Magnum Opus (3)

Black Anvil Guild.

Black Anvil was, without question, the top blacksmith guild on the Korean server.

It boasted the most blacksmiths and the highest sales figures.

Number one in Korean forge subscribers.

A guild with a subscriber count that dwarfed the number two by a massive margin.

And Rown, the master of that mighty Black Anvil Guild, paused mid-forge in his workshop.

'This won't cut it. I can't forge a legend like this.'

He hurled his hammer aside.

Blacksmith ranking number two.

Even he, leader of the strongest blacksmith guild, had been plagued by worries lately.

Sinking into a chair, he pressed his throbbing temples.

A few days earlier, he'd left the group chat for blacksmiths ranked two through ten.

The reason stemmed from the blacksmith world itself.

Rown had made his choice when Hyun's forge produced its second legend.

'I'll keep things friendly with Hyun.'

In fact, he'd spoken to Hyun politely.

If the day came when Hyun's forge surpassed Black Anvil, he wanted Hyun to absorb them.

That's where the trouble started.

Rown wasn't the type to just pay lip service to friendliness.

Ranks three through ten in the group chat.

And countless other top blacksmiths argued that they all needed to check Hyun.

They wanted Rown to lead the charge.

But he'd refused outright.

Even without their private whispers leaking, the blacksmiths had sensed something off.

A small wave of criticism formed.

The many blacksmiths who'd chosen to oppose Hyun.

They were carrying out all sorts of checks and pressures.

And leaning on Rown, as if they couldn't comprehend his decision.

Black Anvil stood at the pinnacle.

Dozens of forges linked together, handling supply and demand.

But whispers reached him indirectly—supplies cut off, or worse.

'Guild master, word is other blacksmiths can't understand you.'

'They're offering worse contract terms.'

Of course, Black Anvil wasn't small enough to crumble under that, but it stung.

Under that pressure, Rown had left the chat himself.

And there was a reason he held firm amid the backlash and criticism.

'I want to forge a legend.'

Rown's limit.

"Closest to legend" was as far as he'd gotten.

His forge being the biggest in the country came from his business savvy, not pure skill.

'Hyun might be the one who can teach me that.'

Even in a game, Rown yearned to touch legend someday.

'Three already...'

Rown had heard the rumors.

Hyun had made Barad's sword, Dragon Light Sword, and Four Signs Sword.

Though the Four Signs Sword's authenticity was unconfirmed.

Rown knew the truth.

'He only reaches legend with swords.'

He knew where this rapidly spreading rumor started.

The poster on the blacksmith community boards was a former group chat member.

They fabricated rumors in all sorts of ways, packaging them as truth.

'Disgusting.'

And behind it, a bit of hype.

That made people believe it more.

But even Rown had doubts.

'Thousand Catty Bow exists, but...'

He was the closest to legend.

But nothing compared to three legendary swords.

'Is he really the best only at swords?'

Just then, his secretary-cum-user, who handled his various affairs, entered.

He spoke respectfully.

"Guild master, why not at least say you'll check Hyun? The guild members are anxious. And plenty don't get it."

It was only natural they wouldn't understand.

"Why would our country's top blacksmith do this?"

Rown gave a wry smile.

"They'll figure it out someday."

Even as he said it, a seed of doubt sprouted in Rown.

What if I'm wrong?

What if he can't teach me how to reach legend?

His plan spanned years.

That tiny doubt would only grow...

"...!"

Rown and his secretary both froze in shock.

World Message.

The exclusive alert for those who'd achieved the miraculous, as judged by Purum Corp.

It hadn't rung out many times even in Korea.

Rown wondered.

Did someone hunt something impossible?'

Or perhaps.

'Reached a new realm?'

Neither.

"...!?"

Rown's eyes widened.

'Legend above legend?'

Even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠among legends, not all were equal.

And the one triggering the World Message could choose: anonymous, or a desired name.

That alert clenched Rown's fist tight.

The announcement echoing across the world proved it.

'I was never wrong...!'

And the expectation blooming in Rown.

The possibility that Hyun could enable him to forge legends.

Rown didn't know.

That his choice would propel his own growth far beyond what he imagined.

***

What qualifies as a magnum opus?

NPCs and users didn't know, but it was determined by accumulated data.

The supercomputer Ares recorded every action of billions of users.

Magnum opuses emerged based on that data—requiring a certain level and volume of creations.

Once enough data piled up, they were born.

How much understanding of artifacts did he show that day?

What skill?

What materials?

All that birthed it.

And a magnum opus appearing once didn't mean it wouldn't again.

More data could surpass it, triggering another anytime.

Hyun-soo, oblivious to this, was stunned.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

'A magnum opus...?'

Hyun-soo had witnessed two up close.

One from Ren in the beginner zone, one from Per after becoming Gwangmyeong's blacksmith.

They shared a trait.

The greatest creation they'd never made before.

The alert puzzled him.

Insufficient? And then Hyun-soo realized something.

'Maybe Ares doesn't even have a grade beyond this yet?'

Hyun-soo was thrilled.

This bow outshone every ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠existing legend.

But he stayed calm amid the excitement.

Reveal Hyun to the world?

Was he ready?

'I'm ready.'

Tremendous rewards.

But one regret lingered.

'Blacksmith of God title effect triggers only once a week.'

Hyun-soo had already used it recreating Ben's spear.

Then.

But as expected.

This achievement warranted rewards even without the title.

Hyun-soo rubbed his dry face with one hand.

'So what power does this bow hold?'

With trembling expression, he checked the bow.

He let out a hollow laugh.

Explanation: Legend above legend. Hyun's magnum opus, defined as such.

He could see why it was legend above legend.

Legend-grade bows existed on other country servers.

Theirs had around 530 attack power.

This one far surpassed it.

Hyun-soo was certain of one thing.

'Worth over 2 billion won...'

An unknown thrill pounded in his chest.

Then.

Ready? For what?

Hyun-soo had judged himself prepared enough to trigger the World Message.

Nel was conservative.

Why such confident words from her?

Hyun-soo always disabled subscriber pings to concentrate.

Nel wasn't one to hype things up.

And for Gwangmyeong guild and Hyun-soo, auction rankings mattered.

They gauged a blacksmith guild's standing.

Emerging from the capsule, the TV blared news.

Hyun-soo could hardly believe it.

Breaking news pouring from the screen.

All game channels, but Ares was played by 2.5 billion worldwide.

He sat at his computer.

"Holy... crap."

Clicking Internet Explorer as usual, Hyun-soo gaped.

Naver real-time ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠search number one.

He dove into the Ares community.

The Ares community brimmed with Hyun talk.

And not just that.

Internet articles.

Hyun-soo stared in disbelief, trying to log into the auction house.

But something odd happened.

The pure white loading screen wouldn't budge.

Then an alert.

'This much...?'

Hyun-soo couldn't hide his excitement.

How high would it climb?

This would shape the future.

'Another magnum opus might come, but it'll take time.'

So subscriber count mattered. Hyun-soo closed his eyes, steadying himself.

Then he drifted off.

He'd barely slept forging the bow.

When he woke, seven hours had passed.

He tried logging in again.

The server felt stable now; login was smooth.

Slowly, he clicked "My Auction House."

'Previous subscribers...'

After the Dragon Light Sword unboxing, Hyun's Forge subscribers and rank had been slipping.

No supply meant decline—to 680k and rank 23.

Refreshing, Hyun-soo shot to his feet without thinking.

"F-Fucking insane...!"

He double-checked, unable to believe it.

Hyun's Forge had entered the top ten.

At that moment.

In Kang Hyun-tae's VVIP hospital room.

The news on the nurse's TV droned on.

The nurse, wringing a wet cloth, looked puzzled.

'What? Did he just smile faintly? Nah, must be my imagination.'

Glancing again, his face was as before.

Creak.

She shut the door behind her.

Moments later.

Twitch.

A faint movement stirred—then vanished.