Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 125
>Chapter Title: Charlie
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[Charlie]
>[Title: Former Knight Commander of Arlen Castle, Emperor's First Sword]
>[Type: Human]
>[Loyalty: MAX]
>[Level: LV 5]
>[Traits: Knight Commander, Elegant Swordsmanship, Wielder of the Sword of Light]
>[Guardian Traits: Meritocracy, Loyalty, Trustworthy, Sharp-Tongued]
>[Description: He was the Knight Commander of Arlen Castle during the war recorded as the Abyss Catastrophe.
>In an era where power was needed to uphold justice and protect one's beliefs,
>Charlie lost countless precious people and comrades, making him value skill above all else.
>Having endured harsh times, he now serves a lord he can trust and follow as his loyal knight.]
>[Most abilities are sealed due to the current low level.]
>[Available Skills: 1]
>- Sword of Light (Cooldown: 2 hours)
Charlie's info window was more detailed than expected.
>Among them, the first thing that caught his eye was, of course, the traits.
>Every single one was extraordinary.
>'Three traits just related to the sword.'
>It wasn't for nothing that Charlie's swordsmanship stood out.
>Just as the description said—elegant swordsmanship—he deflected attacks as smoothly as flowing water.
>Personally, though, his gaze lingered more on Wielder of the Sword of Light.
>It was a trait he'd never seen before, and the power of that sword during his first appearance had been impressive.
>'The cooldown on Sword of Light is a bit rough... but it'll probably get better once his level goes up in the late game.'
>They'd said it was because of crossing through the Eternal Prison's time, so his late-game potential was guaranteed.
Next up were the Guardian traits.
>'Meritocracy and sharp-tongued...'
>It suited the Charlie he'd seen so far perfectly.
>Just as Jihard had Strong vs Weak, Weak vs Strong, Charlie valued skill and didn't hold back on harsh words.
>Were all Guardians like this...?
>At least he wasn't an opportunist and had Loyalty and Trustworthy traits—maybe he should be grateful for that.
-What's up? Why are you staring at me, Master?
>"Just... You seem impressive all of a sudden."
>-Kirik! What's this? Master saying something right for once? You've finally realized my true worth? Kehem!
>-Riza...
>-Eliza, you don't like me these days, huh.
Do-hyun shook his head as he watched the two bickering.
>There probably wasn't another Guardian with opportunist and Strong vs Weak, Weak vs Strong traits besides that guy.
>In that light, Meritocracy and sharp-tongued seemed pretty decent.
>'And the description makes it understandable...'
Do-hyun's gaze settled on Charlie.
>The way he swung his sword and moved his body exuded an immense amount of practice.
>Every motion was meticulous and precise, a testament to how much blood, sweat, and tears he'd poured into it.
>'And that's only level 5...'
>Charlie was still just level 5.
>He was already in perfect form, so Do-hyun could only imagine how strong he'd become at max level 70, regaining his original power.
>It made sense that he'd been a Knight Commander...
'Hm? But why is he already level 5?'
>How long had it been since he became a Guardian?
>He felt a sudden twinge of curiosity but nodded soon after.
>He must have gained a huge level-up from the experience when they took down the Destroyer Gaimon.
[Level: 16]
>Just to check, Jihard's info showed he'd hit level 16 before he knew it.
>Charlie was one thing, but Jihard had leveled up more than expected.
>It had been a while since he'd last checked, so it made sense.
>'Well, that's not the important part.'
>Higher levels than expected were a good thing, not bad.
Good was good.
>As he was thinking that,
Kerheung!
>[Lycanthrope defeated.]
>-Master, I have completed all assigned tasks...
Charlie, having finished off the last Lycanthrope, sheathed his sword and approached with a bow.
>And at that moment.
Daaang— Dang—
>-...Hm?
>-Huh?
A bell toll rang out from somewhere.
>A massive toll that echoed throughout the entire forest.
>It sounded just like a New Year's Eve bell, causing not just the Guardians but even Do-hyun to pause and focus.
Daang—
>The bell tolled three times in total before stopping.
>Surprisingly, as the toll faded, the darkness deepened, and the moon grew clearer.
[Night has fallen.]
>[Death Penalty risks are reduced until sunrise.]
>[Upon death, login ban time is reduced to 8 hours, and item drop probability is significantly lowered.]
>[PKing does not increase Karma value.]
"Ah."
>Only then did Do-hyun realize.
>That bell signaled the arrival of night.
>It was the bell from the castle walls.
Ding—
>But that realization was only half right.
>As faint clouds parted, revealing an especially large and prominent full moon.
[The full moon rises.]
>[Lawless ones drawn by the moon's power reveal themselves.]
They appeared.
Clack-clack— Clack-clack—
>It was the ghost chariots.
>Blue spectral figures rode the chariots, guarded by soul knights on horseback at the front and sides, descending on beams of moonlight.
The eerie yet mystical sight made the other users in the field stop what they were doing and murmur.
>"Oh, it's a full moon today."
>"Tch, no hunting at night for the next five days again."
>"Why? What's up?"
>"Ah, you wouldn't know. You'll get it when you see. Just don't touch them—watch from afar. Remember, absolutely do not touch."
The ones emerging in spots throughout the moonlit forest paid no mind to users at all.
>They simply moved in perfect unison, patrolling the woods.
Swoosh—
>-Hik!?
>-Master, be careful!
>-Riza!?
When one group of soldiers headed toward Do-hyun, the startled Guardians shouted.
>But contrary to their worries, the figures passed by Do-hyun indifferently, as if he were invisible.
'Whoa...'
>He'd heard about it roughly, but still clutching the hem of his robe just in case, Do-hyun finally exhaled the breath he'd been holding.
>'Those are the full moon lawless ones, huh.'
The lawless ones who appeared on full moon nights were celebrities in God of Oasis.
>They were called Sargis's famous spectacle, and some even came to Sargis just to see them.
>'Seeing them in person is chilling.'
>Back then, he'd thought everything was a spectacle, but now he got it.
>From their very appearance, they exuded a mystical aura that overwhelmed just by looking.
"Wow... insane."
>"Let's get a bit closer. I wanna see up close."
>"Hey, hey, just in case—do not touch them? I'm warning you."
>"Y-Yeah... yeah."
Users, entranced by their presence, slowly followed behind.
>Who wouldn't be amazed by a sight impossible in reality?
>Not just them—everyone here couldn't take their eyes off the lawless ones.
"You see it every time, but it's still amazing."
>"The aftermath's the problem, but this part's always a sight."
Even users who'd been here a while, with some real experience under their belts, were still in awe—let alone newcomers.
>And that was the problem.
"Uh, uh?"
>"Hey, hey! Stop! I said stop!"
Users got deeply absorbed in the mystical vibe, like moths to a flame.
>And those types always caused trouble.
>Like right now.
Thud.
>Tell people not to do something, and they want to do it more.
>One user, unable to curb his curiosity, finally placed his hand on the back of a ghost soldier marching harmlessly through the forest.
"What? Nothing happened? You guys are such scaredy-cats..."
>As the user grew cocky,
Halt.
>The ghost soldier, who had ignored everything until now, suddenly stopped.
"...We're screwed."
>"Man, that idiot really did it."
The user's party members, watching live, sighed.
>They could see exactly what was coming.
>And it wasn't far off. It was too quick.
Whoosh—
>The ghost soldier's blue body turned black, and its head snapped around while still facing away.
>Now facing the user with its back still turned.
It wasn't just that one.
Whoosh— Whish—
>"...Hic! W-What? Why is everyone looking at me?"
The lawless ones, moving in perfect sync, all stopped what they were doing and turned toward the user simultaneously.
>Like sensors triggering, with zero margin of error.
>The user, goosebumps rising at the bizarre sight, stumbled back in fright—but it was too late.
[How dare... how dare...!]
>[Intruder... execute... Offer tribute... to Him...]
A chilling, chalkboard-scraping voice sent shivers down spines.
>Before the voice even finished, the lawless ones drew swords, spears, arrows, and advanced slowly.
"Ugh! G-Get away! Get away!"
The user swung his spear at the encircling foes, but it did nothing to the lawless ones.
>No matter how much he stabbed or slashed, they closed in relentlessly, as if feeling no pain.
And among them, one lawless one with distinctly different attire.
Stab!
>Over 3 meters tall, cloaked in a robe alone, he approached despite the spear in him and grabbed the user's throat.
"Kk... Guh..."
Lifting him high with one hand, the dark soul stared blankly.
>Its hollow, empty eyes scanned the user thoroughly before muttering lowly.
[...Not... soldier.]
That was it.
Crack—!
>Red energy burst from the withered hand gripping the throat, sending the user to death's door in an instant.
The ghost soldiers then turned away without a second glance.
>As if nothing had happened, the lawless ones reformed their procession and vanished into the forest.
"Tsk tsk. That's why I said don't do it."
>"Some people gotta taste shit to know it's not miso paste."
>"Every damn time."
>"Hey, keep a better eye on your party next time. Don't want the fallout hitting us."
>"Let's go. Hunting's done for today."
The tsking users grumbled as they headed back to the entrance.
>This was why you absolutely couldn't touch the lawless ones.
>They were harmless spectacles as long as you didn't touch them first—but the moment you did, they turned into devils.
-Wow... What did I just witness, Master?
>-It was an immense aura, if only for a moment.
>-Rizariza...
Do-hyun nodded as he watched the awestruck Guardians.
>'It was an issue for a while because of this.'
>No such idiots now, but he'd seen posts about how this fact became famous early on, sparking a challenge.
>The challenge was simple: Could you kill the lawless ones?
>Countless rankers took it on amid high expectations, but the results were disastrous.
>'0% success rate, total annihilation ending.'
>Even Arthur, master of Top 10 Guild The King and hailed as the strongest holy knight user then, was among them.
>News of his utter defeat from his unrivaled position back then caused a massive shock.
>After that, it was concluded they weren't meant to be hunted, and an unwritten rule formed: never touch the lawless ones. But...
>'There's always some who don't listen, wherever you go.'
>That was just how the world worked.
>Even during Demlock, plenty caused headaches by doing what they were told not to.
>To Do-hyun, they were incomprehensible.
>Others might disagree often, but he only acted when he judged it worthwhile.
>'Games have all sorts anyway.'
>Take his own Jihard—didn't the guy literally risk and lose his life for romance?
Do-hyun chuckled and turned back to hunting when—
Aoooooo—!
>Aoooo—
Howling echoed from all directions.
[Under the full moon's power, Lycanthropes' physical abilities are amplified.]
>[Lycanthropes gain dark attributes.]
>[Lycanthropes become even more ferocious.]
>[However, experience gained on kills increases by 25%.]
This was why users gave up hunting and retreated.
>On full moon nights, Lycanthropes got all kinds of buffs.
>It wasn't for nothing they were called the moon's kin.
>Fields already crawling with PKers at night, and now Lycanthropes got stronger too?
>'The exp boost doesn't mean much.'
>A 25% exp increase was huge, but kill speed dropped sharply, difficulty spiked, and efficiency tanked.
>Get caught by PKers on top, and you're dead—no one would hunt.
>Unless they were extremely confident.
[Encountering dark type activates special option 'Anti-Magic.']
>[Damage from dark type enemies reduced by 30%.]
>[Taksnell's Dark Slayer set option activates.]
>[On combat entry with dark types, defense and damage increase by 20%.]
"...Huh?"
And one of those confident ones was Do-hyun.
>Staring blankly at the system messages boosting his confidence, he nodded.
>'Exp boost event? Jackpot.'
The exp booster event had begun.