Chapter 75
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Pureblood Duke's High Castle (3)
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In the underground sewers right now, Gonghyeok was at 80% power.
Outside the high castle, Gonghyeok had allocated 10% of his strength just to maintain his wings.
Clank clank.
A Company knight arrived, looking intact only in frame.
It was Luke, the representative of the Knights' Order.
"I'm sorry, but Company folks. Considering our alliance with the city, could you take care of our citizens too?"
Protecting the citizens meant either entering the dungeon with them or leaving escorts behind.
The former posed dungeon risks, and the latter split their forces, putting the knights in danger.
"Understood. It's only natural."
Sesk readily agreed and looked at Gonghyeok.
"Please relay this to everyone gathered here."
"What exactly?"
"Tell anyone seeking protection to come to our side."
Something prickly brushed Gonghyeok's lips.
He'd been caught off guard.
"All the powerless people here—we'll protect every one of them."
Clank!
"I salute Lord Sesk's decision. I'll spread the word right away. Hey, you!"
Luke, from the Knights' Order, joyfully announced the news.
The ragged outlaws scattered in one corner of the plains gathered.
"Lord Sesk of the Company will protect you! Come without worry!"
Murmurs rose.
Among the outlaws, children around thirteen and gaunt folks emerged.
Outlaws were those who couldn't live in the city.
Some were criminals, but many were just the weak without power or money.
An old man stepped forward from the group.
"Are you from the Company? We don't have much money."
Sesk was at a loss for words.
His usual businesslike expression returned.
"How much do you have?"
"This... this is all...."
His bony hand held a pile of purple coins.
But even that barely amounted to 90 coins.
Sesk glanced at Gonghyeok.
Jingle.
Gonghyeok took the coins from the old man's hand.
"That's enough. Contract established. We'll protect you."
Luke's face hardened.
"For that many coins, I could cover it instead...."
Gonghyeok's grip blocked his mouth.
"Fledglings should stay quiet. Makes me sick if you treat us like fools."
"....!"
"Heh heh, then we'll take our leave."
As the mood turned hostile, the outlaws—no, the people outside the city—retreated.
Once Gonghyeok released his grip, Luke exploded in fury.
"You wanted to squeeze just 90 purple coins from them! No matter how much you love money, there are things you take and things you don't! It's pocket change to you, but to them...."
"This is Babel."
Sesk cut him off.
"The Knights' Order is well-equipped to help the weak. But those outside aren't.
Promises without compensation? They've been duped by that countless times. They believe because they've handed over something precious to them."
"......."
"Trust is the foundation of contracts. By making it through money, they can trust the Company."
Gonghyeok pulled out a cigarette beside him.
"Fledgling knight. That measly purple coin? We could've skipped it. But saying we'll pay the price ourselves—that's treating us like idiots, isn't it? Did your godfather say the Company bastards are money-grubbing morons?"
"That's... not it."
Mention of his godfather flushed Luke's face.
He was only eighteen.
A true Babelian, born and raised here.
"Whew. That was harsh, Team Leader Ju."
Sesk sighed and continued.
"I'm definitely part of the Company. But I think more about the purpose of earning money than money itself."
"Purpose?"
"Money's just a means. With it, you can do lots. Righteous deeds, or help folks like you who strive to save people."
"......."
"Please give my regards to Lord Vermouth."
Luke hung his head in shame, unable to speak.
Vermouth was the Knights' Order elder known as the Wall of Lamentations—and his godfather.
"Is the talk over?"
Remiel had appeared behind Sesk unnoticed.
"Well done."
[The angel's quest 'Merciful Protection on the 10th Floor' has been generated.]
[You resolved to protect the powerless left on the 10th floor. Angel Remiel responds to your intent.]
[Personnel: 81/81. Rewards issued based on protected numbers. Special reward for all surviving.]
Sesk and Gonghyeok received the quest.
Luke bowed deeply.
"I'm sorry for being unable to handle my own affairs and causing offense. We'll head into the high castle now."
He left with the clank of his armor.
"A quest, huh. Thanks for the help."
Sesk nodded to Gonghyeok.
Bitter smoke swirled in Gonghyeok's lungs.
'Good kid.'
Had he judged too quickly to kill?
He was that good—even enough for such half-baked thoughts.
Half-baked thoughts breed bigger trouble.
That's what happened to him in the past.
He'd killed only those who clearly triggered the downfall, repeating centuries of life in ambiguity.
However.
Even so, Ju Gonghyeok was human.
He'd repeated the same mistake.
The mistake of 'trusting people.'
"Ju Gonghyeok."
A gray shadow stretched from Luke's turned back.
"I hate you."
The shadow's hollow eyes and mouth moved.
"Your ideals save no one."
"You saved the world? But not us."
"You hate failing to save someone most."
"In the end, you saved neither."
This was a gathered remnant.
In regressions, everyone becomes as if they never existed.
But faint residues that don't vanish.
Those are the gathered remnants.
'From the talk, third regression maybe.'
Undefeated Knight Luke Bernstein.
He suffered because of Ju Gonghyeok's 'half-baked justice.'
Precisely because he was a good kid.
Gonghyeok stepped on the shadow.
Crunch.
The ground shattered under his heel.
The muttering shadow dispersed unpleasantly.
'Yeah. Good kid.'
That's why he'd been caught off guard.
He hadn't taken the 'doomed quest' anyway.
Sizzle.
He ground out the cigarette in his palm and focused his mind.
He transferred 80% of his power to the clone accompanying the demon contractors.
＊ ＊ ＊
Cough!
At the high castle stairs.
A Dolion Church exorcist vomited blood in a stair corner.
Then, people ascending the stairs appeared.
"Hey, you okay there?"
"Who are you guys?"
"We're mercenaries dispatched by the Dolion Church. Sent to bolster this temple's forces."
"I see. Be careful. Above, there's vampire mist and some powerful vampires. Better turn back."
"Ah, thanks for the advice. Anything else?"
"Then take this...."
The exorcist pulled parchment from his robes.
"Info compiled by Bishop Grant who entered right-side. For Bishop Luden who went left...."
[Quest 'Letter to Bishop Luden' generated.]
[Accept to formally join temple forces, linking to main quest later...]
But the soldier cut off the exorcist with a sour face.
"Anything besides this?"
The exorcist sensed something off.
"Where are you from? Which bishop sent you?"
"Hey, dumbass. You figured it out."
"This guy's not coughing up useful items."
Thud!
The soldier kicked the exorcist's chest.
"Urk! You bastards!"
The hand clutching the holy relic that should glow was severed; a spear pierced his robes, a sword his throat.
[Temple soldier 17 killed.]
[Killed 10+ temple priests: New demon-side quest with vampire forces generates.]
"O~ This one's pretty high up, huh?"
"B+ grade item? Nice haul. Hey! Everyone, come up!"
The three in soldier garb called to hunters below.
"How far up are we? Need a window or something to tell."
"Vampire house—probably no windows."
"More importantly."
One hunter ahead—no, contractor—turned his gaze.
Red mist at the stair's end.
"Hmm. Looks like vampire mist?"
"Indeed, vampire weapon."
The contractor suddenly recalled.
When contracting with demons, contractors chose one of two.
Receive a cursed weapon.
Or implant the curse in body to evolve flesh.
Implanting curse awakened monster powers.
Lowest was orc, higher up surely...
'Vampire was one too, right?'
He glanced at the group: 10 necro-mafia, 20 outlaws, 20 contractors.
"Anyone here buddies with vampires? Contracted vampire power?"
Swoosh.
Someone raised a hand.
"Me."
A shady man in an eerie mask.
"Hee hee hee! Choo-choo! Our Alice congratulates too!"
"Kekeke, Reaper's blessing walks with us."
But with skull-necklaced necromancers or ghost-possessed lunatics chattering alone.
Since shady types weren't rare, he let it slide.
"What kind?"
"Got an item related to vampires."
"Item?"
The masked man raised his hand.
A ring fixing a pulsing red gem with golden fangs.
Precision and engravings of woman and thorny vines—clearly no ordinary piece.
"Looks good. What's it called?"
"Omer Ashk. Or 'X' is fine."
"Omer Ashk? Ah, right—the rookie who snagged two demon wings in the 7th Great Summoning."
'X' was known in some circles.
As a promising murderer from the 7th Great Summoning.
But vanished without trace—assumed dead or name-changed.
"Ah~ You're 'X'?"
A blond in flashy Baroque attire butted in.
"Scary mask and dark red cape? Like an undertaker from a '90s flick? Out of fashion."
The man narrowed his eyes, shaking lace.
"Plus, just an item? Amateur. Amateur. Needs to be like this."
[Contract Power Stage 3 activated]
[Vampire power awakens.]
[Vampire authorities and special skills granted.]
[All stats +30 points.]
"Ooh! Real vampire!"
He smirked and approached 'X'.
"Rookie. Drop the childish X crap and get trendy like me."
"Kuhahaha. 7th wave newbie still green, yet followed well? Good boy."
"Praise? Nah~. Oh yeah, I know a must for newbies lately~"
The blond vampire spread his legs wide.
"Trend for clueless rookies is crawling between this senior's legs~ Hohohoho. Hurry through. Or I'll drain you dry?"
Gonghyeok cracked his neck.
"I know a trend too."
"Oh my, what...."
Crackcrackcrack.
The blond's view spun half a turn.
Arrogant rookie's mask gone, friends who'd cheered from behind gawked wide-eyed.
"Trend among ogre females lately: tasty human males with necks twisted 180 degrees."
"Brurrrk."
Neck reversed, the blond tried fixing his head with hands.
Divine Horse Art Kick: Whirlwind Reaper.
Splat.
Head tore off, smashed into wall.
Overwhelming gap in prowess.
"Anyone else wanna teach trends?"
"......."
Silence fell among them.