Genius Blacksmith’s Game - Chapter 256

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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
Royal Shop (3)
Two months was admittedly insufficient time to lead the Great Atlas War to victory.
‘There was no other choice.’
Had I not subdued the Users by any means necessary, Atlas’s location would have been discovered within three weeks.
Moreover, had I demanded more than two months, the scheduled participants would have refused to wait and grown impatient.
Beyond that, I harbored certain thoughts.
‘I possess knowledge of certain hints.’
Certain hints.
I could obtain materials by using Skill Harvest on the lesser demon Lucifer.
Upon reaching a certain level, the path to the World Tree would be revealed, and I would encounter new races.
‘I hope the path to the World Tree is revealed within two months.’
Having grown mentally, I had come to perceive it.
‘The World Tree calls to me, and the races of Elvenhiem may well become my strength.’
Another hint.
What was the Continental War?
Was it merely a large-scale event for Users?
No.
It was a miniature version.
When servers integrate, a natural phenomenon occurs.
It is a contest of strength between those who have lived on different continents—a true Continental War.
‘Soon the NPCs’ power struggle will begin, and inter-continental warfare will erupt.’
Moreover, Hyeon’s Blacksmith Shop may also need to participate in this true Continental War.
The participation reward would be Territory Contribution Points.
And through these Territory Contribution Points, I might perhaps awaken the Guardians who protect the south and north.
Thus, while the remaining two months were brief, they represented a time of opportunity and a moment of great leap forward for me.
“I’ll return as quickly as possible.”
“The other guild members plan to focus on growth for the time being, and checking the Community shows that most have already left, so please go with peace of mind.”
At that moment, I could see Bok-deung-i approaching with Kkyu-kkyu on its back.
Bok-deung-i held its favorite toy—a barbecue doll—in its mouth.
It frequently brought this to me, set it down before me, and wagged its tail asking me to throw it.
Softly—
Bok-deung-i carefully set down the barbecue doll.
As always, I grabbed it and flung it, expecting Bok-deung-i to spin around uncontrollably with excitement and joy.
“Woof!”
But Bok-deung-i looked at me without its usual excitement.
[Bok-deung-i gifts you its favorite toy.]
“…?”
I realized this was a gift for someone it would not see for a long time.
It had cherished the barbecue doll so deeply that it even slept with it beside it.
The adorable young dragon Kkyu-kkyu hopped down and rubbed its head against Hyeon-su’s leg.
“Kyuu, kyuu.”
Bok-deung-i approached and settled onto Hyeon-su’s foot.
Hyeon-su had studied the behavior of these creatures extensively.
“Maaang…!”
[Bok-deung-i trusts you.]
When creatures pressed their hindquarters against their master while sitting, it signified trust, unwavering faith, and pure love.
In truth, even knowing the hints, it remained uncertain whether they would manifest as genuine solutions.
The path Hyeon-su now walked was merely grasping at straws, and that terrified him.
If he failed to succeed along these paths, everything would crumble.
The NPCs of Atlas were no different from real people, and he wished to protect them and his guild members alike.
A path burdened with far too much weight.
Thanks to Bok-deung-i and Kkyu-kkyu’s encouragement, he found strength.
Such is human nature.
Embarrassment prevents honesty, and genuine comfort and support often go unspoken.
But Bok-deung-i and Kkyu-kkyu expressed their emotions with complete sincerity.
Because of that, Hyeon-su’s heavy emotions and fears seemed to melt away in an instant.
Then Hyeon-su felt a warm, subtle energy emanating from Bok-deung-i.
[Bok-deung-i will soon evolve.]
Hyeon-su was taken aback.
Though Bok-deung-i possessed no special abilities, through internal evaluation it had proven itself capable of an evolution more remarkable than anyone else’s.
‘Its worth is on par with Bahala.’
Bahala walked the Path of the Sword God.
That Bok-deung-i would evolve.
[Upon evolution, you will learn Bok-deung-i’s true identity.]
‘What kind of being is it? Could it be a legendary monster?’
But there was something Hyeon-su didn’t know.
What the notification spoke of was what power Bok-deung-i’s true identity possessed.
Bok-deung-i was one of the Four Divine Beasts.
The known Four Divine Beasts included Hydra, which symbolized evil.
And Phoenix, which symbolized good, among others.
It also meant learning Bok-deung-i’s true name, just as with Phoenix and Hydra.
“I believe in you, brother. Our Bok-deung-i will become the greatest legendary monster!”
“Mang!”
Hyeon-su smiled confidently, stroked Bok-deung-i’s head, and set out on his journey.
Nel watched Hyeon-su’s receding figure while holding Bok-deung-i and Kkyu-kkyu close.
The future of Atlas rested in Hyeon-su’s hands.
*
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[Profession Quest: Path of the Sword God]
Rank: SSS
Restriction: Those who walk the Path of the Sword God
Reward: Unlock the Power of the Sword God
Penalty for Failure: Cannot become a successor to the Sword God.
Description: One who would become the Sword God must accumulate uncommon Achievements and become a paragon for all who wield the blade.
This will be one step in that journey, mirroring the legacy left by the previous Sword God. Vanquish the Lesser Demon Lucifer and save the continent.
Hyeon-su received Bahala’s Quest.
“So the Sword God hunted demons?”
Hyeon-su spoke as he headed toward Bahala and the US Server.
“There are tales that the Sword God has slain numerous demons and greater demons throughout history. With a single blade, he carved through the continent and was known as a god who protected it.”
“A god who protected the continent? That’s incredibly impressive. So you, his successor Bahala, are starting by hunting lesser demons to follow in the Sword God’s footsteps? More importantly, I didn’t even know lesser demons existed until now.”
In truth, this was the first time Hyeon-su had heard of lesser demons.
Demons were demons—what exactly were lesser demons?
“I myself didn’t know such a class of demons existed until I received this Quest. What I do know for certain is that the Lesser Demon Lucifer was undoubtedly formidable, and he will become a threat to the entire continent in the future.”
It was a fascinating revelation.
This meant the Lesser Demon Lucifer still had room to grow.
“And Ares has no formal classification for lesser demons. Well, that’s precisely why I can capture him.”
Bahala was a singular existence.
Yet even he had limitations—things he could and could not do depending on circumstances.
Whether greater demon or common demon, if they were not on the surface world, he could not capture them.
Suddenly, Bahala recalled the notification that Hyeon-su had hunted a demon.
“How did you manage to capture that demon before?”
“It was on the surface world, so it had become considerably weakened.”
It was the truth.
At that time, Graut had been approximately fifty percent weakened.
“The rest is a trade secret.”
“Hmm.”
Bahala didn’t press further. A User’s hunting secrets were quite valuable, after all.
Besides, Hyeon-su himself felt his contribution back then had been minimal.
‘Spear Heaven, Sword King, the Sage, Sword King candidate Bella, guild members, and myself.’
Would such a combination ever assemble again?
[You have entered the Kalaon Continent.]
Because of this, Hyeon-su believed this was an opportunity that would never come twice.
‘Just as Bahala said he could never hunt it now if it weren’t a lesser demon.’
Hyeon-su grew curious.
‘What materials could demons possibly yield?’
First and foremost, he anticipated demon blood—something with the regenerative properties demons possessed.
‘When it comes to demons, surely horns, right?’
Recalling it now, Graut had possessed horns as well.
Thinking about it from a Blacksmithing perspective, I could apply this principle to the Horn Bow.
Just as materials like Water Buffalo Horn are embedded in the Horn Bow’s composition.
That’s when Hyeon-su felt a thrilling surge of excitement.
‘Over these two months, I’ll obtain everything and return.’
What if, in this process, I even acquire the World Tree and Demon Horn—the finest bow materials?
‘Hehehehe.’
Hyeon-su couldn’t help but laugh at the mere thought of it.
It would far surpass the bow I crafted for Ian from Jumong’s design.
In any case, the two of them managed to reach Hell’s Prairie.
“Hell’s Prairie is one of the few gateways to Hell that exist across the entire Kalaon Continent. And Lucifer isn’t in Hell itself.”
Following Bahala, Hyeon-su arrived before a grotesquely shaped gate.
Hyeon-su’s expression turned puzzled.
“This doesn’t look like a Dungeon entrance—it looks more like a Prison.”
“But it is a Dungeon, teeming with demons.”
Before crossing the threshold, Bahala emphasized once more.
“Hyeon-su. It’s right that I don’t trust you.”
“Usually people say ‘it’s not that I don’t trust you,’ don’t they?”
“…Anyway, I hope you won’t be a hindrance.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Bahala opened the gate with a wry smile.
In doing so, he eased his worries in his mind.
‘Now that I control Babylon, I’ve become far stronger than before.’
Especially the 160% increase in attack power against evil gave me strength incomparable to my previous self.
I can protect Hyeon-su and still reach Lucifer without issue.
Moreover, Bahala harbored a secret hope.
‘I hope he obtains excellent materials.’
It’s a win-win for everyone.
I become the Sword God, and Hyeon-su obtains fine materials.
Creeeeak—
Bahala wrenched open the gate whose interior had been concealed.
In that instant, Bahala was caught off guard.
[The Prison Gate of Demon Gremory opens.]
[The Hellhound that was hiding behind the gate lunges out to tear at your throat!]
[Please be cautious!]
The moment the gate opened, a Hellhound—a demonic beast standing over two meters tall with its entire body grotesquely melted—launched itself forward.
“Grrrrrrr!”
‘Why is this different from when I came before?’
Bahala quickly understood the reason.
‘I had deactivated the dignity of the Sword God.’
It was clearly Bahala’s mistake.
The dignity of the Sword God possessed a power that prevented even trivial monsters from approaching Bahala.
In other words, the Hellhound from before had fled at the very gates simply from sensing that aura.
Moreover, monsters were relative beings.
Bahala’s level was in the 480s.
He matched the strength of most continental Legendary-grade beings and possessed the actual skill to contend with them.
But Hyeon-su was different.
[Hyeon-su Lv.360]
A gap of 120 levels separated them.
Moreover, Hyeon-su’s essence was that of a Blacksmith, and this place boasted the worst difficulty even on the US Server.
[Hellhound Lv.409]
A creature that was not easy prey unless one was at least a high-ranking hunter.
And the Hellhound that had suddenly appeared was already attempting to swallow Hyeon-su’s head whole.
Bahala moved to act urgently.
‘Too late.’
Both of them.
Even if he cut down the Hellhound, its head would still devour him.
And Hyeon-su had no time to respond.
Bahala had also analyzed the footage of Hyeon-su’s Continental War MVP performance from just two months prior.
In honest assessment, he was exceptional for a Blacksmith, but not at Bahala’s level.
And his overall stat allocation seemed far too low from Bahala’s perspective.
And yet.
“…?”
Bahala was taken aback.
Before he could even register what was happening, Hyeon-su had already drawn the Twin Dragon Sword from his back and stepped forward with his front leg.
Screeeech—!
[A Critical Hit has occurred.]
[You have hunted the Hellhound.]
‘In a single strike…!?’
The Hellhound’s head was severed cleanly in two.
Bahala was genuinely astonished.
The first reason.
‘How could a mere Blacksmith have become this strong in just two months?’
The words of concern he had spoken before coming here suddenly came to mind.
‘In the two months remaining to you, you claim you’ll obtain the strength and talent to safely protect Atlas? Isn’t that far too ambitious?’
At that time, Hyeon-su had replied thus.
‘What do you make of the only Master Craftsman among all Users?’
Bahala felt it.
The Hyeon-su who had called himself weak was from two months ago.
And the current Hyeon-su was at least 50% stronger than he had been then.
The more chilling fact was this.
‘So the entire world would face Hyeon-su again after two months, when he’d grown fifty percent stronger than before?’
Bahala was certain of one thing.
The pinnacle of the entire world.
They would all feel Hyeon-su’s strength—something they had never anticipated.
Bahala thought Hyeon-su would wear an expression of self-satisfaction.
But for some reason, he looked bewildered instead.
Hyeon-su posed a question.
“Bahala, was Lucifer in human form?”
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Bahala was the only User who had faced the lesser demon Lucifer, and only he knew that appearance.
“…Now that I think about it, he looked different from ordinary demons. Your description—that he resembled a human—would be more accurate. How did you know that?”
Hyeon-su was genuinely perplexed.
It was the power he’d recently obtained—the power that might guide him down the true path of the Holy Sovereign.
That power contained this description.
‘It may react when someone who might pledge loyalty is nearby.’
And now. That power Hyeon-su had obtained was reacting.
[The title ‘Your Loyalty to Me’ shines brightly.]
The target had to be Lucifer.

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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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