The Betrayal of the King of All Things
All the demons were dead.
It was the price paid in exchange for the lives of three heroes.
'Only you and I remain now.'
The Grand Alchemist Minerva said, clutching her blood-soaked arm.
Sirian was the only one who had not sustained a single wound.
'So it seems.'
Minerva sighed and sat down on a rock.
In that brief moment of breathing, she felt a stinging pain in her heart.
Minerva stared with wide eyes at the spear blade that had pierced straight through it.
'Urgh...!'
She barely kept herself from collapsing forward.
Minerva glared at Sirian with eyes filled with rage.
'So it was you after all... The one who tried to open... the gates of Pandemonium... was... you...'
'That's right. You're far too sharp, Minerva. It would have been better if you'd simply died to the demons. In the end, I had to kill you with my own hands.'
'What... is your purpose...? Why... did you betray us...!'
Sirian twisted the spear embedded in her heart with brutal force.
Minerva vomited blood and collapsed on the spot.
Sirian swung his spear, flinging the blood from its blade.
'Don't worry. The gates of Pandemonium will not open yet. There is still much preparation needed if I am to bring the Demon Lord to this side.'
The recording ended at a cliffhanger, the kind that would leave anyone desperate to see what came next.
Shanette could not close her shocked mouth.
Sirian's final appearance, especially, had been far too shocking.
The King of All Things, Sirian, had always been known as a solemn and majestic leader.
Yet that same Sirian had betrayed the heroes and tried to open a door connected to Pandemonium?
Everyone except Kang Yoonsoo wore dazed expressions.
Ramax, the first to regain his senses, spoke calmly.
"Everyone, write down what you just saw."
The excavation team members took out notebooks and began recording the scene with graphite pencils or fountain pens. They sketched the heroes' true appearances and transcribed their exact manner of speech.
"What do you plan to do with those notes?"
"We must remember it as history. We are unlikely to see that illusion again. Later we will need to request an official record from the imperial historians or those in the capital."
"But will people believe it? That the greatest hero of all, Sirian, betrayed humanity?"
Shanette spoke with clear worry in her voice.
"Of course it's the truth, but stubborn people will refuse to accept it. They want their solemn and great King of All Things."
Ramax smiled faintly.
The old man's final words lingered in their memories longer than the rest.
"History must always be truthful. Even if it is more shameful than a diary hidden beneath a bed. Isn't that only natural?"
"Hup! Haah!"
The young men at the training ground were once again sweating blood as they honed their swords.
The loud battle cries made Henrik narrow his eyes.
What a bunch of fools swallowing empty air.
As usual, Henrik lay buried in the garbage dump, scratching at his ribs.
Of course, he did not particularly enjoy being buried here all the time.
Whenever he woke up after drinking himself unconscious, he always found himself lying in the dump.
"It's called homing instinct. Like a migratory bird that left its nest eventually returning to the land where it was born."
Henrik muttered as he stood up.
Then he looked at the man and woman standing before him.
"What is it?"
"We have brought the ancient stone."
"Huh?"
Henrik made a strange face before pinching his own cheek.
"I don't think I'm that drunk yet?"
Kang Yoonsoo silently pulled the ancient stone from his backpack.
It was a rock so large it was cumbersome to hold with one hand, its shape crude and rough.
Henrik's eyes widened. He stroked the stone and examined it closely.
"Would you look at that? You really brought the genuine article."
Having said that, Henrik gave Kang Yoonsoo a suspicious look.
"Can you process it as well?"
"Yes."
"Do it."
Henrik took a chisel from his pocket and handed it over.
At first glance it looked like an old, worn chisel, but the patterns engraved on the blade and handle carried a subtle elegance.
Kang Yoonsoo gripped the chisel in one hand like a short sword.
"Ah, wait, wait a moment."
Henrik waved his hand.
He scratched his cheek and said, "No matter what, this is an ancient stone, top-grade material... It would be unseemly to process it next to a garbage dump. I know a good place. Let's do it there."
He led the pair to a rather unique tavern.
The interior was luxuriously decorated, yet the patrons drank with unrestrained freedom.
None of them seemed bothered by Henrik's ragged appearance. It was proof that he had been frequenting the place for a long time.
When the three entered, an elf in a low-cut dress walked over slowly.
She spoke with refined elegance.
"Henrik, pay back what you owe."
"Come now, Sister Latensha. Was our affection that cheap?"
"Is there any loyalty before money?"
"Considering how countless friendships melt away like the first snow before a guarantee, the answer must be no."
The elf called Latensha lightly smacked Henrik on the forehead.
Henrik chuckled, then whispered something into her ear.
Shanette, watching the scene, whispered with a dumbfounded face.
"I felt it from the start, but he really is a peculiar man."
When Latensha nodded, Henrik strode onto the stage carrying the ancient stone.
He placed it in the center of the stage and shouted.
"Everyone, pay attention! I've brought something spectacular for you all today!"
At Henrik's clap, every patron's gaze snapped toward them.
He stepped down from the stage and pointed at the stone.
"Process it there. If your skills are terrible, it will embarrass not only you but me as well, so be careful."
Kang Yoonsoo climbed onto the stage.
The drinkers immediately booed.
"Boo! Who the hell is that greenhorn kid!"
"Henrik, you bastard! If you're having it processed, do it yourself!"
"Do we really have to watch a rock turn into sand inside a tavern!"
Kang Yoonsoo positioned the chisel and began carving the ancient stone.
His hands moved with speed and precision.
The crude rock gradually transformed, taking on a clear, brilliant hue.
Before long a jewel radiating mystical light had been completed, and even the drinkers could not hold back their admiration.
"Wow! That guy's better than he looks!"
"Henrik! Is he your apprentice?"
"His skills might actually be better than yours!"
◈ A magic stone crafted by carving an ancient stone. Contains a powerful force of death.
◈ When shattered, the hidden magical power is released.
◈ Swallowing it will turn the user into an undead, but they can never return to their original form.
With outstanding dexterity, you have produced an astonishing result.
New skill: Jewelcrafting has been created.
Jewelcrafting
Skill Level - Lv1 (00.00%)
Carves various materials to create crafted items.
You have crafted the Exalted Soul Stone.
The achievement of a great craftsman.
Your Jewelcrafting skill increases explosively.
Skill level has risen 7 times in total.
Hand movements become faster when crafting.
Completion quality of crafted items increases.
Success rate of polishing gems increases.
Additional effects are granted when creating accessories such as necklaces, rings, and bracelets.
Jewelcrafting can now be combined with other production skills.
Hidden functions of unidentified crafted items can now be examined.
Kang Yoonsoo slowly descended from the stage.
Latensha approached him with a seductive gait.
"What magnificent skill. You are the finest craftsman I have seen in all my years. Could you perhaps create another piece for me?"
She looked ready to give him a secret commission at any moment.
Before Kang Yoonsoo could answer, Shanette stepped forward with a bright smile.
"I'm afraid not. We have a busy road ahead of us. Besides, we already have a commission we are working on."
"Oh dear. What a shame."
Latensha brushed her elegant cheek with one hand.
Henrik was sitting at a table in the corner.
The two sat across from him.
He looked at Kang Yoonsoo with meaningful eyes.
"With this level of skill, I can fully acknowledge you. I suspected as much, but you really are an incredible craftsman."
"I'm unemployed."
"You have this much skill and you're not even a Jewelcrafting class? Typical of young people these days, wasting their talent. Who was the idiot that taught you jewelcrafting? To have such skill and still live as a bum?"
Kang Yoonsoo stared at Henrik for a moment before answering.
"You."
"What?"
"It's nothing."
Henrik looked at him strangely, then simply drained his glass.
Kang Yoonsoo ordered a strong drink and drank in silence.
With the two men only drinking, the impatient Shanette finally spoke.
"So, when will you give us the family heirloom?"
"I have to give it. Once I accept a commission, I must see it through. However, there is one small problem."
"What is it?"
"Where are you two headed?"
Kang Yoonsoo answered quietly.
"Depheron, the imperial capital."
"Perfect. Let me join your journey."
"Sure."
"Really? Here, have a drink. But why are you speaking so casually?"
"We're companions now."
"Hmm. Well, it doesn't really matter."
The two men casually shared drinks as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Only Shanette could not adapt to their bizarre conversation.
"W-wait a moment! You're saying you want to travel with us?"
"Why, are you two lovers or something?"
"N-no!"
"Then travel together. Having a sly old man in the party wouldn't be so bad."
Henrik answered with a sly grin.
"The family heirloom is in the capital anyway. You'll definitely need my help to find it. I've been thinking I should head to the capital myself recently. Going alone would be boring. If I travel with you two, I won't have to worry about getting lost while drunk. Sounds good to me."
"...Is that really why you want to come with us?"
"Does wandering around need some grand reason? Then tell me, are you two traveling to save the world?"
"Yes."
"What nonsense."
"Ah, never mind."
Shanette sighed and shook her head.
Had Kang Yoonsoo been planning this from the beginning?
She did not particularly oppose Henrik joining the party.
However, she worried about what role a jeweler like Henrik could play on a journey to complete a legendary commission.
This was no ordinary trip. They were on a quest to resolve a legendary request.
Of course he could travel with them even if he wasn't a combatant, but eventually Henrik himself would feel left out.