Chapter 93: Chapter 92: A Bountiful Harvest of Experience, Becoming a [Blacksmith]

A box of [Unknown Ore Crystals] yielded 42 completions of [Ore Sample Collection], granting Jon 50,400 universal Experience Points!

In addition to this, the delivery also completed two achievements and unlocked a permanent bonus!

[Proof of the Perfectionist I: Achieve 10 S-Rank Quest Completions (Completed)]

[Proof of the Perfectionist II: Achieve 30 S-Rank Quest Completions (Completed)]

[Perfectionist I: Increases the chance of receiving higher rarity rewards upon quest completion by 2%.]

There were only four achievements in this series. However, acquiring [Proof of the Perfectionist III] required 100 S-Rank quest completions. He only had 45 so far, meaning he was still a long way off.

Still, the bonus to the rarity of quest rewards was quite good, and Jon, for one, was very satisfied.

After all, wasn’t his perfect Inscription, [Multiple Projections], the result of just such a small chance?

This haul was nothing short of bountiful!

If he hadn’t spent 30,000 Experience Points on some Skills last night to craft a few Engineering items, this haul would have been enough for Jon to reach the 100,000 reserve threshold!

But even so, Jon’s Experience Points reserve was now at 63,300, enough to level up both Mage Apprentice and Warrior Apprentice to Level 10!

He planned to level up after completing [Wolf Shadow Mystery] and then start clearing out the Blood Eye Association forces around White Birch Territory.

’When the time comes, perhaps I can do this through a Merchant Guild commission. It would be a natural way to complete the quest and build my reputation at the same time.’

’The only thing is, if I do it this way, I’ll have to face a counterattack from the Blood Eye Association. I must be careful...’

’Overall, the pros outweigh the cons... A bunch of ambitious restorationists won’t be able to cause any major trouble.’

Meanwhile, Old Sutton had completely cast aside the work of forging ironware. He was hunched over his workbench, clutching the box of ore crystals and tinkering with various small tools and reagents, carefully handling the precious, hard-won samples.

With his mind made up and nothing else to do for the moment, Jon’s gaze fell upon the Forging Hammer the Old Dwarf had left beside the forge.

An idea he had long kept buried in his heart surfaced.

’Since I can take on another class in addition to Warrior, does that mean I can also have another two Sub-professions?’

In "Yino," Sub-professions were no mere embellishments—they were a crucial part of a player’s overall strength!

Take Jon, for example. He chose the [Alchemist] and [Artisan] Sub-professions specifically to better support his role as the [Team’s Main Tank].

The greatest feature of the [Alchemist]’s [Flesh and Blood School] was the ability to brew potions from "flesh and blood." It also came with Passive Skills that increased maximum Life Value and boosted the effectiveness of potions on the user.

As for the [Artisan]’s [Mechanical School], it offered a wide variety of construct-type items that could compensate for his lack of mobility.

The [Blacksmith] profession, of course, also had its own advantages.

Namely, [Power] and [Equipment].

Swinging a hammer all day is even more exhausting than lifting weights. Do it enough, and your Power will naturally increase.

Furthermore, a blacksmith’s understanding of equipment allowed them to better utilize the performance of their weapons and armor. There were even related Advanced branches that helped increase their own tankiness.

The reason Jon hadn’t chosen [Blacksmith] wasn’t that he didn’t want to. It was because the system limited players to only two [Sub-professions], so he’d had to make a trade-off!

But now, had that restriction been loosened a little for him?

’I remember it’s not hard to become a [Blacksmith]. You just have to swing it a few times...’

With this in mind, he glanced at the Old Dwarf’s engrossed back and reached out a mischievous hand.

But to his surprise, he couldn’t even lift the hammer!

Because this Forging Hammer was an exceptionally high-level piece of equipment!

——

[Sutton’s Forging Hammer (Rare · Forging Hammer)]

[Physical Attack: 60-220]

[Strength Requirements: 40 (Insufficient)]

[Durability: 120/120]

[Attribute 1: Crush +40]

[Attribute 2: Impact +40]

[Attribute 3: Perfect Forging]

[Perfect Forging: When forging with this hammer, striking at the "Perfect Moment" will double forging progress.]

"We are born of the forge fire, and shaped on the anvil." —Ancient Dwarven Proverb

——

Judging by the Strength Requirements, this had to be an Official Level piece of equipment, with all its Attributes geared toward Forging.

But if you used it to smack people, its power would surely be astonishing.

The effect of [Crush] was similar to [Penetration], as both could break through a portion of a target’s defense, while [Impact] dealt additional damage on a successful hit.

This weight and these Attributes made Jon sneak another glance at Sutton’s back.

’The old man’s level can’t be low... but it seems he’s never shown it. Why is that?’

Whether in his predecessor’s memories or his own as a player, Sutton had always stayed in Nomu Village, engrossed in his ore research. No one had ever seen him in a fight.

No one ever even considered whether he might be a Professional.

After all, an Old Dwarf devoted to smithing had absolutely no reason to fight, right?

But looking at it now, for a powerful Dwarf to have stayed in a remote human village for so many years was strange in and of itself!

’Looks like Uncle Sutton has his secrets, too...’

Jon mulled it over in his mind, then turned to the other forging hammers resting in the corner.

This time, he picked one he could use.

——

[Short-Handled Forging Hammer (Excellent · Forging Hammer)]

[Physical Attack: 25-60]

[Strength Requirements: 10]

[Durability: 60/60]

[Attribute 1: Crush +10]

[Attribute 2: Impact +10]

"The big ones are good for some things, the small ones are good for others." —A Picky Blacksmith

——

A Strength Requirement of 10. It still felt heavy, but it was just right.

And now that he had a Forging Hammer, he naturally had to hammer something.

Jon picked up an iron billet from the floor, one that was roughly in the shape of a spearhead. Recalling the smithing competitions he’d seen on TV and the blacksmiths he’d watched in the game, he used a pair of tongs to place it in the forge to heat.

Once the entire billet was glowing red-hot, he took it out, placed it on the Old Dwarf’s anvil, and brought the hammer down with a mighty swing!

"CLANG—!"

The sound wasn’t especially loud, but it was enough to shatter Sutton’s intense concentration on the ore crystals.

The Old Dwarf twisted around in his chair. As he looked at Jon’s posture—holding the billet with tongs and raising the hammer—his fluffy beard twitched, and a flash of surprise crossed his small eyes.

"You’re interested in Forging too, kid?"

"I’ve always been interested in something as fun as smithing..."

Jon replied matter-of-factly, then brought the hammer down again, straightening the spearhead he had just knocked slightly crooked.

A notification prompt popped up before his eyes.

[Spend 1,000 Experience Points to become a "Blacksmith"?]

’Was there even a need to ask?’

’Accept!’

[Ding! You have become a "Blacksmith."]

——

[Blacksmith LV. 1 (Skill Level 0/1000)]

[Known Skills: None]

[Known Recipes: None]

——

The panel was so simple it was almost crude, but it was the proof of a new path!

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