What is a new story?

It is the exclusive domain of those who accomplish what others cannot, and lead a story splendidly.

They can obtain rewards that are maximized even further.

However, they must accomplish trials that have become more difficult.

Hyunsoo had overcome countless new stories, and not long ago, he had even cleared a story for you.

A story for you was one grade above a new story.

Instead, it was that much more difficult.

And then came the notification.

[Once again, a story begins.]

[Once again, this story will give rewards far more maximized than a new story.]

And this “once again” story could be sensed from Arte’s actions.

Just as a new story crosses a mountain, it was a Linked Quest that breaks out after crossing several mountains.

Arte’s story began.

“I have been in the Sage’s Tower within the Beres Mountain Range for 300 years.”

That was a fact everyone knew.

“But there is one secret others do not know. I am trapped here.”

“Trapped?”

“Blood Demon Graut.”

The worldbuilding of Ares was vast.

And there were demons living in the Demon Realm as well.

“He trapped me here.”

Sorrow settled into Arte’s eyes.

“Myself 300 years ago was incredible. The emperor of the empire, the Saint, the Pope, legends—everyone wanted to meet me. Then one day, a man came to find me.”

“That man was Graut.”

Arte only nodded.

“He came to find me in the appearance of an ordinary human, and he suddenly said it. That we should hold a contest of knowledge.”

Arte gave a bitter smile.

“He was impressive. I thought, so there exists someone who knows information like this, and is clever. But he was nothing compared to me. In that moment, he revealed his true form.”

Just thinking of that time, he wore an expression as if his teeth were trembling.

“I knew that demons sometimes come down in the appearance of humans. He told me. ‘You, who far surpass my knowledge, must be punished.’”

“.......”

Hyunsoo looked at Arte with those sad eyes.

Stories of demons who treat humans as mere amusement.

Arte had been inside that story.

“He is also called the demon of knowledge. He was jealous of me. Whether I won or lost, he would have imprisoned me. That is how I became trapped in this Beres Mountain Range.”

Hyunsoo asked what he was curious about.

“If you go out, what happens?”

“In the Beres Mountain Range, truly, many monsters live there. The moment I go out, all monsters will rush at me.”

Hyunsoo realized it was not as easy as he’d thought.

‘All the monsters here rush to kill Arte.......’

And Hyunsoo shuddered.

Three hundred years.

‘For that long, trapped inside here, unable to go out into the world......?’

It was horrific just to imagine. And he felt revulsion toward a demon who toys with humans purely for fun.

“Do you know of a beautiful bird?”

Arte’s voice was trembling.

“People liked a beautiful bird. One day, wanting to see the bird more closely, they caught it and locked it inside a cage.”

“And without even knowing the fact that the bird is in pain and suffering because it cannot fly, they say, ‘It’s a beautiful bird.’ ‘When I see it, I feel good.’”

Yes. Arte now. He was locked inside a cage.

“And I, too, had family. Even if it was only my mother, and I know she has already passed away.”

Hyunsoo suddenly thought of his father.

He sympathized with the sadness of not being able to meet someone, even if you want to.

“Will you take me out of this cage?”

[Linked Quest: Cage]

Grade: S

Restriction: One who received Arte’s proposal

Reward: Creation of a skill for you

Penalty on failure: Arte’s death

Description: Arte has lived trapped inside the Sage’s Tower for 300 years. If you help them become free, you can receive a reward through their trait.

The quest’s grade was S.

And for Hyunsoo, Creation of a skill for you was something far too attractive.

‘A skill only for me.’

“I will do my best.”

“Thank you. Now, the way we can leave this tower together......”

Right then.

The window opened by itself, and a single black arrow shot from within struck Arte.

The moment it hit, the arrow did not pierce through or lodge in. It seeped straight into Arte’s body.

[Arrow of Pain]

[You do not take any physical damage.]

[However, powerful pain continues.]

Arte, struck by it, screamed.

“Gguhhhhk, ugeugeugeuk, keuhaaaak!”

Hyunsoo could not hide his bewilderment.

“U-uaaahk, keuhaaaak!”

And then, an alien voice that was not human’s was heard.

*****

Blood Demon Graut.

He is also called the demon of knowledge.

Long ago, Graut appeared in the world in the form of a human, and listened to humans’ stories.

It was a story about a human who knows everything in the world.

That such a name was attached to a mere human.

Graut immediately went to find that human and said they should compete.

The result was a complete defeat.

Graut envied Arte.

A demon who had lived for over a thousand years.

A human with knowledge superior to even himself.

Jealous and envious, Graut imprisoned him.

And decided to toy with him for life.

The reason?

It was nothing but amusement. The price for a bug-like mere human having been superior to him.

He would keep him in a cage for life and torment him.

And Graut was a vicious demon.

He knew Arte would harbor hope.

Hope that someday he could leave this place.

In truth, the act of imprisoning him itself was not perfect.

A demon’s descent to the surface inflicts an enormous penalty, and causes a loss of power.

Arte figured it out with that sage’s mind.

That once Arte left the Beres Mountain Range, Graut would no longer be able to imprison him.

But it didn’t matter.

That hope he held!

Graut had shattered it.

Whenever Arte held the thought of wanting to leave, he would stick a hand into the cage and fondle him, playing with him.

Each time, the bird struggled, and Graut laughed.

“Impious. Arte, I made you, considering you, into the most noble and beautiful existence in the world.”

The one who made the Sage’s Tower was Graut.

“Think in pain. That nobility is not as bad as you think.......”

At that moment.

“......I will return this arrow.”

Graut heard the voice coming from inside the tower.

‘Ho?’

While watching them, Graut learned that the one Arte had recruited for escape was merely a blacksmith.

He also knew Arte’s reason for choosing him.

Even if Arte asked legends, those who feel their lives threatened would not dare to fight a demon.

But that foreign man revives even if he dies, so he was Arte’s only hope to stake everything on.

Graut took interest.

Two horns.

Black skin, yet an endlessly beautiful handsome man.

The ends of his eyes were sharply lifted and stretched long.

The sharply raised bridge of his nose and smooth jawline drew admiration.

A demon is strong.

That was why he had that unique leisure.

With arms crossed, Graut smiled.

‘An arrow shot by a blacksmith? Ridiculous. Is this humans’ bravado?’

Humans are laughable.

Captured by emotion, they cannot properly see even one inch ahead.

“I will be looking forward to it.”

Graut smiled.

*****

[The appearance of Blood Demon Graut!]

[Blood Demon Graut Lv.401]

[A demon cannot descend to the surface /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ in a complete form.]

[Blood Demon Graut is in a state weakened by more than 50%, and is in a fragment state.]

[Fragment-state Graut possesses only half of their usual total HP.]

Arte could not come to his senses from the pain that made his eyes roll back.

At that moment, Hyunsoo held him and walked toward the wall.

Even in that pain, Arte was unbearably ashamed of how he looked.

“It’s happened...... kehup, a few times. When I try to go out, he used to punish me like this.”

Hyunsoo said nothing.

Slowly, he set him down in front of the wall and had him lean his back against it.

And then, with dry lips, he spoke his first words.

“......So it happened many times.”

“Yes. So don’t worry too much. I knew Graut was watching me, but I didn’t think it would be to this extent.”

Sweating coldly, Arte, growing accustomed to the pain, smiled.

“How do we stop the pain?”

“......Even for him, descent to the surface burdens him. He descended through fragments he scattered. If you erase that fragment, you can make it stop.”

Arte knew. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Even if it was only a fragment, even if weakened, Graut was far too strong.

“You must go back. Don’t needlessly catch a demon’s eye.”

In this moment, Arte worried about Hyunsoo.

“Let’s act as if our story never happened.”

[Linked Quest: Cage is about to be ended by Arte’s decision.]

[If Arte gives up, no penalty occurs.]

“Heheh, don’t worry about me. I’ve grown used to it over 300 years.”

Arte smiled as widely as he could.

The time he and Hyunsoo had met was short.

“Later, when you become stronger, come then.”

And he patted Hyunsoo’s shoulder instead.

“I’m fine.”

At that moment, Arte’s eyes met Hyunsoo’s.

Black eyes that looked as if they would pull you in.

A bitter smile drawn at the corner of his mouth.

“Are you really okay?”

“.......”

Arte could no longer contain his emotions.

He spilled out the feelings that surged up.

“Keuheuk, how could I be okay......!”

It was a span of 300 years. For that time, Arte had lived trapped inside this tower.

Dozens of times a day, he looked out the window and longed for the outside world.

“......I believe it, that Arte will create the best skill for me.”

Hyunsoo gave a small smile.

With Arte behind him, Hyunsoo walked to the window. In a calm, sunk voice, he said.

“......I will return this arrow.”

Reverse activated around Hyunsoo.

Depending on probability, the crafting of two artifacts became possible.

“Th-that, what...... you mean you’re going to catch that demon.......”

Arte could see it.

Mineral and a tree trunk surged up.

Hyunsoo gripped that bow made by a single tree trunk.

[Jumong’s Horn Bow]

Hyunsoo raised his right arm and equipped the completed gauntlet.

Click-

[Gauntlet of Strength]

One more power.

God’s Emergency Crafting.

A surging tree trunk, and highest-grade Orichalcum left over from the last time it was used.

Those formed a single arrow.

This arrow was inspired by the Supreme Blade.

The Supreme Blade’s Rampaging Sword determines damage for 15 seconds by probability.

It meant attack power rises higher, from as little as 200% to as much as 600%.

A Baby Arrow crafted with that inspiration.

[Effect application rate 86% is applied.]

[Epic grade.]

[As you made this arrow, you were more immersed than anyone.]

[You empathized with Arte’s sorrow and anger, all of it.]

[Soul of the Blacksmith is activated.]

[It is upgraded to Unique grade.]

[The Rampaging Baby Arrow advances one stage.]

Arte could not even imagine the power he felt from him.

Hyunsoo set the Baby Arrow onto the bowstring.

[Summit Arrow is applied.]

[The damage of one arrow rises by 360%. It can be stacked.]

Jumong’s Horn Bow’s subtlety.

[Strength increases by 121.]

[In accordance with the increase in Strength, penetration increases by 32%, physical attack power by 15%, and skill damage by 22%.]

Gauntlet of Strength’s subtlety.

[Rampaging Arrow]

[By a 2% probability, the sword’s basic attack power increases by 401%.]

[It lasts for 15 seconds.]

The seventh legend’s subtlety.

Arte stared at him, blankly.

Hyunsoo, wearing a brown coat, is drawing the bowstring with all his strength, with the Baby Arrow nocked.

Arte heard a sound.

CREAAAAK-

It was the sound of someone opening a cage door that had been closed.

The one who opened the cage spoke in a gentle voice.

“Let’s go out.”

The moment he released the bowstring.

[It is the most perfect trinity (Three-in-One).]

[10% additional attack power dwells within it.]

[It will be the most powerful single arrow among all arrows in history.]

[A title is created: The one who made the most powerful single shot.]

At last, a single arrow was fired.