Chapter 219 – IronGray
While everyone else hesitated over choosing a region, Russell selected the Albitz Kingdom without a second thought.
‘Mr. Ryu told me. He said there’s nothing else I need to do—just wait for Black Scythe-nim in the Albitz Kingdom.’
He’d heard the strategy for Round 13, but the Prophet said there was no need to force himself to do quests.
Since Russell’s class was Blacksmith, he could raise his reputation more easily than others by getting involved with dwarves.
‘He said he already told Black Scythe-nim the detailed method. Because it’s something that absolutely requires his help.’
That was why Russell was waiting here endlessly.
For nearly an hour now.
‘D-don’t tell me he’s not coming…?’
Just as that anxious thought hit him—worried he might be stood up—a black object appeared in the sky.
“What is that—huh?!”
Flapping wings like a demon, it soon landed lightly in front of Russell.
It was none other than Black Scythe.
“Russell Daniel?”
“Y-yes. Are you… Black Scythe-nim, by any chance?”
Because of the nature of this fantasy world, he couldn’t see a nickname floating above the other person’s head, but he could tell by 느낌 alone that this was Black Scythe.
“Yeah. I’m Black Scythe.”
“I-it’s an honor to meet you.”
“Honor, my ass. I heard about you from the Prophet. He said you two are close, so I should take special care of you.”
“The Prophet said that about me?”
When Black Scythe nodded, Russell felt moved inside.
‘So Mr. Ryu thinks of me that way… He really is practically a saint.’
Russell, who’d been thinking he should do better once they met, suddenly remembered what Ryu Min had said.
‘He told me: when I meet Black Scythe, prove my value.’
Thinking it wouldn’t hurt to strengthen his relationship with Black Scythe while he had the chance, Russell worked up the courage.
“I-I heard you can help me grow, Black Scythe-nim.”
“So I heard.”
“It’s shameless of me, but… could you help me? I want to grow faster.”
“Hmm…”
“In exchange, I’ll give you buffs that help with hunting! Just—please let me touch your weapon for a moment…”
As Russell stepped closer and gestured like he wanted the weapon, Ryu Min frowned.
“You want me to hand over my weapon?”
“N-no! You don’t have to give it to me—just let me touch it, that’s all.”
When Ryu Min held out the scythe, Russell lightly placed a hand on it and chanted a skill.
Then a shocking message appeared before Ryu Min’s eyes.
[Weapon Attack Power increases by 150% due to the effect of the skill ‘Weapon Polishing’.]
[This buff lasts until the end of this Round.]
‘Weapon attack power increases by that much?’
He’d heard roughly about blacksmith skills, but this was his first time actually receiving the buff.
“Your weapon attack power went up, right?”
“It did. It rose more than I expected.”
“Haha, it’s too early to be surprised. This time… could you let me touch your armor?”
When Ryu Min nodded and allowed it, Russell placed his hand on the armor.
A message even more surprising than before appeared.
[Armor options increase by 10% due to the effect of the skill ‘Equipment Polishing’.]
[This buff lasts until the end of this Round.]
‘What? Options increase?’
Ryu Min opened the info window for the Thanatos’ Black Armor he was wearing.
‘Defense 2,200, All stats +1.1 per level, 73.7% chance to evade when hit?’
The options had truly increased by 10%.
“Your options went up, right? I can apply buffs like this to every piece. Ah—except weapons and accessories.”
“Is that true?”
“Since we’re on the topic, I’ll do the rest too. This way.”
Once Russell buffed the helmet, gloves, and boots, their options also increased by 10%.
It wasn’t a massive number, but the fact that options could be enhanced at all made it meaningful.
‘If it’s an option with probability like the Black Armor… then if you do it right, you could push it close to 100%, couldn’t you?’
He hadn’t known a blacksmith could have a skill like this.
Seeing Ryu Min’s impressed expression, Russell smiled with a proud look.
“Surprised, right? Even I didn’t expect the Equipment Polishing skill I learned at level 60 to be this efficient.”
“Repair, Weapon Polishing, Equipment Polishing… What other skill do you have left?”
“Ah, there’s a skill called Material Crafting, but it’s not a buff skill, so it’s not that great. It’s literally a skill that gathers junk drops and makes higher-tier materials.”
Ryu Min nodded in agreement.
Materials could be purchased with money, so he didn’t need it.
Russell might, though.
‘Still… Weapon Polishing and Equipment Polishing alone make this class more than valuable enough.’
“How is it? Did it help?”
“More than enough.”
Seeing Ryu Min’s satisfied expression, Russell cheered inside.
This proved his value clearly.
“Let’s go. I’ll help you grow even more.”
“Thank you. Um, but where are we going…?”
“The Prophet told me we need to go to a place called the Kargago Mountain Range. We have to find a dwarf city there.”
“Do you know the way?”
“I do. I have some connections with dwarves.”
With a grin, Ryu Min switched his title to “The One Who Leads.”
When letters appeared above Ryu Min’s head, Russell’s eyes widened.
“What is that above your head?”
“Looks like it’s your first time seeing it. It’s called a title. It comes with various effects. The Prophet said if you deepen your relationship with dwarves, you’ll get one too.”
“Ah…”
“No time to waste. We’re going right now.”
“Uh…”
When Russell spoke again, Ryu Min’s tone naturally turned less polite.
“What now?”
“A-are we going to fly like earlier? I-I have acrophobia…”
“Don’t worry. We’re walking. The dwarf city is underground.”
Near the Albitz Kingdom lay the Kargago Mountain Range.
And beneath it was the dwarves’ city that anyone “in the know” knew about—IronGray.
Clang—clang!
Metalworking sounds rang out everywhere.
“Waa… so this is the dwarves’ city…”
“Close your mouth. They’re staring at you.”
Dwarves were glaring at Russell, who kept looking around in amazement.
These dwarves already traded actively with humans, so they didn’t block them from entering, but humans were still outsiders.
There was no way they’d welcome someone gawking at their city like it was a zoo.
But whether Russell understood that or not, he kept staring at the dwarves’ work with fascinated eyes.
‘It’s not just fascination—more like a gaze overflowing with passion.’
Maybe he was thrilled to meet fellow craftsmen who worked metal like he did.
You could practically see motivation pouring out of Russell’s entire body.
“Look at that. Their hammering is art. The angle is consistent—there isn’t even the slightest wobble. Wow, look at his handwork. His technique handling iron is no joke. I think he’s making plates to attach to armor. How can hands that small and thick have that kind of dexterity… Oh—are all those in the back handmade works? I want to touch one just onc—”
“Russell. Get a grip and come over here.”
“Ah, sorry. Haha…”
Like a cat in front of a fish shop, Russell couldn’t keep his composure.
The place Ryu Min led him to was IronGray’s largest forge: “Hammerfall.”
“This is it. Let’s go in.”
“W-wait a second. Something popped up in front of me…”
Russell’s eyes were aimed at empty air.
A sub-quest must have appeared.
“It says I have to work as an assistant at Hammerfall for three hours.”
“What’s the reward?”
“It says my relationship with dwarves becomes ‘Very Favorable’ and all my skills improve by one stage. But it says only the Blacksmith class can do it.”
Clear one quest and you pass the Round and upgrade your skills.
‘There’s no sub-quest sweeter than this. Only Russell can do it, but still.’
He had to work for three hours, but compared to other players, that was short.
‘Most people will need at least six hours of reputation grinding.’
In that sense, Round 13’s 2nd place was basically already decided as Russell.
‘As long as he can get hired, that is.’
It wouldn’t work to just walk into a forge and say, “Let me work as an assistant.”
Why would they trust a random human who showed up without any connection and give him work?
He’d be lucky if he didn’t get chased out with a kick.
‘But there’s nothing to worry about. Because I’m here.’
Ryu Min opened the forge door and motioned for Russell to come in.
“Waaa…”
Seeing the massive forge—so huge it didn’t fit in his view—Russell kept letting out admiration.
Then a young-looking dwarf approached, asking in a prickly tone.
“What business do humans have here?”
But only for a moment.
The dwarf’s expression shifted to shock as he looked at Ryu Min.
“Huh? A-aren’t you The One Who Leads?”
Ryu Min nodded.
A dwarf he didn’t recognize was talking to him like they knew each other, but it wasn’t even surprising anymore.
He could only once again feel how mighty the reputation system was.
“I’ve come to meet Hammerfall’s blacksmith, Heimer.”
“Master Heimer? P-please wait a moment.”
The young dwarf hurried off, then returned with a dwarf whose beard was thick and wild.
It was Heimer—the blacksmith Ryu Min had met back in Round 8.
“Oh! To think The One Who Leads would visit our IronGray! I’ve missed you!”
Maybe because the reputation was “Very Favorable,” Heimer welcomed Ryu Min with intense enthusiasm.
“We shouldn’t talk here—let me guide you somewhere quiet. It’s far too noisy in here.”
“Let’s.”
The moment they reached a relatively quiet lounge, Ryu Min introduced Russell.
“Let me introduce him. This is someone I value—Russell Daniel.”
Russell was inwardly flustered at the phrase “someone I value,” but he quickly played along.
“N-nice to meet you. Please call me Russell.”
They were too different in height to properly shake hands, so they only nodded.
“Nice to meet you. But The One Who Leads… what brings you to our city?”
“I was about to get to that. Would you be willing to use this friend here?”
“Use him?”
“For today only. Please hire him as an assistant. He says he really wants to learn beside the best dwarven smiths. Contrary to how he looks, he’s quite skilled in metallurgy.”
At the mention of a fellow craftsman, Heimer’s gaze locked onto Russell.
“Have you done smithing work before?”
“Yes. My experience is only six years, but I can do basic work.”
“And what have you made?”
“Uh… a lot. Longswords, daggers, bracelets, protective gear, chairs, armor—things like that. I guess you could say I’ve made most of the usual stuff.”
“Ho? Then you’re past intermediate level.”
Heimer stared at Russell with impressed eyes.
Reading his thoughts, he seemed genuinely pleased.
‘Interview passed.’
No need to worry about the hiring now.
Sure enough—
“Very well. Since you were introduced by The One Who Leads, I’ll make an exception and hire you as an assistant for today.”
“Th-thank you!”
“However, it’s late. We can only do three hours. Is that acceptable?”
“Yes, of course!”
Russell looked delighted like a student burning with desire to learn, and Heimer didn’t dislike that reaction.
If anything, he seemed to like the enthusiasm—like he wanted to take Russell in immediately.
“Shall we go to work right now?”
“Yes, yes!”
“And what will you do, The One Who Leads?”
“My business is done. I should leave now.”
At that, Russell quickly stepped forward and bowed his head in the Korean way.
“Thank you for helping me. Without you, Black Scythe-nim, I never would’ve gotten this chance.”
It was a quest that would’ve been impossible without Ryu Min’s introduction and high reputation.
“I’ll repay this kindness. I really will.”
“I’ll remember you said that.”
With a debt now owed, Russell would treat Black Scythe favorably from here on out.
“Ah—before I go, I have something to ask Heimer.”
“Me? Do you need something?”
“I heard there are special materials sold here in IronGray.”
“What materials are you referring to?”
Ryu Min listed the material items needed for God-rank crafting combinations, one by one.
As Heimer listened, his expression changed moment by moment.
“Ahem… where on earth did you hear such rumors…?”
“I have a wide network. Do you have those materials?”
“I do. I do have them, but…”
“Can you hand them over to me?”
For the first time, the always-friendly Heimer looked troubled.
“That’s… we obtained those with great difficulty, so we can’t simply give them away…”
“I didn’t ask you to give them to me for free. I’ll purchase them all.”
“These are materials with quite a high price tag…”
“Don’t worry.”
Ryu Min smiled broadly.
“I’ve got more than enough gold.”