Small World Tree (5)
A wind of change was blowing through the capital of the Praam Kingdom.
The nobles of Praam Kingdom, led by the strategist Pan.
These were the ones His Highness Ben had called delusional fools lost in fantasies and old memories.
They had been imprisoned for seven days as punishment for their crimes.
Yet there was no resentment or despair on their faces.
On the contrary, they unanimously decided to donate 30% of their personal fortunes to the national treasury.
And that was the wind of change.
"The negotiator saved us and granted us enlightenment."
The nobles had given up all hope, thinking they were doomed.
But one man alone had not.
The blacksmith Hyun-soo.
The image of the blacksmith who continued forging even as he was swallowed by the blazing inferno beyond the crumbling walls had burned itself indelibly into their minds.
"Break but do not yield."
Reciting the words that embodied his will, the nobles smiled.
"What a splendid fellow from the enemy kingdom."
And elsewhere.
Hundreds of knights.
Some belonging to the royal guard under those nobles, others knights who served in their own territories, spoke up.
"I won't forget it. That unyielding strength, power, and skill befitting chivalry. He's a blacksmith, but I might just respect him. I've harbored thoughts I shouldn't have."
"It's fine. You're not alone—many knights there felt the same."
The negotiator's tale spread from the nobles' lips to their retainers, from the knights' mouths to the soldiers.
This shift was closely tied to the negotiation progress of the quest Hyun-soo had received.
Negotiation progress represented many things—a foundation for seizing the initiative in peace.
The greatest way to claim that initiative was this very change of hearts in Praam Kingdom.
A fresh story emanating from an enemy kingdom's envoy.
As Hyun-soo lay fainted like some tragic novel protagonist, such notifications were spreading around him.
Negotiation progress rises by 4%.
Negotiation progress rises by 3%.
Negotiation progress...
Negotiation progress...
That wind of change wasn't just for them.
Ben, lord of Praam Kingdom and Spear Heaven.
Unable to sleep late into the night, he brushed the world tree in the garden.
Shwaaaaa—
Gazing at the vast leaves fluttering in the wind, he stepped forward.
Then he opened a certain door.
Peering at the sleeping blacksmith Hyun-soo inside, he closed it and walked out.
He headed to his audience chamber.
Seated there, Ben fell into deep contemplation.
It's not enough...
That was his judgment.
Fon's mane hair, fairy's dust, Oliharukon, black mithril, mountain king's claw, Cradan spear arts... Tell me.
These were the rewards Spear Heaven Ben had offered for saving the small world tree.
In truth, the small world tree alone was a priceless material worthy of such compensation.
But he wanted to repay him for saving his beloved disciple Prak.
Yet now, even that felt insufficient.
Of course, everything he offered was immensely valuable.
The materials he listed commanded astronomical prices as artifact components and represented his blacksmith nation.
And the Cradan spear arts.
It might seem like mere ordinary spear techniques at a glance, but they embodied Praam Kingdom.
Taught by Spear Heaven himself—what could be greater?
But still, it wasn't enough.
Ben closed his eyes.
Soon, the news would come.
Your Highness, the people are crying out your name.
Your Highness, the barren lands have turned fertile, easing the kingdom's food shortage.
Hyun-soo had achieved such marvels.
And that wasn't all.
Ben's original power had been this.
But it had changed thanks to a single spear Hyun-soo forged.
For a named NPC like Ben to grow this strong was extraordinary.
So he pondered.
What if I pass on that power?
Spear Heaven possessed two signature powers.
One was the Ultimate Spear that Prak had shown—imperfect, but the true version wielded devastating might.
The other was Spear Heaven's secret technique, unknown to the masses.
Of course, the public wouldn't know.
How often did a powerhouse like Spear Heaven need to fight?
And he always won without revealing it.
But passing it on to my disciple would be wrong.
Ben's head throbbed.
"Your Highness, may we enter?"
A voice called out then.
Two men soon stepped in.
One was Prak, the other Pan.
Pan, having sinned, had voluntarily donated 50% of his wealth to the treasury.
His noble title had been demoted a rank.
Yet his expression was serene.
They had come for their sleepless king.
They listened to his troubled words.
Ben glanced at them cautiously.
Very carefully.
"...So I've even thought of teaching the Ghost Step to blacksmith Hyun-soo."
Ben figured Prak might sink into deep anguish for a while.
Or even faint.
It's only natural.
Prak was his beloved disciple, while Hyun-soo was an envoy from the enemy kingdom.
To share Spear Heaven's secret technique, which even he hadn't learned...
"Do it."
But Prak spoke as if it were obvious.
"In my humble opinion, it's an excellent idea."
He even went further.
Only then did Ben realize.
The wind of change had swept over everyone here.
"The materials Your Highness offered can be bought with money. And spear arts would be meaningless to one who already possesses Sword King's Swordsmanship. I believe granting him that power is most fitting."
Ben sensed it.
Prak's gratitude toward Hyun-soo ran deeper than he'd imagined.
"Even if he masters it, I'd still win our next bout without question. What have I to fear?"
Ben envisioned a future where these two kings looked out for each other.
From his words, one thing was clear.
Prak and Hyun-soo would become magnificent rivals.
With one reward settled, it was time to discuss the spear's worth.
"We must also account for saving you fools, so add 50% more."
No one could object.
And Pan thought an astonishing sum had been set for just one spear.
Your Highness...
The strategist Pan also harbored a small worry as he gazed at Ben.
But he couldn't voice it. Everything was decided, and morning broke.
"Ugh..."
Hyun-soo awoke and looked around.
It was a luxurious bedroom.
What was that notification?
The one about approaching a special name.
He had no way to know now.
Then a new notification snapped his mind awake.
Many in Praam Kingdom have changed their views of the negotiator.
Praam Kingdom's national power rises by 1.2% due to the small world tree you revived.
Total negotiation progress reaches 62%.
Though Hyun-soo had been unconscious, he could guess what these meant.
National power rose because of the rice grains?
Ten grains would exponentially reduce the starving populace, boosting national strength soon enough.
"His Highness summons you."
One more proof of the change.
Strategist Pan.
He had always looked at Hyun-soo with contempt.
As an envoy from the enemy kingdom, it was natural.
But now he was polite, walking alongside and saying,
"Thank you for saving us."
Receiving the courteous greeting, Hyun-soo continued through the palace.
The expressions of those he passed had completely changed.
And he pondered what to ask of Ben.
The things he had promised for saving the small world tree.
But they now seemed utterly inadequate.
Ben, whom he met, chuckled with the peevish grin of an old man.
"Forget what I promised you before."
Hyun-soo's heart sank.
What did I do wrong?
Reward is maximized.
Ben grinned slyly.
"I'll give you something better than that. I'll teach you Ghost Step."
Ghost Step is Legend grade.
Hyun-soo was awestruck.
And unlike when learning swordsmanship from Barad, no skill quest appeared.
When receiving teachings from an NPC, a skill quest might or might not pop up.
Usually, it did when the NPC tested you while teaching.
But Ben was simply deciding to teach without a test.
Legend grade...?
An unexpected Legend-grade skill acquisition.
And as Spear Heaven's secret technique, it felt priceless to Hyun-soo.
Like an oasis for someone as deficient as me.
Hyun-soo still had much ground to cover.
Ghost Step would be a huge help on that path.
"We've also appraised the value of the spear you made. You'll receive 1.7 million gold."
Seventeen billion won.
The highest amount yet.
Hyun-soo felt he'd gained much here.
Ghost Step, the supreme small world tree, and this massive fortune.
"Thank you."
Bowing, Hyun-soo awaited dismissal.
But oddly, Ben said nothing for a long while before speaking.
"...Couldn't you stay by my side?"
These were words an enemy kingdom's retainer should never hear.
Hyun-soo panicked.
Standing by Ben, Pan realized his feared scenario had unfolded.
He understood his lord's heart.
An enemy envoy could stay only ten days.
Hyun-soo had been here four.
In six days, he must leave. No promise of future meetings.
Hyun-soo has no choice but one path...
Pan knew that path was Goyad Kingdom.
That was the man he'd observed.
"I could grant you a count's title or higher. Couldn't you become a man of Praam Kingdom?"
Ben's words bordered on coercion.
Hyun-soo's eyes held no tremor.
"I refuse."
Those cold words carved deeper into Ben's chest.
Pan felt bitter for his lord.
It was surely lust for Hyun-soo's power.
But something greater too.
Ben himself was nearing hatred amid that chill refusal.
"I covet your strength, but it pales against the greater loneliness I feel."
From him, Ben had felt and learned much, finding solace in his heart.
And how much longer would an old man like him live?
He envied Barad deeply.
Hyun-soo refused without hesitation.
Higher title, greater riches.
That was Hyun-soo's charm.
All the more reason not to let him go.
But he had to swallow it.
I don't want to send you away...
No path appeared.
Pan saw none either.
But Hyun-soo alone found it.
"...I'm sorry. Let's end this talk."
Swallowing his desire, Ben spoke coldly.
Hyun-soo, bowed before him, replied softly.
"Then I'll listen. To what Your Highness wishes to say."
Ben couldn't comprehend.
How could an enemy retainer heed him after leaving?
"I'd like to meet Your Highness not as your retainer or an enemy noble, but as another person."
Such a method existed?
Ben doubted.
Soon Hyun-soo smiled warmly at him.
Hearing it, Ben's heart eased.
Pan marveled at how Hyun-soo caught two rabbits in a no-win trap.
His words to Ben.
"Become my close friend."
Revealing this, Hyun-soo smiled faintly at Ben.
The lonely old man chuckled heartily.
"You cheeky brat. With our age gap? Heh heh."
That day, Hyun-soo's friends numbered two.
One was Sword King Barad, the other Spear Heaven Ben.