Master Smith Under Ministry of National Defense

Chapter 07

<Hahaha! I did it! I’m a genius, after all!!>

Myung-jun snapped out of his thoughts at the voice coming from his right palm, and then, he quickly realized that the voice was simultaneously coming from all around him.

He also realized that he was in a strange space that didn’t correspond to any direction – up, down, front, back, left, or right.

It felt as if he were in a washing machine spinning wildly, shooting out like a projectile.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaa!!! What is this?!”

<It’s what it is! It’s the Time Stream! Consider it an honor. Experiencing the Time Stream within the souls of living beings is probably unprecedented across all parallel universes, so you’ll be the first!>

“I feel like I’m going to throw up!”

<It’s not dizziness but rather the feeling that you should feel dizzy! There’s no physical body for you to vomit with anymore! You’re currently floating within the Time Stream in a sort of astral state!?>

“No physical body?”

Myung-jun looked back at his left hand that he had cut moments ago.

There, just like before he lost his physical form, his severed wrist was still there.

“If we’re reversing time, shouldn’t my wrist return to normal? I clearly cut it off thinking it would grow back naturally!?”

<Sorry, but I couldn’t retrieve your soul from your wrist. Even retrieving the soul in your current body and sending it to the past required energy equivalent to the birth and death of dozens of galaxies. Don’t think that reversing time is a simple task! It’s an intricate process that erases all existing realities and histories, bringing everything back to the past!>

“Then does that mean I won’t be able to use my left hand after regressing?”

<I don’t know. I’ve never seen someone who regressed to the past with their left wrist severed! No, the act of sending a soul back in time like this is a first for me!>

“So, when will this process be over?”

<It might feel long to you, but in the concept of time, it’s a meaningless point. Whether we spend a year here or tens of thousands of years, it doesn’t matter once the regression is complete. Moreover, originally, you would have had to pass through the Time Stream while your soul was dormant, but right now, I deliberately woke you up.>

“Why?”

<You dummy! So, are you going back to the past without bringing anything along?

The moment you arrive in the past, the aura of your awakening will pour out and corrupt your entire life, wanting to destroy everything about yourself!

And countless stars that seek your immense destiny power will manipulate you to achieve their own purposes!

Even if you stay still, even if you hide and try to live in secret, the whole world will pay attention to you!

In such a situation, in order to walk the path, you desire against the flow, you’ll need at least some insurance!>

“Insurance?”

<Let’s borrow a concept from your memories and call it a ‘New Game+’ or something like that. Have you seen it in tooltips?

Since you’re returning to the past in a soul state, you can’t take material things with you, but you can take abilities bound to your soul.

But there are limits to that too. So, you’ll have to keep only the essential abilities among your current powers and discard the rest!

You can’t simply go back to the past with all the abilities of a Rank 12, because that would cause a balance disruption to the extent that causality itself might collapse.

I’m not the only Time Administrator; if I find out you’ve violated the rules, I could forcibly restore the original history!

So you need to use every effort not to get caught!>

“How?”

<First, tell me all your abilities.>

Myung-jun began explaining his abilities to the Time Keeper.

He explained his powers he had acquired as a transcendent being of Rank 12, who monopolized all kinds of high-quality materials pouring out from numerous gates around the world.

To the extent that it could be seen as representative of Myung-jun’s class, the [Production] class, the abilities specialized in the [Support] field were so remarkable that it was almost absurd.

“The first skill I obtained, the skill that kept me trapped for 32 years, is the [Attribute Transformation] skill. This skill allows me to grant any ability I want to object within the limits of my powers. During the last reconnaissance mission before my discharge, our unit encountered Rank 2 Monsters for the fourth time in the country.”

<And you must have wiped them Unlike Rank 1 Monsters, it’s likely that you couldn’t deal damage to the Rank 2 Monsters with the ordinary weapon of soldiers.>

“That’s right. Before we went out, we heard descriptions that if these creatures were shot, they’d bleed and regenerate. But even after emptying a full magazine from a K2 rifle, not a single scratch appeared on the creature’s skin. It was only later that we found out it would be more efficient to use the weapons made from materials extracted from Rank 1 Monsters to capture Rank 2 Monsters. To defeat these beings, you’d need not a rifle, but a large-caliber sniper rifle, at least as far as ordinary weapon goes.”

<since you awakened the [AttributeTransformation] ability, you used it to modify the weapon you had to hunt these creatures, right?>

“Exactly. As a result, the Rank 2 Monster was shot and killed. When Captain Moon Hee-cheol, who had rushed to us as soon as he heard the news of the creature’s death, learned about my ability while writing the report. No, To be precise, I personally informed him about my ability. Afterward, as you know, while keeping my existence a secret, he began selling the weapons I had created all over the world.”

<From what I understand within my scope, [AttributeTransformation] is a morale trait in the production category that can replace most of the skills used by the [Alchemy} class.

Because of its considerable value, the risk of exposure would be high, but it’s a trait too valuable to be thrown. It’s better to take it with you for now.>

In this way, Myung-jun and the Keeper began sorting out each of Myung-jun’s hundreds of skills.

While there were skills Myung-jun had acquired with great difficulty that he insisted he couldn’t possibly discard, the Keeper boldly cut through Myung-jun’s arguments, insisting on leaving only the most essential skills.

After much back and forth, Myung-jun ultimately had five skills remaining.

“I was allowed to take the skill.”

[Skill Information]

[AttributeTransformation Lv.M]

[Description: Changes the inherent properties of objects. The abilities that can be granted vary according to the level, and the required time varies depending on the time to be changed. To permanently change the unique attributes of an object, it takes a long time. With the Blacksmithing skill [Armory], the undergoing transformation can be stored in the extradimensional space. In this case, the transformation time is accelerated based on the level of [Armory].]

[Processing Lv.M]

[Description: Automatically produces items that can be manually produced within the extradimensional space. The produced items are summoned to the specified location at the completion point, and if the skill [Armory] is present, they are automatically moved into the extradimensional space of [Armory]. Depending on the level of Processing skill, the quality will be lower than manually crafted item, at maximum level, item produced will be the same quality to those crafted manually.]

[Armory Lv.M]

[Description: Summons an extradimensional space where materials and finished products can be placed as desired. All registered materials and equipment inside are automatically registered in the user’s consciousness and can be summoned to the desired location when needed, or a large amount of materials can be placed at once. Living organisms cannot be placed inside, and a certain amount of Mana Stone is consumed each time it is used. For items with changing states over time, their states freeze the moment they enter the Armory.]

[Training Lv.M]

[Description: Enhances the limits of the user’s physical body beyond the growth limits of the user’s species, allowing them to handle any material. Users with this skill can train body parts that even their species’ bodies cannot train, based on the skill level.]

[Dismantle Lv.M]

[Description: Dismantle any existing object at will. Sometimes specific items are required for each object. As the Dismantle skill level increases, the probability of obtaining special objects that are difficult to obtain through normal methods in perfect condition increases. When using the Dismantle skill, instinctively realizes all equipment, cooking, and item recipes that can be created using the acquired object.]

Each of these abilities would be so remarkable that even an awakener of the production class would want to obtain them in their dreams. However, Myung-jun had more regrets about the skills he had to discard than the ones he kept.

In the end, he had to let go of many painstakingly acquired skills, such as [Forging], which greatly enhanced the stats of crafted equipment with each hammering, [Saving], which reduced the amount of material consumed when creating equipment, and [Charging], which reduced the amount of Mana Stone needed for item charging, and more, due to Time Keeper’s decision.

Especially, among the Blacksmithing skills that Myung-jun had mastered, there were numerous skills that greatly facilitated production, such as providing the effect of 200 hammerings with a single strike, but Time Keeper decisively cut all of them.

<If you can do something manually, do it yourself even if it’s inconvenient. Those skills can be reacquired after the regression, so it’s not a big loss.>

In the end, the final set of skills that were decided upon were the [Processing] skill, which can create equipment within the extradimensional space if given time and materials, and the [Armory] skill, which can safely store the created equipment to prevent them from being stolen. Additionally, there was the [Training] skill, which optimizes growth during the process of training in a new class, and the [Dismantle] skill, which allows efficient acquisition and processing of objects regardless of the class. Lastly, there was [Attribute Transformation], which was Myung-jun’s signature skill and allowed him to use the many weapons developed over thousands of years of human history on the Monsters.

Those were the five skills that remained.

Having finalized the skills to keep, Time Keeper then reset all the remaining skills that Myung-jun possessed.

<How do you feel?>

“It feels like there was something that I could do but can’t remember how to do it or maybe it’s like a tennis player picking up a racket for the first time after retired for ten years.”

<After spending 30 years grinding to the point of exhaustion, losing dozens of skills in one go is enough to make you feel a sense of loss. But this time, you’ll feel an even greater sense of loss. The next step is to reset your Rank and level as an awakener.>

“You want to reset the Rank?! Why?!”

<Think about the moment you regressed to. At that time, high-Rank awakeners were rare, let alone awakeners themselves. Imagine suddenly a Rank 12th awakener appearing in such a situation. How do you think other administrators would perceive that? Would they think, ‘Ah, that guy must have been born with a strong talent from birth?’ Or would they think someone else tampered with the Time Stream?>

“…It’s probably the latter.”

<Believe me, it’s all for your sake. If you don’t want to return to that damn General with one wrist cut off, you have to choose a growth path that appears normal to others.>

“…I understand.”

<Don’t get too disappointed, though. Even if your Rank and level reset, with the skills you possess, you’re a monstrosity that can eat through the entire universe. So, are you ready?>

Myung-jun nodded, and Keeper closed their eyes.

Suddenly, a feeling of energy dissipating from his entire body swept over Myung-jun, along with a tremendous sense of loss that enveloped his soul.

Despite the absence of any physical pain, it was enough to elicit a despondent sigh from his soul.

“Uuuuuh…”

<Are you okay?>

“It feels like there’s a hole in my soul. It’s like parting with a lover you’ve sincerely loved for a lifetime, even if they’re right in front of your eyes.”

<Well, I can fully understand that feeling. But now is not the time to wallow in the sense of loss. There’s one more important decision you need to make.>

“What is it?”

<In a little while, you’ll regress 32 years back to the time when you first awakened your abilities. At that time, you were likely to awaken the Blacksmithing class and acquire the unique skill [Attribute Transformation].

However, you’re regressing as someone who already possesses [Attribute Transformation]. That means you’ll become an awakener without the Blacksmithing class.>

“Is that a problem?”

<It’s a serious problem. It’s like putting the most attractive and expensive car in the world on the street with a sign that says, ‘Anyone can take it,’ while the keys are in it.

It’s not just the Guardian of Divine Will but also the Guardian of Hope, the Guardian of Sloth, the Guardian of Lust, and even the Guardian of Achievement.

All sorts of whims controlling every desire a living being can have will propose class to you.

The guardian of Oath who originally gave you the Blacksmith class to allow you to meet your younger sister, well, that guardian probably doesn’t exist in this universe anymore.

So, this time, you need to be extremely cautious about acquiring a class.>

“Isn’t a class randomly given during awakening?”

<No, it’s not. The fate of the stars determines what classes they will have. Originally, each star is responsible for the class of the person it governs. No other star can interfere. However, in your case…>

“Since there’s no governing star, do I have the choice?”

<That’s right. Originally, I would probably show you a recommended list of classes around this point, but you probably don’t need it, right? You were the one who single-handedly crafted all the equipment of the most powerful awakened individuals on Earth. There’s no expert in the world who knows as much about what skills come with each class and what combat style is recommended as you do. So, I have only one piece of advice for you. Considering the skills you’ve left behind, think about which class you believe will make you the strongest.>

Myung-jun pondered seriously.

Then, he began mentally listing every appealing class he knew. Because there wasn’t a single one among them that wasn’t powerful or impressive, his worries were stretching on.

‘John Bolter, the strongest ranker in the United States, has the [RangeShooter]. That’s not bad. By applying [Attribute Transformation] to existing firearms, I can exhibit tremendous power without requiring crafted weapon.

[Golemancer], which Park Moo-jung possessed, is also powerful. Since it grants the ability to imbue life into objects, wouldn’t it yield amazing results if I transformed a top-tier weapon into an Iron Golem?

Of course, due to weapon costs, Park Moo-jung always used golems made from low-grade weapons, but if you could make weapons, you might become the strongest golem master in history, right?’

Myung-jun pondered deeply for a while before finally raising his head.

Then, looking at Time Keeper with sparkling eyes, he spoke.

“Alright, I’ve decided.”

<What class are you going to choose?>

“I’ve considered every class I know, but there wasn’t a stronger one than this class, and there’s no other class with better synergy with the Blacksmithing skill. Although it’s an ability my nemesis possesses, if I can use that ability, I can easily surpass that bastard.”

Time Keeper’s eyes squinted upon hearing the term ‘bastard’ coming from Myung-jun’s mouth.

Then, Myung-jun grinned and nodded toward his right hand, which was looking at him.

“Yeah, I’m talking about the class of General Moon Hee-cheol, who tormented me so much. This time, I’m going to try out the [Doll Master] class myself.”

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