Genius Blacksmith’s Game - Chapter 218
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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
Bond Dragon (1)
Hyeon-su’s eyes wavered as he absorbed the secrets of Atlas Territory.
‘Could it be that everything in this once-great territory might awaken anew?’
The notification that reached him reinforced the revelation once more.
[Atlas Territory was the greatest dominion eight hundred years ago.]
[Countless talents and geniuses followed him under the name of The Saint.]
[Yet the Atlas Territory fell in a single day—all perished and crumbled.]
This much Hyeon-su had already heard.
[The Saint used one of the ancient relics, the Seed of Life, to protect them.]
[On the day a true master arrives, Atlas Territory, sunken into the abyss, may awaken once more.]
Karn spoke.
“The newly arrived Lord Hyeon-su, along with the new territory inhabitants and forces, must be recognized. That recognition comes from obtaining the Seeds of Life scattered throughout this territory.”
Hyeon-su understood immediately.
The Seeds of Life.
This was literally a Guild Quest issued across Hyeon’s Blacksmith Shop in its entirety.
Quests to gather these Seeds of Life would emerge throughout Atlas Territory.
“A true master would be a Lord possessing the strength that The Saint of legend—in all his glory—would recognize. You must gather as many Seeds of Life as possible.”
Karn surveyed the territory.
“If you fall short of the threshold, they cannot awaken. Exceed a certain level and they may awaken, though only a fraction might. However, should you become a true Lord….”
Conviction gleamed in Karn’s eyes.
“You may obtain everything The Saint left behind. But such is not immediately possible.”
“Not immediately possible?”
“By gathering the Seeds of Life, you can awaken those who slumber in antiquity, but you cannot awaken them all in a short time. For now, merely meeting the threshold will suffice. You must ensure the Seeds of Life don’t lose their power by meeting that threshold.”
Hyeon-su grasped Karn’s meaning.
An invisible second hand was ticking away.
Hyeon’s Blacksmith Shop had to gather Seeds of Life within that ticking—enough to meet the threshold and prevent the territory’s power from dissipating.
Then, gradually, more Seeds of Life would need to be collected to slowly awaken what slumbered.
“If we gather them in a short time?”
“It won’t be easy.”
Karn’s expression turned bitter.
Hyeon-su had one more question.
“The great Atlas Territory. If it was so magnificent, why did it vanish in a single day?”
It was an extraordinarily important matter.
Karn spoke, his expression sorrowful.
“Because The Saint’s name rose too high. So high that he fell from the eyes of that existence of that era.”
“That existence?”
“Yes. Before he arrived, The Saint sowed Seeds of Life throughout the entire territory to prepare for any contingency. And when that being came, all in that place met their end.”
Hyeon-su’s attention fixed on that entity.
What kind of existence could bring such ruin to a great territory?
“And The Saint barely managed to kill that creature. Though she suffered considerable damage in the process.”
Karn, who had been building suspense, finally spoke of that entity.
“Baladra, the Dragon of Ruin.”
“…!!?”
I couldn’t help but be shocked.
“What, what? Dragons actually exist?”
Of course, they would exist in the current world’s lore as well.
But it was something that hadn’t been revealed yet.
“Eight hundred years ago, several dragons were living in this world.”
And I couldn’t help but focus intently.
Not long ago, I had obtained the Retrieve skill, and I believed I could finally realize the fantasy I had long harbored as a Blacksmith.
That fantasy as a Blacksmith was to craft weapons from the bones and fangs of demons or dragons.
Of course, I believed this would only be possible once I exceeded level 650.
“So that creature called Baladra was ultimately slain and completely annihilated.”
I was reminded once again of just how extraordinary The Saint truly was.
“That’s correct. However, saying it was completely annihilated would be half right and half wrong.”
“Half right and half wrong?”
“It is true that the creature met its end by The Saint’s hand. However, it had already prepared a contingency for its own death—it became undead.”
Undead transformation.
My eyes wavered.
This was something anyone who had played games or read fantasy novels in their childhood would know, regardless of whether they understood Ares’s world lore.
“Don’t tell me it became a Bone Dragon?”
“Precisely.”
I felt a thrill run through me.
‘A Bone Dragon isn’t a true dragon, but it’s an entity that could realize my dream.’
What I needed from a dragon wasn’t its flesh.
Of course, I would have liked scales, but I wouldn’t be able to obtain those.
However, a dragon composed entirely of bone could very well serve as excellent Artifact material.
“Where is that creature now?”
“Right over there.”
The Bone Dragon was closer than I had expected.
Where Karn’s finger pointed.
“When The Saint witnessed the creature’s undead transformation, she exhausted her final strength to seal it within that place. But we fear—we fear when The Saint’s seal will weaken and the creature will break free. We call that place the Dragon’s Tomb.”
[You have learned about the Dungeon: Dragon’s Tomb.]
“Is it strong?”
“Yes. Through undead transformation, it lost half its power, but it rivals any of the 10 Legends of the Continent.”
The 10 Legends of the Continent.
NPCs grow alongside Users.
Barad, who possesses an average level among the Legends, currently exceeds level 480.
‘At my current level, I cannot hunt it.’
Hyeon-su let out a bitter smile.
‘Still, at least I know where it is now.’
I had gained a tremendous amount of intelligence.
The ability to awaken an ancient Territory.
The existence of Dragon’s Tomb.
‘And third, the Dual Class Saint.’
Hyeon-su gazed upon the Legendary Sword of the Saint that I had forged.
This Legendary Sword of the Saint would need to be planted in the ground again and then withdrawn.
And that would prove to be an exceedingly simple task.
‘After all, I never embedded an unremovable function into this newly crafted blade.’
And as Hyeon-su approached the spot where the Legendary Sword of the Saint had been planted alongside Karn, I contemplated the situation.
‘If this truly is Pureum Corporation’s mistake, they’ll certainly take measures to address it—far more sophisticated ones than before.’
Hyeon-su, who had been walking with Karn, came to an abrupt halt.
“Karn, I apologize, but there’s somewhere I need to go.”
“Understood.”
The reason Hyeon-su had paused before planting the Legendary Sword of the Saint.
[Wang Wok: Hello, this is Team Lead Wang Wok from Pureum Corporation.]
A message had arrived.
*
*
*
[Summoning User Hyeon-su to the Operator’s Room.]
Team Lead Wang had received orders from Branch Director Tao to retrieve the Legendary Sword of the Saint by any means necessary.
Those means referred to a compensation package that User Hyeon-su would find acceptable.
The Operator’s Room contained a sofa, and Hyeon-su materialized there, enveloped in light.
“Hello.”
“Hello.”
They exchanged brief greetings, and Hyeon-su’s expression grew puzzled.
“…You look incredibly exhausted, if I may say so?”
“Ah, no, not at all. Ha ha.”
Team Lead Wang forced a bitter smile. Since this was virtual reality, his appearance must have differed from his usual self, and it seemed to show.
In any case, both men settled onto the sofa, and Team Lead Wang proceeded to the main matter.
“So this Legendary Sword of the Saint had a bug applied to it? And you elevated it to a legend beyond legends, bringing it close to a glitch instead. How could such a thing….”
Hyeon-su was aware of the situation but feigned ignorance.
Team Lead Wang spoke.
“Unfortunately, it appears we must retrieve the Legendary Sword of the Saint. Or rather, restore it to its original state would be the more accurate description.”
Team Lead Wang did not miss the distortion in Hyeon-su’s expression.
“Therefore, we have prepared a compensation package for User Hyeon-su.”
Team Lead Wang spoke in a measured tone.
“The compensation will include a 3-point increase to all your stats, and we will grant you 100,000 Gold.”
I find the compensation package to be more generous than I initially expected.
100,000 Gold—equivalent to 100 million won in Korean currency.
‘All stats increased by 3?’
I possess roughly eight different stats.
Beyond the four fundamental stats, there’s Will, Charisma, Dexterity, and Holy Power.
If all of these increase by 3, that means I’d accumulate dozens of stat points in a single transaction.
Yet this revelation made something abundantly clear to me.
‘This is a far more serious problem than I anticipated.’
And I spoke with unwavering resolve.
“I’m afraid I cannot accept this proposal.”
Team Lead Wang responded with composure.
“As you’re aware, these are favorable terms.”
I redirected the conversation to a different point.
“Certainly, the terms are favorable, but Team Lead, what you’re essentially asking is to confiscate a single Sword that was forged through a User’s effort and skill.”
Team Lead Wang listened in silence.
“Even excluding The Saint’s Blessing from the equation, you acknowledge that this Sword currently ranks at a tier above Legendary Grade, do you not?”
“…I acknowledge it.”
Team Lead Wang had marveled at The Saint’s Sword, which I had transformed into a Legendary Sword.
“Ordinary Users will never craft a tier above Legendary in their entire lives, and even I find it difficult to create such a weapon. Furthermore, this Sword’s value exceeds 1 billion won in Korean currency—even excluding The Saint’s Blessing.”
Team Lead Wang conceded to every point.
“Tell me what you desire.”
I felt the board shifting in my favor—the scenario I had orchestrated from the beginning was materializing.
I had used Asthenium knowing full well that The Saint’s Sword was created by accident and would be retrieved.
“First, return double the amount of Asthenium I used as materials.”
“I can acknowledge the original quantity. But double that amount…”
Asthenium was an Ore difficult to obtain in the first place.
I had acquired it by progressing through the Blacksmith God’s Quest.
Yet Team Lead Wang relented.
The Asthenium he originally possessed, and the achievements I had built.
“Very well.”
“Second.”
“There’s more?”
Team Lead Wang realized something.
‘This bastard is trying to drain us dry!’
But the problem was that his logic was sound.
“Everything about The Saint’s Sword except The Saint’s Blessing originated from my hands. You acknowledge this?”
“I acknowledge it.”
It was the truth.
A superior Blacksmith performed the Restoration, and superior materials were used to create such a Sword.
“You may patch The Saint’s Blessing, but leave The Saint’s Sword itself intact.”
In other words, using this method, Hyeon-su could retain the Legendary Sword that The Saint’s Blade had become.
“And The Saint’s Blessing won’t be deleted, but rather downgraded….”
“Then let’s discuss the specifics of that downgrade.”
The two men concluded their negotiation with a handshake.
“It’s already approaching 11 PM. I apologize for the inconvenience.”
At that moment, something flashed through Hyeon-su’s mind.
“When will The Saint’s Blade patch be implemented?”
“We were planning to proceed at 12 o’clock….”
Team Lead Wang’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“As one of the contract conditions, I must inform you that while holding The Saint’s Blade, you cannot leave the 1 km radius of Atlas until the patch is complete.”
Team Lead Wang had prepared this as a precaution against unforeseen circumstances.
Fortunately, Hyeon-su agreed readily.
“Of course. How could I leave the 1 km radius with such a blade? I have a conscience too. I understand your position as the team lead who signed this contract.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
With that, Team Lead Wang released a sigh of relief.
Both men were enveloped in light, and Hyeon-su spoke.
“That was a good deal.”
Team Lead Wang let out a small laugh upon seeing the smile playing at Hyeon-su’s lips.
‘Thank goodness.’
Back at the Special User Management Team, Team Lead Wang spoke to Branch Director Tao.
“User Hyeon-su didn’t propose anything unreasonable. He was a user with common sense. The patch will proceed in 1 hour and 30 minutes.”
“Good work.”
Everyone in the room felt relieved.
Team Lead Wang turned his gaze to the monitor to check on Hyeon-su, who had returned.
Then his expression became puzzled.
“…?”
User Hyeon-su was running with an excited expression like a child, The Saint’s Blade in one hand and the Twin Dragon Sword in the other.
-Ehehehehehe.
Soon, an alert sounded, and everyone fell silent.
[User Hyeon-su has entered Dragon’s Tomb.]
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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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Mara55
I love this chapter!