Ding-

[Violet’s 103rd work has been born.]

A fierce light coiled around the longsword in Ha Gangwoo’s small hands.

[Severing Longsword]

Grade: B

Crafters: Violet

Durability: 215/215

Attack Power: 350

Agility: +115

Vitality: +121

Description: A longsword forged by ‘Violet’ under Stoss’ Teachings. Despite limited experience, the skill displayed is exceptional.

Effect

– Increases cutting power by 60% on attack.

Gangwoo looked at the sword in his hand and the corner of his mouth lifted.

A cleanly tempered blade, an old-fashioned hilt.

‘No way.’

Gangwoo gripped the longsword’s hilt with a creak and recalled all his hardships.

Starting from Stoss’ first trial—metal alloying—he’d learned how to hold a hammer, how to infuse Mana during forging, how to design an ideal weapon—so much.

*Straighten your back! Don’t just pound it—look and hit properly!*

Stoss’ teachings were harsh, but—

‘This is fun.’

Gangwoo found joy in that long journey of learning.

The delight of creating something from nothing in the void—it was as satisfying as growing through level-ups.

But that learning, too, was racing toward its end.

“Truly… you’re remarkable.”

Stoss clapped his hands twice—clap, clap—and stepped toward Ha Gangwoo.

The face that had been full of spite and stubbornness now held only one emotion.

“I admit it. You’re better than me. I’ll teach you everything I know.”

Relief.

Because he’d finally found the one who could take in everything he had to give.

And in that moment—his first and last recognition from Stoss—

Ding-

[Job-Change Quest: Stoss’ Teachings completed.]

[Class changed: Legendary Blacksmith!!!!]

[Advanced Blacksmith evolves into Legendary Blacksmith.]

A welcome chime rang in Ha Gangwoo’s ears.

Whoosh!!!

Ha Gangwoo furrowed his brow as a flood of knowledge poured into his skull.

“Ugh!”

Everything young Stoss had realized while forging weapons—his struggles, his agonies.

All those memories clawed through his brain, dragging pain in their wake.

Ha Gangwoo stared straight ahead through the dizzying ache.

Through a vision blurring with pain, Stoss’s face—smiling with satisfaction—burned onto his retina.

Then.

Ding-

[Job-Change examination ended.]

Pop-

‘…’

Ha Gangwoo found himself in a room that was all white.

At last, the long blacksmith job-change examination was over.

He grabbed his still-throbbing head and made a bitter face.

‘Is it really over…’

He felt his brow crease with regret.

Days of learning—he didn’t even know how many had passed.

What Ha Gangwoo had learned from Stoss wasn’t just technique.

“Don’t you swing carelessly! That hammer blow you just made—you can never undo it. Think of it as your last and concentrate, damn it!!!”

Stoss poured philosophy into even the smallest action.

That was why Ha Gangwoo considered him a true teacher of the forge.

But in that moment of recognition—without even a proper goodbye, with the test ending so emptily—

He felt a mix of relief and regret.

‘Snap out of it.’

Ha Gangwoo gripped the longsword in his hand and lifted his head.

‘How many days has it been?’

The exam had run longer than expected; he needed to assess the outside situation.

Ha Gangwoo stowed the longsword in his Inventory and walked slowly forward.

From his lowered perspective, he spotted six shadows and two figures.

“Just like I left it.”

The practice room was exactly as it had been before he’d logged in through Blue’s body.

Six Ruin Constructs radiating alien darkness. Ru in a boy’s form. His main body lying as if asleep.

The only difference—

‘Did Mimic do that?’

—was the blanket and pillow draped over Ha Gangwoo’s main body.

Seeing himself like that, Ha Gangwoo smiled with satisfaction.

Because he could dimly sense it.

What Mimic was doing right now. What she was thinking.

And so Ha Gangwoo acted immediately.

Ding-

[You have logged out from Violet.]

A dizzying darkness flashed across his retinas—then, with a soft sigh, he blinked, and the ceiling of his room replaced the void.

His mind was clear, as if waking from a deep nap; his mood soared, light as air.

Ha Gangwoo slipped out from under the covers and grabbed his phone.

‘A month, huh.’

Messages clogged the screen—a flood of them.

Starting with the Association Academy Department, then Emily Nancy, and even Kandon Elysifer.

He’d been trapped inside the Job-Change exam for an entire month.

There was a mountain of things to catch up on, but only one priority.

He pushed his stiff body upright and stretched, spine cracking in a long, satisfying arc.

“Alright, let’s see what I can do.”

A full month’s worth of blacksmithing techniques—and now the title ‘Legend’ was his. Time to find out what kind of items he could actually forge.

Rolling his shoulders, Gangwoo took a step forward.

‘First, I need to set up the Smithy.’

***

Perk!

Mimic’s tiny ear twitched.

“What’s up?”

Beside her, her desk mate—a little girl—asked.

“Huh? Nothing.”

Mimic answered quickly and stared straight ahead.

—That concludes today’s lesson.

Mimic was sitting in an Association-run Academy classroom.

During the month Gangwoo had been asleep, she’d adapted to society all on her own.

Registration at the Association, tuition payments, managing Ha Jiyeon’s hospital room—plenty of work. But right now, Mimic had other things on her mind.

The bell signaling the end of class rang out.

“Done!”

Mimic seemed in a particularly good mood today. She beamed, stepping out into the Academy hallway.

“Hey! Stop right there!”

A boy blocked her path.

“Let’s fight!”

His name was Yoo Junsik—the boy who’d entered the Academy ranked second, thanks to Mimic.

For a full month, Yoo Junsik hadn’t missed a single day challenging her to a duel.

“Fine!”

Mimic of course never refused. And today was no different—WHAK!!! Her tiny fist slammed into Yoo Junsik’s face.

“Gahk…”

Yoo Junsik sprawled across the hallway floor, and the challenge was over.

“He showed up again today. Gotta give him credit for persistence. Suha, wanna hit the noraebang?”

“Sure!”

The students watching it all just carried on, treating it like any other day.

‘Damn it…’

Yoo Junsik grit his teeth, barely containing his frustration.

Grinning—

Mimic, as if nothing could ruin her mood, was all smiles as she walked away with a light step.

“I’m here!”

Had she walked about twenty minutes?

Mimic stood in front of an upscale restaurant.

The same place where she’d first met Yoo Ayoung.

Thump-thump—

She looked more excited than ever. Without a moment’s hesitation, she pushed open the restaurant’s door. Creak—

A sweet, fragrant scent tickled Mimic’s nose the moment she stepped inside.

“Over here!”

As Mimic entered the restaurant, a lovely voice called to her from a table in the back.

“Yes!”

The woman was none other than Chae Seohyun.

The reason Mimic seemed especially cheerful today—she had plans with Chae Seohyun.

And at this very restaurant, which served the best food she’d ever tasted.

Whether from growing used to social settings, Mimic didn’t run through the restaurant.

Instead, she walked—step, step—and plopped down into the seat across from Seohyun.

“Hello.”

Mimic dipped her head in a polite bow.

Over the past month while Ha Gangwoo was away, Mimic had kept up these private meetings with Chae Seohyun.

Maybe that was why.

“What did you learn today?”

Chae Seohyun felt comfortable around Mimic too, and asked the question naturally.

“Today we learned about emission-type Gates! And about the personality of NPC Antero who appears on Tutorial Floor 1!”

Like a real child, Mimic began to explain everything she’d learned, item by item.

Watching her, Chae Seohyun smiled a bitter smile.

Then she got straight to the point.

“Is your dad still sleeping?”

Chae Seohyun had to enter the Scenario again after today, so she wanted to address the strangeness she’d felt about Mimic all month.

For this past month, something about Mimic had struck Chae Seohyun as off.

Mik’s hair was always mussed, as if she couldn’t remember when she’d last washed it, and her clothes were dirty, like she’d been neglected.

Which made Chae Seohyun wonder about Mik’s guardian.

*—What’s your dad doing?*

For an entire month, Mimic’s answer had always been the same.

*—He’s sleeping!*

Asleep.

Wasn’t that strange? Whether he really was asleep, or whether it meant something else.

Chae Seohyun asked again to be sure.

“He woke up!”

“Huh?”

But the answer that came back was different.

“He woke up and he’s preparing something!”

Was that it? Mimic seemed especially happy today.

***

*Whoosh—*

A furnace blazed fiercely.

A clean anvil, even a hammer.

Ha Gangwoo looked around with a satisfied smile.

‘They really have everything.’

Ha Gangwoo couldn’t help but marvel at My Room’s features once again.

[Interior] [Open Room] [Additional Settings]

Adding a room was one thing.

[Please set the interior.]

[Wallpaper][Furniture][Decorations][Other]

The various items in the interior section truly had everything.

From the furnace needed for a smithy to all kinds of grinders.

[51,040,000 Gold has been used.]

He’d spent a sizable amount of Gold, but Ha Gangwoo’s expression was excited.

Because he was curious.

Before the Job Change, hadn’t he crafted a B-Rank Artifact with just the skills of a high-grade Blacksmith?

And now, with the Legendary Blacksmith job and Stoss’s techniques engraved into his body.

What kind of item could I make now?

Thump—thump—

Ha Gangwoo’s face flushed as he activated the skill immediately.

Ding—

[Login used.]

Fwip—

Ha Gangwoo checked the Status Window from his lowered vantage point.

[Violet]

Grade: F

Type: Ruin Construct

Class: Legendary Blacksmith

Level: 76

HP: 100/100

MP: 10/10

Strength: 10

Agility: 10

Vitality: 10

Mana: 10

Sense: 210

Luck: 335

The level, of course, was the same. The stat points had all been poured into Sense and Luck—the two essential stats for a blacksmith.

And that investment had already yielded a B-grade Artifact.

But what Gangwoo was curious about now wasn’t the stats.

Skill: [Legendary Blacksmith]

Class Skill: [Stoss’ Teachings]

The class skill and the evolved Legendary Blacksmith class itself.

Thump—thump—

What kind of effects would they have?

Gangwoo checked the skills right away.

Ding—

[Legendary Blacksmith]

Grade: L

Type: Passive

MP Cost: 10~ (Increases according to the grade of the completed item.)

Effect

-Imbues crafted items with the light of an Artifact.

[Stoss’ Teachings]

Grade: H

Type: Passive

Effect: Grants the body Stoss’ Secret Art. Every motion, every judgment, every technique of Stoss is etched into the flesh.

“Whoa…”

Ha Gangwoo stared at his two new skills, unable to close his mouth.

The Blacksmith title that had only been Advanced was now a staggering L-Grade, and the brand-new class skill was outright broken.

To think he could absorb all of Stoss’ vast experience without any extra effort or time.

‘So this is why Mimic was so strong.’

Mimic had had a skill similar to Stoss’ Teachings, hadn’t she? Now that he had learned a comparable skill himself, losing to her felt almost inevitable.

‘I wonder what the next class skill will be.’

Class skills came every ten levels, didn’t they?

The Ruin Construct Violet was level 76.

The moment she hit level 80, the next class skill after Stoss’ Teachings would unlock.

He wanted to level up right then, but—

‘Let’s craft.’

Thump—thump—

Ha Gangwoo stepped up to the anvil.

[Anvil][E]

Grade: ???

Description: An anvil released in celebration of Enhancement Day! A powerful force dwells within, making every hammer blow more satisfying.

Effect

-Enhancement probability +10%.

-Repair probability +80%.

-Grants the Destruction Prevention effect.

-Has a 1% chance of granting a Great Success effect.

[Hammer of Blessing][E]

Grade: ???

Durability: ∞/∞

Proficiency: 5

Description: An Enhancement Hammer released in celebration of Enhancement Day! Depending on Proficiency, you gain beneficial effects for Enhancement.

Effects

-Consumes Gold to Enhance an item after striking it 4 times.

-Perfect Hammering adds an additional 1% to the Enhancement success rate.

-[Proficiency 1 ….] → Enhancement success rate +3%.

-[Proficiency 2 ….] → Perfect Hammering adds an additional 3% to the Enhancement success rate.

-[Proficiency 3 ….] → On Enhancement failure, the success rate increases.

-[Proficiency 4 ….] → Perfect Hammers reduces the item destruction chance by 95%.

-[Proficiency 5 ….] → Consecutive Perfect Hammering successes stack an accumulating effect.

The equipment’s condition was flawless, peak-grade.

Crafting items right now might be inefficient, but the *squish*—the grip of the hammer in his hand alone confirmed it.

He was certain he could make an item that would put everything he’d made so far to shame.

So Ha Gangwoo opened the Auction House then and there, rifling through the materials.

Ding-

[500,000 Gold spent.]

[13,500,000 Gold spent.]

[43,500,000 Gold spent.]

……..

…..

….

.

He went berserk on crafting ingredients, buying them out by the batch.

***

Whoosh—

A fierce bloom of flame roared to life before the forge.

Ha Gangwoo stood at the anvil in Violet’s small body.

Thump-thump—

Everything was ready. Dozens of ores, the gem he’d need for tempering—all laid out.

‘Is this even going to work?’

But the tension etched on Ha Gangwoo’s face came from another reason entirely.

[Trait: Blessing of Ruin]

Grade: F

Type: Active

Effect: Absorbs Ruin’s darkness into the item.

It was because of the Ruin Construct: Violet’s Trait.

The reason I’d deliberately given the title of Legendary Blacksmith to Violet, an F-grade Ruin Construct.

That was tied to Violet’s Trait.

Violet’s Trait, ‘Blessing of Ruin,’ was truly awful in its effect.

Ding-

[Blessing of Ruin has been activated.]

[Severing Longsword]

Grade: B

Crafter: Violet

Durability: 215/215

Attack Power: 350

Agility: +115

Vitality: +121

Description: A longsword crafted by ‘Violet,’ who was taught under Stoss’ Teachings. Despite lacking experience, the skill displayed is remarkably outstanding.

Effects

– Cutting power increases by 60% on attack.

– Bestows the effect of Blessing of Ruin. (59 min 59 sec)

*Blessing of Ruin (59 min 59 sec)

– Releases Ruin’s darkness on attack.

– Attack Power +35

– Agility +11

– Vitality +12

Even just Ru’s Trait, Sphere of Ruin, had incredible utility—wasn’t that proof enough?

But for Blue, an F-grade Ruin Construct, that Buff was her only Trait.

It only applied the Ruin’s Darkness effect to an item and boosted its performance by 10%. That was it.

A garbage trait, fitting for F-grade.

But Ha Gangwoo saw that trait and knew it for certain.

‘There’ll be synergy.’

If this skill met his crafting skills, something would happen. He was sure of it.

That was why he’d given Violet—a Ruin Construct—a job.

*Thump-thump.*

And now, this craft would prove it.

What exactly would happen when Blessing of Ruin met the Legendary Blacksmith? What kind of synergy would that spark?

Heart pounding with tension, Gangwoo picked up a single mineral.

*Ding-*

[Rupicel Mineral]

Grade: ???

Description: A mineral found only in the deepest reaches of Rupicel’s caves. Known to be the hardest substance in the world.

It was the ore from the Tutorial’s third floor—the Lucky Pouch of Crisis.

This item was the ore for his first craft.

‘First, the blade.’

Without hesitation, Gangwoo tossed the mineral into the forge.

*Whoosh!* *Clang!!!!*

He began hammering the Rupicel Mineral, now glowing red-hot.