Magnum Opus (4)
Hyun-soo, logging into Ares, received Nel's congratulations.
It felt strangely emotional.
In the blacksmith community, there was always this saying about Hyun's Forge.
'Personal blacksmiths have a ceiling to how far they can climb.'
Most recruitment offers to Hyun-soo through Hyun's Forge came with that line attached.
Within the top 20 subscribers.
And among personal blacksmiths, Hyun-soo was the first.
It wasn't just about the numbers.
Corporate forges in the top 10 had revenues between 2 and 3 billion won.
Factoring in labor and other costs, Hyun-soo's profit margin was overwhelmingly higher.
Hyun-soo had never forgotten his promise to Rown.
Suddenly, looking at the quiet guild chat—excluding Nel—a pang of loneliness hit him.
He vaguely remembered hearing about it beforehand.
And now, it was time for Hyun-soo to head toward his next goal.
Hyun-soo's chest ached.
Usually, reaching 100% kingdom contribution allowed a title upgrade.
Nel was great at softening blows.
It definitely wasn't due to Hyun-soo's shortcomings.
As a negotiator, raising negotiation required assigned tasks.
'Regrettable, but satisfied with this...'
Then.
Your vassals' instructor duties will soon end.
Upon completion of your vassals' instructor duties, negotiation progress will be awarded based on their achievements.
"...!?"
Hyun-soo was startled by the unexpected alert.
Come to think of it, on the day(?) he was "kidnapped" to Praam Kingdom, five Whirlwind Squad members were dispatched as instructors to Hell's Cradle.
Hyun-soo realized.
'Depending on how much they grew Hell's Cradle soldiers, my negotiation could change?'
Hyun-soo waited breathlessly.
Soon, their instructor duties would fully end, revealing the results.
Hell's Cradle.
Where Praam Kingdom's elite soldiers were trained.
Average soldiers here were around level 200.
But these 300 in Hell's Cradle averaged 240.
Warriors who could handle five soldiers alone!
Not quite knights, but bordering on knight-level.
Thus, Hell's Cradle soldiers' arrogance pierced the heavens.
Soldier Chen would never forget the day they arrived.
Heading late to the barracks for duties, he recalled conversations with other soldiers.
'Let's crush them.'
'Who do these Goyad Kingdom soldiers think they are!'
Chen imagined them getting brutally beaten, eyes bloodshot, as he opened the barracks door.
"Did you guys beat those instructors good...?"
Opening the door, Chen was speechless.
Five soldiers radiating fierce auras had laid out over a hundred in the narrow barracks.
"Guh, guh... "
"Ugh..."
"Hic, hiccup...!"
Chen hiccuped himself.
And the five Whirlwind Squad members.
Ferocious beasts raised solely to kill since childhood.
Their leader, Kan, smiled faintly.
"Cute, huh?"
That was their first meeting.
Hell's Cradle earned its name from insane training intensity.
But these were even worse.
Early morning.
"Ten laps up and down the mountain."
The instructors' mission was absurd.
Yet they ran alongside.
Running together, they did ten laps while the soldiers did five.
"...?"
No one could call it impossible.
Why? They succeeded.
Sleep was four hours a day.
And swinging swords all day.
Sword training was simple.
"You use wooden swords. We use real ones."
"...?"
These guys are insane.
They told soldiers—armed with real swords—to charge thirty each.
Hell's Cradle soldiers fought with utmost focus and senses never before tapped, to survive.
Luckily, no real slashes.
In Hell's Cradle, instructors harsher than hell itself.
Of course, the instructors weren't total demons.
Instructors ordering cliff climbs barehanded.
Chen barely reached the top.
Instructor Kan extended a hand with a gentle smile.
'Yeah, they're not demons. Warm-hearted deep down...'
"One more."
Kan grabbed his hand and dropped him back down.
"You fucking bastardssss...!"
They were demons.
All Hell's Cradle soldiers trembled before them.
Yet, something was off.
'What is this?'
Their swordsmanship improved exponentially.
Wrists toughened from cliff climbs gripped swords firmer.
Despite lungs burning from extreme runs, they could swing till the end.
One day.
Two days.
Three days.
Growing accustomed to the impossible training, they felt themselves hardening, strengthening.
Know what's funnier?
Pure skill-wise, they surpassed knights.
They couldn't wield mana for knight power.
In other words, at territorial commander level in skill alone, soldiers improved rapidly.
And when the five finished their mission.
Chen and Hell's Cradle soldiers felt vastly stronger.
Chen's change was dazzling.
He'd been around that level before.
This growth in just ten days!
And Hell's Cradle soldiers, who once scorned them, were completely transformed.
Soldiers rarely transcend to knights.
Only one in twenty becomes a knight.
Yet they awakened their power.
Hell's Cradle commander arrived and said,
"Truly remarkable..."
The commander was impressed.
"You will now head to Praam Kingdom's prisoner camp. Lead the prisoners back home. I'll lend twenty Hell's Cradle soldiers too."
Time for them to leave.
Hell's Cradle soldiers' loyalty to them soared sky-high.
As Chen prepared to depart, he asked them,
"...Can't you stay in Hell's Cradle?"
Kan had grown fond too.
And Chen knew,
"If the Cradle commander recommends, as part of the peace deal, you could stay."
But Kan was firm.
"No. Our lord awaits."
Hearing that, Chen thought their lord must be incredible.
'To earn such unwavering loyalty from these men.'
"Depart!"
And so, twenty Hell's Cradle soldiers and Hyun-soo's vassals headed to the prisoner camp.
Waiting for his vassals' instructor mission to end, an alert rang for Hyun-soo.
Your vassals' instructor mission has ended.
Hell's Cradle soldiers have grown tremendously.
Hyun-soo's heart raced.
Miraculous achievement.
The alert always for his own feats. Now, his vassals had achieved it instead.
You acquire 23% negotiation progress.
Hyun-soo gasped in admiration at the ringing alert.
As the main negotiator, Hyun-soo could raise it far easier than them.
Having dealt with the king, naturally so?
Thus, achieving this away from the king's eyes was astonishing.
Total negotiation progress reaches 102%.
Hyun-soo somehow knew.
'They gave their all.'
A small smile formed.
Upon return, he'd reward them.
Just then, Ben arrived, hands behind his back.
"Don't give me time to get bored."
Meaning, visit often.
"Your soldiers headed to Praam Kingdom's prisoner camp. Join them, escort prisoners home, and your negotiator duties end."
After Ben left, Hyun-soo pulled a bow from inventory.
His masterpiece.
Made custom for Ian, but Hyun-soo pondered carefully.
'Release or not.'
Deciding, Hyun-soo headed straight to the prisoner camp.
Bella folded the letter.
It came from a small territory.
The content read:
I lack the strength to rule this ever-growing territory.
Stories of his influence and those who miss him keep reaching me.
When Barad first received it, he thought:
'Must be tough as a lord.'
Territory folk constantly naming not the lord, but a passerby.
Unbearable for a leader, he figured.
'I too wish this territory's true owner was him. The lifeless land filled with laughter thanks to him, guests increasing endlessly—I'm overjoyed.'
But no.
The lord was glad instead.
"It's him."
As Barad spoke, Bella beside him couldn't hide her surprise.
"...He's in another kingdom as negotiator now. Entrusting territory to a mere sub-baron goes against propriety. However."
Barad soon smiled faintly.
"His earned negotiation will decide."
The reply letter flew off, and Bella's shocked expression lingered.
"What surprises you? My letter?"
But Vice Commander Bella shook her head.
"No."
"Then?"
"The most fitting for Ballus Territory. A master craftsman as lord of a blacksmith land—it's already shocking me."
Bella was impressed.
A blacksmith territory led by a master craftsman.
The sender was Ballus's lord, Brelin.
The issue was:
"What negotiation level to grant a new territory to a sub-baron without backlash?"
Barad doesn't give easily.
If unachieved, no grant.
"Who knows. Certainly, enough to amaze me and the nobles."
Probably learn upon his return.
What title, what rewards.
Meanwhile.
Ben's face twisted.
"Wh-what...?"
Red Dragon Squad sub-leader Rek, unyielding under days of torture, dropped a bombshell.
"Red Dragon Squad already raided the prisoner camp fully."
Rek laughed.
"We're Praam Kingdom's hunting dogs. What if we slaughter all prisoners and soldiers there?"
Ben's face flushed red.
Even if not Praam Kingdom's intent.
Red Dragon Squad killing Goyad prisoners would spiral uncontrollably.
Peace between nations utterly shattered.
Ben urgently sent a letter.
To the one heading there now.
But little hope. Red Dragon Squad numbered over 70.
Even if he went now, it'd be over.
Hyun-soo, nearing the prisoner camp, received the flying letter and read quickly.
Kingdom Quest: Prisoner Rescue
📍 Rank: S
📍 Restriction: Proposed by the King
📍 Reward: Negotiation x2
📍 Failure Penalty: Intimacy drop with Barad, Ben
📍 Description: Goyad Kingdom prisoners face massacre. Protect and escort them home safely.
Hyun-soo was shocked reading the sudden quest.
'Negotiation doubled...?'
Like double XP gain—success doubles here too.
But Hyun-soo focused elsewhere.
Vassal Kan is in peril.
Vassal Berm is in peril.
Vassal...
Hyun-soo's teeth gritted.
Dismounting Ben's carriage, he mounted a horse and galloped fiercely.