Strike 76

Prev I TOC I Next

Early in the morning, Hyun-soo got up and called the construction company.

[You can expect it to be about 400 million won.]

400 million won.

That was the cost to rebuild the blacksmith shop anew.

Hyun-soo wanted the blacksmith shop to be the same as before.

‘So dad won’t feel strange when he returns.’

Of course, it wouldn’t be an exact copy.

Thinking about it, the blacksmith shop had been in that place for nearly 30 years, so there was a need to rebuild it.

That is, while the exterior would look the same, the interior would be like new.

“I’ll see you later.”

Hyun-soo was scheduled to meet with a construction company employee in front of a cafe in two hours to sign the contract.

The reason he was signing despite not having the money yet was because he now had confidence in his own value.

Meanwhile, he thought,

‘The Ballas territory…’

Developing the Ballas territory was expected to be a very important task for Hyun-soo.

Just raising it by 10% would allow him to earn 20 million won, an incredible quest.

Of course, it didn’t seem easy for a single player to develop a territory.

[You have logged in.]

Upon logging in, he found himself in the blacksmith shop, which he had tidied up the previous evening.

Hyun-soo had briefly touched on the Ballas territory last night.

“It was called the blacksmith’s territory, but nearly half of the blacksmiths have already left.”

He was curious about the reason. Just then, an NPC named Per, from the neighboring blacksmith shop, visited.

“There’s no name on the sign.”

Blacksmith elder Per smiled. He looked at Hyun-soo with the eyes of someone looking at a cute grandson.

“Where are the other members?”

“It’s the first day the blacksmith shop is open, so they came to visit.”

In fact, aside from Nel, Miner Banya and Bark had visited yesterday and then left.

“It seems you are a foreigner who just arrived in this territory. You might have chosen the wrong place.”

Per showed a bittersweet smile. Hyun-soo’s eyes sparkled.

Elder Per was presumed to have been a blacksmith in this area for a long time.

That made Hyun-soo think he might be able to get some information from him.

“What happened?”

“Ah, a big incident, indeed.”

Hyun-soo looked puzzled.

Per, with a serious expression, stroked his long beard and spoke in a sighing voice.

“About a year ago, the Edrol trading group came in and everything changed.”

“The Edrol trading group?”

“Yes, the Edrol trading group is quite large in this area.”

Hyun-soo realized,

‘Did that group take over the territory?’

“As soon as the head of the group arrived, he made a bet with the lord. I don’t know why, but the lord accepted the bet and lost, so the Edrol group took over managing the blacksmiths. After taking over, they raised the blacksmiths’ taxes to 70% and doubled the working hours. That’s the reason.”

Per looked around at the remaining blacksmith shops.

The empty blacksmith shops.

“The blacksmiths started running away or hiding, and the few that remained were basically forced into labor. Those who couldn’t escape in time, if they lost another bet, became complete slaves.”

Hyun-soo looked puzzled. Per kept talking about the bet.

‘A bet…’

There was something strange.

The story of a lord betting with the blacksmiths of his territory seemed unbelievable.

“That’s why I say you’ve chosen the wrong place. Fortunately, you look like a beginner to intermediate blacksmith, so the group might not pay much attention to you.”

It was a bitter story for Hyun-soo.

“Is it because I’m not valuable enough?”

“Exactly, haha!”

The blacksmith elder Per laughed heartily, as if to mock Hyun-soo.

Of course, Hyun-soo didn’t actually feel mocked.

Per put his hand on Hyun-soo’s shoulder.

“But you are young, a blacksmith with much room to grow. Fortunately, this is a rented blacksmith shop, right? So leave when you can. If you become a higher-level blacksmith, they won’t leave you alone.”

“Thank you for the advice.”

Despite the bitter words, Hyun-soo learned an important fact.

Elder Per sincerely worried about Hyun-soo and the blacksmith shop, which is why he offered such advice.

Then, Hyun-soo asked a question that had been on his mind.

“So, are you also forced into labor, elder?”

“No, not me.”

Elder Per shook his head.

“I was originally a blacksmith here, but I served closely with the lord. And on the day the lord lost the bet, he sent me out of the castle and told me to someday win back the bet and save all the blacksmiths. I am actually quite a skilled blacksmith, you know?”

He was an interesting old man.

In other words, Elder Per could be considered as the last bastion left by the lord.

“I’ve returned after a brief seclusion to further hone my skills. I think I might make a bet before long.”

Hyun-soo nodded.

“I’ll be rooting for you.”

For now, Hyun-soo had to keep observing the situation.

“Oh, and if you want to learn some blacksmith skills, feel free to visit, heh!”

Hyun-soo smiled faintly at Per’s words.

Then he went outside again to look around the blacksmith shops.

‘Indeed.’

The remaining blacksmiths looked miserable.

The workload had been doubled, and the blacksmiths seemed almost on the verge of death.

‘With nearly 70% of taxes going to the trading group, it’s no wonder the territory is failing.’

Hyun-soo thought that resolving this issue alone could improve the level of development.

He also saw symbols drawn around the place, presumably belonging to the Edrol trading group.

‘I need to find out more about the Edrol group.’

Then, Hyun-soo logged out. It was almost time to meet with the construction company employee.

***

Late at night.

Per was diligently working at his forge.

Despite being a top-tier blacksmith, Per felt pressured to become a master craftsman.

Not knowing exactly what powers the Edrol group’s blacksmith had, he was honing his strength.

‘I will definitely reclaim this territory.’

Per recalled a time when the place was filled with the laughter of blacksmiths.

There were rumors that this now nearly deserted territory might soon vanish.

‘This is the old man’s last regret.’

To restore the laughter to this place.

While he was training hard as a blacksmith,

Per heard footsteps coming inside.

Turning his head, he looked puzzled.

The person who had bet with the lord, leading the knights of the trading group, had come.

“Is Per, the blacksmith who recently arrived here, correct?”

“Yes, but what brings you here…?”

“I am Buks, the blacksmith examiner of the Edrol trading group. I’ve heard of a skilled blacksmith here and thought to make a bet.”

Per shook his head at these words.

‘It’s not yet time.’

Per was not sure if he could defeat this so-called blacksmith examiner.

And he looked puzzled.

‘An examiner?’

Are they examining blacksmiths?

Unbeknownst to Per, Buks had a unique power.

Buks, one of the special NPCs, literally had the power of an examiner.

Under the guise of examination, he could make bets and force those who lost to fulfill his demands.

If they did not comply, they would face divine punishment.

“I’m sorry, but I do not wish to bet at this time, please come back another time.”

Elder Per was not foolish.

He wanted to further sharpen his skills.

But then,

“No, the examination cannot be delayed. I will conduct it now.”

[The examination has begun.]

“…?”

Per was bewildered.

Despite his refusal, the voice announced the start of the examination, forcibly involving him.

‘Is this why the lord…?’

He understood why the lord had accepted such an absurd bet.

The lord had only told Per to flee quickly.

[If you fail the examination, you must comply with his demands.]

[You can also state your demands.]

“If I fail the examination, I’ll take your head, blacksmith Per of the lord.”

Per’s world spun.

This examiner Buks knew everything about him from the start.

“Those who fail the examination cannot speak of my special power. Oh, but does it matter? You’ll be dead anyway.”

[If you fail the examination, you must comply.]

Per’s eyes fluttered.

This is how he had silenced the lord and other blacksmiths.

[State your condition.]

Per soon calmed down.

“If I win, nullify all bets made with the lord and all blacksmiths.”

[Your life is at stake.]

[The condition is acceptable.]

“So be it.”

Soon, the blacksmith examiner began moving his arms, and two giant forges made of holograms appeared.

“This is known as the Dream Forge. It utilizes knowledge, judgment, experience, and thoughts in your mind to quickly craft weapons and armor. Normally, blacksmith work that takes five days can be completed in one day with this mystical power.”

Hearing this, Per nodded his head.

“The examination begins now.”

Following the examiner’s words, Per used his mental knowledge to operate the holographic forge.

The refining and purification process started according to his expertise.

“The one who makes a higher-grade sword wins.”

Per quickly crafted, applying all the skills he had honed over the years.

He gave it his all.

Sweat poured down from his entire body.

Then he realized,

‘A fine sword will be produced.’

He was an exceptional blacksmith, once renowned as the best in the territory.

However, Per soon stopped as he glanced at the examiner’s work.

Alarmingly, the artifact being created by Buks was surpassing his own.

Blacksmiths have an intuition.

Mine is epic.

His is unique.

Per knew it.

He was going to die today.

And he thought,

There were still several processes left, like forging and tempering.

Was it meaningful to continue this competition in such a situation?

Wouldn’t it be better not to engage in such a duel at all?

Then,

“Pay more attention to refining the tip of the sword.”

“…?”

A strange voice was heard.

Turning his head, he saw a young man standing there.

It was Hyun-soo, a novice-to-intermediate blacksmith, who had just rented a forge yesterday.

With a straw-clutching mindset, Per paid more attention to refining the sword’s tip, as suggested by Hyun-soo.

Ting, ting, ting-!

He thought he had nothing to lose.

But then, an unusual notification came.

[Your understanding of the sword is greatly surpassing your usual skills.]

[You are receiving guidance from a master blacksmith.]

Prev I TOC I Next