Chapter 101
Chapter 101
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: One of the Five Stars
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The reason she became one of the Five Stars was none other than her sword ability.
Only those who possessed the realm of a master, whose five senses transcended human limits, could block ambushes from the shadows.
The general consensus was that unless one was a master, almost no one could defend against her strike surging from the shadows.
‘Even if it’s not a one-strike kill, her ability itself is just that exceptional.’
Shadows and snakes.
Few knights could counter her elusive techniques, manipulating shadows like limbs to move about unpredictably.
Even Kallias would prefer to avoid fighting Helena if at all possible.
It was no surprise that she had finished off Lament with a single blow.
“Why are you here?”
What was more curious was why Helena had come all the way here.
“Why are you here?”
“Someone asked me to. They said to block it a bit, but it was already headless and still moving, so I just cut it down. I think this is what they meant—want it? It’s creepy.”
Helena tossed Gid’s arm, still gripping the sword, to the ground as if it disgusted her.
Startled anew by the sight, Kallias subtly scanned the surroundings.
The knights and paladins, who had just witnessed the sword’s power firsthand, revealed their greed despite knowing the danger.
‘Someone’s about to bite it.’
Before anyone could grab it, Kallias reached for Lament lying discarded on the floor but frowned at the sudden wail piercing his ears.
‘Better safe than sorry.’
Instead of taking the sword directly, he pretended to tuck Gid’s arm—still holding it—into his cloak.
He stored it straight into his Subspace.
Only then did a window appear announcing the quest completion, along with the reward.
He skimmed it roughly and first surveyed the surroundings.
“We express our gratitude. Many soldiers and knights fell to that thing. It kept moving even after we severed its head, nearly causing us to miss it, but you arrived just in time.”
“Your timing was good. Long time no see, Golden Lion.”
“Likewise, Lady Helena.”
Helena and the Golden Lion seemed acquainted, conversing quite amicably.
Given they were both among the Five Stars, they must have crossed paths and exchanged words now and then.
Helena also had a knack for being nosy.
“Milord, is Lady Helena one of the Five Stars?”
“You’re alive?”
“Yessir! A few bruises and a scratch on my back, but I’m fine!”
Just a scratch amid all that chaos.
Considering the thing’s power, it was either sheer luck or impressive skill.
“You’re tougher than you need to be. How do you survive every time with that level of skill?”
“I’ve got a long lifeline, haven’t I? Heh heh!”
What a peculiar guy.
“How’s the sixth squad?”
“Fine, milord. A few have frostbite and need treatment, but rest should fix it without major issues.”
“Good.”
The frostbite wasn’t severe, and all but a few were okay.
Fortunately, no casualties on their side.
Only the count’s soldiers and knights had taken losses.
‘It ended better than expected.’
With Valentin Count’s death, the heads of those opposing him had rolled.
Of course, an archbishop lurked behind them, but he couldn’t act openly, so the noble faction would shrink dramatically.
They couldn’t even protest Valentin’s death.
Not only had he hidden a flesh golem, but he boiled 99 knights alive and died to a madman himself.
It was no judgment by holy sword. The count was history’s trash, and Kallias would be the hero who saved the crumbling territory.
『Kingdom Quest』
【Empire’s Spy】
◆ Kill the Empire’s spies to save the kingdom from the path to ruin.
◆ Spies killed: 11/?
<Reward>: 「Lord’s Banner」
The eliminated spies had risen from eight to eleven.
Plus, the sub-quest for Lament was complete, so time to check the reward.
『Rare Constitution Gacha Ticket』
For a knight, constitution was a crucial factor. It determined the quality of bones and muscles.
He couldn’t help but look forward to it.
It was a gacha ticket, not a selection, which was a shame, but unavoidable.
He had no control over that part.
‘If I hit Saintly Bone, it’d be jackpot.’
With divine power infused into the bones themselves, he’d manipulate holy power more smoothly and store several times more in his dantian for the same effort.
Of course, a rare gacha wouldn’t yield that.
The last rare trait gacha made it clear.
‘Pheromones, right.’
Useless pheromones.
No help in battle, just a faint pleasant scent normally.
That was it.
But even a trash constitution would be at least [Sturdy Bone], aiding combat.
‘Please, something better than Sturdy Bone.’
He hoped for better.
“What’re you doing?”
“Gah!”
Helena’s face popped up suddenly, startling him.
He accidentally hit the gacha.
With the roulette spinning sound, the gacha mixed letters to form one word.
“Oh…….”
He wasn’t mentally prepared yet.
With a strange effect sound, the drawn constitution’s name and effects appeared.
『Melting Bone (融骨)』 Grade - Rare
◆ Constitution inheriting the full herbal traits of the ancient Riant tribe.
『Medicinal Nature』
-Absorbs and assimilates any drug at 3x or higher efficiency.
『Drug Integration』
-Infuses absorbed drug properties into the body, altering the constitution.
“Huh?”
[Medicinal nature already permeating the body detected. Immediately replace body with Melting Bone to assimilate it.]
[Slight holy power and poison properties absorbed and assimilated.]
[Medicinal energy too weak; only 70% assimilated.]
[30% medicinal nature infused.]
[Overall physical abilities slightly increased.]
“Hmm…….”
A pleasant ache pulsed through his body.
The rare Melting Bone constitution reshaped his bones, with muscles and nerves adjusting accordingly.
The lingering holy power and poison were likely from the sacred stone and holy water he’d consumed before.
He’d drunk plenty of holy water, so remnants made sense, and the sacred stone wasn’t meant to be eaten, so it hadn’t digested properly.
‘Not Saintly Bone.’
Still, a solid constitution.
He usually had rotten gacha luck, but this time it was good.
‘Last time it was some weird pheromone trait, so I expected nothing.’
Even Sturdy Bone would’ve been fine.
But Melting Bone!
Finally, his trash body’s constitution had changed.
The sacred blood pathways cleared further, circulation smoother.
Condition better than before.
Muscles brimmed with power, like a brand-new body.
“What is it? You seem different.”
Sharp woman.
“Just your imagination.”
“Nope, nope? You’ve changed. Look at me straight. You have! Did you have some enlightenment?”
“Hmm…….”
He nodded reluctantly, and her eyes sparkled enviously.
The Golden Lion too.
“I heard you achieved enlightenment just hours ago, and now again…… That talent is terrifying.”
‘Talent my foot.’
If he had it, he’d be far stronger by now, no near-death struggles learning from Bernard.
「Kallias von Jervan」
「Occupation」 – Pilgrim
「Holy Rank」 – Grade 3
「Holy Power」 – 13332/16531 ▶ 13332/16934
「Talents」 – 【Bard’s Blessing】 【Instinctive Intuition】
「Traits」 - [Return Favor] [Noble’s Duty] [Count Family Wastrel] [Death-Time Insight] [Church Prodigal] [Big Eater] [Tri-Color Eyes] [Pheromones]
「Constitution」 - 『Melting Bone (融骨)』
「Stats」
Strength – 81 (30) ▶ 87 (30)
Agility – 55 (30) ▶ 60 (30)
Technique – 16 ▶ 17
Vitality – 53 (30) ▶ 61 (30)
Faith – 83 ▶ 95
‘Physical abilities up slightly… Holy power capacity increased.’
Very satisfying.
Lately, no quests from Return Favor meant no stat growth chances, but this boosted everything effortlessly.
Other constitutions might’ve raised them a bit, but not absorbed the sacred stone and holy water remnants.
Sturdy Bone would’ve stopped at minor vitality and strength gains.
“What, what? You look super pleased. Right, Brans?”
Brans cleared his throat with a hem! and nodded.
“Indeed. It’s been thirteen years at your side, and I haven’t seen milord this happy since the Northern Great War victory! Rare as…….”
Brans’s rambling needed correction.
“When did you serve me thirteen years?”
“It’s the heart that counts. Heh heh heh! Come on.”
Brans fidgeted, glancing around.
He wanted to claim some deep bond.
Always earnest about nonsense.
‘Come to think of it, it’s nearly a year with Brans.’
From Trista to the North.
Through the war’s start and end, to here.
Almost a year.
He’d changed much in that year, but Brans hadn’t.
‘Sticking to it like this ain’t easy; consistently pathetic guy.’
Still, fondness had grown. Kicking him out felt off, and him following despite options was commendable.
Hate turns to affection; without Brans, it’d be boring.
“Later for me. First, clean up. Many dead; needs sorting.”
“Wise words.”
“Yeah. Sure.”
Golden Lion and Helena agreed, scanning around. Ice chunks scattered, soldier corpses strewn messily.
Not a pretty sight.
“No one in Valentin territory outranks me, so I’ll take temporary command. Objections, step up now.”
He eyed the dazed youth: Trala de Valentin.
Valentin Count’s son, Trala.
Drawing knights’ gazes, he hadn’t snapped out of shock.
Seeing slaughter by one sword at young age was traumatic. Adults had to handle cleanup.
“Then, recover the bodies first.”
Open the vault, match corpses for families.
No family? Cremate. Carcass-marked? Process as carcasses for church or territory.
The mess sorted swiftly under his orders.
Situation cleared fast and clean.
* * *
Days later.
With things settled, they dined together.
Helena, Golden Lion, and Trala present.
“Gotta cut bread with knife and fork to feel satisfied?”
“Shut it.”
“Hahaha! So elegant. Can’t the Golden Lion endure a bit?”
“Don’t call me that weird name; it’s Helena. I don’t like it.”
“Got it.”
Ignoring them, Trala set down utensils and looked at him.
Something to say.
“Speak if you have words.”
“This incident happened because of the sword.”
“Abandoning your dream of flesh golems?”
“No. Not at all.”
“Why?”
“Swords affect many people. I want to make an even greater one.”
Helena queried the odd reply.
“What’s the reason?”
“If I make a great sword, even crazies will shut up. I saw one sword butcher knights. Saw one with will. I know it can be used for better things.”
Why tell me?
He hadn’t done much good.
But adult role here. Gains weren’t small.
He wiped his mouth with a napkin, stood, and patted Trala’s shoulder.
“A man truly shines when he bears a burden on his shoulders.”
“Yes.”
“Valentin Count. I hope you achieve your wish.”
Trala was count now.
Valentin Count.
Young head bearing the family name, youth aiming to grow.
Only encouragement he could give, but the youth would mature.
Decision made; time to go.
“Leaving?”
“Done here. Must.”
“Hope to see you again. Count Jervan.”
And next time.
“Call me Trala.”
Pfft.
He chuckled, nodding.
“Hope no tears next time, Trala.”
“Yessir!”
Now, back to the holy city.