Chapter 36: The Soul-Forged Factory

[Using Production Skill.]

[Please select the shape of the item to craft.]

With materials to spare, I crafted items leisurely.

The first item created was—

[Crafting is complete.]

[‘Sound-Absorbing Statue’ has been obtained.]

A Sound-Absorbing Statue.

With people still living below the 3rd floor, this statue absorbs noise and provides buffs.

The second item crafted was—

[Crafting is complete.]

[‘Blacksmith’s Work Clothes Top’ has been obtained.]

Blacksmith’s Work Clothes.

Like the other assistants, these were specialized for one field.

Finally, after crafting the ‘Blacksmith’s Hammer’—

[Blacksmith’s Work Clothes Top is infused with the Blacksmith’s Soul.]

[Blacksmith’s Work Clothes Bottom is infused with the Blacksmith’s Soul.]

[The Blacksmith’s Soul takes form.]

I used the Blacksmith’s Soul skill.

Then—

Whoosh.

Ugh.

Unlike usual, I felt an intense sensation, as if something massive left my body.

I staggered momentarily.

The reason appeared in the system message.

[All uses of Blacksmith’s Soul have been exhausted.]

[To use Blacksmith’s Soul again, increase your level to enhance your soul’s power.]

[Blacksmith’s Soul uses: 4/4]

[One additional use is gained every 5 levels.]

A usage limit.

It makes sense.

A skill this overpowered wouldn’t be unrestricted.

Without limits, I’d be a one-man necromancer army.

A pity, but one extra use every 5 levels is valuable.

[Please name the Blacksmith’s Soul.]

“Disassembler 1.”

[The Blacksmith’s Soul is named ‘Disassembler 1’.]

Disassembler 1 moved.

It bowed in greeting, and I took it not to the warehouse-workshop but—

“They’re your colleagues, so get along. This is like a lounge, so rest here when idle.”

“Understood.”

They’re colleagues, so I should introduce them, right?

Next, to 403.

The warehouse storing Mine materials.

I set up the Sound-Absorbing Statue in a suitable spot and crafted an anvil for it.

Then—

“Now, you just disassemble here. Got it?”

“Understood.”

Time to give orders.

I could handle crafting for now, so I assigned Disassembler 1 to item disassembly.

Disassembling iron ore into iron scraps.

Disassembling tough silk threads into tough fibers.

Simple, repetitive tasks.

I was slightly worried about its skill.

Clang!

“Whoa, nice job. Keep doing that.”

Disassembler 1 began disassembling items like a seasoned artisan.

Likely due to the blacksmith-specific work clothes and hammer boosting its abilities.

“Ts, this is a one-man factory, huh?”

With roles assigned, it was done.

When the Mine opens, I can send assistants to gather materials and level up—auto-hunting mode activated.

Thus, I could focus on—

“What to craft first?”

Like a true blacksmith, I could concentrate on crafting.

After another lavish meal, I lay on my bed, checking the system.

My Vulcanus Forge.

Its popularity soared, reaching 5th place without much effort.

I could’ve ranked higher with more sales, but unlike other blacksmiths, I gather materials myself from the Mine, limiting quantity.

“Still, 5th place is impressive.”

I hadn’t managed it properly.

Just set up a page, and skill and word-of-mouth got me to 5th.

Even Kang Ho-duk’s forge doesn’t make SSS-grade items like me.

With a bit more effort, I might hit 1st.

“Let’s check commissions.”

Vulcanus Forge’s commission section.

Thousands, tens of thousands of requests were listed.

[Rank 98, Explosive Archer. I was impressed by Cheongung’s quiver. If you could make mine too…]

[Hello, Vulcanus. Iron Wall Guild here. We’d like a bulk order of our signature Tower Shields…]

[Contacting Vulcanus to propose joining the Repair Guild.]

“So many.”

With so many commissions, the variety was vast.

Some, claiming to be rankers, wanted gear like Cheongung or Berserker.

Others requested guild equipment.

Some posed as clients to offer guild memberships.

With so many, I didn’t know what to pick.

So, I changed the sorting.

From newest to highest commission price.

“Not bad. I’ll sort like this from now on.”

Sorting by price filtered out most junk requests.

I also excluded weapons or armor I couldn’t make yet.

Commissions matching my filter appeared.

Reading the top one, I was stunned.

[From Han Yura of the Hunter Association.]

“Han Yura? Wait, the Han Yura from the Hunter Association…”

I’ve studied a bit, but I know few Hunters.

Maybe ten top-rankers at most.

Only names like Berserker or Cheongung stand out.

So, a familiar name was exciting.

Especially Han Yura from the Hunter Association.

“Swordmaster Han Yura?”

Korea’s pride, the strongest Hunter.

The symbol of the Hunter Association, who reached Rank 1 purely with swordsmanship.

Swordmaster Han Yura’s name was there.

Hunter Association.

A government agency established to handle Gates and monsters.

It detects Gates and monsters, commissions guilds for raids, and sends national Hunters to protect citizens where guilds can’t reach.

It’s well-regarded by the public, but not by Hunters.

“Those crooks, how much commission do they skim?”

“Exactly. Protect citizens? They’re just obsessed with cracking down on illegal mana stone sales. How many Gates do they think we clear?”

“Ease the regulations. Without their cut, my salary’s first digit would change.”

Mana stones from Gates can only be sold through the Hunter Association.

Other transactions are illegal.

The Association funds itself this way to manage Gates and monsters.

It’s for public safety, but Hunters resent it.

Yet, Hunters quietly follow the Association’s rules.

Why?

The Association’s symbol.

No, Korea’s symbol—Rank 1 Hunter.

Swordmaster Han Yura.

“President, any word from Kang Ho-duk’s forge?”

Neat suit.

Short hair for combat.

A sword at her waist, eyes sharp as blades.

Rank 1 Hunter, known as Swordmaster, Han Yura faced the Association’s president.

“Hmm, they declined. Said they’re busy, but likely lack the skill.”

“Really?”

“Even for Kang Ho-duk, Korea’s top blacksmith, repairing SSS-grade gear above his level is daunting. Failure could ruin his reputation.”

An item even Kang Ho-duk refused to repair.

What item was it?

The answer lay on the desk.

[Dawn]

[Twilight]

SSS-grade set items, Dawn and Twilight.

A sword and scabbard set.

Recently, Han Yura obtained them from an SSS-grade Gate cleared in a joint raid with the five major guilds.

Despite opposition, she secured them with the government’s name and her raid contribution.

Called Swordmaster (Inspector), she wielded swords or blades without distinction, so she had no reason to pass up such fine blades.

But there was a problem.

“Hmm, tricky. They only unleash SSS-grade power when used together. If repaired, they’d maximize your strength.”

Dawn and Twilight.

The scabbard, Twilight, was broken when acquired.

Using Dawn alone was possible, but it wouldn’t unleash even half its power.

She’d rather use her current weapon.

She thought repair would be easy, but who knew Kang Ho-duk would give up?

“What about overseas?”

“You know how it is. Gate occurrences are up, and countries are struggling with their own. Forges are state-backed, rarely taking foreign requests.”

“So, no options?”

A shame.

She wasn’t usually greedy, but as a swordswoman, not using a master blade before her was frustrating.

Then, the president cautiously suggested—

“How about entrusting it to Vulcanus?”

“Vulcanus…”

She’d heard the name.

Vulcanus.

A blacksmith who appeared like a comet, crafting SSS-grade gear for Cheongung and Berserker.

Recently, Cheongryong commissioned an SSS-grade orb, joining the competition, shifting ranks 2 to 4 daily.

But—

“I heard their level is low.”

Per Association intel, Vulcanus’ level was roughly 10 to 40.

Their items matched that range.

Though their growth speed was impressive, it wasn’t enough for Twilight.

Twilight was a Level 300 restricted item.

A botched repair could destroy it.

“Low level, sure, but they’ve made SSS-grade gear. They say repairs aren’t heavily level-restricted.”

“Not heavily, but not unaffected.”

“Still, we have no other options.”

“How about this?”

“This?”

The president carefully presented an item.

[Second Chance]

Second Chance.

She knew it.

A rare item that restores a destroyed item once.

“With this, it’s worth a try.”

Second Chance.

Quite expensive.

No, very expensive.

For the cash-strapped Hunter Association, it was hard to obtain.

Offering it showed how much the president valued her.

With this, she had to agree.

“…Please proceed.”

That day, a commission from the Hunter Association arrived at Vulcanus Forge.