Silver Wings and the Strengthened Spear

Only after hearing the notification did Arthur realize it.

The Silver Wings were a set artifact.

These rewards could only be obtained through the Specialized Lord Nurturing Device, so even Arthur, who possessed vast knowledge of countless artifacts, found most of them unfamiliar.

But more important than checking the Silver Wings set effect was the fact that he'd acquired the Weapon Reinforcement Ticket.

Weapons could be reinforced, of course—but using a reinforcement ticket for it was a first.

Arthur quickly opened the Cash Shop and browsed through it.

He only had five minutes.

Skimming rapidly, Arthur paused at Kazaven's Original, which cost 45,000 cash.

The attack power was decent enough.

The materials used to construct the spear also appealed to him.

Arthur generally preferred something in the middle— heavier than 3kg but a bit lighter than 4kg.

A spear that was too heavy was cumbersome, and one that was too light had its own issues.

On top of that, the +1% Strength was a percentage boost.

It was worlds apart from a flat +1.

The higher Arthur's Strength grew, the more potent the percentage became.

And it even had a stun ability.

0.5 seconds was an enormous chunk of time, without question.

Especially against opponents of similar skill.

Once the purchase was complete, Kazaven's Original appeared in Arthur's hand.

A faint purple glow shimmered along the spear tip.

"Reinforce Kazaven's Original."

Kazaven's Original floated into the air, enveloped in a brilliant light.

When it fully reemerged, it looked far more impressive than before.

The Strength boost increased by 1%, and the stun duration extended by 0.5 seconds.

And then there was Retrieval.

An ability to recover a thrown or dropped spear using a telekinetic-like force.

Undeniably efficient.

Satisfied, Arthur next examined the Silver Wings boots and leather armor.

The Silver Wings boots granted +2 Agility as a special ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠effect, while the Silver Wings leather armor boasted overwhelmingly high defense for a Faded Rare grade but had no additional special abilities.

But the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠set effect below it was the real jackpot.

'Designated soldiers 5: Stealth usable.'

An incredible ability.

One that left him speechless.

Finishing his admiration, Arthur equipped everything.

Once fully geared, he set off without delay.

The soldiers and knights were waiting for Arthur.

Soon, the knights spotted a man strolling leisurely from not far off and let out exclamations of awe.

"Whoa..."

"Where'd he get armor like that?"

The gleaming silver leather armor and boots, topped with a cape.

Arthur's hair was a much deeper silver than the gear, harmonizing perfectly with his pale skin and drawing involuntary admiration.

The knights simultaneously placed hands over their left chests and saluted.

Arthur gave a slight nod and issued his first command.

"All soldiers, stand by."

"Pardon?"

"Wh-what do you...?"

On his way to meet them, Arthur had pondered deeply.

Among the Royal Quest class change conditions, there was surely mention that 'Carman' might receive special privileges depending on the situation.

Carman had noticed the crow too late and killed it in one go, preventing further observation.

He had no idea what privileges that granted.

Moving troops rashly could lead to needless losses.

For now, reconnaissance.

If it seemed like an easily overcome privilege, he'd advance immediately and drag Carman down.

But if not, he'd use the third parchment.

The third parchment.

Space Restriction Release.

He'd chosen it as a contingency.

This annihilation squad had limits to their advance.

At a certain point, an invisible wall blocked further progress.

But Space Restriction Release would let Arthur alone bypass it.

Beyond this annihilation squad lay a massive force.

But they harbored resentment toward humans and rejected any other race treading their lands—a noble species.

He'd have to risk it and ally with them.

"The squad I led, including the knights, and these prisoners—only we move out together."

There were ten knights in total.

But truthfully, their skill levels were quite low.

Still, each could handle five soldiers with ease.

And then the prisoners.

'Not ordinary folk. What the hell are they?'

Before meeting the squad, Arthur had been shocked watching the prisoners hunt monsters.

They matched the knights here in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠prowess.

No—perhaps even surpassed them.

On paper, the knights' stats looked higher.

But in the Monarch Game, and on the Asgard Continent where Arthur resided, raw strength didn't guarantee victory.

They moved like...

'Veterans of long, systematic training.'

Regardless of gender, they moved with the precision of lifelong trainees.

He didn't know their origins, but with the knights, they should suffice.

Arthur soon checked the quest notification.

This time, it was to save over 70% of the soldiers.

Not an emergency quest like before.

'The system here doesn't care about regular soldiers anyway.'

Apprentice lords mattered, but NPCs like soldiers and knights were disposable to the system.

Arthur thought differently.

They were living beings too.

Beings who found joy in eating, who collapsed onto beds in exhaustion after grueling work without even removing their boots—that was happiness.

That was why Arthur had been strong in his previous life.

He'd fought desperately to save every single one of them.

But enemies deserved no mercy.

Someone once said it:

'The one who ends the war quickest is the true hero.'

Arthur agreed.

Only then would the suffering end.

'Rewards scaled to soldiers saved, in gold?'

Initial funds covered food purchases and one of each building.

In contrast, Arthur would claim 2% from other apprentice lords.

Plus extras here.

'That means a fast start.'

Inevitably.

Gold could buy artifacts too.

Crude ones, but arming early troops with them would overwhelm other lords' protection-period forces.

Then came the sound.

Arthur furrowed his brow.

When Arthur was appointed supreme commander and all apprentice lords warped away, 'war mode' began.

War mode normally triggered during territory battles.

It allowed surrenders or lord-to-lord talks at any time.

Besides standard war mode, lords could propose custom modes via operators, like flag capture for 30,000 gold bets or dungeon conquest races—requiring mutual consent.

But now, it was a system-enforced war mode.

Accepting the talk, a hologram of Carman appeared, seated in midair.

No background or chair visible, yet he sat as if on one.

Lord conversations always looked like this.

He was balding, with a stubby, flat nose.

His eyes slanted sharply, and his cheeks bore deep pockmarks.

The epitome of ugliness.

-Just moments ago, I was in a dire spot. But things have changed.

Such talks were usually one of two things.

Bluffing to force surrender.

Or the real deal.

The latter reeked here.

Akan had surely granted him privileges.

-Surrender after forfeiting 30% of your forces, and I'll let you live and warp you out.

'New quest for him?'

Carman's original quest was to kill apprentice lords.

But they'd all fled.

Likely, killing 30% granted him privileges.

-What's in it for you fighting me?

Arthur didn't respond.

In war mode talks, silence was golden.

While observing the opponent's face for anxiety or confidence.

'The latter. He's got something to rely on.'

Carman droned on verbosely.

You can't beat me.

You little punk.

Give up and go home.

Listening, Arthur bowed his head deeply.

The hologram Carman chuckled.

Arthur slowly raised his head and shook it side to side.

"You're so disgustingly ugly I can't even look at you."

Carman's face hardened instantly.

-You...

Before he could finish, Arthur cut the connection.

Probably cursing at the blank screen right now.

'So he did get privileges.'

Carman was an idiot.

He'd revealed info himself.

Prudent lords avoided war talks to hide their hands.

Yet Carman handed Arthur a piece of intel.

'Time to confirm personally.'

Arthur decided.

"Divide the soldiers into twenty groups and scatter them in position. Then knights and prisoners— we strike the enemy lines with me."

Dispersing prevented Carman from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wiping clusters at once, avoiding mass slaughter.

After scattering the soldiers, Arthur, ten knights, and thirty prisoners moved swiftly.

Carman waited amid two massive boulders on the mountain, with three races.

Muffling their steps, they advanced through dense trees.

Kirrek-kirrek!

'Goblins.'

Goblin chatter echoed.

Footsteps—numerous.

'...Did he replenish his gold?'

Arthur frowned.

Far more than expected.

He'd bought hundreds of kobolds and mass fire arrows.

To maximize kills in the canyon.

That should've left under 10% gold.

Yet goblin footsteps numbered around forty.

Kkwek-kkwek.

'Kobolds too?'

With kobold cries added, Arthur scowled.

'Illusions again? But why bother with goblins and kobolds if so?'

Arthur harbored doubts.

And they resolved immediately.

Ki-hee-eek!

Whether a knight was spotted or not, goblin shrieks spread.

Pshuk!

The sound of a sword piercing flesh started it.

The knights began hunting goblins and kobolds pouring from the woods.

They fought at full strength—not illusions.

Confirmed.

'Gold replenished. Damn it. After I'd whittled them down.'

The battle erupted.

Arthur charged too, spearing goblins and kobolds.

Then.

Kuwaaaah!

A guttural roar.

'Ogre?'

Arthur tilted his head.

His crow scouting had been exposed.

But.

'Maybe he thinks the canyon entry wasn't due to the crow. And I wasn't there for the troll.'

He might believe it undetected still.

"All illusions! Don't falter!"

At Arthur's words, the knights pressed on.

The massive ogre stood out starkly in the mountainside.

One knight charged it.

Arthur expected it to fade away.

But the opposite happened.

Kwajik!

The knight's sword sank into the ogre's forearm, and the ogre backhanded his face in retaliation.

"...!"

In that instant, Arthur realized.

'N-not mere illusions?'

Only then did he fully grasp the privilege.

'Gold replenished, and nerfed abilities boosted somewhat...'