Chapter 616: Knight Selection Ceremony (2)

Hyunsoo remembered.

It was something Rom, the talkative young blacksmith, had said.

Imitating Knight Commander Kal, Rom had said:

“He looked so worn-down. Desperate.”

Those words made Hyunsoo remember what he himself had once been like.

At the time, Hyunsoo had been on the verge of losing his father’s forge.

He had only been twenty.

All Hyunsoo knew how to do was swing a hammer, yet he had needed an enormous sum—hundreds of millions of won.

Lord Kern of Karsel Territory and Knight Commander Kal had given him that money.

At the time, Hyunsoo had thought it was simply the reward he had earned for achieving something “astonishing.”

But then—

“We talked until dawn about how we wanted him to keep moving forward. How we wanted him to grow into someone great.”

Lord Kern and Kal, the commander of a small territory, must have talked about him over drinks like that.

As adults, they had done everything they could for the still-young Hyunsoo.

Because of them, Hyunsoo had reclaimed his forge.

And before he left Karsel Territory—

“Let’s meet again when you’ve become someone great.”

Hyunsoo had left, puzzled by the unreadable expressions on the faces of Kal and Kern as they saw him off.

Only today did he truly understand.

He had been cheered on.

By people from a territory where he had only stayed for a few days.

Was it because they called him their benefactor?

No.

It was because they were adults.

Those adults had reached out to him, just as Hyuksoo had once done.

That was why Hyunsoo was standing before the forge.

“Y-you...! No, Benefactor! Thank you for saving Karsel Territory!”

Rom, who had recognized him, bowed deeply before Hyunsoo as he stood in front of the small forge’s furnace.

Was his behavior exaggerated because he was as talkative as he was?

No.

Anyone in present-day Karsel Territory who met Hyunsoo would have reacted the same way.

He was the territory’s benefactor.

But Hyunsoo had not come here merely because of their connection, nor simply because Kal had once helped him and Hyunsoo wanted to repay the kindness.

I fought alongside Knight Commander Kal.

Kal had overwhelmed the Lord of Death with his exceptional martial prowess.

He had also been the one who kept Karsel Territory from falling long before it should have.

Though—

NPCs experience time three to four times faster than users do.

Kal had aged several times as much as Hyunsoo during that time.

Even then, Kal had already been in his late thirties, approaching the age when a knight’s body began to decline.

Yet he had still delayed Karsel Territory’s fall against the undead.

It was because he was seasoned.

Every day, Kal had walked the line between life and death.

To defend the territory from the undead trying to overrun it, he had needed to stand at the forefront.

What a knight needed most was real battle.

Kal had accumulated that experience for years. He was seasoned, and his ability to read the flow of the battlefield far surpassed that of younger knights.

Of course, that did not mean those who failed to see it were fools.

Hyunsoo was a king who commanded countless knights.

He could only see more now because he stood in a position that allowed him to do so.

And now, Hyunsoo possessed many Legendary minerals he could use.

Materials brought by guild members.

Materials he had obtained himself.

Materials Goldie had gathered.

He did not have an endless supply, but he had enough to use whenever he needed to.

After considering his options, Hyunsoo decided to use the Orichalcum sitting in one corner of his inventory.

It was not the Orichalcum Lord Kern and Kal had given him.

This was Orichalcum Hyunsoo had purchased from an auction house long ago, when it had first appeared on the market.

RUMBLEEE—!

For the first time in a while, Hyunsoo burned hot with excitement and went all out.

He was certain an exceptional sword would emerge.

The first reason—

RUMBLEEE—!

Hyunsoo had worked with Orichalcum many times before.

The results spoke for themselves.

“Gasp...!”

Rom stared at the scarlet mineral he had never seen in his life.

It contained not the slightest impurity. Flowing like magma, it radiated a beauty of its own.

The second reason—

CLANG!

CLANG!

CLAAANG—!

Hyunsoo knew exactly what kind of sword he wanted to create.

CLAAANG—!

[You pour your heart into forging, increasing Cutting Power!]

CLANG!

[You hammer the blade further, increasing Piercing Power!]

An aging knight needed to be able to cut enemies down with the least possible strength.

He needed to pierce them even with the strength he no longer had.

And a Crafting Method formed with such clarity could only become more complete.

[For the material used, it possesses higher Cutting Power than any sword you have crafted before!]

[For the material used, it possesses higher Piercing Power than any sword you have crafted before!]

[Its weight has been efficiently balanced, making it easier to wield than an ordinary sword!]

The third reason—

HISSSSS—!

Hyunsoo smiled broadly as he watched the sword being quenched.

Naturally, it came from the story behind it.

This time, Hyunsoo knew that “Rampage” would not activate.

Rampage was what happened when every effect he possessed—beginning with the various effects that increased the chances of producing superior artifacts—triggered all at once, resulting in absurd growth.

But that was fine.

The smile on his lips.

The enjoyment.

The happiness.

The exhilaration.

All of it gave him confidence that, within the limits of what he could make, he would create something good.

CLAAANG—!

HISSSSS!

CLAAANG!

HISSSSS!

In fact—

“...”

Rom, who had been thinking, No matter how much of a benefactor he is, he’s using my forge without paying..., found himself staring at Hyunsoo as if enchanted.

Can someone really be that happy while crafting?

Rom could not remember the last time he had enjoyed making something.

But Hyunsoo, forging a sword for Knight Commander Kal, looked genuinely happy.

Perhaps that was why he never seemed to tire.

As Rom watched Hyunsoo’s extraordinary movements, he slowly began to understand.

[Young blacksmith Rom watches a Master Blacksmith forge and begins to understand what truly matters.]

[He realizes how precious it is to create good things for others out of the desire to help them.]

[Someday, young blacksmith Rom will also craft joyfully for someone, just as you do!]

DING!

[No matter how much he grew, young blacksmith Rom possessed only the potential to become a high-level blacksmith!]

[However, by watching a Master Blacksmith forge, he understands what truly matters and resolves to improve himself for it.]

[Your attitude changes his way of thinking!]

DING!

[Once Rom grows further, he will become an artisan-level blacksmith!]

The notifications made Hyunsoo feel good.

After forging for so long that he lost track of time, Hyunsoo brought the sword closer and closer to completion.

Its form was that of an ordinary, commonplace longsword—the kind regular knights wore at their waists.

But the grip, wrapped in a golden band, was striking.

And the name Hyun, engraved along one side, made it clear that this was no ordinary longsword.

What was more, all the varied things Hyunsoo had learned recently made the patterns he engraved sturdier and more impressive than before.

As he reached the final stage—

[You, once merely a small blacksmith, have returned to repay those who once showed you kindness and forge this weapon with all your heart for them.]

[That noble heart proves why you became a Master Blacksmith, and your soul enters this sword!]

DING!

[Blacksmith’s Soul activates.]

[It is crafted one grade higher!]

Rom stared at the sword as it neared completion, utterly entranced.

A faint blue glow lingered over it.

It was more beautiful than any sword he had ever seen.

Yet Rom looked sad.

It’s still only one sword...

He was a blacksmith himself.

Hyunsoo had spent barely more than a day making this sword.

Rom did not believe such a sword could change an old knight’s life.

Even so, as a blacksmith, he could not help being curious about it.

And the moment Hyunsoo handed him the sword and Rom examined it—

“What on earth did you do?”

“...?”

“I’ve never seen a sword this magnificent in my life!”

Rom finally understood why Hyunsoo was the legend of Karsel Territory.

*****

The Knight Selection Ceremony was held at Lord Poxo’s grand estate.

Kal arrived wearing the dress uniform knights had been fitted for long ago.

But the moment he saw the young knights who had come to the ceremony, he realized something.

“...”

Unlike Kal, who wore an old, worn black dress uniform, the younger knights were dressed in white.

The ceremony was packed with renowned merchant magnates, lords, and handsome young knights about to make their way into the world.

The lords and merchants approached those knights first.

“What is your name?”

“Form.”

“And your age?”

“Twenty-three.”

“Excellent.”

Kal waited amid them with a small, quiet hope that someone would approach him as well.

But—

“Here. I present you with this sword.”

“T-thank you!”

“I am Long, Lord of Atala Territory. Knight Beng, I bestow this sword upon you.”

While knights were chosen all around him, no one came to Kal.

Glance.

Glance.

The lords and knights looked at Knight Commander Kal with pity.

“When was that sword even made?”

“He still hasn’t retired...”

Kal paid them no attention.

In the vast hall, he stood alone.

He simply waited.

Waited for a new master willing to take him on again.

*****

Lord Poxo looked uncomfortable as he watched Knight Commander Kal standing alone off to one side.

“That damned knight...”

Poxo had assumed Kal would take the hint and leave Karsel Territory himself if no one selected him.

An old hero did nothing but make things uncomfortable for the lords and knights who needed to rise next.

Yet Kal, apparently too oblivious to take the hint, had come anyway.

Then—

“What seems to be the matter?”

Merchant magnate Allen, standing beside him, looked curious.

“It is because of that knight, Kal. He...”

Allen listened to the entire story.

As he stroked his mustache, interest appeared on his face.

“Oh? An old fox still wants to play king in his den?”

“He does not want to play king. He merely wants to serve as a knight.”

“Isn’t that the same thing?”

Lord Poxo realized a moment too late that he had chosen the wrong person to complain to.

Merchant magnate Allen.

A merchant who dominated this entire region.

He employed hundreds of knights, and he sometimes played pranks that crossed the line.

His influence was far greater than Lord Poxo’s.

“I’ll run him off for you.”

Allen walked over to Kal.

Kal’s eyes brightened with expectation, and he gave Allen a respectful nod.

“So you’re that worn-out legend?”

“Pardon?”

“I heard long ago that there was a knight who saved Karsel Territory. I suppose it is thanks to you that parties can be held in Karsel Territory like this.”

Was that praise or mockery?

Kal could not tell.

Then Allen said—

“I have a question. How many young knights do you think you can defeat?”

Allen shrugged and looked around.

“The fact that you are here for the selection ceremony proves that you can still fight, does it not?”

“Yes.”

A smile spread across Allen’s lips at Kal’s answer.

“Defeat twenty of my knights, and I will select you as a commander for my merchant group.”

“That is absurd...”

“Why? Can’t you do it?”

Kal understood.

Allen’s gaze was telling him that if he could not even do that much, he should leave.

And Kal finally understood the situation he was in.

There is no longer a place for me here...

Allen expected Kal to give up and step back on his own.

But—

“I’ll do it.”

Kal chose the complete opposite.

It was his last act of chivalry.

And a foolishly chivalrous one.

Allen looked amused as he glanced around at his knights.

The younger knights were clearly surprised, but before long, one of them charged first.

“No hard feelings!”

But something astonishing happened.

The knight’s sword, which had been meant to drive Kal out with a single powerful strike, was lightly deflected by Kal’s blade.

SHWIIING—!

Then—

CRACK—!

“...!”

“...!”

Kal struck the knight’s wrist in one blow, incapacitating him, then placed his sword against the man’s throat.

As one knight fell, more charged in one after another.

CRACK!

Kal gritted his teeth and met their blades.

CLANGCLANGCLANG—!

Under attacks pouring in from all directions, the old legend—after disabling two more knights—began to be driven back.

He was pushed all the way to the massive doors of the banquet hall, as though he were about to be forced outside.

But even as he clenched his teeth and held on, trying to incapacitate another opponent—

SHRRAAAK—!

“Like an old knight, your sword has grown old too.”

Along with Allen’s mocking voice, the sword Kal had carried for twenty years snapped and fell to the floor.

CLATTER.

“Huff... Huff...”

The remaining eighteen knights approached Kal, who had held his ground at the doors until the very end rather than be driven out.

Is this how it ends? My life as a knight...

Kal stared blankly at the broken sword in his hand.

Just as Allen had said.

If this sword had not grown so old, he could have fought longer...

And for some reason, he thought of that blacksmith.

The blacksmith who had said it could be done when everyone else had declared Karsel finished.

“I’ll come back, Knight Commander Kal.”

That blacksmith, who had given him a playful salute before leaving, flashed through his mind.

A bitter smile touched Kal’s lips.

Right...

Let the end of his life as a knight be the fact that he had helped that young man grow into someone remarkable.

That would be enough.

He had accepted the situation and was about to say, “I will leave.”

Then—

“Get up.”

Only then did Kal notice the blacksmith standing firmly behind him.

Before Kal stood dozens of nobles, dozens of merchants, and hundreds of knights, all looking at the old man before them as though he were an enemy and laughing at him.

Yet the blacksmith alone stood behind Kal, protecting his back.

And still, that lone blacksmith felt vast enough to encompass hundreds, thousands, even hundreds of thousands.

He pulled something wrapped in cloth forward.

FWOOOSH—!

Then, with one forceful motion, he tore the cloth away.

A sword was revealed.

—To my knight, Kal...

Kal looked at the longsword engraved with golden patterns and knew immediately.

This sword—

[This is a Transcendent Artifact.]

—would be greater than any sword held by any knight.