Strike 104

Prev I TOC I Next

Hyun-soo, who had activated the Command of Monarch, was amazed.

“Right now, it’s just about lifting objects around me and stopping them.”

However, as time passed and he got used to it, Hyun-soo thought he would be able to use it over a wider range.

Then, hearing the door open, Hyun-soo turned his head and smiled softly upon seeing Nel.

But for some reason, Nel looked at him for a while and then smiled with relief.

“It seems the re-creation of the coat has finished splendidly, you seem to have become stronger than before.”

Perhaps it was obvious.

Hyun-soo had been around level 180 when he swung the death sword to kill Jack, and now he was in the 220s.

“Congratulations on becoming a noble.”

“It’s all thanks to the guild members.”

Nel got to the point.

“A viscount is a noble, but only equivalent to a knight. However, even so, there are clear advantages to being a noble.”

Hyun-soo listened to her.

“Because you’re a noble, you can obtain things that regular users can’t. The first is securing a territory and becoming a lord. The second is being able to have personal soldiers even without a territory.”

Hearing this made Hyun-soo’s heart race.

‘Become a lord?’

Hyun-soo had met many lords.

He remembered Lord Bans of the smallest beginner zone.

Even though it was a beginner zone, he had thousands of people in his territory.

The idea of ruling over such people.

Of course, it wasn’t possible yet.

“The good thing about becoming a lord is being able to collect taxes every month.”

Suddenly, Hyun-soo thought being a viscount, albeit lowly, was quite significant.

Then, knowing the reality of a knightly viscount, he asked.

“Has there been a case where a viscount became a lord?”

“…There is. Maybe one in a hundred?”

Right, Hyun-soo had prematurely celebrated.

“Usually, you receive recognition for your merits by the country and its people, it might be easier to increase your title.”

Hyun-soo became curious.

“How do we compare now to Hwarang, the top guild in our country?”

Nel looked bitter.

“Like a lion and a puppy.”

It was a regrettable statement, but it had to be clear.

“Our Bright Future is made up of the best elites in each field. The problem is that the top guild Hwarang has too many high-rankers. About 25% of the high-rankers in our country belong to one guild.”

It was a groan-worthy statement.

“Also, the guild master there holds one of only two count titles in our country and already owns two territories. Moreover, they have more than 500 guild members and over a thousand troops.”

The reason Hyun’s forge is secretly growing is to withstand and win in future conflicts.

Hyun-soo felt that he still lacked the power to protect.

“We would even lose against guilds ranked in the top 20.”

However, Nel smiled faintly.

“Still, there’s something I can assure you of. If you look globally, combining barons, counts, and dukes, there are over a thousand. But Bright Future is the first to rise so quickly and possess such strong forces.”

The first.

Come to think of it, Hyun-soo started 3 years after those who began right after the Ares opening.

“You are an amazing person, Guild Master.”

At Nel’s words, Hyun-soo smiled slightly.

“Then we just need to close that gap going forward.”

It was ultimately a matter of time.

‘Someday, I’ll grow it to be comparable even to the Hwarang guild.’

Soon, Nel revealed the reason for her visit.

“You must have received a kingdom quest now that you’ve become a viscount, titled ‘Expedition Leader.'”

Hyun-soo checked the quest he received when he became a viscount.

[Kingdom Quest: Expedition Leader]

Grade: A

Restriction: Viscount

Reward: 3 soldiers.

Penalty for Failure: Title revocation.

Description: Meet Commander Philip in Arham, a territory on the very edge of the Goyard Kingdom.

This was an impressive quest for Hyun-soo.

‘A quest that gives three soldiers.’

Hyun-soo had just won Bella’s heart a few days ago.

‘Of course, users are important too.’

But soldiers, knights, or other capable NPCs were also necessary.

“It might be just three for now, but depending on the achievement, the rank of those soldiers can vary.”

Not all soldiers are the same.

“Some could have the talent to become knights.”

Those three would firmly protect the forge.

“Plus, it gives a decent amount of experience, and achieving great deeds could open up the possibility of becoming a higher noble.”

Nel smiled awkwardly.

Hyun-soo nodded and suddenly remembered something.

He took out an egg from his inventory.

It was the wolf’s egg he obtained from hunting the ash wolf.

Hyun-soo took it out because of this.

[??? is pleased.]

[It might hatch before a season passes.]

This notification came after Hyun-soo became a viscount.

The egg is pleased? What is it pleased about?

“Do you know anything about this kind of egg?”

“It’s a pet egg. One moment.”

Nel checked it.

(Wolf’s Egg)

Grade: ???

Type: ???

Description: An egg held by the ash wolf, the third child of Fenrir. It’s uncertain what kind of wolf will hatch from it, nor when it will hatch.

Nel was surprised.

“An egg held by Fenrir’s third child?”

“Yes.”

Fenrir was one of the eight monsters, known to be as strong or stronger than the continent’s top ten legends.

“You might get an epic-grade pet. If it’s even better, you could designate it as a guardian.”

A guardian represents a guild, kingdom, or broader, a creed, as an animal or monster.

Nel made an uncertain expression at the mention of the egg reacting to Hyun-soo.

After saying she would look into it, Nel left, and Hyun-soo immediately headed to Arham territory.

***

[The wolf’s egg is preparing to hatch in the care of user Hyun-soo.]

Blue Inc. Executive Office.

CEO Lee Se-jin looked at the notification that appeared only to him, his expression one of interest.

It was as if before the appearance of the God Blacksmith—an information known only to Lee Se-jin and a very select few.

The egg held by the ash wolf.

At first glance, it might be predicted that an offspring of the ash wolf would be born.

But not at all.

“A common wolf far inferior to the ash wolf might be born.”

A common wolf is level 15.

“Or, a wolf incomparably stronger than the ash wolf might be born.”

Yes, the design intent of this egg was special.

“From the moment it begins to prepare for hatching, the egg starts to feed on the achievements of the one who nurtures it.”

The egg will hatch on its own after a certain period.

However, this also depends on conditions.

If it’s someone without a title, or someone without followers, a common wolf is born.

But what about Fenrir and its offspring?

At the very least, they were kings of their domains, and Fenrir is the king of all wolves.

“How would a king serve an ordinary user?”

That’s why, even after a certain time, if there’s no title or followers, an insignificant wolf emerges.

However, the moment Hyun-soo obtained a title, this changed.

Even as an entity within the egg, it became something worth expecting.

And as much as it prepared for hatching, it literally starts to feed on what Hyun-soo has built up as a commander, noble, or knight from now on.

[Current nutrient rate: 0%.]

The type of wolf that will emerge is decided by the nutrient rate. Having a title doesn’t guarantee a good wolf.

30% nutrient rate achieves a sub-boss wolf.

50% nutrient rate is a boss-level wolf.

80% nutrient rate is inhabited by a legendary wolf.

Lee Se-jin stood up.

On the wall of his executive office was a map of the Ares server worldwide, including domestically.

There are a total of thirteen legendary monsters designated as guardians around the world.

The figures of legendary monsters attached above various countries.

“How far will the wolf’s egg go……”

Lee Se-jin felt his heart race as he looked at the figures of the legendary monsters.

There are two most splendid and magnificent figures.

They were the figures of the Four Guardian Beasts.

One figure is plugged into the Ares Church.

The Guardian Beast Phoenix.

Another figure is in the Disaster Church.

The Guardian Beast Hydra.

That was the end.

“It’s a needless thought.”

Lee Se-jin chuckled bitterly.

The creature that will appear from the egg depends on the nutrient rate.

The nutrient rate that needs to be built up from now on.

In fact, even if you accumulate 100%, a Divine Beast might not appear.

Lee Se-jin decided to put aside the thought, given it was uncertain how much needed to be accumulated.

However, he did entertain this idea:

“A Divine Beast of the wolf.”

Just imagining its roar seemed truly magnificent.

***

The Arham territory is located in the northern part of the Goyard Kingdom, a land teeming with monsters nearby.

It’s a place where endless subjugation is carried out every day.

And there is something special in this Arham territory.

It’s a mission where newly knighted individuals lead soldiers to conduct subjugations.

There are also other things that knights can do, and this place also serves as a military training ground.

Commander Philip saw Duke Luckburg, who was noisily chatting on the side.

“Soon, a guy named Hyun-soo will come here, let me say this once more, but he is a very sly one and less significant than you might think.”

Arham territory is also where Duke Luckburg and other nobles were demoted to.

“Be careful, you might lose all your soldiers.”

“I understand.”

Philip nodded his head.

He somewhat agreed with Duke Luckburg’s words.

Commander Philip is a cold and fearsome person but also someone with a different side.

His people were the most precious to him.

“A foreign knight, huh…”

He does not like newly titled foreigners. Because of them, he has lost many soldiers.

“A blacksmith, and his level is…”

The average level of foreigners who received a knight’s title was about 290. But it is said to be much lower than that.

“Soldiers led by a blacksmith knight are to go on a subjugation.”

Who are they trying to kill?

Moreover, the soldiers are afraid. Afraid they might be assigned to him and die.

The royal family only provided personal details but not the exact information.

Rather, it was Luckburg who informed him.

“His becoming a noble was a false deed, he conspired with saints, paladins, and pretended to have saved the king and us, he did not prove his strength there, he’s just a blacksmith.”

It is said that no nobles have ever seen his strength.

“I understand.”

Philip nodded and moved on.

To prepare for the imminent monster invasion.

He watched the soldiers busily moving supplies for battle preparation.

During this, a small cannonball rolled out from one of the boxes, and his brow furrowed.

The cannonball was glowing red hot.

“A…defect?”

This cannonball was for a dragon cannon, a siege weapon used in such equipment.

When it explodes, it engulfs a radius of 10 meters.

The problem is that the box of cannonballs being moved by the soldiers contains more than ten cannonballs.

Meaning, if that goes off, a chain explosion could kill them all.

Philip was about to shout desperately.

“Everyone, get away!!!!!”

They are his children.

Whether they like it or not, they are his soldiers.

Dozens of his soldiers were about to die, engulfed in an explosion they knew nothing about.

Then, a soldier moving the cannonballs discovered the one that was red hot.

“Hi, hiiiiiiik…!”

The cannonball, boiling like water in a whistling kettle, was about to cause an explosion.

Fwoooosh…

With the sound starting, dozens of fragments scattered, and a fierce flame burst out, exploding.

Woah-!

Then, something strange happened.

The exploded flame was trapped by an unknown force.

The hundreds of scattered fragments converged into one place.

And then they shot up into the sky rapidly.

Philip’s gaze followed upward.

And there, in the sky.

Boom-!

A full explosion occurred, emitting a cloud of smoke.

Patting his chest, Philip soon saw a man walking towards him.

As if it was nothing, the man in a coat patted the shoulder of the soldier in front of the cannonball.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes…! Thank you for saving me. But, who are you?”

Noticing Philip, the man said.

“I’m Viscount Hyun-soo, here to see the commander.”

Prev I TOC I Next