Hatching (2)

After becoming lord, Hyun-soo logged out and immediately fell into a deep sleep.

After a full day of rest, he headed to the capsule.

Me, a lord...

Seeing the territory's residents show him their respect the day before had filled Hyun-soo with fresh emotions.

He had started the game just to get the Ares VVIP capsule, and now he was the master of ten thousand residents.

Hyun-soo had advised his residents to rest and ordered a full assessment of the damages.

He entered the audience chamber and slowly walked to the throne.

Sitting down, he flashed a small smile.

Let's see...

He had received the sword from Ger the day before and then logged out.

Now was the most important moment.

Time to check what he'd gained.

Hyun-soo reviewed yesterday's notifications.

Experience requirements skyrocket as levels climb into the higher hundreds.

Users in the 290s often took over two weeks per level.

Yet Hyun-soo had jumped nine levels in one go.

A bit disappointing.

He was now level 299—just one short of 300.

The rewards were impressive.

The standout was the second Calamity artifact.

Unlike the first Calamity artifact, this was Legend-grade, and it even boosted all effects by 5% with additional Calamity gear.

But the real prize was Calamity Leap.

With it, Hyun-soo could now fly through the skies with considerable freedom.

Not all notifications were good, though.

An ominous warning. At least the necklace boosted his offense and defense against evil by 30%.

And there was one crucial notification Hyun-soo had to check.

He'd heard something similar before.

He'd wondered what that name was.

Now he knew.

Hyun-soo was stunned.

Me, joining the likes of Sword King Barad and Spear Heaven Ben among the Continent's Ten Legends...?

The notification ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was clear: he could challenge for a new spot among the Ten Legends.

The "Master Craftsman's legend shall be written" was a one-time confirmation that he'd met the conditions.

Now he could pursue the path to becoming one of them.

And he could view the conditions.

But Hyun-soo rested when it was time to rest and worked when it was time to work.

Even with the path to the Continent's Ten Legends open, he'd postponed checking it yesterday to relax fully.

Now he pulled up the quest.

"What...?"

Hyun-soo looked shocked.

The way to become one of the Continent's Ten Legends?

Craft an artifact grade that didn't exist in Ares.

SSS-grade, huh.

He'd never taken an SSS quest before, so he knew this wouldn't be easy.

But it was worth the challenge.

Hyun-soo was certain.

If a new grade is born...

It would surpass the value of all six Legends he'd made combined.

Just then, Nel entered.

She had been appointed prime minister of Ballus Territory.

When he shared the news, Nel was amazed.

"The first user to challenge the Continent's Ten Legends... incredible. Becoming one would make you far stronger than you are now."

The results weren't in yet, but such privileges were a given.

Hyun-soo asked her,

"Be honest with me—what's the state of Ballus Territory right now?"

Nel had reviewed the financial statements and more.

She answered coolly.

"Resident population: low. Territory size: low. Military strength: mid-low. But revenue and net profit are high."

In short, Ballus lacked almost everything.

Troops, more residents, land to house them.

"Why so many lows?"

His question made sense on the surface—plenty of customers, high sales and profits.

"First, the terrain around the territory is extremely harsh, swarming with powerful monsters. Expansion was impossible. Former Lord Brelin paid nearby lords like Baron Ronso to protect against them—semi-coerced, of course. That cost a fortune in taxes."

Nel continued.

"Second, it's a new territory. Why would residents seeking better lives—or skilled blacksmiths—migrate to this remote outpost? They couldn't even if they wanted to, thanks to the monsters blocking expansion."

In other words, Lord Hyun-soo had a mountain of work ahead.

Secure troops and residents—and land to hold them.

Not easy.

Taxes alone didn't guarantee success.

Territories needed constant development, or they'd decline.

Then a notification rang for Hyun-soo and Prime Minister Nel.

"Gah...!"

Hyun-soo was aghast.

His first act as lord: a massive expense.

Nel looked unsurprised, as if she'd expected it.

"That's why guilds keep expanding businesses."

She gave a wry smile.

Territory management was a double-edged sword—huge profits if successful, total ruin if not, losing land, gold, and title.

Nel had one worry.

Can Hyun-soo and I really run this territory well?

She was capable, but she'd never managed a territory before.

Experience made all the difference.

Then came a knock.

Knock knock—

"It's Brelin."

The former lord now.

At Hyun-soo's approval, she entered.

She showed proper respect to her new superior in rank.

And said something unexpected.

"I'll cover all damages and add 20% more. Use the extra to comfort those who lost family."

It made sense for Brelin.

This had happened on her watch.

But the extra 20% showed true heart.

"My final gift to the residents."

Brelin knew she had to leave.

The continent had a strange tradition: former lords must depart the land.

She glanced around the audience chamber.

Her heart ached.

It was the small territory she and her father had built over a lifetime.

Then she handed Hyun-soo a potion.

"Payment for saving the territory."

Hyun-soo took it and marveled.

+1 to all stats?

The description said it was made by Lord Brelin herself—her finest work.

As she turned to leave, Hyun-soo spoke.

"I have a request."

"A request?"

Brelin looked puzzled.

"Stay in the territory and help me."

Her eyes wavered.

But she steadied herself.

"My lord, this continent has a tradition: when a new lord arrives, the former must leave."

To prevent clashing powers.

Hyun-soo smiled faintly.

"To be honest."

Meeting her eyes, he continued.

"I'm still lacking. I don't know how to lead a territory. My people are green too—they've got a long way to go. Having former Lord Brelin by our side would mean the world."

Brelin realized it.

He genuinely wanted her help—and wanted her to stay.

On the tradition, he said,

"I'm an outsider. Do I need to follow it?"

But she had another concern.

"Then under what pretext do I stay?"

Hyun-soo, as if prepared, replied,

"You seem exceptional at alchemy."

She truly was.

"Why not teach it to those who ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠want to learn?"

Brelin smiled softly.

He added,

"It'll take them years to master, so you'll have to stay here for life."

Brelin's smile bloomed brighter than ever.

"I'll do my utmost, my lord—in advising you and teaching alchemy. I'll even found an alchemy academy, at my own expense."

In that moment, she thought again.

Choosing him as new lord: no regrets whatsoever.

Watching from the side, Nel gazed at Hyun-soo and Brelin.

Hyun-soo really is different...

Most guild masters who became lords drove out the former lord.

Fear of threats to their position—or to solidify their own.

Brelin was different, but Hyun-soo forged his own path quietly.

And look at the results.

A free alchemy academy.

The revenue potential was unknown.

NPC blacksmiths were 99% male.

But now, thanks to Hyun-soo, the territory's women would learn alchemy.

Idle hands would vanish, accelerating development.

Brelin even seemed thrilled.

"I'll produce exceptional alchemists, no matter what."

Pouring her own funds into the academy, her passion burned.

After she left, Nel silently gave a thumbs-up.

Hyun-soo smiled faintly.

Then.

Crack-crack-crack—

Hyun-soo's heart raced.

Finally?

He hurriedly pulled the wolf egg from his inventory.

Cracks spread rapidly across its surface.

His greatest curiosity: what would emerge ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from it?

The next notification heightened his anticipation.

The egg shattered, revealing the creature inside.