Genius Blacksmith's Game

Barad passed on the Sword King’s swordsmanship to Hyunsoo.

He emphasized it as he spoke.

‘Take it to heart. What’s seen is important, too.’

Right now, it was even more important.

Without Sword Master Licen and those who would one day become the heads of their houses, Hyunsoo would not be able to become king.

And since he was moving as the Sword King through Fate, he wanted to see it.

Sword Master Licen.

At first, he had stepped forward to test Hyunsoo and make him fall instead.

But now, it was a test of whether he was someone Hyunsoo could entrust his back to in the future.

Licen, who had been looking at Hyunsoo with trembling eyes, gripped his sword and looked at him again.

“.......”

In an instant, one person brushed past his mind.

It was the image of His Highness Barad, loosening his sword and looking down at him.

KWA-AK-

Licen gripped his sword with all his strength.

“That’s right, the spar isn’t over yet!”

As Licen kicked off the ground, he thought.

They say a fox acts like the master inside a tiger’s den.

To him, Hyunsoo was the fox.

KHUH-HUH-HUH-HUHNG-!

He did not doubt that the one charging fiercely was the tiger.

But all of that tiger’s slashes were being blocked.

‘How, how, howww......!’

What he couldn’t accept was that right now he was overwhelming Hyunsoo in everything.

Strength, speed, stamina. Everything.

But now, in the most important skill for the king’s successor of the Sword King’s country, he was being pushed back.

PUHUK-

After blocking Licen’s slash with the smallest movement, Hyunsoo struck Licen’s shoulder with his palm.

DRRRRK-

Licen was forced back as Hyunsoo chased him.

Licen tried to swing his sword, then flinched.

Hyunsoo’s hand pressed down on the back of the hand moving the sword.

“I was taught you can win by preventing them from drawing the sword.”

His left hand that stopped the sword moved three times in an instant.

PA-PA-PAT-

He hammered the upper body several times.

“Keuhp.......”

Licen’s eyes widened as he let out a shallow groan.

NPCs also always pursue strong power.

So it °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° was only natural they chased certain powers.

There was something Licen had chased for a long time.

When he became king, he intended to reveal that power.

But here, he revealed it.

A part of an old legendary power discovered in a cave located far away.

“Great Mountain.”

He knew that with this power, if only for a moment, he could reach the Sword King.

A blue aura surged from Sword Master Licen.

His pupils glowed blue for an instant.

[All mana goes berserk to maximize aura.]

Hyunsoo was startled.

[Sword Master Licen becomes stronger for a moment.]

[Sword Master Licen Lv.425]

Licen’s level had been extremely high to begin with.

And those with high levels, as that level rose, displayed even more irrational power than low-level people rising did.

“You have received His Highness’s teaching excellently.”

Licen’s lips twisted as he appeared before Hyunsoo in an instant.

“I, too, would like to give Count Hyunsoo even a small lesson.”

And the strength of Licen’s swordsmanship was space.

After roughly designating one space, inside that space Licen exerted power that transcended common sense.

At last, Licen designated that space.

To Hyunsoo, a user, that space looked like a barrier spread over the ground he stood on.

The muscles all over Licen’s body swelled.

Those swollen muscles were like a machine’s overload.

They creaked instead.

But his Great Mountain made him ignore it.

Transcendent skill, outstanding strength, and dominion over space struck Hyunsoo.

KWA-AANG-

[HP falls below 28%.]

Hyunsoo was shocked.

The damage he dealt to Hyunsoo increased by 50% in an instant.

And unlike the swollen muscles, his speed increased by about double.

‘And he also has skill on top of that!’

Licen surpassed the Sword King’s movement.

Hyunsoo tried to escape the space he created.

But he couldn’t escape.

‘Incredible.’

Inside this space, Licen exerted power like the true Sword King.

SKWA-RA-RA-RA-RAK-!

Six times.

That was the number of cuts Hyunsoo took in an instant.

But something was strange.

“Th-that’s incredible.......”

“Is that the power of a Second House Head!?”

Hyunsoo’s chest was heating up instead.

It came from greed and expectation.

In the future, I might be able to keep someone like this at my side.

And that expectation came from how much the power he had would work on this person.

Flame was a calamity made for people like Licen.

Because in this world, strong people like Licen were overflowing, he made it for his own sake, since he was still far too weak.

Licen’s sword that dominated space.

That tremendous fast sword thrust toward Hyunsoo’s solar plexus.

[HP falls below 16%.] 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

“It was enjoyable.”

In that moment, Hyunsoo finally unleashed that power.

Even though it was embarrassing, he didn’t forget the Sword King’s teaching that what’s seen is important, too.

“Burn.”

[Flame]

[A small ember is kindled.]

Flame is a small ember.

So small it is trivial heat that isn’t even threatening.

But no one can ignore flame.

Because that flame clings to the surroundings, becomes a gigantic blazing fire, and burns with the greatest power.

TWEAANG-!

With overwhelming speed, he knocked up the sword aiming at his solar plexus.

Licen’s eyes widened.

At the moment sword met sword, he saw flames bloom.

Those flames soon became a blazing fire from Hyunsoo’s body and burned.

[All stats increase by 20%.]

[The level of all skills increases by 2.]

[While Flame is applied, HP decreases.]

[A small ember covers the world.]

HWA-AAAH-

Flame-like energy blooming from Hyunsoo’s body.

It burned roughly, blazing hot, but it wasn’t actually hot.

Yet a red fire demon flowed endlessly from his body.

CHAE-CHAE-CHAE-CHAE-CHAENG-

Their exchange continued.

Even Child had trouble following the two with their eyes.

‘Is this the fight between the one who will become king and the one who chases the king......!?’

The blue aura and the fiercely burning Flame energy collided.

It was so fast that for them, only the sword sparks were visible.

CHAE-CHAE-CHAE-CHAE-CHAENG-

And Licen felt it.

‘How......!’

The space he dominated was collapsing.

[Hyunsoo Lv.369]

And the advantage of Flame also lay in raising even all passive skills by 2~3 levels.

That included Anything That Cleaves, which the Calamity Gauntlets possessed.

In an instant, Hyunsoo’s Supreme Saber burned redder.

[Anything That Cleaves]

[It momentarily increases cutting power by 5.5 times.]

SKA-AAAK-

Licen, whose sword collided with Hyunsoo’s sword, was horrified.

Because at the moment his sword and Hyunsoo’s sword collided, half of the sword got cut off.

Fortunately, with a fast reaction, he pulled the sword back before it was completely cut.

With the sword cut in half, he cut Hyunsoo.

PUHWA-AK-

Due to the HP decrease from Hyunsoo’s Flame and the damage he had taken so far, his HP plunged.

But Hyunsoo had the mineral Asnium.

His HP filled up, and Licen, who cut Hyunsoo, was flustered instead.

DDAENG-GANG-

From the shock of cutting him, the sword finally broke.

But even so, Licen tried to keep pressing him.

But.

KWA-HA-AANG-

At the moment it collided with his sword, the space he had dominated completely collapsed.

Licen knew.

It was the last move.

‘Since it’s the last move, I go all out......!’

Licen had taken major damage, and his sword had become half.

Hyunsoo was also overwhelming him with explosive strength, but his remaining HP was too low.

Licen’s blood boiled up hot.

Tremendous competitive spirit flared.

No matter what, he would win!

TAA-AHT-

It was almost simultaneous.

Licen, with the sword split in half, and Hyunsoo, with a body burning like flame, rushed at each other.

Watching that, Child, who would succeed Sword Master Licen, shook their head.

‘......Count Hyunsoo won.’

They thought it was a pity. Not that Sword Master Licen was pitiful.

It was Hyunsoo who was pitiful.

Licen was one of the most famous among the Second House Heads.

By defeating him now, Hyunsoo would gain fame, but Licen’s shoulders would shrink.

And the old man who was the head of the house, who believed he was the best, wouldn’t take his certain defeat well.

Of course, there were those who did, but the Licen Child knew was that kind of person.

But then.

Child was startled.

Because explosive energy loaded onto Licen’s sword, and it was reaching toward Hyunsoo’s chest.

The thought that Hyunsoo would win reversed.

‘No.......’

Child’s pupils expanded.

Because he poured in all his power, that Licen’s sword might kill Hyunsoo.

To that extent, Licen, who had briefly lost reason, poured everything into the tip of the broken sword.

But soon, another different abnormality happened once again.

Because Hyunsoo put even more strength into the foot planted on the ground, Hyunsoo succeeded in piercing Licen first, before Licen’s sword could pierce.

“Keuhp!”

Licen’s shoulder holding the sword was pierced, and he dropped the sword filled with killing intent.

And he noticed the fact that just now, he had lost reason and almost killed Hyunsoo.

‘......How could I lose reason and, the king’s successor.’

A huge mistake.

It could be called the biggest mistake in the life he had lived.

Even if Hyunsoo growled at him now, he had nothing to say.

Because in a legitimate fight, he had tried to kill him.

So Licen thought Hyunsoo would twist his lips and mock him.

But Hyunsoo’s reaction was different.

“As expected of Sword Master Licen. It became a good lesson.”

“.......”

Licen could quickly figure out why he reacted like that.

CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP-!

“Amaaazing!!!!!”

“Woooooow!”

The ones who knew that fact here were only himself, Hyunsoo, and Child, and Hyunsoo was trying to hide it.

“The match between Sword Master Licen and Count Hyunsoo was incredibly amazing!”

“As expected of House Head Licen!”

“I learned a lot from Count Hyunsoo too!”

And Licen finally realized it.

To him, winning and losing mattered, but to the person in front of him, it didn’t.

Because here, he had already earned the recognition of the future house heads.

And he was also covering for Licen’s mistake.

*****

‘The most important thing is to embrace. Embrace in your own way.’

That was the most impressive part among Barad’s teachings for Hyunsoo.

After receiving treatment, he met Licen again.

Licen tried to subtly probe the reason he acted that way.

“Why don’t you say anything?

Hyunsoo was firm.

“I don’t really understand what you mean.”

He was someone who would just flap his mouth.

Licen, looking together with Hyunsoo at the house heads still excited, said:

“It was a good match.”

Licen’s voice was gentle.

“And I learned quite a lot, too.”

And once again.

“And quite.......”

Hyunsoo almost felt displeased at the word quite.

Because quite sounded like someone above him evaluating others.

But that wasn’t the intent.

“I’m an old man whose heart can move easily, so I will watch.”

“.......”

Hyunsoo looked at him.

That was a pretext.

That he could become Hyunsoo’s side at any time. But also become an enemy at any time.

The power that held was very big.

“So you should show me.”

Whether Sword Master was someone who should lend strength.

He had only created a small possibility.

But Hyunsoo knew even this possibility was tremendous.

“......I see. Then I should show you big once. And you can speak comfortably as well.”

Licen was an elder of the country to whom even Barad showed respect.

“I will.”

And things like this meant Hyunsoo and Licen had become a little closer.

Also.

“Since your sword broke, please buy a sword from our forge. There are many excellent swords. I’ll give you a good price.”

“Really?”

Licen turned to Hyunsoo with the speed of a child.

He also knew how exceptional the swords of Vallas Territory were, and in fact, he wanted to have a sword from here.

And Hyunsoo also told those who would become house heads.

That he’d give good swords at a good price, so buy them.

Three hours later.

Licen and the future house heads left Vallas Territory, hugging quality weapons.

The group riding in carriages talked.

“It truly was an amazing match.”

“Both of them were incredible.”

“House Head Licen is incredible!”

They couldn’t see the essence.

But it was enough if only one person could see the essence.

Child, the son of a great house who would lead them in the future, said:

“You didn’t feel it, but Sir Licen almost killed Count Hyunsoo.”

It was a shocking statement.

And they admired once again.

Child, the leader guiding them, the future Sword Saint, said:

“A new sun has been born for us.”

Everyone going back smiled as they looked at the weapons in their arms.

Every single one was far too outstanding.

‘Hehehehe.’

‘To buy this at a good price.’

‘Huhu, with just this sword......!’

Hyunsoo, standing on the walls, watched that scene with a pleased smile.

Meanwhile.

“.......”

Per, who sold quality artifacts even in Vallas Territory, looked at the lord standing on the walls.

‘He said the lord will give good swords at a good price!’

‘O, ohh......!’

‘Which sword is the best!’

The excited faces from then came to mind.

And the lord came over quietly and told him to receive a price 20% higher.

Blacksmith Per could see the lord’s mouth split wide.

That was right.

He said he’d give them at a good price, but he never said he’d give them cheap.