Chapter 17

Chapter 15

“Good.”

As the viewpoint shifted, Jaeha’s main body smiled and used Metallurgy. A hammer materialized in front of him.

—Ooh.

—That’s insane.

—It’s a hammer, a hammer.

—Of course, of course. A blacksmith uses a hammer.

Then Jaeha began organizing his materials. First, he put the Coke into the furnace. After adjusting the heat, he started pumping air in using a bellows connected to an electric motor.

The flames roared to life. Before long, once the fire’s temperature had risen sufficiently, Jaeha placed the Iron Ingot into the flames. After waiting quietly for about five minutes, the iron began to melt into a yellow glow.

“This is where it begins.”

Seeing that, the clone spoke those words. Immediately, Jaeha pulled the metal out with tongs and began hammering it.

CLANG!

CLANG!

—Whoa now……

—Guy’s got some strength.

—That’s beyond strong. Is that person’s Total Ability like 2000 or something?

—Wow. One hit from that and your skull’s cracked.

Jaeha kept hammering like that. The hammering continued for nearly two hours.

“We’ve been hammering for almost two hours now—how are you all feeling?”

—Not bored.

—Easy money.

—I’m a little bored. It’s fascinating, but it’s still just hammering.

“Haha, I can’t help that. For those of you who are bored, please bear with it just a little longer.”

Jaeha continued hammering, and at some point, he stopped. Then he placed the metal he was holding back into the furnace.

“Whew.”

“Is it done?”

“For now, yes.”

“Ooh. So what’s next?”

“After a few rounds of Quenching, I need to sharpen the blade. What I’m making this time is the most popular type of sword—not a Western-style sword, but an Eastern-style one.”

—What’s the difference?

—What’s the diff?

“They’re asking what the difference is. The viewers.”

“Well, explaining it in detail would take too long, so let me keep it simple. Even within the Eastern styles, Korea, Japan, and China each have their own—what I just made is a double-edged sword. It was commonly used in ancient China. Unlike the single-edged swords commonly used in Korea, this one is better for striking opponents.”

“Then aren’t single-edged swords bad for striking?”

“The most famous single-edged sword is the hwandudaedo. To use that as an example—its blade is thick, so it was often used to break an opponent’s sword.”

“Ah, I see.”

“So among the weapons coming out these days, things like the hwandudaedo or single-edged swords—those aren’t really all that useful.”

“Everyone, you heard that, right?”

—Pro tip.

—Pro tip confirmed.

“Then I’ll continue.”

Jaeha pulled the sword out of the furnace. Then he plunged it into a vat of red liquid.

—The water’s red.

—Why’s it like that?

—Is it supposed to go in water like that?

“Why is that water red?”

“It’s a mixture of troll blood and Goblin Shaman blood.”

“Monster blood?”

“Yes. Quenching it in this gives the metal a regenerative property.”

“Wow, really?”

“Yes.”

“Shouldn’t this be considered a secret technique? Is it okay to just reveal it like this?”

“Why do you think restaurants reveal their secret sauces?”

“Because no one can copy it anyway?”

“Yes. Exactly. It doesn’t matter if I reveal it. If they want to try, let them.”

—Damn, that pride.

—No no, that’s confidence.

—That’s cool. That’s a real craftsman right there.

Jaeha performed the Quenching about ten times like that. Once it was more or less complete, a light shimmered and a window appeared before Jaeha’s eyes.

[Congratulations. You have crafted an item.]

“It’s done.”

Smiling, Jaeha lifted the finished sword out of the blood.

“There was no handle before, but now there is. That’s a bit unrealistic.”

“If you’re going to nitpick like that, the system itself is unrealistic.”

—True.

—That’s a fair point.

Having said that, Jaeha checked the item’s information.

[Blood Sword]

[Rank: High-grade]

[Attack Power: 35]

[When attacking a target and drawing blood from a wound, Attack Power increases by 15]

[Absorbs the target’s blood to recover a set amount of HP and Mana]

“Wow, that turned out well.”

With a smile, Jaeha handed the sword to his clone. The clone then checked the sword’s effects.

—Holy sh—

—Whoa, that’s insane.

—Are you selling that?

—Are you going to sell it?

—How much? I’ll buy it right now. Name your price.

“They’re asking if you’re selling it.”

“Hmm…….”

Jaeha pretended to think it over for a moment before speaking.

“As I mentioned earlier, I’ll put it up on the Auction House. Since it’s hard to set a fixed price, I’ll sell it via auction. The minimum bid will be…… well, I’ll set it at 3 million won. And the auction period will be just 3 hours. If word doesn’t spread, you might be able to snag it cheap.”

—The odds are low, but still…….

—Kk, whatever. I can’t afford it anyway.

—Going to buy it right now.

With that, Jaeha opened the Auction House and listed the item just as he’d said.

“It’s up now. It expires in 3 hours.”

—It’s really up.

—Whoa. Jackpot.

After skimming the chat for a moment, Jaeha spoke through his clone.

“I should get some rest now.”

“My friend here needs to rest now.”

—So it takes about 5 hours to make one sword. Though the result is insane.

—Right? He’s a true master.

—Any chance you’d consider taking on an apprentice?

“Haha, an apprentice……. It’s tempting, but I’ve got my own plate full right now.”

With that, Jaeha continued.

“I’ll come back when I have time. I’ve got a big backlog since I took time out today.”

“Haha. Unknown-nim took time out of his schedule and put a weapon worth tens or even hundreds of millions up for auction at 3 million won instead of selling it seriously — I’d appreciate it if you all could send him a word of thanks and praise.”

—He’s a real legend.

—Good good. I’m an Unknown fan from today.

—Hope we see you again next time.

“Yes. I’ll make things as fast as I can and come back once I free up some time.”

“Good work.”

“Yes. Take care.”

With that, Jaeha stepped outside and wrapped up the broadcast through his clone.

* * *

In the end, the Blood Sword’s final winning bid was 200 million.

“Making money is easy.”

“Oh my god. 200 million won. Just from working 5 hours…….”

“What are you talking about? It’s 200 million dollars.”

“Huh?”

At Jaeha’s words, Seungho turned his head to look at him.

“How are Korean buyers supposed to outbid an oil tycoon?”

“……Wh-what. 200 million dollars?”

“Yeah. That’s about 240 billion won.”

“Heh heh heh heh.”

“Anyway, I’m going to use this money to buy byproducts.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll buy them under the name Unknown. Anyone would want to sell to him, right? They’d want to build a connection however they can.”

“Makes sense. He’s the world’s only item crafter.”

With that, Jaeha spoke.

“I’m going to go make things to sell, so take it easy.”

“Hey.”

“Yeah?”

“Can I order some fried chicken?”

“Fried chicken?”

“Yeah.”

“……I just made 240 billion won working 5 hours, and you’re asking permission to buy one 20,000-won chicken?”

“Hmm. Guess I should get something a bit pricier. How about pork trotters? No wait. When something worth celebrating happens, isn’t NOT eating fried chicken a sin against the gods?”

“Just buy whatever you want.”

With that, Jaeha headed to the forge.

Upon arriving at the forge, Jaeha began crafting the mass-production swords, blades, and staves that Herb Gramps had sent over. After about 30 minutes of work, he produced 10 of each item, organized them, and handed them to Herb Gramps’s subordinate. They bowed their heads and quickly disappeared with the goods.

Once they were gone, Jaeha checked the time.

“It’s only 2 PM. Let me rest a bit and then try making some other things.”

With that, Jaeha rested briefly before moving on to accessory crafting. He arranged the heated iron ingots and began shaping them. Before long, he produced something resembling a bracelet. But shaping the round form proved quite difficult.

After managing to shape it somehow, Jaeha began tapping it slowly with his hammer.

“This is tiring.”

After hammering away for a while, Jaeha muttered that. Then, as he worked the hammer this way and that, he suddenly dropped it.

“Ugh…….”

Just then, someone came inside.

“What’s the matter?”

“I think I strained my arm a bit.”

“Your arm, you say?”

“That hammer is heavier than I expected. Twisting it this way and that must have put too much strain on my wrist.”

His hand aching, Jaeha rotated it slightly and furrowed his brow.

“Are you alright? Should I call a healer?”

“Ah, no. I can handle it myself.”

With that, Jaeha took a needle from his Inventory and began placing it on his wrist. In an instant, blood flowed along the needle, and the wound healed in no time.

“Ooh…….”

Watching his subordinate marvel at it, Jaeha spoke.

“Well, I’d better get back to it.”

Then Jaeha picked up the hammer again and resumed crafting the accessory.

* * *

Not long after, Jaeha strained his arm again.

“Ugh……, this hurts more than before.”

As the pain in his arm worsened, Jaeha let out a small breath. Then, placing a needle in his arm, he thought.

“What should I do? Something seems off. Is it because my level and Total Ability are too low?”

Lost in thought, Jaeha pondered for a moment. And then Herb Gramps walked in.

“Hey there.”

“Hm? When did you get here?”

“Just now. Came to see if you were doing well. But looks like something’s not going right, eh?”

“Ah, yes. Actually…… I keep getting injured.”

“Injured?”

“Yes…….”

“Well, I doubt it’s from getting burned by sparks or anything.”

“Right. It’s because I was making this. A bracelet, but…….”

“Oh.”

“But as I work on it, my arm keeps taking strain and blood keeps pooling.”

“Hmm.”

“Why is that? The hammer is on the heavier side, but I’ve never had it strain me before. Should I make some kind of protective gear and wear it?”

“If you ask me.”

“Yes.”

“I think the problem might be with your body itself.”

“My body?”

“That’s right.”

“I know my own body well. I’m practically the incarnation of Hua Tuo, the Divine Physician.”

“No, no. That’s not the kind of problem I mean.”

“Pardon……?”

“I think it might be a durability issue with your body.”

“Dura……bility?”

“Yeah. I may not know blacksmithing as well as you do, but I’ve spent more time handling herbs than you have. So here’s what I think…….”

“My body’s durability is insufficient. That’s it, isn’t it.”

“Right. Blacksmithing is tough work. And no matter how much of a Hunter you are, with a high Total Ability that lets you take hits from monsters, your wrists and ankles are bound to take strain. Especially for something like that bracelet—you have to twist that heavy hammer this way and that, and doing that, strain is inevitable, wouldn’t you say?”

“Now that you mention it, that does seem to be it.”

“That’s just my take.”

“No, I think you’re right. Combining everything I know about acupuncture, herbal medicine, and Metallurgy, I can’t think of any other reason.”

“Well, that’s a relief then.”

“Hey, bring that one in.”

At that, the door opened, and three men walked in, escorting a woman.