Chapter 67
H-How is this even possible?
Sart's fingertips trembled violently at the scene before him.
His heart pounded like a war drum.
How long had it been since he'd felt this excited?
It reminded him of the first time he learned smithing and looked upon a weapon he'd forged with his own hands.
CLANG! CLANG!
Smithing wasn't simply about swinging a hammer.
It was a process of endlessly striking metal before raging flames.
And because of that, unending stamina was just as important as skill.
Gulp.
"I-It's already been three hours. How can he maintain that level of intensity for so long? And he's human?"
The blacksmiths had gathered around Suhyeok before anyone noticed.
At first, they had mocked him.
Now, every one of them watched in complete silence.
Sart was no different.
Those aren't simple hammer strikes.
That technique is... different.
Just who taught him smithing like that?
Even before the blazing furnace, Suhyeok's movements never wavered.
Whenever Sart closed his eyes, every strike seemed to spread outward like ripples across water.
...Master craftsman level.
No. Perhaps even beyond that.
And he's a human who hasn't even lived thirty years....
That wasn't all.
Suhyeok suddenly flipped the hammer around.
Sart's shoulders twitched.
It was too precise to be coincidence.
Don't tell me that's-
And then came the finished result.
A dagger engraved with an ‘Engraving.’
It was an incomplete technique Sart had researched alone for decades.
He could say with absolute certainty that no one else had ever even attempted it.
H-How does he know Engraving?
A low-grade Shadow Engraving.
When used in an area with shadows, it drastically increased the user's speed.
The problem was that engraving required an enormous amount of mental strength.
Even Sart, after countless failures and years of trial and error, had only managed to reach the intermediate level.
"That's it, right?"
"That's Lord Sart's Engraving!"
"How does that man even know about it?"
"He succeeded on the first try! We've been practicing for over five years and none of us has ever succeeded...."
The act of carving an Engraving itself only took a few minutes in reality.
But during those few minutes...
Inside an empty space where time seemed to slow, the engraver had to endure the sensation of hammering endlessly.
Sometimes for several months.
Sometimes for years.
Even with a low-grade Engraving, I still show signs of exhaustion.
Yet he doesn't look tired at all.
Suhyeok rose from his seat.
Holding the dagger, he walked over and stood before Sart.
"Interested now?"
"...I suppose I have no choice but to be."
Sart stared at him.
"No one could see smithing like that and remain uninterested."
His eyes narrowed.
"So what do you want from me?"
"Teach me Engraving."
Suhyeok spoke without hesitation.
"Everything you've accumulated until now. Your experience, your technique. I want you to pass all of it on to me."
His confidence stunned not only Sart but also Bong Taesu, Kim Hyuna, and Lee Yumi.
"I guarantee it."
Suhyeok continued.
"Within the one week I have left, I'll complete your Engraving technique."
"..."
Sart fell silent.
Maybe...
If it was this man, perhaps he really could complete it.
Not for Suhyeok's sake.
For Sart's own.
For the final missing piece of the Engraving technique he'd devoted his entire life to.
Sart held out his hand.
"Then let's do this properly."
"My name is Sart."
He grinned.
"A wolf beastkin and the greatest blacksmith in this kingdom."
"What's yours?"
"Lee Suhyeok."
Suhyeok took his hand.
"I'm looking forward to working with you."
Time passed quickly.
Before long, it was the second day.
"...Even seeing it again, I still can't believe it."
Sart stared at Suhyeok.
"To think you mastered intermediate Engraving in just two days...."
Sart's teaching had been excellent.
He didn't merely teach the technique itself.
He also taught every practical method he'd developed from his countless failures.
Is there anything this guy can't do?
His growth speed is ridiculous. He already mastered something that complicated.
Doesn't Engraving work kind of like Rune Magic?
Yeah. I'm surprised he came up with something like this too.
(nodding) As expected, he truly is an extraordinary man.
Sart folded his arms and let out an incredulous sigh.
"Hah. I really didn't expect you to make it this far."
"What kind of ridiculous talent do you have?"
"It's because of you, Sart."
Suhyeok looked at him.
"If I'd done this alone, it would've taken a year."
He paused.
"No. At least two."
"...Ahem."
Sart looked away awkwardly.
"Don't flatter me. It's embarrassing."
"Even with my teaching, anyone without your talent would've needed far longer."
The two exchanged faint smiles.
Then Sart looked around.
"By the way, where are your companions?"
"I haven't seen them since the first day."
"They're working."
Suhyeok answered calmly.
"They should be back soon."
"Working?"
As more café branches opened, Myoga had complained about a shortage of staff.
So Suhyeok had sent the three of them to help.
A commotion came from the entrance in the distance.
Judging by the booming laughter, Taesu was back.
Sart turned back toward Suhyeok.
"So?"
"Are you going to attempt a high-grade Engraving next?"
Suhyeok had already mastered intermediate Engraving.
The only thing left was the high-grade level.
A level even Sart himself hadn't yet attempted.
Suhyeok checked the System.
[Trait ‘Divine Artifact Awakening (S)’ success rate has increased dramatically.]
[0.1% → 11%]
Already eleven percent.
That meant the effort hadn't been wasted.
Of course, there was another reason he'd grown so quickly.
[Several blacksmith-related Constellations spend Coins to bestow ‘Blacksmith's Blessing’ upon you.]
[Blessing - Blacksmith's Blessing]
Greatly increases Smithing experience gain. The effect partially remains for a period even after the blessing ends.
Skill acquisition speed increases fivefold.
While performing Smithing, your stamina and mental strength are continuously replenished.
Even after all that, the rate was only eleven percent.
There wasn't much time left.
If he wanted to raise the odds even further, he needed to reach high-grade Engraving.
Suhyeok placed Seong-a on the workbench.
Since the Engraving had to be carved into the sheath, even a moment of hesitation could lead to failure.
Seong-a, however, smiled brightly as if she wasn't worried at all.
[ I'm fine! So hurry and do it! I want to get stronger! ]
Suhyeok began carving the Engraving into the sheath.
Smooth lines connected one after another.
Within a circular pattern, the engraving slowly took shape.
In an instant, it felt as though five years had passed.
Every line he connected sent a wave of mental exhaustion crashing into him.
He clenched his teeth.
I won't stop.
When his eyes finally opened again...
A pattern had been carved into the sheath.
A clear, refreshing fragrance spread through the room.
Blue leaves began swirling around it.
Suhyeok turned around.
Taesu, Hyuna, Yumi, and Sart were all staring at him in shock.
"Hoo...."
He released a rough breath.
Then a new message appeared.
[Engraving successful.]
[High-Grade Engraving ‘Engraving of the Spirit King’]
[Trait ‘Divine Artifact Awakening (S)’ success rate has increased.]
[11% → 25%]
W-Wait, that actually worked? And it's the Spirit King?
Too many crazy things keep happening in a row. I'm not even surprised anymore.
Same lol
I bit my tongue while watching because I was so shocked ;;
(sticking out a bleeding tongue) I b-bith my thung too....
LMAOOOOOOOO
LMAOOOOOOOOOO
[Blacksmith-related Constellations gape in astonishment at your achievement.]
[The majority of Constellations applaud.]
"I-I can't believe you actually succeeded."
