Strike 80

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After leaving the lord’s audience chamber, Hyun-soo organized what he had gained from the Ballas territory.

’20 million gold, plus the noble Per and the White Night.’

A staggering amount of about 200 million won in Korean currency.

But Hyun-soo was still thirsty for more.

‘The cost of rebuilding the forge alone is 400 million.’

It was only halfway there. What he needed to further fill this gap was development.

[Current Development: 53%]

This was already quite an impressive level of development. 

However, Hyun-soo himself found it lacking.

He planned to teach the blacksmiths for two weeks before leaving.

There were two key points.

‘Significantly improving their skills, and getting the blacksmiths who had left to return.’

And so, Hyun-soo had asked Per to gather the blacksmiths.

Hyun-soo headed towards where the blacksmiths were gathered.

***

Blacksmith Ger was a top-notch blacksmith.

Although he had lost to the examiner, Buks, he was clearly the one overseeing the local blacksmiths.

About thirty blacksmiths were gathered in the small plaza of the territory.

Once nearly a hundred, now only this many remained after deaths and departures.

They hadn’t been properly informed about the one who saved the territory.

Seeing the newcomer, the blacksmiths furrowed their brows.

“He’s just a kid, right?”

“This guy is going to teach us?”

They had heard he was quite skilled, but if that skill was some mystical power, how could they learn it?

“I will be teaching you for the next two weeks. Please take care of me.”

The blacksmiths, including Ger, responded lukewarmly.

But then Per personally came and said, “It’s the lord’s command. Trust his words and dedicate yourself to training for two weeks.”

It was ridiculous. What made them even angrier was hearing that Per was following this man’s lead.

“What kind of trickery has he used?”

But there was no helping it.

The blacksmiths reluctantly began to follow him.

Then he said something they couldn’t comprehend.

“I hope you can keep up without falling for the next two weeks.”

What did he mean?

“Let’s start by making a sword. Everyone, please pick up your hammers and anvils.”

And so it began.

He started making a sword.

The blacksmiths half-heartedly nodded along.

But then, Ger looked puzzled.

“Huh? This part, I couldn’t solve it before…?”

But it was solved.

He explained as he hammered. Listening to him, they were amazed.

“Huh? So that’s how it’s done?”

“Wow, so this is how it’s done!”

“What’s this?”

As half a day passed,

Sarak-

One of the blacksmiths took out a writing instrument to take notes.

Initially, the blacksmiths looked at him with a disdainful expression, as if to say, “What a pathetic guy.”

But as time went on, one by one, they started taking out their writing instruments too.

Two days, three days.

He explained the basic theories of major weapons and armor, demonstrating them in practice.

“Now, we all start the actual making. I hope you can all keep up.”

That phrase again.

Ger didn’t understand this ‘keeping up’ at first but then he got it.

‘Why isn’t he sleeping?’

The blacksmiths were puzzled. Those who were dozing off woke up.

Daaang-

The central forge was still filled with the sound of metalworking.

Ger and the blacksmiths blankly took in the scene.

‘He looks so happy…’

‘What? Why does he look so happy without even sleeping?’

‘Is this guy obsessed with blacksmithing?’

Looking at him, they felt a surge of desire and competitiveness.

‘I won’t lose when it comes to effort!’

‘I will create a sword worthy of Lord Per!’

One week.

The man continued his intense schedule.

At some point, the blacksmiths realized why he was such a skilled blacksmith.

Within a week, all the blacksmiths were intently listening to his words.

They became extremely respectful when he spoke.

They wrote down every word so as not to miss anything.

Every word he said resonated with them.

Cock-a-doodle-doo!

Repeatedly facing mornings with the crowing of roosters, the man should have been tired, but he still came to their forges to teach.

“The key to a crossbow is the tensioning process. It needs to be heated properly.”

“You might be tired, but just bear with it a bit longer, I’m not sleeping either, right?”

He was cunning and smart.

How could the learners sleep when the teacher didn’t?

That was unthinkable.

In fact, this attitude motivated the blacksmiths even more.

They couldn’t help but follow his lead, who stood tall without arrogance or laziness, unlike the others.

He said, “The Goyard Kingdom is a land of swords.”

Our kingdom, a very small nation, survives because of one person, the Sword King Barad.

Moreover, there were many knights and talented swordsmen.

“They need your weapons.”

Yes, the way for a land of swords to excel further.

The method was all too simple.

“The soldiers and knights have reached their limits.”

The human body has a limit to how much it can grow.

But there was a way to help them grow stronger and enhance the nation’s power.

“Your weapons can make them stronger. If you make good swords, the blacksmiths who left will return.”

They remembered.

Their colleagues who left as if fleeing.

‘This territory is doomed!’

‘We need to run!’

‘This place is finished!’

They left believing the territory was doomed, largely because of Buks.

But they must have known.

Although called a blacksmith’s territory, this place had been stagnant for a long time.

We were like a factory.

Producing armors with bored expressions every day.

But the man in front was different.

He was joyful and happy.

“It’s you who will make them return.”

Finally, they start crafting from their fingertips. The man continued to stay by their side.

Until the crafting was complete.

***

[The blacksmiths of the Ballas territory are awakened to a new spirit.]

[They become superior blacksmiths under your tutelage.]

[You gain 1 Charisma.]

Hyun-soo continued to gain charisma stats while teaching them.

Charisma is something that can be gained by users in the commander line.

And Hyun-soo enjoyed teaching the blacksmiths.

‘…Wasn’t there even one?’

People who came to his father’s forge asking to be taught. In the modern world, manual blacksmithing is a disregarded profession.

But these people were different.

The power of words was tremendous, and his grandiose speeches ignited their enthusiasm.

Moreover, Hyun-soo deliberately didn’t sleep.

‘Would any student openly sleep when a professor is giving their all in teaching?’

Especially when their performance was rapidly improving.

And Hyun-soo was satisfied as he watched one after another complete their creations.

[The skill level of the blacksmiths of Ballas territory significantly increases.]

[16 intermediate blacksmiths become advanced blacksmiths.]

[1 advanced blacksmith becomes a top-tier blacksmith.]

An unexpected notification also came.

[The teachings of a Master are special.]

[Artifacts crafted in Ballas territory will now be 7% more superior on average.]

[They will pass on your teachings to other blacksmiths.]

[Development increases by 13%.]

Hyun-soo wore a puzzled expression before understanding.

‘Is it because of the detail?’

Ares is, after all, a game.

NPC blacksmiths may talk about skill, but they too rely on the system.

But is this system focused on detail?

Armaments require more detail than one might think.

A good sword needs to be crafted more carefully and with more detail to be a superior weapon.

And Hyun-soo saw the blacksmiths, centered around blacksmith Ger, gathering.

“At first, I doubted you, Hyun-soo. I wondered what we could learn. But during these two weeks, we learned so much.”

Blacksmith Ger bowed respectfully, followed by the other blacksmiths.

[32 blacksmiths of Ballas territory will not forget you.]

Hyun-soo smiled satisfactorily.

“Now it’s time to bring back the blacksmiths who left. Start selling new weapons, take commissions, and show the change.”

Rumors create more rumors, and the territory develops.

The blacksmiths started their sales.

‘The development will continue to rise as they start selling.’

Hyun-soo was curious to see how far it would go.

But right now, Hyun-soo hadn’t slept for nearly four days in the real world.

He logged out to rest.

***

The moment Hyun-soo fell asleep.

A young male user arrived in Ballas territory.

‘The Edrol Syndicate that was dominating Ballas territory has left, haven’t they?’

The user’s name was Helden.

Though only in the 200s level-wise, he was a popular Zlutube streamer with 1.1 million subscribers.

Helden was also known as the ‘Territory Correspondent’.

His content involved introducing territories that users would like or informing about changes in territories.

Territories are very important to users.

They serve as their bases and sometimes as hunting grounds for monsters.

Territories also offer unique quests, special products, and features.

‘Ah, this last-place blacksmith territory. Tsk.’

He had visited Ballas territory about three months ago.

Nearly 70% of the forges were empty, and it was too shabby compared to its reputation as a blacksmith’s territory.

Additionally, the items they sold were subpar.

‘Users flock to a place even if only the artifacts are decently made.’

Helden had done extensive research on this blacksmith territory of Ballas.

‘It’s so bad that nobles even talk about eliminating it.’

In reality, Ballas territory seemed unnecessary.

The blacksmith territories or towers in every kingdom and empire offered items far superior to those found here.

Yet Helden had to visit this place out of professional obligation.

But surprisingly, the users in Ballas territory were causing a commotion.

“Amazing…”

“This is a standard grade? And it’s so cheap too?”

“…?”

Helden looked puzzled at the noisy users.

What’s going on?

He entered one of the forges.

The blacksmith had displayed just one sword. Helden checked it.

‘Huh?’

He sensed something unusual.

‘What’s this?’

To average users, the grade of an artifact isn’t that important.

They are happy and content even with just rare items.

Therefore, even a slight improvement within the standard grade artifacts is appreciated.

Even if it’s just 1% better.

‘Why is this so good?’

The sword was clearly of standard grade.

And Helden, being a territory correspondent, had far more knowledge about Ares than the average user.

‘This is almost 5% better than a regular standard sword?’

A 5% difference is significant.

Especially if it’s for the same price.

And naturally, people choose the better option.

‘Ah, so they’re only selling this because it’s special?’

No wonder they were selling just one piece, tsk tsk.

Helden then entered another forge, and this one too was selling only one artifact.

He checked it.

‘This is about 7% above the average?’

He wore a puzzled expression.

And then he asked the owner.

“Why are you only selling one item?”

“It’s because we realized how inferior our previous creations were before we were taught by him.”

“Who is this person?”

“I can’t speak about him until he gives permission.”

“…?”

What’s this? Such high respect for ‘him’?

Then Helden quickly checked other forges too.

‘What, all of them…?’

The performance of the artifacts is 4-8% better than average.

‘This is huge!’

Helden couldn’t contain his excitement.

Even some places were selling rare or epic items.

“In a regular forge?”

Of course, these were their masterpieces.

But Helden sensed something.

It was the scent of this territory, soon to be bustling.

Helden quickly started a live broadcast.

At that moment,

Hyun-soo’s phone, as he was asleep, kept buzzing with notifications.

[Ballas territory is being flooded with outsiders.]

[Blacksmiths who had left are returning to Ballas territory, having heard the rumors.]

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