No reaction. So it really is kind of trash, huh.

Hyunsoo—still not realizing its true worth—took Gremory’s Ring back.

He still had something to do.

[The Dagger of Desire reacts.]

The Dagger of Desire Hyunsoo had recently crafted.

This artifact’s best effect was Trait Saving.

When he fed mana into the necklace-shaped dagger, it expanded in size.

He lunged and stabbed at Gremory as they were dispersing.

[Trait Saving is activated.]

[The target is over 100 levels higher than you. You attempt Trait Saving with a 20% probability.]

The dagger was swallowed in black light—only for that blackness to slide away and scatter.

[Trait Saving fails.]

“Ah, come on...!”

Hyunsoo made a face full of regret, then shook it off quickly.

Then something flicked across his mind.

Vassals usually offer their raid rewards to their lord.

He looked at Luxiu with a subtly expectant gaze...

“Who are you?”

Hyunsoo froze.

Wait—aren’t you on my side?

Luxiu looked like a rebellious punk. But there had been a faint smile on their lips just a moment ago, so it was obviously a joke.

Luxiu had been the one sobbing their eyes out up until seconds ago, and they were embarrassed—so they changed the mood.

Luxiu handed over half of the spoils they’d gotten.

[You acquire 230,000 gold.]

“Thanks to you, I was able to finally settle a lifelong grudge. I offer you my sincere gratitude.”

[Luxiu was betrayed by a king and sent to Gremory.]

[Loyalty toward you is very low.]

It was only natural.

It was a clear fact that Hyunsoo had helped Luxiu kill Gremory.

In World Ares, there were three ways to obtain a vassal’s complete loyalty.

First: you grant them an outrageous favor and earn their respect.

Hyunsoo had granted them a favor, sure—but you could say he hadn’t earned their respect.

Because Luxiu, betrayed by a king, couldn’t easily trust and serve someone again.

Second: your level is so overwhelmingly higher that you outstrip the vassal by a ridiculous margin.

And last—

When the vassal serves someone seated in a position worthy of respect.

Is a king always strong? No.

Barad and Ben were the exceptions—there were far more who weren’t.

But a pure bloodline and a throne were power.

Or the authority a great lord held could be beyond imagination.

Hyunsoo had none of those three things.

At least, not when it came to Luxiu.

And Luxiu still wasn’t using respectful speech with Hyunsoo.

“Luxiu. Come to my territory.”

It was Hyunsoo’s offer.

It looked like he’d have to untangle Luxiu’s stories, one by one.

But he was sure of at least one thing.

“...Even if my territory collapses, I won’t sell you.”

This was where Hyunsoo’s Overwhelm stat shone.

Overwhelm applied to allies and enemies alike.

Hyunsoo’s unwavering gaze.

The certainty behind his words—I will never betray you.

You truly believe that.

Quests didn’t convey 100% perfect truth.

That my king sold me to Gremory for the sake of the kingdom.

If it had been a noble reason like that, Luxiu wouldn’t have hated their king this much.

Saving millions of lives with one life was a meaningful sacrifice.

My king... made a deal.

Another piece of Luxiu’s story they still hadn’t revealed.

But the man in front of them was speaking under a misconception.

Even if the territory collapsed, he wouldn’t sell them.

Luxiu glanced to either side.

Legendary figures—strong enough to surpass even Luxiu—were looking at Hyunsoo with warm, affectionate eyes.

Like the three “rules” that made a vassal respect someone—

Those rules applied in friendships too, and in the bonds between the powerful.

Hyunsoo clearly didn’t meet any of them for those two.

And yet, they cherished Hyunsoo anyway.

And something else flashed through Luxiu’s mind.

Two years from now, Gremory would appear again.

Luxiu’s revenge wasn’t over. And when Gremory threatened them, Hyunsoo had said:

That by then, he’d be king.

Should I add one swing of my blade to making this one a king?

Or—

Should I just watch and leave?

Luxiu didn’t know yet.

Everything would depend on how much Luxiu came to respect the man in front of them.

For now...

“I’ll go with you.”

Luxiu chose to join. No honorifics. No loyalty. Just the decision.

And a feeling.

His territory is probably pretty impressive.

Luxiu turned away to hide a subtle smile—

“Luxiu.”

A warm voice from their new lord.

And the first thing he said to Luxiu, who had just agreed to come with him:

“Want to return the Supreme Blade? And hand over the rest of the spoils too?”

“.......”

Luxiu handed over every last remaining spoil.

Hyunsoo ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) had already tried the Supreme Blade—and gotten addicted to it.

After receiving everything, the new lord added,

“Oh, and the loan period on that gold you gave me is one year. After that, it’ll be 20,000 gold a month.”

“......?”

“Ah, I’ll apply a vassal discount.”

Luxiu realized something.

“I’ll knock off 500 gold a month. Pretty good, right?”

He knocks off 500 gold and asks if it’s good?

This new lord was like a bandit who didn’t even need a blade...

Oh.

Luxiu corrected themself.

This new lord did have a blade.

A bandit holding a Twin Dragon Sword.

*****

[You acquire 230,000 gold.]

Heh-heh-heh-heh-heh.

Hyunsoo had sucked every last drop of sweetness out of rebellious Luxiu.

Of course, that was only because he was certain Luxiu had no choice but to follow him for now.

And it was also an exact valuation of the Supreme Blade.

Better for Luxiu to hold the Supreme Blade.

That way, Luxiu could maintain a level in the 480s.

It’s all over—ngh...

Hyunsoo felt his head swim. He could sense the warning signs of Hyunsoo Faints Again coming on.

It made sense.

A lot had happened inside a single prison.

Before anything else, he planned to log out and sleep.

Knowing that everyone would be going their separate ways, Hyunsoo asked,

“Kabel—you probably already know where you’re heading. Bahala, what about you?”

“I have to leave because of the quest I just obtained.”

As expected. Regret lingered on Hyunsoo’s face.

Bahala spoke again.

“...Next time we meet, I’ll be stronger. Stronger than I am now.”

“...You’ve already gotten this strong, and you’re still greedy.”

Bahala meant it.

Hyunsoo had changed drastically from before entering the prison to now.

If Hyunsoo had been unable to even chase Bahala’s tail before, now he’d gotten fairly close.

That was why Bahala intended to clear their quest with everything they had.

So I don’t hand you the number one spot this year.

The four of them stood together.

Lanterns that brightened the world.

They returned to where they belonged—those who could illuminate any darkness.

[You logged out.]

Hyunsoo immediately dove into bed.

Right before he fell into a long-awaited, honey-sweet sleep—

Nothing happened in my territory, right?

Gremory’s prison was a zone where whispering and guild chat were disabled.

And Hyunsoo was being crushed by unbearable drowsiness. He’d drifted close to the Hyunsoo Faints Again state—so close he couldn’t even reconnect.

When the body was pushed to extreme fatigue, the capsule device restricted access.

Hyunsoo picked up his phone to check what had happened lately, just in case—

...and fell asleep.

*****

Another one who brightened the world.

They had never stayed in one place for long.

But now, they intended to choose a new base.

Walking a familiar road, Kabel felt a lingering bitterness.

I know. Everything you did was only to protect Hyunsoo.

They understood that—yet that existence had shown Kabel what it meant to want to protect someone.

And Kabel was someone with very little to protect.

No family. No friends. No benefactor.

Because they had so little to protect, they could burn hotter than anyone—and devote everything.

Which only made the bitterness sharper.

Because that one’s true master had been Hyunsoo.

At this hour, it’s obvious.

Kabel smiled.

That one would be curled up asleep in Hyunsoo’s Audience Chamber, in the place that smelled like him.

But then Kabel stopped short.

WOOF! WOOF-WOOF-WOOF!

From far away.

The entrance to Atlas, just now coming into view.

A fluffy, cotton-ball-like puppy who had clearly been waiting for someone for a long time.

Short legs. A look that said it was still young—running itself wasn’t quite natural yet.

As if it had been waiting for Kabel, it came sprinting from the distance.

Even when it tripped and fell, it sprang back up.

Even when it tripped again, it stuck out its pink tongue and grinned wide.

Lucky Lump ran with everything it had on those tiny, stubby legs.

“.......”

For the first time—

Someone was waiting for Kabel like this.

Kabel had fought alone for a short time, or perhaps a long time.

For the first time in their life, they spread both arms toward someone.

WOOF! WOOF-WOOF-WOOF!

[Lucky Lump waited for you.]

PLOP!

The little one leapt into their arms, trembling with happiness.

“Woooof...!?”

Its expression, its behavior, the cascade of notifications—

All of it made one thing clear:

To Lucky Lump, Kabel had become someone precious, just like Hyunsoo.

“...Let’s go.”

Holding Lucky Lump in their arms, Kabel finally stepped into the territory.

Now, there was no false face called Raon.

Kabel set Lucky Lump down and looked at them, then said,

“...Today’s walk is two hours.”

WOOF! WOOF!

A lantern of the world.

[Kabel has joined Hyun’s Forge.]

Now, Kabel illuminated Atlas.

*****

Meanwhile—

Another lantern.

“.......”

Luxiu—the unyielding knight, the powerhouse who had once been a lesser demon.

They were still alone inside the prison.

It wasn’t what Hyunsoo wanted.

“Why am I the only one...?”

Hyunsoo had been in a desperate situation too.

If he hadn’t logged out, the Hyunsoo Faints Again curse would have knocked him out on the spot.

Still, Luxiu knew Hyunsoo would come back here.

So all Luxiu could do was wait.

Where Luxiu would become a lantern—

That was something only time would reveal.

*****

At that time—

In accordance with Bolond’s order from a few days earlier, troops of the Parion Empire arrived on the Asgan Continent.

True to its name as an empire, Parion possessed millions of soldiers—but they had sent only a small force, along with trained monsters.

It was a declaration:

Even with a small number, they could bring a nation to ruin.

And that small elite force—along with their monsters—was extraordinary.

“...Your Majesty. Fifty thousand Parion imperial troops have broken through the fortress and are advancing on the capital.”

Barad couldn’t believe it.

They didn’t clearly know the strength other continents possessed.

Could such a small number of soldiers truly be that strong?

“A force of fifty thousand. The Blood Ghoul Corps is presumed to be Parion’s top elite unit, and the biggest problem is that the monster they have trained is Fenrir.”

The vassal’s face drained white.

“With Fenrir in the lead, the Blood Ghoul Corps is toppling every castle.”

“...How long until they reach the capital?”

“At this pace... they’ll arrive in half a day.”

Barad’s expression hardened.

Fenrir—one of the Legendary monster.

And the Parion Empire had tamed that powerful species and was using it.

Barad spoke.

“...I’ll go myself.”

“Your Majesty!”

The vassal tried to stop them. Because they knew that was exactly what the enemy wanted.

But Barad felt they had to go.

I’m the only one who can kill Fenrir.

Barad left the castle, prepared for death.

*****

Much later—

When Hyunsoo logged back in, he saw the quest that had appeared for him.

[Sudden Quest: Kingdom of Goyard]

Grade: SS

Restriction: the king’s descendant

Reward: territory contribution X2

Penalty on failure: Barad’s death.

Description: Barad—your king and your friend—has chosen to join the battlefield, prepared for death. A battle with unknowable odds will continue, and the Kingdom of Goyard may even fall. You are the king’s descendant, and Barad’s friend.

Save Goyard and Barad in their moment of crisis.

Hyunsoo understood what this quest meant.

If I succeed, my era begins.

And another thing—double territory contribution.

This might also be my chance to awaken Commander Bon, sleeping in Atlas.

War was a crisis—but sometimes, it was an opportunity.

Hyunsoo’s fist tightened.

GRIP—!

Barad...!

Truthfully, more than the opportunity—

Hyunsoo was furious for his friend.