Strike 81

Prev I TOC I Next

Ares Community.

Helden, with 1.1 million subscribers, posted for the first time in a while.

[Guys, this is insane LOL, I found an amazing territory, the artifacts sold at the local blacksmith are above average. I’ll start the broadcast soon.]

The influence of a YouTuber with 1.1 million subscribers was significant domestically.

Especially in Helden’s case, as he thoroughly explores various territories, many people find his content useful.

[Look who’s making a fuss after so long LOL.]

[Right, seemed like there weren’t any decent territories lately, right?]

However, since it was Helden’s broadcast, the community users held a slight expectation.

[Helden is starting a live broadcast.]

[Current viewers: 34,414.]

As soon as the broadcast started, an impressive 30,000-plus viewers tuned in.

“This place is the Ballas Territory, located to the west of the Goyard Kingdom, known as a blacksmith territory.”

-What?

-Ballas Territory? Isn’t that the place overrun by other NPCs?

-Ballas Territory blacksmiths are famous for their crappy items.

-Wasn’t it the top territory people wanted updated in a recent survey?

-Don’t the blacksmiths in Ballas Territory do forced labor? They are so exhausted that they make artifacts in a slapdash way, much inferior to regular artifacts.

Helden laughed lightly at the viewers’ doubts.

“Guys, do you think I would start the broadcast without doing my homework? I know everything.”

Helden smiled as if to raise expectations.

-If this is just a clickbait, he’s going to get a lot of flak LOL

-He hasn’t found a decent territory for months, huh?

Soon, the view of the territory was shown.

-What’s going on? Why is it so crowded with users?

“I’ll show you the proof right now.”

Helden entered a blacksmith shop in the video.

They were selling a spear there.

-Oh, looks decent?

-It’s well-crafted and meticulous.

-Ah, quickly check the details.

Helden, with a wicked smile(?), spoke to the blacksmith.

“This is very well-made.”

“Right? It’s all thanks to him. I was reborn as a new blacksmith because of him. And I realized that every weapon should be made with utmost care.”

-The guy’s just dragging out time.

-Who is this ‘him’, otaku LOL

The viewers didn’t care who ‘he’ was.

But soon, Helden revealed the information about the spear.

“Now, everyone, please calculate the average value of this artifact.”

And there were many blacksmiths among the viewers.

-This is crazy? It’s 4% better than the same grade items.

-What are you talking about, that artifact is just that artifact LOL

-Really, making a big deal over nothing.

Then, a quite famous blacksmith among the viewers spoke up.

-This is impressive. It seems like a top-quality item, even if it’s a common grade.

-Wow, isn’t that blacksmith ranked 17th, Ford?

-Is a 4% difference really worth all this fuss LOL

Helden didn’t respond and moved on to another blacksmith shop.

“It’s fine anyway. That user named Ford will explain it.

-It’s not just a mere 4%. What would you guys choose, an artifact that’s 1% better or an ordinary one?

-Oh… certainly…

-Demand is like that. Consumers always go for even 1% better or 100 won cheaper.

Then, Helden entered another blacksmith shop. The viewers were astonished.

“Look, this is a rare item.”

-???????

-Excuse me?

-Don’t lie, bro.

-Who sells rare items in a street blacksmith shop?

Helden glanced at the number of viewers.

[Current viewers: 76,010.]

The number of viewers usually increases over time, especially if the content is interesting.

‘By now, this must be a hot topic in the blacksmith and Ares communities.’

“Let’s check it out.”

Helden revealed the artifact information.

-Wow, this is insane…

-Really selling a rare in a street blacksmith shop…

-Incredible…

It’s not common to find artifacts above the ordinary grade in street blacksmith shops.

There are occasional exceptions, but they are rare.

Helden moved on to the next blacksmith shop.

There…

-Is this for real…?

-It’s an epic…?

-Wow, an epic…!

For average users, not owning even one epic item is the reality.

Epic items are mostly from the top blacksmiths’ tower.

Or they can be purchased only from the best-known blacksmiths in a region.

However, these are very few, and over 90% are obtained through monster drops, quest rewards, etc., and typically sold among users.

-This feels like a setup?

-Seems so, Helden. Are you bribing NPCs now?

-Bribing NPCs for a fake broadcast LOL

Helden was waiting for this moment.

“What does the description say?”

A viewer read it out loud.

-It’s a masterpiece of the blacksmith Can, crafted under the guidance of an outstanding blacksmith…?

“What’s the name of the NPC here?”

The viewers saw the name Can floating above the blacksmith’s head.

“It clearly says it’s made by Can and the previous blacksmith is Can.”

Now the viewers focused on something else.

-It was crafted under the guidance of an outstanding blacksmith?

-Is this person ‘that person’?

“Who is this person?”

At Helden’s question, the blacksmith smiled contentedly.

“I can’t tell you about that person, like a master to me. All I can say is they are truly remarkable.”

The same answer was heard everywhere.

-Even Voldemort mentions his name, but they won’t even say who ‘that person’ is.

-Could it be a blacksmith specialized in teaching skills?

-Could be a possibility.

-Wow, incredible. A blacksmith with such power? 

Blacksmiths are really the talk of the town lately, with the Hyun Blacksmith, the teaching blacksmith.

Helden’s eyes sparkled.

“Teaching blacksmith, that has a nice ring to it. Let me tell you something certain. Everything they make sells out quickly, and they don’t sell anything they made before.”

-ㅠㅠㅠㅠ

-Are we too late?

-I want good items too…

“It’s not too late. You know why? Because you can place custom orders. What are you guys doing?”

-???

-Watching your stream while scratching my belly.

“Go place your orders quickly!”

-Huh…

-Right…

-If I’m late, I might have to wait three years to get my item.

-Hey, where did that top-ranked blacksmith from earlier go?

Helden was about to perfectly wrap up the stream. Thanks to Ford’s witty response.

-Running to Ballas Territory right now.

After the broadcast ended, posts about two topics continuously appeared on the Ares Community and the Blacksmith Community.

The topics were Ballas Territory and the Teaching blacksmith.

***

“Ugh…!”

Hyun-soo, who had woken up, stretched himself vigorously.

Having not slept for several days, he had slept for more than 12 hours.

Feeling refreshed, Hyun-soo went to check his phone after washing up.

“Huh? Why is it off?”

Looking puzzled, Hyun-soo plugged in his phone and immediately walked over to his gaming capsule.

He didn’t have many people to contact, so he planned to log into Ares right away.

‘I wonder how much the development has increased?’

There was one thing Hyun-soo regretted.

The quest he received from Barad was ultimately a time-limited quest.

Barad needed a reason to tell the nobles, “I will not eliminate this territory.”

Therefore, it was better to increase the development quickly.

Of course, Barad said he would be satisfied with just a 20% increase, but Hyun-soo felt it was not enough.

‘Starting the sales and attracting users will take time, and it will also take a while for the departed blacksmiths to hear about it.’

In other words, the development he could achieve within the set time was limited, which was disappointing.

‘Maybe it increased by about 3%?’

After all, he had only been sleeping.

Even that much increase would be a relief.

[You have logged in.]

However, upon logging in, Hyun-soo looked puzzled.

“Please line up!”

“Everyone, please wait your turn!”

He saw a street of blacksmith shops, which used to be empty, now filled with users.

[Foreigners are flocking to Ballas Territory.]

And that wasn’t all.

“Belz, is that you!?”

“Can! It’s been a while, the tales about you guys have already reached the nearby Pruk Territory!”

“Are they back?”

“Yes!”

[Blacksmiths who had left are returning to Ballas Territory after hearing rumors.]

[Currently, 49 blacksmiths have returned.]

[Rumors about Ballas Territory are spreading rapidly.]

[Development level is…]

[Development level is…]

Hyun-soo was astonished by the rapid notifications.

‘The development level has increased this much…?’

He figured out the reason.

“Is this the famous territory introduced by the ZluTuber Helden?”

“Look at the waiting line.”

‘Helden?’

Hyun-soo quickly brought up a hologram and searched for Helden on Zlutube.

There seemed to be a recorded segment.

[Views: 45,013.]

‘Wow?’

And after watching the broadcast, Hyun-soo was amazed.

‘This is incredible.’

The impact created by the coincidental visit of a ZluTuber with 1.1 million subscribers was beyond imagination.

And there was another astonishing fact.

“Who is the managing blacksmith here?”

A noble-looking person asked, and Ger quickly ran out.

“It’s me.”

“Excellent weapons, I am Lord Rok from Genya Territory. I would like to contract with you for weapon supplies, is that possible?”

“…I, I will do my best!”

[Ballas Territory is expected to sign a weapon supply contract with Genya Territory.]

[Development level is…]

“I shall discuss it with the lord.”

And then, Hyun-soo realized something.

“Who is the Teaching blacksmith?”

“Blacksmiths, please tell us!”

“I refuse.”

“We do not speak of that person.”

Hyun-soo’s eyes met Ger’s.

Ger passed by Hyun-soo with a very slight smile.

It was the same with the other blacksmiths.

[38 blacksmiths have found a new life through you.]

[They would not hesitate to give their lives for you.]

They were all thinking only of Hyun-soo.

They chose not to acknowledge their benefactor Hyun-soo, so as not to bring even a speck of harm his way.

[Development level is…]

[Development level is…]

Hyun-soo was dizzy with a development level beyond his expectations.

Having achieved sufficient development, Hyun-soo went to see King Barad.

Upon meeting him, Barad presented an enigmatic sword.

A sword imbued with bright light. As the sword passed by Hyun-soo, a notification sounded.

[The national power of Goyard Kingdom increases by 1%.]

[You gain 100 Charisma.]

[You gain 1,000 Fame.]

Hyun-soo himself was surprised.

‘National power increased by 1%?’

Then Barad, with a somewhat agitated expression, asked.

“…What percentage of development did you achieve?”

A confident smile formed on Hyun-soo’s lips.

***

Barad seemed to have never awaited someone’s response as much as he did today.

Hyun-soo, smiling confidently, answered.

“I achieved 110%.”

Hearing this, Barad’s eyes wavered.

He had told Bella that 40% would be sufficient.

He thought of Hyun-soo as just one of the many candidates being tested.

Among these candidates were dukes, dreamers of legends, and even a Sword Saint.

But Barad had overlooked something.

‘The possibility that you might have the greatest potential.’

He steadied his heart.

There was no need to speak of the distant future now, as there was still much to see.

Now was the time to talk about what Hyun-soo had achieved.

And then, Hyun-soo heard a notification.

[Quest: Develop Ballas Territory Completed]

[You have achieved a development level of 110%.]

[You have recorded an extraordinary achievement.]

Hyun-soo’s heart fluttered.

Extraordinary achievement.

This notification always excited him.

Whenever it sounded, something more special tended to happen.

“I shall grant you 220,000 gold.”

[You have received 220,000 gold.]

Barad felt it was not enough.

Ballas Territory was now poised to make a new leap forward.

It would even be possible to snub Sophia, the Duke who was the biggest opposing force advocating for the suppression of the territory.

What should be given?

‘A territory?’

It was too soon.

And due to Hyun-soo’s level, Barad couldn’t give it even if he wanted to.

Then what?

There was another reward.

“I wish to grant you one more thing.”

Hyun-soo knew his prediction was right.

Barad smiled faintly.

The most necessary and important thing for a blacksmith.

“I will grant you a blacksmith shop.”

The moment had finally come for Hyun-soo to have his own personal blacksmith shop.

Prev I TOC I Next