Genius Blacksmith's Game

[Liege’s Grace activates for user Hyunsoo.]

Hearing the notification, Associate Lee Jihee called Team Leader Kim.

“T-Team Leader.”

Kim Taeseok checked the monitor. This was what Jihee was worried about.

“Is it possible that Blacksmith Per......?”

Hyunsoo’s level was only now barely 120.

By contrast, Per’s level was 286. Originally, Per had been a level-230 blacksmith.

But after receiving Hyunsoo’s instruction, his level had skyrocketed by more than 50 levels.

The biggest issue was that Per had crafted an artifact closest to a Legend and become a Master Blacksmith.

“If a level-120 user has a Master Blacksmith as his vassal......”

At her concern, Team Leader Kim gave a short laugh.

“Impossible.”

“Excuse me?”

Why was it impossible?

From Jihee’s perspective, Per was more than susceptible enough to have his heart shaken by Liege’s Grace.

“What’s the difference between Banya and Per?”

Jihee thought it over.

“Ah......”

“Right. Banya was unaffiliated, while old man Per is the lord’s blacksmith.”

Exactly—no matter what the system rang out, that sense of belonging would act to restrain Per.

And if he were to freely betray his lord and declare he would follow Hyunsoo instead?

That would be a serious crime.

‘So this is the trap buried in Liege’s Grace?’

For commander-type classes or guild masters, it was the best S-rank title they could get.

That was its limitation.

Then Jihee suddenly realized something.

“But, Team Leader. Liege’s Grace is random, right?”

“Yeah. It tends to trigger on whoever was most deeply moved, but technically it’s random.”

“Then it might not have triggered on Per, right?”

“Then who would it...... ah......?”

Team Leader Kim’s eyes widened and he gave a disbelieving laugh.

“No way......?”

He prayed that that “no way” wasn’t actually true.

****

[Nell: I’ll be learning from this one. Master.]

[Hyunsoo: Heh heh......]

Moved to a hospital room, Hyunsoo waited in anticipation.

The notification that had rung at the end.

‘It has to be Per, right?’

At the moment, no one knew his situation better than Hyunsoo himself.

Hyun’s Forge was too weak, so he had even hidden the guild’s name when he founded it.

‘We need people.’

He needed NPCs and users alike. A small elite, but trustworthy.

‘And I can’t stay at the forge all the time.’

Ares was not a game where you could get by just crafting items.

Hyunsoo felt the necessity of becoming stronger.

‘But that doesn’t mean I can just stick any random blacksmith in there.’

If Master Blacksmith Per would be there, that would be perfect.

Right on cue, Per came in.

Hyunsoo unconsciously expected it.

That the moment he came in, he would bow his head like Banya and swear loyalty!

But no.

“I misjudged you. I’m sorry. You’re the one who saved my life, and yet I suspected you might have run off with the merchant guild’s money.”

“It’s fine.”

Hyunsoo smiled gently. Then Per held out a sword to him.

“Take it. It’s the sword I crafted when I was facing Books. To be precise, I was only able to make it thanks to you.”

“No. How could I accept something this precious......?”

That was what he said, but Hyunsoo snatched it up like a ghost.

In truth, Hyunsoo needed a better sword.

Radiance was an Epic-grade sword he had crafted at level 1.

He checked it immediately.

(White Night)

Grade: Unique

Durability: 9,000/9,000

Attack: 401

Requirement: No restriction for maker, level 280+, swordsman

Special Effects:

·Strength +3%, Vitality +3%.

·Passive Skill Triple-Hit Damage.

·Passive Skill Six-Hit Damage.

·Active Skill Light of White Night.

Description: The masterpiece of old man Per, crafted under the instruction of an outstanding blacksmith; a sword that is close to a Legend.

It was a masterwork.

In particular, the standout feature was the percentage increase to Strength and Vitality.

‘Percentage boosts shine more the higher your level gets.’

And it was a masterwork among masterworks with not a single useless effect.

Just looking at pure Attack, Radiance had been 143, while this sword was 401.

And Hyunsoo had a new hope.

‘If he’s willing to hand over his own sword, then surely Per......?’

Hyunsoo unconsciously tilted his head back slightly. But Per just wore a puzzled expression.

“Is your neck sore? Shall I massage it for you?”

“No, I was wondering if you might respect me or want to be with me.”

Embarrassed, Hyunsoo asked bluntly.

“Well, of course I do.”

Per answered honestly.

“But I am my lord’s man. How could I abandon her and follow someone else?”

With that, Hyunsoo understood the reason.

‘So even if Liege’s Grace triggered, it can’t happen because he’s the lord’s man?’

Hyunsoo felt regretful. But it couldn’t be helped.

If he tried to force the man to serve him, he couldn’t even imagine what might happen.

“The lord is asking for you.”

And the moment Hyunsoo had been waiting for arrived.

When the lord reclaimed the money, Hyunsoo had also heard this notification.

[Development increases by 15%.]

Hyunsoo was granted an audience with Lord Belin.

Even in Hyunsoo’s eyes, Belin was extremely beautiful.

With a height of 167cm, golden hair, and a faultlessly perfect figure, she drew a gasp of admiration.

Nell was clearly extremely good-looking too, but even they looked plain next to Belin.

Hyunsoo was sure.

If Belin had not been confined and had been widely known to users, she would have been “Number 1 Most Beloved NPC by Users.”

Belin spoke.

“Welcome, Hero Hyunsoo.”

Words that sent a thrill down his spine no matter how many times he heard them.

In particular, whenever Hyunsoo met lords or named NPCs, there was something he always hoped for.

“I will grant you the Blessing of the Blacksmith.”

[The Blessing of the Blacksmith descends upon you.]

[All artifact effects become 5% stronger.]

Belin was the rightful ruler of a blacksmith territory.

And although she wasn’t a particularly skilled blacksmith, she had learned forging techniques.

“I heard from the woman named Nell. Why you were on your knees and in such a state in that place.”

Belin smiled faintly and spoke.

“If it hadn’t been for you in the first place, we wouldn’t have recovered even the taxes squeezed out through forced labor. That’s why I’ve decided to give you fifty percent of the money we reclaimed.”

[You have obtained 160,000 gold.]

Hyunsoo was shocked. In one instant, a massive sum of 160,000,000 won had fallen into his hands.

And Hyunsoo felt that something was off.

Every time Belin’s eyes met his, her face flushed red.

Her eyes reddened as well, and she seemed unable to steady her emotions.

‘Wait, don’t tell me......’

“This is strange.”

Belin slowly rose to her feet.

“When I look at you, I feel something I can’t explain. You are just a mere blacksmith, and yet feelings of respect well up inside me.”

Belin couldn’t identify what this was.

“I want to be with you. I want to protect you.”

Hyunsoo was taken aback.

‘Why did Liege’s Grace go to her?’

But thinking it over carefully, it made sense.

Belin had been confined for a long time, and she had been freed thanks to Hyunsoo.

Hyunsoo realized something. As a lord, she could not serve him.

In the end, Hyunsoo was just someone with no rank at all.

And Belin looked anxious. Because of this inexplicable emotion.

At that, Hyunsoo thought, I’ve got it.

He had planned to stay in this territory and keep raising development anyway.

He had a simple method for raising development.

And he wanted to make her respect him more and feel even more affection, and thereby draw out the result he wanted.

“I plan to stay here, teach the blacksmiths, and only then leave.”

Belin’s emotions swelled even more.

“I want this territory to grow far more. I am a blacksmith. So this is only natural.”

Belin felt as though she were receiving grace from him yet again. She wanted to resolve this feeling somehow.

And she made her decision.

“Per.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“......Protect Hyunsoo.”

“Pardon?”

Per didn’t understand at first, then slowly nodded.

A lord could not follow someone insignificant, and she wanted to repay him somehow.

Besides, even if Liege’s Grace had not activated on Per, his affection toward Hyunsoo was already at MAX.

Hyunsoo had saved his life and fulfilled the lingering wish of his twenty years.

And both Per and Belin had already heard from the woman named Nell, who had awakened earlier.

“I believe he will be of help to Mr. Hyunsoo’s small guild. What do you think, Per?”

“It’s a good idea.”

Per stroked his chin.

“In fact, if Mr. Hyunsoo had just left, I would have had a lot to worry about. But Mr. Hyunsoo said so himself, didn’t he? That he would teach the blacksmiths before leaving.”

Per had seen Hyunsoo’s power for himself.

The lord had given her permission—no, she was sending him herself.

Per stepped forward.

“I, Per, have lived forty-odd years as a blacksmith.”

Slowly, he bowed.

“From now on, I will craft only for Mr. Hyunsoo, and live only for Mr. Hyunsoo.”

Lord Belin pictured how awkwardly Hyunsoo had received him.

For a man who was only now running a tiny guild to suddenly take in a Master Blacksmith—it was only natural.

But then—

“No.”

His voice was firm. Belin’s lips parted slightly.

Power that didn’t come from his low level. No, perhaps it came from the fact that he stood at the very peak among blacksmiths.

“Craft for me and for my people.”

Belin was moved. And she understood.

Respect.

Awe.

Trust.

At the end of longing, there was a flutter of excitement.

And Per felt awe.

The words telling him to craft not for him alone, but for his people and his companions.

He clearly felt that he had come to serve a true liege and answered with strength.

“Yes!”

[Per swears eternal loyalty.]

****

“Your Majesty, may I ask you something?”

In the middle of a chess game, Deputy Commander Bella spoke up.

“What is it?”

“Why did you send Mr. Hyunsoo, specifically?”

Barad fell silent for a moment, and Bella did not understand.

She had heard that Barad ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) planned to someday grant him a territory.

Then why send him to a blacksmith territory in particular?

In truth, if Barad had sent Bella, the problem might have been solved.

Yes—Bella felt this was some kind of test.

A test to give him a territory?

Did he need to rack up achievements of that magnitude for that?

Barad answered.

“Because I have no children.”

“Excuse me?”

For a moment, Bella’s brain froze.

Because he had no children......?

She turned it over and over in her mind, again and again, before dropping her chess piece.

“Do you mean......?”

Saying he had no children.

It meant he had no one to inherit his place.

“Forget it, it was just something I said.”

Even as he spoke, Barad gave a bitter smile.

“Just a wish.”

Somewhere in the kingdom, someone was waiting, eyes gleaming, for his fangs to fall out.

“I’m still young.”

Barad was still young. He simply wanted to test many people until that time came.

“He’s just one of many.”

Yes, one of many.

“Hyunsoo is still a commoner.”

And Bella understood.

It was nothing more than His Majesty’s wish.

And even if such a thing were to happen, it would only be years from now.

“How much development would it take for Your Majesty to be satisfied?”

“Hm.”

Barad stroked his chin.

A commoner and level-120 blacksmith.

“If he reached forty percent, wouldn’t that be worth pinning some hopes on?”

“......I see. As expected, satisfying Your Majesty is quite difficult.”

Bella nodded.

One outsider single-handedly raising the development of an entire territory by more than 40%?

Of course, it was hard to say that an extra 40% exactly meant it had become that much more magnificent.

But it was something that even powerful rankers struggled to do.

Just then—

“Mr. Hyunsoo has arrived.”

Barad listened to the report.

Two weeks ago, he had driven out the man named Books and had been staying in the territory for a short time. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

And Barad was the one who had assigned the mission and held the “King’s Judgment Sword.”

The King’s Judgment Sword possessed a single power.

When an outsider carried out a mission, or when the king ordered them to do something, it could show what had happened.

And with that single sword, it was a mysterious blade capable of checking the kingdom’s current state.

Hyunsoo came before Barad.

Barad was curious.

So, how far had Hyunsoo changed that territory?

Twenty percent?

‘Even that would be quite satisfactory.’

In the end, an heir was nothing more than a wish.

So Barad drew the sword.

Curious about how much development he had brought about, he infused it with mana and activated it.

[The blacksmiths of Vallas Territory are crafting higher-quality weapons.]

[The quality of artifacts supplied to soldiers and knights has increased.]

[The national power of the Kingdom of Goyard increases by 1%.]

Barad was stunned.

It wasn’t “just” 1%.

The very fact that someone had raised the national power of a kingdom by 1% was staggering.

Not even the policies proposed by any minister had ever managed to raise it by 1%.

Barad was consumed by curiosity.

‘Then just how......’

How many percent of development had been achieved?

He couldn’t hold back and asked.

“......What percentage of development did you achieve?”

Hyunsoo opened his mouth.