When the Guide remained silent after that sigh, I cautiously spoke up.
"Guide~?"
Only then did it continue speaking.
[...Put the iron in the left crucible and the white copper in the right crucible.]
"Crucible?"
It was placed next to the furnace.
A gray bowl, close to black.
It looked like pottery but appeared much thicker and heavier.
The inside was hollowed out smoothly, and the spout protruded sharply to make pouring molten metal easy.
"Ah, this is a crucible."
I took out the lump of iron and put it in the first crucible.
—Thud!
I put the white copper in the second crucible as well.
—Thud!
[Place both crucibles into the furnace.]
There was a huge furnace in one corner of the workshop.
Heat was already radiating from its massive body built of bricks.
I went in front of the furnace.
Whoosh—
When I opened the furnace door, flames shot out and the heat slapped my face.
"Woah!"
I carefully placed the two crucibles inside the furnace.
[White Copper: Wait 3 minutes]
[Iron: Wait 5 minutes]
3 minutes passed.
[The white copper has melted. Take it out.]
I took out the white copper crucible with tongs.
Molten metal with a white glow sloshed around.
"Oh..."
[Prepare a third empty crucible.]
I placed an empty crucible in front.
[30g of white copper is needed. Please pour it.]
I tilted the crucible.
—Splash...
White molten metal flowed into the empty crucible.
[10g]
[Keep pouring.]
—Splash
[15g]
[20g]
[25g]
"Almost there."
My hands trembled.
—Splash
[28g]
"Just a little more..."
[30g]
[Exact. Stop.]
I set the crucible upright.
"Phew..."
[Well done.]
Complimenting me too, isn't it basically human...?
[The iron has melted. Take it out.]
I took out the iron crucible.
Red-hot molten metal.
It looked much hotter than the white copper.
[Pour it into the crucible containing the white copper.]
[Now measure 970g of iron.]
I tilted the iron crucible and poured it into the crucible with the white copper.
—Splash...
Red molten metal flowed.
[200g]
[400g]
[600g]
"Okay."
[800g]
It was so hot, and I was scared the molten metal might splash on my body.
My hands trembled violently.
[900g]
"Almost there..."
[950g]
"Just a little... more..."
Then, my tension broke at the last moment, and my hand slipped.
—Splash!
The molten metal poured out all at once.
"Uh!"
[1100g]
"...."
[Exceeded by 150g.]
"...What do I do?"
[...Do it again.]
"Haa..."
Failed on the 2nd attempt because I spilled the crucible inside the furnace.
Failed on the 3rd attempt because my arm hurt during the mixing process and I faltered once.
. . .
Failed on the 8th attempt because I missed the timing for rapid cooling.
Even though it was guiding me from the side, it was incredibly tough.
If I could do everything just as I was told, I would have gotten into Seoul National University easily.
Like that, after 19 attempts filled with trivial mistakes, I was finally able to create the Pale Moon Stone.
I haven't even started making the sword yet.
My whole body was tattered just from making this one piece of stone.
Every corner of my body was scorched black, and I was soaking wet with sweat.
If I went outside like this, people would probably be shocked and avoid me because I looked exactly like a beggar.
I picked up the fist-sized Pale Moon Stone and looked up at it.
[Pale Moon Stone]
Grade: Rare
A mineral created by mixing iron and white copper almost perfectly by a Maker who is still unskilled but possesses high potential, despite his lack of ability.
"...It is pretty though."
It looked like a moon shining blue.
My heart pounded at the fact that I had created something through such hardship.
"I guess I'm good at it if I try?"
I could feel the Guide, who had watched my mistakes right from the side, staring at me with a '?', but I pretended not to notice.
As if rewarding my efforts, countless system notifications rang out.
—Ding!
[Successfully smelted the first mineral.]
[Minerals that have been successfully smelted become easier to craft than before.]
[Crafted a Rare grade mineral.]
[Stats increase as a reward.]
[Strength +1]
[Vitality +1]
[Dexterity +2]
[Did not give up despite numerous mistakes.]
[Persistence and Patience increase.]
"Wow... If it's like this, it's worth doing!"
Clicking? What clicking!
Kids these days! They have no craftsmanship!
My body should be exhausted and tired from the intense labor.
Was it due to some unknown euphoria?
I didn't feel any fatigue.
Rather, I felt more energetic.
The Guide, seemingly aware of my condition, immediately gave the next instruction.
[Starting forging now.]
[Put the Pale Moon Stone into the furnace.]
Humans are indeed animals of adaptation.
Now, the heat radiating from the furnace was bearable.
You're growing in real-time, Kim Si-woo, you rascal.
The Pale Moon Stone, which was blue, was melting into an orange color as I put it in the furnace.
[Now. Take out the Pale Moon Stone and place it immediately on the anvil.]
Following the Guide's words, I took the Pale Moon Stone out of the furnace and placed it on the anvil.
As I looked at the Pale Moon Stone on the anvil holding a hammer.
Blue spots of various sizes were visible on it.
It looked like a 'mark' telling me to hit here.
[The spots visible to the eye are guidelines for 'forging'.]
[Strike the small spots weakly, and the large spots strongly.]
[If the force intensity is accurate, the quality of the product improves.]
I thought as I saw the Guide's words.
Is there no way to know if the force intensity was accurate?
[Listen closely.]
Guide, aren't you piercing through a person's mind too well?
[It's just your feeling.]
Hehehe... You're being shy.
[...Just do the 'forging' before the Pale Moon Stone cools down.]
As the Guide said, I could see the Pale Moon Stone already cooling down in that short moment.
I looked at a small spot visible on the Pale Moon Stone.
—Tap!
I struck down with the hammer.
Then.
—SCREEEECH!!!
A sound like scratching a blackboard rang out loudly.
"Ah!! My ears!!"
At the unexpected attack, I dropped the hammer and covered my ears.
[Pfft]
You just laughed, right?
That was it, right?
As I looked at the Guide with eyes full of betrayal.
At times like this, it avoided answering like a ghost.
Sigh... It's so sad I can't live.
Anyway, I know for sure this sound means the force wasn't accurate.
Is there any other way? I have to learn while pounding.
Thus began the hammering that was a series of tortures.
—SCREEEECH!!!
"Ugh!!"
—SCREE-EE-EECH!!!
"Urgh!!!"
—Screech Screech Screech Screech
"...I think I'm going to get mental illness."
—#@$&%
"Why is this kind of sound coming from metal!!!"
It was when I couldn't tell if it was sweat or blood flowing down the side of my ear.
Angry, I struck a large spot with all my might.
—Clang!
A clear and cheerful sound filled the workshop.
The sound was like the melody of a beautiful harp.
As soon as I heard it, I realized this was a correct strike.
[...Tch]
The Guide expressed disappointment, but I had no time to react.
Because dopamine enveloped my brain as soon as I knew the answer.
Like that, for a while, bizarre and beautiful hammering sounds resonated in the workshop.
After many twists and turns, the forging ended, and it was the final step.
As I connected the sword handle to the created blade, a notification rang.
—Ding!
[Successfully crafted the Pale Moon Sword.]
[Crafted a Normal grade Pale Moon Sword.]
[Stats increase as a reward.]
[Agility +1]
[You have 'manually' created an item for the first time in the world.]
[As a first privilege, you have obtained the chance to inscribe your name on the crafted item.]
[Please enter the Maker's name.]
"Hmm... Since Si-woo is a bit bland, shall I go with SW?"
[Once decided, the Maker's name cannot be changed.]
"No, what do I do if you tell me that now...!"
[Maker 'SW' input complete.] [Pale Moon Sword]
Grade: Normal
A sword created by the Maker SW, who is still unskilled but possesses high potential, with his lacking ability. It is a sword made by mixing iron and white copper in an exact ratio, characterized by being lightweight, sturdy, and sharp. Since the shape of the blade is not smooth, it currently only maintains the form of a sword.
Durability: 30/30
Attack Power: +20
*Attack Speed: +5%
*Imbued with 'Sharpness'
*Sharpness: Increases the cutting power of the sword.
Usage Conditions: Level 1 or higher, Strength 1 or higher, Vitality 1 or higher.
"Ha... Well, it's software-like and good... Is it good...?"
There were many mistakes, and even the forging wasn't smooth.
To use a trendy phrase, it wasn't forged evenly.
It wasn't spread out evenly, is what I mean.
Perhaps because of that, the item grade came out disappointing.
Actually, compared to a basic iron sword, the specs were more than double, but I wasn't satisfied yet.
I looked at my hands, which were swarthy, cut, and even bleeding.
It was hard and painful.
But it wasn't that I didn't want to do it.
Rather, I wanted to make it again right now.
It felt like the desperate heart I had all this time was becoming my driving force.
I clenched my fist and imagined.
My appearance sitting on a pile of money after selling tons of crafted items.
By then, I'll be able to play and eat without working this hard.
Just wait, life of easy pickings.
With hopeful motivation (?), I picked up the hammer again.
The night view of Seoul shining beautifully beyond the large floor-to-ceiling window.
A woman with red wavy hair wearing a black mask was sitting with her back to the night view.
She was searching on the gallery as if looking for something.
"Ha... Is there nothing today either..."
She didn't seem disappointed, as if she hadn't expected anything.
It was when she was contemplating whether she should write another post on the gallery.
—Sizzle!
As the sound of flesh cooking was heard, the woman groaned loudly.
"Kugh...! I can't get used to this damn pain...!"
Holding the mask she was wearing, the woman wrote a post on the gallery.
[Title: Receiving information regarding burns, cures, and pain suppression.]
[Author: TowerGPTA]
As the pain subsided, she leaned back in her chair and sighed.
"Phew... Should I just give up now..."