Chapter 35

◈ Chapter 35. Integrity and Purity (1)

Harkon recalled his last day in the empire.

He could not forget his lord's bitter voice.

"Your trials are not over, Harkon."

"…Your Majesty."

"What does the god truly desire from me? Even as an emperor, I cannot fathom his will. It feels like being thrown into a deep, pitch-black darkness where not a single ray of light can penetrate…"

A demon appeared, and the adventurers vanished.

Not only that, but the empire's territory, its people, and even the mage tower evaporated without a trace.

Harkon was certain.

The demon was the mastermind behind all this.

However, even knowing the reason did not provide a solution.

Fighting against the demon, who was so powerful, was a continuous cycle of despair.

His lord was aware of this fact.

"A demon general has appeared in the northwest. A general, no less. Thousands of soldiers will die on this expedition. I am sending them to their deaths with my own hands."

"Your Majesty, such words…"

"Harkon, every night I ask the gods and the goddess, what have we done wrong? If they find us even a little pitiful, please tell me what choice I should make."

The emperor laughed bitterly.

"But there has never been a response."

Harkon could not say anything.

He was merely fulfilling his duty as his lord's sword.

"I will return after slaying the demon general, Your Majesty."

That was his last memory.

When he regained consciousness during the expedition.

"…!"

Harkon opened his eyes in an unfamiliar world.

For the first time, Harkon understood his lord's feelings.

The feeling of being abandoned by the gods.

"Why! Why us! We were about to slay the demon general…!!"

This unfamiliar world was the homeland of the adventurers.

The adventurers who had disappeared were here.

The buildings, people, and mage tower that had evaporated also existed here.

When he realized this, he felt a glimmer of hope.

But that hope quickly vanished.

"…You don't know the reason either?"

The confusion in the adventurers' homeland was just as deep.

The demon's influence had reached this place.

'What should I do here?'

The first thing that came to mind was the mage tower.

'Maybe the mage tower…'

Their wisdom might have a solution to this situation.

But weren't the mages of the mage tower, whom even the emperor considered insignificant?

It was unrealistic to expect their help.

Then, a rumor reached his ears.

"…The Yusra Islands?"

The legendary treasure island.

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

A slender 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 they be in this situation?

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

They couldn't bear to stay idle any longer.

'…I cannot lose.'

If the demon was the root of all this,

He wanted to resist the demon's machinations to the end.

Then, he met a man, an adventurer.

'That brooch? It's definitely from the mage tower…!'

At first, he thought it was a golden opportunity.

An adventurer closely connected to the mage tower.

Through him, he could contact the mage tower.

That was his purpose in approaching him.

But as he got closer, his thoughts changed.

'…Even though he saw through my ulterior motives.'

He didn't make an issue of it.

He was lenient.

This leniency was also evident in battle.

Despite having such magical abilities,

He simply opened the way for them to shine.

Harkon, who had seen the arrogance of the mages of the mage tower,

Could only marvel.

'Truly, the attitude of a true noble…!'

From that moment on,

"Sir Ho-ryul."

The title given to the adventurer, Ho-ryul, changed.

But it didn't end there.

The island shook, and a golden palace appeared.

Harkon knew the chilling aura well.

'There's a demon here too.'

And it was a very powerful one.

Harkon sighed.

'In the end, are we still playing in the palm of their hands?'

But the sigh soon turned into a sigh of relief.

"I've been waiting for you."

"…?"

"Vile demon, who calls yourself a great evil."

"…!!"

It was all thanks to Ho-ryul.

Harkon couldn't believe what he saw.

How could someone be so confident in front of a demon,

Especially one who called itself a great evil?

'What is this unshakable dignity?'

This attitude was something he, and even the emperor, had never shown.

Harkon could only blame himself.

"…My fault, Your Majesty. If I had known sooner."

If he had known about Sir Ho-ryul sooner.

Before the demons' influence reached the empire.

He could have eliminated them.

The regret was brief.

Soon, Harkon's eyes flashed.

'This is a chance to correct my mistake.'

There was no need for further excuses.

Since demons existed in this world of adventurers as well.

Whether it was a divine trial or a heavenly punishment, it didn't matter.

'I will fight against them.'

How could he claim to protect the empire and the emperor if he couldn't even defeat the demons in this world?

As if supporting Harkon's resolve, Ho-ryul continued.

"I don't believe in any gods."

Indeed, a fitting declaration from Sir Ho-ryul.

'Maybe we are well-suited after all.'

Harkon smiled.

Thump─

The heart of a sleeping lion began to beat again.

*

The Lionheart Knights.

Now I understand why they are called the strongest knights of Arcana.

Crack─

The sound of bones grinding as skeletons approached.

Those wretched creatures were level 500.

The shock was understandable upon seeing their levels.

Leoni's exasperated voice echoed.

"…The difficulty is insane. Really."

Of course, the level of expression might differ,

But I agree.

No matter how great the evil, how can the difficulty be like this?

[Undying Soldier: Lv.500]

[Undying Soldier: Lv.500]

[Undying Soldier: Lv.500]…

If there were only a few, it wouldn't be a problem.

But they were so numerous, even from a distance.

Even if undead have clear weaknesses,

With such a vast level difference, those weaknesses would be rendered ineffective.

'It seems I can't conserve my mana.'

Just as I thought that,

"Offer your hearts. So that Sir Ho-ryul can reach the great evil!"

Harkon's sudden cry.

"Offer your hearts!"

The morale of the Lionheart Knights soared.

It wasn't an illusion.

The knights at the forefront.

They began to crush the skeletons.

Among them, three knights stood out.

[Harkon Kingsguard: Lv.600]

[Jessica Bright: Lv.430]

[Enoch Lauren: Lv.400]

Whoosh─

Harkon's sword glowed faintly.

With each swing, the skeletons crumbled.

Given Harkon's level, which was overwhelmingly superior to the skeletons, it wasn't surprising.

But Jessica and Enoch,

How to describe their performance?

'They are clearly at a disadvantage in level, but…'

Though not as strong as Harkon, they were still performing admirably.

Strength beyond level.

I understood the reason.

'The glowing swords. It must be that.'

Whoosh─

Not as bright as Harkon's,

But Jessica and Enoch's swords also emitted a faint glow.

That must be the source of strength that even levels couldn't negate.

I looked at the light with Granfel's eyes.

As if seeing magic for the first time.

Exploration, interference, manifestation…

Like when I scribbled unknown words on paper.

I understood the nature of that light.

'…Sword Qi (劍氣).'

Does such a thing really exist?

I had my doubts.

But there was no need to think too deeply.

It was something you would understand through experience, like magic.

And at this moment, what was more important was,

'What? Offering their hearts for me?'

Harkon's attitude was becoming increasingly extreme.

'Scary. Scary.'

Of course, I felt nothing unusual about his declaration.

But the players with me reacted strongly.

"…How did you build such intimacy?"

"Ugh, monster. Monster."

"Indeed, beyond imagination, Mr. Ho-ryul!"

Nam Taemin.

It seems this is not a common sight, even for top-ranked players.

This situation would make anyone feel a sense of pride.

I might have felt a bit smug, even if I didn't know why.

But my shoulders felt heavy.

Noblesse oblige.

Thanks to that tiresome setting.

I felt responsible for the sacrifices of the Lionheart Knights.

So,

"I found you."

The shadow sitting on the throne.

The message that appeared above its head.

[Embodiment of Greed: Lv.650]

I remained unfazed even in front of this great evil.

Click─

Confident steps.

The straight angle of his back and neck.

A gaze that did not waver even before the lofty throne.

I spoke.

"How long do you plan to sit there, insignificant demon?"

As always,

"Your lack of manners is typical of your inferior kind."

.

.

.

"!"

Nam Taemin and Leoni.

Without a word, they shouted.

"Everyone, fall back!!"

"Don't come any closer!!"

It wasn't just any monster, but a demon.

Stronger than their absolute levels.

Demonic beings that could inflict terrifying status effects.

'This isn't a situation where numbers can make a difference!'

Guild members, whose levels and equipment were inferior to mine, couldn't withstand it at all.

That was the judgment behind their command.

Still,

"Damn it."

Leoni bit her lower lip.

She was no better off.

Her current level was 352.

A difference of 300 levels.

"…This is going to be bad, isn't it?"

369.

Nam Taemin's situation wasn't much different.

Paladin and Barbarian.

The more the battle turned against them, the more their fighting spirit rose.

But their excellent combat sense told them otherwise.

It was going to be a disaster.

But the two were quick to assess the situation.

'…Even if we can't do anything.'

We can't be a burden.

Nam Taemin spoke with determination.

"I'll hold out as long as I can. But if I can no longer resist the status effects… I'll withdraw from the battle on my own."

"I'll… do the same. If it looks like I can't hold out, I'll just sever my Achilles tendon…"

"Ah, that's a good plan."

Severing their own Achilles tendon.

Truly, a declaration befitting a Paladin and a Barbarian.

It was a brutal method, but the best judgment.

They had seen it before.

Players who, under status effects, turned their weapons on their allies.

Better to crawl on the ground than to threaten your allies.

Injuries could be healed if you survived.

"…?!"

Just as they thought that,

The creature on the throne moved.

At the same time,

A sudden tightness in their chests.

[The Embodiment of Greed is watching you.]

…What is this message?

"Damn it."

Not a moment of resistance?

This wasn't just any demon.

A true great evil.

If this continued, they would soon be afflicted with status effects.

They might even turn their weapons on their allies, on Ho-ryul.

They needed to retreat quickly…

[Your judgment is clouded by an irresistible desire.]

…No, was it really necessary?

If they just slashed their chests open,

Wouldn't everything end?

[Status effect: Greed has occurred.]

Just as the two were trembling, trying to pick up their swords,

Ho-ryul's voice rang out.

"There's no need."

It was an incredibly lenient voice.

"I am here."

A voice that could quell the greed boiling in their chests.

Clang─

The two swords fell to the ground.

…What was I thinking?

The two suddenly regained their senses.

It wasn't an illusion.

Ho-ryul had nullified the great evil's status effect.

For someone who had been sitting arrogantly on the throne,

"Who… who are you? How…?"

A trembling voice, evidence of his unease.

[The Orb of the Vampire Baron has been chosen as the offering.]

[The skill, 'Exorcism Ritual,' has been activated.]

[The Embodiment of Greed is being summoned by the ritual.]

The demon hunt had begun.