Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: The Value of Hyeon (2)
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While Hyun-soo was still asleep.
*Squeeze—*
Karl’s fist, resting on the conference table after he’d received first aid, clenched tightly.
Kol, the administrator of the Kasel domain.
He stroked his neatly groomed mustache and spoke.
“As you know, these Outlanders express their strength through something called levels. A level 50 Outlander? Is 30,000 gold even appropriate for him? I think 10,000 gold will suffice.”
As the man who managed all of Kasel’s finances, he had been granted full authority by the lord.
Karl’s face flushed red at his words. Whether he noticed or not, Kol continued.
“In the first place, the Bell of Lamas belonged to our Kasel domain. The fact that it was melted down and recreated doesn’t change that it was originally ours. So, does that property belong to him, or to us?”
Yes, a mere 10,000 gold.
That was the amount Kol was trying to negotiate. He pushed a parchment detailing his reasoning in front of Commander Karl.
Besides, the promise was made with Knight Commander Karl, wasn't it? Not with the Lord or himself.
“...He is our benefactor.”
This was the reason for Karl’s anger. Administrator Kol had not stood on the battlefield.
Furthermore, when the Lord declared he would remain to protect the domain, this was the man who had put his own name at the very top of the refugee list.
Of course, he was a competent man, which was how he had risen to his position.
“A benefactor? Yes, he is. But we have to make a living too, don’t we?”
He took a sip of tea and smiled greedily.
“That bell is a Unique-grade item, its value is immeasurable. Of course, it’s not quite a legendary artifact either. But isn’t this perfect?”
He looked at Karl with a satisfied smile.
“That fellow’s level is still abysmally low. To him, even 10,000 gold will be an enormous sum. He’ll probably jump for joy.”
No, he wouldn’t jump for joy.
Because we would be breaking our promise.
Karl couldn’t say a word.
The strength left his tightly clenched fist.
The Lord trusted Administrator Kol completely.
He knew well that Kol’s methods were for the good of the domain.
And the Lord was listening to Administrator Kol’s words. A small smile played on the Lord’s lips.
As if he found Kol’s idea brilliant.
Karl remained silent.
‘The Kasel domain…’
It had to be rebuilt.
And that restoration required an immense amount of money.
Just then, the Lord looked at him and began to speak.
“Commander Karl.”
He would probably say it now.
*It can’t be helped, so grant him that amount.*
That’s what he would command.
*If he refuses and throws a fit, do not hesitate to use force…*
“What the hell is that son of a bitch saying?”
“...Pardon?”
Karl’s eyes widened. The smile that had been on Lord Kern’s lips vanished.
And Kol looked at Lord Kern with a bewildered expression.
Lord Kern had a reputation.
He was benevolent.
He was a man who had never once uttered a curse, never once raised his voice at the Knight Commander or himself.
Though he was the lord of a small and shabby domain on the frontier, his virtue was widely known.
But now, that same man was glaring at Kol as if he wanted to kill him.
“While that blacksmith was forging the bell for a week without sleep, what were you doing?”
“...”
Kol couldn’t answer.
Yesterday, when the bell was completed.
He had fled the domain, thinking, ‘This domain is finished!’
He had only returned after hearing the sound of the bell.
As he remained silent, Lord Kern looked down on him as if he were an insect.
Kol realized.
‘One wrong word here, and it’s over.’
Lord Kern’s anger had reached its peak.
“Administrator Kol will assess the proper value of that bell. If you try to skimp on it in the slightest, Commander Karl will personally administer your punishment.”
Lord Kern looked at Karl with a steely gaze.
Commander Karl bowed his head slightly.
“Yes, I will administer the punishment.”
“Ah, and while I said a proper price, it would be best to add a little extra. Is he not our benefactor?”
“...Y-Yes, I understand.”
Kol trembled, his head bowed.
As if remembering something, a peculiar light sparked in Karl’s eyes.
“The man named Hyun-soo asked about the ore that you possess, my Lord.”
“Ore?”
Kern stroked his chin.
“Yes, and he also asked if he could obtain it if he successfully repaired the bell.”
“...I see.”
Lord Kern recalled the ore.
“It would not be a waste to give it to him, Administrator Kol. The bell will be paid for according to its worth. And I will bestow the ore upon him myself, so bring him before me.”
Lord Kern rose from his seat.
After he left.
Commander Karl tore the parchment Kol had offered in half.
*Riiip—*
“Let’s talk, slowly.”
Commander Karl’s eyes gleamed.
“About how much our benefactor should receive.”
***
Hyun-soo, who had been in a deep sleep, furrowed his brow.
‘What’s so noisy?’
A strange notification kept ringing.
*Ting.*
*Ting.*
*Ting.*
‘What on earth is that sound?’
Waking up, Hyun-soo opened the notification window, slightly annoyed.
[Your subscriber count has been updated.]
[Your subscriber count has been updated.]
[Your subscriber count has...]
[Your subscriber count has...]
[Your subscriber count has...]
The notification, which shouldn't have been sounding unless a certain threshold was crossed, filled the window.
‘What the…?’
What had happened while he was asleep? Soon, Hyun-soo checked the result of those noisy notifications.
[Hyeon's Smithy Subscribers: 101,655.]
‘A-A hundred thousand?!’
Hyun-soo rubbed his eyes.
A hundred thousand subscribers was an incredibly high number.
He had even read an article stating that blacksmiths with over 100,000 subscribers earned a minimum of 6 million won a month.
He knew the subscriber system was based on internet broadcasting or EnjoyTube.
If they were actual broadcast subscribers, they could have generated much more revenue through various means, but there was a reason it was only around 6 million.
For one, smithy subscribers couldn't make ‘donations.’
Unlike many who earned money through internet broadcasts via donations, blacksmiths had to earn their living by crafting items.
Still, 100,000 was definitely an enormous number.
When he entered the courtyard, he understood why.
[I came after seeing the article.]
[Is this the place that can repair irreparable artifacts?]
[...Can you also repair my crazy little brother’s head?]
[Can you repair my grades, by any chance!?]
[Can you fix my chunibyo?]
Hyun-soo let out a small laugh.
‘It turned out just as I planned.’
Hyun-soo had named it *Hyeon's Second Custom-Made Bell*.
In truth, the creator could easily change the name and description.
But Hyun-soo had intentionally engraved the name ‘Hyeon’ onto the bell.
Though it was only 100,000 now, that subscriber count would steadily increase.
Because people who visited the Kasel domain would see the bell he had made.
Then there were other notifications.
‘Benefactor? I became the benefactor of the Kasel domain?’
What in the world had happened while he was asleep?
There was even a notification like this.
[Your good deed proves you have walked a noble path.]
[You have gained 100 Fame.]
[You have gained 30 Charisma.]
‘Huh…?’
What was this?
Hyun-soo tilted his head. Was it because people were spreading the story of him being a benefactor?
Of course, it was a good thing for Hyun-soo.
But right now, something else was more important to him.
‘The payment…!’
The payment for the smithy contract. He needed to receive what he was owed for the bell he had been commissioned to make.
Just as he was about to get out of bed, he heard voices from outside.
“Are you in a hurry?”
“I am, but please, Commander, you go first.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
He heard the voices of Nel and Knight Commander Karl together. Soon, the door opened, revealing Karl, whose wounds had mostly healed.
As soon as he entered, Karl’s face lit up upon seeing the awakened Hyun-soo.
It was a complete contrast to the stoic expression he’d worn when they first met.
“The benefactor of our domain has awoken. I offer you my sincerest gratitude.”
“Not at all.”
Hyun-soo was taken aback by Karl, who was bowing his head to him.
Karl got straight to the point.
“I have just returned from reporting the value of the bell you created to the Lord and receiving his approval.”
“...Yes.”
Hyun-soo’s heart pounded. He was curious to know the value of *Hyeon's Second Custom-Made Bell*.
***
Kang Hyuk-soo was sitting in a small café in Gyeongju. He had received a call from the young man who had sold him the smithy.
The young man had insisted on meeting, so Hyuk-soo had agreed to see him here.
*Ting-a-ling—*
The door opened, and a young man who looked like he had run all the way here entered.
Drenched in sweat, the young man didn’t look much different from before.
He had tried to dress nicely, but he still looked quite shabby.
And just like last time, he was wearing long sleeves. Likely to cover his burn scars.
After calmly catching his breath, the young man sat down across from him.
Hyuk-soo said nothing.
A moment of silence passed. From the young man’s silence, Hyuk-soo understood.
‘As I thought, it wasn’t an easy task.’
Perhaps the reason for today’s meeting was to ask for more time.
Soon, after steadying his breathing, the young man, Hyun-soo, cautiously asked.
“...Have you been well?”
“I have. And you?”
“...I’ve been doing well enough, in my own way.”
A brief silence fell between them. The young man broke the heavy silence.
“May I ask you something?”
Hyuk-soo nodded.
“Why did you give me a chance?”
Hyuk-soo paused for a long time before answering the question. He knew it himself.
A period of less than a year.
For someone of Hyun-soo’s age to earn 330 million won was realistically impossible.
Furthermore, to sell back land that had been purchased for a business deal—indeed, there was a reason Kang Hyuk-soo was known as a real estate tycoon.
He was more exceptional and diligent than others, which was how he had become who he was.
So why had he done it?
“There were two reasons. You asked me if you could buy this place back if you tried.”
Hyuk-soo had seen a great deal in his eyes at that moment.
“I’ve seen many people who were in desperate situations, forced to sell their property. You were the first among them to ask if you could buy it back.”
He let out a small smile.
“Even I, or anyone else, wouldn’t have been able to ask that question.”
Yes, most people would have already given up on everything. They might have even gone mad.
But the look in Hyun-soo’s eyes had been so fiercely alive.
“And the second reason…?”
Hyuk-soo hesitated for a long moment before speaking.
“I wanted you to live.”
“...”
“I wanted you to live, not die. Because in that moment, you needed at least one goal. A goal to strive for. You needed at least that much to keep living. But now, looking at your eyes, I can tell.”
Hyuk-soo had half-failed, but he had also half-succeeded.
“...You will continue to live just like that, giving it your all.”
Hyuk-soo knew his intention had been a partial success.
He had no intention of simply giving away the land, like in some movie or far-fetched novel.
This was all he could do as an adult.
Just then.
With hot tears streaming down his face, the young man placed a bankbook in front of Hyuk-soo. With a puzzled expression, Hyuk-soo checked the bankbook.
[Balance: 330,000,000 Won.]
‘330 million…? Why is the exact amount from the sale of the smithy…?’
Genuinely surprised, Hyuk-soo looked at him.
“I will live…”
The weeping, sobbing young man smiled brightly.
“I will live with all my might, more exceptionally than others. I will live more brilliantly than anyone else…!”
Watching the young man bow his head, Hyuk-soo’s heart grew warm.
It wasn't a partial success.
It was a complete success. And that success was something the young man had achieved all on his own.
“Ha, hahaha, hahahahahaha!”
Hyuk-soo couldn't help but laugh, incredibly proud of the young man.