Genius Blacksmith’s Game - Chapter 177

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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
Twin Dragon Blade (2)
“Tsk tsk, what on earth is His Majesty thinking?”
In the banquet hall, Marquis Constinu gazed with displeasure at those who had come from Balas Territory.
Marquis Constinu was known as one of the three stars of the Goyad Kingdom.
He too held no fondness for Hyeon, merely an Outsider.
“Prime Minister Nel of Balas Territory offers her respects to Marquis Constinu.”
Upon seeing the woman called Nel, Constinu simply turned his head away.
A complete dismissal.
No one in this banquet hall possessed influence as formidable as his.
Because of this, the others present similarly disregarded the members of Gwangmyeong Guild.
Constinu observed the kingdom’s talented individuals filling the banquet hall.
The nobles and talents who had ascended from all corners of the realm were destined to lead the Goyad Kingdom forward.
Before long, nobles from various regions had gathered around him.
“The kingdom’s star! It is an honor to meet you, Marquis Constinu!”
“Ho, a child of the Brak family? I hear you’ve become a knight this time?”
“Yes, through diligent effort, I shall become a knight who protects Marquis Constinu!”
“Marquis, how do you do!”
“Heh heh, with so many coming to greet me, my joy knows no bounds.”
Constinu raised his cup in delight.
Those in the banquet hall began to feel the effects of drink, one by one.
“You’re drinking quite heavily tonight.”
“When else would I drink on such a joyous occasion?”
Constinu drained another cup before his expression turned puzzled.
The exterior of Baldrom Fortress evoked images of a colosseum.
It was constructed around the walls of an enormous circular fortress, with an open expanse at its center.
Black currents of energy rippled across the open sky above.
“Hm?”
Those black currents coalesced and descended toward Constinu.
Boom boom boom boom boom—!
Crack—
“…?”
Constinu’s expression turned bewildered.
The nobles who had been laughing and chattering with him mere moments ago were torn to shreds, their blood spraying across the hall.
The intoxication evaporated in an instant.
“Ugh, aaaahhh!”
“Kyaaaa!”
Constinu could see a young woman and man who had descended to the ground.
The notoriety of the woman with long crimson hair was well known.
A creature of tremendous power who worshipped the god of malice.
People called her the First Calamity.
[The First Calamity Helenya has appeared!]
[The First Calamity Helenya Lv.436]
The man standing beside her. He wielded an enormous greatsword whose blade rippled like water.
Standing at a towering height of over 2 meters and 20 centimeters.
In close combat, none of the five Calamities could match him.
[The Second Calamity Rogal has appeared!]
[The Second Calamity Rogal Lv.429]
Constinu stumbled backward.
[Abnormal status—Calamity is activated.]
[A monstrous slaughter instinct paralyzes all intellect.]
[Fear and dread seize everything.]
“Ugghhh….”
“Ughhhh….”
Constinu looked around. Those who had not trained in martial arts.
Beings with infinitely fragile bodies were collapsing, foam flecking their lips.
Constinu too was engulfed in overwhelming terror and dread.
Soon Helenya raised her serpent-headed staff.
Fzzzzzt—!
[The Evil God’s Tome is activated.]
[A massive barrier seizes control of the entire Baldrom Fortress.]
[Entry into Baldrom Fortress is forbidden.]
[Helenya’s level using the Evil God’s Tome is insufficient.]
[Those Level 450 or above cannot enter under any circumstances.]
[Those Level 400 or above may enter with extremely low probability.]
[Those Level 300 or above may enter given sufficient time.]
The Evil God’s Tome.
Power bestowed by the Evil God upon the Calamities.
It resembled the power manifested by the Fifth Calamity Jack.
Helenya struck the ground with her staff.
Crack—!
“Since you killed the Demon Lord, you must pay the price for your sin, mustn’t you?”
The ground where the staff’s tip touched transformed into sand and collapsed downward.
The sinkhole’s dimensions grew progressively larger.
From within it.
Screeeech screeeech screeeech
Screech screech screech
An unidentifiable sound echoed forth.
The faces of those present turned rigid and pale.
From the collapsed earth below, something of indeterminate form—as large as a human arm—rose upward.
‘Antennae?’
They belonged to a massive black insect.
Soon, a colossal creature towering 2.5 meters tall emerged into view.
[Giant Ant Lv.354]
Bursting through the earth, approximately 150 giant ants appeared.
What truly alarmed Constinu was the soldier ants spreading their wings and taking flight.
[Soldier Ant Lv.375]
The soldier ants wielded spears and swords, numbering around twenty.
‘So the First Calamity is connected to Summon magic….’
As Helenya’s staff swung through the air, black energy seeped into the ants’ bodies.
[Giant Ant’s physical defense increased by 30%.]
[Giant Ant’s magical defense increased by 30%.]
Kyaaaaaah-!
One giant ant lunged at a nobleman.
A Knight under his command stepped forward to intercept it.
His valiant blade crashed down upon the giant ant with fierce determination.
Clang-
The Knight’s eyes wavered.
“What, what is this…?”
Not even a scratch marred the giant ant’s carapace.
The Knights averaged Level 320.
With a 30% defense increase, the Level 350+ giant ants’ defenses were beyond what they could overcome.
The ant snapped at the Knight with mandibles on both sides.
Crunch-
The Knight’s armor crumpled like paper, and as the creature clenched its jaws, he was torn in two.
Splurt-
“We’re doomed.”
The Calamity had begun.
“Ahhhhhhh!”
“Protect the nobles!”
“Prime Minister, this way… Gaaaah!”
“Ahhhhhhhhh!”
Constinu’s face drained of all color.
Most of the Knights’ weapons proved useless against the giant ants.
Constinu assessed the situation with the coldest clarity.
‘This is the end of Goyad….’
The end doesn’t require every citizen to perish.
Those gathered here are the talents who will lead the kingdom a decade from now.
If all approximately 600 of them died, Goyad would suffer irreparable damage.
At that moment, following Helenya’s gesture, dozens of giant ants turned their heads toward Constinu.
“Don’t worry, Marquis Constinu!”
The Knights clashed with the ants. Among them were exceptional warriors.
Those called Sword Saints of their territories.
Strong Ones reaching Level 350.
Yet three or four soldier ants clung to each of them.
“Shrieeeek!”
“N-No, this can’t be!”
“Lord Rams fell so easily…!”
The nobles and talented individuals who had stood beside Constinu fled.
Those who had once sworn to protect him with their lives now scattered in panic.
Constinu could see the giant ant baring its sharp fangs drawing dangerously close.
“Shrieeeek!”
Then.
Whoooosh—!
Boom—!
A single arrow sent the massive ant flying twenty meters back.
‘W-What…!?’
Constinu gasped in shock.
The arrow shaft was only half the length of a normal arrow.
The ant struck directly had its thick carapace pierced through, oozing thick green blood as it writhed.
Turning around, I saw figures advancing unlike those fleeing.
Constinu took them in with his eyes.
At the front stood Nel, the woman whose greeting he had ignored.
“We shall protect you. The mages are forming a barrier spell, so you need only hold on a little longer.”
Constinu, having shown his cowardice in this terrifying situation, lashed out spitefully.
“How could the likes of you possibly stop those monsters!”
At that moment, a man struck down a massive soldier ant descending from above.
Crash—
It was the Dragon Knight Risel.
And.
Boom—
Boom—
Boom—
Ian and Hye-ji stood on either side, drawing arrows frantically.
Ian’s arrows lacked precision but disrupted the ants’ formations.
Hye-ji’s arrows lacked destructive power but were devastatingly accurate.
Shrieeeek—
Seven ants sprayed venom simultaneously.
In that instant, Bark appeared and brought his shield crashing down.
Crackle—
The poisons never reached Constinu and froze solid in mid-air.
Constinu gazed upward at the sky.
Tae-hoon struck the empty space six times in rapid succession.
Crack, crack-crack-crack, crack-snap!
He kicked away the soldier ants attempting to devour the nobles mid-air.
Then, launching himself upward once more, he brought his heel down hard on a soldier ant flying above.
Boom-crash-crash-crash!
Beyond the billowing dust, a skilled swordsman emerged.
That single warrior dominated the entire battlefield.
Screech-crack!
Crack-crack-crack-snap!
Crash-boom!
Constinu couldn’t believe what he was witnessing.
The levels he could see didn’t suggest they possessed this much power.
‘What in the world is this…?’
How were those in the 330-350 level range so thoroughly overwhelming similar levels?
Constinu quickly identified the anomaly.
‘Artifacts…?’
They were all wielding items imbued with special power.
That was what made them strong.
In any case.
[A defensive barrier is being formed.]
A barrier completed by dozens of mages divided the allied and enemy forces.
‘…They saved me?’
Constinu, who had mocked them as Outsiders while enjoying the banquet.
The reason for mocking them as Outsiders was suspicion that they would take the kingdom’s protection lightly.
But that wasn’t the case.
Guild Gwangmyeong had built a deep rapport with Constinu.
Yet Constinu knew the truth.
‘We will all die….’
The situation was hopeless.
Meanwhile.
Nel was exchanging whispers with Hyeon-su.
Hyeon-su issued an order.
[Guild Master Hyeon-su: …It seems ready now.]
Nel’s eyes wavered.
She pondered his words for a long moment.
[Nel: Understood. But are you confident about crafting that sword?]
Nel didn’t hear his response.
Helenya swept her fingers with an elegant gesture.
[Guild chat, including whispers, is restricted.]
Thanks to the barrier, Nel had gained a brief window of time to hold out.
She surveyed her surroundings.
Just because distinguished guests had gathered here didn’t mean only NPCs were present.
A small number of Users were also there.
Nel’s heart raced with excitement.
‘Finally.’
Perhaps this was the moment she had been waiting for all along.
Nel moved into action.
*
*
*
AJ Internet Broadcasting Station.
Dozens of monitors displayed the current situation at Baldrom Fortress in real-time.
All the broadcast screens showed feeds from Users who were at Baldrom Fortress.
Streamer Beren.
Currently achieving 700,000 viewers, he was a User with 400,000 subscribers.
His content primarily focused on showcasing the lives of nobility.
He had begun streaming after coincidentally attending the banquet.
“Are there any streamers willing to broadcast directly to us?”
“There aren’t any….”
PD Kim wore a bitter expression.
Individual streamers wouldn’t want to share with the broadcasting station when they could keep all the revenue themselves.
Moreover, public interest was exceptionally high.
700,000 viewers.
460,000 viewers.
390,000 viewers.
These were the viewer counts secured by the Users present at that location.
Then shouts erupted from all directions.
The voices of streamers and experts explaining the current situation.
-Who are they!?
-Mysterious figures have just saved Marquis Constinu in this critical moment.
-Wait, guys…! That’s Risel, right? The Genius Trio? Wait!? Isn’t that the Saint’s child!?
-Guys, what on earth is happening!?
“…!?”
“…!?”
PD Kim and Director Lee were stunned.
“Why are they there?”
“Why are they together?”
High-rankers capable of captivating the entire nation. Their presence together was what shocked people the most.
As a result, the viewership numbers for the broadcasts began to increase even further.
In fact, Risel, Bark, and the Holy Maiden Belia were quite famous figures in Ares.
Moreover, the Genius Trio were faces that nearly everyone recognized.
Then.
*Ring*
‘Huh?’
PD Kim answered the call.
-This is Kim Hye-in. I’m calling to negotiate an exclusive broadcasting contract with AJ Internet Broadcasting Station. I understand that Director Lee Tae-ho has deep connections with broadcasting station officials. Please issue an official notice to suspend all BJ broadcasts.
“An official notice? That’s not a simple matter.”
Us having exclusive broadcasting rights? If they bring up portrait rights violations, it would certainly be possible, but it’s not an easy thing to do.
But it’s not a simple matter.
Director Lee took the phone.
“I’d like to hear your conditions. Present me with a clear reason why we should do such a thing.”
Director Lee was a thorough man.
No matter how much he had once been a public broadcaster director with extensive connections, an official notice was something to be handled carefully.
But then.
“…What?”
Director Lee’s eyes wavered as he heard what Hye-in had to say.
‘We have to do this.’
Director Lee was astonished.
“I’ll issue the official notice right now.”
Director Lee, watching his monitor, marveled.
“Finally?”
*
*
*
[Broadcast ending.]
The viewers were bewildered.
-What?
-Are you joking?
-What’s happening all of a sudden!
The broadcasts of BJs they had been enjoying were suddenly terminated.
-Is this a country!?
-It says forced termination due to portrait rights issues.
Then.
-Hey, AJ Internet Broadcasting Station has exclusive rights!?
-What?
-How did AJ Internet Broadcasting Station pull this off!
-Incredible!
The viewers moved quickly.
The viewers who entered were left with no choice but to be astonished.
-Look at the viewer count climbing.
-Absorbing viewers from failed broadcasters lol
[Current Viewers: 1,101,061.]
-Wow, they’re affiliated with AJ Internet Broadcasting Station.
-Their guild name just appeared!
-What, they were a guild!?
-But why did they keep the guild name hidden until now?
[Guild Gwangmyeong.]
-Guild Gwangmyeong?
-That’s a nice name.
-What does Gwangmyeong even mean lol
Even the experts were shocked.
-This is remarkable! Our country’s top-ranked players have been consolidated into a single guild!
-Who exactly is the master of this guild that they were able to gather such individuals!?
Then, another extraordinary event unfolded.
[Guild Gwangmyeong is changing its name.]
-???
-What, what’s happening? Why are they suddenly changing the guild name….
[Changing to Hyeon’s Blacksmith Shop.]
-…!?
-What, what…!?
-The, the Blacksmith Hyeooooooon!!!
-It, it’s Hyeon’s Blacksmith Shop. Hyeon’s Blacksmith Shop, which had been hidden away, finally reveals itself ahhhhh!!
Shock.
Hyeon’s Blacksmith Shop, veiled in secrecy, had finally spread its wings.
This tremendous shock rippled beyond our country, spreading across the world.
The shock was being proven by a single number.
[Current Viewers: 1,613,013.]

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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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