Chapter 150
Chapter 150
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 150
>Chapter Title: The Bell of Harmony
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>Jay Ruddel had never broken his word once spoken.
Of course, that wasn’t true his entire life.
As a child, he lied and threw tantrums whenever he got the chance.
But at least after becoming lord of the castle, he had never once uttered a falsehood or broken a promise.
His father, the wise ruler, had been the same.
And especially because he hadn’t kept his final promise to his uncle, Jin Ruddel, that he’d return soon.
“……Pardon?”
Yet that conviction was now facing its first real crisis.
“The Bell of the Moon…… You mean that bell?”
“Yes.”
“…….”
Do-hyun’s gaze didn’t waver in the slightest.
Jay Ruddel felt the greatest bewilderment he’d experienced since becoming lord.
‘My god.’
It wasn’t a matter of reluctance.
He was the benefactor who had reunited him with his uncle, saved the city, and avenged the fallen soldiers.
No price would have been too high. He could have handed over a family heirloom if asked.
‘This is unexpected, though…….’
The Bell of the Moon was the exception.
Beyond being a mere heirloom, it symbolized the castle itself.
An ancient bell passed down through generations, now revered as a divine object—handing it over was an entirely different matter.
It was something even a single generation’s lordly authority might not suffice for.
‘Why on earth?’
And beyond that, it made no sense.
Out of all the treasures available, why the bell of all things?
Precious to them, sure, but to an outsider, it was just a somewhat unusual oversized bell.
Did he have a hobby of collecting valuable artifacts?
No, there was a more fundamental question.
“But before that, how exactly do you plan to carry something that massive?”
Even apostle subspace pouches couldn’t hold an item of that size, as far as he knew.
Do-hyun pondered for a moment, looking genuinely troubled.
“Hmm, good point. How do I even take it?”
“……?”
Why are you asking me?
As Jay Ruddel blinked in confusion, Do-hyun replied calmly.
“I’ll have to figure it out starting now. For the moment, I need that.”
“…….”
The head butler approached the stunned Jay Ruddel and spoke cautiously.
“Why not trust him and hand it over for now?”
“I’d love to, but this isn’t within my authority, is it, Head Butler?”
“No. We’ve simply avoided it on moral grounds, but the Bell of the Moon is undeniably an item of the castle. And all items in the castle belong to the lord. There’s no issue in principle.”
As Jay hesitated at the butler’s words, Jin Ruddel chimed in.
-The hero who saved the city, and you’re stingy over a mere bell, Jay? Ah, your uncle is deeply disappointed. Back in my day, it was only proper to give a house to someone who saved your life.
“…….”
-But it’s not even the castle—just a bell that goes ding-dong? I didn’t raise you like that, Jay. Your father would have given it gladly. Isn’t that right, Head Butler?
“Indeed…… Considering the former lord’s character, he certainly would have.”
At this point, Jay Ruddel had no choice.
“Argh, fine! Both of you, stop. It’s not like I don’t want to give it!”
“Then may I take it?”
“Yes. Of course. I can’t be the kind of petty lord who won’t even give a single bell to a hero.”
With Jay Ruddel finally yielding, raising both hands in surrender, Do-hyun clenched his fist triumphantly.
Jin Ruddel, catching his eye, lifted his chin with a smug “I did well, right?” expression.
It was annoyingly cocky, but this time Do-hyun nodded readily.
‘Who knew this chatterbox could actually be useful.’
Jay would have given in eventually given his personality, but this guy had made it far smoother.
-Excellent! A fine subordinate indeed.
Even Charlie praised him lavishly, thoroughly pleased.
Seizing the moment, Do-hyun darted out to the terrace before they could change their minds.
[Eye of Truth activates.]
‘Still an insane size, even on second look.’
The massive bell still appeared red to Do-hyun’s eyes.
It boasted tremendous majesty, visible at a glance even from outside the city.
Humm—
“The bell…… It’s like it’s reacting to something.”
“Perhaps it recognizes the hero.”
-Keya…… Feels just like reading a novel.
The difference this time was that it hummed as if responding to a key.
That was why Jay Ruddel and the others, who had followed, marveled in astonishment.
Do-hyun chuckled softly, took the key back from Jay Ruddel, and merged them into one.
[Yin-Yang harmony is complete.]
A warm yet chilling energy spread, forming a perfect key.
Whoooong—
The bell’s resonance grew even fiercer.
As if impatiently demanding the key right now.
Without hesitation, Do-hyun thrust it forward, and a blinding light erupted.
[The third piece of fate, ‘Bell of Harmony,’ reacts.]
Light like gloomy and warm energies intertwined in color, filling the surroundings, followed by a cheerful alert.
[The Dark King’s dormant Yin will awakens.]
[The Yin will of ancient humanity’s Dark King, ‘Har,’ manifests.]
A low voice echoed.
[Finally awakening…….]
The chill in the voice sent shivers across his skin.
The mere manifestation of the man altered the air around them. His appearance matched exactly the man Do-hyun had seen in the king’s tomb.
But the aura he exuded was utterly different.
Thud.
“Ahh…….”
An overwhelming pressure that forced knees to buckle.
It wasn’t the mind yielding, but the body itself, screaming not to raise one’s head.
Har’s gaze swept over Jay Ruddel, Jin Ruddel, and the head butler before lingering on Do-hyun.
[Hoo……?]
While everyone else succumbed to the pressure, Do-hyun stood firm.
He wasn’t alone.
Gerard and Eliza stood ramrod straight behind him, and Charlie gritted his teeth, somehow controlling his trembling body.
[Hero trait resists the overwhelming presence.]
[Opponent’s rank is too high for full resistance.]
[Guardians ‘Gerard Black’ and ‘Eliza’ possess high innate rank.]
[Resisting presence.]
‘On another level from the will in the king’s tomb.’
Not for nothing was he called the Dark King.
The force was worlds apart from the somewhat warm Yang will.
A more martial figure might have been dubbed something like the Battle King instead.
-Ugh……
Hearing the groan, Do-hyun glanced sideways at Charlie.
He could see him gritting his teeth, struggling to steady his quivering legs.
Unlike the other two, who were merely startled but fine, Charlie looked precarious.
It was only natural.
Do-hyun had his trait’s aid, and the others could rely on their racial traits, but Charlie was enduring purely through force of will.
[A fine knight under your command.]
Har smirked, releasing his energy, and the chilling air instantly grew comfortable.
Like heavy gravity suddenly lifting.
-Haa, haa……
Charlie finally caught his breath, his legs wobbling.
-Charlie.
-……Thanks.
Gerard quickly lent his shoulder, sparing him humiliation.
Only then could Jay Ruddel, Jin Ruddel, and the head butler raise their heads to face the source of that overwhelming presence.
Their eyes widened in shock.
“Ahh…….”
“You couldn’t be…….”
-My god……
The three were too stunned to speak coherently.
Muttering in disbelief, they soon dropped to one knee, paying respects to Do-hyun and Har.
‘Why are they suddenly like this?’
As Do-hyun opened his mouth at the oddly familiar sight—
The Dark King spoke, seemingly pleased.
[Those who know proper etiquette. So, you’re the one who awakened me?]
“Yes.”
[Hmm…… You’ve met Seras and my other persona. Seems fated…… Well, fine. No need for further tests. Reaching this point proves your worth.]
Scrutinizing Do-hyun as if peering into his soul, the Dark King added,
[An odd combination for one of my descendants…… But not my concern.]
“…….”
There was no arguing that.
He was likely the only one wandering around with a fluffy little spider, a black goblin, and a tutorial NPC.
After that blunt fact-check, the Dark King tapped Do-hyun’s forehead.
[Your unstable constitution stabilizes.]
[Poison King’s constitution reaches complete form.]
‘Huh?’
Seeing the completion message, Do-hyun immediately checked the details.
[Poison King’s Constitution]
[Grade: Legendary]
[Description: Har, known as ancient humanity’s Dark King and Poison King.
He possessed a unique constitution close to invincibility but weak to poisons and mental attacks.
Thus, he endured countless deadly poisons through relentless training, forging a body immune to them.
[Impervious: Immune to all poisons below Legendary grade.]
[Saturation: Continuous damage from a single attack over time is treated as poison.]
-Fully completed with the complete will.
‘Whoa…… Insane.’
The perfected Poison King’s constitution was the ultimate poison-immune body.
Immunity to every poison below Legendary grade—a cheat constitution of legend.
Now, even the Lawless King’s underworld energy could be fully blocked.
Poisons could no longer kill Do-hyun.
‘Status effects don’t work, poisons don’t work, DoTs don’t work…….’
Somehow, his weaknesses were dwindling.
[Don’t go getting hit everywhere. I don’t tolerate weaklings.]
“Yes.”
Who wouldn’t obey the noble Dark King who granted it?
Grinning cheekily in response, Do-hyun ignored Gerard shaking his head from behind.
[Dying to poison is the mark of true weakness. Look at that one. Can’t even overcome that pathetic little toxin and he’s dying.]
“That one…….”
[The boy over there. Don’t tell me that weakling’s your ally?]
“He’s the lord of this castle.”
[A weakling like that as lord……? Humanity’s truly hit rock bottom.]
His tsking mutter wasn’t quiet.
Loud enough for Jay Ruddel, standing a bit back, to hear.
Pitying the bowed Jay Ruddel, the Dark King snapped his fingers.
Then, something astonishing happened.
“Ah……?”
A sensation like clogged meridians clearing washed over him, and the deep-seated poison vanished like smoke.
[Underworld energy dissipates.]
[Poison is expelled.]
The purplish skin was gone.
Just that alone made Jay Ruddel’s complexion visibly healthier.
“Ahh…….”
“My god.”
A curse they’d given up on after years of torment was cured so anticlimactically.
Jay Ruddel gaped in disbelief.
Instinctively turning, the Dark King was no longer there.
[Next is Pratel, then. That woman…… It’ll be different from before. Quite tricky, so do your best.]
Having wrought a miracle without a word about it, he vanished after delivering his message.
Thud.
Neither the Dark King nor the massive Bell of the Moon remained.
Just a tiny bell lay there.
[The third piece of fate reaches complete form.]
[Acquired the third piece of fate, ‘Bell of Harmony.’]
[Fate Fragment]
-Grade: Main Stream
-Description: Martial God Kashiar sacrificed to save Abtartel. Gather all shards of the vessels he left across the world to complete fate.
-Fate Fragments: 3 / 10
-Collecting all Fate Fragments unlocks the main event.
‘So this was its true form.’
Unlike the half-broken Hourglass of Faith, this fragment had apparently grown massive for some reason.
A tremendous relief for Do-hyun.
If that giant size had been original, it would’ve been a huge headache.
‘Three now.’
As a strange sense of pride welled up at reaching the one-third mark—
Another message appeared before he could fully savor it.
[Rank measurement complete.]
The graduation quest’s results were finally set.