Chapter 47
Chapter 47
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Summoning Preparations
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“This is the method where you summon first and then form a contract. You’ll need separate skills for summoning and riding, and the summoned beast has to acknowledge you as well. On the plus side, you won’t have to worry about all those management issues I mentioned earlier.”
“Hmm, that’s the perfect solution.”
The downside was sacrificing an extra skill point, but it was reasonable enough.
Freedom from feeding and management hassles.
Plus, as both a mount and a companion, it could help in future battles and probably had other uses too.
“Let’s see. So I learn summoning first, summon it, then pick up the riding skill?”
“No. If you do that, swapping summons later or summoning a different one would force you to spend more skill points. Better to start with a broad-range riding skill. And just in case you end up contracting multiple summons…”
“I see! Got it.”
He was saying to pick a riding skill that could handle any kind of mount, regardless of race or type.
And considering the possibility of multiple summons, this was definitely more efficient.
Alright. Among riding skills, the one with the widest variation is… here it is.
[(Legendary) Riding (S+)]
You can proficiently ride any mount—living or inanimate—to which the concept of ‘riding’ applies.
“Perfect. I’ll take this one. Now for the last point: summoning. Wait, aren’t I banned from magic?”
Knights and magic seemed distant at first glance, but my trait explicitly barred magic use from the start, so it was tricky.
“…It might depend on the case. The ‘Knight Order Sanctuary’ dimensional gate, for starters…”
“That feels like something you guys use, so it’s different, right?”
“Still, I’d recommend checking. There are knights like me or Gaulf who use magic or spirit arts, and even death knights wielding necromancy, so it’s not entirely unrelated.”
Fair point. Knights who used magic, spirit arts, or necromancy existed, so summoning knights had to be out there too.
“Will this do?”
[(Unique) Magic Knight KyleRide’s Summoning Art]
Magic Knight KyleRide mastered magic to call forth beasts and divine creatures from various dimensions and worlds after years of research. He summoned those he desired for diverse experiments, gaining the world’s knowledge and becoming a legendary magic knight.
[*Incorporated into SSS-grade Path of the Great Knight; consumes reward uses on summon.]
“…This fits perfectly, but there’s a penalty.”
Magic meant penalties either way. The phrase ‘calls those he desires’ suggested I could summon who I wanted, so I invested the skill point right away.
Good. Preparations complete.
Tempted to summon now, but doing it at home would cause chaos, so I had to go outside.
“Ugh, too lazy to go out. Body’s tired anyway. I’ll summon for real tomorrow and grab the last reward before crashing.”
[You’ve triumphed over an invincible rival! That great victory becomes a star. Congratulations on etching a page in knightly history!]
[Reward - Symbol of Honor]
“What could this be? Claim it.”
[Leghorn! Archdemon Beast of the Slaughter King! Taker of over a million lives with claw and beak! Legion commander leading 10,000 demons! One who ascended to phoenix nirvana on winds of ill omen! Knight who felled such immense evil in honorable combat, receive your honorable reward.]
‘…Way too wordy.’
I get the congratulations and that it’s a huge feat, but this is overkill.
No, this knight trait was always like this, so I needed to adapt.
Anyway, three choices appeared before me again.
[Choose the Symbol of Honor to shine your feat. Which Symbol of Honor will you take?]
[Flesh or Wisdom or Armament]
‘What’s this? Just give it nicely instead of riddles?’
Composing myself, it wasn’t unfamiliar.
Right, I remembered constellations pulling stunts like this.
Kids whining about useless rewards from bad picks too.
So, calmly, I pondered what flesh, wisdom, and armament meant.
‘Not too hard. Flesh means my body, inheriting Leghorn’s skills or abilities, right?’
But recalling Leghorn’s powers, all I remembered was overwhelming demon physique and martial arts.
Even if skills transferred, it’d be combat skills, physical boosts, that weird phoenix ascension transformation—or worst, a race change.
‘Pass on flesh! Wisdom or armament? Hmm…’
Thinking of wisdom next, I paused.
Wisdom from an Archdemon Beast meant its knowledge, info, or skills.
Unless it boosted my lacking intelligence, such knowledge would just poison my judgment.
‘Armament it is, then.’
Armament was the perfect choice.
Likely a weapon, armor, or accessory symbolizing Leghorn’s form or powers, and S-grade monster meant top performance.
If restrictions kept me from using it, any of my knights could, or I could sell it.
‘Even if it enhances my current armament, no problem!’
Titan stake or golden beast armor—both legendary. Enhancing either boosted value.
I chose armament immediately.
[Armament! Knight’s alter ego and companion to pioneer the future! Engraving honor upon it—a noble mindset!]
[Enhances one equipped armament with ‘Fallen Phoenix Essence.’]
“Which one…?”
My currently equipped golden guardian beast armor was auto-repairing, so probably that.
My body glowed, golden armor forming like in combat, broken parts rapidly mending.
“Ooh, fixing it as a bonus?”
“Captain! The armor’s changing.”
“Huh? Oh!”
Once repaired, the armor’s appearance shifted.
Looking at the arms, red tattoo-like patterns etched onto the gold, design altering slightly.
New options meant visual changes too.
I couldn’t see the full shift while wearing it, but sharp Akaron fetched a mirror.
“…Ugh! What is this?”
The sight was shocking.
The plain gold armor was flashy enough, but red patterns everywhere added sharp ornaments.
The formerly plain cloak turned red with vivid phoenix feather motifs, even flashier.
This screamed, ‘I slew Archdemon Beast Leghorn!’
“Wow, really… don’t wanna wear it.”
“What? Captain, it looks awesome?”
[Contractor, what’s wrong? It’s great.]
[Dignified and bold—perfect fashion.]
Hated the new armor style, but hated these complimenting fools more.
No changing it, so I accepted and checked the new Fallen Phoenix Grace option.
[(Legendary) Fallen Phoenix Essence]
Though fallen, this creature symbolizes the king. Boosts armor durability and defense. Enhances king/emperor-related skills.
[Enhanced Skill - ‘Overlord Knight Yucheon’s Lost Legacy, Overlord Heavenly Sword Style ’]
“Nice options. But with this…”
Collecting king+knight skills would make me way stronger.
All rewards and skills handled, I planned deep rest tonight, summon a mount tomorrow in a quiet spot.
Desummoned the armor and crashed into bed.
Excited for tomorrow’s summon. Hehe.
***
GaeSung Special Hotel.
No full human ranch yet, so humans sent by Archdemon Beasts were stashed in hotel rooms.
The pastor owner checked rooms, savoring the pleading prey.
But just the start.
The Archdemon Beast hunt comp today would fill the hotel, then human ranch setup and accelerated breed experiments.
‘Serving god is pure joy. Oh! Slaughter King! Sacrifices pile for you and yours. Bless our path! Blood iron mace on fools serving false gods! I swear to think only of you, offering finest flesh and blood with utmost devotion. Amen! Amen!’
In ecstasy, a Scavenger brought bad news.
“Um… Pastor, big trouble. The frontline Archdemon Beasts retreated and clashed with Leghorn’s minions.”
“Hmm? What?”
“Archdemon Beast Leghorn seems felled by a Hunter. Others halted expeditions, ignoring your hunt orders to devour Leghorn’s forces.”
“What?”
“S-So… the slave trains we were capturing got cut off. This hunt’s ruined…”
“Pastor!”
“Oh god! Why this trial upon me!”
The pastor wailed, collapsing.
Prep and banquet for Beast hunt proposal perfect, but plans derailed—calculations ruined.
“Beasts still fighting?”
“Yes. Probably till they eat all of dead Leghorn’s forces. With a sacred hall guardian gone, resuming hunt’s tough.”
“Who slew Leghorn? That foolhardy hero? Blue Dragon Guild’s Go Cheonsu? Or Seoul Guild’s Park Sunwon?”
Pastor listed Korean Hunters with skill/leadership, but Scavenger shook head.
“Neither.”
“Then? Olympus finally sent Hercules’ apostle? They’re busy elsewhere?”
“No. The rumored Golden Knight took him down.”
Golden Knight made pastor’s eyes widen.
Known as slayer of Gaesong ruler Jeong Min-su, but dismissed as myth.
“Golden Knight? That urban legend’s real? Blue Dragon Guild fake to cut taxes?”
“No! Real. Our infiltrators’ videos and pics show him clear. Couldn’t get close-ups—too scared. Might’ve been eaten by Leghorn or Przewalski’s minions.”
Hard getting detailed Golden Knight intel beyond qualified—Beasts and minions ate Scavengers and Hunters alike.
Eyes of the pastor, retargeting his plan-ruiner, slowly filled with rage.