by Park Saenal
“It definitely is sad to rely on only one person. But isn’t it funny for the organizer to change the rules just to keep one person in check? Think about it. Brazil, Germany, Italy and Argentina are good at soccer and keep winning the World Cup. Have they ever had rules against them?”
“…No, soccer is different.”
Eat Spicy Jokbal clicked his tongue when Peak Sword came up with an absurd example. But Peak Sword didn’t care and continued the claim.
“On the other hand, what about Taekwondo and E-sports? South Korea won medals in various competitions and they adopted rules to keep South Korea in check! This is really reasonable!! The whole world is bullying South Korea!”
“…”
Eat Spicy Jokbal was a Korean after all. He didn’t agree 100% with Peak Sword’s claim, but he could empathize to some extent. But what could they do? Everyone blamed South Korea and felt resentment for their ranking in the previous two National Competitions. There wasn’t a single country who felt it was fair when they saw South Korea securing a large number of gold medals thanks to Grid. If the National Competition continued to be dominated by Grid, it would lose credibility and become a minor contest.
“Peak Sword, you should understand this part. Would you be able to speak like this if you aren’t Korean?”
“…”
“The scale of the Satisfy National Competition is big, but it’s still a new competition. Anything that feels unreasonable right now will eventually become a foothold for the future. Over the years, it will eventually develop into a competition where everyone will be satisfied.”
Eat Spicy Jokbal had organized and operated Blood Carnival to fulfill his own desires. Considering his basic tendencies, these lines didn’t fit him. However, Eat Spicy Jokbal was changing. It was a phenomenon that occurred as a result of getting close to Peak Sword who came every week. Eat Spicy Jokbal, who was only interested in his own growth in the game, was now comforting Peak Sword. He was being grabbed by Peak Sword’s warm personality.
“Stop being upset and drink more soju.”
Eat Spicy Jokbal filled up Peak Sword’s empty glass of soju. Peak Sword drank it and revealed his true feelings.
“Eat Spicy Jokbal, I dislike people like you. People think that South Korea is a country weak in Satisfy but what is the reality? I heard rumors that there are many South Koreans among the unofficial rankers. One of them is right here, Eat Spicy Jokbal.”
“…”
“If you gamers who hide in the shadows for the sake of personal gain actually fought for South Korea, then nobody would think this. South Korea could be recognized as a great power in Satisfy like the United States or Canada. Everyone in South Korea could be proud. But what is the reality? Among the players, Yura and Grid are the only ones fighting for South Korea with pure intentions.”
Peak Sword was also blaming himself for not participating in the 1st National Competition. Why hadn’t he taken part in the 1st National Competition? He was afraid that he would have to disclose all his skills to the world and tricked himself, saying “Nothing will change even if I participate in the competition.”
On the other hand, Grid and Yura took a penalty and committed to the country. This was Peak Sword’s subjective interpretation. In particular, he was still shocked when he thought of the scene where Grid, who was close to obscurity, appeared in the 1st National Competition and revealed his talents.
“I hope you won’t regret it like me… Participate in the 3rd National Competition and let the world know that Grid and Yura aren’t the only talents in South Korea. How exciting would it be if we can prove that even changing the rules won’t push down South Korea!!”
Peak Sword had already eaten more than half the jokbal. First he asked for makguksu as a service and now he was making this request of Eat Spicy Jokbal.
“Didn’t you approach me to get me to join Overgeared? Now you are telling me to fight for South Korea. I don’t know what you want.”
It was a criticism telling Peak Sword not to forget his original intentions. After Peak Sword came every week, Eat Spicy Jokbal thought of him more as a drinking companion than an Overgeared member. Of course, it was a miscalculation. Peak Sword hadn’t forgotten. He was just greedy.
“If you join the Overgeared Guild, the Overgeared Guild will be abundant. If you participate in the National Competition, South Korea will be abundant. I want both.”
“In the end, you want everything? Aren’t you being too greedy?”
“Of course I won’t push you. I don’t have the right to do that. The choice is yours. No matter the choice, I still want you to be my drinking buddy. Your jokbal is delicious.”
“Hrmm…”
Eat Spicy Jokbal filled Peak Sword’s glass again. His ability to make dungeons could be used in various fields and he was the best talent that had the title of ‘conditional’ strongest alongside Yura, Katz, and Seuron. Now he was locked in deep thoughts.
***
“Hero King~ Hero King ~~ lululu~~Ego sword producer ~~~ lulalulua~~~”
“…”
Really, Grid was a person with a lot of emotional ups and downs. The man who had been holding his head in frustration a few minutes ago was now dancing around the room and singing. Question marks appeared above Sticks’ head as he watched Grid.
‘It’s amazing that he can show such extreme concentration in battle when he has this personality.’
By default, a person needed to be self-controlled in order to show high concentration. But the usual Grid seemed like an innocent child. It was questionable how such a person could control himself and show high concentration.
‘He must try harder than others…’
He came up to his present place despite his lacking talent because he worked hard. Sticks laughed and used Mass Teleport.
***
“A letter came from Lubana.”
“It’s finally here.”
The capital of the Overgeared Kingdom, Reinhardt.
Lauel looked up from where he had been buried in a pile of documents. The sender of the letter that the soldier held was stated to be the ‘descendant of the Undefeated King.’ Lauel could easily infer the contents of the letter.
‘He is asking to cooperate in the war.’
It was the right answer. The person who claimed himself to be the descendant of the Undefeated King and caused a rebellion in Lubana hoped that the Overgeared troops would move while the empire was concentrating its forces on Lubana. The rumor that the relationship between the Overgeared Kingdom and the empire wasn’t good was already spreading and the descendant believed it would be a good proposition for Overgeared.
“But why should we do this?”
The request of the descendant was to attack the rear of the empire and disperse their gaze. Lauel had no intention of accepting this. There was no way of knowing exactly who the descendant of the Undefeated King was and the situation in Lubana. The risk was too great to stand on their side.
“I thought he would give a bit of information about himself in the letter, but he hid it until the end.”
Lauel confirmed the contents of the disappointing letter and put it in a corner of his inventory.
Pahat!
There was a flash of light in the center of the office and Sticks and Grid appeared.
“Ah! How surprising!”
Two people suddenly appeared in a quiet room. Lauel would be dull if he didn’t feel surprised. The startled Lauel fell back. Grid approached him and extended a big hand.
“Isn’t this too over the top? What will the Overgeared Kingdom do if a high ranker has such a poor body?”
“…I don’t dare be called a high ranker in front of someone who is ranked third on the unified rankings.”
Tears poured from Lauel’s eyes as he clasped Grid’s callused hands. Grid had only been at the Behen Archipelago for 10 days, but Lauel felt like he was seeing Grid after a very long time. It was natural. Grid had completely changed in these 10 days. H
e had gained close to 10 levels, his expression had matured further and the red energy around his body gave off a transcendental energy. It felt like Grid came back a completely different person.
“What a wonderful aura… Have you finally recovered some of the power that was sealed in a previous life?”
“Hahaha, I’m glad to hear your chuuni words after such a long time.”
Grid also felt like it had been a long time since he saw Lauel. It was because he experienced many things on the Behen Archipelago. Looking back at what happened on the Behen Archipelago, it felt like it took place over several months rather than days.
“Are you going to see Queen Irene?”
After a brief greeting, Grid immediately opened the office door.
“No, I’m going to the library.”
Grid waved a shabby looking booklet.
“Eh? Huh? Library??”
Lauel doubted his ears. It was because the space called the library didn’t suit Grid at all. Lauel had never once seen or heard of Grid using the library.
“…”
What was so urgent that Grid had to leave immediately? Then Lauel asked Sticks, who was puzzled about why he had to teleport into someone’s office.
“Is His Majesty okay? Did he perhaps hit his head?”
“…”
So it was unusual to read a book. Sticks felt pity that Grid was misunderstood as having a head injury just for going to study.
Chapter 696
Chapter 696
“Anyone who knows the joy of reading has a way to face the disaster.”
Just as there was a phrase like this, reading in Satisfy was also classified as a valuable hobby. Players were able to accumulate new knowledge through reading and enjoy the synergistic effect of various stats based on this. Occasionally, they could get quests and skills by following the clues in books. Even if they couldn’t get anything, they were able to be absorbed in the joy of the moment. Therefore, reading was an absolute benefit.
In particular, Satisfy boasted a vast worldview and the amount of books it possessed was tremendous. Even the protagonist of the rumor that ‘there is a madman who only reads books whenever he connects to Satisfy’ had only read a fraction of Satisfy’s books.
Of course, this story was far from Grid. From the standpoint of Grid whose comprehension was less than ordinary people, reading was a hobby not for him and he naturally kept away from books. But now.
[Death Knight Madra’s Diary]
“…”
A royal study room located in the Overgeared Palace. Grid sat where Irene and Lord normally did and faced a book.
‘How long has it been since I read a book?’
It was last year, when he read the instructions for the diamond class capsule that he received from the Comet Group.
“Umm… The contents of the diary can’t be as difficult.”
Grid didn’t know that it was rare for anyone to read a manual from the first chapter to last chapter in detail. His obsession with his lack of talent caused him to finish reading the book all the way to the end. He perceived reading as ‘labor’ and was nervous despite this not being an educational book.
“Sigh, okay.”
Grid took a deep breath and controlled his mind. It was a process to maintain his concentration until he finished reading Madra’s diary.
‘Well, it is unlikely I will get something because it is just a diary. I need to work hard.’
Grid’s expectations for the diary were surprisingly small despite purchasing it for one million challenger points. There was a basis. He couldn’t forget that one word would make things different. The diary that Grid obtained from the Behen Archipelago was precisely the diary of Death Knight Madra.
It wasn’t Undefeated King Madra. In other words, it was a diary written after Madra was resurrected as a death knight, not when he was living. It was realistic not to expect something special from the diary created by Madra who had been trapped on the island for over 100 years after becoming a death knight.
Flap.
Finally.
Grid opened the first chapter of Madra’s diary. At the same time, Grid wasn’t seeing sentences written in the diary. His eyes naturally closed and what followed was the gaze, sensation, and emotions of someone else.
“Kuk…!”
An indirect experience item. This was the identity of Death Knight Madra’s diary. As soon as the diary was opened, Grid became Madra.
***
The first chapter.
Once I opened my eyes again, the most amazing thing was that I couldn’t feel my own breathing. I realized that I wasn’t alive. Yes, I died. Then how did I open my eyes again? It was confusing.
…Confusing? I feel confusion? Did the cognitive power of the Undefeated King Madra decline to this level?
It was weird. Perhaps I was wandering in my dreams? From the beginning, I wasn’t dead. It was just a long nightmare. No.
Rattle.
…This was the awful reality. I tried to put my hand on my forehead and witnessed it. My body, it was just bones. The red blood that always boiled hot, the muscles that were never cut, the flesh and skin… Everything was stripped and gone.
Ah, the memories. I died. I was murdered by my own flesh and blood and given to the beasts of Saharan. Huh, whose head was this? Everything was unfamiliar. An empty goal that couldn’t contain the total amount of memories flooding back like a tsunami. It took too much time to think. I couldn’t get away from the strange sense of confusion.
Step.
The source of the current situation appeared. The man with the feminine face. I knew him. I remember the man with the cold eyes that wasn’t suitable to be called Duke of Fire.
“P…agma…”
I barely managed to open my mouth and my voice was a deep roar that echoed. It was an uncomfortable voice to hear. I felt uncomfortable and the Duke of Fire bowed deeply.
“Undefeated King, sacrifice yourself for the peace of the world.”
***
“…Ugh!”
The moment the first chapter in the diary ended. Grid’s mind returned to reality. The confusion, anger, resentment, and sorrow felt by Madra after he was resurrected as a death knight. Grid experienced all these gloomy emotions from Madra’s position. The mental shock he received was too big to bear. His whole body was sweating as he looked around with trembling eyes.
“Kuoock… Kuhuk!”
Flop!
Grid fell to the ground from the chair and couldn’t help shedding tears. He was cursed by the people he protected his whole life, stabbed in the heart by his son, his head cut off and his decaying corpse fell into a bleak desert without entering a coffin. Then when he opened his eyes again, he was a skeleton. Despair led to nothing but more despair.
“Pant… Pant…”
Was he Grid or was he Madra? The terrible confusion that filled Grid after experiencing Madra’s memory seemed to last forever. He wiped at the tears that kept falling and breathed roughly, his face distorted with pain. His field of view was blinking red.
[★ Warning ★ You have assimilated with Madra in the diary and shared his memories and feelings. You need to be careful because you are psychologically feeling a great amount of anxiety and pain.]
[You are in extreme confusion.]
[The system is checking your brain waves and pulse. If it is determined to be dangerous, Death Knight Madra’s diary will be sealed.]
“Ku…no!”
Immersive virtual reality often put the player at risk. For example, the first meeting with Huroi a long time ago. The warning message from the system wasn’t unfamiliar because Grid strongly remembered what happened that day. This wasn’t exaggerated and Grid was scared.
But he didn’t give in. Grid intended to receive what Madra left behind. The tears stopped as he started to distinguish reality from virtual reality. He was aware that he wasn’t Madra, but Grid, and Shin Youngwoo before he was Grid.
Duguen! Duguen! Duguen…<
br />
His crazily beating heart started to stabilize.
[You are free from the confusion.]
[Your vitals have returned to normal. The second chapter of Death Knight Madra’s diary is unfolding.]
[Do you want to read it?]
“Of course…!”
Grid’s fear hadn’t gone away yet. He was already trembling at the thought of experiencing Madra’s point of view again. But when faced with trials, Grid knew better than anyone that grumbling and giving up because of fear would be a lifelong regret. Grid opened the second chapter of Madra’s diary.
***
The second chapter.
“Undefeated King, sacrifice yourself for the peace of the world.”
White skin contrasted with long black hair. The long and narrow eyes were cold. The legendary blacksmith, the Duke of Fire was bowing his head to Madra. Then Grid was Madra.
“You want me to sacrifice myself?”
It was very unpleasant. Regardless of will, I was being forced to sacrifice myself immediately after being resurrected as an undead. Anxiety and fear boiled up from deep inside. This was before I heard any explanation.
“It has been a long time since I felt such anger.”
I intuitively sensed that the current Duke of Fire was a target to be hated. He managed to stir up a body made entirely of bones. Strange. But I definitely realized. This was my burden of the present.
“The situation… You should first explain more.”
The person who resurrected me must be the Duke of Fire. I wanted to kill him right now, but I couldn’t. Why? He must’ve resurrected me for some reason. I had to know what sacrifice he was talking about. The answer was absurd.
“The great demons are invading this place, the Behen Archipelago. As you know, the Behen Archipelago is the succession place and the Hall of Fame. If this falls into the hands of the great demons, there is no future for humanity. You must protect it.”
“The future of humanity…”
It wasn’t a problem for me to discuss. I was only responsible for the future of my people. Aside from that, I had no interest. That’s why I became more angry.