Chapter 71

Chapter 13 - Episode 18

"Here it is."

"What?"

Grid didn’t know what kind of treatment Piaro was receiving.

He had vaguely thought that Piaro, being such an outstanding figure, would naturally be respected and live comfortably.

But now he realized it was a misconception.

‘I never thought he would be living in a place like this.’

<Farmers' Dormitory>

It is a large-scale dormitory where widowed and bachelor farmers, who have lost their families for various reasons, live collectively.

The fact that the sword master was staying in this shabby place, which reeked of sweat, was perplexing to Grid.

"Raidan is so vast. Was it really that difficult to give him a house?"

Why treat the sword master, who would soon become a sword saint and our teacher, so poorly?

Grid’s reproachful gaze prompted Laue to explain.

"Piaro himself did not wish for it. He said he did not deserve a comfortable life."

Grid’s expression darkened.

‘Is it because of guilt?’

Guilt over the deaths of his family and comrades, who died because he was falsely accused.

Perhaps Piaro had not slept a single night in peace for the past few years.

‘He always acted so bright on the outside.’

He had thought Piaro had almost overcome his mental wounds, but it was a misunderstanding.

"His Highness Duke Grid has arrived..."

"Enough."

Stopping Laue, who was about to shout, Grid asked Asmofel,

"Are you ready?"

Asmofel, who had been silent since arriving in Raidan, finally spoke.

"I have been prepared to die for a long time."

"Damn, that talk of dying."

The reward for the hidden quest <Hidden Story> was to maximize the affection of Piaro and Asmofel.

Grid hoped that Asmofel, a named NPC, would not die.

However, the problem was that Piaro, not Grid, held the power over Asmofel’s life and death.

‘I’m trembling.’

Taking a deep breath, Grid entered the dormitory.

Among the farmers who were deeply asleep from their hard labor, Piaro was sitting alone, meditating gracefully.

The moment their eyes met, Grid instinctively realized,

‘He has become stronger.’

Piaro was always strong.

But Grid believed he could defeat Piaro in a fight.

Despite the difference in sword skills, he was confident that summoning Noe and Randy and using skills in rapid succession would ensure victory.

But he was overconfident.

Grid’s high insight warned him that Piaro had become an incomprehensible monster, completely different from five weeks ago.

‘A presence surpassing Helgaoh...’

Could he have achieved the realm of a sword saint while I was away?

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Grid’s heart began to race wildly.

The thought of Piaro, who would soon become his subordinate, being a sword saint excited him.

"You have become even stronger, Duke Grid."

Piaro, who had risen from his seat, stared directly at Grid.

Grid could see a faint determination in his deep eyes.

‘I want to fight.’

He wanted to test his skills against the current Piaro.

Grid’s desire now included not just material desires but also the desire for martial arts.

But now was not the time. The quest came first.

"Have you killed Asmofel?"

The determination in Piaro’s eyes began to turn into murderous intent.

This revealed his hatred for Asmofel.

Grid replied,

"I didn’t kill him."

"You didn’t?"

Not that he couldn’t, but that he didn’t?

"What do you mean?"

Pointing to the entrance, Grid explained to the confused Piaro,

"I ended up bringing him here by accident."

"What!"

The culprit who took everything from me!

The thought that the one who deserved to be torn limb from limb and his bones ground to dust had come here made Piaro rush out.

His face, seeing his enemy in front of him, was so terrifying that it resembled a vicious demon. The Tembal members and Damian, except for Grid, were almost overwhelmed by the oppressive atmosphere.

"ASMOFEL!!"

"...Piaro."

The street was shrouded in darkness.

The gap between the two, who had not seen each other for three years, closed in an instant.

Crack!

Piaro’s rough hand grabbed Asmofel’s thin neck and squeezed.

Asmofel’s pale face contorted.

It wasn’t just from physical pain. Seeing Piaro, a flood of emotions welled up, and he almost burst into tears.

Piaro, who had drawn his sword, hesitated just as he was about to pierce Asmofel’s face.

"You...! What shame do you have to shed tears?!"

"Sorry... I am..."

Despite his neck being squeezed, Asmofel managed to utter the words he had shouted alone many times over the past few years.

At that moment, Piaro’s heart sank.

He sensed it and realized that perhaps Asmofel’s heinous acts were not of his own will.

But that was not the important issue now.

Regardless of the hidden story, Asmofel’s crimes could not be justified.

"Scum!"

Clenching his teeth, Piaro, who had shaken off his thoughts, applied even more force to the hand squeezing Asmofel’s neck.

Asmofel did not resist at all. Even as he was about to suffocate, he only repeated the word "sorry" in his mind.

He had long been prepared to atone for his sins through death.

‘Kill me quickly. Tear me apart cruelly, burn my body, and send my dirty soul to hell. If that can ease your hatred even a little, I have no regrets.’

Piaro read Asmofel’s poignant heart through his eyes.

They had been friends for at least 25 years.

Even now, as a legendary supporter, he could read hearts through eyes alone, which was truly amazing.

The intense sense of betrayal became even more bone-chilling.

"Scum!"

The sword flew sharply toward Asmofel’s chin.

Seeing this, Grid turned his head.

‘Getting Asmofel is a failure.’

Asmofel is going to die.

It’s a shame, but I can’t intervene in this situation.

Just as Grid was about to step back,

"Damn it!"

Piaro’s curse was heard.

Turning his head again, Grid saw that the sword had stopped just below Asmofel’s chin.

"Damn it!"

Piaro threw Asmofel away and collapsed himself.

The noble friend, Asmofel.

A fine man who had no shame until the day of betrayal.

Piaro, who knew his true nature better than anyone, said,

"Let’s hear your story."

It’s not that he wanted to forgive.

He had been curious for a long time.

Piaro wanted to know why their relationship had to end in such a disaster.

"..."

Asmofel said nothing.

He knew that any words would only be excuses.

Piaro grabbed his collar roughly.

"Make some excuse, damn it!!"

He had lost everything.

Ironically, the only friend left to him was this enemy.

Though he felt sorry for his deceased family and comrades, he hoped this man would tell him a detailed story.

Reading Piaro’s feelings, Asmofel opened his mouth with difficulty.

He poured out the truths that he had long kept buried in his heart.

"..."

Piaro’s face gradually contorted in horror.

The biggest victim in the story was none other than Asmofel.

Asmofel was not justifying himself. He described himself as the weakest and most despicable trash.

But from the listener’s perspective, it was a problem.

"..."

Asmofel tried to speak as calmly as possible.

He continuously listed reasons why he should die, emphasizing his own sins.

But the more he did, the more Piaro’s hatred and murderous intent toward Asmofel diminished.

"Damn it!!"

Frustration without a target led to a punch in the ground.

Tears streamed down Piaro’s bowed head.

Knowing the whole truth, he was confused.

He couldn’t kill Asmofel, but to console the spirits of his family and comrades who died because of him, it was right to kill him.

Clutching his head in confusion, Grid approached him.

"I understand it’s hard to forgive. But now that you know the whole truth, isn’t it foolish to kill him?"

"..."

"There’s another target for revenge, right?"

Empress Mari.

The woman who, through her excessive ambition, took away the happiness of many people.

"Let’s catch and beat her."

Grid spoke in a low and fiery manner.

Laue was in pain.

‘Can’t you say it more elegantly?’

‘Become my subordinates. Use your abilities to strengthen me and use me as a weapon to take revenge on the empress.’ Or, ‘Trust and follow me. I will be your sword and deliver true justice to your real enemy.’

Aren’t there plenty of cool lines?

Just as Laue, suffering from middle school syndrome, regretted Grid’s language skills, Piaro was forgiving Asmofel.

"Trapped in Mari’s evil scheme and used, I can no longer blame you."

Asmofel sobbed quietly, repeating "sorry."

It was the ending he had hoped for.

A notification window appeared in Grid’s field of vision as he smiled and watched them.

[You have completed the hidden quest <Hidden Story>.]

[The relationship between Piaro and Asmofel has improved.]

[Your affection with both of them has reached the maximum.]

[If you recruit Piaro as a vassal, the barracks effect of your territory will increase by 30%, and the probability of a bountiful harvest will increase by 100%. Additionally, you can establish a <Knights’ Order>.]

[If you recruit Asmofel as a vassal, the technology research institute effect of your territory will increase by 20%. Additionally, you can establish a <Knights’ Order>.]

<Knights’ Order>

You can assign your knights to this order.

The buffs your knights receive depend on who you appoint as the leader.

<Barracks Effect>

Affects the training speed of soldiers.

The more training they receive, the higher their level and stats become, the more weapons they can use, and the more new tactics they can learn.

<Technology Research Institute Effect>

Affects the skill experience gain speed of soldiers and citizens.

The higher the skill level, the more diverse the skills soldiers and citizens can use, and the more powerful the skills become.

The reward for the hidden quest was beyond imagination.

‘This is a jackpot.’

It’s not just a jackpot.

It’s a grand jackpot that could be described as a life-changing event.

Grid felt as if he had the world in his hands. He trembled and clenched his fist.

‘But.’

One question arises.

‘What does a 100% bountiful harvest probability mean?’

What does a sword saint have to do with a bountiful harvest?

Grid, puzzled, suddenly remembered a notification he had seen in Titan before.

[A legendary farmer has appeared!]

‘Could it be...’

No, it can’t be.

‘It’s impossible.’

He tried to shake off the ominous thoughts.