How to Raise Your Skeletons

“…”

I, who had never held a hammer in my life, could not possibly know anything about this.

“Hmm, I’m not well-versed in production jobs either…”

Neither was Gi Soyul. There was no way she’d know anything about blacksmithing. She’s someone known as the empress of assassination, having spent her life cutting down people and monsters.

So there was only one way to solve this problem.

[Using skill ‘Teaching of All Techniques’ (S-rank).]

[Consuming 20 energy.]

[Summoning ‘Master of All Techniques.’]

As soon as the next morning came, I immediately summoned the old man.

“Oh, look at you.”

“Yes, elder.”

“You seem to have grown.” The old man instantly noticed that I had reached C-rank. “Haha, have you grasped the basics of the Great Blue Heart Technique?”

“Yes, I have.”

“Well, it’s a bit slower than I expected. But it’s not bad since it looks like you’ve broken the seal of another undead. And its name is Boney 6?”

“Oh…”

He even knew about Boney 6’s seal being broken.

“So, elder.”

“What is it?”

“Do you know anything about blacksmiths?” I asked with shining eyes.

“Blacksmiths…?”

“Yes. You are the Master of All Techniques. Crafting is also a skill, so I figure you must have mastered that too, right?” I nodded as I spoke.

I was convinced that if anyone could guide Boney 6, it would be the Master of All Techniques. I was excited.

If Boney 6 becomes a master blacksmith later, he could pump out S-rank items like a factory, right?

As I felt last time, the value of S-rank items was sky-high. So if I raised Boney 6 well, I’d never have to worry about money again. I could also easily equip the other skeletons and myself with top-notch gear.

“Huh? Why are you asking me about blacksmithing? Don’t tell me the new undead is a blacksmith?”

“Haha, yes, that’s right. Would you like to see it?”

[Using skill ‘Summon Balanced Skeleton’ (C-rank).]

[Consuming 10 energy.]

[Summoning ‘Bonehead 6.’]

I presented the old man Boney 6 holding a hammer. However, the old man’s expression seemed displeased.

“Tsk, tsk, you fool.”

“Yes?”

I had a bad feeling. Somehow, I felt like he was about to crush my hopes and dreams.

“Listen well. My techniques were created solely to defeat people. Sure, blacksmithing could be considered a technique, but do I seem like the type to lock myself in a room to craft things?”

“…Pardon?”

No way.

“Think for a moment, will you? I was an unrivaled absolute being back in my world. Why would I waste my time making weapons when I could just take the best ones? Asking me about a lowly skill like blacksmithing is an insult and a disgrace!”

“…”

“Tsk, tsk. You look like you still don’t understand. It’s because you haven’t changed your mindset. Do you know what the losers always love saying after their loss?”

“…What is it?”

“They blame their equipment. They blame their gear. A true master should be unbeatable even with a mere stick. And look at you already blaming your equipment!”

“I never complained about my equipment… I was just asking if you knew anything about blacksmithing…”

I was at a loss for words. What was I expecting from the old man?

Moreover…

He told me to just take the best-made one. It felt like there was a huge wall between the world the old man grew up in and the one I grew up in, with different standards of duty and morality to uphold as a person.

“But didn’t you say before that you’d teach all of my kids?”

The old man once said he’d teach me everything.

“I earned this title by mastering countless talents. Do you think I’d be satisfied with teaching only ten techniques?”

He definitely mentioned ten skills back then. That meant he’d teach Boney 6 too…

“Tsk, tsk, you fool. When did I say I’d teach blacksmithing? Since it’s holding a hammer, I could teach it hammer techniques if you’d like.”

“…Hammer techniques? No thanks.”

No way. I already had five combat units and an unexpected stroke of luck brought me a production-type skeleton. I dreamt of equipping everyone in my party with full S-rank items. So I couldn’t just give up now.

“Are you dismissing my hammer techniques? Smashing your enemies with a gigantic hammer has a different appeal than using swords or spears…”

“No thanks! I said no!”

“You brat! Have you lost your mind?”

The old man’s eyes widened in anger, but I wanted to say my piece.

“The techniques I’m learning will not just be ten thousand techniques but All Techniques. Didn’t you say that if any technique reaches its peak, it eventually connects to one?”

“Hmph, I’m the founder of All Techniques, so it’s my call.”

“I don’t understand. How can you divide techniques into hierarchical layers? No technique deserves to be looked down upon.”

“I’m not dividing them into a hierarchy. I’m simply telling you to get stronger first. Do you have time to hammer at the anvil with your meager strength? Use that time to practice your swordsmanship. Tsk.”

“My concept of All Techniques is different from yours. I want to include blacksmithing in mine.”

“Hah, what an ungrateful… What kind of stubbornness is that?”

The old man looked dumbfounded, but my eyes were filled with determination.

Boney 6 is a blacksmith.

This child was born to be a blacksmith, so I wanted to raise it as one. I didn’t want to turn it into a crude hammer-wielder.

This is the mindset of a summoner. My skeletons are like my children, and a parent would want to send their children down the path they desire!

I turned my back.

“Hey, you! Where are you going? Wait!”

I smirked. If neither Gi Soyul nor the old man could help, then I’d simply find another way.

There’s only one place that’s a haven for production workers in this country.

The Gotomall. The name refers to the underground shopping mall at the Gangnam Express Bus Terminal.

It mostly used to sell fashionable clothes.

But now it was a place where all production workers’ and hunter item-related businesses flourished.

“You brat!” the old man called urgently from behind.

“What is it?”

“Even if you’re leaving, you must receive the Grand Technique of the Celestial Artisan first!”

“…”

It’s true that I needed to receive it, but I wasn’t in the mood today. I had just risen to C-rank yesterday, and I was more curious about Boney 6’s abilities than myself.

“I’m sorry, but I’ll skip today and get double tomorrow.”

“What? You runt!”

“See you tomorrow, elder. Please understand.”

“You wretched…!”

I hurriedly unsummoned the old man, who was muttering angrily. It was a small revenge against the old man who condescended that the ‘blacksmith,’ Boney 6’s class, was lowly.

In the underground Gotomall, you could find everything, from various dungeon items to items produced by hunters. It was a place where many hunters came and went. And since it was lined with all sorts of mysterious items, it was also crowded with regular tourists.

“My, my. I never thought I’d come here again.”

The day I received the unique authority ‘Cursed Necromancer,’ I bought a cheap staff here.

[Item: Worn-Out Summoner’s Staff]

[Rank: E]

[Type: Staff]

[Description: A staff imbued with mysterious magical energy. It’s worn from age.]

[Effect 1: Reduces skill cooldown by 2%.]

[Effect 2: Increases the power of summoning-related skills by 3%.]

“…”

This was the staff I was still using well. I’d wanted to increase the power of my skeletons even by a little, so I spent a whopping 500,000 won* to buy it.

* ≈ $385 USD

But I should replace it soon.

Honestly, nothing caught my eye. Maybe it was because I’d gotten used to the Staff of the Fire Dragon that Boney 5 wielded, so my standards had risen.

“Haah,” I exhaled and looked around.

The sound of hammering metal and the cheerful rustle of weaving fabric filled my ears.

This place is still crowded with people.

I clicked my tongue at the endless stream of hunters and tourists.

Gi Soyul, who followed me here, had hidden herself nearby. She said she was more comfortable and used to hiding since she was a famous figure.

First…

I picked one of the nearby forges. Judging by its worn-out sign, it was an old forge that seemed to handle only really cheap equipment.

But I don’t have money anyway…

Besides, there was another reason I’d chosen this place.

[Smith’s Forge]

[Beginner blacksmiths welcome!]

[Cheap rentals for furnaces, anvils, artificial wells, etc.!]

[Build your proficiency to your heart’s content! Many rooms available!]

The phrase “Beginner blacksmiths welcome” caught my eye.

Even though Boney 6 is already intermediate.

I thought it would be best to start with the basics since Boney 6 had no teacher.

I also chose this area because there were no hunters around, partially because it was such an old forge.

“Hello,” I gave my greetings and entered, and a man in his early 50s stood up.

“Welcome. You here for somethin’?”

“No, I saw the ad out front.”

“Oh, you’re a blacksmith? A beginner, so F-rank? Or E-rank?”

“E-rank.” I jingled the white nameplate hanging from my waist.

I need to renew it soon.

The renewal period regulated by the association was half a year. If you rose in rank and concealed it for more than half a year, you’d be deemed a “fraudulent registrant” and would face all sorts of disadvantages. However, I still had about four to five months left, so I was fine.

“I see! So you’re here to rent a room?”

“Yes, can I take a look?”

Actually, I had roughly grasped the production work information through the Hunter Board on the way. It was somewhat similar to a game. Smelting, weaving, and alchemy were skills, so proficiency would increase, and levels would rise naturally.

The item-crafting skill is the highlight of a blacksmith.

A blacksmith could create an item using the blueprints obtained from basic skills and the materials from dungeons.

“Feel free to look around. If you like what you see, you can rent a room.”

The rooms were simple—an empty space with only the necessary items installed. It was like a factory for building one’s proficiency level.

“Hmm, how much does it cost?”

He put up two fingers up.

“Two…? Surely not two hundred won?”

“Haha, you’re quite the joker. Of course, it’s two million won.* And there’s no daily rental.”

* ≈ $1,540 USD

“…”

Now I understood why there were no customers. It was more expensive than I thought. Even though I had recently explored a C-rank dungeon, I didn’t have much money saved up.

[Account Balance Inquiry]

[Account Holder: Joo Donghoon]

[Hunter Preferred Account (E-rank)]

[Deposit: 8,600,000 KRW]

About 8.6 million won*? So I had to spend about 25% of my entire fortune.

* ≈ $6,615 USD

“If you don’t want it, don’t take it. I guarantee you won’t find a cheaper place than here. Do you know how much it costs to install a makeshift anvil or furnace? Plus, we have a loom and a makeshift alchemy stand.”

“Hmm.”

I was conflicted. I wasn’t usually a sucker, but this guy wasn’t wrong.

Most production workers were managed and supported at a guild level, so they didn’t need to come to places like this. And if there’s no demand, the supply gradually disappears. Other rental facilities probably went out of business, leaving this place as the only one barely hanging on.

“Okay, fine.”

I nodded. It was an investment for my child. If Boney 6 grows properly, he’ll repay me many times over.

“I’ll rent for a month!”

I cheerfully handed over my card.