[ORV] The Indomitable Blacksmith*

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'What is this?'

That was what I thought as I watched the scene unfold before my eyes.

A female student was viciously attacking an old woman right in front of me, as if she intended to kill her.

'Disgusting.'

That was what I thought.

'How did things end up like this?'

I had definitely gotten an exceptionally high-quality iron ingot from an acquaintance, put it in my bag, and boarded the train. I had been dozing off when a mosquito landed on my cheek. I swatted it and woke up, only to find a strange blue window before my eyes.

[Scenario Clear: Proof of Worth]

Category: Main

Difficulty: F

Time Limit: 30 minutes

Reward: 300 Coins

Failure: Death

'What kind of bullshit is this? And why is that girl attacking an old woman like she wants to kill her?'

Just then, a man stepped forward and stopped the female student.

Then the student shoved him away and spoke.

"We have to choose someone to die.

I know what you're thinking, of course. Killing our own kind to survive? That's the kind of thing only bastards do, right?! You're right. But would you still say that in a situation like this? This is unavoidable.

If we don't kill someone, we'll die. Who's going to blame us? Think carefully. The world you've known until now just ended. And a new world needs new rules."

That was what the student said.

The looks in the people's eyes began to change after they heard her.

Saying that they did not want to die, they began to beat the old woman. Even the man who had tried to stop the student joined in.

Then a woman stepped forward.

"Everyone, stop! Killing that old woman won't save you!

Let's say you kill her. What will you do after that? Sure, if she dies, the dokkaebi's 'first act of murder' will be recognized, buying us a little time. But what comes next? If what the dokkaebi said is true, every one of you will eventually have to kill at least one person.

So who will you kill after the old woman? Will you kill the person beside you?"

"Then you can be a coward like this lady!"

Hearing that, the woman narrowed her eyes, and a vein faintly rose on her forehead. But she calmed herself again and walked over to a small child.

"There's no need for that. It didn't say to kill a person. It said to kill one or more living creatures."

She took out a grasshopper from the child's insect collection case and crushed it in her hand.

In an instant, everyone's gaze shifted—to the container full of grasshoppers. The woman picked up the case and threw it to the other side. But the student did not go after it.

Instead, she asked the woman why she had done that.

"Because there are only four grasshoppers in there."

That was the woman's answer. Then the student spoke.

"Didn't you just want to see a scene like that? So come with me, okay?"

"Sorry, but I prefer to travel alone."

"Really? Then I guess it can't be helped. I've already caught a bug, after all."

With that, the student approached the old woman.

Then a grasshopper flew toward me, and I snatched it out of the air with my hand.

I stood up and grabbed the student's wrist. She looked at me with annoyance and murderous intent in both her eyes and voice.

"Damn it, what does this old man want...?"

Then confusion and fear crossed her face. The woman beside her looked startled as well. Understandably so. A hooded, muscular man standing 2.4 meters tall had grabbed her wrist.

I spoke to her.

"Stop."

Was it because I had stood up to stop her? Or because I had not spoken much since my grandfather died? A voice so low and deep that it surprised even me came out. But that was not important right now. Holding out my other hand, I showed her the grasshopper I had caught earlier.

"Catch this."

"............."

"Now."

"Eek!"

At my words, the student, looking as though she might burst into tears, caught the grasshopper in my hand.

Then a blue window appeared.

[Main Scenario #1: Proof of Worth has ended.]

Bulgwang-bound Train No. 3434

Car No. 3807 Survivors: 7 total

When I looked around, the heads of the people who had failed to catch grasshoppers exploded.

'This wasn't a dream? Even if it had been a dream, I didn't think it was right for a student to kill someone, so I stopped her...'

In the midst of my confusion—

[Survivors: Kim Dokja, Han Myeong-oh, Yoo Sangah, Lee Hyunsung, Lee Gilyoung, Kim Namwoon, Cheolung]

"Wow, more of you survived than I expected?"

Hearing that voice, I released the student and looked over.

On the other side, the survivors were gathering together, so I walked over. We introduced ourselves to one another, and then it was my turn.

"I'm Cheolung."

"...That's it?"

Nod nod

"Huh."

Then the white ball of fluff spoke.

"Everyone, pay attention over here. I have something to tell you.

First of all, congratulations on clearing the first scenario. You have now earned the qualifications to survive in this world! To commemorate your clearing the first scenario, you have earned the right to receive sponsorship from the Constellations! What do you think? Excited?"

What on earth was that thing talking about?

Constellations? Scenarios? Sponsorship? I could not understand any of it. Then, just in case, I tried calling for a trait window.

Trait Window

Name: Cheolung

Age: 30

Sponsor Constellation: None

Exclusive Traits: [Dwarf Half-Blood] (Rare), [Blacksmith] (Normal), [Tall Stature] (Normal), [Poker Face] (Normal), [Fire Resistance] (Rare), [Pain Resistance] (Rare)

Exclusive Skills: [Dwarven Forging] (Rare) Lv. 10, [Fire Breath] (Rare) Lv. 1, [Dwarven Blunt Weapon Mastery] (Rare) Lv. 10, [Welding] Lv. 10, [Butchering] Lv. 7

Constitution: 10

Strength: 10

Agility: 3

Magic Power: 4

I checked my trait window. Listening to the others talk, it seemed that white ball of fluff was a dokkaebi and likely the cause of this situation.

"You're weak! I guarantee that you'd be killed by a kruk—no, even by a mole cricket! But! The gracious Constellations in the heavens pity you and wish to sponsor you! Do you understand? Now then, we will begin sponsor selection."

[Sponsor Selection]

- Select your sponsor.

- The sponsor you select will become your reliable backing.

1. [Demon-like Judge of Fire]

2. [Blacksmith of the Volcano]

3. [Secretive Plotter]

4. [Mass-Production Maker]

"...Why did you choose me?"

[The Constellation "Demon-like Judge of Fire" says it is because you tried to save the old woman earlier.]

[The Constellation "Blacksmith of the Volcano" says it is because of your trait window.]

[The Constellation "Secretive Plotter" says it is merely for amusement.]

[The Constellation "Mass-Production Maker" says it is because you are a creator like them.]

"...My trait window..."

For a while, I examined my trait window.