Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: The King's Test (3)
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Barad almost let out a gasp of admiration.
He knew well the power that skill possessed.
It was the purest form of power a human could have, an absolute force that made one's potential limitless.
A power incomparable to mere probability or fleeting strength.
‘Skill is the ultimate weapon for producing the most consistent results.’
Barad. As he watched Hyun-soo, he felt an unfamiliar pounding in his chest.
‘A blacksmith who can speak of skill in my presence.’
His hand, resting on the arm of his chair, tightened its grip.
He, too, knew the power of skill.
He was living proof of it, having reached his current position through skill alone.
A faint smile touched Barad’s lips as he took in the sight of Hyun-soo.
“You possess the finest weapon of all.”
In that moment, Barad wanted to take a chance. For no one had ever managed to forge a sword that could satisfy him.
‘There isn’t much time left…’
Soon, he would be unable to do what he must.
“I will wager on your skill. Blacksmith Hyeon. I have a request, no.”
Barad’s eyes grew calm.
His gaze, deep as a lake, met Hyun-soo’s.
“I ask you to forge my sword.”
It was the highest form of courtesy the king, who had once dismissed him, could offer.
[Your affinity with Sword King Barad has increased.]
[Your proficiency in Beginner Sword Mastery Lv. 2 has increased by 45%.]
[You have gained 20 Fame.]
Hyun-soo was surprised by the notifications.
‘My Sword Mastery and Fame increased just from raising his affinity…?’
Pondering it, he understood why.
‘Sword King Barad is a king…’
The Goyad Kingdom was small, but thanks to King Barad, it was not to be trifled with.
Such a king would be one of the most difficult beings in Ares to befriend.
This must be the reward for building affinity with him.
‘What will happen when it reaches MAX?’
A sense of anticipation bloomed within him.
Another notification appeared shortly after.
*Ding.*
[Chain Quest: The King's Test - Complete]
He commanded a servant.
“Bring all the remaining true materials.”
Soon, a servant placed a golden box containing the materials before Hyun-soo.
“I will give you two weeks. During that time, I want you to draw out the maximum fire resistance from this Cold Iron. It must be imbued with the power to cut down monsters possessing great fire-attribute strength.”
[Chain Quest: The King's Commission]
Grade: S
Restriction: One who has been acknowledged by the king
Reward: ???
Penalty for Failure: Banishment from the Goyad Kingdom.
Description: Sword King Barad of the Goyad Kingdom has commissioned a sword.
Hyun-soo looked puzzled upon receiving the quest.
The reward was listed as ‘???’.
Barad leaned forward with a confident smile.
“I will pay a fitting price for every sword you forge. Furthermore.”
Barad smiled confidently.
“Blacksmith who claims skill as the source of power. Do not forget that I am a king. If you can satisfy me…”
He smirked.
“Tell me then what it is you desire.”
“...!”
Hyun-soo was taken aback by his confident expression.
‘If I can satisfy the king, what could I possibly obtain?’
Hyun-soo’s heart trembled. But that was only if he could satisfy him.
He finally opened the golden box placed before him.
[You have acquired the Epic Mineral, Hundred-Year Cold Iron.]
His guess had become reality. Cold Iron was graded by its age.
‘The Cold Iron I just used must have been the lowest grade.’
And so, Hundred-Year Cold Iron, Thousand-Year Cold Iron, and ultimately, Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron must exist.
This Hundred-Year Cold Iron was presumably far superior to the one he had just used.
This was the material for the king's sword.
Hyun-soo examined the amount of Hundred-Year Cold Iron.
‘There’s enough to make about three swords.’
He checked its information.
(Hundred-Year Cold Iron)
Grade: Epic
Requirement: Blacksmith Level 250 or higher
Difficulty: Medium-High.
Special Abilities
· Increases Fire Resistance by 56%
· Enhances Ice-attribute skills up to Epic rank.
· Increases sword cutting power by 112%.
· Increases durability to infinite.
· Increases sword skill attack power by 35%.
· Increases durability to infinite.
Description: A superior version of Cold Iron. Having been buried in the frigid earth for over a hundred years, it is imbued with a powerful chill.
‘This is insane…’
Hyun-soo couldn't help but let out a dry laugh.
It was, quite literally, an insane mineral. Moreover, it displayed its greatest efficiency when used to forge a sword.
‘An increase of 112% in cutting power?’
After he finished his inspection, Barad spoke.
“To satisfy me, those effects will need to be near their maximum. The fire resistance must be at least 45%.”
“I understand.”
A question suddenly occurred to Hyun-soo.
“If there are any materials left after I’ve forged a sword that satisfies Your Majesty, may I use the remaining ore?”
For the first time, Barad’s brow furrowed.
“No.”
He was firm. He crossed his legs and looked at him.
“If I am satisfied, I will instead take you to the place where that ore can be mined.”
It was an even more shocking proposal.
The crux of the matter was this:
He had to satisfy the king.
“It will have to be a sword of at least Epic grade.”
Then, Barad called out in a loud voice.
“Vice-Captain Bella, enter.”
A moment later, the door opened and a woman walked in.
She was an incredibly beautiful woman.
Her black hair and Western features created a perfect harmony, and her snow-white skin was breathtaking.
In contrast, her silver eyes gave her a mystical air.
[Bella Lv. 301]
Her level was also extremely high.
“Bella will accompany you while you forge the sword. You may leave for now. I have matters to discuss with her.”
Hyun-soo stepped outside.
After waiting for about five minutes, the vice-captain named Bella emerged.
“I will guide you.”
With a cold expression, Bella led Hyun-soo to the smithy.
***
Arriving at the smithy, Hyun-soo glanced at Vice-Captain Bella, who had taken up a position in a corner.
‘Is she here to watch me?’
Hyun-soo gave a bitter smile. He felt a slight sense of disappointment toward Barad, but it was to be expected.
Just then.
[The doorbell is ringing.]
The real-world doorbell was linked to his VVIP virtual reality capsule.
Someone was ringing the doorbell at his house.
“I need to return to my world for a moment.”
Bella, who was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, nodded.
[You have logged out.]
Back in reality, Hyun-soo heard the doorbell ring again.
When he opened the door, his landlady was standing there with an awkward smile.
“Hello.”
“Hyun-soo. You were home?”
Hyun-soo lived in a small studio apartment on the second floor of a detached house.
“Hyun-soo, I’m so sorry. My husband isn’t working these days, so we’ve decided to sell the house.”
The landlady, Kim Hye-sook, had a bitter expression.
Hyun-soo smiled sheepishly.
“Don’t be sorry. I should be the one apologizing. I was often late with the rent, and I’m living here for much cheaper than the market rate.”
Hyun-soo understood exactly what Hye-sook was getting at.
Once the house was sold, the new owner wouldn’t be as understanding.
He was currently paying almost half the market rate for his rent.
Even that was a discount she had given him after he’d fallen behind on the original rent.
“When do I need to be out by?”
“In about two weeks… I’m so ashamed to face you, Hyun-soo.”
“Please don’t say that. I’ve lived very well here.”
It was true. The landlady would often bring him leftover side dishes or anything tasty she had made.
The landlord, too, always greeted him cheerfully and had even given him a ride to the hospital once.
“My husband knows someone who owns a factory. The pay is supposed to be pretty good. Should I recommend you if you’re interested?”
Some might call it meddling, but Hyun-soo politely shook his head.
This landlady, at least, was someone who had earned the right to meddle.
Hyun-soo smiled as brightly as he could at the apologetic woman.
“It’s okay. I’ve found a job.”
“Really?”
Her face lit up as if it were her own good news.
“Yes.”
“Can I ask what kind of work it is?”
“…Something I’m very good at.”
The landlady looked puzzled.
“I’ll look for a new place within two weeks. Thank you for everything until now.”
“Oh, don’t mention it. I have some fruit at home, want some?”
“I still have some left from last time.”
After a few more words, the landlady hesitated, as if she wanted to say something else.
“It’s alright.”
At Hyun-soo’s smile, she began to ramble.
“You know, Hyun-soo. Sometimes I feel bad because you’re just too polite. I wish you were more like other kids your age… Oh, what am I even saying? I should get going.”
The landlady scurried away as if fleeing.
After she left, Hyun-soo closed the door and looked around his room with a bitter smile.
‘Two weeks from now…’
An inexplicable silence filled the room as he looked around. It was a small room, barely five pyeong with an attached bathroom, and the capsule took up half the space.
Of course, he had earned a lot of money, but he had spent it all.
But something else was sadder than that.
Just then, he received a call from Ji-hoon.
-What are you up to?
“Nothing much. Why?”
-What do you mean, why? My mom made some side dishes, and the stir-fried anchovies and soy-braised beef are amazing. When should I bring them over?
“…”
Hyun-soo was momentarily speechless.
-I said, when should I come over, you punk?
“Thanks.”
-Huh? Dude, did you level up your Sappy skill or something? Ugh… I think I’m gonna puke… I’m hanging up, gotta go throw up. Anyway, I’ll drop off the side dishes tomorrow.
Embarrassed, Ji-hoon quickly hung up.
Hyun-soo’s expression was heavy.
He was grateful to the people who helped him, but at the same time, he felt an indescribable sense of his own inadequacy.
Then, another call came in.
It was Nel. Kim Hye-in.
-Hyun-soo, what are you doing? I just thought of something very interesting.
“Just sitting here.”
-Hm? What’s wrong with your voice?
Hyun-soo had never actually met Hye-in in person.
Was that why? His true feelings slipped out. He didn’t talk about the hardships he’d been through.
He only spoke of the kindness he had received and why it made him feel so bitter.
-…I see. So you feel pathetic.
“Yes. I’m grateful, but I feel awful.”
The other end of the line went silent for a moment.
She chuckled softly and said.
-Then you can repay them. You have the ability to do so, Hyun-soo.
Her words seemed to give him a strange new strength.
-Hyun-soo, you are the most valuable person I know in Ares. That’s why I decided to be your first guild member.
It was strange. Her encouragement brought a small smile to his face.
-Once you finish this sword commission, you might just be able to repay them.
‘Repay them…’
Yes, he could.
No, he *would* make it happen. If Barad was satisfied, the reward would be beyond imagination.
Then, a question arose.
“What was it you wanted to tell me?”
She had said she’d thought of something very interesting.
-You believe that if you satisfy King Barad, you’ll receive a huge sum of money as a reward, right?
“Of course.”
-Well, that’s just the first-level reward. There’s a reward far more valuable than that.
“A more valuable reward?”
Hyun-soo looked perplexed.
What reward could be more valuable than a huge sum of money?
Hye-in’s voice was filled with excitement.
-Sword King Barad is one of the most influential NPCs on the current Korean server. If he appears anywhere, it makes the game news channels. Just meeting him makes players happy, and the community forums fill up with stories about him.
That was certainly true.
The power of a super-famous NPC with the title of ‘King’ was beyond imagination.
-And on the new sword that Barad wields, the name ‘Hyeon’ will be engraved.
“…Wow.”
Hyun-soo understood what she was trying to say.
-Can you even imagine it? The reaction of the players when they see the character ‘Hyeon’ engraved on his sword?
No, he couldn’t even begin to imagine it.
-This will be the biggest first step in branding Hyeon.
Hyun-soo’s fist clenched tightly. An unfamiliar tremor ran through his chest.
-Do you get it now? The tips of your fingers will change so many things. What are you doing?
Her voice was powerful.
-Go change your life. Right now.
Hyun-soo connected to Ares. To change his life.