Chapter 310
Chapter 310
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 310
Chapter Title: There’s a Trick (2)
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“Losers are losers! …But, what’s their skill level like, anyway?”
Drokshi exploded in anger, his pride clearly wounded, but he still seemed a bit uneasy.
He was a grand master craftsman who had once forged legend-grade equipment, and his skills had improved by leaps and bounds under Rokan’s employment. But when it came down to it, he had only just crossed that threshold.
“At least none of them are grand master level.”
“Heh heh, in that case…”
Still, a grand master was a grand master. And on top of that, didn’t he possess heavenly craftsmanship?
Even at the same level, the items he produced on the surface would be qualitatively different from those made by others, so claiming the title of Dwarf King was only a matter of time.
“I’ll give you a fortnight. Become the Dwarf King within that time.”
That was why Rokan allotted him a generous amount of time. For someone like Drokshi, who had no ties to the surface world except through Rokan, starting from the bottom was inevitable.
Considering that, a fortnight was absurdly short—but Rokan figured it was possible precisely because he was a dwarf.
With his skills, he’d draw attention the moment he set up a stall, and word would spread to the dwarf craftsmen before long.
He might even be ready to challenge the Dwarf King in just a week.
With that, Rokan handed Drokshi a map, various materials, tools, and gold, then ordered soldiers to escort him to the teleport magic circle.
And without any detours, he sent him straight to the capital of the Dwarf Kingdom.
He’d handle the rest on his own.
Drokshi wasn’t some naive craftsman who’d only ever made items—he was once a battle dwarf known as the Red Axe, even more famous for his fighting prowess.
“Your Majesty, the knights have arrived. Shall I let them in?”
“Fast, aren’t they? Bring them in.”
In the meantime, Rokan began interviewing the knights one by one. This was an edict issued by the prime minister under the emperor’s orders, so they were rushing over via teleport magic circles in a frenzy of loyalty.
It might even take a full fortnight just to meet them all.
“Ahem, this is eating up quite a bit of time. From now on, have them enter all at once as they gather.”
The one-on-one interviews were especially time-consuming.
They were little more than oaths of loyalty, but even those took time when proper etiquette was observed.
So Rokan made a decision.
No need for formalities.
Enter in groups as they assemble.
No need to surrender weapons or go through the hassle of retrieval.
This cut the time dramatically.
‘Were there this many?’
Even so, the influx didn’t slow.
While Rokan had been in the heavens, the NPCs had advanced too. The Second Racial War had claimed many lives, but when one hero falls, another rises.
It was a short time, but a tremendous leap forward. Master level had already surpassed 3,000, and high masters numbered 300.
‘Less evolution and more like a patch.’
Such a sudden surge in levels across the board? It didn’t add up. This had to be a patch.
The most likely explanation: NPC powerhouses’ levels and numbers were scaled to match the players’. Otherwise, toppling nations would be a breeze for players.
And that was proof of how much stronger the players had become.
‘High masters aside, masters have definitely proliferated.’
According to Rokan’s intel, even mid-tier guilds now had master-level players. Mastery had gone mainstream.
Some grew stronger through the war, while others hunkered down in hunting grounds, grinding levels.
“Good.”
Rokan welcomed it. After days of receiving oaths from every human NPC level 300 and up, plenty more were still lining up to fulfill his quest conditions for free.
“Quest activate.”
As soon as the loyalty oaths wrapped up, Rokan triggered another quest.
This one targeted leaders of all races and all guilds.
Simple terms: swear loyalty, and receive a title or item. He summoned them back to the imperial palace.
But only the guild leader gets the title or item—every guild member must swear loyalty.
“Heh heh heh, easy.”
That single quest turned the continent upside down. Plenty already had titles by now, and some had even risen to count or higher, but the items Rokan offered were priceless.
“They’re really nothing special, though.”
High master exclusive items, level 350 restriction.
Common as dirt in the heavens, but on the surface—where level 350 items, let alone monsters, were rare—they were worth a fortune.
No reports of anyone reaching the heavens yet, and even sky island reachers might not have them—the gap between sky islands and heavens was real.
Plus, for the mega-guilds, he dangled a few unique items crafted by Drokshi, so of course they came running with fire in their eyes.
With those items, they could be the next after Rokan to reach the heavens.
Even without that, they could lord over the surface like kings, expanding their power.
“This is the charm of monopoly.”
A smirk.
They had some decent gear, sure, but challenging him with that? Rokan knew better than anyone it was futile.
So he distributed the items freely, and the quest conditions filled up fast.
[Proving Worth: King of Violence][Quest]
You who possess the qualifications of a transcendent, prove your value.
-Completion Conditions
1. Subjugate beings Lv300 or below: 6,826,436 / 1,000,000
2. Subjugate beings Lv300 or above: 4,753 / 100,000
3. Subjugate beings Lv350 or above: 321 / 10,000
4. Subjugate beings Lv400 or above: 3 / 10
-Completion Rewards: +1 Level, Promotion to Grand Master
High masters too proud? Hardly. These were the exact items they craved, so they bowed first in line.
Thanks to that, rumors flew online that Rokan was gearing up for war and world unification—but he didn’t care.
With Rokan around, the Black Dragon Legion wouldn’t strike first recklessly, and even if they did, they’d just fill his quest.
“Being emperor has its perks.”
Most meaningfully, the condition for subjugating Lv300+ beings was over halfway done.
Truth be told, it completed the moment he took the throne. All human NPCs automatically submit to the emperor.
Lv300 and below were one-shots anyway, but mob farming had limits on numbers caught at once—this was a godsend.
“About time for news, right?”
But it wasn’t over. Drokshi, whom he’d dispatched to the Dwarf Kingdom right after returning to the surface. It was time for word.
[The owner of the Dwarf Kingdom has changed.]
Right on cue, a server-wide announcement delivered the news.
Users weren’t involved, but a kingdom’s ruler changing was big for all races, so the system broadcast it.
“He did it.”
And though temporary, Drokshi was Rokan’s slave. With a month left on the contract, all dwarves under him now submitted to Rokan too.
[1. Subjugate beings Lv300 or below: 1,000,000 / 1,000,000 (Complete)]
The quest updated in real time.
First condition: complete.
He was tempted to storm the Dwarf Kingdom and subjugate the rest, but civilians and master+ powerhouses were different.
Different race meant recognition was one thing, but forced submission could spark interspecies diplomacy issues, so he held off.
“Hunting’s faster anyway.”
And half-hearted submission paled next to hunting in the heavens, overflowing with Lv300+.
“Time to head back?”
So Rokan had no regrets about the surface.
With the three-month contract ending soon, Drokshi’s attitude post-contract was predictable. He’d focus on completing the grand master quest in the remaining month.
“Huh? Already…?”
But he wasn’t abandoning Drokshi on the surface.
He’d served his purpose, sure, but wasn’t he a prime grand master asset?
Too useful in many ways, so Rokan pulled him from the Dwarf Kingdom and returned to the heavens together.
“Uh, c-can’t I just stay here…?”
He’d tasted kingship briefly and resisted a bit, but the contract’s power forbade refusal.
Back in the heavens, the two were greeted by none other than the Heavenly God’s army.
“Oh? Were they waiting?”
Despite the long wait, the neutral zone’s border village overflowed with celestials.
Mostly other races who’d defected to the celestial side—pure celestials mixed in, likely wary of Rokan’s damage output.
“He’s here!”
“Notify the temple!”
Hundreds, maybe thousands at a glance, but even they panicked at his appearance, spreading word. Rokan watched leisurely.
They’d fulfill his surface-tough quest conditions—no reason to run.
“How many will come?”
“W-we should run…”
Drokshi, grand master or not, quaked in fear and edged away from Rokan—but that was swiftly blocked.
[The Creator of Vengeance, Drokshi, has lost celestial qualifications.]
“Gah!”
Having traveled with Rokan multiple times, he was already suspect. They stripped his celestial status.
The angelic wings symbolizing celestials withered instantly, lost function, and tore from his back amid agony.
“T-this…!”
Drokshi panicked. No excuses. They didn’t care about slave contracts.
Frozen by the contract, unable to act, Rokan dumped a pile of gear on him.
“Gear up. Can’t fight naked, right?”
Drokshi’s eyes wavered. Innocent or not, he couldn’t just die.
A grand master craftsman could find refuge somewhere if he survived.
Celestials and demons dominated, but neutrals like Lion King Gaokan existed, untouchable by all.
As Drokshi equipped the gear, resolve hardened in his eyes.