Genius Blacksmith's Game

The Papal Palace of the Ares Church.

The 11th Pope, Pope Carsel, was someone who could wield power greater than most kings.

And one of the reasons the 11th Pope Carsel was special was that he wasn’t restricted by the server.

Which meant he wasn’t restricted by any continent, either.

The Ares Church across all continents was connected, and through the temples placed everywhere, only those who were permitted could meet Carsel at the Papal Palace.

Hearing the news, Carsel marveled.

“So it’s true. He really rose to become one of the Ten Legends.”

That admiration stemmed from the greenhorn who had come here just half a year ago.

Soon, Saint Aria—who had been in the garden—and Pope Carsel met.

“I couldn’t understand why you bestowed the Saint’s Blessing on him, but now I understand.”

The Saint’s Blessing was a blessing that could be bestowed on only a single outsider.

Of course, that wasn’t the reason it was special.

Aria gave a small smile.

“When he saved me, he overlapped with that person from the legends.”

That person from the legends.

Carsel knew about them as well.

The only one who could interact with the Ares Church.

“The legends say the Saint saved the Ares Church when it fell into crisis.”

Aria smiled faintly.

Carsel’s expression turned intrigued.

“Then did he forge a legend?”

Aria shook her head.

“Saving me wasn’t saving the Ares Church. It’s just that he’s making it shine more brightly—the token that he received as a sign that we are friends, and the Saint’s Blessing that was that person’s power long ago.”

“Making it shine more brightly?”

“Through the calamities, and through the demon Graut.”

Carsel couldn’t help but agree.

Like that one greatest legend of the past, he was gradually weaving a story of his own.

“When a true crisis finally descends on us, maybe that tale from that day can be realized once again.”

Carsel nodded.

“If that happens...”

“Yes. That’s right.”

The two of them shared the same look—agreement.

“A mere noble of one country like him will be able to have us at his back.”

*****

The Saint’s Blessing had given Hyunsoo many beneficial outcomes so far.

Originally, unless you were a priest or a holy knight class and the like, obtaining holy power in Ares was close to impossible.

Holy power was that sacred and great a force.

But through the Saint’s Blessing, Hyunsoo gained 250 holy power.

Because of that, even though Hyunsoo wasn’t a church blacksmith, he became able to create artifacts infused with holy power.

And also—

It was the power that saved me when I was about to be tainted by evil.

By collecting calamity artifacts, Hyunsoo had become able to create calamities.

But the power of a calamity on par with a legend was a power born of pure evil.

As the condition for holding that power, Hyunsoo’s alignment had nearly been stained by evil.

Back then, the Saint’s aura flowing within him protected Hyunsoo.

And today, he learned one shocking fact.

That this Saint’s Blessing wasn’t a power that ended as a one-time effect.

It was a blessing with a story.

That was being proven right in front of his eyes.

[The Saint’s aura is flowing through you.]

[Hidden Piece. Walking the Saint’s Path is completed.]

Hyunsoo could tell.

Someone who received the Saint’s Blessing—if they discovered the Saint’s story, it would return as a reward.

And this reward wasn’t something you always received no matter what.

[You can receive the reward.]

[However, you must have had a close connection to the Saint’s Path.]

[By gathering four artifacts tainted by evil, you walked the path of worsening the calamities.]

[By defeating the calamities that worship evil, you walked the path of executing evil.]

DING!

[The Saint’s Blessing shines most brilliantly.]

Hyunsoo knew why the Saint’s Blessing was shining.

[By executing Graut, the Blood Demon of pure evil, you dyed the world in light.]

[Demon Graut is an existence that would have threatened humanity someday.]

[The Saint’s Path was great and astonishing.]

[You obtain 350 holy power.]

[You obtain 200 Charisma.]

With this, Hyunsoo realized one thing.

[As Hidden Piece is unlocked, if you trigger proof of walking the Saint’s Path, you obtain additional rewards.]

The Saint’s Blessing would lend Hyunsoo immense strength over the long term.

I don’t even serve the church, and my holy power is already 600...

The holy power stat held more power than you’d think.

For one, because he could now hold even more holy power, it meant the holy-power-infused artifacts Hyunsoo made going forward would become better.

Second, when fighting those recognized as pure evil, the higher your holy power stat was, the more additional attack power and additional defense power you could exert.

Having gained an unexpected benefit, Hyunsoo’s mood rose.

And then, the next notification that popped up made him go pale.

[Dual Class. You learn about the Saint.]

Dual Class...?

Hyunsoo was {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} stunned.

Dual Class.

In other words, one user possessing two classes.

Hyunsoo understood Dual Class well.

Because it was closely connected to the reason people had guessed Hyunsoo wasn’t Blacksmith Hyun.

Back then, Crazy Rookie’s level was low.

But the fact that Crazy Rookie, at that low level, could make excellent artifacts and also wield tremendous power went beyond users’ common sense.

So some users insisted he must be Dual Class.

But that theory had been dismissed as well.

Because Dual Class is the exclusive domain of high-level users.

And “exclusive domain” was just talk—people who actually had Dual Class were as rare as finding a needle on a sandy beach.

Goosebumps rose along Hyunsoo’s skin.

Wait. Don’t tell me...

Ares had a massive update scheduled soon: the server merge.

Through that massive update, what they needed was the power to lead users who were exhausted by the current content.

Does that mean they’ll start releasing a lot more Dual Class than before?

Before an official update, Ares would start letting update items slip out little by little. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

However, most users had a hard time encountering those released update items.

Because only a tiny bit was released at a time.

The proof was right here.

That Hyunsoo had learned there was a legend who had been called the Saint.

Surely, even before now, that information existed somewhere.

But most users didn’t know.

Because users couldn’t obtain information that Ares thoroughly controlled and blocked.

But through NPCs, Ares could let it out.

In other words, even though the update hasn’t happened yet, this is no different from me obtaining one piece of post-update information.

And there was also the advantage that he had learned about the Dual Class Saint before anyone else.

With this, I’m one step ahead of everyone in Act Two of Ares.

One step ahead.

That alone was immensely meaningful.

Unfortunately, no additional notification came.

Of course...

If Hyunsoo had met the conditions to become Dual Class, he would have received a “You have achieved it” notification.

But what he’d heard just now was “You learn about it.”

Meaning: the Dual Class Saint exists, but whether he could obtain it was something that would be decided in the future.

And with that, Hyunsoo realized one thing.

Maybe this land called Atlas... isn’t an ordinary place.

As for additional information beyond that, Kern said they didn’t know.

Then Kern led Hyunsoo onward.

“There is a rite that every lord in history has performed.”

“...You said you rotated it around.”

“Ahem. Anyway, it exists.”

Kern wore a face as if they were speaking of something profoundly sacred.

“In this territory, there is a legend—one that says the Saint left a portion of their power here before departing.”

Hyunsoo’s heart began to pound as he realized his guess had been right.

“If you complete this rite, I’ll tell you more about the Saint—what it was that they left behind. And you’ll be able to obtain the holy relic the Saint left as well.”

A holy relic.

A treasure that represented the territory.

Something with symbolic meaning—something marquis-ranked territories usually created to represent their territory.

Hyunsoo followed and stopped in one place.

He never would’ve expected somewhere like this to exist in a territory so shabby it was pitiful.

When he passed through a door made of white iron, a sword embedded in the ground was revealed.

“It is the Saint’s Sword. Astonishingly, this sword has only a single function—and even though it is consumable, that in itself proves the Saint’s greatness.”

“What function?”

“A recovery that transcends common sense.”

“A recovery that transcends common sense?”

“Yes. Only that single function is contained within it, but it transcends common sense. Because it continuously restores wounds.”

Even hearing it described, it sounded like a sword with incredible power.

But Hyunsoo was focused on something else.

If I draw this, I’ll learn part of this territory’s truth. What the Saint left here.

Maybe it would lend strength to Hyun’s Forge, which was in a desperate position.

And before pulling the sword, Hyunsoo decided to check its details.

How much does it restore? 40%? 50%? What’s the use cycle?

The way you verify whether a recovery artifact is good is how many percent of HP it restores.

And it also depends on how long the cooldown is.

An artifact called Burnheller’s Ring, with a five-minute cooldown, restores around 20% HP in one use.

That’s why it has a value in Ares that can’t even be priced with money.

Then, after checking it, Hyunsoo went silent.

...What is this?

Hyunsoo doubted his own eyes.

No—he couldn’t help doubting them.

The notification that sounded the moment he gripped the hilt, and the information that rose before him about the Saint’s Sword—

[This sword cannot be drawn.]

It was, literally, a sword of symbolic meaning.

And as he stared at the sword’s information, he went beyond admiration into shock.

(Saint’s Sword)

Grade: Legendary

Durability: 910/5,000

Attack Power: 101

Restriction: Lord of Atlas

Special Ability:

· Active Skill — Saint’s Blessing

Description: A holy relic of Atlas designated by the first lord, the Saint. It is said that something special happens if you draw it, but it is set so that it can never be drawn. However, through this, you will obtain a territory-related quest.

To be blunt, the Saint’s Sword was close to trash for something with a Legendary grade.

Total durability is only 5,000, and what’s left is in the 900s. Attack power is 101, and aside from the skill Saint’s Blessing, it has no abilities at all...

But the active skill Saint’s Blessing alone crushed every complaint into dust.

(Saint’s Blessing)

Active Skill

Mana Cost: None

Cooldown: None

Remaining Uses: 200/200

Description: Upon activation, restores HP by 100%.

This artifact was beyond absurd.

With no cooldown, 100% HP. And it can restore that 200 times?

Meaning, if Hyunsoo had this sword, he would become invincible.

“This is actual balance collapse...”

This was an artifact that shouldn’t exist in Ares.

Of course, there was also something that seemed to prove that.

That notification saying it can never be drawn...

Meaning, this Saint’s Sword really was just for show.

It was an artifact added as a “don’t draw it” setting, and if you failed, you received a quest.

But there was one question.

Even among showpiece artifacts that users can never possess, there has never been something this ridiculous.

And Hyunsoo reached a conclusion.

“I think this is a bug.”

*****

Team Lead Wang Wook, who had been watching with their neck craned forward like a turtle, stiffened.

“I think this is a bug.”

Team Lead Wang Wook agreed.

Soon, they learned why this happened.

“I’m told the one who handled the Saint’s Sword settings was Team Lead Jincho.”

“Jincho? Jincho, the Reward Settings Team Lead who got fired recently?”

“Yes. Team Lead Jincho was the Reward Settings Team Lead, right? Originally, Saint’s Blessing was supposed to be usable 50 times. They set it to 200 for testing, and they were supposed to restore it afterward, but they left before that, and...”

Team Lead Wang Wook’s face twisted—then smoothed out.

“They can’t draw it anyway.”

The Saint’s Sword was, literally, just for show.

It was an artifact put in as a “do not draw” setting, and by design, you received a quest if you failed.

“Good. The server merge is coming soon anyway. We can patch it back to normal during the server merge.”

Team Lead Wang Wook let out a sigh of relief.

We almost had a bug that isn’t a bug.

Ares was known as a game that prided itself on perfection.

Then Team Lead Wang Wook startled at Hyunsoo’s next words on the monitor.

What are you talking about?

That was impossible by common sense.

User Hyunsoo would know, too, that it was an artifact that couldn’t be drawn.

But on the monitor, Hyunsoo said—

“I can pull it out.”