Arte's Aspiration (7)

Grout stared at Hyun-soo.

Hyun-soo's condition was dire.

His body trembled under the weight of abnormal status effects, barely able to hold itself together, his face smeared with blood.

Yet his unyielding gaze burned with unbreakable fighting spirit...

Grout wondered if some hidden trump card was about to activate.

That's what he thought—until Hyun-soo spoke.

"You're the one who's done for."

Just like that ultimate shot from before.

Hyun-soo shouted.

"Hey friend, help me!"

"......?"

Was this human's head injured too?

What threw Grout even more off-balance was this.

Chirp chirp—

Nothing happened.

Grout let out a mocking chuckle.

"What the hell was that ridiculous name? You messing with me right now?"

What amused Grout even more was the utter failure of the summon.

But Hyun-soo stared back at Grout with unshaken eyes.

Hyun-soo had drawn inspiration from the emerging skill Karma.

But there was a reason he didn't waver.

I believe in the path I've walked.

Yet, just as Grout sneered, the same notification rang in Hyun-soo's ears again.

A flicker of doubt crept in—was the path I'd walked not worthy enough?

But Hyun-soo shook it off immediately.

He was confident it was the straightest, most righteous path anyone could take.

More importantly, what the hell is that?

With zero naming sense, Hyun-soo had decided only on the custom skill's purpose and left the creation to the system.

But in the skill description, there it was.

'Depending on the crisis level, they may receive dramatic notifications. Be careful(?).'

What did that even mean?

Hyun-soo couldn't make sense of it.

Then, a notification arrived for him.

Seeing that notification, Hyun-soo's heart burned hot.

It was proof of the path he'd walked, right before his eyes.

***

A few minutes earlier.

A beautiful woman with silver short hair stood on the platform of the soldier training grounds.

Looking out at the tens of thousands training below, she had recently been appointed captain of the Goyad Kingdom's knights.

The second Sword King candidate.

Goyad Kingdom's greatest talent.

The knight beloved by the king.

The titles attached to her were endless.

After former First Knight Captain Benson was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠promoted to Goyad Kingdom's Supreme Commander, Bella's growth in the role had been dazzling.

NPCs grew steadily alongside users.

Thanks to the high degree of freedom, and to prevent the gap between users and NPCs from widening too much.

She far surpassed ordinary NPCs in strength.

Ever since receiving a new life from one man, she'd worked harder than anyone.

To protect him better.

She glanced at her arm and smiled faintly.

Her once gaunt frame now had proper muscle again, and her eyes were clear.

Then.

Bella suddenly spotted a portal forming before her.

"What is this...?"

She panicked.

And as an NPC, she heard a notification she shouldn't have.

Bella's eyes widened.

Of course, the notifications were true.

Hyun-soo was gravely wounded, in pain, his life slipping away.

But the skill had amplified it to extremes.

Bella gritted her teeth at the sight.

Crunch—

My benefactor.

My second sun.

The warning fell on deaf ears.

How dare some bastard...

Goyad's second strongest crossed the portal.

At that moment.

Praam Kingdom.

One of the Korean server's mightiest NPCs.

One of the Continent's Ten Legends, and a king.

Lately, Heavenly Spear Ben had stirred winds of change.

A lofty, powerful king.

An old man who didn't mingle with his people, cranky and aloof.

Now, countless children gathered before that old man.

Commoners and nobles alike flocked to the event Ben himself hosted: 'Ask the King.'

Ben held a cute little girl in his arms, reading her a picture book.

This... isn't so bad...

The change in Ben stemmed from one friend.

That friend had said,

'Don't make yourself so lonely.'

Who could dare say such a thing to Heavenly Spear Ben?

Only a close friend he could speak freely with.

Because of that, Ben's life was transforming.

Still a cranky king, but he was drawing closer to his people, easing his loneliness bit by bit.

Yes, laughter now echoed in the castle of this near-hermit old man(?) as people came and went.

Then, the child in his arms asked,

"Does Grandpa Heavenly Spear have something he cherishes too?"

"......I do."

Ben smiled faintly.

Though still small and unassuming, Heavenly Spear cherished him.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

But Heavenly Spear was upright.

He wouldn't spoon-feed growth or handouts.

Surprisingly, Hyun-soo had said this too.

'Handouts aren't what friends do, right?'

Chuckling at the rascal, Ben gave the child an embarrassed smile.

Then, his most precious one.

Ben heard the message from him.

Ben stayed calm.

He gently set the child down, handing her a strawberry from nearby.

Patting her head, Ben smiled softly.

Then he picked up the spear his close friend had made, standing off to the side, and took a step forward.

The voice didn't reach his ears.

He'd received far more than that.

This is the last time, Hyun-soo.

He had much to repay him for.

But this once would suffice.

The greatest spear master crossed the portal.

Another place.

The Goyad Kingdom Sword King family's tomb.

A sturdy, renowned man hailed as a Sword King of generations stood there.

Muttering to himself as he gazed at the epitaph.

"It's fine. Lately, your father hasn't been lonely."

His son, lost in the Ifrit's tomb.

A life drowned in despair.

The grief and pain swallowed behind the name of king.

He'd wanted to die after avenging his son, but the survivor laughed.

"There's a kid who takes after you. Still got a long way to go, but he's growing endlessly. I hope he succeeds me in your place. Haha, what? You've already seen him?"

His soliloquy was joyful.

He looked at the wilting chrysanthemums beside the tombstone.

Not brought by him.

"I picked a good friend. He asked where your grave was. Said it's the first time he's seen your old man smile like this?"

Barad was a king.

Hard to smile warmly to anyone, hard to bare his heart.

But before his son, he was just a father.

"......Yeah, I'm happy these days."

He stroked the tombstone.

"Don't worry, son. Your dad's stubborn and inflexible. Won't hand things out, just stand and wait. And when that kid gets here."

He hesitated, then spat out the itching words.

"I'll give him my seat."

Whoosh—

The wind fluttered his cloak emblazoned with the kingdom's emblem.

Then.

Barad, gazing at the tombstone, turned.

"Guess I gotta go, huh? Contradicting what I just said?"

Barad let out a hollow laugh.

"Kid, not long ago at the border, Hyun-soo saved me. He rushed to save his friend—me."

Not physically, but still.

"Just this once. I'll fight for my close friend, just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this time."

Shing.

The Sword King drew his sword from his waist and walked into the portal.

His face twisted fiercely.

Meanwhile.

"Whispers definitely aren't reaching that area."

"Feels like something big happened—what could it be?"

In Ballus Territory's lord's castle, Gwangmyeong guild members gathered, minus Nel.

Hyun-soo's lack of whisper response meant trouble.

Then.

They heard it.

Bak, the growing top tanker and Korea's real estate tycoon, stood first.

Then Riesel, chaebol youngest and domestic rank 21 with the Dragon Light Sword.

Crunch—

Saintess Bellia too.

With a resolute nod, Ian gripped the bow on his back.

And the three.

Tae-hoon.

Han-ul.

Hye-ji.

The genius trio stared at the portal.

As they moved to step forward, they stopped.

One person came to mind: Nel.

They'd come during a break.

And they were giving their all for Ballus Territory's development.

Mass troop movement like this would cripple the territory.

Nel was the coldest, most analytical.

Besides, a user's death was just a forced logout in game terms.

Logically, she wouldn't approve everyone moving for one user.

She was that strict and clever.

Then the door opened, and Nel entered.

"......What are you all doing?"

She eyed the standing group.

"Why haven't you crossed the portal yet? Go save Hyun-soo now!"

Whoosh—

Nel crossed first.

"......?"

They'd forgotten.

Hyun-soo was precious to Nel too.

Hey friend, help me.

Under that lame, unremarkable name.

The call reached those whose paths he'd crossed.

Just a Unique skill.

Truly insufficient against a demon.

Ares' balance was ironclad.

Those who answered paid penalties. NPCs fainted after, users lost levels.

And summoning 'ordinary friends' wasn't that impressive.

It was just that his friends were exceptionally extraordinary.

***

Grout laughed long and hard at the persistent sound.

Unyielding mental fortitude keeping him upright.

Eyes that refused to dim.

Pride refusing to abandon Arte.

Grout wanted to crush him.

"Humans believe themselves so special, and you were no different."

Tsk tsk tsk.

Tongue-clicking from Grout's mouth.

"This is the path you've walked? Why stand so firm after all this?"

He questioned.

Why endure this far?

Hyun-soo spat blood from his mouth.

His vision was clearing.

Before him, a notification Grout couldn't see.

Hyun-soo smiled.

The notifications shifted and updated.

No more fear.

He knew who was coming, and with what resolve.

Hyun-soo aimed Supreme Sword at him.

At the same time.

Papapapapapapap—

The world's strongest swordsman. The sturdy man placed a hand on his shoulder.

An old man with hands behind his back appeared, glaring murderously at Grout.

"You the bastard who did this to my close friend Hyun-soo?"

The woman usually coolest of all spoke with worried eyes.

"We're here now. Don't worry."

They blocked his front.

Guarded his left.

Aimed weapons from his right.

Looking at them, Hyun-soo smiled. The demon questioned him.

'This is the path you've walked? Why stand so firm after all this?'

This was the proof.

Hyun-soo gazed coldly at the flustered demon.

"This is the path I've walked."

Hey friend, help me.

His close friends began overwhelming the demon.