◈ Episode 36. Incorruptible (2)
Exorcism Ritual activated.
From this point on, it was a battle of mental strength.
I looked at the great evil that had risen from the throne.[Incarnation of Greed of the Seven Deadly Sins: Lv.650]
Its appearance was that of a man.
I could tell the moment I saw him.
He’s different from Count Ascurra.‘Rather, this is the same as with Nam Cheolmin.’If Nam Cheolmin had his body and mind stolen by an imp.
Then that man must have been possessed by Greed of the Seven Deadly Sins.
An imp and Greed of the Seven Deadly Sins.
A low-ranking demon and a great evil.
Naturally, the difference in their class was greater than even their levels suggested.
However, that was not a problem for me.
“There is no need for that. I am here.”
Even the cringe-inducing lines I could now more or less endure.
Even the pride in my heart that would never break.
I was as I always was.
But it seemed he was not.
“Y-you, just who are you? How……?”
I almost wanted to ask him that in return.
Something like, you’re a great evil and you’ve never seen a demon hunter before?
But as I said.
Shhk—I’m the type who doesn’t even exchange words with prey.
I could guess why the great evil was startled.
“……
They broke free from the status abnormality?”
The moment the Exorcism Ritual began.
Nam Taemin and Leonie immediately came to their senses.‘Even if I couldn’t show it, I nearly had a heart attack thinking I’d actually stabbed them…….’At the same time, that was proof he was shaken.
So there was no hesitation.
Shhk—I drew the silver dagger.
Search, interference, manifestation.
Through that series of steps, I changed the dagger’s form.‘I have plenty of mana remaining.’The Lionheart Knights.
And with the help of Gaon and Berserker, the two guilds, I had been able to reach the great evil without manifesting a single spell.
Which meant.‘A more creative manifestation is possible.’In other words, the situation itself was different from when I faced Count Ascurra.
Back then, all I could do was drive in a silver stake manifested from the silver dagger.
But even after that, I hadn’t stopped struggling.
Sunk beneath this lofty pride.
I had done my utmost not to drown.
The fruit of that struggle was unfolding before my eyes.
Kwadududuk—!
The floor of the palace.
Interference with stone and marble.
In an instant, I made walls surge upward.
I manifested the silver dagger in the form of bullets.
To enhance their lethality, I also interfered with the exterior of the bullets.
To maximize the synergistic effect of increased rotational force, a spiral.
In other words, a drill shape was suitable.
Float—Hundreds of silver bullets hovered in midair.
From crude stakes to hundreds of bullets.
I was moved.
Like writing out lines.
I could feel that filling sheets of A4 paper day after day had been worthwhile.
However, I was the type who did not get swept up in joy or sorrow.
And on top of that, noblesse oblige.
On my shoulders rested the responsibility of a noble.
So I had to make things a little more certain.
Besides, I already knew how.‘Magic is not the only thing I have.’Though clearly different from magic.
There also existed [Skills], each with their own strengths and weaknesses.───────Shooting Mastery (26%): Increases shooting accuracy.───────Would the effect of Shooting Mastery apply to bullets as well?
I hadn’t tested it, so I couldn’t know for sure.
Therefore, now was the moment to choose the more certain path.
Kwadududuk—Likewise, marble fragments floated into the air.
I manifested magic.
I made arrow shafts from the marble fragments.
I connected the silver bullets to the marble arrow shafts.
Because arrows were certainly affected by Shooting Mastery.‘A fusion of magic and skill.’And if I were to add one more pathetic little thing to it……
The greater the mass, the greater the power.
I would add even common-sense-level science.
Yes, this was the scene I beheld.
“……
Remarkable, Sir Hoyeol.”
I was the type who paid no mind to others’ evaluations.
Even if admiration burst from Harkon.
There was no excitement in my heart.
I was merely curious at this moment.
About what the great evil, standing frozen in place, was seeing.*‘……
I wanted to protect it.’That was all.
That was the lingering regret of Hakuna.
The last king of the Yusra Kingdom.
The Yusra Kingdom lacked nothing.
Food from the land and sea never ran dry, sparkling jewels overflowed, and among the people, there was no sign of worry or concern.
“What do you think? Is it not beautiful in your eyes as well?”
Hakuna was pleased by the sight of his kingdom.
And so, he proudly entertained the outsiders who visited the island.
He boasted of his treasures and his people.
That was his mistake.
“……
What have I done?”
A massive warship anchored at the Yusra Kingdom.
The outsiders led an army and invaded the Yusra Kingdom.
The land, the sea, the mines.
They even took the people prisoner.
The Yusra Kingdom had known no conflict.
Naturally, it was impossible for them to fight back.
Everything in the kingdom was trampled down.
“Please, flee at once! My king!”
“Khuk! Your Majesty. You must look to the future!”
“Your Majesty! Hurry……!! Kraaagh!!”
Hakuna sat on the throne and watched the soldier collapse.
His kingdom was falling apart.
As Hakuna stared blankly at the tragedy, someone grabbed him by the collar.
It was an outsider.
He was smiling.
“You see, this island is far too much for such foolish people.”
“……
For no more than that?”
“Of course! Foolish king. Do you know how much this gemstone is worth? In our kingdom, one of these jewels would let a man live for the rest of his life. And yet a precious gem like this is treated as a child’s toy here! How utterly barbaric!”
“……
Had you told me, I could have shared them with you.”
“Are you telling me to take a handout and get lost? Bullshit.”
Whisk—The outsider snatched the crown from Hakuna’s head and threw him aside.
Collapsed before the throne, Hakuna clenched his teeth.
It is mine.
The Yusra Kingdom.
Everything on this island is mine.
No one can take it from me.
That was when it happened.
A voice came to him.
—Greedy, foolish king.
“……?”
Whose voice was it?
In truth, that did not matter.
—Do you desire power?……
I simply desire it!
Power to protect all that is mine……!
—Good. The contract is complete.
Then came a chilling scream that pierced his eardrums.
After that, a long darkness……
And now.
A voice came from within the darkness.
“Yes! I am currently here in the legendary treasure island, the Yusra Archipelago.”
It is not a legendary treasure island.
The Yusra Kingdom is solely my kingdom.
“First, securing the island’s treasures is our top priority.”
They are not the island’s treasures.
They are solely my treasures.
As if reminding him of that fact, the voice came again.
—Are you just going to sit still?
—Everyone is stealing your treasures.
—Only I, who fully understand your heart, can help you.
Then help me.
Just as you did in the distant past.
Help me, I say.—……
The past? Well, whatever. Contract complete.
And then he awoke from the darkness.
When he opened his eyes, he saw his throne.
He saw the golden palace.
He saw trash storming into the palace, just like in the past.
However, he could not move even a single finger as he wished.
Since he had made a contract.
His body and mind were no longer his own.
But it was fine.
As long as he could protect his kingdom.
A mere body like this could be sacrificed as much as necessary……
“Y-you, just who are you? How……?”……
But what are you doing?
For some reason, his body was trembling with fear.
Silver hair.
Unfamiliar attire.
Yet eyes without the slightest tremor.
The one who had taken over his body was being overwhelmed by a man of unknown identity.
Flustered, the creature began spouting words from his mouth.
“Feeble human, do not dare attempt to deceive me. I am a great evil, Greed of the Seven Deadly Sins. Even if I am wearing the shell of an incarnation, a human like you is nothing……!!”
However, no answer came back.
Kwadududuk—“W-what in the world is this?”
As if even retreating a step would not be permitted.
Countlessly enormous walls surged up from the ground.
That was only the beginning.
“……
N-no!”
Hundreds of silver masses floated in midair.
The creature occupying his body reacted violently.
Hakuna felt his chest tighten.‘How do you intend to protect my treasures like this!’This is not what you promised!
No answer came back.
All he could hear were the words coming out of his mouth.
“This makes no sense. Why am I, by a human……?”
Thud—!
Then direct agony began to be felt.
“Kraaaaaaagh!”
Not only did gigantic silver arrows come flying in.
Unquenchable flames began to burn his body.
Hakuna clenched his teeth.
At this rate, my treasures will be stolen.
The moment he thought that.
“……
Yes! Fine! Let us make a contract!”……
What did you say?
“If you make a contract with me, I will give all of this to you. Can you not see it? This brilliant golden palace will all become yours!”……
What are you saying right now?
The lofty ceiling.
The dazzling decorations.
The vast scale.
This golden palace belongs to no one but me.
I cannot hand it over to anyone!
Hakuna wanted to scream.
However, he could not control his own body.‘……
I was deceived.’Only then did Hakuna recall it.
The identity of the one he had contracted with.
As the creature himself had said, he was a demon, and a great evil at that.‘In the end, even you deceived me?’He felt so hopeless that he could not even feel anger.……
That was when it happened.
An incomparably cold voice rang out.
“How hideous you are, foolish demon.”
An unwavering voice.
The silver-haired man continued.
“How utterly contemptible, clinging to something so fleeting.”……
Fleeting?
This brilliant golden palace?
Hakuna and the demon alike could not understand.
“You, what do you mean by……?!”
His words were cut off.
By the sight unfolding before his eyes.
The instant the man finished speaking.
Fwoooosh—!
The golden palace began to burn.
Marble, gold, gemstones.
It made no distinction.
Everything began turning to ash and scattering through the air.
“……
I-impossible! It’s impossible!”
The demon’s voice screamed in despair.
Soon, the man’s face came into view.
He saw the man’s pupils.‘!’Eyes that held not even the slightest agitation.
As if a mere golden palace was not even worth his attention.
As if all riches and glory turning to ash.
Was something he had experienced countless times before.
The man’s pupils were as tranquil as could be.
And reflected in those tranquil, lake-like pupils was.‘……
Is that truly me?’His own hideous form, corrupted by greed.
Tap—The man began to approach.
“Is it not foolish? The moment one closes their eyes, the only thing one can take with them is the pride within their heart.”
Pride.
The moment Hakuna heard that word, he realized.‘……
What in the world have I done?’In the end, wanting to protect it had been an excuse.
At his final moment.
Hakuna recalled the faces of the soldiers who had given their lives to protect him.
Yes, they had been smiling.
Saying that it had been an honor to serve such an unworthy man as their king.
Hakuna despaired.‘And yet I, I……!!’Because of greed that surpassed mere desire.
He had fallen for the demon’s temptation.
He had revived the soldiers who had nobly sacrificed themselves, making them suffer once more.
Even though he could have struggled to the very end to save his people who had been taken prisoner, he had turned away from them.
For someone like him, no responsibility as a monarch remained.
Only greed to protect the island’s treasures remained.
“Though a mere demon could never understand pride.”
The man’s words were correct.
His corrupted form was no different from that of a demon.
No pride remained in someone like him.
Once he acknowledged that fact, his constricted chest grew calm.‘……
I am sorry.’It is late, but I will follow you to your side.
Hakuna closed his eyes.
He accepted his death obediently.
“S-spare me! I-I still don’t want to die……!!”
Slice—Thank you, nameless benefactor.
For ensuring that I would disgrace myself no further.
“……?”……
And then Hakuna opened his eyes.
Why are my eyes opening?
I clearly felt the sensation of a blade entering my neck.
Besides, is it not far too bright for me to have fallen into hell?
“……!”
His vision slowly returned.
There stood the silver-haired man.
The man said.
“Even so, have pride.”
……
This is?
In the man’s hand was a crown.
Though its light had faded, he recognized it at once.
That was Hakuna’s own crown.
“……?!”
The man placed the crown upon his head and said.
“It is time to correct your mistakes. Nameless king.”
“……!!”...[Your level has risen.][Your level has risen.][Your level has risen.]……
This is going to take a while just to check.
I’ll leave the proper tally for later.
I took out the island’s treasure, the crown.[Island’s Treasure, Broken Crown][Rank: Epic][Restriction: Lv.500][Effect: None][Description: An old crown.]
“Even so, have pride.”
It goes without saying.
I knew nothing of the story connecting this old crown to the man who had been manipulated by the great evil until just now. But I knew exactly how to make use of this crown.[Hidden Quest: Yusra Kingdom]
The legendary treasure island has appeared once more.
The awakened king wishes to correct his mistakes and reclaim his pride.─Bestow the crown upon the king of the Yusra Kingdom. (In Progress)
Well, for now, isn’t that good enough?
“It is time to correct your mistakes. Nameless king.”
Then messages appeared.‘……
Wait a second.’Endlessly, enough to fill my entire vision……!