Overgeared

by Park Saenal

  Currently, the person dealing with the 12 representatives was Grid alone. Grid created this situation alone. The smile couldn’t leave Lauel’s face.

  ‘Grid, your growth is once again burning up my heart. You have transcended the limits of your IQ. Huhuhut…’

  Lauel was caught up in the feeling of excitement.

  “Really? You’ll spare me if I win the fight against this soldier?”

  Baron Biz asked Grid again.

  Grid nodded. “I keep my promises. But don’t forget that the Violet Kingdom can’t hold us responsible if you die.”

  “Okay!” Baron Biz shouted vigorously to his men. “At this moment, I am not the representative of the Violet Kingdom. I am just Baron Biz! Even if I die, the Overgeared Kingdom didn’t kill the representative of the Violet Kingdom! Do you understand?”

  The death penalty was imminent, but he had a chance to save his life. He couldn’t miss this opportunity. Baron Biz was confident that he could win the battle.

  ‘I will kill this soldier!’

  Chwaruk!

  Baron Biz pulled out his sword. His level and armor were considerable.

  『 Baron Biz’s level is at least 250. There is also the title ‘Noble who learned Swordsmanship’, meaning he is likely to have Advanced Sword Mastery… He will be stronger than any decent knight. 』

  『 Then how will the soldier fight Baron Biz? 』

  『 He’s dead. The result is obvious. 』

  『 … 』

  Foolish Grid! He had a chance to incapacitate a representative. But he wasted it and sacrificed an innocent soldier! This time, no one supported Grid’s choice. The media and viewers thought Grid made a serious mistake. That’s right. The world was about to be overturned again. Grid was a common sense destroyer who always produced results that were different or exceeded expectations.

  “I will bring the punishment of death to you who has despised and belittled my king.”

  The soldier sent out killing intent from his eyes deep in the helmet. Baron Biz confirmed the old spear that the soldier held and laughed.

  “Kukuk, a simple soldier is spouting such ridiculous words.”

  Biz Baron was certain. If he combined the power of his swordsmanship with his equipment, he would be able to break the spear and armor in front of him. The difference between their items and skills were clear.

  “Haaap!”

  Baron Biz was fired up and rushed forward. It was high ranking footwork that narrowed the distance to the target in a short time. It had been passed down in Baron Biz’ family for generations.

  -It’s over.

  The viewers mourned the soldier. They were sure that the soldier would die without being able to take advantage of the spear’s long reach. It was a meaningless prediction.

  Puok!

  “…!!!”

  -Huh?

  Baron Biz narrowed the distance without any superfluous movements. It was like a lightning bolt, but the soldier was much faster. Before Baron Biz’s sword struck the soldier’s helmet, the soldier’s spear pierced Baron Biz’s chest.

  “Kuock!”

  Baron Biz made a disbelieving expression. How could the soldiers’ attack speed be faster than him, and how could the soldier tear through his armor with one blow?

  “A scam…!”

  It was a scam! There was something wrong! It was certainly cheating! But Baron Biz wasn’t able to speak these thoughts. It was because the soldier’s spear pierced his chest in succession.

  “Cough! Ugh! Kuaaaaak!”

  He was busy screaming. It was a series of strikes that didn’t allow Baron Biz to take any defensive actions.

  “…”

  “…”

  All the representatives present, the players at the venue, and the viewers watching the broadcast were at a loss for words. The hosts of the broadcasting stations could barely speak because they had an obligation to relay the situation.

  『 The soldier has completely overwhelmed a noble’s swordsmanship! This is unexpected! 』

  『 The difference between items is made moot by skills! What on earth was this? The Overgeared Kingdom has strong soldiers! 』

  The world was turned upside down by the unexpected result. The person who was more shocked than anyone was naturally Baron Biz.

  ‘W-Who is this person?’

  He thought the opponent was a soldier. Then what was this? The proud knights of the Violet Kingdom wouldn’t be able to deal with this soldier’s spear.

  Puk! Puuok!

  “Hik! Hiik!!”

  Baron Biz had been polishing his swordsmanship for many years. He tried to resist the soldier’s spear with his sword. But it was a worthless desperate attempt. If the soldier stabbed the spear 10 times, Baron Biz was struck 10 times. No matter how aggressively he resisted, he failed in his defense and evasion.

  “You…! What the hell are you? You can’t be a soldier! Why are you posing as a soldier?”

  Dark red blood emerged with every scream. The viewers who previously sympathized with the soldier now felt sorry for Baron Biz.

  -Baron Biz has fallen into a trap. It’s impossible for a soldier to beat a noble.

  -That’s right. He doesn’t seem like a soldier. He might be a knight disguised as a soldier.

  -In fact, it doesn’t make sense? Does this mean that Grid expected the situation to come to this point and disguised a knight as a soldier?

  -Uh… Come to think of it.

  The viewers were confused. A soldier was smashing Baron Biz. If this person wasn’t a soldier, Grid was too great to anticipate this situation. If the person was a soldier, he had the strength of another kingdom’s knight. No matter how they interpreted it, Grid and the Overgeared Kingdom were great.

  -So scary.

  -This is crazy.

  -Grid and the Overgeared Kingdom are magnificent…

  The evaluation of Grid rose exponentially from just one incident!

  ‘Grid’s honor will be restored and his reputation will be even higher.’

  Asmophel felt the situation change and put an end to the one-sided fight. Baron Biz was beaten bloody and died.

  Puok!

  [Baron Biz who represents the Violet Kingdom has died.]

  [Due to the agreement made by Baron Biz, the Violet Kingdom can’t transfer any responsibility to the Overgeared Kingdom.]

  “What is this?”

  The other representatives were terrified as they watched Baron Biz die. They couldn’t understand the situation and fell into a trap.

  Baron Briton of the Arc Kingdom shouted. “Grid…! How can you be such a villainous person? Disguising a knight as a soldier in order to trap Baron Biz!”

  “You.” Grid pointed to Baron Briton this time. “You pick.”

  “…?”

  “You should be held accountable for accusing and taunting a king in his own kingdom. Just like baron Biz.”

  “…!”

  He shouldn’t have said anything! Baron Briton fell into the same mess as Baron Biz. His face paled because he knew he had no way out. He tried to keep his mind as calm as possible as he looked around. He was looking for a weak opponent, just like Baron Biz had done before.

  Then he found one.

  “I will fight with him!”

  This person looked the weakest. It was surprisingly close.

  An orator. It was the orator who spoke for Grid.

  “Hoh… First it was a soldier and now an orator.”

  Grid made an interested look while the residents accused Baron Briton.

  “Lousy bastard! Pointing out an orator who never once held a blade!”

  “Are all nobles of the Arc Kingdom like you?”

  “Trying to fight a person who uses their mouth!”

  Boo!

  Boooooo!

  The booing and criticism continued, but Baron Briton wasn’t ashamed. What good was honor if he was dead?

  ‘I can’t die in this savage kingdom!’

  It was his s
ublime belief. He couldn’t die so easily. Baron Briton grabbed the mace hanging from his waist. Then Orator Huroi summoned his wyvern.

  “….??”

  “??????”

  Kurarararara!

  Baron Briton and the residents were stunned when the red wyvern appeared and fired flames. An orator summoned a wyvern? It was also the most powerful fire wyvern!

  “W-Wait a minute… This is a scam!”

  “Your parents are a scam!”

  “What? What nonsense is this? Kuaaaaah!”

  Mentioning his parents? It was also from a person who was scamming him? Baron Briton was angry and frustrated, but he was helpless. He was burned by the flames of Huroi’s wyvern and died.

  Chapter 604

  Chapter 604

  “…”

  The 10 remaining representatives were dumbfounded. They were shocked when they witnessed the Overgeared Kingdom’s strength.

  ‘A soldier who is stronger than a knight…’

  ‘If this is the ability of a soldier, the talents of the 1,000 black armored knights must be beyond imagination.’

  ‘I can’t believe the orator has a wyvern.’

  ‘It is indeed a strong kingdom.’

  The Overgeared Kingdom’s soldier and orator were amazing enough to destroy all concepts.

  “Cough…”

  The representatives were in deep distress. They wondered if they should really be hostile to the Overgeared Kingdom.

  ‘It would be better to hold hands…’

  Currently, the power structure of the continent was composed of one empire and 15 kingdoms. The empire was naturally the Saharan Empire. If the Saharan Empire was a young and brave lion, the 15 kingdoms were bound rabbits. The 15 kingdoms didn’t know when they would be swallowed up and paid tributes to the empire. But the amount of the tribute they paid was enormous. The 15 kingdoms had to pay tribute to the empire and their speed of development fell exponentially. At this time, the emergence of the Overgeared Kingdom was like a rosy cloud.

  ‘If we combined the small number of troops in the Overgeared Kingdom and the three million troops from the 15 kingdoms…’

  ‘We can become self-reliant and break away from the empire.’

  ‘The timing is good. Currently, it’s difficult for the empire to turn their eyes to the outside world due to its policy of wiping out minor species.

  The gazes of the representatives changed as they looked at Grid. The contempt and hostility was replaced by anticipation.

  “King Grid!”

  Someone shouted courageously. It was Baron Guy of the Fold Kingdom.

  “Please forgive my previous rudeness!”

  An amazing sight was produced. Baron Guy looked at Grid and tore up the royal letter in his hand. He tore apart the will of the king he served in front of everyone! It was a scene where Baron Guy was prepared to ruin his own life. Everyone watching was surprised, while Grid made an interested expression.

  “Do you mean to withdraw the words you said before?”

  “Indeed! King Grid, I hope that the Overgeared Kingdom will be a permanent companion of the Fold Kingdom! I will give my king 100 reasons why he should ally with the Overgeared Kingdom! Also! I am convinced that my king will understand my explanation and reconcile with the Overgeared Kingdom! Overgeared is a great kingdom!”

  “…”

  This was a person who demanded a tribute just previously, saying that he could accept Grid or the Overgeared Kingdom. His attitude had sure changed quickly. He even went against his king’s will. Changing his position in the middle of the mission! This unprecedented event would spread the reputation of the Overgeared Kingdom throughout the continent.

  Grid was delighted.

  ‘Very good. It’s more than I expected.’

  The growth base of the Overgeared Kingdom would be solid if he allied with a few of the 15 kingdoms. In the midst of accumulating power to defend the kingdom from the empire, the need to worry about the stupid ones would disappear. It was the moment when Grid visualized a brilliant future.

  -Please refrain from replying and give honors to your retainers first.

  Lauel sent him a whisper. He had been silently watching the situation and finally opened his mouth.

  ‘I don’t know his intentions, but…’

  Lauel was the person that Grid trusted the most. He didn’t question it and acted as Lauel said. He ignored Baron Guy who was waiting for a reaction.

  “…Rude.”

  Baron Guy blushed with shame. He had torn up his letter in order to convey his sincerity, but he was ignored like a passing child rather than being impressed by Grid.

  Shake shake!

  The expressions of the representatives were disappointed as they looked between Baron Guy and Grid.

  ‘Grid will never have a big vessel.’

  ‘Baron Guy acknowledged his mistake and offered a bright future, but Grid is still upset by our previous rudeness.’

  ‘How can he rule over a kingdom when he is so narrow-minded?’

  ‘It isn’t right to establish diplomatic relations with such a savage kingdom.’

  Tsk tsk tsk.

  The representatives thought that Grid was pathetic.

  “Duke Lauel, come forward.”

  Grid started to call out his meritorious retainers in turn. Lauel was the first to kneel before him. Grid handed him a pair of gauntlets. What type of materials were used for them? The gauntlets were mysterious and dark colored, with a glazed black surface. It was beautiful and elegant enough to capture anyone’s eyes.

  ‘But they’re just gauntlets. The level of reward for the person who had the highest merit in establishing a kingdom…’

  ‘It’s evidence that the Overgeared Kingdom is a small group of elites, but is poor. The foundation will be stable by absorbing Marquis Steim’s power but he needs our help.’

  ‘If the Overgeared Kingdom refuses to hold hands with us, only self-destruction is waiting for them.’

  Gauntlets were items that protected the hands and forearms. He should give his meritorious retainers a sword that can cut the enemy or armor to defend against an enemy’s attacks. Grid’s reward was indeed trivial. The moment that the representatives thought so.

  “Kukuk…! Kukukuk! Belial’s Gauntlets… This is something that transcends my expectations. The hot skin of Belial against my arms has succeeded in sealing the aura of the dark dragon. Huhuhut!”

  Lauel.

  His reputation had spread to the 15 kingdoms. The duke of the Overgeared Kingdom covered half his face with his hand and chattered nonsense. The representatives couldn’t understand what he was talking about. It was natural that they didn’t understand. The Overgeared members had been with Lauel for years and they still didn’t understand him.

  Lauel turned his gaze towards the representatives. One eye was covered with a black eyepatch, as if it was injured.

  “People from small and weak kingdoms, look at the great power that King Grid has entrusted to me.”

  Swipe.

  Yes, it was a swipe. Lauel swiped his hands just once. The wavelength was huge.

  Kakiing.

  The five fingertips of the gauntlets worn by Lauel created five white spheres. The spheres contained hot fire and cool demonic energy.

  Kwa kwa kwa kwang!

  “…”

  The direction that Lauel waved his hand. The five spheres flew in the direction of the representatives and exploded. The representatives were shocked by the suddenly incident. They made stupid expressions like a carp. Lauel ridiculed those who couldn’t understand the situation and moved his hand again. Once again, five white spheres were created and flew to the feet of the representatives, exploding. Flames emerged from the explosion and the demonic energy polluted the atmosphere.

  The representatives were amazed and belatedly realized.

  “H-Heok!”

  “Unbelievable! Creating such powerful magic with just a wave of the hand!”

  “D-
Don’t tell me the power of those gauntlets…?”

  An artifact? No, it is impossible. Pagma’s Descendant, Grid. He might be a legendary blacksmith, but he didn’t have the capacity to produce artifacts. Artifact production was an area for a very small number of magicians.

  “Marquis Piaro, come forward.”

  The representatives tried to deny the power of the gauntlets.

  Step, step.

  This time, a middle-aged man climbed onto the stage.

  “…??”

  The representatives doubted their eyes. It was because the person on the stage was a middle-aged peasant farmer. The farmer was wearing old clothes covered in dirt and had a variety of farming equipment hanging from his waist.

  ‘Crazy?’

  A marquis was a farmer? No, a farmer marquis? This was ridiculous. A disgraceful noble. It was terrible just imagining a noble doing field work.

  ‘No, leave it.’

  This was currently the founding ceremony. It was essential to be formal. It was courtesy to dress appropriately for the founding ceremony, even if the middle-aged Piaro was a real farmer. What was with this dirty clothing?

  ‘Not even knowing the basic manners…’

  ‘The king has no foundation and his subordinates are the same.’

  Tsk tsk.

  The representatives once again clicked their tongues. Then Grid handed Piaro a sickle and hand plow.

  “In fact, I wanted to wear official clothing today.” Piaro whispered while receiving the farming equipment. He was looking around. Grid asked him to attend in his work clothes, but Piaro felt disgusting.

  Grid smiled and patted his shoulder. “Your official clothing is farming work clothes. From now on, you should also wear a straw hat.”

  Grid’s liking towards Piaro was now infinite. He was an absolute power of the Overgeared Kingdom and gave all the loot he acquired from Belial to Grid without hesitation. Grid wanted to acknowledge Piaro and accept him as a farmer.

  Piaro was thrilled. “Your servant Piaro! I will devote myself even more to the field! I will provide enough food so that our citizens will never starve!”

  “…Farmer.”

  “A real farmer!”

  The dubious representatives became pale when they heard Piaro’s cry. They were shocked to see that the marquis of a kingdom was a farmer. The representatives lost their minds once again. Then Piaro came down from the stage and approached them.