Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Orichalcum Arrow (1)
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Hyun-soo marveled at the mineral in the box.
‘Orichalcum?’
Orichalcum was a mineral widely known to the public.
“To be honest, the mineral I was going to give you was mithril. That was the only special mineral I had.”
Hyun-soo had already crafted Gwangmyeong using mithril, albeit the kind found in the beginner's zone.
But this was on a completely different level from mithril.
“This orichalcum is a precious heirloom, passed down through my ancestors.”
“Then isn't it a family treasure? To give me something so valuable...”
Kern smiled at Hyun-soo's worried expression.
“What good is it doing? It's been sitting neglected in a warehouse for hundreds of years. My ancestors would understand. They would want it to be given to a benefactor.”
“...Thank you.”
Hyun-soo gave a small smile.
He took the orichalcum and first examined its appearance.
It hadn't been refined or smelted yet, so it looked like a mysterious stone.
After examining its exterior, he opened its information window.
(Lowest-Grade Orichalcum)
Grade: Legendary
Requirement: Master Craftsman Blacksmith Level 300 or higher
Difficulty: High
Special Abilities
·When crafting a sword: Cutting power +82%.
·When crafting an arrow: Piercing power +81%.
·Strength, Agility up to +35%.
·Attack Speed up to +70%.
·Durability can be increased to infinite.
Description: The legendary mineral, orichalcum. It is lighter than any other mineral, yet its strength is far superior, making it nearly indestructible.
‘This is insane...’
It was an unbelievably outstanding mineral.
What was even more astonishing was that it defied common sense by being both lightweight and possessing the highest strength.
The only downside was that this was the lowest-grade orichalcum.
Usually, even the same type of mineral was divided into grades: lowest, low, medium, high, and highest.
“I'm sorry it's such a small amount.”
It was true. Even at a glance, Hyun-soo could see it was a minuscule amount of orichalcum.
There wasn't even enough to make a single dagger.
“It's alright. I can combine it with other metals.”
Then, a shiver ran down Hyun-soo's spine.
‘What would happen if I made a sword with 100% highest-grade orichalcum?’
*Gulp—*
He swallowed dryly.
“...Do you happen to know where this mineral was obtained?”
“I heard it was acquired from the elves.”
“The elves?”
“Yes, I've only heard that my ancestor obtained it in the land of the elves. I don't know the exact details myself.”
Seeing Kern's apologetic expression, Hyun-soo shook his head.
“Thank you just for telling me that much.”
Hyun-soo soon noticed that Kern's expression had soured.
“...Can you not stay here in our Kasel estate? If you stay, I will ensure you want for nothing.”
This was a promise from a lord. It also implied he could be given a good position.
After all, he was their benefactor.
But Hyun-soo bowed his head.
“I'm sorry. There is a place I must go.”
“A place you must go... May I ask where that is?”
“I intend to meet His Majesty Barad of the Goyad Kingdom. I heard he was looking for me.”
Kern's face filled with astonishment.
‘Sword King Barad...?’
Although he wasn't the king of the Prime Kingdom, Kern was well aware of the stories about Sword King Barad.
‘Someone that great is looking for this man?’
Kern realized it then. The outlander named Hyun-soo was not a vessel he could contain.
And Kern sincerely cheered for Hyun-soo.
He sensed that meeting King Barad would be a more valuable experience for him than staying here.
“I understand. I will have a carriage prepared for you. Farewell, and please visit the Kasel Estate again anytime.”
Hyun-soo received Kern's consideration until the very end.
After bidding farewell, he went outside and boarded the prepared carriage.
“It will take quite some time to reach the capital of the Goyad Kingdom. You should get some sleep.”
The coachman's voice was kind. It made him realize he truly was the benefactor of the Kasel Estate.
Looking back, he could see the Kasel Estate receding in the distance. He felt a twinge of regret, but meeting Sword King Barad would be a turning point in his life.
‘He's a king, no less. And one of the continent's Ten Legends.’
He couldn't even begin to imagine what kind of reward he would receive if he crafted the sword the king desired.
Lost in such thoughts, Hyun-soo took a nap and woke to find he had already entered the capital of the Goyad Kingdom.
“Thank you for the ride.”
After giving his thanks, Hyun-soo headed straight for the place to submit his application for the Super Rookie Tournament.
A man from the Goyad Kingdom named Bekel was sitting in a chair, accepting applications.
“Here is my application.”
The man named Bekel took the application and nodded.
“The Super Rookie Tournament begins in two days. The winner's reward is 1,000 gold, plus a negotiation.”
1,000 gold.
It was a hefty sum.
“What do you mean by 'plus a negotiation'?”
“A good question.”
Bekel gave a small smile.
“The 'negotiation' means the reward changes depending on how much of a contribution you make. Not all victories are the same. This tournament has been held several times already.”
Hyun-soo listened intently.
“And each winner achieved a different contribution score. The highest ever was 29%, and the average is about 15%.”
Hyun-soo started to get a feel for what "contribution" and "negotiation" meant.
“Does that mean that even among winners, those with a higher contribution score can receive a better reward through negotiation?”
“Exactly. The last winner was the one who achieved the highest contribution score in history. Through negotiation, he received 3,000 gold.”
“He received three times the prize money?”
Hyun-soo's eyes widened. The reward had been tripled.
“That's right. Do you understand the 'negotiation' part now?”
“Of course.”
“I'll accept your application. The tournament will begin in two days at 9 o'clock.”
[Your participation in the Super Rookie Tournament has been confirmed.]
Once his participation was confirmed, Hyun-soo asked the most important question.
“If I win this time, I'll be able to meet His Majesty Barad, right?”
At that question, Bekel gave a bitter smile.
“So you're another one of the outlanders who wants to meet His Majesty Barad. But I'm afraid you're out of luck.”
“What?”
Hyun-soo had a bad feeling.
“Starting from this tournament, His Majesty Barad will observe, but he will not meet with the winner.”
It was like a bolt from the blue.
There were essentially two ways Hyun-soo knew of to meet Barad.
The first was to win the Super Rookie Tournament and meet him.
The second was to use the high-ranker, Lord, to meet him.
Fearing his first option might be gone, Hyun-soo tried whispering to Lord.
[Hyun-soo: Hello.]
[Lord is currently in an area where whispers are unavailable.]
“...?”
Hyun-soo's face crumpled.
‘Should I use the auction house message system?’
But Hyun-soo realized that meeting Barad through him would also take quite some time.
‘Most people don't log into the auction house.’
They don't access it unless they need something specific.
Of course, he could wait. But it could be an indefinite wait, and for Hyun-soo, it would just be a waste of time.
“Is there no other way to see His Majesty?”
Bekel was firm.
“None. The reason His Majesty no longer meets the Super Rookie winners is because he no longer sees the value in it. His Majesty is the ruler of this nation. No matter how great a talent you may be, in his eyes, you're just a fledgling.”
Bekel gave a bitter smile.
“I'll be frank with you.”
Bekel spoke in a calm, quiet voice to the seemingly shocked Hyun-soo.
“You are still very inexperienced. Even for myself, or the renowned nobles of the kingdom, His Majesty is a difficult person to see. So how could you possibly meet him? Give it up.”
But soon, as he was nodding, a peculiar light entered his eyes.
“Fortunately, I've just thought of a way to see him.”
“Hm?”
Bekel looked puzzled.
The outlander named Hyun-soo, now wearing a small smile, asked.
“Could you tell me where the rental smithy is?”
“The rental smithy is that way.”
“Thank you.”
And the outlander named Hyun-soo walked away quickly. Watching his retreating back, Bekel sighed.
“They're all the same.”
Humans all believe they're special.
Bekel was a man of the kingdom and had worked in the royal court for a long time.
Even he had no way of seeing the king other than from a distance.
Then, Bekel tilted his head.
‘What was that method he mentioned?’
***
Nel had decided to become the first guild member of Hyeon's Smithy.
Of course, the Hyeon's Smithy guild hadn't been officially established yet, but she and Hyun-soo were constantly exchanging whispers.
And Nel planned to do her utmost to elevate Hyun-soo.
Nel knew.
‘Making Hyun-soo the best will be the most brilliant decoration on my career.’
Raising him up meant raising her own value.
Soon, Nel frowned as she exchanged messages with him.
[Hyun-soo: ...so Sword King Barad won't meet the winner.]
“He won't meet the winner?”
Hyun-soo had told her he was going to meet Sword King Barad. When Nel heard that, she had thrilled with excitement.
But on second thought, if she were in his position, she probably wouldn't feel the need to meet the winners either.
Sword King Barad was one of the Ten Legends.
Although he was the one who created the tournament, the super rookies were still just fledglings.
It was something that he even bothered to observe, wasn't it?
[Nel: Then are you going to contact that person, Lord, to meet him?]
[Hyun-soo: No. I just thought of a way, so I'm on my way to a rental smithy.]
“You thought of a way?”
A level 50 player has a way to meet a king?
[Nel: What is it?]
[Hyun-soo: The winner of the Super Rookie Tournament is decided by contribution score.]
Nel knew that.
When Hyun-soo said he was participating in the tournament, she had thoroughly researched it.
It was in case she could be of some small help to him.
[Hyun-soo: The highest score ever was 29%.]
She was well aware of that fact, too.
[Hyun-soo: So what if I surpass a 50% contribution score?]
“What?”
What did I just hear?
He's going to achieve a 50% contribution score in the Super Rookie Tournament?
[Hyun-soo: For now, it's clear that King Barad is at least observing.]
Nel, who had been chewing her nails while thinking, ended up nodding.
“It's not an impossible idea...”
The Super Rookie Tournament was created to discover new talent in the first place.
King Barad himself created the tournament.
The fact that he now only observes and no longer meets them was proof that no one had caught his eye so far.
‘Surpass 50%...’
She mulled it over.
If he surpassed 50%? If that really happened?
“No, what if...”
What if it wasn't 50%, but even higher? It could work, just as Hyun-soo imagined.
‘Crazy...!’
In the end, Barad must also be in need of truly outstanding and powerful talent.
There was something even more surprising.
“You're a blacksmith...!”
So how is he going to surpass a 50% contribution score?
[Nel: Do you have a way?]
[Hyun-soo: Yes, I do.]
[Nel: Can I know what it is?]
[Hyun-soo: What I do best.]
Nel looked puzzled.
“What he does best? Ah...!”
The thing Hyun-soo did best. It was crafting artifacts. At that, Nel grew curious again.
“What on earth is he going to make...?”
Her heart pounded.
What would this crazy blacksmith show them at the Super Rookie Tournament?
She smiled and said.
“Go on, try it. Make the king want to meet you.”