Chapter 35 – Spotless Integrity (1)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Harkon recalled his last day in the Empire.

He still couldn’t forget his liege’s bitter voice.

“The trials do not end. Harkon.”

“……Your Majesty.”

“What exactly does God want from me? Even after becoming the Emperor, I cannot fathom His will. I feel like I have been thrown into a deep darkness where not a single ray of light enters…….”

Demons appeared and adventurers disappeared.

As if that wasn’t enough, the Empire’s territory, its people evaporated without a trace.

Even the Mage Tower.

Harkon could be certain.

That the culprit behind all of this was the demons.

However, even knowing the reason, there was no way to solve it.

Because fighting against demons, surpassing their strength, was a continuation of despair.

His liege also knew that fact.

“I heard a Demon Legion Commander revealed its appearance in the northwest. A Legion Commander. In this expedition too, thousands of soldiers will die. I am driving them to their deaths with my own hands.”

“Your Majesty, such words are…….”

“Harkon. Every night I ask God, I ask the Goddess. What we did so wrong. If they pity us even a little, to at least let me know what choice I should make.”

The Emperor smiled bitterly.

“But there was never a response even once.”

Harkon couldn’t say anything.

He only fulfilled his duty as his liege’s sword.

“I will slay the Demon Legion Commander and return. Your Majesty.”

That was his last memory.

When he regained his consciousness during the expedition.

“……!”

Harkon ended up opening his eyes in an unfamiliar world.

At that time, for the first time, Harkon could fathom his liege’s heart.

Truly, that feeling of being abandoned by God.

“For what reason! For what reason did we! We were fighting the Demon Legion Commander……!!”

This unfamiliar world was the adventurers’ hometown.

The adventurers who had disappeared are here.

The buildings, people, and the Mage Tower that had evaporated also exist here.

When he learned of that fact, he harbored hope.

But it didn’t take long for that hope to vanish like a bubble.

“……You also don’t know the reason?”

Falling into chaos was exactly the same for the adventurers’ hometown.

The demonic clutches of the demons had extended even to this place.

‘What must I do in this place?’

The first thing his thoughts reached was the Mage Tower.

‘Perhaps the Mage Tower.’

Their wisdom.

Might have a secret plan to overcome this situation.

However, weren’t they the mages of the Mage Tower whom even the Emperor regarded as trivial?

Hoping for their help wasn’t something he could realistically expect.

Meanwhile, rumors reached his ears.

“……The Yusra Islands?”

The legendary treasure islands.

The story that the Yusra Islands had appeared in this world.

A thread of hope?

Honestly, he didn’t expect much.

‘Legends are just legends.’

Even if the treasures of the Yusra Islands existed.

What use would those treasures be in this situation?

Nevertheless, the reason Harkon and the Lionheart Knights sought the Yusra Islands was simple.

Because he felt he would really go crazy if he stayed still any longer.

‘……I cannot lose.’

If the culprit behind all of this was the demons.

Because he wanted to resist the demons’ tricks until the very end.

During that, he met a man, an adventurer.

‘That brooch? That’s definitely the Mage Tower’s……!’

At first, he thought it was an unparalleled opportunity.

To think there was an adventurer who formed a close relationship with the Mage Tower.

He thought he could come in contact with the Mage Tower through him.

He approached him with such a purpose.

But as time went on, his thoughts changed.

‘……Even after noticing my impure purpose.’

Far from taking issue with it.

He generously overlooked it.

That generosity also showed in battle.

Even while possessing that much magical ability.

To think he merely opened the path so that they could play an active part.

Harkon, who had seen his fair share of arrogant mages from the Mage Tower.

Could not help but be in admiration.

‘This is truly the attitude of a true aristocrat……!’

It was from that time.

“Sir Ho-yeol.”

That his title for the adventurer, Ho-yeol, changed.

However, it didn’t end with just admiration.

The island shook, and the Golden Palace revealed its appearance.

Harkon knew well that creepy energy.

‘To think demons exist even here.’

And it was a considerably powerful one at that.

Harkon swallowed a sigh.

‘In the end, did we dance in the palms of their hands again this time?’

But the sigh soon turned into a sigh of relief.

“I have been waiting.”

“……?”

“You despicable demon who calls yourself a Great Evil.”

“……!!”

That too was thanks to Ho-yeol.

Harkon couldn’t believe it even while looking at it.

How against a demon.

And a guy calling itself a Great Evil at that, how could he be overflowing with so much confidence?

‘Just what is that unwavering elegance?’

This kind of attitude was something he couldn’t see even from himself, or even the Emperor.

Harkon couldn’t help but blame himself.

“……It was my negligence, Your Majesty. If only I had known a little sooner.”

If only he had known of the existence of Sir Ho-yeol.

Before the demonic clutches of the demons extended to the Empire.

He could have executed them.

The regret was brief.

Soon, Harkon’s eyes flashed.

‘Yes. This is an opportunity to correct my mistake.’

No more excuses were needed.

Because demons existed in this place, the world of adventurers too.

It didn’t matter whether this was God’s trial or a divine punishment.

‘We will fight against them.’

How could he say he would protect the Empire and the Emperor when he couldn’t even defeat the demons of this world!

As if supporting Harkon’s resolve, Ho-yeol’s words continued.

“I do not believe in anything like gods.”

Indeed, a declaration befitting Sir Ho-yeol.

‘Perhaps we might get along quite well.’

Harkon held a smile.

Thump

The heart of the sleeping lion began to beat again.

*

Lionheart Knights.

Why they are called Arcana’s strongest knight order.

I know the reason very well.

Crack, crack

Skeletons approaching with bone-grinding sounds.

The level of those pathetic-looking guys was a whopping level 500.

The moment I checked, it was natural to be astonished.

Leoni’s dumbfounded voice was heard.

“……The difficulty is a real shitshow. Seriously.”

Of course, there would be a difference in the level of expression but.

I agree too.

No matter if it’s a Great Evil, what’s with this difficulty?

[Sleepless Soldier: Lv.500]

[Sleepless Soldier: Lv.500]

[Sleepless Soldier: Lv.500]…….

If there were only one or two of those things, I wouldn’t have even said anything.

Looking from afar, there are so many of them that they are densely packed.

Even if the undead are a race whose weakness is clear.

If the level difference is this extreme, even the weakness would inevitably be dulled.

‘I guess it’s impossible to save magic power.’

It was the moment I was thinking that…….

“Offer your hearts. So that Sir Ho-yeol can reach the Great Evil!”

Suddenly, Harkon’s shout was heard.

“Offer your hearts!”

At that, I could feel the morale of the Lionheart Knights boiling up.

It wasn’t an illusion.

The knights stepping out to the frontlines.

They literally started smashing the skeletons.

Among them, the ones that stand out are.

The three knights including Harkon.

[Harkon Kingsguard: Lv.600]

[Jesica Bright: Lv.430]

[Enoch Lauren: Lv.400]

Wooooong

Harkon’s faintly glowing sword edge.

Every time he swung his sword, the skeletons collapsed powerlessly.

Harkon’s level was overwhelmingly superior to the skeletons, so it wouldn’t be strange.

However, Jesica and Enoch.

How should I explain the outstanding performance of those two knights.

‘In terms of level, they are in a clear disadvantage. But.’

Even if not as much as Harkon, they were putting on a spectacular performance.

A strength that is beyond level.

I could realize the reason.

‘The shining sword. It’s that after all.’

Wooooong

It wasn’t a clear light like Harkon’s.

But Jesica and Enoch.

A faint light was wavering from the swords of those two as well.

So that’s the source of strength that offsets even levels.

I looked at that light with Granfel’s gaze.

Just like when I first witnessed 『Magic』.

Search, interference, manifestation…….

Just like when I scrawled words I didn’t even know on a piece of paper.

I could realize the true nature of that light.

‘……Sword force.’

Does such a thing really exist?

Even I was followed by doubt.

But there’s no need to think deeply.

Because I’ll come to know if I experience it like magic.

And at this moment, what’s more important than that is.

‘By the way, what? Offer your hearts for my sake?’

Harkon’s attitude seemed to be getting more and more devoted as time went on.

‘It’s scary. It’s scary.’

Of course, I was acting as if even that declaration was nothing.

Taking it for granted but.

It was natural for the Players who were together to react fiercely.

“……How did he build that level of intimacy?”

“Ugh, he’s a monster. A monster.”

“As expected, it is beyond imagination, Mr. Ho-yeol!”

Nam Tae-min.

It doesn’t seem to be a common sight even for top-ranker Players.

In this kind of situation, you’d usually flex your shoulders, right?

Even if you don’t know what it is, you might feel conceited.

However, my shoulders were heavy.

Noblesse Oblige.

Thanks to that tiring setting.

Because I had no choice but to feel a sense of responsibility for the sacrifices of the Lionheart Knights.

Therefore.

“I found it.”

The shadow sitting on the throne.

The message popping up above its head.

[Avatar of the Seven Deadly Sins, Greed: Lv.650]

I did not agitate even in front of that Great Evil.

Tick

Steps taking a confident stride.

The angle of an upright waist and neck.

A gaze that doesn’t bend even to the lofty throne.

I opened my mouth.

“How long do you intend to sit there. Pathetic demon.”

As always.

“Befitting of an inferior race, I cannot find any manners in you.”

.

.

.

“!”

Nam Tae-min and Leoni.

Without anyone telling them to do so first, the two shouted.

“Everyone step back!!”

“Don’t come near!!”

It wasn’t any other monster, but the Demon Race.

Being stronger than their absolute level was a given.

The Demon Race that inflicts terrible status effects.

‘It’s not an opponent we can do something about with numbers!’

Guild members whose levels and equipment items fell short of theirs couldn’t endure it in the slightest.

It was an order issued out of such judgment.

Even so.

“Fuck seriously.”

Leoni bit her lower lip hard.

She herself was definitely not fine either.

Her current level was 352.

It was a difference of a whopping 300 levels.

“……This, we’re in big trouble, aren’t we?”

Level 369.

The situation wasn’t any different for Nam Tae-min.

Berserker and Barbarian Warrior.

They were ones whose fighting spirit rose the more disadvantaged the battle situation was.

However, their outstanding combat senses were telling them otherwise.

That they were probably properly fucked.

But the two were quick in judging the situation.

‘……Even if we can’t do anything.’

We can’t be a burden.

Nam Tae-min, having made up his mind, opened his mouth.

“For now, we will try to hold out as long as we can. However, if we can no longer resist the status effect……. I will tactfully drop out of the battle.”

“Me too…… You. If it seems impossible while fighting, I’ll just sever my Achilles tendon so…… You.”

“Oh, that’s a decent method.”

To cut her own Achilles tendon.

Indeed, a declaration befitting a Berserker and Barbarian Warrior.

It’s an ignorant method just hearing it, but it was the best judgment.

Because the two had seen it often.

Players who pointed their swords at allies after being afflicted by a status effect.

Rather than becoming a threat to allies, crawling on the ground was better.

Because injuries could be treated if they survived.

“……?!”

It was when they were thinking that.

The guy sitting on the throne moved.

Simultaneously.

Their chests suddenly began to feel suffocating.

[Avatar of the Seven Deadly Sins, Greed is watching you.]

……What the, what is this message?

“This fuck.”

We can’t even resist for a single moment?

This isn’t an ordinary demon.

It’s literally a ‘Great Evil’.

At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before getting affected by a status effect.

We might point our swords at allies, at Ho-yeol.

We have to step back quickly…….

[Your judgment is clouded by unbearable desire.]

……No, is there really a need to do that?

If I just slash this suffocating chest.

Wouldn’t everything be over.

[Status Effect: Greed occurs.]

It was the moment the two tried to grab their swords with trembling hands.

Ho-yeol’s voice was heard.

“There is no need for that.”

That was an exceedingly generous voice.

“I am here.”

To the point of calming even the greed boiling inside their chests.

Clang

Two swords dropping to the floor.

……What was I thinking?

At those words, the two suddenly snapped back to reality.

It wasn’t something like an illusion.

Ho-yeol had neutralized the Great Evil’s status effect.

For someone who was sitting arrogantly on the throne.

“W-Who the hell are you? How……?”

A voice that seemed to tremble anxiously was the proof of that.

[‘Vampire Count’s Orb’ has been selected as the sacrifice.]

[Skill, ‘Exorcism Ritual’ is activated.]

[Inviting the Avatar of the Seven Deadly Sins, Greed to the ‘Ritual’.]

The demon hunt had begun.