Fenrir Hunt (5)
UwAAAAAH—!
A sky-piercing roar of cheers echoed across the entire Goyad Kingdom.
The news of victory spread rapidly, rippling through territories like wildfire.
Arham Territory, Polko, Brad, Kayno, Pasdana, Lowk. Cheers erupted from every one of them.
At the center stood a man in a brown coat, slowly surveying the jubilant soldiers and citizens. Watching him was another man.
‘……Our country.’
It was Lukio, who had secretly slain Pik, the commander of the Blood Ghost Corps.
Lukio had harbored the same thoughts as Nel and Barad.
Humans were all like that.
When great merits were achieved, they tended to pat themselves on the back before praising others.
But Hyun-soo's words had changed the kingdom's tide.
In Lukio's eyes, he saw the three core figures of this small kingdom—along with the veteran Laisen.
They too, in their own ways, had held their bloody swords high, cheering for Hyun-soo, who had respected them despite clinging to their old positions.
Throb—
Lukio recalled the country and king he had once been willing to lay down his life for.
He had protected that king simply as a loyal vassal, slain demons as its sword—only to be discarded. That was Lukio.
"……."
It was strange.
This man he had met not long ago.
A man who hadn't yet fully earned his recognition. Yet Lukio found himself smiling faintly without realizing it.
‘……Will you be different? From that king who abandoned me.’
With such thoughts, Lukio gazed down at the sword he had been given, then moved once more.
To sweep away the retreating enemy forces entirely.
Did Hyun-soo know?
That Lukio, the undefeated knight who had been forsaken, was a man whose heart was hard to win—but once captured, would pledge his life in unyielding loyalty.
History will be recorded.
Hyun-soo's chest burned hot.
These people cheering solely for him.
Beings who had once seemed so lofty and distant when they first met.
Lookburg, Falo, Constantinu. Even Laisen, the father figure to the kingdom's knights.
All of them now looked at him with eyes of unwavering faith.
‘No longer…….’
There was no doubt or suspicion in their gazes anymore.
And with it came the echo of history being etched.
Goyad Kingdom is a nation founded 576 years ago.
Though he inherited no bloodline, he has striven endlessly, finally walking the path of a king acknowledged by all.
The record of Hero Hyun-soo will be eternally engraved so long as the nation named Goyad exists.
Goyad's Hero is recorded.
Overwhelm +500 acquired.
Reputation +1,000 acquired.
Hyun-soo marveled once more.
Saving a nation on the brink of collapse was an achievement of monumental scale.
‘Legend stat Overwhelm at 500…….’
Of course, Overwhelm was equivalent to the Charisma stat.
Yet Hyun-soo had never heard of anyone gaining 500 Charisma and 1,000 Reputation in a single reward.
And there was another reason his chest surged with fervor.
Upon arriving in Goyad, Hyun-soo had single-handedly annihilated 800 Blood Ghost Corps members.
You single-handedly routed 800 Blood Ghost Corps members.
This is a miraculous feat.
Territory Contribution can be acquired.
Territory Contribution.
The Territory Contribution Hyun-soo earned was special.
While ordinary lords used it to buy from standard territory shops, Hyun-soo could access the Royal Territory Shop.
And this Royal Territory Shop was linked to Atlas, amplifying its power.
But slaying 800 Blood Ghost Corps wasn't all.
Only an hour had passed since Hyun-soo arrived here, yet so much had transpired.
He had summoned Gremory via her ring, leading to the massacre of 15,000 Blood Ghost Corps members.
Were those 15,000 slain by Demon Gremory counted as Hyun-soo's kills?
Demon Gremory was summoned by you.
You partially acquire Territory Contribution for annihilating over 15,000 Blood Ghost Corps members.
Acquired amount in short time is excessive.
Will be comprehensively displayed after combat ends.
It wasn't fully judged as Hyun-soo's direct kills, but the system acknowledged his major role.
‘Does that mean I've only piled up achievements through Demon Gremory?’
No, far from it.
The system seemed to recognize something extraordinary the moment Hyun-soo entered the battlefield.
The "comprehensively displayed after combat" was proof.
Thus, Hyun-soo hadn't solely relied on Gremory for contributions.
Under your command, Goyad forces repel 14,000 Blood Ghost Corps with overwhelming momentum.
The status-afflicted Blood Ghost Corps crumbled under his command, and the massive contributions from that would be Hyun-soo's reward.
And one more thing not to forget.
Sudden Quest: Goyad Kingdom Completed.
Territory Contribution doubled.
This quest, triggered after war broke out, was Goyad's most critical episode.
Thus, high-ranking user commanders had a chance to amass astronomical Territory Contributions beyond the norm.
And its finale: Fenrir.
Just before striking down Fenrir, a sudden quest had appeared for Hyun-soo.
Sudden Quest: Fenrir Hunt Completed.
Fenrir Contribution tripled.
‘Hunting Fenrir grants absurd levels of Territory Contribution on its own.’
Taking it down solo went without saying.
It might even surpass slaying 800 Blood Ghost Corps, Gremory massacring 15,000, or the over 15,000 routed under Hyun-soo's command.
Amid such anticipation, Hyun-soo was stunned by something else.
‘This madman……?’
Before joining the battlefield, Hyun-soo had summoned one target with a single word: 'Coward?'
He figured their participation would be a huge help.
‘This is beyond help…….’
Hyun-soo realized this person was even greater than he'd imagined.
Your vassal Lukio has slain 52 commander-level foes.
Your vassal Lukio has slain Supreme Commander Pik.
Of course, Territory Contribution could be earned through guildmates and vassals' deeds.
‘Slain the commander……?’
Commander Pik was level 480s.
A semi-named NPC, his level matched Lukio's.
‘The notification was real.’
Hyun-soo recalled the alert when he'd used Inner Tranquility and clasped Lukio's hand.
Lukio had long been undergoing demonization.
Thus, it will take considerable time to fully recover his strength, and his level will be reduced.
He hadn't simply weakened from lesser demon to Lukio; his body had crumbled extensively during demonization.
That was why he was far from his prime.
Gulp—
‘Then how strong was Lukio at his peak?’
Come to think of it, Lukio was a human even Demon Gremory coveted.
He was likely stronger than Hyun-soo could imagine.
And Lukio's achievements.
Hyun-soo sensed they rivaled his own feats.
And they would become his nourishment.
Retreating Blood Ghost Corps annihilated by Goyad forces.
Goyad forces achieve total victory.
Combat judged ended.
Total Contribution measurement begins.
Measurement may take 30 seconds minimum to 10 minutes maximum.
Hyun-soo's anticipation peaked.
Then he spotted Barad approaching with a complex expression.
***
As the Sword King, Barad bore the mission to protect the myriad people.
Yet he had failed, and Hyun-soo had succeeded in his stead.
Of course, his eloquent speech had made the people forget—but Barad couldn't help feeling ashamed.
This step he ought to take felt like a thousand tons.
Yet as king, he had to express gratitude.
He opened his mouth to say, "Thank you."
But Hyun-soo spoke first.
"……Thank you, Your Highness."
Barad couldn't hide his bewilderment.
The marquises beside him and Laisen felt the same.
Barad had sustained heavy wounds in this battle, limiting his feats.
He wasn't one to receive thanks…….
"You remain upright still. The Your Highness who first reached out to me, calling me friend."
"……."
"The swordsmanship Your Highness taught me in the training grounds. Today, I have evolved the power inherited from you."
"……."
"It was all thanks to Your Highness."
He meant it sincerely.
Like that day in history when a great king extended a hand to a lowly blacksmith.
"By Your Highness's grace, I reached this point. By your words, I grew greatly. Because of those teachings, I could slay Fenrir."
"……."
Words could wield different powers depending on how they were spoken.
This was plain fact, merely adorned beautifully.
Amid this elegant phrasing, Barad reconsidered him earnestly, savoring the name friend.
The hand he had extended first one day.
"I am glad to be Your Highness's friend."
Today, his friend extended a hand first.
And for the first time, Barad said,
"Never bow before me again."
"……Pardon?"
"I wish to stand as equals with you."
Hyun-soo slowly rose, meeting his eyes with a slight nod.
A modest bow signaling he was still a friend and noble at his side.
On this day, their bond solidified further.
An unprecedented occurrence.
Blood not mingled, yet the relation between aspiring king and king grew intimate.
On another note, watching Hyun-soo depart, Barad harbored worry.
‘Hyun-soo…….’
He would now face greater dangers.
This battle's brightest star would spread across the continent, impossible to contain.
Indeed, it was reaching powerhouses everywhere.
Blood King.
Long ago, to protect his kingdom from Demon Gremory's invasion, he had offered his loyal vassal Lukio.
"That Master Craftsman routed Parion Empire forces and hunted Fenrir, they say?"
But he was known differently.
Brad, the man who became Blood King.
He hadn't sacrificed for the nation—but to grow stronger himself, offering his vassal to Gremory.
That was how he earned the title Blood King.
‘Soon, I must meet this Master Craftsman.’
A bond turned enmity now targeted his name.
And elsewhere.
Like beholding a mad king.
A monarch who slew countless vassals on whims burned with fierce eyes.
"A mere blacksmith treads the king's path?"
He was one key to leading the second Ares.
On a distant continent from Asgan.
The third legend falls.
[Tyrant Jebar]
An ancient being who once threatened a saintly king sneered at the blacksmith's tale.
They weren't alone.
The entire world.
This world message imprinted new notions on hidden unofficial rankers—or those already watching him.
Bahala, who soloed the first legend.
Kabel, who soloed the second.
And Hyun-soo.
He drew the most attention for this reason.
Bahala and Kabel were deified existences.
But Hyun-soo was seen as reachable.
The world's apexes thought thus:
‘Someone will break the rules.’
The rule to wait for the Great Atlas War.
And on that day, Atlas might vanish.
And in Atlas.
Hyun's Forge guild members and all of Atlas knew they now drew the gaze of thousands.
Nel watched Hyun-soo with worry.
‘Powerhouses may come soon.’
Yet oddly, Hyun-soo's face flushed with excitement.
"Lady Nel."
"Yes."
"How much Territory Contribution do you think I earned this time?"
"……?"
Nel could tell from his confident expression it was astronomical.
Hyun-soo, gazing boldly at the Royal Shop, declared,
"Today, we'll awaken them—like in Goyad."
Awaken like in Goyad?
"Falo, Constantinu, Lookburg—the pillars upholding the kingdom. And we'll build an independent nation, unbound by Goyad."
"……!?"
Nel's face lit with admiration.
‘If figures like Falo, Constantinu, and Lookburg truly awaken, it might be possible.’
And moreover.
‘No one will dare act rashly, no matter who comes. We'll awaken many colossal dormant ones in Atlas.’
But this was mere hope.
To realize it required unimaginable Territory Contribution.
"……How much total contribution did you earn?"
The amount determined who and how many could be awakened.
‘What……?’
Nel's mind blanked at his next words.