For You (4)
The Goyad Kingdom, known as the Land of Swords, was a small nation, but it was one of the places that drew countless users.
In particular, this peaceful realm, beloved by sword-wielding users, had suddenly grown boisterous.
"Clear the way!"
From the capital's entrance to the castle gates.
Soldiers emerged to open the path.
Among the tens of thousands of onlookers, nearly half were users.
"Who's that?"
"Must be someone really important."
"A high noble, maybe!"
Amid the users' eager anticipation, a single carriage appeared, escorted by five soldiers. Trailing behind were over a thousand ragged, beggar-like figures.
At first, the users thought they were just beggars, but then the common folk erupted in cheers.
"Woooaaah!"
"You've suffered greatly!"
"Welcome back to the kingdom's embrace!"
Among the prisoners, one man with a sword at his side choked up and shouted.
"The hero has arrived!"
"Woooaaah!"
The users were stunned.
The NPCs were cheering fervently at the word "hero."
Finally, the carriage halted before the royal castle, and its door swung open.
"A named NPC?"
"Isn't that the Sword Saint?"
The figure who emerged left the users in shock.
Covered head to toe in blood, he looked like he could collapse at any moment.
But what shocked them more was something else.
'A—a user!?''A user getting this kind of treatment in Ares?'
Yet he was clever enough to conceal his face with a wolf helm.
And then, an even more astonishing sight unfolded before them.
The Sword King Barad—one of the most famous named NPCs on the Korean Ares server—hurried forward with urgent steps.
He paused upon seeing the man, momentarily speechless.
Then, in an even greater shock, Barad approached slowly and pulled him into a brief embrace.
"My friend, I knew you would not yield."
"……!"
"……!"
It was a scene of pure shock for the users.
The most charismatic NPC in Ares, infamous for his cold demeanor toward users, was showing affection to one player.
"Let's head inside for now."
Hen, a novice user who had just arrived in the Goyad Kingdom capital, watched the bloodstained man in the brown coat from behind.
'I want to become like that guy someday.'
He wasn't alone.
From beginners to experts, everyone gazed at him with envy.
Hyun-soo was unaware.
He had no idea that he had become an object of admiration for so many users.
Finally back in his home nation, the Goyad Kingdom, Hyun-soo was wise.
Amid the throngs of welcoming crowds, he donned Fenrir's helm to hide his identity, lest it be exposed.
Barad spoke.
"Rest and receive treatment first. I shall summon you tomorrow."
The person most curious about Hyun-soo's negotiation score was undoubtedly His Highness Barad.
But even he judged that Hyun-soo needed rest now.
The kingdom's finest priests attended Hyun-soo in a lavish chamber, healing him swiftly.
Once treated, Hyun-soo lay on the bed.
He planned to log out, sleep a bit, and return.
But before that, something puzzled him.
'What the hell was that?'
During his fight with Kun, an unidentified voice had echoed in his mind.
'Break but do not yield.'
Break but do not yield was the mantra Hyun-soo always repeated when pushing himself to the limit.
He also recalled thinking do not retreat.
And that day, he had said I will prevail.
'Break but do not yield. Do not retreat. I will prevail.'
Putting it together formed this phrase.
Hyun-soo believed no alert in Ares was meaningless.
That mysterious voice in his ear would soon reveal its shape.
After resting and waking, Ian would finish appraising the bow's value, and he'd claim rewards based on his negotiation score.
'Ugh, so tired……'
Hyun-soo logged out.
After the negotiator Hyun-soo returned.
Nobles flooded into the Goyad Kingdom from all corners, like a tidal wave.
Dozens filled the audience chamber alone.
Hundreds of renowned knights had also gathered in the castle.
Count Bau, aligned with the knights, stood as their representative.
And many other nobles.
They had come due to rumors that the king favored the blacksmith Hyun-soo excessively.
Behind the title of "friend," the gifts he planned to bestow were too many.
Marquis Falo, Barad's closest confidant, stood as their spokesman.
"……Thus, the nobles' sentiments are unfavorable. Even knights of the same baronet rank cannot comprehend how he receives a higher title in this short time."
Marquis Falo had seen Hyun-soo once before in the royal garden.
A man who might one day become king.
Yet he always maintained neutrality.
He checked the king when wrong and rebuked nobles for their errors.
Barad asked.
"Marquis Falo, if you had gone as negotiator, what score would you have achieved? And these nobles or knights here?"
After deep thought, Marquis Falo replied.
"I believe I would have secured about 50%."
Marquis Falo had gone bare-handed as well.
If he had resolved Praam Kingdom's shortages, 50% would have been feasible.
"Average nobles, 30%. The knights likely none."
Barad didn't know Hyun-soo's exact negotiation score either.
Nor did he wish to give what even he couldn't achieve.
"……I shall follow your choice."
He understood their feelings too.
Hyun-soo had been a baronet for less than two months.
Elevating him rashly now would breed backlash.
One who sits in that seat must bear its weight.
The nobles eased.
Now, the king had another matter.
"Enter."
The door creaked open.
A man in knight's attire entered.
"You became lord to many in the prisoner camp."
"You overpraise me."
The prisoners had returned.
Barad was already astonished that Praam had released them all.
'What on earth happened?'
Even he didn't know the details.
"I shall send you to Albai Territory."
Albai was deemed the kingdom's finest city for living.
"Are you satisfied?"
Barad smiled faintly.
A small reward for their hardships.
Soon, Eden spoke.
"We are deeply grateful, Your Highness. However, there is one noble we and the prisoners wish to follow."
Barad looked puzzled.
"We wish to become Baronet Hyun-soo's territory folk."
Barad's puzzlement deepened.
Eden, the vigilante captain, continued.
"Even a barren land is fine. Not even the livable Albai. We want to cultivate it with him, start anew with him."
Barad was impressed.
'Already a thousand...?'
A thousand territory folk.
Many nobles here had come hoping for prisoner grants.
A thousand were prime manpower.
Their value was immeasurable.
But a problem arose.
'...A baronet cannot hold territory folk.'
Even as a count, housing a thousand was tough.
Barad questioned him first.
"Baronet Hyun-soo approaches."
Barad recalled his talk with Bella.
'What score would silence tongues when granting a new territory to a baronet?''Hard to say, but it must awe us king and nobles alike.'
Awe.
To awe king and nobles.
'You need something to stun this assembly.'
Soon, Hyun-soo entered.
The negotiation score was a comprehensive tally.
In RPGs with dungeons, rewards varied by clear score.
Negotiation score was similar.
Rewards were unknown until fully revealed.
Hyun-soo was curious too.
How far had his feats in Praam Kingdom reached?
Entering the audience chamber, he sensed palpable tension.
Countless unfamiliar nobles eyed him tensely.
Approaching Barad, the king smiled faintly.
To Barad, the score meant dominance in peace.
How much he seized would shape the two nations' future.
Then.
"Your Highness, may I enter?"
"……Enter."
Barad frowned at the interruption during this pivotal moment.
A retainer who avoided him unless urgent spoke in awe.
"Praam Kingdom sends a tremendous gift. Heavenly Spear Ben instructed his aides to say."
The retainer spoke in bewilderment.
"'The friend of my friend Hyun-soo is my friend as well.'"
The nobles stirred.
"Fr—friend!?"
"A friend!"
"Ben extended peace first!?"
"That proud old man!?"
Barad was stunned.
What had Hyun-soo done there?
Barad finally checked.
Praam Kingdom's king, Heavenly Spear Ben, extends the hand of peace first.
With exchanges now possible, vast trade activities open up.
Through the link of blacksmith Hyun, mutual aid may arise at times.
Goyad Kingdom's national power rises by 5%.
A 5% national power boost for a kingdom. Even a king couldn't achieve that.
Barad swallowed dryly, asking Hyun-soo.
"……What negotiation score did you achieve?"
Dozens of nobles.
All who led the kingdom fixed on Hyun-soo's lips.
Hyun-soo produced his 10-day record.
"227%."
"……!"
"……!"
"……!"
From 180% with prisoners' hearts, Ian's Red Hood Guild annihilation, Ben's reward.
And prior feats.
In the hushed chamber, Barad eyed them.
"Any objections to my forthcoming decision?"
The nobles who had worried and opposed moments ago.
One spoke.
"……We can accept whatever you decree, Your Highness."
Barad took in his retainers.
The initial distrust faded; they now viewed Hyun-soo differently.
Some anticipated his path to king; others the impact of his score on Goyad.
Amid those gazes, Barad spoke gravely.
"Hyun-soo, attend."
Hyun-soo knelt on one knee, heart pounding.
'I gave my all.'
No regrets. Hyun-soo yearned to rise higher.
'Even as a count, I could bring 50 Arham soldiers.'
Barad's voice rang.
"I appoint baronet Hyun-soo to viscount, a rank above count."
Hyun-soo's eyes widened.
'V—viscount...?'
Unexpected.
Viscount was just below count.
Goyad had only two counts and eight viscounts.
Congratulations.
You are the ninth user to become a viscount.
As viscount, you receive 50,000 gold monthly from the state.
You may command and lead up to 150 soldiers.
You may become lord of a small territory.
Lord of a small territory.
Those words rang priceless to Hyun-soo.
He imagined it.
Standing before countless territory folk.
'When will I get a territory?'
Barad continued without pause.
"Furthermore, Viscount Hyun-soo shall take the thousand prisoners to his territory and govern them."
Hyun-soo looked puzzled.
'My territory?'
What did that mean?
Barad smiled faintly, announcing the final reward.
"I grant Viscount Hyun-soo the Ballus Territory."