=========================================
SERIES: Regression of the Cursed Blacksmith
=========================================
Chapter 24 - The Hidden Danger
[ Enhanced Repair has been activated. ]
[ Deft Hands has been activated. ]
[ Super Focus has been activated. ]
He kept striking the sword.
Just like before, the sword began to glow, and just like with the Tutorial Sword, various colors started to appear.
The reason it was described as “various colors” was that, unlike the Tutorial Sword, the Wandering Knight's Sword possessed one additional option.
The option that granted a 10% increase in power when using sword-related skills.
The world called these “additional options,” or “additional abilities,” and used shortened terms for them.
“The blocks representing additional options usually glow gold.”
Of course, the color could vary depending on the type of additional option, but when there was only one, it was typically represented by a golden color.
And, naturally, using a Hammer of Materials, it was possible to separate just those parts.
Blacksmiths called this “option harvesting,” and it naturally required significantly higher mana and dexterity stats than regular material gathering.
“Of course, I have no intention of harvesting it right now though.”
Choi Hyun ignored the white and golden blocks, focusing his strikes on the murky-colored ones.
As he did, the contour-like lines began to shift into a grid pattern, and the additional skill he'd been waiting for had activated.
[ disassembly repair has been activated. ]
As disassembly repair activated, Choi Hyun's eyes gleamed.
This was where the important part began.
“Shall we begin?”
Choi Hyun immediately changed the shape of his hammer and began striking the murky blocks to remove the impurities.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The amount of impurities removed were similar to that of the Tutorial Sword.
After a while, having finished removing the impurities, Choi Hyun struck the solid lines, signaling the end of the process.
The grid pattern vanished, and the entire weapon began to give off a pure white colour.
From this point on, there was no reason to hesitate.
Choi Hyun struck the sword forcefully.
The light, which had begun to intensify, soon reached its peak and then vanished completely.
[ Repair complete. ]
[ You have succeeded in repairing the item. ]
[ Due to the effect of Enhanced Repair, the target has been fully repaired and some of its options have been improved. ]
[ Due to the effect of disassembly repair, unnecessary parts of the target have been removed and some of its options have been improved. ]
A series of success notifications popped up.
Choi Hyun lifted the repaired Wandering Knight's Sword and admired its form.
“Now this size is perfect to use.”
Its base type was a greatsword, but since it was crafted to fit the Wandering Knight's size, it had been a bit large for Choi Hyun.
However, with the impurities removed, its size had shrunk by about 25%, making it a perfect fit for him.
Choi Hyun immediately checked the sword's information.
[ Wandering Knight's Sword ]
- Type: Item
- Requirement: Level 40 or higher. *However, all usage restrictions are removed within the Tower of Growth.
- Durability: 1,755/1,755 (1,350+405)
- Attack Power: 253.5 (195+58.5)
- Option: 10% power increase when using sword-related skills.
# The sword used by the Wandering Knight, the guardian of the 40th floor of the Tower of Growth.
# Unnecessary parts have been removed by a skilled blacksmith, reducing its size but improving its performance.
# The improved performance will disappear if its durability drops below the original value.
“Whoa.”
A quiet exclamation of awe.
He couldn't help but be impressed.
The original Wandering Knight's Sword had 900 durability and 130 attack power.
But through disassembly repair, its size was reduced by 25%, and in exchange, its base durability and attack power increased by 50% each.
And that wasn't all. Enhanced Repair increased its total durability and attack power by another 30%, resulting in the birth of an absurd cheat item with a total durability of 1755 and 253.5 attack power.
“On top of that, since I mainly use sword techniques, if I add the 10% power increase from the bonus option…”
It could truly be considered an unprecedented item, exclusive to the Tower of Growth.
“With stats like these, what level would you even need to be to wield a weapon of this caliber?”
Whatever the case, among level 40 greatswords, it was undoubtedly the absolute strongest.
Considering the Tutorial Sword's stats were 260 durability and 26 attack power, well,
The durability is about 6 times higher, and the attack power is almost 10 times higher.
How could he not switch to it?
Choi Hyun said cheerfully as he lifted the sword.
“From now on, your name is Bang-geom.”
If he had just one more Wandering Knight's Sword, he could have used Combination Repair to create an even more perfect version of the sword.
But he couldn't return to a floor he had already cleared, and he certainly didn't want to climb the Tower of Growth all over again for just one sword.
With light steps, Choi Hyun headed for the portal connected to the 41st floor.
[ Moving to the 41st floor. ]
* * *
A good while had passed since Choi Hyun finished his press interview and entered the Tower of Growth.
Han Young-min had finally made a decision.
To kill Choi Hyun.
One hundred billion won.
Not just a few pennies, but a staggering one hundred billion.
He knew that breaking the record in the Tower of Growth was no easy feat, but Han Young-min didn't want to take the gamble.
Furthermore, he had a premonition that Choi Hyun might actually manage to break the record.
“I have to kill him before he gets any bigger.”
It was a problem if the kid broke the record, and it was also a problem if he didn't.
If he succeeded, he would emerge that much stronger and become incredibly famous, making him harder to kill. And if he failed, the fact that he still had to pay one hundred billion won remained unchanged.
That's why he had decided to kill him.
Han Young-min called “Black Sword,” one of the largest overseas dark mercenary brokerage platforms.
- This is Black Sword.
The reply came in English.
Naturally, Han Young-min also spoke in English.
No matter how much of a reckless scoundrel he was, that was a matter of personality, separate from his abilities.
After all, Han Young-min was an elite among elites, competing for the position of heir to Taesung Group.
He had informed Black Sword of his identity in advance.
Since it would make the conversation quicker.
Han Young-min said.
“I want to kill a Korean Hunter. He's below level 50, his name is Choi Hyun, and he recently passed the Hunter Exam.”
- Someone of that level should be easy.
“He's not someone to be taken lightly. The kid is backed by a major corporation called Daesan, and today he held a press conference to announce his challenge in the Tower of Growth. Said he was going to break the world record.”
- Even so, he's just a rookie Hunter below level 50. However, since you seem quite concerned, we can introduce you to various plans and options.
Strong confidence.
Thanks to that, Han Young-min's anxiety eased a little.
“I've heard that for eliminating a Hunter below level 50, one billion won gets you a top-tier premium plan. Is that correct?”
- Yes, that's correct.
“Then I'll offer two billion. I'll pay 50% upfront and the remainder upon success. However, if the first attempt fails, I want a refund of the advance payment, an absolute guarantee against my identity being exposed, and unlimited attempts until the original request is successful. No matter how many attempts it takes, once you succeed, I will repay the refunded advance along with the remaining balance.”
Looking at the unprecedented offer, the other end of the line went silent for a moment.
- Please hold for a moment.
The job was bigger than expected, so the agent was making an urgent report to their superior.
But the order to accept the deal came quickly.
While there's no such thing as easy money, Black Sword figured that a Hunter below level 50 was, at the end of the day, just a Hunter below level 50.
Once the offer was accepted, Han Young-min spoke in a much more relaxed tone.
“I'll send you that bastard's current location. Please take care of it as quickly and quietly as possible.”
- Leave it to us. We will send the relevant documents shortly.
After the call ended, Han Young-min finally sank into his chair with a relaxed expression.
“That's right. No matter how special you think you are, you're just a low-level newbie bastard.”
Han Young-min got up again and called a bar he frequented in Cheongdam. It seemed he wouldn't be able to get any work done today.
* * *
Outside the Tower of Growth on Bukhansan Mountain.
A considerable number of reporters still remained there.
It was because of Choi Hyun.
Perhaps for that reason, while the number of reporters had decreased since the initial press conference, the total number of people had actually grown.
There were YouTubers, various other influencers, civilians, and guild officials.
“Do you think he can really do it?”
“Who knows.”
“But honestly, it seems unlikely.”
“It's not “unlikely,” it's a guaranteed failure. Hey, think about it logically. Choi Hyun is a level 1 Blacksmith. And at twenty years old, he couldn't have been a soldier or a cop. How is a kid like that going to break the world record?”
“What was the world record again? Which floor?”
“China, 49th floor. And that too was just reaching it, not clearing it.”
“But it's really strange. How did a kid like that get first place in the practical exam?”
“Maybe it's one of those things? Turns out he was the top dog in his neighborhood. Or maybe the number one fighter in the country back in high school.”
“My friend was a delinquent, and he said he's never heard the name Choi Hyun.”
“Maybe he's one of those types who hides their true power?”
“Actually, he's a superhero-level human weapon being developed by the government.”
“You guys are just spouting bullshit.”
While they waited, the topic of conversation was, naturally, all about Choi Hyun.
Specifically, his true identity.
It was understandable; because to them, Choi Hyun was like a supernova that had appeared out of nowhere.
“But what floor do you think he's on by now?”
“How long has it been since he went in?”
“Hasn't it been about 12 hours?”
“I heard it takes about thirty minutes per floor up to the 20th. So, even giving him a generous 30 minutes per floor, I think he's probably just cleared the 22nd floor by now.”
“But isn't that the case for a party? Choi Hyun is solo.”
“Ah, then he might not have even reached the 20th floor yet.”
Conversations like this, estimating his challenge time, were common.
“But if he does break the world record, how much do you think Choi Hyun will be worth?”
“The guilds will be fighting over him, right?”
“For starters, the big three—Master, Hyper, and Daesan—will definitely make a move.”
“Just succeed, and your starting salary will be in the hundreds of millions.”
The main topics of conversation were his future prospects after the challenge and the kind of contract he'd command when scouted by a guild.
“But no matter how high he goes, don't you think he'll get stuck on the 40th floor?”
“The Wandering Knight is no joke. That bastard is insanely strong.”
“You think he'll make it to the mid-boss? No way. I bet the 30th floor will be his limit. There are a ton of orcs there.”
“Nah, you can clear the 30th floor if you prepare well. You just have to blow them up with explosives.”
“But do you think Choi Hyun brought any explosives?”
“Dunno?”
Talk of the Wandering Knight also came up quite often.
It was just as small groups were in the midst of animatedly discussing Choi Hyun.
[ The 48th floor has been cleared. ]
[ Player, “Choi Hyun” is now challenging the 49th floor. ]
Suddenly, news about Choi Hyun came from the Tower of Growth.
0 Comments