Hyun-soo’s father was called the world’s greatest master craftsman.
Like father, like son, as the saying goes, Hyun-soo also enjoyed making weapons.
Sword, bow, spear, shield. He would make anything without discrimination and enjoyed creating more than anything else in the world.
His father even joked that he might be addicted to crafting given how much he loved it.
However, the doctor sitting across from him now said,
“It has been three years since the accident, but working in the forge is still too much for you.”
The doctor looked at Hyun-soo’s hands. His right hand was trembling slightly.
There had been a fire in the forge. It wasn’t his father’s fault.
It was caused by a spark that occurred on the electrical line, which was later identified as the cause.
That day, his father was sleeping in the back room, and Hyun-soo, who had been out, rushed in to save his father.
During the rescue, a steel bar fell and crushed his right hand.
He managed to get his father out of the forge, but his father ended up in a vegetative state after being taken to the hospital.
And Hyun-soo was left unable to work in the forge and his body was covered with severe burns.
“Why don’t you look for a different job?”
Hyun-soo’s lips pressed firmly together.
He had graduated high school, but he had been working in the forge ever since he was young.
Yes, there wasn’t much Hyun-soo could do.
‘It’s not easy to find a job with this body.’
Hyun-soo’s right hand could handle daily tasks without difficulty.
The problem was the burns.
The burns that covered his entire body.
They were severe enough to make anyone grimace.
The doctor couldn’t hide his bitter expression.
“You would need about 3 billion won to remove the burns.”
Modern medicine had improved a lot.
To the point where any burn could be completely healed. The problem was the cost was prohibitively expensive.
“We at the hospital are also looking for ways to help you, Hyun-soo, but it’s not easy.”
The attending doctor was aware of Hyun-soo’s situation.
Hyun-soo managed a bitter smile.
“Thank you for your concern.”
After Hyun-soo left, the doctor sighed deeply.
Feeling sorry that he couldn’t be of more help to the unfortunate young man,
Hyun-soo bought a few cans of beer and returned home. His original home had burned down, so he was living in a shabby studio.
He turned on a TV program while drinking beer.
The title of the documentary was ‘Restoration of Haemosu’s Sunlight Sword.’
“Wow.”
Hyun-soo smiled as he saw his father appear on the TV screen.
The narration continues.
-The perfectly restored Sunlight Sword. In 2040, when everything is mechanized, Mr. Kang Hyun-tae is still a master craftsman who manually produces weapons.
Haemosu’s Sunlight Sword had been commissioned for restoration by the National Museum.
A TV station staff member is captured admiringly during the interview.
-It’s amazing that he perfectly restored the Sunlight Sword that was almost rusted and about to break.
Hyun-soo’s father had been silent for a long time. Hyun-soo knew the reason well.
At that time, his father had been unable to continue blacksmithing due to the loss of strength in his right arm after years of hammering.
Therefore, it was actually Hyun-soo who had restored the Sunlight Sword.
Hyun-soo had been helping his father in the forge since he was 10 years old and at some point became a blacksmith comparable to his father.
Hyun-soo had asked to say that it was his father who had restored it. He made excuses that it was embarrassing, but it was not true.
In these times when only one master craftsman is known to the world.
He wanted to protect his father’s pride.
-“That’s high praise.”
His father had smiled bitterly after a long silence.
Several scenes passed by again and a TV station official threw a dramatic comment.
-“He is known as the last master craftsman in the world. Some say it’s because there aren’t many blacksmiths left. What do you think about this?”
It could have been a rude question.
But the answer had already been proven.
-“Doesn’t the finished product prove it?”
There might not be many blacksmiths, but there were plenty of appraisers in the world.
The crew and appraisers from the overseas broadcasting station also marveled at his father’s work.
After the broadcast, Hyun-soo murmured while drinking beer.
“How do I make a living?”
In truth, he could make a living doing anything, but the scars were the problem.
Moreover, although there were few blacksmiths in the world, it was difficult for a blacksmith to make money.
People wanted something legendary as a decorative piece, not just any sword made by someone.
Especially in this country where weapon ownership had become illegal, it was even more the case.
Therefore, he made a living by taking restoration requests from museums and such.
-3 billion won…
The cost of removing the scars.
Additionally, he needed more money because he had to maintain his father’s hospitalization expenses.
Then.
“Hey, Hyun-soo.”
Someone was pounding on the door.
When he opened the door, his friend Ji-hoon was shaking a chicken drumstick.
“Kid, were you feeling down?”
“You came?”
Ji-hoon is a good guy.
He has been consistently visiting his home since that incident.
He knows it’s to keep him from feeling lonely.
“Cheers.”
They clinked beer cans cheerfully. His mood improved with his friend’s arrival.
They chatted and drank beer warmly, and Hyun-soo spilled out his life story.
“Ah… How am I supposed to live from now on, everything seems so bleak…”
“Shh. Just shut up for a bit.”
“Consolation for a struggling friend and you tell me to shut up?”
Ji-hoon was a true friend.
“Yeah, yeah, you would say that.”
Even though he talks like that, he comes running whenever he gets a whiny call.
Ji-hoon, who had quieted Hyun-soo, turned to look at the TV.
“It’s today.”
“What is?”
“You know Han-ul, the kendo gold medalist, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Today, he’s trying the wooden mannequin challenge.”
“Wooden mannequin?”
“Yeah.”
Ji-hoon connected to the Paprika broadcast on TV.
Soon a man was striking a wooden mannequin with a grave expression.
One hit, two hits, three hits.
Even to a layman like Hyun-soo, the beating didn’t look ordinary.
The wooden mannequin was shaking greatly with each hit.
By the ninth time, it seemed quite damaged.
But then…
“Ah, another failure!”
It still didn’t break on the tenth hit.
“Damn it, those evil bastards at Blue Inc., why put something that can’t even break.”
Ares, the game that fascinated the world.
Sadly, Hyun-soo didn’t have the luxury to play it.
“If it doesn’t work out, just don’t do it, why the fuss?”
At Hyun-soo’s words, Ji-hoon wagged his finger.
“Why? Because if you break that, they give you a capsule worth 50 million won.”
“50 million won?”
To the 23-year-old Hyun-soo, that was an astronomical amount of money.
“Yeah, dude. That’s why people were challenging it, but now breaking it is almost like earning a medal.”
“A medal?”
“The geniuses in the world, the kendo genius, archery genius, martial arts genius, all of them couldn’t break it.”
“If all the stats are the same, isn’t it obvious they can’t break it?”
Hyun-soo, who was reminded of online RPG games, thought it was a common notion.
“You gaming novice, it’s a bit different for special people in virtual reality, did you see that white light burst every time that kendo genius hit?”
“Yeah. What about it?”
“That’s a critical hit, it only bursts when hit precisely. Ordinary people might get one burst out of ten, but those guys get it in two.”
“And they still can’t break it?”
“Yeah, they still can’t. It’s like it’s made not to be broken.”
“Hmm…”
Hyun-soo stroked his chin.
“Then why not just make a weapon that can break it and hit it?”
“Hey, I just explained, didn’t I? That’s a beginners’ zone, they don’t have jobs so they can’t change to a blacksmith. That’s why making artifacts is impossible… huh?”
Ji-hoon suddenly looked puzzled.
“…. Can you make it?”
“If the making process is the same as in reality, then I can definitely make it, right?”
Hyun-soo’s eyes widened as he spoke.
“Uh…?”
Ji-hoon stood up and looked down at him.
“This is totally a cheat character!”
Hyun-soo looked up at Ji-hoon with trembling eyes.
“Do people spend real money on Ares too…?”
“Of course!”
“So they spend real money because of the items?”
“If they could afford it!”
Hyun-soo briefly looked at the TV screen. The image of a 50-million-won capsule flickered in his mind.
“Could I possibly earn money through gaming?”
Ji-hoon couldn’t give a definite answer.
Because there are unknown variables that neither of them could be sure of.
Most importantly, they still don’t know.
Whether his blacksmith skills would apply in the game as well.
“Should I give it a try? Ares.”
For Hyun-soo, who felt at a dead end, there was no other choice.
***
The next day.
Hyun-soo and Ji-hoon headed to the capsule room.
The previous evening.
Having decided to try Ares, Hyun-soo thoroughly researched it.
‘The basic capsule costs 10 million won…’
Although VVIP capsules were very expensive, even the standard ones were not cheap.
Hyun-soo didn’t have that kind of money.
“I will definitely get a capsule.”
“Hey, if you get a VVIP capsule, let me know, the VVIP capsule has a synchronization rate of almost 99.9%.”
The higher the synchronization rate, the more realistic the game feels. However, even the standard capsules had an 85% rate.
Actually, VVIP capsules weren’t necessary, but they were more of a luxury item for the rich.
The two completed their payment at the capsule room.
“Enjoy~!”
It would be a while before Ji-hoon and Hyun-soo could meet inside the game.
Ji-hoon entered his capsule first, and then Hyun-soo entered his.
Whoosh-click—
The capsule door closed.
Soon, wires attached themselves all over his body and goggles came down over his eyes.
Hyun-soo’s heart was pounding.
There was another reason for the excitement in his chest.
Even on this hot summer day, Hyun-soo wore long sleeves, long pants, a hat, and a mask.
It was because of the scars that covered his whole body.
Because of them, he barely remembered what he used to look like.
Normally, his body was covered with swollen, worm-like burn scars.
[Connecting to the character creation screen.]
White letters appeared out of the darkness.
The screen switched immediately.
Hyun-soo was speechless for a while.
Because there was a mirror right in front of him.
A mirror for customization.
In that mirror, standing before him, he couldn’t find any scars on himself.
Not the colorful scars that wrapped around his left cheek.
Not the left eyebrow that had stopped growing.
Not the ones that covered his arms—all had disappeared, revealing his true appearance.
He looked down at his right hand.
His right arm, which used to twitch even when still, didn’t shake.
Then a notification came.
[Changing character appearance…]
“Pass.”
[Selecting a character nickname…]
“Hyun-soo.”
He liked using his real name as it was.
Suddenly, he remembered a conversation with his father.
‘Why did you quit your good corporate job to become a blacksmith?’
‘Because it’s fun.’
‘Geez, Dad, you should’ve been born in the Joseon era.’
His father, who had just been hit with a playful slap on the head, said,
‘Then why do you do it? You have a bright future, why bother with blacksmithing which is looked down upon?’
‘Because it’s fun.’
At that time, he and his father had smiled at each other.
‘Actually, I have a little dream.’
‘What dream?’
It was a dream that was difficult to realize.
‘A dream where people need and sincerely rejoice over the finished products I’ve made.’
A dream that could never be realized in modern times.
As he said this, his father placed a hand on his shoulder and said,
‘Hyun-soo, you little crafting addict. Whatever you do, isn’t it enough that you find it fun and happy?’
He pondered over that.
Yes, whatever he does, as long as he finds it fun and is happy, that’s enough.
[Starting connection.]
So, Hyun-soo tried Ares.
Another master craftsman, born of a master, logged into the game.
