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Chapter 1
Previous life.
I was an S-rank blacksmith hunter.
The end of my life came so suddenly it felt meaningless.
Who would’ve thought a gate would appear right above my head?
If I had another life, I didn’t want to hold a hammer again.
Whether it was a god’s prank or fate’s joke…
I ended up holding a hammer again.
Ah.
This damn hammering… annoying, yet somehow dear to me.
Clang! Clang!
And this time, my life is in the martial world.
Human rights? A luxury.
Strength is the law here.
I’ve lived 18 years after reincarnating, so I know that well.
Still, there’s one good thing.
I was reborn into the Namgung Family.
A prestigious sword clan. One of the top five righteous families.
Heh.
Even the name alone carries power.
Honestly, living as a blacksmith in the martial world isn’t easy.
Lowlifes take things on credit without reason.
Evil sect bastards collect “taxes” without justification.
And if you refuse? A blade in your gut.
What a messed-up world.
But thanks to the Namgung Family, I don’t have to worry about that.
Even those who treat human lives like flies tremble at the name “Namgung.”
On top of that, I learned martial arts too.
Not because I’m anything special—just a distant relative of the main family.
I learned it at the Namgung training academy when I was young.
Well, most blacksmiths in the clan learn some martial arts anyway.
Either way, it’s useful.
Especially when hammering.
Clang! Clang!
Still, things weren’t always smooth.
When I said I wanted to become a blacksmith instead of a warrior…
My uncle grabbed a club, and my father tried to stop him.
That was chaos.
Even now, thinking about it makes me break into a cold sweat.
But I know something.
My talent in martial arts is average…
But my talent as a blacksmith is exceptional!
After all, I was an S-rank blacksmith in my past life.
No way that experience goes to waste.
So how could I not become a blacksmith?
“Even if I didn’t want to… it was my destiny.”
Back then, right before my legs were about to be broken…
I boldly told my uncle to watch me—and threw myself into blacksmithing like a madman.
The result?
At the age of 12, I was promoted to high-grade craftsman, recognized by my master, Jin Hancheol, one of the great artisans of Cheongeum Workshop.
Thanks to my natural talent, the storm eventually passed.
…Thinking about it, my early life here has been quite intense.
***
“Cheongang, what are you making today?”
I was lost in memories of my past and present when my master suddenly appeared.
‘Geez, that scared me. At least make some noise!’
I almost threw my hammer.
When I looked at him, his eyes were already on the sword.
So he already knew.
Still, I couldn’t answer rudely.
He once killed a tiger with his bare hands.
If I act out of line, my whole body might end up twisted.
I bowed deeply.
“Master, I’m forging a sword for my father.”
“Oh? No wonder you’re putting in so much effort. It’s for the leader of the Namgung Iron Sword Division.”
“You make it sound like I ever don’t put in effort, haha.”
“No one dislikes your work, but this… this could be called a famous sword.”
“It’s all thanks to your teachings.”
“You really know how to flatter your master. But your skill matches your words. Hahaha!”
Of course it does.
My past life experience as an S-rank blacksmith is etched into my soul.
The things I make can’t help but be excellent.
‘The problem is… after proper forging, I collapse for two days.’
My internal energy is pathetic.
I could’ve built it up with elixirs…
But I quit martial training halfway to become a blacksmith.
In the Namgung Family, kids aged 10–18 train at the academy.
If you graduate, you get a special elixir.
It may be called “low-grade,” but it can give up to 5 years’ worth of internal energy.
If that hit the market?
There’d be bloodshed everywhere.
As expected of the Namgung Family.
They give that as a graduation gift.
‘If I knew, I would’ve graduated first and then quit…’
But graduation meant joining the combat division.
And honestly?
I just didn’t want to get stabbed to death.
I died before 50 in my past life.
I didn’t want another short life.
In this chaotic martial world, I chose safety.
Still, my father managed to get me half an elixir.
So I at least have a tiny bit of internal energy.
But human nature is funny.
If you don’t have something, you want it.
If you do have it, you want more.
My father said he’d get me another if I joined the combat unit…
But no.
This life isn’t bad.
I chose safety, and I’ll stick to it.
A man’s word is worth a thousand gold.
So I’ll just keep hammering.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The next morning—
“Haah… let’s take a break.”
I was one strike away from finishing.
But I ran out of internal energy.
Damn my tiny reserves.
“Even unfinished, the sword’s aura is incredible… It’s like the morning light is splitting.”
“Ah! You scared me!”
When did he get here?!
“You’ve already surpassed me.”
“No, Master. It’s all thanks to you.”
“I can now die without regrets.”
“You’re only sixty! With those muscles, you’ll live to a hundred!”
“…I don’t understand half of what you say.”
I explained awkwardly.
Thankfully, he assumed I learned those strange terms from my father.
Good.
That covers my modern speech habits.
‘Alright. My energy’s back.’
For my father.
I inhaled, gathering my tiny internal energy into the hammer.
Exhaled—
And struck.
CLANG!!
The sound rang like a bell, signaling the birth of a masterpiece.
A true famous sword.
[Ding!]
[You have crafted 100 swords, 100 spears, 100 blades, and 100 daggers.]
[You have crafted 1 famous sword.]
[Awakening…]
“…Huh?”
A week later—
I returned home.
My father, Namgung Kang, was training.
“Cheongang?”
“How did you know it was me?”
“When you improve enough, you’ll understand.”
He smiled.
I handed him the sword.
“For your birthday.”
“…You’ve grown.”
He slowly drew the blade.
Shing—
The moment he saw it, only two words came to mind:
Famous Sword.
“This… is incredible.”
“You raised a good son.”
“Haha… I truly did.”
Later—
“Alright… let’s check this ‘awakening.’”
“Status window.”
Name: Namgung Cheongang
Age: 18
Level: 3rd-rate
Internal Energy: 5/60
Talent: High
Title: Genius Blacksmith
Trait: Resonance
Ability: Crafting (Top-tier)
Martial Arts: Namgung Sword, Movement Art, Inner Energy Method, Fist Technique
“It’s real…”
Awakening.
Something from my past life as a hunter… now appearing in the martial world?
Why?
Doesn’t matter.
Even gods didn’t understand these systems.
So how could I?
What matters is—
This is a good thing.
A skill carried over from a previous life.
Grade: Top-tier
Effects:
- 50% reduced energy consumption
- Moderate recovery of stamina and internal energy
- 30% increased chance of creating masterpieces
***
“…This is insane.”
With this…
I might become the greatest blacksmith in the world.
Surpassing legendary weapons—
Creating divine artifacts beyond imagination.
Just thinking about it gives me chills.
Why not?
I was S-rank in my past life.
No reason I can’t reach the top here too.
Right?
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