Genius Blacksmith's Game

Smith’s chest burned hot.

[Blacksmith’s Wish activates.]

[A better effect will dwell within the artifact.]

[The title One Who Reached the Summit shines.]

[An imitation of an artifact you have crafted before will be born in excellent form!]

Lowest-Grade Iron Ore.

From the theme thrown at them, he had evolved it into Dwarf’s Iron Ore.

Then several of Smith’s own effects erupted.

It was something that had never happened before.

Was it true?

They said the game Ares read the user’s thoughts.

The system seemed to have read his desire to defeat Hyun by any means possible.

And the title that had activated immediately after, One Who Reached the Summit.

It was a title he had obtained after crafting the Mythic artifact Azure Dragon Sword.

When an artifact was crafted as a higher-grade artifact of the same type, the probability of producing it at that grade fell exponentially.

That was why one could not simply stamp out Legendary artifacts.

The way to make it possible was to create something beyond that Legendary artifact.

However, the title One Who Reached the Summit was special.

Something he had crafted before.

When he created a lower-compatible version of it, the title helped that artifact bring out its greatest power.

How many are there?

Two titles had been applied.

Four skills.

Moreover, the craft had fully drawn from the Mythic artifact Azure Dragon Sword.

Smith looked at the Azure Dragon Sword he had made.

As if an azure dragon were ascending to heaven, the sword had a rippling shape, and an azure dragon was drawn along the center of the blade.

The blade also shone with a faint blue glow, calling an azure dragon to mind, while the grip had been made golden.

Many different elements harmonized and merged together, allowing the Azure Dragon Sword to display its most beautiful form.

He slowly lifted it.

It meant completion.

[Azure Dragon Sword is complete.]

[It is Unique Grade.]

[It is the greatest result made from lowest-grade mineral!]

[You have produced the greatest result with lowest-grade mineral.]

[You acquire the title One Who Knows No Impossibility.]

“Ah, aah.......”

Smith was overcome with emotion.

From beginning to end.

Hyun had broken every record Smith had ever set.

Starting with the trials of the Blacksmith Tower, he had forged a Legendary before Smith, created a Transcendent, and crafted a Mythic artifact.

Even the subscriber count that had once been uniquely Smith’s had eventually been caught up to.

However.

—Current viewer ratings have reached 39%. Congratulations, Smith.

The voice of the American coach rang in his ear.

Roughly one-third of the people watching television across the world.

They would see him win against Hyun.

Also—

This artifact, the Unique-grade Azure Dragon Sword, would remain an artifact remembered for ages.

Smith had already checked it, and his expression was filled with confidence.

The viewers and commentators also sensed that something was unusual.

—Smith’s expression... It looks as though he might cry from emotion.

—It resembles those scenes from past Olympics, when athletes from all over the world burst into tears after securing medals, all their effort and hardship finally rewarded.

—The Judges are approaching Smith.

—Unlike ordinary Judges, the Judges for this Master Blacksmith event are real appraisers by profession.

—The most famous appraiser, William, is approaching first.

Smith held out the Unique-grade Azure Dragon Sword to William, who approached him, with an open, proud expression.

As if to say, [N O V E L I G H T] go on, tell the whole world of its greatness.

*****

William.

A famous American appraiser, he looked like a common hairy, potbellied middle-aged man from the United States.

But William’s career was special.

For four generations, his family had been arms dealers who bought and sold world-famous weapons and armor.

In fact, William was also the main figure of a famous American program called Weapons and Armor Shop.

William possessed a vast knowledge of antiques, weapons, and armor hundreds of years old.

He also operated a JoyTube channel and had ten million subscribers, making him the most famous appraiser in the world.

William also had a connection with Smith.

This is the first time I’ve seen that expression.

It was the first time he had seen Smith look so excited and so certain.

William examined the sword carefully.

Like the blade of a crescent moon blade, it was slightly wider than the face of an ordinary sword, while the blade itself was thin.

The form rippling like an azure dragon was beautiful, and the golden grip was magnificent.

Soon, after checking it, William exclaimed in admiration.

“U-Unique Grade......!”

No matter what, he had not expected Smith to create a Unique from Normal Grade mineral.

The other appraisers quickly checked it as well and did not spare their praise.

It deserved that much.

William spoke in admiration, at least inwardly.

You have surpassed your own limits.

Something did not have to be born as a Myth to be extraordinary.

Creating a Mythic from Legendary mineral, and creating a Unique from Normal materials.

Even William could not rashly say which was more difficult.

And crafted artifacts had an obligation to be revealed to the viewers.

The Azure Dragon Sword was revealed to the world.

(Azure Dragon Sword.)

Grade: Unique.

Durability: 8000/8000

Attack Power: 344

Restriction: Level 1–410.

Special Abilities:

·All Stats increase by 1%.

·Piercing power increases by 22%.

·Critical hit increases by 15%.

·Passive Skill Ascension.

·Active Skill Azure Dragon’s Benevolence.

Description: An Azure Dragon Sword crafted from Lowest-Grade Iron Ore. Blacksmith Smith poured his entire body and soul into crafting it.

The whole world fell into shock at the sight of the Azure Dragon Sword.

—He made a Unique with Normal mineral!?

—Even its appearance is breathtakingly beautiful. It feels less like looking at a sword and more like watching an azure dragon ascend to heaven.

—It has been a long time since I saw an artifact this pleasing to the eye. Moreover, the fact that this artifact was made from Normal Grade materials into a Unique Grade artifact is nothing short of shocking.

The users who actually had blacksmith classes reacted even more strongly.

—Smith is insane. He proved that even with Normal Grade mineral, someone who is high-Level and has real-world senses can surpass the limits of the material.

—I’ve heard of people making Rare items from Normal materials. But Unique from Normal?

The participating blacksmiths were swept up in even greater shock.

“Unique from Normal?”

“Is that what a Master Blacksmith who’s spent decades stubbornly walking one path looks like?”

“That’s the real gold medal!”

The blacksmiths felt as though they were facing an idol.

The media was already moving as well.

—Smith’s Azure Dragon Sword recorded in history.

—Smith creates Unique-grade artifact from Lowest-Grade Iron Ore.

—Proves himself the sovereign of thirty million blacksmiths.

—The true Master Blacksmith Smith becomes the greatest blacksmith.

No one raised an objection.

That was how outstanding Smith’s artifact was.

And William was calmer than anyone.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Even as he greeted Smith as though congratulating him on the gold medal, he knew his duty was not finished yet.

Because Smith’s other rival, Hyunsoo, had finished crafting as well.

This time, too, William approached first.

He felt a certain regret.

William’s class in Ares was also “Legendary Appraiser.”

Surprisingly, this Legendary Appraiser class gave rewards when he encountered an extraordinary artifact.

That reward was the same kind of reward blacksmiths received when they succeeded in crafting something.

A reward that raised all stats.

However, for more than half a year—

Whether it was a Legendary-grade artifact or a Transcendent artifact—

No matter what artifact he saw and appraised, he had been unable to obtain all stats.

The same had been true even of Smith’s “Azure Dragon Sword,” which he had just praised so highly.

When will I be able to encounter an artifact that raises all stats?

If he had seen even this Azure Dragon Sword and still failed to grow, perhaps it was impossible.

He was thinking that as he walked toward Hyunsoo.

Then, the moment Hyunsoo’s artifact began entering his sight, he heard it.

[Appraiser’s Sense reacts.]

What?

Appraiser’s Sense.

It was a skill that had not sounded even once after he advanced to Legendary Appraiser.

The skill’s effect was: “When you encounter an artifact that can grow your class, your sense will alert you.”

William accepted the sword from Hyunsoo.

He examined, one by one, the sword he had received from Hyunsoo.

Blade length: 92 cm.

Sword-handle length: 55 cm.

The sheath is 103 cm.

Also, it was covered in sharkskin and smooth.

SHIIIING—

He placed it into the sheath, then drew it once more.

The sword came out with a crisp sound, and it was familiar.

This sword tip. And......

He examined each part.

The sword’s elasticity, strength, hardness.

The decorations forming the sword and the sharpness reflected in the blade.

TIIIIING—

And the clear tone that rang out, along with the small resonance that rose when he struck it.

“.......”

Suddenly, William remembered that he had seen this sword before.

It was a sword he had encountered when he visited a Korean museum.

“......The king’s sword.”

He checked the sword.

(Jeoneodo.)

Grade: Legendary.

Durability: Infinite.

Attack Power: 334

Restriction: King of a nation.

Special Abilities:

·All Stats increase by 4%.

·Charisma increases by 330%.

·Charisma stat acquisition rate increases by 200%.

·Active Skill Jeoneodo.

·Active Skill King’s Authority.

·Passive Skill In the Name of the King.

Description: A sword symbolizing a being who was once a king of Joseon, crafted by Master Blacksmith Hyun.

[Congratulations.]

[You succeed in appraising an excellent artifact.]

[You acquire 20 to all stats.]

What?

William felt as though one long-cherished wish had finally been fulfilled.

He lifted the sword and showed it to the whole world as he revealed it.

The name written as Jeoneodo turned the world upside down, and the whole world fell into shock.

—How did he make a Legendary from Normal......!?

—What is this?

—The media outlets that were just talking are correcting their articles!

But William could not hear the noise breaking out everywhere.

As Smith hurried over, checked Jeoneodo, and wore an expression of disbelief—

William, whose family had carried on the work of “appraisal” for generations, voiced his question.

“......I would like to ask how this was possible.”

The whole world fell silent.

Smith was the same.

Making something and appraising something were clearly different fields.

Hyunsoo received Jeoneodo back and smiled softly.

“There is something we have been mistaken about.”

“Mistaken?”

“......Excalibur, the Twin Dragon Sword, and all the swords in legends were made from real-world minerals. In real-world minerals, there is no Normal, Rare, or Mythic. That is why.”

“.......”

“I was able to understand the essence of the material more easily, and I could more easily draw out the greatest power that material possessed. Sharkskin has no pores, so its water resistance is superior to that of land animals. I applied that method as it was, wrapping it around the handle and the sheath. Also, I had made Jeoneodo in the past, and I understood it better than anyone.”

“What do you mean, you understood it?”

“When something is crafted close to a Legendary creation, Ares grants it power worthy of that. By following Jeoneodo, a Tale was bestowed, allowing it to rise all the way to Legendary.”

Of course, Hyunsoo’s newly acquired title, One Whose Dexterity Even a God Would Envy, had also had an effect.

While crafting Jeoneodo, that title had sounded exactly forty-six times, and even Blacksmith’s Soul and several other powers had activated.

After hearing the entire explanation, William spoke.

“......My father did not want to pass the family work down to me. He said there would be no more blacksmiths in my generation, and no one would remain who could understand, judge, and craft things this perfectly.”

William gazed at Jeoneodo with an expression filled with emotion.

“But because I loved this, I became an appraiser, and I earned a great deal of money too. Yet by now, I had come to agree with my father. Ah, truly, there is no longer anyone who can make such arms. I will never meet one in my lifetime.”

Hyunsoo silently listened to the words of William, a man who had reached the peak in one field.

“But the moment I saw this Jeoneodo, I understood. Jeoneodo is not extraordinary simply because it is Legendary. Within this Jeoneodo dwell a blacksmith’s understanding, the method of using mineral, and an understanding of every material a blacksmith must use. It also contains the spirit of someone who spent a very long time immersed in one thing.”

William’s eyes reddened as he continued.

“There may be many people in this world who can be called artisans. But I believe there is only one person who can be called this.”

The whole world.

Smith, who had approached at some point.

The hundred or so blacksmiths around them.

And Hyunsoo himself.

They all listened to the words of William, the greatest appraiser of the present age.

William, having fulfilled a long-cherished wish, spoke with a bright smile.

“Congratulations on becoming a true Master Blacksmith.”