278. Destroyer (1)
Trust.
In fact, this is tantamount to receiving it from the Iron Blood Lord, the manager.
She is one of those who knows my worth better than anyone else.
That’s why I’ve never spared my support, and as a result, I’ve sent myself here.
However, it is not the iron-blooded monarch right in front of you.
‘There’s no way you can trust me because I’ve been reproduced by the tower.’
It was worth it.
It’s nothing else, because I’m like an irregular who fell from the sky.
To have this much power even with only ten soldiers leading?
Perhaps with common sense, you can know that something is twisted beyond being suspicious.
So there was no way I could be trusted.
‘The earnest reward is determined by the iron-blooded lord’s emotional state.’
But I couldn’t give up on being trusted.
‘Then I have to earn at least some level of trust.’
That’s why I openly proposed a deal like this.
I don’t want much reward, so please trust me.
The iron-blooded lord decided to appoint and use me, an openly dubious being.
It is also in the form of recognizing meritorious service and giving a high position.
Therefore, the probability of accepting such a deal was high.
Indeed…
“…Trust. What a nonsense word. You want nothing.”
The iron-blooded lord said that as if he couldn’t understand at all.
It wasn’t a negative reaction.
It’s just that her common sense doesn’t understand the current situation.
Maybe I would have reacted the same way.
That’s why I added a minimal explanation.
“It’s not that I don’t want anything. All I really need is your trust.”
“That sounds incomprehensible.”
“Is that so.”
“okay. That sounds completely incomprehensible. dear I am the celestial commander of the Empire.”
“I know.”
“Even with the many achievements he made in this war, he will soon rise to the position of the general.”
“In short, there are many things that can be achieved.”
“Yes. It’s not just my trust, I can give you a lot. Money, power, and even a guaranteed future. And yet…”
“But I don’t even want that kind of compensation.”
Before the iron-blooded lord could speak, I shook my head and said.
“All of that is useless to me anyway.”
And with a more serious attitude.
“That’s what…”
“I didn’t mean anything. It’s really useless.”
“Then I can’t understand even more…?”
“well. I don’t think I can say any more. Because there are circumstances.”
“Is that so…”
“Still, if I’m going to come up with an answer I can understand, let’s say it’s paying back the debt I owed in the past.”
You couldn’t gain trust if you didn’t even look around properly anyway.
Then it would be better to mix half truth and half lie.
In fact, while climbing the tower, it is not wrong to say that he owed some debt to the iron-blooded lord.
The iron-blooded lord narrowed his eyes and acted as if he couldn’t understand.
“…what else does it mean to pay my debt? Where have you seen each other before?”
“I have received many things from you in the past.”
“no. I have no memory of that. Even more so for someone like you.”
“I guess so. you won’t remember That is why I want to be trusted.”
Only then did the iron-blooded lord nod as if he understood.
“At least I know one thing about you now…”
“Is that so?”
“okay. You are an incomprehensible person in the normal category. So it must be difficult to understand.”
“It is.”
“But I know to some extent that what you say is not a lie.”
The iron-blooded lord calmed his eyes and said.
“If your purpose is my sincere trust, I will give it to you.”
And when I heard those words, I immediately felt her feelings through the power of a godhead.
Even though I could feel the feelings close to the heart, the depth was shallow.
It was worth it.
It would be difficult to really give faith to someone who suddenly appeared.
But it didn’t matter.
“Then, that’s it.”
There is still plenty of time left.
Even if the process of building trust continued from now on, there was no such big problem.
Thinking so, he nodded, and the iron-blooded lord spoke as if he had suddenly remembered.
“…Come to think of it, we didn’t even know each other’s names. Is your name Ron?”
As if asking if it was a fake name.
I shook my head and accepted that it was a fake name.
Because there was no need to hide it.
Because the name doesn’t mean much anyway.
“no. My real name is Sungyoon Han. You should know that.”
When the iron-blooded lord heard those words, he pressed his temples as if his head hurt.
“I didn’t think it was possible, but was it really a pseudonym? To deceive the eyes of the empire and hide your name. My head hurts.”
“Is that a big problem?”
“…no. Your power is too strong to make it an issue. So, I will not pursue it at the discretion of the thousand chief.”
“That’s it.”
As I thought, there was not much room for the Imperial Army at the moment.
To the extent that it is difficult to severely punish me, a talented person who suddenly appeared.
So even cheating on the name like this would be easily overlooked.
After that, there will be many places where I need to use my strength.
“It’s Han Seong-yoon. … What a strange name. I hope that’s not a pseudonym either.”
“Not really.”
“That’s it.”
The iron-blooded lord nodded as if he agreed.
“Now it is our turn to introduce ourselves.”
She brushed her silver hair and held out her hand as if to shake hands.
“Let’s formally introduce ourselves. Sungyoon Han. It is called Canary Rugfeld.”
and.
“Please do well in the future.”
I nodded my head as the iron-blooded lord held out his hand.
“All right.”
Now, the basic qualifications to receive the rewards of the ordeal have been prepared.
***
As soon as she finished the deal with the Iron Blood Lord, she narrowed her eyes.
“You said you wanted my trust, but your power is definitely out of the norm.”
And as soon as she said that, she continued as if it had to be this way.
“Han Seong-yoon. Your position will rise to the rank of centurion. And I will give you the authority accordingly.”
“But I have no intention of taking on the responsibilities of a centurion.”
“It’s okay though. Even if it’s just a façade, it’s better to have it. That will make your activities easier.”
“Then it doesn’t matter.”
If there was nothing to be responsible for, the position was fine.
“Then, the rank is decided by this.”
The iron-blooded lord nodded and then continued.
“You will now assist me. But before that, I need to point out one thing.”
“The thing that needs to be pointed out is…”
“Your position was originally that of the chief of the Ten Seals. Then you don’t even know the truth about the empire.”
“truth?”
When I asked him again, frowning, the iron-blooded lord nodded as if he knew that.
“Yes. truth. About how far the empire has been driven by evil spirits. You don’t know.”
To be honest, I know that at least the world is about to perish…
‘Still, it’s better to know the situation to some extent.’
Actually, I didn’t know the details, so I silently listened to the Iron Blood Lord’s explanation.
“The current empire has been driven to the brink of end.”
“I’m just guessing.”
“…You guessed it?”
“yes. Isn’t the end of the world as well as the empire about to come because of the evil god? I know that.”
“…you. Definitely amazing. Regarding the end of the world, there are many people who do not know even among the millennials.”
“Is that so.”
The iron-blooded lord admired for a moment, then spoke as if he had saved himself.
“Then there is no need for a long explanation. Sungyoon Han. Currently, the Empire is trying to prevent the end of the world.”
She frowned as if the thought of it was unpleasant.
“All the priests in the empire said the same thing. After some time, evil spirits will descend on this land. So, you have to be prepared before then.”
“Is that so.”
“okay. I don’t know about other countries, but at least the empire is thoroughly prepared for this. But the servants of evil spirits are blocking this.”
“I guess so.”
To be honest, from the point of view of the evil god, it’s like doing something very annoying.
He hated the Empire doing anything and would have fired the candle at every step.
At least, it would have been the case with the evil spirits I had seen before.
It’s like a child with no patience.
“Then the previous raid must have been in the same vein.”
“Yes. Currently, the soldiers here are on their way to the Black Dragon in the west. He is the one who protects the Dark Elf clan.”
“Can a dragon do something for you?”
“At least the priests of the empire said so. Be recognized by persuading the seven dragons that protect the world. That is the least way to protect the world.”
“hmm.”
I thought about the dragon while holding my chin for a while.
‘I don’t know much about dragons.’
It was worth it.
The only dragon encountered so far was a puppet, once a native deity, brought back to life by necromancy.
But suddenly you have to convince the dragon to be recognized?
I didn’t know anything about dragons, so it was a bit of a burden.
That’s why I immediately asked the iron-blooded lord.
“Then, is there any means to be recognized by the dragon?”
“no. The priests of the empire said that each dragon would have different needs. You may want riches or you may want people. Or he said he might not admit it at all.”
“….”
“But, other than the dragons who have been protecting the world for hundreds of years, there is no one else who can stop the invasion of evil spirits.”
“In short, you’re trying to gain recognition from the dragon no matter what you do.”
“yes. For that purpose, the Empire also prepared a negotiating card. A lot of that too.”
Now I can properly understand the context of the ordeal.
‘In a nutshell, it’s about following the iron-blooded lord and persuading the seven dragons.’
Currently, this special contract ordeal is asking me to convince the dragons to save the world.
‘I can understand why the remaining time of the ordeal was one year.’
It wasn’t enough that the followers who worshiped the evil spirit invaded in every case, and there was even a separate quest.
So it wouldn’t be strange if the ordeal usually lasted over a year.
However, upon reflection, it seemed that it was not necessary.
After all, this is enough to be recognized by the dragons.
‘Then, as long as the dragon’s lifeline is alive, it doesn’t matter what I do, right?’
And since he was thinking rationally before he knew it, the iron-blooded lord said.
“So, I hope you will protect the Imperial Army until we go to the Black Dragon.”
“…”
“Then I will truly trust you…”
“No. It doesn’t have to be. I can receive the dragon’s approval.”
And when she said that, as if the iron-blooded lord had stopped speaking, her eyes twinkled.
“Really…!?”
and.
“Certainly you have the means to convince even that dragon!”
next moment.
“That’s right.”
Before I knew it, I smiled broadly.
“Even a dragon will change its mind if it gets hit.”
And that’s a clearer smile.
“…huh?”
The iron-blooded lord’s eyes hardened as he did, but unlike her, my smile deepened even more.
“Do not worry.”
It was worth it.
“Because the persuasion of the dragons will end sooner than I thought.”
It doesn’t matter what each dragon wants.
Because everyone has a reasonable desire.
Until one hit and a slight taste of death.
