The Hero's Face

"If it's not Dorango, then I can accept it."

"I thought it was suspicious because there was no way that useless Dorango could do something like this, but as expected..."

Even though he was caught scamming them, everyone was happy—a truly bizarre phenomenon! Lee Se-yeon was slowly starting to get used to this.

Mmm. So this is how Kim Tae-hyun plays...

"You don't look surprised," Lee Da-bi remarked.

"Phew. Something like this... isn't really that surprising anymore."

Lee Da-bi looked at Lee Se-yeon with deep admiration for her bluff. It had taken her much longer to get used to Tae-hyun's antics while traveling with him. A top-tier ranker really was cut from a different cloth!

"I haven't fully recovered from my injuries yet, so it's difficult for me to lead the knights. I want you to command them in my stead."

Count Besgo had been severely injured after falling into a trap set by the warriors of the wicked Auston Kingdom. Although he had recovered thanks to the Resurrection Herb, he was still unable to move around freely.

However, you, possessing the face of a true hero, are standing right here to save the Count!

Count Besgo believes that someone with the face and soul of a true hero like you can lead the knights to bring down the fortresses.

It was only natural for Count Besgo to look at Tae-hyun and mistakenly think, He looks so heroic!

His Reputation and Holy stats were astronomically high!

Even Lee Se-yeon couldn't match Tae-hyun's Reputation stat, so there was no need for further explanation.

No, wait... They just met...

Lee Se-yeon stared at Count Besgo in sheer disbelief. If his disguise was blown, shouldn't he be angry? Why was he handing over his troops instead?

—What is the Token of High Nobility of Erangse Kingdom?

—It's like an identification card. It allows you to meet princes and people of that stature.

—Ah. A noble ID... If I have this, I can pretend to be another noble, right?

—.......

—.......

The two fell into silence at Tae-hyun's immediate realization of how to exploit it. It didn't even take him a second!

"By the way, Count. The Third Prince's condition seems a bit strange right now."

"Why? He seems perfectly fine to me."

"...?"

The three of them were dumbfounded. Perfectly fine?

He can't even take off his armor, so what do you mean he's fine?

Is his definition of "perfectly fine" different from ours?

"No, hasn't the Third Prince's personality become a bit violent and rough?"

"That's just all part of the process of becoming a hero."

"Ah..."

Only then did Tae-hyun recall his past conversation with Count Besgo about the Third Prince.

—Well, if we're being pedantic, he is arrogant, disregards others' opinions, and occasionally flies into a rage and chops off the heads of a few insignificant fools, but surely that can't be considered a flaw, can it?

...Since the Third Prince was already like this, the fact that he became even more ill-tempered after putting on the cursed armor didn't make him seem any stranger to the Count.

Moreover, Count Besgo was an NPC who firmly believed that "a true hero should be boisterous and occasionally blow people up."

"Hmm. Indeed, the Third Prince isn't just fine; he has become even more heroic."

"I knew you would recognize it!"

—Why are you agreeing with him there?!

Lee Se-yeon called out to Tae-hyun in a panic. He was supposed to be persuading him, not pouring fuel on the fire!

—Well, looking at him, he doesn't seem like the type who can be persuaded.

"Since I've ended up working under the Third Prince anyway, I wish to serve him with absolute loyalty."

"As expected!"

Count Besgo was deeply moved by Tae-hyun's words. Where on earth had such a hero suddenly appeared from?

Lately, the continent had been plagued by chaos. Demons were swarming, evil god cults were rising, and some unheard-of adventurers were claiming to be kings...

But seeing a hero like this gave him hope.

"Yes. A hero like you doesn't even need those fortresses."

Beal Castle. One of the famous castles in the border region!

Since both the Guild Alliance and Midas wanted it, the castle was literally drenched in the blood of both sides...

—What's the current situation at Beal Castle?

—After a few failed capture attempts recently, it's been quiet for a while. Currently, the Guild Alliance is occupying it.

Because it had been captured and recaptured so many times, it was hard to keep track of who the actual owner was. Right now, it was the Guild Alliance.

And as if determined never to lose it again, the Guild Alliance was pouring its members into the castle.

Tae-hyun clicked his tongue as he watched the video feed Lee Da-bi shared.

Wow. That bastard Su Ning is really determined.

There were over ten rankers and what looked like hundreds, if not thousands, of guild members...

And if you added the NPCs to that?

Even for Tae-hyun, capturing it would be impossible!

—...Kim Tae-hyun. You're not attacking alone. You have the kingdom's army too.

—Ah. Right.

Tae-hyun had subconsciously started planning a solo assault!

Indeed, with the support of the formidable knights and soldiers of Erangse Kingdom, the story might be entirely different.

—Tae-hyun. Didn't you say black mages are summoning demons in the basement here?

—Yes. The summoning circle that Demon Duke Adad spent a long time preparing! Because of that magic circle, demons from the Demon Realm are constantly pouring out.

Beal Castle was truly a demon realm within the mortal world.

After hearing the full explanation, Lee Se-yeon nodded.

—This is actually a really good quest.

To a ranker, a high-difficulty quest was like rain during a drought. Looking at this quest, they could hunt down everyone from the Guild Alliance players to the demons. It was perfect for farming experience!

—Kim Tae-hyun. Shouldn't we do this quest?

—...I am not satisfied with a mere quest like this!

—?!?

Lee Se-yeon was startled by Tae-hyun's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠words. This... wasn't this good enough?

—Isn't a quest of this caliber plenty worth doing? The experience and rewards should be quite substantial...

—It certainly would be a bit disappointing to settle for a quest like this.

—?!?!

Double the shock!

While Lee Se-yeon was dizzy from the shock, Tae-hyun turned to speak to Count Besgo.

Right now, the priority wasn't some trivial quest, but confirming the King's location!

"By the way, Count. Do you happen to know where His Majesty the King is? I heard he has fallen ill, and I would like to pay my respects and help cure him."

"You..."

Count Besgo stared intently at Tae-hyun. Tae-hyun tensed up, wondering if his cover was blown.

"Not only did you cure me, but you also wish to cure His Majesty? I am truly moved!"

"......."

Lee Se-yeon thought to herself: Have some suspicion, please!

Looking at his expression, the Count's affinity was so high that even if Tae-hyun asked him to co-sign a loan, he would probably agree after a single second of hesitation. She couldn't understand what kind of relationship Tae-hyun had built with him to earn such blind trust.

Unlike the Third Prince who had refused to answer, Count Besgo trusted Tae-hyun completely. He spoke boisterously.

"This is a rumor I heard as well, but you must absolutely never repeat it to anyone."

"Of course, Count. We will keep it strictly between us."

What was the point of being a level 700 or 800 Magic Swordsman? When your brain is entirely made of muscle like that...

"Actually, I caught wind that the First Prince is keeping His Majesty by his side."

"!"

"The First Prince is weak-willed and rather indecisive, so he must be keeping His Majesty close to look after him."

"?"

Tae-hyun didn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠understand the Count's words for a moment. No, if he's looking after him, that's a good ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thing, so why did he make it sound like a criticism...?

"I see. In any case, Count, please leave your men to me. I shall return after achieving great deeds."

"I am putting all my trust in you!"

"Adventurer. Why are we heading in this direction?"

"The key to capturing Beal Castle lies here. Trust me and follow."

Leaving the clearly visible Beal Castle behind, Tae-hyun led them further and further up in a completely different direction. Count Besgo's knights were utterly bewildered.

—Why are we going this way?

—Is there something here?

—Still, he is the adventurer Count Besgo trusted and put in charge...

"Kim Tae-hyun. Are you sure you can handle the aftermath of this...?" Lee Se-yeon asked, her voice laced with worry.

Tae-hyun nodded and replied, "As long as we find the King, everything can be resolved."

Lee Se-yeon wanted to ask, What if we don't find him? but held back. It was a pointless question anyway.

"In the name of Count Besgo, I have come to seek an audience with His Highness the First Prince!"

"Ah, I-I see! Right this way, please. I shall guide you!"

At the mention of Count Besgo's name, the First Prince's attendant immediately accepted it and stepped aside.

In an instant, the drawbridge lowered, and the castle gates creaked open.

Screeeech—

"?"

Tae-hyun paused. Erangse Kingdom wasn't some newly discovered continent; it was the kingdom where the highest number of players were active.

...Yet he was the first player to ever enter?

—Was this place Baltaror Castle?!

—I-I'm sorry! I should have realized sooner!

Lee Se-yeon and Lee Da-bi were already discussing it, having realized the truth.

—What's so special about Baltaror Castle?

—It's one of the castles in Erangse Kingdom that players have never been able to enter before.

Erangse Kingdom was vast, and there were still quite a few regions and dungeons that players hadn't managed to access yet. Baltaror Castle was one of them. A castle where no player had ever received permission to enter!

—What kind of castle is it that they keep everyone out like this?

—The exterior looks as gloomy as a prison...

—I looked it up before, and they say it was historically used as a prison castle to lock up nobles. It's supposedly crawling with vengeful undead.

—Oh. Sounds like a great place to level up.

—Not just that, but it's also said to hold the treasures of those imprisoned nobles.

—Ooh...!

—But a dungeon like that wouldn't be completely unguarded. There must be something there, right?

—Yeah. There's probably a boss monster acting as a gatekeeper.

...Since no player had ever entered, speculations were rampant. Yet here they were, just walking right in.

Seriously, this guy...

Lee Se-yeon pressed a hand to her forehead. How does he walk into legendary quests and unrevealed areas as easily as breathing?

"Why is the First Prince staying in a place like this? He has his own army waiting outside."

"He contracted with Hungry Chaos, so he probably has a lot on his conscience."

The players who had joined the First Prince's faction were waiting outside, yet the First Prince himself was hiding deep inside the castle. No matter how you looked at it, it was highly suspicious.

"...More than that, we have absolutely zero information about the inside of this castle. I'll summon some undead and send them in to scout."

"Ah. There's that method..."

"That's actually a great idea."

Lee Da-bi and Tae-hyun were genuinely impressed. Lee Se-yeon could even do things like that!

Faced with their genuine admiration, Lee Se-yeon asked in disbelief, "...Then how were you planning to scout?"

"I was going to disguise myself and go talk to—"

"I'm sending the undead now, okay?"

"Yes, please do."

Tae-hyun looked slightly disappointed. His method was actually pretty good too!