Chapter 176
Chapter 176
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: The Golden Oath
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“What nonsense is this!”
As some of them moved to attack again, Arthur shot forward like an arrow and swung the K1 Rifle at them.
“You twist their sincere words and just assume suspicion!”
Thwack! Thwack!
“Argh!”
“Gaaah!”
Arthur continued beating them like dogs.
“I have no intention whatsoever of using you.”
The others watching from the side glared with bulging eyes and shouted.
“Don’t spout bullshit!”
“Kill him!”
As they lunged to attack, Arthur swiftly gripped the K1 Rifle properly.
He then aimed the barrel at the hands of those gathering mana.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat—.
Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom—.
“Argh!”
“My hand!”
“What the hell is that!”
“Gaaaaah!”
The men clutched their hands, curling up or collapsing in agony.
Seeing their comrades fall in one strike, Natasha showed a flustered expression.
‘What did he do? It’s definitely not magic...’
She stared piercingly at the mysterious weapon in Arthur’s hand.
The Chaos members were the same.
They glared at Arthur with bewildered looks.
They had all raised their mana, ready to attack—if he struck again, they planned to join in full force.
But it was a powerful attack they’d never seen before, and Selena had called him the ‘Savior.’
Above all, Natasha was silently watching the situation.
With her personality, she would have attacked Arthur the moment Chaos was hit.
The fact that she hadn’t meant there was something they didn’t know.
So they all waited for her command.
Arthur could see they weren’t counterattacking immediately but gauging Natasha’s reaction.
“You’ve got some organization, at least?”
Natasha asked.
“Is that Tehran’s weapon?”
“I can show you more if you want.”
As Arthur aimed the K1 Rifle’s barrel at the Chaos group, Natasha smiled faintly and waved her hand.
“No need to go that far.”
“Is that so?”
Arthur grinned and stowed the K1 Rifle. He then examined those hit by his attack.
He focused carefully because their mana had a murky glow. If any had the Demon King’s power, there would surely be a reaction.
If even one showed it, he’d need to check them all.
That could lead to the worst-case scenario.
Fortunately, none of those hit by his attack burned up or turned to ash.
‘No connection to the Demon King.’
Arthur inwardly relaxed and asked Natasha.
“Anything else you want to test?”
Natasha wiped the smile from her face and looked at him gravely.
“Sword Master plus Tehran’s weapon—if we went all out, what would the result be?”
“Regrettable for you.”
“You mean... our annihilation?”
Arthur nodded as if it were obvious, and Natasha’s face hardened as she added coldly.
“Your knight order would suffer just as much.”
“Your level? I could handle you alone. Don’t believe me? Test it.”
“What?!”
Natasha’s face twisted viciously.
At the same time, her mana surged, and her skin turned green.
Tarlun, watching the situation, hurriedly shouted.
“Natasha, judge wisely!”
“Damn it!”
Natasha calmed her mana and subdued her aura.
Returning to normal, she stared silently at Arthur.
Arthur slowly scanned each of the gathered Chaos members one by one.
Their conditions were better than those who’d visited the castle.
Of course, they were far from normal, but for warriors with severe combat wounds, it was no issue.
Yet they’d been shunned and exiled by people.
He felt once more how perceptions of them could determine not just outcomes, but entire lives.
“Jonathan.”
At Arthur’s call, Jonathan spurred his mount, leaped down, and stood sharply before him, bowing crisply.
“You called, sir.”
“You watched them. What did you think? Disgusting? Monstrous?”
Jonathan met Arthur’s eyes and replied.
“Nothing like that.”
“Then?”
“They looked like warriors. If enemies, they’d fight to the death. Not just me—the entire Assault Squad thinks so.”
“Opponents worth fighting to the death...”
Arthur smiled in satisfaction and turned to Natasha.
“Hear that?”
“So what’s your point?”
“I won’t tell you not to resent the world. But don’t judge everything through tinted glasses. If you’re trapped in pettiness, nothing changes. You’ll end up dying without getting what you want.”
“What do you know about us to lecture like that?!”
“Natasha, that’s too much!”
As Tarlun barked, Natasha shot back just as fiercely.
“Stay out of it! I’m talking to him as Chaos captain!”
“You really—!”
Tarlun grimaced and looked at Arthur.
Arthur, still watching Natasha, said.
“He’s right.”
“My apologies.”
Tarlun bowed and calmed his agitation.
Natasha glanced at him once, then turned back to Arthur.
“We have a condition.”
“Name it.”
“If you want us, take every single one without exception.”
“Of course.”
“If not, we’ll take your offer as a commission.”
“Commission?”
“Yeah, we’d be contractors. You get the force you need; we get paid accordingly.”
“Not a bad deal.”
Arthur accepted readily, and a smile tugged at Natasha’s lips.
But inwardly, she was quite surprised at how easily he agreed.
He really didn’t seem intent on lording over them.
‘What’s his game?’
Doubts flooded her, but meeting them would decide everything.
Natasha smiled and said.
“Someone I want to introduce you to.”
***
“Lord, is this really okay?”
Selena looked at Arthur with a worried face.
Tarlun was also anxious thinking about what was to come.
The ones Natasha wanted to introduce were the most dangerous.
Those who hadn’t accepted their changes and had truly become monsters.
Filled only with resentment and curses toward the world, they wished for everything’s destruction.
They awaited the world’s end.
They stopped before a shabby house at the village’s deepest end.
As Natasha entered, a grating metallic scraping came from inside.
“A commission?”
“Visitors.”
Natasha continued gravely.
“Selena says he’ll save us.”
“Selena?”
The voice trembled slightly.
After a moment.
Seven men emerged amid thick killing intent.
They exuded a ferocious aura, their orange eyes brimming with malice.
Their twisted faces weren’t just repulsive—they gave off a grotesque vibe.
Tension hung like ticking time bombs ready to explode.
They glanced at Natasha, passed Arthur, and fixed on Selena.
One asked.
“Is it true?”
Selena nodded silently, and Tarlun spoke.
“Tagnum, Sir Arthur Julius has inherited Tehran’s legacy.”
“Tehran?”
The man called Tagnum frowned at Arthur.
“Inherited Tehran’s legacy?”
“Yes.”
At Arthur’s word, Tagnum’s aura exploded.
Simultaneously, the other six surged with power.
“Hypocrite!”
“What?”
“If that bastard had properly dealt with the Demon King, we wouldn’t be like this!”
Vast mana vibrated from them.
They’d swallowed betrayal and rage toward Tehran inwardly, but facing his successor unleashed uncontrollable fury.
“Kill him...”
“Rip him apart... and vent our grudge.”
Their orange eyes turned blood-red. Objects around floated into the air.
Natasha sensed the dire turn and shouted to Tarlun and Selena.
“We need to get out—now!”
As Tarlun nodded and reached for Selena’s hand.
Her eyes turned pure white.
“What’s wrong?”
Selena jerked her head back, staring skyward.
“It will unfold soon.”
“...!”
Tarlun startled, and Arthur’s eyes flashed at her words.
At that instant, they attacked Arthur.
Magic of fire, water, earth, and wind flew at him.
Aura boulders poured from the front.
Unlike any attack he’d faced before.
Instinct sensing danger, golden aura exploded from Arthur’s body.
Boom! Kwarrrrng—!
With the explosion, Arthur vanished in thick smoke.
“Your Majesty!”
Tarlun’s cry was followed by Selena’s prophecy.
“With this, the world dyes in blood, and the river of blood arrives.”
“No, it can’t be!”
Tarlun screamed, thinking Arthur dead.
Tagnum and his group rampaged mana wildly, unleashing attacks everywhere.
Boom!
Kwang!
Seeing their nest ruined, Natasha’s mana also exploded.
Her skin turned green, body swelling huge. A green-glowing orb formed in her hand.
“How dare you to our home... Mecastro!”
The orb shot at Tagnum with intense power.
Tagnum swung his hand in response.
An orange orb flew like lightning, clashing with hers.
Kwaaaang—!
The massive blast’s shockwave engulfed everything.
As the haze thinned, Tagnum appeared.
He grinned eerily and spoke.
“Kill... them all.”
Even his voice dripped with killing intent.
Tarlun, holding the fainted Selena, felt his heart jolt at the voice alone.
Attacking wildly without targets, they were rampaging killers.
Their magic was unfamiliar, surpassing 5th Class power.
‘They’ve really become monsters.’
Fear surged in Tarlun’s heart.
If their rampage wasn’t stopped, not just Chaos but all of Selom would drown in blood.
Sure enough.
Numerous presences gathered behind.
Chaos members drawn by the blasts.
The hermits’ gathering would flock too.
But their power couldn’t stop this.
As Selena prophesied, a river of blood would flow here, dying the world red.
‘In the end...’
Tarlun despaired, collapsing while holding Selena.
He turned hopelessly to where Arthur had stood.
“...!”
Tarlun shook his head fiercely.
No mistake.
He couldn’t see with eyes, but his mind’s eye saw clearly.
Standing as before, wrapped in golden aura.
Seemingly unscathed by their attacks.
What shocked him most was the Death Knight Order.
Somehow, they hadn’t blinked, silently watching.
“How...”
Surprise hit as Arthur’s aura shifted.
It blazed intensely.
An absolute presence no one could defy crushed the surroundings.
Something flashed in his mind.
‘This is! The Tyrant’s...’
Arthur’s golden eyes turned blood-red.
The Tyrant’s power activated.
Tagnum and the others turned to him.
“Kill them all...”
As they prepared to attack together, Arthur’s eyes flashed.
“...!”
For a moment, they faltered and stepped back.
Arthur took one step toward them and spoke.
“Fulfill the Golden Oath.”
His deep voice pierced their ears.
Kraaaah!
They screamed suddenly, clutching heads. Then collapsed, writhing in pain.
Arthur stood over Tagnum, meeting his eyes.
“Pay homage, my warriors.”