Settling Scores Upon Reflection (4)
Hyun-soo had realized something while playing Ares.
The so-called high rankers value pride and honor more than money. And they look to the future rather than momentary greed.
In Korea, high rankers earned tens of billions of won annually.
Those in the world top 100 made hundreds of billions.
I wonder where that guy ranks.
Through him, Hyun-soo had noticed something.
He's just like me.
The current Hyun-soo could have pretended not to know and skipped repaying Kabel's favor.
But he had the power to repay it, and the bond with that man felt more important than money or his own desires.
That's why he thought this.
Even if I refused, you'd do the same.
"Ugh, such a stubborn fool. Ugh!"
Hyun-soo's prediction had hit the mark perfectly.
"I told him just 1 billion, but he sends 2 billion anyway?"
A smile crept onto Hyun-soo's lips.
Upgrading the Wicked Dagger to Transcendent will easily top 2.5 billion.
Hyun-soo knew that too, and he was certain he'd repay it in his own way.
I wonder what it says.
He pulled out the note—one of the ways he'd repay him.
In truth, Hyun-soo only knew he was one of the top assassins, not the world's greatest information broker.
So he opened the note without much expectation.
Grant Me Your Blessing. To Bokdeongi.
"......?"
Hyun-soo looked puzzled.
The phrase on the note, "Grant Me Your Blessing", was a kind of quest.
His mind flashed back to when he'd awakened the Seeds of Life in Atlas.
***
After awakening much of Atlas.
By walking the path of the Sage King, Hyun-soo encountered a notification.
You possess two of the three most powerful forces a saint should hold.
You can unlock the final one through a quest.
By walking the Sage King's path, Hyun-soo qualified for the saint's three greatest powers.
He'd been waiting for the quest to unlock the last one.
It triggered when a weary Hyun-soo entered the audience chamber.
Ding!
Hidden Quest: Grant Me Your Blessing
📍 Rank: S
📍 Restriction: Sage King Prodigy
📍 Reward: Wielder of Legends
📍 Penalty on Failure: Cannot Become Sage King
The Sage King was a special ruler who led the continent and shared deep bonds with many exceptional, powerful figures.
As a Sage King prodigy, you must prove your path by meeting such outstanding individuals.
Upon physical contact and uttering "Grant Me Your Blessing", you can receive their blessing, boosting stats, skill proficiencies, and more.
The boosts vary by their power level. Possible four times; must reach 100%+ blessing gauge across all four for success.
Cannot apply to anyone who has already blessed you once.
You have the power to receive blessings from four such individuals.
This quest was pure honey in one word.
Hyun-soo could choose his targets.
Of course, they'd need to approve.
Even if they offered no praise or blessing, it still applied.
The key was this.
Applying to the exceptional yields exceptional gains beyond stats.
Applying to the mediocre yields mediocrity.
Another variable: the blessing gauge.
Failing to fill it meant no Wielder of Legends—the saint's final ultimate power.
I still don't know exactly what Wielder of Legends does.
But he had expectations.
Like turning ordinary ore into Saga Stone, as discussed with Karn.
Can't get it from Barad, His Highness Ben, or Saintess Aria.
The description said no repeats from anyone who'd blessed him once.
Wonder what applying to top-tier folks yields.
Only four slots, so Hyun-soo had to choose carefully.
Fortunately, there was this notice too.
You may test on a target once.
However, blessings received via test do not grant actual stat increases.
In current Atlas Territory, only one person came to mind for testing.
Knock knock.
"My lord, may I enter?"
Bella comes when I call, just like she said!
Hyun-soo approached Bella, who entered for a report.
"Bella, I need to check something. Can you help?"
"Of course."
"Then hold my hand."
"Your hand? Why suddenly ask to hold hands?"
Bella looked flustered.
"Just something to verify."
"Ah... yes."
Soon Bella gently took Hyun-soo's hand.
"Grant Me Your Blessing. As a test."
Grant Me Your Blessing applied as test.
Effects vary by the blesser's power: stats, skill proficiencies, etc.
Bella's blessing descends.
Blessing gauge: 18% applied.
Acquired Sword Mastery +1.
Sword attack power and slashing +12%, critical hit chance +15%.
Strength and stamina +1% each.
As a test, not actually applied.
"......!?"
Hyun-soo was stunned. The effects exceeded his expectations.
On par with Barad's personal Friend's Blessing.
He recalled: all stats +8, sword attack +15%, slashing +10%, penetration +10%.
Even on Bella, it's comparable to Friend's Blessing...?
Then he noticed one thing.
The gauge is only 18%?
Four like Bella wouldn't unlock the saint's legacy.
Thus, Hyun-soo realized:
Minimum legend-grade required.
Gulp.
If Bella gave this much, what would a legend-grade yield?
"My lord, your hand..."
"Ah, sorry."
Hyun-soo released her hand, realizing he'd gripped too hard unconsciously.
Watching Bella leave after her report, he thought:
"This might be harder than I thought..."
Four legend-grades, requiring hand-holding or physical contact.
They had to be friendly and approve.
Bluntly asking a random legend, "Mind holding my hand?" would get him force-logged out on the spot.
Honey quest, sure—but tough to pull off.
And he wondered:
Does it factor in potential?
Potential meaning future growth.
Ares had many with legend potential unrealized.
"But pure potential probably yields less than actual legends."
Hyun-soo felt regret.
"Argh! Purm Corp! Argh! Pu-ruuum Corp!"
He realized how cunning and calculating they were.
If repeats were allowed, four from known folks would do it!
He'd be far stronger now.
He knew it already, but the blessing's power stung.
Only Sage Arte's viable now, but he's still in Ballus Territory. Gotta meet soon.
To complete it, he'd need bonds with three more legend-grades.
Only then can I unlock the saint's final power.
Hyun-soo sighed deeply.
"Sighhhh......"
Nothing in the world was easy.
That was his thought back then.
***
Now.
He reread the note.
Grant Me Your Blessing. To Bokdeongi.
Who the hell are you?
Hyun-soo posed the question to his anonymous friend.
It meant he knew about this quest of Hyun-soo's.
"What, x-ray vision or something?"
Kabel would have flinched if he heard.
"What kind of big shot is Bokdeongi to him?"
That his anonymous friend knew Bokdeongi showed his intel surpassed Hyun-soo's expectations.
Since he understands the quest, he's telling me to try it on Bokdeongi.
Only four uses total.
And must hit 100% gauge in four tries—requires caution.
But Hyun-soo trusted the guy who'd sent 2 billion after he asked for 1.
Let's do it.
Hyun-soo went to find Bokdeongi.
***
Puppies sleep a lot.
Bokdeongi was often found napping around the territory.
In a fruit vendor's arms.
Beside guard Fel.
Sometimes in the training grounds or stables.
Today, unusually, he slept on the dog bed Hyun-soo had set up.
"Bokdeongi~"
Calling him, Hyun-soo was baffled.
He'd wailed earlier over his friend leaving.
But now, deeply asleep, he lifted his head at Hyun-soo's voice.
Some fur matted, sleepy eyes gazing up.
"Maaang......"
Yawning hugely, still dazed, but tail wagging like a helicopter—adorably cute.
Then he trotted over, and Hyun-soo scooped him up.
"Aigoo, my baby, aigoo my baby."
The puppy's musky scent tickled his nose.
"Maaang......"
Hugging tight, Hyun-soo eyed the black nose dripping snot.
His mind recalled the notification when Bokdeongi hatched from the wolf egg.
It will be the most special existence.
Contrary to hype, Bokdeongi seemed just an ordinary(?) Shiba Inu mix.
Gluttonous, cute, waddling butt as he runs to me.
Just your typical country pup.
What power does he even have?
Of course, Hyun-soo didn't know Bokdeongi's feats so far.
He just clung to one hope.
I've seen the interviews.
Top rankers were buzzing about Hyun-soo.
With server integration, they might be scouting Atlas.
He needed to grow stronger.
Far beyond their expectations...
Analysts and high rankers worldwide dissected his damage, defense, skills, artifacts— even counters.
Hyun-soo needed power they couldn't predict.
"Bokdeongi, give me strength!"
The moment Hyun-soo invoked Grant Me Your Blessing, light shimmered from Bokdeongi.
"Maaaang...!"
Sensing it, Bokdeongi's eyes widened.
Bokdeongi's blessing descends.
No further notice came, so Hyun-soo panicked.
Some condition? Too weak to even apply...?
Plausible.
Bokdeongi's attack was ~3, defense 2.
Soon, a notice arrived.
Measurement difficult.
Possesses infinite potential.
Hyun-soo recalled his hypothesis.
Does high potential apply equal power?
He'd forgotten.
This fluffy, cute pup's potential was uniquely ∞ in the world.
Measurement complete.
Bokdeongi's blessing descends.
Blessing gauge: 49% acquired.
Hyun-soo was floored.
Bella was 18%—this was insane.
His heart pounded wildly.
Excitement over how much stronger Bokdeongi could make him.
Soon, notifications flooded in.