Genius Blacksmith’s Game - Chapter 293

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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
The Beacon (7)
[The Blood King episode may disappear.]
The Blood King is a figure who sits among the Five Seats of Power as a half-measure.
Four kings do not acknowledge him, but he is merely a substitute filling the last vacant seat out of necessity.
Nevertheless, the Blood King was an important figure.
Had he swallowed Lucifer, he might have been recognized as one of the Five Seats of Power as naturally as the wind itself.
In any case, upon hearing the notification, Pureum Corporation fell into emergency status.
There were over a hundred Quests in preparation related to the Blood King.
A considerable number of them were large-scale Quests.
That much made clear he was a formidable king, difficult to kill at this stage.
Thus, Se-jin conducted a video conference with the branch directors.
-This is premature concern. The supercomputer Ares isn’t 100% accurate either, and how could a mere lord of a territory bring down the Blood King’s armies?
-Wait? Why did the armies collapse?
-….
-….
-This is madness. Attempting to break through fifty thousand troops alone to reach Alhyeon Hall. It seems absolutely impossible.
-…No, he broke through this?
Se-jin shared that amazement.
Hyeon-su’s movements breaking through fifty thousand troops—this was not the figure Se-jin knew.
‘His growth is far too rapid.’
Se-jin pondered how such growth was possible.
‘It is because he has crossed the line of death.’
User Hyeon-su had thus far encountered many enemies stronger than his level.
One could say he had crossed the line of death more than any other user.
‘It is different with Bahala. Bahala encountered two to three times more strong ones at his level than User Hyeon-su.’
However, Bahala possessed the control, skill, and strength to fight them, so it could not be called crossing the line of death.
By crossing the threshold where death loomed imminent countless times, User Hyeon-su had achieved this mad growth.
‘…Is it truly beginning?’
Se-jin harbored an uncertain thought.
It was still too early.
The Second Ares, called the path of kings, had only been open for three months?
-Lucifer has decided to follow User Hyeon-su.
-This is….
-Is Lucifer not the most loyal and powerful knight in the Ares worldview?
Their astonishment was not because he was a powerful knight.
A knight—a being who exists solely to serve another—had become Hyeon-su’s man.
The branch directors felt their hearts sink.
Their hope that he would be their nation’s user shattered.
Meanwhile.
-I can’t catch him.
-It seems they prepared Annihilation, but that alone won’t capture a king of this caliber.
-The Blood King’s regeneration transcends even demons.
Even that assumption shattered.
-A non-regenerative Annihilation?
The branch directors and Se-jin marveled alike.
Hyeon-su had theorized what effect would manifest when the Royal Sword and Babylon combined, and he’d wagered everything on that hunch.
That gamble hit with 100% accuracy.
At last, the Blood King fell.
[The first king has been defeated.]
As the world message echoed across the globe, people everywhere gasped in shock.
And it wasn’t only them.
The branch directors who witnessed it in real time wore expressions of admiration.
Even Tao, the branch director who despised User Hyeon-su, murmured aloud.
-If our Chinese users had accomplished even that much, it would have been truly wonderful.
Words that slipped out unguarded.
-Extraordinary.
-How did you produce such a result?
-User Hyeon-su is truly remarkable!
Se-jin’s heart raced.
She grasped the meaning behind the words flowing from the branch directors’ lips.
‘They’re beginning to acknowledge him.’
-…It appears highly probable that User Hyeon-su will become the first king.
-By defeating the Blood King, he’s satisfied part of the qualifications.
-He’s also equipped himself with the strength to protect his territory.
Se-jin was astounded by the shift Hyeon-su had wrought.
She marveled as she watched him, limping on one leg, survey the million people of the Enya Kingdom.
‘A new era is dawning….’
It was the era of User Hyeon-su.
-Gulp
Someone swallowed hard, the sound echoing through the space.
Everyone present knew what demanded their attention.
-For those who wish to survive, there is no choice but to serve User Hyeon-su.
-What matters is how many of the million choose to live.
Yes, how many would live for him.
All eyes were fixed upon him.
*
*
*
[Those who live shall serve you.]
Hyeon-su stands before an opportunity that will never come again.
Nearly a million people.
Among them, those who survive will return with him.
‘It was not fate.’
Hyeon-su chuckled softly, feeling the discomfort pricking through his body.
‘I accomplished this myself.’
No matter how much divine favor existed, slaying the Blood King was never an easy feat.
Yet there was something he regretted.
[94% of the people of Enya Kingdom desire rest.]
Over 90%.
Hyeon-su understood well enough.
They had lived for a long time.
That mortals live finite lives is a blessing—to spend one’s existence alongside those you cherish.
But they had watched for over a century as those they held dear were consumed by the Blood King.
And because they neither aged nor changed, they lived without purpose or direction.
Each time they transformed into the grotesque form of a Mage, they must have felt self-loathing.
‘Having already lived that way for so long.’
They were exhausted beyond measure.
Without a new purpose, they no longer wish to live.
The true reason they cheered.
Because they could finally surrender to peaceful rest.
‘I must not be greedy.’
To those who genuinely desire rest, I offer neither plea nor request.
Yet something catches in my throat—a word that tickles at the edge of utterance.
As I open my mouth to speak, they all fall silent.
It signals that every one of them is now focused on my words alone.
Then, in that moment.
Hyeon-su felt his head grow heavy.
The man whose lips had been moving catches the warning sign.
It is the harbinger of ‘Dizziness’—a sensation he had not felt in ages!
Hyeon-su gazes at them with a powerless expression and smiles weakly.
“…Thank goodness.”
Thump—!
[You have fallen into the abnormal state: Unconsciousness.]
Startled voices ripple through the crowd at the sudden collapse.
Sword Master Lysen, Prak, and Lucifer—as well as Saint Aria—remained composed.
“You pushed yourself that hard again? So desperately did you wish to protect this kingdom.”
Sword Master Lysen’s words spread among the million people.
Hyeon-su had thought this.
That they would desire rest because they had ‘no reason to live.’
Yet that moment of unconsciousness, and the heartfelt “Thank goodness” he spoke while looking upon them, bestowed something new upon the million people of the Enya Kingdom.
And through those who knew of him, this tale spread to a million others.
“Did he fight for us until he collapsed?”
“Thank goodness? Did you see his expression? It was the look of someone relieved as if it were his own affair.”
A Goyad soldier spoke.
“That is simply his nature. He gives his utmost for something, and at times he pushes his spirit to the very limits for the sake of others.”
“…?”
“Thus, I revere him—the one destined to become our future king. My heart already races at the thought of serving him.”
“….”
The soldier’s expression spoke volumes.
It was written plainly that he was overjoyed to follow Hyeon-su, who would soon be king.
The hearts of the Enya Kingdom’s people trembled as they beheld him.
He was so different.
Unlike King Brad, who had grown stronger by exploiting and slaying them, he genuinely cherished everyone.
‘If my life were to gain a new purpose, what would it be?’
Their gazes fell upon the unconscious Hyeon-su.
Their new purpose.
‘To build a new kingdom alongside him.’
Such a seed was planted within them.
And a notification continued to sound for the unconscious Hyeon-su.
[The number of those who wish to live increases.]
*
*
*
Hours passed.
The commander, knights, and soldiers reunited after so long.
Knowing that some would soon depart down the path of peace, Lucifer beamed brightly at them and clapped them on the back.
“Ha! Remember when that rascal Sun fought a wild boar and got beaten to a pulp back in the day…!”
“Hahahaha!”
After the laughter-filled conversation in the bar, Sun asked.
“…What will you do from now on?”
At that question, every soldier’s gaze fixed solely upon Lucifer.
A legendary knight who had lived only for a single king.
Because he possessed a nobility that never bent to any will, all the soldiers listened intently.
“I thought I might create a new king.”
“….”
“….”
Those words delivered a fresh shock. Their expressions held but one thought.
‘Is he truly such a man?’
“Is he the type of man to do such a thing?”
Lucifer was the lord.
“You all saw it, didn’t you? Pic collapsing like that, falling over so pathetically—shouldn’t even someone like me take care of him?”
Yes, they had all witnessed it.
And because of Lucifer’s words, other Knights who had sought comfort began to entertain new thoughts.
‘We want to join him too.’
Their minds were shifting.
[The number of those wishing to live increases.]
In another place.
Some people found themselves curious.
Why was this person here?
A figure standing among countless children and ordinary commoners.
It was Saint Aria.
“Do not fear that moment—I will be with you.”
The people found solace in Saint Aria’s radiant smile.
Whether they sought death or feared the pain of that moment, Aria had come to this place to stand beside them on the day of their choice.
One commoner posed a question.
“Saint Aria, how did you come to be here?”
While the Ares Church’s mission was the eradication of evil, she was not someone who would move for such reasons alone.
Aria was far too significant a figure for that.
Aria answered honestly.
“…I wanted to become close to him.”
“…Pardon?”
“Wait, you mean there’s someone Saint Aria wants to become close to?”
Who was Aria?
She was the most noble good that God Ares had sent down to the mortal realm.
Such a being wanted to become close to someone?
“…Though he did collapse so pathetically, he is a man of considerable power.”
The commoners marveled at her words.
The image of him collapsing and muttering “thank goodness” flashed through their minds.
‘Is he truly someone worthy of such words from Saint Aria?’
‘Could it be that the suffering won’t repeat itself?’
There was another reason the ordinary commoners had sought rest.
They feared that following another king would only repeat their pain.
But Aria’s words changed that thought.
This was someone Aria herself had vouched for.
And so they felt they could trust him.
And the commoners began to think.
‘Perhaps… choosing to live wouldn’t be so bad?’
[The number of those wishing to live increases.]
*
*
*
Sleeping, I had no idea what was happening.
“…Why is Asura here?”
“H-hiii, the forces of Hell…!”
The assassins of the Enya Kingdom posed their question to the serene Asura.
Kabel answered them in an equally calm voice.
“To protect my dear friend.”
“….”
“….”
[Those who wish to live continue to increase.]
He then posed the same question to Prak and Sword Master Lysen.
“So the army was borrowed?”
“Indeed.”
“Such a thing is possible?”
“…It is possible. He is a national hero and the king destined to lead a new nation.”
“Wow….”
“And who is this person?”
“Ah, I am Prak of the nation called Fraham.”
“Why did you…?”
“Because Count Hyeon-su is our Fraham Kingdom’s benefactor.”
While I slept.
The hearts of many were changing.
And after sleeping deeply for 32 hours.
As I slowly awakened, I recalled what had transpired before.
‘I mustn’t regret it, even if those who follow me haven’t grown as much as I desired.’
It was unavoidable.
Even ten thousand would satisfy me.
No, in the current state of Atlas, ten thousand should be considered a blessing beyond measure.
Thus, as I regained consciousness, I furrowed my brow at the incessant notifications.
‘What’s making such a racket?’
Soon the sound became clearer.
[Over 90% of the people desired comfort.]
[Their thoughts have undergone a dramatic shift.]
Lucifer stood before me.
[16% of the people wish to live.]
[You are the one who brought about this change of heart.]
“You’re awake?”
Lucifer approached and offered a small smile.
Creeeeak—
He opened the door that had been closed.
Then those who would live revealed themselves.
[You can accept 140,301 citizens.]
[You can accept 3,113 Soldiers.]
[You can accept 211 Knights.]
Hyeon-su’s expression shifted to one of astonishment.
Numbers that no noble in the world had ever recruited.
Hyeon-su had filled those numbers. As he marveled, another joy blossomed within him.
Lucifer still spoke to Hyeon-su informally, but something had changed.
“I will participate in the Great Atlas Tournament. Someone needs to protect a weakling like you.”
[Vassal Lucifer swears loyalty to you.]
It meant that Lucifer would now live for Hyeon-su.
[You have recruited Vassal Lucifer to Hyeon’s Forge.]
It was the moment the mightiest Knight returned to his embrace.

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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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