Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 912

Nekk nodded, his face remaining nonchalant toward the concerns of the other Transcendentals.

“Nekk, wouldn’t it be hard for you?”

“I can do it. After all, I also carry ‘Transcendence’ in my name.”

Nekk was the only blacksmith who could summon the Forge’s Hellfire. Whenever the forge's hellfire was summoned, the surrounding area's temperature increased to ninety degrees. Not only did he have to endure that heat, but he also had to endure the blazing flames, which were as hot as lava and erupted every once in a while.

Nekk was the only one who could melt iron and forge using the Hellfire from the Forge’s Hellfire. As the maker, he would have to endure extreme pain and be extremely hard to move. However, the results would be outstanding.

The Transcendentals looked at Nekk as he held the hammer in his hands. None of them asked him, ‘Why are you willing to go that far?’

He was Nekk. They also knew how hard Minhyuk had worked for them.

While the other Transcendentals were talking, Bender and Minhyuk came out of one of the cabins together. Nekk immediately went to Minhyuk and tried to get the man's armor so he could start working. But Minhyuk stopped him and handed over another set of armor. The armor was none other than the Star’s Armor Set, a set that was complete with armor, pauldrons, a helmet, and a pair of boots.

“If you dismantle this armor set, can you use the materials from here and make an armor that is better than the armor that I’m wearing?”

This was Nekk’s most significant concern. He wanted to give Minhyuk a good present, but the fortress had a severe shortage of good materials.

A master craftsman would never depend on or blame the materials he used. However, no matter how outstanding they were, they would not be able to produce high-quality equipment with just normal materials. However, it was also true that the Transcendental Nekk could make God-rank artifacts from legendary-rank materials.

Nekk quickly checked the details of the armor that Minhyuk handed over to him.

(Star’s Plate Armor)

Rank: God

Requirements: Level 700. The One that Received Ruffiso’s Recognition.

Durability: ?∞ / ∞

Defensive Power: 2,004

Special Effects:

•All of your stats will increase by +26%

•Your Magical Defensive Power will double

•Your Skill Attack Power will increase by 1.2x

•Upon equipment, the armor will only feel as if you’re wearing 500g light armor.

•Passive Skill: The Unapproachable One

•Active Skill: Rising Star

Description: This is plate armor made by the God of Blacksmiths for one of the Stars of the Luvien Empire, Ruffiso. It is made from the best materials that the Luvien Empire sourced and transported worldwide. When wearing the rest of the Star’s Armor Set, You Can Obtain the Artifact Set Effect.

“...?!”

Nekk’s eyes grew wide when he saw the description written under the Star’s Plate Armor. Even someone like Nekk, who had seen many outstanding armor, could tell that it was amazing.

‘The materials are ridiculously amazing.’

One of the materials used on this armor was the ‘Wind’s Feather.’ The Wind’s Feather was extremely hard to forge and integrate into an artifact. However, if applied successfully, the weight of a full-plate armor, which usually exceeds six kilograms, would be reduced by a significant amount.

Although a full-plate armor could provide high defensive power and protect all of the artifact user’s vital points, it was cumbersome, which made it more of a burden and a penalty to the one that equipped it.

However, this armor only weighed 500 grams. From what Nekk could tell, it had the highest defensive power among all the armor he had seen before. Nekk was even rendered speechless after checking the boots and the helmet.

‘This armor is truly made with excellent materials.’

To be honest, Nekk also wanted to praise the “human” who created a set artifact using materials like that. But that was all there was to it.

‘Because he was a human, he could only use the materials to this level,’ Nekk concluded.

There was also one thing to note: the set artifact effects that would be triggered when wearing all of the artifacts together.

(When Star’s Armor Set is Equipped)

Set Effects:

•Your CHA will increase by 2,000.

•Your Defensive Power will increase by 700.

•All of your stats will increase by 10%.

•Active Skill: The One that Walks the Path of the Stars.

•The weight of the entire armor set will only be at 100 grams.

Nekk was quite impressed. After checking the Slaughterer’s Armor, he quickly began to imagine a design.

‘I can use this material to supplement this part. This part can be discarded.’

However, there was one problem.

‘The requirements are already set. Even if I make a new armor out of the Slaughterer’s Armor and the Star’s Armor Set, I don’t think he will be able to equip it immediately.’

This was the thing that Nekk was stuck on. But Nekk smiled not long after.

‘As long as I work hard, my efforts will definitely bear fruit, just like they did with yours.’

Nekk looked at Minhyuk and said, “I will do my best.”

“Thank you.”

Nekk, who received everything he needed, slowly walked toward the smithy.

Baaaaaaaaang–

Then, a blazing hellfire rose from the depths of the forge and lit up the entire smithy. The flames flew out and surrounded Nekk, who was approaching the smithy's doors.

[The Forge’s Hellfire has been triggered!]

[Only if you successfully produce an artifact or die will you be able to escape the flames of the Forge’s Hellfire and leave this smithy!]

[The blazing and intense flames of the Forge’s Hellfire will not affect your vitality and life. However, you will feel a burning heat that will bother you while working!]

[Once you enter the smithy, you can control all the flames of the Forge’s Hellfire and start making the artifacts!]

[Artifacts made with the Forge’s Hellfire will have effects that are 10% stronger than usual!]

Claaaaaang–!

The most outstanding blacksmith among the Transcendentals, Nekk, raised his hammer and hit the materials as hard as he could as he tried to create a new armor set using the Star’s Armor Set and the Slaughterer’s Armor.

***

The Joy Co. Ltd.’s conference room was almost turned upside down with the commotion.

President Kang Taehoon stared at Nekk through the monitor. He thought, ‘It’s already been four days. He has been working non-stop to dismantle those artifacts. He’s even forgoing sleep.’

He could not help but be in awe of his mental strength. Finally, he finished dismantling the artifact.

[The Star’s Armor Set has been successfully dismantled!]

[With the Transcendental’s tenacity, passion, skill, and meticulousness, the material’s damage rate is only 8%!]

When dismantling an artifact, most blacksmith players had a 50% or more damage rate. This just shows how great a blacksmith Nekk was.

Meanwhile, the executives clamored to voice their opinions.

“Please look at this! Nekk has dismantled this artifact and extracted outstanding materials with minimal damage rates!”

“The materials are extremely outstanding! Even the guy who handles the materials is also outstanding! Whatever armor is produced will definitely upset the balance of the game!”

The conference room was in such a messy state because everyone was concerned about the balance break that Minhyuk was about to make.

One of the key figures, Manager Kim Dae-Il, said, “There are more than 2,400 articles and over 3,000 phone calls about how Player Minhyuk could cause a balance break in just one day. We need to restrict the production of that artifact right away.”

The discussions about how Minhyuk always caused a balance break never stopped. This was a never-ending problem for them, too. Why? The more outstanding the artifacts that Minhyuk acquired, the more high-quality artifacts they had to release in the market to ensure that the balance would be maintained to some extent.

Because of that, the difference between the rankers and the ordinary players also became more prominent. This was mainly because the items that they originally expected to appear only a year or two later had already been released.

“Athenae is the players’ world. We cannot intervene,” Team Leader Park Minggyu said.

Manager Kim Dae-Il and Team Leader Park Minggyu’s opinions were clashing since earlier. And President Kang Taehoon? He fully understood everyone’s opinion.

‘This is a scenario we only expected to happen a year later.’

[Crackleeeeee–!]

Nekk worked on the bellows as he controlled the whirling flames of the Forge’s Hellfire and sent them straight to the furnace.

[Claaaang–!]

[Claaaang–!]

[Claaaang–!]

[The Transcendental’s Crazy Tenacity has been triggered!]

[His tenacity will help him create a more outstanding artifact than any other!]

[Right now, a Transcendental is transcending his limits!]

“...”

“...”

Everyone was rendered speechless, but they soon began another round of bickering and arguing. After the meeting ended, they all left work. But when they came back the next day, they continued to argue over the same matter. And just like yesterday, the same notifications rang in their ears.

[The Transcendental’s Crazy Tenacity has been triggered!]

[His tenacity will help him create a more outstanding artifact than any other!]

[Right now, a Transcendental is transcending his limits!]

Manager Kim Dae-Il said, “Please look at this. If things continue at this rate, an extremely outstanding armor set that no one could beat or steal will appear. We must put a Level 800 requirement at least before he can equip it!”

Manager Kim Dae-Il firmly believed that the balance in Athenae needed to be adjusted so that all players could love the game for a very long time. However, President Kang Taehoon, who was watching the monitor in a daze, was of a different mind.

“How many days has it been? How many days has Nekk been working inside that smithy and controlling the Forge’s Hellfire?”

“He has been working for around eight days in-game time.”

“Is that so? Then, what do you think about this blacksmith named Nekk?”

[Claaaaaaaang–!]

[Crackleeeeeee–!]

[Claaaaaaaang–!]

[Crackleeeeeee–!]

Nekk’s HP would not decrease even if he were inside the flames of the Forge’s Hellfire. However, he had to suffer from the heat of the fire, around eighty degrees in temperature, which continued to burn and lick his skin. But that was not all.

“I think it’s amazing that he can continue to swing his hammer and do blacksmithing work for eight straight days without a wink of sleep.”

“Transcendental. He deserves that name.”

“That’s right. No sane man will swing his hammer and do blacksmithing work for eight straight days, no?”

“From what I know, the Transcendental’s Tenacity that Nekk has triggered several times in a row has the power to clear his mind. This allowed him to work without sleeping. However, I think he is still amazing for persevering for that long.”

For now, the executives stopped throwing their opinions around to sing praises for Nekk.

“...I see. As expected.” Kang Taehoon smiled.

He was also conflicted after watching the men under him argue and clash in this meeting room. But now, he was sure of the decision that he had to make.

“Athenae is a world created by players.”

[Claaaaaaang–!]

Nekk continued to swing his hammer, and the artifacts that he was making finally started to take shape.

“So, there will be no balance adjustment on this artifact. I want to respect his efforts as much as possible.”

[Crackleeeeee–!]

One by one, the artifacts appeared from within the blazing flames.

Drip, drip–

Sweat started to drip down Nekk’s forehead.

“Didn’t you say that Nekk is amazing?” President Kang Taehoon asked as he made eye contact with the executives, who were clamoring for balance adjustment.

All of them nodded.

Unless they had permission, none of the people present here, including President Kang Taehoon, could check the footage of the players that the Special Players Management Team was monitoring. One reason the executives needed explicit permission to check it was that a player’s playing time was a private matter that no one should be able to check at any given moment.

“Is there anyone here who can achieve what Nekk is currently doing?”

“...”

“...”

“...”

The executives were all successful people. They spent several days and nights, with only naps powering them, just to make Athenae. However, none of them could reach that level.

[Claaaaaang–!]

[Claaaaaaaaaaaang–!]

The clang of the hammer rang in the conference room and made their hearts beat wildly.

President Kang Taehoon continued to stare at the monitor and said, “Player Minhyuk swung his pickaxe for fifteen straight days to turn the fortress’ barren land into fertile land.”

“...?”

“...?”

The executives looked at Kang Taehoon in confusion. They knew that Minhyuk was a master of diligence and could work non-stop even though it was just repetitive labor. However, wasn’t that just some kind of rumor? An unfounded myth?

“President. It’s still a bit too much, don’t you think so...?” Manager Kim Dae-Il said. He was thinking that it was still a bit too much.

“Team Leader Park, show them the video. I’ll take responsibility.”

Team Leader Park Minggyu took out a USB and connected it to the screen. Then, the screen split in two. One half showed Nekk, while the other showed what Minhyuk had done recently. Team Leader Park clicked on something and set the video speed on the video showing Minhyuk at 128x.

Like that, they watched as one day, two days, three days, four days, five days, six days, and eleven days passed. Minhyuk would only occasionally leave his pickaxe to the baby piggy or the Great Spirit of the Earth Rend. He would use that time to take an hour-long nap before getting up and working on the field once again.

The executives were speechless as they watched the sweat soak Minhyuk’s body. Their lips turned dry as they continued to watch him with admiration.

“Are you telling me this will cause the balance to collapse?”

Everyone continued to stare at the videos side by side on the gigantic screen when they heard Kang Taehoon’s words. The other side showed Nekk, now on the verge of completing the artifact.

“Is there anyone who can do what Player Minhyuk has done?”

“...”

“...”

“Or is anyone among the jealous players who keep clamoring about balance collapse capable of doing something like that?”

None of them could answer.

“What should we do if the balance collapsed because a player did his best and gave it his all?”

At that moment, the screen showed Nekk and the flames that licked the artifacts he was working on.

[Vwooooooooooooooong–!]

The flames shot up to the sky. And with the touch of Nekk’s hands, the fire that rose to the sky slowly seeped into the artifacts. And when the fire cleared, the artifacts he had made from the materials he disassembled from the Star’s Armor Set and the Slaughterer’s Armor revealed itself.

“It’s simple.”

Warning notifications blinked non-stop, turning the screen in front of them red.

[Transcendental Nekk has successfully created a masterpiece that surpasses all the masterpieces he had made with his hands before!]

“He’s cool. He deserves it. We have to acknowledge that fact.”

President Kang Taehoon smiled as he looked at the executives who had been left in a daze while watching Nekk’s video.

“That’s the only thing we can do for Player Minhyuk.”