Genius Blacksmith’s Game - Chapter 143

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Genius Blacksmith’s Game
Hatching (2)
After becoming a Lord, Hyeon-su logged out and immediately fell into sleep.
After sleeping soundly for a day, he stepped into the Capsule.
‘I’m a Lord now.’
Hyeon-su felt a fresh sense of emotion watching the territory residents who showed him respect yesterday.
The man who had started the game to obtain the Ares VVIP Capsule had somehow become the master of ten thousand territory residents.
[Connecting to Ares.]
Hyeon-su advised the territory residents to rest and ordered them to assess the damage.
Then he entered Alhyeon Hall and walked slowly toward the throne.
Seated on the throne, Hyeon-su smiled faintly.
‘Let me see….’
Hyeon-su had received a sword from Ger yesterday before logging out.
The most important moment had arrived.
It was time to confirm what he had obtained yesterday.
Hyeon-su checked the notifications from yesterday.
[You have hunted the Fourth Calamity, Ronso.]
[You acquire 356,862 Experience Points.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up…]
The required experience for leveling up becomes increasingly brutal as the leading digits grow higher.
Users in the 290s level range often require more than two weeks on average to level up.
Yet Hyeon-su had achieved nine level-ups in one fell swoop.
‘A bit disappointing.’
Hyeon-su’s current level was 299, leaving him just one level short of 300.
[You acquire 121,803 Gold.]
[You acquire 9 Blessed Enhancement Stones.]
[You acquire Calamity’s Necklace.]
[You acquire 500 Renown.]
[You acquire 200 Charisma.]
The rewards were excellent.
What pleased me most was the second Calamity Artifact.
(Calamity’s Necklace)
Grade: Legendary
Durability: 3,000/3,000
Defense: 108
Requirement: Level 290 or higher
Special Ability:
·Attack power against Evil increased by 30%.
·Defense against Evil increased by 30%.
·Active Skill Calamity Leap.
·Passive Skill Absolute Dominion.
·Passive Skill Damage X2.
·When equipping additional Calamity Artifacts, all effects increase by 5%.
Description: An Artifact symbolizing the Fourth Calamity, Ronso.
Unlike the Coat of Calamity, which was the first Calamity Artifact, this is a Legendary Artifact.
Moreover, the effect of increasing all effects by 5% when equipping additional Calamity Artifacts was applied.
Of course, what pleased me most was Calamity Leap.
Thanks to this Skill, I could now fly through the sky with considerable freedom.
However, I hadn’t received only favorable notifications.
[You have slain two Calamities.]
[You have become hostile to the Calamity Sect.]
[Danger may befall you.]
Truly an unsettling notification. At least the silver lining was that thanks to this Calamity Necklace, my attack and defense power against Evil had increased by 30%.
And there was one more crucial notification I absolutely had to confirm.
I had received such a notification before.
[You approach a special name.]
I was curious about what that name could be.
This time, I learned what it was.
[You have crafted a total of six Legendary Artifacts.]
[You can now challenge the new Top Ten Legends.]
[The Legend of Master Craftsman is written.]
I was utterly astonished.
‘Could I become one of the Continent’s Top Ten Legends like Sword King Barad and Spear Heaven Ben…?’
The notification was clearly stating it.
I could challenge the new Top Ten Legends.
In other words, the notification that the Legend of Master Craftsman was written was merely a one-time notification received because I had fulfilled that condition.
I could now go through the process of becoming one of the Continent’s Top Ten Legends.
And I could even view the conditions for it.
However, I rest when it’s time to rest and work when it’s time to work.
Even though the conditions for becoming one of the Continent’s Top Ten Legends had appeared, I hadn’t checked it yesterday in order to rest with peace of mind.
I checked the corresponding Quest.
[Legendary Quest: Top Ten Legend Master Craftsman]
Grade: SSS
Requirement: One who has crafted six Legends
Reward: Top Ten Legend
Penalty for Failure: Cannot inscribe your name in the Top Ten Legends.
Description: By crafting six Legendary Artifacts, you have gained the qualification to challenge the Continent’s Top Ten Legends. The method to become a Top Ten Legend is simple. Create an Artifact of a new grade.
“What…?”
Hyeon-su’s expression shifted to one of shock.
The method by which he could become one of the Ten Legends of the Continent.
It was none other than crafting an Artifact of a grade that had never appeared in Ares.
‘SSS-grade, then.’
Hyeon-su, receiving such a high-tier Quest for the first time, sensed that this would be no simple crafting endeavor.
Yet it was a challenge worth pursuing.
He could say so with certainty.
‘If a new-grade Artifact were to be born….’
It would be far more valuable than the six legendary Artifacts I had created.
At that moment, Nel entered.
Nel had been appointed as the Prime Minister of Balas Territory.
When I shared this news, Nel was amazed.
“To think a User could challenge becoming one of the Ten Legends of the Continent for the first time—how remarkable. If you become one of the Ten Legends, you will surely grow far stronger than you are now.”
Though the results had yet to manifest, such benefits were only natural.
Then Hyeon-su asked.
“Tell me honestly—what is the current state of Balas Territory?”
Nel had reviewed the financial statements and various aspects of Balas Territory.
Nel spoke with cold precision.
“The population of territory residents is low-grade, the territorial size is low-grade, the military forces are mid-to-low-grade, and so forth—though revenue and net profit remain high.”
In short, Balas Territory lacked far too many things.
Military strength, more residents, and territory expansive enough to accommodate them.
“Why are there so many low-grades?”
By general standards, Hyeon-su’s question was reasonable.
There were certainly many visitors, and both revenue and net profit were substantial.
“First, the terrain surrounding the territory is extremely treacherous, infested with monsters—powerful ones at that. This made territorial expansion impossible. The former Lord Belin paid certain costs to nearby lords, including Baron Ronso, to protect the territory from monsters. Of course, it was semi-coercive, and as a result, substantial taxes were extracted.”
Nel continued the explanation.
“Second, the territory has only recently been established. Residents seeking pleasant lands to inhabit have no reason—nor ability—to migrate to this remote frontier simply because of its renowned Blacksmiths, especially when the territory cannot expand due to monsters. Why would they?”
In other words, I, as Lord, had much work ahead.
‘Securing military forces and residents, and for that, I must first secure more territory.’
It was not simple.
Securing taxes alone could not be called entirely favorable.
A territory must be developed continuously and steadily; otherwise, losses would accumulate.
And soon, a notification reached both Hyeon-su and Prime Minister Nel.
[Damage restoration costs for Balas Territory total 11,000,000 Gold.]
“Ugh….”
Hyeon-su was aghast.
Scarcely had I become Lord when enormous expenditures loomed.
Nel’s expression, meanwhile, was one of expectation.
“This is why all the Guilds continue their ventures.”
She wore a bitter smile.
Territory management was a double-edged sword—done well, it brought immense wealth, but done poorly, one could lose the territory, the money, and even their title.
And Nel harbored one particular concern.
‘Can Hyeon-su and I manage the territory well?’
It was true that Nel was a capable talent.
But that didn’t mean she had actually managed a territory before.
There was a world of difference between having done something and merely knowing how to do it.
That was when it happened.
Knock, knock.
“It’s Belin.”
It was Belin, now the former Lord.
At Hyeon-su’s acknowledgment, Belin entered immediately.
She now showed proper courtesy to Hyeon-su, who held a higher rank than she did.
Moreover, she spoke with entirely unexpected words.
“I wish to compensate all damages and pay an additional 20% on top. Please use this extra amount to honor the hearts of the territory’s people who have lost their families.”
Perhaps for Belin, it was only natural.
After all, it had occurred during her tenure.
Yet the decision to pay an additional 20% carried special meaning.
“It is my final gift to the people of the territory.”
Belin knew she had to leave.
Unfortunately, this continent harbored a peculiar tradition.
The former Lord must depart from that land—such was the tradition.
Belin gazed around Alhyeon Hall for a moment.
In truth, her heart felt heavy.
It was the small territory she and her father had built throughout their lives.
Soon, Belin handed a potion to Hyeon-su.
“This is my gratitude for saving the territory.”
Hyeon-su received the potion and marveled at it.
‘All stats increase by 1?’
According to the description, it was made directly by Lord Belin herself.
Of course, it was noted as her greatest creation.
And just as Belin was about to leave, Hyeon-su spoke.
“I have a request.”
“A request?”
Belin’s expression grew puzzled.
“I would like you to remain in the territory and help me.”
At those words, Belin’s eyes wavered.
Yet she steadied her resolve.
“My Lord, this continent has a tradition—when a new Lord arrives, the former Lord must depart.”
It was a tradition meant to prevent two factions from clashing.
Hyeon-su let out a small laugh.
“I’ll be honest with you.”
Hyeon-su spoke, meeting Belin’s gaze.
“I’m still lacking, and I don’t know how to lead a territory. My people are also still inexperienced and have much to learn. If the former Lord Belin were to remain by our side, I would be truly grateful.”
And Belin understood.
There was genuine desire for her help, but in truth, he was asking her to stay here.
Regarding concerns about tradition, Hyeon-su spoke.
“Besides, I’m an Outsider—do I really need to follow that tradition?”
Yet Belin had another concern.
“If that’s the case, what pretext would I have to remain here?”
To that, Hyeon-su spoke as if he had already considered it.
“The former Lord seems to possess exceptional skill in alchemy.”
Indeed, Belin’s alchemy was extraordinary.
“What if you were to teach it to those who wish to learn alchemy?”
At those words, Belin drew a small smile.
Hyeon-su added.
“It will likely take a long time for them to master it, so Lord Belin will probably need to remain here for life.”
At that, Lord Belin displayed the most radiant smile in the world.
“I will do my best. In advising the Lord and in teaching alchemy alike. Furthermore, I will establish the Alchemy Academy. I will fund all of this from my own resources.”
In this moment, Belin thought once more.
Choosing him as the new Lord was a decision she harbored not a shred of regret about.
Soon, a notification rang out.
[Former Lord Belin remains in Balas Territory.]
[You possess a uniqueness that others have not attempted.]
[You acquire 10 Renown.]
[You acquire 2 Charisma.]
[The Alchemy Academy will soon be established in Balas Territory.]
Nel, watching from the side, observed Hyeon-su and Belin.
‘Indeed, Hyeon-su is quite different….’
Until now, many Guild Masters who became Lords had done one thing: cast out the former Lord.
Fearing what might threaten their position.
Or to solidify their own standing further.
Of course, Belin and they were somewhat different, but Hyeon-su walked his path quietly and steadily.
Look at the results it brought.
‘The Alchemy Academy can now be established for free.’
The revenue it would generate remained unknown.
99% of the NPC Blacksmiths were men.
But through the situation Hyeon-su had orchestrated, the women of the territory would now learn alchemy.
When that happened, idle hands would disappear and the territory would gain the foundation to develop far more rapidly.
And Belin was delighted.
“I will undoubtedly produce exceptional alchemists.”
She, who had established the academy with her own funds, burned with determination.
After she left, Nel silently gave a thumbs up.
Hyeon-su let out a small laugh.
Then.
Crack, crack, crack—
[The wolf egg hatches.]
Hyeon-su’s heart raced.
‘Finally?’
He hurriedly retrieved the wolf egg from his Inventory.
Cracks spread rapidly across the egg’s surface.
What captivated Hyeon-su most about the wolf egg was what form the creature inside would take when born.
Soon, a notification arrived that heightened his anticipation.
[It will be the most special existence.]
The egg shattered, and the creature revealed itself.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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