NOVEL NEXT chapter 99 - Noble (1)
Special User Management Team.
Team Leader Kim Taeseok was relieved.
Saint Aria.
A woman whose influence rivaled the Ten Legends of the continent.
The reason he’d been relieved was because, although she felt gratitude toward Hyunsoo, she wasn’t planning to bestow her Blessing on him.
The Special User Management Team could use notifications to infer what kind of reward an NPC was about to grant a user.
But the more Aria and Belia talked, the more Aria’s feelings were changing.
“Belia is the only outsider the Saint trusts. If someone like that is speaking up for him this much, it hits harder. And when someone else describes what you’ve done, it always sinks in more.”
That was Associate Lee Jihee speaking.
Now, Team Leader Kim Taeseok was starting to think the Saint’s Blessing really might descend.
“In practical terms, it’s the strongest Blessing in Ares.”
The Saint was the greatest priest of them all.
And Blessings were a kind of power Hyunsoo had already received many times.
Subjugation Captain Hans, the lord of Cassel Territory, Sword King Barad, Lord Belin’s Blessing.
But among all of those, the Saint’s Blessing was the strongest.
And there was something Taeseok couldn’t quite understand.
“Why is Belia going that far for him?”
Belia and Hyunsoo hadn’t known each other that long. In contrast, Jihee quickly picked up on how a fellow woman would feel.
“I think I know why.”
“Why?”
“Belia said it herself. She said she wants to be with Hyunsoo.”
“Ah……?”
Just like she’d said.
Right now, Belia was appealing for how much she wanted to be with Hyunsoo.
But it wasn’t going to be easy.
“Saint’s Child is a class that belongs to the Ares Church.”
The Ares Church was a sacred order, and Saint’s Child was a class that had to remain within that Church.
In exchange for tremendous power, if they left the Church as they pleased, their class would be stripped away.
That was why, unless Aria allowed it, Belia joining Guild Radiance would not be a simple matter.
*****
[You have logged into Ares.]
[Saint’s Mercy has allowed you to resist the Curse of Death that clung to you.]
[Prayer of Birth is infused into the Four Tigers Sword.]
[The Four Tigers Sword regains its complete form.]
Having been forcibly logged out and then logging back in, Hyunsoo stared at the notifications in surprise.
The Papal Palace of the Ares Church.
In a luxurious room, Hyunsoo opened his eyes and spotted the Four Tigers Sword resting neatly off to one side.
So this “Prayer of Birth” power is what the God of Blacksmiths hinted at?
Hyunsoo looked rather startled. The curse Jack had left embedded in him had vanished without a trace.
He felt a bit disoriented.
Just then, Belia came in.
“You logged back in. Good. And thank you so much—because of you, several of my skills and stats have improved.”
Belia had awakened as an even greater priest by completing her quest.
“I heard from Nell. You’re running a guild called Radiance. How is it, running a guild? Is it fun?”
Under the barrage of rapid-fire questions, Hyunsoo felt something he couldn’t quite name.
There was a clear hint of regret in Belia’s expression.
She was only asking about him and about Radiance.
After she’d chattered on for a while, Belia said,
“The Saint asked that you come see her after you woke up. She said she wants to reward you. And she looked like she’d be willing to grant anything you asked for.”
Belia looked honestly happy for him, as if it were her own business.
“What are you going to ask for, Hyunsoo?”
At her curious smile, Hyunsoo watched her for a moment, then answered,
“Whatever I need most right now.”
“What’s that?”
Hyunsoo only smiled and didn’t answer.
Belia started to ask again, then shook her head.
It’d be rude to ask that. But I’m so curious……
What did Hyunsoo actually want?
Soon after, Hyunsoo picked up the Four Tigers Sword and headed out to meet Saint Aria.
Standing together in front of the Saint’s Audience Hall, Belia pointed outside.
“I think I should wait out here.”
“Understood.”
Hyunsoo opened the door to the Audience Hall and went in.
There, the most noble woman in the world, Aria, was seated.
[Affinity with Saint Aria is MAX.]
It was good news for Hyunsoo.
“The Ares Church is the greatest church. And you rescued me. Even the god Ares was astonished by your achievement.”
Aria’s fingers moved as she gave a small smile.
A white chest appeared in front of Hyunsoo.
“This is something the God of Blacksmiths left with the Ares Church.”
When he opened the chest, an old book and a white mineral lay inside.
Hyunsoo immediately picked up the book.
[You obtain one of the God of Blacksmiths’ «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» Secret Artifacts, Reverse.]
The one-time, level 6 God’s Emergency Crafting that Hyunsoo had used earlier had been a hint.
A hint as to what kind of Secret Artifact he would receive.
Most likely a power similar to that.
Hyunsoo checked at once.
(Reverse)
Active Skill
Grade: God
Level: 1
Mana Cost: 800
Penalty: None.
Effects:
·Within 30 seconds, you can re-create artifacts you have crafted before.
·You can use each artifact’s special ability once.
·The number of artifacts you can create varies by probability.
·70% chance to create one artifact.
·20% chance to create two artifacts.
·2% chance to create three artifacts.
Hyunsoo was impressed.
This is insane.
The God’s Emergency Crafting he’d used earlier had only been a hint.
Back then, Hyunsoo had created three artifacts at the same time.
If he could unleash that level of power every time he used this skill, it would literally break game balance.
On top of that, there was something else that was good for him.
I still have God’s Emergency Crafting as well.
Hyunsoo could use both God’s Emergency Crafting and Reverse.
The probabilities are rough, but the power is absurd.
The Dragon-Flame Sword.
The Four Tigers Sword.
Sword King Barad’s sword.
Just being able to use those swords’ effects once each was incredible.
Of course, there were also complete duds.
After that, he checked the most important thing.
(Asnium)
Grade: Legendary
Restriction: Blacksmiths level 350 and above
Difficulty: Highest
Special Abilities:
·Divine Power +240%.
·Recovery skills increase up to 70%.
·Buff skills increase up to 70%.
·Attack skills infused with Divine Power increase up to 200%.
·Simply by holding Asnium, if your HP drops below 10%, HP is restored by 15%.
·Durability increases up to infinite.
Description: One of three minerals left by the God of Blacksmiths; the mineral that holds more Divine Power than anything else in the world.
It was truly an incredible mineral.
And at this quantity, it looked like he could craft at least two artifacts.
Once Hyunsoo finished checking, Aria spoke.
“That is the reward the God of Blacksmiths left. Our Ares Church would like to grant an additional reward for you, Hyunsoo.”
Aria’s expression turned gentle and benevolent.
“Tell me, Hyunsoo. What is it you want?”
And as she asked, Aria thought of the Ares Church’s countless treasures of gold and silver, its titles, and so many other things.
Then Hyunsoo said,
“I want to bring Belia into our guild.”
Saint’s Child Belia.
At the mention of her name, Aria’s expression turned surprised.
“May I ask why?”
Hyunsoo gave a small smile.
“Belia came to my room. Like a child curious about something, she asked me about what it’s like to run a guild. She looked happy then. But she couldn’t quite bring herself to say it outright. I figured it was because of the restrictions on her outsider class.”
Aria’s lips parted slightly.
In truth, she had assumed he was asking the question because he coveted Belia’s power.
“It is true that we need her power as well. But, Saint.”
Hyunsoo’s voice was respectfully formal.
“A bird kept in a cage is beautiful, but it cannot fly. I want to open the cage door and show her. Show her that in the world of Ares, there are other kinds of joy.”
Aria was at a loss for words.
It was a feeling she’d never experienced before.
Why?
Maybe it was nothing more than words.
But even if they were only words, she had seen something immense in them.
Why……?
The Ares Church had its Popes.
The Popes lived their lives chasing a single title granted by Ares.
So why was it that……
Why do I see a name even the Popes have never held, in a blacksmith?
The name of the Holy King.
Yes. That was what she saw now in the master of a small guild.
Aria finally became certain.
One who will shine light upon the world……
Perhaps it was nothing but premature excitement.
Besides, even before he’d brought up Belia, Aria had already made up her mind to send her to Hyunsoo.
She smiled radiantly.
“Please take care of Saint’s Child Belia, Hyunsoo.”
Aria thought it was beautiful.
Belia had said she wanted to be with him. The guild master had spoken up to bring her into his guild.
And because of all the possibilities she saw in him, Aria made a decision about something she’d been agonizing over.
The greatest Blessing a Saint could bestow.
A name that only one outsider who came to the Ares Church could receive.
“I grant you the Blessing of the Saint.”
Yes. Saint (聖者). Even that name was not too grand for Hyunsoo.
[The Saint’s Blessing descends upon you.]
[You gain 250 Divine Power.]
[You gain 200 Charisma.]
[You gain 10 to all Stats.]
[Saint is special.]
[Whenever you act in a way judged to be befitting a Saint, you gain Divine Power.]
Hyunsoo was impressed.
The basic stat increases were excellent, but what truly stood out was that he could steadily increase his Divine Power as long as he acted in ways judged to be those of a Saint.
“In addition, our Ares Church would like to purchase the Four Tigers Sword from you. We will pay 30% above the average valuation. Would you be willing to sell it?”
“Yes, I would.”
Hyunsoo could feel that Aria wanted to be in his good graces.
“And I would have sent Belia with you even if you hadn’t asked. Of all the things I can grant you—anything at all, I will grant you one of them. Take your time and think it over.”
All matters were now settled.
Aria looked toward Belia, who was sitting outside, watching the flowers.
Hyunsoo smiled faintly as he walked over to the girl with the downcast face.
*****
As she looked at the flowers, Belia felt like she might cry.
[Without the Saint’s permission, Saint’s Child may not join a guild; unauthorized joining will result in loss of the class.]
Belia had never once regretted becoming a Saint’s Child.
But right now, she regretted it a little.
It was strange.
The guild members who had truly worried over Hyunsoo when he fell under the curse.
And the man named Hyunsoo, who had made the impossible possible. Her chest felt tight and sore.
This is weird……
They looked happy. And she loved how they genuinely worried for and cared about one another.
I want to be with them.
But she was a Saint’s Child. Just like he’d said, it didn’t look like something that would be easy.
Just then, someone walked up to her.
He told her about his conversation with the Saint.
What it was that Hyunsoo had wanted.
[Saint Aria grants you permission to join a guild.]
Once she heard that, Belia suddenly felt shy.
Without realizing it, she clasped her hands behind her back and looked at the man with a reddening face.
The blacksmith with callused hands held one out to her.
“Welcome, Belia.”
Belia took that thick, solid hand in both of hers.
“Please take good care of me, Master.”
[Belia has joined Guild Radiance.]
It was the moment Guild Radiance recruited the greatest healer in Ares.
Just then, Hyunsoo noticed a hawk flying straight toward him.
It was a Courier sent by Sword King Barad.
Reading the note tied to the hawk’s leg, Hyunsoo’s expression turned grave.
Bella is going to die?
Hyunsoo requested another audience with Saint Aria.
He was tense.
Even for Saint Aria, that power was not something she could casually invoke.
But Aria smiled generously.
“Let us go together. However, my Holy Knights will be coming as well.”
Immediately, Hyunsoo, Aria, and the Holy Knights set out for the Kingdom of Goyard.
At that very moment.
As one woman’s death drew near, a group was entering the capital of the Kingdom of Goyard.
They were Marquis Lukburk and the nobles of the opposition faction, who were always eyeing Sword King Barad’s seat.
“Sword King Barad has always named Bella as his puppet successor.”
Everyone knew that.
Having lost his child, Barad was struggling not to let Lukburk become his heir.
“Bella. It’s true that she’s a girl with talent close to the Sword King’s.”
Even as a puppet, Bella seemed fitting for a country known as the Kingdom of the Sword.
And now that girl was about to die.
Sticky smiles spread across the lips of Lukburk and his retainers.
“The Saint is not just anyone.”
What could Sword King Barad possibly do to invite a woman whose very steps even the imperial emperor could not freely command?
“Today, the tiger’s fangs will all be pulled.”
Marquis Lukburk and the nobles had no idea.
That it would not be the tiger’s fangs, but their own, that would be pulled out.