Babylon (5)
Hidden Quest: Grant Me Your Blessing.
Shortened to "MyBless"—what exactly is it?
According to the quest description, it reads as follows.
'The Saint King was a figure who boasted deep bonds with many exceptional and powerful individuals.'
'You, as his successor, must prove you will walk the same path by forging encounters with such outstanding people.'
'When you meet them, place your hand on your chest and say "Grant Me Your Blessing," and you shall receive their blessing, enhancing your stats, skill proficiencies, and more.'
MyBless is a quest urging him to build deep karma bonds with many, just as the Saint King did.
In that process, a special aura possessed by the Saint King flows, allowing the recipient to gain the blessing.
But MyBless isn't as easy as it seems to receive blessings.
'From the insignificant comes an insignificant blessing.'
'From the exceptional comes an exceptional blessing.'
That's what descends upon you.
The way to predict the blessing they'll grant is by checking the blessing degree.
'For example, Bella was at 18%.'
'Sage Arte at 27%.'
'Bokdeongi hit 49%.'
Hyun-soo didn't know it, but Bokdeongi was one of the Four Divine Beasts, which is why the blessing degree had risen so absurdly.
Anyway, he was given four opportunities, and he'd used two.
Now, to apply one of his remaining two, he gripped Bahala's hand with all his strength.
[A leader of the era.]
[An unprecedented massive blessing is felt.]
This was a notification even Bokdeongi, who had given a whopping 49%, hadn't triggered.
'A leader of the era...'
He couldn't deny it. Bahala was the one leading the era.
'No way...?'
Hyun-soo realized one fact.
Bahala's potential had skyrocketed before and after wielding Babylon.
According to his explanation, complete Babylon was required to walk the path to Sword God.
Plus, the Babylon Hyun-soo had appraised was a sword that couldn't be used even after restoration.
By altering that sword, he'd shortened what should have taken years.
And he'd absurdly boosted Bahala's chances of becoming a Sword God aspirant.
In other words, the Babylon he'd sold was returning to him as an immense blessing.
[He has amassed 221 awe-inspiring achievements.]
[He possesses the potential to become a god and the power befitting it.]
['Grant Me Your Blessing' is being applied to the desired individual.]
[Hidden Piece. True meaning of 'Grant Me Your Blessing' completed.]
[Additional blessing degree acquired.]
Yes, the meaning of MyBless: build bonds with many powerhouses.
He wondered.
Just how much blessing degree would Bahala, who triggered such a notification, grant?
Soon, like Bahala moments ago, Hyun-soo's mind went blank.
[Bahala's blessing descends.]
[Blessing degree of 56% acquired.]
'...Holy shit.'
This was a level you could only get by combining nearly two legends.
Then he recalled one fact.
'The nature of the blessing received depends on the power the target possesses.'
Bahala wielded only the sword.
And Hyun-soo was a user who handled swords as well.
[Sword Mastery rises by 4.]
[Sword attack power +8%, magic attack power +8%.]
[Damage of all sword-related attack skills +20%.]
[Proficiency gain rate of sword-related skills +20% faster.]
[Cooldown of sword-related skills reduced by 20%.]
[You are a Blacksmith.]
[When crafting swords, base attack power +5%, and all effects enhanced by an additional 5%.]
'Insane...'
Hyun-soo had grown over 15% stronger than five minutes ago.
Nearly 5% of that power came from Bahala's heightened chances of becoming Sword God thanks to wielding Babylon.
'Of course it stung. Hell, it still does a bit.'
No helping it.
Babylon's value couldn't be measured in money.
'In the second Ares, demon appearances will increase.'
Demons aren't monsters for solo hunts. They require massive raids.
But Bahala was different.
'Someday, he might solo even archdemons.'
The value of monopolizing those rewards was huge.
Then an additional notification rang out.
[Job Quest: Sword God, and Blacksmith of God completed.]
[Completed an impossible quest through an awe-inspiring achievement.]
[System measuring rewards.]
[As Blacksmith God's Heir, you coveted the completed Babylon.]
[Yet you kept your promise to the commission and upheld a true blacksmith's pride.]
[As a result, you forged karma between Blacksmith God's Heir and one walking the Sword God's Path.]
[Babylon is the link between two gods.]
[A special property unique to you is added to Babylon.]
'...A special property unique to me? What does that mean?'
Babylon wasn't a sword Hyun-soo wielded. He couldn't understand how it gained a property just for him.
[Title acquired: Creator of Babylon.]
Hyun-soo was dumbfounded. For pulling off something this massive, all he got was a single title?
'You're kidding me!?'
But upon checking, he panicked.
'Well done, Hyun-soo.'
He wanted to applaud himself.
For selling the sword to Bahala without hesitation, despite the regret.
Based on this, every time Bahala piled up achievements, he could sit back and rack up stats.
Of course, awe-inspiring achievements were something even Hyun-soo had under 30 of so far.
Yet this monster Bahala, as the previous notification proved, had over 200.
Statistics say users average about 3 awe-inspiring achievements per year.
Bahala did about 50 a year.
Of course, as levels rise, that number inevitably drops.
To around 30.
Even that meant Hyun-soo could passively gain about 50 stats a year just sitting there.
And when Bahala fought life-or-death battles, Hyun-soo got to munch on snacks.
Especially considering Babylon's specialization in demon hunting.
'If Bahala takes down an archdemon, I get 40~70 random stats? Insane.'
Sure, it expires in two years, so whether it'd even be possible crossed his mind, but successful hunts meant an average of 50 stats.
Random ones, including legendary stats like Overwhelm and Willpower!
This title could be summed up as:
'Auto-farming with a Supreme Being...?'
The framework was similar, but it was undeniably crazy power.
The synergy from his bond with a Supreme Being brought a grin to Hyun-soo's lips.
'Heh heh, hehehehehe.'
No regrets.
Selling Babylon to Bahala.
It was turning into a massive gain instead.
Meanwhile.
"......"
Bahala, shaking hands with Hyun-soo for a full minute, said nothing.
Hyun-soo, the one who'd initiated the handshake.
He kept squeezing and releasing, smirking all the while.
His expression looked like someone thrilled by something.
Or like, "Finally got to hold it. Heh heh..."
For Bahala, who had never offered a handshake to anyone before, this could be seen as opening his heart for the first time.
That was why he couldn't utter a word for a full minute.
Finally, as the grip tightened too much amid the grinning, he spoke just once.
"......You're gripping too hard."
"Ah, sorry."
Bahala quickly pulled his hand away.
His emotions were complicated.
The first person he'd opened up to.
Standing at the forge entrance, back turned, Bahala's figure bathed in warm sunlight was like a painting, his face etched with complexity.
He looked down at his own hand.
To Hyun-soo, who had toyed with this hand, he said,
"......I understand and respect your tastes."
"......?"
Bahala turned his head, his expression incredibly complicated as he spoke.
"But not for me."
"???"
His voice carried firm resolve, said out of consideration for Hyun-soo.
"Once a year, you can touch my hand."
He was being quite generous.
Of course, only to Hyun-soo.
By explaining MyBless, Hyun-soo cleared up the misunderstanding(?).
Of course, he didn't mention the title Creator of Babylon.
This wasn't a title he'd created; it was bestowed.
Even so, from Bahala's perspective, someone freeloading off his achievements might rub him the wrong way.
Sometimes, silence is golden.
Bahala made a fair proposal.
"60 billion. I acknowledge it. This sword's value is 60 billion. No, more than that."
The sword itself was worth about 30 billion.
But the process had elevated it to over 60 billion.
"But must I pay in cash?"
Hyun-soo sensed the implication.
'See? Told you you did great, Hyun-soo.'
What did money mean to Hyun-soo?
Once, he'd been desperate without it; now, he had the confidence it would overflow.
The longer time passed, the more resources he'd amass, he was sure.
Bahala knew Hyun-soo needed something more precious than money right now.
"I'll give you 30 billion. And three things you desire. As long as they're reasonable, I'll help."
Hyun-soo's heart raced.
Three desires.
Speaking three to the rank 1 Bahala was worth more than three to even the Sword King.
Did that mean Bahala was lavishing him?
'No, not that.'
The value from Babylon's creation process matched those three, making it fair.
"See you tomorrow, and good thing."
Bahala looked immensely relieved.
He glanced alternately at his hand and Hyun-soo's.
"......Gonna log out soon? Want me to force it?"
"Kuk."
Bahala chuckled softly and logged out.
From that conversation, Hyun-soo felt it.
They'd grown quite close.
[You have logged out.]
Back in reality, Hyun-soo pondered his three desires.
Their value exceeded the forgone 30 billion.
Each one was huge enough to demand artifact materials.
Pulling out paper and pen, two were quickly settled.
And the final one.
Pondering, he thought of something.
'The ultimate goal any blacksmith would naturally crave. Let's achieve it through Bahala.'
Hyun-soo finished writing his three.
The next day.
He met Bahala again.
"Can you help when I need it?"
Bahala and Hyun-soo were like Sword King Barad and Spear Heaven Ben.
They didn't move on mere friendship.
Nor could a relationship sustained only by friendly aid last.
"Depends on the situation, but yes. I'll answer your call once and help."
It was what Bahala expected.
And depending on circumstances, its value could skyrocket astronomically.
Then, to state the next, Hyun-soo met Bahala's eyes.
This second request tied directly to what blacksmiths—and Hyun-soo—ultimately desired.
What was it?
Hyun-soo had achieved one grand ultimate goal.
Crafting an artifact using dragon materials.
A thrilling, astonishing feat he'd made reality just by imagining.
And the next material candidate.
"Take me demon hunting too?"
Dragons, classified as transcendent species.
Demons, another transcendent species.
He wouldn't miss the chance to Gathering demon materials for artifacts.