[ Crafting is complete. ] [ Crafting Evaluation: B ] [ You have obtained the 'Standard Longsword'. ]
Seeing that the crafting evaluation had dropped to a B, it seemed my stamina was completely depleted.
And as I finished today's work, I was able to realize one thing.
“This was not simply a matter of getting tired or something.”
When I finished working yesterday, feeling the loss of strength in my hands, I just thought that my physical stamina was lacking.
That was not it.
Stamina was stamina, but it was true 'Stamina' combined with the 'Strength' and 'Vitality' I gained upon awakening.
In game terms, it meant HP (Health Points), or SP (Stamina Points), which signifies vigor.
Those values had completely dropped to zero.
Just in case, I made up my mind and bought a potion that helped recover vigor to drink, but.
“It is not of much help. It feels like my maximum vigor itself has decreased.”
It seemed to recover a little, but not to the extent that I could continue working.
Therefore, I wrapped up the day and...
“Phew, I am nervous.”
Stood in front of the bed.
The workload today was even more than yesterday.
Perhaps because of that, the feeling of muscle pain that had slightly remained even after taking the Orc Warrior's Elixir seemed to have grown.
If I went to sleep and woke up like this, it was certain that I would suffer from even more extreme muscle pain than yesterday.
I wondered if I should buy one more Orc Warrior's Elixir just in case, but.
“Let's believe in it!”
It is a bed I made, so if I do not believe in it, who will?
I decided to trust the bed I made.
Lying on the bed with that thought.
“Oh, this is not bad?”
Since it was stuffed with leaves, I wondered what I would do if it was uncomfortable.
The cushioning was beyond my expectations.
The rustling sound from inside was also pleasant to hear.
Should I say it felt like a fresh aura of nature?
“Very, soft…….”
The scent of nature felt from the bed.
Smelling this, I fell asleep without realizing it.
And the next day.
As I woke up from my sleep.
“Haa, good morning!”
Those words naturally popped out of my mouth.
It was that refreshing of a deep sleep.
I slept well yesterday too, but yesterday felt more like I fainted because I collapsed from extreme exhaustion.
Today, the expression 'I slept well' naturally came to mind.
Should I say the fatigue in my entire body completely disappeared?
Still, one never knows.
I slowly raised my body while worrying about muscle pain.
And I was able to realize it immediately.
“Ahahahahaha! As expected of the bed I made! It is perfect!”
Even though I overexerted myself more than the day before yesterday.
The fact was that I could not feel even a little bit of muscle pain in my entire body.
Did I overexert myself less yesterday by any chance?
That was not it.
There was a good reason for that.
[ Through extreme hammering, your Strength has increased by 1. ] [ Through extreme hammering, your Vitality has increased by 1. ]
As if proving yesterday's workload.
The stats that had increased through training popped up before my eyes.
“Nice, shall I start right away again?”
With this, I became able to focus even more on crafting without worrying about muscle pain.
Thanks to the bed, my worries about muscle pain disappeared.
As a result of my hammering being recognized as a training effect, raising my Strength and Vitality.
CLANG, CLANG, CLANG!
I was able to swing the hammer without any worries.
“Shall I make something new this time?”
Until yesterday, I had continuously made the Standard weapon series because of lingering worries.
Today, with all worries and fatigue completely gone, I was in top condition.
Therefore.
[ You are using the Crafting skill. ] [ Please select the item to craft. ]
“Wooden Armor!”
[ Please select the materials. ]
A new category that appeared as the anvil leveled up to 2.
I selected armor.
Since there was wood left over from making the bed yesterday, I decided to first try making wooden armor using the Lowest-grade Wood.
[ Crafting will now begin. ]
The crafting difficulty was not that hard.
Even though it was armor, it was ultimately a Standard series.
After perfectly striking the points that popped up, the Lowest-grade Wood piled up in front of me...
[ Crafting is complete. ] [ Crafting Evaluation: S ] [ You have obtained the 'Lowest-grade Wooden Armor'. ]
Was completed as an S-rank wooden armor.
[ Lowest-grade Wooden Armor ] Form: Armor Rank: S Restriction: Level 1 or higher Description: The lowest-grade wooden armor made by processing Lowest-grade Wood. Defense: 27 Abilities: Defense Lv 1, Health Lv 1
Not only was its defense high, but it also had the 'Defense' ability that increased defense power and the 'Health' ability that increased durability.
Because it was a rather satisfying result, I immediately searched the Exchange, set an appropriate price, and listed it.
No, honestly, it was not that satisfying a result.
“To think it is S-rank, it is a bit disappointing.”
If the system's evaluation ranks were the same as Final Gate.
The highest evaluation rank would be EX-rank.
No, the EX-rank was a rank that only appeared when Final Gate's strongest item, the 'Execution Sword of the Black Dragon, Nadan', was enhanced to its maximum level, so setting that aside.
It was correct to view SSS-rank as the practical highest rank.
Although SSS-rank was a difficult rank to receive, I was able to comfortably and routinely get SSS-ranks in Final Gate.
The reason why someone like me could only pull an S-rank at maximum despite making mere Standard series was, as expected.
“It must be because of my stats and my hammer.”
The stats of a level 1 who had just awakened.
Even though my stats had gone up a bit as a result of yesterday and today's training.
[ Status Window ]
-Name: Jang Gang-cheol
-Level: 1
-Job: Blacksmith
-Ability: Forge of Time
-Strength: 12
-Agility: 10
-Vitality: 12
-Intellect: 10
-Wisdom: 10
Even so, they were only level 1-level stats.
Furthermore, the 'Blacksmith's Hammer' I was using was also level 1.
Therefore, there was no way I could produce a proper result.
In fact, it was normal that receiving an A-rank evaluation was difficult at this level.
It was only because I was the number one Blacksmith of Final Gate that I was occasionally succeeding with S-ranks.
Anyway.
“Let's try making all the newly registered equipment first!”
I immediately began crafting the next items.
[ Crafting is complete. ] [ Crafting Evaluation: A ] [ You have obtained the 'Lowest-grade Wooden Helmet'. ]
The Lowest-grade Wooden Armor series, of course.
[ Crafting is complete. ] [ Crafting Evaluation: A ] [ You have obtained the 'Standard Iron Armor'. ]
The Iron Armor series, which had higher defense at the cost of being heavier.
Lastly.
[ Crafting is complete. ] [ Crafting Evaluation: A ] [ You have obtained the 'Standard Cloth Armor'. ]
The 'Lowest-grade Fiber' obtained by disassembling the grass gathered from the Blacksmith's Forest.
Even the Cloth Armor series made through it.
Every time I crafted equipment like this.
[ The 'Standard Cloth Armor' has been sold. ]
A pleasant notification sound could be heard from the Exchange.
As I was doing that.
“It is about time I raise this as well, right?”
My gaze went to the hammer I was holding.
A level 1 hammer.
Although it required Lowest-grade Mana Stones that cost a million won each, I could not just leave it at level 1 like this.
In the first place, if the hammer became level 2 and could produce more S-rank equipment?
I would be able to easily recoup the investment cost within today.
Thinking that, I checked the enhancement conditions with Ember.
-4 Lowest-grade Mana Stones are required. “What? Not 3?”
-It is exactly 4 Lowest-grade Mana Stones.
One at first.
Shattering my expectation that three would be needed next since it took two the previous time.
It required a whopping four Lowest-grade Mana Stones.
“No, wait.”
Hearing those words, a sense of anxiety suddenly swept over me.
If the Mana Stones needed to raise the level of objects in the 'Forge of Time' doubled instead of increasing by one each time.
One, two, four, eight, sixteen…….
Converting that at one million won each, it would be one million won, two million won, four million won, eight million won, sixteen million won?
No, if it did not stop there and kept going up, would it not instantly reach the hundreds of millions?
As my thoughts reached that point, I suddenly felt gloomy.
Even so.
“Phew…… It cannot be helped.”
It was not like I could just not raise the hammer's level.
Letting out a small sigh, I spent a hefty sum of four million won to purchase four Lowest-grade Mana Stones from the Exchange.
Immediately placing my hand on the hammer.
[ Would you like to raise the level of 'Blacksmith's Hammer Lv 1'? ] [ Y / N ]
“Yes!”
I proceeded with leveling up the hammer.
As expected, the four Mana Stones were in my hand this time as well.
A whopping four million won's worth of Mana Stones scattered and were absorbed into my hammer.
[ The Blacksmith's Hammer has become Lv 2. ] [ 1. Crafting Lv 2 ] [ 2. Repair Lv 2 ] [ 3. Disassembly Lv 2 ] [ 4. Special Crafting Lv 2 ]
The hammer's level increased.
The effect was simple.
The three abilities that were originally attached.
The levels of Crafting, Repair, and Disassembly, which could be called a Blacksmith's core abilities, had increased.
Compared to the 'Forge of Time' where a space itself was added, or the anvil where an item codex was added, they were far too simple abilities, but.
Everything is originally 'Simple is Best'.
Was there not a saying that simplicity is the best?
That was not all.
“Special Crafting?”
A new skill had appeared.
Special Crafting, huh.
When I asked Ember what this was.
-Unlike the regular Crafting skill used to make items recorded in the codex, it is a skill used when you personally design and create a new item. “Oh, there is something like that too.”
It was a skill I liked quite a bit.
Well, I would use this later.
Following that right away, I...
[ Crafting is complete. ] [ Crafting Evaluation: S ] [ You have obtained the 'Standard Iron Armor'. ]
Crafted a new item.
“Uahahahat! This is it, this!”
I was able to experience the effect of a level 2 hammer firsthand.
Awakened.
Awakening powerful abilities to face monsters, they were people who would not fall short even if they were called heroes.
However, if you listened to the stories of the people involved, that was not necessarily the case.
“The levels where many casualties occur are also among high-level Awakened. Since their level is high, they face strong monsters.” “I see. As expected…….” “However, the highest number of accidents inevitably happens among low-level Awakened. Especially the level 1 and 2 Awakened.” “Pardon? At that level, do they not hunt Goblins or Slimes at most?” “The problem is experience.” “If you mean experience…….” “Even Goblins and Slimes possess instinctive combat instincts and experience. In contrast, level 1 Awakened have zero experience. They are not used to the situation of combat itself.” “I see.” “What supports them is equipment, but it is not easy to obtain an Awakened's equipment. Level 1 equipment is even worse.”
The world of the Awakened is by no means easy.
In the first place, the reason Awakened earn good money is because it is work that puts their lives on the line.
It is like a hazard pay.
Level 1 Awakened who have just awakened are especially even more in danger.
They have absolutely no combat experience and their equipment is lacking; in contrast, filled with vigor at the thought of having become an Awakened, level 1 Awakened recklessly charge at monsters.
In that sense.
“Our Awakened Association is supporting them as much as possible, but it is by no means easy to keep all Awakened safe.”
The safety issue of level 1 Awakened was the biggest topic of discussion recently.
However.
“President, have you seen this?” “What is it?” “It is level 1 equipment that has recently been released on the Exchange.” “Level 1 equipment? Is there a new type of level 1 equipment that would be released?” “It is equipment that people are calling the 'Standard series'.” “Standard series?” “The important thing is that the rank of this Standard series is a minimum of A-rank. And a maximum of S-rank.” “Is that true?”
In the midst of that.
New items started to be listed on the Exchange.
A to S-rank weapons.
Generally, the equipment primarily used by level 1 Awakened is C-rank equipment.
For items above that rank, there are barely any on the market, and even if there are, they are so expensive that one cannot use them unless they are a considerably wealthy Awakened.
But, A to S-rank equipment?
“It is true.” “Yes, and the quantity is quite large as well. It is to the point that dozens of them are being released on the Exchange every day.”
Dozens.
Considering the number of Awakened, this was also a lacking number.
However, it was also not too small of a number either.
Even if level 1 was dangerous, the required experience was the lowest, so they could also level up the fastest.
If level 1 equipment continued to be released in this volume.
Level 1 Awakened would be able to comfortably use that equipment.
And, if that happens.
'We can increase the stability of newly awakened rookie Awakened.'
The risk level of level 1 Awakened could be greatly reduced.
There was a good reason for that; with a weapon of that caliber, they would be able to fell weak monsters in one or two hits.
Because they would be able to lightly withstand the attacks of weak monsters.
The moment he realized this.
“Buy out the entire stock of the 'Standard series' coming up on the Exchange right now.” “Understood.”
The Association President immediately issued an order to purchase the Standard series.
However, this was not all.
An item seen for the first time called the Standard series.
And an item that was being posted repeatedly and periodically to the extent that it was hard to believe it was obtained by hunting monsters.
Seeing this.
“Could it be…….”
The Association President recalled the existence of a 'Crafter'.
A type of Awakened that had never appeared in this world even once.
Because of this, it was known to the public that a crafter-type Awakened did not exist at all, but.
Looking at the 'Standard series' that popped up on the Exchange.
“I will have to observe carefully.”
The Association President of the Awakened Association began to suspect the existence of that crafter.