Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Territory Development (3)
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Ares Community.
Heln, a streamer with 1.1 million subscribers, posted for the first time in a while.
[Guys, this is insane lol. I found a sick territory. The artifacts from the regular smithies are better than average. Going live soon.]
The influence of a Youtuber with 1.1 million subscribers was significant in the country.
Heln, in particular, was popular because he would thoroughly investigate any territory he covered.
[That dude's back after forever just to make a fuss lol.]
[Yeah, didn't seem like there were any good territories lately, huh?]
But since it was Heln's stream, the community members held a sliver of anticipation.
[Heln has started a live broadcast.]
[Current viewers: 34,414.]
The moment he started the stream, a staggering thirty thousand viewers tuned in.
“This is the Balas Territory, located in the western part of the Goyaad Kingdom. It's known as a blacksmithing territory.”
-Huh?
-Balas Territory? Didn't that place get taken over by some other NPC?
-The blacksmiths in Balas are famous for making absolute trash.
-Wasn't that the territory voted number one in a recent poll for places that need an update?
-Aren't the blacksmiths in Balas forced into labor? They're so overworked they just slap artifacts together, so the quality is way lower than average.
Heln chuckled softly at the viewers' doubts.
“Guys, do you think I'd go live without doing my research? I know all about it.”
Heln smiled as if to say, ‘Just you wait.’
-If this is just clickbait, you're gonna get so much hate lol.
-Did you go crazy from not finding a decent territory for months?
Soon, the territory came into view.
-Why is it so crowded with users?
“I'll get right to the proof.”
On screen, Heln entered a smithy.
Inside, a single spear was for sale.
-Oh, that looks pretty decent.
-It's meticulously crafted.
-Ah, hurry up and check the detailed info.
With a wicked grin(?), Heln spoke to the smithy's owner.
“It’s very sturdily made.”
“Isn't it? It's all thanks to him. I was reborn as a new blacksmith because of him. And I came to realize that even a single weapon must be crafted with one's utmost effort.”
-That bastard is stalling.
-Who the hell is 'him,' you nerd lol.
The viewers didn't care who 'him' was.
But soon, Heln revealed the spear's information.
“Alright, everyone, you can calculate the average stats for this type of artifact for yourselves.”
And among the viewers were many blacksmiths.
-That's insane. It's 4% better than others of the same grade.
-What are you talking about? It looks like any other artifact lol.
-FR, what's with all the hype.
Just then, a rather famous blacksmith among the viewers appeared.
-That's excellent. Even though it's a common grade, I'd say it's a high-quality item.
-Whoa, isn't that Pode, ranked 17th among blacksmiths?
-Is 4% really something to get so hyped about lol.
Heln didn't answer and headed to another smithy.
It was fine, anyway. That user named Pode would explain it for him.
-It's not 'just' 4%. If you guys had a choice between an artifact that's 1% better and an average one, which would you pick?
-Oh... you have a point...
-That's how demand works. Consumers will buy something that's even 1% better or even a little bit cheaper.
Then Heln entered another smithy. And there, the viewers were stunned.
“Alright, this one is a Rare.”
-???????
-Excuse me?
-Don't lie to us, man.
-What kind of street-side smithy sells a Rare item?
Heln glanced at the viewer count.
[Current viewers: 76,010.]
The number of viewers naturally increases over time, especially for entertaining content.
‘By now, this must be blowing up on the blacksmith and Ares communities.’
“Alright, let’s take a look.”
Heln revealed the artifact's information.
-Whoa, that's insane...
-They're really selling a Rare at a street-side smithy...
-Whoa...
Artifacts above the Common grade are not easily found in street-side smithies.
While some might sell them occasionally, it was a rare sight.
Heln moved on to the next smithy.
And there...
-Is this for real...?
-Dude, that's an Epic...?
-Holy crap, an Epic...!
The reality was that most average users didn't even own a single Epic item.
Epic items were mostly found in the Tower of Blacksmiths.
Or they could only be bought from the best blacksmith in a region, one renowned for their skill.
However, these cases were extremely rare. Over 90% were obtained through monster drops or quest rewards, making player-to-player sales the norm.
-This seems staged.
-Looks like it. Heln, have you stooped to bribing NPCs now?
-Staged stream by bribing NPCs lol.
This was the moment Heln had been waiting for.
“What does it say in the description?”
A viewer read it aloud.
-'A masterpiece by the blacksmith Kan, crafted under the tutelage of an outstanding blacksmith'...?
“Now, what’s the name of the NPC right here?”
The viewers could see the name 'Kan' floating above the blacksmith's head.
“It clearly says it was crafted by Kan, and the blacksmith in front of us is Kan.”
Now the viewers focused on something else.
-'Crafted under the tutelage of an outstanding blacksmith'?
-Is that guy 'him'?
“Who is this person?”
At Heln's question, the blacksmith gave a pleased smile.
“I cannot speak of him. He is like a master to me. What I can say for sure is that he is an incredible individual.”
He got the same answer no matter where he went.
-Even Voldemort's name gets mentioned, but they won't even say this guy's name?
-Maybe it's a blacksmith with a skill specialized in teaching?
-Totally possible.
-Whoa, that's crazy. A blacksmith with that kind of power? There's a lot of buzz about blacksmiths lately. Blacksmith Hyeon, and now a teaching blacksmith.
Heln's eyes sparkled.
“'The Teaching Blacksmith.' Has a nice ring to it. I can tell you one thing for sure. Everything here will sell out fast, and these guys don't even sell the stuff they made before.”
-T_T
-Are we too late?
-Broooo... I want a good item too.
“You're not too late yet. You know why? You can just place a crafting order. What are you all doing?”
-???
-Scratching my belly while watching your stream.
“Hurry up and get over here to place your crafting orders!”
-Whoa...
-He's right...
-Damn, if I'm late in line, I won't get my item for another three years.
-Hey, where'd that ranker blacksmith from before go?
Heln soon found the perfect moment to end the stream. Because Pode had given a witty reply.
-Busy running to Balas Territory.
After the stream ended, the Ares and blacksmith communities were flooded with posts about two topics.
The Balas Territory and the Teaching Blacksmith.
***
“Ugh…!”
Having just woken up, Hyun-soo stretched with all his might.
He had slept for over twelve hours, making up for several sleepless nights.
Feeling completely refreshed, Hyun-soo washed up and went to check his phone.
“Huh? Why is it off?”
With a puzzled look, Hyun-soo plugged his phone into the charger and walked straight to his capsule.
Not many people ever contacted him anyway, so he decided to log into Ares right away.
‘I wonder how much the development level has increased.’
There was one thing that nagged at Hyun-soo.
The quest he received from Barad had a time limit.
Barad needed a justification to tell the other nobles, “I will not abolish this territory.”
Therefore, it was best to raise the development level as quickly as possible.
Of course, Barad had said he would be satisfied with just a 20% increase, but Hyun-soo felt that wasn't enough.
‘It would take time for sales to begin and for users to flock in. It would also take a while for the news to reach the blacksmiths who had left.’
In other words, the amount of development he could achieve within the given time was limited, which was a shame.
‘Maybe it went up by about 3%?’
He had only been sleeping.
He'd be grateful for even that much.
[You have logged in.]
But upon logging in, Hyun-soo wore a puzzled expression.
“Line up!”
“Everyone, please wait your turn!”
The once-empty blacksmith street was now packed with users.
[Outsiders are flocking to the Balas Territory.]
That wasn't all.
“Bels, is that you!?”
“Kan! It's been a while! The story about you all has already spread to the neighboring Fruk Territory!”
“You've come back?”
“I have!”
[The blacksmiths who had left are hearing the rumors and returning to the Balas Territory.]
[49 blacksmiths have now returned.]
[Rumors about the Balas Territory are spreading rapidly.]
[Development level...]
[Development level...]
Hyun-soo was stunned by the rapid succession of notifications.
‘The development level rose this much...?’
Hyun-soo could see why.
“Is this the 'must-visit' territory that the Youtuber Heln introduced?”
“Look at this line.”
‘Heln?’
Hyun-soo hurriedly brought up a hologram and searched for 'Heln' on YouStube.
A recording of the stream had been uploaded.
[Views: 45,013.]
‘Whoa.’
After watching the stream, Hyun-soo was amazed.
‘This is incredible.’
The impact generated by the chance visit of a Youtuber with 1.1 million subscribers was beyond imagination.
And there was something even more surprising.
“Who is the blacksmith managing this place?”
At the words of a man who appeared to be a noble, Ger hurried forward.
“That would be me.”
“These are truly excellent armaments. I am Roke, the lord of the Genya Territory. I would like to commission a supply of arms from you. Is that possible?”
“...W-We will do our best!”
[The Balas Territory is scheduled to sign an arms supply contract with the Genya Territory.]
[Development level...]
“I will speak with your lord as well.”
And then, Hyun-soo realized something.
“Who is the Teaching Blacksmith?”
“Come on, blacksmiths, just tell us!”
“No.”
“We will not speak of him.”
Hyun-soo's eyes met with Ger's.
Ger gave a faint smile and walked past Hyun-soo.
The other blacksmiths did the same.
[38 blacksmiths have found new lives thanks to you.]
[They would not hesitate to give their lives for you.]
Right now, they were thinking only of Hyun-soo.
They were pretending not to know him so that not even a speck of harm would come to their benefactor, Hyun-soo.
[Development level...]
[Development level...]
Hyun-soo was dizzy from the development level, which had far surpassed his expectations.
Having now achieved a sufficient development level, Hyun-soo went for an audience with the Sword King, Barad.
Upon meeting him, Barad drew an unidentifiable sword.
A sword that held a bright light. As it brushed past Hyun-soo, a notification sounded.
[The national power of the Goyaad Kingdom increases by 1%.]
[You have gained 100 Charisma.]
[You have gained 1,000 Fame.]
Hyun-soo himself was surprised.
‘National power by 1%?’
Then, with a somewhat stirred expression, Barad asked.
“...What percentage of development did you achieve?”
A confident smile played on Hyun-soo's lips.
***
It seemed Barad had never waited for someone's words as eagerly as he did today.
Smiling confidently, Hyun-soo replied.
“I achieved 110%.”
Hearing those words, Barad's eyes wavered.
He had told Bella that 40% would be enough.
He had considered him just one of dozens of successors being tested.
Among those dozens were marquises, those who dreamed of becoming legends, and Sword Saints.
But now, Barad saw it.
‘That you might hold the greatest potential of all.’
He composed himself.
There was no need to speak of the distant future now, and there was still much to see.
For now, it was time to talk about what he had accomplished.
And Hyun-soo heard a notification.
[Quest: Develop the Balas Territory - Complete]
[You have achieved 110% development.]
[You have achieved a phenomenal result.]
Hyun-soo's heart pounded.
A phenomenal result.
This notification always made his heart race.
Because whenever he heard it, something extra special tended to happen.
“I shall bestow upon you 220,000 gold.”
[You have obtained 220,000 Gold.]
Barad felt it wasn't enough.
The Balas Territory was now poised to leap forward as a newly revitalized domain.
He could even crush the pride of Marquis Sophia, his biggest opponent who had argued for the territory's abolishment.
What should he give?
‘A territory?’
It was too soon for him.
And because of Hyun-soo's 'level', he couldn't grant one even if he wanted to.
Then?
There was another reward.
“I wish to bestow one more thing upon you.”
Hyun-soo knew his guess had been correct.
Barad smiled faintly.
The most necessary and important thing for a blacksmith.
“I shall grant you a smithy.”
It was the moment Hyun-soo would finally get his own personal smithy.