Chapter 66

Temple Breeze Volume 13 - Chapter 13

Strength is relative.

Even within the Temple Breeze, a gathering of the supreme, there were distinctions between the strong and the weak.

And the group led by Lauel was considered weak by Temple Breeze standards.

This was because all the main members, such as Grid, Fon, Regas, Jisuka, Faker, Yufemina, Toun, and Bantner, were absent.

'But even so, it’s not that simple.'

A 15-to-1 battle.

Hao really lasted for 5 minutes. To be precise, 5 minutes and 3 seconds.

Even Fon or Regas couldn't have done that.

'If it were those two, they would have killed half of us within 3 minutes and died themselves.'

What about Grid?

'...How many minutes would it take for him to wipe us out?'

After the Doppleganger raid, Grid became exponentially stronger, and the thought of him as an enemy is... too terrifying to imagine.

Lauel, who had stuck out his tongue, analyzed Hao.

'He's clever.'

Transforming into a dragon was a brilliant move.

Hao perfectly utilized the characteristics of a half-dragon and the desert terrain.

By targeting the sand with the dragon's power <Flame Explosion>, he created a continuous sandstorm to obstruct the Temple Breeze's vision while using his flight ability to dodge critical skills.

His battle was solely for buying time, not for defeating the enemy.

With 3 chains in each hand, he relentlessly and skillfully controlled the Temple Breeze members, tying their feet and preventing them from moving.

"Kill him."

While Lauel was lost in thought, Hao, who had been dragged like a dog by Evelyn, spoke boldly.

He was not afraid of death.

He was satisfied that he had successfully evacuated his guild members.

In contrast, the faces of the Temple Breeze members were all twisted.

Being held back by one person for over 5 minutes with 15 of them was a blow to their pride.

Hao consoled them, showing the ease of a victor.

"You are not weak. You were even stronger than the rumors. I was just exceptionally outstanding."

It wasn't arrogance.

Hao's words were not wrong.

The Temple Breeze, who had become stronger through constant sparring with Pia-Ro, was indeed weaker than Hao.

'Hmm.'

A smile spread across Lauel's lips.

In fact, Lauel felt the greatest sense of defeat in this battle.

The chain of techniques that turned the majority into a disadvantage.

The lethal tactics that only Hao, who used chains like limbs, could perform.

As a strategist, Lauel had the duty to counter these, but he failed, allowing Hao to run wild.

Lauel had been tactically defeated by Hao.

However.

'I won strategically.'

The smile on Lauel's lips deepened.

He revealed the truth to Hao.

"The Hades Guild failed to retreat."

"Hmph, what good does it do you to spout such lies now?"

"It's not a lie. If you don't believe me, check the guild chat."

A moment later.

Hao's eyes trembled.

"You...! What kind of trick did you pull!"

Lauel explained.

"I predicted the Hades Guild's retreat route and stationed a special team. I also instructed the vanguard, who had just finished a battle with the Golden Guild, to track them."

Special team.

This referred to Faker, who was recovering in the empire after wiping out the Ice Flower Guild.

Currently, the Hades Guild was isolated by Faker and the Froi team at the border between the Eternia Kingdom's west and the empire.

"Damn..."

Hao was frustrated.

If they were all going to die anyway, he wished he had fought to the end and taken as many enemies with him as possible.

To the regretful Hao, Lauel made a proposal.

"Would you consider serving Duke Grid?"

"What?"

The leader of one of the seven major guilds, Hades, and representing billions of people, being asked to serve under someone?

Especially under a trivial, insignificant person who had nothing remarkable about him except for obtaining the Legendary class?

"A dragon cannot serve a dog."

Hao rejected it outright.

His reference to Grid as a dog made the faces of the Temple Breeze members turn bright red.

"Stop this nonsense and just kill him!"

Evelyn, who had suffered the most from being dragged around by the chains during the battle, was the most furious.

Lauel stopped him from aiming Framberg at Hao's heart and asked.

"If Duke Grid were not a dog but a sky, and if he could prove it, would you serve him?"

Lauel coveted Hao.

Not just for his powerful strength.

His noble spirit of caring for his comrades, his sharp judgment, and his tactical abilities suitable for a vanguard—everything about him was desirable.

In the Temple Breeze, which tended to focus solely on individual strength, he was a much-needed talent.

Hao snorted.

"A sky could embrace a dragon."

Yes, a sky.

A sky like Crowzel.

Grid is not even in his thoughts.

Smiling at the scoffing Hao, Lauel said.

"Alright. Then I'll look forward to it."

"…?"

When Lauel released him, Hao was taken aback.

Not understanding the situation, Lauel bowed to him.

"I look forward to our next meeting. I'll ensure your guild members are sent back safely, so don't worry and go back."

"But even if you show me such kindness, I have no intention of serving Grid."

"If Duke Grid proves he is the sky, you said you would serve him, didn't you?"

"That's true, but..."

How could a dog or a cow ever become the sky?

Finding it absurd, Lauel, who had already put away his smile, continued.

"Watch his actions. You will soon realize that he is the only sky."

"...Ha."

Hao burst into laughter.

Is this some level of fanaticism?

Grid seems to be a cult leader.

"Alright, I'll watch."

I won't expect anything, though.

Swallowing those words, Hao accepted the kindness and immediately left.

Evelyn was displeased with Lauel for letting the invaders go so easily.

"Those bastards invaded the Temple Breeze for no reason! And you let them go? Are you crazy?"

"Didn't you hear Froi's report? According to the Golden Guild members, the Temple Breeze is safe. We should prioritize practical benefits over personal grudges."

"Damn! If they think we're easy targets and invade again, what will you do!"

"Then."

Lauel's blue eyes turned as cold as ice.

"We will kill them all and trample their territory."

There will be no more meaningless invasions, and no second forgiveness.

***

The sky is brightening.

The Temple Breeze's wheat fields.

The place, bustling with farmers sweating from the early morning, welcomed the Temple Breeze members.

Lauel, representing everyone, bowed deeply to Pia-Ro.

"Thank you for protecting the Temple Breeze. I will spend the rest of my life repaying this great favor."

Pia-Ro chuckled.

"It's fine. I just did my job."

"Job..."

A farmer earning 73 silver coins protecting a major city and calling it just a job.

'The Temple Breeze isn't even worth 73 silver coins...'

A complex feeling.

Smiling, Lauel looked over the vast wheat fields.

The harvest was in full swing, and a large amount of high-quality wheat was being produced. In the future, the people of the Temple Breeze would be able to eat bread instead of potatoes.

All of this was due to Pia-Ro.

He did the work of a hundred people and consistently discovered water veins to invigorate the fields.

A sword hero who is not arrogant and diligently performs the dirty work, evoking infinite affection and respect.

"However... I heard that the number of enemies was quite large. How did you defeat them alone?"

Even as a sword hero, defeating hundreds of enemies alone is hard to believe.

Especially since the enemies included strong figures like Jibbal and Sueuron, who were on par with Hao.

Did Pia-Ro defeat them all alone?

It would be impossible unless Pia-Ro was a legendary figure like Mueller or Paguma.

'Could the 'legendary farmer' alert I received last night be referring to Pia-Ro?'

Pia-Ro aims to become a sword saint. He wouldn't become a farmer.

With that certainty and confusion, Pia-Ro pointed to three farmers.

One was Bland, and the other two wore deep straw hats, making it impossible to see who they were.

"They helped me."

"Is that so?"

Does this mean there were talented warriors among the Temple Breeze farmers?

Excited, Lauel approached them.

The two farmers, who were diligently cutting wheat with sickles, were flustered.

'I don't really want to meet them...'

Crowzel was ranked first.

He didn't want others to know that he had been doing farm work here for over two weeks. It would surely cause a big commotion.

So he...

"My mother is calling me. I have to go. Logging out."

"..."

Logging out due to parental intervention.

One of the phenomena that terrifies many Satisfy users.

There are people who are forced to end the game in the middle of a raid because their mother calls them to eat.

In such cases, they are blacklisted and find it difficult to join raid parties again, but at least Damian was left alone, feeling embarrassed.

"Hey? Where did the person who was just here go?"

When the farmer, whom Lauel thought was an NPC, logged out, he was very surprised.

A user was working as a farmer in the Temple Breeze?

If they could come all the way to the Temple Breeze, they must be a high-level user. Why are they working as a farmer?

All of Lauel's confusion and questions were directed at Damian.

"Who are you? Why are you doing farm work here?"

"..."

Damian was on the verge of tears.

It was very embarrassing to reveal the truth that he, a peak paladin, was forced to do farm work after being threatened and bribed.

He also wanted to log out.

But he changed his mind.

'These are Duke Grid's closest subordinates.'

If he explained his urgent need to meet Duke Grid to them, it would make the meeting smoother.

With a firm resolve, Damian took off his straw hat.

Then, his deep blue hair, tinged with purple, shimmered, capturing everyone's attention.

"Y-You are..."

Lauel's eyes widened at the appearance of the handsome man with thick eyebrows.

Damian.

A legendary figure who rose to the second place in the paladin rankings despite being shunned by everyone as a paladin of the Rebecca Church.

His sudden disappearance from the rankings sparked rumors that he had changed to a hidden class.

And an otaku.

How could such a famous person be doing farm work here?

Lauel and the Temple Breeze members, who were at a loss for words, received an awkward greeting from Damian.

"Hi."

"..."