Episode 240. Return of the Heroes (1)
‘Go…’
Jinhyeok chewed on the name slowly.
It is one of the seven major guilds and is a medium-sized force that has been rapidly growing recently.
Of course, he received love calls from various powers in the tower, and he chose ‘Woorim’ among them and knew that he was solidifying his foundation in earnest.
however.
They’ve taken care of Valmariel.
The number of cases is two.
One is higher level than those who were put into siege warfare in Moorim.
In other words, the masters corresponding to the masters of each faction provided support.
Or it could be that the ranker ‘Nirasha’ who leads the Gandhara Guild is stronger than expected.
If the latter is the case, it must mean that Nirasha is growing at a greater rate than the average number of residents.
The two forces are in a state of truce for a while to deal with the damage caused by the manifestation of the demons. This situation turns funny.
Maybe there will be an interesting event before going to the 15th floor where the Wailing Witch is.
Of course, there are also opportunities to gain from it.
“Pesis-san. Is this, you can’t check other people’s rankings?”
“Originally, there are conditions, but I will do it as a special service for Jinhyeok-nim. Can I show you the Nirasha player?”
“Please.”
Jinhyeok nodded and another status window appeared.
[Nirasha (275th)]
275th…
It is located in the upper ranks.
Besides, this ranking is constantly changing, so there is a possibility that it will rise further in the future.
“Thank you. You’ve been very helpful.”
“Ah, by the way, as far as I know, I heard that Wolyeong, Boon, and Andrea are also there, but I can’t see them?”
Phesis once again looked around the group.
“They were away for a while because they had something to finish.”
“If it’s something to finish…?”
“It’s a personal matter. You’ll probably be able to meet them by the time you arrive at the imperial palace, so don’t worry too much.”
“Hmm. Something seems to be going on. All right. I won’t ask anymore. As long as I can meet you, I don’t care.”
“Then, let’s start slowly. Monsters often appear here at night, so it’s quite dangerous.”
Jinhyuk glanced through the trees.
It’s quiet now, but at night the large species will wake up and begin to be active.
So, if you don’t want to get caught up in trouble, you have to get out of this forest before that.
of course.
Although no one will be able to get out of this forest forever.
＊＊＊
In the darkness illuminated by the faint moonlight.
“Hee-eok. Hee-eok… Hee-yeok.”
Namgungcheon ran like crazy through the forest.
His breathing quickened and his whole body was drenched in sweat and blood, but he could not stop his feet even for a moment.
Shuk.
Ssuk!
Numerous shadows that continue to narrow the encirclement.
All of my colleagues who had already fled beside me disappeared.
whether it is somewhere else. I don’t even know if it’s dead or not.
But I don’t have time to worry about that.
The only thing that mattered now was that I had to move a little farther.
“I… this Namgung-cheon! I can’t… die in vain like this.”
I survived a lot to rise to the top.
Throwing away the useless ones mercilessly and using the useful ones…
Finally, we’ve come to this point.
however.
All of that was disappearing into nothingness.
It’s because of one damn guy named Kang Jin-hyeok!
“I’ll kill you. Next time, I’ll definitely… I’ll bring all the Murim people from the five generations and the old family to kill you!”
It was just then that Namgungcheon, hiding behind a tree, was biting his molars.
“No, there is no next for you.”
A low, beautiful voice echoed through the air.
this voice. Undoubtedly.
It was the same woman who repeatedly assaulted her colleagues.
“Don’t just be cowardly and surprise me, show yourself right away!”
“It’s cowardly… well, it might look that way to you.”
In the forest, a woman with short white hair and red eyes appeared.
The boss of the 5th floor and the owner of a large base called the Psychiatric Ward.
It was Andrea.
“Was it a monster? Why did the boss monster go under the human?”
“What does race have to do with following someone?”
“Because I know that bosses have high self-esteem. It just doesn’t make sense to go under a human lower than themselves.”
“It’s funny. The fact that he thinks he’s below me is itself.”
As a player, with the power to beat the boss monsters on each floor.
The judgment to design the situation and squeeze the overall plate is not the level to put it in the category of human beings.
No, even being in the tower would not be able to defeat Jinhyeok.
Because Jinhyeok… had the strange power to transcend shame and force the result of victory.
“More than anything else, Jinhyeok saved my life from a miserable life as a religious fanatic.”
I received a grace that could not be repaid even if I repaid it throughout my life.
Andrea didn’t need any more reason to raise the sword.
“Keugh!”
Namgungchun hesitated and stepped back at the vicious death spewing out.
But even that was no way out.
“There is no retreat.”
A low, heavy voice came from behind.
Wol-young, who had activated ‘Shadow Kill’, slowly rose from the shadow cast by the tree.
The sword light vomited a blinding light.
What’s more, there were a lot of people wearing masks on top of the tree branch.
It is the White and the Shade.
There is no escape from this.
“Ugh…”
Namgungcheon’s body in the perfectly formed encirclement began to tremble like an aspen tree.
“The sin of aiming the sword at the lord. And the sin of recklessly slashing the lord with that filthy mouth. Everyone deserves to die.”
Wolyeong’s sword moved forward.
at the same time.
Andrea also held a sharp dagger in reverse.
“Wait, wait a minute. Let’s negotiate… Let’s say what you want. Money? Or power? I’ll do anything. So please…!”
Namgungcheon desperately begged for his life.
Whatever it was, my head was filled with only the thought of living.
but.
“I do not need it.”
“You don’t like it.”
All that came back was a cold rejection.
And that’s it.
hooked!
Awesome!
“Aaaaaagh!”
It was the end of Namgungcheon, who led the Chinese guild and eventually abandoned the Chinese guild.
＊＊＊
Only after a few days. Jinhyeok and his party were able to reach the capital of the empire.
It was a really long journey.
In particular, dealing with sweet potatoes and Alice’s terrifying appetite was the most troublesome.
‘I thought I was used to cooking, but it was a huge mistake. I wonder if there is a subspace inventory in my stomach…’
Jinhyeok sighed a little after waking up from the terrible nightmare.
All suffering is now over.
A grand welcome awaits those who have prevented a great disaster.
And as if to prove it.
When Jinhyeok entered the castle gate, great cheers rang out.
“Wow!”
“Wow! Heroes! Those who saved the empire!”
“Welcome. Welcome!”
Thousands of people flocked to see Jinhyeok and the rest of the party along the road.
The guards managed to stop it, but the enthusiasm of the citizens was so hot that it reached an almost uncontrollable situation.
“Is the person at the front the hero who caught the demons?”
“Hmm. Well, the man in the back looks more like a hero.
“Well, the person in front is too ordinary. Compared to him, that male knight is like a cold statue… How could he look like that?”
“It’s a beggar and a prince, ahaha!”
The lady in the third row from the right and the man in the seventh row from the left. Finally, a little boy who looks like he’s about 7 years old.
Everyone remembered it well.
If the security guards visit sooner or later, assume it’s because of what you just said.
It was when Jinhyeok was writing his name in the Death Note.
“Do you care what they say?”
Elise, who was next to her, smiled.
“No, not at all. I don’t care at all. Just to keep an eye on your face. I might see you again later.”
“Humans don’t have the eyes to see. I think you’re better than the ostentatious Sword Saint.”
Whoa. Why is this guy saying all the right things?
“It’s wonderful. Is there anything you want to eat?”
“…It’s not like that… No. Yes, buy me something delicious later.”
Elise nodded with a bitter smile.
“You’ve worked hard, so if you go out of the tower, I’ll make you stuffed.”
Jin-hyeok, who was slightly relieved, drove his horse slowly again.
Then suddenly…
‘…?’
I felt strange eyes among the crowd.
Jinhyuk quickly turned his head.
But I couldn’t figure out what the nature of the discomfort was.
It’s because a very small gaze was buried in the crowd.
For a moment, the thought crossed his mind that Gandara spyed on him, but Jinhyeok soon erased that possibility.
If you were a player, you wouldn’t be able to control your presence so skillfully.
Above all, the energy I felt a little while ago was so familiar.
Just like…
the energy I felt from Elise.
As I thought about it, my whole body was on edge.
‘…I don’t think there’s another vampire.’
There is no other way to explain it.
In addition, there is a high probability that this is not an ordinary vampire, but a true ancestor.
Of course, he had the purpose of targeting Elise, but rather than that, he probably came to secure ‘that’ in the Empire…
“….”
“Why?”
“No. I think I was a little sensitive. I must have been tired from the long way.”
Jinhyeok drove the horse again as if it was nothing special.
There was no need to worry Alice here.
At least not now.
After passing through the long welcome procession leading up to the imperial palace, the place they arrived at was the splendid audience room.
The characters he saw when he came to the Empire were waiting for Jinhyeok.
The haggard old man sitting on the throne was Emperor Reinhard III of the Empire.
And on either side of him stood Duke Weinstein and Pennheimer.
“I’ve been waiting for you. It must have been a lot of hard work.”
A weak line flowed from Reinhardt’s mouth.
Still, it’s a lot better than the first.
Unlike the time when his eyes were dying, losing hope of being able to protect the imperial power, the emperor’s pupils were filled with a faint light.
‘Soon I will make that dream come true. Not only for you, but also for me.’
[Acquire the trust of the emperor ‘Reinhard III’ and lead the empire to complete prosperity.] [
If successful, the third perk for ‘the first person to conquer the tower’ will be unlocked.] A
win-win relationship.
To get the third perk, you must ride the same boat as the emperor.
‘In that sense, I guess I need to show some manners.’
Originally, this is the way to get extra points in the case of Nongonghaeng.
This is especially true for aristocrats who like vanity.
Recalling a scene Jinhyeok often saw in movies, he politely got down on one knee.
I knew it.
As expected, a slight smile appeared on the emperor’s face.
“You deserve praise for securing the fortress and establishing the dignity of the empire from the vicious demons. Therefore, I would like to express my sincerity to you.”
Finally, the long-awaited emperor’s reward has been revealed.
Jinhyuk swallowed dry saliva.
