Genius Blacksmith's Game

[You can receive a forge as a bestowal from Barad.]

Radiance needed a base territory to settle into, and if that place was a forge, nothing could be better.

“I intend to grant you a forge wherever you wish. Would it be fine to grant one in Vallas Territory?”

Hyun shook his head.

“No.”

Barad was puzzled. If Hyun had filled development to 110%, then he was the benefactor of Vallas Territory.

And wasn’t a blacksmiths’ territory the perfect place for Hyun?

“Is it because the territory is too small?”

Barad thought that might be it, but Hyun gave a small smile.

“Not at all. It’s just that I want the blacksmiths there to spread their wings more.”

“Spread their wings?”

He didn’t understand. If Hyun stayed there, wouldn’t they be able to use their skills even more?

“If I set up my forge there and word spreads, what do you think will happen?”

Hearing that, Barad understood.

Hyun would end up absorbing most of the customers.

He truly has the qualifications of a good ruler...

Barad marveled quietly. And weighing efficiency, Hyun was right.

Hyun could make any forge thrive wherever he went.

Vallas Territory was currently the most rapidly rising territory.

For efficiency to be at its greatest, the territory and Hyun’s forge needed to be in different places.

The biggest problem was that Vallas Territory was too small.

If Hyun’s identity were discovered there...

Countless people would swarm in—and among them would be those who wanted to threaten him.

Vallas Territory’s forces were far too shabby to handle that.

“I plan to drop by from time to time and listen to the weapons they produce.”

Even so, Hyun said he would keep communicating with them constantly.

“Then tell me what territory’s forge you want, once you decide.”

And Hyun’s words were half true and half false.

It was true that it was for Vallas Territory, and he also knew that a king like Barad could grant him a forge in any territory he wanted.

Also, as a guild base, Vallas Territory was too far out on the frontier.

“If I have another mission for you next time, I’ll tell you.”

Hyun didn’t know it, but that was still part of Barad’s remaining test.

Hyun bowed and left.

Barad nodded as he watched his back.

Yes. Somewhere else really is better.

A single territory formed in Barad’s mind.

Dozens of Hyun’s Forges hanging their signboards there.

*****

[Nell: I’ll look for a place with the biggest growth potential and a good location.]

[Guild Master Hyunsoo: I’ll stay in Vallas Territory for a few more days, then move once the base is decided.]

[Nell: Yep.]

The blacksmiths who had returned to Vallas Territory.

Hyun planned to teach them. And the ones with better talent, he intended to teach more carefully.

Then they can teach the blacksmiths who come in later.

If that happened, Vallas Territory could keep growing steadily.

Even if it wasn’t his base, Hyun was certain.

Someday, Vallas Territory will be a big help to me.

Their blind trust in Hyun—hearts that revered him almost like their lord.

The value of that was beyond imagination.

This was an investment for the future.

And as soon as Hyun returned to Vallas Territory, he taught the blacksmiths for several days.

Late at night, he was about to enter the rented forge Barad had prepared so he could log out.

That was when Hyun sensed an unfamiliar presence.

He turned his head and saw someone waiting inside the forge.

Hyun was more than a little startled.

Because it was none other than Lord Belin.

*****

Belin had lost her father early.

While her father was alive, the territory flourished, and after she rose as lord, Vallas Territory had run smoothly.

Even so, Belin had been looked down on by the lords of nearby territories.

Because “smoothly run” was not the same as “excellently run.”

But at the gathering of lords she attended today, not a single one could lift their head in front of Belin.

Because a Courier had arrived saying Barad himself would soon visit Vallas Territory.

That meant Vallas Territory might now be reborn as a truly important territory.

Yet to be honest, Belin lacked confidence.

Vallas Territory’s growth was undoubtedly a good thing.

But at the same time, it meant Vallas Territory was exposed to far more danger than before.

She needed someone.

Someone who could protect this territory her father had left behind.

Belin carefully began.

“I heard you’ll be leaving soon.”

“That’s right.”

“That’s a shame.”

A shame. Hyun knew that wasn’t affection of any kind.

After hesitating for a long time, Belin said,

“I am a lord, yet I am lacking. Thanks to you, Vallas Territory will continue to develop even more. But I cannot be certain that I can lead Vallas Territory smoothly from here on.”

Hyun wore a puzzled expression.

Why was she suddenly speaking about her qualifications as a lord?

Soon, with a bitter smile, she continued.

“Become a noble. I believe you have that kind of power. And when you have risen high, come back to Vallas Territory. Depending on what kind of noble you become, I will divide this territory’s shares with you.”

Hyun was aghast.

She’ll divide territory shares with me?

Dividing territory shares was a far bigger thing than it sounded.

The advantage of becoming a lord was collecting taxes.

And he could share those taxes with Lord Belin.

“If you exceed my expectations, it might not end at shares alone.”

Through Belin’s words, Hyun became certain.

If I exceed her expectations, I might obtain the lord’s seat?

Then a quest notification appeared.

DING!

[Hidden Quest: Noble]

Rank: S

Restriction: One to whom Belin has conveyed her intent.

Reward: Territory shares.

Failure Penalty: Affinity with Belin drops to minimum.

Description: The trust that Belin, lord of Vallas Territory, places in you is firm. Answer that trust and return to this territory.

“I understand, my lord.”

“I will be waiting.”

When Hyun replied, she gave a small smile and vanished.

Hyun admired it. Depending on how far he rose, the reward would become astronomical.

Become a noble.

What a great line.

Among high-rankers, there were already some who truly functioned as nobles.

A new goal took shape.

Right then—

[Nell: I decided on the base. Frea Territory, not far from the Kingdom of Goyard’s capital. Let’s receive the forge there. And there’s something I need to tell you.]

Hyun moved immediately.

After saying farewell to the blacksmiths, he headed for Frea Territory.

Nell had already claimed the best-looking forge.

[You have become the owner of a forge in Frea Territory.]

He decided not to hang a signboard yet.

Then Nell, who had said she had something important to tell him, spoke.

“It’s time to accept a real first request.”

A first request—meaning the first one for an actual user.

The “first request” from before had been a lie.

Because it had been Blacksmith Hyun crafting for Crazy Rookie through AJ Internet Broadcasting Station.

“As you know, hundreds of crafting request notes were stacked up. I reviewed them and picked someone I thought might help you and us the most.”

Once a forge owner approves it, multiple people can manage the auction house.

Manager Nell had kept reviewing them and found the person who could produce the biggest beneficial effect.

“This is the one.”

Hyun checked the first person she offered for a crafting request.

*****

Hansung Group was one of Korea’s top ten corporations. Its youngest son, Lee Taeha, was practically a discarded child.

Chairman Lee Taeseong sat on a sofa and spoke as he looked at Taeha standing before him.

“Are you still playing that useless game called Ares?”

“...Don’t worry about it.”

Whenever Taeha met Chairman Lee Taeseong, they always ended up fighting. Taeseong looked at him with an annoyed expression.

“...Why did you call me?”

“You know your grandfather is in critical condition. I heard you have a special job called a Dragon Knight in Ares. Is that true?”

“Yes.”

“Your grandfather says he wants to see a dragon.”

Taeha couldn’t answer.

His grandfather had fallen into dementia years ago.

And every day he said he wanted to see a dragon.

Taeha had been closest to his grandfather.

And since he was young, his grandfather had often told him legends about dragons.

That was why he became a Dragon Knight. Because he thought he might be able to show one someday.

But he couldn’t.

“...I still haven’t obtained a dragon.”

Absurdly enough, Dragon Knights were meant to fight by borrowing a dragon’s power.

But that only started at level 500, and the actual dragons in Ares were level 600 and had never revealed themselves even once.

At ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ Taeha’s answer, Taeseong’s brow creased.

“Even so, keep looking. It’s your grandfather’s last wish.”

“I’m already looking.”

Speaking roughly, Taeha left the room.

A sigh spilled from Taeha’s mouth as he stepped outside.

Korean ranking #21.

Dragon Knight Ressel.

That was the name Taeha held.

Fuck, I’m a Dragon Knight and I can’t even summon a dragon.

It was ridiculous. Right now, he was searching for a way to meet a dragon by any means necessary.

He even placed requests with high-ranker summoners.

If you can summon or show me a dragon, I’ll pay whatever you want.

A dragon? There are no dragons in Ares right now.

He placed requests with an information guild too.

With our guild’s intelligence, we’ve confirmed there are no quests or content related to dragons.

It had been the best information guild in Korea.

He clung to even a straw.

What if he made one instead?

He placed requests with sculptors and blacksmiths too.

The sculptors said—

A dragon? My level is too low.

Impossible, they said. The blacksmiths said—

For a dragon to be imbued into an artifact... how is something like that even possible?

Taeha collapsed into despair.

In this bleak chaebol family, his grandfather had been his only friend.

“Damn it, damn it, damn it!”

Back home, Taeha broke down.

Blacksmith ranking #1, summoner ranking #1, even the best information guild—everyone said it couldn’t be done.

“I’ll give you any amount of money!”

Of course he knew this was selfish.

Taeha grabbed his own head.

“Grandfather... I’m sorry...”

Wasn’t this his only friend’s last dream?

Then—

BZZZZZT—

His phone vibrated.

With a puzzled look, he took it out.

[A note has arrived from Hyun’s Forge.]

Hyun’s Forge?

Taeha’s eyes widened.

[Hello, this is Hyun’s Forge. We can craft an artifact imbued with the dragon you mentioned.]

What?

Taeha frowned. Even to himself, that answer made no sense at all.