Episode 10
010. The Young Master Smith
Geumsom took the hammer handed over by Tuban and immediately checked its details.
He had expected the hammer to be well-made, but it surpassed his expectations.
[Forgotten Craftsman’s First Hammer]
– Grade: Legendary (Lv.50 Restriction)
– Creator: Geumsom
– Status: lbound
– Attack Power: 150-200
– Effects:
Crafting Success Rate +20%.
Crafting ‘Great Success’ Chance +10%.
Base Stats of Crafted Items +15%.
Passive Skill ‘Pinnacle of Forging’: Hammering efficiency maximized, reducing crafting time by 20%.
Passive Skill ‘Symbiotic Growth’: The hammer’s potential unlocks as the wielder’s level rises.
– Description: The first masterpiece forged by the forgotten blacksmith Geumsom, pouring everything into it. Though still a young armament that must grow with its master, infinite potential lies dormant within.
Geumsom examined the details.
It was undoubtedly a Legendary-grade hammer.
The ‘Great Success’ effect seemed to have played a major role.
Thanks to that, the hammer was crafted a tier higher than expected.
‘I expected Unique grade at best since I used only top-quality materials… but this is truly insane.’
The basic item grades in ‘Lephion’.
‘Common’ – ‘Rare’ – ‘Unique’ – ‘Legendary’ – ‘Ancient’ – ‘Mythical’.
So, when Geumsom started the hammer, he expected at least Rare.
If things went well, maybe Unique.
After all, all materials used were top-grade.
But this wasn’t just ‘things going well’.
He had created an item a full tier above his expectation—a Legendary-grade item.
Moreover, the effects on the hammer.
Of course, it had a level restriction and was bound, unusable by others, but that wasn’t a problem.
Attack power for early-level items, even for the best supreme weapons, was limited to 0-150.
But Geumsom’s hammer was different.
A minimum of 150.
Furthermore, a maximum reaching 200.
A hammer, not a bladed weapon.
A simple hammer boasted attack power overwhelming any bladed weapon.
Especially the ‘Pinnacle of Forging’ effect that increased crafting efficiency, and the ‘Symbiotic Growth’ effect that could bypass level restrictions—even Geumsom couldn’t help but anticipate how the hammer would grow.
‘It’s good… but is this okay?’
He wondered if it was okay.
A different path from his past life.
Memories of the arduous time spent to create Legendary-grade items in the past surfaced.
He had ground away time, even spent real money.
Not only that, he had swallowed his pride to serve other players for special items.
The level he reached through such hardship.
Yet in this life, he achieved it too easily.
‘Easy… for me?’
Thinking calmly, that didn’t seem right.
The accumulated experience from that grueling hardship created this item.
The past Geumsom and the current Geumsom weren’t different.
They were the same Geumsom.
The past Geumsom was the blacksmith who crafted up to Ancient grade.
That Geumsom.
That very Geumsom now needed the ‘Great Success’ effect on top of everything just to craft a Legendary grade.
If anything, it was a blow to his pride as a blacksmith.
‘Still far to go.’
Unlike the initial thrill of crafting his first ‘Legendary’ item, thinking coldly, the road ahead was long.
Of course, considering Geumsom’s current level, tools used, materials, etc., Legendary grade was a sufficiently satisfying result.
But he must not forget.
Geumsom wasn’t playing ‘Lephion’ just for fun.
He was struggling desperately to prevent the ruin.
He couldn’t be satisfied here.
Moreover, the strange item description of the hammer.
He couldn’t overlook it.
‘Forgotten… huh…’
The system referred to Geumsom as the ‘forgotten’ blacksmith.
That was enough to give Geumsom a微妙 suspicion.
‘Does it know I’m replaying ‘Lephion’? Or is it because I’m using techniques not yet revealed in ‘Lephion’?’
He couldn’t be sure which.
Whether the system knew about his regression, or it was just glossing over it with ‘forgotten’ because his skills were exceptional.
But such thoughts couldn’t last long.
More messages began to appear.
[You have crafted your first Legendary item.]
[The system applauds your transcendent handiwork and tenacity, which surpassed expectations.]
[Hidden condition ‘Perfect Crafting’ has been met.]
[Hidden Skill ‘Divine Dexterity’ acquired.]
By crafting a Legendary-grade item, he seemed to have achieved a hidden condition even he didn’t know about.
A message he never saw in his past life, toiling alongside Tuban.
Checking it, he examined the newly acquired hidden skill.
[Divine Dexterity Lv.1]
[Passive Skill]
– Description: The precision and speed of all manual actions reach a godly level.
[Effects]
Speed of all handiwork-related tasks (crafting, mining, engraving, etc.) increases by 50%.
When crafting, base item stats increase by 20%.
In combat, weapon attack speed increases by 10% and precision strike chance increases by 15%.
‘This is a blacksmithing skill, but… it seems incredibly versatile as a combat skill too?’
Geumsom already had ‘Intuition of Resolution.’
On top of using that, ‘Divine Dexterity’ increased attack speed and precision strike chance.
Not to mention potential synergy with other skills.
It was an excellent skill for Geumsom.
‘Even work speed increases… Then?’
A greedy smile spread across Geumsom’s face.
Along with the skill, his eyes fell upon the top-quality materials neatly organized in the corner of the forge.
Seeing this, Tuban.
Tuban only had one thing to say to him.
“You’ve made such an item… Aren’t you leaving?”
“Huh? Where would I go?”
“Strangers are usually like that. Once they get what they want, they vanish. Strangers, aren’t they? And… honestly, I can’t teach you anything, Geumsom. No, I’d need something to teach first.”
Tuban was deflated after seeing Geumsom’s creation.
A blacksmith who crafted a Legendary-grade item right before his eyes.
This was the same Tuban who had lectured him about strength, muscles, and even given unsolicited advice.
Perhaps because of that, Tuban couldn’t properly meet Geumsom’s gaze.
He somehow felt ashamed.
But Geumsom spoke respectfully to such a Tuban.
“There’s still more to make. And didn’t you say to think of this as my home and use it?”
“Huh? That’s true… but you say there’s still more to make?”
“Where would a blacksmith go when materials are left? I must finish all the work.”
At Geumsom’s frank and simple words.
Only then could Tuban meet Geumsom’s eyes.
Those transparent eyes that thought only of the work.
The eyes of a true blacksmith.
Geumsom’s eyes resembled those of Tuban’s father, no, those of the legendary blacksmith of the kingdom he had once seen.
“Is that so? That’s how a blacksmith should be, right? But… you, are you really a stranger?”
“A stranger… I am.”
“No matter how I look, you don’t seem like one. Other strangers just cause a ruckus asking for more, complaining at the slightest task.”
Geumsom’s face felt strangely hot.
Because that’s how ordinary players usually behaved toward resident NPCs.
Perhaps the resentment NPCs like Tuban held toward strangers was natural.
“Ahem, anyway, I’ll continue working.”
“Do so. I won’t disturb you anymore.”
Tuban silently stepped aside.
It was his own forge, yet he generously yielded his space.
Leaving Tuban behind, Geumsom gripped the crafted hammer.
‘I have the hammer and even acquired a skill… I can work even faster now.’
Geumsom’s eyes were dry.
He now knew Legendary grade was achievable.
Then the goal for all items to be made was set.
He intended to craft every item at Legendary grade.
Of course, some creations might fail to reach Legendary grade.
But that wasn’t a problem.
The mountain of top-grade materials.
With that, if he failed, he could just start over.
Clang-clang—
Clang— Clang-clang!
The crisp, cheerful sound resonating through the forge began again.
With the Legendary hammer in hand, Geumsom’s work speed was incomparable to before.
Thanks to the ‘Divine Dexterity’ skill, his hands moved invisibly fast.
Work that would have taken Tuban months, he completed in mere days.
[Geumsom’s Silver Helm]
– Grade: Legendary (Lv.50 Restriction)
– Creator: Geumsom
– Defense: 300
– Effects:
All Status Ailment Resistance +15%.
Night Vision.
Passive Skill ‘Will of Steel’: When HP falls below 30%, reduces all damage taken by 50% for 10 seconds. (Cooldown: 10 minutes)
[Geumsom’s Dragon Scale Breastplate]
– Grade: Legendary (Lv.50 Restriction)
– Creator: Geumsom
– Defense: 500
– Effects:
Fire Resistance +30%.
When hit, 5% chance to reflect damage.
Passive Skill ‘Dragon’s Heart’: HP Regeneration +10 per second.
.
.
.
In addition, gauntlets, iron greaves, pauldrons…
A dizzying stream of messages clouded Geumsom’s vision.
Because Geumsom had stayed up for several nights to complete his own Legendary-grade heavy armor set.
When he equipped all pieces, a crimson aura shimmered like a heat haze from his body.
[‘Craftsman Geumsom Set’ effect activates.]
– 2-Set Effect: Strength +20, Stamina +20
– 3-Set Effect: Defense +10%
– 4-Set Effect: Attack Power +10%
– 5-Set Effect: Active Skill ‘Inviolability’ becomes usable.Inviolability Lv.1
– Become invincible, nullifying all attacks for 15 seconds. (Cooldown: 1 hour)
The appearing effects.
All pieces at Legendary grade.
And equipment perfectly tailored to himself, crafted by Geumsom himself.
It seemed a set effect had also been granted.
Geumsom’s appearance was completely transformed from before.
From head to toe, a hammer warrior clad in Legendary-grade heavy armor with subtle Damascus patterns.
His mere presence seemed to weigh down the surrounding air.
Tuban watched him with tearful eyes.
“Go on. I’ve learned much from you, Geumsom. Thank you.”
Tuban even bowed his head.
It was respect for Geumsom.
The blacksmithing skill he witnessed from the sidelines was not that of a mere stranger.
A master smith.
He might have been witnessing the birth of a young master smith who had already far surpassed him at this very moment.
To such a Tuban, Geumsom smiled and bid farewell.
Though Tuban gave a somewhat burdensome look, Geumsom’s steps as he left the forge were without hesitation.
His next destination was clear.
‘Now, shall I go solve that old man’s hidden quest?’
The preparations were complete.
The reason he chose Neman Village.
It was time to go solve it.
However, a secretive, sticky gaze followed Geumsom.
A gaze filled with clear, unwelcome hostility.
