Traveling through the game world, starting out as a third-rate villain

blacksmith.

This word represents one of the most important professions in the world. For those who follow the power and integrate magic into their lives, the blacksmith itself is a symbol of magic.

Although in this world full of miracles and unconventional phenomena, magical works based on reason and logic also exist, there are still some people who forge their works through their passion and beliefs.

Rather than relying on monotonous techniques and skills derived from observation, these blacksmiths bring emotion and passion to their art.

In the game, their weapons cannot be mass-produced or understood by any ordinary logic.

Even if you precisely replicate every movement and every detail of a blacksmith's forging process, you still cannot achieve the same results as them.

This is because the work of blacksmiths is inherently magical, and even involves divination to some extent. They not only use their bodies to shape, but also use the magic in their bodies to shape it.

Although the Mage Tower has conducted countless studies in an attempt to unlock the mysteries behind blacksmithing and apply them to other weapons, ultimately these studies have not yielded any results.

“This is how they are set up in this world.”

I read the article and thought. Players don't want a monotonous game, they don't want to buy a bunch of mass-produced ordinary weapons. They want a special weapon of their own, to be able to play the role of the protagonist.

Therefore, the developers need to design a special blacksmith to forge these weapons. As the quality of the weapons improves, the blacksmith also needs higher skills to forge such unique equipment.

Given the developer's tendencies, it's easy to guess that there will be a special kind of blacksmith in the game.

And now, I am going to see the blacksmith.

Buzz!

As I approached the ticket office, the roar of the train echoed through the busy station, and the air was filled with excitement and anticipation, and the busyness of the modern world, an atmosphere that was perfect for the capital of the Commonwealth of Mankind.

I handed the required amount to the conductor and nodded my thanks.

"A ticket to the Sunflower Mountains. Please come in," the ticket seller said, her voice cutting through the surrounding noise.

I walked toward the platform, the sound of footsteps and distant conversations filling the air. The train looked majestic, a world where technology and design were perfectly combined, symbolizing the coexistence of magic and advanced civilization.

The door slid open with a hiss, and I boarded the train and found an empty seat by the window.

"Seat 52, here."

As I took my seat, I was surrounded by the sounds of conversation, occasional laughter, and excited chit-chat from other passengers.

“It’s very nostalgic.”

I'm not sure if it was their intention, but the atmosphere on the train was very cozy, especially on a cold winter day. Some people were chatting over a cup of coffee, while others were busy with their smart watches.

"I could use a little break."

The train wasn’t a high-speed train, so I had some time to clear my mind.

I leaned back in my seat and let my thoughts drift.

The article I read earlier about the blacksmith echoed in my mind.

bite!

Just then, my watch suddenly sent a message notification.

[Tribe: Sir, the mana wavelength distribution map you requested has been found. ]

This is a message from an organization I trust.

【Did you get it from the association's database? 】

[Tribe: Yes. As you suggested, we will focus on the western server and successfully find the map. ]

【very good.】

【Tribe: It is our honor. 】

After I ended the chat, I looked at the attachment. The tribe had a special way of delivering messages and files, and they used a unique program they wrote to decrypt the files.

call!

The roar of the train engine signaled our departure.

"Dear passengers, this train is bound for the Sunflower Mountains..."

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The rhythmic sound of wheels and tracks began, and as we left the station, the scenery outside began to change.

As the train began to move, I opened my file. The seat next to me was empty, and I could work more comfortably during the journey.

I opened the Mana Wavelength Distribution Map and began to apply vector calculations, combined with the knowledge we gained in the Hunter Mana Primer, I was able to read the map in more detail.

However, I still need to learn more along the way.

And so, as the train moved along, I analyzed the map in my hand.

......

Crunch! Whoosh!

My boots crunched on the snow with every step I took, and I was heading deeper into the Sunflower Mountains.

The air was crisp and cold, the biting wind a stark contrast to the warmth of the train.

Snowflakes were falling, and the surroundings were shrouded in a tranquil atmosphere, almost masking the sound of my footsteps.

"Ha ha……"

I had been walking for nearly a day and the cold and my strength were beginning to show its effects.

As an awakened person, walking for nine hours should not be a big deal, but climbing a mountain is a different story.

squeak!

An eerie silence echoed through the mountains, broken only by the occasional snapping of branches and the howling of magical creatures in the distance.

【Aurora Crow】

This is when my recently acquired contract partner came in handy.

Flutter! Flutter!

The crow flapped its wings and flew into the air to scout the surrounding environment. I tried my best to hide my presence, but even so, some monsters still had abnormal detection capabilities and could not be easily avoided.

'7 Rune Bears, it seems they have taken over this territory.'

Rune Bears are very smart monsters, and it is usually recommended to run away as soon as possible when facing them. Even high-level hunters are reluctant to fight them head-on.

'I should go a little further and try to avoid them.'

After marking the Rune Bear's location in my mind, I called back the crow and continued forward, checking the map at the same time.

"If my guess is correct, the target is nearby."

I've spent some time on the map analyzing unusual mana wavelengths. Initially, I marked a few possible locations, and with further analysis, I've narrowed it down to three target locations.

I have checked the first two, and the only thing left is the last one.

Crunch! Whoosh!

The cold wind and heavy snow made the climb difficult.

roar!

At this moment, a sudden roar broke the silence of the mountains. The ground shook slightly, and the mountains seemed to respond to the powerful existence in the distance.

Instinctively, I felt nervous, as if there was some awe-inspiring presence around me. The new presence was unusual, and I stopped for a moment.

'If it's this area, then it must be...'

Hiss! Boom!

As I continued my analysis, I heard a hissing sound, followed by some kind of crashing sound.

'Sommel.'

In this mountain range, there is only one kind of monster that can make this hissing sound, and that is the level 8 peak monster Somir.

It is a powerful lizard-like monster that has the ability to resist cold and likes to live in cold areas, but they usually do not show up easily.

'But considering my progress in the game, I'm now a year ahead of where I am in the game.'

This means a possible scenario...

'There was another high-level monster here, and Thormier defeated it and won control of the territory.'

When I came to this conclusion, I realized one thing.

'They are fighting now.'

boom!

As I pondered this, an explosive shockwave echoed through the mountains, shaking the snow-capped peaks.

Bang!

Before I could react, a powerful impact knocked me to the snow.

"Well!"

The air was filled with the aftermath of the explosion, and pain spread from where I was hit.

boom!

Then there was another deafening explosion, and this time I instinctively protected myself.

The force of the explosion knocked me back. As I struggled to regain my balance, I realized that danger was imminent. The combined threat of the monster and the explosion caused the hillside to shake violently.

Rumble! Rumble!

The shaking of the ground became more and more obvious. I tried to stand firm, but I felt the ground beneath my feet becoming unstable.

"Pooh!"

I spat out a mouthful of blood, quickly took out a bottle of healing potion from the space bracelet, and drank it all.

The vibrations in the snow were not in sync with the impacts.

This means that the avalanche may have already begun.

'I couldn't even look back.'

【Speed】

Quickly activating the skill, I felt the power surge through my body and quickly assumed a running stance.

whoosh!

Then, the race against time begins...