Lantern (7)
[The Blood King episode may disappear.]
The Blood King episode may disappear.
The Blood King is a half-baked figure sitting on one of the five thrones.
The four true kings don't acknowledge him, but with the final seat vacant, he's nothing more than a forced stand-in.
Even so, the Blood King was an important figure.
Had he devoured Lukio, he might have been recognized as one of the five thrones like the wind itself.
In any case, Purum Corp went into emergency mode upon hearing the alert.
There were over a hundred quests in preparation related to the Blood King.
A significant number were large-scale quests as well.
That alone showed he was a formidable king, nearly impossible to kill right now.
Thus, Se-jin held a video conference with the branch managers.
Se-jin nodded in agreement at their astonishment.
Hyun-soo's movements piercing through 50,000 troops weren't the Hyun-soo he knew.
His growth is too fast.
Se-jin pondered how such growth was possible.
He's crossed the death line countless times.
User Hyun-soo had faced far more enemies stronger than his level than any other player.
He'd crossed the brink of death more times than anyone.
It's different from Bahala. Bahala has faced twice or thrice as many powerhouses at the same level, but he had the control, skill, and power to fight them without it being a true death line.
But Hyun-soo had brushed death itself innumerable times, forging this insane growth.
...Is it really beginning?
Se-jin entertained the improbable thought.
Too soon.
The path to kingship, dubbed the second Ares, had only been open for three months?
They weren't shocked because he was a strong knight.
It was because a knight—a being who lived solely for one existence—had become Hyun-soo's man.
The branch managers felt a pang in their chests.
Their wish that he were their country's user was shattered.
On the other hand.
Even that prediction was shattered.
The branch managers and Se-jin alike were amazed.
Hyun-soo had speculated what effect combining the Four Signs Sword and Babylon would yield and bet on it.
That gamble hit 100%.
Finally, the Blood King fell.
The first king falls.
The world message echoing across the globe left people worldwide in shock.
And they weren't the only ones.
The branch managers witnessing it live wore expressions of awe.
Even Tao, the branch manager who utterly despised user Hyun-soo, muttered.
A slip of the tongue.
Se-jin's heart raced.
He understood the weight of those words from the branch managers' mouths.
Even they are starting to acknowledge him.
Se-jin marveled at how Hyun-soo had shifted their reactions.
Watching him limp on one leg, surveying the million people of the Enya Kingdom, he was filled with admiration.
A new era is dawning...
It was the era of user Hyun-soo.
Someone swallowed dryly.
Everyone in the meeting knew what to focus on next.
Yes, how many would live for him.
All eyes were on that.
Those who choose to live will serve you.
Standing before a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Hyun-soo felt the weight of nearly a million souls.
Among them, those who chose life would return with him.
This isn't sheer luck.
Feeling aches stabbing through his body, Hyun-soo let out a small laugh.
I did this.
No matter Myeolak's power, slaying the Blood King was never easy.
Still, there was regret.
94% of Enya Kingdom's people desire rest.
Over 90%.
Hyun-soo understood fully.
They had lived long lives.
For mortals, a finite life was a blessing to spend with loved ones.
But they'd endured over a century, watching those they cherished devoured by the Blood King.
Ageless and unchanging, they'd lived without purpose.
Occasional shifts into hideous demon forms must have filled them with self-loathing.
They've lived that way for so long.
They were utterly exhausted.
Without new purpose, they had no will to continue.
The real reason they'd cheered: the promise of peaceful rest.
Don't be greedy.
He wouldn't beg or plead those who truly sought peace.
Yet words tickled at the tip of his tongue.
As he opened his mouth to speak, the crowd fell silent.
They all focused on his lips, knowing the moment's gravity.
Then.
Hyun-soo's head spun.
Lips twitching, he recognized the harbinger.
It had been ages since he'd felt the prelude to a multiple blackout!
His face slackening, Hyun-soo grinned goofily at them.
"...I'm glad."
Thud!
You have fallen into a faint.
Shocked voices rippled through the crowd at the sudden collapse.
Sword Sage Laisen, Prak, Lukio, and Saintess Aria remained composed.
"Did you push yourself that far again? You wanted to protect this kingdom that badly."
Laisen's words spread among the million citizens.
Hyun-soo had thought they'd seek rest because they lacked reason to live.
But that faint, and his sincere "I'm glad" while looking at them...
It planted new emotions in the hearts of Enya Kingdom's million.
Those who knew him spread the tale further.
"Did he fight for us until he blacked out?"
"'I'm glad'—did you see that face? He looked relieved, like it was his own family."
A Goyad Kingdom soldier spoke up.
"That's just who he is. He gives his all for something, sometimes pushing his spirit to the limit for others."
"...?"
"So, I serve the man who will be our future king. My heart's already pounding at the thought."
"... ."
The soldier's expression screamed joy at following the future king.
Enya Kingdom's people felt their hearts stir.
He was so different.
Unlike King Brad, who used and killed them to grow stronger, he truly cared for everyone.
If my life gains new purpose, what would it be?
Their gazes settled on the fainted Hyun-soo.
Their new purpose.
Building a new kingdom with him.
That seed took root.
And notifications rang for the unconscious Hyun-soo.
The number of those who wish to live increases.
Several hours passed.
Reunited commanders, knights, and soldiers after so long.
Knowing some would soon take the path to rest, Lukio grinned wide and clapped their backs heartily.
"Haha, back in the day, this pigheaded guy fought a wild boar and turned into mush...!"
"Hahaha!"
After lively tavern tales filled with laughter, someone asked.
"...What will you do now?"
All eyes turned to Lukio.
The legendary knight who lived solely for one king.
His unyielding nobility commanded their attention.
"Think I'll make a new king."
"... ."
"... ."
That single line delivered fresh shock. Their faces asked:
Is he worth it?
Lukio nodded firmly.
"You saw it too, right? The way he just plop, fainted like that. Even I'd want to look after a guy who drops like a fly."
Yes, they'd seen it.
And because of Lukio's words, other knights on the verge of rest reconsidered.
I want to join too.
Their minds shifted.
The number of those who wish to live increases.
Elsewhere.
Some wondered why she was here.
Amid countless children and commoners stood Saintess Aria.
"Fear not that moment. I'll be with you."
Her radiant smile eased the crowd.
For those who desired death but feared the pain, Aria planned to stay on their day of choice.
A commoner asked.
"Lady Aria, how did you come all this way?"
Everyone knew the Ares Church's mission was purging evil, but she was too big a figure for this.
Aria was that immense.
She answered honestly.
"...I want to get close to him."
"...Pardon?"
"Lady Aria wants to befriend someone?"
Who was Aria?
The most noble goodness sent to the earth by God Ares.
For such a being to want friendship?
"...He faints a lot, but he's a man with that much power."
The commoners marveled.
His "I'm glad" during the faint flashed in their minds.
Is he worthy of Lady Aria's words?
Maybe the pain won't repeat?
Another reason ordinary folk sought rest: fear of repeating agony by following another king.
But Aria's endorsement changed that.
She vouched personally.
They could trust him.
And so, they thought:
Maybe choosing life isn't so bad?
The number of those who wish to live increases.
The sleeping Hyun-soo was unaware.
Kabel's calm expression drew questions from Enya Kingdom assassins.
He replied nonchalantly.
"To protect my friend."
"... ."
"... ."
The number of those who wish to live increases.
Questions came to Prak and Sword Sage Laisen too.
While Hyun-soo slept, many hearts turned.
And after 32 hours of deep slumber, Hyun-soo stirred, recalling prior events.
Don't regret it. Even if not as many follow as I hoped.
It was inevitable.
Even 10,000 would satisfy him.
No—10,000 was a tremendous blessing for current Atlas.
As he regained his senses, noisy alerts furrowed his brow.
What's with all this racket?
The sounds sharpened.
Over 90% of the citizens desired rest.
Their thoughts have greatly changed.
Lukio stood before him.
16% of the citizens desire to live.
You caused their change of heart.
"Awake?"
Lukio approached with a faint smile.
Creeeak—
He opened the closed door.
Those who chose life revealed themselves.
You can accept 140,301 citizens.
You can accept 3,113 soldiers.
You can accept 211 knights.
Hyun-soo's eyes widened in shock.
No noble in the world had recruited such numbers.
Hyun-soo had filled that gap. Amid his awe, new joy bloomed.
Lukio still spoke casually, but something had changed.
"I'll join the Great Atlas War. Gotta have someone to protect a weakling like you."
Vassal Lukio pledges loyalty to you.
It meant Lukio now lived for Hyun-soo.
You have recruited vassal Lukio into Hyun's Forge.
It was the moment the strongest knight returned to his fold.