Overgeared

direction of his footsteps. Then he stared inside the smithy with a spellbound look.
There…

Ttang! Ttang! Ttang!

Hwaruruk!

Puok. Puok.

Chiiiik!

10 blacksmiths were working around a large furnace in the center. Someone was sitting in front of the anvil hammering, another person was cooling hot iron, while someone else was constantly working the bellows.
Grid was impressed as he instantly grasped their skills.

‘They are blacksmiths who have reached the advanced level of the Blacksmithing skill.’

The reason why the blacksmiths of the East Continent didn’t recognize Grid’s greatness. It wasn’t because they were ‘incompetent,’ but because they were different. The techniques of the Eastern blacksmiths were different than those of the blacksmiths on the West Continent.

‘No, it’s ahead.’

In particular, the forging techniques were excellent. They stacked layers of metal together and repeated the process. It was a method that required tremendous physical strength, patience, and delicacy.
But the common blacksmiths of the West Continent avoided this task.
They chose the easy method most of the time.

‘This is clearly a superior professional mindset.
Is it a phenomenon caused by the high competition rate of having so many blacksmiths?’

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Grid felt a strong sense of curiosity as he looked at their equipment.

‘When forging iron, they use an iron hammer.
When forging mithril, they use a mithril hammer…’

It was to increase the efficiency of forging while paying attention not to conflict with the nature of the metal.
It was an idea that Legendary Blacksmith Grid had never thought of.

‘What is that liquid that’s released into the water used for quenching?’

There was quite a lot he could learn from here.
It happened when Grid was closely observing the work of the blacksmiths.

“Do you want to learn blacksmithing from us?”

Someone came up to Grid. He had dark skin and thick lips like someone from Africa. The muscles around his neck were so developed that they were as thick as Grid’s thigh muscles.
His name was White.
(TL: The spelling of this is more romanized to sound like white in English.
Meanwhile, the name of the White sister is the actual Korean for White, which is spoken in a different way.)

He misunderstood Grid as trying to become a blacksmith and said with a gentle expression.

“Well, it’s wonderful that you want to learn, as long as you are prepared to work.
But I have many people like you come here every day.
I can’t accept just anyone.
If you want to learn our techniques, you must first prove that you are qualified.”

“No, I just want to briefly tour…”

Grid couldn’t finish his words.
White randomly handed him an axe and a notification window popped up.

Ttiring~

 

[A quest has been created.]

[Chop Firewood!]

Difficulty: ???

White, the owner of the White Hammer smithy wants to test you.

Bring back two 100 year old White Trees at the forest in the north of Pangea.

Quest Clear Conditions: Cut down two 100 year old White Trees.

Quest Clear Rewards: 12% experience.
Get a job as an apprentice at the White Hammer smithy.

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Quest Failure Condition: None.

 

‘No, is this a joke? It’s outrageous.’

Grid’s eyes narrowed. A level 317 user was expected to chop firewood? The reward was also to get a job as an apprentice blacksmith.
He never imagined that in this world, there would be someone crazy enough to try and make a legendary blacksmith as an apprentice.

‘Certainly, there are things I can learn.
But it isn’t big enough to spend a lot of time here.’

The level of his techniques were far ahead of them. He could learn a variety of ideas here, not technical matters.
It wasn’t worth investing time in this quest.

‘In the first place, isn’t this a quest for beginners on the East Continent?’

Grid was about to refuse when he was surprised by something.
When he cleared the quest, he would get 12% of his experience?

‘Crazy.’

Based on a level 317 users, it was a amount that he would acquire from defeating 500 lower vampires. He could get a huge amount of experience just for cutting down two trees. He honestly couldn’t believe it, but the system didn’t lie! Grid’s eyes shone like lanterns as he confirmed again.

“Really? I just need to cut down two trees?”

“Yes.” White nodded.

Grid smiled widely.

“Then I will go!”

This was paradise!

‘The East Continent is the best!’

Grid recalled his beginner days as he ran towards the forest carrying the axe.
He faded into the distance as he looked at the quest information on the map.
White looked after him before someone asked him.

“Do you really think he can cut down a 100 year old White Tree?”

A 100 year old White Tree was as hard as iron and as fierce as an active volcano. A famous woodcutter couldn’t even cause a nick in it and a mighty shaman couldn’t suppress the fire. It wasn’t called the Daoism Tree for nothing. A perfect flame could be produced if it was used as firewood, but that was impossible. It was common sense for anyone who dreamt of becoming a blacksmith. But the black-eyed young man didn’t have that common sense. It was certain that he didn’t study anything about blacksmithing.

“There are a lot of rabble coming in recent years.” White shook his head and returned to his spot.
 He shouted at his men.
“Hey you! Focus more! We have to win this year’s competition!”