Strike 112

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Luke, one of the kingdom’s five talents.

He had no ambition to become king.

Unlike his father, who was intelligent, wise, and knew how to win the love of his people, all he could do was wield a sword impressively.

Thus, he harbored a dream.

It was to become the commander of the royal guards, protecting the king.

Luke knew this was a story from far in the future.

He didn’t know who the king would be then, but he hoped for one thing: “A just and wise king who leads the kingdom wisely in a harsh world.”

When he first saw Hyun-soo, he was furious.

He had ignored him, thinking he was just a blacksmith, and was amazed when he swung a club.

Standing among those who were joyful, he regarded Hyun-soo, who spoke of true essence, as material for a true monarch.

Indeed…

Hyun-soo, seeing Luke swearing loyalty to him, spoke of something other than greed.

“Sir Luke, shouldn’t you be punished?”

“I believe this will be my punishment.”

Yes, this too was a form of demotion.

Once out of the Aram Territory, Luke could become a royal knight, whether in his own country or abroad.

His choice to join the guild Bright Future and to become a subordinate of someone of the same rank was indeed a punishment, wasn’t it?

“You’re permitted. And stay in the Aram Territory for a while.”

Luke was pleased.

First, because he had accepted him, and second, because it showed consideration for him.

It gave him and his father time to say goodbye.

Luke was convinced.

Indeed, he was the material of a good monarch.

***

After accepting Luke as his subordinate and stepping outside, Hyun-soo couldn’t hide his anticipation.

Of course, he strictly separated public from private matters.

Luke had to pay for his reckless actions, and taking him rashly could cause Bright Future to suffer unnecessarily.

But if he was to receive punishment in the form of demotion, as Luke said, there would be no problem.

Hyun-soo reviewed the newly recruited Luke’s information.

(Luke)

Grade: Epic

Type: Retainer

Level: 290

Attack: 3,040

Defense: 2,805

Special Abilities:

·Passive Skill: Exceptional Commander.

·Passive Skill: Advancing Swordsmanship.

·Passive Skill: Talent to Learn One Thing and Awaken Many.

·Active Skill: Bayard Swordsmanship.

·Active Skill: Awakening.

Potential: 121

Current EXP: 67%

Description: He has the talent to become a Sword Saint. He possesses the talent to awaken many abilities from learning one.

He grows faster than any knight and is intelligent.

Also, from a young age, he was one of the five talents of the kingdom and was already called a material for Sword Saint.

He also launched the Ares Community hologram to check the status windows of ordinary knights.

“This is crazy, really…”

The knight Hyun-soo just reviewed was an NPC knight who had just been knighted, of the same level as Luke.

The key information posted by a guild master user in the Ares Community about this knight was as follows:

Attack: 2,301

Defense: 1,999

Potential: 70.

But what about Luke?

Even though he was at the same level, he was completely different.

Attack: 3,040

Defense: 2,805

Potential: 121.

Even at the same level, it clearly shows the difference between named knights and those who are not.

And Nel said it herself.

Named knights.

That is, knights with titles, who would cost more than 50 million won a month to employ.

Yet the Luke that Hyun-soo saw was better than the average named NPC knight.

‘Not as good as Bella, but still.’

Bella is presumed to have talent close to that of a Sword King.

And it wasn’t long after Hyun-soo stepped forward that Luke appeared.

‘It’s time to go back.’

Just as he was about to return to the base, a group approached him.

At the center of the group was a soldier named Fel.

They were the ones Hyun-soo had led when he received the subjugation captain quest.

“Captain…!”

The soldier named Fel knelt, followed by the other soldiers.

They felt regret at not being able to follow Hyun-soo.

Hyun-soo also couldn’t help but feel regret.

‘If it weren’t for the system’s limitations…’

He wanted to take them all with him.

Then.

[The loyalty of 29 soldiers has reached MAX.]

[When you obtain the title of Baron in the future, you can choose about 50 soldiers you want.]

[However, their will is respected.]

What Hyun-soo showed and achieved for them was miraculous.

It’s like the hint given by the god blacksmith to prevent the scattered holy swords.

Before leaving, Hyun-soo said to them,

“Just wait a little, I will come to pick you up soon.”

“We will wait!”

Fel and the soldiers firmly placed their right fists over their left chests.

It’s the Ares-style salute indicating loyalty.

And as Hyun-soo started to return to the base, Fel said,

“When will he come to pick us up?”

“Who knows? If it’s Sir Hyun-soo, maybe a year will be enough?”

Getting a title is a very difficult task. 

They didn’t know.

That they would meet sooner than they thought.

***

Nel’s heart was warmed.

A small forge in a territory.

Hyun-soo, leading the way with his coat fluttering, followed by a knight and five others who looked like ordinary soldiers.

Nel knew their true worth.

Just one knight would become the material for a Sword Saint, leading an increasing number of troops.

The five soldiers would exert the strength of knights, to be deployed in soldier training and secret missions in the future.

‘He was told to bring back three soldiers…’

Hyun-soo brought back individuals better than a hundred soldiers.

After sending them off, they had a conversation.

“What will you do with the members of the Gale Squad?”

Hyun-soo gave a wise answer,

“The Gale Squad are nameless soldiers. We’ll arrange accommodations for them around here and deploy them in various places.”

But what does it mean to deploy them?

It means hiding them as fruit vendors, weapon merchants, or pedestrians in disguise.

Future enemies will enter their mouths unknowingly and be swallowed whole.

Nel inwardly admired Hyun-soo for sharing the same idea.

Then she remembered something.

“Didn’t you say you were going to hear the results of your rehabilitation treatment today?”

“That’s right.”

A small sense of anticipation lingered on Hyun-soo’s face, which Nel could feel.

‘Not just in Ares, but he wants to wield the hammer again in reality too.’

It was inevitable.

After all, Ares is a virtual world.

For Hyun-soo, who has lived his life solely as a blacksmith, the rehabilitation of his right hand would be incredibly meaningful.

“There doesn’t seem to be anything special for a while, so go in peace, I’ll be wishing you well.”

And with anticipation, Hyun-soo logged out.

Hyun-soo’s heart raced as he stepped outside after logging out.

‘The treatment has been paid for, and the scars will soon be gone.’

But what Hyun-soo needed most wasn’t that.

He looked at his scar-filled right hand.

Fortunately, his current right hand had no problems with daily activities.

However, what Hyun-soo wanted was to start blacksmithing again with this hand.

Therefore, he was more ready than anyone to devote himself fully to rehabilitation.

With a fluttering heart, he headed to the hospital.

***

Dr. Kim Jin-seop had been in a good mood lately.

For some reason, seeing a certain young man made him feel better and seemed to invigorate him.

And he thought it was possible because it was Hyun-soo.

He was more than happy when the administration department called to say, “Mr. Hyun-soo has paid off all his medical bills.”

Jin-seop knew Hyun-soo wouldn’t do anything bad and had recently heard about the wealth Hyun-soo had earned in the game Ares.

Jin-seop hoped.

‘I wish he would prosper.’

However, his heart was heavy, and the expression on Hyun-soo’s face, sitting across from him, was even worse.

Jin-seop felt troubled about having to deliver such news.

Hyun-soo’s X-ray pictures lay in front of them.

“Do you remember? I said I’d do my best.”

Jin-seop had told Hyun-soo, who wanted to start rehabilitation, that it might be impossible.

Still, Hyun-soo had said he wanted to try regardless.

“……Yes.”

Jin-seop had wanted to do his best.

But the outcome was not good.

“As I said, if you continue forging with your right hand, I can’t guarantee what will happen to it.”

Hyun-soo’s expression was not good.

“Right now, you can throw a catchball, drive, or do anything without difficulty, right? But I’m telling you, if you start working in the forge again, you might not even be able to do that.”

Seeing his expression turn dismal, Jin-seop also felt a pang in his heart.

And it wasn’t all pessimistic.

“A treatment for Mr. Hyun-soo’s case, awaiting FDA approval in the United States, might be available soon. Let’s wait until then.”

Truthfully, Jin-seop didn’t know whether this would take six months, two years, or if it would never be approved.

Hyun-soo, aware of this, looked displeased, and Jin-seop said in a bitter voice,

“I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do for you.”

Sometimes, Jin-seop had to be frank.

“Mr. Hyun-soo, you said you wanted to try physical therapy at the forge, right?”

Recalling their conversation a few days ago, Jin-seop thought about Hyun-soo’s forge.

Thanks to Chairman Lee Tae-sung’s help, it was being built quickly.

Indeed, the forge was nearly complete, and now all that remained was to rebuild their home, which had been connected to the forge. 

Dr. Kim Jin-seop said firmly, “Unfortunately, it seems difficult. For now, the focus should be on treatment to improve daily life rather than on returning to blacksmith work.”

He saw the expression of a young man whose world had collapsed. 

Unable to say anything, he watched Hyun-soo’s powerless back as he left. 

Of course, there was the small hope of the American treatment, but even that was not a certainty. 

“Haah…” 

Dr. Kim Jin-seop had seen countless patients’ frustrations. 

Among those many frustrations, this was one of the most heart-wrenching. 

Days later, Dr. Kim Jin-seop received an odd phone call. 

– Hello, my name is Kim Hye-in. 

She said she was a user with the nickname Nel and worked with Hyun-soo. 

– Mr. Hyun-soo hasn’t been responding for days. Did he say anything to you? 

“Excuse me?” 

Dr. Kim Jin-seop was puzzled. 

He wondered for a moment, then shook his head. 

‘If it’s the Mr. Hyun-soo I know, that couldn’t be.’ 

It was a certainty. 

Even when he tried calling, the phone was turned off. 

Suddenly, Dr. Kim Jin-seop thought of Hyun-soo’s forge. 

Late at night, Dr. Kim Jin-seop urgently drove to the location of Hyun-soo’s forge. 

In the late hours, he felt an uncontrollable anger. 

Because he saw the forge lit up from a distance. 

He knew Hyun-soo’s heart better than anyone. 

But there was a reason Dr. Kim Jin-seop had stressed so much. 

He had seen people who, after reckless attempts, ended up completely paralyzed. 

Of course, it was the worst-case scenario, but as a doctor, it was natural for him to assume the worst. 

He ran breathlessly. 

‘I’m going to scream at him, “What are you doing!” and drag him out of there.’ 

However, he was mesmerized by the flames that he saw before him. 

He found himself speechless. 

It was the first time. 

The first time he saw his patient Hyun-soo smile so joyfully. 

And he was amazed. 

The movements of a master craftsman that he saw for the first time in his life in the forge, filled with intense heat. 

He watched, spellbound. 

At his happy smile, he too found himself smiling with happiness. 

And then… 

Ding-dang-dong 

Ding-dang-dong-! 

Ding-dang-dong-! 

Snapped back to reality by the beautiful sound. 

Dr. Kim Jin-seop is a doctor. 

He does not believe in miracles. 

Medically, Hyun-soo’s right hand was supposed to be incapable of forging again. 

‘But how…?’ 

Dr. Kim Jin-seop took a step back. 

This was not a miracle. 

It was not something that couldn’t be explained medically. 

Yes, this was. 

‘His, his left hand…!?’ 

It was possible because it was Hyun-soo.

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