As a result, Weed looked through almost all the wares the Dwarves of Kuruso had made. There wasn’t anyone else who knew about the fierce competition between the Dwarven Blacksmiths over the completion of Blacksmithing Skills better than Weed.
‘The armour Fabio makes has admirable functionality. The other properties of his works aren’t unique and aren’t quite there yet, but his armours have some great defense stats.’
Fabio’s skills were so outstanding, even Weed was jealous.
‘The quality of the materials and reputedly assured skills. He creates works with almost no mistakes.’
He wasn’t conservative with his materials and used no petty tricks; he smithed with skill alone.
‘If it’s this level… I’ve think he has Advanced Blacksmithing skills.’
After Weed saw Fabio’s greatest work, Rainbow Coloured Armour, he was absolutely sure.
“Identify!”
— Rainbow Coloured Amour: Durability: 150/150. Defense: 159
The work of the Dwarf who monsters hate the most.
Seven rare materials were combined to make this.
Full plate armour that covers the whole body, (it is at the climax of beauty), so knights of a lower level will be unable to wear it.
As this work was made not too long ago and has not yet been used, it is in a perfect state.
Professions:
Knights, Warriors only
Level 350
Options:
Physical Resistance (30 %).
Magic Resistance (20 %).
Agility -50.
Satiety +80. Charisma +60.
Leadership skills are strengthened.
There is a strong probability that weak attacks will be deflected.
This huge, respectable defence!
Because the blacksmith lacked Weed’s deftness, the durability was low, but there shouldn’t be too much of a problem if this had an above average level of durability because one could use it while repairing it every now and then.
“It’d be really good to know what materials were used to make this.”
Because Weed’s blacksmithing skill was lower than Fabio’s, he could not determine the materials used. He knew there was mithril and black iron used, but besides them he didn’t know.
Fabio gathered all kinds of luxurious materials and efficiently used them to make armour.
‘After Fabio, Exper and Herman are the main competition.’
They were the two blacksmiths who made spears and swords. Their skills were not too far below Fabio’s.
Because there was so much pride and competition between the blacksmiths, no one disclosed their skill level. However, by looking at their works, it was likely that these two were also at advanced blacksmithing.
‘If these three have raised their blacksmithing level to Advanced, then including those two blacksmiths I haven’t met, there’s a high possibility that there are 5 blacksmiths with Advanced skill.’
Weed had seen Exper as he worked on the finishing touches of his sickle spears and Herman had let Weed take look at one of his swords.
It wasn’t completed yet, but Weed could see the abundant passion invested in the sword. In order to complete one product, the good steel had been forged and reforged again.
Herman had become a blacksmith because he liked swords and wanted to make them.
If Fabio or Exper were competing for the mastery of Blacksmithing Skills, Herman was working towards creating even better swords.
Even amongst the blacksmiths, there was a large difference in terms of their personalities.
‘I think the first blacksmith master… will most likely be Fabio.’
As one of the greatest Blacksmiths in Versailles Continent, he held considerable power. Looking at the armour he supplied, they were on par as the equipments used by the top rankers and he seemed to have connections to them. By befriending high ranking users, he used the materials they gathered and created amors or improvements for them.
Seeing Fabio’s ambition, he would most likely the first to reach Master stage.
‘The other Dwarves, especially Herman, have impressive skill.’
Weed perceived all the Dwarves of Kuruso like this.
Having registered the Warriors, Fighters, and Sculptors, who participated on the quests as friends, they asked many questions as they had nothing to do. The Dwarven Blacksmiths tried to become close with Weed because of his sculpting expertise.
Occasionally, there were Dwarves who brought Weed some rice balls, so he didn’t starve in Kuruso.
Weed spent a lot of time familiarizing himself with Moonlight Sculpting.
His sculpting skill was almost at the next level, and he was getting better at handling the light. As there were a lot of sculptures that he wanted to create and give life to, he immersed himself into sculpting.
If his level and Art stat wouldn’t get decreased, he couldn’t stop sculpting.
On his last day of creating sculptures, a lot of Dwarves came again as usual.
“I suppose I should make some swords if the sculptor is working hard.”
Motivated by Weed, the other Blacksmith Dwarves started to work hard to increase their Blacksmithing skills.
“It’s beautiful.”
Today as well, Pin and Herman were right beside Weed, watching as he sculpted.
Fundamentally, making sculptures took skill.
If you created sculptures for hundreds of days, you’d be lying if there was nothing in your hands.
Due to his skill level in Sculpting and Handicraft, Weed was able to make wooden sculptures without much effort. Wood, his most familiar material, came alive in Weed’s hands.
“What do you think of art?”
Weed answered Herman’s question frankly.
“It’s a useless skill that brings no money.”
“But there are cases of extremely rich artists. Watch the news and you’ll see paintings 100 thousand dollar’s worth.”
“Well, ordinarily those drawings are sold after their makers are dead. Works that are worth hundreds, maybe thousands — why does it matter if they’re sold? You’ll already be dead.”
Weed spoke bluntly.
“While drawing the picture, the level of hunger he suffered is only known to the artist. If his family starved along with him, it would really be his fault.”
“But isn’t it thanks to those famished experiences that the greatest masterpieces of the world were made?”
“Whether it be paintings or sculptures, neither would be able to fill the table with food to eat.”
As he was thinking his point wasn’t getting across, Herman smacked his lips.
“Everyone has their own way of thinking… but, there is value to doing something no one else has done before while living your life.”
“I don’t really know.”
“Having lived to this age, I think I can finally understand. Life isn’t simply about eating and living, it’s about pursuing at least one thing you truly want to do, and if you do it, you’ll have succeeded in life…”
And although Herman’s words had depth to them, Weed was not moved.
Weed could not be moved because just ten minutes ago, Herman had brought fish paste and had annoyingly asked him to make a tasty stew.
Even if there was something meaningful in Herman’s words, Weed couldn’t take him seriously because Herman and Pin were both lazing about while contentedly eating fish paste kebabs (odeng). [T/N: It’s sold by street vendors]
‘If the ingredients for fish paste were good, then obviously the kebabs would taste good.’
At that moment,Weed’s carving tool suddenly came to a halt.
“Sculpting Master Jorbid’s Quest, Information Check.”
— Sculpting Master Jorbid’s Request
The story that has been passed on for a long time through the Sculpting Guild.