Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Three Swords (1)
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Bella, the vice-commander of the Goyard Kingdom's Royal Knights.
Leading the 2nd Knight Division, she was a talent renowned throughout the kingdom.
Also known as ‘the Divine,’ she had risen to the position of vice-commander at the tender age of twenty-one, her competence already proven.
As such, Bella often handled various tasks assigned by King Barad.
She had heard the conversation between His Majesty Barad and Hyun-soo from just outside the door.
The king had commissioned the blacksmith, Hyeon, to craft the sword he had long awaited.
And after sending Hyeon away, he had briefly summoned her.
“Bella, I will soon depart for the Fire Dragon’s Nest.”
The king smiled bitterly.
“I would like you to bring me the sword made by the blacksmith named Hyeon. As a blacksmith's daughter, you would know best.”
Bella knew more about smithing than the other knights.
“It is not easy to produce a high-grade sword.”
“That is correct, Your Majesty.”
Bella had once shared her knowledge when the king expressed his desire for a new sword.
There were many famous swords in the world that His Majesty might covet, and no shortage of high-grade weapons.
The problem was that few swords possessed the effects the king desired, and there were other issues as well.
“Blacksmiths say they produce one rare sword for every hundred they forge.”
This was an average statistic.
“An epic-grade sword, one in five hundred. A unique sword might appear once in a lifetime, if at all.”
He gave a grim smile.
“That means for one rare sword to be born, ninety-nine common swords must exist. And to create one epic sword, there must have been 499 ordinary ones.”
From unique-grade onward, the numbers were impossible to quantify.
“That must be why I could not obtain such a sword. So, I am placing a sliver of hope on him.”
What was this hope the king was placing?
“He is a blacksmith who claimed his power stems from skill. All humans possess innate talent.”
Sword King Barad and Bella, standing here now, were living proof of that.
A power that allows one to reach even greater heights than skill alone can achieve.
“Because he is a blacksmith who dared to speak of skill before me, I am willing to take this chance.”
From his voice, Bella understood.
The king considered this raid on the Fire Dragon's Nest to be his final attempt.
That was why he could so boldly give away all his materials.
“Perhaps I am feeling my limit now. And yet, I am curious… where does the limit of his skill lie?”
At this, Bella asked.
“What level of sword do you hope for him to create?”
“Hundred-Year Cold Iron is a special material. Such a material should have the power to defy the odds of one rare in a hundred.”
That was why people were fanatical about special minerals.
“If I were to be greedy, I would want a unique sword. A sword that ordinary blacksmiths could not obtain even if they dedicated their entire lives.”
A hint of bitterness tinged his voice.
He only had enough materials left to make three swords.
“Of course, that is just greed. I will be satisfied even if he brings an epic sword that draws out the maximum power of the Hundred-Year Cold Iron. The fire resistance will also have to be at its maximum. If he can achieve that much, he will have proven his words.”
A sword that was one in five hundred. And one that was imbued with the desired amount of fire resistance at that.
“If even a sword like that is not enough, then the problem must be with my own skill, Bella.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Go and see for yourself the power of what he called ‘skill.’”
A small flicker of anticipation was present in the king's voice.
“See if he is a blacksmith with the power to defy the one-in-five-hundred odds. Also, as soon as he finishes crafting a sword that satisfies me, bring it to the Fire Dragon's Nest at once. I will hold out with the sword Curse made for me until then.”
“As you command.”
Bella immediately led Hyun-soo to the royal smithy.
After nodding to him as he said he needed to visit his own world for a moment, she fell into thought.
‘To think there’s someone who can say such things in front of His Majesty…’
Was it arrogance or confidence?
Then, thinking of His Majesty, Bella sighed.
“You must return safely.”
The king had already challenged it twice and failed. This would be his last time.
Even the Sword King Barad had failed.
A worry then crossed her mind.
‘His Majesty is desperate, but is he as well?’
That kind of mindset could sometimes lead to the best results.
And then, he who had disappeared returned.
He came back with his fists clenched tightly.
And without her prompting, he spoke.
“I have a feeling this sword might just change my life.”
“…That’s a good mindset to have.”
Bella wore an expression of interest. Having just finished his call with Nel, Hyun-soo was brimming with motivation.
‘This sword will change my life.’
Hyun-soo activated God's Custom Production.
[Commencing God's Custom Production.]
“His Majesty wished for the fire resistance to be raised above 45%, correct?”
Hyun-soo confirmed once more with Bella.
“That is correct.”
“I’ll have to maximize it further, then.”
He once again reviewed the information on the Hundred-Year Cold Iron and confirmed its effects.
Fire Resistance +56%
Ice Attribute Skill increased to Epic.
Sword Sharpness +112%.
Durability increased to Infinite.
Sword Skill Attack Power +35%.
The values listed in the mineral's description or crafting method represented the maximum potential.
This maximum was not an absolute value, as it could be overridden by various factors like the user's level and skill power.
‘Push the fire resistance to its absolute limit.’
[Pushing fire resistance to its absolute limit is not easy.]
[Attempting production by sacrificing Durability, Sharpness, and Sword Skill Attack Power.]
Hyun-soo made the appropriate adjustments.
Durability didn't need to be exceptionally high, and while greater sharpness and sword skill attack power would be nice, they weren't essential.
The imbued power of the ice attribute meant it could deal additional damage when met with fire resistance.
Therefore, by sacrificing those three stats and going all-in on fire resistance, it was possible to create a much more magnificent effect.
Finally, Hyun-soo placed the materials into the furnace to begin crafting.
Bella stood to one side and said.
“As soon as a decent sword is crafted, I will deliver it to His Majesty Barad immediately.”
“Understood. Even if a decent sword is made on the first try, I should continue crafting, right?”
“Yes.”
“Looks like you’ll be busy.”
Bella looked at him with a puzzled expression.
Busy?
She soon understood what he meant.
Barad wanted her to bring him a sword as soon as an epic-grade one was produced.
Hyun-soo's words sounded as if he expected her to make three swift round trips.
The man’s confidence was truly something else.
‘Let’s see what he’s got.’
Her father, while not exceptional, had been a blacksmith in his own right.
Having watched the work of a smith since she was young, she could gauge a person’s skill level to some extent.
With calm eyes, Bella began to watch him.
***
The Fire Dragon's Nest was known as one of the most difficult hunting grounds in Ares.
A place designated for levels 300 to 450 at a minimum.
And even within the Fire Dragon's Nest, the difficulty varied drastically from one area to another.
The area Sword King Barad had entered was Ifrit's Tomb, the most difficult part of the nest.
A hunting ground that no one below level 400 could even dream of challenging.
To this day, no outsiders had ever entered.
No, even if they did, most were annihilated at the very entrance.
It was the fourth day since they had entered Ifrit's Tomb.
Barad's face contorted as he fiercely clashed with his enemies.
Sssssizzle—
The moment his sword met the one wielded by a creature called a Flame Warrior, it began to melt.
Drip, drip—
The sword, now flowing like molten metal, was of rare grade.
Barad drew another sword from his back and cleaved through them all.
After cutting them all down, he stared blankly at his own sword.
‘…It’s melting.’
This second sword he had just drawn was also rare.
Its fire resistance was 25%.
Considering its attack power and other attributes, it was an excellent sword.
Of course, he could easily obtain a sword of a higher grade if he wished.
The problem was that the monsters here in the Fire Dragon's Nest all possessed the ‘power to melt weapons.’
Even the most legendary sword would melt away, making a weapon with high fire resistance an absolute necessity.
Furthermore, for someone of Barad's level, a hunting ground of this caliber wasn't overwhelmingly difficult.
The real issue was the unnaturally high temperature.
One only had to look at the scorching heat that melted even swords to understand.
An immense thirst also washed over him.
He turned his body.
‘I can’t go on.’
His weapon was already ruined. To take another step would be true suicide.
‘…Am I truly incapable of this?’
Barad's body trembled faintly.
The reason Barad was so obsessed with the Fire Dragon's Nest and the creation of a new sword.
‘At the end of this path is the one who killed my son…’
Just as Barad turned around with a look of despair, he saw a woman running toward him.
“…?”
It was Bella.
Barad’s face crumpled.
“Bella, I believe I made it clear. Did I not tell you to come find me only when a good sword had been made!?”
Bella, who had rushed over breathlessly, quickly shook her head.
“A good sword has been made. That is why I have come.”
“…What!? Already?”
How many days had passed? Four? Five?
It was enough time for the first sword to be crafted.
A sword that could satisfy him on the very first try?
At that moment, Bella held out the sword.
“This is the first sword. Please, examine it.”
The moment Barad gripped the sword, he felt a sensation course through his entire body.
It was cold. Even in this scorching heat, the sword enveloped his body in a chilling aura.
The sweat that had been pouring down like rain stopped, and the thirst that had parched his throat subsided.
Just as he was about to inspect the sword.
Barad spotted a massive flame golem falling from the sky.
A Magma Golem.
This creature, which only lived here, was made entirely of magma.
The instant it touched you, your entire body would melt, leaving only bones behind.
“Bella, get back!”
It was dangerous. The creature was descending to grab Bella.
But it was too late. Bella was already directly beneath its path.
Just then, Bella spoke.
“Your Majesty, try striking it!”
Her eyes met Barad's.
Barad took her words to heart.
And he cut down the Magma Golem, which was covered in lava.
[When attacking a fire-attribute monster, the power of the ice attribute is imbued.]
[Attack power increases by 75% against ice-attribute monsters.]
Crack—creak—
In that instant, the level 420 Magma Golem, which boasted high defense.
The creature, its entire body made of hot magma, began to freeze completely, starting from the point of impact.
Craaaash—
As he watched the Magma Golem fall to the ground as an ice statue, Barad looked at the sword with a stunned expression.
“This is the first sword he made?”
And with a trembling heart, he checked its details.
[Hyeon's Fourth Custom-Made Sword]
Grade: Epic
Durability: 3,000/3,000
Attack Power: 351
Restrictions: No creator restriction, Level 200~450
Special Abilities:
·Fire Resistance 98%
·Ice Attribute Attack Power +25%
·Ice Attribute Attack Power +75% against Fire-Attribute Monsters.
Description: Hyeon's fourth custom-made sword, crafted for King Barad.
“…?”
Barad wore a look of bewilderment.
‘I said fire resistance of 45% or more would be sufficient…’
But 98% fire resistance?
Furthermore, it created a synergistic effect against fire-attribute monsters, increasing attack power by 75%.
The reason the golem had frozen when he swung the sword just now was due to this high ice-attribute attack power.
What Bella said next shocked him even more.
“He said that for the second sword, he will send one with the mysterious power of the ice attribute maximized. He said you can choose whichever suits your taste.”
What was this? This insane confidence?
And yet, the artifact proving that confidence was right here in his hand.
Then Bella spoke.
“I asked him. Out of a hundred swords you craft, how many rares do you produce?”
An average blacksmith would only get one rare sword for every hundred they forged.
“He gave this answer: ‘I have never once crafted a normal-grade artifact.’”