Mu-hyuk had finally reached level 15.
After finishing his bear hunt, he returned to the kingdom and headed straight for the general store.
The middle-aged woman running the shop greeted him with a smile.
"Welcome."
"Hi."
"Need anything?"
"Here to sell some stuff."
"Let me take a look."
Mu-hyuk dumped out everything he'd gathered from his hunts onto the counter.
The shopkeeper's eyes lit up at the pile of items.
"Let's see..."
She examined each one carefully, tallying up the value.
"Wolf claws at 3 silver each..."
Wolf claws, giant bear hide, giant bear fangs, giant bear gallbladders, and more.
There were so many types and quantities that it took a while.
"Phew, that comes to 6 gold and 78 silver total."
"Sold."
"Thanks."
She handed over the money.
After pocketing the gold, Mu-hyuk left the store and made a beeline for the black mage guild.
Once inside, he climbed to the third floor to check the available skills.
Bone Assembly
Corpse Dissection
Just those two.
"I'll take both."
"Got it. That's 2 gold."
He paid and received the books.
The moment he opened them:
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
You have acquired Bone Assembly.
You have acquired Corpse Dissection.
Skills acquired.
Mu-hyuk left the building and headed to the blacksmith shop.
He needed to learn crafting to unlock a special stat.
And of course, he planned to make swords to sell and build up some basic funds.
Only Mu-hyuk knew this.
Higher strength led to better options on crafted items.
Higher crafting skill levels added usage restrictions.
Starting at level 4.
In simple terms, if your crafting skill hit level 3 with sky-high strength?
You'd craft top-tier items without usage restrictions.
Those sold for a fortune.
And with that money, he'd commission the armor he needed.
"Excuse me."
An elderly man who looked like the blacksmith emerged and eyed Mu-hyuk gruffly.
"What do you want?"
"Need any help around here?"
"Help? Always."
Mu-hyuk smiled despite the man's indifferent tone.
Level 15 was the time to learn crafting and repair at the blacksmith.
The key was approaching with at least 8 strength and using the "need help" keyword.
"I'd like to lend a hand."
"Our work?"
"Yes."
"Hm. Ever swung a hammer?"
"First time. But I'll learn hard."
The old blacksmith pondered.
Mu-hyuk waited calmly under his scrutinizing gaze.
He already knew what choice the man would make.
"You look strong enough. Fine, one shot."
📜 NEW QUEST 📜
The Blacksmith's Trial
📍 Craft an Iron Sword (0/1)
🎁 Success: Acquire Weapon Crafting skill
🎁 Failure: No reattempt
Accept the quest?
Of course, yes.
He had to learn crafting no matter what.
"Thank you."
"Follow me."
He led Mu-hyuk deeper inside.
The workshop was in the back. Hammer strikes echoed faintly at first.
They grew louder as they neared the iron door.
Clang, clang!
The old man grasped the handle, released it. A faint chime spread.
He repeated it twice more.
Only then did he stop. Moments later, the iron door creaked open.
A harsh metallic groan filled the air as the interior revealed itself.
Scorching heat blasted out, hitting Mu-hyuk's skin.
"Hm..."
Hotter than expected.
Mu-hyuk hurried after the old man, now inside the workshop.
Clang! Clang!
Hammers rang everywhere.
The smiths were lost in their work. A young apprentice guided the old man, glancing nervously ahead.
Anyone could see he was struggling.
"Get back to work."
"Y-yes!"
The old man stopped the apprentice and halted behind one smith.
"What do you think?"
Mu-hyuk watched silently.
Iron on the anvil, hammered a few times—it took sword shape like magic.
Impossible in reality.
A single sword took at least two months there.
Melting ore, purifying impurities, hammering for weeks.
But this was a game.
No time for that on one sword.
So it formed visibly fast.
"Impressive."
"Heh, good eye."
Genuine admiration.
The old man caught it.
"Come."
They stopped at an empty anvil.
The old man positioned himself, placed a lump of iron on it, and grabbed a hammer.
"I'll show you once. Watch close."
"Yes."
Mu-hyuk's eyes widened, missing nothing.
The old man smiled faintly at his intensity and explained.
"This is a crafting hammer. Grip it and strike—the iron's grain appears. Hit it precisely and hard for quality. Miss too often, quality drops. Mind that."
"Strength and dexterity, right."
"Ho, sharp one."
Mu-hyuk smirked.
Basic info.
But not enough.
To get better rewards, he needed to sway the old man.
That'd make him focus more, yielding better weapons.
Seeing those would trigger system bonuses—like extra dexterity.
But this old man was tough.
What now?
While he pondered, the hammering ended.
Clang!
The iron deformed, reshaped.
The blade emerged. Three more minutes, a flash—perfect blade.
The old man grinned, grabbed a rough whetstone from below, sharpened it. Then fitted the hilt from a box.
Secured tight, he handed it over.
"Well?"
Mu-hyuk checked it.
🎁 ITEM ACQUIRED 🎁 Gleaming Iron Sword Rare
◈ Attack Power: 55
◈ Strength +4
◈ Agility +3
◈ Durability 90/90
◈ Usage Restriction: Strength 35, Vitality 20
Attack power 55, plus stats.
Impressive numbers. Usage restrictions of strength 35 and vitality 20, but worth it.
"Incredible..."
"Heh, you think?"
The old man stepped back.
"Your turn. Don't expect that level. At least a basic iron sword."
"Got it. But uh..."
"What?"
"Can't find weapons like this in shops. Not for sale?"
"Heh, we don't sell to outsiders."
"Why?"
"Not qualified."
"That's it?"
"Nah. We're swamped supplying the kingdom knights."
Mu-hyuk nodded.
Maybe later at higher levels.
Though blacksmith players would be better by then.
He cleared his thoughts, took position.
Placed the blunt iron lump on the anvil, gripped the hammer.
"Hoo..."
Deep breath.
Then:
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Temporary Blacksmith status applied.
Acquired "Ordinary Reward."
"Dexterity" special stat created.
Mu-hyuk's lips curved up.
Dexterity unlocked.
The main goal of learning crafting.
This special stat boosted crafting—and today's Bone Assembly skill.
Info that surfaced long after Illusion's launch.
But Mu-hyuk claimed it from the start.
His eyes stayed cold, though.
Regret.
If he'd swayed the old man more...
Better weapon, higher dexterity boost.
Water under the bridge.
He shook it off.
Plenty more to gain.
Step by step ahead.
No guarantee of leading, though.
Gangster Necro path was brutal.
But one thing certain.
It'd be fun.
Whoosh.
He raised the hammer. The grain sharpened clearer.
Cautious first swing:
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡
Grain hit.
Impact insufficient.
Dexterity correction: Progress (0.8%) increased.
Progress up. But low impact. Next, full force on the grain.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡
Grain missed.
Progress (0.5%) decreased.
Brow furrowed.
Next, slightly less power, more precision.
Grain hit. Progress +1.2%.
Another swing upped it, but miss dropped it.
Clang! Clang!
After ups and downs, total progress: 11%.
"Hoo."
Tougher than thought.
Full focus.
Messages off.
Mu-hyuk's eyes iced over, hammer raised.
Extreme concentration locked the grain.
Now swings flew.
Clang! Clang!
How many hits?
A brilliant flash.
Blade complete.
Sharpened intently, fitted hilt. Messages back on.
Unexpected one:
★ Achievement Unlocked ★ First Weapon Crafted
Reward: Dexterity +1
He checked the sword.
🎁 ITEM ACQUIRED 🎁 Ordinary Iron Sword Common
◈ Attack Power: 5
◈ Durability 20/20
Basic as basic got. But no failure, so he handed it to the old man confidently.
"Let's see."
The old man inspected it closely.
Soon, a satisfied nod.
"Not bad."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
You have acquired the Weapon Crafting skill.
The old man spoke.
"Don't think one sword makes you a smith. Train up for real gear. Start tomorrow."
Couldn't refuse here.
Skill would cancel forcibly.
Mu-hyuk nodded.
"Yes."
Dexterity needed raising anyway—for stronger skeletons via Bone Assembly.
Then challenge that special dungeon.
The one for solid growth.