The Genius Blacksmith's Game
Essence. (2)
"So, it was just 2 attack power hidden in the hammer?"
Finding the hidden essence of an artifact through manual labor may differ from the way the skill power 'Eye of Essence' is used.
Strictly speaking, the eye that sees the essence is much more convenient.
This is because you just need to memorize the verses in a snap.
However, is it because that power wasn't drawn out by hand?
The mere increase of 2 in attack power came as a considerable shock to Hyunsu.
Hyunsu examined the hammer closely.
That hammer is so ordinary that you might wonder if it has hidden power.
To be precise… … .
What on earth is the difference?
Up until now, Hyunsu had drawn upon the power of the sealed artifact several times.
However, this hammer was extremely ordinary.
Hyun-su also felt sorry for Carder.
The King's Life Turnaround!
Carder believed it firmly, and in fact, Hyunsu judged that this hammer would reach at least a higher level.
To an ordinary blacksmith… … .
This was because it was true that even a rare-grade hammer was practically a life-changing achievement.
Carder hurriedly composed his expression.
“Life remains the same, but the fact that Your Majesty rejoiced with me, fearing my life might change, will remain a very fond memory. Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Carder is a young man in his mid-20s at most.
However, it was a time when I thought that memory alone was enough.
"ha……."
Hyun-su sighed and pulled out a whole row of hammers.
All the 'hammers' in his inventory that he had made or acquired so far were rare.
What Hyun-su sold this time were junk items; there wasn't a single artifact.
[Rare Grade. Red Thorn.]
[Rare Grade. Veteran's Hammer.]
[Rare Grade. Temperer's Hammer.]
[Rare Grade. Will of Steel.]
Choose.
"yes?"
"Choose the one you like."
“Your Majesty… how could I….”
“…You already put it in?”
“Ah… when did your hand…?”
Carder unwittingly chose the hammer he liked best. Surprisingly, it was the best one among them.
I will keep it as a family heirloom.
“Don’t go out of your way to do that. Use this hammer as a stepping stone in life. And remember this: even with a good hammer like this, nothing will change if you don’t make an effort.”
[Carder gains a new realization about his king.]
[Knowing that his king intends to keep his word, he becomes even more loyal to you.]
[Later, this hammer might change that life.]
I only handed over a rare-grade hammer.
However, it might have been something that could change Carder's world.
Still, he had learned a lesson, and Hyunsu made a resolution.
Let's not make a slip of the tongue.
This is because it would unnecessarily and dramatically raise their expectations.
There really can't be a way this is the end…
Hyunsu intended to use his eyes to see the essence of this, at least for today.
It was because I thought that perhaps only this hammer might have increased its attack power by 2.
Hyunsu began to roam every corner of the blacksmiths' workshops in the Land of Hyun.
A blacksmith shop run by an old couple.
Hyunsu discovered a very old mineral.
May I check?
“Of course, Your Highness.”
[Discovering the hidden essence.]
[Mineral effects increase by 1.6%.]
It was better than the first hammer, but this too was not of such an outstanding nature.
At that time.
Hyunsu also spotted the light on the shield of one of the soldiers walking in formation.
"insect!"
The soldiers saluted as Hyunsu approached.
“I need to check something. Give me the shield.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
They did not hesitate for a moment when their king demanded a shield.
His Majesty is touching my shield… … !?
The soldier's face flushed.
Although I wasn't told that my life would be turned around, it is a joy for a mere soldier like me just to have the King touch an artifact.
The soldier felt hopeful when Hyunsu, none other than the Blacksmith King, took the shield.
Why is he acting like that? Is he trying to fix it?
It is a joyful and lovely thing just that the King is repairing it.
Just as the soldier's anticipation was reaching its peak, Hyunsu spoke.
“Essence, open your eyes.”
“……???”
The soldier in question, along with the soldiers and knights walking along the road, were taken aback.
"Does something happen if you chant the spell 'Sa-ra-sa-ra' like that? Yes… … !?
One soldier wanted to ask.
In fact, Hyunsu's face had also turned red.
After all, he, the Blacksmith King by name, was borrowing the power of a certain skill.
I was also embarrassed because it was a line that sounded strange if used incorrectly.
However, soon a surprising thing happened where the shield's appearance changed slightly.
Did the size change too?
It got a little bigger and thicker.
[Shield defense increases by 6%.]
6%… …? 6% is pretty good!?
Hyun-su was surprised. The increase in defense was much greater than he had expected.
And the soldier also received it and was shocked.
“What on earth is that magic?”
It’s a magic only I can wield.
The soldier was impressed.
Defense increased by 6%.
Although it looks small, this shield now has 6% better defense than the existing one for a lifetime.
Soldiers generally do not change their armor.
You might replace something you've used once two or three times in your lifetime, if at all.
For poor soldiers whose status does not change, a shield is not something to be replaced whenever they want, but rather something to be repaired until it is no longer needed, and then lived with reluctantly.
But that shield has become 6% better?
At least 6% of soldiers were able to save their lives.
“Thank you very much, Your Highness!”
[Soldier Saero is overjoyed.]
[He will not forget that his king touched his shield, and he will start talking about how great and good a person you are.]
"……thanks for your effort."
At first, Hyunsu’s expression becomes emotional as Carder’s hammer attack power increases by 2.
He merely touched it and exerted his power, yet someone else is overjoyed as if they could fly.
It might be a power that isn't as bad as I thought?
Hyunsu started walking again.
It was effectively the first feat.
That one just now wasn't bad.
Considering it took only a short amount of time.
Hyunsu recalled where he could freely view many items.
There was exactly one place.
It was the market.
If it's a market, there are really so many goods scattered around.
Hyunsu's footsteps headed toward the market.
***
Hyun's country is a country specialized in artifacts.
To that extent, things related to artifacts were overflowing several times more than in other countries.
The dozens of mines in the country of the prefecture provide minerals through the hands of miners.
In addition, materials such as leather used to make bows and armor are overflowing due to the punitive expeditions that periodically set out to suppress the enemy.
There is also an abundance of steel, copper, parts, buffalo horns, tendons, and other materials commonly used to create artifacts.
In addition, artifacts created by blacksmiths are also overflowing.
There is a place where these overflowing things are gathered.
Someone looked at this place and said this.
If you want to experience the land of the strings, go to Yongro Market!
Yongno Market.
It is a market centered around a giant blast furnace.
In the center, a huge structure resembling a blast furnace was erected.
This Yongro Market is the very place in Ares known for selling everything related to artifacts.
Selling Goblin Axe.
“I am selling iron ore like the Hyunmu Iron that Your Highness obtained this time!”
“Clearance sale! Cheap! Cheap!”
It is one of the most visited places on the continent, frequented by blacksmiths, tourists, and even commoners and nobles.
It is also a place where a saying circulates that the only thing missing when you come here is Hyunsu.
Sales forms are diverse.
Merchants who buy and sell shops in Yongro Market, or users standing on the street selling items they have obtained.
There were also those who roughly set up stalls to sell their goods.
The Yongro Market is quite massive, accommodating tens of thousands of people with room to spare.
There was a young man who had set up a stall there and was doing business.
The young man's name is Lucas.
He is a man akin to a traveling merchant who somehow ended up in the country of Hyun and is now spreading out his deck to conduct business.
Kiiiee-
A corner of Yongno Market.
Lucas, sitting in a very secluded spot with his items laid out, spotted an eagle hovering in the sky.
Lucas laughed playfully and started mimicking in the empty air.
Even though he had no bow, he pretended to hold one in the air, pulled it back, and snapped the string as if shooting at an eagle.
“Phew……!”
And I imagine. The imagination of the eagle being struck…
But if he had a bow in his hand, would he really have been able to hit it?
They probably couldn't guess correctly.
Pick-
Lucas laughed listlessly.
It is because Lucas's eyesight is poor.
Even the eagles hovering in the sky appeared blurry, and everyone in this market also appeared blurry.
at that time.
Gurgle!
Lucas's stomach rocked.
I was hungry because I hadn't been able to eat properly for a long time.
A shadow falls across his face.
Yongno Market, as I said before, is a market associated with blacksmiths.
Therefore, a store selling general goods… … .
Moreover, selling things on the deck could not possibly attract attention.
Hyun's country is doomed. Tsk.
Just because it is an emerging nation doesn't mean it will be a good business for a wanderer like Lucas.
It keeps selling. Keeps selling. Wow… Just how much are they selling?
Lucas marveled at this market for several days.
The sales rate of this market was higher than any market he had ever visited.
It is several times the amount found in other places.
Artifacts like that were sold endlessly, and what was even more surprising was the speed of their supply.
They said the number of blacksmiths is hundreds of times higher than in other countries…
The blacksmiths were refilling him as much as was being sold.
It makes you wonder if Hyun's country would have become an incredibly wealthy nation if he had also handled diplomacy well.
How much is the tax, anyway?
Considering that a tax was levied on every transaction, Lucas thought he was truly envious of King Hyunsu, who was consuming those taxes.
Have you heard the rumors?
“What rumor?”
“I heard that His Highness Hyeonsu is looking around this Yongro Market.”
“You mean this Yongno Market? Why go out of your way?”
“Well, perhaps he is looking for rare ingredients?”
“Oh, I see. After all, this is a place where every material in the world can be found.”
Yongro Market is huge.
Size comparable to a decent territory.
A king… …
People who heard the rumor from all over wore expectant expressions.
An opportunity to meet their king!
Lucas, who has visited more than five countries so far, found it truly fascinating.
In other countries, people would scramble to hide when a king was coming… but the people of this country seem to like it.
The king's appearance is exactly as ordinary people think.
You must bow your head to the ground and not even breathe.
There is an old saying.
"Bite your tongue rather than cough at the king's procession."
It is a saying derived from an anecdote in which a king struck the head of a subject for coughing.
Whether that matters or not.
It has nothing to do with Lucas.
Lucas crossed his arms and fell asleep.
It is the easiest way to forget hunger.
however…….
Noisy
“Jeon……h……!”
Why is it so noisy?
“Why there…?”
That is a place where the lowly sell.
“Don’t you know that there are no lowly people in my country? Watch your words.”
Loud noises continue to be heard from everywhere.
Ah, it's so noisy, I can't sleep.
The moment Lucas opened his eyes, he was almost shocked to the point of fainting.
“Gasp, what is this?”
Even if you have poor eyesight, you can see what someone looks like up close.
He was a very handsome man. He had a huge physique and looked good in the fancy armor.
Lucas could tell that this person was the king by the reactions around him.
“Your, Your Highness…!”
Lucas hurriedly prostrated himself.
However, for some reason, the king remained silent for quite a while.
As Lucas quietly raised his head, his gaze was fixed on a bow.
It was a surprised voice as he looked at the bow.
“Why does only this bow look black?”
Black?
Not at all.
It was a brown bow.
Lucas couldn't understand those words.
