Babylon (4)

[The system reacts.]

[A wondrous achievement.]

That was the alert that rang out as soon as he tossed the two Babylon swords into the furnace.

'You think so too, huh? Yeah, me too.'

The reason for this notification was that he was in the middle of the "Sword God, and Blacksmith of God" quest.

As mentioned before, that quest had no penalty for failure.

It had been issued precisely because it was deemed an impossible domain.

But now, things had changed.

'What kind of reward will I get for crafting a fine Babylon in a situation the quest deemed impossible?'

??? reward.

For now, Hyun-soo had taken one step closer to that ??? reward.

And now, it was time to show it off.

Not some pretty piece of trash, but a Babylon that embodied the power of transcendence itself.

Bahala had logged back in before he knew it.

"My funds are sufficient."

He said it with a worried expression.

"Is it really okay to work without rest?"

This wasn't about whether skipping rest would prevent better artifacts—no, he was genuinely concerned for Hyun-soo.

"No problem. I'm used to this kind of intense work, and besides, it's pretty urgent, right?"

Hyun-soo gave a wry smile.

"It says it all over your face: 'Time's running out.' How could I not notice?"

Bahala couldn't help but chuckle.

"It'll take about four or five days. Go somewhere if you want."

"Nah, I'll stick around nearby."

"It'll be boring. You sure?"

"I'm good."

Bahala leaned against one wall of the forge.

He felt different from his usual self.

Just moments ago, he'd chuckled while looking at him.

'...Have I ever laughed while talking to a user?'

No.

Why? Because whenever he encountered users, he always received the same kind of looks.

'How are you so strong? Is your character name...?'

'It's you, right? World rank 1, Bahala! Whoaaa...'

'Bahala. It wasn't easy tracking you down.'

'I've been looking for you for ages. Let's fight.'

That was the price of standing at the top.

There was a wall between him and them.

But talking with Hyun-soo had taught him something.

'There is no wall.'

The gazes of admiration directed at him, the careful words chosen to impress even slightly.

The way they straightened their clothes, hoping for a crumb of approval.

An equal relationship.

He could feel it crumbling the walls.

And moreover.

Whoosh—!

In front of the roaring furnace flames that blazed even brighter.

Bahala, who had climbed to world rank 1 with his genius game sense, was witnessing it.

The genius blacksmith's skill that disrupted his own genius game sense.

"I'll delete the unnecessary parts, maximize Myeolak, and boost damage against evil. For contingencies, it'll need skills to handle other evils too. In exchange, I'll lower the stat boosts and sword mastery gains."

There was no hesitation in his voice or movements.

No pauses, no second thoughts.

It was the essential, powerful strength born from his experience.

"And with the new 100g of divine ore, I'll dramatically raise the durability so it won't break."

Indeed.

If Bahala had subdued much with his game sense.

Hyun-soo dominated the entire forge.

Time flowed on.

Bahala was so captivated he lost track of it entirely.

He took in every motion, every hammer strike, committing them to memory.

'This is a Master Craftsman.'

Respect, awe, envy, jealousy, inferiority.

Emotions he'd never felt in his life stirred within him.

Envy at how he could dominate the forge like that.

Inferiority toward what he himself lacked.

Respect for the one who concentrated—and even seemed to enjoy it.

Awe at the towering figure within the forge.

Thump—!

For the first time in four years, Bahala felt his heart race.

That pounding in his chest gradually transformed.

Clang—!

Clang—!

Claaaang—!

He didn't rest.

Not even as the rooster crowed at dawn, with the furnace still blazing.

Not in the chilly morning air, nor in the scorching midday heat.

Not even when night fell again and everyone else clocked out.

In that endless cycle, he was giving his all with true sincerity.

'For himself?'

No—the joy of handling new ore.

The obsession and greed to create something better.

The belief that this would lead him further.

But at the end of that process...

'There is something for me.'

Yes, ultimately, that sword was for himself.

Pouring such passion into a sword for someone else.

Before he knew it, Hyun-soo's immersion reached its final stage.

The striking Hanja characters for Myeolak engraved on the black blade caught the eye.

When it was finally complete.

Hyun-soo gazed down at the finished Babylon, his expression incredibly complex.

He spoke in a hollow voice.

"...Sorry, Bahala."

Bahala realized the creation had failed to meet expectations.

As a swordsman on the path to Sword God, he could sense the sword's aura.

It was a decent blade, but nothing special.

Yet he saw sincerity in him. He'd given his all. An impressive display ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of skill.

'It's not a lack of skill. He was just unlucky today.'

Ultimately, luck played a huge role in artifact creation.

It had been impossible from the start.

Just replicating it and opening that possibility deserved a standing ovation.

Bahala wasn't the type to give one.

He just pondered how to comfort this master craftsman who'd poured his heart into it.

He wasn't used to offering solace to others.

But that thought shifted in an instant.

Hyun-soo met his eyes and said,

"Forty billion won't cut it. Make it sixty."

"???"

Bahala couldn't comprehend it.

***

One Babylon sword decided many things.

'The ??? reward from the "Sword God, and Blacksmith of God" quest that was deemed impossible.'

'What I can gain from successfully crafting something with myth-grade ore.'

'The chance that my stagnant skills might improve.'

'Forty billion gold.'

And most importantly.

The bond with the Sword God aspirant.

All these complex, varied elements were tied to a single sword.

That was why.

Hyun-soo had thrown himself into crafting Babylon like a madman.

And he'd enjoyed it.

'Ah, so divine ore feels like this.'

'Insane, it's thrilling! How can just 200g of ore yield this much power?'

'Maybe it's possible. If I get perfect divine ore, crafting one flawless sword with it...'

At the end, immersed, he felt greed too.

That greed stemmed from the man named Bahala.

It was competitive spirit.

The unchallenged top player for three years.

He could tell from his aura and level alone.

He couldn't beat him yet.

But he wanted to show his own strengths. A feeling he hadn't had in ages.

And as he forged the sword, the alerts came.

They said Babylon was the sword demons tossed into hellfire.

Even at just 40% Myeolak, it had been dangerous.

But this Babylon was different.

But Hyun-soo's Custom Repair infused the desired effects.

He'd suppressed that insanely boiling aura from the sword in his own way.

And the moment he finished engraving the runes.

Hyun-soo was left speechless.

It surpassed every restoration Hyun-soo had ever done.

Checking the sword left his mind in turmoil.

'This is on the level of the Twin Dragon Swords...'

No—against evil, the Twin Dragon Swords couldn't compare.

He wondered if he should hand it over. But he corrected himself immediately.

'Can't break a promise like this.'

Commissioned promises had to be kept.

And Hyun-soo knew: it was more necessary for Bahala than for him now, and handing it over would yield returns far greater than selling it.

That was a strong man's honor and pride.

So he said it.

"Forty billion won't cut it. Make it sixty."

Yes, this sword was worth sixty billion.

Bahala, snapping out of his daze, looked at the sword.

Its appearance was even more striking, the blade razor-sharp.

It felt indestructible, capable of cleaving any sword.

But as a swordsman, Bahala could sense the sword's aura, as mentioned.

'It feels utterly ordinary... how...?'

Utterly baffled, Bahala took the sword.

In that instant.

His breath nearly stopped.

The "great demons" it referred to weren't petty imps or regular fiends.

For even such great demons to fear it?

Why hadn't he sensed it?

The mystery unraveled.

Bahala's mind went blank at the thought of transcendent beings hunting him.

But.

Rumble—!

A massive tremor emanated from the sword.

He checked it urgently—the sixty-billion-gold Babylon.

Every visible effect far surpassed the previous version.

'The durability that seemed like it'd snap after a few swings is now infinite... Damage against evil up by about 100%, massive cutting boost, and attack power +100.'

He recalled his earlier self, bringing the consumable Babylon and saying a master blacksmith could upgrade its grade upon restoration.

In hindsight, how foolish.

'And he actually did it...?'

And the most crucial part.

Myeolak.

'I asked for Myeolak to wipe 70% HP, and it does 80%...?'

And that wasn't all.

'Absurd damage to all evils around a demon too?'

At Bahala's base attack power, 2,300% would wipe them out in one go.

Bahala affirmed it.

"Will I ever obtain another sword like this?"

But then, chills ran down his spine.

"Yeah, come to me."

Hyun-soo said it so casually.

And Bahala—he resolved himself and acted.

***

Hyun-soo's mouth itched to speak.

He pondered how to broach it.

The words: 'Wanna shake on it?'

Hyun-soo could feel it.

Bahala.

If he applied Grant Me Your Blessing to him, he'd gain immense blessings and applications.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Then Bahala strode forward.

He'd never done this before.

And he was certain he never would again.

He offered his hand.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"I won't forget—the effort you put in."

Hyun-soo looked at that hand.

Offered first, by him.

It was the beginning of the bond he extended.

The tale of the Blacksmith God and Sword God was being written.

And the moment he gripped Bahala's hand firmly.

A colossal power swirled around them.