Genius Blacksmith's Game

One week in real time.

That was how long Hyunsoo had locked every door and stayed beside the Small World Tree, missing Ben.

It could be called short if one wished.

It could also be called long.

And during that time, many things had happened.

—301 users from around the world have confirmed their participation.

—It is known that each country is selecting a captain to represent its team.

—The United States will have Valhalla, China will have Fond, Japan will have Musashi, and other world-class rankers are expected to step onto the podium as captains and begin press conferences.

All over the world.

The highest figures of each nation became captains and held press conferences.

At a time when viewership for the real Olympics had been declining, the governments of each country anticipated that Continental War: World Championship, from Ares, a game enjoyed by more than one billion users worldwide, would become another global festival.

The proof was in the Continental War held in the past.

On the day each nation’s Continental War was held.

Each country’s viewership rose to thirty to forty percent.

It had been the same during the Continental War between China and Korea.

Also, during Continental War, citizens of each country had gathered in giant stadium halls and domes to watch it together.

Taking Korea as an example, people gathered at Jamsil Olympic Stadium, Incheon Asiad Main Stadium, Seoul World Cup Stadium, and Gwanghwamun Square.

In regional areas, people gathered anywhere people could gather.

In the same way, people all over the world had gathered to watch the matches.

Continental War was merely a clash between two countries.

But each government recognized that Continental War: World Championship was a global sport and entertainment event where the entire world would compete together.

Also, the high-rankers who had received either public votes or offers from their respective governments.

They stepped onto the podium when Hyunsoo was participating in the funeral while holding Ben’s funeral portrait.

It was not that they had aimed for the time when Hyunsoo would be grieving.

They were simply proceeding with their scheduled plans.

China’s press conference hall.

Fond of China participated while wearing his team uniform, which had China’s national flag, the Five-Starred Red Flag, drawn on it.

“Since China’s 1.3 billion citizens are giving us their full support, we have made thorough preparations. By joining together with unofficial rankers who have remained hidden until now, China promises to shock the world with an unprecedented force.”

China displayed its confidence.

Also, because China was a country with a population of more than one billion, it received the hottest support from its citizens.

And China was not the only country showing such confidence.

The United States.

The largest number of reporters in the world came to cover the team with Valhalla standing as its captain.

Valhalla’s appearance was so beautiful it made one wonder if he was truly a man, and the dignity of a supreme ruler could be felt from him.

“......Isn’t he too handsome?”

“Valhalla is participating......”

“Is Valhalla participating because of his promise with Hyunsoo?”

Media outlets across the world could not hide their admiration and astonishment at the appearance of Valhalla, the captain of Team USA, and then sighed when they saw the people appearing behind him.

Because the level of Team USA, which stood with Valhalla, could not be ignored either.

Valhalla, archmage Rund, blacksmith Smith, and others.

All of them were figures who had reached the ranks of top stars around the world.

“I will do my best.”

The American press conference everyone had been looking forward to.

Valhalla left behind only one sentence and stepped away.

But the public’s interest only grew larger.

—Valhalla cements victory with brief words.

—The world’s number-one ranker. And Team USA, the strongest Ares nation in the world.

—Poll results show Team USA has a 49% chance of winning.

Even the American media and citizens were convinced of victory at the appearance of Valhalla and the others, and the entire country was already swept up in joy as if it had won.

All the people of the United States cheered while shouting the names of Team USA.

There was another country heating up in the same way.

Japan.

“The Ares powerhouse rankings will soon change. Too many things have changed. First, I have surpassed Level 500, and recently, I met a new teacher.”

Musashi of Japan.

He had suffered bitter defeat every day, but rarely, he revealed confidence.

It was true that Musashi’s statement was arrogant.

However, the people of Japan erupted into passionate cheers for him.

Like this, every country participating in Continental War: World Championship.

Each ended its press conference amid the heated support and passionate enthusiasm of its citizens.

They were merely participating in the World Championship, yet they received everyone’s cheers.

All the high-rankers were happy, and even the people of their countries showed fervent enthusiasm.

But there was one country that did not.

Korea.

The media around the world had already treated it as a foregone conclusion that Hyunsoo would not appear at this press conference.

In fact, at the captain’s seat.

Hwan had sat down in his place.

While reporters from dozens of countries participated in the press conferences of other countries, Korea’s was filled only with domestic reporters.

Moreover, Korea’s press conference recorded the lowest viewership among the press conferences around the world.

“......We intend to leave the captain’s seat vacant.”

Hwan explained the strength of the national team that would join him and his own specialties, but no one held any expectations.

Only then.

—We can win the next Continental War: World Championship.

—You can do this.

—We’re cheering for Hwan and the national team.

—We are proud of you!

The Korean people placed meaning in their participation itself.

And the countries around the world were able to check the general notice.

It said this Continental War: World Championship would be held at Jamsil Stadium in Korea.

The world media criticized Lee Sejin.

—Holding the first event in Korea does not look fair at all.

—CEO Lee Sejin will have to release an official statement on this.

—Why insist on holding it in Korea?

At the press conference, Lee Sejin spoke briefly and firmly.

“Because Ares began in our country.”

—......

—......

—......

—......

The whole world fell silent.

Lee Sejin was good at speaking directly.

In other words, if they did not like it, they could go make Ares themselves.

It was the moment the noisy media shut their mouths all at once.

The world media stayed silent on that matter and began paying attention to something new.

—The host country is practically no different from Korea. At this point, the key question is how many medals Korea can win.

—The complete rules and event details have not yet been revealed.

—According to global poll results, many believe Korea will not win even a single gold medal.

—This is not meant to demean Korea. It is simply that one user’s absence is approaching as an enormous penalty.

—Of course, even when the invitation was sent, Master Blacksmith Hyunsoo did not clearly state his intention to participate.

—It does not seem correct to interpret that Master Blacksmith Hyun is not participating purely because he is sad. Hyunsoo is the owner of a nation, and the truth is that he is busy enough to have no time to breathe.

—Also, even if Team Korea truly does not win a medal, there is no reason to criticize Master Blacksmith Hyun. Participation is a matter of free will, and saying they could not win a medal because a single user was absent can only be an excuse.

The world media said it was unfortunate, and that Korea would ultimately gain nothing.

When Korea was effectively no longer receiving interest from the top countries in the world.

The national teams around the world felt the scorching heat.

“Waaaaaaaaa!”

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

China, Japan, and the United States.

Citizens gathered at airports to cheer for them as they boarded flights to Korea.

Also, China and the United States even sent private planes prepared for them, and the participating teams around the world were shocked by the heated enthusiasm.

They thought they would never feel this kind of heat again.

However.

The moment one user appeared, the story changed completely.

“I am Team Korea’s captain. Kang Hyunsoo.”

Jamsil Sports Complex.

It was a stadium that could accommodate a total of one hundred thousand people.

People around the world had tried to buy tickets for this Jamsil Sports Complex.

But getting even one ticket had been like plucking a star from the sky.

The talk was filled with claims that Korea would not win a gold medal, but even so, Koreans had sold out every ticket.

There was one reason.

Win or lose, they were there to cheer for Team Korea.

Inside that Jamsil Sports Complex.

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

“Waaaaaaaaaaaa!”

“Waaaaaaaaa!”

The thunderous roar paralyzed the world media.

The wave of cheers exploding from one hundred thousand people at once bewildered the world rankers who had left their countries, received heated support, and been moved by it.

No, this doesn’t even compare to ours......?

Even if it had been a stadium in our country, could cheers like this have come out?

It’s hot. Korea was an incredibly hot-blooded country. Maybe we underestimated them too much.

The image of world rankers flinching as they looked at Jamsil Sports Complex was reported by foreign media.

And the Korean representatives, who had been shrinking back, could see it directly.

Famous high-rankers from around the world......

They’re avoiding his eyes......?

Am I really seeing this right now?

Hyunsoo was tall and had a good build.

Also, the scar that still remained faintly visible could be seen flashing at times.

Physically, Hyunsoo looked much cooler and larger in person.

Also, even if they were foreigners, it was only natural for them to shrink back before an unparalleled being who stood 184 centimeters tall, had a solid build, and even carried the title of king.

The greatest reason was the cheering that continued to echo endlessly throughout the stadium.

The Korean representatives who saw him thought back on what Hyunsoo had said the moment he got out of the black car.

Everyone, straighten your shoulders.

At those words, the Korean representatives straightened the shoulders they had been hunching and walked.

We are Korea’s representatives.

We can’t shrink back here.

Let’s be proud.

Only then did the Korean commentators, who had been drowned out by foreign media and unable to raise their voices, begin talking excitedly.

—Jamsil Sports Complex, Seoul World Cup Stadium, Busan Asiad Stadium, Incheon Olympic Main Stadium, Daejeon World Cup Stadium, Gwanghwamun Square.

—Citizens gathered all across our country are shouting cheers for Captain Hyunsoo, who appeared on the screen, and the Korean representatives walking proudly behind him.

—That scorching heat is spreading across the entire world!

—It will not be an easy match. But they will fight with everything they have, without a single regret!

The image of Team Korea entering Jamsil Stadium was broadcast.

Those who had sold out the stadium shouted with all their might.

“Young Hyunsoo! You can do this! Long live our young Hyunsoo!”

“Ah, Mom, come on......!”

Mrs. Kim Hyesuk held the Taegeukgi in her hands and cheered with everything she had.

“You’re bothering the people behind us......”

While her son was trying to stop her, behind them, Hyunsoo’s attending physician Kim Jinseop shouted even louder.

“Hyunsoo, you can do this!”

Also, in the VVIP seats.

Though he appeared calm, Chairman Lee Taesung clenched his fist tightly.

Amid the cheers, all the players entered, and the faces of Team Korea’s players went pale.

They were afraid because they knew that somewhere here, there were people cheering for them.

“What if we disappoint them?”

“So many people are cheering for us.”

“I’m scared. I’m so scared. Can we even win a single medal?”

“......My mother raised me alone at home. Ever since I was young, I was bad at studying, and I just played games in my room like a shut-in. But when my mother heard I had been selected for the national team, she was so happy she could have jumped. I’d never seen her look that happy before. What if I disappoint her?”

Today.

Each of them had become a member of the national team with Hyunsoo here for their own reasons.

And they were facing a giant fear, along with dozens of reasons they could only lose.

“There is a saying I like.”

At that moment, Captain Hyunsoo looked around at them.

Before they participated, all of them had heard words like this from people who were not precious to them, but merely liked tearing them down.

“......Are you planning to embarrass Korea? You may have become a ranker, but aren’t you being a little too full of yourself?”

“Whew. Big dreams. That’s why you still live as a game addict. Poor bastard.”

“Don’t you feel sorry for your mother? You’re going to go to a world competition with a game? Now I’ve really heard everything!”

Captain Hyunsoo looked at them and said,

“Legends originally begin this way.”

Today.

New Legends would be born.