Chapter 64

Translator: Penny

Chapter 64

Transcendent Gallery.

The post Han Yoo-seong wrote continued to receive comments.

Simultaneously, the scene that entered the eyes of those who pressed play was Han Yoo-seong rushing towards Dekan.

It was a scene where Han Yoo-seong, who was far away, instantly closed the distance with Dekan.

The next scene was the continued battle between Han Yoo-seong and Dekan.

【Archmage】

The platinum-blonde mage, Ophelia's blue eyes were tracking Han Yoo-seong's movements.

"Oh, the density of Sword Qi is increasing in real-time."

Ophelia was a mage, but she knew well about the rise of a Swordsman's martial prowess.

"He rose to Rank 5? Well, he wouldn't have been able to defeat Dekan if he hadn't."

Whether in the Tower or on this continent after returning, she had fought countless battles with Swordsman-type mercenaries and Knights.

To face an enemy, you must know that enemy well.

Ophelia's eyes widened at what happened shortly after.

"Perfect timing…!"

The screen Ophelia was watching was replaying the scene of Han Yoo-seong deploying 'Rending Sword' at the exact moment Dekan's arms were raised.

Her eyes widened at the scene that followed.

It was the sight of Han Yoo-seong imbuing something like a fragment into his sword.

Then, a light more brilliant than the original white light flowed from the sword.

"Could that be…?"

Ophelia, who was predicting the identity of the fragment, frowned slightly at what happened next.

A black Magic Power sword that pierced Han Yoo-seong's left flank.

"Ugh, that must have hurt…."

In the screen, Han Yoo-seong somehow drew his sword diagonally without paying attention to the wound.

Seeing the scene of piercing through the armor covered in Demonic Energy and incapacitating Dekan, Ophelia was convinced that her guess was correct.

"It's the Fragment of the Holy Sword."

Ophelia put her hand on the keyboard.

Surely, you didn't break a perfectly fine one, did you?

"Oh, my head…."

Ophelia held her forehead with her right hand.

Because a headache suddenly surged.

However, it wasn't that she didn't understand Sword of Light at all.

Interdimensional Trade does not allow the transmission of 'weapons'.

But she thought he would send some kind of artifact, but she never imagined he would send a Fragment of the Holy Sword.

"Well, if you think about it, the only thing that can overcome that kind of situation is the Fragment of the Holy Sword."

Ophelia typed on the keyboard again.

The endlessly running comments suddenly stopped.

Because the moment when the fallen Dekan's eyes suddenly became clear was captured on the screen.

His mouth slowly opened.

And Dekan's eyes closed.

Soon, Dekan disappeared without a trace, scattering black smoke.

Even in the same difficulty Tower, there could be differences in the order of the floor Stages depending on the numbering.

If the difficulty itself was different, there were small and large differences in the content itself even if the related NPCs were the same.

"Ugh… hic, hic!"

Ophelia was wiping her eyes with a handkerchief.

The memories were clear.

Because she remembered everything that happened in the Tower.

A total of four floors with Dekan.

There was no way she couldn't remember.

She had never had such deep conversations with others.

The fact that there was a reliable vanguard was a great strength for a mage.

Especially since it was a vanguard she met in the Tower where lives were at stake.

To the extent that she couldn't dismiss it as just the death of an NPC.

"I've just become unnecessarily sentimental… I should stop looking at the comments. Heeing."

Even so, Ophelia read all the comments.

"Father."

Transcendent Gallery activity name 【Absolute Monarch】.

The Iron-Blooded Emperor of the Deindark Empire, Gerard, turned his head at the voice calling him.

There stood his son and the first prince of the Empire, Kailan.

"What's wrong?"

"The Wermer County side has fulfilled the request to replenish the Imperial Mage manpower, but the number of personnel is short by two. This is the second time."

The red-haired Emperor, Gerard, said nonchalantly.

"Send your subordinates to announce forced mobilization and bring the mages. Tell them it's my order. I'll have to interview the Count soon. Either cut off the person in charge's head or question the Count's negligence."

Kailan bowed his head.

"I'm sorry for bothering you. It's a task you entrusted to me, trusting me."

"There won't be a second time. You are bright."

Kailan only bowed his head.

"It's strange. I showed a lot of kindness to Wermer… rather, it seems that they are acting like this because they are confident that I will not hold them strongly accountable because of that kindness. I seem to have been seen too easily."

Gerard slowly nodded his head.

"It's a natural thing. There are hardly any people who properly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠repay the kindness and grace they receive."

"…Has Father not met such a person either?"

Gerard gestured with his chin and replied.

"There was only one time. In life. It's late at night, so go to sleep now."

"I understand. Good night."

Gerard entered the room.

He took out the Terminal he had put in the drawer.

And projected the video uploaded by the Climber onto the empty wall.

***

Absolute Monarch, past.

« Hard Difficulty floor 53, Climber - Gerard »

Gerard was proceeding through the Stage alone, following the 'solo climbing = fast growth' theory popularized by «Sword of Light».

Thirty years old, Crown Prince, genius, Rank 7.

Gerard, who was Rank 7 from the time he entered the Hard Difficulty Tower, was still Rank 7 even when climbing floor 53.

A situation where he was blocked by a wall, so to speak.

His heart was frustrated, but he had no choice but to continue climbing the Tower.

Forest of Bewitching Beasts.

The center of the forest with the highest Demonic Energy, Root of Lamentation.

He annihilated the Rank 7 Demonic Beast Abyssal Serpent that was rushing at him with a single slash.

A man was lying motionless on the floor.

To be exact, there were twelve more around the man, but the man was the only one alive.

"He's alive."

Gerard opened the man's mouth.

And slowly made him swallow the highest-grade potion.

"It's a recovery pill. If you chew this, you'll be able to move in 30 minutes."

Thud-

Gerard placed a shield in front of the man.

"This shield is the most intact. Use this to defend against the gray vines and escape to the outside."

The reason he helped the man was simple.

Because of what his father always said.

Give the possibility of life to a soldier who is alive.

Whether the opponent was an NPC or not, he was just following those words.

It was just compassion given as a person born with noble blood.

He gave as much possibility as he could and left the place.

Gerard was soon to face a crisis.

A crisis of death.

'To die like this here. Me.'

It wasn't even funny.

Medusa.

He was attacked by the curse-type Demon who couldn't inflict any damage as long as he kept his mind straight.

Petrification progressing rapidly from the legs.

It wouldn't have mattered if it was just one.

But he was surrounded by three Medusas.

If more than three Medusas gathered, they could bewitch even the mind of a Rank 7 Warrior.

However, it was something that shouldn't have happened to Gerard, who had an excellent mental barrier close to curse immunity.

It was the result of complex thoughts that he had to reach Rank 8 somehow.

But this was reality.

A cold reality where life and death were exchanged with one mistake.

Both arms were tightly bound by plant-type vines that were entrenched on the side.

Petrification blocks the operation of Magic Power itself.

When Gerard felt the approaching death like that.

Slash!

One of the Medusa's heads scattered into the air.

It was the man he had helped.

The absence of one Medusa was a golden opportunity for Gerard.

He crushed the petrification and immediately operated Magic Power, burning the plant-type Demonic Beast with Magic Power.

And he immediately blew the heads of the remaining two Medusas as well.

"…Why did you save me? You would have died if anything happened."

"Didn't my benefactor save me? You also gave me a shield. Thanks to you, I lived. Haha!"

"What's your name?"

"It's Dekan."

Gerard had to admit it.

NPC or whatever.

If it wasn't for this Dekan, he would have died in this Tower. On this floor 53.

And it was amazing.

A person who repaid the compassion he gave with the same value.

Because it was the first time he had seen such a person.

Floor 62.

The fourth time accompanying Knight Dekan.

Just before the Forest of Bewitching Beasts purification work was completed.

"I have a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠feeling that if you disappear this time, I won't be able to see you again."

"Maybe."

"Sir Gerard will be a good Emperor. Definitely."

He revealed that there was a place called another world.

That he was the Crown Prince there. Because they were comrades who had exchanged lives.

"Will you come back then, even if this Forest of Bewitching Beasts is rampant with Demonic Beast again?"

"Yes, because I promised my younger brother, who was a Knight like me. If I can't end the Demonic Beast of this forest, I'll die here even if I die."

Dekan smiled bitterly.

"I'm a brother who ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠couldn't even find his younger brother's body. I have to keep that oath."

"The dead younger brother won't care about that oath."

"Hahaha, that's right."

Half a day later, the Forest of Bewitching Beasts, purification completed.

Dekan was standing with his back against a giant tree.

"Thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to do something called Domain. Is it okay to just give me this kind of enlightenment? I've received too much."

"Just make good use of it."

"You'll be disappearing soon. If we meet next time, can I call you brother then?"

Gerard nodded with a expressionless face.

"Do as you please."

That was the last meeting with Dekan.

As expected.

****

Emperor of the Deindark Empire, Gerard.

«Absolute Monarch» was looking at the screen.

"……."

He watched the sight of Dekan scattering black smoke and disappearing.

And the Sword Manual left in that place.

There was the 'Valsenartz' Sword Manual that Absolute Monarch himself had written for Dekan.

Absolute Monarch slowly tilted the bottle, holding one of the two wine glasses on the table, the one that seemed to face him.

The empty wine glass began to fill as the crimson liquid slowly seeped in and swirled.

The scent of wine diffused in the air.

And he filled the glass in front of him.

The Absolute Monarch stopped the video and stared intently at the image of Dekan disappearing and the Sword Manual remaining.

Without any sign of bringing the wine to his lips.

Merely an NPC.

Merely a copy of records.

All such assumptions were meaningless.

The Absolute Monarch decided to accept it as he saw it.

The Valsenartz Swordsmanship Manual that was left behind.

His swordsmanship and Domain that Dekan had used.

And Dekan's last words.

Dekan's promise to his brother, that if the Demonic Beast Rampage were to happen again, he would come here once more, that he would keep his vow.

"Farewell."

All of that.

Meant that Dekan, whom he had taken as a brother, was indeed him.

"Brother."