Novel Will Be Taken Down on 17 May or Earlier Chapter 35 - Pure Integrity (1)

Harkon recalled his last days in the Empire.

 

His lord’s bitter voice was still unforgettable.

 

“The trial is not over. Harkon.”

 

“…Your Majesty.”

 

“What the hell does God want from me? Even if I become emperor, I can’t fathom the meaning. I feel like I’ve been thrown into a deep darkness where no light shines…”

 

The demons appeared and the adventurers disappeared.

 

Not only that, the citizens and the territory of the Empire evaporated without a trace.

 

Even the Mage Tower.

 

Harkon was certain.

 

The demons were the cause of all this.

 

However, even if he knew the reason, there was no way to fix it.

 

Fighting against the demon beyond that strength was a series of despair.

 

His lord was aware of it.

 

“I heard that the commander of the demon army has appeared in the northwest. Thousands of soldiers will die on this expedition. I’m driving them to death with my own hands.”

 

“Your Majesty, such words…”

 

“Harkon. Every night I ask God and Goddess. What have we done so wrong? If they feel any pity for us like this, I want them to let me know what choice I should make.”

 

The Emperor laughed bitterly.

 

“But I never receive a single response.”

 

Harkon couldn’t say anything.

 

He just did his duty as the sword of his lord.

 

“I’ll be back after I get rid of the demon army’s commander. Your Majesty.”

 

That was his last memory.

 

When he came to his senses during the expedition.

 

“…!”

 

Harkon woke up in a strange world.

 

At that time, for the first time, Harkon could understand his lord’s feelings.

 

Really, that feeling of being abandoned by God.

 

“Why!? Why are we here!? We were going to get the commander of the demon army..…!!”

 

This strange world was the home of adventurers.

 

The missing adventurers were here.

 

The evaporated buildings, people, and the Mage Tower also existed here.

 

When he found out about it, he had hope.

 

But that hope soon disappeared like a bubble.

 

“…You don’t know the reason either?”

 

The adventurer’s hometown was also in chaos.

 

The demon’s magic had reached here.

 

‘What am I supposed to do here?’

 

The first thing he thought of was the Mage Tower.

 

‘If it’s the Mage Tower.’

 

If it was their wisdom.

 

There might be a way to overcome this situation.

 

But weren’t they the mages of the Mage Tower that had no regard even for the Emperor?

 

He couldn’t really expect their help.

 

Then a rumor came in.

 

“…Yusra Islands?”

 

The legendary treasure island.

 

The rumor of the Yusra Islands appearing in this world.

 

Is it a ray of hope?

 

Honestly, he had no expectations.

 

‘Legends are only legends.’

 

Even if the treasure of the Yusra Islands exists.

 

What good would the treasure be in this situation?

 

Nevertheless, the reason why Harkon and the Knights of Lionheart visited the Yusra Islands was simple.

 

He felt like he’d go crazy if he stayed still.

 

‘…I can’t lose.’

 

If the demons were the cause of everything.

 

He wanted to resist the demons’ trick until the end.

 

Then, he met a man, an adventurer.

 

‘That brooch? That’s definitely from the Mage Tower…!’

 

At first, he thought it was a great opportunity.

 

To think that there would be an adventurer who had a close relationship with the Mage Tower.

 

He thought he’d be able to get in touch with the Mage Tower through him.

 

He approached the man with that purpose.

 

But as time went by, that thought changed.

 

‘… Even if he notices my impure purpose.’

 

Rather than taking issue with it.

 

The man was generous enough to let it go.

 

That generosity was also shown in battle.

 

Even though he possessed such magical abilities.

 

He just opened the way for them to take part in it.

 

Harkon, who was familiar with the arrogant mages of the Mage Tower.

 

He couldn’t help but admire.

 

‘This is the attitude of a true nobleman…!’

 

From that point on.

 

“Sir Hoyeol.”

 

He changed the address honorific for Adventurer Lee Hoyeol.

 

But the admiration didn’t end there.

 

The island shook and revealed a golden palace.

 

Harcon was well aware of the creepy aura.

 

‘Demons exist here, too.’

 

A pretty powerful one, at that.

 

Harkon swallowed a sigh.

 

‘In the end, am I playing in the palm of their hands again this time?’

 

But the sigh soon turned into a sigh of relief.

 

“I’ve been waiting.”

 

“…?”

 

“You despicable demon pretending to be a great evil.”

 

“…!!”

 

It was also thanks to Hoyeol.

 

Harkon couldn’t believe it even when he saw it.

 

The demon.

 

How could he be so confident in front of the thing pretending to be a great evil?

 

‘What the hell is that unshakable elegance?’

 

This kind of attitude was not seen in Harkon himself, not even the Emperor had it.

 

Harkon couldn’t help but blame himself.

 

“…It’s my fault, Your Majesty. If only I knew a little bit sooner.”

 

If only he had known Sir Hoyeol’s existence.

 

Before the demons’ clutches spread throughout the Empire.

 

He could’ve killed them.

 

Harkon regretted that for a moment.

 

Soon, his eyes flashed.

 

‘Yeah. This is an opportunity to correct my mistake.’

 

There was no need for further excuses.

 

The demons existed here, in the world of adventurers.

 

It didn’t matter if this was a trial from God or punishment from heaven.

 

‘I will fight back.’

 

How could he say that he would protect the Empire and the Emperor if he couldn’t even defeat the demons of this world!

 

As if supporting Harkon’s decision, Hoyeol’s words continued.

 

“I don’t believe in God.”

 

Indeed, it was a declaration befitting of Hoyeol.

 

‘Maybe we’ll get along.’

 

Harkon smiled.

 

Pound–

 

The heart of the sleeping lion began to beat again.

 

*

 

Knights of the Lionheart.

 

The reason they were called the most powerful Knights of Arcana.

 

I could see why.

 

Clink–

 

Skeleton approached with clinking sounds.

 

The level of those nasty bastards was as high as 500.

 

The moment I confirmed that, I was naturally astonished.

 

I heard Leonie’s incredulous voice.

 

“…The difficulty also sucks. Seriously.”

 

Of course, there would be differences in the way of expressing it.

 

I agreed.

 

No matter how bad it is, what’s with the difficulty level?

 

[Sleepless Soldier: Lv.500]

 

[Sleepless Soldier: Lv.500]

 

[Sleepless Soldier: Lv.500]…

 

If there were only one or two of them, I wouldn’t have said anything.

 

There were so many of them that you could see them from a distance.

 

Even if the undead was a race with clear weakness.

 

If the level difference was this extreme, even their weak points would be dull.

 

‘Is it impossible to save up mana?’

 

The moment I thought so.

 

“Give your heart. So that Sir Hoyeol can reach the great evil!”

 

Suddenly, I heard Harkon’s cry.

 

“Give our heart!”

 

I could feel the morale of the Knights of Lionheart boiling.

 

It wasn’t an illusion.

 

The knights on the front lines.

 

They literally began to smash the skeletons.

 

The people that stood out among them.

 

There were three knights, including Harkon.

 

[Harkon Kingsguard: Lv.600]

 

[Yesica Bright: Lv.430]

 

[Enoch Lauren : Lv.400]

 

Swoosh–

 

Harkon’s blade shone softly.

 

Every time he swung his sword, the skeletons collapsed helplessly.

 

Harkon’s level was overwhelmingly superior to skeletons, so it wasn’t strange.

 

But Yesica and Enoch.

 

How can I explain the performance of those two knights?

 

‘They’re definitely inferior in terms of level. but.’

 

Although not as good as Harkon, They were doing a great job.

 

It was a strength that went beyond their level.

 

I could figure out why.

 

‘Shining sword. They have that too?’

 

Swoosh–

 

It wasn’t a bright light like Harkon.

 

But Yesica and Enoch.

 

A faint light shimmered from both their swords.

 

It was the source of strength that even offset the level.

 

I looked at the light with Grandfel’s eyes.

 

Just like the first time I saw 『magic』.

 

Exploration, interference, manifestation…

 

Like when I scribble words I didn’t even know on paper.

 

I was able to recognize the identity of that light.

 

‘…Sword aura.’

 

Does such a thing really exist?

 

Even I was doubtful.

 

But I didn’t have to think too hard.

 

Like magic, it was something I would know when I experienced it.

 

And at this moment, what’s more important than that.

 

‘By the way, what? You give your heart me?’

 

Somehow, Harkon’s attitude was getting more and more intense.

 

‘It’s scary. I am scared.’

 

Of course, I didn’t even take note of that declaration.

 

I was taking it for granted.

 

Naturally, the players present reacted violently.

 

“…How did you build that level of intimacy?”

 

“Uh, he’s a monster. A monster.”

 

“As expected, you are beyond imagination, Hoyeol-ssi!”

 

Nam Taemin.

 

It didn’t seem to be a common sight for top rankers either.

 

Wouldn’t this be a situation where I can square up my shoulder?

 

I didn’t know what this was, but I might have felt flattered.

 

However, my shoulders were heavy.

 

Noblesse Oblige.

 

Thanks to that tiring setup.

 

I couldn’t help but feel responsible for the sacrifice of the Knights of Lionheart.

 

So.

 

“Found it.”

 

A shadow sitting on the throne.

 

A message appeared over its head.

 

‘Seven Deadly Sins, Incarnation of Greed’

 

I wasn’t shaken even in the face of that great evil.

 

Tap tap-

 

Confident steps.

 

Upright back.

 

An unyielding gaze on the throne.

 

I opened my mouth.

 

“How long are you planning to sit? You little demon.”

 

Just like always.

 

“Befitting an inferior race, you have no manners.”

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

“!”

 

Nam Taemin and Leonie.

 

The two shouted, without being able to tell who spoke first.

 

“Everyone, back off!!”

 

“Don’t come any closer!!”

 

It wasn’t just any other monster, it was a demon.

 

It was basic common sense that demons were stronger than their absolute level.

 

Demons that inflict terrible status abnormality.

 

“It’s an opponent you can deal with quantity alone!’

 

The guild members, who had lowers levels and lower equipments, wouldn’t be able to bear it.

 

It was an order made with such judgment.

 

Even so.

 

“Fuck, seriously.”

 

Leonie chewed her lower lip.

 

It wasn’t possible to go unscathed.

 

Her current level was 352.

 

There were 300-level differences.

 

“…This is a big deal, isn’t it?”

 

Level 369.

 

It was the same for Nam Taemin.

 

Berserker and barbarian.

 

The more unfavorable the war situation, the higher their fighting spirit.

 

But, their excellent fighting sense was telling them.

 

That they were properly fucked.

 

However, those two were quick to judge the situation.

 

‘…Even if we can’t do anything.’

 

They couldn’t be a burden.

 

Having made up his mind, Nam Taemin opened his mouth.

 

“First of all, I’ll try to hold out as long as I can. However, if I can no longer resist the status abnormalities……. I’ll get out of the battle as soon as I notice.”

 

“Me too… Sir. I’ll just cut off the Achilles’ heel if I think it won’t work… Sir.”

 

“Oh, that’s a good way.”

 

They would cut the Achilles’ heel themselves.

 

Indeed, it was a declaration befitting of berserker and barbarian.

 

It sounded ignorant but it was the best decision.

 

Because they had seen it a lot.

 

Players who pointed a knife at their allies due to status abnormalities.

 

It was better to crawl on the ground than to be a threat to their allies.

 

Because the injuries they got from the former could be healed once they survived it.

 

“…?!”

 

The moment they thought like that.

 

The one sitting on the throne moved.

 

At the same time.

 

Suddenly, their chest began to feel stuffy.

 

[The Seven Deadly Sins, the Incarnation of Greed, is watching you.]

 

…What is this message?

 

“Damn it.’

 

They couldn’t even hold out for one second?

 

It was no ordinary demon.

 

It was literally ‘great evil’.

 

At this rate, getting a status abnormality was only a matter of time.

 

They might aim their sword at their ally, at Hoyeol.

 

They had to quickly get out…

 

[Your judgment is clouded by unbearable desire.]

 

…No, did they really need to do that?

 

If they just scratched this stuffy chest.

 

Wouldn’t it be all over?

 

[Status abnormality: Greed occurs]

 

The moment when those two tried to pick up their sword with trembling hands.

 

They heard Hoyeol’s voice.

 

“There is no need for that.”

 

It was a very understanding voice.

 

“Here I am.”

 

Enough to calm the greed seething in their heart.

 

Clang.

 

Two swords fell to the floor.

 

…What had they been thinking?

 

At those words, those two suddenly came to their senses.

 

It wasn’t an illusion.

 

Hoyeol had neutralized the great evil’s status abnormality.

 

Despite sitting arrogantly on the throne.

 

“W-Who the hell are you? How…?”

 

The uneasy, shaky voice was proof of that.

 

[The Vampire Count’s Orb has been chosen as an offering]

 

[Skill ‘Exorcism’ is activated.]

 

[Invite Incarnation of Greed of the Seven Deadly Sins to the ‘ritual’.]

 

The demon hunt had begun.