Genius Blacksmith’s Game - Chapter 213

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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
Territory of Atlas (3)
[Guild Master Hyeon-su delegates the lordship of Balas Territory to you.]
[You have become the Lord of Balas Territory.]
Balas Territory, the Blacksmith’s domain.
Bark was appointed as the new Lord.
After completing the lordship inauguration ceremony without Hyeon-su, Bark surveyed those who wielded considerable influence within Balas Territory.
Former Lord Belin, and Luke, the son of Luxemburg.
Sage Artega and Per, the elder who led the Blacksmiths, among others.
Beyond them, the total military force of Balas Territory had grown to nearly seven hundred soldiers.
“Has Hyeon-su departed?”
A handful of Hyeon’s Forge Guild members still remained.
“Yes, he just left a moment ago. I should have gone with him, but….”
At Risel’s words, Bark offered a bitter smile.
“There’s no helping it.”
Hyeon’s Forge had to manage two territories: Balas Territory and the newly acquired Atlas Territory.
What is one of the essential conditions to become a king?
Vast territory.
I recalled water and a vessel.
If we assumed the territorial population and soldiers were water, and the vessel was too small to hold them all, it would be impossible to contain everything.
Though Bark had said there was no helping it, he could not conceal his bitterness.
Before the lordship inauguration ceremony began, Bark and the guild members bid farewell to Hyeon-su.
Of course, once Hyeon-su and Nel arrived at Atlas Territory first, Atlas would be registered as the guild’s designated return point.
What made him bitter was the number of those who departed for Atlas Territory.
Relocating territorial residents was no simple matter.
They were people who had remained in one place for a long time.
Thus, among the territorial residents, only about forty had agreed to relocate.
And the greatest problem was the military force.
The soldiers who went to Atlas Territory with Hyeon-su numbered only about fifty.
Of course, the Swift Wind Squad was included among them, but it was still a meager number.
“Our Hyeon’s Forge has become far too renowned.”
Depending on one’s perspective, it was either gratifying or not.
The reason Hyeon-su led only minimal forces to Atlas was abundantly clear.
It was because he had to protect Balas Territory in case of unforeseen circumstances.
Hyeon’s Forge had become famous.
It was a name that resonated with both Users and NPCs alike.
Particularly among NPCs, there would surely be those who coveted what he possessed, given that he was the king’s successor.
And among Users, there would certainly be those seeking to gain some advantage.
“What Balas Territory can do is supply excellent weapons and farming tools.”
Thus, they decided to completely separate the two territories.
And while the entire world knew that Hyeon-su had been granted an additional territory, they didn’t know where.
Because of this, the plan was to make Balas Territory a secondary territory while developing Atlas as the primary one.
Bark, who had become the new Lord, stepped outside with his guild members.
He gazed toward the location from which Hyeon-su and the people of the territory had departed.
Though this place was a game, Bark couldn’t help but wonder if he had burdened Hyeon-su with too much.
Moreover, beneath the lofty title of the First Legend, his footsteps toward his new territory seemed far too meager.
‘It’s certain that our Hyeon’s Forge is in a very difficult situation right now.’
At that moment, Bark caught sight of an unexpected figure entering Balas Territory.
Upon seeing this unexpected person, the shadow that had draped across Bark’s face lifted entirely.
‘That’s right—we have this person!’
Bark felt an overwhelming sense of reassurance wash over him.
*
*
*
Hyeon-su had crafted a specialized backpack for Bok-deung-i.
Bok-deung-i slept soundly in the backpack slung across his shoulders as his horse advanced toward Atlas Territory.
Hyeon-su felt a bitter ache watching his meager force of barely fifty soldiers and roughly forty territory residents.
The fortunate part was that Nel had analyzed the route to Atlas and charted a path where monsters wouldn’t appear.
Nel, riding alongside him, spoke to Hyeon-su, whose expression was clouded with worry.
“The advantage of Atlas is that it’s an independent territory.”
“An independent territory?”
“Yes, an independent territory is one that belongs to a nation but remains unaffected by that nation’s influence. Especially Atlas itself carries even greater independence because of the lore that it’s a territory bestowed by the gods.”
“What makes an independent territory advantageous?”
“Expansion is unrestricted.”
“I see…”
“This place is isolated from the actual Goyad Kingdom, and no other territory exists nearby. Whatever we develop becomes our land.”
“But development won’t be easy, will it?”
“That’s true. However, if we do develop it, you might eventually be able to call them your subjects rather than mere territory residents.”
A wry smile crossed Hyeon-su’s face.
Because it was an independent territory, the lord there would be like a king to them.
‘My subjects…’
Territory residents, even if they belonged to that territory, were ultimately bound by the nation.
And Hyeon-su felt it keenly.
“We need strong military power—whether from guild members or NPCs.”
“I agree. But as I mentioned before, it’s not something easily obtained. Still, is there any particular force you’d like to have?”
Hyeon-su thought of Hyeon’s Forge.
Hyeon’s Forge achieved perfect harmony.
Priestess Belia.
Swordsmen Risel and Han-ul.
Archers Ian and Hye-ji.
The fighter Tae-hoon and the tank Bark, among others.
However, there were still gaps to fill.
“Hmm, we’ll definitely need a mage—an exceptional one, ideally. In player-versus-player combat, a skilled mage can crush enemies with devastating area-of-effect spells.”
“I agree. And it seems we’ll need an Assassin as well.”
“An Assassin? Ah, you’re absolutely right.”
An Assassin’s role wasn’t merely to eliminate enemy leaders.
Skilled Assassins moved like shadows, protecting their allies.
“Now that I think about it, we don’t have anyone in our guild who’s proficient with spears, do we? A master spearmaster’s damage output rivals that of skilled swordsmen.”
Nel’s observation prompted Hyeon-su to nod in agreement.
“You’re right. When I think about it, aside from myself and Belia, we have no non-combat support classes in our guild. Recruiting exceptional members from those roles would be invaluable.”
The two laughed like people lost in pleasant fantasies.
Of course, Hyeon’s Forge could recruit such individuals whenever it wished.
The problem was understanding why they would join.
Without knowing what benefits they sought, accepting members indiscriminately would destabilize Hyeon’s Forge, which relied on its tight-knit core.
As the two continued discussing which guild members they wanted to recruit, certain individuals listening in felt a pang of recognition.
The Assassin Kabel.
The mage Jane.
The spearmaster Bang-bae.
And the Territory King Glass.
Thanks to Kabel’s skill, they could all masquerade as NPCs.
Their character information was thus inaccessible, and they appeared as ordinary NPCs.
Additionally, beyond guild chat and party chat, there existed group chat.
[Bang-bae: Do you think they know about us?]
[Jane: Right?^^; How did they pinpoint us exactly…]
They shook their heads.
These were simply the exact job classes Hyeon’s Forge needed.
Then Kabel’s expression shifted to one of surprise.
[Kabel: Could it really be coincidence that exactly the people Hyeon’s Forge needs have gathered like this?]
The Boksammo members’ expressions turned to shock.
They all gazed at Bok-deung-i, sleeping soundly in the backpack with a runny nose, munching away in dreams.
[Kabel: Perhaps this was intentional.]
Bok-deung-i’s mouth worked silently, as if chewing something in the dream.
Only that creature would know the truth.
*
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*
Hyeon’s Forge’s current precarious situation stemmed from its extraordinarily rapid growth.
What took others four years, Hyeon-su had accomplished in just one.
Yet the situation wasn’t entirely dire.
There was the Atlas Territory, awarded to them as the finest guild in the Continental War.
Hyeon-su harbored great expectations for this place.
Since this was a reward bestowed by Pureum Corporation rather than granted by some lord, it was entirely possible that the Atlas Territory itself housed numerous troops and many residents!
‘If things work out that way, I can finally put my worries to rest!’
Nel seemed to share the same thoughts as Hyeon-su.
“We’re almost there. Finally, I can see it—our new home…!”
The horses’ pace naturally quickened.
Both their faces brimmed with peculiar excitement.
But the moment they entered the territory, their smiles vanished.
[You have arrived at Atlas Territory.]
[You have learned about Atlas Territory.]
Ares’s notifications sometimes tailored themselves to the recipient.
[This territory spans five times the size of Balas Territory.]
The scale of Atlas Territory was far greater than anticipated.
[1,031 residents currently inhabit this territory.]
[564 soldiers are stationed here.]
Yet the number of residents was disproportionately small relative to the territory’s size. What was even more disturbing was the troop count.
In typical territories, when there are 90 residents, the military force numbers around 15 to 20.
At the lower end, it might be 10.
But here, approximately 50 soldiers comprised the military force.
“Oh my… Are you the new Lord we’ve heard about?”
“The Lord!”
The residents who spotted Hyeon-su and approached him looked terribly worn.
Unlike those in ordinary territories, these residents bore the appearance of people who had endured prolonged starvation.
And the sounds emanating from near the territory.
Shrieeeeeek
Screeeeeech—
Screeeeeech—!
[Countless monsters inhabit the vicinity of Atlas Territory.]
[Please subjugate the monsters and restore stability to the territory.]
One criterion for a desirable territory is its pleasantness.
This pleasantness refers to how well the surrounding area has been developed and how free it is of monsters.
This place possessed no such pleasantness whatsoever.
Hyeon-su surveyed the entire territory.
Buildings lay in ruins throughout, and there weren’t many of them to begin with.
It was practically a shantytown.
“We heard a new Lord was coming!”
A worn-looking man who seemed to oversee this place led Hyeon-su forward.
Hyeon-su observed the residents gathering around him and the soldiers whose armor and weapons were broken and damaged.
Their eyes burned with tremendous hope.
That hope was the wish that perhaps, thanks to this new Lord, they might finally eat their fill and sleep warmly.
‘This isn’t the territory I envisioned….’
Hyeon-su’s expectations crumbled to dust.
He had imagined a territory with minimal financial stability and minimal business viability.
Yet it fell short even of those bare minimums—possessing only vast land with nothing else.
And the people gathered here.
Seeing them, Hyeon-su found himself speechless.
‘This is my primary territory, and these are my subjects…?’
Hyeon-su felt as though darkness consumed his vision.
And in this place where even the Lord’s Castle lay in ruins, the man leading it raised both arms in a gesture of prostration.
Following him, the territory’s people and soldiers prepared to conduct the investiture ceremony for the new lord.
Those from Boksammo observing this spectacle harbored a single thought.
‘This is the territory the first legend will lead?’
‘This is completely a beggar’s village.’
‘Hyeon’s Forge isn’t off to a smooth start.’
Then.
Kabel’s eyes trembled violently.
A single presence appeared that transcended all of this by an immeasurable distance.
“…Wait, the investiture ceremony cannot proceed without me.”
A clear, crystalline voice rang out.
The bright sound of exquisite armor pieces clashing together echoed forth.
Hyeon-su’s expression, which had been consumed by despair, transformed in an instant.
The Boksammo members witnessed something beyond belief.
A single knight atop a snow-white horse. Following behind, some fifty soldiers clad in magnificent armor entered.
The moment she dismounted and removed her helmet, silver hair cascaded into view.
She tucked her helmet against her right side and knelt on one knee with perfect courtesy.
Following her lead, the shabby territory folk and soldiers—a stark contrast to her appearance—did the same.
Those who had been about to offer crude bows now followed her example.
And the soldiers who had accompanied her knelt powerfully in her wake with magnificent grace.
‘At last….’
Hyeon-su’s breath quickened.
This was the moment he had awaited for so long.
The protagonist of that long-awaited moment spoke.
“From this moment, you are my sun, Lord Hyeon-su.”
[You can now take Bella as your vassal.]
“I swear eternal loyalty.”
Beneath the sky of despair, the most brilliant light sealed a covenant.
At that moment.
Lee Se-jin, watching the monitor in the executive office, wore an intrigued expression.
The reason was that the territory where user Hyeon-su had arrived was a place Pureum Corporation had meticulously planned for a long time.
“At last he has arrived at the growth-type territory, Atlas.”

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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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