◈ Episode 31. You Picked the Wrong Opponent (2)
When was I ever not confident?
I won't bother denying it.
I am more solid than I've ever been……! [Harkon Kingsguard: Lv.600]
To have the empire's strongest knight order as my party members.
When in my life would I ever get another chance to get involved with such big shots?
So I steeled my resolve.
'I need to milk this opportunity for all it's worth.'
Maybe it was thanks to the points I'd invested in the Luck stat.
Either way, it was heavenly fortune that wouldn't come twice.
I was told this connection would end at the Yusra Archipelago.
If so, then I would do everything I could here!
That was my plan.
The first step was, of course, securing the island's treasure.
Of course, in my inventory was the crown, the island's treasure.
One that didn't have so much as a speck of greed remaining in it.
Thanks to Granfel's setting, the collapse progress hadn't increased.
So.
'For now, it means I've prevented the great evil from awakening.'
—Prevent the resurrection of the Seven Deadly Sins: Greed. (In Progress)
▲●Prevent the island's treasure from being tainted by Greed. (In Progress)
Was it because there was still an island's treasure remaining?
The quest was still in progress, after all.
'From now on, it's a bonus stage!'
Acquiring the island's treasure too.
Obtaining loot by hunting monsters too.
It all depended on me.
Now I couldn't act miserable and make excuses about having no companions.
'I can't even make excuses.'
The Lionheart Knight Order.
Because they were following right behind me.
It was while I was thinking that.
Harkon, who had been walking beside me, opened his mouth.
"Truly, a sight as beautiful as the legends. If only for one thing."
……
One thing?
But his words carried great weight.
When I looked at him silently, Harkon posed a question.
"Lord Hoyeol. What do you think of the tree rat?"
……
W-wait a minute.
What did he just say?
'...L-Lord Hoyeol?!'
What was with that title that made my face burn just hearing it?!
From Adventurer Lee Hoyeol to Lord Hoyeol.
I could guess the reason for the changed title.
Even if I didn't know the exact reason, Harkon was clearly under a misconception.
A very favorable misconception about me.
'A misunderstanding? It's possible.'
And judging by my actions and speech, I must look unmistakably like a noble.
Sometimes even I delude myself, you know?
Like how cheap green tea can feel truly sweet and all that.
However.
'Now that I'm actually hearing it, I feel like I'm going to die...'
I mean die of embarrassment.
Lord Hoyeol.
More than anything, my noonas—especially Number Three.
The face of that sworn enemy came to mind.
If she ever found out, this would be something she'd mock me for my entire life.
I already have enough dark history as it is.
'Thank god this connection ends at the Yusra Archipelago.'
Please, let's never run into each other outside.
I wanted to say that, but instead I replied with complete composure.
"Lord Harkon. What is your thought on the matter?"
"I believe it would be troublesome, yet better to deal with it, indeed."
"I shall respect your decision."
When I suppressed my embarrassment, the content of the conversation came to mind.
Up in the tree, did he say rat?
Was he talking about a squirrel or what?
'Are the squirrels here high level too?'
He said it would be troublesome but best to deal with it.
Well then, let's go see a max-level squirrel or something.
Just as I looked up at the tree.
A message appeared.
[The Yusra Archipelago is beginning to be tainted by Greed.]
[Collapse Progress: 8/10]
……
Holy crap, only one left?
Since I need to exclude the crown I already acquired.
Looking at it again, it was correct that only one island treasure remained.
That meant every player in the Yusra Archipelago would be flocking to this island.
This wasn't the time to be catching squirrels.
I added.
"But could you follow me for now?"
Click—
There was no need for a second word.
Harkon, who had been about to draw his sword, sheathed it and nodded.
"Of course, Lord Hoyeol. We promised to be your sword and shield on this island."
Harkon's icy gaze turned toward the tree.
"I daresay the rat shall not linger nearby for quite some time."
Was there really a squirrel?
I started to tilt my head but stopped.
Looking around my surroundings excessively.
That too was an act lacking in dignity.
As I was thinking that, I swallowed a sigh.
Hating myself for adapting to this tiresome personality.
Robbery, coercion, murder.
Though he had committed all manner of evil deeds, no judgement had come.
Instead, he had even acquired the grandiose title of Supernova for himself.
"Where is there a god in this world? If there were, I'd have died long ago."
There was nothing Kinber feared.
Players with higher levels than him?
No matter how high their level.
If they caught this lethal poison, they'd have no choice but to beg for their lives.
There were countless players who had charged at him believing only in their higher levels and ended up dead.
The weak ones didn't even bear mentioning.
But that vicious Kinber was trembling all over.
[Harkon Kingsguard is watching you.]
[Your body and mind are paralyzed by killing intent.]
[Status Abnormality: Fear is inflicted.]
He wanted to apologize.
Wanted to scream and beg to be spared, but his voice wouldn't come out.
'Th-that's Harkon Kingsguard......!!'
The Lionheart Knights, the empire's strongest knight order.
The leader of that pride, the Knight Commander.
He had merely met eyes with him.
Kinber couldn't so much as twitch a finger.
'P-please......!'
Click—
The sound of a sword being drawn.
And simultaneously, a cold voice.
"Lord Harkon. What is your thought on the matter?"
"I believe it would be troublesome, yet better to deal with it."
Because he had never experienced it before.
Kinber was all the more vulnerable to fear.
'N-no no no no!'
If he could, he wanted to bang his head on the ground and beg.
But.
"I shall respect your decision."
A voice like a thunderclap rang out.
At that moment, Kinber's legs lost their strength.
"......!"
He felt his pants growing wet.
Yet he couldn't even feel shame.
Because in this moment, the fear of death was too immense.
—You were wrong.
Was this the voice of a colleague?
Or the auditory hallucination that had been gnawing at his nerves?
During that moment when he couldn't even distinguish.
"But could you follow me for now?"
……
Huh?
"Of course, Lord Hoyeol. We promised to be your sword and shield on this island."
Click—Harkon sheathed his sword at Hoyeol's words.
And then they truly passed right by him.
Only after putting distance between them did Kinber come to his senses.
"......I lived?"
...How did I survive?
Kinber muttered.
"Did he spare me?"
Lee Hoyeol, that bastard?
Because he pitied me, who had even pissed his pants?
Or because I was a rat not worth worrying about?
The reason didn't matter.
Kinber wiped the tears from his eyes.
"You son of a bitch......"
Only one emotion.
Kinber sobbed at the sheer relief of being alive.
Kinber realized once more.
'......It's a different dimension.'
Harkon Kingsguard.
He was a monster, beyond even that.
And Lee Hoyeol, who commanded such a Harkon as his sword and shield.
Kinber reconnected the call that had been cut off.
—Kinber, you dumbass. Can you hear me now?
—You said you'd signal, so what the hell are you doing keeping quiet?
At his colleagues' outcry, he spoke in a low voice.
"I'm pulling out of the Yusra Archipelago."
—......What the hell are you saying all of a sudden, you bastard? Hey!!
"One last thing. If you don't want to die, don't touch Lee Hoyeol."
—What?!
Click—Though a shout came through, it didn't matter.
Kinber didn't want to set foot on the Yusra Archipelago for even a moment longer.
Lee Hoyeol, or Harkon.
If he were to run into either of them again.
He felt like his head would truly fly off...
"Why the hell is this crazy bastard acting like this?"
Park Hyeonjung, the Supernova, ground his teeth.
Though it wasn't just a day or two that Kinber had acted however he pleased.
Today, he had crossed the line a little.
"This fucking bastard, really."
The amount he had invested just for today alone was no small sum.
With mediocre prey, he'd be in the red.
He might not hit the jackpot, but he needed to at least break even.
Park Hyeonjung grew increasingly anxious.
'......Kinber, you bastard, you know my situation!'
Trusting fellow Supernovas regardless of skill had been a foolish decision.
You never knew when they'd stab you in the back.
Park Hyeonjung bit down hard.
"I don't know about you, but I can't back down like this."
It was then.
A voice was heard in his ear.
—You can do it.
—It's a simple matter. Just kill and take.
—You're almost there now. Give it your all.
"......What the fuck."
The call had clearly been cut, yet.
At the clear voice, Park Hyeonjung flinched.
But only for a moment.
"I'll make something happen no matter what. I will!"
—If you don't want to die, don't touch Lee Hoyeol.
"......I don't know what's going on, but I don't want to die."
Except for Lee Hoyeol, that bastard.
*Thump-thump-thump—
Dozens of helicopters flew over the Pacific Ocean.
Below them was, of course, the Yusra Archipelago.
The sense of presence would be lacking, but filming from the helicopter was the best option.
Because living monsters were roaming the Yusra Archipelago.
"Still, the angle is a shame. Jongjin, can't you just do a bungee jump or something? You have a parachute on."
VBC News Division.
To Hyeon Yongseok's mischievous joke, a whining reply came.
—*Ugh*. I'm already dying from motion sickness as it is. Seriously!
"You have to earn your keep. Missing every single opportunity."
—*Ugh!* You really hold grudges! To still be talking about Lee Hoyeol...! *Blegh!*
Ruining my appetite, seriously.
Hyeon Yongseok briefly took off his headset before putting it back on.
"Still, good work. Thanks to you, the ratings are going strong."
Today Arcana, broadcasting live.
The current real-time viewership rating was 15 percent.
Of course, it wasn't Yun Jongjin dry-heaving who was driving the ratings, but Gaon.
Whether Shining had acquired two island treasures or whatever.
In the end, the nation's attention was on the guilds of South Korea.
It was only natural that it turned toward Gaon.
—Did you get a good shot? The ending was no joke.
"Maybe it's because the mobs here are big. Rather, the angles shot from far away were much better. The viewers' reactions were no joke either. So there is a point to making you airsick."
—That's a relief. I'm glad you appreciate it. *Ugh!*
Named monsters slain and island treasures acquired by Gaon.
Apart from the ratings, Hyeon Yongseok couldn't help but be excited.
What's more.
"Let's get just one solid shot of the finale."
Players gathering on the last island.
The more players gathered.
Naturally, a scene that stimulated interest would unfold.
—More than anything, I want to get a close-up of those Inazuma bastards' faces. Thinking about how they acted like assholes only to us, I want a humiliating shot...! *Bleeegh!!*
"......I already finished eating all my meals for today thanks to you."
Yes, it was just as Yun Jongjin said.
At the very least, capturing the change in expression on Inazuma's Hisagi Kazuma's face would be a jackpot.
Unlike Gaon, the Japanese guild Inazuma had failed to acquire a single island treasure.
"Maybe the guild rankings might actually change."
Growing anticipation.
*Thump-thump-thump*—The moment the helicopter chased after Gaon toward the last island.
—Wow. Everyone's incredibly fast?
"What? Did they arrive already?"
—Hold on. Let me zoom in.
The broadcast screen zoomed in.
Then he could understand why Yun Jongjin had made a fuss.
"Wow. This is a sight to behold."
Including Shining and Cheonha Tongil.
Guilds and players flocking toward the center of the island.
—This isn't a scene you see every day, is it, sunbae?
"No, I think this is my first time. In the first place, there's no reason for them to gather like this, right? In a Rift, even if they stick together and compete, there's nothing to gain from each other."
—We're getting quite the spectacle thanks to the treasure island. Really.
Just what kind of development would unfold on the last island?
Watching that scene, he couldn't help but return to a viewer's perspective instead of a PD.
But Hyeon Yongseok was a professional.
"First, let's get the shots of Gaon and Inazuma."
—Okay. Just a moment.
"We need to wrap it up and watch comfortably."
Once the full-scale battle began, it would be hard to catch the angles.
They needed to secure at least one definitive shot.
Though he nagged every other day.
Yun Jongjin was a professional too.
"Okay. Our Taemin's mask looks great."
The face of Gaon's guild master, Nam Taemin, appeared in the angle.
But wait.
For some reason.
Nam Taemin's face was painted with shock......?
No, wasn't that beyond shock, a scream?
"What is he looking at to make that face...?"
I want to know that too!
Instantly, Yun Jongjin's camera turned swiftly.
And there.
"......Huh?! S-Sunbae! Hoyeol, Lee Hoyeol!!"
Once again, it was Lee Hoyeol.
But he wasn't alone.
Hyeon Yongseok looked at the monitor.
His face was dyed with the same shock as Yun Jongjin's.
"S-Sunbae. Lions! Roar! Lions!! That lion emblem!!"
Helicopters following VBC swayed.
"......The Lionheart Knight Order?! What is this, what kind of development is this!"
Soon, all the cameras began capturing the same angle.