Chapter 113
Chapter 113
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: 32-3. The Unmelting Heart of the North.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
There's something that pillar husband guy once told me. It was during a raid, chatting over the in-game voice chat.
"Hey, did the saintess fetishist show up?"
"Why'd you invite me to take down the Harmless Demon King? I've already cleared all the rewards here."
The place I joined after getting the invite had the Harmless Demon King—the first boss to appear in Black Heart.
A demon king in the form of a gray knight.
He seemed utterly harmless, yet he was like a tutorial introducing the type of authority this demon king wielded.
"I just found a new gimmick."
"This guy's secretly spreading poison everywhere, right? There's more to the gimmick?"
The authority of harmfulness, opposing his harmless facade.
A demon king who scatters colorless, odorless poison that players can't detect, then slams in a damage-over-time effect that suddenly drains health once the poisoning ends.
Since it was an authority, you had to block it with artifacts or masterworks—no status debuffs even appeared.
This is why I always analyzed demon kings' authorities first before fighting them.
"Alright, bring out the chess pieces. Black Knight."
"See, this is why pillar husbands are no good. He's got it ingrained as a habit."
I brought out the transparent crystal chessboard and pieces. Normally, you could just decapitate him for the clear,
"I've even beaten him at chess before."
"If it was something like that, I wouldn't have called you. Who do you think I am?"
but to snag the extra hidden rewards, you had to play games with the demon king and win. Especially intellectual ones like chess or shogi.
"...Right, the self-proclaimed greatest mind in the North."
The reason? Apparently, the Harmless Demon King was a hero chosen by the god of intellect, Akasha, or something like that. I'd read interpretations on the game forums.
"Soo-hyun, what do you think is the most important thing in games?"
The pillar husband guy yielded the first move to the demon king, who began moving his white pieces without any response or change in expression.
"...Memorizing patterns?"
"Sure, that's part of it. You just brute-force everything with no intuition."
Clack. The pillar husband responded perfectly with a black piece.
The man with white hair and striking red eyes—opposite to me—sat in his chair with a relaxed demeanor.
"I think understanding your opponent is more important, Soo-hyun."
"No way..."
He played chess while chatting with me, not even looking at the board, yet he kept piercing the opponent's vulnerabilities.
"Did you memorize all this guy's patterns?"
"Hey, brute-forcing like you has its limits. Knights are all the same."
Click, click. Black and white pieces clashed, trading blows and capturing each other, but while the pillar husband's speed never wavered from the start,
"Everyone has their own unique style of play."
the Harmless Demon King's thinking time grew longer, desperately trying to game-over the Northern Duchess's husband with his authority.
I couldn't tell if he was unconsciously spreading poison or doing it on purpose, but it was a fascinating demon king. He never resorted to direct attacks like swinging a sword wildly.
"Like whether they start with a pawn or a knight?"
"Exactly. You're scared of people."
But even that trick was countered as he pulled an hourglass from his inventory.
"At least I'm not."
He flipped the hourglass, and sand trickled down with a soft whoosh.
"For example, know what our duchess did to me first thing?"
"What? Greet you properly?"
I recalled Pine's first line to me when I was the saintess, but he shook his head laughing. What did she do if not even greet me?
"Nah, she invited me to dinner and tried to poison my character."
"What...? Bullshit."
The situation had turned fully in his favor now. With the time limit imposed, the demon king's style was predictable. In this endgame,
"She's a real firecracker, our duchess."
the white-haired man's movements grew odd as he parried the monotonous attacks and tightened the noose around the white king.
"Rulers usually either purge enemies, dismantle their bases, or..."
I couldn't understand why he traded queens. Why let that go now? It'd put him at a disadvantage.
"...try to win them over. Take your pick."
Clack. Instead, he preserved a knight and unleashed bizarre checks. Aiming for checkmate?
"Well, it's a bit of a metaphor, but that's how it goes. Lee Soo-hyun."
Thud. Finally, he moved a rook, cornering the opponent's king.
At that moment, the demon king's hand froze. What? Wasn't the check escaped? I scrutinized the pillar husband's pieces.
"Stalemate. It's not always about winning."
He uttered the short word, stood from his chair, and the demon king stopped moving, as if the攻略 was complete.
Stalemate: when the king isn't in check but any move would kill it.
Unless he suicides his own king, no other options.
"In chess, this looks like a draw."
No moves left for the Harmless Demon King except a draw, after calculating every possibility.
By the rules, it's a draw, not a loss.
"But in real combat, it's either suicide or joining my side. Just like our duchess's personality, right?"
The player with the nickname "Northern Duchess Husband" emphasized his fun with a V-sign emote.
"...You're hopeless too. I won't live like that."
"Says the guy who can't even romance that saintess because there's no happy ending."
Click. Behind the chair where the demon king sat, a locked treasure chest sprang open.
"You need to actually date someone. Can't understand women with that virgin brain."
"Got it, Kwon Ki-seok."
He glanced at the contents, then closed the chest. Not the reward he expected?
"Oh, and don't think in black-and-white terms about people. You'll get hurt."
"Why bring that up suddenly?"
He switched topics, scolding me like a nag.
"Remember NTR Knight Taboo?"
"Of course."
The guy who told me to skip our saintess route for harem or NTR paths, spewing vile stuff—I'd banned him before.
"He posted on the forums claiming he was wronged."
"The creep whose nick was too similar to mine... And he doubles down?"
"Nah, it's not that."
I clicked the link he sent: a post saying he admired me, made a similar nick as a joke, didn't expect a ban.
"Turns out he's just a concept troll with the nick and talk."
"...What? No way."
The pillar husband showed me the player's card's ending records.
"Look at the player card. See for yourself. You really need to fix that personality."
Player cards list routes taken, endings, achievements, class—everything.
"Joining our one-character guild was suspicious from the start. No intuition."
I checked recruits too, to avoid scammers or cheaters.
"He never took harem or NTR endings...?"
"Yeah, he was a newbie I recruited. Foul mouth, but skilled."
"Why recruit a weirdo like that? Ki-seok?"
But he suggested a harem with our saintess—that crossed the line.
"Same knight class. Thought he'd help with Magic Hat攻略. Happy?"
"You should've said so."
"Who banned him before I could? Not me."
I had abused guild master powers—overkill, sure.
I stayed calm usually, but got emotional about our saintess.
"Banning was too harsh, even on rethink. Soo-hyun. Just 1v1 him with your skills."
He grabbed the spear on his back and swung at my character—PVP off, so it whooshed through air.
"Anyway, look at people's true nature next time. Pure Love Black Knight."
"Fine. You duchess husband bastard."
I sighed, admitting fault, as Northern Duchess Husband handed me the reward item.
"Huh...? This for me? From the stalemate reward?"
"Your intuition is... Never mind. Bro's off to the gym."
Gym opening time, so Kwon Ki-seok logged out.
His character had that edgy white hair and red eyes,
"..."
but he was always the friend giving advice when I struggled, making games fun. Coming north brought it back.
Don't think of people in black-and-white terms.
'What I saw as black might be white. Games aren't always about winning...'
Recalling that, I reconsidered Pine's recent actions, entertaining the idea she might like me.
'No way, does she like me?'
Love isn't just like or dislike; it's hard to grasp from others' explanations.
'Yeah. Later, when I have time, I'll ask Pine how she sees me.'
Still scant evidence. But anyone could see she treated me differently,
"Pine, could you back off a bit?"
"...No. I'm staying by Licht. The North is too cold."
and our distance had shrunk too much since the showdown with the Head.
"Just use a warming spell."
"Eek, don't pet my tail... Licht..."
"Pine, even so, you need to stay apart when we meet Lady Asha."
This could derail the Grand Route攻略. Catch up on Love Meter after all demon kings.
Pine Granasia's happiness came first.
"Otherwise, it'll be hard to help Nex senior and Sharutineth senior."
"...Okay, Licht."
At my firm push, she released her tail, hiding her cheeks behind her hair. Steam practically rose from her flushed face.
"Ugh... total perv..."
What did tails mean to beastkin? As saintess, she seemed startled but pleased when touched.
"We're here, so behave now. Licht."
I'd brushed it off. Remembered she disliked reverse strokes, though.
"Pine, I get we're close, but separate public and private."
Inside the palace following the Northern Duchess.
Opening the inner door revealed a woman with golden hair seated.
"Welcome. Drake, and... Princess Pine?"
The golden phoenix seal, like Nex's, gleamed in sunlight, giving déjà vu.
The woman set down her teacup hastily.
Asha Aureus.
The Living Sun, one of the Ten Heroes wielding phoenix spirit arts.
"How is Princess Pine Granasia in the North?"
"That's how it is. Asha Aureus."
First contact: success. Now, how to convince this outsider to enable Nex and Sharutineth's marriage.
"Pleased to meet you. Living Sun."
I bowed politely, easing her wariness.
After dealing with her apostle and talking it out, she'd listen. I knew why Nex's hair was purple.
That's why I was sure Pine was black-haired as Mardol.
Why was our Pine white-haired? Never questioned till now—glanced aside, met her eyes.
"...Ah, Licht. What's up?"
"Nothing. Princess."
She flinched, ears perking. How long had she been staring?
Her awkward head-turn to hide it looked more suspicious.
"I'm Licht. Here to support against the North's monster assaults."
"Ah, the hero who subjugated the Omniscience Demon King."
I ignored Pine's piercing gaze,
"Yes, 'Hero of Intellect' Licht."
and lied to Asha to douse the immediate flames, stating my resolve.