Chapter 36

"Wow."

I couldn't help but let out another sigh of admiration, though I had no idea how many times I had done so already.

This room was that impressive.

On one side, various experimental equipment and reagents were lined up, and on the other, forging tools such as hammers and anvils were neatly arranged.

The room was a massive 'workshop' where alchemy and blacksmithing could both be performed.

"Amazing. Really."

"I'm glad you like it. How about it? Since you're here, why don't you try making something?"

"Hmm... making something."

"Given that you are a Magician who carries on the will of the Demon King, you must have a deep understanding of crafting."

Carpe nodded.

As Tina said, the 8-star skill 'Magical Engineering' included a 'crafting' function.

"Alright. Let's give it a try."

Carpe picked up a hammer.

"Come to think of it, there were production-related jobs in Lase, right?"

-Yeah, like Blacksmiths and Alchemists. There are many jobs derived from those.

In most other MMORPGs, such production-related jobs are categorized as 'secondary jobs,' but in Lase, they are treated as primary jobs, just like Warriors and Mages.

-Only those with production jobs can craft items in Lase.

"Huh? Can't you just buy a production skill card from the auction house and learn it?"

-Production skills don't drop from regular skill packs. They only drop from production job-specific skill packs.

Moreover, they were all non-tradable, so there was no way they could appear on the auction house.

"So, a Magician with the Magical Engineering skill is classified as a production job?"

-Yeah, a Magician, Puppeteer, Alchemist, and Blacksmith... It's a crazy mixed-up munchkin job. Does that even make sense?

"Ugh. A myth should be that level. Yeah."

-Anyway, it's a job with its own merits. While not absolute, items you craft yourself are generally better in performance than items dropped by monsters of the same level. Once you become a bit famous, large guilds will invite you.

In exchange for equipping guild members, you get substantial support.

If you become the head blacksmith of one of the top 10 guilds, your salary will surpass even the executives of major corporations.

"Oh. So it must be popular."

-No, it's not. It's actually very unpopular. Only a tiny fraction of Lase players have production jobs.

"Why? The待遇 is so good?"

-The reasons are complex, but there are two main ones. First, they are weak.

In Lase, you get 1 skill point per level.

Since there's no way to get additional skill points except by leveling up, most players struggle with skill points.

-If you invest all your points in crafting skills, you won't have enough for combat skills. Production jobs are naturally weak.

Of course, there are exceptions.

Like the 'Weed Sculptor who Carves Sunlight' or the 'Greedy Blacksmith who Ignores All Equipment Restrictions.'

There are jobs that are all-around powerful in both combat and production, but they are rare exceptions, usually hidden classes.

-Most people want to cast fire from their hands and slay monsters with sword skills, not hammer away in a workshop. If they had to choose between the two, they'd obviously pick hunting.

"Hmm. That makes sense. What's the second reason?"

-The difficulty of crafting itself is extremely high.

"Difficulty?"

Carpe was surprised by the unexpected answer.

"Is there such a thing as difficulty? Don't you just prepare the materials and press the 'craft' button, and it's done?"

At least, that's how it worked when he synthesized acorns.

-Ha. If Lase were that kind of friendly game, the number of production job players would be ten times more. Unfortunately, 'crafting' requires direct player manipulation.

"Directly? You mean, after mining the iron ore, you have to maintain high heat with a bellows, melt the ore, remove impurities, and cast it into a mold yourself?"

Carpe's eyes sparkled.

He was sure he had seen a game in a fantasy novel where you did exactly that. It was really fun!

-...Sigh. Don't exaggerate. That's not a game; that's just labor!

"But Lase is a game that pursues realism..."

-Realism has its limits. If it pursued it too much, all players would quit!

Indeed, Last Savior is an unfriendly game.

The official website provides no information, and players have to dive in and figure things out through trial and error.

The catchphrase 'Another World' also carries this meaning.

However, as a game, it can't be entirely unfriendly.

-Realism doesn't mean replicating the difficulties of real life. It's a game, after all.

If it took dozens of hours to skin a monster, drain its blood, and tan its hide to get its leather, who would play that game?

Of course, making it too convenient can also reduce the fun, but a game should at least have some level of convenience.

And Lase treads this line carefully.

So, it's not to the point where people say, 'This is so dirty and realistic, I can't even play it!'

-Even someone who has never shot a bow in real life can be an Archer in Lase.

Archery requires a very high level of skill, but in Lase, a beginner can aim and shoot and hit the target pretty well.

'Skill' and 'Dexterity' stats and system adjustments make this possible.

-For example, to craft 'Enigma - Magical Weapon,' you need to obtain and register the blueprint.

"Where do you get blueprints?"

-From blacksmiths. You can also get them as drops from monsters or as quest rewards.

"Of course, the quest rewards and monster drops are better than buying them, right?"

-Right. You catch on fast, don't you?

[Search complete. The following items can be crafted:]

- Plate Helmet

- Plate Chestplate

- Plate Gauntlets

- Plate Greaves

- Plate Sabatons

"Wow, these are really basic."

How can it be so RPG-like?

The classic five parts of an RPG—head, torso, legs, arms, and feet—appeared.

There were other places to equip items, but as Tenma said, without blueprints, they didn't show up in the crafting list.

"What should I make?"

The chestplate was out of the question.

He already had the 'Agile Rat's Armor.'

The gauntlets were also out.

He was wearing legendary gloves.

"Hmm. Either the helmet or the legs..."

-Just pick one. If you're really indecisive, you can make them all. You have plenty of iron ingots.

"Ah, right. This is my first time crafting. It's supposed to be thrilling! Why are you so unromantic?"

-Romance, my ass...

"Just a minute. One minute."

Carpe, who could spend over 10 minutes deciding between Jajangmyeon and Jjamppong, quickly made a decision this time.

"I'll go with the sabatons."

He thought that wearing steel shoes might increase the damage of his kicks...

-It doesn't. The damage is the same as bare feet.

"......It's just for the feeling."

[You have selected Plate Sabatons.]

[Crafting will begin in 5 seconds. Prepare yourself.]

[5... 4... 3...]

"Huh? Prepare? For what?"

While Carpe was confused, time continued to pass.

[2... 1. Crafting begins!]

At the moment the countdown ended, a red dot appeared on the iron ingot. It was slightly larger than a 500-won coin.

"Am I supposed to hit this?"

This is easy. How can it be difficult?

As Carpe thought this and raised his hammer.

"Huh?"

A large ring appeared around the red dot.

The ring quickly shrank, as if being sucked into the red dot.

"Wh-what?"

The startled Carpe hit the red dot with his hammer.

Clang!

[Bad!]

The iron ingot shattered with the word 'Bad!'

Carpe picked up the broken ingot with a dazed look.

[Broken Low-grade Iron Ingot]

[A low-grade iron ingot that was ruined by an inexperienced blacksmith. It's a waste to melt it down. Even scrap dealers might not take it...]

"No, this..."

-How about it? Now you understand, right? Need more explanation?

"This is a rhythm game."

-You got it right.

Aim for the moment when the shrinking ring and the red dot align, and strike with the hammer!

That's right.

The famous blacksmiths in Lase were all rhythm game experts.

"Huh."

-Isn't it fresh? I slapped my knee when I first saw it.

"It's more absurd than fresh..."

Well, if Lase made it this way, he just needed to adapt and accept it.

Anyway, now that he understood the principle, he wouldn't make such a futile mistake again.

-Are you good at rhythm games?

"I don't know. I've hardly played them."

Carpe had tried most games, but he had never touched rhythm games.

He liked smashing and breaking things, so the genre just didn't fit him.

-Well, you might be good. Reflexes are important, and you have good reaction speed.

"Maybe."

Yeah, that's right.

He just got flustered earlier. If he focused properly, he could succeed easily.

[Low-grade Iron Ingot set.]

[Crafting Plate Sabatons begins.]

The countdown ended, and a red dot appeared on the iron ingot again.

Swallow.

Carpe stared at the shrinking red ring.

"Now!"

Clang!

[Excellent!]

"Got it!"

The satisfying feel of the hammer!

The sound of striking the iron was incredibly beautiful.

-Hey, focus!

"Ah."

The next dot appeared suddenly, and Carpe hastily struck it.

[Great!]

Fortunately, the timing wasn't too off, so he succeeded again.

However, on the third attempt, a dot slightly lighter in color appeared, and something unexpected happened.

"Now!"

-Hey, wait...

Clang!

[Bad!]

Crack.

Broken iron ingot, 2nd stack.

"Why?!"

-It was lighter. You should have hit it gently.

"Is there such a thing?!"

-Complain to Lase. Calm down and try again.

"Phew."

The third attempt.

[Bad!]

"Did you see that? The dots were connected. Isn't that cheating?"

-You should have hit it softly. Softly.

The fourth attempt.

[Bad!]

"Half-dot? What's that?"

-You need to hit it at a slight angle...

...

...

The 17th attempt.

-This is quite unexpected.

Tenma muttered from a distance.

Carpe had asked him to stay far away because he couldn't concentrate.

-That guy. He's unexpectedly weak at rhythm games. It's oddly human of him.

"Is that so? To me, it looks normal. Isn't it strange to be good at something you've never done before?"

-He's usually good at most things from the start.

"Meow! Meow!"

"That's true. My lord is indeed remarkable."

Still, he was gradually getting the hang of it.

On the 13th attempt, he had almost succeeded, failing only at the last moment.

Perhaps soon...

Clang!

[Excellent!]

Ding.

[You have successfully crafted the item.]

[You have crafted a Magic-grade 'Very Good Plate Sabatons.']

[You have crafted your first equipment item.]

[You have obtained the title 'Beginner Blacksmith.']

"Kyaahhhh!!!"

Carpe, moved, roared in all directions like a transparent dragon.

A 10-star player who became strong through luck.