Genius Blacksmith's Game

[You have chosen the Golden Material Box.]

[You acquire the Golden Material Box.]

Hyunsoo smiled confidently after choosing his reward.

“Whatever. I can just make one myself.”

Ares had quite a few rewards shaped like treasure chests.

What those treasure chests usually had in common was that you never knew what would come out of them.

But this one was different.

[The Golden Material Box will give you the material you desire, from Legendary to Transcendent.]

A material for an artifact in the form he wanted.

Hyunsoo could choose what form it would take, and what kind of material it would be.

This is insane...

For the first time in a while, Hyunsoo’s chest boiled with motivation.

Plunderer’s Gauntlet.

In Hyunsoo’s opinion, that gauntlet was worth more than two billion won.

Its effect was far too rare, and it had never once appeared before.

Also, the phrase Pureum had written—the only one in the world—was a hint that this artifact would never appear again in the future.

And yet, there were many reasons Hyunsoo had chosen the Golden Material Box instead of Plunderer’s Gauntlet.

Far too many.

First, Hyunsoo checked the gauntlet he would now never possess one more time.

(Plunderer’s Gauntlet.)

Grade: Legendary.

Durability: 2500/2500

Defense: 140

Restriction: Level 500 or higher.

Special Abilities:

· Critical hit chance increases by 12%.

· Status ailment resistance increases by 20%.

· Equipped weapon mastery +2

· Lightning attribute resistance increases by 15%.

· Passive Skill Plunderer.

Description: A gauntlet once worn by the legendary plunderer Low, who shook the world in the past. It is a one-of-a-kind artifact, with only one existing in the world.

Even after seeing it again, I don’t regret my choice.

First of all, it was true that Plunderer’s Gauntlet was an absurdly overpowered item.

But only if you looked at “Plunderer.”

Hyunsoo examined each part of it one by one.

Defense is 140, Durability is 2,500, and it even increases lightning attribute resistance and status ailment resistance by 15%.

These were functions that were useless to the wearer.

For one thing, the 15% lightning attribute resistance was the most ridiculous part.

Lightning attribute monsters make up 3% of Ares, the lowest percentage.

That was a real statistic.

In other words, there was little need for resistance against lightning attribute monsters in the first place.

Second.

Increased status ailment resistance.

Thanks to the title Master Blacksmith’s Pride, Hyunsoo was a user who could resist many enemies’ status ailment attacks.

For Hyunsoo, who already had that advantage, this 15% status ailment resistance simply was not necessary.

Lastly, 140 defense. What would an enemy do if they realized their skill cooldown was being stolen by the gauntlet during battle?

If it were Hyunsoo, he would attack the gauntlet first.

Here, the fact that it had only 2,500 Durability and a mere 140 defense became a fatal weakness.

Low Durability doesn’t just mean the number is low.

Artifacts sometimes broke to the point that repairing them became difficult.

The lower the Durability, the higher the chance of reaching that state.

That was why high Durability—

Or infinite Durability—was loved.

Also, if it only had 2,500 Durability, the more enemies he cut down, the more its Durability would naturally fall.

And because its defense was only 140, it could not reduce the shock transmitted to the hand gripping the weapon, resulting in heavy damage.

That was why.

I just have to exclude what’s unnecessary, add what’s needed, and make it my own.

He had failed to obtain Plunderer’s Gauntlet, but it did not matter.

Because he had gained something more important: inspiration.

Also,

When the four rewards had appeared as holograms, Hyunsoo had examined the gauntlet by eye.

It was not bad. In fact, it was finely crafted.

However, he had tried hard to find the reason it was “one of a kind” in the gauntlet itself.

Why is this thing one of a kind?

And he quickly found the answer.

Could it be that the mineral used in Plunderer’s Gauntlet is no longer easy to find in Ares?

But there was something that could solve that.

The Golden Material Box.

Because it gave a material with the effect one wanted!

Hyunsoo wanted to inspect the Golden Material Box immediately, but he soon stopped.

Chief Instructor Lime and the instructors were approaching.

Even after seeing what had unfolded before their eyes, they could not believe it.

Also, six months ago, the man named Valhalla had accomplished something just as incredible and then disappeared like a mirage.

Because of that, for Chief Instructor Lime and the instructors here, who had lived ordinary lives, the feeling had been less “respect” or “admiration” like users felt, and more deprivation and loss.

But this young man had stayed.

It was only to check his reward, but there was no way for them to know that.

What was different from Valhalla’s case was that they had also meddled and told this young man not to look toward a place he could never reach.

If he possessed that level of strength, he could have looked at them with contempt and cursed, “What the hell are these idiots saying?”

But he had not.

Lime stared at him for a long time with wide eyes, then recalled his greatswordsmanship.

It was precise, destructive, fast, and strong.

He felt as if he knew how much effort Hyunsoo had put in.

And though Hyunsoo did not know it, Hyunsoo’s “Master Blacksmith’s Pride,” which Valhalla did not have, was also taking effect.

On top of that, the overwhelmingly high stats he had built as a king made them feel respect, admiration, and even the desire to live more diligently.

After staring at him for a long while, Lime spoke first.

“I’m sorry.”

He said it on behalf of himself and the instructors.

Being ignored and criticized by someone before you had even tried was unpleasant.

They knew how to acknowledge someone, and Hyunsoo smiled brightly.

Was there anything more pleasing than being acknowledged by those who had looked down on you?

And unlike with Valhalla, his bright smile melted them.

[Affinity with Chief Instructor Lime increases.]

[Affinity with Instructor Boun increases.]

[Affinity with Instructor Hen increases.]

Speaking on their behalf, Lime asked,

“From now on, may we tell people your story instead of his?”

The Sanctuary of Wooden Dolls.

Now, it would no longer begin with the story of the man from six months ago that they had always spoken of.

“Have you heard the story of that blacksmith with the greatsword?”

“Despite our ignorance and contempt...”

That was how it would begin.

Hyunsoo also knew.

Just as they had done for him, they would hide how many he had destroyed.

“Anytime.”

With those words, Hyunsoo tore his return scroll.

As Hyunsoo began to disappear, Chief Instructor Lime saluted him.

“Loyalty!”

That was the greeting of apology from Lime, who had looked down on him while bearing the position of chief instructor.

Following him, the instructors behind him raised their swords at right angles.

“Loyalty!!!!!”

Their salute was for the man who had given them a new story and shattered their prejudice that it was impossible.

And Chief Instructor Lime’s salute was even more special.

[The Blessing of Acknowledgment descends.]

[You acquire Strength +2 and HP +2.]

[The Sanctuary of Wooden Dolls can normally be visited only once per month, and only with an entry ticket.]

[However, you alone may visit at any time without an entry ticket.]

At the moment Hyunsoo left, he had given him the best gift he could offer.

“Thank you!”

Hyunsoo smiled broadly and gave his thanks, then vanished with the light.

*****

—Breaking news.

Valhalla’s eyes, rarely shaken, stirred as he watched TV.

The Sanctuary of Wooden Dolls he had visited six months ago.

Footage was playing on a game-specialized channel.

—This footage was taken by a user who visited the Sanctuary of Wooden Dolls...

Valhalla moved closer and watched the broadcast.

Even at a glance, the number was enormous.

Valhalla examined the shapes of the broken wooden dolls.

A great blade...?

Yes.

It was unmistakably a great blade.

And dozens of wooden dolls had collapsed all at once, as if they had been cut through in a single stroke.

The number shown on the screen was not exact.

As Valhalla walked to log back into his capsule, the news continued behind him.

—The world message rang out anonymously, but according to the informant, Master Blacksmith Hyun is known to have visited...

Hearing Hyun’s name, Valhalla logged into Ares.

As he looked at the black screen, Valhalla thought,

How many could I destroy right now?

Valhalla from six months ago and Valhalla now.

They were as different as heaven and earth.

So Valhalla reached a conclusion.

Around 200.

That was probably correct.

Because no one diagnosed himself more accurately than Valhalla did.

Also, just as a new record holder could hear the previous record holder’s number at the Sanctuary of Wooden Dolls,

the previous record holder could also check the new record holder’s record.

The moment he fully logged into Ares, a notification struck him.

[You have lost the title of record holder at the Sanctuary of Wooden Dolls.]

[The new record holder destroyed 204.]

...204?

Goosebumps rose over Valhalla’s body.

“Ha, hahahahaha!”

Rarely flustered, he burst into laughter.

He had been seeing Hyunsoo as prey.

But only now did he realize it.

The real prey...

Was himself.

*****

It’s been a while.

When was the last time he had made armor for himself?

Standing in front of the forge, Hyunsoo could barely remember.

Having decided to make a gauntlet, Hyunsoo hoped.

I hope my guess was right...

If

his prediction—that it was one of a kind because the material no longer existed in the world—was wrong.

Or if the treasure material box that gave the material its user wanted, due to “restrictions,” could not give a mineral with the ability to plunder...

Then I let something huge slip right before my eyes.

That something was the one and only Plunderer’s Gauntlet in the world.

Hyunsoo’s heart pounded as he clicked the Golden Material Box.

[The Golden Material Box begins.]

[Please state the material and effect you desire.]

“A mineral imbued with the power to steal the power possessed by an opponent and bring it to me. For example, the same kind of material that formed the Plunderer’s Gauntlet owned by the man called Low, known as the Plunderer.”

[The mineral has been confirmed.]

[A Transcendent-grade Plunder Mineral will be created and granted.]

“...Oh!”

Hyunsoo’s nervous emotions settled.

Because it was not being found, but “created” and granted, he was able to obtain it!

It was the moment his worries melted away like snow.

[You acquire the Transcendent-grade Plunder Mineral.]

It’s even Transcendent!?

There were many things like these treasure boxes, and in general, the higher grades had extremely low probabilities.

But Hyunsoo had obtained Transcendent, so he was delighted and hurriedly checked the mineral.

(Plunder Mineral.)

Grade: Transcendent.

Restriction: Level 500 or higher blacksmith.

Difficulty: Highest

Special Ability

· A mineral that can steal many things possessed by an opponent and convert them into your own.

It was exactly the mineral Hyunsoo had wanted.

The description was short and simple, but excellent.

Just as the previous gauntlet had done, it could literally steal what belonged to an opponent.

Also, the Plunder Mineral was an exquisite blend of black and purple, making it resemble a demon’s mineral.

And there was another reason Hyunsoo had not chosen Plunderer’s Gauntlet.

Why should I only steal skill cooldown?

That was the reason Hyunsoo had not chosen Plunderer’s Gauntlet.

[God’s pencil and paper are created.]

Hyunsoo activated God’s Crafting Method.

Then, using the god’s pencil and paper that appeared, he began drawing the crafting method.

Hyunsoo spent more than half a day repeatedly writing and erasing.

And finally,

[The Demon’s Gauntlet Crafting Method is completed.]

A crafting method for a gauntlet that gave off a subtle black and purple glow was completed.

*****

Special User Management Team.

After hearing that Hyunsoo had chosen the Golden Material Box instead of the gauntlet, Lee Sejin and the Story Team lead came running.

They were the ones who had created that reward together with Team Lead Kim.

He’s going to draw a material from the Golden Material Box and make something better than Plunderer’s Gauntlet...?

Is that even possible?

They had shouted internally, but in the end, they nodded.

It was possible.

Because it was Hyunsoo.

And

[User Hyunsoo acquires the Transcendent-grade Plunder Mineral.]

They also knew he had obtained the first material for making that gauntlet.

“This is bad, isn’t it?”

Plunderer’s Gauntlet.

It was a one-of-a-kind artifact.

So the moment he had not chosen it as his reward, it had effectively disappeared.

But the problem was that the greatest Master Blacksmith, using the greatest material, was now trying to create that vanished item with his own hands.

So, unusually, they hoped.

Shouldn’t Hyunsoo fall off a narrow bridge at least once?

Yeah, it’s about time something like that happened!

How long can he keep winning?

And soon,

[User Hyunsoo completes the Demon’s Gauntlet Crafting Method.]

At the notification that followed, Lee Sejin gave a nod, and employee Lee Jihui clicked the crafting method.

(Demon’s Gauntlet Crafting Method.)

Grade: Transcendent–Mythic.

Defense: 478–866

Crafting Restriction: craftsman level, Level 500 or higher.

Crafting Material: Plunder Mineral.

Substitute Material: No substitute material exists.

Special Abilities:

· Can be applied to humans, monsters, and all other beings.

· Steals the target’s skill cooldown and can reduce your own by up to twice as much.

· Steals the target’s MP and can reduce your own MP consumption by up to twice as much.

· Steals the target’s status ailment resistance and can increase your own status ailment rate by up to twice as much.

· Steals the target’s fire, water, ice, earth, and lightning attributes and can increase your own resistance and attack power by up to twice as much.

Description: A Demon’s Gauntlet Crafting Method resembling a demon, created solely to rob and plunder what belongs to others. It may even aim for Mythic.

“...”

“...”

Everyone there who checked it was flustered.

Far from falling off a narrow bridge...

The perfect second material had just been prepared.

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