Hyunsoo’s right-hand rehabilitation was still in progress.

His attending physician, Dr. Kim Jinseop, said he couldn’t guarantee whether it would succeed before starting.

Even so, Hyunsoo decided to go forward without giving up.

My left hand’s up to 60% of my right hand.

Along the way, Hyunsoo had also been practicing how to work with his left hand.

If his left hand’s performance compared to his right had been 40% at the start, he’d made quite a lot of progress.

And after repeating right-hand rehab and left-hand training for more than five months, he realized one thing.

How...?

Hyunsoo’s skill level was exceptionally high.

He thought of the gym.

When we first start lifting weights, muscle begins to build quickly for the first three months.

But after some time passes—once you keep climbing from beginner to intermediate to advanced—that growth becomes harder.

Like a sponge soaked with water.

At first you can squeeze out a lot, but the more you go on, the less you can wring out.

That’s what outstanding skill is like. You slam into a ceiling.

But using his left hand had produced a shocking result.

In Ares, Hyunsoo could use his right hand freely.

So he mainly did forge work with his right hand, while his left assisted.

And then the surprising truth revealed itself.

As the freedom in his left hand increased, he could feel that crafting had become easier than before.

Forge work was an endless chain of hardship.

It was bound to be a burden—like a pitcher throwing at full strength every single day.

And in reality, the game Ares was similar to real life.

If you crafted for a long time with one arm, it overloaded.

At those times, Hyunsoo would switch to his left hand and try crafting again.

It was something he couldn’t have even dreamed of before.

And the effect it caused—

I get less tired.

I can make better gear.

Then he had a thought.

Games mattered, but reality mattered to Hyunsoo too.

And improving real-world skill also improved his performance in the game.

If I become a complete two-handed blacksmith, how insane would the impact be?

A two-handed blacksmith.

Just thinking about it made his blood rush.

So Hyunsoo couldn’t give up.

Not on pulling his left hand up to match his right.

And not on rehabilitating his right hand, either.

But it wasn’t all good news.

When he sat across from Dr. Kim Jinseop and Jinseop checked the condition of his right hand, Jinseop said,

“The right hand doesn’t seem to be keeping up as much as the effort you’re putting in.”

But Hyunsoo found it strange.

“But I can put more strength into my right hand.”

“That’s true—you’ve regained more than about 10% of your grip strength,” Jinseop said. “But what I’m talking about is a different part.”

Jinseop stared at the recorded footage from Hyunsoo’s rehab with a grave expression.

“Even though it’s clearly improved, your right hand isn’t moving as much as it’s improved. More precisely... I think the expression ‘your right hand is refusing’ fits.”

“My right hand is refusing...?”

“Yes. It’s hard to explain medically, but I think I can put it like this. The optic nerves and muscle tissues that were damaged once before. And also...”

He pointed at his head.

“Even your brain that sends the signal to your right hand to move. It’s afraid it’ll break again like before. So it avoids outputting the strength it can currently produce. The problem is, that slows down rehabilitation.”

Jinseop explained in simpler terms.

“To build muscle, you force yourself to do two or three more reps at the point you believe is your limit. But right now, your right hand is giving up much earlier—before it even reaches that point.”

In other words, his right hand—and even his mind—had trauma.

Jinseop kept talking, then saw Hyunsoo’s expression and gave a small smile.

“But a method that might be able to treat that trauma is going to be released soon.”

Jinseop turned the monitor around and put a video on-screen.

It was a video featuring CEO Lee Sejin.

-This VVIP capsule boasts a sync rate of 100%. Sync rate. As a child, I also encountered fantasy novels like all of you, and even about twenty years ago, content themed around virtual reality games drew attention. There, too, something called sync rate existed.

-But I thought the setting in virtual reality novels where a sync rate of 100% meant pain sensation at 100% made no sense. I’m a scientist, but I’m also a businessman. No one would want to play a game where they feel real pain.

-So in Ares, sync rate means this. Only what I see, touch, and feel is 100%. But unnecessary pain—heat, cutting, and so on—has been lowered to the level of 1/100.

-But when you’re doing everyday things, it’s different.

-The texture you touch, the sensation at your fingertips when you make something—those follow the sync rate.

-And this capsule’s 100% sync rate will make the game Ares completely identical to reality...

Hyunsoo’s eyes shook.

To other people, it would just sound like it would feel like reality.

But not to Hyunsoo.

Then that means I can make things even more precisely.

After that part passed, Lee Sejin continued.

-But what you should pay attention to in this capsule is the newly added mode through sync rate.

Hyunsoo focused on the screen.

-It’s Rehabilitation Mode.

“...!?” 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Hyunsoo’s expression turned startled.

On-screen, Lee Sejin spoke with confidence.

-Rehabilitation Mode is expected to help those who are undergoing various rehabilitation training.

-If you turn on Rehabilitation Mode inside Ares, the device installed in the capsule sends extremely subtle stimulation. It has been proven that this helps treatment little by little, and we have obtained FDA approval.

Jinseop added,

“The fact they got FDA approval itself means it was proven to have an effect on real rehabilitation.”

Hyunsoo was stunned.

“Then I absolutely have to buy it.”

Jinseop shook his head.

“Unfortunately, I heard they’re only producing fifty units. And those fifty will probably go to the world’s mega-wealthy who need rehabilitation.”

There was something Hyunsoo couldn’t understand.

“If it’s this good, why wouldn’t they distribute it? Why make it VVIP-only?”

“It’s a simple reason. There is a rehabilitation effect, but how much isn’t proven yet. Whether it’s 1%, 10%, or 30%—they don’t know. And the capsule costs about 450 million won. There’s only one reason they sell it to mega-wealthy people who need rehab.”

Jinseop hit the core of it.

“Because the value of money is different for them than it is for ordinary people. They’ll buy it even if there’s only a 0.5% rehab effect. And Pureum Co., Ltd. will prove it through those wealthy people, and if the effect turns out better than expected, they’ll gradually expand distribution. For now, what matters is you getting one. You never know, right? You’re the First Legend.”

But Hyunsoo knew reality.

Pureum Co., Ltd. was not a company that handed out special favors.

Hyunsoo’s rehabilitation?

Of course it mattered.

But worldwide, there would be people who needed rehabilitation in far more dramatic situations than Hyunsoo.

Still, Hyunsoo had looked into whether he could purchase a capsule through various avenues.

Impossible.

That had been the conclusion.

Then he ended up sitting at a contract-fee negotiation table with Ayaka, head of the World Promotions Team at Pureum Co., Ltd.

Hyunsoo showed her his value.

And he knew.

If she’s at the level of World Promotions Team Lead, she can pull one unit out under her own authority.

According to Hyein, the power she wielded was at the level of a deputy director.

[Rehabilitation Mode begins.]

Hyunsoo’s chest grew hot. A loophole? An improper method?

No. It was the result he had built with his own hands at the negotiation table.

And it was only possible because Hyunsoo had shown Ayaka his strength.

In other words, it was an outcome achieved purely through Hyunsoo’s strength.

After connecting to Ares, Hyunsoo headed straight to the forge first.

There, he grabbed a hammer.

The texture, the smell—everything Lee Sejin talked about...

Hyunsoo was amazed.

It was truly 100%.

Pain was at the level of 1/100, but ordinary things like this were a perfect 100%.

If this actually makes rehabilitation effective...

Hyunsoo would take another step forward as a true two-handed blacksmith.

I’ll do it, no matter what. A two-handed blacksmith.

After finishing what he needed to do at the forge, Hyunsoo headed straight for the lord’s castle.

And there was something he’d heard the moment he logged in.

[You can become the lord of Territory Atlas.]

Hyunsoo decided to step on the gas toward becoming a king.

A guild reward he’d received additionally through the continental war.

The name of that territory was cool.

Right then, Nell saw the notification that Hyunsoo had logged in and came to the audience chamber.

She had already heard about Territory Atlas as well.

Hyunsoo suddenly grew curious.

“His Highness Barad didn’t grant it to me—won’t there be a problem with the setting?”

Nell answered smoothly.

“No problem. Pureum Co., Ltd. built the setting properly. This territory called Atlas wasn’t originally part of the Kingdom of Goyard. But since you came to possess it, it’s considered to have been incorporated into the Kingdom of Goyard’s territory now. Also, in the worldbuilding of Ares, this is recognized as ‘God Ares bestowed a gift upon the one who achieved something remarkable.’”

He found himself admiring the perfect worldbuilding all over again.

And what Hyunsoo had been curious about—

“Unfortunately, I don’t know exactly what kind of territory Atlas is either. There’s too little information. I think we’ll only know once we go there in person. Also, information has appeared on the map for our guild members, so getting there won’t be difficult.”

Hyunsoo checked the map too.

“It’s really hidden.”

“But it’s not far from Goyard. It probably was decided with Hyun’s Forge in mind.”

As they talked, Hyunsoo suddenly thought of someone.

It had been quite a long time since he’d seen him, so Hyunsoo really wanted to.

And sure enough—people said speak of the tiger and it comes running—he heard the sound.

“Woof, woofwoof!”

Hyunsoo saw a pure-white Samoyed sprinting in, bounding like it would fly. Bokdeongi.

Bunny?

Bokdeongi ran at him, wagging its helicopter tail.

“WOOOOF!”

[Bokdeongi is happy.]

Hyunsoo spread both arms to scoop Bokdeongi up.

“Aww, my Bokdeongi. Have you been well!?”

Then Bokdeongi, which had been flying through the air a moment ago, suddenly ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ dropped to the ground.

It slumped, then trudged off somewhere.

It shoved its head into a corner and flopped down flat on its belly.

[Bokdeongi is sulking.]

“Woooof...”

Dogs were really cute.

If they can’t see their owner, they think their owner can’t see them either.

Hyunsoo let out a small laugh.

Maybe it had been eating well lately—Bokdeongi had gotten fluffy and chubby, and its butt was weirdly charming.

“Bokdeongi, are you in a bad mood because I came back after so long?”

“Woof...”

[Bokdeongi is sulking.]

Even so, when Hyunsoo called it, that small, precious tail was wagging left and right excitedly.

Hyunsoo crept closer and lifted Bokdeongi up.

Bokdeongi sniffled, looking sullen.

But...

“Treat?”

“Woof...?”

[Bokdeongi likes it.]

[Bokdeongi becomes happy.]

Its droopy eyes widened, and it wagged its tail as it got excited.

When Hyunsoo put it down, it spun in place three times.

“Woof, woof!”

“Yeah. Today I’ll take you for a walk.”

Right after that, a man entered.

Territory resident Raon—more precisely, the informant Kavel, who was still staying in the territory.

“I ran after him and ended up losing him.”

Hyunsoo felt deeply healed by the fact that there was a being that welcomed him like this.

“I see. Then I’ll do the walk today.”

“Do that. Then I’ll take my leave.”

After Raon left, Hyunsoo hugged Bokdeongi and talked with Nell.

“We should leave tomorrow.”

*****

Outside, Kavel wore an intrigued expression.

As one of the greatest assassins in the world, all his senses were heightened beyond those of ordinary users.

His hearing was no exception.

He even heard conversations others couldn’t.

That was why he clearly heard the part about “Atlas.”

Kavel was called the king of information.

That meant he was a capable figure who knew a great deal about the world.

Is it the same Atlas I know?

Even Kavel only knew information about Atlas—he didn’t know its location.

And the reason Kavel took interest was this.

Near Atlas, there’s a very special place. What was it called again...? Ah...!

As soon as it came to him, Kavel muttered,

“Dragon’s Grave.”