Strike 85

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Blue Inc.

CEO Lee Se-jin received a report.

It was about the former chairman of Hansung Group, Moonsoo Lee, who seemed to be nearing his end.

Se-jin felt heavy-hearted.

Before he developed dementia, Se-jin had a connection with him.

He was a good person.

Another report mentioned that Chairman Taesung Lee had spoken about lifting restrictions.

Of course, the officials refused.

It was a heavy decision, but no regrets.

The world of the game Ares was created by its users.

No real-world power or strength should influence or tamper with its system.

“What kind of person is Chairman Taesung Lee…”

He wondered if Taesung was also one of his sons.

Chairman Taesung Lee was known to be particularly prickly and cold among the chairmen.

And so, he was the one who enforced the rules most strictly.

Then,

“CEO.”

An urgent voice came from outside. Soon, Team Leader Kim Tae-seok from the Special User Management Team entered.

“User Hyun-soo has…”

“What?”

Lee Se-jin’s face was filled with surprise.

He hurried to display the screen in the CEO’s office to check the direction the messages sent by user Hyun-soo were headed.

On the screens, divided like CCTV footage showing NPCs, the messages were arriving one by one.

“The lord of the beginner zone, Vans, has issued an order.”

“What order?”

“To open all doors.”

CEO Lee Se-jin was silent for a moment, then let out a small laugh.

Something he had hoped for was happening.

‘A world made by outsiders.’

This wasn’t a bug.

If it were a bug, he would have imposed restrictions immediately. Also, the supercomputer Ares would have issued a warning.

But the supercomputer Ares was quiet.

Why? Because this was a power forged by a user.

Just as Hyun-soo had acquired the skill “Lord’s Grace” based on his achievements.

But is it realistically possible?

“…What do you think?”

“It might be possible.”

Currently, even Lord Vans can’t easily cross the beginner zone.

However, there are NPCs in the beginner zone who can move to the adjacent territories.

Because they can supply what the territory needs.

“What should we do?”

To Tae-seok’s question, Lee Se-jin smiled.

“What to do? It’s something the users accomplished, so we watch and hope.”

***

[You have logged into Ares.]

Old man Moonsoo opened his eyes.

It was strange; he thought he had been writhing in pain just a moment ago.

The pain vanished as if washed away, and comfort flooded in. Within this comfort, the chirping of birds tickled his ears, and he could feel the fresh air. Moonsoo, with his eyes open, watched the scenery around him with the freshness of a child. 

Then,

“Are you Mr. Moonsoo?”

A man approached him. He had a freshly shaved head and at a glance, one could tell he was a blacksmith.

“My name is Ren, the blacksmith. I’ve received a message from Hyun-soo. I’ll escort you.”

Moonsoo followed him through this mysterious world.

“Look over there.”

“What is it?”

“The instructors seem to be escorting the grandfather…?”

Users expressed curiosity at the strange sight.

And then, the gate leading out of the territory opened.

A handsome man dressed as a nobleman was waiting, and the gate to the outside was wide open.

“I am Lord Vans, please come with me.”

Moonsoo was delighted. Unknown people were accompanying him.

And Moonsoo quickly climbed onto a carriage.

“There’s no time. Run at full speed!”

“Yes!”

The coachman started to speed away.

Moonsoo took in the passing scenery of this fascinating world like a child.

But then, Moonsoo became scared.

From a certain point, frightening and grotesque monsters started to chase the carriage.

“Normally, outsiders who are not qualified cannot cross this area. If they try, they face attacks from these monsters. But don’t worry.”

Soon, the creatures were hot on the carriage’s trail.

As Moonsoo covered his head and trembled in fear,

Whoooosh

Puff puff puff puff puff—

Suddenly, dozens of arrows flew, striking down the monsters magnificently.

“I cannot escort you beyond this point.”

Then, new people arrived.

“I am Hans, the captain of the extermination team, here at the request of Hero Hyun-soo.”

This time, it was a very impressive and brave-looking person. His subordinates, the members of the extermination team, were with him.

“Hold on tight.”

The man named Hans lifted him onto a horse.

Moonsoo wrapped his arms tightly around Hans’s waist, and Hans used a cloth to firmly bind their bodies together.

“Let’s go!”

And they started to gallop at full speed.

Moonsoo saw others riding alongside them.

Ah, isn’t this just like being the protagonist of a fantasy movie?

Moonsoo was thrilled.

And he saw an interesting sight.

The riders around him were constantly killing the grotesque monsters that clung to them from all sides.

At some point, monsters that they could no longer handle started to appear.

But then, a knight appeared and cut them down in an instant.

“I am the sword of Cassel’s territory, sent at the behest of a benefactor. We are now crossing the border.”

He mounted another horse.

And they dashed with all their might, eventually arriving at a very stylish and beautiful castle.

King!

Yes, he was a king!

Seeing the magnificent king he had seen in movies, Moonsoo felt happy.

But then the king approached and said,

“There was a request from my friend Hyun-soo, to bring you swiftly.”

The king did not accompany him.

However, soon something even more like a movie happened.

Hundreds of knights rode on black horses, and at the forefront was a beautiful female knight named Bella.

They moved quickly.

Suddenly, Moonsoo became curious and asked,

“Where are we going?”

“…We’re going to meet a dragon.”

Moonsoo’s heart raced.

Before long, the hundreds of horses around them naturally disappeared.

And the horse that Moonsoo and the woman named Bella were riding arrived at a place marked as Freya territory.

The horse inside the territory quickly made its way through.

And then, Moonsoo approached a forge.

The moment they arrived in front of it,

“It’s complete…!”

Along with a man’s voice from inside the forge.

[A second legend is written.]

[It started with the fingertips of a small blacksmith.]

Moonsoo, who had dismounted from the horse, could see it.

A beautiful sword resembling a broadsword.

The blade waved once, and it was written ‘Dragonlight Sword’.

From the grip of the sword, a blue dragon started to unfold its body, stretching as if waking from a stretch.

[He revealed his true worth by crafting the perfect Dragonlight Sword.]

[He might be the only person who succeeded in imbuing a weapon with a dragon.]

[The legend was completed at the fingertips of a small blacksmith by the perfect Dragonlight Sword.]

Ding!

[One who can see the dragon.]

[The creator has designated those who can see the dragon.]

The dragon that unfolded its body swims towards the tip of the sword held by the man.

And as it exits the tip, it starts to grow larger, slowly lowering its head to face Moonsoo.

Purrrr-!

Feeling its warm breath, Moonsoo was delighted like a child.

“Uhaha, it’s a dragon! A dragon, right!? A dragon!”

And then the dragon slowly began to ascend into the sky.

Moonsoo watched the dragon with a happy expression.

The dragon swims through the sky like a sea.

And beside him, watching the dragon, were Taesung and Taeha.

***

Among the family, only Taeha and Taesung had characters in Ares.

Taeha was somewhat surprised to find out that his father had a character but now was not the time to worry about it.

Watching his grandfather happily, Taeha started walking with his father.

“Grandpa, how do you feel seeing the dragon? Are you happy? I wonder why you wanted to see a dragon so much.”

Taeha’s eyes moistened as he looked at him with affection.

His eyes reddened as he watched his grandfather, thin and bouncing around happily.

Then, Moonsoo, noticing Taeha and Taesung, gazed at them pensively.

And the childlike expression disappeared, replaced by a small smile.

“That’s because…”

He realized. For a moment, his grandfather’s mind had returned.

“Your father, Taesung, wanted to see a dragon.”

“?”

Taesung was surprised. The National Museum he visited holding his father’s hand in his childhood.

And himself as a child, reading fairy tales, shouting how he desperately wanted to see a dragon.

Yes, the reason Moonsoo wanted to see a dragon.

“I really wanted to show you a real dragon.”

The three of them watched the dragon ascending in the sky together.

Thus, Moonsoo, with a clear mind, gave his last words while watching the dragon.

And a few hours later,

He closed his eyes in the most comfortable and happy manner.

***

In Hyun-soo’s forge in Freya territory.

Nel couldn’t hide her excitement.

The stories she heard from Hyun-soo were more astonishing than she thought.

Every single one was a story not to be missed.

Creating the second legendary sword and escorting old man Moonsoo from the beginner’s zone to this place were among them.

And the biggest point of discussion was this.

“He said to write anything?”

“Yes.”

Nel quickly thought it through. Considering the situation, Hyun-soo might have really been able to write anything.

“How much will you write? It seems like it would be okay to write around 1 billion.”

Nel was excited as if it were her own business.

“No, 1 billion might even seem small compared to what Hyun-soo has achieved.”

Then Hyun-soo said,

“Of course, I’ll take the commission, but I didn’t write about that.”

“What…?”

Nel looked puzzled.

That meant, Hyun-soo had already written and sent the note.

Feeling slightly baffled, Nel asked,

“Then maybe a building? Oh! Or maybe…”

Nel listed various possibilities.

However, Hyun-soo shook his head.

“No, I wrote down what we need the most right now, something that money can’t buy.”

Something that money can’t buy and is most needed?

Nel looked puzzled, and soon she was in awe upon hearing what it was.

‘It’s really something we desperately need, isn’t it…?’

***

Taeha felt relieved. It was as if he had lifted a weight that had formed a knot in his heart.

They say when someone passes away, everyone harbors a small regret.

But Taeha felt so light and unburdened that he didn’t need to harbor any regrets.

After the funeral, returning to his own home, Taeha, who had been smiling at a photo taken with his grandfather, suddenly remembered something.

“Ah, the commission…!”

He had forgotten the most important thing.

The blacksmith named Hyun-soo, who had created this sense of relief.

It was time to pay him for his work.

And Taeha had already exchanged personal contact information with Hyun-soo.

Taeha could see a KakaoTalk message from Hyun-soo that had already arrived on his phone.

Upon opening KakaoTalk, he saw that Hyun-soo had sent a screenshot.

“What did he write? 1 billion and a supercar? Or maybe a small building?”

Whatever it was, Taeha was sure he wouldn’t feel any resentment.

He himself couldn’t control the overflowing and abundant gratitude he felt towards Hyun-soo.

Soon, Taeha laughed as he saw what was written on the note in the screenshot he had given.

“Ha ha ha ha!”

He looked at that note for a long time. There was just one word written on it.

[Lisel]

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