Strike 118

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“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”  

The priest who came out of the room could not bring himself to look into Ben’s eyes as he spoke.  

“It seems he will permanently lose his sight. Sir Frak will no longer be able to see the world.”  

The priests.  

Those who receive divine power from the gods to heal. But they were not omnipotent.  

“When he arrived, the injury was too deep and it seems there was shock to the nerves. It was also too late.”  

The knights’ sparring.  

By the special power of the magicians, even at the moment of death, 1% of HP remains, preventing death.  

Ben considered it.  

The dragon wielded by Hyun-soo. And the dismantling of the plated armor that had enveloped his chest.  

The damage Frak suffered was, in fact, greater than death.  

But the magicians’ power saved him.  

“……It’s enough that he survived.”  

This incident changed Ben’s attitude towards Frak.  

He was a quirky old man, but Ben remembered the loyalty Frak had shown and came to realize his importance, albeit late.  

Even if he lost his sight, Ben would still keep him by his side.  

Ben soon returned to the audience chamber.  

Upon arriving in the audience chamber, his confidant and kingdom’s strategist, Pan, began to speak.  

“Your Majesty, at the border…”  

“Do not speak of it.”  

“……Yes.”  

Ben did not regret stepping back from the border.  

“Two letters have arrived.”  

As expected.  

This letter must be from the Kingdom of Goyard.  

“The first letter is short. I will read it first.”  

Pan said, spreading the letter and holding its ends.  

“‘This is ridiculous.'”  

Ben laughed bitterly.  

“Is that the end?”  

“Yes.”  

It was an unavoidable situation due to Frak’s urgent circumstances at the time.  

It was expected that Barad would react this way.  

However, the first letter did not say ‘Give back Hyun-soo.’  

‘He was meant to be sent to me from the beginning.’  

The second letter was read.  

The second letter contained important information.  

Specifically, it was about negotiations.  

A small war gains the power to propose first in these negotiations, which was bigger than expected.  

“……Therefore, we wish to send the blacksmith Hyun-soo as a negotiator to the Kingdom of Goyard. Please treat him with care.”  

Ben summarized the content of the negotiations.  

The negotiations between the two kingdoms originated from what each desired to have.  

War, after all, breaks out when one country wants something from another.  

However, the two kings were not noble enough to make such a decision.  

First content of the negotiation.  

The Kingdom of Goyard wants to get back the prisoners taken by the Kingdom of Praham.  

Second.  

The Kingdom of Goyard wants to buy the blacksmith materials held by the Kingdom of Praham.  

‘Harsh.’  

The second could be considered, but the first essentially meant walking the path of peace.  

Furthermore, since a proposal for negotiation had been made, they had to propose their own needs for negotiation.  

Ben looked at the strategist Pan.  

“For the second negotiation content, it might be good to proceed like this. Agree to export the materials, but in return, we want to acquire Goyard’s excellent swordsmanship.”  

“Wanting the swordsmanship.”  

Ben agreed as well.  

The Kingdom of Goyard was known as the land of swords, and the Kingdom of Praham’s soldiers’ swordsmanship was inferior compared to other kingdoms.  

“There could be a way to make this negotiation difficult. Demand that they send instructors to teach swordsmanship, and in return for the instructors helping our soldiers grow, we will send the prisoners.”  

Pan smiled cunningly.  

“However, I would prefer that no knights come. I’m worried about my safety.”  

It was almost like playing with words.  

Wanting to learn swordsmanship but saying knights should not come.  

Essentially, trying to derail the negotiation rights themselves.  

“If they send instructor soldiers in this situation, we could just send them to the cradle of hell.”  

“Ha ha.”  

Ben admired the cunning of Pan, his subject.  

The cradle of hell.  

That place is the training ground for the elite soldiers of the Kingdom of Praham.  

The average level of soldiers is 200.  

But the average level there reaches 240.

“If the instructor soldiers go there, what would happen?”

“And negotiations about the first prisoner are…”

Pan knows well about a person named Ben.

It was Ben who personally brought the blacksmith Hyun-soo.

This alone is quite astonishing.

It means he acknowledges that he is impressive enough to be used in negotiations.

But that’s as far as it goes.

“We could mention the formula of something we previously said we couldn’t make.”

The second negotiation point from the Kingdom of Goyard depends on the instructor soldiers.

The focus of the first negotiation is the blacksmith Hyun-soo.

“And so, you must have placed him in front of the Minor World Tree.”

Ben nodded slightly.

The mention of something that seems impossible to make.

Or an impossible task to propose.

“Saving the dying Minor World Tree is something no one has been able to do. If he revives it, he will be given the right to use the Minor World Tree.”

Pan did not say anything about this.

King Ben is also known for giving back as much as he receives.

But Pan only chuckled at that.

‘The Minor World Tree is a tree that can never come back to life on this land.’

And then, a letter containing the demands from the Kingdom of Praham was sent.

Time passed, and a reply was received.

Pan looked a bit surprised.

“They say they will comply with everything. They will send five soldiers.”

Ben looked puzzled by the too willing response.

Then,

“Your Majesty, Sir Frak has awakened.”

Ben moved at the news of his disciple waking up.

***

[Legendary Ingredient. You have witnessed the Minor World Tree.]

[You gain 100 fame.]

Hyun-soo woke up from a distant consciousness with a surprised expression.

His body, which seemed immovable, had recovered.

Both users and NPCs have self-healing abilities.

This self-healing ability varies in speed depending on artifacts, skills, etc.

Considering the time, Hyun-soo’s wounds seemed to take quite a while to heal on their own.

‘Is it thanks to the Minor World Tree?’

Hyun-soo took in the Minor World Tree before him.

However, its appearance seemed odd, and he frowned.

A vast garden, as if three large playgrounds were put together.

In front of it, the dying Minor World Tree was visible, and all the plants around it were already dried and twisted.

Yet, its size was immense.

Reaching a height of 20 meters, it was tall and majestic.

Hyun-soo walked closer to observe the Minor World Tree.

[The Minor World Tree is dying.]

[The Minor World Tree may cause anger.]

[The dying Minor World Tree is an unobtainable material.]

Hyun-soo reached out and touched the Minor World Tree.

[Viewing information about the Minor World Tree when acquired.]

(Minor World Tree)

Grade: Legendary

Restriction: Artisan blacksmith level 250 or higher

Difficulty: Highest.

Special Abilities

·Increase in piercing power by 97% when making a spear.

·Increase in critical hit rate by 50% when making a bow.

·30% decrease in weapon weight when making spears or bows.

·Increase in strength, agility, stamina by more than 20%.

·Maximum attack speed increases by up to 50%.

·Durability increases to infinity.

Description: The legendary ingredient Minor World Tree. It is the most outstanding among all legendary materials made of wood. However, it has dried up and lost its former power.

Hyun-soo had previously used the lowest grade of legendary mineral, Orichalcum.

At that time, he had made an Orichalcum Dagger with it.

‘Yes, that was the lowest grade.’

But this one is clearly a mid-grade material among legends.

The problem is that it is different from the one described in the notification.

As described, it has dried up and lost its former power.

‘How should this be revived?’

No notification or explanation popped up.

It seemed that he would have to ask Ben.

Hyun-soo left the garden.

***

Upon reaching the room where Frak was, Ben could not say a word.

Frak, sitting on the bed, had bandages wrapped around his eyes.

The bandages were damp with the tears Frak had shed.

Ben had only ever considered Frak as a successor to carry on his legacy.

However, during this minor war, he realized how much Frak cared for and cherished him, which changed his thoughts about him.

Frak seemed to sense Ben’s presence and turned his gaze in that direction.

“……Your Majesty, I cannot see anything. How am I supposed to wield a spear from now on?”

Ben couldn’t respond to those words.

Frak had spent his life wielding nothing but a spear.

And now, he would never be able to wield a spear again.

But even so, Ben would cherish Frak by his side.

“You fool…… why make such a fuss over……”

Ben’s voice trembled a little as he spoke.

“I have lived my life holding only a spear……”

Frak’s words deeply pierced Ben’s heart.

“Why, why……”

And the following words sank Ben’s heart.

“Why did you save me?”

“……”

Frak was only 24 years old.

Now, he felt useless, unable to do anything.

Frak thought.

Would it have been better if he had died gloriously and admirably then?

“It’s the first time.”

The bandages covering his eyes became even more damp.

“I have never hated Your Majesty this much.”

Ben could not say anything.

He fully understood the feeling.

But Ben couldn’t think of a way to comfort him.

Then.

“What nonsense.”

At that voice, Frak stopped with anger, and Ben with bewilderment.

Turning his head, Ben saw Hyun-soo looking at him with a scornful gaze.

‘What……?’

Ben was puzzled. It was the main character himself.

Was the main character, right here, mocking Frak in his current state of despair?

No, more incomprehensible to Ben was his behavior.

It was completely different from the image he had seen before.

‘Was he always like this?’

Mocking the despair of an enemy……?’

Frak’s face twisted.

“Did you come to mock me? Me, who is despairing like this after being defeated by you!?”

The man said,

“Isn’t it nonsense to be mad at His Majesty who held you tight and rushed to save you?”

Ben realized.

He hadn’t come to mock.

‘Sometimes direct words can be comforting.’

Yes, the man was providing that comfort.

Shocked by the words, Frak glanced at where the king should be, moving his lips slightly.

‘His Majesty rushed to save me……’

He had rushed over, holding him in his arms.

The king of a nation.

But Ben shook his head.

‘Wrong.’

Such comfort wasn’t the solution to the problem.

Saying such words to someone who had permanently lost their sight wouldn’t change anything.

Hyun-soo’s approach was wrong.

No matter what method was used here, it wouldn’t be possible to……

“Take care.”

At that moment, Frak didn’t immediately understand the meaning of those words.

Was he, who had completely lost his sight, being told to take care of the king?

“Buy me a meal later.”

Then, Hyun-soo, who had walked up to him, took out a bottle of potion.

Pop-

‘Troll’s blood?’

Ben looked puzzled.

Troll’s blood, known for its regenerative properties, was a rare item.

But even troll’s blood couldn’t do anything about such permanent damage.

Then, what he said after opening the potion bottle shocked Ben.

“It’s the blood of the Giant King. It can regenerate and heal any wound. It can be used only once, and I’ll use it for you.”

Drip-drip-

The green liquid flowing down seeped into his eyes.

Ssss-

Smoke rose, and Frak’s vision began to return at an unbelievable speed.

And Hyun-soo said with a bitter smile,

“Don’t break.”

Seeing Hyun-soo, who had restored his vision, Frak began to cry even more loudly.

‘Somehow?’

But there was something Ben couldn’t understand.

The blood of the Giant King was far too precious.

Wasn’t it said to be usable only once?

‘Frak was his enemy.’

Was it worth using it for such a purpose?

Then, cold sweat ran down Ben’s back.

At this age, sometimes one can see futures that don’t unfold.

They appear like visions.

A future where the blacksmith who became king would face great danger.

A moment when he kneels in despair, just like Frak now.

He saw another king, leading soldiers, arriving to a despairing him.

It was the second Spearheaven Frak, older than now.

That day, Frak would smile and reach out his hand to him.

Ben understood.

‘It was something neither I nor Barad could achieve.’

It was about two legends coming together.

That evening.

“I guess we can’t eat together. This is for the meal.”

[You gain 100,000 gold.]

One hundred million won.

‘Who pays 100 million won for a meal……?’

Hyun-soo chuckled and said before Frak could respond,

“Thank you for using the Giant King’s blood, which can only be used once, for me.”

Frak bowed in gratitude.

[Your intimacy with Frak reaches MAX.]

As he stepped out, Hyun-soo took out another potion bottle and looked at it.

‘Hehe.’

[It’s the blood of the Giant King.]

[Used once out of three times, two times left.]

A truth forever kept only by Hyun-soo.

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