The man who had turned away, holding a broken greatsword.

He watched the gently crumbling waves as the light fell across them.

When it was calm, the sea was more beautiful than anything, and it soothed the heart.

But when it raged, nothing was more terrifying than the sea.

The man who had to protect this sea knew something.

The fact that their stories are reaching us means there isn’t much time left.

Even he didn’t know.

What would happen once the world beyond this sea opened.

“Most of the time, that’s how it goes.”

When something new opens, the strong of that world commit plunder against the new.

At the stroke of their pens, young people die.

The young gain nothing.

The ones who gain are the strong who hold the pen, and to them it’s nothing but a number—‘2,000 fatalities occurred.’

Of course, it hadn’t happened yet.

But the road this man had walked so far had always been like that.

Even now, the shattered state of his greatsword forced him to relive past battles.

Can I do it again this time?

He didn’t know.

All he had left was a broken greatsword and the will of someone who intended to protect this land.

Then...

He needed a countermeasure.

And so the thing he’d only found “interesting” a moment ago changed.

I need it.

The Twin Dragon Sword that existed in another world.

But then a subtle smile formed on his lips.

Do I need the Twin Dragon Sword? Or do I need... that man.

He still couldn’t know.

He only knew that he needed something connected to him.

He raised his arm.

KIIIIEEEK—

A single flaming hawk landed on his left forearm.

A legendary bird spoken of in myth, bearing mysterious power.

A bird that lived far longer than humans.

But now, even its power had grown too faint.

KIIIIEEK?

As if it was happy to see him, it rubbed its body against his face.

Yet it also seemed to carry concern.

“I know. Even if I send you now, I have no way to bring him here. I only intend to borrow my power for a moment and see something from him.”

KIIIIEK?

The thing he wanted to see—the Myriad Mile Bird understood.

“Go.”

KIIIIEEEEEEK—!

The Myriad Mile Bird shot into the sky, tearing across the heavens.

It could cross between this land and another continent—reach the rumored man—only once.

FWOOOSH—

As it rose, it flared hotter, then vanished.

I’m curious...

Whether he is someone worth spending this final chance on.

*****

SMACK—!

Hyunsoo slapped both cheeks with both hands.

You thought becoming the first user to become a king would be that easy?

A user becoming a king could never be easy.

A mere outsider trying to become a king would cause too many changes.

And aside from Ben and Brad, it was only natural that most NPCs would oppose it.

Yeah. If I said I didn’t have this level of resolve, I’d be lying.

For now, Hyunsoo had to think of the best he could do.

First, I need to increase people like Hwarang.

And after that...

It was right to talk it through with Nell.

When Hyunsoo told Nell about the notifications he’d received, she immediately pierced the core.

“Hyunsoo, you’ve essentially become the user who has dug deepest into the second main episode of Ares.”

It was true—she looked deeply worried too.

“So first, you need to keep bringing residents into Atlas, expand the territory, and establish a host. Of course, we do have trump cards like Luxiu and Kabel.”

But Nell shook her head.

“Even so, those two can’t oppose the colossal king Bolond, and they can’t stop the tyrant either. And now we can’t receive help from King Brad, Your Majesty.”

It was true.

“The moment we declared ourselves an independent territory, we left King Brad’s protection. And that’s not all. Unofficial rankers will move now as well.”

“Unofficial rankers?”

Nell’s expression was grave.

“Yes. Just like how you hid that you’re both a blacksmith and Crazy Rookie.”

There were always those who deliberately didn’t reveal themselves.

“Some will move with the goal of placing someone on the throne as king. Others will start moving to become a king themselves. And in the process of obtaining the modifier ‘first,’ you’ll become the biggest obstacle.”

“That means...”

Hyunsoo almost lost strength in his legs.

“Yes. Right now, you’re the only one who’s exposed.”

Hyunsoo asked calmly.

“Then what do I need most?”

“That would be...”

Nell thought briefly, then answered.

“A solid ally with that level of power.”

A solid ally with that level of power.

“Someone the other kings wouldn’t dare covet, and who would make them hold their breath in fear because they dread a war with them.”

Hyunsoo felt like his head was starting to ache.

He even thought, If there’s a Paejon, wouldn’t that change things?

But then he thought—

Why would Paejon help me...?

And he didn’t even know exactly where Paejon was yet.

Right then—

FWOOOOSH—!

“...?”

The two of them flinched at the same time.

[A legendary Myriad Mile Bird.]

A noble bird had appeared inside a blaze of flame.

But—

KIIIIEE......

Huh? Its condition...?

The thing hovering in the air wobbled.

Like someone staggering after overdoing leg day.

And of course, that was only natural.

The Myriad Mile Bird had crossed a place no one °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° else could cross—between lands, and between worlds that hadn’t even opened yet.

Hyunsoo reached out his arm, and the exhausted Myriad Mile Bird dropped down limply.

In that instant—

[The Myriad Mile Bird sent by the king of ??? reacts to you.]

[A portion of his power dwells within the Myriad Mile Bird.]

[Through the Myriad Mile Bird, he requests a crafting method.]

[If you accept the crafting method request, you will be able to meet him for a brief moment.]

DING!

[Hidden Quest: Crafting Method]

Grade: SSS

Reward: Gain 2 to all stats

Restriction: Proposed by the king of ???.

Penalty on failure: Unable to set foot in the New World.

Description: The king of ??? is curious about you. Complete the crafting method and satisfy him. However, you cannot actually give him anything that has been completed, and you likewise cannot gain anything within it. Everything accomplished through this power will vanish and disappear the moment your meeting with him ends.

“The king of question marks?”

At Hyunsoo’s words, Nell reacted at once.

“The king you said was all ??? earlier? This is the bird he sent?”

“I think so. The quest triggered like that, at least...”

Then a strange light rose in Nell’s eyes.

“How did we not think of that?”

Hyunsoo could see it too.

“If there are those who become enemies, those who grow curious, those who want to bring me down... then there could also be someone who wants my existence.”

Hyunsoo realized this wasn’t a situation made of nothing but despair.

It was proof that his path wasn’t only producing bad outcomes.

“At the very least, right now, he’s curious about you. And he’s one of the kings who still hasn’t revealed himself.”

“An unrevealed king...”

That was why he couldn’t know anything.

Whether this was a good one.

Or whether he was a villain who dreamed of slaughter through weapons Hyunsoo made.

“Still, I don’t think it can be a threat.”

Hyunsoo focused on the “crafting method” in the quest.

It looked like whatever was made would be discarded immediately afterward.

Is he testing my power?

But for a mere test, the reward was extremely good.

Two to all stats?

Considering Hyunsoo’s current stat totals, it was an absurd reward.

And the notification made it clear it was only a “brief” meeting.

Nell and Hyunsoo met eyes.

“At least, it’s clear we aren’t losing anything.”

There was a penalty—being unable to set foot in the New World—but that was only if they failed.

[You have accepted.]

Hyunsoo looked at Nell and said something that made her heart pound.

“I’ll go make him feel like he’ll go crazy without me.”

Finally—

THUD.

Hyunsoo fell into sleep.

“So you meet him like this.”

Nell was curious. What kind of person was one of the four kings who led the era, still completely veiled.

He’s going to make someone like that go crazy...

What a line.

Then Nell tilted her head, puzzled.

“Huh? Where did the Myriad Mile Bird go?”

She cocked her head, then let it go.

It was only natural that a bird who had finished its work would return home.

That’s a shame.

Nell, who loved “data,” wouldn’t get to confirm what kind of power the legendary Myriad Mile Bird had, or what kind of existence it truly was.

*****

[You will meet him for a brief moment.] 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

[After a certain amount of time passes, you will awaken from sleep.]

Hyunsoo’s vision began to return as he realized that “falling asleep” was how he would meet the unknown king.

Hyunsoo knew.

I don’t know what this one meeting will lead to, but...

He knew it would matter enormously to him.

What will he look like?

Hyunsoo opened his eyes, expecting to meet a new king.

But disappointment flooded him.

He was in a space that was pure white—everything.

He couldn’t see the appearance of a new world he’d been anticipating, nor the face of the unknown king hidden behind the veil.

Only one thing—

“So you are the one. The blacksmith called Hyun, who is said to be a god.”

“......”

Hyunsoo could hear a voice, and he felt embarrassed.

Of course he would—hearing someone call him “Hyun the blacksmith who is said to be a god” was mortifying.

Then the voice spoke again.

“Create a crafting method for a Phantom Blade.”

Hearing it, Hyunsoo nodded.

A Phantom Blade.

A representative sword of Korea, and the request itself didn’t seem difficult.

But Hyunsoo was irritated.

“You don’t show your face, and you still want a lot from me. Are you not going to reveal yourself at all?”

“......That is my intention.”

“So you want something from me, but you won’t yield anything yourself. Seriously.”

“......”

A strong pressure flowed from Hyunsoo.

It was the aura being emitted by his Overwhelm stat, which had grown endlessly high.

And Hyunsoo needed allies, yes—but he had no intention of getting dragged around.

Honestly, Hyunsoo preferred this.

I told Nell I’d make him feel like he can’t live without me.

After boasting like that, he couldn’t let himself be played by this man.

At minimum—did Hyunsoo need to pour his whole being into someone whose face he couldn’t even see?

And even if Hyunsoo made a perfect crafting method, the man might refuse to show himself and just strip the method clean.

Why should Hyunsoo trust someone whose face he didn’t even know?

Why should he do anything for him?

And Hyunsoo was going to become a king.

The first user to become a king.

So what—was he supposed to worry about “how are you going to handle it if you sour relations like this”?

Hyunsoo didn’t care.

“I’m not going to show you the completed crafting method.”

“...?”

“...If you’re curious, come out and look at it yourself.”

“...!?!?!?!?”

At the unexpected words, the man hiding behind the white space began to panic.

*****

And it wasn’t only the King of Stories who panicked.

“...What the—”

Sejin was more stunned than he had been in a long time.

What user Hyunsoo had just done—was it right?

If it were an ordinary person, they might’ve called him a lunatic.

But Sejin believed Hyunsoo was insanely smart.

User Hyunsoo wasn’t someone who would speak like that to just anyone.

If you’re curious, come out and look at it yourself.

“...He’s saying if you’re that curious, then reveal yourself and see it.”

But there was a premise.

The crafting method has to be outstanding.

So outstanding that the king would have no choice but to reveal himself.

Knowing his face or not.

Confirming the identity of the king of ??? or failing to confirm it.

The value gap was astronomical.

SCRITCH SCRITCH SCRITCH—

Ha, it’s drawing really well today!

You’re not going to look at this!? This!?

Krr—ha—wow—!

Sejin could see it.

...!

KRAAASH—!

The King of Stories clenched his fist and trembled.

Even our king was being moved by the Legendary Mouth.