The Awakening of the Holy Sword

Following the Great Unification War waged by the First Emperor, the Tumanist Empire was established, and the nations that once divided the continent were united under a single imperial banner. Thanks to the Emperor's noble spirit, wars among humanity finally faded into the annals of history. Ushering in an era of peace free from war, humanity underwent profound changes. First, the cultivation of fertile black soil stabilized agricultural society, naturally leading to a surge in food production. Furthermore, advancements in papermaking facilitated the spread of literacy, ensuring that newspapers were no longer the exclusive privilege of the nobility. Children received basic education in schools, and those with talent went on to learn magic and swordsmanship. Sick imperial citizens were treated in hospitals, and with the imperial family spearheading rapid urbanization, humanity had undoubtedly progressed to a more civilized stage by any metric.

However, rapid development always carried side effects. As food production soared, the population exploded. Then, as if by some cruel twist of fate, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠an unforeseen great famine struck the agrarian society. To make matters worse, the poorly structured, rapid urbanization allowed crime to run rampant across the Tumanist Empire. As cities declared themselves free territories led by mayors, tenant farmers bound to their lords' estates risked their lives to flee to these free cities under the cover of night. These cities did not just breed runaways and criminals; they also became breeding grounds for the Black Plague, which claimed more lives than the Unification War itself. The slums, where beggars and the destitute huddled together, were literal cesspools. Naturally, they were infested with rats—the very beasts carrying the plague.

While struggling to manage their own internal crises, the military faced the grueling task of subjugating the non-human races crossing over from the demonic realms. It was a chaos worse than war. At this rate, it was clear the Tumanist Empire would collapse before even reaching its centennial anniversary.

Yet, where there is a monumental crisis, a solution is always hidden somewhere. The answer lay within the 72 Dungeons. Surprisingly, the cure for the Black Plague, once thought incurable, was found in a labyrinthine plant. Upon hearing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the news, the slum dwellers rushed to the dungeons, which in turn provided them with much-needed employment. The dungeons were not only a solution to their problems but also an unparalleled blessing to humanity. The byproducts harvested from the dungeons became a revolutionary cornerstone for human advancement.

With wars of conquest over, the Tumanist Empire's gaze locked onto the dungeons. When humanity unites, a common enemy inevitably emerges. If one did not exist, they had to invent one to keep the public's attention diverted. The imperial family knew that only a shared adversary could prevent humanity from fracturing. Furthermore, if that enemy yielded immense practical benefits, there was no reason to hesitate. While many claimed the Tumanist Empire's enemies were the non-human races and the demonic realms, they were wrong. The true enemy declared by the military was the 72 Dungeons. The demonic realms originated from the non-human races, and the non-human races originated from the dungeons. The dungeons were the very dens of evil that birthed all monstrous aberrations. Therefore, humanity's final frontier lay within the 72 Dungeons.

The imperial declaration united the will of humanity, allowing the Tumanist Empire to secure both moral justification and material gain. Even if one of the 72 Dungeons was conquered, a new one of the same rank would rise to take its place. In other words, they represented an infinite source of resources for humanity.

After declaring the 72 Dungeons as the enemy, the imperial military restructured itself, rebranding as the Imperial Subjugation Headquarters. They overhauled all conventional anti-personnel weaponry to mass-produce arms designed solely for slaying monsters. Wandering knights no longer sought lords; they sought dungeons. Soldiers were no longer mobilized for war; they were deployed to dungeons. Mercenaries no longer chose employers; they chose dungeons. Nobles, knights, soldiers, mercenaries, and beggars alike—everyone plunged into the 72 Dungeons, capturing the attention of the entire empire.

It was truly the era of dungeon raiding. Riding the waves of this changing epoch, the Imperial Subjugation Headquarters took proactive measures. With every dungeon conquered, humanity's strength and solidarity grew more robust. As the years passed, the Tumanist Empire poured its heart and soul into dungeon subjugation. Yet, despite countless attempts, there remained seven labyrinths that could never be conquered. Outlier dungeons. Public enemies of the Tumanist Empire. Humanity's greatest conundrums. People called these dungeons the Mugan 7-gung.

The Mugan 7-gung could not be left as uncharted territory forever. "The 4 Heroes shall conquer the untrodden Mugan 7-gung!" With the 4 Heroes as their vanguard, the Imperial Subjugation Headquarters launched an assault on the Mugan 7-gung. Mobilizing all four Heroes made this a campaign that absolutely could not fail, regardless of humanity's consensus that the Mugan 7-gung were unconquerable. Some said that the moment they succeeded, humanity would take a massive leap forward—no, they would ascend to an entirely new level.

The massive subjugation of the Mugan 7-gung was a resounding success. Furthermore, all four Heroes returned alive, laying down the perfect foundation for the next Mugan 7-gung raid.

Slam!

"Why the fuck did he have to go and die?!"

At the Imperial Subjugation Headquarters, despite it being an emergency response committee meeting packed with high-ranking officials and generals, Commander McDmill slammed his fist onto the round table without a care. None of the attending generals could fault McDmill for his outburst. If anything, they shared his frustration and wanted to vent their anger just as he did.

"Valmonk... How on earth did he end up dead...?"

Valmonk, the Hero of Faith, had died a sudden death. A Hero who had successfully conquered a Mugan 7-gung and returned safely had perished in a newly born Mugan 7-gung. Because his death was so sudden and didn't even occur during an official raid, the shock was twice as devastating. By the time they tried to cover up the incident, it had already been splashed across the front pages of the newspapers, and every citizen in the Tumanist Empire knew about it.

McDmill was utterly dumbfounded. For the resurgence of humanity, everyone should be working together with one mind for the sake of the Tumanist Empire. Yet, even in the face of such a grand cause, were they still prioritizing their own petty self-interests?

"Someone say something! Isn't that why we're all gathered here? A Hero is dead. A Hero who was a champion and idol to the citizens of the Tumanist Empire. And he died in a newly born Mugan 7-gung that rose from the ashes of the one we just conquered!"

"..."

"Fuck. The endless clamor of those brainless peasants is starting to ring in my ears like tinnitus."

"We must conquer the newborn Mugan 7-gung."

At the general's words, everyone's eyes locked onto him.

"What is our primary concern right now? It is the public's perception and their growing anxiety. The issue isn't the Hero's death itself, but the chaos it triggers. The current situation clearly dictates our next move."

Some muttered to themselves, while others nodded. Everyone in the room agreed with the young general's point. Sensing the favorable atmosphere, the general continued passionately, practically spitting as he spoke.

"Do you know what kind of novels and plays are trending in the capital these days? Revenge tragedies. The public thirsts for vengeance. Doesn't our current situation mirror one of those plays? If we present the citizens of the Tumanist Empire with a satisfying act of retribution, everything will be resolved."

"What nonsense... Are you suggesting we launch a campaign merely for revenge?"

"No. Revenge is the justification. It is simply a convenient pretext to rally the public. Now, let me ask you all: when is a dungeon at its absolute weakest?"

It was a rhetorical question. Anyone would say it was when the dungeon was newly born.

"Are you suggesting we strike now because it is a newborn dungeon?"

"That is not a sufficient reason. While it is true that a newborn dungeon has many vulnerabilities, we lack information. General, our opponent is a Mugan 7-gung. Why do you think we succeeded in conquering Bango's Dark Abyss in the first place?"

The advantage of information. Unlike the other Mugan 7-gung, which constantly shifted their layouts to counter raids, Bango's Dark Abyss had kept its traps, monsters, and entire structure completely unchanged. No one said it out loud, but everyone in the room knew they had only succeeded because that particular dungeon had been exceptionally stagnant.

"We know next to nothing about this newborn Mugan 7-gung. The only piece of information we have is that an irregular Death Knight is the boss."

"Exactly. Since the boss is undead, most of the monsters inside will be undead as well. In that case, who could be more suited for this task than the Hero of Solari?"

Everyone doubted their ears at those words.

"So... you are suggesting we dispatch the Hero of Solari?"

"Precisely."

"Hah!"

Sending an opponent with a type advantage just because the boss was undead? Such a simplistic, childish idea had come out of a general's mouth. While most lamented the suggestion, the expressions of those who saw through the general's true intent were different.

"Come to think of the Hero of Solari..."

"Right! Didn't they say he awakened his Holy Sword just two days ago?"

"Yes, that is correct."

Wilhelm, the Hero of Solari, had possessed the Holy Sword, but prior to its awakening, he was merely its keeper. Only the truly noble could wield the Holy Sword, and furthermore, only one who received a revelation from the Sun God could awaken it. And just two days ago, Wilhelm's Holy Sword had awakened. With only a slight exaggeration, the power of an awakened Holy Sword was capable of wiping a Mugan 7-gung off the face of the earth. Its devastating power had already been proven during the Great Unification War, leaving absolutely no room for doubt.

"The two Heroes were the closest of friends. I believe the Sun God's revelation is a divine blessing granted specifically for him to avenge his companion."

Valmonk and Wilhelm were Heroes who held similar yet distinct values. Though they belonged to the same faith, their devotion took different paths, and their ways of expressing it were polar opposites. Valmonk looked down on Wilhelm, who prayed at every turn, while Wilhelm frowned at Valmonk, who pursued nothing but physical training. Yet, bickering often breeds affection. As they constantly clashed, they grew closer, and after saving each other's lives in Bango's Dark Abyss, they became inseparable. Thus, there was ample room to interpret Solari's revelation as a divine mandate to become the blade of vengeance.

"Everyone knows that Elder Valmonk and Sir Wilhelm were dearest friends. A theater troupe in the capital even staged a play depicting their camaraderie. Imagine the impact if Sir Wilhelm himself, of all people, were to exact this revenge."

"But dispatching the remaining three Heroes would take considerable time. If the dungeon catches wind of our movements in the meantime, it will only complicate things."

"Indeed. It is common knowledge that defending is far easier than attacking. If we delay and they read our movements, the raid will be doomed from the start."

"Then what if we deploy a minimal, elite force?"

Organizing a large-scale subjugation force would inevitably expose their movements, which was tantamount to a declaration of war. Unless the dungeon was as foolish as Bango's Dark Abyss, it would naturally prepare its defenses. The dungeon would utilize its defensive advantage to repel the invaders, while the subjugation force would rely on information to conquer the dungeon. This was the fundamental principle of dungeon raiding. Knowing this, leaking information by assembling a massive army could easily backfire. Therefore, the Subjugation Headquarters' strategies generally split into two paths: a large-scale force capable of brute-forcing its way through even if their movements were read, or a small, elite force designed to catch the enemy off guard.

"Hmm..."

"Ugh."

The assembly fell into deep thought. The conquest of the newborn Mugan 7-gung was already tacitly decided. The only dilemma left was whether to assemble a massive subjugation force or deploy a small order of holy knights.

"If we consider the possibility of failure, the latter is the correct choice. If we pour massive funds and time into a large-scale campaign only to fail, the losses will be catastrophic."

"I agree. Even if a small-scale operation fails, we can easily cover it up, can't we? We must not disappoint the public twice. We should attempt a stealthy raid to minimize our risks."

The generals who had remained silent until now began throwing their weight behind the idea.

"It is a newborn dungeon ruled by the undead. Their defenses are incomplete, and they are highly vulnerable to holy power, so our chances of success are high. Besides, didn't you say the Holy Sword has awakened? That alone should match the combat power of the force that conquered Bango's Dark Abyss."

"I share the general's sentiment. Above all, why else would Solari grant a revelation if not to avenge a fallen friend?"

"Hahah! Indeed! Even the gods are on our side!"

For various reasons, everyone's stance leaned toward the latter option. Commander McDmill, who had been mediating the discussion, drove the final nail in.

"It is decided, then. We shall mobilize the Holy Knights with Sir Wilhelm at the helm."

They ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠did not doubt for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a single second that the newborn Mugan 7-gung would soon be conquered.

The bone throne in the boss room was repulsive no matter how many times I looked at it. Even though Charlotte had designed it specifically for me, my heart was still that of a human.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to this."

If I threw it away and replaced it with something else, it would render Charlotte's hard work completely useless, so I was simply enduring it.

Exhaling a breath of cold air that sounded like a sigh, I unfolded the newspaper. Lacking the internet, I had to kill time reading the newspapers Charlotte brought back from the outside world. If I stepped outside, the place was always incredibly noisy because of the Insect tribe and the vampires. I felt a bit sorry for Charlotte, but I just wanted to spend some quiet time in a quiet place.

"They sure found out fast."

Actually, considering this was a medieval setting, was their information network surprisingly quick?

Rustle.

I flipped the page with a look of disinterest. Immediately, an event that served as a major pillar of the game's lore captured my full attention.

"...The awakening of the Holy Sword."

Wilhelm, the Hero of Solari, had awakened his Holy Sword. Thinking back, I recalled that this was around the time when Wilhelm, a named NPC, was supposed to awaken his weapon. It had been a mere passing line of dialogue from an NPC, but I remembered every single detail. That's just what happens when you put thirty thousand hours into a game.

"How did it go again?"

"At first, I did not understand the reason for the revelation. But now, with destruction looming right before us, I finally realize its meaning."

The timeframe in which he uttered those words was during the Calandas's Invasion chapter. The awakening of the Holy Sword was a revelation from the Sun God. It directly correlated with the fact that Calandas was beginning to plot the annihilation of humanity in earnest.

Calandas, you piece of shit. Your natural counter has finally arrived.

In the game, clearing the 'Decay Cave where Death Breeds' was impossible for a player to do alone. The raid was structured such that you absolutely had to keep Wilhelm alive and receive his assistance to succeed. You're dead twice over now, you walking corpse. Even if my current situation cast me as a dungeon boss, the destruction of humanity would deal a massive blow to me as well, and if Calandas's faction grew too powerful, I would be the one suffering the consequences.

Wilhelm still didn't know the true meaning behind his revelation. But what if I leaked information about Calandas's evil plot to him?

"If things go well, I might even be able to replace the Rank 5 Lord."

It would be perfect if I could play them against each other, reap the spoils, and snatch the Necronomicon. All to build up Charlotte's strength.