Two months was, honestly, not enough time to secure victory in the Great Atlas War.

There was no other choice.

If he hadn’t pushed the users back that way, Atlas’s location would’ve been exposed within three weeks.

And if he’d demanded more than two months, the would-be participants wouldn’t have accepted it—and they wouldn’t have waited.

On top of that, Hyunsoo had been thinking this.

I already know some hints.

Some hints.

He could use Skill Collection on the lesser demon Luxiu and obtain materials.

If he reached a certain level, he’d be guided to the path leading to the world tree—and could meet a new race.

I want that path to the world tree to open within these two months.

Hyunsoo, who’d matured mentally as well, had started noticing things.

The world tree is calling me—and the people of Elvenheim might become my strength.

Another hint.

What, exactly, had the Continental War been?

Was it just a large-scale event for users?

No.

It was a miniature.

When servers merged, something natural would happen.

A true contest of strength between those who’d lived on different continents.

A real continental war.

Soon, the NPCs’ contest of strength will begin—and a war between continents will break out.

And Hyun’s Forge might have to join that real continental war, too.

The reward for participation would be territory contribution.

And with that territory contribution, he might be able to awaken the guardians who would hold the south and the north.

So yes—two months was short.

But for Hyunsoo, it was time of opportunity.

Time to leap.

“I’ll come back as fast as I can.”

“The other guild members are going to focus on growing for a while, too. And if you check the community, it looks like most of them really did go back—so don’t worry and go.”

That was when Hyunsoo spotted Lucky Lump approaching with KyooKyoo on their back.

Lucky Lump had their favorite toy in their mouth: a barbecue doll.

They often brought it over, set it down in front of Hyunsoo, and wagged their tail, begging him to throw it.

Softly—

Lucky Lump carefully put the barbecue doll down.

As always, Hyunsoo thought he’d grab it and fling it—then Lucky Lump would whirl in circles, unable to contain their tail and excitement.

“Woof!”

But Lucky Lump wasn’t excited this time. They only stared at Hyunsoo.

[Lucky Lump presents their favorite toy as a gift.]

“...?”

Hyunsoo realized it immediately.

A gift for him—because he’d be gone for a while.

Lucky Lump loved that barbecue doll so much they even slept with it tucked against them.

Then the adorable baby dragon KyooKyoo hopped down and rubbed their head against Hyunsoo’s leg.

“Kyoo, kyoo.”

Lucky Lump came over too, and sat right on top of Hyunsoo’s foot.

Hyunsoo had studied dog behavior a lot.

“Wooof...!”

[Lucky Lump trusts you.]

When dogs sit with their rear pressed against their owner, it signifies trust, strong belief, and pure love.

Even if he knew the hints, it was still unclear whether they were hints that would truly come true.

The path he was taking now was no more than grabbing at straw.

And that made him afraid.

If he walked those paths and failed, everything would collapse.

Atlas’s NPCs were no different from real people.

He wanted to protect them, and his guild members, too.

It was a road carrying too much.

But Lucky Lump and KyooKyoo were cheering him on—and it gave him strength.

Humans were like that.

Embarrassed, unable to be honest, sometimes unable to offer real comfort and encouragement.

But Lucky Lump and KyooKyoo showed their feelings without hiding them.

Because of that, Hyunsoo’s heavy emotions and fear felt like they were melting away in an instant.

Then Hyunsoo felt a warm, gentle aura radiating from Lucky Lump.

[Lucky Lump will evolve soon.]

Hyunsoo froze in surprise.

Lucky Lump didn’t have any special ability—at least, none that anyone could see.

But through Give me your blessing, Lucky Lump had already been proven as an existence destined for an evolution greater than anyone else’s.

Their value is on Bahala’s level.

Bahala was walking the Sword God’s Path.

And Lucky Lump was about to evolve.

[When evolution occurs, you will learn Lucky Lump’s true identity.]

What are you, exactly? A Legendary monster or something?

But Hyunsoo didn’t know something.

What the notification meant by “Lucky Lump’s identity” wasn’t a label—it was what kind of power they truly held.

Lucky Lump was one of the Four Divine Beasts.

Among the known Four Divine Beasts were Hydra, symbolizing evil—

and Phoenix, symbolizing good.

And just like Phoenix and Hydra, it also meant he would learn Lucky Lump’s true name.

“Your big brother believes it, Lucky Lump. You’re going to be the greatest Legendary monster there is!”

“Woof!”

Hyunsoo confidently patted Lucky Lump’s head—and departed.

Nell hugged Lucky Lump and KyooKyoo, watching Hyunsoo’s back as it grew smaller in the distance.

Atlas’s future—

rested in Hyunsoo’s hands.

*****

[Job Quest: Sword God’s Path]

Grade: SSS

Restriction: One who walks the Sword God’s Path

Reward: Unlock the power of the Sword God

Penalty on failure: You cannot become the Sword God’s descendant.

Description: One who will become the Sword God must accumulate extraordinary achievements and become an exemplar to all who wield the sword.

This is one step of that process, and resembles the traces left by the previous Sword God. Execute the lesser demon Luxiu and save the continent.

Hyunsoo received Bahala’s quest share.

“So the Sword God hunted demons?”

Hyunsoo spoke as they headed toward the America server side with Bahala.

“There are stories that the Sword God has cut down many demons and archdemons. I know them as a god who cleaved the continent with a single sword—and protected the continent.”

“A god who protected the continent? That’s cool as hell. Then Bahala, as the descendant, you’re starting by hunting a lesser demon? Also—this is my first time hearing ‘lesser demon’ is even a thing.”

It was true.

Hyunsoo had never heard of “lesser demon” before.

A demon was a demon—what was a “lesser demon”? 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

“I didn’t know that kind existed until I received this quest. What’s certain is that Luxiu was definitely strong, and that they could become an existence capable of threatening the entire continent later.”

It was an interesting story.

It meant Luxiu still had room to grow.

“And Ares doesn’t have a defined category called ‘lesser demon.’ Well... that’s probably why I can kill them.”

Bahala was an unrivaled existence.

But even for Bahala, there were things they could do—and things they couldn’t, depending on circumstances.

Whether it was an archdemon or an ordinary demon, if Bahala wasn’t currently on the surface, they couldn’t hunt them.

Suddenly, Bahala recalled the notification about Hyunsoo hunting a demon.

“How did you kill that demon before?”

“They were on the surface, so they were massively weakened.”

That was true.

Back then, Graut had been weakened by about fifty percent.

“The rest is trade secret.”

“Hm.”

Bahala didn’t press. A user’s hunting methods were important.

And Hyunsoo, bitterly, also thought his own contribution back then hadn’t been that large.

Spear Heaven, Sword King, Sage, Bella the Sword God candidate—plus the guild members, plus me.

Would he ever see a lineup like that again?

[You have entered the Kalaon Continent.]

That was why Hyunsoo thought this was an opportunity he would never get twice.

Just like Bahala said—if Luxiu wasn’t a lesser demon, even I wouldn’t be able to hunt them right now.

Hyunsoo felt curious.

What kind of materials does a demon drop?

The first thing he expected was blood with regeneration—one of the demons’ advantages.

And with demons... it’s got to be horns, right?

Come to think of it, Graut had horns too.

If he thought like a blacksmith, he could apply it to a horn bow.

Just like how a horn bow used materials like buffalo horn.

Then Hyunsoo felt a thrill run through him.

In two months, I’m coming back with everything.

If, in this process, he obtained both the world tree—the greatest material for a bow—and demon horns—

Hehehe.

Hyunsoo couldn’t help laughing. Just imagining it was too fun.

Because that would blow past Jumong’s Bow—what he’d made for Ian—by an absurd margin.

In any case, the two of them arrived at the grasslands of hell together.

“The grasslands of hell are one of the few entrances on the whole continent that lead into hell. And Luxiu isn’t in hell.”

Following Bahala, Hyunsoo reached a grotesque-looking door.

Hyunsoo frowned in confusion.

“This doesn’t look like a dungeon entrance. It looks like a prison.”

“But it’s a dungeon. Crawling with demonfolk.”

Before crossing the threshold, Bahala emphasized it again.

“Hyunsoo. It’s true that I don’t trust you.”

“People usually say ‘I do trust you’ when they mean the opposite.”

“...Anyway. So don’t get in the way.”

“I’ll try.”

Bahala gave a bitter smile and opened the door.

At the same time, they eased their worry.

I’m holding Babylon. I’m much stronger than before.

Especially the massive increase in attack power against evil—he couldn’t compare it to before.

They could protect Hyunsoo and still reach Luxiu.

And Bahala, quietly, hoped for something.

Please let him get good materials.

It was a win-win.

Bahala became the Sword God, and Hyunsoo got good materials.

KIIIIING—!

Bahala yanked open the door hiding what lay inside.

And at that moment, Bahala panicked.

[Demon Gremory’s prison door opens.]

[A Hellhound that was hiding behind the door lunges out to tear into your nape!]

[Please exercise caution!]

The moment the door opened, a hell-beast Hellhound sprang up—two meters tall, its entire body grotesquely melted and sagging.

“Grrrrrrr!”

Why is it different from when I came before?

Bahala understood the reason immediately.

I had Sword God’s Dignity turned off.

A clear mistake.

Sword God’s Dignity was power that prevented pathetic beasts from even approaching Bahala.

Meaning the Hellhound last time had fled from Bahala’s aura alone, before the door even opened.

And monsters were relative.

Bahala’s level was in the 480s.

They were on par with continental-legend class—and actually had the skill to fight them.

But Hyunsoo was different.

[Hyunsoo Lv.360]

A gap of 120 levels.

And Hyunsoo’s core was blacksmith—not a pure combat class.

And this place was infamous even on the America server as one of the worst difficulties.

[Hellhound Lv.409]

An existence that wasn’t easy to ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) hunt unless you were high-ranker class.

And the Hellhound that appeared out of nowhere was already trying to swallow Hyunsoo’s head whole.

Bahala hurried to move.

Too late.

Both of them.

Even if Bahala cut the Hellhound, Hyunsoo’s head would still be torn apart.

And Hyunsoo didn’t have time to respond.

Bahala had analyzed Hyunsoo’s Continental War MVP footage from two months ago.

An honest evaluation: he was impressive for a blacksmith—but not at Bahala’s level.

And the overall stats were too low in Bahala’s eyes.

But then—

“...?”

Bahala froze.

Before Bahala could even process it, Hyunsoo was already stepping forward, drawing back the Twin Dragon Sword from his back.

SHKAAAA—!

[A critical hit is triggered.]

[You have hunted the Hellhound.]

In one strike...!?

The Hellhound’s head split cleanly into two halves.

Bahala was genuinely shaken.

The first reason—

How can a mere blacksmith get this strong in just two months?

The worried words Bahala had spoken before coming here resurfaced.

In the two months you have left, you’ll gain the talents and strength to protect Atlas safely? That’s far too reckless.

Back then, Hyunsoo had said this:

What do you think the world’s only master craftsman is?

Bahala felt it.

The Hyunsoo they’d called weak was two months ago.

The Hyunsoo standing here now was at least fifty percent stronger than then.

And the more chilling part was this—

The world’s peaks are going to face this Hyunsoo, who grew by over fifty percent in two months... after another two months pass.

Bahala became certain of one thing.

The world’s peaks.

They were going to feel Hyunsoo’s strength—something they never expected.

Bahala thought Hyunsoo would be making a smug little “ahem” face.

But for some reason, Hyunsoo looked flustered.

Hyunsoo asked,

“Bahala—was Luxiu in a human form?”

*****

Bahala was the only user who had ever faced the lesser demon Luxiu. Only Bahala knew their appearance.

“...Thinking carefully, they did look different from ordinary demons. Like you said—it’s right to describe them as closer to human. How did you know?”

Hyunsoo was truly shaken.

Because the power he’d recently obtained—the one that might let him walk the true path of the Virtuous King—contained this line:

If someone who might swear loyalty is nearby, it may react.

And right now, that power was reacting.

[The title ‘Give me, your loyalty’ shines.]

The target would be Luxiu.