The Returnee's Hidden Strategy Stream

[Translator - Jjescus ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter: 40

Ding-!

[Experience increased by 8,800.]

After Trigger died, he received experience points again.

-Wow.

-He actually won;

-As expected of a professional assassin, huh.

-Did you see Trigger laughing at the end?

-What else can he do but laugh?

-Really lol

[Sword King has donated 50,000 won.]

[Just a Sword Master;]

[ㅇㅇ has donated 100,000 won.]

[Cutting down those crazy wannabes.]

The viewers poured out donations at the quickly concluded battle.

'It seems like he put a lot of effort into it.'

Hanbit examined the dagger in his hand and nodded in satisfaction. Putting it away in his inventory, he turned towards the last enemy.

But then.

"Hmph!"

"Haaa!"

Somehow, the war situation was going well.

"Ugh!"

The woman was engaged in a back-and-forth exchange while stepping around.

The problem was that Kim Jaeha's strength, resilience, and tenacity were too strong.

Crash-!

Enduring the attack with his body, he swung the large hammer down.

Crackle-

The ground vibrated, emitting electricity. It wasn't a simple blunt attack, so the woman had no choice but to focus on evasion.

-Hammer Master, huh.

-Information) It's a Rank 4 skill.

-Reliable.

-Roper is fighting better than expected lol

Whoosh-

Kim Jaeha's strength was impressive, but Yeonwoo was also unexpected. He seemed to understand the flow of battle better than expected. Of course, the difference in skill was too great for him to land a decisive blow.

Pull-

Hanbit took out his bow and pulled the string. The three of them were too focused on their own fight to notice.

Crash-!

Just then, Kim Jaeha's hammer slammed into the ground again. Simultaneously, Yeonwoo's sword slashed.

"Ugh!"

The woman, who had to dodge both attacks, jumped back a long distance.

Whoosh-

The arrow flew with rapid speed. Its target was the center of her forehead.

Thwack-

The woman's eyes widened at the unexpected attack. The arrow, which accurately pierced her vital point, led to an instant death.

Slide-

The woman's form disappeared without even a death rattle. Unfortunately, there were no weapons or anything left behind.

Ding-!

[Experience increased by 5,100.]

[Title: Neighborhood Watch added to the list.]

[Achievement: Murderer's Scream achieved.]

-He got that title;

-PK counterattack lol

-The bow ending was nice.

-Can't he do a one-man show with just the bow?

-Sylph is crying.

-Wind is the best.

-Really, how can you resist shooting wind with a sword?

“Hyung! We won!”

Yeonwoo ran over with a joyful face. Kim Jaeha, with his hammer on his shoulder, also followed, looking around.

"Thank you for your help. Thanks to you, it ended cleanly."

"No, not at all. I just swung my hammer around."

He waved his hand at the greeting. However, Hanbit had already reevaluated Kim Jaeha's abilities in his mind.

Hanbit turned his gaze to the title list.

[Neighborhood Watch]

When facing habitual PKers, all stats increase by 10%.

‘That's incredibly good.’

He was inwardly surprised by the better-than-expected effect.

Habitual PKers could be identified by the red bar, right?

"But why is it so quiet? Aren't those dead guys coming back?"

Hanbit, filled with questions, asked.

Yeonwoo shook his head and answered.

"Habitual PKers go to jail after they die. They won't be able to get out for at least a few days."

"There's something like that?"

"It's similar to the punishment for criminals in the real world."

Even though it was a game system, the penalty was strangely realistic.

It felt like they were trying to prevent PKing as much as possible.

"Ah, but what if the Nesto Guild makes a move? They'll have quite a few elites up there,” Yeonwoo suddenly expressed his worry.

It was Kim Jaeha who answered.

"It's alright. The Nesto Guild is individualistic; they have almost no sense of camaraderie."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. I heard that even contract requests are received individually. They form small teams like this, though."

Hanbit nodded at the explanation.

Even if those guys came back, the result would be the same.

By the time they were released, his own growth would have progressed considerably.

"Ugh... how did you lift this?"

Yeonwoo, squatting down, struggled with the greatsword stuck in the ground.

-But really, how did he lift it?

-Wasn't it the wind spirit that helped?

-Simply the GOAT.

-Is it you again...?

Since opinions were already gathering, Hanbit didn't bother to answer.

He looked at the sword fragments scattered on the ground.

'...A weapon comes first.'

He had no lingering attachment to the cheap sword he had been using.

Considering the PK incident and the future, he needed a good weapon.

"If you need a weapon, how about going to a blacksmith I know?"

Kim Jaeha, who was watching the situation, cautiously offered his opinion.

He said his profession here was a blacksmith, right?

"You don't craft it yourself?"

"All the materials I have are owned by the company... It would be better to leave it to a blacksmith who is far superior to me. He's an NPC, but I can guarantee his skills. I'm sure he's the best in Edlen."

He added that the blacksmith was the master from whom he learned metallurgy.

A recommendation overflowing with such confidence was worth listening to.

"What blacksmith is it?"

"It's a place called the Water Drop Blacksmith."

"Water Drop Blacksmith?"

He was a little surprised when Kim Jaeha mentioned the name.

Thud-

Hanbit opened his inventory and took out a rolled-up parchment.

"Oh? Isn't that what you received from Artsvel?"

Yeonwoo, recalling the memory, got up.

The blacksmith's letter of introduction he received after helping Artsvel’s mother.

That place was the Water Drop Blacksmith.

"Such a coincidence... That's amazing."

Kim Jaeha also showed a surprised reaction at the overlapping destination.

It was no coincidence that the owner of the Water Drop Blacksmith was the most skilled artisan in Edlen.

Artsvel simply knew that fact.

Swoosh-

Hanbit put the greatsword into his inventory and turned around.

"Let's move."

* * *

The three of them walked to the outskirts of the city.

When they entered the wide street, the air changed drastically.

Clang-!

Clang-!

The artisan's district, called Blacksmith Street.

True to its name, the sound of hammering could be heard from the entrance.

"Every time I come here, it feels kind of... gloomy."

"The ahjusshis would cry if they heard you."

(TL/N: Ahjussi is a Korean term of respect for a man significantly older than the speaker. Often translated as "mister" or "sir," but it carries a more familiar and sometimes playful connotation.)

"...I feel a bit guilty."

-ㅠㅠ

-So Jaeha-hyung is an ahjussi.

-Don't do that to the ahjussi...

There are many artisans working in this street.

With their burly bodies and gangster-like appearances, they exude all sorts of intimidating auras, but surprisingly, many of them are softhearted ahjusshis.

They followed Kim Jaeha, who was leading the way, and stepped into the street.

While moving to the end of the street, Hanbit was immersed in past sentiments.

‘It's exactly the same.’

He was quite close to the blacksmiths.

This was due to the orders coming in from Artsvel's general store, and also because he needed a lot of things for battle.

Among them, the one he frequented the most was the craftsman of the Water Drop Blacksmith.

"This is it."

The very end of the street.

They stood in front of a signboard so clean it sparkled.

Yeonwoo, who was quietly observing, asked, "Is this a new shop?"

"No, it's over 20 years old."

—The maintenance is amazing.

—He's a beta male;

—A real alpha male would break the signboard and still be open for business.

—lol He probably has a pretty boy face.

Viewers began making strange speculations about the un-blacksmith-like appearance.

As if he was watching it, Kim Jaeha smiled.

"You can look forward to his face."

He immediately understood why Kim Jaeha was reacting like that.

"Let's go in for now."

He led the way and opened the door to the blacksmith's workshop.

Drip-

Drip-

The sound of water droplets echoed as they passed the entrance.

There was no one in sight inside the neatly organized space.

Thump-

At that moment, a vibration echoed from the stairs leading down.

A moment later, the owner of the blacksmith appeared.

"Who is it?"

"…Huh?"

Yeonwoo, who met his eyes, froze in place.

A long, large scar across his rugged face.

His massive body, which seemed to be at least two meters tall, and his muscles made him look like a gruff bear.

—No, why is there a bear here;

—Please don't hit me, sir.

—The ultimate gentle giant;

—I could really cry if I saw him in person.

—I went there, and got kicked out in 3 seconds.

[Alpha Male has donated 5,000 won.]

[I'msorryI'msorryI'msorryI'msorry.]

The viewers who were making speculations and mockery crumbled at once.

There were also a few players who had already visited this place.

Of course, they would have been kicked out.

"Did you bring them?"

The owner's gaze fell on Kim Jaeha.

Accustomed to his master's harsh expression, he nodded.

"Yes, that's right. But I don't need to introduce you to them."

"What do you mean?"

The owner frowned slightly at his disciple's words.

Hanbit, watching him, stepped forward with the letter of introduction.

"I was referred by Artsvel."

"Artsvel?"

When he handed over the parchment, the owner snatched it roughly.

After reading the contents, he turned his gaze and said, "Since it's that friend's request, I'll sell you the item. What do you need?"

"Rather than buying, I'd like to request a custom order."

"Custom order?"

The owner's eyebrows twitched at the main point that was brought up immediately.

His expression soon turned grim.

"What custom order for a nobody. If you have nothing to buy, get out."

The owner flatly refused and turned his back.

At that obvious reaction, Hanbit took out a white gem from his pocket.

It was the spirit stone he had obtained from the challenge dungeon.

"I'm going to make it with this."

"The materials that newbies bring in are all the same. Nothing changes just because you're confident."

The owner, expressing his annoyance, sighed and glanced back.

His reaction changed quickly.

"…Is that a spirit stone?"

The owner, recognizing the item, became interested.

He approached slowly and bent down to examine the spirit stone.

"How is it?"

"Don't get cocky. Although spirit stones are precious, an empty shell is just...."

Suddenly, the owner's face hardened as he was speaking.

And then his eyes widened alarmingly.

"Th, this is....!"

The owner fixed his gaze on the inside of the white gem.

A small green light swirling inside the gem.

It was the power directly contained by the wind spirit.

Recognizing its identity, the owner’s eyes widened and he said in a high pitched voice, "Please, let me make a weapon with this!"

[Translator - Jjescus ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]