Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: The Giant King Hunt (3)
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Changcheon Ben.
He was gathering soldiers at the border where the Praham and Goyad Kingdoms met, engaged in a war of nerves with Barad.
Watching Barad standing in the distance, Ben gave a bitter smile.
He himself was an exceptional warrior, but the Sword King Barad was no less.
But Ben couldn't help but burst into a hearty laugh.
“Hahaha.”
His loyal subordinate asked.
“Your Majesty, has something good happened?”
“Indeed, something very good. Barad recently struck down the eight nobles.”
The subordinate looked puzzled.
How could it be good news that he had successfully eliminated his opposition?
“Lükburg may have been his opposition, but he merely wanted a different method. Their goals were the same.”
A different method and goal? The subordinate listened intently.
“Barad wanted to focus on training, so that even as a small nation, they wouldn't yield to powerful countries. Lükburg's opinion was to expand the kingdom, even if it was reckless. Both were putting forth their own strategies to protect the Goyad Kingdom.”
Ben's eyes narrowed.
“Lükburg is a man who developed the Goyad Kingdom in his own way for a long time. Yet, he was demoted for aiming for the throne to pursue a different method. The problem starts here.”
Tsk, tsk, Ben clicked his tongue.
“Even though their factions clashed, they were always ready to join hands and fight in times of war. But Lükburg was demoted and lost his power, and those who followed him will not lend their strength to the king.”
Yes, a fracture.
A fracture had begun to form in the Goyad Kingdom.
“Then it won't be long.”
At those words, Ben shook his head.
“One can never know. With the shared cause of protecting the kingdom, a single small connection could change their minds.”
“Would such a connection even exist?”
The subordinate scoffed at Barad.
Yes, one was the man who had demoted him, and the other was the one who had been demoted.
It would not be an easy thing.
***
*Thud-!*
A groan escaped Hyun-soo's lips as he collapsed to the ground.
He could barely move a finger.
[You are afflicted with the status effect: Extreme Fatigue.]
The fatigue status effect was divided into several levels, and extreme fatigue made it difficult to even support one's own body.
‘It makes sense.’
While fighting the Giant King, Hyun-soo had felt his muscles repeatedly contracting and relaxing.
That was how tense his body had been.
Once the Giant King hunt was over, the tension snapped and released.
But a smile kept forming on his face.
‘I did it…’
This hunt was a little special.
It was because he had done it all by himself, without even a sliver of contribution from anyone else.
On top of that, there was the power of 'Counter' he had discovered in a critical moment.
Some might say he was just lucky.
But Hyun-soo was certain.
‘This is my power.’
If another blacksmith had unlocked such a power, would it have had this much force?
No.
Striking with two Rare-grade weapons at once was completely different from striking with two Legendary-grade artifacts.
Yes, this was something Hyun-soo had accomplished purely on his own.
And then, notifications began to ring for Hyun-soo, who had monopolized the contribution for a named monster for the first time.
[You have hunted the Giant King.]
[You have acquired 213,572 experience points.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up…]
[You have reached level 240.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have acquired an additional 10% experience as a bonus reward.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
Hyun-soo reached level 258 in an instant.
It was truly an incredible amount.
‘The difference in required experience between leveling up in the 100s and the 200s is more than fourfold.’
That's how drastically the required experience changed when the first digit of the level changed.
To gain almost 30 levels in such a situation was a tremendous feat.
[You have acquired 87,803 Gold.]
87,000 Gold. It was a huge sum, equivalent to about 87 million won.
[You have acquired the Unique mineral, Giant Ore.]
[You have acquired the Giant King's Blood.]
[You have acquired 12 Blessed Enhancement Stones.]
[You have acquired the Giant's Armor.]
[Giant King's…]
The notifications seemed endless.
And then, the notification Hyun-soo had been most eagerly awaiting struck.
[Job Quest: Giant King Hunt - Complete]
[Completed with a phenomenal result.]
[You have acquired 50% Subjugation progress.]
[You have reached a total of 85% Subjugation progress.]
[You have met the conditions to take Kan and the entire Gale Squad with you.]
A thrill shot through Hyun-soo's chest.
The Gale Squad, five members in total.
They would now protect Guild Gwangmyeong, centering their activities around the base.
[You can receive a reward from Marquis Lükburg.]
Hyun-soo was puzzled by this part.
After all, Marquis Lükburg was a man who likely thought of Hyun-soo as an enemy right now.
And at the moment, Hyun-soo didn't have the strength to lift a single finger.
The fatigue status effect was a notification that advised the user to rest.
It appeared after being logged in for a long time, or after experiencing mental strain or hardship.
Therefore, it was a status effect that couldn't be cured with things like potions.
Just then, Lukkeu approached.
Lukkeu looked at Hyun-soo, who had collapsed, covered in blood from just a single blow.
‘He is my father's enemy.’
Still, Lukkeu was a man who possessed a knightly spirit.
The very fact that he became a knight without relying on his father's power was proof of his integrity, was it not?
“I'll help you up.”
Lukkeu supported Hyun-soo, draping his arm over his own neck.
Since the world was spinning before his eyes, Hyun-soo didn't refuse Lukkeu's help.
The two began to leave the area.
***
Marquis Lükburg.
As the foremost noble of the Goyad Kingdom, there was one thing he cherished more than anything else in the world.
It was neither money nor power.
It was his one and only son, Lukkeu.
From birth, he was called a sword prodigy, and he was more upright and proper than anyone.
Wherever he went, he was praised as a truly wonderful son.
‘Father, I do not wish to become a knight by borrowing your power. I will definitely become a commander of the kingdom with my own strength and protect you.’
He was the apple of his eye.
If someone were to ask Lükburg whether he desired his son's happiness or to become king, he could answer without a moment's hesitation.
‘My son's happiness is more important than becoming king.’
But then, a soldier who had gone on the subjugation with Lukkeu rushed into the estate.
“Lu-Lukkeu, you say?”
As he heard the soldier's full account, Marquis Lükburg's world collapsed.
Forgetting even to put on his shoes, he was about to rush out barefoot but stopped himself.
Lükburg was the kingdom's foremost noble.
A noble who supported the kingdom, standing shoulder to shoulder with Marquis Barad.
In that moment, he resented his title.
His son was precious, indeed.
However, Marquis Lükburg knew what he had to do now.
“…Summon the troops. We must kill the Giant King before he awakens his full power.”
And on the other hand, he gave another order.
“Prepare men to recover the bodies.”
His voice was choked with emotion.
Lükburg actually knew.
The Giant King had awakened, and Lukkeu had not yet returned.
Most of the soldiers who were said to be with Lukkeu had already returned.
Those who had not yet returned were dead.
He led the troops and headed inside.
*Shudder.* His arm trembled.
He gripped the leg of his trousers, trying to remain calm.
Lükburg may have coveted Barad's position, but he was quite a respectable noble.
‘The soldiers' families are as precious as my own child.’
Did aiming for the throne make him a villain?
One couldn't necessarily see it that way.
Just then.
“M-My Lord… Si-Sir Lukkeu is returning!”
“What!?”
This time, even Lükburg couldn't maintain his noble composure.
He pushed through the ranks of soldiers, rushing forward breathlessly.
In the distance, he spotted his son, Lukkeu, approaching while supporting another man.
Marquis Lükburg narrowed his eyes.
‘Baronet Hyun-soo…?’
He was about to clench his teeth.
But he slowly relaxed, his lips parting slightly.
Unlike the battered Hyun-soo, Lukkeu was perfectly fine.
“Baronet Hyun-soo told us to retreat. It seems he went to save Sir Lukkeu after sending us away.”
The report from the soldier named Kan melted his heart.
He saved my one and only son!
Lukkeu and Marquis Lükburg drew closer.
“Father, this man killed the Giant King.”
“…What?”
He had thought Kan's words about being saved meant they had simply escaped.
But he killed it?
Lükburg was actually puzzled.
Why did he save my son?
Doesn't he hate me?
Then he took in the sight of the man, completely covered in blood and unable to even support his own body.
And he finally realized.
‘It was because it was his duty as a knight…’
The Giant King was steadily regaining its lost power.
If not killed quickly, the beast would have brought great harm to the Araham territory, and by extension, the entire kingdom.
Whether he was his enemy or not.
And whether he disliked his son, Lukkeu, or not, he had simply done what had to be done.
His feelings of hatred for him had not completely vanished.
But in this moment, one thing became certain.
[Marquis Lükburg vows to bestow upon you the greatest reward.]
That he would at least repay him for what he had done.
Even if their relationship remained strained, this much he would do.
Having made his vow, Lükburg.
was now ready to forget his decorum and share a joyous embrace with his son.
Lukkeu, too, shouted with joy.
“Father, I've returned alive. I'm back!”
Soon, the soldiers also cheered.
“Hooray!”
“Sir Lukkeu and Sir Hyun-soo have returned!”
“Sir Hyun-soo killed the Giant King!”
“Waaaaah!”
Their joyous shouts echoed through the forest.
The soldiers, too, had thought they would all die upon hearing that the Giant King had awakened.
After all, the beast would eventually invade the Araham territory.
That was why they erupted in joyous cheers.
“My Lord, let's hold a festival when we get back!”
“It's a very joyous day!”
“We have to have a good, stiff drink!”
Lükburg, too, found it difficult to hide his joy.
He was about to shout to them with all his might, ‘Drink to your heart's content!’
Just then.
“Are you all that happy?”
The cold voice that cut through the cheers made Marquis Lükburg and Lukkeu freeze in their attempt to embrace.
The soldiers' laughter also died down abruptly.
There stood Hyun-soo with an icy expression.
Having just recovered from the 'Excessive Fatigue' status effect, Hyun-soo spoke.
“Isn't there something else you should do before you celebrate?”
Something else?
Lükburg looked puzzled.
And Hyun-soo walked forward.
He pulled a sword from his coat and thrust it hard into the ground.
*Thunk.*
Blood flowing from his arm ran down the sword and soaked the earth.
*Drip, drip-*
Lukkeu knew what that sword was.
It was the sword Hyun-soo had picked up from beside a dead soldier while Lukkeu was helping him walk.
“The owner of this sword was a young boy.”
A heavy silence descended.
The joyful expressions on the soldiers' faces turned somber.
Hyun-soo, his cold eyes sweeping over them, continued.
“Mourning the dead comes before celebrating.”
Hearing those words, Lukkeu was the first to bow his head in a moment of silence.
Following him, all the soldiers and knights bowed their heads.
Amidst them, Lükburg's eyes wavered as he watched Hyun-soo slowly bow his head in silence.
‘How…’
Marquis Lükburg.
He hadn't wanted to be king.
In a chaotic world.
He had wanted to protect this kingdom in his own way.
His way and His Majesty's way were simply different.
As long as it was someone who could wish for the peace and stability of this kingdom, he thought it wouldn't matter who became king.
*Drip, drip-*
He thought as he watched Hyun-soo, blood still dripping from his arm.
‘Now I understand.’
Lükburg had merely thought he would give him the best reward he could offer.
But in this moment, that thought was changing.
‘Why His Majesty considered him his successor.’
A man who could rule the chaotic Goyad Kingdom more benevolently than anyone.
A man who mourned the sorrow of his people before celebrating a victory.
At that, Lükburg stood before the silent Hyun-soo and spoke.
“I shall protect it.”
***
Hyun-soo looked puzzled.
Marquis Lükburg had suddenly walked up to him.
“I shall protect it.”
Protect what?
He spoke in a powerful voice.
“I will protect the path you walk.”
[Marquis Lükburg promises to support your path to the throne more than anyone.]
Hyun-soo realized.
He had won the heart of the kingdom's foremost noble, Marquis Lükburg.