Chapter 66

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 66

Chapter Title: Francesco Dante (3)

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Saint Veronica Estelle and her loyal retainer Francesco Dante joining the Boastful Guild was already a done deal.

From the start, these two were people who were supposed to be dead in this world—not to mention their status as illegal immigrants in South Korea.

They could announce their survival right now and go through the process of returning to the Holy Kingdom...

But I wouldn't allow that.

If they did, it would spark questions starting from how the two presumed dead in Italy's S-Rank Gate had survived, and why South Korea of all places.

Who helped them? What abilities made this possible? All sorts of attention would pile on, leading to endless headaches.

Above all, the Holy Kingdom was no longer a home they could return to.

"Do you want to go back to the Holy Kingdom and resume your duties?"

"Th-that's..."

Surprisingly, she still seemed torn about it.

The saintess hesitated to flatly say no.

Dante waited silently for her response, clearly ready to follow whatever she decided.

"It really wouldn't make sense to go back, would it?"

"That's the position we're in, so yes. Of course, we can't force your choice, but even if you wanted to return, we couldn't help you do it right away."

Here, a firmer tone seemed necessary.

With the Protection Ring and Water Staff provided—not to mention reviving them with my exclusive summon ability—I had every right to demand this much.

"More than that, we can't allow revealing your survival right now. It wouldn't benefit you, and I don't want my abilities exposed either."

Displaying exceptional abilities without sufficient fame or status only invites jealousy and greed.

My outstanding equipment crafting was already public knowledge; now was the time to prove results and elevate the guild's prestige rather than reveal more.

Sure, the guild was newly formed, but even counting pre-guild achievements, Hyeji's miracle clear was the only gate conquest on record.

First, the guild needed accomplishments.

On the level of facing down the Holy Kingdom.

And to achieve that, the only way was for us to clear an S-Rank Gate too.

Bringing in the saintess made this the perfect timing for a conquest achievement.

Right now, our secured S-Rank Awakeners were Kwon Yena, Chae Yeonhwa, Um Taesoo, and Veronica Estelle—four in total.

Normally, we'd need two more...

But honestly, with the Holy Kingdom clearing S-Rank Gates—strategically at best, handed to them at worst—did we really need six?

Yena was already on another level, beyond a simple S-Rank label.

Perfectly subduing Chae Yeonhwa was proof enough; her stats alone told the story via the status window.

More importantly, this wasn't limited to Yena alone.

My conclusion: these four S-Rank Awakeners were plenty.

Now we just needed equipment to amplify their abilities.

The A-Rank one-handed sword for Um Taesoo was finished just three hours ago, so all that remained was magic-use gear.

"Estelle, how was the staff?"

"Ah!... It was a tremendous help... Th-thank you for lending it..."

She clutched it like her own treasure—I'd momentarily forgotten it was just loaned out.

She knew it too, so when I mentioned it, she offered it back but hesitated to let go.

"Ahh..."

I understood her reluctance, but I couldn't just give it away free.

From here on, it would serve as a tool to fully recruit Veronica Estelle into our guild and the S-Rank Gate raid team.

"It was really... really good..."

"Glad to hear it. Now hand it back, please."

"Y-yes...?"

"The ring on your right hand too."

"..."

It felt like she'd hoped I'd forgotten about the loan.

That level of satisfaction with my gear was a great sign.

"Veronica Estelle, and Francesco Dante."

"Yes..."

"I have no intention of forcing you into our guild."

"..."

Of course, I could leverage the saintess's sense of debt to nudge her close to it—but that wouldn't align with my core plans.

"Better late than never, let me properly introduce our Boastful Guild. Feel free to decide after hearing everything."

Now was the time for the guild members' endorsements to carry weight.

——

"First up, our Boastful Guild's top powerhouse, S-Rank Wind Sorceress Kwon Yena. She's seriously badass!"

"Yujun..."

When praising someone's greatness, it's always better coming from others than themselves.

That's why I needed to hype Yena and Hyeji's abilities more than ever now.

And likewise, they needed to hype mine.

"This isn't 'we have an S-Rank, so join us.' The question is, why would S-Ranks join a small guild like this...?"

"I-I see..."

The saintess seemed dazed by my rapid-fire guild pitch, half-forcing a positive nod.

But that would soon turn genuine.

"Everything I'm about to tell and show you must remain absolutely secret. You've already traded equipment under contract, so I'll trust you."

"...Yes."

"First, do you know the grades of the Protection Ring and Water Staff I gave you?"

"The Protection Ring was A-Grade, but the Water Staff..."

"Also A-Grade, naturally. You couldn't appraise it yourself, but the performance speaks for itself. Here, take it back and check your status window."

—

I handed over the Water Staff, and Veronica Estelle immediately pulled up her status window.

"I-it's definitely... incredible. Really..."

"I already shared my status window earlier, so no need to hide yours."

"Ah..."

She must have been shocked seeing her Magic Power stat at ∞.

She hadn't grasped the full meaning of ∞ or even EX beyond SSS+ yet, but regardless.

Whatever the exact significance, she could tell the staff had boosted her Magic Power by five whole ranks at once.

"Yena."

—

"Ahh!"

The Water Staff, snug in the saintess's arms moments ago, was whisked away by Yena's wind magic and now floated beside me.

"We have so much gear that we're happy to loan out A-Grades anytime."

Not a ton on hand yet, but what we'd craft next made it no lie.

"..."

I'd planned to show Yena's S-Grade gear too, but no need now.

Veronica Estelle's eyes were locked solely on the Water Staff.

"Wouldn't a staff matching your light attribute be even better?"

"...!!!"

With her heart already swayed, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I dangled an even bigger carrot.

"If you joined our guild, Veronica Estelle... a light-attribute staff would jump to the top of the crafting queue."

"Urgh..."

I'd hoped for an instant yes, but she was still agonizing.

Landing the saintess meant a 1+1 with Dante too, so we were just as desperate.

"Just... a little more time to think, please."

"Take all the time you need."

In the end, neither rejection nor acceptance.

'Maybe shift tactics...'

So far, I'd focused solely on the saintess, assuming Dante would follow.

As expected, Dante stayed silent, deferring to her judgment.

But if Dante voiced support for the Boastful Guild?

He was loyal to her, but she'd respect his opinion too.

So while she pondered, time to win over Dante.

'Could you come with me for a moment?'

'...Understood.'

Dante was clearly favorable toward us now.

He owed us his life—and more importantly, the saintess's.

Leaving the deliberating saintess aside, Dante and I had some one-on-one time.

"Heh heh heh..."

Ah, I let out a dopey laugh without realizing.

I just couldn't contain my excitement for what was about to unfold before my eyes.

The moment I saw Dante—before even knowing who he was—I'd thought this badass helmet would suit him perfectly.

'If Estelle enters ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the gate, you'd absolutely join her too, right?'

'Of course. Even in an S-Rank Gate, no problem...'

'That worked because the Holy Kingdom ignored all World Hunter Association rules. We'll get full approval first, and that means non-Awakeners can't join the raid team—a high chance your participation would be impossible.'

'...'

This was unavoidable common sense.

We wouldn't reveal the saintess, so raid members stayed private—Dante could join no issue—but he had no way of knowing that, leaving him speechless.

'So... you need to look like no one would doubt you're an Awakener.'

'If that's possible, if you know how, I'll do anything. Please help...'

'Try this on.'

Dante snatched the Viking Helm and plunked it on his head.

It suited him insanely well, though without a weapon, something felt missing.

'...Think you could handle this too? It's so heavy even I, an Awakener, can't lift it...'

!—

Muscular behemoth in Viking Helm, plus an insanely heavy blunt weapon.

E-Rank or not, even I couldn't budge it, so it'd be tough for him—but striking a quick pose should be fine...

!!—

'A bit hefty.'

"Holy shit..."

"Wha—what?!... Ahem..."

Just as I'd planned.

This wasn't about looks at all—I'd aimed for this from the start.