Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Reward
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As the golden glow faded, the corpses of the imps rained down like a downpour.
All who had witnessed it couldn't believe the scene unfolding before their eyes. The soldiers below the walls, in particular, were left dazed, unsure if it was a dream or reality, tears streaming down their faces as they gazed upon the savior who had rescued them.
Do-yoon stared at the imp corpses, lost in thought.
'The imp forces have definitely grown stronger than they were a hundred years ago.'
What did that imply?
Were only these eighteen imps enhanced? Or had the entire imp horde been strengthened?
If Satan's power had grown, had the other legion commanders as well? And was it possible to mass-produce imps this powerful?
He mulled over various hypotheses based on the clues at hand, but there wasn't much he could conclude yet.
'I'm exhausted.'
Do-yoon felt a wave of fatigue washing over his body.
Manifest Sword was no technique he could handle at Mana level 3. Thanks to the Divine Beast's highly efficient mana and the trait [First Războinic], he'd barely managed to execute it by pouring in every last drop of his mana.
'Still, its power far exceeded what I'd expect for the mana invested.'
Do-yoon recalled part of the [First Războinic] description.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The word Războinic originates from the courage to challenge distant trials. And the unbreakable will even in the face of death.] [Your will grows stronger.] As expected, the effect of [First Războinic] was exactly as he'd thought.
The key to Manifest Sword—materializing phenomena—lay in willpower above all else. This trait amplified that very willpower. It allowed him to unleash far greater power than his meager mana reserves should have permitted.
'A trait far more valuable than even [Divine Beast]. Truly worthy of being called the pinnacle.'
Do-yoon smiled with pride. Then, he turned his gaze to the system message hovering before him.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Skill 'Manifest Sword' has been created.] A sudden curiosity struck him.
'What rating will [Manifest Sword] get?'
Buske Style and Hecleus Style were originally top-tier A-rate skills.
S-rate skills were treated as a form of divine authority, possessing effects that defied common sense. It was impossible for mere martial arts to reach S-rate.
But by the 18th round, Enoch had imparted the subtleties of Manifest Sword, fusing it into their arts and elevating them to S-rate. The 17th round versions remained A-rate, as proof.
Even to the very end of the 18th round, Buske and Hecleus hadn't grasped Manifest Sword as deeply as Enoch.
It was only natural. No matter their genius, there was an unbridgeable gap between them and Do-yoon, who had embodied the demigod's divinity.
A fleeting, feather-light understanding. That was how they described their own insight into Manifest Sword. Even incorporating just that much had earned their arts an S-rate judgment.
'Then.'
What rating would the true Manifest Sword receive? The maximum S-rate, surely?
The moment Do-yoon moved to check the skill details and resolve his curiosity—
Waaaaaaaaah!!
A thunderous roar erupted from atop and below the walls.
Soldiers on the walls thrust their weapons skyward with cheers, while the infantry below screamed themselves hoarse.
The knight clenched his fists, still reeling from the awe-inspiring sight.
'A warrior of that caliber!'
Releasing sword qi wasn't something just anyone could do. It required at least [Swordsmanship] level 7 and [Sword Qi] level 3—a pinnacle technique worthy of being called a swordsman's ultimate move.
And that was far from all.
'It's on another level from the sword qi I witnessed before.'
This apostle's was far more profound and refined.
It wasn't merely mana cloaking the blade being unleashed. It was something more fundamental. Less "sword qi projection" and more... simply, purely, the sensation of 'slashing'.
The sword he'd given was just under a meter long. Yet it had clearly cleaved far beyond that distance. This was no mere sword qi phenomenon.
'The sword... the martial way... I've witnessed a new horizon.'
It was too distant to imitate, but merely beholding it was an honor any swordsman could cherish for life.
'He must be a top-tier apostle, on par with a hero.'
Had the knight seen Do-yoon's status window and realized not a single skill exceeded level 3, he might have been even more stunned than from the display itself.
The squire was no different, mouth agape at Do-yoon's divine feat, unable to close it.
'Fuck... I thought he was just some mercenary...'
The madness from the imp curse had cleared, leaving memories of his own face-to-face insults to Do-yoon.
'I'm screwed.'
His face, which had only just regained some color, drained white again.
As the soldiers screamed their lungs out, the knight leaped from the wall, landing with a heavy thud. The squire hesitated, then followed, scrambling down the wall.
The knight strode up with the squire in tow and stood before Do-yoon.
Then, he bowed deeply at the waist.
"Thank you."
"It was what needed to be done."
Not humble modesty, but a matter-of-fact tone, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. The knight trembled in awe at his magnanimity.
Straightening up, he turned and bellowed in a mana-infused voice.
"He is the hero of this war, who saved our city and its people! Open the gates and clear a path to the lord's castle!"
Woooooooooah!!
Creeeeak. The gates, sealed tight in terror, slowly swung open, revealing streets packed with cheering citizens.
"Please, go ahead."
Do-yoon nodded.
The city's residents—soldiers and civilians alike—roared in acclaim as the blood-soaked hero made his entrance.
Do-yoon walked down the central avenue toward the lord's castle, the ground, walls, and very air trembling with their cheers.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The interior of the World Tree's carriage racing down the road above the city was deathly silent. The atmosphere was at its absolute worst.
Eloa and Milane went without saying, but even the elite reinforcements from World Tree shared the gloom.
They all knew about this round's super rookie, who had received a 10,000-gold contract fee. And now he'd been caught up in a war.
Considering he was a freshly graduated apostle from the Cradle, if the city fell before they arrived, his survival odds were next to nothing.
Moreover, Muspelheim had requested reinforcements. Their remote aura readings had strongly predicted the attacked city wouldn't hold out for even an hour.
Milane had all but resigned herself to it by now. Do-yoon's chances were too slim.
She might seem emotional in daily life, but when it came to work, she strictly separated personal and professional, a calculating mind that had earned her the role of World Tree's chief administrator and vice-master.
But Eloa's complexion looked truly grave.
No matter the crisis, her calm charisma and century of experience always steered the guild right. Yet this time, she'd been unusually agitated even before departure.
And it had only worsened as time passed. Milane, who had been just as upset at the start, was now worried enough to panic for her master.
"M-Master..."
No matter how Milane tried to soothe her from the side, Eloa's state showed no sign of improving.
Hunched over, she muttered to herself, gnawing her nails and trembling her legs.
"No... not again... I don't want to lose you like this again... please... please..."
She looked as if something had gone terribly wrong somewhere.
The guild members shook their heads.
Some had been forcibly conscripted via the guild master's total mobilization order and harbored quiet resentment beforehand. But seeing Eloa like this, their complaints vanished.
"Master... we'll reach the warp portal soon. Pull yourself together and prepare for battle... okay?"
"This can't be happening... please..."
"Master..."
As Milane hurriedly comforted Eloa, they arrived at Skeletonia's capital warp portal.
The portal administrator, pre-notified, bypassed all procedures per wartime protocols and let the carriage through immediately.
The carriage arrived in Rockenmeyer’s capital—the nearest warp portal, about two hours from the attacked city.
But upon arrival in the capital, someone blocked their path.
"Halt! Halt right there!"
The carriage stopped, and Milane snapped at the sudden obstacle, eyes blazing.
"What the hell are you doing?! Didn't you get the message!? This is urgent! Follow wartime protocols!"
"Royal Guard of Rockenmeyer Palace. Are you the Skeletonia World Tree reinforcements?"
"Can't you see the emblem on the carriage!? Get out of the way!!"
Far more on edge now from worrying about her master than Do-yoon, she bellowed.
The guild members felt the same. Their hearts ached at Rockenmeyer's sluggish bureaucracy. What kind of situation was this to be dawdling with inspections?
But the reason the guards stopped them was entirely unexpected.
"Report: The Demon King's forces attacking the border city have been successfully repelled. The city is safe. Situation terminated."
"Pardon?"
Milane, who had been ready to claw his face like a cat, blinked in stunned confusion.
"Wh-what does that mean? How could the attack already be over..."
At that moment, Eloa flung open the carriage door and lunged out, grabbing the guard.
"Repelled? You said repelled? The city's safe? Then the casualties! What about the casualties?!"
"Th-this is inappropriate!"
"Master!"
"Tell me the casualty report! No, wait...! Just find one person! Send a telegram to the city and confirm one person's survival! Please!?"
The guard panicked at her unforeseen ferocity. And since she was clearly a big shot, he couldn't shove her off or ignore her. What to do?
He recalled his senior's advice: In times like these, stick strictly to protocol.
"C-continuing the report! The invading force was Satan’s imp horde under the Demon King's legion commander, repelled by a single Skeletonia World Tree apostle!"
"Pardon?"
"The apostle in question is unharmed! Zero civilian casualties! Military casualties still being tallied! Th-that's all! Report complete!"
Milane and everyone in the carriage poked their heads out the window upon hearing that. Their expressions mirrored Eloa's perfectly.
What did that soldier just say?
'Repelled by who?'
They doubted their own ears.