Genius Blacksmith’s Game - Chapter 119
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Genius Blacksmith’s Game
The Genius Blacksmith’s Game
Small World Tree (2)
Small World Tree (2)
After Prak left.
Beep—
A letter arrived from Barad.
When he unfolded the letter, it contained the negotiation details and Barad’s proposal.
‘Send Gale Corps members as swordsmanship instructors to the Praham Kingdom?’
It wasn’t a bad idea.
Moreover, the main protagonist of this negotiation was literally Hyeon-su.
Hyeon-su sent a reply saying he would accept everything.
Ding!
[Kingdom Quest: Negotiator]
Grade: A
Restriction: One proposed by the king
Reward: 10% negotiation progress and 5% kingdom contribution.
Failure Penalty: Decreased intimacy with Barad.
Description: As a negotiator, you can increase negotiation progress by accomplishing various tasks during the 10 days you stay in the Praham Kingdom. Improving relations between the Praham Kingdom and Goyard Kingdom, as well as how well the Gale Corps members taught swordsmanship, will also have an impact.
The quest revealed many things.
First, the period that Hyeon-su, a baron of Goyard, could stay in the Praham Kingdom was 10 days.
And the negotiation progress to be raised through this negotiation.
‘10% negotiation progress and 5% contribution.’
Hyeon-su’s current kingdom contribution was 29%.
When it reached 100%, he could obtain the next title without much difficulty.
Suddenly, Hyeon-su thought of the 49 soldiers who said they would wait in the Araham territory.
Originally, soldiers should go find their master after completing a certain amount of training.
Yet these were the ones who said they would wait.
When he got the next title, Hyeon-su could bring them along.
‘Wait just a little longer.’
Then.
Creak
The door opened and Ben entered the garden.
Hyeon-su bowed slightly.
Changcheon Ben was someone with many rumors of being an eccentric king.
And Hyeon-su also knew.
‘The notification that I won Ben’s heart.’
That was a slightly different concept from intimacy.
Through Barad’s letter, Hyeon-su learned that they had originally intended to send him.
But he also knew that Ben wouldn’t easily permit it.
In fact, Ben’s heart was merely an entry ticket to the Praham Kingdom.
‘His Majesty’s letter mentioned achieving results that would satisfy and please Ben.’
But this was also questionable.
Whether he could win that old man’s heart.
Soon Ben, who had placed his hand on the small world tree, got to the point.
“The small world tree is a tree that was in the center of the ocean.”
The old man lost in memories wore a subtle smile.
“At the mere age of 17. When I became king of this Praham Kingdom, I heard a story that there was the most beautiful tree in the world in the ocean. I was too young and struggling, so I needed even small stories and achievements, so I went out to sea.”
Ben looked at the withering small world tree with affectionate eyes.
“Everyone said I was crazy, believing that there was the most beautiful tree in the middle of the ocean, in the most dangerous part of the sea at that. But after days and nights of sailing, I found this beautiful small world tree standing tall in the middle of the ocean. That day I brought the small world tree here. And from then until now, we’ve been spending time together. The fellow has grown old with me.”
From his voice, one could tell that the world tree was extremely precious to Ben.
“At first, I only brought the small world tree and planted it here, but just by the small world tree taking root, other small trees, grass, and flower petals grew around it. But as time passed, the small world tree instead made those things wither and shrivel, and even this fellow ended up like this.”
The small world tree that used to create nature now made everything around it wither.
‘Could this be what might cause disaster?’
When he first saw the small world tree, there was such a notification.
[A disaster might occur due to the small world tree.]
[A disaster might occur due to the small world tree.]
“I struggled to revive this small world tree and found one method.”
“What would that be?”
“The small world tree is one that was in the ocean, the complete opposite of what forests should be, which is on land.”
Ben took out a water bottle he had brought and sprinkled it on the small world tree.
Hiss—
Then the area where water was poured quickly regenerated before withering again.
“Literally, it needs water. Not just sprinkling water on this small world tree like watering it, but a very large amount of water.”
It needed water.
In fact, it was a problem that could be thought of simply.
Couldn’t one just create water using magic and sprinkle it?
But Ben resolved this curiosity.
“Magic is not a power that manifests permanently. Also, perhaps because the small world tree is an artifact material, it reacts more strongly to water made from artifacts.”
Ben began the most important words.
“I would like you to craft an artifact that can prevent this small world tree from withering for at least a few more years. In fact, I don’t expect it to completely regain its original form.”
With that, Ben walked toward the door again.
“Soon nobles and blacksmiths will come rushing into the garden. You have the power to craft weapons quickly, don’t you.”
He meant emergency crafting.
“Many are suspicious of entrusting such an important task to a negotiator from another kingdom. You must prove yourself to them and to me.”
Finally, Ben left.
After he left, Hyeon-su knew he was trying to test him.
‘An artifact that can spout large amounts of water…’
Hyeon-su thought of a single sword.
‘Water spouting from that single sword…’
Like a faucet, gushing.
‘I think I know why they haven’t been able to revive it until now.’
A garden the size of two playgrounds combined.
Reviving that small world tree with an artifact that produces water like a faucet in this space?
That too would be impossible.
‘What about drenching it with a large amount of water at once?’
No, that was also impossible.
When Ben had just sprinkled water, the tree that seemed to come back to life quickly withered.
Then.
[A small fire will soon begin.]
At the sudden notification, Hyeon-su looked at the small World Tree with a bewildered expression.
‘What?’
Only then could Hyeon-su understand.
The notification that a calamity might occur.
And the small World Tree that had withered everything.
From the beginning, it wasn’t a calamity that had happened.
That hwa was a different fire hwa .
[The small fire begins to blaze.]
Fire began to blaze from the base of the World Tree.
Whoooooosh-
[If you fail to extinguish the small fire within 3 minutes, the small World Tree will be completely destroyed.]
‘If the small World Tree is completely destroyed, the negotiation itself becomes meaningless.’
As Hyeon-su looked at the hotly blazing fire, something suddenly came to mind.
‘If sprinkling water won’t work, and creating water won’t work either, then if I try that method…’
At that moment.
Kwaaaaang-
A massive explosion from the small World Tree struck Hyeon-su.
Blown backward, Hyeon-su heard an absurd notification.
[HP drops below 56%.]
[It’s not easy to endure severe burns.]
[You are afflicted with the status ailment dizziness.]
***
Ben, who had come outside.
He spoke with the kingdom’s greatest blacksmith and the kingdom’s nobles.
First, the nobles.
“Your Majesty, the people are anxious. Though it’s presumptuous, some people are saying that Your Majesty might have dementia.”
There was something Ben hadn’t mentioned.
It was the secret of the small World Tree.
The small World Tree.
According to legend, if you could completely revive the small World Tree, you could obtain fruit that would provide abundant crops.
“Don’t we know that someday that tree will create a great calamity?”
Yes, the small World Tree had been consistently warning them.
“The people are saying we should abandon that small World Tree.”
The blacksmiths said similar things.
“Your Majesty, an artifact that can revive the small World Tree cannot possibly exist.”
There had been times when hundreds of blacksmiths worked together to create an artifact that would infuse water.
But even then, it had always failed.
That’s why Ben laughed hollowly.
“Didn’t we originally decide to give that negotiator an impossible task?”
“…Oh?”
“Hooh?”
Now that they heard it, that was true.
They had given him a task no one could accomplish.
Of course, Ben had held a small hope of reviving the small World Tree.
Then.
Kwaaaaang-
Everyone was startled by the thunderous sound that shook the entire castle.
Ben was the first to react.
He hurriedly threw open the garden door.
Whoooooosh-
Tremendous flames burst out from inside and then died down as Ben entered.
“Ahh…”
Ben saw the blazing small World Tree.
His retainers had kept saying:
‘Your Majesty, we must abandon the small World Tree.’
‘Your Majesty, we must abandon the small World Tree.’
‘The people say you’ve gone mad! Public sentiment is more chaotic than when Your Majesty went to find the World Tree in the past.’
‘The people say you’ve gone mad! Public sentiment is more chaotic than when Your Majesty went to find the World Tree in the past.’
The reason he couldn’t abandon the small World Tree. Because even without him, that small World Tree could remain in this place.
Ben had aged together with the World Tree.
He would someday be forgotten, but he couldn’t abandon it thinking that the small World Tree obtained by a once-young old man would remain here.
To put it more bluntly.
The aged old man would eventually be abandoned, so he couldn’t abandon that small World Tree.
‘It was my greed.’
Ben finally had to admit it.
How foolish it had been to just leave it there knowing that a calamity might occur.
And the retainers and blacksmiths who entered together.
“…Perhaps it’s better this way.”
Those words spoken without knowing the king’s heart.
Whoooooosh-
The flames grew fiercer.
Ben couldn’t bring himself to step away. And having a strong body, he could endure this much.
But the retainers and blacksmiths stepped back at the sight of the roughly spreading flames.
“Your Majesty, you must take shelter.”
“H-hurry and go!”
“…”
Yes, Ben envied Barad.
If they had been Barad’s retainers, they wouldn’t have just spoken but would have blocked his path first.
In fact, Ben didn’t have someone like Bell who stayed by his side like Barad did.
Nor did he receive the love of all the people like Barad, and he had almost no trustworthy loyal subjects.
It was because of his particularly eccentric personality.
Whoooooooosh-!
Kuuuuuung
The flames grew fiercer and dominated the entire space.
[The small World Tree will be completely destroyed in 30 seconds.]
The small World Tree burning completely black. Ben turned his body.
‘Farewell…’
Then, beyond the massive flames.
A figure can be seen vigorously shaking his head as he stands up.
Blacksmith Hyeon.
He began walking through the flames toward the inside, and an ore and tree branch shot up above his head.
Ben took him in with his eyes.
This is strange.
The nobles and blacksmiths who told them to trust only themselves begin to flee.
“H-hot!”
“Q-quickly run awaaay!”
“Call the soldiers!”
On the contrary, the enemy nation’s retainer walked toward him.
Hyeon, who had already passed by him. When he reached his hand toward the sky, the spear he made descended above his hand.
Chaak-
He gripped the spear with both hands.
Pueoeoeo….
He thrust that spear with all his might amidst the flames spreading with the sound of explosion.
Kwajak-!
At that moment.
Ben wore a puzzled expression.
The explosion just now was about to swallow both Hyeon and himself.
But now it felt like his breath was momentarily blocked, so he unconsciously grabbed his throat before lowering his hand.
He silently continued to just look around.
Where is this place?
He tries moving his hand.
Chwaaaaaa-
His hand moves slowly due to the water filling the space.
Soon his thoughts return at Hyeon’s voice.
“If sprinkling water won’t work, and creating water with a sword won’t work either….”
Ben looked at Hyeon, who was smiling slightly with wavering eyes.
“Wouldn’t it work to put a small World Tree in the ocean?”
He finally realizes. The place where he is.
Yes, the deep sea (Heart Ocean).
Ben was now inside the ocean.
And a notification came to Hyeon-su.
[You have stopped the destruction of the small World Tree.]
To Hyeon-su, quite frequently.
[Negotiation increases by 4%.]
[Negotiation increases by 6%.]
These notifications were coming.
Ben asked while looking at the World Tree whose flames had been extinguished in that ocean.
“…You could have died, so why didn’t you run away.”
Hyeon-su was honest.
“Anyway, it’s not actual death for me, and I judged that gaining His Majesty Ben’s heart was more valuable, also….”
Ben came to understand why Barad cherished him.
“It’s a tree that His Majesty cherishes, isn’t it.”
And the end of the notification Hyeon-su heard was like this.
[Intimacy with Ben increases.]
[You achieve 39% negotiation.]
And the old man smiled invisibly.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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