Chapter 115
Chapter 115
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: Mutual Destruction
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“A secret vault?”
“Yes.”
“I don't remember seeing anything like that. Where is it?”
“The secret vault is outside the castle.”
“Ah...”
A vault outside the lord's castle.
Lee Shin nodded.
‘So it was like an emergency fund.’
Meant to be used in case something major happened to him.
He probably planned to come back for it secretly if he had managed to escape safely.
But his greed got the better of him, and he died at Lee Shin's hands before he could even leave the castle.
“...But wait, how do you know about that?”
“Pardon?”
“You're saying Count Killaim told you something that important?”
The sudden thought made Lee Shin tilt his head.
He told such crucial information not to one of his knights, but to a mere servant?
It didn't make sense.
‘Is he lying? Just trying to stay alive?’
Lee Shin narrowed his eyes.
It seemed like he was trying to find a way out of this situation and survive...
Lee Shin half-drew his sword and said.
“Try anything funny, and I'll kill you right now.”
“What? N-No, sir! I really do know what I'm talking about!”
“So, how do you know such important information?”
“I saw it in secret!”
“What?”
“When the Count was away, I secretly looked through his documents and found out!”
“……?”
Lee Shin blinked.
‘Is this guy insane?’
If he'd been caught, he would have been executed on the spot—no, he would have received a punishment worse than death.
But the man had his reasons.
“Well... I figured he'd get himself killed someday...”
“Ah...”
“So I wanted to grab what I could beforehand. Of course, I wasn't expecting to find information this important, but still...”
“I see.”
Seeing how the Count ran things, he figured the man would die a dog's death eventually.
Lee Shin found himself nodding in understanding.
‘True.’
The tax rates were ridiculously high, and riots broke out almost every week.
Even if it hadn't been him, the Count probably wouldn't have lived much longer.
“...Anyway, there should be no problem if we go check it out right now, right?”
“Of course.”
“Good. Go get the knights.”
Lee Shin had him summon the knights who were waiting outside.
The anxious knights rushed in at Lee Shin's call.
“Are you alright!?”
“I'm fine. But the Count put up too much of a fight, so I killed him.”
“What? No, you really killed...!?”
“Is that a problem?”
“...Ahem! It's fine. We won, so we can sort that out somehow. What matters is that you're safe, Sir Arthur.”
“That's what I thought.”
Lee Shin nodded shamelessly.
His expression seemed to say, 'I killed him. What are you going to do about it?'
The knights looked like they wanted to say something but couldn't bring themselves to speak.
After all, it was true that Lee Shin's position (territorial diplomat) was much higher than theirs.
They just cleared their throats and changed the subject.
“...Anyway, why did you call for us?”
“This man says he knows the location of Count Killaim's secret vault. Follow him.”
“A secret vault? Ah, the Count's hidden assets?”
“Exactly.”
The knights understood immediately and nodded.
In the Eteun Kingdom, it was an open secret that many nobles stashed away funds for tax evasion or illicit dealings.
Count Aaron, who was quite upright, was beyond suspicion, but the same couldn't be said for other corrupt lords.
“Understood. What should we do with the assets we acquire?”
“For now, move them to the territory's warehouse under my name.”
“Yes.”
* * *
Having dealt with the Count and his assets all at once, Lee Shin went outside with Jeong Yu-ra.
“Aaargh!”
“Help me!”
It was still chaotic outside.
Even the players who had initially hesitated to loot had been swept up in the atmosphere, excitedly rampaging, breaking, and stealing everywhere.
“Hmm...”
Jeong Yu-ra asked.
“Is this really okay?”
“For now. But it's about time we put a stop to it.”
He planned to absorb it all back through taxes anyway, so he'd originally intended to just let the players have their fun.
However, the players were getting so carried away that they'd moved beyond looting to damaging the territory's facilities.
That would cause problems.
“Why?”
“Because we were planning on taking this territory for ourselves.”
But what's the point of taking over a territory that's been reduced to ruins?
Well, strictly speaking, there would still be a point, but it would create unnecessary expenses.
So it was best to end it while they were just having some fun, but things had gotten too heated.
Lee Shin sent a whisper to Dokgo and Tae-yoon.
‘Hey.’
-Haha! Kill... huh?
-Yes?
‘That's enough. Gather the players.’
-Do what?
‘Gather the people. Right now.’
Dokgo replied to Lee Shin's order with a troubled tone.
-Now? They probably won't listen...
The players had already lost their minds, making them difficult for anyone to control.
No matter how much Dokgo or Tae-yoon shouted at them to stop, it was obvious they wouldn't listen in this situation.
-And trying to force them to stop could be counterproductive.
‘I know.’
Lee Shin knew full well what state the players were in.
That's why his order came with a carrot to entice them.
‘So, tell them this. We're going to raid another territory. It'll be more profitable than this place, which is already picked clean.’
-Another territory? Is there one?
‘There is. The Amphiri territory.’
-Am... pfft!!?
A loud coughing sound came through immediately.
-Are you crazy? They're our allies!
‘They were. Not anymore.’
-What? Why?
‘Because I said so.’
-...You crazy bastard!
‘Shut up and just do as I say. What does it have to do with you anyway? If problems arise, the Count and I will take most of the responsibility.’
Just as Lee Shin said, the players wouldn't have to bear much responsibility if any issues came up later.
No matter the outcome, the ones who had given all the orders were Lee Shin and Count Aaron.
Naturally, they would have to bear most of the responsibility.
Dokgo, tempted, muttered.
-Is... is that right?
‘It is.’
-Alright then. I'll give it a try.
-I'll do it too.
‘Good.’
* * *
Just as Lee Shin expected, persuading the players wasn't difficult.
‘We have almost no responsibility, so this sounds fine.’
‘My notoriety will rise a bit, but I can just make a donation for that.’
‘Then...’
Having already tasted sweet, sweet gold, they were tempted by the prospect of more looting.
After a quick calculation, the players cheered enthusiastically, urging Lee Shin on.
“Let's go!”
“Next! Next!”
Persuading the players hadn't been hard, but the problem was the soldiers from the Amphiri territory.
The commanders of the Amphiri territory, having heard the players' chatter, came to Lee Shin in shock.
“What is the meaning of this!?”
“You're going to attack our territory! Don't tell me you're planning to betray us?”
“We need an explanation!”
[The commanders of the Amphiri territory are suspicious of you.]
[Warning! If you fail to provide a satisfactory explanation, you will lose a great deal of trust.]
A kind warning message from the system.
But Lee Shin simply nodded coolly.
“That's right.”
“You need to explain... huh!?!?”
“What!?”
“Yep. I'm going to betray you.”
“Why!? No, why all of a sudden...!?”
“That's none of your business. Now listen closely. I'm giving you one last chance.”
“A chance...?”
“Yes. A choice, to be precise. Do you want to die here? Or will you join our side? ...Choose. You have one minute.”
Lee Shin's choice was not persuasion, but a threat.
Join or die.
Naturally, this completely unreasonable choice was met with immediate protest.
“What kind of... Don't joke with us!”
“If you keep this up, we won't stand by idly!”
“Hmm. Do I look like I'm joking?”
“What?”
“Besides, what could you do even if you didn't stand by idly? You think you can win? Your numbers are low, and from what I saw earlier...”
Lee Shin swept a meaningful gaze over the Amphiri soldiers.
“You all look pretty exhausted.”
“......!!”
“Twenty seconds have already passed. Think carefully.”
Finally seeming to grasp the situation, the Amphiri commanders' eyes trembled violently.
They realized Lee Shin truly intended to kill them all if they refused.
After some deliberation, the commanders accepted Lee Shin's offer.
“...W-We'll join you!”
“I'll join as well!”
[You have persuaded the commanders through fear.]
[Your notoriety increases.]
The result: everyone was persuaded!
Lee Shin's lips curled into a smile.
“Good. I'll let you live.”
“Phew...”
“Then let's get going. Oh, and the higher your contributions in battle, the more I'll help you secure a position in the Edgar territory. With your experience as commanders, you wouldn't want to start over as common soldiers, would you?”
“...We will do our utmost!!!!”
The commanders, motivated by Lee Shin's words, shouted their reply at the top of their lungs.
“Then we will go prepare for departure.”
“Alright.”
After they left to gather their soldiers, Jeong Yu-ra sidled up and asked.
“Really?”
“Huh?”
“Are you really going to help them? To get positions?”
Her expression was one of disbelief.
In response, Lee Shin replied as if the question was absurd.
“No?”
“Huh?”
“Of course I was just saying that. How could I use guys who have already betrayed someone once?”
“...I-I knew that!”
“...? Why are you shouting all of a sudden?”
* * *
As soon as preparations were complete, Lee Shin stormed the Amphiri territory.
“Charge!”
“Break down the gate!”
Waaaaah!
The soldiers and players charged forward, screaming a war cry.
The territory's defenders, who had been relaxing, were startled and scrambled to the top of the castle walls.
“That banner... no, that's our banner!?!?”
“B-Betrayal!”
“Those crazy... Stop them! Stop them at all costs!”
The defenders fought desperately.
But the difference in military strength was already too great.
Lee Shin's forces easily smashed through the gate, neutralized the defenders, and then captured the hastily fleeing Count Rodin.
“You...! I trusted you!”
“If you kneel now, I might let you live.”
“...Really?”
“No.”
“!?”
Giving hope, then snatching it away!
Thanks to that, while Count Rodin wore a dazed expression, Lee Shin swung his sword lightly.
“Gack...”
And that was the end of it.
*Ting.*
[You have killed Count Rodin.]
[You have killed the lords of two territories.]
[You can now claim the vacant lord positions.]
[Your notoriety increases.]
[You have acquired a large amount of experience.]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
…….
[You have reached Level 200.]
[Legendary Awakening!]
[All stats increase by 10.]
[You have acquired the class skills, <Mutual Destruction> and <Exploit Weakness>!]
“Oh?”
Lee Shin's eyes widened.
He'd reached level 200 sooner than expected!
Best of all, he'd gotten two of the class skills he'd been hoping for.
“Status window, check skills.”
Exploit Weakness
An experienced murderer can easily see through an opponent's weaknesses.
When close to an opponent, you will naturally discern their weak points.
Attacking a weak point precisely deals 30% additional damage.
The first skill was decent.
A passive skill that simply helps with dealing damage.
Lee Shin had secretly hoped for an active skill, but this was still a reasonably good outcome.
The second one, however, was not.
Mutual Destruction
To kill someone is to be prepared to die at any moment.
To live as a Salseong means to inevitably face countless deaths and to confront numerous life-threatening crises yourself.
You.
Heir of the Salseong.
The unavoidable threat of death can find you at any time.
It may be an inevitable situation born from the countless evil deeds you have accumulated.
But remember this.
Even in death, a Salseong never dies alone...
•Upon using this skill, you die instantly. Simultaneously, a dense aura of death rises, causing a mysterious death nearby.
•When the mysterious death activates, one random player within a 10m radius is selected and also dies instantly. This death cannot be avoided.
•You cannot gain experience with this skill. However, you will not drop items due to the death penalty.
“!?!?”