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Chapter 4
The Namgung Family’s greatest blacksmith workshop—
Cheongeumjeong.
Starting today, it was about to become extremely busy.
“The family head has ordered 100 swords to be made for the newly formed combat unit! They will launch in one month, so complete delivery within three weeks!”
A direct order.
From the head of the Namgung Family.
A deadline included.
100 swords.
If they were ordinary swords?
We could finish them early and relax afterward.
But this wasn’t ordinary.
These were for a new combat unit’s inauguration.
Made under the command of the family head.
Ordinary quality?
Impossible.
At minimum—
High-grade swords.
Mid-grade?
Out of the question.
This is Cheongeumjeong.
We don’t send out mediocre weapons.
“Damn it, we’ll be working ourselves to death!”
“Call everyone in!”
“No sleep starting today!”
“Divide the work! Refining, casting, forging—split everything!”
All high-level blacksmiths jumped in.
The furnaces roared nonstop.
Hammering echoed like thunder.
If a sword snapped during the ceremony?
It would be a humiliation beyond words.
So even pouring in their souls wouldn’t be enough.
Namgung Cheongang was no exception.
“Let’s see… I need to make about 30 steel ingots in 7 days? Yeah… no sleep for me.”
It sounded impossible.
But for high-level blacksmiths with internal energy—
Barely doable.
Of course, I’ll probably collapse afterward.
“Good thing I awakened…”
Otherwise, a few days of exhaustion could’ve turned into weeks.
I began refining.
The furnace was already prepared.
Pig iron was melting inside.
Pig iron is hard—
But brittle.
Not suitable for weapons.
This stage is to turn it into wrought iron.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
I pumped the bellows with my feet.
The flames roared.
Soon—
The pig iron began melting.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
I stirred the molten metal with a steel rod.
The heat was intense—
I had already taken off my shirt.
Sweat poured down my body.
But I didn’t stop.
This was the decarbonization process.
I had to focus.
Bubble… bubble…
Each time the molten metal touched air—
Bubbles formed and burst.
That meant carbon was being removed.
‘When the bubbles disappear and it turns thick and sticky… that’s pure iron.’
It was exhausting.
Slow.
Painfully tedious.
But necessary.
After a long time—
The molten metal became thick and heavy.
“Good. This is bloom iron.”
Pure iron.
But not done yet.
It still contained impurities.
Those had to be removed.
I grabbed the metal with tongs—
Placed it on the anvil—
And struck.
CLANG! CLANG!
Each hammer blow sent black impurities flying.
This was refining.
Dozens.
Hundreds.
Thousands of strikes.
Each one precise.
Like a master swordsman’s attack.
No mistakes.
CLANG! CLANG!—Ding!
System notifications rang—
But I ignored them.
Focused only on the metal.
This level of concentration—
This endurance—
This insight—
That’s why I became a high-level blacksmith at 12.
Not just past-life experience—
But true talent.
From past life to now—
I was born to be a blacksmith.
Finally—
I stopped.
“…Haa.”
I looked at the result.
The purified iron—
Shining like a gem.
“…Wait, that’s not normal.”
Fresh iron shouldn’t shine like this.
Did I get a new skill?
I checked the message.
[Iron Breath Tempering activated.]
[Internal energy increased slightly.]
“…What?”
My internal energy… increased?
You feel the breath of all metals.
Effect:
- Through unity with metal, both the blacksmith and the metal gain “breath”
“…So working with metal increases internal energy?”
Conclusion:
Blacksmithing = internal energy growth.
“…What kind of insane ability is this?!”
Do I hate it?
No.
I LOVE it.
“I can gain internal energy without pills or meditation?! Who wouldn’t want that?!”
The increase was small—
Only 0.1—
But still!
More internal energy is always good.
Better weapons.
Better stamina.
Better… everything.
And that’s not all.
The metal itself—
Was infused with energy.
“This must be what ‘giving breath to metal’ means.”
Even better quality than before.
Of course—
This only works in a state of complete focus.
But still—
It’s broken.
“What if I make refined steel with this…?”
Just imagining it gave me chills.
I picked up the hammer again.
CLANG! CLANG!
[Iron Breath Tempering activated.]
[Internal energy increased.]
Exactly 100 strikes.
Perfect refinement.
And finally—
High-quality refined steel was complete.
It shone even in darkness.
I raised my hammer—
And struck.
CLANG!!
A powerful sound echoed.
No damage.
“…Even with full force and internal energy?”
This shouldn’t happen.
“…I think I just made something incredible.”
Even skilled blacksmiths take time to make refined steel.
But Cheongeumjeong craftsmen?
Five per day.
As for me—
“Feels like I can go even faster.”
With awakening—
With skills—
With increased energy—
I sped up.
Half the time.
Then even faster.
“Oh ho! This is fun!”
Making high-quality steel faster.
Not getting tired.
Gaining internal energy.
This is amazing.
Clang! Clang!
I kept going—
Without sleep—
Laughing like a madman.
Two days later—
I finished everything.
30 refined steel ingots.
Delivered to my master.
“Master! I’ve completed all 30!”
“…Already?!”
Only two days?!
He looked shocked—
Then worried.
“Did you rush the work—”
He stopped.
“…What is this?!”
The steel—
Was beautiful.
He touched it.
“…!”
There was something different.
Something divine.
“You’ve surpassed me.”
Other craftsmen gathered.
“Incredible!”
“There’s a god inside this metal!”
“The god of forging has appeared!”
“The Genius Blacksmith created divine steel!”
“We can’t just leave this!”
“Forge swords from this!”
“Make them masterpieces!”
“Raise your hammers!”
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
“Create!”
“Masterpiece swords!!”
“WOOO!!!”
“…They’re kind of scary.”
One month later—
At the training ground—
100 warriors stood in formation.
The newly formed unit:
Namgung Righteous Sword Division.
Their leader—
Namgung Cheonggi.
Strong.
Composed.
A perfect swordsman.
“The family head has granted new swords! Step forward and receive them!”
“Yes!!”
One by one—
They received their swords.
“All—draw your swords!”
Shing—
100 swords drawn at once.
Perfect synchronization.
Everyone froze.
Sharp.
Brilliant.
Flawless.
“…This is an incredible sword!”
“The family head must have high expectations!”
They misunderstood.
Completely.
“LONG LIVE NAMGUNG RIGHTEOUS SWORD DIVISION!”
The shout spread.
Victory chants echoed.
Soon after—
They achieved great success.
Multiple missions—
No casualties.
A few days later—
Back at the forge—
Clang! Clang!
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Messages flooded in.
All saying the same thing:
Martial arts learned.
“….”
At this point—
I wasn’t even surprised anymore.
