Chapter 87

That’s The Real Blacksmith

The Steel Processing Room is gradually descending into chaos. In the center lies a crushed Golden Golem, and beside it stands Security Officer Neko.

A little distance away from there, two rogues are locked in combat. Backstab and the Zoin tribe.

The Zoin tribe had a higher level than Backstab, but the battle wasn’t easy.

There were two reasons for this: first, he couldn’t fly due to his already injured wings, and second, because of the liquid gold.

‘There’s nowhere decent to step.’

Backstab had dragged the druid over and got him gilded, and the area around there was drenched with massive amounts of liquid gold that had flowed out from the Golden Golem.

Every step had to be taken carefully. He had to move by using frying pan-sized safe footholds that had formed due to the uneven ground and debris created by the steel mill’s structural transformation, hopping from one to another like stepping stones.

It wasn’t simple for the Zoin tribe to pay such attention to his footing while constantly exchanging attacks and defenses, but surprisingly, Backstab managed it as if he were running on solid, level ground.

This wasn’t just because he had good sense and was agile.

The ancient transcendent being trapped in the labyrinth was telling him where to place his feet, how to maintain his center of gravity.

If there was even the tiniest space where just his toes could rest, that rogue would never fall.

‘Skill, Careful Steps.’

Watching Backstab land gracefully like an acrobat on a wrist-thick steel pipe rising above the liquid gold, the Zoin tribe felt like sighing.

‘Just how many skills does this bastard have?’

What had appeared so far included Sword Throwing and Invisibility, Leap Ambush, Shadow Leap, Sleep Gas and Wall Walking, and now even Careful Steps.

It was an unimaginable level for a low-floor rogue. He already had more skills than the Zoin tribe himself possessed.

Moreover…

Kwang!

Whenever even the slightest opening appeared, Neko’s telekinetic punch would come crashing down without fail.

In just a few dozen seconds of combat, the Zoin tribe felt the bone-deep crisis of death, but…

“Rise up, earth wall!”

Backup arrived at a precarious timing.

Due to the magic cast by Ingelram, an earthen wall that rose from the ground created a safe zone for the Zoin tribe.

“Come back this way!”

Ingelram shouted.

‘Shadow Leap!’

The Zoin tribe quickly teleported next to Ingelram and gasped for breath.

“Huff… Huff…”

“Was he strong?”

“Too many skills.”

Backstab and Neko didn’t rashly attack in this direction. They had also noticed because…

There was another monster who had intruded into this scene besides Ingelram.

‘Isn’t that the Blacksmith?’

Everyone was frantically calculating their next moves in this situation.

Ingelram’s confusion was particularly severe. Because…

‘Something’s strange.’

Having been active on the 4th floor for a long time, Ingelram had seen the Blacksmith several times, but now he felt considerable unease.

The first reason:

Normally, he should have already rushed in breathing in or throwing Magic Acid and smashing everything to pieces with his hammer, but he still hadn’t moved.

He was just quietly watching this side.

“Among the security officer’s magic, what’s been confirmed so far…”

Beside Ingelram, whose feelings were complicated with ominous thoughts, the Zoin tribe relayed the information he had confirmed.

“Telekinetic fist, Searing Ray, and Whirlwind. Three of them.”

At the same time, the Barbarian screamed.

“Our druid got gilded!”

Gilded adventurers would recover over time, but they suffered serious burns and breathing difficulties.

“We need to bring him over now!”

The Zoin tribe grabbed the hot-tempered Barbarian who was about to rush forward.

“Attack after seeing the Blacksmith move.”

Comparing the forces of both sides, Ingelram’s side was far superior.

Backstab was an excellent rogue, but without Neko’s backup, he was at a level the Zoin tribe could handle.

If the Barbarian charged at Neko, the opponent would have no way out.

But the problem was…

“We don’t have time either.”

Ingelram had smashed the floor of the Production Control Room with the ground collapse.

That magic was a 3rd tier spell that caused artificial sinkholes and ground fractures to make the earth cave in.

It was particularly powerful on the 4th floor because what burst out from under the ground destroyed by magic wasn’t dust, but lava.

The explosion caused by the high-temperature magma characteristic of volcanic regions and the high-pressure steam trapped within it bursting out all at once made that magic more powerful than a 3rd tier level.

“But it didn’t kill them.”

It was because they had already experienced it once during the Blacksmith’s steel mill Structural Transformation. Yernil and Aimus had taken the priest and successfully escaped by hopping to safety.

But due to the lava zone, the area was isolated, and it would just take time for them to chase after.

“Still, they have movement skills like Guard Repositioning, so they’ll catch up soon.”

“Then let’s kill them all now!”

The Barbarian shouted.

“Take out the security officer and that rogue bastard first!”

“No.”

But Ingelram’s order was directed at a completely different target.

“We attack the Blacksmith first.”

At first glance, it sounded insane.

It wasn’t even embarrassing to call it tactics – it was a problem that could be judged by common sense.

In a 3 vs 2 team standoff situation, attack the powerful neutral monster first?

Of course, wouldn’t that be providing a heaven-sent chance to Neko and Backstab?

“Is that right?”

The Zoin tribe confirmed the order once more.

Ingelram smiled cunningly.

“Yes.”

The wizard who had been the Magic University’s greatest talent had now solved all the puzzles.

“That guy is Caleb.”

***

That Blacksmith isn’t real.

It’s an adventurer in disguise.

Evidence 1: If it were the real Blacksmith, he would have already attacked.

Evidence 2: If you look closely, something is stuck in the Blacksmith’s side.

‘Watcher Scroll.’

The Blacksmith doesn’t carry such things around.

Then who could be accompanied by such a rare artifact? Rilwid didn’t have such an item. Security Headquarters is poor, so absolutely not.

Hard to believe, but it must have been brought by Caleb’s party, who first entered the 4th floor today.

Then it also explains why all the disguises were dispelled when entering the steel mill.

Caleb’s party’s positions are all confirmed now. The rogue is right in front of us, and the monk and Elf archer are isolated on the Production Control Room side.

The last missing person: Caleb.

“He transformed into the Blacksmith.”

Then why did that wizard pull such a stunt?

The reason is obvious too.

To avoid being attacked first.

Neko’s team currently has no front-liner, and it’s impossible for Backstab alone to protect two wizards.

Caleb would have caught the situation with the Watcher before entering here. And he chose that disguise as a last resort.

After Backstab and the Zoin tribe had just been shedding blood fighting each other, and the druid had been dunked in liquid gold, it would be difficult to suddenly make peace and launch a Blacksmith raid.

Especially if that druid’s gilding wore off, they would inevitably be sharply divided over the problem of whether to let him die of breathing difficulties or save him.

The moment both sides collided with each other, that cunning wizard planned to dispel his disguise and begin casting magic.

Until then, he would maintain neutrality by walking a tightrope, exploiting both teams’ wariness and tension.

“We can’t give him that opening!”

But Ingelram wouldn’t fall for such a shallow trick.

“Kill him!”

He pointed at the Blacksmith and shouted.

The Barbarian stepped forward. The Zoin tribe was not only very tired from the previous battle, but also had to keep Neko’s team in check along with Ingelram.

“Graaah!“

The Barbarian’s war cry echoed.

The berserk state that had nearly clashed with Aimus in the Production Control Room activated again.

That savage warrior charged forward recklessly, making the ground boom with each step.

“That’s supposed to be Brother Caleb…?”

Backstab was momentarily confused and couldn’t move.

‘You made a mistake, Caleb.’

Ingelram was certain of victory.

That junior wizard was clever, but he had made a judgment error at the end.

‘You should have just joined Backstab’s side and fought together.’

The wizard disguised as the Blacksmith pulled out a medicine bottle from his waist.

‘Magic Acid.’

A ridiculous bluff to the very end.

“That’s an illusion!”

Ingelram’s party was all skilled in disguise magic. They also knew well that illusory weapons and consumables from that magic had no effect whatsoever.

‘Savage Charge.’

The Barbarian charging in a straight line raised his axe, and the Blacksmith threw the Magic Acid at him.

***

Pop!

The sound of the medicine bottle breaking was rather physical and realistic.

What poured out from the bottle that shattered on the Barbarian’s forehead was super-strong acid that dissolved all materials it touched.

Even the savage warrior’s ferocious fighting spirit melted away in that cruel dissolving liquid.

“Graaaaaah!“

The Barbarian dropped his axe and collapsed on the spot. His hair and forehead melted away.

Flesh exposed his skull, and smoke rose from it.

The acid drilled a hole through the skull.

The massive muscular body was like fragile cotton candy before that wicked thrown weapon.

Like cotton candy put in water, the Barbarian was melting away.

While pouring out massive amounts of smoke and blood.

“What…”

The Barbarian, now collapsed, couldn’t even moan. Half his head had already become liquid. It was hard to distinguish where the brain matter ended and where the Magic Acid began – something like slush flowed out of his head.

“This, this fucking…”

The Zoin tribe’s shoulders trembled violently. Neko and Backstab also had expressions of shock.

“It really is the Blacksmith!”

“It… It doesn’t make sense.”

Ingelram couldn’t easily recover from the shock.

The scroll still stuck in that Blacksmith’s side was causing cognitive dissonance.

Had the Blacksmith collected items?

He had never heard of such a case.

Was that really the Blacksmith?

Thud, thud.

Due to the Barbarian’s charge just now, the Blacksmith’s aggro had been drawn to Ingelram’s side.

That monster approached step by step and raised his hammer.

In a throwing stance to hurl it with all his might.

***

The magic grade belt obtained by catching Antonelli contained the utility magic ‘Potion Regeneration’.

It’s quite fortunate that the Magic Acid was an object that doubled as a potion rather than just a throwing weapon.

Whiiiiish!

Originally, I wouldn’t be able to throw such a heavy hammer with my strength, but illusionary hammers have no weight.

Having killed the Barbarian with Magic Acid at this point, the hammer launched from my hand is terror itself.

When something like this flies at him, the Zoin rogue has only one thing to do.

‘Shadow Leap!’

He grabbed Ingelram and moved about 10 meters to dodge the hammer.

That means their escape skill is now on cooldown.

Plus, they’re stuck together nicely in a pretty cluster. Perfect for pouring magic on them.

“Disguise dispel.”

I remove the Blacksmith’s mask while holding my wand.

The Zoin tribe’s beak goes clack, clack.

Ingelram has an expression of complete bewilderment.

Now you know, Ingelram.

This is how you use disguise magic.

And one more thing.

The situation that’s about to unfold will probably be worse than what you’re thinking right now.

“Hail Storm.”

“This fucking…”

That wizard’s curse that came out simultaneously with my casting stopped mid-sentence.

[Your turn. Remaining time: 60 seconds]

[Action Points: ■■■■■■]

Because I flipped the hourglass.