NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 53
Chapter 53: Blacksmith Elgeni (4)
Elgeni made a bold decision.
When she returned to the Blacksmith’s Street, she was no longer timid or afraid of being caught by the guild like before.
She boldly removed her mask, tore off her hood, and discarded them into a trash bin.
“Let’s go, Mr. Yeonwol.”
She thought, “I know you’re watching me anyway. So, I’ll face you openly and exact my revenge.”
Watching her act so brazenly, Yeonwol couldn’t help but feel admiration.
“…She’s braver than I expected.”
Though her belief in him made Yeonwol want to live up to her trust, the truth was, he wasn’t the key to resolving this situation.
Yeonwol’s role was simply to devise the plan.
Success or failure relied entirely on Elgeni’s skill.
“Elgeni, the Blacksmith. Although you’re bound to the guild, you can leave by developing a new technique or skill and offering it fully to the guild.”
“Yes.”
“Starting today, we have three days to create that new technique. If we fail, the guild will find and capture you.”
It sounded absurd.
Create a new technique in just three days?
Yet, Elgeni saw a glimmer of hope.
“If it’s his alchemy, maybe it’s possible.”
Yeonwol led her to a high-end forge that he had rented at great expense.
For the next three days, only Yeonwol and Elgeni would have access to this space.
“What should I do now?”
In response to her question, Yeonwol revealed the technique he had been contemplating for a long time.
“It’s called ‘Attribute Imbuement.’”
To those familiar with RPGs, the term might sound familiar. It was somewhat akin to “enchantment.”
But it was slightly different.
While enchantment temporarily infused a weapon with magical effects, Attribute Imbuement permanently enhanced the weapon’s capabilities.
An attribute didn’t necessarily mean something like fire or ice.
For example, assigning the attribute “Sharpness” would increase a sword’s cutting ability.
Assigning the attribute “Piercing” would enhance a spear’s penetration power.
This technique amplified the specialized attack type of each weapon, making it incredibly effective.
In the future, it would become a must-have enhancement technique for every player’s primary weapon.
However, it wasn’t something just anyone could do.
Especially at this time, when no skills related to Attribute Imbuement existed, and there was no established knowledge, achieving success was nearly impossible.
“I warned you before, but this isn’t a simple technique you can master in just three days.”
“I know. That’s why I’m looking forward to it even more.”
Her face flushed with excitement, Elgeni appeared eager.
Even the most seasoned blacksmith players and NPCs had never ventured into this unknown territory.
“Time is short, so let’s start right away.”
Elgeni sat down, hammer in hand, her eyes sharp and focused, like a finely honed blade.
Impressed by her determination, Yeonwol smiled and stood beside her, ready to share the knowledge of the future.
“My role here is simple: keep assisting Elgeni with alchemy until she gets the hang of it.”
He was merely a helper.
“Once she fully understands this technique and develops it as a skill, she won’t need my help anymore.”
A mundane steel sword purchased in bulk from a nearby forge was placed on the anvil.
Beneath it, a transmutation circle was laid out.
Clang—!
Elgeni’s hammering began.
Clang!! But after just a few strikes, the weapon shattered.
Though Attribute Imbuement was supposed to be a flawless technique with no risk of breaking the weapon, errors in the trial phase could easily cause destruction.
“That’s not it. That method won’t work.”
While Yeonwol could tell her approach was wrong, he couldn’t point it out.
“She needs to realize it on her own.”
If Yeonwol shared his insights prematurely, it could hinder her ability to grasp the technique.
This was why ordinary blacksmiths couldn’t learn this skill.
It required extraordinary talent to grasp this technique independently.
In the future, after it was formalized as a skill and taught systematically, skilled blacksmiths could use it to some extent.
But creating it from scratch…
Only a genius among geniuses could achieve such a feat.
“…This isn’t right.”
“Oh?”
Elgeni adjusted her grip on the hammer after a few attempts.
She was already beginning to sense something.
For the next 20 hours, Elgeni hammered tirelessly through the night.
Her arm muscles convulsed with exhaustion, yet she didn’t stop.
“Shift the transmutation circle’s position. About 1.2 cm to the east and west.”
“Reduce its size slightly. The radius—make it around 1.8 cm instead of 2 cm.”
She even began interfering with Yeonwol’s transmutation circle.
He silently complied with all her requests.
[Your Alchemy Mastery is rapidly improving as you combine smithing and alchemy with an extraordinary blacksmith!]
Two days passed. Yeonwol stayed awake with her, finding it relatively easy since he had often skipped sleep while hunting.
For Elgeni, however, it was pure torment.
While Yeonwol only created transmutation circles, she hammered ceaselessly.
On the third day, she collapsed onto the floor as if she’d fainted.
Worried she might have health issues, Yeonwol considered intervening, but she woke after just an hour of rest, picked up her hammer, and continued.
By the third night, nearing the fourth day, Elgeni began smelting the steel sword in a peculiar way.
Instead of hammering the sword on the anvil, she moved the hammer over it as though ironing or scanning it.
The result was astonishing.
Crackle, sizzle…!!
Red and blue sparks began to erupt as the weapon underwent a remarkable transformation.
[A-rank Skill ‘Attribute Imbuement’ has been created!]
[You have achieved an astonishing level of technological advancement!]
[Your incredible skill will be revered by blacksmiths worldwide, and even hidden masters in seclusion will take notice!]
[Your Fame has significantly increased!]
[Level Up!]
[Your stats have significantly increased!]
Messages flooded in before Elgeni.
“Ah…”
Finally having created Attribute Imbuement, she collapsed to the ground, her legs giving out.
“…Impressive.”
The rewards weren’t limited to Elgeni; Yeonwol received some as well.
His efforts in assisting with the transmutation circle over several days had played a significant role.
As a result, his level increased by one, and his overall stats, as well as his skill in alchemy, rose substantially.
“Just by being part of a monumental discovery, even a little, you can reap incredible rewards.”
Yeonwol extended a hand to her.
“You’ve done well. Honestly, I didn’t think it was possible in just three days.”
“Yes… I’m happy, but…”
Elgeni’s face darkened.
She had poured her heart and soul into creating this skill with Yeonwol over three grueling days, only to hand it over to the loathsome Malphi’s Hammer.
Now she fully understood the immense value of this skill.
It could bring tremendous wealth and fame.
Seeing through her thoughts, Yeonwol smirked.
“I told you, this technique was made to ruin them.”
“You did, but how…?”
He held up a small whetstone.
“With this method.”
“…What?”
* * *
“Bring that woman here immediately.”
The guild master of Malphi’s Hammer, Lamalphio, was secretly delighted to hear that Elgeni had boldly returned to the Blacksmith’s Street and entered a forge with a man.
“Foolish woman, falling into our trap again.”
Breaking the contract that way would only increase Elgeni’s debt bound to the contract.
Today marked the fourth day since she escaped from the forge.
Now it was time to bring her back.
“Master, we’ve brought Elgeni.”
Though the guild member said so, he wore a sheepish expression.
In truth, they hadn’t dragged her in; she had walked in on her own.
“Let her in. Let’s hear what she has to say about running away.
Not that it matters—her real-world bank account is tied to her debt anyway.”
Moments later, Elgeni entered the guild master’s office, her appearance shockingly disheveled.
Her body was smeared with what looked like blood, and she was drenched in sweat and covered with unidentified powders.
“Disgusting woman.”
From the very first time he saw her, Elgeni always looked filthy and ragged.
On top of that, she often hid her face behind odd magnifying glasses, making her look unbearable.
“Let’s hear your excuses. If it’s a reasonable explanation, I’ll reduce some of the debt you’re destined to accumulate.”
Lamalphio spat out words he didn’t mean.
Though his taunt was clear, Elgeni stared at him with sharp, intelligent eyes.
“What is this? Her demeanor feels different from before…”
Thud!
Elgeni placed something that looked like a whetstone on the table.
“What’s this?”
“Check it with your appraisal skill.”
“Fine. I’ll appraise it.”
Lamalphio, who initially showed little interest, checked the whetstone with his skill.
Moments later, his expression turned to shock.
[Whetstone of Sharp Aura (Low-Grade)]
*Description: Enhances sharp aura on bladed weapons for one day.
*Effect: Increases bladed weapon attack power by 9-12% for one day.
Lamalphio sprang to his feet.
An item that boosts weapon effects by a percentage?
That meant the stronger the weapon, the more significant the effect.
And if this was just low-grade, the potential for improvement was immense.
“I developed this skill in three days. I want to offer it as compensation and leave the guild. If you refuse, I’ll destroy this technique and never share it.”
“S-Show me the skill.”
Elgeni manipulated the system interface to visualize the skill.
[Temporary Attribute Imbuement (B)]
*Description: Grants special attributes to a whetstone.
The whetstone imbues weapons for one day, after which a new whetstone must be used.
A B-rank blacksmith skill!
Moreover, the one-day duration made it highly appealing.
“A day? That seems like a long duration, but customers would still have to keep coming back to us.”
The excellent performance of the whetstone could even allow challenges against unbeatable raid bosses.
But the true allure lay in the one-day duration.
Though it seemed long, the effect wasn’t permanent, ensuring continuous sales.
“If a suitable hunting ground was for level 150, this whetstone might enable level 155 hunting grounds.”
The whetstone’s impact was extraordinary.
Enhancing a weapon’s performance by 10% with a simple application was unprecedented.
“Make your decision, Master. I’ve already reported this skill to the Blacksmith Association. If negotiations succeed, the copyright for this skill will go to Malphi’s Hammer Guild. Otherwise, the association will recognize the skill’s destruction.”
“…”
Lamalphio’s eyebrow twitched.
He had planned to hold this skill hostage and keep her tied to the guild, but she had already gone to the association?
“This woman… Did she study all this while I was gone?”
She didn’t seem like the naive girl she had been a year ago.
But it didn’t matter.
Other guilds had started developing competitive skills for forging enhanced weapons, so Elgeni’s value was already declining.
“It’s impossible for anyone else to develop this skill. We can monopolize it for the next few years… I smell money.”
Once Elgeni handed this skill over to Malphi’s Hammer, she would never be able to use it again.
Returning the skill itself would prevent her from utilizing it secretly.
If she were caught, the association would impose severe penalties.
“Fine. I’ll accept the skill and clear your debt. Bring the contract!”
Hearing this, Elgeni clenched her fist tightly but did not smile yet.
“It’s too early to celebrate just because I’ve left the guild. My plan… starts now.”
The whetstone, nicknamed the “Magic Whetstone,” was costly to produce.
It required various alchemical reagents and the recruitment of several alchemists with intermediate mastery skills.
However, the anticipated return on investment was enormous.
Malphi’s Hammer Guild poured in all the profits they had squeezed from Elgeni.
The guild master even added his personal savings and took on astronomical debt to begin mass production of the whetstone.
“Do you see it? The value of this whetstone. No other blacksmith guild in the world possesses such groundbreaking technology.”
Lamalphio secured massive funding from wealthy investors.
To them, the Magic Whetstone was a product with staggering potential.
Though Lamalphio was neither a skilled blacksmith nor a savvy businessman, his years of trade had honed his instincts.
He launched an aggressive advertising campaign for the Magic Whetstone.
[Author: Did you hear?
Malphi’s Hammer Guild developed a crazy new technology.]
[Author: Just carry a whetstone, apply it, and your weapon’s attack power increases.]
The Magic Whetstone became a viral sensation on community boards.
Malphi’s Hammer Guild even gave samples to prominent Eltubers, whose reviews spread like wildfire.
[User221: Does it really boost weapon attack power by over 10% that easily?
I’ve been stuck on a hidden boss because I couldn’t deal enough damage, but with this…!]
Every player aspired to grow stronger.
Whether it was to defeat a boss they couldn’t beat, explore higher hunting grounds, or overcome greater foes.
RPGs were worlds where strength reigned supreme.
Who would turn down such an easy path to power?
[Author: It’s pricey, but worth carrying at least 10 of them around.]
[User103: I’ll buy them all when they launch.
Prices will probably skyrocket later!]
Lamalphio, watching the buzz on the community boards, licked his lips and opened a whiskey bottle.
“It’s a success.”
He spent a fortune on hiring Eltubers for advertisements.
He even ordered mass production in anticipation of massive consumer demand, taking on enormous debt.
Failure would mean not just bankruptcy but the end of his life.
But this was a surefire success—a guaranteed fortune.
“Starting tomorrow, sales will skyrocket. I might not sleep tonight just thinking about it.”
Imagining the future profits, Lamalphio raised his champagne glass toward the window.
Though his office was still a shabby two-story building overlooking the Blacksmith Street, he already envisioned himself as a tycoon.
“Next month… I’ll build an office in a skyscraper and overlook the city.”
Lost in dreams of a brilliant future, he closed his eyes.
“Master! Something terrible has happened!”
“What?”
Annoyed by the interruption, he swore to fire his crude subordinate once he became rich.
“What is it? Speak.”
“The c-community!”
This bumbling fool couldn’t even form a sentence properly.
But something urgent seemed to be happening, so Lamalphio opened the community board.
As he scrolled, his eyes widened.
[Blacksmith Elgeni develops groundbreaking technology
[Unlike Malphi’s Hammer Guild’s temporary imbuement, this technique permanently enhances weapons with superior effects…]
[Elgeni signs miraculous contract with Sellatan Guild!]
[Focus on Sellatan’s master, Rapion, and his remarkable ability to recruit rising stars…]
Crash!
The champagne bottle fell from Lamalphio’s hand to the floor.
His pupils and fingertips trembled uncontrollably.
Elgeni’s newly revealed technique, ‘Complete Attribute Imbuement,’ was vastly superior to Malphi’s Hammer Guild’s whetstone in every way.
“T-That damned woman… Could it be…”
From the start, was this her plan?
“Ah… Ah…”
When pushed to the edge, one finds themselves at a loss for words.
Lamalphio sat on the floor, staring blankly at the community board.
Despair surged like a colossal wave, drowning his spirit.
The crushing weight of defeat didn’t merely bruise his heart; it shattered his very soul.
“Haha… Haha…”
He laughed.
For a long time, sitting there, he could only let out hollow chuckles.