyun are swords. Of course, swords account for 45% of the weapon share in Ares. The reason I mention this is because a variety of professions are making requests at Hyun’s forge.”

Ho-beom swallowed hard. He was one of them.

“Originally, blacksmiths are better at making one or two types of artifacts out of dozens. In fact, there are related passive skills. Perhaps, I cautiously suggest that Hyun may only stand out in making swords. Of course, there are exceptions.”

“Hyun made a bow called Thousand-pound Bow which surprised us all. But as everyone knows, Thousand-pound Bow, although outstanding, was not legendary.”

Ho-beom was a bit shocked by that statement.

The post wasn’t just blindly criticizing Hyun.

“Still, the blacksmith Hyun is certainly a remarkable person among individual blacksmiths.”

Acknowledge where it’s due.

The comments below.

“True… LOL.”

“Now that I think about it, Hyun only makes swords LOL.”

“Did he get a special perk after making a legendary sword, like a 50% increased chance of making legendary-grade artifacts?”

“Seems plausible, or maybe he’s just a blacksmith focused on sword crafting?”

Ho-beom couldn’t help but wipe his face dry.

“What if that’s really the case?”

For him, a fine crossbow was the only solution to his current predicament.

If he couldn’t get such an item, he would be pushed out of the top 50 ranks soon.

Ian’s worries deepened.

***

Hyun-soo’s skilled hands began working.

Hyun-soo had once restored the bow of the lord of beginner’s zone, Ban.

The process of making a bow with this Minor World Tree was even more difficult than that time.

The material itself was very tricky to handle.

However, Hyun-soo skillfully managed this challenging material.

There’s one secret people don’t know.

“People might think I’m best at making swords.”

Of course, Hyun-soo is good at making swords.

But if someone were to give Hyun-soo the best material for something and asked him to choose what to make, he could answer without hesitation.

“I would make a crossbow.”

It’s not just because Hyun-soo has a natural talent for making crossbows.

The forge where he was with his father, Hyun-tae.

Surprisingly, the number of requests for sword making and crossbow making in that forge was similar.

Why?

“Real swords are eventually hard to take up as a hobby.”

Yet, many people in Korea were still fascinated by the charm of our traditional bow, the crossbow, and enjoyed it as a hobby, just like Ian did in his childhood.

Hence, there were many requests for making both swords and bows.

And among him and his father, there was someone who stood out more in crafting one type of weapon.

Hyun-soo was for bows, and his father was for swords.

Since then, Hyun-soo took charge of crossbow crafting, while his father handled sword crafting.

His father said, “You are the best bow maker I know.”

Hyun-soo chuckled bitterly.

“That’s because there aren’t many blacksmiths in this world.”

But his father shook his head.

“I’m not talking about just the level. You have a natural gift for bows. If you had been in Jumong’s era, out of tens of thousands of blacksmiths, Jumong would have chosen you.”

“Ehem.”

“But you’re not as good with swords as I am.”

“Really…?”

Of course, not being as good didn’t mean he was below master level.

To give an example with football players:

There are 11 football players.

The average talent level for regular people might be 70, but for these players, it’s 100.

And among these national players, those with talents of 108, 110 stand out.

Hyun-soo’s general blacksmith skill belongs to those with talents of 108, 110.

But when it comes to bow making, it might be immeasurable, perhaps 120, 130.

That’s what Hyun-soo’s bow making is like.

The refined buffalo horn and the nearing completion of the bowstring.

“The elasticity of the Minor World Tree surpasses common sense.”

Did Jumong’s bow really exist in the world?

Hyun-soo doesn’t know.

But he imagines a world where Jumong did exist.

In the myths, Jumong is known to have shot arrows at much longer distances than others.

“Meaning, that range would require a bowstring that can withstand being pulled much tighter.”

When the blacksmith’s knowledge and the best materials meet, it’s perfected.

The problem of the bowstring is solved.

And what Hyun-soo truly wants is a bow that could be said to be worthy of Jumong himself.

Now, he proceeds with the tempering work on the bow over a small fire.

To be worthy of being called Jumong’s crossbow, it must have a long range but also high accuracy.

However, these are conceptually opposite traits.

“An arrow shot from afar with high accuracy?”

That’s impossible.

It would be absolutely impossible in reality.

But…

“It could be possible.”

[Showing a crossbow crafting method that defies common sense.]

“Perhaps the most perfect method for making a crossbow.”

Why?

Because while it may be impossible in reality, this system acknowledges and rewards greatness with what one desires.

Finally, after finishing the tempering work and engraving the patterns, there’s something not to forget.

“The Minor World Tree.”

The small fire (火) and large fire (火) he dealt with.

And the described abilities of the Minor World Tree.

Increase in fire attribute attack power and the ability to enhance fire attribute skills to legendary.

“This guy is, the material for the strongest fire attribute weapon…!”

The moment he grips the completed crossbow’s limb.

Whoosh-

Flames surge from the limb, spreading throughout the entire forge.

But these flames were not hot to Hyun-soo at all.

However, the flames that surged were the hottest ever, reminiscent of the flames that once tried to consume him in this world.

Soon, all the flames were absorbed into the bow.

The limb, which had taken on a heated red color, returned to its original white hue.

Whoosh-!

Hyun-soo has a habit.

When he’s deeply focused on crafting, he doesn’t hear any notifications.

As all his senses finally opened, Hyun-soo was hopeful.

He had come to trust his intuition after creating several legends.

That intuition was: “This is going to be legendary.”

This crossbow was certainly worthy of that feeling.

So, Hyun-soo was expectant.

For the fifth legendary notification to reach him.

But soon, as his senses opened, Hyun-soo found himself disappointed.

Among the countless notifications, there was no “Approaching Legend.”

Also, “There’s no notification of a new legend being written.”

Hyun-soo smiled bitterly.

“After all, this is a game.”

Even if he made a fine bow, luck played a big part.

“This time, my luck was…”

Then, an unexpected notification came.

[A Masterpiece is written.]

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