Chapter 234: The Ultimate Blacksmith Competition (1)

Even among the dwarves, the dwarves of the newly established 108 workshops in Libertia were masters of equipment crafting.

After discussing with the representatives of each race, Kai decided to gather them and host a competition. The competition was named The Ultimate Blacksmith Competition. Although it could seem a bit arrogant, players would find it understandable considering it was a competition exclusively among dwarves.

“

Phew

. Let’s wrap it up here for now. Let’s each think about the issues we need to reinforce.”

After dismissing the meeting, Kai sent the representatives away and logged off.

I should get ready to go now.

Han Jung-Woo meticulously washed up, shaved, and dressed in clothes that made him look presentable for the first time in a while. If the lady at the fresh produce market near his house saw him, she would have been shocked, thinking he was a completely different person!

Why does she insist on dressing up so much just for a family meal?

His mother had been adamant. She asked him not to dress casually but to come in the neat attire he wore for his birthday party last time.

After getting ready, he called a taxi and headed to the meeting place.

“Jung-Woo! Over here!”

A beautiful woman standing in the hotel lobby waved at him. Drawing the attention of all the men around her, she was none other than Han Jung-Woo’s sister, Han Ji-Hye.

“You’re early.”

“I just got here too.”

“Here again? I’m getting tired of this place.”

It was the sky lounge restaurant of the Cheonhwa Hotel, a place they had visited before. Perhaps because the chef’s culinary skills matched their parents’ tastes, they had been eating there often since he was a child.

“People would criticize you if they heard that. Do you even know how much a meal here costs?”

“They say humans are creatures of adaptation. Even the best food gets tiring if you eat it too much.”

After bickering with his sister for the first time in a while, he entered the restaurant and approached the window seat.

“You’re here, Jung-Woo,” their father said, seated in a chair, briefly making eye contact.

Though his expression was stern as usual, he could sense the hidden joy beneath it.

“Have you been well?” Kai asked.

“You sure took your time asking. I’ve been fine—aside from the trouble of consoling your mother.”

“What about Mom?”

“She’s upset, saying raising kids is pointless when they leave the house. Don’t make my wife cry.”

“...Mom’s really upset?”

Han Jung-Woo hadn’t expected his usually charismatic mother to react that way. In fact, he had contacted her at least twice a week.

“I’ll call her more often from now on. By the way, where is she?”

“She went to the restroom.”

Just as he sat down, Kim Hyun-Jung, his mother, appeared with a bright smile.

“Everyone’s here, I see?”

Though their children often caused trouble at home, distance seemed to make a parent’s heart grow fonder.

Kim Hyun-Jung’s eyebrows naturally furrowed as she scanned her son. “You said you’ve been eating properly, but why does your skin look so dull?”

Spending all day playing games and relying on instant meals or delivery food, his health was bound to suffer.

As Han Jung-Woo just scratched his head with no good excuse, his father said, “Well, now that it’s come up, let’s hear how everyone’s been doing. Ji-Hye, what about you?”

“What’s there to tell about a working person’s life? It’s the same cycle. But I do enjoy learning things at work.”

“Life is a continuous sequence of learning. A life that rejects learning stagnates, like still water. Always live with gratitude for opportunities to learn.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Pleased with his daughter’s response, their father smiled and looked at Han Jung-Woo.

“And you? Are you still making money playing that game?”

“Yes.”

“

Tsk tsk...

Is that still a viable source of income?”

“Dad, that game is insanely popular right now.”

Han Ji-Hye, blowing on her soup appetizer, chimed in. “Another guild made hundreds of billions in just four hours through a raid stream, apparently.”

Hundreds of billions in four hours! Even at that unbelievable number, his father merely shook his head.

“There are always top performers in any industry, but not everyone can be in the top 1%. You should always consider the darker side of things before diving in. Don’t forget why hundreds of chicken shops in Korea open and close daily.”

His father had always enjoyed sharing life lessons. Han Jung-Woo’s mature personality compared to others his age was likely due to his father’s influence.

Father has always been my role model.

For that reason, he wanted to tell his father first that he could go anywhere and proudly brag about his son.

When Han Jung-Woo pulled out a bankbook and handed it over, his father smirked.

“This is similar to last time.”

“It’s not.”

Unable to understand his son’s meaning, his father silently opened the bankbook.

“

Mm!

”

For the first time, cracks appeared in his father’s typically stern expression. The last time Han Jung-Woo showed him a bankbook with 20 million won in earnings, he had simply looked surprised.

But this time, he won’t be able to just do that.

The bankbook Han Jung-Woo handed over now contained over 1 billion won in cash. Of course, this was only about one-eighth of Han Jung-Woo’s total wealth, but it was more than enough.

“... An explanation seems necessary.”

Closing the bankbook, his father pressed his son for answers with a serious expression.

Sensing the concern in his father’s face, Han Jung-Woo smiled brightly and said, “I earned it all legitimately. Like noona said earlier, that game is incredibly popular right now.”

“But even so, this amount is hard to believe.”

“You mentioned earlier, didn’t you? It’s foolish to enter an industry only looking at the top 1%.”

With a confident smile, Han Jung-Woo picked up his glass and took a sip of water. The sensation of the cold water flowing down his throat was clear.

Placing the glass down, Han Jung-Woo said in a quiet voice, “I’m not in the top 1%.”

“But even then, you earned this kind of money...”

“I

am

number one.”

Han Jung-Woo openly revealed that he was ranked first without hesitation.

They were family. Unlike competitors in the game, where information needed to be hidden and monopolized, this was his family. There was no reason to keep this from the people who would always be on his side and support him.

“

Hmmm

...”

Number one. The person who stood at the very front when everyone in the industry was lined up.

Knowing the weight of that position, Han Jung-Woo’s father slowly nodded and said, “This is something I can’t help but acknowledge. You’ve done good.”

“Thank... you.”

Han Jung-Woo unconsciously clenched his fists tightly. Otherwise, he felt like tears would pour out uncontrollably.

Recognition from his father. Since childhood, he had always been compared to his older sister, who excelled at everything. Naturally, all the praise from others was directed at her.

Maybe that’s why I started helping others.

Because when he helped someone and received their gratitude, they looked directly at him and praised him.

Han Jung-Woo had always wanted acknowledgment from his blunt and stern father. Not just because he was his father, but because he was the most respectable adult he had ever known.

Honestly, I thought it was impossible the moment I took a leave of absence.

Especially after starting

MID Online

, he thought it was something entirely out of reach. But ironically, he earned his father’s recognition through the very game that had initially disappointed him. That fact filled Han Jung-Woo’s heart with overwhelming emotion more than anything else.

“Honey, what’s going on with you?” Han Jung-Woo’s mother asked.

“Are you feeling unwell?” Han Ji-Hye added.

When his mother and sister tilted their heads, not understanding the situation, his father shook his head silently and handed the bankbook back to Han Jung-Woo.

“Take it. I’ll explain it to your mother properly.”

Han Jung-Woo stared at the bankbook that had returned to him, then said, “You can just use it.”

“I’m still young, and I’m not poor enough to take money earned by my son,” his father replied.

As expected, a true gentleman.

Then, Han Jung-Woo offered the bankbook to his mother with an awkward smile. “Then you can use it, Mom.”

“How much is in here for you to be doing this...?”

When Kim Hyun-Jung opened the bankbook absentmindedly, her eyes widened at the figure of 1,000,000,000.

“Jung-Woo, you...”

“I’ve told you on the phone every time. You don’t have to worry about me anymore.”

Even when a son said something like that, what mother wouldn’t worry about her child? However, the number in the bankbook melted away her concerns like snow in spring. Not because his parents were materialistic, but because it gave them reassurance that their son could now take care of himself.

“I’m still earning well too. Give this to your salaried sister instead.”

The bankbook that had been closed again found its way to his sister.

“Why? How much could it possibly be...?

Whoa!

”

She let out an involuntary gasp but quickly covered her mouth, realizing where they were. However, that was only for a moment. Furrowing her brows, she handed the bankbook back to her brother.

“I work at a major company and earn decent money myself, okay? Why would I use your money to get my pride hurt?”

“No, just use it...”

“No, thanks. Take it back.”

Her tone was curt, but it carried warmth and proudness toward him.

Well...

It was a bankbook containing a significant sum of 1 billion won. The bankbook had passed through three people, but in the end, it returned to its owner.

They’re my family, but really, they’re just too kind.

Having a family he could openly share his success with and celebrate together made Han his heart feel warm.

***

“

Hmm

...”

After a wonderful dinner with his family, Kai returned to Libertia, deep in thought.

The Ultimate Blacksmith Competition. The idea is great, but what happens afterward?

Hosting a competition would inevitably result in a winner, and that winner’s reputation would undoubtedly skyrocket. The winner would be recognized as the most skilled blacksmith among those who used the coveted dwarven techniques.

That doesn’t mean the other 107 blacksmiths will be overlooked.

Even if they lost the competition, their skills wouldn’t be lacking. In fact, there could be attempts to recruit them while all attention was on the winner.

“

Ugh

. But it would be strange to keep them all in Libertia...”

Maintaining 108 workshops in a small village like Libertia was inefficient. Especially now, with the expansion of commercial and residential areas becoming a pressing issue.

The addition of 108 workshops has already further reduced the limited territory.

As Kai wrestled with this unresolved issue, a visitor arrived.

“Hey, client!”

“... Camilla?”

Her fiery, intense hair immediately caught Kai’s attention. At the same time, he recalled the reason for her visit.

“

Oh

, come to think of it, my equipment must be ready by now, right?”

“

Wow

. Can someone who left me with materials of a Death Dragon really be this carefree?”

“You can’t even run away. The system protects everything, doesn’t it?”

That was true. A blacksmith couldn’t sell or trade materials or completed items left by a client.

Knowing this better than anyone, Camilla put on a reluctant face and said, “ I never intended to run in the first place. Anyway, why were you looking so sullen?”

“

Oh

, well...”

When Kai gave a brief explanation to Camilla, she clasped her hands tightly and her eyes sparkled.

“Me too! Let me join too!”

“Participation is limited to dwarves. Request denied.”

“The competition hasn’t even started yet, right? You can change that much.”

“Why should I?”

When Kai shrugged and asked, Camilla smirked.

“If you help me participate in the competition, I’ll solve the problem you’re worrying about.”

“... You?”

“Yeup. And with the outcome that’ll make you the happiest.”

“Let me hear it first, then I’ll decide.”

Kai straightened his posture and perked up his ears.

Camilla slightly licked her lips and began to speak slowly.