Strike 99

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Special User Management Team.

Team Leader Kim Tae-seok was relieved.

Saint Aria.

A woman with influence comparable to the top 10 legends of the continent.

She was grateful to Hyun-soo but was not going to bestow her blessing upon him.

The Special User Management Team could infer the rewards an NPC would give to a user through notifications.

As Saint Aria and Belia talked more, Aria’s feelings began to change.

“Belia is the only foreigner that the saint trusts. That’s why she’s going to that extent. Plus, it hits differently when someone else talks about your achievements.”

These were the words of Staff Member Lee Ji-hee.

Team Leader Kim Tae-seok thought that now the saint might actually bestow her blessing.

“It’s arguably the best blessing in Ares.”

The saint is the most excellent priestess.

And blessings are powers that Hyun-soo has received countless times before.

The expedition leader Hans, the lord of Cassel territory, Sword King Barad, the blessing of Lord Belin.

But among all these, the saint’s blessing is the most excellent.

And Tae-seok had something he couldn’t understand.

“Why would Belia go to such lengths?”

Belia and Hyun-soo had not known each other for long. 

Ji-hee quickly caught on to the feelings of a fellow woman.

“I think I know why.”

“Why?”

“Belia said it herself, she wants to be with Hyun-soo.”

“Ah…?”

Just like that.

Belia was now appealing that she wanted to be with Hyun-soo.

But it would not be an easy task.

“The child of the saint belongs to the people of the Ares religion.”

The Ares religion is a sacred group, and the saint’s child must stay within such a church class.

Also, possessing great power, leaving the church freely means being deprived of the class.

Therefore, unless Aria allows it, joining the Guild Bright Future would not be easy.

***

[You have logged into Ares.]

[The saint’s mercy has resisted the curse of death upon you.]

[A prayer of birth is bestowed upon the Death Sword.]

[The Death Sword regains its complete form.]

Hyun-soo, who had been logged out and then reconnected, was surprised by the notifications he received.

In the luxurious room of the Ares Papacy.

Hyun-soo woke up to find the Death Sword placed beside him.

‘Is the prayer of birth a power taught by the God Blacksmith?’

Hyun-soo was somewhat surprised. 

The curse that had been placed by Jack had also completely disappeared.

He felt a bit of confusion.

Then, Belia entered.

“You’ve reconnected. That’s good. And thank you so much, because of you, my skills and stats have improved.”

Belia had awakened to a more excellent priestess as a result of completing the quest.

“I heard from Nel, you run a guild called Bright Future. How is managing the guild? Is it fun?”

Amidst the barrage of questions, Hyun-soo felt an indescribable feeling.

A significant amount of regret was evident on Belia’s face.

She kept asking about him and only about Bright Future.

After a while, Belia spoke.

“When the saint awakens, she asked for you to come see her, saying she wants to reward you. She looked like she would listen to anything you say.”

Belia looked as happy as if it were her own matter.

“What will you ask for, Mr. Hyun-soo?”

At her curious smile, Hyun-soo paused before replying.

“What I need the most right now.”

“What is that?”

Hyun-soo did not answer but just smiled.

Belia wanted to ask him but then shook her head.

‘It’s rude to ask, but I’m curious…’

What could Hyun-soo possibly want?

And soon, Hyun-soo, carrying the Death Sword, started walking to meet Saint Aria.

Standing in front of the audience chamber with the saint, Belia pointed outside.

“I think I should stay out here.”

“Understood.”

Hyun-soo opened the door and entered the audience chamber.

There, the most noble woman in the world, Aria, was sitting.

[Your intimacy with Saint Aria has reached MAX.]

It was a joyous moment for Hyun-soo.

“The Ares Church is the largest church. Moreover, you rescued me, an achievement that would have greatly amazed the Ares god.”

Aria smiled slightly, moving her fingers.

A white box appeared in front of Hyun-soo.

“It’s an item left in the Ares Church by the God Blacksmith.”

Opening the box, there was an old book and a white mineral inside.

Hyun-soo immediately grabbed the book.

[One of the secrets of the God Blacksmith. You’ve acquired ‘Ban’ (反).]

Ban, a Chinese character meaning to reverse.

The emergency crafting that Hyun-soo used before, a one-time use and level 6 hint, was a hint.

A hint that tells what kind of secret technique one might acquire.

It must be a power similar to that.

Hyun-soo checked it immediately.

(Ban (反))

Active Skill

Grade: Divine

Level: 1

Mana Cost: 800

Penalty: None.

Effects:

·Crafts artifacts you’ve made within the last 30 seconds.

·Allows the use of a special ability embedded in an artifact once.

·The number of artifacts that can be crafted varies by chance.

·70% chance to craft one artifact.

·20% chance to craft two artifacts.

·2% chance to craft three artifacts.

Hyun-soo was amazed.

‘It’s an incredible power.’

The divine emergency crafting he used before was just a hint.

At that time, Hyun-soo crafted three artifacts simultaneously.

And if this skill could exert that kind of power every time it’s used, it would literally cause a balance breakdown.

Furthermore, there was a good point for Hyun-soo.

‘To keep the divine emergency crafting as it is.’

Hyun-soo could use both the divine emergency crafting and Ban (反).

“It’s probabilistic, but an absurdly powerful force.”

Dragon Flame Sword.

Death Sword.

Sword of Sword King Barad.

Even just one-time use of the abilities of these swords is significant.

Of course, there were complete failures as well.

Next, he checked the most important thing.

(Astnium)

Grade: Legendary

Restriction: Blacksmith level 350 and above

Difficulty: Highest

Special Abilities

·Divine power increased by 240%.

·Healing skills increase up to 70%.

·Buff skills increase up to 70%.

·Attack skills imbued with divine power increase up to 200%.

·Just by possessing Astnium, if HP falls below 10%, it recovers 15%.

·Durability increases to infinity.

Description: One of the three minerals left by the God Blacksmith, it contains the most divine power in the world.

It was indeed an incredible mineral.

With this amount, it seemed possible to create at least two artifacts.

After Hyun-soo finished checking, Aria spoke.

“This is a reward left by God Blacksmith, and our Ares Church wishes to offer you an additional reward.”

Aria had a compassionate expression.

“Tell me, what you desire.”

And then, Aria thought of the countless treasures, titles, and various things of the Ares Church.

That’s when Hyun-soo said,

“I would like to take Lady Belia to our guild.”

The saint’s child, Belia.

At the mention of her name, Aria looked surprised.

“May I ask why?”

Hyun-soo smiled slightly.

“Lady Belia came to my bedroom. She was like a curious child asking me about the guild, and she seemed happy at that moment. But she hesitated to speak. I figured it was because of the restrictions tied to her foreigner class.”

Aria’s lips parted.

In truth, she thought he was interested in Belia for her power.

“Indeed, her power is needed. But, my lady saint,”

Hyun-soo spoke in a respectful tone.

“A bird in a cage is beautiful but cannot fly. I want to open the door of that cage. To show her that there are other joys in the world of Ares.”

Aria was speechless.

It was a feeling she had never experienced before.

‘Why?’

His story, which could be just words, despite it being just a story, she saw something monumental.

‘Why…?’

In the Ares Church, there exists a pope.

Popes live their lives chasing a single title bestowed by Ares.

But why…

‘Why do I see a title not even the popes have, from a blacksmith?’

The name of a Holy Sovereign (聖君).

Yes, from the master of a still small guild.

Aria was finally convinced.

“The one who will illuminate the world…”

It could just be wishful thinking.

Moreover, Aria had already decided to send Belia to Hyun-soo even before he mentioned her.

She smiled radiantly.

“Please take care of the saint’s child, Belia, Hyun-soo.”

Aria thought it was too beautiful.

Belia herself had said she wanted to be with him. 

The guild master had spoken to have her.

Also, Aria made her decision because of the many potentials she saw in him.

The highest blessing a saint could bestow.

A title only one foreigner to the Ares religion could receive.

“I bestow upon you the blessing of a Holy One.”

Yes, a Holy One (聖者). Hyun-soo was indeed worthy of that name.

[You have received the blessing of a Holy One.]

[You gain 250 Divine Power.]

[You gain 200 Charisma.]

[You gain 10 to all stats.]

[Being a Holy One (聖者) is special.]

[You will gain Divine Power every time you perform an act deemed worthy of a Holy One.]

Hyun-soo was amazed.

The base increase was great, but the ability to steadily increase Divine Power if deemed a Holy One was especially compelling.

“In addition, our Ares Church would like to purchase the Death Sword from you. We will offer 30% more than the average price; would you be willing to sell it?”

“Yes, that would be fine.”

Hyun-soo felt that Aria wanted to make a good impression on him.

“And even if you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have sent Belia. I will grant you one wish, anything within my power, so take your time to think about it.”

Now all the discussions were concluded.

Aria looked outside at Belia, who was sitting and looking at flowers.

Hyun-soo, too, approached her with a small smile, to the slightly sullen-looking her.

***

Belia, looking at the flowers, felt like she might cry.

[A child of the saint cannot join a guild without the saint’s permission, and unauthorized membership will result in class deprivation.]

Belia had never regretted being a child of the saint.

But now, she felt a bit of regret.

It was strange.

Guild members who were genuinely worried when Hyun-soo fell under a curse.

And Hyun-soo, a man who made the impossible possible. Her heart felt tight and sore.

‘It’s strange…’

They looked happy. 

She liked how they genuinely cared and cherished each other.

‘I want to be with them.’

But she was a child of the saint. 

It didn’t seem like an easy task, as he said.

Then someone approached.

He told her about his conversation with the saint.

What he had wanted.

[Saint Aria permits joining the guild.]

Knowing this, Belia became genuinely bashful.

Without realizing, she looked at the man with her hands behind her back and her face flushed.

The blacksmith man with calloused hands extended his hand.

“Welcome, Belia.”

Belia clasped his thick hand.

“Please take care of me, Master.”

[Belia has joined the Guild Bright Future.]

It was the moment when Guild Bright Future recruited the best healer in Ares.

That’s when Hyun-soo spotted a hawk flying towards him.

It was a messenger hawk sent by Sword King Barad.

Reading the note attached to the hawk’s leg, Hyun-soo’s expression turned grave.

‘Bella is going to die?’

Hyun-soo sought an audience with Saint Aria again.

Hyun-soo was tense.

Such power was not easily wielded, even by Saint Aria.

However, Aria smiled generously.

“Let’s go together. However, my paladins will also accompany us.”

Hyun-soo, Aria, and the paladins immediately set off for the Kingdom of Goyard.

At that moment.

A group was entering the capital of the Kingdom of Goyard, facing the death of a woman.

They were Duke Luckburg and the nobles, who were coveting the position of Sword King Barad.

“Sword King Barad has always pointed to Bella as the puppet successor.”

It was a well-known fact.

Barad, having lost his child, was struggling not to let Luckburg become his successor.

“Bella. It’s true that the child possesses talent close to that of the Sword King.”

Though a puppet, Bella seemed fitting for the name of the Sword King’s nation.

That child was about to die.

A smug smile settled on the lips of Luckburg and his followers.

“What kind of person is the saint?”

How could Sword King Barad summon a woman not even the Empire’s Emperor could casually approach?

“Today, the tiger will be completely defanged.”

Duke Luckburg and the nobles did not know.

It was not the tiger’s teeth that would be pulled out, but their own.

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