Atlas Territory (3)
Guild Master Hyun-soo has delegated lordship of Ballus Territory.
You have become the lord of Ballus Territory.
Ballus Territory, the blacksmiths' domain.
Bak had been appointed as the new lord.
Having concluded the lordship delegation ceremony without Hyun-soo, Bak turned his gaze to those who wielded great influence in Ballus Territory.
Former lord Brelin, Lookk the son of Lookburg.
Sage Arte, and the elderly Per who led the blacksmiths, among others.
In addition, the territory's total forces now numbered nearly 700.
“Has Hyun-soo set off already?”
A few members of Hyun's Forge guild remained as well.
“Yes, he just left a moment ago. We should have gone with him……”
Bak gave a wry smile at Riesel's words.
“Can't be helped.”
Hyun's Forge had to manage both Ballus Territory and the newly acquired Atlas Territory.
What was one of the essential conditions to becoming king?
Vast territory.
He thought of water and vessels.
If the people and soldiers were the water, and there were many of them but the vessel was small, not all could be contained.
Of course, though he'd called it unavoidable, Bak couldn't hide his own bitterness.
Before the delegation ceremony began, Bak and the guild members had bid farewell to Hyun-soo.
Of course, once Hyun-soo and Nel arrived at Atlas Territory first, it would register as the guild's return point.
What left him bitter was the number of people heading to Atlas Territory.
Relocating territory residents was no easy task.
They were people who had stayed in one place for a long time.
Thus, only about 40 residents had volunteered to move.
And the biggest issue was the soldiers.
Only about 50 had gone with Hyun-soo to Atlas Territory.
Though that included the Gale Squadron, it was still an incredibly small number.
“Hyun's Forge has gotten too famous.”
In one way it was delightful; in another, not so much.
The reason Hyun-soo had taken only the bare minimum soldiers to Atlas was crystal clear.
To defend Ballus Territory in case of emergencies.
Hyun's Forge, now renowned.
The name held weight with both users and NPCs.
Especially among NPCs, there would be those eyeing what he possessed, given his status as the king's heir.
And among users, some would target it for personal gain.
“What we can do in Ballus is supply excellent weapons, armor, and farming tools.”
Thus, they had decided to fully separate the two territories.
The whole world knew Hyun-soo had received an additional territory as a reward, but not its location.
So the plan was to treat Ballus as the secondary territory and grow Atlas into the main one.
The newly appointed lord Bak stepped outside with the guild members.
He gazed toward the spot where Hyun-soo and the territory's people had departed.
Though this was a game, Bak wondered if he hadn't burdened Hyun-soo with too much.
Moreover, beneath the lofty title of the First Legend, his footsteps toward a new territory felt far too humble.
Our Hyun's Forge situation is definitely precarious right now.
At that moment, Bak spotted an unexpected figure entering Ballus Territory.
Seeing that person, the shadow that had clouded Bak's face lifted completely.
Right, we've got this guy on our side!
Bak felt an immense surge of reassurance.
***
Hyun-soo had crafted a special backpack for Bokdeongi.
Bokdeongi was sleeping soundly in the front pouch of the backpack as the horse Hyun-soo rode pressed on toward Atlas Territory.
Hyun-soo felt a pang of bitterness looking at the scant 50 soldiers and about 40 residents.
The silver lining was that Nel had analyzed the map to Atlas and plotted a route free of monster spawns.
Nel, riding beside him, spoke up at the worry etched on Hyun-soo's face.
“The great thing about Atlas is that it's an independent territory.”
“Independent territory?”
“Yes. An independent territory belongs to a nation but isn't influenced by it. Especially Atlas here—it's set up as a divine-granted territory, which gives it even more autonomy.”
“What's so good about an independent territory?”
“Freedom to expand.”
“Ah……”
“It's far removed from Goyad Kingdom proper, with no other territories nearby. Whatever we pioneer becomes ours.”
“Pioneering won't be easy, though.”
“Exactly. But if we succeed, Lord Hyun-soo, you might one day call them not residents, but your subjects.”
A wry smile crossed Hyun-soo's face.
Being an independent territory meant its lord was like a king to them.
My subjects……
Residents were ultimately tied to the nation, even if they belonged to the territory.
And Hyun-soo was keenly aware of it.
“We need strong forces, whether guild members or NPCs.”
“I agree. But as we discussed before, they're not easy to acquire. Still, what kind of forces do you hope for?”
Hyun-soo thought of Hyun's Forge.
It achieved perfect harmony.
Healer Bellia.
Swordsmen Riesel and Han-ul.
Archers Ian and Hye-ji.
Fighter Tae-hoon and tanker Bak, and so on.
But there were gaps.
“Hmm, mages first off. An exceptional one could crush enemies in PvP with massive AoE spells.”
“Agreed. And assassins seem necessary too.”
“Assassins? Oh, yeah, that makes sense.”
Assassins didn't just kill enemy leaders.
Skilled ones shadowed and protected like ghosts.
“Come to think of it, we don't have anyone skilled with spears in the guild either? A master spearman's damage outstrips most swordsmen.”
Hyun-soo nodded along with Nel.
“Right, and excluding me and Lady Bellia, we lack non-combat classes too. Bringing in top talents from those would be great.”
The two smiled like people lost in happy daydreams.
Of course, Hyun's Forge could recruit such people anytime they wanted right now.
The issue was why they joined.
Blindly accepting those after gain could unravel the tight-knit guild centered on a few core members.
They kept discussing ideal recruits, and some listeners felt a jolt.
Assassin Kabel.
Mage Jane.
Spear master Bangbae.
Territory King Glass.
Thanks to Kabel's skill, they were all disguised as NPCs.
Their character info was inaccessible, making them look like ordinary NPCs.
And in chat, beyond guild and party channels, there was group chat.
They shook their heads.
It was just that even they thought their classes were exactly what Hyun's Forge needed.
Then Kabel's expression turned shocked.
The copycat crew all wore stunned looks.
They all glanced at Bokdeongi, sleeping blissfully in the backpack with a snot bubble.
Bokdeongi was mumbling, perhaps dreaming of food.
Only he knew the truth.
***
Hyun's Forge's precarious state stemmed from its explosive growth.
Others took four years for what Hyun-soo achieved in one.
But it wasn't all despair.
Atlas Territory, rewarded as the top guild in the continental war.
Hyun-soo held high hopes for it.
Not granted by any king, but directly from Purum Corp—it might house plentiful soldiers and residents!
If so, one big worry off my chest!
Nel seemed to share his thoughts.
“We're almost there. Finally, I can see it—our new home……!”
The horses naturally quickened their pace.
Excitement lit the pair's faces.
But upon entering the territory, their smiles vanished.
You have arrived at Atlas Territory.
You have learned about Atlas Territory.
Ares's alerts sometimes tailored themselves to the recipient.
A territory five times the size of Ballus Territory.
Atlas Territory's scale was far grander than imagined.
1,031 residents inhabit the territory.
564 soldiers are stationed here.
Yet the resident count was low relative to the size. The soldiers were even more alarming.
Normal territories had 15-20 soldiers for 90 residents.
Sometimes as few as 10.
Here, it was barely 50.
“Ooh…… Are you the new lord we've been waiting for?”
“Lord!”
The residents approaching Hyun-soo looked ragged and filthy.
Unlike typical territories, they resembled starved wretches.
And the sounds echoing from nearby.
Kyaaack!
Kyahaaack—
Kyagagagak—!
Myriad monsters infest the area around Atlas Territory.
Subjugate the monsters to restore the territory's peace.
A key criterion for a good territory was comfort.
That meant well-pioneered surroundings free of monsters.
This place had none of that.
Hyun-soo surveyed the entire territory.
Buildings lay crumbled everywhere, and there weren't many to begin with.
It was little more than a shantytown.
“We heard the new lord was coming!”
A filthy-looking man who seemed to oversee the place led Hyun-soo.
Hyun-soo saw residents crowding around him, soldiers with broken armor and weapons.
Their eyes brimmed with immense hope.
Hope that the new lord would let them eat their fill and sleep warmly.
This isn't the territory I envisioned……
Hyun-soo's expectations shattered miserably.
He'd imagined at least basic finances and viability.
But it fell short of even that minimum, vast only in land.
And the gathered people.
Seeing them, Hyun-soo was at a loss for words.
This is my main territory, my subjects……?
Darkness clouded his vision.
Even the lord's castle lay in ruins, and the man leading them raised both arms in a gesture to bow.
Residents and soldiers followed, attempting a new lord inauguration rite.
The copycats watching thought:
This is the territory the First Legend will lead?
This is a total slum.
Hyun's Forge has it rough.
At that moment.
Kabel's eyes shook violently.
One existence eclipsed all the despair.
“……Hold on. You can't do the lord inauguration without me.”
A clear voice rang out.
The crisp clash of fine armaments sounded too.
Hyun-soo's despairing expression flipped.
The copycats witnessed the unbelievable.
A knight atop a pristine white steed. Behind her, 50 soldiers in splendid armor.
She dismounted and removed her helmet, revealing silver hair.
Tucking the helmet under her right arm, she knelt on one knee in perfect courtesy.
Filthy residents and soldiers mirrored her.
The troops she'd brought knelt powerfully in unison.
Finally……
Hyun-soo's breath quickened.
The moment he'd long awaited.
Its protagonist spoke.
“Lord Hyun-soo is now my sun.”
You may now take Bella as your vassal.
“I pledge eternal loyalty.”
Beneath despair's sky, the brightest light sealed her oath.
At that moment.
In the representative's office, watching the monitor, CEO Lee Se-jin wore an intrigued expression.
The reason: the territory user Hyun-soo had reached was one Purum Corp had long planned.
“He's finally arrived—at the growth-type territory, Atlas.”