Chapter 73
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Hero Deokgu
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73
Hero Deokgu
“Shouldn’t… shouldn’t we be running?”
“To where.”
“Anywhere! They say the Great Darkness is here! It’s over! It’s all over!”
Razbet clicked her tongue as she watched Gillian, the man who “eats two loaves of bread for breakfast,” scream in terror.
“Have you forgotten the guild’s policy? If we run from here, it’s over.”
The idiot… Razbet took out a pipe she had tucked deep in her bag, firmly packed it with tobacco leaves, and lit it.
Information guild members were forbidden from abandoning their posts, no matter what happened. It was a damn policy from the bastards at the top, telling them to stay and record everything until the very end. Violating it meant a fate worse than mere death.
“But… it’s the Great Darkness! The Great Darkness! Not some small darkness, the Great Darkness!”
Gillian shouted, pacing back and forth anxiously.
“So what do you want me to do about it? If you want to run, go ahead. I won’t stop you.”
If this was truly the end, she had no desire to spend it with him, so she goaded him on.
‘I’d rather have Berman.’
Muttering softly, Razbet smiled bitterly and inhaled the smoke.
“But… aren’t you scared, Razbet?! The enemy is the Great Darkness!”
The Great Darkness…
Razbet rolled the ominous name around in her mouth.
She didn’t know why he was suddenly defying the Empire’s policies and acting so insane, but with the appearance of the Great Darkness, a remote castle like this had no hope.
The Great Darkness had been famous even as a warlock, but his infamy had soared after he embraced a demon.
Accepting a demon was taboo among warlocks.
Every one of them who had tried had lost their minds to the demon. Few had remained sane, and the Great Darkness was one of them.
‘If the lecher had been here, it might be a different story, but that man…’
It was unbelievable, but the Great Darkness had lost to that man. Even after drawing his aura, he had been brutally beaten, disappearing as a one-armed man.
‘Could it be that man…’
Razbet thought of the man who always smashed through walls and exhaled a long plume of smoke.
After a moment of consideration, Razbet shook her head.
If he could wield aura, he would have used it already. Aura wasn’t black magic; there was no need to hide it.
Against someone like Kurteun, he might have been able to win somehow due to the tournament’s nature, but without aura, defeating the Great Darkness was impossible.
The man was a warlock and a demon who reigned like a god over all beneath his rank.
Razbet frowned at the hand that appeared before her.
“…What?”
“I wasn’t going to accept, but since it’s the end anyway! I’ll make a special exception and take you, so how about once…”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Razbet drew her dagger and stabbed him in the hand.
“Kuaaaargh-!”
Thinking the scream was quite refreshing, Razbet looked out the window.
A massive black shape, visible even from a great distance.
It looked taller than the Mage Tower and exuded an ominous presence.
‘But there are no absolutes… If by some chance he wins…’
*Hooo-.*
Razbet swallowed the rest of her thought and exhaled smoke.
***
The Great Darkness sniffed the air, taking deep breaths.
A delicious smell. A fragrance so aromatic it felt as if his intestines were about to spill from his mouth.
*One beloved by mana? No, he is one of ours.*
He couldn’t tell if someone had whispered it or if he had said it himself, but distinguishing between the two no longer mattered.
A truly fragrant smell.
The Great Darkness focused on the scent once more.
His mouth watered, even though it was already full of flesh.
He wanted to eat it now.
*Calm yourself. Such a fragrance is bound to have thorns.*
The Great Darkness forced himself to suppress his excessive excitement.
The more fragrant the scent, the harder the thorns within.
Rushing in could lead to a painful lesson. First, remove the thorns…
The Great Darkness spewed out a reply to the incessant voice and nodded repeatedly. A voice identical to his own whispered what to do.
*He’s already inside you, anyway.*
The Great Darkness nodded vigorously at the sweet voice. Come to think of it, the man was already inside him.
He was already a dead man.
There was no reason to delay.
The Great Darkness immediately clenched his fist.
At his gesture, the darkness took shape. Dozens of black thorns materialized around him, pointing at the man.
The bucket helmet.
Though he couldn’t see the man’s eyes, the Great Darkness felt his unwavering gaze.
‘Insolent.’
The Great Darkness sneered and swung his hand.
The black thorns shot forward.
At the same moment, the man charged toward him.
A wall of thorns lay ahead, yet there was no hesitation in his steps.
‘Fool.’
The Great Darkness chuckled.
The man swung his sword repeatedly at the black thorns.
He was so fast that it looked as if silver lines were being drawn in the air.
Soon, he broke through the black thorns.
Black thorns were embedded in various parts of his armor, but not in any vital areas.
‘He deflected them?’
*Hmph. Talented, aren't we.* The Great Darkness offered a mocking compliment and clenched his fist again.
It was a small gesture, but massive black orbs instantly formed around the man and shot toward him.
*Kuuuung-.*
The man was obscured by the black orbs, but the Great Darkness felt a sense of unease. He immediately prepared his next spell.
*Zzzzzk-.*
The black orbs tore apart, and the man burst out.
His armor was crushed in places as if it had been flattened, but his speed as he ran toward him hadn't slowed.
‘…Hmm.’
The Great Darkness frowned at the sight of the man, thorns sticking out of him and his armor battered, yet still charging forward with his gaze fixed on him.
“Oppression, Weakness, Exhaustion, Despair, Powerlessness.”
The Great Darkness muttered lightly, flicking his hands continuously. With each casual gesture, an intangible energy shot toward the man.
The gestures were light, but the curses they carried were anything but. Each one was potent enough to make even breathing a struggle, and they all descended upon the man.
His steps slowed, but he still did not stop. He continued to advance, his sword aimed at him.
Though his eyes were hidden by the bizarre helmet, an piercing gaze could be felt.
‘…A persistent one.’
The Great Darkness glared at him and slammed his fists together.
At that, the darkness above the man coalesced, forming a giant fist.
As he swung his own fist, the giant fist moved to crush the man.
*Kuuuung-.*
The fist pressed down, obscuring the man from view.
He was already in a precarious state, and casting spells in quick succession brought on a headache.
The whispers grew louder.
Now they were booming voices, shaking his mind.
*Zzzzzzzzzk-.*
The fist of darkness tore apart, and the man burst out.
He wasn't slower; if anything, he seemed faster.
He was still running, sword aimed straight at him.
‘Did he dispel the curses?’
He smelled similar to him, so it was possible he had dispelled them.
‘Black magic won’t work, it seems.’
The Great Darkness muttered to himself and opened his mouth wide.
The wrinkles around his mouth stretched taut.
*Guuuuhk-.*
A mass of flesh poured out of the Great Darkness’s old, wrinkled mouth. An uncontrollable hunger washed over him, but the Great Darkness fought to suppress it and continued to spew.
An unimaginable amount of flesh erupted from his small frame, clinging together and growing ever larger.
It was a sight as if hell had been brought to the mortal world.
The tangled masses of flesh screamed incessantly, their own flesh quivering.
“What awful taste.”
The man muttered, but the Great Darkness didn’t answer. The hunger grew with every bit he expelled, and his mind was on the verge of breaking.
The control he had barely maintained was about to slip. It was no longer a whisper.
Voices, filled with malice, ecstasy, and greed, shook his mind.
*Fulfill the contract-.*
*Pay the price for your arrogance-.*
*Kneel-.*
His head felt like it was splitting apart. The Great Darkness squeezed his eyes shut.
The man was no longer the problem.
***
‘Looks fucked up.’
I muttered a curse as I looked at the flesh golem.
Tangled arms and legs, chunks of flesh, faces, fingers, toes, and other unspeakable things were matted together, swelling its size. It looked like a skyscraper from hell.
A luxury skyscraper in a prime location, at that. Undigested pieces of flesh all over it continued to speak in their own voices, creating a horrific noise.
The sight and sound were designed to instill a primal fear in anyone who witnessed it, to shake their will.
But my stomach wasn’t weak enough to make me puke from that. If it were a golem made of fish bread, I would’ve puked and surrendered long ago, but…
‘Is it thanks to that Devil’s Handprint I ate? Not bad.’
This guy was on a much higher level than the warlock kid from before, and the power of his spells was incomparable, but the fight wasn't proportionally more difficult.
It stung a bit and my body ached, but I could endure it. The crushing pressure on my body was also much less severe.
However, my opponent right now wasn't him.
*Squelch-.* I readjusted my grip on my sword as the flesh golem approached with a disgusting sound.
‘There was something near its chest. Is that the core?’
With my breath pushed to its limit, my mind was sharper than ever.
‘I just need to destroy the core.’
I formulated a plan as I watched the flesh golem.
As always, the plan is loose.
The objective is clear.
‘Break through somehow and destroy the core.’
It wasn’t a bad plan. I nodded.
Just then, its fist came flying straight at me.
I watched it approach and held my sword at an angle.
‘This is a big sword.’
It was a phrase I had been repeating to myself.
The sword-deflecting art the old man taught me.
I had tried applying it to the thorns.
Since the thorns were sharp, they could be considered swords in a broad sense.
The effect wasn't bad.
There were too many to deflect them all, but I managed to knock away the ones aimed at my vitals.
‘That thing, in a very broad sense, is also a big sword.’
I nodded as I watched the fist of flesh fly toward me. It was a bit of a stretch, but a sword is, by nature…
‘Focus.’
I dismissed my stray thoughts as the fist closed in.
The sound of air bursting, the horrific screams from the faces embedded in the tangled fist of flesh.
This is a big sword.
Like a man of great character, I thought broadly.
That is a very large and hideous sword.
Therefore, it can be deflected.
As the flesh fist neared, I felt the compressed air and my body grew heavy. I didn't yield, twisting my body and pushing my sword into it as if pressing down.
Since it had a physical form, the feedback that traveled up the sword was incomparably stronger than before. My hand trembled, and my braced legs staggered.
*—Do you need help?*
‘Shut up.’
I could only use it for two seconds, so I had to save it for taking his head off. I had to save it until the very, very end.
I gritted my teeth and tightened my grip on the sword. *Pabababak-* Cold blood sprayed from the flesh, drenching me, but I clenched my jaw and refused to close my eyes.
For a moment, my vision turned red and my eyes stung.
*Kwaaaang!* The fist of flesh slammed into the ground, scattering hideous things everywhere.
This was my chance.
I immediately kicked off the ground and jumped onto its arm. The squishy texture made it hard to keep my balance, but I pushed off it and climbed higher.
It shook its body violently.
I stabbed my sword into the area below its shoulder. Then, I let myself fall, tearing its arm off in the process.
Chunks of flesh rained down, and its arm flailed.
Its entire left arm fell to the ground.
Red, cold blood splattered everywhere, as if I were at a tomato festival.
I took the red wave head-on. My feet were numb and I was out of breath, but there was no time to rest.
It swung its other fist at me. As the grotesque mass of flesh approached, I forced my numb legs to jump sideways.
*Kwaaaang-.*
Its flesh burst as it missed.
My legs were heavy, but I could still move.
That was enough.
I kicked off the ground and climbed onto its remaining arm.
*Uuuuhhh-.*
It made a bizarre sound and shook its body, but I had carefully planted my sword as I climbed, so I didn't fall.
‘I have a talent for climbing, it seems.’
I made a pointless remark and drove my sword deep into its shoulder. Using the sword as an anchor, I grabbed and tore at the flesh with my other hand.
The slimy texture seeped through my gauntlet.
A curse almost escaped my lips, but I forced it down and kept moving my hand.
Flesh of various colors and copious amounts of blood. The stench of rot and iron made my head spin, but I didn't stop.
I ripped off one particularly ugly face and threw it behind me, creating an opening large enough to enter. I retrieved my sword and pushed myself into the hole.
*Uuuuhhh-.*
The creature thrashed its body with a grotesque sound.
I was surrounded by flesh and faces contorted in pain.
Screams that muddled my thoughts echoed in my head, but I focused only on my goal.
I gripped my sword like a pickaxe and drove it downwards. I moved the blade not to cut, but to excavate.
The faces, hands, and feet embedded around me pressed in, but I ignored them and judged my direction. I only punched the ones with foul mouths whenever they tried to bite me.
I had entered through the left shoulder.
What looked like the core was near the chest.
“This way, I guess.”
I muttered softly, and my voice echoed as if in a cave.
*This way, I guess- This way, I guess-.*
The faces buried in the flesh opened their mouths and repeated my words. Their voices were laced with such palpable pain that it wasn't a pleasant sound.
“She sells seashells by the seashore.”
I muttered the joke and swung my sword toward the core.
*Thwack-.*
I kept the direction in mind and carved a path.
*She shells sheashells-.*
A garbled voice echoed from behind me.
Apparently, it had a lisp.
After advancing for some time, I saw the core.
Surrounding it were crudely formed masses of flesh.
They seemed to be its guardians.
Since they were made of flesh, they were boneless.
Well, except for the occasional bone that popped out.
After defeating the guardians, I plunged my sword into the core.
The core shattered, and the flesh golem collapsed.
*Thud-.*
As I fell, I landed on some of the flesh beside me.
I felt the impact in my buttocks, but it was bearable.
My legs were a bit stiff, so I punched them a few times until they moved.
I readjusted my grip on the sword and charged again.
The creature, who had been talking to itself, was now mumbling something.
I couldn't hear it clearly. With that, a black carapace began to spread from its left chest.
‘Phase 2, is it?’
I used the joke to clear my foggy mind and raised my sword.
*Kwaaaang-!*
Its reaction was faster.
The black carapace instantly struck my body.
I was thrown back with the force of a truck hitting me.
My consciousness flickered and then returned.
*—Do you need help?*
‘Not yet. Shut up. I’m busy.’
*Aaaaaaaah!!*
I shook my head to clear it and spat out the fluid that had collected in my mouth.
It wasn't saliva; it was blood.
The naked old man had been hideous enough before, but now, covered in carapace, he was utterly grotesque and enormous. I clicked my tongue.
I had hoped to attack while he was transforming, but it seemed I’d spent too much time on the flesh golem. He was now completely encased in black carapace.
‘Cheating bastard.’
It’s common courtesy to take a few hits while transforming.
I clung to my hazy consciousness by muttering jokes.
*Aaaaaaaaargh!*
An indescribable scream, or something like it, erupted.
‘No reason left? Seems not.’
If he had any reason left, he wouldn't be letting out such a bizarre scream. He had seemed like a rather serious old man. Albeit, a naked one.
It was a relief that he had no reason left.
A creature of pure instinct was easier to fight than a clever one.
I forced down my ragged breath and readjusted my grip on the sword.
……!
The creature, which had been looking around, charged at me.
*Thump, thump, thump!* The ground shook violently with each step of the massive creature.
*—Now?*
‘I’ll give you the signal.’
I swallowed hard and glared at the creature rushing toward me.
A praying mantis monster made of black carapace.
Its upper body and face were consumed by it, but carapace extensions from its torso moved like legs.
‘…Isn’t that against the rules?’
This wasn't an honest transformation. If only the upper body was transformed, it's only proper to leave the lower body exposed… If there were a referee, he would have blown the whistle.
However, there were no referees in this godforsaken medieval era, and it wasn't like that thing would stop if someone blew a whistle.
‘The pressure is gone.’
It seemed the demon had completely consumed him, as the pressure that had been weighing on my shoulders was gone.
That was a small mercy.
I swallowed hard.
My arm was trembling. It was hard to tell if it was from the constant fighting or from this thing.
‘No need to distinguish, I suppose.’
I smiled bitterly, held my sword at an angle, and counted the seconds in my head.
……!
The facial part of the creature split open. Inside its maw, I could see the face of the old man, his eyes closed.
The old man’s face was peaceful, as if he were sleeping.
‘There it is.’
It showed me its weak spot.
Despite its appearance, it was a kind fellow.
I narrowed my eyes and assessed the situation.
‘Completely devoid of reason. …There’s a chance.’
I didn't have many opportunities.
My body was in terrible condition, but more importantly, I could only use aura for two seconds.
If I made a wrong move and struck somewhere other than that face, it would be over.
‘…I have to end this in one blow.’
My heart pounded so hard that the sounds around me became a dull roar.
*Thump, thump, thump, thump-.*
The ground vibrated with its every step.
It approached with immense pressure.
Soon, it was right in front of me.
I looked at it and smiled.
It was time to roll the dice.
The stake was my life.
‘And my hand?’
The best-case scenario would be for it to open its mouth to eat me whole.
However, the creature seemed to have a calm personality, raising its giant hand instead of its maw.
‘This is… a bust.’
Of all the hands I could have been dealt, I got the lowest one.
*—Do you need help?*
The tenant's voice sounded sweeter than ever. As if to prove he was a demon, he whispered in my ear.
He said if I just agreed, he would give me power beyond my wildest dreams. He would make me look as magnificent as that thing.
‘I don’t need it.’
I refused as if spitting and readjusted my grip on the sword.
‘Just get that ready.’
*—I always feel this way, but you truly are arrogant and foolish.*
Perhaps.
I muttered and glared at the massive carapace approaching. It looked like it would hurt a lot if it hit.
But when it came to being tough, I was pretty confident myself.
…Can I withstand it?
I’d have to get hit to find out.
The dice were cast.
The stake was my life.
‘The bigger the stake, the more fun it is.’
A thrill that made my hair stand on end shot through me, and I forced the corners of my mouth into a smile.
***
The Great Darkness looked down at the pulverized man. The delicious scent wafting from him was more than it could bear.
The carapace split open, and its mouth gaped wide.
The Great Darkness failed to see the man’s upturned lips.
***
‘Now.’
I muttered, looking at the gaping maw.
I had intentionally taken the hit on my left side, so my right arm was fine.
My left side was shattered because of it, but that was okay.
My right arm, the one that swung the sword, could still move.
*—You really are… a madman.*
Despite his words, I could hear the glee in his voice, and I smiled bitterly. The standards for demons might be a bit lax, but he certainly wasn't normal either.
Soon, its maw was upon me.
‘Zzzzing.’
I muttered a small joke and gripped my sword.
A blue light erupted from the blade.
That blue light shone more brilliantly than ever before.
Soon, the surroundings were illuminated in a blue glow.
Inside the black carapace, the old man’s shabby face was visible.
The old man, as if awakened by the bright light, opened his eyes, his face contorting in horror as he screamed, but…
The dice were already rolling across the table.
‘A six.’
A horizontal line of blue light was drawn in the dark space.
That light tore through the old man’s head and split the carapace beyond in a single stroke.
Watching the darkness crumble, I used my last ounce of strength to smile brightly.
‘I won again.’
With that small mumble, my consciousness faded.
*—You’re really dying to die, aren’t you.*
…who had taken control of my consciousness, laughed as if fed up and reached out his hand.
In it was a falling fragment.
For the first time, …offered a hand without being asked.
Because this man, in all his long years, was more profoundly insane than anyone he had ever seen.
It was fun.
That was all.
***
Sir Adolph drove his sword into the ground to keep from collapsing and stared straight ahead.
The massive black mass continued to writhe. It roared as if in anger, staggering and swinging its fists at its surroundings.
A fierce battle was clearly raging inside.
‘What in the world is happening in there…’
Adolph’s palms grew sweaty. This was a monster that had oppressed him with its presence just by being near.
He didn't know for sure, but there had to be something even more terrifying inside. The final image of Deokgu, who had walked toward that place alone and without hesitation, flickered in his mind.
*Kwoooaaaaar!!*
The black monster let out a silent, pained scream and raised its fist.
Adolph was right beneath it.
His body paralyzed, Adolph saw the giant fist descending upon him and knew his death was imminent.
Just then, a woman in silver armor stood alone to block it. *Kugugugung-* A brilliant white light extended from the greatsword in her hand, pushing it back.
As he stared blankly at the scene…
*Gwooooooaaaaaaar-!*
A scream, longer than before, shook the surroundings.
And then-.
The black mass, large enough to fill the world, slowly began to crumble. It disintegrated from the top down, turning to dust as if a world were being unmade.
It collapsed without a sound. It turned into black smoke and scattered, soon revealing the scene within.
A vision of hell was laid bare. Countless red chunks of flesh and bones, mountains of corpses. Rivers of red blood.
The scene inside was so horrific, so beyond imagination, that Adolph’s jaw dropped.
Just looking at it from a distance made his head spin.
‘He went in there alone…’
Adolph swallowed hard, recalling that dependable back. If it had been him? He would have run immediately. This was not a matter of strength.
‘…Where is he?’
The pressure that had been crushing his body vanished. Adolph shot to his feet. But someone else moved faster.
It was the woman who had blocked the fist earlier. The woman, now standing in the center of hell, looked down at something before kneeling to pick it up.
The object she held in her arms as if it were a precious treasure looked familiar.
A bucket-shaped helmet, so crudely made it was almost comical, yet its featureless surface instilled fear in those who saw it.
That was what she held in her arms.
The helmet that was synonymous with Deokgu Beida.
The woman stroked it with eyes that seemed tinged with sadness.
The man who had willingly entered the terrifying, overwhelming darkness alone.
The hellscape left behind and the vanished darkness.
…And the helmet, left all alone.
The meaning was clear.
A noble sacrifice.
“A hero…”
Someone next to him muttered. He turned his head to see the Inquisitor he had pushed earlier.
That heavy murmur soon spread through the crowd.
…Hero Deokgu.
Adolph kept muttering the word that felt so foreign on his tongue.
***
When I regained consciousness, I was in an unfamiliar place.
…A god?
A being that could not be described in any other way stood before me. It plunged a sword that radiated a sinister aura into my stomach.
*—Oops… this area is off-limits.*
With the tenant’s voice, my consciousness instantly faded away.
It was a familiar place.
The forest near Casedic.
Though not particularly close.
A long trail of blood was splattered around me.
I frowned for a moment, trying to recall what had happened, when a sudden pain shot through my abdomen.
‘What is this…’
I clutched my stomach and rolled on the ground in excruciating pain.
*—Ahem… this last one was a big one…*
The tenant’s sheepish voice echoed.
‘Looks like you ate the master’s portion.’
The fact that my shattered body was now perfectly fine was likely an extension of that.
So, I decided to look on the bright side.
I rationalized it by muttering that I had obtained a great fortuitous encounter, like in a wuxia novel, and was now just digesting it.
Otherwise, the continuous stream of bloody shit was just too depressing.
***
“More than half of the outer wall has collapsed. Fortunately, civilian casualties were low as the knights charged in a concentrated formation, drawing the enemy forces toward them.”
Baron Pulpuchu nodded at the security chief’s report.
Normally, Nova would have been the one giving the report, but…
“What are you staring at.”
At Nova’s sharp tone, Gerel hastily averted his gaze, and Pulpuchu let out a deep sigh.
Nova’s glare, already sharp, was now sharp enough to kill. Gerel, who would normally have thrown a fit, kept his mouth shut, wary of her mood.
‘Of all people, it had to be him…’
Three days had passed since the attack.
No body was found, but the lone helmet left behind had confirmed his death.
‘…Hero Deokgu Beida.’
Pulpuchu rolled the words around in his mouth.
‘To think he was that strong.’
According to the testimonies of the knights who had moved with him, it was thanks to his ‘genius’ strategy that they were able to approach the Great Darkness.
Furthermore, when everyone else was paralyzed by its overwhelming presence, Hero Deokgu Beida had calmly walked into the Great Darkness alone.
Pulpuchu found it harder to believe that the man was a ‘genius’ strategist than that he was strong enough to defeat the Great Darkness single-handedly.
Losing him was a pity, but if he was strong enough to take down the Great Darkness alone, he was clearly someone the Baron could never have hoped to keep.
‘…And the knights, inspired by the hero, have decided to stay in Casedic.’
Pulpuchu had accepted two of the knights who had distinguished themselves in the tournament into his house. This filled three of the four knight positions he was allowed.
In the end, things had strangely worked out well for Pulpuchu. …Or so he thought.
“There’s been another fight in District 6. The gangs that have formed are constantly clashing with Ska’s group. Their numbers are so large that the Outer Wall Guard has requested support.”
“They need support to catch some thugs?”
Pulpuchu was dumbfounded.
“The mercenaries who came for the tournament have sided with the gangs in District 6. Combined, their numbers reach nearly 50, outnumbering the Outer Wall Guard.”
“Then how on earth was it managed before? Weren’t things quiet then?”
“Well… the numbers have swelled because of the recent incident and the outer wall area is in chaos, but also, Aron used to mediate before, and he hasn’t been seen recently…”
*Thump!* Nova suddenly slammed her hand on the table, startling Baron Pulpuchu.
It was a clear overstep of boundaries, but he couldn't reprimand her. Nova was crucial to stabilizing the mess Casedic had become. As long as she didn't slap him, he had to tolerate it.
Pulpuchu pretended not to see and turned his head.
“I will go! If it’s just thugs, I can handle them alone…”
Knight Adela shot her hand up and shouted.
“We cannot send a knight for such a trivial matter.”
A sword’s value diminishes the more it is drawn. A high-quality sword like a knight had to be drawn at the right moment to maintain its worth. It couldn't be drawn for a mere squabble between thugs.
“Assign some men from the inner wall.”
“But if we pull forces from the inner wall in this chaotic situation…”
“Shut it! Gerel!”
Nova abruptly snapped at Gerel. Gerel, looking wronged, turned to Baron Pulpuchu, but the Baron deliberately avoided his gaze.
“The crime rate has skyrocketed recently…”
“The Outer Wall Guard is out of control…”
“District 7 has become a lawless zone…”
‘Why are so many problems cropping up at once… How was this place even maintained until now?’
Pulpuchu pressed his temples as the reports continued to pour in.
***
‘That son of a bitch is dead.’
Dylan… no, Jokjebi, muttered as he looked at the statue before him. A helmet was placed on the head of a statue that was unmistakably the son of a bitch.
‘He said he’d give it back after he was done with it…’
Jokjebi suppressed his churning stomach and surveyed his surroundings. A man who looked like a knight was guarding the statue.
‘What’s with that bastard?’
He had looked for an opportunity to take the helmet several times, but his plans kept being foiled by that strange knight. The knight, whom he had never seen before, was guarding the area around the statue with an incredibly serious face.
The man would mutter strange phrases like “Na my yard” and warily watch anyone who approached the statue. To make matters worse, he even called another man to take over his shift, making Jokjebi’s blood boil.
‘It’s mine!’
*Hooo…* Jokjebi suppressed his rising anger and forced himself to turn away.
Four days had passed since that incident.
At first, he hadn't believed it, but as the man failed to appear, the thought slowly began to take root.
‘…The son of a bitch is dead?’
Jokjebi squatted in a quiet spot and thought seriously. Could that bastard die? The guy who would just say “it stings” when stabbed with a knife. No, this opponent was just too big.
Suddenly, tears welled up in his eyes. Startled, Jokjebi slapped his own cheeks repeatedly. He must have gone crazy from being hit in the head by that son of a bitch too many times.
Jokjebi forcefully suppressed the unfamiliar emotions that kept rising.
The death of the son of a bitch.
Only Jokjebi was entertaining the possibility.
Hana, saying he could return at any moment, prepared a warm bath every day and practiced moving her hands up and down. Kanna stared at the door with her cheeks puffed out, occasionally summoning fire and ice in her hands simultaneously.
The other squad members just grumbled that their leader was slacking off.
Jokjebi wiggled his fingers, calculating.
What if the son of a bitch was really dead?
If the son of a bitch was dead…
The vacant Squad 4 Leader position.
A stepping stone on the ladder to Captain.
‘The path to success is open.’
A thrilling sensation, as if struck by lightning, coursed through him from deep within. Jokjebi’s body trembled as he stood up.
‘Another once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has arrived.’
With a determined expression, Jokjebi started walking toward the headquarters.
***
“…You’re challenging Aron for the leader position?”
“Yes!!”
The Captain let out a low groan as he looked at the devious-looking man… Dylan.
‘Is he trying to kill himself?’
If he wanted to commit suicide, the Captain would have chosen a clean trip to the guillotine rather than challenging Aron to a duel. This man clearly wanted a painful death.
“In this current lawless state, I believe it is not right to leave the leader position vacant for long! I, Dylan! As a guard who loves Casedic Castle, cannot stand by and watch! My tears flow and I cannot even eat thinking about what happened to Leader Aron…! But for the sake of Casedic Castle, I believe we must fill the leader position as soon as possible! It is sad, but that position… I, who was like a brother to Aron, will fill it!”
Listening to the man’s passionate speech, the Captain realized what was going on.
‘This bastard hasn’t heard that Aron is back.’
The Captain beamed.
“Yes, yes! Dylan! I know your loyalty well! I’ll schedule the leader selection match immediately! I’m sure you will perform the duties of a leader splendidly! How about tomorrow?”
“……Yes? Excellent! As expected of the Captain! The wise, supreme, and fat… best Captain of the Outer Wall Guard!”
Something strange was mixed in there, but the Captain laughed heartily.
How could he not be grateful that this man was going to sacrifice himself to lift the spirits of the demoralized Casedic Castle?
“Yes! I’ll file the report immediately! Don’t you worry! You will definitely get your leader duel!”
Watching Dylan’s vile smile, the Captain laughed out loud.