Genius Blacksmith's Game

Hyunsoo smiled as he looked at the hundreds of lit forges.

It was the moment when some of the doubts Paul, Kas, and Hers had carried—wondering whether this could really be possible in such a short span of time—were resolved.

[Paul: I gave him every rare material I’ve gained while clearing countless boss monsters and hidden dungeons until now.]

Paul had cleared many special dungeons.

Because of that, he took pride in having more rare and incredible materials than anyone else.

Hers answered.

[Hers: Didn’t you give him too much?]

[Paul: Hers. The money you brought was a huge amount too, wasn’t it?]

Hers laughed as if embarrassed.

[Hers: I sold my savings account and stocks.]

[Kas: ......Weren’t those what you’d been saving for two years so you could become a building owner? You sold all of that?]

At that, Hers turned to Kas beside them.

[Hers: Then where did you get that much money, Kas?]

Kas laughed.

“I emptied out every account I had, that’s all.”

The three of them laughed awkwardly.

Nothing in the world was free.

Because they knew that fact better than anyone, they had brought everything they had.

“I hope this works out.......”

“Will doing this really make it possible?”

Their worries were mountainous.

Could pouring in money like this truly make it happen?

But Sejin, who was watching the sight, was amazed.

The moment they handed over everything they had—

-6.7%

It was not a large amount, but the possibility had risen slightly.

And Hyunsoo was astonishing.

The materials Hunter Paul had given him.

Every single one of them was outstanding and rare.

As Hyunsoo examined the materials closely, he also became aware of it.

The man who has hunted the most dungeons and boss monsters in Korea.

In addition, Paul had gathered every material he had so he could later request artifact crafting suited to himself.

When requesting crafting,

there was precedent for providing both a “commission fee” and “crafting materials.”

On top of that, the more-than-sufficient money allowed the blacksmiths of the nation of Hyun to spend as much as they needed.

Paul approached Hyunsoo and held out an “analysis report.”

“Everything from my Dungeon Analysis is written here.”

The core of this second round lay in the fact that, because they had experienced the first round, they could create response artifacts related to it.

After skimming through the analysis report, Hyunsoo spoke to the blacksmiths.

“We will split into teams and craft. I’ll give one team the hunter set crafting method, so focus on making that. Another team will focus on crafting a mage’s weapon, and one team will craft a bow.......”

Truly, crafting orders for many different things were given.

“You three, tell them about the things you experienced inside the dungeon.”

“Yes!”

The three of them ran into the forge.

And Hyunsoo wondered whether they would be able to do it well.

But soon, Paul spoke.

“I want a leather armor set. The labyrinth I cleared contained many traps, so it required fast movement.”

Kas.

“The monsters inside the labyrinth appeared to have high magic resistance. Please craft a staff. I think it would be best if the staff contained a magic amplification ability.”

Lastly, Hers.

“I need a greatbow and arrows as long as spears. The monsters there were golems, and because they had high defense, ordinary arrows couldn’t even shock them.”

“.......”

Only belatedly did Hyunsoo realize it.

I did look at the analysis report, but the difference between someone who has cleared it and someone who hasn’t is huge.......

Hyunsoo began doing the things he had to do.

Hundreds of blacksmiths crafted many different items.

There’s no time.

Because of that, Hyunsoo only took the finest among them, then supplemented them himself and carried out the finishing work.

The forges of the nation of Hyun did not go out even as the night passed, and Hyunsoo, moving without a moment to rest, completed them one after another.

At last, when everything was complete,

Hyunsoo headed to Jamsil Sports Complex with them to compete in the second round.

*****

Lee Hyemin.

She was an Ares-specialized MC.

She was seated with the commentators, and at times, she went outside to host the event at Jamsil Sports Complex.

Not long ago, as an MC, she had been forced to announce a devastating result to the people.

“Our Team Korea has recorded the lowest ranking.”

Because she, too, was Korean, that part had truly been heartbreaking.

Also, because she had been seated with the commentators, she had been able to hear their opinions as well.

“Looking only at the situation, forfeiting would be the right choice.”

“We don’t know what will happen if they fail to satisfy the public in the second round.”

At the words of the two commentators wearing headsets, Hyemin nodded.

“The public doesn’t care about a player’s feelings or despair. A loser is just a loser.”

They were devastating words.

“Of course, we’re hoping too. Hoping they won’t give up.”

But it was not an easy thing.

The result had ended up like this, after all.

And the commentators and Hyemin waited.

They waited to see whether Team Korea would participate or forfeit.

A short while later,

news came up to them.

[Participation confirmed.]

[Player substitution.]

[Hyunsoo.]

Hyemin and the commentators stared for a long time at the newly updated information.

Hyemin was also shocked.

They didn’t run away.......

Hyemin was the most popular MC in Korea.

She was loved for her elegant beauty, clear voice, and ability to grasp a situation and immediately convey it.

Because of that, she knew better than anyone how frightening the public could be.

If it were me, I would have run away.......

Team Korea did not run away.

They would also respond with a player substitution.

“They’re saying they’ll do their best to the very end.”

At the commentator’s words as he took off his headset, Hyemin smiled softly.

“I’m glad they’re doing their best.”

“So am I.”

“Whether they lose or win, to the very end.”

They were commentators, or MCs.

They had to faithfully carry out the duties they had been given.

That was to explain the current situation clearly to the viewers.

And also—

“Let’s commentate with no regrets.”

Hyemin accepted his words.

“And let’s cheer them on.”

Whether Team Korea lost or won, they had protected their last pride, so she wanted to cheer for them.

The commentators put their headsets back on.

-Team Korea, which many expected to forfeit, confirms its participation in the second round!

-Our country’s players are not backing down like this!

Hyemin, who had gone out to make the announcement, also held the microphone.

“Team Korea will proceed with the second Dungeon Breakthrough after carrying out a player substitution.”

WAAAAAAAH—!

Hyemin had seen the criticism through various places, including online communities.

-Team Korea is screwed lol

-Isn’t last place too much?

-Go home, wash your feet, and sleep, you idiots.

-Even I’d do better than that.

But because they had not given up, the public cheered.

However, that lasted only for a moment.

As Hyemin continued her announcement, she looked at the giant screen.

On the screen,

Team Korea’s logged-in players appeared one after another, standing before the labyrinth and preparing for Dungeon Breakthrough.

Hyemin, holding the microphone, said,

“All teams around the world will begin the second Dungeon Breakthrough at the same time.”

Hyemin sighed inwardly.

Of all things.......

Two screens were being shown.

Those screens displayed Korea and America progressing through the first stage during the first round.

The first stage.

After the status ailment skill was applied, roughly sixty Iron Golems appeared immediately.

On the screen, while Team USA’s users cut down the golems with ease and advanced,

CLANG, CLANG-CLANG, CLANG—!

-Damn it, their levels are too high! Our attacks aren’t going through!

-Damn it, the buffs got dispelled too, so hunting isn’t easy!

Team Korea’s users were being broadcast struggling terribly.

“Booooooo!”

Because there were not only Koreans but also many foreigners in Jamsil Sports Complex, the stadium filled with jeers and laughter.

“As you can see, in the first Dungeon Breakthrough, America, a powerful contender for victory, recorded 23 minutes and 32 seconds, while Korea, which recorded the lowest ranking, recorded 46 minutes and 51 seconds.”

Even Hyemin, who was explaining it, could not hide her bitterness.

The gap was too large.

Then the rankings from the first round were listed on the electronic billboard, and among them, Team Korea was at the very bottom.

[145th place. Korea.]

After showing that, Hyemin walked back to her original seat.

It was because the countdown had started on the electronic billboard.

She sat down in her seat and took the microphone.

-5.

-4.

-3.

-2.

-1.

“The match begins.”

And Hyemin focused only on the screen showing Team Korea.

On the screen,

a total of four players entered the labyrinth, led by Hyunsoo.

The moment they entered, the screen darkened.

When the lights turned on, the place where they had struggled terribly was revealed.

The stages are divided into three in total.

The first stage was the Golem Zone.

In the second stage, several semi-boss-class monsters and traps waited.

In the final stage, the dungeon’s true boss monster appeared.

The time Team Korea took on the first stage was 15 minutes and 32 seconds.

Then what about Team USA?

7 minutes and 6 seconds.

It was a clear difference.

Hyemin thought that soon, just like before, the status ailment skill would be applied and all buffs would be dispelled.

Right then,

Captain Hyunsoo spoke.

-Hunter Paul. Switch artifacts.

Hyemin gave a bitter smile at that voice.

Well, yes.......

The fact that Master Blacksmith Hyunsoo had intervened meant he had likely provided them with artifacts suited to them.

However, Hyemin wondered whether those artifacts could really change the tide.

It was then.

Huh?

Hyemin made a puzzled expression.

Hunter Paul.

He had switched artifacts.

It was not just one.

A set artifact made up of five parts!?

The entire world began focusing on that artifact and stirring.

*****

“Hunter Paul. Switch artifacts.”

Hunter Paul.

He quickly switched from his existing artifacts into the newly acquired hunter set.

[You have equipped the hunter set.]

[The set artifact effect is applied, adding 20% to all effects.]

[Buff effects and status ailment resistance additionally rise by 10%.]

This hunter set was made up of five parts, and a total of four of those parts were Unique.

In addition, the hunter armor, which was the most important core piece of defense equipment, was Legendary.

Also, the hunter set Paul wore contained the Legendary material Aios’s Breath, which he had handed to Hyunsoo.

Once he wore all the changed artifacts, his appearance transformed completely.

First, the cloak draped over him had been made by combining Aios’s Breath with tiger hide.

And the helmet looked as if a tiger’s head had been placed over him.

Even his boots and gauntlets were made of leather, creating the image of a “hunter of the snowy mountains.”

-Hunter Paul has changed his armor overall.

-Because it is a set artifact, he looks cooler than when he wore his existing ordinary armor set.

-Hunter Paul looks impressive, perhaps because he’s wearing a tiger helmet. It really does make him resemble an actual hunter.

-However, just because Paul has matched his artifacts does not mean anything will change.

-In this Dungeon Breakthrough, the group has to become outstanding. During the first breakthrough, Paul’s specialty, Hunter’s Benevolence, was neutralized the moment they entered the dungeon.

At that moment—

BAAAANG—!

Just like before, the moment they entered the dungeon, a huge explosion rang out.

It was the status ailment skill that dispelled all buffs.

[The dungeon permits no blessing.]

At that moment, the hunter armor set Paul wore reacted.

[The hunter armor set emits light.]

[You have resisted.]

-......!?

-He, he resisted it!?

-What is this? Even Team USA couldn’t avoid that buff dispel!

From the beginning to the end, Hyunsoo had created the artifacts together with those who had cleared the dungeon.

Their experience clearing it and the skill of a Master Blacksmith.

Everything they had handed over had been used in this strategy.

Soon, the tiger head they had thought was merely a helmet opened its mouth wide.

The tiger with its mouth open absorbed the power that had been dispelling the buffs as it scattered in all directions.

Immediately, Paul used it.

“Hunter’s Breath.”

[By using Hunter’s Breath, you convert the resisted power into your own strength!]

[You may choose one power and strengthen it!]

“Hunter’s Benevolence.”

[Hunter’s Benevolence is strengthened.]

[All attack power against ordinary monsters rises to 25%, skill attack power rises to 23%, and all defense rises to 22%, applying to all party members!]

At this moment, the entire world fell into shock.

-Attack power rises by 25%, you say!?

-On top of that, skill attack power has risen by 23%, and all defense by 22%!

The commentators were encountering another shock as well.

-This absurd buff is being applied to every party member!

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