The Occult World’s Coveted Blacksmith - Chapter 58

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Occult World’s Coveted Blacksmith ◈

Chapter 58: Wow, Who Made That?

──────

“Mu-yeong, do you know the Octagon?”

I pulled out the ticket and waved it around.

It was a VIP invitation from my latest client.

I’d originally planned to go with Ji-an, but something urgent had come up for her today.

Well, the commission was already finished, and I was only going to see how it performed anyway.

Since I had an extra ticket, I asked Jin Mu-yeong, who had come to the workshop after work and kept going on about chicken and beer.

“The Octagon? You mean that underground fighting... W-Wait, hyungnim?! Is this an actual Octagon VIP ticket?!”

“Yeah. I happened to have one left...”

“That’s insane...!”

What was with that reaction?

He rolled right off the sofa, then practically crawled over to me.

“Hey, hey. Back up a little.”

“Hyungnim! I’ve been stomping my feet for months because I couldn’t get one of these! Even scalpers charge whatever they want for them!”

...Aha.

He must’ve been a huge fan.

‘Well, it’s an extra anyway.’

“Here. Take it. I don’t know much about this kind of thing, so explain it to me while we watch.”

“Hyungniiiim!”

...He was a little loud, but his reactions were great.

* * *

“Wooooooah!”

When the VIP seating door opened, a wave of heat and roaring cheers poured over me.

An earlier match was already in full swing in the ring, and the entire arena shook with the crowd’s thunderous noise.

‘...Wow.’

It was far bigger than I’d expected.

Then again, the Goblin Market had built that massive space underground too. It wasn’t like I should’ve been surprised.

Still, I hadn’t expected this many people.

The circular stands were packed all the way to the top, and an octagonal ring stood in the center beneath red lights.

I’d come here casually, but seeing the scale of the place made my heart swell for some reason.

This was my first time ever watching a match in person!

Ahem. This might be more fun than I thought.

“Ahh, hyungnim. Try some of this popcorn. It’s a work of art.”

Mu-yeong shoved a handful of popcorn into his mouth and held out his phone.

“It’s twice as fun if you watch this too. Goblin Fire is livestreaming it.”

The screen showed the ring in real time, while chat messages rushed past beside it.

──Is that rhino bastard’s defense for real? It blocked that?

──It’s wearing Tohyeon Workshop’s new armor. That probably costs hundreds of millions.

──Money really is power.

──Look at it wrecking its opponent with a favorable matchup. Damn.

Boom!

The massive rhinoceros spirit beast in the ring deflected its opponent’s blow, then charged straight into them. The match was nearly over.

‘Hmm, isn’t that too dependent on Ritual Implements?’

It was supposed to be a sport. Wasn’t it a little unfair to crush someone just because of a gear difference?

“Hyungnim, that’s just how this sport works.”

Mu-yeong explained through a mouthful of popcorn.

The workshops had sponsored competitors and built the sport up over time.

When a successful competitor knocked down an opponent using their Ritual Implement, there was no better advertisement.

Still, each competitor was limited to one offensive Ritual Implement.

It was a kind of all-around entertainment that tested the compatibility and performance of Ritual Implements, along with the skill of the spirit beast wielding them.

‘Ohhh...’

So even the Ritual Implement counted as skill.

Come to think of it, advertisements for unfamiliar workshops kept flashing across the electronic boards around the ring.

‘Hold on, then Wukong must have a sponsor too.’

Could it use my Ritual Implement however it wanted?

I asked whether that might violate some kind of contract, but Mu-yeong shook his head.

“Ah, you don’t need to worry about that. The marks on their chests or backs are usually just advertising contracts.”

‘Aha.’

Competitors needed to use weapons suited to their opponents if they wanted to win, so their equipment choices seemed fairly unrestricted.

It was like how a soccer player’s uniform could display one brand’s logo while the cleats they wore came from another.

That was why they’d commissioned a Ritual Implement from me.

──Uh, I think this guy’s about to lose.

──Rhino, you’re losing this? LOL

──It’s over. It’s over.

──When’s the next match? I need to sleep soon.

Rumble!

The rhinoceros finally collapsed flat on its back.

And that was the end of the previous match.

──Is the next one finally the main event?

──Will Wukong win today? Its opponent is Vulcan.

──Obviously Wukong LOL

──Nah, Vulcan’s been insane lately. If Wukong gets caught even once, it won’t have any bones left~

──I heard Wukong changed weapons today? I’m seriously hyped.

Everyone started buzzing about the main event as though they’d been waiting for it.

* * *

The arena went dark, then a spotlight shone down on the center of the ring.

[All right, then it’s time for today’s match of the century!]

[The Grade-2 Primate League! The star of Geumgang Spirit Beast Training Center, Wukooooong!!!!]

“Wooooooah!!”

The crowd erupted.

At the same time, Goblin Fire’s chat started flying by like crazy.

──50505050505050505050

──Ahh, here comes my dopamine.

──505050505050

[And today’s challenger! The Burning Silverback, Vulcaaaan!!!]

A massive silver gorilla emerged from the gate on the other side.

“Mu-yeong. Is Wukong that famous?”

“Of course, hyungnim! It’s one of the biggest star players in the Grade-2 League. Popularity-wise, it’s probably not far behind the Grade-1 monsters at the top.”

Aha... So that was how it could afford my expensive limited-edition key ring.

A popular fighter in a tournament this large had to be making a fortune in fight money.

[Wukong’s weapon today is one of its specialties, a staff! An excellent choice to maintain distance against this opponent!]

A live broadcast for spectators wearing earphones also played.

[Vulcan specializes in close-quarters fighting with those fire-attribute knuckles! If it gets too close, your bones won’t survive! How will Wukong keep its distance?]

* * *

[Then, begin!!!]

Ding!

The bell rang to signal the start of the match.

Thud!

The instant it began, Vulcan, the silver gorilla, kicked off the ring floor and charged at Wukong.

As if it meant to close the distance in one go and end things, scarlet flames burst from the knuckles covering both its fists.

Wukong didn’t dodge.

It simply adjusted its grip on the pitch-black staff and swung it hard at the incoming Vulcan.

Crack.

At that moment.

Fwoosh!

A fine mist sprayed from the tip of the staff.

Then, riding the stream of water, blue Lightning Energy condensed within the staff erupted like a waterfall.

Cracklecracklecrackle!!!

[Kwaaaaaaah!]

The entire ring was swallowed by a blue flash.

Vulcan, which had been charging forward with its massive body, was blasted back while covered in fierce electric currents. It rolled across the ring floor.

“...Huh?”

“W-What was that just now...?”

It happened so fast that everyone looked around in confusion, unable to grasp what they’d seen.

Then, in the silence,

[Ookii! Ookiiii!]

Wukong began showing off its signature flair.

It planted the staff that had just unleashed lightning on the ground, then precariously climbed onto its narrow end with both feet.

It raised its remaining hand high and urged the stunned crowd to cheer.

Only then did the audience come to its senses and roar until their throats gave out.

“Wooooooah!!!”

‘...Wow, Wukong’s showmanship is insane.’

No wonder it was a star player.

[W-What just happened?! Vulcan was knocked back by a single blow while charging forward!!!]

──????????

──What the fuck was that??? Water and lightning came out together???

──That impact was crazy. Look at that gorilla flying LOL

──What’s that weapon? Aren’t they going to show a slow-motion replay?

──Wukooooong!!!

──50505050505050505050

“Hyungnim!! What was that just now?!”

Jin Mu-yeong made a huge fuss beside me.

I grinned.

Ahh. My baby was doing great.

Whoever designed it sure did a beautiful job.

[Ookikikiki.]

Wukong bared its teeth in a mocking grin as it looked at Vulcan twitching on the ground.

Just as the audience was going wild for Wukong,

[Ah!!! Vulcan is getting back up!!!!]

Vulcan, which had been slammed into the ring floor, staggered to its feet.

[As expected of Vulcan! Its durability is no joke!]

[Isn’t it a competitor whose toughness rivals a Grade-1 fighter?!]

[Grrrraaah!]

Vulcan roared and pounded its chest, then planted both fists on the ground and lowered its upper body.

Hummm. Hummm.

Then it began spinning in place like a top.

The more it spun, the larger and redder the flames pouring from its knuckles grew.

[There it is! Vulcan’s signature move, Pirouette Dash!!]

[It pushes centrifugal force to the absolute limit before ramming straight in! Just one graze from that can crush your bones!]

‘Ohh.’

I could see the principle behind the Ritual Implements on its hands at a glance.

The more it spun, the more it triggered the fire-attribute Spiritual Power pouring from its hands, gathering Spiritual Power until it reached the limit.

[Here it comes! Pirouette Daaash!!!]

Whoooosh!

Vulcan, now a giant burning top, tore across the ring floor like a runaway train.

It charged at Wukong with terrifying speed, scattering scarlet flames in every direction.

Wukong tried to leap up to avoid it.

But then.

‘...Huh?’

Just as Wukong kicked off the floor, its timing was slightly off.

Thwack!

[Screeech!]

Wukong tried to dodge at the last moment, but Vulcan’s spinning strike grazed its shoulder and sent it flying backward across the ring floor.

“Ahhh!”

“No!!”

──Ah, it got hit.

──Even a graze from that causes serious injuries.

──See? I told you it was over once Wukong entered Vulcan’s grabbing range.

Tap!

Wukong rolled backward to open up distance, then quickly lowered its stance again.

Its shoulder had been grazed, but thankfully, the [Impact Mitigation Spell Formula] I’d inscribed into its armor seemed to have kept it from suffering a critical injury.

Whoooosh! Boom!

Vulcan didn’t stop there.

It continued spinning like a top, relentlessly pressuring Wukong.

Scarlet flames rose wherever it swept past.

Wukong dodged this way and that, trying to make space.

But the flames had already spread in every direction, cutting the available floor space in half within seconds.

Wukong was eventually forced into a corner of the ring.

Only then did Vulcan stop spinning and slowly adjust its stance.

[Ahhh! It’ll be hard for Wukong to maintain distance now! With the space this narrow, Wukong’s advantage with its long staff has completely disappeared!]

──Wukong’s fucked.

──Didn’t I say Vulcan would win?!

──No, Wukong...

──50505050505

Wukong had been driven into a corner and now faced a close-combat monster in the worst possible situation.

Everyone watched while holding their breath.

Crackle. Cracklecrackle!

Blue sparks burst violently from Wukong’s hand as it crouched in the corner.

Crackle! Clink!

Clatter!

The single staff in Wukong’s hand split into three sections, silver chains spilling out between them.

It had shifted into Three-Section Staff mode, its three sections joined by long chains.

[Wooooah!! W-What is this?!]

[The weapon!! The weapon changed form during the match!!! Bongi became a Three-Section Staff!!!]

“What is that?!”

“Wow... That’s insane.”

──??????????

──A transforming weapon????

──Why is there a Three-Section Staff there? Holy shit LOL

──That’s insane LOL

──That looks fucking cool.

The corner was far too cramped to even think of swinging a long staff.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoooosh!

At the end of Wukong’s long arm, the Three-Section Staff began spinning like a top.

Bangbangbang!

The three sections traced separate paths and pounded Vulcan from every direction.

[Urk! Urrgh!]

Vulcan stumbled backward as blow after blow rained down on it.

Crackle! Crackle!

Every time a strike landed, blue lightning exploded through the moisture gathered at the ends of the sections.

The balance of offense and defense reversed in an instant.

[No, the situation has completely turned around! Wukong, which was backed into the corner, is now pressuring Vulcan instead!]

“Wukong! Wukong! Wukong!”

Then.

Clink!

One end of the wildly swinging Three-Section Staff connected again.

‘...That is.’

Wukong held two of the three sections in its hand while the final section dangled from a long chain, forming a Flail.

The weapon that had been folded short to strike abruptly gained an arm’s length of reach.

Whoooosh!

Wukong began spinning that last section overhead.

The end of the chain, driven by centrifugal force, extended even farther than the staff had before.

Vulcan, which had been backing away, entered its range before it could react.

Crack!

The end of the chain, which had drawn a wide circle over Wukong’s head, slammed straight into Vulcan’s temple.

[Kwaaah!]

Vulcan had endured with its defense, but even toughness was useless when its head started ringing.

As it staggered back and lost its balance, Vulcan roared in one last desperate attempt, and flames burst from the knuckles on both fists.

Fwoooosh!

Ferocious flames dyed the whole ring scarlet and surged toward the stands.

“Eek!”

A few spectators in the front row instinctively leaned back.

Sizzle!

But the Barrier wrapped in wire mesh deflected the flames without letting any through.

[Ookii!]

Wukong released the section it had connected.

Clatter!

The Ritual Implement returned to the Three-Section Staff’s three folded segments.

Snap!

Wukong clenched it in its mouth.

With both hands free, it planted all four limbs firmly on the floor.

Tap tap tap!

Wukong kicked off the ground and raced up the wire mesh.

Tap tap tap!

Avoiding the flames, it began running along the octagonal wall on all fours.

Round and round.

The more it spun, the more speed it gained.

And as its speed built, fierce blue sparks stretched all the way to the end of the Three-Section Staff clenched in its mouth.

‘...Wow.’

That little guy knew how to finish a match.

At some point, Wukong’s spinning body blurred.

Then.

Whoosh!

Wukong kicked off the wire mesh and soared high above Vulcan’s dazed head.

The Three-Section Staff, which it had held in its mouth, was already gripped in both hands.

Flash!

The Three-Section Staff’s three segments reconnected into one long staff in midair.

The staff, filled with blue lightning, aimed directly at Vulcan’s crown.

A blue trail split the air.

Crackle! Cracklecrackle! Boom!!!

[Kwaaaaaaah!]

Thud!

And finally, Vulcan, whose defense was supposedly Grade-1 level, collapsed flat on its back across the ring floor.

This time, it didn’t get back up.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

The bell rang to signal the end of the match.

“Winner! Wukong of Geumgang Spirit Beast Training Center!”

Red letters appeared on the electronic board.

[ WINNER - 50 ]

Wooooooah!

Cheers poured from the stands.

Wukong casually slung the Three-Section Staff over its shoulder and raised one arm toward the crowd.

It looked like a star in every sense.

‘...Good. Very good.’

Watching my baby perform like that filled me with satisfaction.

Choi Yu-jin rushed into the ring, hugged Wukong, and jumped up and down with it.

Now that it didn’t need to worry about its weapon breaking, Wukong seemed able to pour out all of its skill.

Jin Mu-yeong was still unable to contain his excitement beside me.

“Hyungniiiim! You’re definitely a super genius blacksmith! How could you make a Ritual Implement like that?! Everyone’s going crazy trying to find out who made it!”

“...Really?”

“The chat is completely losing it right now! Look!”

──That match was insane. My dopamine is through the roof.

──5050505050505

──Damn it, Wukong!!!! I believed in youuu!

──That transforming weapon was fucking awesome.

──What the hell even was that?

──Isn’t Wukong sponsored by Cheongsong Workshop?

──Holy shit, Cheongsong Workshop was that good?

──I’m going there first thing tomorrow.

──Nah, there’s no way Cheongsong made a Ritual Implement like that.

──For real. Everything they’ve released lately has sucked.