A Duel for Loyalty
“Village chief.”
Mu-hyuk stopped and turned at Doran's voice.
“Yes, what is it?”
“I may not look it, but I'm pretty skilled. I'm just laying low here because I have no luck and no backing. But I do have one ironclad rule.”
“What's that?”
“I won't serve under anyone weaker than me, even if they hold a knife to my throat.”
Mu-hyuk smiled.
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. The problem is, you're a noble. You must be stronger than me, right?”
“Who knows? Guess we'll have to find out by clashing.”
Doran chuckled at Mu-hyuk's words.
“I assume you're not serious. Anyway, I'll be going now.”
“Hold on.”
“Something else?”
“Can't just let you leave like that. If I'm stronger, problem solved, right?”
“Well...”
“Let's duel. Right now.”
“Ha, haha. Village chief, you're quite the joker.”
In an instant, Mu-hyuk's smile vanished as he drew his sword.
“Should I go first?”
“......”
“Ah, this is the village, so the footing's no good. Follow me.”
Mu-hyuk took the lead.
Doran hesitated for a long while before following.
“Hah, don't regret this, village chief.”
“I won't.”
They arrived outside the northern fence.
It was an empty space with no one around.
“Let's begin.”
“Last warning—this is real. I'm strong. It could get dangerous.”
“It's fine. Come at me. And keep your promise. If I win, you serve under me.”
“Hoo, fine. Got it.”
With no choice, Doran drew his bow.
He nocked an arrow.
Yeah, what’s a noble gonna do...
He planned to just graze him lightly—no killing, since that wasn't allowed.
Shoulder or thigh?
He had a potion, so no worries about healing.
“Here I go.”
“Keep acting cocky like that, and I'll come to you first.”
“Hah...”
Doran shook his head and released the string.
Pang!
One arrow flew toward Mu-hyuk's left shoulder.
I feel it. He can't dodge this.
Just a noble, after all.
Of course, he'd overheard villagers praising him as some god for clearing the monsters.
But rumors were just rumors. It made sense if the empire sent support. No reason to take a noble's skills seriously.
Thwack.
Thinking it was over, he slung the bow over his shoulder. Mu-hyuk frowned at the sight and extended his empty hand forward.
What’s he—
In that split second, something unbelievable happened. Mu-hyuk had caught the shaft of Doran's arrow in his hand.
“Wha...?”
Unable to process it, Doran rubbed his eyes.
When he looked again, Mu-hyuk's twisted expression came into view. Clearly, not going all out had been too obvious, irking him.
“You seem like the sentimental type.”
“Pardon...?”
“I don't have that luxury. Watch yourself.”
Mu-hyuk's sword morphed into a bow.
Pang, pang!
Four arrows shot out.
Doran instinctively sensed the raw power in each one.
This crazy bastard!
He dove left, yanking his bow from his shoulder. One of Mu-hyuk's arrows grazed his collar as he rolled. Feet hitting the ground, he nocked an arrow and fired at the stationary Mu-hyuk.
Pang!
He deflected Mu-hyuk's incoming arrow with his bow.
“Kuh!”
To dodge the remaining two, he flattened himself on the ground. The fierce whoosh over his head made his pupils tremble.
What the hell...!
He whipped his head up to look for Mu-hyuk.
Huh...?
He was gone.
“Guess you're not tense yet.”
“Heup!”
Shock hit, followed by pain at the nape of his neck. Consciousness faded.
*
His eyes fluttered open, but the world was still blurry. As focus sharpened, Mu-hyuk's face swam into view.
“Awake?”
“Ah, village chief...?”
Finally grasping the situation, Doran bolted upright. His mouth clamped shut for a moment from the shock before he lifted his head.
“Did I... lose?”
“Yeah.”
He couldn't believe it. Sensing his doubt, Mu-hyuk shrugged it off casually.
“Want a rematch to confirm? I'm free anytime.”
Those words hit hard, stirring something in him.
Damn it...!
Pride stung, but he couldn't deny the loss. Standing, he faced Mu-hyuk squarely.
“Let's do it properly this time.”
“Sure. Don't disappoint me now.”
“Kuh...!”
Face flushing, Doran stormed ahead. He moved fast, heading north—to the exact spot of their last clash.
“Hoo.”
Doran stopped and turned.
Mu-hyuk was visible at a good distance.
“Don't worry. This time, I'll do it right!”
Shouting, he nocked three arrows, channeling mana from his body into them. He loosed them simultaneously at the unmoving Mu-hyuk.
Pababang!
Mu-hyuk couldn't catch them barehanded, so he blocked with his shield.
“Hoo.”
The impact shook him more than expected.
-151 HP
-152 HP
-149 HP
It barely scratched his HP.
Mu-hyuk grinned, activated Wind Step, and closed the gap swiftly.
Doran backpedaled, firing arrows rapidly, but the distance shrank inexorably.
Soon close enough, Mu-hyuk twisted left. He glanced at the arrow aimed at his ear, then thrust his shield forward.
Storm, Power Dash!
The skill triggered an unreal maneuver.
Kwaaang!
In a flash, the shield smashed Doran's torso. The impact sent him flying through the air like a broken reed before he crashed down. His vision trembled at the edges, then he went limp.
Second loss. Second blackout.
*
Mu-hyuk had turned the broadcast back on and was enhancing items.
“Mm...”
Turning at the sound, he saw Doran stirring. He paused the enhancements and approached.
“You're up.”
“Ah...!”
Memories flashed before blackout. He'd fought seriously—and still lost. No denying it now. Springing up, he bowed properly to Mu-hyuk.
“I shall serve you as my lord.”
“Hm? No need for 'lord'...”
“Accept me!”
Caught off-guard by the sudden formality,
Doran's loyalty has greatly increased.
Doran's loyalty has changed from High → Extreme.
Loyalty shot straight to max.
Well... can't refuse now.
He'll be useful anyway.
“Fine, then.”
“Speak casually to me, my lord!”
“Uh, sure.”
“Yes!”
One worry resolved.
Leave the guild to him.
“No urgent tasks right now, so get stronger for the time being.”
“Understood, my lord!”
“I've got things to do.”
“Yes, safe travels!”
“Yeah. Skeleton Warhorse Summon.”
Riding to the troll king habitat, Mu-hyuk summoned skeletons to hunt them down.
He sat immediately and bought items from level 50 to 150 across the board. He began enhancing them one by one.
Kaang, kang!
A +5 weapon formed in seconds, but instead of auctioning, he stored it. From now on, no selling these enhancements. Some to Black Guild, but the rest for stockpiling.
Again.
Weapon. Weapon. Another weapon.
Enhancement Success Rate: 100%
Enhancement successful.
Weapons done, he moved to shields and armor.
Enhancement Success Rate: 100%
Enhancement successful.
Three days later, over 100 enhanced items filled his inventory.
He wanted to keep going, but buildings were finishing. He sent skeletons to the Demon Realm F11 and returned to the village.
The new carpenter and blacksmith guilds stood proudly.
“Huh?”
Unexpected structures were complete too: three inns, two restaurants, one general store.
Spotting Rakak on-site, Mu-hyuk approached.
“Already built?”
“Ah, village chief. Not fully yet, but wrapping up soon.”
“Whoa.”
“Impressed?”
“Yeah, didn't expect this fast.”
“Heh, we pushed hard. Cost a bundle, though.”
“That's what the funds are for.”
“So I spent freely.”
“Good work.”
Then a message appeared.
You can raise Architecture Level to 3.
He upgraded Architecture Level promptly.
He hit level up.
Raising Architecture Level to 3.
Requires Fame of 10,000. Consumes 10% of required amount.
1,000 Fame consumed.
Buildable buildings unchanged.
Why? Village too small.
He tapped the right side, Column Village.
Currently at capacity.
Can expand to Large Village. Expansion costs 3,000 Fame.
Expand Column Village?
[Yes/No]
He selected Yes.
Establishing Large Village expansion plan.
Rakak watched Mu-hyuk intently.