by Park Saenal
Chapter 784
“This is also okay.”
Emperor Juander’s face was satisfied as he tasted the food coming out in turn. The other officials were the same. The imperial cuisine, which reinterpreted the food culture throughout the continent, was originally famous for its taste. But it tasted especially good today. The imperials chefs seemed to be at their best since an honored guest was visiting.
‘Huhuhut, that hillbilly will be shocked by the taste.’
Punching King Rigal watched Grid’s response. The specialty of the Overgeared Kingdom was potatoes? Rigal wanted to see what type of response the king of a country that ate only pig food would show to the food of the great empire. It was as he expected.
“The food tastes good. In particular, the food made from flour are excellent.”
Grid’s reaction was as Rigal expected. He admired and praised the food. The Saharan Empire was truly the best in every way. Grid’s admiration made the emperor feel good. Rigal confirmed the smile on the emperor’s face and quickly clapped his hands. The chef soon came running.
“Y-You called me.”
Being called to the emperor’s presence? The head chef was full of fear. He was worried he had made a mistake and angered the emperor.
Rigal spoke to the sweating chef. “Explain the food to our honored guest. I’m sure there are a lot of foods he doesn’t know. Shouldn’t you take care of this part?”
Every dish had history and background. Knowing it made eating the food more delicious. Rigal had this logic but in reality, he was treating Grid as a hillbilly. The contempt in his eyes was clear when he looked at Grid. But Grid didn’t flinch back when facing him. He smiled calmly and enjoyed the situation.
“Thank you for the favor, Sir Rigal.”
“Of course…”
Rigal was surprised by Grid’s gratitude.
‘You still haven’t noticed.’
Grid didn’t even know he was being made fun of. There was a teasing taste. Rachel shook her head at Rigal and made an insidious remark.
“You’re still a child. You’re bothering a weak person.”
“You are the one saying this? When I recall the memories of being bullied by you as a child, I still jump up in my sleep.”
The two of them had been close since childhood due to the connection between their families. The friendly atmosphere caused by their memories didn’t last long.
“As the Overgeared King may already know, all of today’s dishes are cooked using the wheat of the Overgeared Kingdom.”
“…!”
“…?”
The head chef’s unexpected words caused the people watching the situation pleasantly to feel surprise and the emperor frowned. Grid was still smiling.
“Indeed, it was like this. Somehow the taste of the wheat dishes were particular good. It was because you used the wheat produced in the Overgeared Kingdom.”
“You already know. Yes, that’s right. I’m grateful for your gift of the best wheat on the continent.”
The head chef was just a chef. He was ignorant about political things. He recognized Grid as a precious guest of the emperor and was able to purely praise the Overgeared Kingdom’s wheat. It was unfortunate. The chef might lose his job today. Grid looked at Rigal’s dark expression and wanted to sneer.
‘This isn’t it.’
A large-hearted person was better than an childish one. Grid acted wisely as he was reminded that he was representing the Overgeared Kingdom.
“You are surely the head chef of the imperial family if you can recognize the value of our wheat. I’m happy that a chef like you can make wonderful food for His Majesty the Emperor every day. I’m envious.”
“Y-You’re overpraising me.”
The head chef was thrilled by the praise and bowed, while the unpleasant looking emperor ended up smiling. He liked Grid’s consideration.
“The Overgeared King is right. I am happy because I have a chef who can make such wonderful food with good ingredients. Now is the time to bring out the 1,000 year old wine. Take a glass.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Thanks to Grid, the atmosphere of the dinner party became relaxed again. The emperor, Grid, and the officials enjoyed the moment as they drank from their glasses. The emperor was delighted and they all had to hide what they were feeling inside.
‘Tsk.’
In a corner of the venue, Limit chewed his food with a sour expression and stood up. He was heading to the empress’ palace.
***
“He has been through many hardships.”
Limit evaluated Grid.
“His ability to read the situation is excellent. He’s a wise man who knows how to control himself and isn’t easily provoked. He also takes advantage of the opponent’s provocation.”
Marie showed interest as she listened to the story while staring at her nails.
“Isn’t it surprising? I thought he was a simple and violent character who purely swallowed up a kingdom with force.”
“I also thought the same but…it looks like he is a natural born politician.”
The expression of ‘natural born’ wasn’t suitable for Grid. Grid was originally a person lacking in every way. But Limit didn’t know this. Like Limit said, the Grid who Limit met today was the Grid that had gone through countless hardships. It was a Grid who had already grown. Limit was forced to appreciate him.
“As Veradin said, he’s a formidable opponent.”
Veradin. One day, he suddenly appeared and got the favor of Empress Marie. Limit had been suspicious, but he was forced to acknowledge Veradin.
“Yes, that’s right. We must strike Grid as planned today and make Grid go against the emperor. I will tell the Red Knights.”
“Okay. I will send Immortal. Please finish it well.”
A smile appeared on Marie’s face as she nodded. The fact that she had just been the daughter of her family and could now give orders to the duke of the empire gave her great joy. What would she feel like when she placed her son on the highest position and held more power? She got goosebumps just imagining it.
***
-What type of person is the emperor?
The outskirts of Titan. As Grid moved away from the cheering crowds, Kasim asked from the shadows.
‘Despite the fact that the emperor was known as a tyrant, he was surprisingly ordinary. He might be a good ruler.’ Grid thought, but he remained silent. For Kasim, Emperor Juander was a hated person who he couldn’t afford to kill.
In the end, Grid replied casually, “The emperor, well, he is the emperor. He was unbelievably arrogant. “
-…You are deepening.
“Huh?”
-Unlike the past, you are speaking very carefully.
Kasim had been observing Grid since before Lord was born. It meant he knew Grid when he was immature. Kasim watched Grid’s growth in real time and he saw that the current Grid was reaching the end of his growth.
-You don’t have to worry about me. I would like to hear your honest opinion. What type of person is the emperor?
Kasim repeated the question and Grid replied.
“He wasn’t as selfish as I expected.”
The master of the continent. It wasn’t strange if the person who accomplished such a thing was violent, brutal, and selfish. However, the emperor that Grid met was more careful and respectful than expected. It was a shameful story but the current emperor was better than Grid when he was just grasping his power.
“He surprisingly has plenty of friends.”
-…
“But that is the individual called Juander.”
Grid knew.
“As the emperor, he’s as ferocious and selfish as we thought.”
History proved this fact. Wasn’t he the emperor who conquered and wiped out many lives in the name of the emperor?
“Eventually, we will fight. The emperor will remain an object of hatred forever. You don’t have to worry. Just dream of revenge.”
The driving force behind Kasim was revenge on the empire. The more he dreamt of revenge, the more he developed. Grid naturally wanted Kasim to develop.
“Today I didn’t see any of the Five Pillars. There were only seven dukes and the knights. But I mistook them for the Five Pillars.”
It meant that everyone was strong. He could imagine how much stronger the Five Pillars were. He easily escaped Kyle the other day due to Braham and Mumud’s pincer attack. But without Braham, both Grid and the Ares Army would be in danger.
“Become stronger, Kasim.”
-Yes, Your Majesty.
Grid had already achieved his dream of being the best. The current Grid couldn’t be ignored by anyone and was an object of envy. However, this was in reality. In the gigantic world of Satisfy, Grid was still weak and he had an obligation to protect his precious people. Strength, more strength was needed.
Clatter, clatter.
Grid’s carriage slowly moved through the dark forest. It was a speed keeping in mind the soldiers and transport convoy followed them. It was also because of Grid’s order. Overgeared King Grid was growing into a wise king.
“It’s ridiculous.”
Deep in the forest.
Veradin saw the carriage slowly approaching in the distance.
“Human choices and behavior are based on a desire for compensation. Humans do things because they want something. Let’s take the example of libido. For what reason do people feel sexual desire? The pleasure is compensation for breeding. It’s proof that compensation is the ultimate need.”
There was a smile on Veradin’s normally expressionless face.
“The compensation dominating Grid is a desire to be respected. As a person who has been despised for most of his life, he tends to be extremely obsessed with the evaluation of others. He dreams that everyone in the world will acknowledge and respect him. It’s a desire to be acknowledged by the soldiers, not consideration for the soldiers, that is behind Grid’s hypocritical act of slowing the carriage.”
Grid was a lump of pretenses. He was a man who was always bluffing. Due to this, he became more attached to revenge. He was afraid that the world would ignore him again if he didn’t get revenge for the damage inflicted on him. In fact, Grid was planning a revenge play that went beyond Veradin’s expectations.
“A simple human.”
Veradin’s face showed no motivation as he looked at Grid’s gradually approaching carriage. People like Grid were so prevalent in the world that Veradin couldn’t become interested in Grid. Then what about Agnus? Agnus was filled with a desire to compensate for his ‘loss.’ He was a very unusual case. Veradin wanted to observe him longer. In order to stay near Agnus, it was necessary to restore their relationship.
“The means of recovery…”
Veradin held the Ghost’s Necklace in his hand and started to infuse magic power into it.
“Grid, you are holding it. Now die. And burn with a stronger vengeance.”
Direct the grudge towards Agnus and stir up Agnus’ madness. Once Agnus was in a stage of oblivion, he would be forced to rely on Veradin again.
“Summon, Death Knight.”
Kuwaaah…
Kyleo, the one who drove Khan to death, responded to Veradin’s command and raised his body from the ground. Hundreds of skeleton knights and skeleton mages had already surrounded Grid’s carriage.
‘It isn’t right.’
The First Knight watching the scene, Mercedes’ eyes shook.
Chapter 785
Chapter 785
Screech. Screech. Screech…
Clatter. Clatter.
Screech…
As the carriage containing Grid entered deep into the forest, the cries of the beasts subsided. The only sounds that could be heard in the silent forest were the wheels of the carriage and the footsteps of the soldiers.
“Monster?”
The birds and beasts hiding was a sign that monsters would appear. Grid naturally knew such common sense.
Kasim replied to Grid.
-Monsters can’t pop up on a forest that the people of Titan often use.
-It’s people.
-There are many people hiding in the area.
Kasim’s shadows spread out in the forest that was filled with darkness. Kasim reported back.
-The enemy. There are more than 300 of them.
“Thieves?”
-No. They’re the people who attacked Khan.
“…!!”
Immortal! The nonchalant looking Grid rose from his seat. His face distorted like a demon as he opened the door of the carriage.
Kuweeeeeoh!
Kwaaaaah!
Clack! Clack clack!
The ground shook as hundreds of red lights appeared in the bushes. As the dark clouds covering the full moon were lifted, the blue moonlight shone onto the forest and revealed hundreds of unsightly skeletons. It was a large undead army. The vanguard contained skeleton knights while the skeleton mages were in the rear.
“Build up a stronger sense of revenge.”
From far away, a sweet voice was heard in the rear of the undead army. Grid jumped out of the carriage and saw the white-haired young man.
“Veradin…!”
The person who made Khan’s last moments filled with pain. The target of hatred that Grid killed dozens or even hundreds of times in his head!
“Die!”
Kuwaaaaaang!
Kasim had no time to stop him. Grid pulled out the Ideal Dagger, used Quick Movements and immediately rushed towards Veradin. He put away the Ideal Dagger and pulled out a weapon.
“Grid! Get him!”
“Kill that bastard!”
Kwaaaaah!
The necromancers shouted excitedly as they discovered Grid and dozens of skeleton knights blocked Grid’s way. They wielded huge swords and spears, completely focused on only killing Grid.
Kwa kwang!
Kwa kwa kwa kwang!
The four God Hands transformed into Lifael’s Spear, inflicting catastrophic damage to evil beings and opening the way for Grid.
“Heok…!”
“T-This is ridiculous…!”
Dozens of skeleton knights over level 250 were turned to ashes at once? The spears also moved without Grid touching them? The astonished necromancers simultaneously thought.
‘The best…!’
The necromancers were reminded. The opponent they were currently trying to hunt was the one who broke the sky. Grid stormed into the middle of enemy camp and pressed the button of the Pulling Device.
Hwiririk!
Red and black swords appeared in the moonlight, rotating before joining together.
Seokeok!
Puhahahak!
The skeleton knights and necromancers standing in the direction of the rotation were hit. The Pulling Device combined the two swords into one. The Enlightenment Sword.
“Veradinnnnnn!”
Kwa kwang! Kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa!
The earth shook. It felt like the forest would fly away. Grid rushed through the undead army as four spears rotated around him, reminiscent of someone breaking through the sea.
‘Now he’s just a monster.’
Grid’s presence rose to the rank of deities. Veradin wasn’t surprised because he already knew this, but Grid’s presence was beyond the scope that he observed. Veradin’s tension soared to the peak as Grid narrowed the distance with a fearsome expression. His legs were shaking. But Veradin had a smile on his face. It was a smile of satisfaction.
Kwaaaaah!
Did he believe in the four spears around him? Or was it because he lost his mind in front of his enemies. Grid was so focused on Veradin that he was unable to response to the attack of the death knight that suddenly appeared.
Puok!
The poisonous dagger of Kyleo pierced Grid’s heart. It was an attack filled with the poison master’s killing power. It gave a paralysis that couldn’t be resisted to the target and simultaneous
ly reduced the target’s health by 50%. It was Kyleo’s ultimate ability that had a very low chance of causing instantaneous death.
“Now!”
A perfect opportunity to defeat the crazy beast! After confirming that Grid was trapped, Veradin shouted and the skeleton mages simultaneously chanted a prepared spell.
‘I got him!’
47 skeleton mages used magic at the same time. Veradin was convinced when he saw the explosive magic power. He had no doubt that Grid would receive huge damage from the magic bombardment and enter the immortality state. That’s right. In the midst of the urgent situation, Veradin hadn’t confirmed it yet.
[Death Knight Kyleo has returned to an inactive state.]
[The target didn’t receive any damage.]
[The target has resisted the absolute paralysis and poison.]
These notification windows!
“What?”
Veradin’s face was dismayed as he belatedly checked the notification windows. Veradin couldn’t understand it. Kyleo’s dagger had clearly stabbed Grid’s heart. Veradin had seen it with his own eyes. Yet the attack was for nothing? Grid didn’t receive any damage?
“What is this…? Stop!”
Veradin was upset that things went differently than planned and hurriedly shouted. But it was too late. The necromancers commanded their summoned skeleton mages to activate the magic.
Huuuuuuong!
Gravity Boom. It was advanced black magic available to skeleton mages over level 300. It was commonly used as the ultimate spell of a skeleton mage. It modified the gravity of the specified area and slowed down the target, while causing an explosion. The spell was powerful but the scope was too narrow and the casting time was very long. It was even slower to deploy. It was almost impossible to hit a moving target with Gravity Boom.
That’s why…
“M-Moving?”
Grid resisted Kyleo’s paralysis and poison with Khan’s posthumous work Valhalla and avoided Gravity Boom. Grid took one step towards Veradin.
Kwa kwa kwa kwang!
Two steps.
Peng! Pepepepeong!
Three steps. Every time he got closer, a senseless explosion occurred behind him. As the forest became a wasteland, Grid used Pagma’s Swordsmanship, Link, to get rid of the skeleton mages as he reached Veradin.
“This is the first time.” Grid’s voice, full of killing intent, reached Veradin’s eyes. “You’re going to die for me.”