Genius Blacksmith’s Game - Chapter 270

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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
Summoning a Demon (1)
‘His silence tells me everything—it’s not impressive after all.’
Hyeon-su, still unaware of the ring’s true power, took it back from Gremory.
There was still work to be done.
[The Dagger of Desire responds.]
The Dagger of Desire that Hyeon-su had recently crafted.
This artifact’s greatest effect was Trait Storage.
As he poured mana into the necklace-form dagger, it expanded in size.
In one fluid motion, he pierced the scattering form of Gremory.
[Trait Storage activates.]
[The target is over 100 levels higher than you. Attempting Trait Storage with a 20% success rate.]
The dagger was engulfed in black light. But that darkness soon dissipated into wisps.
[Trait Storage fails.]
“Ugh…!”
Hyeon-su’s face filled with regret, but he quickly shook it off.
Then something flashed through his mind.
‘Retainers typically offer their raid rewards to their master.’
He turned to Lucifer with a hopeful gleam in his eye…
“Who are you?”
Hyeon-su was taken aback.
‘Wait, he’s on my side, right?’
He seemed like a rebellious sort. Of course, the small smile playing at Lucifer’s lips just moments ago made it clear this was a jest.
Lucifer had been the one weeping just before, and he’d lightened the mood out of embarrassment.
Lucifer handed over half of the spoils he’d obtained.
[You obtain 230,000 Gold.]
“Thanks to you, I’ve finally laid to rest a lifetime of resentment. I offer you my sincere gratitude.”
[Lucifer was betrayed by the king and sent to Gremory.]
[His loyalty toward you is very low.]
It was only natural.
The fact that Hyeon-su had helped him kill Gremory was undeniable.
In Ares, there are three ways to earn a retainer’s absolute loyalty.
First: bestowing an extraordinary favor and earning their respect.
Hyeon-su had certainly given a favor, but one could say he hadn’t earned respect.
The reason was simple—Lucifer, having been betrayed by a king, found it difficult to trust and serve another.
Second: possessing a level so vastly superior to the retainer’s that the gap is insurmountable.
And finally.
‘When the one seated in a position worthy of the retainer’s respect.’
Are kings always strong? Not necessarily.
Barad and Ben are exceptional, but there are far more who are not.
Yet pure bloodline and the throne’s power.
Or the authority wielded by a Grand Lord—it transcends imagination.
Hyeon-su possessed none of these three things.
Of course, when compared to his retainer Lucifer.
Moreover, Lucifer still did not use formal speech with Hyeon-su.
“Lucifer, let us go to my territory.”
It was Hyeon-su’s proposal.
He seemed to need to unravel several of Lucifer’s untold episodes.
Of one thing, at least, he was certain.
“…Even if my territory crumbles, I will not sell you.”
Here, Hyeon-su’s ‘Dominance’ stat shone brilliantly.
Dominance applies to both allies and enemies.
Hyeon-su’s unwavering gaze.
At minimum, the conviction that he would never betray himself.
‘You believe in me so.’
Quests do not always convey information with 100% accuracy.
‘My king sold me to Gremory for the sake of the kingdom, or so it claimed.’
Had Lucifer’s reasons been so noble, he would not despise his king so intensely.
Saving millions of lives with the sacrifice of one—that is a worthy deed.
‘My king made a transaction.’
Another of Lucifer’s untold episodes, not yet revealed.
Yet the one before him spoke in delusion.
That even if his territory crumbled, he would not sell himself. Suddenly, Lucifer looked to either side.
Legendary figures who surpassed even him gazed upon him with affection.
Like the three laws that make a retainer respectful.
In friendship and in the relationships of the Strong Ones, that law applies as well.
It was certain that Hyeon-su satisfied none of these requirements to either of them.
Yet they cherished him nonetheless.
And it flashes again.
Two years later, Gremory appears once more.
Lucifer’s vengeance is not yet complete, and under her coercion, Hyeon-su declared.
That by then, he would be king.
‘Should I add a sword stroke to making this man king?’
Or.
‘Should I stand aside and depart.’
He does not yet know.
Everything depends solely on how much Lucifer comes to respect this man before him.
For now.
“I will follow.”
He decided to walk alongside him. Of course, without formal address or loyalty.
I can only sense it.
‘His territory will be quite impressive.’
When I turned away to hide a subtle smile.
“Lucifer.”
My new master’s warm voice reaches me. He spoke his first words to me, who had agreed to stay with him.
“Will you return the Supremacy Blade and give me the rest of the spoils?”
“….”
Lucifer handed over all the remaining spoils. He had already used the Supremacy Blade and become intoxicated by it.
My new lord, having received all the spoils, adds:
“Oh, the loan period for the Gold I’m giving you this time is one year, and starting next month, 20,000 Gold will accrue monthly.”
“…?”
“Ah, I’ll apply a retainer discount for you.”
Lucifer realized it.
“I’ll deduct 500 Gold per month. How’s that? Pretty good, right?”
Deduct 500 Gold per month and ask if it’s good?
My new lord was like a bandit without a sword….
‘Huh?’
Lucifer became aware.
My new lord was a bandit with a sword.
A bandit wielding a great blade called the Twin Dragon Sword at that.
*
*
*
[You have acquired 230,000 Gold.]
‘Ehehehehehehe.’
I’m Hyeon-su, having sucked even the marrow from the rebellious Lucifer.
Of course, it was based on my conviction that Lucifer had no choice but to follow me for now.
It was also a precise calculation of the true value of the Supremacy Blade.
‘It’s better that Lucifer holds the Supremacy Blade.’
Since he can maintain a level of 480.
‘It’s all over… Ugh….’
I felt my head spinning. I was sensing the prelude to the manifestation of ‘Hyeon-su who faints again’.
It was only natural.
So many things had happened within that one prison.
Before that, I was planning to sleep by logging out first.
Knowing that everyone would go their separate ways, I asked.
“Kabel, I think you know where to go from here. Bahala, what about you?”
“I have to leave because of a new Quest I received.”
It was as expected. A hint of regret lingers on my face.
I speak again.
“…Next time we meet, I’ll be even stronger. Far stronger than now.”
“…You’re already this formidable, yet your ambition knows no bounds.”
It was Bahala’s genuine sentiment.
Hyeon-su had transformed dramatically since entering Gremory’s Prison.
He had nearly closed the gap that once separated him from Bahala’s heels.
That’s why Bahala resolved to conquer this Quest with every ounce of his strength.
‘So I won’t yield first place to you this year.’
Thus the four of them stood together.
Beacons illuminating the world.
They, who could brilliantly dispel any darkness, returned to where they belonged.
[You have logged out.]
Hyeon-su immediately threw himself onto his bed.
Before surrendering to that sweet, long-awaited sleep.
‘Nothing went wrong in my Territory, did it?’
Gremory’s Prison was a zone where whispers and Guild chat were disabled.
Moreover, the overwhelming drowsiness that assailed Hyeon-su, coupled with his near-critical fatigue state, prevented him from reconnecting.
When the body reached extreme exhaustion, the Capsule device locked out access.
Hyeon-su grabbed his Mobile Phone to check recent events, but sleep claimed him before he could.
Another beacon illuminating a different world.
He was one who had never truly belonged anywhere.
But now he sought to establish a new base.
Walking a familiar path, he felt profound bitterness.
‘I know. Everything you did was solely to protect Hyeon-su.’
Though he knew this, that existence had taught Kabel what it meant to cherish and protect.
And Kabel was one with little to protect.
No family, no friends, no Benefactor existed for him.
Precisely because he had so few to protect, he could burn more fiercely than anyone and sacrifice everything.
That’s why the bitterness cut deeper.
His true master was Hyeon-su, after all.
‘At this hour, it’s predictable.’
Kabel smiled faintly.
As always, he would be curled up in Hyeon-su’s Alhyeon Hall, sleeping in a spot that carried his scent.
But then Kabel froze.
“Woof! Woof woof woof!”
From a distance far away.
At the entrance of Atlas, barely visible now.
A fluffy Puppy that had clearly been waiting for someone for a long time.
With short legs and still young, its running was rather ungainly.
It began racing toward him as if it had been waiting for Kabel’s arrival.
Even as it stumbled while running, it sprang back up, and even as it tumbled again, it stuck out its pink tongue and beamed with joy.
Bok-deung-i rushed forward with all his might, his short, stubby legs pumping furiously.
“….”
It was a first.
Never before had anyone waited for him like this.
Kabel, who had fought in solitude for a time both short and long, opened his arms wide toward someone for the first time in his life.
“Woof, woof woof!”
[Bok-deung-i has been waiting for you.]
Thump!
The creature in his embrace trembled with joy.
“Maaang…!?”
The creature’s expression, its actions, and the various notifications told him everything.
Kabel had become just as precious to the creature as Hyeon-su was.
“…Let’s go.”
He entered the territory at last, cradling Bok-deung-i in his arms.
Now, the false guise of Raon was gone.
He gazed down at Bok-deung-i, whom he had set down, and spoke.
“…Today’s walk will be two hours.”
“Woof! Woof!”
He who was called the Beacon.
[Kabel has joined Hyeon’s Forge.]
He now illuminated Atlas.
Meanwhile.
Another beacon.
“….”
The undefeated knight, the Lesser Demon who was once a Strong One—Lucifer.
He remained alone in the prison.
This was not the situation Hyeon-su had wanted.
“Why only me…?”
Hyeon-su was in an urgent predicament as well.
Had he not logged out, he would have collapsed on the spot from the curse of ‘Another Dizziness’.
He simply waited, knowing that Hyeon-su would appear here again.
What beacon he would become and where he would shine—only time would tell.
At that very moment.
Days prior, following Bolond’s orders, the Parion Empire’s army arrived on the Asgan Continent.
Though Parion possessed millions of soldiers befitting an empire, they sent only a small force accompanied by trained monsters.
This was to demonstrate that even a handful could topple an entire nation.
Moreover, those elite few and their monsters were exceptional.
“…Your Majesty, fifty thousand soldiers from the Parion Empire have breached the fortress and are advancing toward the capital.”
Barad could not believe it.
He too did not fully comprehend the power wielded by other continents.
Can such a small number of soldiers be so powerful?
“An army of fifty thousand. The Blood Ghost Squad is believed to be the Parion Empire’s elite force, and the greatest concern is that they’ve trained a monster—Fenrir.”
The Retainer’s face drained of color.
“With Fenrir at the vanguard, the Blood Ghost Squad is breaching every castle.”
“…How long until they reach the Capital?”
“Half a day, perhaps less.”
Barad’s expression grew grave.
Fenrir—one of the legendary monsters.
The Parion Empire had tamed this formidable beast and bent it to their will.
Barad spoke.
“…I will go myself.”
“Your Majesty!”
The Retainer tried to dissuade him, knowing this was exactly what the enemy desired.
Yet Barad felt he had no choice but to go.
‘Only I can kill Fenrir.’
Barad left the castle, prepared for death.
Some time passed after that.
Upon logging in, Hyeon-su saw a Quest notification appear before him.
[Sudden Quest: Goyad Kingdom]
Rank: SS
Restriction: Heir of the King
Reward: Territory Contribution X2
Penalty on Failure: Barad’s death.
Description: The king you serve and your dear friend, Barad, has resolved to join the battlefield prepared for death. A battle of uncertain outcome awaits, and the Goyad Kingdom may fall. You are the heir of the king and Barad’s friend.
Save the imperiled Goyad Kingdom and Barad.
Hyeon-su understood the significance of the Quest.
‘If I succeed, my era begins.’
Another thing: Territory Contribution doubled.
‘It’s also the chance to awaken Commander Ben sleeping in Atlas.’
War was both crisis and opportunity.
My fists clenched with resolve.
Craaaack—
‘Barad…!’
In truth, I burned with anger not for the opportunity, but for my friend.

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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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