Genius Blacksmith’s Game - Chapter 245

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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
Babylon (1)
Supercomputer Ares.
In the virtual reality game Ares, he is an absolute god, and in reality, he is the system that manages all of Ares.
And the supercomputer Ares sometimes derives the most accurate answers, and sometimes alerts to concerning situations.
Most of what he worries about resembles Lee Se-jin’s concerns.
[His subjects need not necessarily be human.]
The supercomputer Ares conveys his will by displaying text on the screen in this manner.
Lee Se-jin nodded his head.
Se-jin had abruptly prevented the purchase of troops and territorial citizens from the Shop.
But he had devised countless alternatives.
Among them were ancient territories, including the growth-type Atlas Territory.
And another method.
“Accepting other races as subjects.”
Isn’t that an astonishing and remarkable notion?
Of course, Se-jin knew the truth.
‘It’s far more difficult than accepting humans, bordering on impossible.’
But the reason the supercomputer Ares expressed such concern.
“It’s the drawing power that User Hyeon-su possesses that worries him.”
User Hyeon-su possessed a special power unique to him alone.
That power was his inherent strength, difficult to explain even with any skill or Artifact attached to it.
‘The possibilities have indeed increased significantly.’
Once that map unfolds, he will be the pioneer who meets them first.
“Display the screen.”
At Se-jin’s command, a massive circle appeared on the monitor.
This enormous circle represents the supercomputer Ares’s assessment of Hyeon-su’s situation.
At the center of the massive circle.
A small blue dot rests there.
This represents Hyeon-su and Atlas.
Within this circle, excluding the blue dot, hundreds of red dots were scattered throughout.
“…There is much one must endure to wear the crown.”
The identity of those hundreds of red dots.
Those whom the supercomputer Ares has analyzed as targeting Hyeon.
Or those seeking to profit through Hyeon, those attempting to bring down the Master Craftsman.
Since Ares oversees the entire server, he has calculated their values accordingly.
“Fascinating.”
The blue dot representing Hyeon-su was originally smaller than this.
But after this battle concluded, it had grown noticeably larger.
“He has acquired some of the power to oppose them.”
Se-jin, arms crossed, marvels at the sight.
It was remarkable how much it had grown in just a few days.
And between this single bitter blue dot and hundreds of red dots.
There was another dot existing outside the circle.
This other dot was gray, signifying that it was currently favorable to Hyeon-su and could protect him.
Lee Se-jin’s eyes wavered as he observed it.
“This one has grown as well?”
Lee Se-jin knew who this was.
It was Kabel.
“An incredible pace.”
What Lee Se-jin marveled at was how that gray dot was expanding at a remarkable velocity.
“The synergy between the Dagger of Evil and Kabel is extraordinary.”
It was all thanks to Hyeon-su.
Originally, under Lee Se-jin and Ares’s judgment, Kabel becoming Asura would have occurred much later.
But that timeline had been drastically shortened.
“Display the analysis chart.”
Another chart appeared.
This chart displayed the probability that the initial Hyeon-su could survive against the red dots.
Before arriving at Atlas.
0%
After awakening much of Atlas.
8%
Currently.
[14%.]
The probability had certainly risen considerably.
Yet even this was a meager figure.
The reason for such a low probability lay here.
‘Atlas’s exact location still hasn’t been revealed. But once it is, that number will truly become reality.’
Once Atlas’s location was revealed, countless forces would target him.
At that moment, the probability of Hyeon-su and Hyeon’s Forge surviving would be 14%.
Lee Se-jin’s mouth turned bitter.
“Close the screen….”
Lee Se-jin was startled as he attempted to shut it down.
[Updating.]
Suddenly, something new was added to the screen.
“A black dot…?”
A blue dot, red dots, a gray dot.
Beyond those, a new dot appeared—a black dot.
The reason Lee Se-jin was astonished was that the black dot’s size was larger and more majestic than anything around it.
To be precise, that black dot was overwhelming the size of all the other dots.
Lee Se-jin’s eyes trembled.
He, who rarely showed surprise, was genuinely astonished this time.
The reason was that this black dot, unlike the red dots, was a blue dot—meaning it was drawing closer to Hyeon-su’s Atlas.
“What does the black dot signify?”
[It is impossible to determine whether it is friendly or hostile.]
In other words, it was a problem Hyeon-su would have to solve.
Here, Lee Se-jin became curious about the most crucial point.
“If it becomes friendly, what are the survival odds?”
[It may vary depending on how friendly that entity is.]
It was an ironic answer.
And yet.
[If it turns friendly, that probability becomes immeasurable.]
“…!?”
Lee Se-jin was shocked.
The supercomputer was the highest-tier AI with supreme intelligence and also an analyst.
No human could surpass a computer’s analysis, and the supercomputer Ares always produced the optimal values.
That supercomputer Ares could not measure it?
And Lee Se-jin realized his question had been flawed.
‘A friendly relationship. And determining the extent of that sentiment itself makes no sense.’
One more thing.
‘Even if the question itself were wrong, it’s impossible to measure how much that entity could raise those odds.’
Lee Se-jin felt a surge of anticipation.
That single massive black dot.
It alone could change so much in the days to come.
And Lee Se-jin naturally knew the identity of that black dot.
Information Broker Kabel.
It was the second gift he had sent to protect Atlas.
*
*
*
Hyeon-su felt both anticipation and disappointment.
Among the spoils obtained, a map to a new race that had reacted to him.
But in this moment, Hyeon-su’s spirits soared.
‘It’s fine. Even though I don’t know what race it is or the path to reach them, I’ve discovered something new.’
That a real World Tree exists.
‘That real World Tree is calling to me.’
Knowing that alone held immense value.
‘It becomes the foundation for crafting transcendence beyond the Twin Dragon Sword.’
And I’m delighted that the material is wood, not ore.
‘What kind of spear could I forge from it? What kind of bow? Or what kind of short arrow?’
What was certain was that it would now demonstrate a transcendent power unlike anything before.
Hyeon-su had obtained everything.
He gazed upon his four thousand soldiers.
They had grown immensely stronger, their eyes burning with unwavering faith.
“Return and rest. Eat, drink, and savor the joy of victory.”
“Waaaaaaah!”
“Long live the Lord!”
“Long may he reign!”
Hyeon-su smiled faintly as he watched the four thousand soldiers cheering.
And moments later.
“My Lord?”
“Isn’t this the place we came to earlier?”
“We’ve been walking in circles?”
Hyeon-su had forgotten.
This place was the Endless Maze.
“Ah… oh no….”
He had lost his way.
Meanwhile.
Someone else entirely.
A handsome man clad in white armor, pristine as a blank canvas, stood in the Forest.
The man exuded an air of antiquity and refinement.
Where Hyeon-su commanded masculine presence and impressive physicality, this man possessed the opposite—an ethereal beauty.
His appearance was as if painted by an artist’s careful brush.
The man’s name was Bahala.
He surveyed the Forest, holding a black Sword that had melted and warped—Babylon—a weapon that contradicted his elegant appearance.
“…I’ve lost my way.”
A short, heavy statement.
It wasn’t that he lacked a sense of direction.
Rather, the path to Atlas that Information Broker Kabel had provided was simply too difficult to navigate.
‘I must meet Master Craftsman Hyeon. Can he truly repair it?’
His desire to meet Hyeon was connected to the warped Sword Babylon and, more importantly, his class Quest.
[Class Quest: The Path of the Sword God]
Rank: SSS
Restriction: Only those who walk the Path of the Sword God.
Reward: Unlock the Power of the Sword God.
Penalty for Failure: Cannot become the Successor of the Sword God.
Description: Those destined to become a Sword God must accumulate uncommon Achievements and become a model for all who wield the Blade. This shall be one step in that journey, mirroring the legacy left by the previous Sword God. Slay the demon Lucifer and save the Continent.
Shockingly, Bahala was merely an ordinary Knight class.
Despite receiving countless offers for Hidden Classes and Legendary Classes, he had refused them all.
The reason: he knew of the Path of the Sword God and had driven himself relentlessly for four years to walk it.
I know the path of the Sword exists, and that’s why I’ve been running madly for 4 years toward it.
Yes, four years of relentless pursuit.
And the path of the Sword Saint was far from easy.
‘He keeps pushing forward with absurd Achievements.’
His level had already reached 485.
The Achievements he’d accomplished throughout this journey had forged Bahala’s current reputation.
Yet the Quest didn’t grant the Sword Saint’s path outright—it unfolded piece by piece.
‘Is it truly that unique and singular a class?’
Bahala smiled wryly.
And he placed his hopes on something.
‘To capture the Lesser Demon, Babylon is absolutely necessary.’
Lesser Demon Lucifer.
Three months ago, when Bahala had faced him, he’d been forcibly logged out in mere five minutes.
Moreover, unlike ordinary demons, Lesser Demon Lucifer suffered no magical restrictions on the surface.
In other words, he wasn’t weakened.
In truth, the Lesser Demon was far weaker than a Greater Demon.
But an unweakened Lesser Demon on the surface was monstrously powerful.
His level reached the 590s.
Yet I had found a way.
‘The legendary Sword. Babylon.’
I’d searched for information about this Sword that slayed demons, and finally obtained it.
This Sword possessed transcendent power.
And it held a special ability.
‘Demon Annihilation.’
According to rumors, this power obliterated seventy percent of a demon’s HP in one stroke.
Without fail.
‘This is the only way to defeat Lucifer.’
Of course, other methods might exist later.
But that would come after considerable time had passed, and in the interim, Lucifer could grow stronger.
If that happened, there would be no opening of the Sword Saint’s path from defeating Lucifer.
Moreover, the Quest would automatically conclude after a certain period.
That’s why Bahala had immediately crossed the Continent.
As I wandered the roads, thinking of Hyeon, several days slipped away.
Then monsters discovered me and rushed forward, only to hesitate.
[Dignity of the Sword Saint]
“Krraaaagh!”
Merely the aura I exuded sent the monsters fleeing.
This power was obtained through accumulated Achievements.
It instilled fear in monsters, causing them to flee.
And Users and NPCs alike were engulfed in an overwhelming pressure.
It rivaled the killing intent of the Sword King and the wrath of Spear Heaven.
Or perhaps even a step higher.
In any case, I walked without extinguishing the dignity of the Sword Saint, and wandered lost for several days.
And naturally, I thought of Hyeon.
‘Too much has been revealed. A pity. Legend. Of course, it’s magnificent. But a title alone cannot protect that position.’
When I relinquished the top rank last year, I felt neither tension nor regret.
I believed it would only be temporary.
‘He may destroy himself on his own.’
Not because he was lacking.
A User in the 350-level range had grown too rapidly.
Then.
Bahala’s eyes widened as I sensed a presence.
A man emerged from the brush, everything about him rendered in black and white in stark contrast to myself.
What truly startled me lay elsewhere.
Four thousand soldiers had drawn their weapons to protect him upon encountering me.
And Bahala was bewildered.
First bewilderment.
‘The dignity of the Sword Saint—it hasn’t been extinguished?’
I was in a position where I needed to commission Master Craftsman Hyeon.
Yet I had thought this power would distort much about him and compel his submission naturally.
However.
[The dignity of the Sword Saint does not take effect.]
[The dignity of the Sword Saint scatters and dissipates in the aura flowing from him.]
[Instead, a tremendous aura oppresses you.]
[You have been afflicted with the abnormal status: Confusion.]
Conversely, the power I possessed sought to crush me.
The reason was my shock at meeting Hyeon in that instant.
Four thousand soldiers.
And Hyeon’s form, dramatically grown stronger.
And finally, Bahala understood.
‘He stands in a place higher than Legend?’
I experienced a second bewilderment.
My conviction that I would not yield the top rank this year crumbled entirely.
‘Even if I become the Sword Saint.’
The position of first would endlessly tremble.
*
*
*
Hyeon-su, who had emerged from the Endless Maze and was heading toward Atlas, was bewildered.
Because I had encountered a man.
Moreover, the man’s information was not visible.
‘The power to conceal information?’
Hyeon-su gasped once more, watching him.
[You are one of the 10 Legends, a Master Craftsman, and possess the Blacksmith God’s Heir class.]
As the sole Master Craftsman and heir to the divine, Hyeon-su reacted to one particular thing.
It was a reaction that arose from observing the melted Sword he held in his grasp.
[I sense divine Ore.]

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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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