Overgeared

Chapter 152

The smithy in Bairan Village was very good. Until Khan appeared, the blacksmith there was the best blacksmith in the north. But his disciple Smith wasn’t as talented. Smith was 66 this year. He had been working as a blacksmith for 50 years, but he was still a beginner blacksmith.

“Oh my, Mister Smith’s farm equipment breaks down so quickly?”

“I have to go to another village to buy farm equipment.”

“Uncle Smith should’ve become a miner instead.”

“Haha, right. He is just as good with a pickaxe as a miner.”

He lived in the area for a few decades, but people still gossiped about him behind his back. Then what about the travellers?

“Dammit, Bairan Village is good, but the blacksmith is rubbish. I can’t get anything decent from the smithy.”

“The hunting grounds here are for high levels, but why is the blacksmith so inferior? Damn!”

“But isn’t he good at making Jaffa Arrows? The price is also cheap. They aren’t bad for a fight.”

“Not bad is the problem.”

It was like this almost every day for decades. Smith was blamed for being incompetent. No matter how hard he tried, it was useless. He reminded himself of his mentor’s teachings and repeatedly trained in controlling the fire and iron every day, but his abilities didn’t increase. It felt like a witch had cursed him.

“I don’t want to give up now…”

Every young man in the village dreamed of being a miner, but avoided becoming a blacksmith. So he had no disciples. Furthermore, he was old. Sooner or later, the lord would make him retire.

Smith wanted to become an intermediate blacksmith before then. He wanted to prove his worth. He lived all his life with iron, but he was going to die as a beginner blacksmith? It was obvious that people would scoff and laugh every time they saw his grave. He didn’t want to be insulted even after death.

‘Try to remember.’

Smith closed his eyes in front of the anvil. He recalled the young man a few months who he had briefly taught. The young man’s name was Grid. His appearance was bad, but he managed to make the Special Jaffa Arrows.

‘How did he do it?’

Smith tried. He tried not to miss a single one of Grid’s movements when handling the fire and iron. Time flowed continuously. Before he knew it, the moon sank and it became dawn. The sky brightened.

Flash!

Finally, Smith opened his eyes.

Kaaang! Kaaang!

There were no wasted movements. He handled the fire and minerals in a more orderly manner than before.

Kaaang~!

Before he knew it, the sun had risen to the middle of the sky. But Smith was in a trance. He didn’t feel the passing time or even hunger. He didn’t even realize that people were screaming outside the smithy. With the fire and hammer, he just worked at smelting and tempering the mineral.

And.

“Oh…! Ohhhh!”

Someone spoke to him. Enlightenment suddenly came. It was true. Smith crossed the wall that had been blocking him for 50 years. He was so thrilled that tears poured out. He held the newly created ‘Special Jaffa Arrow’ and literally fell to the ground.

“Haha…! Hahaha! I’m glad… I’m glad…”

The aftereffect didn’t go away. Smith stroked the arrow like a cherished child as he kept crying. His last desperate effort had been rewarded. Then the door of the smithy opened.

“Infidel, you will be judged.”

“…?”

Someone suddenly stormed into the smithy. It was a believer of the Yatan Church. What was this? Smith questioned the sudden situation and looked outside through the open door of the smithy.

The village was filled with fire. The screams of people were constantly heard. Now Smith grasped the situation.

“The Yatan Church has invaded…”

Ddubeok. Ddubeok.

The follower slowly approached. Then he pointed his dagger at Smith.

“Die, Infidel.”

Smith laughed heartily, “Haha… Yes. I can die. I already have no one.”

He had finally overcome the limitations. If anyone found the arrow he left behind, they would know he was no longer a beginner blacksmith. Then Smith closed his eyes.

‘I can face Master.’

He felt the eerie anticipating of the dagger approaching his heart.

Puok!

There was a strange sound. A bloody mess spread quickly. But he didn’t feel any pain.

“…?”

coughing up blood after being stabbed in the heart

it been a long time?

“Why are you here…?”

moment and saved his life? He thought he had no regrets about his life, but he

“Have you been well?”

shook Grid’s hand. It was a big hand filled with calluses. It was undoubtedly the hand of a blacksmith. Grid

you made

“Ah…!”

It wasn’t an ordinary person, but a great blacksmith! Smith rose all the

few years. Continue… I want

course, you can work more. This

Float.

air and gazed

workspace. I will

was at that

about the old blacksmith who overcame his limits

Affection’

[Blacksmith’s Affection]

Difficulty: B

You have Pagma’s humanitarian ideology of using ‘blacksmithing to benefit

old blacksmith

to reward the old blacksmith whose heart is as hot as fire and solid

Conditions:

Smith

late bloomer thanks to his effort. He has the

Acceptance Reward: The skill ‘Blacksmith’s Affection’

Failure: Smith’s life isn’t

[Blacksmith’s Affection]

NPC blacksmith, you can

life and

[Quest is in progress.]

“Wow.”

the same manner and learned the skill Blacksmith’s Rage. He had come to deliver armor to Vantner, only to

is different

only selfish and bad guys received profits, while a good person was damaged. But

detected exactly 15 Yatan followers nearby. Grid wore Malacus’ Cloak and

“Pagma’s Swordsmanship, Wave!”

The energy waves from Failure instantly killed

quest ‘Blacksmith’s Affection’ has

be extended by

‘Good, good.’

the flute and the demonkin Balak, whose body was bubbling up like lava. But the guild members still seemed to be hanging on. Regas, Pon,

to the time of the Malacus raid. With their current power, won’t they just

gaze to the other side. Jishuka and Vantner were isolated in an area where the

“This side is urgent.”

***

pant… Damn! You

bottom. The damage he suffered was so much that his potions cooldown time couldn’t keep up and he was on

“Die!”

“Divine punishment!”

to focus their attacks on Vantner. In the end, Jishuka made a

Kaaang!

to cough up blood. Vantner cried out, “What are you doing? I’m supposed to protect

him. “Do you have the ability to

“Ugh…”

the guild members expressed concern. But Vantner was stubborn. He wanted to be in charge of

weak attack and slow hunting speed didn’t suit him. In order to level up properly, he always had to hunt with a party.

“Tanker? No.”

the pleasure of playing alone, Vantner started to put his stat points into strength. He forgot his original intentions of tanking for the

Garcia had become our guild’s guardian knight as planned, we would’ve been stronger and more stable.

“…”

as Vantner was feeling

much stat points as possible into stamina. I will now go unconditionally

“Okay.”

fullest. Then flames started appearing at the end of the arrowhead. She was poised to

“Jishuka?”

mana to get rid of the black knights in front of them? Wasn’t it a death wish? The confused Vantner

out all the enemies here. You should recover as quickly as

with just 1% of experience, so

let her make the

I will die

stared at the shouting

If you die then I won’t

suffered 2,800

suffered

cursed. Your defense is reduced by 30% and your movement

hit by magic attacks. But she

Hwaruruk!