Chapter 156

Ballass Territory's blacksmiths had grown tremendously thanks to Hyun-soo.

Even now, under his guidance and with the foundational manual he'd created, their skills were steadily improving.

It was during these times that a young blacksmith named Pick earned the nickname "the weird blacksmith."

The reason he was called that?

His skills were undoubtedly exceptional, and he grew faster than most, but nearly all his masterpieces—the ones forged so brilliantly—came with bizarre effects.

Effects on artifacts.

Unless you were Hyun-soo, you couldn't force them in the exact direction you wanted.

They simply reflected the materials and the direction of your thoughts during creation.

And so, Pick's creations were born.

A masterpiece, and Unique grade at that.

When he first created it, Pick thought he'd finally achieved his lifelong dream.

But upon closer inspection, something was off.

The other blacksmiths who examined it pointed it out.

"Massive contribution on final hit? That means stealing the bulk of contribution by landing the killing blow on a mob someone else softened up, right? Don't outsiders call that 'stealing'?"

"The enemy-gathering arrow is weird too. If every shot pulls in monsters within 50 meters, isn't that suicide?"

"And 'Not Me, That Guy'? Holy crap, it means your own arrow draws aggro, then passes it to someone else?"

The blacksmiths' overall verdict?

"Great bow if you want to screw someone over. But you'll make enemies for life, so better not use it."

In short, Pick's works were so bizarre they were shunned.

Most of his other artifacts were the same.

All the blacksmiths looked at him with pity.

"Your skills are top-notch, but everything you make..."

"You're the best in skill, but the effects that stick..."

Pick cursed his rotten luck with effects.

But one person disagreed.

"Pick, every piece of equipment exists for a reason. Someday your masterpieces will shine, and someone will need them desperately."

It was the newly appointed lord, Hyun-soo.

Clinging to those words for comfort, Pick stuck with blacksmithing and headed to the forge again today.

That's when Prime Minister Nel arrived.

"Pick, the lord needs your artifact."

"Th-the lord?"

"Yes. Here's 50,000 gold from him. He wants to buy your Bow for Your Enemies."

Selling the bow for 50,000 gold left Pick with a fresh wave of emotion.

Nel soon used the gifting function to send it to the lord.

Still, he couldn't help wondering.

What the heck is he gonna use this enemy-making bow for?

***

Dun.

He was a veteran among veterans, having climbed these Beres Mountains hundreds of times.

No one knew the terrain, paths, and monsters better.

What the hell is going on?

Something was wrong.

This was an area where monsters rarely appeared.

Dun had vaulted past the mobs as usual, but now he wore a puzzled expression.

He'd made it clear: he'd take the front, pull all the aggro, and keep the blacksmith Hyun-soo as safe as possible.

In return, Hyun-soo would provide ranged support from behind with his bow.

But suddenly, monsters swarmed from everywhere.

"Grraaah! What? Why are there so maaaany!?"

Ice-attribute monsters poured in from another direction too.

The weird part? They were all rushing only at Dun.

The reason lay in Hyun-soo's bow.

Surrounded by dozens of monsters, Dun was losing his mind.

Why only me!?

In mountains, he grew 30% stronger.

He could handle them somehow, but it was grueling.

"Climbing the mountain really is too much for me, huh."

From behind, Hyun-soo spoke in a frightened voice.

Dun had promised.

To take him to where Sage Arte waited!

"We should head back."

Above all, he had to get Hyun-soo to the Snowy Blessing Zone.

"Even you're struggling, Dun."

Dun fought through the monsters, then flashed a confident grin.

"Don't worry. This happens all the time. Haha, I might look beat, but it's like eating cold porridge for me... these guys are... "

Wham!

Dun crumpled from a yeti club to his temple. Blood poured from his head.

"...?"

"?"

"...?"

"??"

Dun was baffled. For a split second, Hyun-soo's face had twisted like this:

What the fuck...?

Hallucination?

Hyun-soo's expression cleared quickly as he spoke.

"Guess I really can't make it up."

Dun chugged top-grade potions worth 100,000 won each.

"No, no! Just support me a bit, haha!"

With things this way, Dun decided to think positive.

More mobs mean more hunting, right? Oh, that one's wide open.

That instant.

Thwack!

An arrow from behind one-shot the exposed monster.

When two people hunt one mob, the contribution system kicks in.

EXP splits based on contribution.

Usually, the killing blow taker gets a big share.

Huh? Even so, why am I getting so little EXP?

Dun couldn't understand. The truth was in Hyun-soo's bow.

Dun chalked it up to imagination.

Every time.

Thuk!

"Oh, hit."

Puk!

"Azuza!"

Pet!

"Ooh...!"

"Wh-what?"

"Huh? Why? I'm doing my best to help you, Dun!"

Hyun-soo's innocent words left Dun feeling off.

Why does this feel so shitty?

Anyway, Hyun-soo inwardly cheered.

Dun kept tanking, chugging top potions.

Once cleared a bit, his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠arrows gathered monsters in a 50m radius.

And Hyun-soo slyly aimed only for last hits.

Life was easy for Hyun-soo.

Pulling arrows from afar for kills and EXP? Perfect.

Chugging top potions for comfort, Dun took solace.

At least that yeti glove dropped earlier. Plus gold and junk items—sell 'em, and potion costs are covered... Huh?

Dun glanced back suddenly.

Hyun-soo was swiftly picking up all the drops.

"You fucking bastard!"

"?"

"...?"

"??"

Dun panicked.

Mistake. A vet like me making this error.

He quickly found a way out.

"Hey, you monster fuckers!"

Dun swallowed tears.

His rage-fueled sword shredded monsters.

And Hyun-soo got a notification.

Hyun-soo was casually farming EXP, gold, artifacts, and climbing this hellish Beres range.

Let's see: 2 levels up, +2 Dexterity, gold and item sales worth about 500,000 won? Jackpot!

Hyun-soo beamed at reliable(?) Dun's back.

Battered Dun finally cleared the surrounding monsters.

Huff huff. Never hunted this many before.

Dun hadn't known he could fight this well.

It stemmed from iron will: Drag this bastard to Snowy Blessing Zone and kill him.

Dun's words were half-lie, half-truth.

The lie: Taking him to Snowy Blessing Zone to kill him.

The truth:

"This Sage's Tower is near Snowy Blessing Zone."

Pointing at the faintly visible tower as they walked with Hyun-soo.

"See? Real Sage's Tower, right?"

Dun boasted.

"Probably first time anyone's climbed this far this fast."

It burned inside, but he'd rushed this punk here.

Soon, they neared Snowy Blessing Zone.

Dun explained it.

"A truly amazing place—EXP triples and more."

Leading Hyun-soo, Dun got the alert.

Alerts for EXP/drop boosts and penalties followed.

Dun skipped the penalties.

Turning with a grin at Hyun-soo.

"Just cross Snowy Blessing Zone, and Sage's Tower is yours."

He waited.

For the punk to enter.

"Thanks to you, Dun. So easy... "

Finally, Hyun-soo stepped in.

Dun's face hardened.

"Thanks my ass. You're dead anyway."

Dun spotted his waiting comrades.

They were insanely strong.

Of course.

Those seeking Sage's Tower were high-level users.

Opposing them meant they were big shots too.

"This the guy? The one who fed you shit?"

"Pfft, a blacksmith with a bow on his back thinking he can solo Beres Mountains."

"Whoa... those artifacts look real nice."

And.

"You have no idea how long I've waited for this. I'll make you die in agony. Trauma so bad you log out for good."

All top 300 rankers.

Wind Sorcerer Won: 131st.

Assassin Burns: 115th.

Swordsman Bon: 107th.

Mountain Guardian Dun: 99th, high ranker.

They eyed the baffled Hyun-soo.

"Why do this...?"

"Simple. Artifacts are rare. Even rankers don't get Rare, Epic, Unique easily. High-levels gear up with years of savings. Kill 'em, and those treasures drop—especially here, with 3x drop rate. And 100% equipped artifact drops."

Dun grinned.

"Kill a few, sell the drops, gear up stronger."

"Stealing years of their hard work?"

Dun and crew laughed.

Burns saw no need for more talk.

Pierce the throat in one go...!

But he frowned.

Body... won't move...?

Burns rolled his eyes.

Others were frozen too.

Hyun-soo equipped his hidden sword from inventory.

Their eyes bulged at the sword.

Obviously legendary.

Air swirled into the blade.

Supreme Sword's gimmick: base attack randomized by chance.

"You know?"

His naive, clumsy expression shifted completely.

Lord of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a territory.

One of fewer than ten barons.

The emotionless charisma of a pinnacle master left them rattled.

"You guys get 3x drop rate too."