Strike 86

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Taeha, who had been laughing at the content written on the note for a while, slowly saw his smile fade.  

“I don’t dislike Hyun-soo either.”  

However, Taeha thought that he might have to return to his conglomerate family soon.  

He had told his father that he would become incredibly wealthy through a game called Ares and someday rival Hansung Group.  

It might be time for his father’s patience to run out.  

Just then.  

[The chairman is looking for you.]  

Upon receiving the call, Taeha immediately went to the headquarters of Hansung Group.  

Facing his father sitting in the chairman’s office, he saw him signing documents for a long time.  

Taeha expected to be told to come back and take business lessons.  

But then…  

“Is Ares fun?”  

“…Huh?”  

It was a completely unexpected question.  

“No, it’s not fun at the moment.”  

That was indeed the case. Taeha had moved forward only with the thought of having to show something to his father.  

“Are you going to ignore your grandfather’s will?”  

His grandfather’s will.  

He had told Taeha with a sound mind.  

“Taeha, live a fun life, there are things in this world that can’t necessarily be done just because you have a lot of money.”  

But to the youngest son of the conglomerate family, his grandfather’s words were meaningless.  

Soon, Lee Taesung closed the documents and took off his glasses, saying,  

“I know what you want to do.”  

Taesung was smiling slightly, unlike usual.  

“Maybe it will turn out as you say, I’ve found out that what he has accomplished is truly remarkable.”  

“…That’s right.”  

As a player, Taeha knew better than anyone how remarkable Hyun-soo’s achievements were.  

“I have a reward prepared for that child, so you should prepare something separately.”  

Taeha was surprised.  

There was a reward that his father wanted to give him?  

And it was the first time his father had allowed it. Thus, a smile formed on Taeha’s lips.  

After he had stepped out, Taesung put on his glasses again.  

He had seen the potential in the bold dream Taeha spoke of.  

“We will create a guild that will surprise our country.”  

Taesung smirked.  

“With that child, it might be possible.”  

Soon, Taesung got up.  

It was time for him to give his own reward.  

***  

[You have logged into Ares.]  

Lisel was overwhelmed when he received the dragon sword.  

Notifications that popped up while he was with his grandfather didn’t catch his attention at all.  

He dragged and checked those notifications.  

[Congratulations.]  

[As a Dragon Knight, you now possess a dragon.]  

[Unique Class. You can change to a Dragon Lord.]  

[Unique Class. You can remain as a Dragon Knight.]

[The Dragon Lord is a powerful commander class that can lead many allies under its command as a monarch class.]

[The Dragon Knight class is a strong class with the power to protect someone and defeat those who threaten them.]

Lisel was surprised.

There were two notifications, asking him to choose between Dragon Lord and Dragon Knight.

Both were of unique rank.

The classes in Ares usually follow the grade of artifacts.

There, unique classes like hidden classes exist.

The existing Dragon Knight was of epic grade, belonging to quite an impressive rank.

‘Just remaining a Dragon Knight makes it unique…?’

Whichever choice he made, it would be unique.

Lisel could become even stronger than before.

And the Dragon Lord was the class Lisel truly wanted.

‘I’ve been running towards becoming a Dragon Lord from the start.’

He had changed his class to a Dragon Knight knowing that at the end of it, there was the ‘strong monarch class’ of a Dragon Lord.

But he made an unexpected choice.

[You have selected Dragon Knight.]

Yet, he had no regrets about his choice.

[All stats will be reallocated, and 200 bonus points will be evenly applied.]

[Skills will transform, granting you greater power than before.]

[The Dragon Knight class exists to protect the monarch.]

[When with the monarch, all stats receive a 10% effect.]

[When with the monarch, all skill effects receive a 10% boost.]

Lisel walked.

He had been moving away from the forge after talking with his father and grandfather for a while.

Then, at some point, Lisel started to run.

He harbored a new dream.

‘Taeha, live a fun life, because there are things in this world that can’t necessarily be done just because you have a lot of money.’

It seemed like the most fun dream in the world.

Playing Ares made him realize that dream.

‘A task I could never accomplish alone.’

Lisel ran with all his might.

Before he knew it, he was able to stop in front of a small and humble forge without a sign.

Taeha, breathing heavily, took in the sound of hammering coming from inside.

And soon, his eyes met with the man moving the hammer.

That dream was…

‘To make this small and humble guild the world’s best guild, comparable to Hansung Group.’

It was possible.

Lisel stepped into the forge.

The blacksmith, putting down his hammer, gave a small smile.

Lisel reached out his hand first.

“Please take good care of me from now on, Master.”

The blacksmith firmly grasped his hand.

“Welcome, Lisel.”

[Lisel has joined the guild Bright Future.]

***

Ranked 21st in the official Korean rankings.

No, by becoming an even more outstanding Dragon Knight, Lisel, who might now compete within the top 10, has successfully been recruited into the guild Bright Future.

‘It wasn’t just a simple recruitment.’

There was a clear difference between merely joining the guild and joining the guild out of gratitude.

“I will make this guild the best.”

Even from the get-go, it was clear. Lisel was not just any guild member, but someone determined to elevate this guild by any means.

And Hyun-soo had told him about the reason behind the guild’s name, Bright Future, and the stories related to Hyun’s forge and Crazy Rookie.

“Indeed, that’s true.”

Hearing Hyun-soo’s words, Lisel was convinced.

“For now, it’s important to elevate Hyun’s forge and strengthen the guild’s forces. Oh, right.”

Lisel seemed to remember something.

“Of course, I will pay for the dragon sword.”

Hyun-soo smiled slightly. Just because the note had Lisel’s name on it didn’t mean he thought Lisel wouldn’t pay the commission.

“Since I’m not exactly sure about its exact value yet, may I review it and add a spoonful of gratitude before giving it to you?”

Lisel joked. Hyun-soo nodded.

“There’s no rush, give it to me whenever you’re comfortable.”

“My father also said he would give you a separate reward.”

“A reward?”

Hyun-soo couldn’t help but look puzzled.

A reward? Had he done something to deserve a reward from Chairman Lee Taesung?

‘Come to think of it…’

Hyun-soo had once encountered Chairman Lee Taesung.

It was at the National Museum. He was well-known to the public, so Hyun-soo recognized him at a glance.

But he wasn’t the type to make a fuss, so he only focused on the dragon sword he was interested in.

“Yes, maybe you’ll find out if you wait? I’m too scared to ask my father about it.”

“Okay. I think I need to log out now.”

“Ah, today is the day they start rebuilding the forge, right?”

“Yes.”

Just like his conversation with Lisel, today was the day the burnt-down forge would be rebuilt.

Hyun-soo logged out to go to Gyeongju.

[You have logged out.]

After exiting the capsule, Hyun-soo washed up and changed into clean clothes.

‘It seems it will take about 3 years.’

He remembered talking with the construction company staff.

He wanted to build it as quickly as possible for his father, who might return at any time, but that was difficult.

He also wanted to use the best materials, but that too was not easy.

‘There are still hospital bills to pay…’

It was an unavoidable situation.

Just as he was about to leave, Hyun-soo received a call from a construction company employee.

-Hyun-soo, come quickly!

“Yes?”

The employee spoke in a voice mixed with laughter, making an indecipherable comment.

With a puzzled expression, Hyun-soo boarded a bus to Gyeongju.

Upon arriving at the site where the small forge in Gyeongju was to be built, Hyun-soo was speechless.

He stared at the construction company employees for a long while.

A few people he had hired, among them, dozens of veteran construction company employees from a major corporation.

The safety helmets they wore bore the name ‘Hansung Construction’.

Hansung Construction.

It was one of the subsidiaries of Hansung Group, operated by Chairman Lee Taesung. Soon, a construction company employee hired by Hyun-soo arrived.

“Hyun-soo, you must be pleased!”

“What happened?”

Looking puzzled at Hyun-soo’s question, the employee said, “Didn’t you know? Chairman Lee Taesung of Hansung Group came here personally. He said that the employees of Hansung Construction would build this forge together. He also ordered to use the best materials and tools for the forge. If you sign here, it seems we will start construction with Hansung Group, and we can reduce the construction period to 6 months.”

Soon, Hyun-soo could see Chairman Lee Taesung getting out of an expensive foreign car. Hyun-soo held the document in his hand without signing it. Chairman Lee Taesung approached him.

“Chairman, I don’t know why you’re doing this. I haven’t done anything to deserve this.”

Honestly, Hyun-soo felt uneasy.

The reduction of the construction period.

And Lee Taesung’s words about filling the forge with the best raw materials and the finest materials.

It’s worth more than 1 billion won.

Because the employees of Hansung Construction are the best elites in our country.

“Why haven’t you done something worthy?”

Taesung, looking at his employees with his hands behind his back, said, “In the game, you’ve made a dragon sword for my son and my father. In reality, haven’t you made one for me?”

Hyun-soo didn’t understand what he meant by making a dragon sword for him.

“As a child, I loved dragons very much, and they said dragons grant wishes.”

Hyun-soo silently observed him lost in reminiscence.

“I wanted to wish upon a dragon. I dreamed that Hansung, which was just a small shop, would grow big and make my father happy. When I liked dragons, my father took me to the National Museum by the hand.”

Hyun-soo doubted several times if his and his father’s work was indeed valuable.

Students on field trips to the National Museum pass by the dragon sword with bored expressions.

Couples on a date course frown, saying, “Ah, why a museum?”

And someone else says, why make a fuss over old things?

“Seeing that rusted sword, I was as happy as a child, and seeing the restored dragon sword made me feel like I was back to that time, it was beautiful. So beautiful and splendid that I was captivated.”

That doubt faded away.

“It’s valuable, even if countless children and adults pass by the sword, it will become an unforgettable memory for someone, and someone will be captivated.”

Yes, not everyone in the world needs to cherish it.

“For those who preserve such valuable things, you and your father, this is not a waste.”

Taesung knew the reality. He knew the hardships and adversities Hyun-soo had overcome.

Hyun-soo realized from Chairman Lee Taesung’s words that being a blacksmith in reality was still a very valuable and remarkable thing.

“The nation might turn a blind eye for various reasons.”

It’s not easy to do something with the nation’s money.

“It’s ridiculous, the world neglecting the blacksmiths it should protect.”

With tears welling up in his eyes, Taesung said to Hyun-soo,

“Let’s consider our debts to each other settled with this.”

“Thank you.”

Hyun-soo decided to sign. Taesung, looking at him with a proud expression, said,

“You will go forward.”

He patted Hyun-soo’s shoulder and passed by.

“I will protect the last great master.”

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