Chapter 33: Forging the Living Lumberjack

[Using Production Skill.]

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

“An axe.”

[Please specify the details of the axe’s shape.]

Details, huh.

Just as swords come in various types, axes have their varieties too.

Single-handed or two-handed, double-edged, battle axes, throwing axes, and so on.

I chose a two-handed single-edged axe.

It seemed the best fit for logging.

[Please choose the material for the axe.]

I selected materials straightforwardly.

The axe head was made from a sturdy, heavy ore, while the handle used a strong but lighter ore.

A wooden handle would’ve been ideal, but I didn’t have wood yet, so I made do.

[Crafting is complete.]

[‘Sturdy Logging Iron Axe’ has been obtained.]

The result—

A straightforward S-grade iron axe.

Solid and sturdy, it looked perfect for logging.

The issue?

“It’s heavier than I thought.”

Being a two-handed axe, it was large, and as a solid iron axe, it was quite heavy.

My stats had improved with leveling, but the weight was noticeable for prolonged work.

A pity, but unavoidable.

I’d make a lighter axe with a wooden handle after logging.

For now—

Thwack!

I started logging.

Logging felt unfamiliar at first, but soon—

[Your class ‘Blacksmith’ has been influenced by ‘Hephaestus’ Descendant (SSS)’, creating the profession skill ‘Logging’.]

The Logging skill was born.

Swinging the axe became much easier.

That said, chopping any tree didn’t yield results.

Like finding ore veins or silk threads, I used Hephaestus’ Descendant to locate loggable trees and swung the axe.

The heavy axe was tiring, but its solid iron construction was powerful, cutting through trees efficiently.

Soon, I found a distinctive tree among the wall’s ordinary ones.

Hitting it hard—

[Shade Tree]

A material dropped.

Shade Tree.

A fantastical tree that doesn’t exist in reality.

Of course, it wasn’t the only type.

Common woods like paulownia and oak also appeared.

Even so, these were proper items, far superior to real-world wood.

“It’s about time for a cry.”

Sure enough, a Golem approached from the distance.

Its form was similar to Area 1’s Ore Golems and Area 2’s Silk Golems.

A Golem made entirely of wood, fitting Area 3’s theme.

My work clothes boosted defense during production activities, so logging now gave me high defense.

It could block most attacks.

Then—

Clatter.

The Wood Golem produced something from its hands.

A wooden sword?

A wooden sword in its right hand and a wooden shield in its left.

Unlike Silk Golems, which rushed recklessly, it took a proper combat stance, approaching cautiously like a trained soldier.

“Pretty serious, huh?”

It looked strong, but I trusted my work clothes’ performance.

They might not shine in regular combat, but during production activities like logging, their defense was top-notch, capable of blocking even daggers.

And in my hands was a heavy iron axe, perfect for smashing a Wood Golem.

“Hand over your materials!”

That day, I spent the Mine’s remaining time hunting Wood Golems.

“Phew, refreshing.”

I finished logging and left the Mine.

My first time in Area 3.

As a wood-based area, I gathered various wood materials.

“Shall we have gukbap tonight?”

I opened the delivery app, and soon, gukbap arrived.

Not just any gukbap, of course.

A large serving of boiled pork, sliced pork, and traditional sundae.

Not regular gukbap, but special deluxe gukbap.

Stirring it with chopsticks, the meat and offal inside looked mouthwatering.

“Nothing beats gukbap when you’re starving.”

Hearty meat.

Chewy sliced pork.

Savory sundae.

And perfectly boiled pork.

With side dishes like chili peppers and garlic, my stomach and weary heart felt full.

Another complete meal.

If this were the past, I’d have challenged a mukbang YouTuber with this amount.

After devouring it all in one sitting—

“Let’s check the skill.”

As mentioned after defeating the spider, I checked the new skill at Level 25.

Blacksmith’s Soul.

The name immediately brought to mind ‘Ego Weapon’.

In old novels, protagonists bantered with soul-infused weapons.

But checking the skill window, Blacksmith’s Soul was completely different from what I’d imagined.

[Blacksmith’s Soul]

Infuses crafted equipment with the blacksmith’s soul, creating Hephaestus’ Assistant.

Assistant?

What does that mean?

“So, it makes a Living Armor?”

It wasn’t certain, but the description suggested as much.

Living Armor.

Also called animated armor, a well-known monster.

As the name implies, it’s armor that moves on its own without a wearer.

They’re notoriously hard to deal with due to their lack of clear weaknesses.

Making a Living Armor as a blacksmith?

I’d never heard or seen such a thing.

“If this works, it’s a game-changer!”

For a moment, I imagined its uses.

First, combat.

Like the monster Living Armor, crafting an aggressive one to fight Mine Golems or boss monsters would be great.

Boss monsters are getting too strong for me alone, so a combat Living Armor would be reassuring.

Second, mining.

The Mine’s time limit is now 8 hours, but I can’t mine all day.

A mining, spinning, or logging Golem would save time.

Third, crafting and disassembly.

Having it assist with crafting to boost Vulcanus Forge’s production.

Any of these would greatly aid my future endeavors.

“This is huge!”

Imagining is fine, but action is better.

I decided what to make.

[Using Production Skill.]

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

“An axe! And what did a lumberjack’s work clothes look like?”

An axe and work clothes for logging.

A Living Armor to handle logging and Golem hunting in Area 3.

That was my first Living Armor.

[Crafting is complete.]

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

[Lumberjack’s Work Clothes Top]

Type: Top

Grade: SS

Restriction: Hephaestus’ Descendant

Description: Work clothes crafted by Hephaestus’ Descendant for their assistant, designed for logging.

Defense: 100

Abilities:

1. Work – Greatly increases efficiency when using the Logging skill.
   
2. Safety – Greatly increases defense when using the Logging skill or performing related actions.
   
3. Labor – Greatly increases attack power when using the Logging skill or performing related actions.
   
4. Training – Logging speed increases proportional to the number of trees cut.
   

Nice.

I crafted exactly what I wanted.

Lumberjack’s Work Clothes.

Unlike my usual work clothes, which boost all production activities, these outperform during logging.

“Keep going!”

[Crafting is complete.]

[‘Lumberjack’s Work Clothes Bottom’ has been obtained.]

[Crafting is complete.]

[‘Lumberjack’s Work Gloves’ has been obtained.]

[Crafting is complete.]

[‘Lumberjack’s Work Cap’ has been obtained.]

Living Armor is literally animated armor.

Since it’s just armor, I needed to craft everything from boots to gloves and headgear.

After completing the work clothes and placing the original axe beside them—

“Ready!”

I was set to create the Living Armor.

Using a new skill was a first, but it’s just a skill.

I’d use it like always.

“Blacksmith’s Soul!”

No one’s watching in my room.

As I shouted the skill name—

Flash!

A sensation like something leaving my body, and a shimmering light was absorbed into the work clothes.

[The Blacksmith’s Soul is infused into Lumberjack’s Work Clothes Top.]

[The Blacksmith’s Soul is infused into Lumberjack’s Work Clothes Bottom.]

[The Blacksmith’s Soul is infused into Lumberjack’s Work Cap.]

The soul infused into all the equipment.

Then—

[The Blacksmith’s Soul takes form.]

The equipment on the floor connected.

The top and bottom joined, gloves attached to the arms, boots to the legs.

The gloves gripped the axe, and the cap floated above the top, bending its knees and slowly rising.

[Please name the Blacksmith’s Soul.]

A name?

I didn’t expect to name it.

I considered a cool name but thought I might make more Living Armors.

Cool names could be hard to remember later.

“Lumberjack 1.”

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

A straightforward, memorable name.

As the skill finished—

The work clothes stood.

No, Lumberjack 1.

Ooh.

It knelt on one knee and bowed its head toward me.

Well, the cap tilted slightly, but still.

Thus, a Living Armor was complete.

Unlike typical Living Armor, which evokes sturdy moving armor, Lumberjack 1 in work clothes was different.

“How do I control it? Can you stand?”

Yes.

Ooh.

Lumberjack 1 stood at my command.

Not only did it follow orders, it responded.

I thought Living Armor couldn’t speak.

Curious, I tried talking to it.

“Do you know your name?”

“Lumberjack… 1.”

“You don’t dislike it, right? I gave it in case you get more companions, but if you don’t like it, tell me.”

“I like it. Lumberjack… 1.”

Talking revealed its traits.

Fortunately or not, it lacked free will.

It strictly followed my orders.

For example—

“Anything you want to do?”

“Please give… orders.”

“Any order? Like 100 squats?”

“100 squats… commencing.”

“No, no, you don’t have to!”

It was born to obey.

As my assistant, that’s expected.

“What are you best at?”

“Cutting trees.”

“Hmm, really? Can you solve this?”

Maybe because it’s a lumberjack set, it considered logging its strength.

To test its intelligence, I opened a puzzle on my computer, but it couldn’t solve it.

Luckily, it followed instructions on how to solve it well.

It wasn’t a lack of intelligence but knowledge.

“Cool.”

It was fun.

Having someone—or something—to talk to after so long felt refreshing.

Can this be called ‘conversation’?

Why not?

It’s better than muttering to a volleyball in a castaway movie.

No offense.

My life’s like being stranded in my room.

Until Lumberjack 1, I was chatting with Ember.

“Shall we make some companions?”

Having made Lumberjack 1, I needed more.

[Crafting is complete.]

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

[Crafting is complete.]

[‘Miner’s Work Clothes Bottom’ has been obtained.]

I started crafting the next assistants.