Genius Blacksmith's Game

Hyunsoo set out to meet Deng.

When he knocked and entered, Deng in his office wore a regretful look.

“Are you leaving now?”

“Yes.”

“Have you decided where you’ll go?”

“I’m thinking of going to the Kingdom of Goyard.”

“The Kingdom of Goyard, hm. Any particular reason you’re going there?”

“I plan to enter the Super Rookie Tournament.”

“Hoh......”

Deng looked at Hyunsoo with a small smile.

A blacksmith had never won the Super Rookie Tournament before, so he was looking forward to it.

“You still don’t qualify to enter there yet, do you?”

“There’s about a week left until the Super Rookie Tournament. I’m planning to raise myself to that level on the way.”

A gleam flashed in Deng’s eyes, as if he’d had a good idea.

“By any chance, would you consider visiting a place called the Cassel Territory, located on the border crossing into the Kingdom of Goyard?”

“Cassel Territory?”

“Yes. The Cassel Territory is a place that fights an unending war with the undead. If you help sweep out the undead there, I think you could quickly reach the state you want.”

He stroked his chin as he spoke.

“I’ve heard the lord there possesses some very excellent ore.”

“......Is that so?”

Hyunsoo’s eyes sparkled. While playing Ares, he had realized one thing.

There is a limit to creating outstanding artifacts with pure personal skill alone.

The way to surpass that limit was precisely the use of good materials.

Since Hyunsoo had to level up to 50 anyway, the fact that he might aim for ore was a good thing.

“Then I’ll go take a look. Thank you for telling me.”

“There you go. Someday, we will meet again.”

Hyunsoo could infer from Deng’s words.

Once he reached a certain level, he would meet Deng again.

Hyunsoo offered his farewell and stepped outside.

****

Having set his destination for the Cassel Territory, Hyunsoo paid the person who operated the warp.

There must be a clear reason Deng is sending me to the Cassel Territory.

Of course, Deng had said the lord possessed good ore.

But that alone was not enough of a reason.

Given Hyunsoo’s level, Deng would know he couldn’t just meet the lord because he wanted to.

Then is he telling me to make enough contributions to be granted an audience?

As soon as he left the tower, Hyunsoo looked into the Cassel Territory to learn the basics.

The Cassel Territory was a place where territorial wars could occur.

There were two versions of territorial wars.

The first was fending off a monster invasion.

The second was a territorial war by means of war.

Since Deng had said the undead invaded ceaselessly, it was presumed to be the territorial war of repelling the undead.

Hyunsoo warped immediately and his vision was engulfed by a white light.

[You have entered the Cassel Territory.]

Then, when he opened his eyes, Hyunsoo spotted an arrow flying toward him out of nowhere.

“Watch out!”

A man was sprinting over, desperate to shove Hyunsoo aside.

But Hyunsoo drew his sword and ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) split it in a flash.

Tuk—

“......?”

The man who had been running over wore a bewildered expression.

A look that said, Why did that split......?

And Hyunsoo was able to confirm his name.

[Centurion Render Lv.76]

The centurion named Render, who had looked flustered, let out a hollow laugh.

“You’ve got excellent reflexes for an outsider. Did you come from the capital as support, by any chance?”

Hyunsoo had already researched the Cassel territorial war and knew that answering “Yes” would enroll him in it, while “No” would mean he didn’t have to participate.

“Yes.”

[You will participate in the Cassel Territory territorial war.]

“Then follow me!”

Hyunsoo followed behind Centurion Render, who was moving in haste. From all directions, arrows presumed to be from the undead were whistling in.

Centurion Render explained quickly.

“If you’ve come as support, you must already know this. The undead have been pushing in far more than usual lately.”

“More than usual?”

“Yes.”

Soon Render led Hyunsoo up onto the ramparts.

Standing atop the wall, Render pointed at the undead.

A horde of undead was charging the ramparts.

[Zombie Lv.18]

[Skeleton Lv.22]

The levels of the undead visible to Hyunsoo were generally low.

But when Hyunsoo turned his head, he saw other undead elsewhere.

The levels of the undead in the other sector were high.

Ah, they guide you according to your typical level? So I just have to hunt the undead over here?

It seemed this convenience existed because it was a territorial war that beginners could do.

And Centurion Render began to explain why more undead than usual were appearing.

“Originally, our territory possessed an object imbued with the holy power of Lamas—the Bell of Lamas. Merely by having the Bell of Lamas, our territory could weaken the undead’s strength by about 20%. And when the bell rang, they writhed in agony and even fled. But not anymore.”

Render looked off into the distance with a devastated expression.

A place that seemed to be where the Bell of Lamas had originally stood came into view.

“The Bell of Lamas has been destroyed, and the undead are seizing this chance to launch an all-out assault. At this rate, our territory may eventually fall.”

And Render now moved to assign him a task.

“Outsider from the capital, please hunt the undead and aid our territory—”

“But if it’s broken, you can just repair it, right?”

“Mm......?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Render looked puzzled.

It was rare to receive such a question.

Most outsiders—i.e., users—would just think, Ah, it’s just the setting, and move on.

Render answered smoothly.

“Unfortunately, it cannot be repaired. Some artifacts are impossible to repair. That’s how thoroughly the Bell of Lamas was destroyed.”

Hearing that, Hyunsoo asked another question that piqued his curiosity.

“In that case, couldn’t you obtain something else imbued with holy power?”

Render let out a hollow laugh.

What a very inquisitive outsider!

“You’re not very familiar with the Prime Kingdom, I see. I’ll tell you why the undead make their lairs near the Cassel Territory.”

Render sighed as he looked at the undead.

“There are countless churches in this land. The largest is the Church of Ares. And the various kingdoms and empires established such churches within their borders. However, our Prime Kingdom did not.”

Leaning his arms on the parapet, Render wore a bitter expression.

“Our Prime Kingdom is a nation that rejects churches. No church exists within the kingdom. Furthermore, holy power is a mighty force that repels undead and evil. The problem is that those who can craft artifacts imbued with this holy power are limited.”

“How are they limited?”

“Only by using materials imbued with holy power or by the blacksmiths of the churches is it possible. Within this Prime Kingdom, it is absolutely impossible to create anything imbued with holy power. For example, we once even petitioned the Tower Master of the Blacksmith’s Tower of the Sword.”

Hyunsoo pricked up his ears at the mention of Deng.

Don’t tell me this is why he sent me here?

“We asked for something imbued with holy power to be made, but Deng refused—for the reasons I’ve just given.”

Hyunsoo nodded as if he now understood.

What would be a way to meet the lord?

A simple answer lay before him.

“May I take a look at that bell?”

“......What?”

To meet the lord, he needed to render merit.

And that merit would have to be very great.

The reason Deng had sent Hyunsoo.

Perhaps he thought Hyunsoo might repair it—or do something.

The problem was that even Hyunsoo couldn’t be sure.

If it was an artifact flagged as impossible to repair, could that flag be ignored with enough skill?

If not, that wouldn’t be Hyunsoo’s lack of skill.

It would be the system restricting him.

And Render’s face at those words was painted with incredulity.

What, I told him to go kill undead, and he suddenly asks if he can see the bell?

It was absurd.

Hyunsoo spoke smoothly, like a veteran.

“Tower Master Deng told me to come visit the Cassel Territory.”

“......Tower Master Deng?”

Render’s face grew complicated.

This didn’t seem like a matter he could decide on his own.

He spotted the knight commander not far away.

“We should go to the commander for now. Come with me.”

“Yes.”

The two began walking together.

****

“Damn it......”

Knight Commander Carl clenched his teeth as he watched the undead surging in.

Is there truly no one who can make something to replace the Bell of Lamas......?

Many outsiders had come to the Cassel Territory.

They were all arrogant and stuck-up.

Some thumped their chests and boasted, “I’m a top-tier blacksmith!” with full confidence.

But every single one of them, after checking the Bell of Lamas, reacted the same way.

“Ugh...... it says it right here. Artifact: non-repairable. This can’t be repaired.”

“It’s a non-repairable artifact? No one can fix this. Not even if a dwarf came, it wouldn’t work.”

Those who had started with talk of money smacked their lips in regret.

Carl found it outrageous.

With the life or death of a territory on the line, they were upset that they couldn’t make money.

There is one blacksmith who was decent, but even she said it would be difficult......

Carl’s heart felt heavy.

Just then—

“Commander, this outsider is asking if he can see the Bell of Lamas.”

“.......”

Carl nearly pressed a hand to his forehead.

Another outsider? To be frank, Carl had seen similar responses so many times that he felt no expectation anymore.

But then Render spoke.

“Tower Master Deng recommended visiting here.”

“Tower Master Deng?”

Deng, Tower Master of the Blacksmith’s Tower of the Sword. Wasn’t he the greatest blacksmith in the Prime Kingdom?

Carl held out a sliver of hope.

“Could you tell me what level of attainment he’s reached among blacksmiths!?”

NPCs, in the end, learn.

They also know that outsiders obsess over something called levels.

“If you mean his level, it’s 13.”

“......?”

At those words, Carl’s face crumpled miserably.

This guy or that guy, all the same......

Carl decided to apply the usual method he used for types like this.

“We can’t let just anyone lay hands on the Bell of Lamas. Do you see the ghouls out there?”

“Yes.”

“Ghouls are three times stronger than the zombies and skeletons you ought to be facing. They’re around level 40. Bring me ten of them slain. I’ll pay 20 Gold per kill.”

Centurion Render’s face flushed with embarrassment. He spoke in a low voice.

“Commander, he’s a blacksmith and at the stage where he should be hunting zombies.”

Carl rolled his eyes as if to say, And what do you want me to do about that?

In truth, the method Carl used now was this.

He had given a trial he could not possibly clear.

Put nicely: “Go back quietly.” Put bluntly: “Get lost.”

But then the outsider asked:

“Twenty Gold per kill?”

“Yes. Of course, if you bring down ten, we’ll also let you inspect the Bell of Lamas.”

“If I kill more, do I get paid that much more?”

“You do.”

At that, the outsider named Hyunsoo smiled broadly at the corners of his mouth.

****

Dding!

[Quest: Hunt 10 Ghouls]

Grade: A

Restriction: One who accepted Carl’s proposal.

Reward: 20 Gold per kill

Failure Penalty: You cannot inspect the Bell of Lamas.

Description: Carl intentionally assigned you a ghoul-hunting task that is difficult for your level. Hunt the ghouls.

High risk, high return.

A rule that applies in Ares.

If the difficulty is judged high relative to level, the reward is usually measured large.

Of course, even this is somewhat at the NPCs’ discretion, but typically this rule applies.

Hyunsoo’s level was 13.

“Ghhhuuurrrhhh!”

[Ghoul Lv.41]

Ghouls—an upper variant of zombies—howled below. Their average level was 40.

The reward granted by the high difficulty was 20 Gold per kill.

In other words, 20,000 won per kill.

Looking at the ghoul bellowing below, Hyunsoo drew the Bow of Water Buffalo Horn from his inventory.

[Accuracy increases by 60%.]

Then he slotted a Short Arrow he had prepared into the half-bamboo guide-tube.

Click—

Standing on the rampart, Hyunsoo drew the bowstring and smiled.

How many can I hunt?