Chapter 128
Chapter 128
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: Calculated Victories
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The dungeon's structure was not complex.
A single stone chamber lay below the entrance.
In its center was a sword plunged into the ground, a black haze rising from it.
Wang-sik entered the chamber, raising his shield, Holidom. The sword then slowly levitated, and a Death Knight formed from black smoke appeared.
The Death Knight, its body a mass of swirling smoke save for its red eyes, charged at Wang-sik without a moment's hesitation.
"Hah!"
Leit, who had entered the chamber behind Wang-sik, gasped at the attack.
It was an attack too fast to follow with the naked eye.
But the blade stopped right before him.
*Clang!*
Wang-sik had blocked it with his shield.
Not stopping there, he pushed the Death Knight back with his light-infused shield.
"We must wait for an opportunity and finish it in one blow. Its weak point is the heart."
The heart, shrouded in mist.
Wang-sik deliberately swung his shield, clearing the mist around its heart for a moment. A red jewel was clearly visible before being covered by the mist again.
As if its weakness had been exposed, the Death Knight began to attack even more fiercely.
The attacks were so powerful that even Wang-sik had to focus.
Moreover, he couldn't use the Mark of the Guardian right now!
All he had were his shield, Holidom, and his armor, Peradora—two items imbued with divine power.
*'It's frustrating that I can't use my chains.'*
He wanted to bind the Death Knight's sword immediately, but Wang-sik focused solely on blocking its attacks.
*'Kid, move it. How long are you going to stay frozen?'*
Wang-sik had to suppress his frustration.
*Clang! Clang!*
As the battle raged on, Leit seemed to grow accustomed to the situation, his grip tightening on his sword. He didn't stop there; he dropped the shield in his left hand.
He was now holding his sword with both hands.
It was a sign of his trust in Wang-sik.
*'At least he's not an idiot.'*
Leit's expression was quite grim.
As if he were shouldering the fate of the world.
This was the situation Wang-sik had wanted, so he decided to make it a little more dramatic.
"Keuk!"
A powerful swing from the Death Knight's sword pushed him back two steps. Having lost his balance, the Death Knight immediately swung its sword not at Wang-sik, but at Leit.
As Leit's eyes widened in surprise.
*Thud!*
Wang-sik quickly righted himself and blocked the Death Knight's sword with his body.
He had trusted in the power of his armor, Peradora.
As expected, he blocked the sword, but the shockwave was unavoidable, tearing the skin on his shoulder and forearm.
"Are you all right?"
"Focus. It's just beginning."
Wang-sik stared ahead, bleeding.
Seeing his desperate state, Leit clenched his teeth.
*'I have to do this.'*
That was his only thought at the moment. Just then, he heard Wang-sik's voice.
"Carefully."
That single word pierced him like a command, cooling his racing heart.
And the battle resumed.
Wang-sik went on the defensive, intentionally showing small openings.
The Death Knight didn't miss the chance and delivered a powerful blow, but this, in turn, exposed its own weakness.
*'Now!'*
As Wang-sik turned sideways to deliberately expose the area around the heart, Leit shot forward and thrust his sword.
But the Death Knight's reaction was not slow.
It countered as if it had expected the move.
At this rate, the Death Knight's sword would pierce Leit's neck first.
Wang-sik's shield struck the Death Knight's sword.
*Clang!*
The instant the sword grazed past his neck, Leit precisely stabbed the Death Knight's heart.
*Craaaack!*
An intense red light erupted.
*'I did it.'*
Just as he had that thought, a thunderous voice cut through.
"Again!"
The shout jolted him back to his senses, and Leit stabbed with his sword once more.
*Crack!*
This time, the sensation at the tip of his sword was different. At the same time, the mist enveloping the Death Knight's body began to shoot out in all directions like arrows.
In that instant, a massive back shielded Leit.
It was Wang-sik, holding his golden shield aloft.
Behind his back, Leit felt a sense of comfort.
It was an unfamiliar feeling on a fierce battlefield.
"It's not over yet."
Leit clenched his teeth and gripped his sword.
The moment the raging mist began to return to the Death Knight's body, Wang-sik raised his shield and dashed forward.
"Now!"
Wang-sik stepped aside, and the half-shattered red jewel came into Leit's clear view.
"Die!"
His sword split the crack in the jewel wide open.
*Ting!*
A crisp sensation traveled up his sword, and having thrown his body forward, he fell to the floor.
At some point, Wang-sik had come to his side and deployed a protective barrier. When he came to his senses, the black mist was gone.
"You did it, Lord Leit."
Wang-sik handed something to the dazed Leit.
It was a sword emanating a faint demonic energy.
The Death Knight's sword.
How many people on the entire continent possessed such a trophy?
Beyond being a knight, this was a tremendous honor for a warrior.
"Congratulations."
The sight of Wang-sik's bright smile was deeply etched into Leit's heart.
The purification project for the Kitan Cemetery was finished in three days.
With the Rohan Duchy taking the lead, it was natural for it to become a hot topic, and Rohan Leit's name, in particular, rose to prominence throughout the empire.
—The Knight Who Slew the Death Knight!
This became the talk of the town.
The Rohan Duchy held a party to commemorate the event and displayed the Death Knight's sword in the center of the hall.
This was not what Rohan Leit had wanted.
The head of the Rohan Duchy had hosted the party to boast of his son's achievement.
When the party ended.
Vega, who had been invited by Rohan Leit, was able to meet the Duke.
Wang-sik, disguised as Vega, lowered his gaze slightly before Duke Rohan, but his posture was as confident as ever.
Rohan Leonand.
He did not dislike Vega's demeanor.
Having heard all the details of the battle from Leit, he had expected Vega to boast about his own achievements, but Vega made no mention of his name being omitted from the recent rumors.
"Is there something you desire?"
Although Vega was around his son's age, he was an official Count, so the Duke asked with a certain level of courtesy.
"I hope you will lend your support to future purification projects like this one."
"Is that all?"
"Yes."
Rohan Leonand stared intently at Wang-sik.
"I heard you've been facing some difficulties recently."
"That is my problem, not yours, Your Grace."
"I could help, if you wish."
Not only Leonand, but Leit had also heard the news.
It was the news that the Lennox family had fallen out with the eastern noble families over a business rights dispute. As a result, several nobles had already begun to pressure the Lennox family.
"If I don't intervene, there will be an audit of the Ellat market."
"I have nothing to be caught for."
"Then they will fabricate something. You won't be able to escape one way or another."
"That, too, is a problem for me to solve."
"Do you have a way?"
"Even if I don't, I do not believe it is an issue that requires me to ask for Your Grace's help."
At those words, even Leit looked puzzled.
"Your family could be severely shaken by this. Wouldn't it be better to think rationally?"
In the end, Leit also tried to persuade him.
In truth, with the Rohan Duchy's power, quashing such a matter would be no great feat.
Yet Wang-sik remained stubborn.
"It's not that I don't need help. However, the Rohan Duchy must not get involved in this matter."
"Why not?"
"Because it is a fight without justice."
"What do you mean by that?"
"This is a dirty fight solely for profit. I, too, have a pretext, but I am not just. And the end of this fight will not be just either."
A smile touched Duke Rohan's lips.
"You're a remarkable friend."
"I have only spoken the truth. I will not forget the Rohan family's consideration."
"Very well, I understand. And I've decided to grant all business rights for the Kitan territory to the Lennox family, so be aware of that."
"That is..."
"My son said his conscience would strangle him if I didn't do at least this much. Just accept it."
In the end, Wang-sik accepted, and the meeting with the Duke concluded.
As they left the Duke's room, Leit asked Wang-sik with a worried expression.
"Look here, my friend. I understand you're thinking of me, but don't push yourself too hard."
At some point, Leit had started calling Wang-sik his friend.
"You're the only one who knows my hidden strength. Do you think I'm going to lose this fight?"
"I suppose there's no way you would."
"The end of this fight will be quite shocking. So don't even come near my family."
"Heheh! I shouldn't laugh, but I can't help it."
"Just prepare for the next subjugation. The territory restoration must continue."
"You could do it after resolving your family's affairs..."
"There's no need to stop the restoration for something like this. As I said, it's a very simple matter."
Leit felt as if anything Wang-sik said would become true.
"Then travel safely."
Wang-sik accepted Leit's farewell and returned to Ellat.
***
Three days later.
Wang-sik was sitting in the mayor's office at city hall, which was unusual for him.
With his legs crossed and propped up on the desk, he was watching the door. The vice-mayor was by his side.
It was Magnun Erte, who had been humiliated by Wang-sik.
Since Wang-sik had started coming to city hall, he had stayed by his side, giving various excuses.
Outwardly, he appeared to be giving some sort of report, but in reality, he was waiting for the audit team that would soon arrive.
*'It's about time.'*
Erte let out a pleasant laugh, imagining the sight of Wang-sik floundering before the auditors.
"Something good must have happened."
"Not at all. Isn't the weather lovely today?"
"You like it damp? I suppose it suits that smile of yours."
Despite Wang-sik's jab, Erte smiled leisurely.
"But what brings you to the office today?"
"I have something to say."
"What do you mean..."
"Just wait. You'll find out soon enough."
Even though Wang-sik spoke confidently, Erte's composure did not falter.
*'That smile will soon be wiped off your face.'*
The moment he had been waiting for arrived.
*Knock. Knock.*
Finally, someone knocked, and the office door opened.
*'They're here!'*
Just as a wide smile spread across Erte's face, the person who opened the door and entered bowed their head.
It was the city hall clerk.
"Did you come alone?"
"Th-that is..."
By rights, an audit team dressed in royal palace attire should have stormed in.
But the clerk, his face pale, stammered out his words.
"I, I have something to tell you..."
At those words, Wang-sik asked.
"Why? Was the audit team's visit canceled?"
The clerk could only lower his head, unable to answer. Both Wang-sik and Erte knew that his silence was an affirmation.
"You look disappointed that your desired guests didn't arrive."
Wang-sik approached Erte, who stood there with a blank expression.
"The crime of deceiving the mayor."
*Slap!*
Wang-sik struck Erte across the cheek.
Sent sprawling and bleeding from a single blow, Erte trembled as he looked up at Wang-sik.
"Tell the Magnun family. You're the ones who crossed the line."
"You think you'll get away with this!"
"And you? Do you think you'll get away with it?"
In that moment, Erte realized his predicament.
"Clerk!"
"Y-yes, Mr. Mayor."
"What is the punishment for one who deceives the mayor with false slander?"
"Th-that is..."
The clerk, compelled by Wang-sik's fierce gaze, had no choice but to answer.
"Hanging."
Erte's eyes widened in shock as Wang-sik's questions continued.
"And the punishment for one who deceives the royal palace with false information and moves the audit team through solicitation?"
"S-summary execution is possible."
Erte knew what Wang-sik was planning to do.
"W-wait!"
"Interesting things are about to happen."
Wang-sik issued a command.
"Sentence this man to be hanged. Take him to the prison."
It was the mayor's order, but no one moved immediately.
"Anyone who disobeys this order will be considered an accomplice and will receive the same punishment."
At those words, the soldier and the clerk guarding the door moved as if they had no choice.
"The family will take care of this."
The clerk said so openly. But for now, they had no choice but to drag Erte away.
Left alone in the mayor's office, Wang-sik took a letter from his coat.
It was a letter from Rohan Leit.
—As you requested, I will not interfere in your fight. So it's only fair that others can't interfere either.
Rohan Leit had stopped the audit team. And he had created an environment where, from now on, no family other than the parties directly involved could interfere.
"Well then, shall we begin?"
Wang-sik left the mayor's office.