Hyunsoo had been imitating various things up to now and using them to craft many artifacts.

Tyrfing, or the trident he’d put into Ben’s hands, or even Gungnir—those were representative examples.

But you could say this about them.

That they were nothing more than “copies” that advertised themselves with famous names.

Of course, that was never a bad thing.

But—

‘In the end, you can’t surpass the real thing, and the limit is clear.’

Suddenly, his father’s words brushed past him.

‘It’s fine if you imitate things like this for now. Later, a day will come when you can use these imitations as a stepping stone and make something that’s truly your own. Then you’ll grow once again into a special blacksmith.’

Back then, just hearing that made Hyunsoo happy.

Not following what someone else had made.

Not making a sword that carried someone else’s ideology.

Not copying anything at all—only an original creation that belonged to him alone.

His father had said that someday he would be able to make something like that, and now he was standing right before it.

[A fourth Transcendence is written.]

Of course, a crafting method and crafting were fundamentally different.

A crafting method showed the minimum craftable grade and the maximum craftable grade.

Crafting, on the other hand, could be said to show only the very best outcome of that specific craft.

Even if you had an outstanding crafting method, it could still end up as the minimum grade.

‘Even if it says a Transcendence crafting method was written, it’ll be worth about the same as a Legendary-grade artifact.’

No—maybe it could be worth even less than that.

But it also served as a hint that Hyunsoo would soon be able to create a sword for Ten Thousand People.

And when you created something this outstanding, the reward you gained wasn’t something you could convert into mere “money.”

‘I get stronger again...!’

Every time he forged a Transcendence artifact, Hyunsoo truly had gotten much stronger.

All his stats rose to an absurd degree, and the reward for doing something first was enormous.

Soon, the notification he’d been waiting for rang out.

[All stats......]

Hyunsoo’s expression twisted into misery.

[Correction applied.]

‘A correction...?’

Then part of the quest description came back to him.

The quest description had said this:

‘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 ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) with him ends.’

That was right.

There was a restriction that anything gained in here would vanish and disappear the moment the meeting ended.

Meaning he couldn’t obtain anything from his achievements here.

World messages, stat increases for creating a fourth Transcendence-grade result, titles—none of it.

‘Why... why!!!!’

Why was he this unlucky!?

A novel suddenly came to mind: One Lucky Day.

So that’s why his luck had felt good today!

He had learned that there was a “someone” who might need him, even though he also knew there were many who were targeting him!

That someone had even sent a Myriad Mile Bird because he wanted to meet Hyunsoo!

‘And!’

By sheer luck, he’d also figured out how immense it was to carry the heart of “for everyone,” and through that, he’d glimpsed a new road of growth.

‘So that’s why—today—my luck—was good!!!!!’

Hyunsoo wanted to bawl his eyes out.

What good was being lucky!?

When the worst bad luck triggered at the very end!

And that meant this crafting method for Ten Thousand People would vanish too.

Then, as the situation continued, Hyunsoo’s face drained into hollow emptiness.

‘Damn it....’

The King of Question Marks was stepping in.

What made Hyunsoo hate himself even more was the fact that the man’s entire body wasn’t invisible like it had a mosaic over it.

[This quest is a crafting-method request quest.]

[He has the authority to view the crafting method.]

Even if Hyunsoo didn’t want to give it, the man could forcibly open and read the crafting method.

“Why didn’t you say so?”

“......Are you asking because you don’t know?”

Anyway, Hyunsoo stared blankly at the crafting method that had automatically ended up in the man’s hands.

Hyunsoo realized he’d just been made to do something good for someone else, without even seeing the man’s real face.

But it wasn’t like Hyunsoo thought.

From the beginning, the essence of this quest was satisfying the one hidden behind a veil.

In truth, the man had no choice but to hurry his steps.

There was a story he’d heard long ago, back when he was young.

‘Only special people can approach what others cannot accomplish.’

That was why he had no choice but to move urgently.

So he opened it and read in a rush.

(Ten Thousand People)

Grade: Normal~Transcendence

Attack Power: 178~1,213

Crafting Restriction: Master Blacksmith

Materials: Top-grade iron ore, or orichalcum

Special Abilities:

·All stats increase by up to 76%.

·All swordsmanship skills increase by up to Level 8.

·Sword Mastery increases up to top-grade Sword Mastery.

·Even if you craft a Normal-grade sword, it can increase up to Transcendence.

·No equip restriction exists.

·Active Skill: Myth of the Blade.

·Active Skill: Divine Sword.

·Passive Skill: From Start to Finish.

·Passive Skill: With Only One Blade.

·Passive Skill: Sword of Ten Thousand People.

Description: A first crafting method that can be made up to Transcendence grade, forged by Hyun, the God of Blacksmiths.

He was flustered.

He’d thought “maybe,” but it was real.

‘So the name “true god” really wasn’t lacking?’

Hyunsoo—he’s a god!

They said he was a god!

Rumors always got inflated.

But he never would’ve dreamed that the story he’d heard would turn out to be true.

Yet something was even stranger.

“Ugh, fuck.”

“?”

He’d made a crafting method that could transcend eras, and he was making a face like that?

This sword’s crafting method truly was “Ten Thousand People,” just like its name.

‘If the weak hold it, they’ll start making the world roar with their name.’

‘If the strong hold it, they’ll glimpse a higher path.’

‘If a king holds it, it’ll become a stepping stone that opens a new world.’

A god is one who can change a human life completely by bestowing greatness.

This crafting method fit that.

Of course, it was only a crafting method.

Since the minimum craftable grade was “Normal,” it could come out as Normal.

But the fact that the maximum grade was Transcendence was, in truth, irrational.

“I have something I’m curious about.”

“What.”

“.......”

If he was in a bad mood right now, he was blunt beyond reason.

“How did you create a crafting method like this?”

He’d only wanted to confirm it as a phantom blade crafting method.

The man’s expression—blunt just a moment ago—changed.

“While drawing this crafting method, it made me think of this.”

He gave a small smile.

“I want to draw a crafting method that will be loved by everyone.”

“.......”

The sincerity he felt from it, and the power he felt from it, left the man astonished.

A Master Blacksmith who should be thinking only of those on high was thinking of Ten Thousand People—so the name was truly appropriate.

And now, with that gentle smile as he spoke, he looked like a Master Blacksmith who truly existed for everyone—

“Then what, when I can’t take it anyway.”

He understood when he saw Hyunsoo sticking out his lip like a sulking child.

‘So that’s what it was.’

This was a dream in the end.

A place where what was achieved became nothing more than a dream.

But the man’s thinking was wrong.

The moment the man flicked his hand—

the world changed.

*****

[You exit the dream.]

[The King of Stories leads you, if only briefly, into reality rather than a dream.]

FWOOOOSH—!

The moment the man waved his hand, Hyunsoo froze in shock.

Because the space that had been nothing but white guided both him and Hyunsoo to a seashore.

Even though the man’s appearance still couldn’t be seen.

And then—

[Hidden Quest: Crafting Method completed.]

[You gain 2 to all stats.]

[The reward is maximized.]

[The King of Stories exercises authority.]

[The crafting method for Ten Thousand People will not vanish.]

[Your affinity with the King of Stories increases.]

[Your affinity with the King of Stories increases.]

DING!

[The King of Stories needed you.]

[His state changes.]

[The King of Stories wants you as an ally.]

‘......What?’

Hyunsoo had wanted a strong, reliable ally.

But the story was changing.

Not only him—this man also wanted Hyunsoo as his ally.

Because of what?

‘......Because of the crafting method for Ten Thousand People.’

One crafting method shook his thinking to the core.

“If you’re someone who draws a crafting method that will be loved by everyone, then you can be trusted.”

Just as Hyunsoo had needed the man’s identity because he didn’t know whether he was evil or good—

the man also had wanted to know what kind of person “Hyun” was.

“This is yours.”

He put the crafting method for Ten Thousand People back into Hyunsoo’s hand.

And yes—it was true that Hyunsoo hadn’t received normal rewards like full stat increases, titles, world messages, and so on.

But at this moment, far more valuable things were placed into his hands.

The man drew a weapon he had never shown.

When Hyunsoo saw it, he couldn’t stop himself from being horrified.

‘Twin Dragon Sword!!!!?’

It was broken, and many of its patterns had been erased, but it was unquestionably the Twin Dragon Sword.

‘What the hell is this king?’

Hyunsoo still didn’t know he was the King of Stories.

But through that Twin Dragon Sword, a shiver ripped through Hyunsoo’s entire body.

‘Was that Twin Dragon Sword made from the System going “it would have been like this”?’

No. It wasn’t.

Hyunsoo could tell at a glance.

Even though the Twin Dragon Sword was in a miserable state, the smoothly connected curves and the perfect method of construction were undeniably real.

In reality, the Twin Dragon Sword was a sword that had disappeared over a hundred years ago.

‘......Someone has the Twin Dragon Sword, and that someone told Pureum Co., Ltd. about it.’

Pureum Co., Ltd. had worked hard to obtain blacksmith consultations, and had also copied quite a few artifacts using world museums and such.

‘......There’s someone out there who has the real Twin Dragon Sword, and that means this Twin Dragon Sword is real.’

That was why this was an astonishing reward.

‘Through that, I might be able to learn what I’m lacking and craft an even better Twin Dragon Sword.’

A foothold to grow further.

He wanted to touch it.

He wanted to take it apart.

He wanted to touch the real thing, not a fake.

Right when that desire rose—

“I want you to repair this sword.”

Hyunsoo’s heart leaped.

But—

“Soon, you will return to where you originally were.”

He could tell it wasn’t now.

“When you come here again, can you repair this Twin Dragon Sword?”

“......I accept.”

Beyond the unseen mosaic, it felt like he could see the man smiling.

Then the man said,

“I apologize for not revealing myself. This is a gift of apology.”

It was an old, worn ring.

[You have obtained the Ring of the King of Stories.]

“......If you use it when you need my help just once, you will receive my help.”

Hyunsoo thought for a moment.

He wasn’t even having him repair it right now, yet the man was being too kind.

But it also made sense.

‘Right now, more than I need him... he needs me.’

And Hyunsoo felt his vision blurring.

“......I cannot guide you on the path to come here. The one who must accomplish that is you.”

It was a System restriction.

Many restrictions tangled and interlocked, so he couldn’t guide him.

And in the blurring haze, Hyunsoo realized the most important thing.

‘Wait—if he’s the owner of the Twin Dragon Sword...?’

There was only one person Hyunsoo knew who owned the Twin Dragon Sword.

Come to think of it, the great height he could sense beyond the mosaic matched what he’d read in books.

‘......He’s a tall man over 185 centimeters.’

And an added detail.

‘He has a tiger-like face that reminds you of a beast.’

“.......”

Hyunsoo’s chest grew hot.

Even if this was inside the game, the person he knew, the person he had revered, the person he had wondered about, was right in front of him.

And he—

“Arrive before anyone else. That is why I gave you the ring.”

He needed Hyunsoo more than anyone.

“And only if that sword is repaired can I protect this sea.”

He was speaking to Hyunsoo right now.

Just like on that historic day, he would fight—and Hyunsoo would fight at his side.

Hyunsoo’s heart tightened.

And even as his consciousness blurred, he forced himself to bow deeply.

Next time... I’ll greet you with more respect, General.

Maybe his name here wasn’t the name Hyunsoo knew.

Even so, Hyunsoo could tell.

That Pureum Co., Ltd. had modeled “Ares” after the man Hyunsoo knew.

From now on, he couldn’t make mistakes around him.

He would meet him with a humble heart and with proper etiquette.

Just as his consciousness was about to cut out completely—

“......Why isn’t the Myriad Mile Bird returning?”

‘......The Myriad Mile Bird? That bird earlier? It still hasn’t come back?’

Hyunsoo felt genuinely distressed.

‘Oh no... did something happen to our general’s Myriad Mile Bird...?’

Hyunsoo didn’t know.

That the one who had just resolved to live for him had, of all things, kidnapped the Myriad Mile Bird.