Genius Blacksmith's Game

[Hwan: How about meeting in Elaim Territory?]

[Hyunsoo: Got it. I’ll be there soon.]

Hyunsoo smiled bitterly.

He could guess why Hwan had deliberately called him to Elaim Territory.

Because I’ve gotten to know so many people there as an ally until now.

Starting with the muscular old man Bengers, all the way to the executives.

That also included the guild members from Hwarang Guild’s earliest days.

As far as Hyunsoo knew, Hwarang Guild had been Korea’s first guild.

Back then, meeting the conditions to become a guild master probably wasn’t easy either.

Like that, Hwan had created a guild called Hwarang faster than anyone else and built it up to this point.

And.

It was almost like the bright dawn of guilds.

Hwarang Guild had started so small, only to become Korea’s greatest guild before anyone knew it.

That was why.

Although it had fallen once, Hyunsoo thought this incident would likely allow Hwarang to greatly expand its power.

[Warping to Elaim Territory.]

After visiting Elaim Territory for the first time in a while, Hyunsoo’s eyes widened.

Elaim Territory was packed with a crowd so dense there was no room to step.

“Please don’t push.”

“Unbelievable. There are so many people in Elaim Territory!”

“Nihonjin desu ka?”

“I’m Korean......?”

There were all kinds of races.

Starting with Americans, Hyunsoo could see Black people, Chinese people, Russians, Vietnamese people, Thai people, and others.

It was the aftermath of the World Championship.

Of course,

no matter how many users there were from different countries, befitting a guild called Hwarang, Koreans made up nearly 80 percent of them.

Is this really the Elaim I knew?

Elaim had once been an excellent territory, but Hyunsoo knew that many people had left it recently.

Seeing it this crowded now, he could not help but be shocked.

The articles saying visitors to Elaim Territory had skyrocketed were true.

“Lord Hyunsoo.”

Hyunsoo and Hwan met.

“What in the world is going on...... here?”

Nell had instructed Hyunsoo, as a king, to speak casually to Hwan, the master of an allied guild.

That was because the nation of Hyun was far larger.

Thankfully, Hwan had accepted it.

But since Hwan was now someone who would be leaving, Hyunsoo decided to speak politely again.

Hwan smiled bitterly.

“Visitors have increased fifty-sixfold. Immigrants have increased by about 70,000, and guild membership applications are approaching 300,000.”

“......Huh? It’s that much?”

Hyunsoo found it hard to grasp how that was possible.

“......The moment I completed one million quick draws, I obtained a Legendary skill called Quick-Draw Teacher.”

“What does that do?”

“It’s a skill that allows me to teach quick-draw technique to users or NPCs and issue quests. When they complete them, it helps increase the Cutting Power and attack speed of their quick-draw technique. And it even applies to ‘all classes included.’”

“Excuse me......?”

Hyunsoo fell into shock.

In other words, whether someone was a mage, a production class, or a user with any other class,

if that person learned from Hwan and completed the relevant quest, they could unleash excellent quick draws. It was an absurdly overpowered skill.

And for mages or production classes who had difficulty protecting themselves, it would allow them to strike at an enemy’s blind spot.

“Of course, even if mages or production class users learn quick draw, all they’ll really be able to do is buy time to escape.”

Even that was incredible.

And there was another reason Hyunsoo valued it highly.

“Then does that mean the knights and soldiers you teach and issue quests to will all perform quick-draw techniques far superior to ordinary quick draw?”

“That’s right. They’ll cut down enemies with quick draws at least 15 percent and up to 40 percent stronger than normal.”

“.......”

For an army of 100,000 or 1,000,000 soldiers and knights to perform quick-draw techniques superior to those of other kingdoms or empires was an absurd advantage.

“Don’t tell me those quests are completed step by step?”

“Yes.”

The even more interesting fact was that this could perhaps spread the excellence of quick-draw technique among soldiers and knights, and from that, second and third Hwans might be produced.

A scene flashed through Hyunsoo’s mind.

His allied troops facing tens of thousands of enemies,

then drawing their swords against them all at once.

That gives me chills.......

Hyunsoo smiled.

“Congratulations, Hwan.”

Hyunsoo sincerely congratulated Hwarang on its growth.

Is this where we start saying goodbye?

But contrary to what he thought, Hwan continued showing off Elaim Territory to Hyunsoo.

“Sleep Grass. Sleep Grass, which grows only in Elaim Territory, has the effect of putting anyone who smells its fragrance into a peaceful sleep. It may sell for a high price to NPCs or nobles suffering from insomnia, so we’re looking for distribution routes.”

“Moonlight Restaurant. It looks ordinary, but it was opened by a knight who once commanded battlefields and retired. If enemies invade this place, they’ll be caught off guard and killed. However, the food tastes filthy awful.”

“This is our training camp. Our soldiers and knights have all basically learned quick-draw technique, and I can guarantee that the 1st Knight Order can at least match most knight orders on the Asgan Continent.”

This time, Hwan led him toward the fortress.

“Finally, please take a look at our fortress as well.”

The longer Hyunsoo listened as Hwan kept guiding him around, the sadder he became.

This Elaim might be aimed at me now......?

Also, ever since he had become allies with Hwarang Guild, Hyunsoo had heard about the fortress Hwarang Guild was building.

We’re going to build Korea’s greatest fortress.

Bark, who had gone to help, had once said this as well.

The fortress was small, but it was as solid as an iron fortress, and it was far too perfect and efficient for stopping enemies.

Bark was not the kind of person to carelessly heap praise on any structure.

And yet he had spared no praise for it.

They started building it not long after they obtained Elaim Territory, didn’t they?

When Hwarang first obtained Elaim Territory, it had been a small minor territory.

But they had grown it like this into a great territory, and as far as Hyunsoo knew, almost two years had passed.

In other words, this fortress was Hwarang’s “everything.”

Walking beside Hwan, Hyunsoo saw the fortress beginning to appear in the distance.

The fortress was enormous.

It was large enough to hold all of Hwarang’s military forces.

And the fortress, built along the mountain, stretched out in a long line.

The moment he stood nearby, a surprising notification rang out.

[You have seen the Sky Fortress. Versa.]

[It is Legendary grade.]

[You acquire 100 Fame.]

[You acquire 50 Charisma.]

[Sky Fortress Versa is a Legendary fortress capable of protecting any place desired.]

[Its Durability is 3 times higher than an ordinary castle wall.]

[Behind one layer of wall, another layer of castle wall exists.]

[It is the greatest fortress on the Asgan Continent.]

Hyunsoo was impressed.

Although he was a blacksmith, he could tell.

It wasn’t built with ordinary stone or materials.

THUMP, THUMP—

When he tapped it, it felt light.

And yet it was solid.

It seemed to be a construction material obtainable only in Ares.

“Sky Stone. It weighs only one-fifth as much as ordinary stone, but it’s far sturdier than ordinary stone.”

As Hyunsoo admired it, he instinctively realized one thing.

“Normally, it wouldn’t matter how light a fortress was...... but this fortress. Does it really fly?”

Like the fortresses they had imagined and dreamed of.

“That’s right. This fortress can protect anywhere and exist anywhere.”

“.......”

Hyunsoo was amazed by the hidden card Hwan had been keeping.

Even if Hwarang had failed to distinguish itself in Mob Hunting,

it would have soared through this Sky Fortress it had kept hidden.

A fortress superior to any other fortress, and one that could even fly.

It was something anyone in the world would covet.

Furthermore.

There aren’t many nations with Legendary fortresses.

The Parion Empire had three.

Aside from that, it was known that about six nations around the world possessed them.

For a mere great territory to possess one was an extremely unusual thing.

Something they prepared from the beginning is finally blooming now.

Hyunsoo was amazed by the strength of Hwan and Hwarang Guild, and he nearly found himself overwhelmed with envy.

At that moment,

Hwan looked at Hyunsoo and said,

“Congratulations, Lord Hyunsoo.”

“Yes?”

“On becoming the owner of the Sky Fortress, and of Hwarang.”

[Hwarang Guild requests to enter under the nation of Hyun.]

Hyunsoo looked shocked at the notification that rang out.

What......?

And above the Sky Fortress, old Bengers and the seven executives could be seen.

“We decided unanimously to stand with the nation of Hyun.”

However, Hyunsoo hesitated.

Perhaps.

Is this because they think I went all in with my entire fortune?

It had only been 30,000 won.

And it had simply been to cheer him on with that.

Maybe these people.

Is this happening because they mistakenly think I bet several billion won?

At Hyunsoo’s troubled expression, Hwan let out a laugh.

“We know the amount you went all in with wasn’t much, Lord Hyunsoo.”

“How?”

“......The rumor has already spread throughout the nation of Hyun that you don’t have any money, Lord Hyunsoo......?”

Because of that, Hyunsoo became even more puzzled and embarrassed.

He could not understand.

Even so, why was Hwan trying to come to the nation of Hyun?

Soon, Hwan looked at him with pride and said,

“Because you are my god.”

“.......”

The phrase that had begun as a joke—

“Hyunsoo is a god”—

had started in an impossible situation where “the sword and its sheath were one.”

That day.

When Elaim Territory was invaded, if that sheath had not existed, the current Elaim would not exist either.

[You feel tremendous faith toward you.]

And through Hwan’s gaze,

through Bengers, who looked so delighted he seemed ready to dance Zero Two,

and through the executives standing on one side of the fortress with expressions that swore they would protect the nation of Hyun,

Hyunsoo realized it.

No matter what enemy invaded,

even if that enemy was the Parion Empire and its alliance,

“From now on, I will call you Your Majesty.”

the greatest quick-draw swordsman on the entire continent and Hwarang would protect him.

SHAAAAAAA—

On this day, as Hwan faced the blowing wind and his chest burned hot,

“......That’s too cringey, so just call me Lord Hyunsoo. And Zero Two is banned from now on too.”

“.......”

Together with Hwan, who looked disappointed for some reason, and Bengers, who lowered his head with an oddly dejected expression,

[Hwarang Guild enters under the nation of Hyun.]

[All Hwarang Guild members and NPCs now belong to the nation of Hyun.]

[The soldiers and knights of the nation of Hyun learn excellent quick-draw technique.]

[The nation of Hyun acquires the sky city Versa.]

[The nation of Hyun’s military strength and defensive power greatly increase.]

[National power increases by 7%.]

the nation of Hyun gained the greatest shield.

Furthermore, Hwarang was currently receiving love calls from countless places around the world.

But unlike them, Hyunsoo, who really had just been standing still, heard a notification.

[The title One Revered Just for Breathing shines brightly.]

Just as its name implied, Hyunsoo had truly been doing nothing but breathing.

Also, this title had a reward that occurred when he was respected just for breathing.

[You acquire 201 Charisma.]

Like this, if he was respected even while standing still, it gave him the privilege of 201 Charisma.

Is this all thanks to this title?

Hyunsoo thought that, because of the title he had obtained before, he really was respected just for breathing.

However.

Meanwhile.

“There’s no way that’s true.”

In his office, Sejin opened the title’s details and denied Hyunsoo’s thought with a smile.

(One Revered Just for Breathing.)

Unique Title.

Grade: S

Special Abilities:

· When you are revered just for breathing, you acquire Charisma stat according to the target’s respect and loyalty toward you.

· When you are revered just for breathing by a more special and extraordinary being, the title can be upgraded.

Considering the nature of Ares, would it really be possible to be respected and receive rewards just for breathing?

Hyunsoo had misunderstood it because of the name of the title he had obtained before.

It was not the truth.

One Revered Just for Breathing.

The name made it sound as if he would be respected even if he did nothing.

However, if that were truly the case, there should not be a reward called Charisma stat.

In other words.

It’s a trick.

It looked like he was respected just for breathing, but in reality, it was something returned to him because of what the user had built up.

When Hyunsoo first obtained this title,

the reason Legendary Herbalist Elder Andallo and the people of the nation that had served the Overlord came to respect Hyunsoo was because they had witnessed the nation of Hyun that he had achieved.

This time was the same.

It was the power Hyunsoo had built up in the past returning to him.

In other words,

it was the power of user Hyunsoo.