(Crown Forged by a God)

Grade: Legend

Defense: 101

Restriction: Descendant of the God of Blacksmiths

Special Abilities:

·All stats increase by 3%.

·All owned masteries increase by 2 levels.

·Status ailment resistance increases by 50%.

·Artifact crafting time decreases by 20%.

·Fire-attribute resistance increases by 40%.

·The probability that a better artifact will come out increases by 15%.

·Stackable artifact.

Description: A crown the God of Blacksmiths personally forged for their descendant who achieved an astonishing feat.

Hyunsoo admired it the moment he checked it.

This crown had both the advantages as a blacksmith and the advantages to bring out strong power.

First, in terms of martial might, it was “all owned masteries increase by 2 levels.”

Sword Mastery, Bow Mastery, Shield Mastery, and so on.

Hyunsoo had at least seven masteries.

Because of the effect embedded in the title of the God of Blacksmiths.

Just looking at Sword Mastery alone, by going up 2 levels, his cutting power and the sword’s basic attack power increased by 6%.

On top of that, status ailment resistance 50% would work excellently in battles against boss-grade monsters.

‘What is “artifact crafting time decreases by 20%” supposed to mean?’

Hyunsoo was a hand-crafting blacksmith.

So a crafting-time reduction was unfamiliar.

‘Does it only apply to auto-crafting?’

Because with auto-crafting, you just reduce the time by 20%.

He opened the detailed description.

[All time required for crafting decreases by 20%.]

[Example : When 10 minutes of refining time is needed, it is reduced to 8 minutes.]

[Example : When 100 hammerings are needed, it is reduced to 80.]

“......!?”

Hyunsoo felt that this rule applied to him as well.

Considering it takes 4–5 days each time he crafts once, it meant one whole day gets cut!

As for why fire-attribute resistance was embedded, he could understand that too.

‘I fight with fire inside the forge every time.’

Inside the forge, the temperature is over 122°F.

Have you ever been to a sauna?

Usually, a wet sauna that puts out hot temperatures is 104°F or higher.

If fire-attribute resistance increases, you can endure heat that much better, and you get less tired.

‘In blacksmith work that goes on for days, that comes back as a result of making better artifacts, too.’

Hyunsoo marveled.

And slowly, he put on that white crown.

The reason Hyunsoo thought this white crown was insane was because of this.

‘A stackable artifact......!’

Hyunsoo had heard of it too.

A special artifact that, they said, hasn’t even been released ten in the entire world.

A stackable artifact is, literally, something you can stack.

Normally, Hyunsoo wears Fenrir’s Helmet.

The defense of Fenrir’s Helmet is 249.

But you can overlay it with the Crown Forged by a God.

In other words, to 249 defense, the Crown Forged by a God’s defense 101 is added, exerting a total defense of 350.

Like this, the special abilities also apply together—Fenrir’s Helmet and the Crown Forged by a God.

Hyunsoo equipped the Crown Forged by a God on his head.

SHRRR-

Then, the crown that had looked so splendid disappeared.

[You equip the Crown Forged by a God.]

Hyunsoo liked this reward God Aska had left him far too much.

Just then, Sage Arte approached.

“Could you grant me a favor?”

Through them, Hyunsoo could tell.

That there was still more he could take from here.

******

Sage Arte.

They have a wish they want to fulfill.

To begin with, they had never asked this wish itself of someone.

Especially to the legends—they couldn’t even bring it up.

Because it was embarrassing.

‘God’s Recognition, 227%.......’

But that Recognition of 227% planted a “what if” in Arte’s heart.

“A favor? I’d like to hear it first.”

“There are things I’ve been searching for for 300 years—things that have power embedded in them that heals any wound or illness.”

“For example?”

“Elf Essence, said to be obtainable from the Mother of Elves. God’s Holy Water, said to descend from Ares’s holy land. Or the Giant King’s Blood, said to be sleeping somewhere in this world.”

Arte told him the reward.

“If you bring it, I’ll grant you one chance to ask me a question. I’m thinking it will probably take a very long time.”

For Arte, it naturally felt that way.

But soon, the one called Hyunsoo said,

“I think I can do it quickly.”

Arte couldn’t help but be dumbfounded.

“It’s good to be bold, but it isn’t that easy of a problem. Even I, who knows all information in the world, couldn’t find it.”

“......For me, it really is easy.”

At that, Arte became speechless.

Was he originally such an arrogant, impudent person?

“If you bring it within a week, I’ll give you two chances to ask questions. This matter is not easy like this, ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) so I hope you approach it with that mindset.”

“Will you really give me two chances to ask questions?”

Arte pounded their chest.

“They say a man’s word is worth a thousand pieces of gold. I swear it on the name of Sage Arte.”

At that moment.

SWISH-

Hyunsoo took something out from his chest.

Then, raising his thumb, he bared white teeth.

Arte panicked.

‘Why is the Giant King’s Blood coming out from there......?’

*****

Hyunsoo was shocked the moment he heard Arte’s words.

‘Huh? Giant King’s Blood?’

And Arte said it.

That they would give him a chance to ask questions.

Hyunsoo was smart.

Arte is, unbelievably, a sage.

But no matter how much of a sage, they couldn’t do everything.

In truth, Arte was someone who knew all information, but wasn’t a strong person.

He steered the situation.

Gently, smoothly.

Then he said.

[Sage Arte swears on their name.]

And he casually took it out.

[Linked Quest: Arte’s Wish......]

[Linked Quest: Arte’s Wish completed.]

[You can ask Arte two questions.]

In 1 second, the quest was completed.

And Hyunsoo said to Arte, who was about to take the Giant King’s Blood.

“Questions first.”

Arte agreed without resistance.

“Please tell me a way to become a legend.”

This was what Hyunsoo was most curious about right now.

The seat of legend, which no user had ever reached.

And Hyunsoo also wanted to become a king.

A user becoming a king.

In Ares, countless people say it.

That even if 10 years pass, it’s something that could never happen.

But if Hyunsoo becomes a legend, it changes.

It could truly be realized.

After looking at him for a moment, Arte said.

“Create a new grade of artifact.”

“......!”

Hearing that, Hyunsoo was genuinely shocked.

‘A new grade?’

In other words, it meant a completely unfamiliar grade that only Hyunsoo created.

His chest thumped.

‘An artifact that exists only as one in all of Ares.’

Hyunsoo asked.

“How can I make it?”

Arte looked like he was asking an obvious question.

“You would have to far surpass legend. I think it will be more difficult than everything you have made so far.”

Arte found him a bit irritating.

‘You have it, but you’re acting like you don’t!’

So even as they spoke the truth, they made the nuance a little stronger.

‘If it’s something not in this land—if you can newly create it to that extent.......’

In truth, even just imagining it, to Arte it was a dizzyingly distant grade.

‘Even I, as of now, don’t know how it should be crafted.’

Should they say you have to leave it to sheer luck and skill?

At that moment, Hyunsoo’s expression turned serious.

“I will ask the second question.”

Arte listened closely.

“Tell me about the mineral most suitable for me.”

“......!?”

This might be a simple question, but it wasn’t.

What fits you best. What is worthy of you. What you need.

If you seize that and craft with it, it creates stronger synergy than usual.

‘A smart one.’

And Hyunsoo knew better than anyone that this was the only way for him to approach legend.

“A moment of unpleasant feeling will brush past you. It is a process to find the mineral most suitable for you, so accept it comfortably.”

One of Arte’s traits activated.

[Sage’s Eye]

[Pierces all of the target’s information.]

Arte looked at what Hyunsoo had crafted.

‘This...?’

Interesting works.

‘He makes artifacts based on tales? More surprising than that is that God Ares acknowledged it and gave something befitting that power—how perfectly did he craft them....’

Arte found it irritating, but in that moment, one mineral came to mind.

“......There is a mineral that is too suitable.”

Within the bounds of their common sense, that mineral would exert the best power for Hyunsoo, and the synergy from it would be beyond imagination.

“What mineral is it?”

Hyunsoo was curious.

The mineral that fits only him best.

And it was a mineral Sage Arte was telling him.

“Story Stone.”

Arte spoke about that mineral.

“It is a special mineral where, if a story dwells in the mineral, it brings forth stronger and more outstanding power.”

Hyunsoo marveled.

He could understand why Arte had said Story Stone.

“Story Stone is Legend grade. And for you, who has given birth to countless masterpieces based on tales that have been passed down, I judge it to be the most suitable.”

“How can I obtain it?”

“Up to there. I can’t say more.”

It was regrettable.

But Hyunsoo realized.

Just by knowing that fact, he had stepped one step closer to legend.

[All questions are finished.]

Hyunsoo made a puzzled expression.

‘Why did Arte search for the Giant King’s Blood for 300 years?’

Do they have some wound that can’t be erased?

Hyunsoo shook his head at Arte, who was holding out their hand.

“Because it can be used once, I’ll pour it onto the wound for you.”

“.......”

Soon, Arte quietly sat down in front of him.

‘Why are they lowering themselves?’

Then, Arte’s bald head—bald for 300 years—was revealed.

“.......”

“.......”

Hyunsoo cried, and Arte cried too.

*****

Hyunsoo could see Arte stroking their grown hair, letting it swish.

The effect of the Giant King’s Blood had been tremendous.

“Ahem.”

Toward Arte, who was embarrassed, Hyunsoo simply raised his thumb.

Just then.

[You have achieved Arte’s Wish with an astonishing feat.]

Hyunsoo made a puzzled expression.

That quest was already over.

Then why was this notification sounding?

‘And even these kinds of notifications, most of the time.......’

A new story.

They trigger from something of higher difficulty.

Hyunsoo, now becoming a veteran of Ares, was at that point.

Arte said,

“If it’s someone who killed the Giant King, it seems like something we can hope for.”

Hyunsoo could face Arte, who had come up before him.

“Do you know why I am a legend?”

It was a ridiculous question.

‘Because, of course, they know all information in the world....’

Then Hyunsoo made a puzzled expression.

Something was lacking.

For Hyunsoo to become a legend, he must create a new grade.

Sword King Barad.

Sky King Ben.

Those like Luwon are the strongest, the ones who dominate this Ares.

To be honest, the idea that you become a legend just by knowing information is a story that doesn’t make sense.

“It is because of the trait I have.”

[Arte has long been searching for the one person who will grant their true wish.]

[Your high Recognition and the proof of having killed the Giant King fulfilled those conditions.]

The notifications that came in told him that something unusual was about to start.

“I will tell you about the trait I have.”

Hyunsoo focused on Arte.

What in the world was the trait Arte boasted of—the trait that made them a legend?

“I can create skills.”

“......!?”

Hyunsoo was aghast.

‘C-Create skills?’

It held power far more limitless than expected.

“It means I can create a skill only for you, that will exert the best power for you.”

A skill that can make the territory better.

A skill that can make him stronger than now.

Or a skill that can find talent.

Or a skill related to blacksmithing.

The power of that trait was limitless.

“Will you hear about my true wish?”

At the end of that, a notification rang out.

[Once again, a story begins.]