Pourrrrrrr…

Craaaackle!

As with most rainy nights, a sense of depression and fatigue filled the air.

The people walking through the city were busy trying to avoid the by-products incessantly leaking from the dark sky.

They hurried into roofed buildings or quickly tried to shield themselves with their umbrellas.

There was a certain smell that came with the rain.

It was a smell that was somewhat stuffy, yet also ironically refreshing.

Dae San would spend time enjoying this smell on rainy days when he didn’t have fights.

While the fights were an excellent way to feel alive, they had an adverse effect on days when he didn’t have any.

He would have more thoughts and worries.

His sadness would grow, and his emotions heightened.

But despite this all, Dae San liked rainy days.

On days like those, he would sometimes drink all night with Gwak Seong and Dae Ha, and he sincerely cherished those memories.

Pourrrr…

As usual, the smell of rain filled the air today.

However, something was different. An unfamiliar scent was mixed in.

‘Intruders!’

Gwak Seong’s manor had countless visitors. However, it had been a long while since they had enemies.

Especially ones that came without warning.

Wooosh!

Dae San pulled back some cloth and armed himself with his greatsword.

Tap tap tap…

Though the sound could be mistaken for raindrops, it was definitely the sound of intruders scurrying on the roof.

Dae San did his best to chase after them as fast as he could, but they quickly fell silent. It was clear their target wasn’t him, but Gwak Seong.

After arriving at Gwak Seong’s home, Dae San let out a roar.

“Elder Gwak Seong!”

“Dae San!”

Craaaaash!

Dae San kicked down the door and leaped inside.

He was greeted by scattered shouts echoing throughout the manor.

“Don’t let them iiiiiin!”

“Protect Elder Gwak Seong!”

In an instant, countless assassins charged at him from all sides.

Fwoooosh!

Splatterrrrr!

The first assassin was completely bisected.

“Get behind me, Elder!” shouted Dae San. Despite saying so, he knew that the situation was not so simple.

After all, there was nowhere to hide.

Splatterrr!

Splatter!

With each swing of Dae San’s greatsword, two enemies would die.

If Dae San had been alone, he would have easily defeated the assassins.

However, Gwak Seong was also there, someone Dae San cherished dearly. He was forced to protect him while fighting his enemies.

This was the moment he, who had fought alone in the arena all this time, learned how difficult it was to protect someone.

Slash…

“Krgh…”

It was an attack Dae San should have avoided at all costs.

But Gwak Seong was in danger. Dae San had to protect him, even if it meant throwing his own body in harm's way.

After noticing that, the assassins changed methods.

Rather than trying to fight Dae San, they focused their efforts on Gwak Seong.

More and more cuts were carved onto Dae San’s body.

Each time Dae San overexerted his movements to protect Gwak Seong, the assassins would use that opening to swing their swords once more.

While Dae San didn’t notice it at first, during a lull in their fight, he could feel himself drifting away.

‘...Their weapons are poisoned!’

And it certainly wasn't any ordinary poison.

After all, there was no reason to use a paralyzing or sleeping poison if they were openly swinging their swords like this.

Fsssss…

Dae San could notice his injuries rotting away, even during the middle of his fight.

Maybe if he cut his arm off right now, he could still survive?

No, he wasn’t allowed to have such thoughts right now.

Grit!

‘At least Elder Gwak Seong… As long as he’s safe…!’

Dae San had to pull them out of the bottomless swamp of death.

“You bastardsssssss!”

Splatterrrrrr!

Dae San resolved himself, swinging his heavy greatsword despite his exhausted breath. The assassins glared at him, as if they were growing tired of his defiance.

The poison they had prepared was potent enough to bring down a monster with a single drop. So why was Dae San only growing fiercer with each passing second?

And even though Dae San was facing dozens of assassins alone, the most they had managed to do was scratch him.

Even the captain of the assassins, who wasn’t allowed to say anything at all, couldn't help but utter something in his dying breath.

“...you damned monster.”

Baaaaaaam!

Dae San crushed the final assassin’s head with his hands.

This imposing strength... This was Dae San, the conqueror.

“...Dae San!”

“E-Elder Brother!”

“......”

Standing tall, Dae San wiped the blood near his mouth.

“...Are you alright?” he asked.

“That’s what I should be asking you, Dae San! Are you okay?”

Dae San's skin, from his arms, all the way to his chest, was turning black. He was clearly suffering from necrosis.

Dae San was dying.

“Pffft… This is nothi—”

Wobble…

Thuuuuud!

Dae San fell backward, gasping for air.

“Haah… Haah…”

“Is anyone here?! A doctor! Someone call a doctor!”

“D-Dae San is…”

“Hurry! Faster! Dae San is in trouble!”

“Krghhhh…”

Dae Ha jolted to Dae San.

“E-Elder Brother!”

“Dae Ha…”

Even as Dae San faced death, he appeared completely at peace, while Dae Ha and Gwak Seong's expressions twisted in anguish and horror.

“Dae Ha… come closer…”

“Yes, Elder Brother…”

“Quickly now… I don’t… have much time.”

Dae San then clung to Dae Ha’s hand.

Even now, death was inching ever closer. The necrosis had spread to Dae San’s neck.

“Do you remember… what I told you?”

“Wh-what are you…”

“That you must… repay him…”

“I remember!”

“Never forget… you must repay…”

“Yes! Yes, Elder Brother! I will!”

As strength slowly began to escape Dae San’s hand, he turned to Gwak Seong.

“Elder… Gwak Seong…”

“You bastard! You can’t die! You’re not allowed to die without my permission!”

“Haha… Elder Gwak… Seong… I have something… I want to ask…”

“What is it?! I’ll answer any question, just don’t die, Dae San!”

The necrosis was creeping onto Dae San’s face.

“Was I… useful to you?”

“You useless little! Why does something like that matter now?”

“It’s important… to me…”

“...Yeah, you were… you were incredibly useful.”

Dae San's face darkened further, his eyes, even the sclera were now completely black.

He then smiled, flashing his teeth.

“That’s a… huge relief… I leave… Dae Ha to you…”

“You bastard! Don’t die, you little—! If you die, I… I…”

Dae San wheezed, struggling to say his final words.

“Thanks… to you… Someone… as lowly as me… was able… to… enjoy… this shitty world… Thank you… for everythi… ng... Fa… th…”

* * *

Rumble!

With the crashing of thunder, Seol woke up, tears streaming down his face.

“...er.”

Seol then looked at the messages filling his vision.

[You have inherited Dae San’s unfulfilled desire.]

[A skill has been inherited from the deceased.]

[Conqueror’s Banner has been inherited.]

[You have inherited Conqueror’s Banner.]

[When defeating an opponent stronger than a certain level, increase a random stat by 20. The current cooldown for this skill is 30 days. As the proficiency of this skill increases, the stats obtained will increase while the cooldown decreases.]

[The contents of ‘Fate: Things Which Must Be Recovered’ have changed.]

“Haah… haah…”

Seol did his best to gather his breath.

- Fate really isn’t a joke, huh?

- Right? He does that every time…

- So basically, +20 to a stat every month? LMFAO

- He could’ve become the conqueror with just one finger if he had this skill from the start.

- Isn’t this still the early game, though?

Seol then paused for a second after seeing the chest by his feet.

He didn’t particularly feel like opening it right now.

Lift…

After placing the chest into his inventory, Seol greeted Gwak Seong, who was walking back down the stairs.

“Are you done?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“I just came down because I thought I heard someone in distress.”

“I’m fine,” said Seol.

After giving a bow, Seol left the ossuary.

He had already finished what he had come to do, and now he needed to calm his heightened emotions.

But thanks to him, Gwak Seong was able to visit Dae San’s grave alone for the first time in a long while.

"Dae San, you useless child..." muttered Gwak Seong, his hand caressing the greatsword. "Nevertheless, I'll come visit you on rainy days from time to time."

A warm, gentle smile graced his face.

"As long as you still consider me, someone so inadequate, as your father."

The greatsword did not cry any longer.

* * *

A carriage rattled along a rough road, carrying Seol, Cheon Ju, Seol Hong, and Agony.

They had quickly left Yocheon the moment the next Dragon Trial’s location was decided.

“I wish we could’ve stayed there longer…” said Seol Hong.

“Lady Seol Hong!” Cheon Ju hurriedly replied. “You are the ‘Dragon’s Blood’, someone who will rule the Khan Empire in the future! You must also show kindness to the citizens of the empire who haven’t met you yet!”

“When you say it like that, I guess you’re right too…”

“It’s because I am right!”

The citizens of Yocheon cheered whenever they saw Seol Hong.

It was the first time in her life that she had been greeted so warmly by strangers.

In fact, the women at the marketplace would give her handmade snacks, and Seol Hong could eat them without any worry about their intentions.

Well, it was all thanks to Seol's Monster Cooking that allowed him to discern whether something was poisoned or not, though.

In Yocheon, Seol Hong was practically the emperor.

And as it was her first time experiencing something like this, she also had no resistance to it.

She would always be seen grinning with a flushed face, as if she were on cloud nine.

Despite this, Seol allowed her to relish it. After all, this sweet dream would end the moment they left for another location.

It was, at best, a temporary break.

Seol Hong then asked Seol, who had been staring at her, a question.

“But why… did you go visit Dae San at that time?”

“That’s…”

As Seol tried to skirt around the question, Agony interjected

[He cried!]

“...Agony.”

[He cried like crazy! I saw the entire thing!]

Seol Hong and Cheon Ju covered their mouths, looking at Seol as if he were strange. Meanwhile, Seol tried to reach for Agony.

[Argh!]

Agony leaped high, toward Seol Hong.

“Kyaaa!”

As Seol continued to swipe at Agony, Agony began shouting while clinging to Seol Hong’s hair.

[Let’s go, girl! Night Crow!]

“...Huh?”

[Come on! Fwirl!]

Seol Hong began to giggle as Agony made sound effects with its mouth.

“What is that, sea urchin?”

“Ah! He got it!”

Seol finally managed to catch Agony in his hands.

[Ahhhh!]

Agony began stretching its body after being caught by Seol.

The carriage quickly quieted down.

“By the way…” began Seol, “Do you have any idea why they decided on Tumaku as our location?”

Tumaku was a rather unique place.

It was a coal mining town, but what set it apart was that the mines, once abandoned, were now privately owned and developed independently.

As a result, the ores mined there were contracted to be sold to the Khan Empire for a specified period rather than becoming the empire’s property.

Tumaku's mines had secured a stable buyer, and the Khan Empire received ores, albeit at a slightly higher cost than usual, without having to invest in development. It was a mutually beneficial trade for both parties.

“Well… there is one thing that I thought of…”

“What is it?” asked Seol.

“The largest mine in Tumaku, boasting the most up-to-date equipment, is the Sodoong Mine, which is the only mine owned by a different individual. Recently, there have been strained conversations between them and the Khan Empire."

“Has another country contacted them?”

"Well, it certainly seems that way. I'm sure they are simply trying to sell their ores to the highest bidder. However, with the Khan Empire's contract with the Sodoong Mine expiring this year, it's causing a major headache."

“So the trial could be to negotiate with the owner of the Sodoon Mine…”

"That seems to be the most likely scenario... If it really is my trial, though, it will be tough."

Seol knew instantly why Seol Hong thought that way.

Unlike the other Dragon’s Flowers, Seol Hong had no backers.

Furthermore, she wasn’t given anything to negotiate with the Sodoong Mine.

‘It’s definitely a headache.’

Unless Seol found a way to annihilate the other client completely, negotiations were going to be incredibly difficult.

“Well, we only arrived just now. We can worry about it after we receive the trial.”

“That’s true,” nodded Seol, turning silent.

It was fine to make assumptions, but anything beyond that was unnecessary. After all, more than that would just be excessive.

‘Now that I think about it… I still haven’t given Karuna that.’

Before Seol entered the carriage, he had opened the chest containing the interim settlement.

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have received a skill point.]

[You have received a skill point.]

[Affluent’s Bonus Effect activates.]

[You have received an additional skill point.]

[You have received an additional skill point.]

[Sly Blood-Hue Snake activates.]

[You have received an additional skill point.]

[You have received an additional skill point.]

[Someone Better’s Bonus Effect activates.]

[You have received an additional skill point.]

[You have received an additional skill point.]

[You have received an additional skill point.]

[You have acquired Fang of Deep Thought.]

[You have acquired Bit Bit Cape.]

[You have acquired Blood Battle Ring.]

[You have acquired Bloodied Loser.]

[You have acquired 23 platinum coins(Khan).]

[You have acquired 2 extra-large red potions.]

[You have acquired 1 potion of blindness.]

[You have acquired 1 potion of chant acceleration.]

……

As Karuna couldn’t use the Bloodied Loser and Fang of Deep Thought, Seol immediately put it into his inventory. As he did, he also handed Karuna the Bit Bit Cape and the Blood Battle Ring, as they were somewhat useful.

[[Bit Bit Cape]

Quality: Treasure

Recommended Level: 39-45

Defense: 120

Durability: 150/150

Weight: 0.1kg

A cape made from materials with supernatural regeneration.

Basic Effect: +15 All Stats

Bonus Effect: The wearer's regeneration increases proportionally to the health lost during combat. This effect can increase by up to 100%.]

It was an amazing effect for a knight.

It was also an item that Karen and Jamad would have liked, but... they weren’t here, were they?

[[Blood Battle Ring]

Quality: Treasure

Recommended Level: 37-44

Resistance: 85

Durability: 120/120

Weight: 0.1kg

A ring condensed with the negative energy that only emerges from desperate, bloody battles.

Basic Effect: +22 Strength, +18 Dexterity, +21 Constitution

Bonus Effect: When the wearer inflicts a target with Abnormal Status: Bleed, the wearer heals an amount equal to the health lost by the enemy from Bleed.]

This also went to Karuna.

As Karuna was the only one to return, he also took most of the equipment Seol had received.

Seol laughed inwardly, thinking about how upset Karen would have been if she were here.

While in the carriage, Seol equipped Karuna with the Bit Bit Cape and the Blood Battle Ring.

[You have equipped Karuna, the Moonlight Knight, with Bit Bit Cape.]

[You have equipped Karuna, the Moonlight Knight, with Blood Battle Ring.]

- …Thank you.

‘It’s nothing… More importantly, I wanted to talk about something…’

Seol tried to ask about the direction he should take from now on, as well as the summons trapped in the void, but…

He was quickly stopped from talking.

BAAAAAAAAAM!

“Kyaaaa!”

“Th-the carriage is shaking! We can’t let it tip over!”

With a loud boom, the mountain path they traveled began to shake.

They had already entered Tumaku and were heading toward one of the mines.

Seol quickly stuck his head out the side to see what was happening.

“Do you see anything? What’s…”

"Lady Seol Hong," Seol scowled.

“That smoke is…”

"It seems like the trial this time might not be to negotiate with them." Seol then widened his eyes. "There seems to be a problem with the mine."