Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: The King and the Blacksmith
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Super Rookie Tournament (4)
[Effect Application Rate: 98%.]
The advantages of God's Emergency Production and Custom Production were clear.
They could remove elements unnecessary to the user and, in turn, maximize the ones they needed.
What was required for this was the effect application rate.
The effect application rate determined just how much it would be maximized.
And what was needed to draw out this effect maximization was the user's pure skill.
The ingenuity, technique, and understanding required to produce the effect were what created the application rate.
And the higher this application rate, the more outstanding the artifact became.
(Damascus Glaive)
Grade: Unique
Durability: 3,500/3,500
Attack Power: 201
Requirements: None for the creator, Lv. 60-130
Special Ability:
·Cutting power against stone or minerals increased by 280%.
Description: A Damascus Glaive born from Emergency Production. A genius creator applied the manufacturing methods of Damascus steel and a glaive to create it.
The previous Tiger Blade had only been Rare grade.
This time, even if it was through Emergency Production, it was Unique grade.
Hyun-soo was someone who could make Damascus steel better than anyone else.
He slammed the Damascus Glaive into the Stone Golem's chest and looked up at it coldly.
“Kuwoh?”
The Stone Golem couldn't hide its bewilderment.
It, too, knew its own strengths.
Weapons couldn't inflict much damage on it, and it ignored the concepts of being cut or pierced.
But this glaive had burrowed into its flesh.
“Rampage.”
[Rampage]
[Unleashes an indiscriminate attack on all enemies recognized within a 10m radius.]
[Upon activation, Attack Speed +70%, Physical Attack Power +30%.]
Rampage indiscriminately attacks any recognized enemy within a 10-meter radius.
However, there were no other enemies nearby, and the Damascus Glaive was already piercing its chest.
The glaive embedded in its chest shot upward.
Fshaaaa-
“...?”
The Stone Golem's eyes widened as it was sliced upward from its chest.
The power of Rampage began to indiscriminately cleave the creature.
Kwah, kwakwakwa, kwakwakwak-!
Kuuung, kung kung, kuuung-!
Each time Rampage struck, pieces of the Stone Golem's body flew in all directions.
The Stone Golem pulled back its remaining arm, intending to swing it at Hyun-soo.
But it couldn't.
Kuuuuung-
Its other arm had already fallen to the ground...
The golem's consciousness, now split into dozens of pieces, faded away.
“...Damn.”
Someone muttered.
And the Stone Golem crumbled.
“Haa... haa...”
Gasping for breath, Hyun-soo collapsed and looked around.
With the Stone Golem dead, the surrounding golems were scattering.
Immediately, a notification about the Stone Golem hunt appeared.
[You have slain the boss monster, the Stone Golem.]
[You have acquired 22,035 EXP.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up...]
In an instant, he had leveled up 14 times. The boss monster of this Super Rookie Tournament didn't drop artifacts.
Instead, the rewards were concentrated on gold.
[You have acquired 3,413 Gold.]
It was thrilling and sweet. What should have been divided among dozens of users based on contribution, Hyun-soo had monopolized all for himself.
Then, the notification he had been waiting for arrived.
[Current Contribution: 12%.]
This was the contribution he had accumulated from his first-place finish in the first stage and the short-term bonus from his ten party members.
[Calculating contribution.]
[+10% for slaying the Stone Golem single-handedly.]
[+20% for slaying a boss monster superior to the Blood Golem.]
[Total Contribution: 95%.]
‘What...?’
Hyun-soo himself was the most shocked.
A total contribution of 95%.
The contribution is divided among the survivors of this Super Rookie Tournament.
Of course, the additional gains he just received were presumably a reward for accomplishing something incredible.
Even so, it meant that Hyun-soo alone had raised it by nearly 65%.
[The Super Rookie Tournament is now over.]
[Congratulations.]
[You have achieved an overwhelming first place in the Super Rookie Tournament.]
Just then, Bekal, who had been in stealth mode, appeared near Hyun-soo. Bekal said,
“Do you remember what I said about a discussion?”
“Yes, I remember.”
The tournament director, Bekal, spoke with sincerity.
“Thanks to you, it seems we'll be able to get through this tournament's major incident without any issues.”
Bekal glanced around, taking in the reactions of the other users.
“Feels like first place was decided from the start.”
“Still, wasn't it pretty fun?”
“It was fun. You need a little thrill now and then. And we didn't even get forcibly logged out.”
If everyone had been wiped out, the tournament would have faced severe criticism.
But thanks to the man before them, that didn't happen.
“I'll recommend to my superiors that you receive the greatest possible reward.”
Tapping his shoulder as he passed, Bekal suddenly stopped.
“I don't know what I can do, but I'll also try to arrange an audience with His Majesty.”
“...Thank you.”
Bekal was merely a tournament director. But even so, he believed Hyun-soo was worthy of it.
Even if it was only for 20 or 30 seconds.
[The award ceremony will begin shortly.]
[You can receive your rewards at the award ceremony.]
Hyun-soo was filled with anticipation. The most crucial point was whether or not Barad would appear at this ceremony.
He waited for the award ceremony to begin.
***
Rode met with the Sword King, Barad, for the first time in a while. He had been in the Tomb of Swords for several days.
The Tomb of Swords was a kind of swordsmanship training ground.
Inside, even whispers couldn't be exchanged, and Rode had done his utmost to earn Sword King Barad's acknowledgment.
He had finally achieved a tangible result.
To the extent that Sword King Barad might offer a single phrase: ‘Good work.’
“...Is this all?”
Rode, the Sword King's successor, was a high-ranker. But to Sword King Barad, he was nothing special.
“...I apologize.”
Rode couldn't understand his standards.
Just how high did he have to climb to satisfy him?
And even though Barad had taken him as his successor, he showed him no affection.
‘Perhaps that's how much he refuses to acknowledge me.’
Even this Sword King Barad had someone he would mention from time to time.
“Hyeon's Smithy. When is that blacksmith coming?”
“The last time we contacted him, he said he would visit you in person.”
Lately, the Sword King's greatest interest was the creator of the sword that had cut his own.
And Rode didn't know. Among the hundreds of whispers piled up for him was one sent by that very person.
“Tell me about him.”
Rode sensed greed in his voice.
He was craving some kind of weapon.
‘A weapon that Sword King Barad craves?’
Then, a hollow laugh escaped him.
‘What in the world could one possibly gain by satisfying the Sword King?’
He couldn't even imagine it. And he wasn't in a position to think about such things.
All he could do was grovel before this king with insatiable eyes.
“Various rumors are circulating. In my personal opinion, he's presumed to be an unofficial ranker blacksmith.”
“An unofficial ranker. You mean one of those hidden masters you people talk about?”
“That's right.”
Rode had seen the various speculations about Hyeon's Smithy. But he didn't think about it any more deeply than other blacksmiths did.
Some said he was a low-level user, but as Rode wasn't a blacksmith, that seemed beyond common sense, so he assumed he was an unofficial ranker.
The same was true for Sword King Barad.
‘In all my life, I've never seen the creator of such a sword.’
Barad had even met the race known as dwarves once. Even they couldn't forge a sword with such power.
No matter the circumstances, he couldn't entertain the thought that this person was a low-level novice, as the outsiders called them.
Just then, a voice came from outside.
“Your Majesty, the award ceremony is about to begin.”
At that, Rode gave a bitter smile.
A few days ago, he'd overheard Barad telling his retainers, ‘I see no need to meet the winner anymore.’
Rode agreed. The very idea of Sword King Barad meeting a mere level 50 rookie was laughable.
It seemed he had attended in the past hoping to find some great talent, but his interest had already cooled.
And yet.
“...I will be there shortly. Inform them that I shall bestow the prize upon the winner myself.”
“...You're going in person?”
Rode was shocked.
Going in person? And bestowing the prize himself?
He had attended award ceremonies before, but he had never personally handed over the prize.
He would just sit there with a bored expression, give a nod, and toss out a half-hearted 'Good work.'
But now he was going to bestow it himself?
“He was an interesting one. Handled a sword and a bow with perfect freedom.”
The interested smile playing on Barad's lips made Rode jealous.
A mere level 50 nobody?
It was an expression he had never once shown him.
But he soon felt a sense of relief.
Even so, he was already the Sword King's successor.
As he prepared to leave, Sword King Barad was lost in thought.
‘A Weapon Master?’
Many of the continent's legends had not yet awakened. But Barad was a man who had access to more information than anyone.
A Weapon Master was a legendary figure who could wield all weapons with perfect freedom.
He had indeed handled a bow, a spear, and a sword.
The glaive that outsider had urgently created.
He had heard that a Weapon Master could summon weapons instantaneously.
Yes, from Barad's perspective, it was a unique method of summoning.
But he wasn't going because the man was a Weapon Master.
It was because he admired the man for facing an impossible situation without backing down.
The award ceremony.
Second and third place had no right to be here.
He entered the ceremony hall, his red cape fluttering behind him.
Before him, he saw a man kneeling on one knee.
The man's gaze was exceptionally bright.
And his broad shoulders could rival even those of Barad, who was famous for his powerful build.
‘A warrior. The very definition of one. He reminds me of my youth.’
A pity. If a successor hadn't already been chosen, the title of Sword King's successor might have been his.
If he weren't a Weapon Master, Barad would have shown his desire to possess him.
The retainers didn't know what to do.
Holding the trivial prize in their hands.
Barad took the prize from them.
“The winner... no.”
Barad said with a look of admiration.
“Warrior, receive this.”
Warrior. That single word struck a chord with the retainers. The number of people his lips would deign to call 'warrior' could be counted on one hand.
The man stepped forward and respectfully raised both arms.
“I bestow upon you a reward of 13,000 Gold.”
The man received it and took a few steps back. Barad's eyes lingered on him as a smirk played on his lips.
The man said nothing. He simply bowed his head in thanks.
He knew why the man didn't speak. Barad hadn't ordered it, but his retainers would have given such instructions.
In truth, Barad didn't look favorably upon the outsiders, and conversations with them tended to displease him.
It was over.
Barad turned to leave.
Just then.
“I heard you were looking for me.”
“You insolent...!”
“How dare you, in front of His Majesty...!”
Barad stopped walking. His face hardened.
This was one of the weaker outsiders.
Even if he had become a Super Rookie and was a Weapon Master, nothing had changed.
He understood the man had struggled to meet him, but that remark was too arrogant...
“The blacksmith, Hyeon. That's me.”
“What...?”
A chill ran down Barad's spine.
The man he thought was a warrior was the creator he had been searching for.
The retainers approached him.
“You scoundrel! As if His Majesty would seek you out!”
“Have you lost all sense of your place?!”
The knights drew their swords, about to threaten him.
Just then, Barad raised a hand and spoke in a stirred voice.
“I have been waiting for you. Blacksmith Hyeon.”