A Royal Summons at the Worst Possible Time
Chapter 91. In the end, that guild had tried to go after Kim Tae-hyun alone and wound up getting marked by the kingdom’s army instead.
The moment they drew their weapons, the kingdom soldiers attacked. The guild members got dragged into the fight before they even knew what was happening… and in the end, they racked up so much hostility inside the kingdom that soldiers would come swarming even if they stood still.
Thanks to that, the guild lost every bit of wealth and every building they’d stockpiled inside the kingdom’s territory and got driven out.
That was a pretty comfortable way to handle it.
The victims still ground their teeth and wept tears of blood whenever they thought about it. That was how deep the grudge ran.
But Tae-hyun didn’t feel even the slightest bit guilty.
If they didn’t want it happening to them, they shouldn’t have picked a fight.
Whatever the case, there was never anything to gain from going against a massive power like a kingdom or a religious order in Fantasy Online. Once they marked you, they’d keep making your life miserable forever.
And now, Pelmas was saying that Ed-an had gone to the capital of the Atali Kingdom.
No way. Mora City’s huge. There could be authority hidden somewhere other than the royal palace.
Trying to comfort himself that way, Tae-hyun looked at Pelmas.
Pelmas avoided his gaze.
“Don’t tell me…!”
“N-no. He really won’t get caught!”
“Out of all the places to rob, he picks the royal palace?!”
Tae-hyun grabbed Pelmas by the collar. Gasping, Pelmas choked out,
“T-Tae-hyun. There is good news, at least.”
“What is it, you bastard?”
“Even if Ed-an gets caught, he won’t mention your name.”
“Yeah, right. Like hell he won’t. How am I supposed to trust you people?”
Tae-hyun let go of Pelmas’s collar.
Damn it. Now I’m getting nervous for no reason.
The best-case scenario was that Ed-an sneaked into the palace, uncovered the secret related to the authority, and made it back out.
The second-best was that Ed-an failed to find the secret but still escaped without getting caught.
As long as he wasn’t captured, Tae-hyun’s name wouldn’t come out.
The absolute worst-case scenario was Ed-an getting arrested and spilling Tae-hyun’s name.
Still… I keep my face covered, and I can use a fake name. They shouldn’t be able to trace it back to me, right?
Tae-hyun forced himself to think through the worst possibility first.
Once he did, it didn’t actually seem like something worth panicking over.
He wore a mask anyway, and he could always use an alias.
The real problem was the McCraney Merchant Group.
If things got tangled up, Tae-hyun could just run.
The McCraney Merchant Group couldn’t.
If they got caught up in this by mistake, the entire merchant company could vanish into thin air.
Still, it probably won’t go that far. He hasn’t even been caught yet…
Tae-hyun took a breath and organized his thoughts.
Nothing had happened yet.
I’ll hear what happened to Ed-an, then decide what to do.
If Ed-an came back with the information, the quest would be easy.
If he got caught, the quest would become much harder.
All he had to do was wait and then make a decision.
“Fine. The second Ed-an comes back, call for me.”
“Are you going to go help him?”
“To the capital? No.”
Tae-hyun refused without even a second of hesitation.
If Ed-an got caught while Tae-hyun was here, there was a good chance Tae-hyun wouldn’t get dragged into it.
But if Ed-an caused trouble, got arrested, and Tae-hyun happened to be in the capital too?
The odds of getting tied up in it shot past ninety percent.
No thanks. I’m not interested in having knights and the kingdom army chasing me all over the place.
“I’ll stay here and train. If you want to go help him, you do it.”
“Haha. I believe in Ed-an. He’ll handle it just fine on his own.”
They understood each other perfectly.
Neither of them wanted to go anywhere near the capital.
Once the conversation ended, McCraney and Rufo came in.
McCraney looked full of curiosity.
“So? Did you hear where the next authority is?”
“I did, but it’s a secret.”
“What?! Why would it be a secret?”
“Pelmas begged me so desperately to keep it confidential. And I take honor seriously. I had no choice but to swear on it.”
Listening beside him, Pelmas stared, mouth hanging open.
When had he ever done that?
No need to tell McCraney.
The McCraney Merchant Group was an excellent ally.
For someone like Tae-hyun, who didn’t have a guild, a power like the merchant company under McCraney’s leadership was incredibly useful.
But there was no reason to tell McCraney everything.
In fact, it was better to hold information back and reveal it only when necessary. That made people much easier to use.
People only get desperate when there’s something they want.
Sure enough, McCraney looked intensely curious the moment Tae-hyun refused to tell her.
But Tae-hyun didn’t budge.
Eventually, McCraney gave up.
“It can’t be helped. Then what are you planning to do about the authority? Can you retrieve it alone?”
“I’m thinking of waiting a little. I want to see how things develop first. In the meantime, I’m planning to raise my skills here. Ah—do you have a place with a forge I can use? A good furnace would be nice.”
To make good items with blacksmithing, a smith’s skill mattered—but the equipment used to forge them mattered too.
Things like anvils and hammers were portable.
Furnaces were different. They had to be installed in one place.
You couldn’t carry them around, but once set up, they gave enormous bonuses when using blacksmithing.
A guild focused on raising blacksmiths would even buy land just to keep furnaces of their own.
Of course, Tae-hyun didn’t own land like that.
But it didn’t matter.
The McCraney Merchant Group surely did.
“There is a furnace, but…”
“Perfect. And bring in some talented blacksmiths from the city too. There’s something I want to make.”
“…”
McCraney looked at Tae-hyun like he was absurd.
Why was the Incarnation of Archisus trying to make things like a blacksmith?
“Calling blacksmiths isn’t difficult… We even have blacksmiths under our merchant group. But are you planning to wander around learning every random production skill again, like last time?”
“Can’t I?”
“It’s not that you can’t, but you don’t exactly have that much time.”
Tae-hyun tilted his head.
Not much time?
What was she talking about?
“Why wouldn’t I have time?”
“Don’t tell me you really don’t know. Brangsong told you.”
Royal Audience in the Atali Kingdom
Admiral Brangsong of the Atali Kingdom’s 3rd Fleet was deeply impressed by your ability after you wiped out the pirates of Katerand Island.
In a situation where the island had transformed into a dungeon, your courage in personally stepping in and resolving the matter moved him greatly.
Brangsong is an honorable noble who does not try to steal the achievements of others.
He reported your accomplishments to the King of the Atali Kingdom exactly as they were.
The King now wishes to meet you in person.
Travel to the capital of the Atali Kingdom and present yourself before the King as soon as possible.
If you arrive too late, the King’s mood may sour.
🎁 Reward: ?
…!
Tae-hyun’s expression changed.
This quest was…
No, why now of all times?!
The royal audience quest was an excellent one.
And clearly, this wasn’t a summons for a bad reason—it was a good one.
He’d wiped out the pirates of Katerand Island. There was bound to be an enormous reward waiting for him.
The problem was Ed-an.
Ed-an had just headed to the capital to rob the place.
If Tae-hyun went to the royal palace in the capital and their paths happened to cross…
A chill ran down his spine.
All at once, unease flooded through him.
“Can I postpone it?”
“What? Do you even hear yourself? Ignore a request from His Majesty the King? Have you got two heads to lose?”
McCraney scolded him as if he were being ridiculous.
Then another message window popped up.
If you refuse this quest, penalties may apply.
If you fail to provide a proper reason, the King may become enraged.
…
Scratching at his aching head, Tae-hyun sank into thought.
Looks like I can’t avoid this.
At a glance, this was obviously the kind of quest that would slam him with horrifying penalties the instant he tried to duck out.
Which meant he had to go to the palace…
“Pelmas. Can you contact Ed-an?”
“No, Tae-hyun. Once Ed-an starts a job, he cuts off all contact and focuses completely. Isn’t that wonderfully professional? Uh, uh, why are you making a fist…”
Tae-hyun nearly hit Pelmas, then held himself back.
It wouldn’t change anything anyway.
“When do I have to leave for the capital?”
“If you leave within three days, it’ll be convenient. If you set out later than that, you’ll have to go separately.”
“Convenient how?”
“Admiral Brangsong is also heading up to the capital, so if you go with him it’ll be easier.”
If someone of Admiral Brangsong’s rank was heading to the capital, there was no way he’d be traveling alone.
He would obviously be bringing a swarm of soldiers with him.
Going along with them really would be convenient.
A comfortable trip where he wouldn’t have to worry at all about monsters or bandits.
“Fine. I’ll go with him.”
“Why are you saying that like you’re steeling yourself for battle? What’s so difficult about this?”
McCraney stared at him as though she truly couldn’t understand.
Of course she couldn’t. She didn’t know his circumstances.
“Whew… I’ll tell you after I get back.”
“...?”
The palace was the palace.
Work was work.
Pushing down his unease, Tae-hyun walked to the place McCraney had introduced him to.
It was where the merchant company kept its furnace.
“Not bad.”
Tae-hyun let out a whistle.
The heat was so intense he could feel the sparks and blazing fire from far away.
The merchant company’s furnace was enormous and built solid as a fortress.
At a glance, it looked like it would grant tremendous bonuses when using blacksmithing.
Other players probably can’t even get close to this.
Normally, furnaces like these in major cities weren’t something just anyone could use.
Even blacksmith players had to build affinity, pay money, or raise their fame before they were allowed near them.
“Greetings. I am Woo. And this fellow here is Ju.”
“Hm?”
At the voice behind him, Tae-hyun turned his head.
Two stubborn-looking Dwarves stood there holding hammers.
Pointing at them, Tae-hyun asked,
“Blacksmiths?”
“Yes. That is correct.”
“We were told you summoned us.”
Dwarf blacksmiths inspired trust just by looking at them.
They really did look like master craftsmen.
“Yeah. I called you. I need some help.”
“If there is something you need made,”
“you need only tell us, and we’ll make it,”
“a longsword,”
“or armor.”
As the two of them spoke one line at a time, Tae-hyun asked curiously,
“Can’t one of you just say the whole thing?”
“……”
“Guess not. Sorry. Anyway, a longsword or armor would be nice, but I prefer making things myself. You can help, right?”
Woo and Ju stared at Tae-hyun.
Their expressions clearly said, You know blacksmithing?
Tae-hyun sighed.
At moments like this, the best answer was always to show them with skill.
“Hey. Sit down and watch. I’ll show you properly.”
“...?”
“No!”
“That’s impossible!”
“With your eyes closed?!”
“With one hand?!”
“You made something like this?!”
Tae-hyun dusted off his hands and rose from his seat.
The two Dwarves stood there in a daze, carefully examining the shield he had just made.
“That enough for you? Huh?”
Your outstanding blacksmithing skill has increased your affinity with Blacksmith Woo.
Blacksmith Woo respects you.
Your outstanding blacksmithing skill has increased your affinity with Blacksmith Ju.
Blacksmith Ju respects you.
“Ahem. You do seem worthy of working with us.”
Looking embarrassed, Woo and Ju rubbed beneath their noses with a finger as they spoke.
“Good. Then let’s get to work right away.”
“……!”
Tae-hyun began dumping out the items in his bag one by one.
The moment they saw them, Woo and Ju’s eyes went wide.
“W-what is all this?”
“Let’s use the items I brought out, plus whatever materials the merchant company can provide, and make equipment I can use. You can do that, right?”
Dwarf Woo picked up the Burning Steel Heavy Armor and the Burning Steel Axe and let out a low, awed, “Oooh.”
Dwarf Ju picked up the Orc Skull Crusher and murmured, “Such a precious item…” in delight.
Both of them had completely stopped listening to Tae-hyun.
“Are you listening to me?”
“Gah!”
“We are listening!”