Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 43
>Chapter Title: What is a Divine Beast?
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Chapter 43
>43.
>What is a Divine Beast?
>Cool appearance, outstanding performance, extreme rarity....
>There are many aspects if you nitpick, but at its core, there were two key points.
Even NPCs would believe it possesses such advanced intelligence, and it has lore settings that are anything but ordinary—truly worthy of being called a spiritual creature.
"An intelligence sharp enough to curse the Forgotten Tribe... Sigh, it fits on that front, at least...."
In that regard, Zihad Black was a guardian worthy of being called a divine beast.
Its intelligence was exceptional, and lore-wise, it was a survivor of the Forgotten Tribe... Nothing about it was off.
-I'm done for now... I've become a filthy human's slave....
No divine beast, no matter how intelligent, could express such a wide range of emotions.
Rationally, it made sense to consider it a divine beast, but his heart refused to accept it.
'A goblin as a divine beast...? And this one that called a bone hit cheating is a divine beast!?'
His first divine beast... no, his first guardian, and it had to be like this!
Images of the majestic Yongyong-i and Hosik flickered in his mind. Bora-hyung, strutting around with the two at his sides boasting about their perfect match, had been so cool.
In contrast, what about him?
Kiruk... Kirruk...
He'd have to walk around with this sniveling little goblin making its distinctive goblin noises.
It hadn't looked bad under the robe, but without it, it was pathetically shabby.
A salamander or golem would look several times cooler.
That realization made his chest tighten, but Do-hyun soon accepted reality with a sigh.
'The important thing is that I got a guardian.'
A divine beast... or whatever you wanted to call it, but definitely not an ordinary one.
For now, it wouldn't hurt to check it out calmly.
[Would you like to view information on Guardian 'Zihad Black'?]
'Yes.'
[Zihad Black]
>[Title: Hero-grade Named Guardian]
>[Type: Goblin]
>[Level: LV1]
>[Loyalty: 0 / 100]
>[Traits: Bloodline Gene, Curse Shaman, Necromancer, Nimble Fingers]
>[Guardian Traits: Strong vs Weak, Weak vs Strong; Opportunist]
>[Description: Survivor of a fallen tribe.
>Zihad, inheritor of an exceptional bloodline, is a goblin who has lived for hundreds of years. But now, it lives on as one human's guardian.]
>[Most abilities are sealed due to low current level.]
>[Available Skills: 1]
>-Undead Creation
"...Hm."
Zihad Black's information was similar to before yet somehow different.
First, the title had changed from Hero-grade Named Boss to Hero-grade Named Guardian.
Just one word's difference, but it carried significant weight.
'Not a hero-grade divine beast or spirit, but a named one....'
Divine beasts were all named by default, so the "named" descriptor wasn't usually added.
Spirits, except for Spirit Kings, weren't unique, so they weren't named either....
'And it came from a card, too. Definitely unusual.'
At the very least, Do-hyun had never heard of acquiring a guardian like this.
If beating a boss let you take it as a guardian, countless rankers would be walking around with boss mobs as guardians.
'I'd have dozens of guardians by now if that were the case.'
Of course, what he knew was from Demlock; he didn't know much about God Ose, so maybe cases like this existed here.
But it wasn't common.
'Traits are the same... Guardian traits are Strong vs Weak, Weak vs Strong? Opportunist?'
Guardian traits were, simply put, defining characteristics.
They encapsulated the guardian's core personality or features in a single phrase.
They helped users understand their guardian better and raised loyalty more effectively, as loyalty gains depended on those traits.
Users pondered how to utilize and train their guardians based on that info.
'What kind of guardian traits are these?'
In that sense, Zihad Black's guardian traits were shocking.
Do-hyun had never seen Strong vs Weak, Weak vs Strong or Opportunist in all his life.
They usually had tame ones like Friend of Water, Courageous, Leader, or Coward—never something so blatantly lowly.
And it didn't end with mere descriptions.
[Guardian Zihad Black's loyalty is extremely low.]
>[Due to Strong vs Weak, Weak vs Strong and Opportunist traits, it may flee or backstab you when loyalty is low. Be cautious.]
'Crazy....'
Sure, there were plenty of guardians that broke contracts at low loyalty.
But he'd never heard of the system outright warning that it might backstab you.
This thing was abnormal in every single way.
Kirruk...
A glance showed it had already put some distance between them.
Its muttering eyes brimmed with hostility—it wouldn't be strange if it backstabbed him any second.
'No good.'
Special measures were needed.
Like it or not, it was his subordinate guardian now; he couldn't let it dare backstab him.
Checking its performance could wait.
From time immemorial, these kinds of guys needed just one kind of education.
[Remaining Play Time: 00:15:11]
"15 minutes... That should be enough."
Do-hyun checked the time, quietly sheathed his weapon, and stowed it in his inventory.
Crack- pop.
He loosened up and slowly approached.
Zihad Black flinched at Do-hyun suddenly coming closer, rolling its eyes before blurting out,
-Wh-what? Why are you coming over like that, human?
"Calling your master 'human'? Your head's messed up."
-...What?
"One punch per second... Nah, stamina issues might make it tough. But this should suffice."
-...?
Zihad Black wore a face of utter confusion.
Ignoring it, Do-hyun kept muttering to himself until he stood right in front of its nose. Looking up, Do-hyun flashed a sly grin.
"Let's start with a hit."
-?
"Hup!"
Do-hyun ducked low and slammed a short punch into its gut.
Bam!
A satisfying impact rang out,
-Kweeeek!!
followed by a pig... no, goblin's death squeal.
[You have attacked a guardian.]
>[The master inflicts reduced damage on the guardian and can never kill it.]
'Yes, that's it.'
A master could never kill a guardian.
Damage was greatly reduced, making accidental death nearly impossible even if it were feasible.
But guardians were God Ose's AIs.
Unlike users, who felt only faint pain for immersion despite low damage numbers, guardians felt full agony.
Thwack! Bam-!
-Kwek! Kwek! St-stop...!
That was why Zihad Black was rolling on the ground, tears and snot streaming.
And why Do-hyun could beat it without restraint.
-You vile human... You always lead with your fists! Fine, I won't just stand here... Kwek! Kwuk!
Thud! Bam!
-I'll never forgive you...!
Crack!
-Hahk, hahk...! Y-you mere human....
Even as it crawled backward on the ground, no loyalty showed in its eyes, but Do-hyun could tell.
[Loyalty: 2 / 100]
A few solid punches had nudged the loyalty up, if only a tiny bit.
'As the ancestors said, the stick works wonders on these types.'
Feeling anew the greatness of ancestral wisdom, Do-hyun approached slowly.
Today's goal was loyalty over 20.
* * *
How many minutes passed?
Crack! Thwack!
Hundreds of crisp hits echoed through the cave, drowned out by even more screams filling the air.
-St-stop...! Please, stop!
"Stop?"
-N-no... Please stop, Master! I was wrong!
Finally, honorifics came from Zihad Black's mouth.
It took exactly 97 punches to its vital spots.
Considering he targeted only the toughest ones, it was impressively resilient.
But....
Thwack!
-Khek! Wh-why...?
"Just... didn't like your eyes."
-Th-that doesn't make any...! Kwek!
Do-hyun didn't stop.
It wasn't because he was venting frustration due to a rotten personality.
[Loyalty: 10 / 100]
>[Loyalty is low. It will flee at the first opportunity.]
'Even after all this, only 10.'
It mouthed "Master," but it was still biding its time.
It would probably lull him into security and plot an escape during logout.
Impressive as that was, Do-hyun prided himself on not losing in this field.
'If 100 doesn't work, 300. If not, more.'
If the stick didn't fix it, he just hadn't used enough.
In Demlock, when making examples of backstabbers, a few never learned.
A thorough stomping ensured they never met his eyes again.
That was the instinct of Strong vs Weak, Weak vs Strong.
-Think I can take him now?
He had to beat it until no such thought could form, until its mind reeled.
Thwack! Thud!
-Wh-what's the problem, Mas... Ghuk!
-I was wrong. Wrong... Guk!
-You demon human...! Khek! Kwek! Kieek!
No matter its pleas, Do-hyun swung without a word.
No need to heed its words.
[Loyalty: 11 / 100]
>[Loyalty: 10 / 100]
>[Loyalty: 13 / 100]
The real-time fluctuations were the most objective measure.
How long did he beat it in silence?
-N-no, I was insane. I did have bad intentions. I swear I won't anymore. Hweeeeng....
For the first time, Zihad spoke sincerely, and Do-hyun finally stopped.
Its childlike sobbing held no lies.
Words failed against incoming fists; it realized its tricks wouldn't work.
[Loyalty: 18 / 100]
>[Loyalty is low. Caution advised.]
>[Remaining Play Time: 00:00:41]
The result of 15 minutes of loving discipline.
'Too bad it didn't hit 20... but this should do.'
At least the backstab warning was gone.
It wouldn't flee on next login; periodic training would handle the rest.
40 more seconds wouldn't raise it much, and when truly repentant, carrot beat stick.
"Yeah. Now you're acting right."
-Hweeeeng... Ung....
"You could've done this from the start. Right?"
-Y-yes.
Zihad peeked cautiously in reply, its debut aura nowhere to be seen.
Just a puppy eyeing its master warily.
Of course, don't fall for it. Let up, and it'd climb back fast.
[Maximum login time expired.]
>[Logging out soon.]
40 seconds gone already. Do-hyun added one last line.
"I'm off."
-Huh? Where to....
"Don't get comfy. I'll be back. Behave."
-O-of course! Safe travels, Master!
Zihad, bowed nearly double, only raised its head 5 seconds after Do-hyun vanished.
Proof of how deeply Do-hyun's terror was etched in.
-...G-gone?