Chapter 36

◈ Chapter 36. Integrity (2)

Exorcism ritual activated.

Now it's a battle of willpower.

I looked at the evil that had risen from the throne.

[The Incarnation of Greed, One of the Seven Deadly Sins: Lv.650]

It appeared to be a man.

I could feel it the moment I saw him.

He's different from Count Ascura.

‘Rather, he’s like Nam Cheolmin.’

If Nam Cheolmin had his body and mind taken over by an imp,

then this man must be possessed by the Incarnation of Greed.

An imp and the Incarnation of Greed.

A low-level demon and a great evil.

It’s natural that there’s a gap far greater than just levels.

But it wasn’t a problem for me.

"There’s no need. I’m here."

Now, even lines that are somewhat cringeworthy can be delivered.

And the unyielding pride in my heart.

I’m just being my usual self.

But it seems the guy isn’t.

"Who, who are you? How...?"

I want to ask him back.

What, have you never seen a demon hunter before, now that you’re a great evil?

But as I said,

Swish─

I don’t even talk to my prey.

I could guess why the guy was surprised.

"…Did you break free from the abnormal state?"

The moment the exorcism ritual began,

Nam Taemin and Leon immediately regained their senses.

‘Even if they didn’t show it, they were really scared, thinking I was going to stab them…’

It was also proof that the guy was shaken.

So, there was no hesitation.

Swish─

I took out a silver dagger.

Search, interfere, manifest.

I went through a series of processes to change the shape of the dagger.

‘My remaining mana is sufficient.’

Thanks to the Ryan Heart Knights,

and the help of Gaon and Berserker, the two guilds,

I was able to reach the great evil without manifesting a single spell.

That means,

‘I can manifest more creatively.’

The situation is different from when I dealt with Count Ascura.

Back then, all I could do was insert a silver stake that manifested from the silver dagger.

But I didn’t stop struggling after that.

I struggled to keep from drowning in this noble pride.

The fruits of that struggle were unfolding before my eyes.

Crack─!

At the bottom of the palace.

Interference with stone and marble.

In an instant, I made walls rise.

I manifested the silver dagger in the form of bullets.

I interfered with the appearance of the bullets to enhance their lethality.

To maximize the effect of increased rotational force, a drill shape was suitable.

Floating in the air were hundreds of silver bullets.

From a crude stake to hundreds of bullets.

It’s exhilarating.

Like writing a thesis.

I feel a sense of accomplishment filling A4 paper every day.

But I don’t get carried away.

Moreover, I have a sense of noblesse oblige.

I have the responsibility of a noble on my shoulders.

So, I need to be more certain.

Besides, I already know the method.

‘I don’t just have “magic.”’

Though clearly different from magic,

there are [skills] with their own strengths and weaknesses.

───────

Marksmanship Mastery (26%): Increases shooting accuracy.

───────

Will the Marksmanship Mastery effect apply to the bullets?

I can’t know for sure since I haven’t checked.

So, now is the time to choose a more certain path.

Crack─

Marble fragments also floated in the air.

I manifested a spell.

I made arrow shafts from the marble fragments.

I attached the silver bullets to the marble arrow shafts.

Since arrows are clearly affected by Marksmanship Mastery,

‘The fusion of magic and skills.’

And to add a little more detail,

the greater the mass, the greater the power.

I added a bit of common-sense science.

Yes, this is what I see.

"…Impressive, Sir Ho-ryeol."

I don’t care about others’ evaluations.

Even if Harcon exclaims in admiration,

I don’t get excited.

I’m just curious at this moment.

About the great evil’s field of vision, which has come to a halt.

*

‘…I wanted to protect it.’

That was all.

It was the lingering regret of Hakuna, the last king of the Uzura Kingdom.

The Uzura Kingdom lacked nothing.

The food from the land and sea never ran out, precious gems overflowed, and there was no worry or anxiety among the people.

"How is it? Isn’t it beautiful to you?"

Hakuna was satisfied with his kingdom.

So, he proudly entertained the foreigner who visited the island.

He boasted about his treasures and people.

That was a mistake.

"…What have I done?"

A massive ship docked in the Uzura Kingdom.

The foreigner led an army to invade the Uzura Kingdom.

The land, sea, and mines,

even the people were taken as prisoners.

The Uzura Kingdom, which had never known conflict,

naturally could not fight back.

Everything in the kingdom was trampled.

"Hurry and run! My king!"

"Kuh! My king, you must hope for the future!"

"My king! Hurry…!! Kyaah!!"

Hakuna, sitting on the throne, watched the soldiers fall.

His kingdom was collapsing.

Hakuna, who had been witnessing the tragedy in a daze, was grabbed by the collar.

It was the foreigner.

He was smiling.

"It’s too much for a foolish people like you."

"…Just for that reason?"

"Of course! Foolish king, do you know the value of this gem? In our kingdom, one of these gems can sustain a person for life. But here, these precious gems are treated like toys for children! How uncivilized!"

"…If you had asked me, I could have shared them."

"Are you telling me to eat and then leave? What a joke."

Slap─

The foreigner snatched the crown Hakuna was wearing and threw him.

Hakuna, who fell in front of the throne, gritted his teeth.

It’s mine.

The Uzura Kingdom.

Everything on this island is mine.

No one can take it from me.

Then,

a voice was heard.

-Greedy and foolish king.

"…?"

Whose voice is it?

Actually, it didn’t matter.

-Do you want power?

…Yes, I want it!

The power to protect everything that is mine…!

-All right. The contract is established.

Immediately, a bone-chilling scream pierced his eardrums.

Then came a long darkness…

And now.

A voice came from the darkness.

"Yes! I am now on the legendary treasure island of Uzura."

It’s not a legendary treasure island.

The Uzura Kingdom is my kingdom and mine alone.

"First, securing the island’s treasures is the top priority."

They are not the island’s treasures.

They are my treasures and mine alone.

A voice reminded him of this fact.

-Are you just going to stand there?

-They’re taking your treasures!

-Only I, who fully understand your heart, can help you?

If so, help me.

Just like in the distant past.

Help me, I say.

-…The past? Whatever. The contract is established.

Then he woke up from the darkness.

When he opened his eyes, he saw his throne.

He saw the golden palace.

He saw the trash invading the palace, just like in the past.

But he couldn’t move a single finger at will.

Since he had made a contract,

his body and mind were no longer his own.

But it’s fine.

As long as I can protect my kingdom.

This body is nothing…

"Who, who are you? How…?"

…But, what are you doing?

For some reason, his body was trembling with fear.

Silver hair.

An alien appearance.

But eyes that didn’t waver at all.

The entity that had taken over his body was being overwhelmed by the unknown man.

In a panic, the entity started to speak.

"Weak human, do not dare to deceive me. I am the great evil, the Incarnation of Greed. Even if I am wearing the guise of an incarnation, a human like you…!!"

But there was no response.

Crack─

"Wh-What is this?"

It was as if he wouldn’t even allow a step backward.

A wall of unimaginable size rose from the ground.

That was just the beginning.

"…No, no!"

Hundreds of silver lumps floating in the air.

The entity that had taken over his body reacted violently.

Hakuna felt a tightness in his chest.

‘How can you protect my treasures like this!’

Isn’t this against the agreement?

There was no response.

Only the words spoken by the entity were heard.

"It doesn’t make sense. Why would I…?"

Thud─!

Soon, a direct pain began to be felt.

"Kyaahhhhh!"

Not only were massive silver arrows flying,

but an unquenchable flame began to burn his body.

Hakuna gritted his teeth.

If this continues, my treasures will be taken.

Just as he thought this,

"…Fine! Alright! Let’s make a contract!"

…What?

"If you make a contract with me, I will give you all of this. Can’t you see? This splendid golden palace will all be yours!"

…What are you saying?

The high ceiling.

The splendid decorations.

The vast size.

This golden palace belongs to no one but me.

I can’t give it to anyone!

Hakuna wanted to shout.

But he couldn’t control his body.

‘…I’ve been deceived.’

Hakuna finally realized.

The identity of the entity he had made a contract with.

As the entity had said, it was a demon, a great evil.

‘In the end, even you deceived me?’

He didn’t even feel despair.

…Then,

a voice, cold as ice, was heard.

"Your appearance is hideous. Foolish demon."

A steady voice.

The silver-haired man continued.

"Your attachment to fleeting things is pitiful."

…Fleeting?

This splendid golden palace?

Neither Hakuna nor the demon could understand.

"What do you mean…?!"

His words were cut off.

By the scene unfolding before his eyes.

The moment the man’s words ended,

Whoosh─!

The golden palace began to burn.

Marble, gold, gems.

Nothing was spared.

Everything turned to ashes and scattered in the air.

"…Impossible! Impossible, I say!"

The demon’s voice was a scream.

The man’s face appeared in his field of vision.

The man’s pupils were visible.

‘!’

Eyes that showed no sign of wavering.

As if the golden palace meant nothing to him.

As if the transformation of all the splendor into ashes was nothing new.

The man’s pupils were perfectly calm.

What was reflected in those calm, lake-like pupils was.

‘…Is that really me?’

His own hideous appearance, corrupted by greed.

Click─

The man began to approach.

"Foolish, isn’t it? The moment you close your eyes, the only thing you can take with you is the pride in your heart."

Pride.

The moment he heard that word, Hakuna realized.

‘…What have I done?’

In the end, wanting to protect was just an excuse.

In the last moment,

he remembered the faces of the soldiers who had sacrificed their lives to protect him.

Yes, they were smiling.

Honored to serve such a poor king.

Hakuna was in despair.

‘But I, I…!!’

Because of greed beyond desire.

He fell for the demon’s trick.

He brought back the soldiers who had sacrificed themselves nobly, making them suffer again.

He turned a blind eye to the people who were taken as prisoners, even though he could have struggled to save them.

He had no sense of responsibility as a ruler.

Only the greed to protect the island’s treasures remained.

"How can a demon understand pride?"

The man was right.

His corrupted self was no different from a demon.

He had no pride left.

Acknowledging this fact, the tightness in his chest eased.

‘…I’m sorry.’

It’s late, but I’ll follow you.

Hakuna closed his eyes.

He accepted his death willingly.

"Save me! I, I don’t want to die…!!"

Swoosh─

Thank you, unknown benefactor.

For preventing me from making a fool of myself any longer.

"…?"

…Then Hakuna opened his eyes.

Why are my eyes opening?

I clearly felt the sensation of a blade entering my neck.

Moreover, isn’t it too bright for hell?

"…!"

His vision slowly returned.

There was the silver-haired man.

The man said,

"Even so, you must have pride."

…What?

In the man’s hand was a crown.

Though faded, it was instantly recognizable.

It was Hakuna’s, his own crown.

"…?!"

The man placed the crown on his head and said,

"It’s time to correct your mistakes. Nameless king."

"…!!"

.

.

.

[Your level has increased.]

[Your level has increased.]

[Your level has increased.]……

This will take a while to check.

I’ll do a proper accounting later.

I took out the island’s treasure, the crown.

[Island’s Treasure, Broken Crown]

[Grade: Epic]

[Limit: Lv.500]

[Effect: None]

[Description: An old crown.]

"Even so, you must have pride."

Of course.

I don’t know the story behind the man who was just controlled by the great evil or this old crown. But I know exactly how to use this crown.

[Hidden Quest: Uzura Kingdom]

The legendary treasure island has reappeared.

The awakened king wishes to correct his mistakes and regain his pride.

─Grant the crown to the king of the Uzura Kingdom. (In progress)

Well, isn’t that enough for now?

"It’s time to correct your mistakes. Nameless king."

Then a message appeared.

‘…Hold on.’

Filling my field of vision, endlessly…!