Novel Will Be Taken Down on 17 May or Earlier Chapter 30 - You've picked the wrong opponent (1)

Lion’s head.

 

Harkon Kingsguard’s eyes sank.

 

At first, doubts prevailed over him.

 

‘…I didn’t see it wrong.’

 

For the Emperor to establish a friendly relationship with the Mage Tower.

 

He sent a gift.

 

It looked fragmented.

 

But in itself, it was like a work of art.

 

It was definitely the hexagram brooch.

 

Magic tools of that level were uncommon.

 

‘But how could an adventurer use that magic tool…?’

 

The Mage Tower community was more than just a group.

 

Mages who moved only to explore the truth.

 

If they were interested in continental supremacy.

 

‘It would have taken less than a year for them to unify the continent.’

 

So it didn’t make any sense.

 

Did he say his name was Lee Hoyeol?

 

From that name alone, it was clear that he was an adventurer.

 

‘How can he possess a magic tool of the Mage Tower?’

 

Did he steal the magic tool from the Mage Tower?

 

It was impossible.

 

It was a possibility not worth thinking about.

 

Then there was only one answer.

 

‘The Mage Tower gave him that magic tool.’

 

Willingly.

 

To be honest, Harkon didn’t understand.

 

‘Why to an adventurer?’

 

Even if they were looking for the truth.

 

The Mage Tower was not friendly to anyone.

 

To put it in one word…

 

Yeah, they were some kind of ‘natural disaster’.

 

To explore the truth.

 

They were monsters that could destroy everything that stood in their way.

 

‘…No, the reason doesn’t matter.’

 

Harkon decided.

 

“Now that I know that you are connected to the Mage Tower. It would be presumptuous to ask you to step back.”

 

Without knowing the cause.

 

In the current situation where he fell into the world of adventurers.

 

All Harcon could do was pray.

 

But he didn’t expect to meet an adventurer that had a connection with the Mage Tower.

 

‘If it’s the Mage Tower, about this situation… No, they may have already found a solution.’

 

This was a chance to get in touch with the Mage Tower.

 

Even if he got caught up in the natural disaster.

 

Harkon had no intention of missing this opportunity.

 

“So, adventurer. Won’t you defeat that monster with us?”

 

But before that, he had to verify it.

 

Whether that adventurer really had a connection with the Mage Tower.

 

Or whether he got the hexagram brooch by luck.

 

‘If his ability is questionable…’

 

He would ask where the brooch came from.

 

Whatever the reason, that magic tool was a gift from the Emperor.

 

Lionheart, the strongest knights in the Empire and the Emperor’s hands and feet.

 

As their leader, he should have that much authority.

 

‘I’ll know when I see it.’

 

Harkon thought he had sufficiently hidden his true feelings.

 

However, he was taken aback by the answer that came back.

 

“But there is a give and take in everything. Always keep that in mind, Knight Commander of Lionheart, Sir Harkon Kingsguard.”

 

…That man has seen through him!

 

Exactly what he was trying to do.

 

Harkon realized it in that short conversation.

 

‘He understood my intentions, but he readily complied.’

 

Keep in mind that there is give and take.

 

But the man didn’t just let it go.

 

‘I made a mistake.’

 

When that intention was revealed, the positions of him and the adventurer were completely reversed.

 

Completely.

 

Now it was them, not the adventurer, who had to prove themselves.

 

“I will keep that in mind, adventurer.”

 

To repent for his negligence.

 

He swore to his heart.

 

And in the present.

 

Sksksk–

 

Stairs embroidered in the sky.

 

The moment he took a step.

 

The strange sight of the stairs disappearing and reappearing.

 

It was truly magic.

 

Crackle–!

 

Harkon climbed the stairs and recalled the conversation just now.

 

– Harkon. I will assist you.

 

– Assist me. What do you mean by that, adventurer?

 

– I will open the way

 

Harkon clenched his teeth.

 

‘Can I still be confident that I’m a knight of the emperor!?’

 

Not only he had raised unnecessary doubts.

 

He was receiving the man’s consideration.

 

At a time when they had to prove their ability.

 

Patter–!

 

“I will not disappoint you now, adventurer.”

 

Focus.

 

Gooo–!

 

The sword glowed faintly.

 

Sword aura.

 

Soon, Harkon’s sword pierced the turtle’s neck.

 

One after another, the knight swordsmen flew in.

 

They took the monster’s last breath.

 

Harkon wasn’t happy at all.

 

‘It’s only natural that I don’t deserve it.’

 

By simply giving up his contribution.

 

He didn’t think he had paid off his debt to the adventurer, Hoyeol.

 

He owed him more.

 

So without delay.

 

Harkon shouted at the knights.

 

“Finish the repairs quickly. We will continue to be with the adventurer Lee Ho-yeol.”

 

*

 

[Your level has gone up]…

 

That welcomed message stopped exactly at the twentieth.

 

20 levels at once.

 

As expected of a named monster.

 

This experience point, too, was worthy of the strongest monster in the Yusra Islands.

 

‘I am at level 166.’

 

I was raising my level at a fast pace, but…

 

It was inevitable that I felt inadequate.

 

It was the same even with the current battle without having to go far.

 

‘If only I had reached level 300.’

 

I could borrow a tool better than this brooch from the Mage Tower.

 

With the effect of the magic tool, I could have hunted the giant turtle by shooting magic.

 

But there was nothing more meaningless than lamenting the impossible.

 

‘It’s over. It is.’

 

I opened the inventory.

 

A loot that was acquired automatically with a high contribution.

 

To be exact, I was identifying the treasure of the island.

 

[Treasure of the Island, Broken Crown]

 

[Grade: Epic]

 

[Restriction: Lv.500]

 

[Effect: None]

 

[Description: It’s an old crown.]

 

…What is this?

 

What kind of information window doesn’t have a balance?

 

The first thing that caught my eye was the grade.

 

Normal ▶ Magic ▶ Rare ▶ Unique ▶ Epic

 

Because of this personality, I didn’t show it with my body.

 

I was very surprised.

 

Epic grade item..!

 

‘Epic items haven’t appeared in Arcana for a while, right?’

 

Of course, during the decade I left Arcana.

 

Maybe an epic-grade item that I didn’t know about was dropped.

 

However, even considering that, epic items were not easy to find. Because there was still no information about it.

 

‘There was no history of its transaction at the auction.’

 

That’s why I said it didn’t have a balance.

 

Yeah, if it had an epic grade.

 

To match its grand scale.

 

Shouldn’t it have a great effect?

 

‘The level restriction is so high.’

 

It has no effect!

 

It only had a single line in the description.

 

There was no sign of sincerity in sight.

 

Treasure of the island, my ass…!

 

My mood swung up and down like a rollercoaster.

 

Of course, I didn’t express it.

 

The fact that I didn’t feel happy or sad about something like this.

 

I knew it through experience, even if I didn’t have to go into settings.

 

Besides, there was another piece of evidence.

 

[Collapse progress: 4/10]

 

As expected, my guess was right.

 

It was not the treasure of the island that drove the collapse.

 

It was the treasure of the island that was stained with ‘greed’.

 

The proof of that was the fact that one of the treasures, the crown, came into my inventory, but the progress didn’t increase.

 

I thought to myself.

 

‘I have no greed.’

 

If I did have it, it would have disappeared quickly.

 

I checked the crown’s information.

 

‘Still, there may be something hidden.’

 

Does epic grade called epic grade for nothing?

 

In the moment I tried to comfort myself.

 

‘…Why did they give it up anyway?’

 

Harkon and other knights came to mind.

 

Thanks to them giving up their disposal contribution, not only I monopolized the experience points, but I also automatically acquired the treasure of the island.

 

It was an unexpected development.

 

“Indeed, you’re as honorable as your reputation. Knights of the Lionheart.”

 

…Go figure.

 

I felt that their excessive kindness was also only natural.

 

Still, I needed to know why.

 

There were also the things I said.

 

‘Keep in mind the give and take.’

 

Your mind when you enter the bathroom is different from when you come out of it. ^[1] ‘Your mind when you enter the bathroom is different from when you come out of it’ is a Korean proverb. I think it roughly means you change your mind quickly once your urgent task is done.

 

If I had known this was going to happen, I would have just kept my mouth shut.

 

While I was regretting that.

 

“Once again, I am indebted to you.”

 

…What? You’re indebted to me? You?

 

What kind of debt do you owe me?

 

In an instant, a thousand thoughts passed through my mind.

 

‘Because I made the road with the stairs? That’s it?’

 

But I replied without blinking an eye.

 

“It doesn’t matter as long as you keep that in mind.”

 

“Of course, your words have been engraved in this heart.”

 

Perhaps because I didn’t even blink an eye.

 

I could notice.

 

That he was definitely misunderstanding something.

 

‘Which part have you misunderstood?’

 

Looking back, it was natural to not know.

 

But there was no need to worry more about it.

 

Well, isn’t there a saying?

 

‘…If you can’t avoid it, you have to enjoy it.’

 

Besides, this was not a one-sided relationship.

 

It was a give-and-take relationship.

 

If I received more because of his delusion?

 

I just had to return it.

 

‘It’s the standard.’

 

This lofty pride.

 

Grandfel, who couldn’t live being indebted to others, would know better.

 

Harkon took off his helmet, revealing his middle-aged face.

 

For a knight commander, he had a noble and gentle impression.

 

He put his fist on his chest again and spoke to me.

 

“I don’t know what purpose you have. At least here. At least in the Yusra Islands, we, the Knights of the Lionheart, will be your sword and shield.”

 

If this was in the Arcana game.

 

I would’ve taken screenshots non-stop.

 

For the Knights of Lionheart to say such a thing.

 

Talking big about it as if it was a lifetime achievement.

 

‘…This is amazing.’

 

But there was something else more surprising than that.

 

[The Knights of Lionheart join your party.]

 

Although it was limited to the Yusra Islands.

 

Perpas because they had sworn allegiance to me.

 

A party was created automatically.

 

Information about them flashed before my eyes.

 

In other words, I could see their level above their heads.

 

[Harkon Kingsguard: Lv.600]

 

[Yesica Bright: Lv.430]

 

[Enoch Lauren: Lv.400]…

 

Level 600.

 

As soon as I saw the number.

 

I could predict.

 

Currently, no players or guilds in Yusra Islands would be able to keep up with the strength of my party…! I couldn’t believe I was at a party like this with only level 166.

 

‘I should at least feel burdened.’

 

Now saying such a thing was enough to make my mouth ache.

 

There was no word ‘burden’ in my dictionary.

 

“I will respect your decision. Sir Harkon.”

 

I had the audacity to say.

 

What I would do with the Knights was obvious.

 

Tap tap–

 

I moved on and continued.

 

“Then let’s go to the next island.”

 

Either way, you have to get your money’s worth!

 

*

 

[The Yusra Islands begin to be stained with greed.]

 

[Collapse progress: 5/10]

 

At the message that appeared.

 

Kinber licked his dry lips.

 

“Let’s calm down.”

 

Supernova.

 

It was this patience that helped him get that title.

 

Hold it in. Hold it in.

 

In the end, he lost the patience to hold back.

 

[The Yusra Islands begin to be stained with greed.]

 

[Collapse progress: 6/10]

 

“…Fuck!”

 

However, perhaps because of the environment called Treasure Islands.

 

It was especially unbearable.

 

As if someone was whispering to him.

 

– Move.

 

– While you stay still like that

 

– What if the treasure gets taken away?

 

“…Shut up.”

 

He didn’t give up.

 

He was just looking for a clear opportunity.

 

Kinber believed himself to be a clever person.

 

“There are times when you have to hit-and-run on anything.”

 

Even after killing dozens or hundreds of players.

 

The fact that he was still walking around like this was the basis for his belief.

 

The reason why Kinber was holding his breath was simple.

 

The preys of the Yusra Islands were not easy to hunt.

 

‘Cowardly  bastards.’

 

The players were moving in groups of guilds or parties.

 

Well, it was the same for him.

 

This was always the time when he separated the prey from the packs.

 

It was to accelerate the process.

 

‘If the fight gets longer, it’s over.’

 

Because other players might flock to the commotion. When that happened, regardless of whether the hunt was successful or not, everything he had accumulated would come to an end.

 

So Kinber lurked here.

 

‘On this remote island.’

 

The number of players who reached this distance would be small.

 

Kinber licked his dry lips again.

 

“Assholes with heads full of flowers.”

 

Why do they take the hard way over the easy way?

 

It was incomprehensible to Kinber’s mind.

 

He was just grateful.

 

“Thanks to your ignorance of reality.”

 

He could take a shortcut.

 

At that moment, Kinber’s eyes flashed.

 

“…Oh.”

 

He saw prey in the distance.

 

A very tasty prey, too.

 

He didn’t know they would meet like this.

 

Indeed, paying attention to that man since the portal was worth it.

 

“Lee Hoyeol.”

 

The player who made a shocking debut.

 

His strength?

 

Kinber was also aware of it.

 

No, he couldn’t help but be aware of it.

 

TV, the Internet, and every media had been talking about that guy for a while.

 

That’s why he was a tasty prey.

 

“This moment when you’re still ignorant is the perfect time.”

 

When he felt like he really had become something.

 

When he was filled with delusion.

 

That was a good time to pop the prey like a balloon.

 

“That arrogance will kill you today.”

 

No matter how strong that guy was, Kinber’s preparation was meticulous.

 

Debuffs, status abnormalities, rare-grade poisons, etc…

 

In other words, that guy wouldn’t be able to handle it alone.

 

Kinber gave a signal.

 

“Everyone get ready.”

 

However.

 

Kinber never dropped the signal.

 

-…Kinber? Bastard, are you ready?

 

“…”

 

– Why is this bastard not talking?

 

The angry voices of the party rang in his ears.

 

But Kinber couldn’t say anything.

 

Lee Hoyeol.

 

And as if escorting him.

 

The knights in plate armor followed.

 

Above all, that lion pattern… There was no doubt.

 

They were the Knights of Lionheart.

 

“D-Does that make sense?”

 

Kinber realized it.

 

“…He wasn’t being arrogant.”

 

This overwhelming difference. 

 

It was impossible to reach by any shortcut.

 

At that moment.

 

‘U-Unbelievable…’

 

…How did that man notice him hiding?!

 

Lee Hoyeol.

 

The middle-aged knight who was walking alongside him met Kinber’s eyes.

• 1. ‘Your mind when you enter the bathroom is different from when you come out of it’ is a Korean proverb. I think it roughly means you change your mind quickly once your urgent task is done.