Round 12

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As I emerged from the dungeon, I checked my phone for updates on the results of the experiments with Mark2’s fluid, Poispois’s poison, and the carrots, which Young-seong had sent. Suddenly, all the missed notifications popped up.

“What’s this?”

The only people who usually contact me are my family, and Young-seong from Yongsan doesn’t get in touch unless there’s something urgent, so I was puzzled.

“Whoa!”

The first contact I noticed was Predator Kang Hanul. He seemed to have called several times, and there were numerous messages waiting.

“What? Why did he contact me so much? Didn’t we just part ways yesterday?”

Another noticeable contact was Young-seong.

I assumed it would be about the analysis results, but it wasn’t.

“Can I get some tomatoes personally?”

Were they that delicious?

I knew they were tasty from my own experience, but Young-seong’s reaction at the time had been ambiguous, making this unexpected.

Next, I checked Kang Hanul’s messages.

-Brother, are you busy?

-If you have time, maybe we can have a meal together later?

-Do you have any extra tomatoes or carrots?

-I would like to buy some if possible.

He also sent some dad-like jokes, mentioned the events of the previous day, and even a recipe for braised short ribs.

“Why this?”

Glancing through the somewhat confusing messages, the underlying message was clear.

Bring more crops imbued with magic power.

“Hmm.”

I had just finished harvesting tomatoes, and it would soon be time to harvest the Laylas.

Since they weren’t asking for freebies and were willing to buy, I was somewhat tempted.

“Getting close to Kang Hanul is definitely not a loss.”

His personality might be a bit quirky, but he didn’t seem like a bad person. Besides, the number of people wanting to connect with him in the Awakener community could fill a truck, given Kang Hanul’s renown.

“First, I’ll send a message to Young-seong…”

It seems Young-seong has also fallen hard for the tomatoes.

Not that I couldn’t understand. Having tasted them myself, the tomatoes were indeed a whole different level…

I responded that I had more tomatoes and would bring some, then also left a message for Kang Hanul.

“Sorry for the late reply. By any chance, would you be interested in Laylas? No carrots, but I do have some tomatoes. Sending.”

I used to be quite proficient at texting, but three years of dungeon life had somewhat distanced me from modern conveniences.

After sending the messages, I started web surfing to catch up on outside news while waiting for a reply.

“Oh? Ara Hongryeon.”

There was news about Ara Hongryeon Guild, to which Kang Hanul belongs. I clicked it immediately, but the content wasn’t good.

-Ara Hongryeon Guild in crisis! Failed to clear just a Level 4 dungeon?

“Hmm!”

It’s common knowledge that as dungeon levels increase, so does the risk. When dungeons first appeared in this world, Level 4 was considered one of the highest, but now it’s seen as mid-tier.

“This is unexpected. Ara Hongryeon failing a Level 4 raid.”

Delving deeper into the article, it mentioned the emergence of a new type of monster. 

Specific details were not released, but the fact that Jeong So-yeon, a leading Awakener of Ara Hongryeon, had led the raid and still failed was significant.

-LOL Ara Hongryeon is washed up.

-They say it’s one of the top five guilds, but it was the first guild formed, so it’s included more out of respect. Now its true nature is beginning to show.

-Ah, Jeong So-yeon should just move to another guild. 

Lately, the Terror Guild has been showing off its Awakeners on variety shows, why doesn’t she transfer there?

└Wow, transferring to the Terror Guild would be amazing!

The comments were mostly negative.

“Hmm…”

Recently, guilds that were more accessible to civilians had sprouted up, and Awakeners began to appear more frequently in various media.

However, guilds like Ara Hongryeon still focused on dungeon raids, and the opinions seemed to reflect that situation.

‘Ara Hongryeon especially. It has the symbolism of being South Korea’s first guild.’

Honestly, I couldn’t know the inner thoughts of Han Seok-jun, the guild master of Ara Hongryeon. However, it seemed he might be sticking to his position more out of a desire to preserve tradition than out of fear of change.

“It’s hard to say what the right answer is, but I hope this situation resolves well.”

I murmured to myself and then looked at other articles, most of which were related to Awakeners.

“Park Suho is dating Kim Hyerin? Wow, that’s big news.”

Gossip was always entertaining.

I once dreamed of being a star Awakener myself, so these articles always gave me a strange sense of vicarious satisfaction.

Of course, there were bitter feelings, but now these celebrity-like Awakeners felt far too distant.

Ding!

Just then, a reply came in amidst browsing various news items.

It was from Young-seong.

-Can we meet now? This time I’ll come to you.

He must be in quite a hurry.

With such a reaction, I could tell that it wasn’t just the taste of the tomatoes that was the issue—it was something else.

“Because it’s an item? Or because of its effects?”

Whatever the reason, I had agreed to meet at a café near the entrance to Obongsan, so I headed back into the dungeon. Observing the diminished supply of tomatoes, I really felt the impact of these gluttons.

“I won’t be able to bring much.”

I realized I hadn’t asked how much he wanted. If it’s not enough, I can always bring more later.

With that, I grabbed about 2kg of cherry tomatoes and headed to the café. The distance from my location wasn’t far, but considering the time to descend from the middle of a mountain without proper paths, I figured we would arrive around the same time.

“Wow, you’re already here?”

I thought I might arrive a bit earlier, but there was Young-seong, already settled and waiting inside the café.

“Sorry for calling you out suddenly, Kyu-seong.”

“No, it’s okay. I drop in unexpectedly, too.”

As soon as I sat down, I took the tomatoes out of my bag. Young-seong’s gaze hardly left my hands.

“I’ve got about 2kg here. I wish I could bring more, but that’s all I have for now…”

“Kyu-seong, are you growing these yourself?”

Young-seong whispered to me, almost inaudibly. It was a quiet café with no one else around, yet he was cautious.

“Sort of.”

“Sort of?”

“Yes.”

“I see.”

He seemed to catch my intentionally vague response and quietly nodded.

“Ah! Here are the documents and items you left with me last time, including the carrots you wanted me to keep.”

“Thank you.”

“And the Ara Hongryeon Guild asked if I could get more of this poison, but I’ve delayed responding. Can you get more of this poison?”

“From the Ara Hongryeon Guild?”

Why was Ara Hongryeon Guild coming up here?

Ah, thinking about it, Young-seong seemed to know Kang Hanul from Ara Hongryeon. Maybe he was the one who commissioned the analysis of the items I sent?

“Ah, didn’t I tell you? I used to work as a researcher for Ara Hongryeon Guild.”

“Wow, really? This is the first I’ve heard of it!”

“I assumed you knew, but seems like I never mentioned it.”

I couldn’t have imagined he worked for Ara Hongryeon while running a small shop in Yongsan.

‘I should have recognized the extensive network he always bragged about.’

“I can get more of the poison. I’m not sure how much, though.”

“You’ve really become one with nature.”

“…Indeed. I’ve become a dungeon natural.”

It was a new realization when Young-seong mentioned being a natural. It truly felt like I was one with nature, from crops to poison.

Might other things also emerge?

‘If it’s a random ability from a slime, it might be possible…’

Lost in thought, Young-seong nodded and said he would talk to the guild.

“Ah, Young-seong. I was checking your message and saw that Kang Hanul also contacted me.”

“That guy always meddles too much. Just deal with him casually.”

They must be really close.

Curiosity piqued since receiving the messages, I asked,

“Kang Hanul seemed to be looking for these because they’re tasty, but did you like them too? It didn’t seem like it that day…”

“Hmm.”

Young-seong paused for a moment, then quietly said.

“My wife is ill.”

“Your wife is ill?”

“Do you know Kim Si-young?”

“Of course, Awakener Kim Si-young from the Ara Hongryeon Guild…”

I stopped mid-sentence, suddenly looking at Young-seong with suspicion.

“The wife you just mentioned, is she…?”

“Yes, Si-young is my wife. And she’s very sick right now.”

“Ah…”

I couldn’t have been unaware. It had been a major incident, well-known even among non-Awakeners.

The monster called one of the Seven Deadly Sins.

Even the dungeon was named after that sin, ‘Avarice.’

It was a formidable Level 9 dungeon.

It was one of the highest-level dungeons known to date.

And it was the dungeon that had led many Awakeners to their deaths.

“Many Awakeners, flushed with confidence from having conquered several Level 9 dungeons, were plunged into despair in an instant.”

There was talk among the public that the dungeon should be upgraded to Level 10, considering its difficulty.

“I had no idea you were Awakener Kim Si-young’s husband. Was your request for the tomatoes because of your wife?”

“That’s right.”

I hadn’t realized there was such a story behind his urgency.

“It makes sense why you came here so urgently.”

“Was she poisoned?”

“Yes, but we still haven’t been able to detoxify her. We’ve tried all sorts of research over the past few years…”

Young-seong’s expression grew somber, and seeing him so helpless, I felt a pang of sympathy.

“Detoxification…”

Suddenly, I thought of the fruit juice.

One of its effects was detoxification.

‘It was called Ambiguous Fruit Juice, but…’

Could it possibly help?

But to offer help, I would need to reveal my liquid synthesis ability.

He must already have some suspicions, though…

“Young-seong.”

“Yes?”

“You’ve guessed my ability, haven’t you?”

Taken aback by my sudden question, Young-seong flinched, then carefully nodded.

“It was inevitable. You’ve always been bringing potions.”

“I think I might be able to help you with my ability.”

“What?”

There was still half a carrot left.

Enough to make more juice if needed.

And in the dungeon, crops were still growing. Since the key to detoxification was the tomatoes, I could harvest more and make various preparations.

“Young-seong, I think it’s my turn to help you now.”

“Kyu-seong…”

Young-seong’s wife?

I must try to cure her.

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Survival 79

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“Hmph. For a vassal, why do you keep rejecting me…”

As Bathory walked down the hallway, she took out her frustrations on the innocent floor. 

Normally, her kicks, imbued with mana, could have cracked the floor. 

But due to the contract, reducing her to no more than a regular girl, her kicks only made weak sounds. 

“You know you shouldn’t treat me this way.”

A special connection. 

Before the vassal contract, the only two demons on human land. 

They were benefactors who had saved each other’s lives. 

The ordinary treatment, undermining that specialness, was disheartening. 

“Just you wait. In the end, you’ll be the one regretting, holding onto me.”

Muttering to herself, she headed back to her room when a huge shadow blocked her path. 

“Hm? So, you were the head servant, right? Yes… What was your name again? Anyway, do you need something from me?”

A familiar face. 

The old human who managed the people in this mansion. 

But what of it? 

No matter how high-ranking among humans he might be, Bathory was unimpressed. 

‘To me, except for Frost Mane, they’re just passersby.’

Those with whom she would not continue relations upon returning to the Evildon Empire. 

Why bother conversing?

“If you have no business, move aside. I’m returning to my room to rest.”

“Driving me mad. This incredibly arrogant demon needs to be made into a useful maid.”

“Useful maid? I believe I’m already fulfilling that role.”

Yet, the human’s statement was extremely displeasing. 

She had been faithfully performing her duties without mistake, hiding in the shadow of Frost Mane, serving as a guard and gathering information. 

Following Luciana’s example to the letter, what was the issue?

“Every one of you is problematic. You lack the basics of a maid!”

‘How noisy.’

According to Frost Mane, once he starts, there’s no end to his nagging. 

Proving his discernment was not wrong, the old man’s mouth was non-stop with criticism directed at her. 

“What’s the use of holding a broom if you don’t sweep? Even if we skip the cooking part, I’ve never seen you do dishes. Moreover, your attitude towards your superiors lacks even a speck of politeness…!”

While tuning him out, Bathory caught something she couldn’t ignore. 

“Tsk. I’ve wasted my time. You won’t listen anyway. With this attitude, canceling the plan to send you to the academy. It’s goodbye to Hans, then.”

“Hmph. You’re the one dreaming in vain.”

She sneered, twisting her lips at the old man. 

Combining the information gathered from Hans’s shadow and what Elizabeth had told her, 

The academy was at best an educational institution for insignificant humans. 

Why should a noble demon like Frost Mane bother attending such a place?

‘Being by my side, the contractor, is infinitely more beneficial.’

The relationship between Bathory and Frost Mane was inseparable, bound by vassal and contractor. 

She had been planning to enlighten him soon anyway. 

But goodbye? 

Such nonsense. 

“Hans will always be with me.”

“Sigh.”

Bathory’s eyebrows twitched.

A sigh laden with disdain. 

It irritated her temper significantly. 

But then,

“Really, acting like a maid who doesn’t even get the basics right. You’re planning to send a servant who cares for you straight to the guillotine.”

Something was wrong. 

The guillotine? Was Hans’s life in danger?

“…What do you mean by that?”

As if questioning something odd, the head servant’s whitened eyebrows furrowed.

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? Hans Byron is a noble of the Manhett Empire. It’s his duty to enroll in the academy.”

“How would I know? Human culture is alien to me! Explain further!”

The head servant, after a moment of displeasure, explained.

“All nobles in each region are obliged to enroll in the academy located in the central part of the Manhett Empire. It’s a tradition and law from the time of the empire’s foundation. Violation could lead to severe consequences for the family, including execution in the worst cases.”

“That means…”

“Neither Lady Luciana nor Hans are exceptions.”

Cold sweat unknowingly dripped down her chin.

‘I was shortsighted! As long as Frost Mane plays a human, he’s entangled in human culture.’

His bizarre obsession with his ‘prey’ was only growing stronger by the day.

He would undoubtedly not give up on the academy.

“Me, too! As a servant of that warrior’s descendant, can’t I enter the academy?”

“What an interesting piece of nonsense.”

Contempt.

The scorn from the elderly man was evident.

“You can’t even fulfill your duties properly, and you want to follow to the academy? A woman like you who’d tarnish the reputation of the Speda family? Even if the sky falls, I will never allow it!”

His professional consciousness as a lifelong servant struck her with a massive shock.

That spirit was enough to crumble the mind of a high-ranking demon.

“That’s…!”

“I heard Hans could at least make a decent cup of tea, but his recommendation is quite disappointing.”

Turning his head, the head servant left.

Bathory’s face twisted horribly.

‘Frost Mane was looking out for me even then?’

Contrasted with her previous resentments, a feeling of shame washed over her.

Despite being stuck like glue in his shadow, how did she not notice?

This was a failure as a contractor.

“…Teach me.”

“What?”

“Me, I’ll learn how to be a maid. I’ll do as told. Please, teach me so I can accompany him to this academy.”

“Well, since he asked… Teaching you and making a judgment isn’t too late.”

Bathory’s eyelashes fluttered.

Was the chilling shiver a figment of her imagination?

“Brace yourself. I’ll engrave in you the manners and etiquette a maid must observe.”

Somehow, his smile seemed to contain a malicious intent, as if everything was going according to plan.

***

“Why aren’t you visible today?”

An unfamiliar feeling struck in an awkwardly empty morning.

-Haha, why are you preparing so late? I’ve been waiting for a while. Then, excuse me in the shadow.

As soon as I opened the door, Bathory, dressed as a maid, hiding into the shadows, was initially surprising. 

Now, it’s become a part of daily life, making her absence feel even more strange. 

“I’m in a hurry, but… Maybe I should wait a bit longer.” 

Thinking such days are bound to happen, I leaned against the wall for a moment. 

Then, a familiar figure in maid attire caught my eye from around the corner. 

“Oh, Lady Bathory! What brings you here? You were always waiting as soon as I opened my door. Today, it seems I’ve waited for you, haven’t I?”

“…haven’t I.”

“Sorry? Your voice was too soft, I couldn’t catch that. Could you speak up?”

“It’s all because of you!”

She yelled, swinging the broom she held towards me. 

Of course, I’m not about to get hit by a broom. 

But Bathory? Holding a broom?

She who always despised even pretending to clean?

“Did the sun rise from the west today? Why are you holding that?”

“Why? Ugh… If you hadn’t gone to that academy or whatever, I wouldn’t be suffering like this.”

Aha. 

It seems Yegor’s maid training has begun. 

He’s good at handling people, even managing to involve Bathory in his teachings. 

‘Well, being a high-ranking demon but naïve, it wouldn’t have been too difficult…’

“This is hell! An endless cycle of lectures!”

“Well, yes. The head servant is quite strict.”

Even the smallest mistake under a boss who readily criticizes is tough. 

As someone who’s been there, I fully understand her current troubles. 

-You just don’t get better at brewing tea, do you? How many times must I say to add the right amount of water? This can hardly be called tea; it’s just water with a hint of tea leaves.

Yegor, eventually sending me away with a “Some are just born with certain talents, aren’t they?”

“Still, his teachings will surely be of great help. It’s a bit harsh on the ears, though.”

But now, this isn’t about me. 

There’s nothing I can say but to encourage her. 

‘If Bathory can perform the perfect role of a maid, that’d be good for me too.’

Of course. 

Whether she will actually do maid work after going to the academy…

Or if Luciana, her arch-enemy, would ever let her serve, was questionable. 

But the important thing was just one. 

A reason to accompany her to the academy. 

If Bathory could break free from her contract in the North and use her powers more freely in the Central, 

And if I could bring her into the academy,

‘The hidden pieces there are as good as mine.’

The president’s badge, the breath of a higher spirit, the holy sword, just to name a few I can think of off the top of my head. 

‘Under the Chandelier,’ with the academy as its main stage, hid relics and elixirs incomparable to other places. 

“Though it may be hard, please endure a little longer. We have to go to the academy together. After all, we’re bound by our vassal contract. We can’t be separated, can we?”

Barely managing to swallow the words that almost slipped out, I wrapped them in a formal tone instead. 

“You too…! So, you felt the same! Hahaha, excellent. What’s there to fear from the teachings of a cranky old man? I’ll gladly overcome it. Just you wait.”

Bathory’s footsteps lightened as she left. 

“Bathory! I told you to sweep and clean the second corridor! Are you planning to neglect your duties again?”

“I’m going! Don’t rush me!”

Bathory’s steps quickened at the booming scolding echoing through the corridor. The sight of her scrambling to find her tasks reminded me strangely of myself when I first reincarnated here, eliciting an involuntary chuckle.

“Come to think of it, we’re not so different.” For her, the customs and rules of human society must feel foreign. She’s likely to struggle with adapting.

“Now, I should also get to my own duties.” Given the precious time I should be spending by Luciana’s side before academy admission, and the fact I took leave for this, another demon thrust into a foreign human land without warning must be looked after—Oparn.

***

“You’ve arrived.” Oparn, elbows on his knees and chin resting on clasped hands, had shed yesterday’s oblivious demeanor, replaced by a thoughtful, mature presence. “…I’ve been reflecting on your words.”

“Oh? And have you reached a conclusion?”

“Yes. Despite my inadequacies, I’ve decided to pursue becoming the owner of this royal seal.”

As expected of a main male protagonist candidate in the game, his red eyes shone with a resolve to confront and overcome challenges.

“Excellent. Future diamond, follow me, then. First, I’ll help you live in the human realm.” While the original plan involved placing him in Georg’s mercenary band, currently, he’s a demon without any legitimate identity. A suspiciously handsome boy without a background isn’t exactly welcomed by mercenary guilds.

Of course, there’s a way around that. ‘Identity laundering is best done through the thief guilds.’ I’ve had my dealings with them, and thanks to my notoriety, our relations aren’t too bad. A little backhander should easily procure Oparn a plausible identity.

“Ah, thank you. And please, speak informally to me, brother Frost Mane.” My steps halted at his address. “…Brother?”

I’ve been called a brother by juniors before. Friendly jokes about being called “brother” weren’t new to me either. But the solemn respect imbued in his “brother,” coupled with a bow, carried a different weight.

“Haha, a future diamond calling a mere doppelganger ‘brother’ is quite unusual.”

“Race doesn’t matter. You’ve given me meaningful lessons and even paved a way for me to live. How could I not respect you as my brother?”

Hmm. A close brother to the male lead candidate, and he seems quite serious about it. 

‘This could be exploitable..’ 

“Well, as per your suggestion, let’s keep it informal.”

He’s destined to become a member of the disaster eradication squad, including the Demon Lord, and a stepping stone for the original protagonist. If I could secure my place as Oparn’s respected brother, it’d make my integration into the original storyline much smoother.

“And be careful with your words. Frost Mane isn’t a name to be tossed around lightly. I also go by Hans Byron, so call me by that.”

Placing a finger to his lips, he nodded solemnly. “Understood, brother Hans.”

“Good. Now that we’ve sorted the formalities, let’s hurry along.” The destination was set. Where Oparn was supposed to be according to the original storyline. The first step towards his academy admission.

“Let’s head to the mercenary guild. Oh, are you good at causing a bit of a ruckus?” 

“……Excuse me?”

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Strike 110

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Ben of the Blue Sky.

He was gathering soldiers at the border where the Kingdom of Praham and the Kingdom of Goyard met, engaging in a tense standoff with Barad.

While staring at Barad standing in the distance, Ben smirked bitterly.

He, too, was a formidable opponent, but Sword King Barad was no less formidable.

However, Ben burst into a hearty laugh.

“Hahaha.”

His loyal retainer asked.

“Your Majesty, what brings you joy?”

“Indeed, something very delightful. Recently, Barad has purged eight nobles.”

The retainer looked puzzled.

How could it be a joyous occasion that he safely eliminated his opposition?

“Luckburg, although an opponent, was someone who shared the same goal but desired a different approach.”

A different approach and goal? The retainer listened intently.

“Barad wanted to focus on training, even as a small nation, to not succumb to powerful countries, while Luckburg preferred to expand the kingdom, even if recklessly. Both had their strategies to protect the Kingdom of Goyard.”

Ben’s eyes narrowed.

“Luckburg was a person who developed the Kingdom of Goyard in his own way for a long time. Yet, he was demoted for seeking the throne through a different method. That’s where the problem begins.”

Tsk, tsk, 

Ben clicked his tongue.

“Even if their forces were clashing, they were ready to join hands and fight together in times of war. But now that Luckburg has been demoted and lost power, those who followed him won’t lend their strength to the king.”

Yes, a fracture.

A fracture had begun to appear in the Kingdom of Goyard.

“It won’t be long now.”

Upon hearing this, Ben shook his head.

“That’s uncertain. The two who aim to protect the kingdom might change their minds with even a small link.”

“Does such a link exist?”

The retainer mocked Barad.

Yes, one demoted the other, and the other was demoted.

It would not be an easy task.

***

Boom-!

A groan escaped Hyun-soo’s lips as he fell to the ground.

It was difficult for him to move even a finger.

[You have suffered severe fatigue.]

Fatigue is categorized into several stages, and severe fatigue makes it hard to control one’s body.

‘It makes sense.’

Hyun-soo felt his muscles repeatedly contract and relax while fighting the Giant King.

That’s how tense his body had been.

Once the hunt for the Giant King was over, the tension was abruptly released.

Yet, he continued to smile.

‘I did it…….’

This hunt was a bit special.

It was something he achieved entirely on his own, without even a small contribution from anyone else.

Moreover, he discovered the power of counter (反) in a dramatic situation.

Some might call it luck.

But Hyun-soo was certain.

‘This is my strength.’

Would another blacksmith have been able to unleash such power if they had discovered it?

No.

Striking with two rare weapons at once and with two legendary-grade artifacts at once were completely different feats.

Yes, this was something Hyun-soo achieved entirely by himself.

And for the first time, Hyun-soo received a notification for monopolizing the contribution against a named monster.

[You have hunted the Giant King.]

[You have gained 213,572 experience points.]

[You have leveled up.]

[Level up…]

[You have reached level 240.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You receive an additional 10% experience as a bonus reward.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

Hyun-soo reached level 258 in a single breath.

It was an astonishing achievement.

‘The difference in required experience between the 100s and 200s levels is more than four times.’

That’s how much the required amount of experience changes as the leading digit changes.

In such a scenario, achieving more than 30 levels up was an incredible feat.

[You have gained 87,803 gold.]

87,000 gold. 

In Korean Won, that’s about 87 million Won, an enormous amount of money.

[You have obtained the unique mineral, Gwangseok.]

[You have obtained the Giant King’s Blood.]

[You have obtained 12 Blessed Enhancement Stones.]

You’ve obtained the armor of the giant.

The notifications kept coming endlessly.

And then, the notification Hyun-soo had been most eagerly awaiting struck.

[Job Quest: Giant King Hunt Completed]

[You have completed it with remarkable achievement.]

[You have obtained 50% of the subjugation points.]

[You have achieved a total of 85% subjugation points.]

[You have met the conditions to take all members of the Gale Squad, including Khan.]

Hyun-soo’s heart thrilled with excitement.

The five members of the Gale Squad.

They would now solely protect the Guild Bright Future, centered around their base.

[You can receive rewards from Duke Luckburg.]

Hyun-soo had his doubts about this part.

After all, Duke Luckburg was likely considering Hyun-soo an enemy at this point.

And right now, Hyun-soo didn’t have the strength to lift even a finger.

The status abnormality fatigue was a notification message advising the user to rest.

It rings when the user has been connected for a long time or has been mentally tense or exhausted.

Therefore, it was a status abnormality that could not be cured with potions.

Then, Luke approached.

Luke looked at Hyun-soo, who had fallen with his body covered in blood from a single blow.

‘He is my father’s enemy.’

Still, Luke was a man of knightly spirit.

Wasn’t it proof enough of his honesty that he became a knight without resorting to his father’s power?

“I will support you.”

Luke supported Hyun-soo by hooking his arm around his neck.

Hyun-soo, too, was seeing stars and didn’t refuse Luke’s support.

The two began to leave the area.

***

Duke Luckburg.

He was the leading noble of the Kingdom of Goyard, but what he cherished the most wasn’t money or power.

It was his son, Luke, the only one of his kind in the world.

From birth, he was hailed as a prodigy with the sword, upright and polished more than anyone.

Wherever he went, he received high praise as a truly wonderful son.

‘Father, I do not wish to become a knight by borrowing your strength. I will become the kingdom’s commander with my own strength and protect you.’

He was a child who wouldn’t hurt even if he were placed in one’s eye.

If someone asked Duke Luckburg whether he wished for his son’s happiness or for him to become a king, he could answer without a moment’s hesitation.

‘I prefer my son’s happiness over me becoming a king.’

But then, a soldier who had gone hunting with Luke rushed urgently into the domain.

“Is, is Luke alright?”

As Duke Luckburg listened to the soldier’s story, his world collapsed.

He was about to run out barefoot, forgetting to put on his shoes, but then he stopped.

Duke Luckburg was the leading noble of the kingdom.

A noble who stood shoulder to shoulder with the Duke in supporting the kingdom.

At this moment, he resented his own title.

His son was precious.

But Duke Luckburg knew what he had to do now.

“…Summon the troops; the Giant King must be killed before he awakens all his power.”

And then, he also issued this order.

“Prepare those who will recover the bodies.”

His voice was choked.

Duke Luckburg actually knew.

The Giant King had awakened, and Luke had not yet returned.

The soldiers who were with Luke had mostly returned already.

Those who hadn’t returned were dead.

He led the troops deeper inside.

His arm trembled.

He clenched the hem of his clothes, trying to stay calm.

Duke Luckburg, though aiming for Barad’s position, was a fairly excellent noble.

‘My soldiers’ families are as precious as my own child.’

Was he a villain because he coveted the king’s throne?

It’s not necessarily so.

Then.

“My lord… Sir Luke is returning!”

“What!?”

This time, Duke Luckburg couldn’t maintain the dignity of a noble.

He pushed through the troops and rushed forward.

From a distance, he saw his son, Luke, supporting a man.

Duke Luckburg squinted his eyes.

‘Viscount Hyun-soo…?’

His teeth were clenched tightly.

But slowly, they relaxed, and his lips parted slightly.

Unlike Hyun-soo, who was battered, Luke looked completely unharmed.

“Viscount Hyun-soo told us to return. It seems he went to save Sir Luke after sending us away.”

Khan’s report warmed his heart.

He saved his one and only child!

Luke and Duke Luckburg drew closer.

“Father, this man killed the Giant King.”

“…What?”

Khan’s words made him think that they had fled.

But killed?

Duke Luckburg was indeed puzzled.

Why did he save his child?

Doesn’t he hate him?

Then, he saw him, completely covered in blood, struggling even to stand.

And he finally realized.

‘It was his duty as a knight…’

The Giant King was regaining his lost power.

If not killed swiftly, he would have brought great harm to the Arham domain and even to the entire kingdom.

Whether he was an enemy of his or not.

Whether or not he liked his son Luke, he had simply done what needed to be done.

His hatred for him had not completely vanished.

But at this moment, one thing was certain.

[Duke Luckburg vows to bestow upon you the greatest reward.]

At least he would repay what had been done for them.

Even if they continued to be at odds, this much he promised to do.

Having made this vow, Duke Luckburg was now ready to forget his dignity and share his joy with his son in an embrace.

Luke also shouted in joy.

“Father, I’ve returned alive. I’ve come back!”

Soon, the soldiers cheered as well.

“Woaaaah!”

“Sir Luke and Sir Hyun-soo have returned!”

“Sir Hyun-soo killed the Giant King!”

“Wowwww!”

Their cheers of joy echoed through the forest.

The soldiers had also thought they would all die when they heard the Giant King had awakened.

After all, he would have invaded the Arham domain.

That’s why they erupted in joyful cheers.

“My lord, let’s have a festival when we return!”

“It’s a day of great joy!”

“We must have a good drink!”

Duke Luckburg found it hard to hide his joy as well.

He was about to heartily shout, ‘Drink all you want!’

Then.

“Are you that happy?”

A cold voice spread among the cheers, making Duke Luckburg and Luke stop their embrace.

The soldiers’ laughter ceased abruptly.

Hyun-soo, with a cold expression, was there.

Having just woken from the abnormal status of excessive fatigue, Hyun-soo said,

“Shouldn’t there be another order before rejoicing?”

Another order?

Luckburg wore a puzzled expression.

And then, Hyun-soo walked forward.

He took out a sword from within his clothes and forcefully stuck it into the ground.

Thunk

Blood flowing from his arm stained the ground via the sword.

Drip-drip-

Luke recognized that sword.

It was the sword Hyun-soo had picked up next to a dead soldier while supporting him.

“This sword belonged to a young boy.”

A dreadful silence fell.

The faces of the rejoicing soldiers turned to complexity.

Hyun-soo, dispersing them with cold eyes, said,

“Before we rejoice, we must mourn those who died.”

Hearing that, Luke was the first to bow his head in silence.

Following him, all the soldiers and knights bowed their heads in silence.

In the midst of this, Luckburg, slowly bowing his head to mourn, watched Hyun-soo with trembling eyes.

‘How could…’

Duke Luckburg.

He didn’t want to become king.

In a chaotic world,

He simply wanted to protect the kingdom in his own way.

It was just that his way differed from the king’s.

He believed that as long as someone wished only for the kingdom’s wellbeing and peace, it didn’t matter who became king.

Drip-drip-

Watching Hyun-soo, still bleeding, he thought,

‘I’ve come to realize it now.’

Luckburg simply thought to give the greatest reward he could.

But now, his thoughts were changing.

‘Why His Majesty considered him as his successor.’

Someone who could govern the tumultuous Kingdom of Goyard more mercifully than anyone.

Someone who mourns the sorrow of the people before rejoicing in victory.

In front of the mourning Hyun-soo, Luckburg said,

“I will ensure protection.”

***

Hyun-soo wore a puzzled expression.

Duke Luckburg suddenly walked towards him.

“I will ensure protection.”

Protection?

He said with a powerful voice,

“I will protect the path you choose to walk.”

[Duke Luckburg promises to support your path to becoming king more than anyone else.]

Hyun-soo realized.

He had won the heart of the kingdom’s greatest noble, Duke Luckburg.

Prev I TOC I Next

Act 59

Prev I TOC I Next

“Hidden behind a black mask and wielding a sword technique that seemed to embrace the moonlight, just as Grandpa Ruger described!” 

Lupina spoke with a heated tone, and I couldn’t understand why she was making such a fuss. Isn’t this situation, this scene, supposed to be frightening? With that thought, I checked my reflection in her wide-open eyes. My appearance was far from a ‘Black Knight’, but the atmosphere I carried was strangely similar.

‘Maybe.’ 

There is no ‘Black Knight’ in this world right now. More precisely, the person who should be fulfilling the role of the ‘Black Knight’ has abandoned their duty. 

‘By taking over the responsibilities that originally belonged to Hayden Reich…’

Has my name just filled a void that was left empty? 

‘This is not good.’ 

I have no intention of becoming the ‘Black Knight’. I merely prevented the story from deviating from its original course.

“Um, um… I wanted to see you! When Grandpa Ruger told me, I thought it was just a wild tale…!” 

Lupina rose from her seat, her face flushed as if she had seen her idol.

Caught in the midst of organizing my thoughts, I unintentionally spoke out. 

“Don’t come closer.” 

Oops. However, the words that slipped out were not my usual polite language. 

“…What?” 

“I said don’t come closer.” 

It was still not in polite language. This change seemed related to the ‘Black Knight’ trait I had just acquired.

“Where is Ruger?” 

“Ru, Grandpa Ruger left early.” 

“So he’s not in this building?” 

“Yes.”

Lupina nodded, and I vaguely understood why she was being chased. 

“Then the remaining one is not Ruger… Kwajik─!” 

Suddenly feeling a murderous intent, I turned my head just as something sharp flew towards me. Fortunately, ‘Sombras’ flowed out and blocked it.

“Impossible!” 

The one who shot a mana blade at me was none other than Bishop Pintel of the Dawn Society. He looked at me in astonishment. 

“The magic I just cast incorporates all the expertise I’ve accumulated reaching the fourth tier!”

The noise upstairs must have been Pintel. The mana blade, blocked by ‘Sombras’, fell to the ground and disappeared like smoke. 

“I developed it to be fast, silent, and instant… How could you react to it!?” 

“All the fuss you’re making indicates it wasn’t as great a magic as you thought.” 

“What, what!?” 

I looked at Pintel’s face. Although I tried not to show it, his face betrayed a nervous look. 

“Damn it.”

With a short curse, Pintel scanned the fallen members of his order around him. 

“To think… even a ridiculous man in a mask would hinder me.” 

He muttered to himself. Suddenly, I felt unreasonably angry, though I shouldn’t have thought anything of it.

Was it the curse about the mask? While sporting a mustache resembling a Pringles logo, no less.

Shortly after, a faint light flickered from Pintel’s hand, and the mana blades I had seen earlier poured out. 

This time, they weren’t as fast as before, but they were noticeably larger. 

‘I can’t block this one.’

Realizing that I couldn’t counter with ‘Sombras’ this time, I took a big step back.

The decision was accurate. 

The ‘mana blades’ that struck the ground were spinning like a chainsaw, digging deeply into the earth. 

‘Seeing my Sombras, he changed his method of attack.’

As always, the first to act is a bishop, after all.

‘…What should I do?’ 

Honestly, I don’t want to fight. 

Combat with ‘Bishop’ involves too much risk, and one wrong move could lead to fatal injuries. 

‘Should I run away?’ 

It’s not a bad option. 

Pintel’s target, ‘Ruger’, is not in this building, and so he might withdraw for today.

“So, you’re that guy.”

While I was contemplating, Pintel muttered quietly and raised his staff. 

His eyes narrowed in displeasure. 

“The one who attacked the carriage and stole the Soul Stone,” 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

“Don’t play dumb, you bastard!” 

Pintel shouted after hearing my response. 

“It’s quite similar to what I heard from one of your apparent subordinates.”

Maybe I should have changed my outfit as well.

“What’s your purpose?” 

Pintel’s voice became calmer. 

“You hide your face, but you don’t seem to belong to the ‘Nameless Faction’, nor do you appear to be a follower of the Swordsman.”

Of course, I’m neither. 

“Then what’s your purpose? Why are you targeting us?” 

“World peace.” 

My tone was mocking. 

It seems even if ‘politeness’ isn’t required, Julian’s personality doesn’t completely disappear.

This made Pintel’s face turn even redder. 

“Idiotic.”

As Pintel lifted his staff to prepare another spell, I quickly kicked off the ground to close the distance between us. 

‘Moonlight Sword’… I shouldn’t use it. 

Not if I need to keep my identity hidden. 

Thanks to my tremendous agility, I closed the distance in an instant. 

Normally, an average magician might have been flustered, but Pintel’s actions were calm.

‘Was it a trap?’ 

Suddenly, I felt the flow of mana from behind. 

The ‘mana saw blade’ Pintel had planted in the ground had not disappeared after burrowing but was instead circling back to me. 

“Behind, behind you!” 

At Lupina’s urgent cry, I felt the ‘mana saw blade’ approaching from behind. 

I barely managed to change my position in mid-air, dodging the blade coming at my back. 

Then I saw Pintel chanting a spell.

“You can’t dodge in the air.” 

True to his word, it was impossible to evade in mid-air. 

Therefore, I used ‘Sombras’ to bind Pintel’s hand and pulled him towards me. 

“Ugh!”

After pulling him in, I kicked him squarely in the solar plexus.

“Ugh.” 

However, during the process, a ‘mana saw blade’ embedded itself in my side. I bit my lip hard from the sharp pain, but dealing with Pintel was the priority. 

The kick seemed to work, as blood streamed from the kneeling Pintel’s mouth. Even so, a hostile glint remained in his eyes. 

‘I need to finish this quickly.’ 

Without my trump card, the ‘Moonlight Sword’, a prolonged fight could introduce unforeseen complications. 

“Cough, you bastard!” 

As I approached, Pintel, with a murderous expression, tried to lift his staff. Or rather, he attempted to. 

“What, what!?” 

Pintel’s staff, stuck to the ground. There, the ‘Sombras’ I had attached when pulling him showcased its presence. 

“I can’t detach it…” 

Thump! 

I delivered a powerful uppercut to the bewildered Pintel’s chin, and the impact seemed to rattle his brain, causing him to convulse and then go silent. 

‘Phew.’ 

Breathing a sigh of relief, I looked at my side. The pain was minimal due to the adrenaline, but I could feel the blood flowing. 

After defeating Pintel, his words about the ‘Nameless Faction’ came back to me. Like ‘Six Fingers’ and ‘Blood Fiends’, it was one of the organizations dividing the slums. 

Although it was associated with one of the bishops of the Dawn Society, it wasn’t so exposed that Pintel should have known about it. 

“Are you okay?” 

Seizing a moment of quiet after I had subdued Pintel and fallen into thought, Lupina, who had stepped outside, asked. 

“Yeah.” 

“Still, you need to treat that wound.” 

“No need. Besides…” 

After adjusting my mask, I turned my gaze to Lupina. 

“Don’t talk about me to anyone.” 

“Why?” 

Because, the ‘Black Knight’ is not me but Hayden Reich. If rumors spread needlessly, it could lead to troublesome situations. 

“There’s no need for you to know.” 

“I don’t like that.” 

Lupina, whom I assumed was terrified, surprisingly responded. 

“If you are really the ‘Black Knight’ from the stories, you shouldn’t hide like in the old days!” 

Her voice carried a distant, forceful tone. 

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.” 

“It means you shouldn’t repeat the mistakes of the past.” 

What past? I feel like a newborn in this world. 

“Anyway! I don’t plan to hide!” 

Her voice and expression carried a strong resolve. 

It seemed convincing her otherwise would be difficult. 

***

The next day, after all the commotion, Linne visited ‘Dusk Flame’ again to pick up a sword she had custom ordered and was puzzled by the noisy situation. 

“It’s true!” 

At the center of the commotion was Lupina. Speaking in her usual compelling voice, she was discussing with Ruger, the owner of ‘Dusk Flame’. 

Unlike usual, Lupina’s face was flushed red.

“Don’t lie. That story was just a popular fiction from the old days!”

“But it’s true, Grandpa Ruger!”

Listening to Lupina’s appeal, Linne slowly approached her.

As Linne came closer, Lupina’s already flushed face deepened in color. Ruger surely noticed this. He clicked his tongue and crossed his arms.

“Looks like even you vaguely know it’s just a preposterous story.”

“No, it’s not!”

“Enough! Just hand over the sword to Linne and rest.”

After laying down his ultimatum, Ruger turned and walked towards the back of his personal workshop. Lupina watched his retreating figure and sighed.

“Sister Lupina.”

“Yes, our Linne is here. You came to pick up the sword, right? Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

When Lupina gestured for her to follow, Linne did just that. Soon, the familiar sight of the workshop appeared.

“But Sister, what happened? The forge seems a bit noisy?”

At Linne’s question, Lupina sharply turned her head. It seemed as if she had been waiting for this question, a smile on her lips.

“Yesterday, some intruders broke into our building.”

“…Intruders?”

“I’m not sure what they wanted, but they were dangerous people who entered illegally.”

“Did they catch those people safely?”

“Yes, the gendarmes took them away.”

Linne, relieved to hear no one was harmed, remarked, “That’s good.”

“That’s not the issue, Linne!”

“…Yes?”

“The Black Knight appeared.”

“…The Black Knight?”

“Yes!”

Lupina nodded vigorously.

“The very Black Knight who saved me from those intruders!”

Linne almost joked in response, but facing the sincere look in Lupina’s eyes, she found it hard to dismiss her claims lightly.

“Is that so?”

“Yes! You should have seen his elegant swordsmanship… it was like dancing under the moonlight!”

“Ha ha….”

Linne forced a laugh, finding it hard to believe.

The Black Knight.

Surely a folktale that has been circulating around the empire for ages. Now only known to those who care to remember, but as a daughter of the ‘Londebell Family’, seeking to understand the public’s sentiments, Linne knew this tale as a traditional story passed down.

That meant the ‘Black Knight’ was thought to be purely fictional.

“Linne, you don’t believe it either, do you?”

It seemed her disbelief was apparent on her face.

“Is that why you raised your voice in front of Mr. Ruger earlier?”

“Yes, I actually saw him! But they don’t seem to believe me even when I tell them the Black Knight is real!”

“…I, I might be a bit skeptical too.”

Watching her reaction, Lupina sighed deeply.

“Well, I figured as much… Hic.”

Lupina turned away with a pouting face, and Linne couldn’t help but smile slightly at her reaction.

‘…But swordsmanship that looks like dancing under the moonlight?’

There was only one person Linne could think of who might fit that description.

‘Could it be…? No, surely not.’

That guess soon faded from her mind. As Lupina had described, a man possessing a beautiful swordplay reminiscent of ‘moonlight.’

But without a specific ‘purpose,’ he was someone terrifyingly indifferent to others, unlikely to help someone without reason.

‘No, it definitely can’t be Julian.’

Linne was certain of that.

***

After inadvertently acquiring the persona of the ‘Black Knight,’ I went to work as usual and began reading the newspaper.

‘I told her not to talk about me.’

[The city’s finest forge, ‘Dusk Flame’, targeted by malcontents.]

[Was it the Black Knight who saved the ‘Dusk Flame’ from crisis!?]

They’ve blabbed everything, true or not.

In most of the articles about the ‘Black Knight,’ the name ‘Lupina Orland’ was mentioned.

Despite my insistence on discretion, she ended up spreading it all around.

I carefully folded the newspaper and threw it toward the far table, where ‘Sombras’ safely carried it over.

‘Ugh’

I felt a pain in my side. The wound from Pintel’s magic hadn’t fully healed yet.

‘Indeed… a bishop is still a bishop.’

In the story, they are often the first to be defeated, but it seems the title of bishop is not just for show.

‘Meanwhile, the buzz about the Black Knight is pretty low.’

The story of the ‘Black Knight’ only occupied a small part of page three, not the headlines or front page.

It seems the public still considers the ‘Black Knight’ to be a figure of imagination, hence not treated as significant news.

‘Well, it’s not exactly a hot topic… The problem is, since I’ve taken over Hayden Reich’s role, it’s unclear what actions he might take next.’

In a ‘DLC trailer’ I had seen before, the identity of the ‘Black Knight’ was revealed to be Hayden Reich, ending with Julian cutting off Hayden Reich and Linne’s air supply.

‘Now that Hayden Reich isn’t playing the role of the Black Knight, that scenario won’t happen.’

As a result, the future actions of our ‘protagonist’ have become unpredictable.

‘Maybe I should keep an eye on Hayden Reich.’

Prev I TOC I Next

Round 11

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Ddiririri—Ddiririri—

I woke up to the sound of the alarm. It had been just over five hours of sleep, but after three days, it was incredibly refreshing.

Poooh!

“Oh, have you been working hard?”

I gave a cheerful smile to Poooh, who seemed to be asking why I was working while it was just sleeping.

Then, I suddenly noticed a pile of tomatoes that seemed to have been harvested while I was asleep. They were all well-preserved in slime fluid.

“Oh, how was your first harvest, Poooh?”

Poooh—

Poooh seemed plump and sounded cheerful, possibly from tending to the tomatoes overnight.

Truly a level 10 slime.

Unlike the others, it could make sounds, which was impressive.

“Is it cooldown time now?”

Seeing that the cooldown for my ability was almost up filled me with anticipation.

This was the first time I was going to use my ability since it leveled up, and I was curious if I could use it twice in total.

Pporong!

“Huh? What’s this?”

Rookie, who had been tending the garden, came up to me with something. It turned out to be some seeds.

“Ah! Carrots?”

Gumul!

I had deliberately left one carrot to harvest seeds from. I wasn’t sure if replanting it would work, but slimes were versatile.

“I should plant this down below.”

After checking that I still had about 10 minutes left until my ability could be reused, I climbed down the ladder.

Then, I saw slimes busily working on a vast stretch of land. Perhaps the area was too large? I might need to send Poooh down there.

“Guys, plant this too. There’s a vacant plot over there, right?”

Gulurung!

I went to the vacant plot myself and gave instructions. 

Having harvested carrots before made the process smooth.

I had personal expectations for this one.

It wasn’t just ordinary carrot seeds but seeds from carrots imbued with magical power that had grown here—perhaps there would be some changes.

“The tomatoes have already been planted.”

Sprouts were emerging as I woke up. These were sprouts from seeds of magical tomatoes grown here.

But they seemed a bit different?

I moved closer to inspect the tomato sprouts and noticed they were oddly shaped. I wondered if I had planted them in the wrong plot, but it was definitely the right spot.

“Can I get my hopes up?”

I had already grown cherry tomatoes before, so I knew what they should look like. Even without that knowledge, they just looked unusual.

The color of the sprouts was a strange mix of green and purple.

“…They’re not inedible, are they?”

Perhaps they had mutated into something poisonous.

An unnecessary worry, but if that happened, I could just dispose of them and plant anew.

After all, the slimes would do the work.

“It’s time.”

With a hint of anticipation, I checked the status screen.

There, I confirmed that the usage count had indeed reached 2.

“Great!”

I was delighted to confirm that I could use my ability twice a day.

Now, I had more options.

“First, I’ll try synthesizing these guys.”

I already had a level 10 slime, but Poooh was an exception. Being an unidentified creature, I had no idea what abilities it possessed.

“Alright, Poispois. It’s time to merge with Physical resistance.”

I immediately used my ability. Unlike last time, the two slimes merged right away. Clearly, merging slimes of the same level is necessary.

[Slime LV.2 and Slime LV.2 are merging.]

[The merging slimes will share all memories and experiences.]

[Please select a specialized ability.]

Oh, this is a new prompt. There’s a part I can choose.

[Poison] 

[Physical Resistance]

Two options appeared.

Maybe I should merge Mark2 as well? That would mean I could choose farming abilities.

“Poison.”

I was more drawn to poison than the passive ability of physical resistance. After all, poison is something I can actively use.

[Slime LV.3 has been completed.]

As soon as I made my choice, the synthesis was complete.

“Wow!”

I noticed that the core had grown a bit larger. And it had changed from green to purple. I’m not sure if reaching level 3 turns them all purple, or if it’s because Poispois has poison attributes.

Well, regardless, it’s still a slime.

[Slime LV.3]

An ordinary? slime.

[Ability: Poison LV.2]

Looking at the status window, I saw that the poison level had simply increased by one.

However, I saw potential here.

‘Ultimately, I can create an infinite number of slimes. Plus, I can increase the abilities of Slime Lord by completing quests. Eventually, I might be able to make two a day.’

An infinitely leveling slime.

It sounds like a dream, but if time permits and I could make a level 999 slime, even as a slime, it would have tremendous impact.

‘No idea how long level 999 might take.’

Math was never my strong suit.

Maybe 100 years? Or more?

Well, level 999 is just an example. Even making level 10 would be quite useful.

[Poison LV.2]

Emits poison to intoxicate opponents.

Intoxicated opponents will experience paralysis after at least 10 minutes.

The description hasn’t changed.

But since it’s level 2 now, something must have changed, right?

The system window as an Awakener always seemed unhelpful. To find out anything, I had to check things out myself.

“I should ask Young-seong to help compare this once.”

Probably the results of the previously sent poison are in, so sending the new level 2 poison for comparison would do.

Gumul-!

Poispois seemed to be looking at its own body, then suddenly started dancing joyfully.

Pporong! Pporong!

“How cute.”

It was already the size that seemed to spill over when held in one hand, but at level 3, it had grown even bigger.

Might need both hands to hold it now?

“Now, the issue is what to use the remaining synthesis on.”

I had one more liquid synthesis left.

The cooldown was already running, so there was no rush, but it was good to plan ahead.

“Should I merge another slime, or should I make a potion?”

Since I had run out of carrots, I couldn’t make the fruit juice. After pondering for a while, I decided to synthesize another slime. I just needed to wait a bit for the cooldown of the Slime Lord’s ability to end, then I could summon another Rookie to merge with the one above to pre-emptively create a Level 2.

“I wonder how much more efficient Farming LV.2 will be?” 

It was only a one-level difference, so the change might not be significant. However, these small improvements could accumulate and eventually lead to a noticeable difference at higher levels. Once I had made my decision, the rest followed swiftly.

Using the Slime Lord’s ability, I summoned another slime and immediately created a Level 2 slime.

[Slime LV.2]

[Ability: Running LV.1]

“Wow, that’s a dud.” I hadn’t imagined such an ability would emerge. What’s the use of running for creatures that just crawl around?

“It doesn’t matter, anyway.” 

This slime was intended to be merged with Mark2 anyway. This ability would disappear, and only the farming level would increase.

Splat!

While I was contemplating, another slime fell from the ceiling. I offered it a welcoming smile as best as I could.

“Welcome. Farming for the first time?”

* * *

At the upper echelons of the Ara Hongryeon Guild.

The guild executives, who had gathered for a simple meal after a long time, were discussing their concerns.

“Ah, this is a headache,” sighed Jeong So-yeon, the team leader of Team 1 and a representative Awakener. She was slicing a steak made from a Bullet Cow, a delicacy from the dungeons.

“We underestimated it because it was just a Level 4. Don’t take it too hard.”

One of the guild’s elders and the deputy team leader tried to console her, but her complexion didn’t lighten.

“That’s exactly the problem. It’s tarnished the guild’s reputation. It’s become known that we struggled and couldn’t clear just a Level 4 dungeon.”

“No one could have predicted it. We all thought the Level 4 dungeons had been completely conquered. Who could have known a new type of monster would appear?”

Amid their conversation, Han Seok-jun, the guild leader, spoke softly.

“We should consider collaborating with Team 2.”

“Ugh.”

Jeong So-yeon grimaced at Han Seok-jun’s suggestion. Although she wasn’t present at this meeting, she found Kang Hanul, the leader of Team 2, to be burdensome.

Yet, it was hard to go against the orders of Han Seok-jun, who had recognized her talent and scouted her.

“Even if Team 2 joins, isn’t this still going to be difficult? Ultimately, the issue is the newly discovered monster.”

“That’s why it’s even more necessary. We don’t have an Awakener with the Tri-Eye ability, so we need to face it directly and gather data.”

Calmly stated by Han Seok-jun, Jeong So-yeon couldn’t continue to fuss.

While Team 1 alone could eventually gather stable data, it would take time. However, Ara Hongryeon, being called one of South Korea’s top five guilds, couldn’t afford to spend too much time on just a Level 4 dungeon.

As the discussion seemed to be concluding, someone suddenly opened the door and entered.

“Hahaha! I’m a bit late, brother!”

The man who called Han Seok-jun ‘brother’ as he entered. His arrival made Jeong So-yeon’s expression turn awkward.

“Has the leader of Team 2 arrived?”

Han Seok-jun, in his mid-40s, still looked like he was in his twenties, his appearance like a well-maintained celebrity, whereas Kang Hanul, calling him brother, definitely stood out.

“Brother. Are you going to call me that in such a formal setting?”

“Since this is an official occasion, Team Leader.”

With a gentle smile, Han Seok-jun responded, and Kang Hanul grumbled as he took his seat.

“I used to not be like this, but the position has changed me, tsk tsk.”

“Team Leader, have you eaten yet?”

“What’s on the menu today?”

“It’s Bullet Cow steak. It’s one of your favorite dishes.”

“Ooh, nice! I’ll have one too!”

Kang Hanul promptly ordered a steak, then perked up and said,

“Brother, I’ve recently discovered something interesting.”

“Oh, if it has piqued Team Leader’s interest, I’m intrigued. What have you found?”

“I met this younger guy who brought over some magical carrots and cherry tomatoes.”

“Magical what?”

“Carrots and cherry tomatoes.”

Jeong So-yeon, who was listening, tilted her head.

“I’ve never heard of such items. Surely they’re not items?”

“They were items. They had buff effects.”

Hearing this, Guild Leader Han Seok-jun recalled a recent report.

“There was a report from the research team recently about carrots. Could it be the same thing?”

“Oh! Right, brother. I happened to visit the research department and they were analyzing a carrot with a unique appearance. And when I tasted it, it was truly an exceptional delicacy!”

Listening to Kang Hanul, Jeong So-yeon swallowed her saliva. She was a tremendous gourmet and knew of Kang Hanul’s picky taste, so this information was inevitably exciting for her.

“So I dug deeper, and it turns out it came from Choi Young-seong’s shop. Eventually, I went there myself and found out who the owner of the carrot was. Hahaha!”

“Who was it?”

“Hmm? Ah, even if you’re my brother, I can’t just reveal someone’s personal information like that.”

“Hmm. You’ve already given a clue that it’s from Choi Young-seong, the former research director’s shop, haven’t you?”

“That’s because you’re my brother. If you want to meet this young man, you’ll have to make the effort yourself. Hahaha!”

After a moment of contemplation, Han Seok-jun nodded.

“Right now, there are too many pressing matters to visit immediately. Let’s first wrap up the situation in the Yeongdeungpo Level 4 dungeon and then consider a visit.”

“You won’t regret it! I’ve never tasted anything quite like it in my life.”

Listening to their conversation, Jeong So-yeon was already salivating, her imagination running wild without even a description.

“But didn’t you say the carrot’s ability enhances vision? Wouldn’t that be helpful in the dungeon…?”

“The priority for vision enhancement is too low. But I won’t stop you from preparing it on your own.”

“Great! Haha. I don’t know when I’ll meet that young man again!”

Eventually, Jeong So-yeon couldn’t help but chime in.

“Is it difficult to meet this person?”

“Hmm? Well, I’ve tried contacting a few times, but no response. He seems to be living in a dungeon. You know, those Awakeners who rent a place and live in dungeons.”

“Ah…”

Some disenfranchised Awakeners were known to live disconnected from the world in infinite dungeons.

“Could he possibly be farming in the dungeon?”

“Oh? I had that thought too! That young man must be a hidden talent! Hahaha!”

“But hasn’t every attempt to farm in dungeons failed so far?”

“That’s why he’s a hidden talent! He must have accomplished what no one else could!”

“Hmm…”

Kang Hanul’s words left the executives of the Ara Hongryeon Guild lost in thought, especially Jeong So-yeon, whose interest was now piqued more than ever.

Clap!

“Everyone, let’s not forget that the Yeongdeungpo dungeon is our priority. We’ll select personnel and enter in two days. Please don’t forget.”

“Understood, Guild Leader.”

Prev | TOC | Next

Strike 109

Prev I TOC I Next

Hyun-soo also loved stories of heroes.

Greek and Roman mythology.

A hero named Hercules was very appealing.

Especially Hercules, who had swept away the giants threatening Olympus with just a club, looked too cool.

That’s why he had carved various trees for a month.

He was already familiar with making clubs; it was just to create something as close as possible to Hercules’s club.

Hyun-soo was confident.

He must have made at least a hundred.

Of course, the source of Hercules’s strength was not the club.

It simply inspired Hyun-soo.

‘A club that could momentarily give the power of Hercules, the god of strength.’

The Giant King’s regeneration against sharp weapons increases by 300%.

However, the club belongs to the category of blunt weapons and is irrelevant to this.

Therefore, he thought it might cover the mentioned regeneration part that the soldier had talked about.

Thus, he urgently crafted it using special production methods.

Although Hercules was not strong because of the club, it could momentarily make him feel like Hercules.

Custom-made, urgently produced with an effective application rate.

He eventually varies by the highest understanding of artifacts and the method of production.

Hyun-soo is certain.

He is the only one in this world who can create a club most similar to the one Hercules held.

As a result, it was completed.

(Hercules’s Club)

Grade: Unique

Durability: Infinite

Attack Power: 604

Restriction: None for the creator, Level 150~300.

Special Abilities:

·Strength 76.

·Attack power against giant-type monsters increased by 16%.

·Active Skill: Hercules’s Strength.

Description: A club born of urgent production, filled with the creator’s experience, knowledge, and original power, the closest to the legend.

(Hercules’s Strength)

Active Skill

Level: None.

Effects:

·You can concentrate the power of all your stats into the club.

·Concentrating your stats will decrease them, but that much power will be focused on the club.

[You can concentrate the power of all your stats into the club.]

However, the skill called Hercules’s Strength has a clear downside.

It burns other stats to temporarily increase strength.

“But I’m different.”

And Hyun-soo had planned all this and made the club from the beginning.

There’s no such thing as a useless stat for Ares.

However, there can exist stats that are not currently needed by the person.

Hyun-soo is, after all, a blacksmith.

Combat professions possess a stat that they could never inherently have, according to mechanical principles.

“Dedicate everything from dexterity.”

[Strength is amplified.]

[Strength is amplified.]

In this battle, dexterity is utterly unnecessary, yet Hyun-soo’s dexterity stat is remarkably high.

“Pour everything fromcharisma.”

The same was true for charisma.

Burning through these two stats altogether amounted to 1,400.

Yet, doing so did not weaken the character in any adverse way.

[Strength increases by 510%.]

Indeed, Hyun-soo had crafted the ultimate weapon perfectly suited for him in that brief moment.

After stopping the Giant King with the monarch’s command, he laughed. 

The creature had sent Luke flying all this way.

“Try flying yourself.”

Boom-

As Luke was about to follow the flying creature, he asked a question.

Who is that god?

“The god of strength, Hercules.”

Hyun-soo soared into the sky with all his might, pursuing the creature.

Crash-

[Wolf Leap]

[Instantly leaps up to 30m and lands.]

An active skill imbued in Fenrir’s boots.

“There’s no time.”

Listening to a soldier, Hyun-soo made several predictions.

He couldn’t afford to give the creature even a sliver of leeway.

The Giant King that Hyun-soo had heard about was the most intelligent boss monster he had encountered so far.

Just the fact that it had gone hunting humans was proof enough.

Moreover, as time passed, the creature was regaining its lost strength.

[10 minutes have passed.]

[The Giant King regains its lost strength.]

[Giant King Lv.291]

[The Giant King’s final level is 383.]

The figure sent shivers down his spine.

A higher final level than the previous calamity, Jack.

And on this occasion, neither Lisel nor Bark were present.

If the creature regained all its strength, there was a high chance that even the Arham territory would fall.

“This is the only moment.”

It was the only time to capture the creature.

He had to use its intelligence against it.

The Giant King, having been struck by a club and rolling on the ground, shook its head trying to regain consciousness.

As it got up, it roared at Hyun-soo.

“Kraaaak!”

At that moment, Hyun-soo swung the club again.

Boom-

“Khek!”

[The Giant King’s HP falls below 90%.]

Hyun-soo realized he had encountered another problem.

‘This club, despite its power, barely scratched its HP?’

It meant he had to land at least eighteen more hits.

“There’s no time.”

Boom-!

Boom-!

The greatest fear of boss monsters lies in their unique traits.

While regeneration might be one of its traits, there could be other powers.

Moreover, the creature’s HP pool was six times larger than Hyun-soo’s.

Boom-

Hyun-soo swung again, and the creature crashed to the ground.

The flailing creature soon struck Hyun-soo with a punch.

Boom-

Hyun-soo was sent flying.

[HP falls below 77%.]

Even a blind hit resulted in a loss of over 20% of HP.

Hyun-soo realized.

His club could shave off 5% per hit, while the creature’s fist could remove more than 20% at once.

He could only afford to be hit four times, whereas the creature could afford ten more hits.

Moreover, Hercules’s club was ultimately a product of emergency crafting.

‘Twelve more times.’

Boom-

Boom-

Boom-

‘Eight times.’

Boom

“Kwaaaaang!”

“Six times.”

Then,

“Kraaaaak!”

[The Giant’s Rage.]

[You fall into a state of fear.]

[You are stunned for 3 seconds.]

Hyun-soo’s face was terribly twisted. His body wouldn’t respond.

The giant king, with his eyes narrowed, slowly slammed his fist into the ground.

Kwajajajajak-

A massive shockwave erupted, literally tearing Hyun-soo’s body to shreds.

[HP drops below 60%.]

[HP drops below 40%.]

[HP drops below 10%…]

[HP drops to 0%…]

Hyun-soo’s eyes widened.

It was just the power of one blow.

Of course, it was one of the Giant King’s powerful forces.

And the Giant King laughed, thinking of Hyun-soo crushed like a bug.

He was more insignificant than he thought.

If it weren’t for that club.

But at that moment, Hyun-soo’s body was enveloped in a bright light.

The light was so beautiful that it momentarily stole the Giant King’s sight.

Pa-aaat-

[You possess Asnium.]

[HP has dropped below 10%.]

[HP recovers to 15%.]

One of the reasons Hyun-soo hadn’t made a good artifact with Asnium yet.

It was because Asnium, just by possessing it, had the amazing power to heal itself.

When the Giant King regained his sight lost to the light, he saw three minerals spouting around Hyun-soo.

[Counter (反) is activated.]

[Three artifacts can be made.]

The Giant King realized.

The man he almost killed with one attack was not insignificant.

But he realized one thing as he looked at the club in his hand.

He could exert a bizarre power when he made something.

But then he thought, do I need to fight him now?

Srrrrr-

He realized as he watched the club scatter from his grasp.

Ultimately, these powers are only temporary.

And he felt he could easily tear apart the opponent when he regained his full power.

Let’s flee before it’s completed and return.

“Kukekekekeke!”

The Giant King burst into deep laughter.

Kuhwaang-!

And he soared diagonally up to about 70m, as if piercing the sky.

The Giant King was confident of victory. Just 30 minutes would suffice.

In that time, he would awaken all his powers.

Ultimately, his victory…

“Gotcha.”

The Giant King’s senses were special.

Especially, the Giant King, with highly developed hearing, was puzzled by the unidentified sound.

That moment.

Puhwaaaak-!

Something unidentified pierced through his back and passed by.

“Kuheeeek!”

What pierced through his back was a spear enveloped in light.

The Giant King writhes in pain as he falls.

Conversely,

“Wolf Leap.”

The man soared into the sky.

The Giant King thought to beat down the man who soared up in an instant.

Then he realized.

“……”

Above the sky,

He cannot be free.

Especially, it makes no sense that a being whose balance is destroyed in the sky can attack the enemy.

Conversely, the one who jumped up in a ready posture to attack is different.

The man flying upright and himself falling backward.

Around the man, two swords are formed.

Chilling-

Chills ran down the Giant King’s back. Then, he soon realized.

Wriggle, wriggle

The man was clever and impressive, but his own regenerative ability was far superior.

What had pierced through his back was ultimately just a mere projectile.

His body healed exponentially fast.

Because of this, the Giant King was confident.

That even if the two swords were swung at him, he would be victorious.

***

Hyun-soo, who had soared into the air, locked eyes with the falling Giant King.

The Giant King’s eyes mocked him.

Hyun-soo also understood the meaning of that mockery.

‘Even if I swing the Dragon Sword and the fifth custom-made sword in succession….’

He couldn’t kill the Giant King.

Even if swung in sequence, the Giant King would already be regenerating.

And the moment they both landed on the ground, he would be killed by the Giant King.

However, Hyun-soo’s eyes were still sharp.

‘Even so….’

He would try desperately to kill him.

He didn’t know how to give up.

He wouldn’t be discouraged until the end, even knowing these two swords couldn’t kill the Giant King.

The fame to be gained from killing him, quest rewards, various things.

Especially the Gale Squad that could only be obtained by killing him.

No, maybe if he couldn’t kill the Giant King here, he might not even obtain Khan of the Gale Squad.

Because the Giant King would soon turn the Araham territory into ruins.

Hyun-soo reached out to grasp one of the swords.

That moment.

[It’s a critical moment.]

[The title God Blacksmith shines.]

Hyun-soo’s eyes sparkled.

The title God Blacksmith.

A power that unlocked a strength even Hyun-soo himself didn’t know.

[You discover a hidden function of the Divine Technique Counter (反).]

Hearing that notification, Hyun-soo felt thrilled.

“Kugegegege.”

Hyun-soo’s lips twisted as he captured the Giant King’s mocking figure in his eyes.

“…You’re going to die.”

The Giant King doubted him at those words filled with certainty.

The two swords floating around the man.

He grasped both swords.

Kwaaaaak-

[The hidden function is a 1% chance of wielding two weapons simultaneously.]

He swung down both swords at the same time.

The Giant King’s thoughts froze.

For some reason, his body was rapidly cooling.

Jjejejejejeject-

A dragon descending from the sky forcefully slammed him into the ground.

Kiheeeeeeek-!

Kwaaaaaang

Frozen and struck down by the dragon, the Giant King soon realized he was disintegrating.

Kwoong-!

A thrilling notification reached Hyun-soo, who had belatedly crashed into the ground.

[You have hunted the Giant King.]

Prev I TOC I Next

Survival 78

Prev I TOC I Next

After moving seats, the first thing Darius brought up was, 

“And that vampire incident, intentionally letting them go, are you in cahoots with the demons?” 

“How could that be?!” 

“It’s a joke.” 

‘Believe that with such a deadpan face, will you!’ 

Anyway, this guy’s mouth. 

Even if there’s no one around, there was no need to say it out loud.

Carelessly, this could lead to accusations of treason. 

Moreover, it’s difficult to take drastic measures against the heir of this domain. 

But the atmosphere eased a bit with the mention of it being a joke.

While Darius closed his eyes and fell into thought for a moment, I glanced around. 

Tapestries adorned with swords and shields. 

A small bookshelf set up in one corner of the room. 

Walls decorated with various weapons and stuffed animals hunted, 

‘…Definitely siblings.’ 

The desolate look of the room was so similar between the two, it was uncanny.

-Growl. 

The difference might be, instead of Friede, that creature taking up twice the space. 

The pleasant snoring of the bear occupying the expensive carpet, muttering in its sleep was… 

a feeling of breaking my understanding of pets.

Then, 

“I’d like to hear a detailed explanation before holding a trial, but, ah, you know that direct descendants of Speda have the right to immediate judgment?” 

But, despite the grim content, his face was smiling. 

‘Such a bizarre sense of humor.’ 

With a sigh that naturally rose.

“Honestly, I’ll tell you, there won’t need to be a trial.” 

As much as I needed to clear the charge of collusion. 

I laid out the facts straight. 

“Oh? The horns of high-ranking demons have that kind of effect?” 

“Yes. Adding the properties of Pama to a weapon. It’s often considered a taboo among demons themselves. I heard it from Bathory though.”

Sorry, Bathory. 

I’m using your name once more. 

Objectively speaking, you’re the one who knows the most about demons. 

Since you’ve already betrayed your kin, might as well hit them hard! 

Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain under my foot but ignored it.

“So it is. Originally, when discovering a high-ranking demon, the principle was to cut off their wings first, but it seems we need to collect their horns, even if it means making sacrifices.” 

“However, they usually tend to be sluggish. This was a unique case,” they said. 

‘Bastard Lexton,’ ironically light on his feet because he came from lowly mercenaries. 

Treated poorly even among his kind, he was the one who would wander outside. 

Stupid in the head, but obsessed with revenge. 

‘Once provoked, he’d attack whenever he was bored, making for infinite resource farming…’ 

A pity, such a waste.

“But it’s too risky of an idea. High-ranking demons can easily threaten the safety of the northern people. Be more careful in the future.” 

“I will keep that in mind.” 

Fortunately, Darius was more forgiving than I expected. 

I thought he might issue a harsh command. 

Seeing the question on my face, he cracked a slight smile.

“Still, you’ve made your decision with the well-being of the North in mind, as I’ve heard of your loyalty before. It deserves respect.”

“I always do what can aid Lady Luciana.”

“Was advising to give up on the succession competition also for Luci’s sake?”

It seemed he was confident that my advice was behind Luciana’s actions.

But this was within my expectations. And compared to the shock of letting the demon go, this was nothing.

“There was a strong wish on her part.”

Yes, that child knew nothing but the sword from the beginning.

“Now that it’s mentioned, it seems you’ve been taking good care of Luci.”

He sipped the tea served by his personal maid.

I was given a cup of tea as a guest, but I did not dare to drink hastily and just pretended to do so.

“You flatter me. Lady Luciana herself is a radiant and noble person. I have merely stayed by her side.”

“It’s not flattery. I’ve heard about your deeds in the capital, through ears outside.”

…The events in the capital?

His leisurely voice made me think hard.

What exactly was he referring to?

The widespread duel initiated by Luciana at the social gathering? The near scandal with the crown prince?

‘He couldn’t possibly be talking about the time I visited the information guild, could he?’

“News travels fast.”

“I’m also a graduate of the academy. I have plenty of acquaintances who keep me informed, not to mention my father.”

Like Luciana, he had a slight frown.

The anger that briefly showed was quickly voiced.

“What was the crown prince thinking? Do the oaths made between families mean nothing to him?”

“I agree. It was a foolish choice, both personally and for the nation.”

Thankfully, it wasn’t about the information guild.

But.

I felt it in the gaze we shared.

The person in front of me was an ally.

Suddenly, an inner closeness surged crazily.

Personally?

That refers to the crown prince, who, despite having Luciana, knows no satisfaction.

His eyes were less than a wormhole,

And it was the same when viewed nationally.

The precious treasure of the North, the only daughter of the Speda Duke, respected and wary by the imperial faction.

The man who had put down his teacup gnashed his teeth softly.

“As you say. My sister is not that keen on political views either, but the crown prince is even less so.”

I nodded repeatedly.

The Speda Ducal family is the most powerful supporter of the imperial faction.

Kicking away an engagement that solidifies relations with such a loyal supporter was absurd.

Moreover, it would cause cracks in the balance between the imperial and noble factions, currently in alignment.

“Well, my father seems to share the dissatisfaction with the royal family, so he might make a decision soon.”

“…A decision, you say?”

“Considering a shift to the noble faction might be worth contemplating.”

I got chills.

The head of the imperial faction contemplating a shift to the noble faction was unthinkable to anyone.

However, the ambition blazing in his eyes was filled with sincerity.

“With the abundant food from the East and the financial resources of the South, if we receive support from those two great nobles, conquering the North might not just be a dream.”

His will to strike at the land of the Evildon Empire and subjugate it.

Not just from enthusiasm, but aura was emanating from his entire body.

“Sir. Darius, please calm down.”

“Oh, I got carried away and was rude in front of a guest. Thank you for the advice.”

After his personal maid intervened, he managed to calm his intense energy.

He’s quite something. Darius, too, must be a green noble, having not long graduated from the academy. Yet, already his insight into the political landscape is far from ordinary. Connecting incidents from social gatherings to the benefit of his family must have required considerable thought. 

‘And even talking about a northern conquest. If successful, the north’s prestige would surpass even the royal family’s.’

Even with his natural martial prowess, he could easily sideline the foolish crown prince who has forgotten his royal duties.

“…To open up about such matters to me, it’s an honor, but why?”

It was curious why he would reveal such crucial decisions for his family’s future to me, a mere servant of Luciana. To be honest, being from the west, I’m an outsider. Plus, there was a subtle hostility towards the royal family in his words. It was a statement that might as well be top secret.

“Have you considered leaving Luciana’s side to work in a higher capacity for the Speda family?”

As expected, there was a reason he summoned me. The demon release was just a pretext.

“The position is too grand for me. I’m far too lacking…”

“No, I decide what I need.”

His gaze, burning with passion, was piercing.

***

He was tempted. Like his father, his craving for talent is no different from any ruler’s. Looking at the servant before him, a desire to have him under his command flared up like a fierce flame. 

Darius. 

He was also known to have a keen eye for talent.

But beyond that. The most important martial skill in the north? Winning a martial arts tournament, repelling a guardian deity, subduing infiltrating demons, and even this recent mansion intrusion. Hans Byron. He has proven himself. His abilities far exceed what’s required for a knight.

However, something else caught his interest even more.

‘Considering what Luci did in the Central, there weren’t many who spoke ill of it. Instead, a cheeky servant took her place.’

A servant willing to duel in place of his master. He knew his sister well. It was clearly intentional. He read the political currents and took the hit to prevent any adverse flow towards Luciana. His ability to assess situations, flexible handling, and blind loyalty must have led to such an outcome.

And this was the talent Darius most desired and needed.

“The Speda family needs talents like you right now.”

The greatest issue and limitation holding back the north, something his father, the head of the family, and he lament over every moment.

A person with talent?

The North is a land of harsh cold, barren soil, and lurking dangers. Warriors who have endured it are plentiful. 

Instead, there’s a dire shortage of those who can envision the future and possess political acumen, forcing the region to hire from elsewhere. 

As a result, the North often ends up at a disadvantage in most negotiations outside its borders.

“Come with me. I assure you the highest position and honor.”

“…How far are you talking?”

“The North values ability over lineage or finance officers common in other regions. Even someone from another region or a commoner can rise to the position of treasurer.”

The young Duke Darius smiled confidently. 

In the future, when he becomes the Duke, he intends to entrust the Speda family’s finances to him. 

‘Wouldn’t this be tempting enough?’ He thought of buying his loyalty with the promise of a bright future. 

Following him would ensure Luciana’s future shines as well, so there would be nothing to lose.

Especially since he’s from the desolate West, a third son of a baron with little chance of inheriting any title. 

Talented in both martial and strategic aspects, but consistently hindered by his background. 

However, even with the strongest offer he could make, there was no particular reaction from him. 

No, rather, the slight tilt of his head conveyed indifference.

That arrogantly meaningful attitude confirmed it for Darius. 

Indeed, this servant knew his own worth. 

Too precious to merely stand by his lovely, kind, beautiful, and stubbornly cute sister.

“I mentioned earlier, the position is too grand for me…” 

“Put aside useless formalities and pretensions. As person to person, I want to recruit you for your talent, so tell me what you desire so I can fulfill it.”

Darius eagerly entered into what seemed like a negotiation masked as loyalty. 

Artifacts of significance? He could give them. 

Wealth, power, fame? He promised to secure all. 

However, the usually warm and friendly face of his interlocutor hardened.

“I truly appreciate your high regard for me. But, I cannot.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I am Lady Luciana’s servant.”

Darius was puzzled. 

He was well aware of the outsider, Hans Byron’s, profound loyalty. 

Indeed, it would be more beneficial for Luciana if he were on Darius’s side.

“I have already mentioned this to the Sword Master, but it was only after coming here that I felt it. Lady Luciana is the lord I am destined to serve.”

“The object of service merely changes. Working for the Speda family would benefit Luci too, as your achievements-“

“No, that’s meaningless.”

With barely open eyes, a strong will emanated from the barely visible pupils.

“Being by Lady Luciana’s side, supporting her, is my fate, my supreme mission.”

“…But there’s a position available that would allow you to advance further.”

“If I cannot share it with Lady Luciana, what meaning would it hold?”

Only then did Darius understand.

‘I thought it was loyalty, but was I mistaken?’

It was loyalty, indeed, but strangely twisted. 

Obsession. 

It seemed like catching a glimpse of that ugly sight often shown by zealots. 

‘However, he will never cross the line… That’s disappointing.’

***

So, it seems convincing you right now is out of my reach. 

“Thank you for understanding.”

Darius, once again losing his serious demeanor, could only send him off with a smile. 

After the door closed. 

The seemingly invisible personal maid refilled his tea and asked, 

“Is it alright to have revealed so much? He was, until recently, competing in the succession for his lady.”

“It’s fine. He has no desire for power.”

Darius had a good grasp of Hans Byron as a person. 

Undoubtedly, devoted only to Luciana. 

A loyal shadow, moving only by his sister’s will. 

Of course, he could forcibly take Luciana’s personal servant if he wished. 

But while he might be an invaluable tool and weapon for Luciana, he would never show his capabilities in Darius’s hands. 

“It makes me envious of her fortune.”

A sincere frustration was evident on Darius’s face. 

All the connections he had formed were based on transactions. 

“Aren’t I here?”

“That’s true. I spoke out of turn.”

With an apologetic heart, Darius met his maid’s eyes and smiled wryly. 

But. 

Persuasion isn’t the only way. 

“Don’t worry. I’ve found a way to bring him in.”

“How could you possibly…”

Facing his maid’s incredulous look, Darius winked. 

The relationship between the prince and his sister is currently clouded with dark clouds. 

If that relationship deteriorates further. 

Wouldn’t he have to find her a new match? 

“Of course, if he remains merely a servant, it would be difficult.”

A story possible only after he becomes Duke. 

But with a man of his talents, surely he’ll move to a higher position. 

In the not-so-distant future, it seemed entirely feasible. 

Hans Byron. 

Whether he wants it or not. 

The world won’t leave him be. 

***

“Phew, what a scouting offer.”

Only after entering my personal room could I finally reveal my true feelings. 

Maintaining my composure from the moment I was in front of the young duke was utterly draining. 

“Exactly. Such a lack of manners!”

A familiar face emerged from the shadows, biting her lip in vehement agreement. 

Seemingly forgetting the moment earlier when her name was used in vain, she was quite upset. 

“Ha. Why so angry again?”

“Reaching out carelessly to another’s retinue?! When this side has no intention of granting permission.”

Bathory, fuming, strode over to me. 

Close enough to feel her breath. 

Her cold gaze bore into me as she admonished, 

“Remember. We are bound by a deep relationship known as a vassal contract.”

“Of course. How could I forget?”

Perfectly exploitable, indeed. 

Hiding my true feelings, I flashed a warm smile at the contractor. 

“Besides, with such a blunt refusal, they shouldn’t think of approaching again.”

Already bound to Luciana by life itself. 

Plus, leaving my favorite character behind isn’t something I could do. 

Still, I shook off the uneasy feeling with a flick of my hands. 

“Come now, it’s getting late. Let’s head back to your room.”

“Wait, wait! Still going on about privacy and such nonsense…!”

-Bang!

I closed the door behind her with a loud noise, wiping the sweat off my forehead. 

“All this trouble because of my mouth, and I’m already swamped with work.”

I’ll have to be even more careful in the future. 

It’s my own mess, after all, no one else to blame. 

“Do I have to pull an all-nighter?”

The academy’s entrance period is soon. 

Not only do I have to prepare for Luciana’s and my own admission, but I also need to ensure Bathory’s servant status is approved. 

And if I have to take care of Oparn’s simple identity proof, sleep will have to be sacrificed. 

‘First… I need to find a suitable mercenary guild to take that guy in.’

Taking a break, but not for my sake, always for others. 

I couldn’t help but let out a sigh. 

***

“Really, acting like a maid who can’t even get the basics right. You’re planning to send a servant who cares for you straight to the guillotine.”

“…What?”

Bathory’s face twisted horribly. 

Something had gone terribly wrong. 

The guillotine? Is Hans’s life in danger?

Prev I TOC I Next

Act 58

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Lupina Orland, known as the granddaughter of Ruger Orland, the owner of the renowned forge ‘Dusk Flame’, was his heir apparent. Despite her gender, she was mentioned as the next owner of the forge due to her reputation and skills. Not one to shy away from the grueling tasks, she always wore a smile, and there was no employee who disliked her.

“Lupina, as I mentioned earlier, I’m leaving today’s closing duties to you.”

“Yes, Grandfather, you said you were going out to buy what’s needed for the repair of the Moonlight Sword, right?”

“That’s right.”

As she placed her hat on and smiled at Ruger, who was watching her, she reassured him.

“Don’t worry. I can handle the closing by myself now.”

“I hope so.”

Ruger replied curtly, turning away and exiting the building. Watching him leave, Lupina began the closing duties of ‘Dusk Flame’, which was now empty of other workers.

“Hmm, everyone did a good job tidying up.”

The closing was not a grand task—merely ensuring that the other blacksmiths had put away their tools properly, checking that no fires were left burning, and confirming other miscellaneous tasks. In other forges, this might be a job for the least experienced, but at ‘Dusk Flame’, it was a tradition that the manager must finish the day.

“All the magic lamps are off, and everything that needs to be ordered by tomorrow is accounted for! Good!”

After surveying the workshop, Lupina smiled in satisfaction.

“Huh?”

Her eye caught a room that still had a light on. It was Ruger’s office.

‘I remember turning off the light in Grandfather’s office first…’

Wondering if he had returned and finished his business, she felt a bit curious but decided not to dwell on it and headed to Ruger’s office.

Thud!

Lupina opened the door and stepped inside.

“Grandfather, have you already finished your…”

She stopped mid-sentence, her expression turning to one of confusion as she shifted her gaze deeper into the office.

“Who are you?”

In the room were four figures with hoods obscuring their faces.

Though not trained in martial arts, Lupina could sense an extraordinary presence emanating from them—an ominous and somber aura.

“Strange… typically, only Ruger would be here at this hour.”

The man with the most intense aura spoke in a puzzling tone.

Lupina, feeling a chilling touch crawl over her skin, swallowed hard.

“I’m sorry, I should have checked properly…”

“Never mind that. Is this woman Ruger’s granddaughter?”

“It seems so.”

What are they doing here, breaking into someone’s workplace?

Lupina wanted to shout at them, but it didn’t seem the right time for bold declarations.

“What will you do now?”

“Given the situation, we’ll have to alter our plan.”

Their eyes met, and the man with the dominant presence commanded,

“Seize her.”

At that command, Lupina instantly turned and ran for the door.

***

Sneaking into the ‘Dusk Flame’ forge amid the darkness had not been difficult. In fact, it had become almost second nature after just one experience.

‘…To think I would be doing this again.’

There was a part of me that felt it was inevitable. Although I was somewhat annoyed at having to clean up after the ‘Black Knight’ who no longer existed, it also felt like recreating a scene from a game.

There was a certain thrill to it, similar to the role of the ‘Black Knight’ in the game ‘Let’s Kill the Demon King’ where he covertly sabotages the Dawn Society.

‘Calm down.’

I tucked away the creeping exhilaration and closed my eyes to focus. ‘Mana Detection’ was something I had frequently used while living here.

‘Are there five people?’

Using ‘Mana Detection’, I could roughly tell how many people were inside the ‘Dusk Flame’. 

‘One must be Pintel, another Ruger.’

Given the late hour, it seemed all other employees had left Ruger behind and gone home.

‘But why are they separated?’

Feeling something was off, I thinned and stretched my aura further, scattering it around the building to get a better sense of the situation.

Using ‘Mana Detection’ more carefully, I could now clearly tell where everyone was inside the building.

‘One is upstairs, four are on the same floor as me.’

What was strange was the group of four on my floor. It seemed like the three were chasing after one.

‘Is Ruger being chased?’

The auras of the four were moving in real-time and quite swiftly.

Considering Ruger’s advanced age, it seemed impossible for him to be moving at such a speed.

‘Where should I head first?’

After a moment’s thought, I decided to go where the four auras were most concentrated. Before moving, my reflection in a window caught my eye.

‘Right, it looks horrific every time.’

With a sigh at the grotesque appearance of the ‘Sombra’ mask I had created, I moved deeper into the building.

***

She ran towards the back door as fast as she had never run before in her life.

“Pant, pant…!”

Her breath was ragged, and her heart thudded loudly in her ears.

‘What is this… what’s going on?’

Could it be robbers? No, that seemed unlikely. Though she hadn’t seen them clearly, their intent didn’t seem to be theft.

“Ahhhh!”

Suddenly tripping, Lupina’s body swayed, and she fell down with a sharp pain. She tried to get up quickly, but her left leg wouldn’t support her.

In the pitch-black corridor, now void of any magical lighting, she sensed the presence getting closer.

‘I have to run.’

Before she could fully discern them with her eyes, the shapes of the assailants became clear enough to identify. Ignoring the pain, Lupina struggled to her feet and attempted to run.

But something blocked her path, and slowly, she lifted her head to look up.

“Gasp!”

What she saw was a man wearing a mask so monstrous it seemed like something from a nightmare.

The dark corridor, the ghastly appearance, the feeling of being chased—all these factors combined overwhelmed Lupina with an intense fear.

“Please… save me…” she managed to force out, her lips barely moving.

However, before she could finish, the man in the mask indifferently walked past her, ignoring her plea.

“Who is that?” a voice echoed from deeper in the corridor. It came from the assailants who had been chasing Lupina from Ruger’s office. Seeing their hostile stance towards the masked man, it was clear they weren’t allies.

“That mask is foul,” commented one of the attackers, and for once, Lupina agreed. The masked man’s appearance was far from conventional.

“He’s no ordinary person.”

“No normal person would wear such a monstrous mask.”

The man in the mask twitched at that comment. A flash of unexplained anger seemed to pass through him, but he quickly regained his composure, calm like a still lake—yet as if hiding depths that could engulf.

“Who exactly is this?”

Suddenly, the three assailants who had been following Lupina charged at the masked man with a speed that startled her. Despite being pursued, she was taken aback by their faster pace.

As they approached, the masked man calmly stepped back, pulling Lupina with him. As she took a step back, shadows flowed from the masked man’s body.

“Magic?”

Riding the night air, the ‘shadows’ darted towards the attackers like arrows. The masked man whipped them like a lash, swiftly subduing one assailant before charging forward.

Despite being outnumbered, his confidence was not unfounded.

“Uh…!”

Lupina barely saw the masked man draw his sword so quickly that she didn’t notice until the attacker’s blade was already swinging towards him. He dodged and counterattacked, cutting another down.

“Aaaaagh!”

“You bastard!”

His swordplay was restrained yet carried an air of graceful dignity.

The terrifying mask and the beautiful swordsmanship presented a stark contrast, pulling Lupina’s gaze like a piece of art.

The last assailant charged again, overwhelmed by fear. But before his blade could reach, more ‘shadows’ leaked from the masked man, swiftly grabbing the attacker by the throat.

“Choke…!”

Though his face was hidden under the hood, the continuous groans made the situation painfully clear.

Soon, the assailant’s hand slackened, and the shadows receded back to the masked man.

“Finished,” the masked man stood still, examining his hands, though the reason was unclear to Lupina.

‘Ah.’

A thought suddenly dawned on Lupina.

‘It feels like I’m hearing an old tale that Grandfather Ruger used to tell.’

A long time ago, in the capital where public safety was poor, there were demons that exploited and plundered the commoners, sucking their blood.

The frenzy of these demons reached its peak, and the atrocities faced by the commoners were indescribable, while the incompetent dynasty merely overlooked the current situation.

At that time, a nobleman wearing a mask appeared.

Suddenly, this nobleman killed the demons, and the commoners’ trust started to shift towards him, who had taken over the duties of the dynasty.

Fearing the nobleman, the dynasty placed a bounty on his head.

Nevertheless, it is said that he continued to kill the demons for the sake of the commoners.

Without anyone’s help, all alone, ‘It can’t be.’

Lupina preferred such absurd stories over the more ambivalent tales like that of a prince on a white horse.

Of course, she knew in her head that the masked man before her was not the protagonist of the stories passed down from old.

Yet, as if he was the only one left in this world, his figure, lonely under the pouring moonlight, had become the final stop of the ‘tale’ that began long ago at the tip of a tongue.

The name of that ‘tale’ was, “Uh, the Black Knight…………?”

Lupina said with a trembling voice.

Then, the motionless man in the mask slowly lifted his head and shifted his gaze towards her.

***

Amazed by the power of Sombra, I was immersed in the aftermath when I turned my head at Lupina’s ridiculous remark.

‘What are you saying.’

I threw a look at Lupina, whose pupils seemed to dilate in disbelief.

Black Knight? Because of whom am I suffering now……………

‘Huh?’

Wait a minute! Did you just say Black Knight?

Does that mean, unbeknownst to me, the ‘Black Knight’ is already active?

“I heard it from my grandfather. In the past, there was a nobleman called the Black Knight in the capital……”

Past? Nobleman? It must be a misunderstanding.

After all, if the Black Knight really existed, the Dawn Society wouldn’t have just watched and let them secure the hegemony.

‘That being said,’ I looked at Lupina’s face.

A moment ago, she was definitely attacked by members of the Dawn Society.

‘Shouldn’t it have been Ruger, not Lupina?’

The owner of the ‘Dusk Flame’, Ruger is a tough character.

Thanks to that, he would be the one to stay late in the forge handling the aftermath.

Why is it his granddaughter Lupina who remains at this hour?

“Right? So, you are the protagonist of that ‘Black Knight’ story.”

Lost in thought, I shifted my gaze back to Lupina at her question.

I had to deny her words, but due to the character trait of ‘formal speech,’ I found myself unable to speak.

[A new character trait, ‘Black Knight,’ was acquired.]

Then! Suddenly, a UI popped up.

Reading the words written on it, I felt my pupils dilate in surprise.

‘What is this.’

Character Trait, ‘Black Knight’

Why is it here?

Prev I TOC I Next

Round 10

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Breaking down the wall wasn’t too difficult.

It would have been hard if I had done it alone with a pickaxe, but surprisingly, the slimes were a great help.

Pop!

As the slimes squeezed through the cracks and moved back and forth, the wall couldn’t hold and collapsed.

Unlike their usual smooth movement, they were forcibly exerting force this time.

“Well done, well done.”

Thanks to them, I was just creating a few cracks with my pickaxe and sucking up the rewards.

Squish!

“Aha, I am a lord. Lords do not move carelessly.”

As if to say, why are you just playing around, I spoke sternly to Mark Two who was squirming.

After a little while, the wall quickly fell, and the interior scenery was revealed.

“It’s dark in here.”

It felt eerily cold.

I took a step forward with the slimes, and as my eyes adjusted slowly, I could start to see inside.

The space itself was larger than I expected, looking like the inside of a cave.

“An altar?”

I wasn’t sure because I didn’t really know what an altar was, but it was a structure that anyone would remark looked like an altar.

Feeling that something was off, I naturally sent the slimes in first again.

“Check if there’s anything dangerous.”

Blob!

The cute, blobbing slimes spread out to inspect the surroundings. Although Poispois had initially entered and roughly scanned the area, it was still better to make sure everything was checked thoroughly.

Blob!

After about 10 minutes, the slimes returned with no issues reported.

“It’s obviously a piece, isn’t it?”

Piece.

Literally, it meant a hidden fragment.

There could be information about the history of this dungeon or about the creator of the dungeon.

It might even spawn a boss monster, or it could just be an empty space.

It could be a reward, or it could be something harmful; nobody knew what a piece might contain.

Generally, the chances were much higher that finding it would be beneficial for the finder, so I couldn’t help but be excited.

“It’s not like a monster is going to suddenly pop out of the altar, right?”

Huh? Did I just set a flag?

Creak-

As I approached, the previously still altar suddenly started to move.

As soon as I opened the top like a lid, a chilling aura burst forth from the altar.

“Ugh!”

Blub-blub!

The slimes reflexively blocked in front of me.

Although their movement to protect me was touching even in this sudden situation…

‘They’re no help at all!’

Slimes were slow and weak enough to be outmatched by an ordinary high school student.

They seemed all-powerful due to their mysterious abilities demonstrated so far, but that’s just how slimes are.

Splat!

Blorp?

I quickly scooped up three slimes into my arms.

Survive first, think later.

It’s time for a strategic retreat!

Tatatat!

As I ran swiftly, fortunately, there were no obstructions. Still, just to be safe, I ran to where the ladder was to get as far away from the wall as possible.

“Ah, not following?”

Blorp?

The three slimes looked up at me with big eyes while nestled in my arms.

I sneaked a glance behind; nothing was following. Did I imagine that strange presence?

“There was definitely something. Right?”

Blorp?

“No? But I’m sure there was something.”

Blub! Blub!

Was it an overreaction?

However, even if this place feels safe, the fact that it’s a dungeon hasn’t changed.

It’s not bad to be cautious, just in case. So, shall we go again?

Blorp!

The slimes slid down from my body and slowly made their way back to the spot where the wall had been breached.

I too matched their pace, cautiously moving forward.

“Really nothing? What was that earlier? Did I imagine it?”

As soon as we returned to the cave-like place where the wall had been breached, that inexplicably eerie and damp aura wrapped around me again.

Just as I was consoling myself that it must be the atmosphere, the slimes suddenly became agitated.

Blorp-blub!

Blub!

Their frantic behavior seemed to be calling me, so I hesitantly checked in the direction of the altar.

“What’s going on?”

As I approached the altar, I was startled by something that suddenly appeared and took a step back.

“…Ugh, what is this?”

There was a slime, shriveled and drying out. It seemed to still be alive, struggling to squirm out of the altar that had transformed like a coffin.

But its shape and color were quite unusual.

It was clear this was no ordinary slime.

“A striped yellow slime…”

Its shape wasn’t just round; it had features like a cat’s ears. Of course, it looked like that, but it was still a slime.

“Ah, I can just check, right?”

I realized I could call up the slime’s status screen.

I continued to watch the creature struggling to come out of the altar.

[?? Slime LV.10]

This is no ordinary slime.

[Sealed state.]

‘Ability to synthesize liquids’

[Ability: ??]

I scratched my head looking at the status window that promptly appeared. This system had not a single helpful feature.

“I can tell it’s not ordinary just by looking at it. And what’s with these question marks? And what about the seal?”

Anyway, since it was a slime after all, I wondered if I could make it mine.

“Hey, kid. Can you hear what I’m saying?”

Slooosh—

As soon as it heard me, it just slumped down. It didn’t look very well, so I left it to the slimes and went to check if there was any food left.

“Sheesh, there’s hardly anything left.”

These gluttonous creatures.

The tomatoes that were left were almost gone.

Still, seeing the second generation of crystal tomatoes that were now growing gave me some relief, but to sustain the growing number of slimes…

“Well, that’s why I planted a lot more underground.”

I planted seven types of crops.

It was getting a bit complicated to calculate everything, but I didn’t mind and planned to try various things.

With the remaining tomatoes, I approached the slime stuck like dead in the altar and handed it a tomato.

“Here, eat this and cheer up.”

Slooosh?

The creature still looked weak but moved with effort upon seeing the tomato in my hand.

Then it seemed to eat the tiny cherry tomatoes, one by one, at the spot I assumed to be its mouth.

“How is it? Tasty?”

Slooosh—

The slime looked around for more after eating the tomatoes. Unfortunately, that was all the tomatoes I had.

“Just hang in there for one day. I’ll harvest more tomatoes tomorrow. I should be able to harvest some Laylas by then too, and I’ll give you one specially.”

I had planted a total of 30 Laylas.

I was worried because I couldn’t plant many due to the lack of seeds, but fortunately, all of them grew without any falling behind.

I had planned to give one to each of the slimes from the beginning, but I hadn’t factored in this mutant slime.

‘But what can I do? It’s part of my family now.’

All slimes were my family.

And I thought I would be quite happy if this unique one became my minion.

It was a creature not found in the monster encyclopedia I had studied while researching Awakeners.

“What should I call you? Your level is 10, so how about Ten?”

Poooh—

“You don’t like that? Then how about Question, since you’re a mystery?”

Poooh—

“You keep making that ‘poooh poooh’ sound, so how about I call you Pooh?”

Poooh!

It seemed to complain again, but sorry, I can only understand the nuances.

Regardless of whether it liked it or not, I decided to call it Pooh and helped it out of the altar.

“Was this altar actually a coffin? Ugh!”

I almost fell through suddenly but managed to regain my balance using the exceptional physical abilities of an Awakener.

Curious, I looked again, and as I helped Pooh out, the altar split open, revealing stairs.

“Stairs? A secret room? Treasure?”

My thoughts naturally drifted to treasure.

It seems like in my past life, I must have died with treasure right before my eyes.

Startled!

Once again about to act unconsciously, I managed to stop myself.

What am I thinking there could be down there!

“Pooh, do you know if there’s something down here?”

Poooh— Poooh!

“I can’t understand what you’re saying?”

After eating the tomato, Pooh seemed to have regained some energy and was earnestly trying to explain something, but I couldn’t understand at all. Its language was much more advanced than that of my other slimes.

“So, it’s really a level 10 slime, huh.”

Now that I think about it, for a level 10, it doesn’t have much going for it. Of course, it’s said to be sealed, but, well.

I really should go out and gather some information about this seal. The chances of finding the answers I want are extremely low, but I have to try something.

“Can this thing be closed?”

I wanted to check later rather than right now.

For now, sleep.

I’ve been up for three nights already. Physically, I’m fine, but mentally tired. I’ve been through a lot all at once.

Pooh!

Then Pooh rubbed against the altar, and the door that opened the stairs closed.

“Oh, so you are somehow connected to this?”

Since Pooh was found here, it’s highly likely that whatever is down those stairs has something to do with Pooh.

Well, it’s a slime dungeon, and considering it awakened my powers as the slime lord, it’s not surprising that a level 10 slime is here.

There’s probably something related to slimes below those stairs too.

‘Come to think of it, it goes underground again. Could it be leading continuously underground?’

I thought this dungeon was only about 200 pyeong, but it keeps revealing more underground. The landlord, or rather, the dungeon owner, would probably ask for more money if they knew.

I need to make money fast and buy this dungeon.

“Okay, okay. Everyone’s had their fun, now it’s time to work.”

Blorp?!

They seemed incredulous as if they were wondering when they had ever played, but I still don’t quite understand slime language.

Nevertheless, they started working diligently again, all except for one.

“Hm? What are you doing here? You should work too.”

Pooh—

As I smiled and spoke, Pooh staggered after the other slimes.

Hmm, it still doesn’t seem to be in good shape.

I wasn’t a ruthless boss.

I was a very kind boss who knew how to think about welfare.

“Pooh! Since you’re not well yet, manage the upper area instead. There’s much less work up there since there’s not much to do compared to here!”

Haha, what a kind boss I am!

Moreover, the rookie was already managing things up there, so there wouldn’t be much work to do.

“Show the dignity of level 10! You can do it, Pooh!”

Was that silence just my imagination?

Regardless, another new family member had joined, and my farm was becoming more colorful.

“Maybe I should get some sleep now.”

I felt unusually high-spirited, probably because I was tired.

“Set the alarm, and, mmm.”

I watched Pooh and the rookie one last time before drifting off to sleep.

One slime, two slimes, three slimes…

Prev | TOC | Next

Act 57

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The woman wore a necklace bearing the emblem of the ‘Golden Apple’, a symbol of the Godric family, one of the four influential families within the social circles of the Adratan Empire.

“What’s with you?”

She looked at me with half-closed eyes, then turned to the man attending her and spoke.

“Why haven’t you shown him out?”

The man, appearing to be a bodyguard, coughed awkwardly, showing discomfort, and then slowly approached her to whisper something in her ear.

It didn’t take long for her haughty expression to distort.

“This person is the ‘Smiling Executioner’…?”

“That’s correct, Lady Erzena.”

No matter how famous someone is, it’s common not to recognize them in person. It’s like seeing a celebrity in a café and only feeling that they look familiar.

“Hmm…”

The woman, who had been covering her mouth with a fan, looked at me intently before abruptly turning her head away.

“I will come back another time.”

She tried to sound nonchalant, but a vivid purple, symbolizing ‘fear’, clearly flickered above her head.

She quickly scurried away from the scene.

Now, only Ruger and I were left in the spacious workshop, and the commotion seemed like a distant memory.

“Damned nobles, I can’t stand the Godric family.”

The silence was broken by Ruger Orland, the owner of ‘Dusk Flame’, cursing as he brought one hand to his temple, his expression soured.

“So, what brings you here? Don’t tell me you’ve come to ask about the reason the Sword Saint left the Capital?”

Ruger’s voice was fiery with impatience.

‘Oh? He knows about that too?’

I was curious, but that wasn’t the reason for my visit today.

“Hardly. I’m not that idle. I’m here simply for a repair.”

With a smile, I placed the Moonlight Sword on the desk. I presented the slightly damaged blade, a result of experimenting with its new ability, ‘Sombra’.

“What a state. I didn’t think you’d come for a repair instead of ordering something new.”

Ruger muttered to himself as he stripped the scabbard from the Moonlight Sword I had handed him.

After examining the blade for a moment, he spoke.

“The blade is damaged in an unusual way. Looks like you’ve been experimenting with mana, haven’t you?”

Spot on.

No wonder he’s renowned as a master craftsman.

“How much do you think the repair will cost?”

“Never mind the cost. I won’t charge you.”

I turned to him, surprised by his words.

“I made it myself, after all. I intend to maintain it for the sake of my reputation. I had that in mind when I made it for you in the first place.”

With unexpected generosity, Ruger re-sheathed the Moonlight Sword.

The atmosphere was quite different from when I first came to have the Moonlight Sword made.

“How long do you think it will take?”

“Three days.”

“Understood.”

Ruger responded gruffly.

Three days, that’s not a short time.

Even so, three days was not an unbearable wait. The real issue was finding a suitable sword to use in the meantime.

“Just before you go, take that sword up there too.”

As I was about to say my goodbyes and leave, Ruger spoke up again.

“After all, you did chase away that damned woman from the Godric family. She comes here incessantly asking to have swords made; it’s terribly annoying.”

Ruger’s voice was still gruff, which only added to my curiosity. This was the same man who had previously been so furious about even being asked to make the ‘Moonlight Sword’, despite being fully compensated.

“People change. Last time, you were quite angry just because I asked you to make a sword.”

I revealed my thoughts openly.

“It’s not me who has changed.”

Ruger’s cryptic response left me puzzled. I looked intently at his face, which still bore a gruff expression.

“It’s you who’s changed. Don’t you seem more human than before?”

His comment left me standing there, staring at him in silence.

Somehow, I felt a strange sense of change. I had always considered ‘Julian’ and myself distinctly separate entities, but now, it seemed as if those boundaries were beginning to blur.

“The sharp edge is still there, though.”

I had to agree.

***

I ended up accepting the sword unexpectedly. With a word of thanks, I stepped outside and drew the sword Ruger had given me from its scabbard to examine it thoroughly.

Ruger had handed it over with a nonchalant attitude, as if it was something trivial, but the sword he gave was far superior to the best products of ordinary forges.

‘Not only does he offer to repair the Moonlight Sword for free, but he also gives away such a sword.’

While I should have felt grateful for his generosity, it rather made me suspicious.

Could Ruger have lost his senses?

Exiting through the back door of ‘Dusk Flame’, I felt the chilly night air against my skin as I started walking back to my mansion.

…Hmm…

As I walked, a piercing chill of malice brushed against my skin. This wasn’t a scattering presence, but a malice distinctly directed at me.

“Bishop Pintel, or should I say Sir Pintel, since we’re outside?”

Having always felt this kind of malice in the hideouts of the Dawn Society, I named the source of this aura.

Soon after, Bishop Pintel of the Dawn Society emerged from an alleyway, looking unusually haggard.

His sudden appearance was quite startling, but I made an effort not to show it.

‘…Could he have noticed?’

I was the one who had recently interfered with the ‘soul stone’ acquisitions.

Given that there was no personal relationship or acquaintance between us, Pintel’s reason for seeking me out seemed clear—he must be convinced that I was the one who had intercepted the ‘soul stone’.

‘And he’s not alone.’

Supporting this thought, figures that appeared to be members of the Dawn Society also emerged from the shadows.

Swallowing hard, I realized the situation might be a bit dangerous, especially since my beloved ‘Moonlight Sword’ was currently out for repairs.

“Such hostility towards a fellow, have I done something wrong, Sir Pintel?”

I probed Pintel’s intentions, trying to understand why he was here, in a dark alley where the light from the street lamps didn’t reach.

In the dimly lit alley, only Pintel’s intensely glaring eyes were prominently visible. 

“Julian, I have never considered you a comrade,” he stated sharply.

“Is that so?” I replied, maintaining a calm demeanor and smiling, although I could feel a cold sweat forming on my back.

‘Has he really noticed?’

His overt hostility was unsettling. With three other cult members accompanying him at this late hour, there could only be one reason for their presence. I slowly moved my hand toward the sword Ruger had given me.

“Didn’t you say you joined not for the doctrine, but for power? You shouldn’t have any regrets then,” I recalled a statement I had made when I first joined the Dawn Society.

To think he still remembered those words I had carelessly blurted out in my confusion.

“In that vein, Julian, I’ll help you get closer to the power you desire. Cooperate with me.”

What? His sudden shift in conversation made my hand, which had been reaching for the sword’s scabbard, hesitate.

“Are you saying you’ll give me power?”

“We’re thinking of recruiting Ruger, the blacksmith of Dusk Flame.”

Pintel’s words were unexpected, but they also brought some relief. It seemed he didn’t yet know I was the one who had intercepted the ‘soul stone’.

“If we could use weapons made by that master smith, it would enhance our combat capabilities.”

“Do you think that stubborn blacksmith will listen to you?”

“If he refuses… we might have to force him.”

Pintel’s mention of ‘force’ was emphasized with a certain intensity. I couldn’t help but let out an incredulous laugh at the audacity.

“What’s so funny?”

“Oh, my apologies. It’s just amusing that you need my help for such a trivial matter.”

Pintel’s brow twitched at the word ‘trivial.’

“This is meant to be the beginning of a cooperative relationship,” he explained.

“I’m sorry, but it seems you might be overestimating yourself,” I retorted.

“What?”

Though such a snide tone might not be the best approach—given that not only Pintel but his fellow cult members could turn hostile—I knew that sometimes avoiding a direct confrontation was the best way to prevent unwanted complications.

“Cooperation implies a relationship of equals. Have you ever heard of a tiger making a pact with a fox?”

“Other bishops from different branches will soon join us here. The plan will proceed with or without you.”

“Ha! How idle must these bishops be to gather just to recruit one blacksmith?”

My mocking tone clearly annoyed Pintel, as his expression twisted with irritation.

“Julian, I’ll say it one last time. Cooperate with us. Since you’ve opposed Sir Aiden, collaborating with other bishops of the Dawn Society will be difficult…”

“Pintel, it seems you’re too busy trying to secure your own position.”

Though he didn’t respond, I felt the malice directed at me intensify.

“Understandable, since you’ve only recently been promoted to bishop. Things easily gained can also be easily lost.”

With each word, Pintel seemed increasingly agitated, his expression darkening—a clear sign that I had struck a nerve.

Clenching his fists, Pintel seemed on the verge of losing his composure.

The sound of grinding teeth echoed clearly through the alley. 

“Of course! I should have known better than to expect anything from you. Now I look like the fool.”

With those emotionally charged words, Pintel and the cult members he had brought with him disappeared into the night. Finally, the surroundings were peaceful again. I sighed in relief, thinking I was about to face revenge.

But that was a fleeting thought. Pintel’s appearance here was aimed at recruiting ‘Ruger’, the owner of ‘Dusk Flame’. 

‘Ruger being recruited… He’ll definitely refuse the offer. Then, the ‘force’ Pintel mentioned will likely begin. Was it three days Ruger mentioned for the repair of my Moonlight Sword?’ 

If something happened to Ruger now, my ‘Moonlight Sword’ might not get properly repaired.

I cursed silently. Originally, Pintel was supposed to secure the ‘soul stone’ and potentially lose his life to the ‘Black Knight’ in the process. The fact that he survived and devised this plan only deepened my resentment towards Hayden Reich.

‘I’d prefer to avoid a confrontation with a bishop, but if it’s necessary for the repair of my Moonlight Sword, then so be it.’

Glancing at my waist, I saw the sword Ruger had given me hanging there. 

“Master, will you be returning home?” As I walked towards the carriage I had arrived in, the butler who had been waiting greeted me politely.

“I feel like taking a walk. Go on ahead without me.”

I opened the carriage door and took out a case from the back.

“A walk, sir?” 

“Yes.”

“Very well, master.” The butler nodded, seemingly used to such whimsical decisions from ‘Julian’.

As the carriage moved away, I opened the case I had taken. Inside was a hood I had used previously when I stole the ‘soul stone’.

‘I brought this to discard, never imagining I’d wear it again.’

Removing my coat and changing into the hood, I couldn’t suppress a bitter smile.

‘A student suffers because of a Master’s neglect.’

Once I had put on the hood, I considered the current situation with Pintel being a bishop. In the heat of potential combat, the hood might come off.

‘Could I use Sombra to mask my face?’

Considering I needed to keep my identity hidden, I decided to use ‘Sombra’ to obscure my face.

[Aura Transformation]

Thanks to my newly acquired skill, shaping ‘Sombra’ wasn’t too difficult, and I managed to stretch it just enough to cover my face, turning it into a mask.

Surprisingly, the mask felt comfortable.

‘What does it look like?’

Reflecting on a puddle left by yesterday’s rain, I caught my reflection.

‘Terrifyingly hideous.’

Thanks to ‘Julian’, the natural artist’s aesthetic sense, the mask’s appearance was so grotesque it might haunt someone’s dreams.

If the gendarmes were to spot me now, it wouldn’t be surprising if it caused a stir.

‘It looks horrific.’

Yet, despite its ghastly appearance, I couldn’t help but think, ‘This isn’t so bad.’

Perhaps my sense of aesthetics had already been corrupted.

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