Episode 13. Fire at the King (1)
Gray ash fell endlessly from the sky.
Tomgrey. A city nestled around an active volcano, a paradise for blacksmiths and craftsmen of all manner of machines.
‘It really is snowing ash.’
Three hundred and sixty-five days a year, pale ash dust billowing from the active volcano
Fortunately, the city blocked the ash with a massive barrier spell, so very little ash blew about inside.
‘That must be it?’
Gray ash piled atop the dome-shaped barrier covering the entire city, creating the shape of a chestnut burr.
Ted entered Tomgrey. There were guards, but
‘Getting in isn't a problem… Hmm, but how do I find Brahman?’
As Ted had expected, Brahman seemed to be in hiding.
A limit-level blacksmith should be living here… yet no news about him could be found. In other words, Brahman was intentionally hiding his identity.
Then how was he supposed to find him in this sprawling city?
Unexpectedly, the answer was nearby.
‘…….’
Ted’s eyes lit up as he checked the list of smithies. The hint was in an easier place than he’d thought. Brahman must have sent him a message through the smithy’s name.
Ted immediately headed for Ted's Smithy.
‘So this is the place, hmm…….’
Upon arriving at Ted's Smithy, Ted was faced with a problem.
Such a sign was hanging on the front gate.
‘What? It’s not open?’
Ted was dumbfounded.
‘Tch.’
Soon, his mind began drawing up an algorithm.
Normally, he would have wandered around to find out why it was closed, or looked for another way to see Brahman.
But Ted wasn't someone with that kind of leisure time right now.
‘I have to finish all preparations within the next 7 days.’
For that, every hour counted. In other words, in a situation like this, the answer was to charge straight ahead.
As it happened, Ted had learned a wicked skill for just such an occasion…….
‘
It was the thief's skill,
Ted repeatedly used
‘Damn… Did he make this door himself? It’s ridiculously sturdy.’
But Ted's skills failed repeatedly. It seemed a house where the God of Blacksmiths lived had a door of a different scale.
‘What do I do now.’
When even the last lockpick he had broke, Ted sank down on the spot.
But then. The door opened and a massive hand shot out, trying to grab the head of the seated Ted.
In that moment, Ted twisted his body to dodge the hand and reflexively aimed his musket.
"The nerve, trying to pick my shop's lock and then shoving a gun in my face…… Hm? This weapon……"
Ted, who had just locked eyes with him, lowered his musket. The large man who had reached for him was none other than Brahman.
Brahman's face lit up at the sight of Ted's weapon, the +19 Black & White.
He waved happily at Ted with a flushed face. A thick smell of liquor lingered on his breath.
"Aah, my savior Ted! How long has it been? I knew you would come find me. Come in, quickly!"
He immediately grabbed Ted's arm and pulled him inside.
* * *
Ted entered Brahman’s smithy,
But the moment Ted looked closely at his face, his jaw dropped.
"Phewww. Hmm. Brahman? What is that bear doll? You've brought something strange from outside."
A long, grizzled beard. Abnormally long and bushy hanging eyebrows. A face full of wrinkles. And a status window floating above his head.
‘Isn't that Count Sibori?’
A memory suddenly surfaced in Ted's mind. Ted opened his inventory and took out the
Count Sibori's message left inside.
You brat. Fell for it, didn't you? Was it exciting? This is my petty revenge on you for abandoning our academy! Hahahaha!
—Count Sibori.
P.S. If you're angry, come to the 'City of Gray Skies.'
‘City of Gray Skies! So this was the place?’
It was an unexpected reunion. Ted took off his bear doll disguise toward Sibori, who was still looking at him in puzzlement.
"Hello. It's been a while."
"Huh? What is that. Have I had too much to drink? Brahman. I'm seeing something strange."
Sibori waved his hand at Brahman.
"It's me, Ted. Count Sibori. I knew you were a drunkard, but I didn't expect you to be drinking in a smithy in broad daylight."
"T-Ted? Why is that guy here…… You brat. No, given the times, eh? Did you think I wouldn't drink? But you, are you really that Otherworlder Ted?"
"Ted. And Elder Sibori. Do you two know each other?"
At their words, Ted pulled out a chair from the drinking table and sat down, claiming a spot.
"I don't have much time. But I think I have quite a lot to talk about."
* * *
This was the situation.
Tomgrey was a place where not only blacksmiths but also gunsmiths gathered in great numbers.
Sibori, who had felt his own limits through repeated training, had come here to overcome them with the help of weapons. And for the past few years, he had continued striving to obtain an even stronger musket while hiding his identity.
"Had I known this would happen, I would never have come to the Pixie Kingdom."
At least until two years ago, the Karon Kingdom and the Pixie Kingdom had been allies.
Two years ago. As otherworlders began to interfere in earnest with the Pixie Kingdom's political sphere, the relationship between the two nations shifted from allied to neutral.
"I should have left even then……"
His meeting with Brahman was said to be both coincidence and inevitability.
NPCs affiliated with the Karon Kingdom maintained friendly relations among themselves even here in the Pixie Kingdom. Brahman and Sibori had met for exactly that reason.
The reason Brahman and Sibori were drinking heavily here since broad daylight.
That reason was precisely the fall of their homeland.
"Karon is the nation where we were born and raised…… I cannot believe the Karon Kingdom, containing my very flesh and soul, is being devoured by Pixie like this……"
"Do you know what infuriates me the most? That there is nothing I can do for my fallen Karon Kingdom! Damn it all……"
Unlike Ted, an otherworlder, for NPCs—for free-willed NPCs at that—this situation was nothing but shock and humiliation.
Having listened to their abbreviated story, Ted nodded.
Then, after briefly accepting a drink and downing it, he slowly began to speak.
‘What is this, I wonder.’
Count Sibori's sudden appearance.
But this situation was exactly what Ted had needed.
‘Right now, I need people.’
Having briefly drawn up a picture in his mind, Ted called out to Count Sibori.
"Elder."
"What."
"I am going to save Karon."
"What did you say?"
"Please hear me out."
From then on, Ted began explaining his plan to Count Sibori and Brahman.
* * *
While reading the Karon Kingdom's political situation and territorial map over the past month, Ted had realized one thing.
‘Karon needs a focal point.’
This was exactly it.
The users of the Karon Kingdom were by no means weak. As was the case with Koreans in any game, they were quite tanky for their levels. It was simply that the scale of funds they invested in the game was so much smaller than other countries that they couldn't compete on the world stage.
If the users and NPCs of the Karon Kingdom rose up with determination to drive out Pixie in one fell swoop?
The possibility was more than enough.
‘There is only one organization that can serve as a focal point……. But that organization is in a situation where it is difficult to fulfill its role.’
The only guild with the power to lead as a focal point was
However, being devoted to protecting the royal family, they were too limited in delivering a powerful blow to Pixie.
What Ted thought was needed now was a
A
‘I'll be the one to put on the performance.’
For that performance, Ted began to draw up a plan.
The
There, high-ranking officials from various countries including the Pixie Kingdom would gather. The Pixie Kingdom would celebrate their conquest of the Karon Kingdom and
Ted intended to properly wreck that declaration ceremony, thereby showing the performance that the Karon Kingdom needed.
And live, via
‘To do that, I need a few things. One capable combatant. One person with truly fast feet. And finally, a way into the ceremony.’
The outline of the grand picture was already drawn.
Now what was needed were the paints to fill the picture.
But just at the right time, the right paints had appeared before his eyes.
Ted, having informed Brahman and Sibori of the plan, looked straight into Sibori's eyes.
"Elder. Can you stake your life for the Karon Kingdom?"
"Of course. What good is a long life if I cannot even protect a single nation!"
It was Count Sibori, whom he hadn't seen in a while, but Ted found himself nodding involuntarily.
He was that kind of man, after all.
"Then let us go together."
"Very well. I shall devote my very body."
Count Sibori set down his glass and picked up his outer coat.
"
—A party has been formed.
1. Ted — Party Leader
2. NPC Sibori — Party Member
Ted immediately created the party. Having solo-played until now, it was the first party he had formed in several years of playing the game.
It was a party system that provided users with practical benefits such as experience distribution, and instilled a sense of camaraderie in NPCs.
Ted immediately turned his head toward Brahman.
"I need a Skill Jewel. Brahman."
Brahman nodded.
"That was the main point, I suppose. What kind of Skill Jewel shall I make? If you prepare just a few materials, I could do my utmost to make even an S-rank Skill Jewel. Though it would take several years, of course."
‘Huh. He can even make S-rank?’
Ted let out a snort of a laugh.
Truly words befitting the God of Blacksmiths.
Skill Jewel crafting was the most esoteric technique a blacksmith could perform.
As far as Ted knew, there were quite a few blacksmiths who could craft B-rank Skill Jewels.
But there were almost none who could craft A-rank Skill Jewels. Even scouring the entire Face Continent, one could count them on two hands.
The existence of a blacksmith who could craft an S-rank Skill Jewel was a tale that appeared only in the history books of the Face Continent. [The item that Master Artisan Adison made in the mountains over two years right before his death was, in fact, an S-rank Skill Jewel.] Something like that.
Brahman's level was felt anew.
"No. What I need is a D-rank Skill Jewel."
"D-rank?"
"Yes. I think something quite decent will come out with this material."
Ted handed him the
Soon, Brahman's eyes widened as he looked upon the Black Heart of Paragon.
"Hoo, is this a Chronicle material? Where did you obtain such a precious thing?"
Normally, Chronicle materials were items connected to a monster's life force, and they would be destroyed when the monster died rather than dropping.
Ted had only managed to steal it by aiming for miraculous timings such as a
So it was no wonder Brahman was surprised.
"But I do not understand. Making a D-rank Skill Jewel with an A-rank Chronicle material. Where is the efficiency in that?"
"Can you make it?"
"Making it is no problem. Rather, an outstanding Skill Jewel will be created for a D-rank. Yes, you must have your reasons. Then, what kind of Skill Jewel do you need?"
"I see. The Skill Jewel I need is……"
Ted briefly reviewed his memories.
The skills he possessed.
The area attack
The versatile
These were the Six-Star Constellation Skill Jewels that would later become Ted's finishing moves.
Along with them,
Movement skills
The ultimate lifeline miracle,
And
and so on.
‘But I am still too slow.’
Through several battles, Ted had felt the necessity of a movement skill acutely.
He was unable to display superior control despite being capable of it. That was because the movement skills he possessed were too intuitive.
‘I need a movement skill with more unpredictability.’
The third skill to adorn Ted's Six-Star Constellation.
"I need a movement Skill Jewel with unpredictability."
Any ordinary blacksmith would say it was nonsense.
Because Skill Jewels came out randomly depending on the materials.
However, the man before him did not voice a single doubt at Ted's words.
"…I shall begin at once."
Having heard Ted's explanation, Brahman immediately took the material and began hammering.
As he wove in various personal materials with the Chronicle material
Flash—!
Soon, light burst forth, announcing the successful synthesis of the Skill Jewel.
"There, it's done."
Brahman handed it to Ted.
‘Finally.’
With an excited heart, Ted inserted the Skill Jewel into the third slot of Black & White.
Active (Mana cost: 100 / Cooldown: 10 sec)
For 3 seconds, you can move on two feet anywhere light exists.
Movement speed increases by 1% per 1% proficiency gained.
‘Oh!’
Ted stared intently at the status window in surprise.
It wasn't a standalone Skill Jewel. A Skill Jewel with the
‘
Soon, Ted tested the skill.
Ziiiiing—
Light burst from Ted's heels.
As soon as Ted leaped far, the light drew a tail, pushing Ted from the ground up into the air. Accordingly, Ted could move freely, roaming the earth and sky. And at 150% his usual speed at that!
‘This is exactly it!’
Ted clenched both fists in inward joy.
Although the mana consumption was quite high for a movement skill, and the duration was only 3 seconds… nevertheless, it was an option so good that it would be hard to find a precedent among D-rank Skill Jewels.
In other words, it was a Skill Jewel with a future worth anticipating.
But now was not the time to jump for joy.
"Then, as time is of the essence, I shall be on my way quickly. Let us go, Elder Sibori. And thank you, Brahman."
"Yes. We shall go save Karon, Brahman!"
There wasn't much time.
Ted bid farewell to Brahman and tried to leave.
But then. Brahman grabbed the shoulder of Ted, who was trying to leave the smithy.
‘Huh? Is he doing this because I didn't pay?’
When Ted turned to Brahman with a puzzled expression.
Brahman took something out to show Ted. It was a small cloth bundle.
"If things go according to your plan, you will shoot the King of Pixie. This was originally meant to be a gift for Count Sibori… but it seems you need it more."
Brahman soon unfurled the cloth bundle with his thick hands, and inside was a small cartridge case.
"These are bullets made by my own hands… Use them to shoot the king of the invaders."