Chapter 110

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'Ugh, my head.'

He managed to land safely, but Hans immediately collapsed, clutching his head. The headache from the Time Deceleration penalty was stronger than he imagined.

He only used it for a short time, but the headache was this bad... he didn't know how he managed to use Time Deceleration for so long before.

Hans sighed and got up.

Perhaps because he hadn't used Time Deceleration for very long, the headache didn't last too long. That aside, how was he supposed to escape this forest?

Hans clicked his tongue.

He knew the orcs were crude, but he never imagined they would drop him like this. Had everyone who participated in the Warrior's Festival until now been treated like this?

Hans felt his already low first impression of the orcs drop even further. But he didn't have time for this kind of escapism.

Hans started moving.

"The forest of Aberka, huh."

Hans didn't just ride the wyvern here. He asked Dezra various questions, and Dezra, who seemed to like Hans, readily answered them.

Using that valuable information, he would escape this forest and make the orcs his allies.

Of course, he also had to consider mediating between the 12 Tribes and the orcs, but that was a story for later.

According to Dezra, this forest was death itself. Literally, all the creatures inhabiting this forest were hostile to intruders. For example, the sap from that vine over there.

Even if that vine was the same type as the edible one outside, it couldn't be eaten here. Because it was poisonous.

Dezra called it the "will of the forest."

In other words, Hans was essentially surrounded by enemies. Even obtaining basic food was difficult, so naturally, escaping the forest would be challenging.

"Fuck. Did I think this was too easy?"

Hans couldn't deny that he had been out of his mind. At this rate, it would be better to fight and win directly. That's how hopeless it seemed.

But he quickly swallowed that thought. It was no use crying over spilled milk. Regret wouldn't change anything.

So, he would move forward. That was the one thought that had brought him this far, and he would continue to move forward.

Hans took a step.

Despite being surrounded by trees and grass, the cold north wind continued to blow. It wasn't offering any protection.

Well, if the forest rejected intruders, this wasn't surprising.

Hans looked around.

Surprisingly, everything around him looked similar.

It was as if he was walking through a maze made of mirrors.

He had no idea where he was. He didn't know if it was because of the snow piled up in the forest, or the intense light that was almost white. He couldn't pinpoint the cause, but he knew it was dangerous. Р𝐚ꞐỔ𝐁Ε𝙨

He had once heard that if a person stayed in a room with only white for too long, they would go mad.

He didn't know if it was true or not, but... experiencing it firsthand, Hans thought it might be true. He didn't know where he was or how much time had passed.

In the end, Hans used his ability.

"Gasp... gasp...!!!"

His head ached. Even though he hadn't used Time Deceleration, Hans was staggering from the intense headache. It was because the forest environment was attacking him. If he hadn't used his ability, he might have fainted here.

Was this what Dezra was talking about?

He said that if your mental strength was weak, you would be quickly consumed by the forest.

Certainly, he was far from mentally strong.

Unlike others, he couldn't help but know. While training together, he had seen how weak he truly was.

Every time, he would think, If I didn't have this ability, what would I be?

Nothing, probably.

I hate myself for relying on this disgusting ability.

That's why I wanted to give up the Commander position...

...What was he thinking about?

Hans blinked.

He couldn't continue the thought.

It was partly due to the forest's influence, but more importantly, the surrounding scenery had suddenly changed.

Just a moment ago, Hans had been in the forest. But the moment he used Time Stop, the trees and grass that made up the forest vanished, replaced by an old temple.

No, it couldn't even be called a temple. The foundation was crumbled, and the place was filled with broken stone fragments and remnants of shattered statues.

It was more accurate to call it the ruins of what was once a temple.

Hans could only blink, stunned by the sudden change. He had just used Time Stop, and the forest scenery had changed?

There was a limit to how powerful magic could be...

No, no. This is beyond magic.

The veteran gamer knowledge in Hans's head clicked. This game had places called "ruins."

They were similar to dungeons, and if you entered them and defeated the boss, you would obtain legendary items and a power-up, essentially a strengthening system for the player.

This was one of the reasons why this game, despite being an erotic game, was also considered an RPG. It had a proper growth system.

Compared to other erotic games that treated it as a side element, this game had implemented it as a core gameplay element. There were even sex scenes where you fought and won to then rape the heroine.

However, the ruins had to meet certain conditions to be unlocked.

According to the game's lore, they were power crystals left behind by ancient sages who foresaw this situation, intended to train the chosen one.

'But is it okay for me to do this?'

Hans pondered.

To put it simply, the ruins were power-up events prepared for the game's protagonist.

If he didn't properly utilize the growth content, including the ruins, and if he couldn't unite the alliance, the only outcome was an ending where everyone was defeated by the Demon King, the final boss.

Even if it wasn't that, it would be a boring normal ending.

Well... even the good ending wasn't that different, but...

Hans changed his mind.

Aberka appeared as a region in the game, and he could actually visit it, but the game didn't implement any ruins in this region. But that created a contradiction in the lore.

The ruins were prepared by the sages who foresaw this situation for the chosen one.

In fact, as you progressed through the game's story, you would naturally encounter the ruins.

Putting aside the hassle of clearing them, he remembered the 17 ruins prepared for the protagonist.

This meant that this wasn't a ruin prepared for the protagonist. But then why was this ruin here?

Hans's head was filled with confusion.

"I have no choice but to try it now."

"What do you think is the hardest thing to overcome in this world?"

Hans looked up.

He saw it rising from the crumbled ruins as it gradually took on a human form. However, before it could fully materialize, it spoke.

"Strength? Or fear?"

His vision blurred.

Just facing it, Hans felt like running away.

Fear? Terror? No, those were not the words to describe it.

It was something primal telling him to run away now. If he didn't want to die.

But paradoxically, that fear rooted Hans to the spot.

Soon, it appeared before him.

Its two arms looked as if they were covered in flesh. Its face was massive like a rock, and it was even wearing glasses. Not only that, but its belly protruded.

It was the very image of a middle-aged man.

"The most fearsome thing is myself."

"..."

"So, what do you think? Are you ready to kill your... "

"Die!! You trash!!!"

It was instinct.

The trauma of being betrayed by something he truly loved. That trauma drove Hans's body to move. Even if it was just a game.

He had truly loved it. That game. Everything he had done. And now the cause of it all was right in front of him. He couldn't help but be enraged.

Hans instinctively moved.

It tried to move as well. It was a being that tested others, copying everything about them and making it its own. But even it couldn't grasp the true nature of its current opponent.

Of course, if the opponent was someone else, there might have been a chance of winning.

The power of Time Stop was that great. But unfortunately, his opponent was himself. Time Stop wouldn't work on him.

Hans's sword pierced through its heart.

Shattered fragments scattered across the ground.

And in the end, all that remained was a single sword.

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Chapter 111

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He was the one who moved alone in a world where everything had stopped.

But his sword was dull and powerless, unable to cut.

Hans blinked.

He couldn't believe the trial of the ruins ended so easily. But he was mistaken.

The trial given by the ruin he was in was to overcome himself. Facing oneself was harder than facing a powerful enemy. But what the ruin read was Hans's body.

To be more precise, it was the body of the future Hans that should have been there. But Hans was in a state where his soul had been swapped.

Even a ruin couldn't read that far.

So, it could only read Hans's vessel. And naturally, if his soul hadn't been swapped, the future Hans would have appeared as the Time Stop Uncle.

But Hans, unable to grasp that, was just bewildered. And humans tend to compromise when their thoughts can't keep up.

"It seems the difficulty of this ruin was low."

Of course, the lore book stated that ruins themselves were valuable treasures, but there was a gap between lore and the actual game.

Especially if the first ruin was incredibly difficult.

Players might get tired and quit.

So, naturally, the developers adjust the difficulty accordingly. Thinking about that, this place was probably a low-level ruin.

Thinking that way, Hans felt it made sense.

Then, the remaining problem was the sword on the ground.

Hans thought, Better to have it than not.

From experience, the equipment obtained from low-level ruins would eventually be replaced. It could be used well enough in the beginning, but sometimes there were traps among the ruin weapons.

There were definitely pieces of equipment that were worse than not having any at all.

In fact, Hans himself had experienced a bad ending during his newbie days because he recklessly used one.

"I have no choice but to slowly learn about this weapon."

In the case of equipment that self-destructed when used recklessly, depending on the situation, it could be disastrous if used in a truly dangerous situation. Ř𝐚𐌽ốβÈş

Hans carried the sword on his back.

Usually, swords were worn on the waist, but he carried it on his back like luggage. Perhaps dissatisfied with that, the sword on his back vibrated greatly, but Hans didn't notice.

The trial of the ruin was over, and the forest, which no longer had a reason to exist, soon regained its original form.

Hans looked up.

The forest reappeared. But it wasn't the horrifying forest he had seen before. It had become an ordinary winter forest.

Hans, barely relieved, soon realized a critical problem.

'I don't know the way.'

That's right.

Hans had only flown here on a wyvern. He hadn't actually asked Dezra for directions. This was because his thoughts were entirely focused on the Warrior's Festival.

"Holy shit. Seriously? This is happening?"

Hans couldn't hide his shock.

He never imagined he would overcome the huge mountain that was the Warrior's Festival, only to be tripped up by the relatively small hill of finding his way.

But what could he do? The milk was already spilled, and Hans was now a lost soul who had to find his way. He finally accepted that fact and started walking.

Securing food and water was the priority.

Fortunately, he remembered which direction the wyvern had flown. That snowy mountain range over there.

Most of the wyverns headed toward the snowy mountain range. That meant there was at least an orc village near it. And the snowy mountain range was visible if he climbed a tree.

'I never thought I'd use this like this.'

Hans had learned how to navigate through forests from Cluna. He learned it to travel through the Dwarf Kingdom and the elves' forest, but it was proving to be very helpful.

If it weren't for that, he might have gotten lost in the forest and ended up stranded. If that happened, his dignity as Commander would be the least of his concerns. He would be worried about his survival.

It was a good thing it didn't come to that.

Although he hadn't mastered the "Mountain Breeze Steps" he learned from the elves, even his clumsy implementation was enough to get him out of here.

Hans continued forward without rest, stepping on the snow piled up alongside the cold winter wind.

The sword on his back continued to vibrate, but Hans didn't notice.

"Finally arrived... Huh?"

A loud explosion caught Hans's attention as he finally reached the snowy mountain range after running through the forest.

Flames erupted from the center of the mountain range, accompanied by smoke.

'Could it be a monster attack?'

He briefly thought that, but he quickly shook his head. If monsters had appeared, the mountain range wouldn't be this quiet. There would be some traces.

Hans was able to make a quick judgment.

The Royal Knights members must have caused trouble again.

He had to get up there quickly and stop them before it was too late. With that in mind, he started running.

If it weren't for the avalanche that suddenly came crashing down, Hans would have reached them easily. The massive avalanche pouring down from the mountain was like the mountain range itself spitting out its fury.

"Ugh."

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Meanwhile, as Hans was struggling with the avalanche, his unit members, as he had expected, were unleashing their fury.

To be precise, everyone noticed the moment Hans fell, but surprisingly, they swallowed their anger at that moment. Because it felt like they were about to kill all the orcs. But if they did, it would put the Commander in a difficult position.

So, they tried to avoid killing. But Dezra poured oil on the fire.

As soon as they arrived at the village, Dezra said to them,

"Hans. Did he leave any last words?"

Dezra and the orcs didn't understand the concept of consideration. It was far from their nature, and in this harsh environment, consideration could easily lead to everyone's death.

So, they kept their words short and to the point.

Ironically, this was how it sounded to them:

– The Commander is going to die. So, did he leave any last words?

But that wasn't what triggered them.

Perhaps Helia or the other members might have reacted that way, but Cluna and Yuren understood the orcs' nature.

Of course, they were furious.

But what ignited the oil was another orc.

Among the orcs, there were those who felt sexual desire towards other races, and that was the problem when combined with their aforementioned nature.

"If he's dead, do you need a man?"

"What?"

"What do you mean?"

"Stop. Nothing is decided."

It was such an absurd question that even Dezra, the leader of the orcs, had to stop it.

Of course, in Dezra's case, he meant for them to stop spouting ridiculous fantasies, but to them, already mentally unstable from being separated from Hans, it was a statement that could easily detonate them.

The first one to unleash her fury was Yuren.

The only reason she didn't revert to her original form was the thin thread of reason she still clung to.

However, none of the orcs her fists reached remained unscathed.

Of course, the aftermath caused an avalanche, but Rusty Anvil, where the orcs lived, was located inside a cave on the mountainside, so it wasn't heavily affected by the avalanche.

Dezra glanced over.

He saw his fellow orc, beaten to a pulp, lying sprawled out.

After observing it for a moment, Dezra turned his gaze to her.

"Do you have anything to say?"

"No. Approaching another's woman is a sin."

"So, you'll let it slide?"

"Gladly. A fitting punishment."

As Dezra nodded, Yuren withdrew her fury.

The flames that had been blazing around her disappeared in an instant. Two other orcs cleared away the one that had been beaten to a pulp.

They were all furious, but because Yuren had taken care of it herself, they couldn't unleash their anger and could only suppress it.

Helia clicked her tongue as she watched Yuren.

She had directly shown her anger, warning the orc while simultaneously controlling their collective rage. In that brief moment, acting purely on instinct, she had gained more than expected.

'I definitely need to be most wary of that woman.'

No wonder she was the former Commander.

Yuren had vented her anger while simultaneously calming everyone else and warning the offender. This heightened Helia's vigilance.

"Wait."

"Huh?"

"That voice...?!"

Just one word. But that one word instantly erased their anger. The voice they longed to hear was coming from above.

Their gazes simultaneously shot towards the sky. There, they saw the Commander descending from the sky.

Hans, who had literally leaped into the air, landed on the ground.

Dezra was stunned.

He had clearly dropped him into the forest as usual. No one had ever returned, yet he couldn't believe he had come back.

As everyone's emotions focused on Hans,

'... I sprained my ankle.'

That was the only thought in Hans's mind.

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Chapter 112

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Actually, the avalanche wasn't a big deal for Hans. He could easily avoid it using Time Stop.

He was just overwhelmed by the sight of an avalanche, something he had never seen before.

He treated it like a tourist attraction, using Time Stop to pass through it, and as expected, he found the orcs and his unit members in a standoff.

Hans clicked his tongue.

'It can't be helped. I have to go and stop them quickly.'

But simply walking up to them seemed a bit anticlimactic. After some thought, Hans came up with a plan.

'Jump, do a somersault in the air, and land.'

It was a bit classic, but he couldn't think of a better way to peacefully get their attention.

He immediately put his plan into action.

'Damn ankle.'

And as a result, he sprained his ankle. Hans froze like a statue, but ironically, that allowed Dezra to take in his appearance.

Was it a lie? Or a trick?

No, it wasn't. He couldn't sense anything so trivial from this man who stood firm.

Then, Dezra noticed something he had never seen before on the man.

"What is the sword on your back?"

"Ah, this. They gave it to me after I passed the trial of the forest."

"T-Then... the legendary holy sword...?!"

"Holy sword?"

Hans's eyes widened in surprise.

He had bad memories associated with the word "holy sword." He had gone through all sorts of hardships to obtain a holy sword, only to find out after finally winning it that the real holy sword was "our noble hearts" or something like that.

Naturally, Hans was incredibly annoyed, but what could he do?

[T/N: Lmao bro is afraid of getting jebaited again]

After that incident, he erased the word "holy sword" from his mind. But to think it would reappear here...

But in a way, it was inevitable. Dwarves were creators.

And that also meant they were imitators.

According to legend, swords were created by imitating the first sword. In other words, they needed something to imitate.

The holy sword.

Dwarves weren't childish dreamers, they recreated reality. Therefore, the fact that dwarves had created holy swords meant that a real holy sword existed. 𝑅𝓪Ｎо𝖇Ëᶊ

Vwooom!!

The sword, carried like luggage on Hans's back, vibrated violently, announcing its presence in response to Dezra's words. Ironically, it added weight to Dezra's claim.

Hans clicked his tongue.

The holy sword, however, felt wronged.

It had waited thousands of years for the prophesied hero to appear, only to be met with this foolish being who couldn't even hear it speak.

What did the sages sacrifice their lives for to build those ruins, and why were they placed there as a safeguard against future threats?

The holy sword felt like weeping tears of blood.

"This is a holy sword?"

"Yes. And according to legend, the holy sword speaks to those who are worthy, those it recognizes as its master."

"So you're saying it's speaking to the Commander right now?!"

"Of course! The Commander will surely be recognized as its master!"

"..."

And Hans, who had been spacing out, was suddenly cornered. The holy sword on his back suddenly started glowing and vibrating, adding weight to Dezra's words.

Besides, it would be strange if a holy sword didn't have such a function. More importantly, several ego swords that could speak had already appeared in the game, and he had even used one of them himself.

Its performance was rather underwhelming, but it was still considered a final weapon, so many builds were created to try and utilize it.

'But... I can't hear anything?'

The biggest problem, however, was that Hans couldn't hear anything. No matter how hard he listened, there was no sound.

The implication was clear.

The holy sword hadn't recognized him as its master yet. Well, that was to be expected. To be precise, the holy sword was constantly trying to communicate, but Hans couldn't hear it.

He gulped.

Expectant gazes focused on him. Most of them were hoping that he would be chosen as the holy sword's master. But what was he supposed to do if he couldn't hear it?

[Could it be... he can't even hear the holy sword's voice?]

[I'm disappointed in you, Teacher.]

[The orcs seem more reliable.]

'That is exactly what's going to happen...!!!'

It wasn't just a delusion, it was almost paranoia. But he knew he wouldn't receive a favorable response.

So, here was the problem, how could he maintain his dignity as Commander?

The most important thing was performance.

But he had to control the intensity. Too strong, and it would be overkill. Too weak, and they would be suspicious.

Hans quickly calculated.

Then, his actions were clear. He slowly drew the holy sword from his back, making sure everyone could see it. The orcs and his unit members watched in awe.

His unit members reacted similarly. Yuren and Ruby, in particular, expressed admiration for the sword's elegance. But no one could have predicted what Hans did next.

He threw the sword with all his might.

"W-What the...?!"

"What's going on?!"

"..."

Not only the other orcs, but even Dezra, the Rusty Tyrant, was shocked.

It was a holy sword, no less. A holy sword obtained from the Warrior's Festival, which had devoured countless heroes.

No one here would claim it was a fake.

Even if it wasn't a holy sword, it was a sword of comparable value. And yet, he threw it away.

As if it were useless trash.

Hans, on the other hand, was relieved. He had successfully caught everyone's attention. The gamble was about to begin.

"How unpleasant. Who chooses whom?"

A cold, icy voice dominated the space.

Hans himself didn't realize it, but his name was already known to most races.

The Commander who revived the fallen Royal Knights.

The hero of the counterattack.

Even if he was a fraud, his reputation carried weight. And the powerful beings gathered here understood the Commander's true intentions.

"I don't need a weapon that tries to control its master."

His achievements and position lent weight to his words. His voice, laced with suppressed anger, seemed to crush everything around him.

The only one who spoke up was Ruby.

"B-But Commander, this is a real holy sword."

"Is that so? Then I'll give it to you."

"But...!!"

"Isn't that strange?"

Ruby was flustered.

The weight of a holy sword was not light. A weapon that didn't suit its owner could consume them. Naturally, Ruby didn't think she was worthy.

But she couldn't bring herself to persuade the Commander further. His current aura was too intimidating.

In this dilemma, it was none other than Yuren, the former Commander, who came to Ruby's aid.

"You obtained the holy sword. Why would you give up that honor to your unit member?"

"One cannot become stronger by relying on a weapon."

"...That's true, but..."

"And Ruby is a dwarf. She could use the holy sword as a reference to create an even better weapon. So, leave it to her."

"I see. I'm convinced."

Anyone who had witnessed Hans's struggle to obtain the holy sword in the Dwarf Kingdom would probably burst into laughter, but unfortunately, there was no one like that here.

Instead, the orcs were moved by Hans's words.

One cannot become stronger by relying on a weapon. True. Of course, he wasn't denying the strength that weapons could provide. But had it always been like this?

Upon hearing the words "holy sword," some of the orcs had harbored desires to steal it. But after hearing Hans's words, they felt ashamed.

He discarded it so easily.

"That's... true strength."

Dezra, the Rusty Tyrant, couldn't help but admire him. He had never seen a human like this, except for the one he had met a hundred years ago.

A hundred years ago, when more than half the continent had fallen, on that day when even the battle-loving orcs trembled in fear, there was a human hero who fought against the demons alone until the very end.

The man called the Golden Knight.

Dezra saw his back in Hans.

'It seems like it worked out well...'

Vwooom!!

'Ugh?!'

He thought everything had been resolved perfectly, if it weren't for the holy sword that suddenly flew at him from behind. He almost stumbled but managed to grit his teeth and endure.

Hans turned around.

Somehow, the holy sword he had thrown to the ground was stuck to him like a leech. He tried to shake it off, but it wouldn't budge. The holy sword continued to vibrate.

As if begging him not to abandon it.

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Chapter 113

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– So, you be his strength.

The holy sword still remembered that voice.

The one who created it had seen the future and prepared for it. And she told the holy sword that it would be good to be his strength.

Following that order, the holy sword had slumbered within the ruins. It wasn't lonely. All it had left was its mission. So it waited, and waited, for an eternity.

For the prophesied day. But as time passed, it couldn't help but feel a sense of loneliness.

'I wish I had been created as a tool without emotions,' it thought.

But the wait eventually ended.

The hero who broke through the trials of the ruins and reached it finally appeared. Their first impression wasn't good, to say the least.

Putting aside his appearance, the power he possessed didn't seem that strong. It was a shame to call him a mere nouveau riche, but his power fell short of a true hero. That was the holy sword's first impression.

[You seem weak. But the fact you made it this far means you're something special, right?]

"..."

[Hey! Are you even listening to me?]

The holy sword's reaction was natural.

Only those worthy could hear its voice. In other words, the weak couldn't hear it. But could someone who passed the trials of the ruins not hear its voice?

Those trials were designed to filter out the weaklings. He had passed those trials, so even though he looked weak on the outside, he must have hidden strength.

The holy sword believed that.

But he didn't answer. The holy sword kept trying to talk to him, but he remained silent.

Soon, doubt turned into suspicion...

[Huh?]

The holy sword came to its senses, lying on the ground. As if it were worthless trash.

What is this? it thought. And then, it saw it. Hans's rage.

"How unpleasant. Who chooses whom?"

The cold, icy voice echoed in the holy sword's ears.

It finally realized.

The man hadn't been unable to hear its voice.

He had deliberately ignored it.

[No, why?! How could you?! I... I...!!]

"I don't need a weapon that tries to control its master."

[...!!!]

A weapon that tries to control its master.

Those words pierced the holy sword's heart like an arrow.

Had it been too excited to meet him after all these years? Or had it deluded itself into thinking it had to lead him?

It had forgotten the most important thing for a sword. A sword was merely a tool. And how to use that tool was entirely up to the master.

Even a humble, old kitchen knife could become a legendary blade capable of cutting anything if wielded by a master. Conversely, even a legendary blade would become trash if wielded by someone worthless. ＲἁＮồ₿Εş

"One cannot become stronger by relying on a weapon."

And that man understood that truth very well.

Yes, even though his power might be weak, he was like a sharp sword, honed to perfection through relentless self-discipline.

The holy sword was already moving. After eons, it had finally met a master worthy of the name. It didn't want to part with him. That was why it clung to him like a leech.

But naturally, from Hans's perspective, who couldn't hear the holy sword's voice, it was a nuisance. It was fine when he held it in his hand, but it fiercely resisted any other form of contact.

Dezra, the Rusty Tyrant, even tried to touch it, only to have his entire arm scorched as if struck by lightning. In the end, Hans had no choice but to take possession of the holy sword.

"This proves that the holy sword has a will of its own."

One of the reasons Hans tried to abandon the holy sword was that he felt unworthy of it, but the biggest reason was the holy sword's will.

Unlike his unit members, he couldn't avoid the sword. He had to be constantly vigilant, maintaining his dignity as Commander, 24 hours a day, with the holy sword by his side.

Furthermore, everyone around him was making a fuss about the holy sword, adding to the pressure.

He thought it was for the best to get rid of it, but he never imagined the holy sword would be so blatantly clingy.

"Hey, holy sword. Can you hear me?"

Vwooom!

"I can find you a better master."

Vvvvvvvooooooom!!!

Unlike the slight hum at first, it now vibrated violently as if an earthquake was occurring. It was so intense that the chair he was sitting on and the desk in front of him were completely shattered.

Hans sighed.

Like it or not, the holy sword was now his.

Until it found another master it liked, he had no choice but to carry it himself.

If another unit member carried it and got hurt, it would be his problem. Of course, Ruby was a little disappointed, but she didn't express her feelings further.

Hans clicked his tongue.

Considering the risks involved in carrying this holy sword, it would be much better for Ruby to have it. He didn't understand why it was suddenly acting up.

He was annoyed, but he didn't provoke it any further. Countless villains had self-destructed because they couldn't control their anger and ended up hurting others. He didn't want his name added to that list.

"It wasn't a complete waste."

"That's right. We formed a proper alliance with the orc tribe."

"He completed the Warrior's Festival alone. Orcs surprisingly keep their word, even if it costs them their lives."

"That's both a strength and a weakness."

They kept their word, no matter what.

It wasn't loyalty, it was closer to madness. For example, if they said they would destroy the beastmen, they would do it, no matter the cost.

Thankfully, thanks to his success in the Warrior's Festival, their image of the Royal Knights had improved, and they were able to establish cooperative relationships. But they were not to be taken lightly.

They could explode at any moment. And at the same time, he had to take care of the 12 Tribes as well. They were bound to express their dissatisfaction after he joined forces with the orcs.

He couldn't ignore that.

"Should I ask Bayard and bring her a gift?"

"I can see Lionheart Fortress!"

"So we've finally returned."

Although the orcs welcomed them warmly, Hans decided to leave after three days, fearing he might make a mistake if he stayed longer.

He had a valid excuse, he couldn't be away for too long.

The orcs showered them with gifts. Among them was even a tamed wyvern.

Hans frowned.

Riding a wyvern... it felt different.

What if I fall and die? No, of course he wouldn't die because he had Time Deceleration, but...

After all sorts of anxious thoughts, Hans finally returned to the fortress.

The fortress felt like home now. The gifts from the orcs were surprisingly useful. They gave him a method to preserve food for a long time and two pairs of male and female wyverns.

[Wyverns, if raised well, can rule the sky.]

[I see. But what do wyverns eat?]

[Beastmen. They like them best.]

[...]

"Those bastards are dangerous."

Eating beastmen was the same as cannibalism. That meant they could easily eat humans too. He wanted to cut ties with them immediately, but he couldn't ignore their strength.

After all, it was the orcs who were protecting them from the monsters swarming from the north.

Of course, it was typical of the orcs that they were doing it because they wanted to, not because anyone asked them to.

There was nothing to be gained from being friendly with them. But for the sake of his goal, he had to...

Hans tilted his head.

It happened again. His thoughts were suddenly cut off.

"This feeling... it's similar to the Comprachico incident...!!"

His memories were unnaturally fragmented.

Hans gritted his teeth.

What was going on?

'I don't know... my head hurts. I can't think anymore.'

Hans slowly moved his body.

"Teacher?"

"...Helia?"

"Is something wrong...?"

"?! Helia!!"

It was natural for Helia to notice that Hans wasn't well. But at the same time, Helia's body slowly collapsed.

Hans was startled and rushed to her side.

Helia was lying unconscious. Hans stared at her silently, then looked up. A chilling coldness... it didn't need to speak. It was announcing its presence.

It was similar to the chill he had felt before. The presence of the monster he had spoken to through a door. Then, a girl with brilliant blonde hair appeared before him.

She smiled sweetly and said,

"I was wondering why a man like you was under hypnosis. So that's what happened."

"...Vampire Lord."

"Well, it doesn't matter. This is also a form of entertainment."

She had thought something was strange the moment she saw him.

The Commander of the Royal Knights, under hypnosis?

She even wondered if he was a puppet, but after meeting him, she knew he wasn't.

That child called him Teacher. That meant he had let his guard down and been caught by her.

Lucy, the Vampire Lord, smiled and reached out her hand.

She hadn't planned on getting involved.

But now that there was an opportunity...

Aren't you curious?

How will the Commander react to them when the hypnosis is lifted?

[T/N: Lol fourth wall break kinda funny cuz true yeah we wanna know broooo]

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Chapter 114

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Vampires.

A race called the rulers of the night, and a race capable of rivaling dragons, known as the strongest race on earth.

However, vampires usually fall short.

Only high-ranking vampires could somewhat compete with dragons, and even then, if the dragon was particularly strong, even a high-ranking vampire couldn't guarantee victory.

They were no match for the Dragon Lord and the elders. Yet, the reason why it was said that vampires rivaled dragons was simple. It was because of the Lord's existence.

The Vampire Lord.

The existence of that single individual balanced the scales between vampires and dragons. And now, the Vampire Lord frowned. Her hand was trembling for some reason.

"Am I... feeling fear?"

Sensing something amiss, Lucy stepped back. Her sharp, predatory eyes glared at the man.

The dazed fool was gone. In his place stood a monster.

"What are you?"

"Who cares?"

"What?"

"Well, I can play with you for a bit."

"...?!"

He smiled. But it wasn't a normal smile. A smile devoid of teeth or light. A smile as dark as the abyss. And at the same time, one of his eyes flashed crimson.

"What?!"

Fast things have something in common. No matter how fast they are, they still move.

Whether it's one step or a hundred steps, as long as they move, they can't escape her eyes.

But the Commander easily dodged her attack. As if he had stopped time and closed the distance in that instant.

His right fist swung and struck Lucy's face.

Thud!!

An impact and sound like being hit by a sledgehammer reverberated.

Lucy spat out blood.

It was a pain she hadn't felt in a long time. Was the impact alone stronger than the Dragon Lord's?

"I initially thought it wasn't the Commander, but something else."

Lucy quickly changed her mind.

A Vampire Lord of her caliber could see things that were invisible to others. Movement habits, eye movements, the rhythm of breathing.

Everything told her that the man standing before her was Hans, the Commander of the Royal Knights. If this was an imitation, it was even more terrifying. ř𝘼Ꞑ𝘰ᛒЁＳ

Lucy laughed out loud.

"They say a skilled hawk hides its talons. How true that is."

"Hmm? Ah, is that so?"

It instantly understood the Vampire Lord's words.

She mistook it for Hans. Well, that made sense. Everything it was currently replicating belonged to Hans.

Beyond speech and behavior...

His breath, habits, even the movements of his internal organs...

It knew everything about Hans.

But at the same time, it felt a sense of displeasure.

Everything it had just mentioned was something only it knew until now. It hadn't mattered before. It was all just child's play.

"You..."

"Hmm?"

"You need to die."

"...!!!"

Hans, or rather, the being that appeared as Hans to Lucy, raised his intact left hand to cover his black eye.

The remaining eye shone even brighter.

Instinctively, Lucy backed away. A thick killing intent, a genuine desire to kill her. A fear that made her knees weak and sent shivers down her spine.

The Vampire Lord felt it.

Usually, when one sensed killing intent, they felt fear, and that fear made them want to flee.

That was natural.

Living beings, especially when it came to their own lives, were inherently selfish.

She couldn't blame them. The desire to escape death was a survival instinct. But the Vampire Lord didn't flee. Instead, she smiled brightly.

"Yes, yes, that's right. That's what a hero should be like! Absolutely!!!"

She laughed.

Even with the intense killing intent aimed at her, even though she thought she might actually die, she laughed out loud. It was so unexpected that even it was surprised.

"How boring! Heroes only thinking about their own gain! Don't be ridiculous! In the old days... thousands of years ago!! Those who didn't care about such things were called heroes!!"

Politics. Race. Lovers. Family. Friends.

To be a hero, one had to be able to sever all ties. And there were many such individuals in the past. The one who killed his lover who became a vampire with his own hands.

The one who killed his mother who was possessed by a demon and then took his own life. The one who killed his wife who had fallen and become a temptress and gouged out his own eyes.

They were called heroes.

Naturally, countless heroes had come to Lucy. Because she was the one who corrupted them. She had been called many names: demon, temptress, vampire. And so on.

"Throw away everything and come for my neck, hero."

"You're ridiculous."

Words were like packaging. They could be used to conceal the true meaning.

There was a saying that a single word could repay a thousand-dollar debt. It saw through her.

"You're just... turned on by this, aren't you?"

"Oh my, you caught me."

"Well... you're making it pretty obvious."

"Yes, that's it."

Killing intent. Hatred. Rage.

Making someone kill their loved one with their own hands, and then using that same hand to kill her. How could such a situation not be exciting?

Excellent, good, that's it.

"That's all I can feel anymore."

"You really need to die."

Yes, that's right.

She couldn't be left by Hans's side. Trash had to be disposed of immediately.

If you left a rotten apple next to a good one, the good one would soon rot as well.

It closed the distance and threw a punch.

The fist, extending in a straight line, pierced through Lucy's abdomen in an instant.

Lucy staggered, blood and viscera splattering. But she didn't lose her smile.

"Not yet. Not even close! You think this is enough to make me cum?!"

"I want to rip her head off, spine and all."

This was the limit of the power it could manifest with one arm and one eye.

Was this all it could do? Barely on par with the Vampire Lord? But it couldn't complain. It was content with this.

Because it was a gift from him.

Gifts were like bonds of the heart. You gave gifts because you loved, because you liked, and through those gifts, you became one.

That's why it endured.

Looking forward to the day they could truly become one. It grabbed Lucy's arm with its knee and slammed its elbow into her arm.

With a cracking sound, Lucy's broken arm dangled limply.

"To think she would keep up to this point."

It was holding back on area-of-effect attacks because it couldn't destroy the fortress, but it wasn't going easy on her. It focused all its power on close combat.

But even so, she didn't back down.

They were fighting as equals. How long had it been since it had a fight like this? Humans were truly magnificent.

Lucy had nothing to lose. If she died by Hans's hand, she would experience immense pleasure. And if she won, the taste of his blood would be intoxicating, like a drug.

"But it seems this is it for today."

"Are you running away?"

"Unfortunately, I'm out of time."

"Tch."

It couldn't deny her words. It couldn't be discovered yet, not until its plan was complete.

It was a shame it couldn't kill her, but it would have to wait.

"It's been fun. I haven't felt this much enjoyment in a long time."

"Don't worry, next time, I'll make sure you can't even feel anything."

"I'm looking forward to it, Commander of the Royal Knights."

Lucy turned to dust, starting from her toes, and vanished before its eyes.

It clicked its tongue.

It didn't care what happened to that airhead. The plan was what mattered. It had intended to take things slowly, but ironically, today's events had made it feel a sense of urgency.

A sense that its plan might unravel. It moved its fingers, and a red light slowly emanated.

"Love and resent me. Just as you always have."

Time couldn't be stopped. That's why they loved and resented time. It was commonly called obsession.

Even time couldn't create something from nothing.

There had to be many vessels. That way, it could bear fruit more easily.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, they loved its possessions more than it had imagined.

It understood.

Look at its possessions, how lovely they were. It knew they couldn't help but love them. But that was what made it so unfortunate. It had no choice but to bring them misfortune.

"Teacher...?"

"You're awake, child."

"What is that...?"

"Shh, it's not time yet."

Helia, who had collapsed under the Vampire Lord's magic, was the first to wake up. But it didn't last long. It reached out its right hand and covered her eyes.

"Sleep a little longer. It's not time for you to wake up from your dream yet."

The voice was so sweet that Helia soon closed her eyes.

Watching Helia sleep soundly, it smiled.

Enjoy your sweet dreams.

The day that dream shatters is not far off.

You will be thrown into misfortune.

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