Genius Blacksmith's Game

Asura Kabel.

Recently, he had been making a name for himself, moving back and forth between Atlas and Hell.

To make the followers who had once followed Asura able to follow him, he was in the middle of crushing the strong.

THUNK—!

After bringing down yet another strong opponent, Kabel frowned.

[A vassal, Luxiu, leaves your side.]

Kabel was one of the parties who had sealed demon Gremory together with Luxiu back when Luxiu was a lesser demon.

He also knew Luxiu had gone to Atlas with him, and recently Hyunsoo had even asked him to look into “Luxiu.”

After crushing a strong opponent, he had been about to search for information on Luxiu.

And he could receive Hyunsoo’s whisper.

[Hyunsoo: Do you know about the Blood King?]

Of course he did.

[Kabel: The Blood King was the king of a kingdom called Enya that existed long ago, and even back then, Blood King Brad was alive.]

[Kabel: The interesting fact is that Blood King Brad was originally a sickly person.]

[Kabel: But after demon Gremory’s invasion, the Blood King broke free of that weak body and seized enormous power, and for some reason, the number of his people began to decrease exponentially.]

[Kabel: He controls information with absolute secrecy, so I don’t know why the population is dropping so fast, but now he rules a place with only a million people—something you can’t even call a kingdom.]

[Kabel: Also, the Kingdom of Enya vanished without a trace, and the Blood King’s location became obscure.]

[Kabel: Kingdoms and empires don’t bother touching Enya. First, because the Blood King is called one of the most powerful kings of the present age, and second, because they don’t want to make contact with—or clash with—such an irrational “kingdom” in the first place.]

When he finished, a reply came from Hyunsoo.

[Hyunsoo: So the conclusion is we can just beat the shit out of him, right?]

“???”

Kabel was flustered.

Hyunsoo didn’t normally use such violent phrasing. Soon, he heard the whole story.

...This is serious.

From the sound of it, the Blood King had humiliated Hyunsoo.

And for Hyunsoo, it really was true that he was visibly furious and struggling to hold onto his reason.

But that wasn’t what Kabel meant by “serious.”

Hyunsoo is someone who thinks rationally.

So he only jumps in when it’s possible.

Which meant Hyunsoo had concluded it was possible.

What Kabel thought was serious—

Was that the Kingdom of Enya was in trouble.

[Hyunsoo: I’m gathering friends and going to the place Luxiu lived for a housewarming. You coming too?]

To be honest, even Kabel—an information broker—didn’t know.

If Hyunsoo gathered “friends,” just how big it would get.

How many strong people he could gather.

And Kabel’s answer to Hyunsoo’s question—

[Kabel: You’re just telling me to come.]

[Hyunsoo: Yeah.]

Kabel let out a sigh and gave a bitter smile. He liked Hyunsoo because he was like this.

[Kabel: What should I bring as a gift?]

Hyunsoo’s answer was simple.

[Hyunsoo: A lot of troops.]

Kabel ended the whisper and began preparing.

Kabel had been turning the existing Asura forces into his own by crushing the strong.

[Hell Warrior Lv.389]

[Hell Knight Lv.443]

Five thousand Hell troops were assembled before him. As Kabel crossed the Gate of Hell, he thought:

I’m probably going to be the smallest one there.

He looked forward to how many troops would gather.

Meanwhile.

The capital of the Kingdom of Goyard.

Sword King Barad, the marquises, and Sword Duke Lysen watched those who were deep in restoration work.

Every time Barad passed, the people called his name and bowed.

After the fall of Goyard, the people, the king, and the nobles had grown closer.

Originally, it shouldn’t have been like that.

The people should have blamed the incompetent king, and they should have praised Hyunsoo, who would become the new king.

But Hyunsoo had made it clear that this was our land.

And after that, he had been quietly pouring all his effort into building only his own territory.

Barad and the three nobles had noticed his intent.

“......It looks like Hyunsoo is trying to create an Independent Nation.”

An unreadable smile formed at the corners of the marquises’ mouths.

Sword Duke Lysen nodded.

“......For His Majesty, I’m sure.”

“You like Hyunsoo now too, don’t you?”

“Heh heh. Isn’t it thanks to him?”

Sword Duke Lysen looked at the capital being restored.

If Hyunsoo hadn’t been here, the capital would have fallen and turned into a sea of blood.

And if Hyunsoo hadn’t been trying to make an Independent Nation—what would have happened?

“I’m sick of war and rebellion.”

Sword Duke Lysen knew there would have been endless rebellions and wars erupting inside again.

Yes. Goyard, as it was now—there was only one reason it could be peaceful.

Only because of Hyunsoo’s consideration.

Hyunsoo.

Barad held a small smile.

The miracles his friend was creating.

And the miracles that would come next.

Right then—

SCREEEEE—!

A hawk arrived at high speed.

A hawk?

A hawk wasn’t like a pigeon.

It signaled an emergency.

Barad’s face hardened as he read the letter.

“What is it, Your Majesty?”

Barad explained the whole story.

And the nobles and Sword Duke Lysen erupted with massive fury.

Was that fury because Hyunsoo had been subjected to such humiliation?

Of course that was true, too.

But there was enormous justification here.

This wasn’t a simple request for help or something done out of personal ties.

Sword Duke Lysen narrowed his eyes.

“Your Majesty—how can a king from another continent, and a king of another country at that, enter without even receiving approval from that country?”

Right. Battles between kingdoms required justification.

It was so important that even the Parion Empire had fabricated it when it lacked any.

Of course, Goyard wasn’t some overwhelming nation that could fight anyone at will.

But—

“Have you ever heard of the Blood King? He is a king, but he may as well not be a king.”

The Blood King’s nation was special.

It did not interact with any nation.

And even if it had once been a true kingdom, now it was a place that made you question whether it was truly a kingdom at all.

Yes—a place called a kingdom, but not a kingdom.

So if Goyard truly set its mind to it, it could handle the Blood King.

Barad knew him as well.

And he judged this wasn’t something that required him to move personally.

But Hyunsoo might one day be the man who would lead this country.

Sword Duke Lysen knelt and pleaded.

“Your Majesty—how can I, Lysen, stand by when the hero of the nation has suffered such disgrace? Grant me soldiers. I will march.”

The wish of an old warrior who would one day live for Hyunsoo.

“Granted.”

With Lysen commanding, a massive Goyard force marched out.

Meanwhile.

Ben of Vast Sky looked at the small World Tree that had grown bigger and more majestic.

This tree that had nearly burned all of the Kingdom of Praham’s castle—now it bore fruit so that all the people would not go hungry.

“The public sentiment toward Your Majesty is too good.”

“All the people rejoice in Praham, where Your Majesty is.”

“Across the world, people say it’s a nation without hunger.”

Ben had become more sensitive lately.

A nation without hunger.

No matter what nation you went to, there were always people drowning in hunger.

Behind glittering kingdoms, many died a painful death of starvation.

But not Praham.

Ben thought of Hyunsoo.

He must be busy these days.

Ben had heard the recent stories too.

Ben also wanted to run to save Goyard.

But the Parion Empire had sent a vassal, declaring it would respond harshly if he moved his army.

Then a letter arrived.

Ben took it and read it.

But there was an unfortunate truth.

Hyunsoo.

Even if they [N O V E L I G H T] were friends, he couldn’t help recklessly.

That was why kings like Ben and Barad could keep their positions.

If he helped once, twice, three times, it would no longer be Hyunsoo’s power.

Ben was about to reply with “impossible,” but he paused.

“......Heh heh. Then the story changes.”

Ben looked at the small World Tree.

“What made you this angry?”

Ben checked again what was written at the end of the letter.

[I have a way to obtain a true World Tree. If I obtain it, I will present one to His Majesty Ben as well.]

Even with only the small World Tree, this nation had become abundant.

And now he had a chance to confirm a true World Tree.

That was it.

Through the true World Tree, Hyunsoo was extending a hand for negotiation—and this was Hyunsoo’s power, not Ben’s.

In truth, Ben too boiled with greed for a true World Tree.

“Gather the troops.”

“...Understood. But who should we appoint as commander?”

Ben also judged there was no need for him to go personally for this matter.

So he thought of his disciple—someone who had opened his eyes again and begun seeing the world thanks to Hyunsoo.

It was Frak, the descendant of Vast Sky.

Frak and the great army began their march.

*****

The Kingdom of Enya.

Once, it had been a kingdom more magnificent and beautiful than any other, but not anymore.

Unmaintained walls were on the verge of collapse, and spiderwebs hung everywhere.

It was so miserable you could almost say this was what an Immortal’s kingdom might look like.

But no other kingdom or empire coveted Enya.

First, because they didn’t know its exact location.

Second, because there was nothing to take.

Third, because the Blood King was undeniably a strong king.

More precisely, neighboring countries didn’t touch Enya because Enya wasn’t doing them any harm, and if they poked it for no reason, it would just become a festering sore.

In other words: they avoided it because it was filthy, not because it was frightening.

Even this Kingdom of Enya was guarded by knights.

BOOOOM—!

A door to the audience chamber closed.

Luxiu and the Blood King had gone inside to speak at length.

At this time, Captain Sun of Enya’s knight order stood with knights guarding the castle walls at night.

“I don’t even know how many nights it’s been.”

Sun had lived a long time.

All thanks to the Blood King.

And by accepting the Blood King’s power, a man who had once been just an ordinary kingdom’s captain had gained strength enough to fight most legends.

The other knights were the same.

Knights hovering in the level 460s possessed hardened power.

Suddenly, a bitter laugh slipped from Sun’s lips.

“That X-shit moron bastard.”

He remembered the small kingdom’s lord who couldn’t even budge from fear.

“A mere count actually believed he could hold Sir Luxiu.”

Other knights and soldiers were also cursing, calling that lord pathetic.

Then, in the darkness, a single unknown lamp was lit.

FWOOSH—!

“......?”

A lamp lit alone in the dark felt surprisingly bright.

Behind the lamp, a familiar face appeared.

“......It’s that bastard from before, huh?”

Captain Sun scoffed.

Clearly, that fool who believed himself strong had come here because he couldn’t endure the frustration of being forced into submission and despair.

Hyunsoo said,

“Open the gate.”

Sun clutched his stomach and laughed.

“Puhaha—! KRAHHHHHHHHH—!”

The sneers of the soldiers and knights filling the wall spread up into the sky.

“Bwahahahahaha!”

“What the hell is he babbling about?”

“This is insane!”

“Hey, you X-shit noble—this is a kingdom. Do you not understand it’s different from some territory? Where do you get off, you guy who probably could only command a thousand soldiers at most!”

The number of soldiers guarding the wall alone was approaching fifty thousand.

“You came alone—what are you going to do? If you don’t want to become a pincushion, get lost. We’re holding back out of respect for Sir Luxiu’s face.”

TWANG—!

At Sun’s glance, fifty thousand knights and soldiers drew their bowstrings, threatening him, and one soldier loosed an arrow.

THUNK—!

“Oops. I slipped?”

The arrow planted itself in front of Hyunsoo.

Mockery—telling him to get lost.

Then the man said something he couldn’t understand.

“......You attacked first.”

Sun tilted his head.

From the darkness, an old man’s voice rang out.

“......Count Hyunsoo has been attacked. Prepare for a full-scale assault.”

One lamp lit, and Sword Duke Lysen revealed himself.

From him, lamps began to ignite endlessly, one after another.

THOOM!

THOOM!

THOOM!

THOOM!

“.......”

Sun took a step back.

Two hundred thousand? No, five hundred thousand? No—one million......!?

A great army igniting lamps in numbers too vast to count.

That marching column was advancing toward the Kingdom of Enya.