Chapter 17: The Path to the Blacksmith of the Battlefield

The situation was much better than when they fought the elite alone. 

Back then, their equipment was worse, they had to deal with regular stone goblins, and the elite’s health was at 100%. 

Now, their equipment was better, there were no regular goblins, and the elite’s health was likely significantly reduced. 

The fleeing user ran past Kang Ju-ho and Kim Seok-ju. 

“Seok-ju, buffs.” 

Kang Ju-ho stepped forward and called out to Kim Seok-ju. 

“Physical Enhancement, Attribute Enchantment, Defense Boost.” 

[Physical attack power increased by 26% for 3 minutes.] 

[Weapon enchanted with water attribute for 3 minutes.] 

[Shield equipped.] 

[Shield enchanted with water attribute for 3 minutes.] 

[All defense increased by 10% for 2 minutes.] 

“Save the shackles?” 

“Yeah, save them. We need to take it down in one hit.” 

They didn’t know how much health the elite had left. 

If they used shackles and dealt massive damage, triggering its Blood state, fighting it without shackles would be dangerous, even with their improved gear. 

The elite goblin arrived and swung its metal club at Kang Ju-ho. 

Boom! 

He blocked with his shield and checked his health. 

The attack had taken 250 health. 

‘Raising defense was worth it.’

As the elite’s health decreased, its attack power increased. 

The previous elite, at 100% health, dealt 300 damage. 

The effort to boost defense had paid off. 

Kang Ju-ho swung his hammer at the elite. 

Moments later: 

“Seok-ju!” 

The elite’s skin began turning red—it was entering Blood state. 

“Attribute Shackles!” 

At Kang Ju-ho’s call, Kim Seok-ju cast Attribute Shackles as if he’d been waiting. 

A stream of water bound the elite. 

Kang Ju-ho widened the distance. 

He needed space to maximize charge damage. 

Reaching the optimal range, he charged at the elite.  

Boom! 

His shield bash landed, and the elite floated briefly before falling. 

The drop window updated. 

Kang Ju-ho checked it immediately, eager to see what gear dropped. 

But his excitement faded. 

‘….’

No gear was listed. 

“Did you get anything?” 

He asked Kim Seok-ju. 

“Nope.” 

Kim Seok-ju shook his head. 

A brief silence followed. 

“Let’s go.” 

“Yup!” 

Leaving their disappointment behind, Kang Ju-ho and Kim Seok-ju moved on to find the next target. 

*** 

“Heal, please!” 

Kwon Na-yeon shouted. 

“Heal!” 

“Fast Heal!” 

The two healers, Nab and Deathking, cast their heals from behind. 

Kwon Na-yeon’s nearly depleted health surged back up, and she dodged an orc’s club while swinging her massive two-handed sword. 

Slash!  

The sword cut through the orc’s chest. 

Thump!

The orc collapsed, and Kwon Na-yeon scanned her surroundings. 

Two shield-wielding men were each fending off two orcs, focusing on defense. 

“Seong-ju, I’ll take one orc.” 

She approached Kim Seong-ju, who was closer, and spoke. 

Kwon Na-yeon was hunting with two tanks and two healers, but not in a party. 

She’d hired them for faster growth, keeping all the orc experience for herself. 

‘Two hours should get me to the next area.’ 

She smiled. 

At her current experience rate, she’d hit level 60 in two hours, allowing her to move to the next hunting ground. 

‘It’s a shame I won’t get support there.’ 

Hunting with support was ideal for growth, but the next area lacked users strong enough to assist. 

Even her current supporters were over 10 levels below her. 

From now on, she’d hunt with her original party members, who were also hiring help to level up quickly, so level gaps weren’t a concern. 

Reaching Kim Seong-ju, Kwon Na-yeon swung her two-handed sword at the orc. 

Slash!

The orc, distracted by Kim Seong-ju, couldn’t block, and her sword sliced deeply into its back. 

-@#%!@ 

The orc roared, turning to swing its crude iron sword at her. 

Kwon Na-yeon didn’t dodge. 

With healers on standby, attacking was more efficient than dodging. 

Slash! Slash!

They traded blows. 

After a few exchanges, the orc fell. 

A message appeared. 

Kwon Na-yeon, about to swing at the next orc, froze upon seeing it. 

‘…What?’

She looked puzzled. 

[Level Up!] 

[Class Change Quest ‘Blood Knight’ has been generated.] 

‘Special class?’ 

A class change quest had appeared, and the class, Blood Knight, was clearly a special one. 

She opened the quest window. 

<Class Change – Blood Knight> 

You have reached level 50 without using the Knight’s Body skill. 

You are qualified to become a Blood Knight. 

Prove your strength through relentless hunting! 

[Level: 50 / 70] 

[Monsters: 0 / 10,000] 

Quest Reward: Class Change – Blood Knight 

Using Knight’s Body skill will cancel the quest. 

Class change will reset class skills. 

‘Level 70 without Knight’s Body?’

Learning the special class condition, Kwon Na-yeon’s expression turned incredulous. 

‘Are they insane?’ 

The Knight’s Body skill, a default for Knights, restored 30% health over 10 seconds. 

It was essential for Knights. 

Yet, the quest required reaching level 50 without using it? 

‘If I hadn’t hired healers…’ 

She hadn’t used Knight’s Body because standing still for it was inefficient with two hired healers. 

Without them, she wouldn’t have gotten the quest. 

‘What do I do?’ 

She pondered the quest. 

Blood Knight was a special class, but no information was public. 

She’d have to figure it out herself. 

If its performance was poor, she might need to restart, which would be a huge setback. 

‘But it’s a special class.’

Her hesitation didn’t last long. 

Despite the risk, she believed a special class with such a tough condition was unlikely to be weak. 

Kwon Na-yeon closed the quest window and swung her sword, slicing the back of the orc Kim Seong-ju was fighting. 

‘What class did that guy choose?’

While fighting, she thought of a man—Kang Ju-ho, her constant rival in the PC era. 

She wondered what class he’d picked. 

‘This time, for sure…’

As the orc fell, she resolved to defeat Kang Ju-ho, just like the orc. 

***

Thud!

-!@#$!@ 

A stone goblin screamed and collapsed. 

As it fell, Kim Seok-ju shouted, 

“Hyung, I leveled up!” 

He’d finally reached level 40. 

It was time to prepare and move to the next hunting ground, Desolate Tomb. 

“Okay! Let’s wrap up and head out!” 

Kang Ju-ho responded, swinging his hammer. 

The fight wasn’t over yet. 

Three goblins were still swinging their clubs. 

He focused on the battle. 

-!@#@# 

Thump!

The last goblin fell, and Kang Ju-ho and Kim Seok-ju headed out of the forest. 

“No recall scrolls is such a hassle,” Kim Seok-ju said as they walked toward Villeme. 

In the PC era, recall scrolls were sold in shops, allowing instant travel to cities or villages. 

In Virtual Earth, shops didn’t sell them. 

Travel took too long. 

Recall and warp scrolls existed, per the guide, but their acquisition method was unknown. 

“Yeah, they’re Hero-grade, so they’ll be tough to get.” 

Recall scrolls, Common-grade in the PC era, were now Hero-grade in Virtual Earth—a three-tier jump. 

Movement scrolls likely couldn’t be used as freely as before. 

Chatting, they left the forest and reached Villeme. 

“See you later!” 

“Yup, meet at the East Gate!” 

In Villeme, they went to the market street, sold their byproducts, bought antidote potions and other necessities, and headed to the production and magic streets. 

While walking, Kang Ju-ho opened his quest window. 

<Class Change – Blacksmith of the Battlefield> 

You have reached level 30 solely through hunting, without crafting minerals or equipment. 

You are qualified to become a Blacksmith of the Battlefield. 

Prove your strength through relentless hunting! 

[Level: 40 / 50] 

[Quest Reward: Class Change – Blacksmith of the Battlefield] 

[Crafting minerals or equipment will result in quest failure.] 

[Class change will reset class skills.] 

Just 10 more levels, and he could become the Blacksmith of the Battlefield. 

‘What kind of class is it?’ 

He was excited to see how the special class differed from the regular Blacksmith. 

‘Can I do it today?’ 

He checked the time. 

‘If I stay late, maybe..’ 

Logging out on schedule wouldn’t get him to 50. 

But hunting longer, like the first day, could. 

‘I’ll ask Seok-ju.’ 

If he logged out on schedule, regret would keep him awake. 

He decided to ask Kim Seok-ju later and closed the quest window. 

[You have entered Toben’s Blacksmith Shop.] 

At the blacksmith, Kang Ju-ho went straight to Toben for repairs. 

[52 gold has been consumed.] 

[Repairs will be canceled if you leave the blacksmith shop.] 

-2:47 

-2:46 

With more items but less durability loss, the repair time was shorter. 

During the wait, he went to the equipment display and began inspecting hammers. 

As he did, a voice called out. 

“Excuse me…” 

Kang Ju-ho glanced back. 

A man was looking at him with sparkling eyes. 

“Yes?” 

Kang Ju-ho responded. 

The man continued, 

“Are you looking for a hammer?”