Server Integration (1)
23,000 territory residents and a total force of 4,500 troops.
The notification had declared it.
You possess the most territory residents and troops among all viscounts.
This "among all viscounts" encompassed the entire world.
Hyun-soo gazed at the countless residents and soldiers staring back at him, a mix of worry and anticipation stirring within.
That worry was the same one he'd harbored before.
Is walking the path of the saint truly right for me?
A dual-class saint would undoubtedly be an exceptional lord class.
And according to Karn, the saint's power lay in nurturing those around him.
The power to nurture those around me.
It was something Hyun-soo desperately needed, without question.
But another thought lingered.
If I claim the saint class here, I'll never obtain another one.
A triple class?
That wouldn't emerge for another ten years, at least.
In other words, if Hyun-soo became a saint, he'd spend the rest of his life as the Blacksmith of God and a saint.
A saint is undoubtedly incredible.
There was certainly allure in the saint's power.
It stemmed from Karn's words.
The saint was the one who had forged the Saga Stones.
And Karn had suggested that becoming a saint would inherit the power to craft Saga Stones.
Yet greedy Hyun-soo felt only regret.
I don't even know what other dual classes might await...
He zeroed in on this point as crucial.
I've already claimed the two greatest powers from the saint.
They were the legendary stat Overwhelm and the transcendent-grade skill Ultimate.
Having already obtained them, nothing else could unlock powers on that level.
In a situation where he'd gained so much of the saint's strength without even becoming one, walking the saint's path felt obligatory.
But then Hyun-soo realized something.
"Are you our new lord?"
"Lord...!"
"Are you walking the path of the saint?"
He might have no choice but to follow the saint's path.
The Seeds of Life awakened them, but they hadn't guaranteed their respect.
23,000 residents and 4,000 soldiers—a staggering number.
The easiest way to calm their confusion and win them over was his pursuit of the dual-class saint.
Karn approached.
"Lord, please inherit the saint's power at once."
Hyun-soo knew why Karn said this.
It came from the quest he'd received from Karn.
Seeds of Life
📍 Grade: ???
📍 Restriction: Lord of Atlas
📍 Reward: Dual-class Saint
📍 Penalty on Failure: Cannot change to Saint
📍 Description: You are the lord of Atlas. Gather Seeds of Life through quests, monster hunts, and all other means. Collect as many as possible.
The quest mentioned gathering Seeds of Life, but the reward was explicitly the dual-class saint.
"You possess more than enough qualifications. Why haven't you inherited it yet? Stepping onto that path will quell their confusion."
"I know."
Hyun-soo was just as flustered.
The reason was clear: a notification like this should have appeared for him.
You may change jobs to the dual-class Saint.
Contrary to expectations, it hadn't.
Why isn't it ringing?
Whether laced with anticipation or worry, this notification should have triggered the moment he used the Seeds of Life.
"Lord?"
As Hyun-soo offered no reply, the residents seemed even more confused.
And they weren't the only ones bewildered.
***
Saint Haron.
He was more flustered than anyone by the current situation.
40% have awakened...?
Initially, he'd set it so that only about 7% of residents and troops would awaken with the Seeds of Life.
And even that 7% would have allowed anyone not a villain to walk the saint's path.
But an enormous variable had arisen.
Moreover, the [Job Quest: Seeds of Life] was ultimately a trial from Haron himself.
Having achieved it so spectacularly demanded a fitting reward.
The saint class isn't enough.
It was beyond absurd.
So Haron pondered.
Then, the holy king...?
That didn't make sense either.
His feats were too grand for saint, yet too meager for holy king.
Besides, the holy king was a power for a nation's ruler, not some mere lord.
Haron closed his eyes, deep in thought.
He derived the best possible solution.
Opening his eyes, he devised it.
"Mang, mang!"
Bokdeongi yipped softly beside him.
Haron gave a wry smile and patted the pup's head.
"Yes, this has all come to pass because your master is so exceptional."
Haron enacted a new plan.
***
The awakened residents and troops are confused.
As if a notification rang in Hyun-soo's ears.
This was perhaps inevitable.
800 years ago, before vanishing into a handful of ashes, the saint had said:
You will awaken again in the future, so fear not.
Saint, are you telling us to serve another?
Their sorrow and anxiety had grown.
It was only natural.
Suddenly, their lord had changed.
But the saint replied:
Fear not. He is the one to succeed me.
They could finally breathe easy.
If he was the successor to that one's will, he was trustworthy.
Yet when asked if he was the saint's heir, he offered no answer.
Hyun-soo hadn't become one yet, so he couldn't respond.
To those awakened, the voice was familiar; to Hyun-soo and Hyun's Forge, utterly alien.
-He cannot become a saint.
You cannot become a saint.
What?
Hyun-soo's face twisted.
The residents grew even more confused by that declarative voice.
It sounded as if he lacked the qualifications to become a saint.
But the situation reversed.
-Because he is sapling for the Holy King.
You are the sapling of the Holy King.
The Holy King is a being who leads an entire continent.
Holy King.
Learning of it, Hyun-soo was stunned.
I'm the sapling for a holy king?
What followed from this revelation.
The saint is merely a lesser version of the Holy King.
How could one destined for kingship tread a lowly path?
So the notifications declared.
The sapling of the Holy King is extraordinary.
You need not walk the saint's path.
Upon founding your kingdom, you will obtain the Holy King.
You already possess two of the saint's most powerful abilities.
You may unlock the final one through a quest.
Hyun-soo was briefly disoriented, then grasped the new truth.
Founding a kingdom opens the Holy King's path. That means I don't need a dual class now!
It was a triumph for Hyun-soo.
His worry—that the once-in-a-lifetime dual-class opportunity would vanish before he became king—was dispelled.
It'll take at least a year to become king.
In that time, he could choose a better dual class or path if one appeared.
Yet even then, he gained an additional power left by the saint.
These three powers were the saint's core strengths.
Without changing classes, I've gained the saint's powers, and I can become the Holy King later—or choose another path.
Hyun-soo was moved.
All his concerns melted away like snow.
Haron's voice, once resounding, faded like a mirage.
But the affirmation from the one they'd once served held immense weight.
"He's the sapling of the Holy King...!"
"Long live our new lord!"
"Lead us from now on!"
The awakened residents and troops rejoice at the new lord's path.
Of course, earning their true loyalty would depend on Hyun-soo's future actions.
***
The monitoring period on Hyun-soo by the Chinese branch had ended.
-We can extend it another week if you wish...
"No, it's fine! Really fine, truly fine!"
-...?
The Chinese Special User Management Team shuddered.
In any case, Branch Chief Tao joined the video conference with compiled data on Atlas.
-What!? 23,000 residents and 4,000 troops!? No user has achieved that scale yet!
-A saint class from the second chapter? He's even become the sapling of the Holy King, awakening most of the saint's powers without becoming one!?
Branch Chief Tao could scarcely believe his own words.
What is this...?
Atlas, fully planned by China, had turned user Hyun-soo into a formidable lord.
And they fixated on the Holy King sapling.
Tao let out a hollow laugh.
"He hasn't changed classes yet, but he'll become the Holy King eventually. There's no way user Hyun-soo chooses something else in this process."
Lee Se-jin, the CEO, responded to Tao's words.
-Branch Chief Tao, I am a dreamer.
Lee Se-jin was indeed known for his many delusions.
-Most of those delusions were deemed impossible, yet so many have come true. Ares itself is a prime example.
What is he saying?
Tao couldn't comprehend the talk of delusions.
-Even a 0.1% chance means we must never say "never" in Ares. User Hyun-soo has become the one and only user.
The one and only user.
All branches leaned in.
-That one and only user has extracted all the saint's powers and can now look to other choices. And as you know, the Holy King isn't a class.
Indeed.
The Holy King wasn't a class, so it didn't count toward dual classes.
It was a king's title, a king's seat.
"What are you trying to say? What delusion are you spinning?"
Tao pressed.
-In my delusion, user Hyun-soo walks the Holy King's path while challenging the Hegemon's or Tyrant's.
"...Isn't that too absurd a delusion?"
Yet all branch chiefs nodded in agreement.
They acknowledged his delusions had gone too far in reality.
But they understood Lee Se-jin's intent.
US Branch Chief John spoke.
-Dual-class opportunities are once per user. Yet user Hyun-soo is the sole user with another chance. This opens paths to Tyrant, Hegemon, or endless others. The very granting of extra chances is absurd.
"..."
Tao finally understood.
A single extra chance birthed infinite possibilities.
And all branch chiefs fixed stern gazes on him.
Their eyes said it all.
-You take responsibility.
***
Se-jin ended the video chat.
He knew it was an absurd delusion himself.
Walking the Holy King's path while challenging Hegemon or Tyrant.
Yet Se-jin also thought:
How many such delusions have I had?
Curiously, many delusions about user Hyun-soo had come true.
By the time Lee Se-jin returned to his office.
Knock knock—
World Promotion Team Leader Ayaka entered.
With server integration imminent.
He knew she'd agonized over the storyline.
Her expression brimmed with confidence.
"We've produced a teaser better than the first one."
"What...?"
Se-jin knew it too.
Surpassing the original was tough.
Like most commercial films, where the sequel flops after the first.
"User Hyun-soo helped with the storyline, making this possible."
"User Hyun-soo?"
"Yes. Three days from now, with server integration, every Ares player worldwide will see the server integration teaser."
Indeed, global players had no choice.
It would play the moment they logged into their capsules.
After Ayaka left.
User Hyun-soo helped?
This delighted Se-jin.
The teaser 2.5 billion Ares users would see.
This was one of my delusions too.
Back when he first dreamed it, user Hyun-soo had been so small and insignificant.
Lee Se-jin eagerly awaited server integration day.
For one reason alone.
"I can't wait to see the server integration teaser."