Chapter 101
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Translator: Prime Works
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Unexpected Spoiler (1)
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[By the immense power of the countless achievements and deeds you have accomplished so far, a hidden condition has been met. A new system is now unlocked.]
[[Praise System] has been activated.]
‘Huh?’
A message popped up right in front of his eyes.
Lloyd’s eyes widened at the unexpected content.
‘Praise System?’
He had never heard of it before.
He had seen plenty of messages about favorability or RP up until now, but there had never been any mention of a “Praise” system.
But Lloyd didn’t panic.
The answer to the situation was right there in the message.
‘A hidden condition, huh.’
The countless achievements and deeds he had accomplished since coming to this world.
Lloyd recalled what he had done after arriving in this world.
‘In terms of career, it’s on an insane level.’
Not just insane—it was beyond that.
Even a rough list was impressive...
He had saved a failing barony.
He had formed an alliance with a wild orc tribe.
He had defeated a monster the size of an apartment building in Creemo and nearly become the count’s son-in-law.
And tonight?
He had thwarted an attempt on the queen’s life.
In short, he had saved the kingdom.
‘All those achievements piled up, and that fulfilled the hidden condition.’
He had a rough idea of what was going on.
Anticipation bubbled up inside him.
‘Praise System. Wonder what it does.’
The favorability and RP he had built up so far.
That system had been like wings for him.
It had made the impossible possible.
It had saved him from crises multiple times.
Now, what power would this new system grant him? What impossibilities would it pull into the realm of possibility?
Feeling his heart race, he glanced below the message.
There was a selection window.
Ding-dong.
[You have selected ‘Praise System Guide.’]
[Praise makes even whales dance. Your accomplishments will each become praises. People will praise you through them. The praises you hold will grant you individual ability bonuses. Additionally, every midnight on the night of the full moon, they will provide a fixed amount of Praise Points (CP = Compliment Point) on an ongoing basis.]
‘Ability bonuses... and Praise Points called CP.’
He still couldn’t quite grasp what it meant from this.
Lloyd opened the list of praises.
Ding-dong.
[You have selected ‘List of Held Praises.’]
One by one, they scrolled up in front of him.
The praises he had acquired appeared in order.
[Executor of One Crime Punished by a Hundred]
[Builder of the Fallen Territory]
[Honorary Warrior of the Savage Tribe]
[Protector of Creemo]
[The One Who Carried Magentano]
‘...Don’t tell me this is like a title system.’
Suddenly, he remembered the various online games he used to play in Korea. They’d give you titles for completing quests successfully.
‘Equipping a title would grant stat boosts or buffs. This feels exactly like that. Let’s check one out first.’
Lloyd selected one praise as a test.
Ding-dong.
[You have selected the praise you hold, [Protector of Creemo].]
[Protector of Creemo]
[Praise Grade: Regional Folk Tale]
The monster’s gaze covered the night sky.
A resolute will stood tall against it.
The city’s flames subsided at his cry.
The monster’s heart trembled at his every step.
No matter how deep the night of disaster.
Dawn will always break.
Come, monster of the deep sea.
Come, to the dawn of protection.
[Praise Effect: In battles against opponents with more than 10 times your body weight, you exhibit the ‘Unyielding’ trait. Damage dealt to opponent doubles. Damage received from opponent halves.]
[Praise Region: Creemo trading city and the entire Creemo region]
[Praise Duration: 120 years]
[The effects of the praise apply 24/7 within the region and duration it covers. Additionally, depending on your future actions, the praise’s region and duration may expand, extend, shrink, or shorten.]
[CP provided monthly by the praise: 6]
[Current CP held: 0]
“......”
He still didn’t know what CP was or what it was used for.
But looking at the details, he realized something.
‘I’ve got a buff with a whopping 120-year shelf life. Limited to the Creemo region, though.’
It was an incredible condition when he thought about it.
And the effect was no joke.
He swallowed dryly.
‘Let’s see the others.’
This time, he selected the very first praise he had gotten: ‘Executor of One Crime Punished by a Hundred.’
Ding-dong.
[Executor of One Crime Punished by a Hundred]
[Praise Grade: Territory Rumor]
That wastrel is up to no good again!
He endured everyone’s mockery.
He sweated amid distrust and suspicion.
He faced the traitor’s sword head-on.
He wielded wisdom without retreat.
In the end, he caught the big rat.
The one who uprooted injustice with wit and will.
He was Frontera’s wastrel eldest son.
[Praise Effect: Your commands carry tremendous authority over subordinates. Subordinates listen more closely to your words. Disobedience and defiance from subordinates noticeably decrease.]
[Praise Region: Frontera Barony]
[Praise Duration: 7 years]
[CP provided monthly by the praise: 1]
[Current CP held: 0]
‘This one’s pretty good too.’
From the content, it seemed to be from when he had dealt with Sir Neumann, the traitor in the barony.
Of course, it was modest compared to what he had done in Creemo.
The duration and region were much more limited.
‘But hey, better than nothing.’
Unlike game titles where you could only equip one, these could stack.
Having multiple praises would be a big help.
The more he had, the greater the benefit.
Especially ones with long durations and wide regions.
‘Plus, holding praises gives automatic monthly CP.’
He still didn’t know what CP was for.
Even scanning every corner of the message yielded no clues.
‘But it’ll definitely be useful if I stockpile it.’
It wasn’t just a hunch—it was a certainty.
With that thought, Lloyd glanced around.
He quickly surveyed the atmosphere and closed the system window.
It wasn’t the time to leisurely read messages anymore.
‘Curious about the rest, but I’ll check later.’
The banquet hall was quiet amid the chaos.
No—tense.
Countless nobles and Royal Guard members knelt on one knee.
They bowed their heads toward the queen standing beside him.
The queen’s stern voice rang out toward them all.
“......Thus, I decree. All who entered this banquet hall tonight will be under temporary detention until the investigation concludes. This is an emergency measure for the safety of the royal family, so I beseech your loyal cooperation...”
Temporary detention order.
Everyone here tonight would be investigated.
No exceptions until the mastermind behind the queen’s assassination attempt was uncovered.
That was the declaration from the queen’s lips.
‘A perfectly appropriate measure.’
The queen had nearly been assassinated.
And the culprit was none other than Sir Cherni, the Royal Guard Captain.
No one could be trusted easily.
Everyone had to be suspected and scrutinized.
Even high nobles—no exceptions, a full sweep.
It was a bit harsh and sudden, but the most necessary action for the situation.
The queen’s proclamation was immediately enforced.
Clank! Clank!
New troops arrived in the banquet hall.
Not a huge number.
Barely under thirty in total.
But each one exuded an aura surpassing the Royal Guard.
Lloyd guessed their identity from the emblem on their armor.
‘Three roses. The Thornwood Knights, the queen’s direct unit.’
Suddenly, he recalled content from the novel Iron-Blooded Knight.
A secretive martial force under the queen’s direct command.
If the Royal Guard were guard dogs for everyday protection, the Thornwood Knights were the queen’s hunting dogs, deployed only for rooting out treason.
‘They don’t look friendly.’
All Sword Expert upper echelons.
Emotionless killing machines.
That was the novel’s description.
But seeing them in person?
The novel’s portrayal seemed tame.
And those men approached with clanking armor right beside him.
Soon, the queen turned toward him with a meaningful expression.
“Lloyd Frontera.”
“Command me, Your Majesty.”
“You and Sir Asrahan saved my life tonight. So I ask one more favor.”
“Perhaps to assist the Thornwood Knights?”
“Exactly. That’s why I like you. You catch on quick.”
The queen’s satisfied smile.
Lloyd responded with a wry one.
‘It’s gonna be a long night.’
Merit for saving the queen.
It got him off the suspect list.
Instead, he’d assist the Thornwood Knights in rounding up suspects.
“I accept the command.”
He’d check the Praise System later.
With that thought, Lloyd bowed deeper.
The busy night began.
♣
Morning broke.
Lloyd could only leave the banquet hall after sunrise.
“Fwaa.”
Was it from pulling an all-nighter?
Or from the chaos of saving the queen?
The morning sun made him nauseous.
‘My head’s ringing.’
He was exhausted.
He was already worn out, then joined the overnight investigation. No wonder.
‘Probably the most snitching I’ve ever done in my life.’
Yesterday afternoon, he exposed the academy’s corruption.
And at night?
He had to testify everything he saw and heard to the queen and investigators.
To find the mastermind behind the assassination order.
‘Anyway, I ratted out the steward and everyone, so the royals can handle the rest.’
The rest of the investigation was out of his hands.
He had saved the queen, after all.
He had stopped her blackening(?).
That accomplished his goal.
‘Never again with experiences like this.’
Recalling the chaotic night, he shuddered.
Then, curiosity struck.
“Hey.”
“You called, sir?”
Haviel’s reply came instantly.
Lloyd chuckled involuntarily.
“Huh. I just said ‘hey.’ How’d you know it was you?”
“Just a hunch. Ask away.”
“Ask what?”
“Don’t you have something you’re curious about?”
“......Are you a mind reader or something?”
“I had a feeling.”
“Ah, so you’re a psychologist.”
“......”
“Anyway. Did you... manage it?”
“Swordmaster?”
“Yeah.”
“Yes, I did.”
Pfft!
A sputtering sound came from opposite Haviel.
Turning, Julian was glancing between him and Haviel in panic.
“What... Sir Asrahan? Swordmaster?”
“Yeah.”
“Why say it so casually?”
“Should I make it dramatic?”
“No, not that, but...”
“Then?”
“You’re talking about Sir Asrahan becoming a Swordmaster like it’s no big deal. Like asking if someone had breakfast.”
“Hmm, should I have asked like ‘had lunch?’”
“Ah, come on. Don’t joke.”
“What? No need to make a fuss, right?”
Lloyd shrugged with a smirk.
Haviel becoming a Swordmaster? Of course he was happy.
But it was something that was always going to happen eventually.
Just a bit earlier than in the novel.
“No biggie. It’s just Haviel hitting this year’s goal. Right?”
“Correct.”
Haviel nodded.
“Good thing. Summer was ending, and I was getting a little anxious.”
“Worried you wouldn’t hit your goal?”
“Yes. But today, I did. I’m pleased.”
“Didn’t the queen say anything about it?”
“She did.”
“Told you to serve her?”
“Yes.”
“And you?”
“I refused.”
Pfft!
Julian spat his drink again.
Haviel continued calmly.
“She called me aside right after the investigation ended. Spoke to me seriously.”
“What about?”
“Said the Royal Guard Captain position is vacant.”
“So, the queen offered you the Royal Guard Captain spot?”
“Yes.”
Haviel nodded firmly.
“And I said no.”
“What then?”
“She asked why.”
“What’d you say?”
“That my only liege is Baron Frontera.”
Did he feel conviction in his own words?
Haviel’s voice grew solemn.
“Fortunately, Her Majesty understood my sincerity. She smiled quietly and said she envied my liege. Truly fortunate.”
“Yeah, lucky.”
Lloyd couldn’t help but smile.
Classic Haviel.
‘Same in the novel, probably.’
Haviel in Iron-Blooded Knight.
He turned down offers from the queen and even the emperor.
And the line he used was no different from what he just said.
‘His lifelong liege is only one—the late Baron Frontera.’
With that skill, he could have all the fame and fortune.
But loyalty made him reject the rosy path.
‘Seriously impressive guy.’
Lloyd inwardly admired as he looked at Haviel.
The guy smiled like a kid who finished summer homework.
Though the smile didn’t last.
“But who could be behind it?”
“The assassination attempt?”
“Yes.”
Haviel’s tone grew serious.
“They even roped in Sir Cherni, of all people. A kingdom’s Swordmaster and Royal Guard Captain.”
“Yeah, huge deal.”
Lloyd sighed.
Truthfully, he had no clue who was behind it.
Even after reading Iron-Blooded Knight.
‘It never got revealed there.’
A classic unresolved plot thread.
The assassination attempt was exactly that.
It hinted at some shadowy organization, but it never came to light.
That’s why at the novel’s ending, Haviel secretly resolved to prepare for remaining threats.
‘Modern authors love that. Setting up for a sequel.’
An ending that wasn’t quite an ending.
Unresolved threads left for a potential part 2 if it got popular.
The assassination’s mastermind was just such an element.
‘Tch. Why no part 2?’
Unfortunately, Iron-Blooded Knight ended at part 1.
Part 2 was teased but never released.
So he didn’t know the truth behind that thread.
That was the problem now.
‘Feels fishy.’
The assassination was supposed to happen two and a half years later.
He planned to casually warn the queen around then.
But he had no idea why it happened so early.
‘Well, whatever. We stopped it.’
Rustle, rustle.
A few impatient fallen leaves crunched underfoot.
Walking and organizing his thoughts cleared his mind a bit.
‘Don’t sweat it.’
He had stopped the assassination.
It was out of his hands now.
His goal was returning to the territory and living sweetly like a honeybee.
‘As long as no kingdom-shaking calamities, disasters, plagues, epidemics—nothing like that.’
That thought eased his mind.
He returned to his lodgings.
Slept off the backlog, lounged around.
Ate a late dinner, gazed at the night sky.
Finally, the full moon he awaited rose brilliantly.
And Lloyd kept waiting.
He lay on the grass in the front yard, passing time.
While waiting, he checked the unexamined praise effects.
‘Builder of the Fallen Territory makes territory folk cooperative with my construction projects... Honorary Warrior of the Savage Tribe lets me use orc roars... The One Who Carried Magentano... uh, grants absolute trust from Queen Alicia and immunity to treason suspicions.’
Each had unique, subtly efficient setups that he quite liked.
Soon, midnight approached.
The full moon hung in the zenith.
Right then, the awaited message appeared.
Ding-dong.
[The full moon illuminates the night sky.]
[CP is provided from your 5 held praises.]
‘As expected.’
Just as he thought.
Lloyd’s lips curled faintly.
He straightened up and read the message.
[The people of Frontera Territory praise you as the Executor of One Crime Punished by a Hundred and Builder of the Fallen Territory. Acquired 3 CP.]
[The Iron Sand Orc Tribe showers praise on you as Honorary Warrior of the Savage Tribe. Acquired 2 CP.]
[Your fame as Protector of Creemo shakes the entire Creemo region. Acquired 6 CP.]
[Word spreads across the kingdom that you are The One Who Carried Magentano. Acquired 11 CP.]
[Current CP held: 22]
‘22, huh.’
He still didn’t fully know what CP was for.
Maybe that’s why.
The number 22 didn’t feel like much or little.
But then.
Ding-dong.
As the previous message vanished, another appeared.
[You have successfully acquired your first CP.]
[Accordingly, you can now use the absolute authority ‘Ending Spoiler,’ which consumes CP.]
[Skill Name: Ending Spoiler]
[Skill Grade: ???]
[Required CP: 20 (1 use)]
‘......What?’
Ending? Spoiler?
A message with utterly unforeseen content.
Lloyd’s eyes widened slowly as he read it.