Episode 118
118: The Audacious Child
“Upgrade? What are you planning to do…?”
Ma Jin-cheol made a blank expression at golden hand’s explanation-less answer. However, Geumson only left a brief word of request for Ma Jin-cheol and Baek Jin-ju.
“Please look after the people.”
“Don’t worry about that. But… are you really sure about this?”
“You can do whatever you want… but rest a bit first! Your complexion is terrible right now!”
Ma Jin-cheol and Baek Jin-ju were worried about Geumson.
A face pale with exhaustion. Moreover, perhaps due to the cold, his lips had taken on a purplish hue. That’s why they were concerned.
But golden hand silently just picked up his hammer.
Compared to the Age of Destruction, this level of cold was almost like a joke.
As long as he could still wield his hammer, that was enough.
‘First… I need to work on the gauntlets.’
golden hand first placed his [Delicate Leather Gauntlets] on the workbench.
To use the skill that emitted freezing energy from his hand, cold resistance in the gauntlets protecting his hands was essential.
‘The armor already has fire resistance, so it’s tricky to modify. The gauntlets are perfect.’
golden hand opened his inventory. He needed attribute materials that could resist cold.
However, he didn’t have special ores like the ‘Cold Iron’ or ‘Permafrost Iron’ he frequently used in the past.
‘If you don’t have teeth, you have to use your gums.’
He opened the [Reputation Shop] without hesitation to find the materials he wanted.
Fortunately, a usable material caught his eye. It might even be better.
[Purchased ‘Everfrost Crystal’. -1,000P]
[Remaining Reputation Points: 7,000]
Then, he took out all the loot from the monsters hunted during the Airtoss Defense.
[Frozen Mane Hair]
[Essence of Frost]
[Bone Wing Feather]
…
…
He poured them out without reserve.
And golden hand’s hammering began.
There was no hesitation to be seen in Geumson as he started his work.
Even though the gaze of everyone gathered at the ice wall was focused on him, golden hand did not lose his concentration. Only the sound of his hammering echoed.
Thud-!
Clang-!
Clang-clang! Thud!
golden hand’s hand movements were fast and precise. [Soul’s Forging] and [Divine Dexterity] activated, reconstructing the gauntlets.
He finely ground the ‘Everfrost Crystal’ into powder, then meticulously fed it into every seam of the leather gauntlet to block the cold.
Then, he interwove the ‘Frozen Mane Hair’ to line the interior, maximizing warmth.
Finally, using [Magic Inscription], he engraved a rune for ‘Frigid Resistance’.
A message then appeared.
[Crafting Successful!]
[New Blueprint Added.]
[Blue Index skill has reached Lv.4.]
[Soul’s Forging skill has reached Lv.8.]
[Achieved a Great Success!]
[‘Delicate Leather Gauntlets’ have evolved into ‘Gauntlets of Frigid Resistance’.]
[Grade has risen to ‘Ancient’.]
[Equip Level Requirement has increased to 150.]
[Gauntlets of Frigid Resistance]
…
…
– Additional Effects:
1. Cold Resistance increased by 50%.
2. Ice Attribute Skill Power increased by 20%.
3. [Frostbite Immunity]: Wearer does not suffer action slowdown or damage from extreme cold.
4. [Soul’s Inheritance]: Inherits the existing item’s effects.]
golden hand examined the completed item’s details. The corner of his mouth lifted.
“Good. It came out perfectly!”
The added cold resistance was expected; not a big surprise.
But the ‘Soul’s Inheritance’ effect—an option that perfectly inherited the abilities of the original ‘Delicate Leather Gauntlets’—pleased him greatly.
Click—
golden hand equipped the finished gauntlets immediately.
A cool yet cozy sensation wrapping around his wrists.
Now he could use [Moon’s Left Hand] to his heart’s content without worrying about his hand freezing.
However, golden hand did not stop here.
This time, he placed his [Iron Boots of Solid Earth] on the workbench.
Cold rises from the ground. Protecting his feet was also important.
Geumson opened the Reputation Shop once more.
He needed materials suitable for the iron boots.
[Purchased ‘Glacier Giant’s Claw Shard’. -1,000P]
[Remaining Reputation Points: 6,000]
The reputation points he had painstakingly gathered were rapidly decreasing. It stung a bit, but it was an unavoidable choice.
‘Do I need to do some reputation quests sometime? Acquiring reputation points is tough…’
The Reputation Shop was convenient, but the problem was how hard it was to accumulate points. But now wasn’t the time to worry about that. It was time to focus solely on the [iron boots of solid ground] before him.
‘Sun’s Right Hand.’
golden hand melted the purchased ‘Glacier Giant’s Claw Shard’ in the furnace, adding even the sun’s heat to liquefy the material.
As bluish molten metal flowed out, Geumson layered it onto the soles and surface of the iron boots.
Then, using the ‘Essence of Frost’, he began to draw a magic circle that would absorb and reflect cold energy.
“Magic Inscription!”
Blue magic shot from golden hand’s fingertips.
The magic, like living serpents, coiled around the iron boots, engraving complex patterns. They were ancient runic characters symbolizing ‘Absolute Zero’.
Thud-!
Clang-!
Kwaaang-!
The hammering continued once more.
This time, his [Luck] stat shone.
With each strike of the hammer on the iron boots, a golden flash sparkled, emitting a dazzling light. It was a spectacle like falling stars.
“Waaah! It’s so pretty!”
“Qu-quiet! You might disturb him!”
“Heeeng, but it’s pretty… I’m gonna ask that lady! Let me go!”
Among the people watching Geumson work, one little girl seemed particularly captivated by the ember-like sparks golden hand was scattering, like falling stars.
The little girl, looking as if enchanted, was the only one among the refugees who seemed to show any liveliness.
But Geumson’s work continued without losing focus despite such distractions. The result:
[Due to the influence of the Luck stat, a miracle occurs!]
[An effect surpassing the material’s limits appears.]
[‘Sturdy Earth Iron Boots’ have evolved into ‘Boots of the Glacier Walker’.]
[Grade has risen to ‘Ancient’.]
[Equip Level Requirement has increased to 150.]
[Magic Inscription skill has reached Lv.7.]
[The system applauds your appearance, crafting supreme items even in extreme situations.]
[Divine Dexterity skill has reached Lv.10 [MAX].]
[Dexterity has reached its limit.]
Messages dizzying to the eye.
But golden hand paid them no mind.
He was only interested in the effects of the newly crafted boots.
[Boots of the Glacier Walker]
…
…
– Additional Effects:
1. Cold Resistance increased by 50%.
2. [Ice Traction]: Movement speed increases by 50% on ice, and you do not slip.
3. [Giant’s Stride]: Merely walking grants an ‘Intimidation’ effect, preventing others from hindering your steps.]
4. [Soul’s Inheritance]: Inherits the existing item’s effects.]
The completed boots were transparent and beautiful, as if carved from ice.
Thanks to the Luck stat, not only was ‘Soul’s Inheritance’ engraved, but also the ‘Giant’s Stride’ effect—a somewhat unusual case.
‘An Intimidation effect?’
An effect unfamiliar even to Geumson.
But simply put, it seemed to mean that miscellaneous monsters could no longer approach golden hand side.
‘Useful. Now… I don’t need to worry about the cold?’
Adding the gauntlets’ 50% and boots’ 50% to the existing 20% cold resistance totaled 120%.
Now Geumson possessed enough resistance to wander in the frigid cold wearing just a short sleeve.
Click—
With the boots also equipped, Geumson lip color finally seemed to return to normal.
His fatigue-ridden face also appeared somewhat recovered.
Seeing this, Ma Jin-cheol laughed.
“Kukuku, this guy… Come to think of it, we’re from similar departments, huh?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“The type where you have to work to relieve fatigue. Stubborn guys who need to do what they want to feel satisfied.”
Geumson didn’t particularly agree.
But somehow, Ma Jin-cheol seemed to feel a sense of kinship with Geumson on his own terms.
As if a craftsman had met a craftsman.
“My goodness… I saw it on broadcast, but you really enhanced it? On the spot?”
Baek Jin-ju was equally amazed.
She had seen golden hand exploits on broadcast, but this was her first time seeing it in person.
Moreover, the item’s effects were clearly on a different level than before.
Naturally, Baek Jin-ju couldn’t help but be bewildered.
The leadership he showed while rescuing people.
And that proficiency.
Furthermore, his ability as his main class, Blacksmith, was unrivaled.
Even watching from the side, she couldn’t define what kind of person Geumson was.
“This is closer to crafting than enhancing… Blacksmiths can do all this.”
“What nonsense about blacksmiths being able to do all that… Ah, no, I’m sorry. The words just slipped out.”
“Ahem, you seem… like you need some rest.”
Baek Jin-ju bowed her head as if admitting her mistake.
Geumson’s preposterous answer had made her emotions flare up without realizing it.
But piercing through such conversation, a child stepped forward and asked.
“Miss! Mister! It’s so pretty! How did you do that? Can you make one for me too? Huh?”
An audacious little girl.
Like the other refugees, her face was smudged with soot and weary, but she hadn’t lost her radiant smile.
Like a single ray of light piercing the despair.
A child who naturally made the tired people smile.
golden hand looked at the little girl and seemed to ponder seriously.
A rare occurrence indeed.
