Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: The Secret of the King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu (3)
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‘What? He’s accepting this so easily?’
Kang Hyun-soo was just as surprised as Sword King Jang Seok-won.
He hadn’t imagined that the King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu would accept so straightforwardly.
At that moment.
[Using Unique Skill Replica – SS-Rank.]
[One stack is consumed.]
[Creating a replica of Choice Foresight – EX-Rank.]
[Choice Foresight – F-Rank replica has been generated.]
[Replica skills possess 200% of the original’s capabilities.]
‘Choice Foresight?’
In the midst of attempting to amplify a skill, a completely unheard-of ability had been copied as a replica.
‘Aren’t all skills with “foresight” in the name supposed to be about future vision?’
Startled, Kang Hyun-soo quickly checked the details of Choice Foresight.
[Choice Foresight – F-Rank]
- Unique Passive Skill
- Replica skill.
- At crucial crossroads of choice, it shows two possible futures.
- Permanent stacks: 0
‘Shows two futures at important crossroads of choice?’
It was similar to Future Foresight.
‘High randomness.’
The main difference, though.
‘Future Foresight is an active skill.’
In contrast, Choice Foresight was passive.
What concerned him most was the permanent stacks.
Stacks typically recharge.
‘But permanent stacks probably vanish permanently upon use.’
That meant Kang Hyun-soo couldn’t use Choice Foresight, and naturally, he couldn’t raise its rank either.
Why?
Because it started with zero stacks.
‘It’s probably a skill gained from acquiring an EX-Rank skillbook. It wouldn’t have had many stacks.’
Forcing it into an F-Rank replica via Replica had resulted in this mess.
‘Would it change if the Replica skill rank grows further?’
Even then, it seemed unlikely.
If it was 200% enhanced and still had zero stacks?
Even at 300%, it would be the same.
‘To think he had a skill like this.’
It wasn’t just personal strength that allowed him to pursue his path and build the massive Goryeo Guild.
‘The power of Choice Foresight must have been immense.’
At critical junctures.
It showed the two futures based on his choices.
In other words.
‘A cheat skill.’
Yet before regression, the King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu had died saving the weak.
‘Maybe his stacks ran out, so he couldn’t see his own death coming.’
Or perhaps he saw it but stepped up anyway to save the powerless.
Kang Hyun-soo looked at the King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu.
‘Did Choice Foresight activate, showing him futures of joining Dark Knight or not?’
If the future of joining Dark Knight was brighter of the two?
It made sense why the King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu had decided so quickly.
However.
“Old man, have you lost your mind?”
That was from Kang Hyun-soo’s perspective, knowing about Choice Foresight.
From Sword King Jang Seok-won’s standpoint, completely unaware, it was utterly absurd.
“I haven’t gone mad, and I haven’t lost my marbles.”
“Then how can you decide something this important so lightly?”
“It’s a chance to grow stronger quickly. Joining Dark Knight doesn’t come with restrictions forcing you to obey orders. What’s there to overthink?”
Sword King Jang Seok-won was dumbfounded by the King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu’s response.
What kind of guild was Goryeo Guild?
One of the three major guilds representing the Terra Kingdom.
For such a super-giant guild.
‘To go under Dark Knight, a shadowy force whose true nature we barely know?’
To be more precise, it wasn’t the Goryeo Guild going under Dark Knight, but the guild master, the King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu, personally.
Considering the absolute support and trust he received from his guild members?
There wasn’t much difference.
“Forming an alliance and subordinating yourself are completely different things. Even if you can refuse orders, that doesn’t change!”
“I’ve made my decision.”
The King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu didn’t budge despite Sword King Jang Seok-won’s words.
“What’s the reason for this decision? Is it really just because you want to get stronger?”
“For the survival and continuation of Goryeo Guild.”
“If we don’t join Dark Knight, is Goryeo Guild going to collapse?”
To Sword King Jang Seok-won’s question.
“It might.”
The King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu answered with a bitter expression.
“This is insane.”
Sword King Jang Seok-won’s face twisted in frustration.
‘When that old coot acts like this and I go against him, it always ends badly for me.’
As neighboring guilds like close cousins, Sword King Jang Seok-won had no choice but to spend a long time alongside the King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu, whether he liked it or not.
They had teamed up against common enemies and clashed over interests.
But whenever they diverged at key moments?
‘I always took the loss.’
One of those included a major incident that threatened Balhae Guild’s very survival.
After that.
Sword King Jang Seok-won generally moved in the same direction as the King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu.
“Think it over carefully before deciding. Didn’t you just tell me yourself that Dark Knight is a benefactor who prevented your guild’s destruction? Demon King’s Army invasions will only grow more frequent. This was just the beginning. Can you handle all those crises without Dark Knight’s help?”
“You’re saying an alliance isn’t enough?”
“It’s a minimal safeguard, but not perfect.”
“Urgh.”
Sword King Jang Seok-won clutched his head, deep in thought.
“I’ll join Dark Knight as well. Please proceed with the enlistment.”
Kang Hyun-soo nodded at the King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu’s words, first dismissing him from the magic knight regiment commander position, then casting the Commander Appointment skill.
[Player Kang Hyun-soo has used Commander Appointment. Do you accept?]
[Yes] [No]
The King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu selected Yes without hesitation.
Whoosh!
[You have been appointed as Battalion Commander.]
[All stats increased by 15%.]
‘Commander’s Blessing.’
When Kang Hyun-soo used his A-Rank Commander’s Blessing as well.
[You have received Commander’s Blessing.]
[All stats increased by 25%.]
The King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu’s stats rose by a total of 40%.
Swoosh!
Uncontrolled mana poured from the King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu’s body, rippling like waves.
-How is it?
Kang Hyun-soo asked via intent.
-I expected it, but.
“It’s truly astonishing.”
The King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu replied, mixing intent and words with a satisfied smile.
‘Damn, it’s real.’
Sword King Jang Seok-won, on the other hand, was horrified.
‘The monster’s become even more monstrous.’
The mana leaking uncontrollably from the King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu stung Sword King Jang Seok-won’s skin with its intensity.
At that moment.
“I can also permanently boost my subordinate guild members’ stats.”
“Use it on trustworthy ones. I’ll cover the cost. Of course, report to me first.”
Kang Hyun-soo’s tone had shifted.
“My apologies to you, my lord.”
But the King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu accepted it as natural.
‘Not just getting stronger himself? Damn it all!’
Overhearing, Sword King Jang Seok-won clutched his head.
The already monstrous old coot.
Had become a true monster.
And that wasn’t enough.
‘Even his guild members get stronger?’
Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild had equal power.
Sword King Jang Seok-won, as guild master, was only a hair behind the King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu in skill.
But Balhae Guild had more high-rankers.
If the King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu grew stronger and his guild’s high-rankers did too?
‘Balance of power breaks.’
Alliances or partnerships require balance to endure.
Sword King Jang Seok-won had planned to ally with Dark Knight and team up with the King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu afterward.
He figured that would roughly balance things.
But the King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu had backstabbed him properly.
If he wasn’t careful?
‘We might end up as Dark Knight and Goryeo Guild’s cleanup crew.’
Alliance in name, but treated as a subordinate organization in practice.
Didn’t modern society have plenty of those?
Hierarchies disguised as friendships.
Hierarchies disguised as colleagues.
Hierarchies disguised as allied nations.
‘But joining Dark Knight locks in a hierarchy.’
Even if not absolute.
If it wasn’t truly unjust?
How often could a subordinate refuse a boss’s order just because they didn’t like it?
‘He’s got a lot to mull over.’
This was only natural.
‘The King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu’s case was the exception.’
Not like Song Hana or Fist Emperor, with long-built bonds.
Not desperate like Golden Lord Saemaal or Dark King Cecilia.
Nor a pushover like Ivan Yamellikonen.
He’d made the offer, but.
‘Didn’t expect immediate acceptance.’
Just laying the groundwork, figuring no loss if rejected.
That way, in a truly desperate crunch.
‘He’d remember my words.’
But the King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu’s decision made things easier.
Plus.
-My lord, allow me to persuade him.
The King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu stepped up first.
-Think you can?
-I’ll show him my skill.
-Which one?
-Choice Foresight. It’s what enabled my quick decisions.
-A foresight skill, huh.
-Yes. It shows the future if I choose one path, and the future if I don’t. Sadly, it’s outlived its usefulness now.
-What future did you see when choosing to join Dark Knight?
-Survival.
-And if you didn’t?
-Death.
‘I see.’
Even if he didn’t join as a subordinate, Kang Hyun-soo planned to protect and support him as an ally.
The King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu was worth it.
But apparently.
‘Not enough to avert the death he faced before regression.’
That was understandable.
The Demon King’s Army invasions would intensify.
‘Enough to turn Atlantis into a sea of fire.’
They’d only just blocked the first.
And were in the midst of the second.
“Let’s talk for a bit.”
At the King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu’s words.
“Sure.”
Sword King Jang Seok-won followed.
After a short while.
The King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu and Sword King Jang Seok-won reappeared together.
“I’ll join Dark Knight too.”
Sword King Jang Seok-won had made his decision.
The King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu’s persuasion had worked.
‘Not something solved just by showing a skill.’
The traces of the life the King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu had lived.
Must have been the foundation that convinced Sword King Jang Seok-won.
‘Their trust runs deep.’
It was surprising.
Because.
Before regression, the one who beheaded Sword King Jang Seok-won.
‘Was the King of Benevolence Shin Chang-hu.’
From teasing him as the bald old man.
To coming alone to Goryeo Guild’s guild house—rival territory—without subordinates, just to compete with Kang Hyun-soo.
Their bond was far closer than Kang Hyun-soo had anticipated.
‘Before regression, doppelganger schemes turned them into enemies.’
But that future wouldn’t happen now.
He’d blocked the doppelganger plots at the source.
And if any new misunderstandings arose.
‘I can clear them up.’
With both under Kang Hyun-soo now.
They had no reason to turn on each other.
‘Perfect.’
Twisting the fate where both lost their lives before regression.
Felt truly satisfying.