48. How much have you found out?

“He is the hero who protected the continent until the end! Attention, all troops!”

“Salute the hero!”

Chuck! Chuck! Chuck!

Everyone saluted Warrior RyuJin.

It was a heartfelt greeting of gratitude to the warrior who had protected the continent.

Jooyeon smiled lightly at the sight.

‘So this is what you had to do.’

Jooyeon and the Knight King also put their hands on their chests.

Chuck!

It was the last greeting to a close friend who had fought alone for a long time and finally collapsed.

There were no more traces of the Demon King.

The mountain range was also purified, so it could no longer be considered forbidden.

‘The traces of the Demon King have completely disappeared.’

The monster, the heart, the demon, and even the count’s corpse had all vanished.

The power of the holy sword had purified everything.

Of course, there were some things that remained.

<Obtained a wooden stake imbued with purifying energy>

<Obtained a boundary stone imbued with purifying energy>

<Wooden Stake Imbued with Purifying Energy>

– The axis of a boundary created to seal the Demon King’s power has been strengthened with the holy sword’s energy.

– Suppresses demonic energy and forcibly weakens it.

– When used on a ley line, it can change that ley line to the <Holy> attribute.

-<Demon Sealing> / <Boundary Axis> / <Holy Attribute> / <Can be combined>.

<Boundary Stone Imbued with Purifying Energy>

– The axis of a boundary created to seal the Demon King’s power has been strengthened with the holy sword’s energy.

– Blocks the approach of evil beings and can suppress demonic energy.

– When hung on a door, a <simple boundary> is automatically created.

-<Demon Blocking> / <Boundary Designation> / <Holy Attribute> / <Can be combined>.

The items left behind by the past hero’s companions had been further strengthened.

They were items that could form a boundary just by being placed somewhere.

‘At this rate, it wouldn’t be strange if they became artifacts.’

They were worthy of being numbered.

However, I needed a synthesis master who could combine these items into one.

Of course, any old synthesis master wouldn’t do.

‘I need a craftsman skilled enough to create numbered artifacts.’

I had to find one of those as well.

Still, the thing I was most excited about right now was the new numbered artifact I had acquired.

It was the item that had been left behind when the count disappeared.

No. 79 <One Fixed on the Horizon>.

– Can create a powerful curse that kills the target by offering their blood and flesh as a sacrifice.

– <Curse of Palpitation>: Stops the target’s heart with a powerful curse.

-<Sacrifice Absorption> / <Soul Attribute> / <Curse Emission> / <Curse Absorption>.

A ring with a red jewel embedded in it.

The description was shorter than I expected, but the power itself couldn’t be ignored.

‘A curse that targets a specific person….’

I didn’t even need the target’s hair or blood.

I could kill them for sure just by knowing their face.

Even among curse-type magic, this was a technique that was extremely difficult to acquire.

‘Artifacts that can be used simply by offering a sacrifice are valuable.’

I couldn’t use it right away since I had only just obtained it.

But this could come in handy quite often.

I was looking at the items I had collected when—

“I see you’ve finally sent that bastard home. Thank you.”

The Knight King looked at Joo-in with eyes as if he were looking at a benefactor.

However, it seemed that there was something he didn’t understand no matter how much he thought about it.

“How on earth did you get the Holy Sword?”

According to the <Diary of Witch Len>, the previous Duke devoted his whole life to finding and helping [him].

It was clear that the only existence that could defeat the Demon King was the Hero.

‘I knew that if [he] existed, he would definitely be the one to defeat the Demon King…….’

He knew.

That Joo-in was not the [Hero].

He just thought he was the makings of a hero.

He had never heard Joo-in say he was a hero himself.

“Moreover, I don’t see the Hero’s symbol on you.”

It was a symbol that all heroes must have.

It was usually engraved on the hero’s neck.

An imprint of a bird with its wings spread.

Some said it was a symbol representing the face of a dragon.

However, Joo-in had no such symbol.

So the Knight King wanted to hear it from him directly.

“Tell me. Are you really the Hero of this occasion?”

He already knew the answer.

Because there was only one person who could lift and use the Holy Sword.

But he still wanted to hear it.

‘Are you really the hope of this continent…….’

Whether his lifelong search for [him] was not in vain.

He wanted to confirm that.

Joo-in also accurately recognized the Knight King’s gaze.

“That shouldn’t be difficult.”

“Then…….”

“That’s right. I’m the Hero.”

“……!?”

The Knight King’s face hardened as if he was shocked.

He had a hunch, but he never thought he would be the real Hero.

However, Joo-in’s words were false. He was not a Hero yet.

‘Instead, I have the qualifications to become a Hero.’

All players had the qualifications of a Hero. In fact, they had the potential to become anything, not just a Hero.

‘There is no limit to the jobs a player can have, and they can learn anything.’

If you have a specific job, your proficiency and limits will increase a little, right?

Is there a slight difference in the job’s ultimate skill or specialization?

Of course, Joo-in didn’t like being a Hero.

From Noble mtl dot com

Is there any need to take on the restrictive job of being a Hero?

Rather, he tried to bring the existing Hero as a companion and fill in the party’s shortcomings with other companions.

‘That way, there would have been a slightly higher chance to break the final achievement.’

But I still couldn’t break the final achievement.

However, this time it was different.

I started off with the unique trait <Reflect> that only the Devil King had, a trait of the Unique rank.

‘I also acquired a Legendary-rank skill that I didn’t even know existed, and I received <Inheritance> from the [King of Knights].’

I had also acquired skills that couldn’t be acquired without being a Knight.

Considering that at the start I couldn’t acquire or inherit any classes, it was an amazing start.

Plus, I still had the chance to acquire a class.

‘I could really become a Hero…….’

If I was going to fight the Devil King with just my own strength, the Hero’s power wouldn’t be bad.

The Hero is one of the strongest classes in the entire continent.

It’s a class that specializes in fighting the Devil King, so it’s an essential class if you want to defeat him.

Right now, it was floating in front of Joohyun.

<[Would you like to change your class to [Hero]]>

It was the message window that had been popping up ever since he’d grabbed the Holy Sword.

But Joohyun didn’t choose Hero.

He just kept ignoring the window in front of him.

There was a reason for it.

‘Even if I acquire the Hero class, it’ll be after I acquire that class.’

Joohyun knew about a special class.

It was a really special class that could become stronger by absorbing other classes.

‘If I just had that……I could surpass the limits of the Hero.’

Of course, it wasn’t because he was a Hero that he was able to use the power of the Holy Sword.

So how was he able to use it?

‘I’m a Player.’

Players could become a Hero whenever they wanted, so they could also receive the Holy Sword’s recognition.

Of course, they had to have the qualifications to use it properly. In fact, the Holy Sword emits pressure to test whether someone is qualified to wield it.

If your level is too low, you won’t even be able to withstand it.

In other words, I originally had to come here when my power level was appropriate, but I just barged in without going through the process, so how could I possibly be qualified?

But a qualification test?

Do I know?

<Reflect>

Joohyun deflected the Holy Sword’s pressure.

‘This is the power that even reflected the Nameless God’s detection. I can definitely reflect the power of the Holy Sword, which is just a Divine Item.’

In short, it was like a low-leveled character taking a high-leveled character’s weapon.

‘It’s a bit like cheating, but what can I do? I’m in a hurry.’

If I didn’t borrow the Hero’s name to take the shortest path, I’d get the death ending.

But the Holy Sword seemed to like Joohyun despite everything.

[You tried to protect the Hero. And by breaking your heart, you proved your will.]

In fact, Joohyun had predicted this kind of reaction.

‘This is why I cast a barrier on Ryu Jin’s body.’

In fact, the Holy Sword recognized Joo-Heon.

[There are traces of an odd energy, but for now, you have wielded me and succeeded your master’s will. I acknowledge you as my new master.]

Yes. It worked.

[However, be careful. If you are not qualified, you will not be able to use my power.]

Alright.

Just then, as Joo-Heon picked up the hero’s remains, the Knight King said,

“I… will make sure this continent gives him the best courtesy it can offer.”

The story of the hero had already been spread throughout the temple and the castle.

How the previous hero continued to seal the Demon King’s heart and flesh even after his death.

How he protected the continent by fighting against the Demon King’s remnants.

“He will also let everyone know that they no longer need to be afraid because of the new hero.”

It wasn’t a bad story for Joo-Heon.

‘The rumor that I’m the Holy Sword’s master will spread now.’

But that wasn’t all.

He looked at Joo-Heon as if telling him to be happy.

“Soon, your name will resonate throughout the continent.”

However, Joo-Heon clicked his tongue.

“Well, I wonder if it’s a good thing for my name to resonate?”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

The Knight King tilted his head, but Joo-Heon was being sincere.

‘If the hero’s name spreads, my fame will rise, and people will try to take advantage of me.’

He wasn’t sure how it would be in reality, but giving various quests in the name of quests was the norm.

‘They’ll even make me do all sorts of errands under the pretense of protecting the continent.’

He could do that when it was a game.

That was because doing quests was a way to increase fame. However, in reality, it was just chores.

‘I have no intention of doing that obediently.’

It wasn’t without reason that he had put the hero character separately as a companion.

It was to have him do the annoying stuff.

So Joo-Heon looked at the Knight King slyly.

“So, wouldn’t it be good if we also sold your name?”

“My name?”

“For now, say that I belong to you.”

“……!”

The Knight King looked flustered, but Joo-Heon was sincere.

‘If I use the Knight King as a shield, I can shift responsibility for most things.’

There were bound to be some illegal things among the things he had to do in the future.

And that wasn’t all.

With the Knight King’s fame, he would be able to easily access restricted areas.

On top of that, even if he was a hero, there would be people who would try to treat him like an idiot, saying that they had to check the contents. However, if he was part of the Knight King’s group, they would be more mindful.

In short, it was an offer to use him, but deep down, the Knight King was shaken.

“Do you know what it means to be called my subordinate?”

The world would accept Jooyeon as the Knight King’s disciple.

Jooyeon spoke as if he were rather pleased about it.

“For the time being, just say you’re my guardian. You’ve already received my succession, so in a way, it’s like being my disciple, right?”

“That may be so, but…”

When the Knight King looked as if he were asking if he would really be okay with it, Jooyeon smiled secretly.

In truth, there was no one more qualified to be Jooyeon’s backer than him.

There were the Hero’s other former companions, but those guys were a bit too unreliable.

The Knight King was the best choice.

Of course, this meant that even if Jooyeon caused an accident, the Knight King would have to take responsibility…

‘This is an offer that he absolutely cannot refuse in the first place.’

Jooyeon had saved Ryujin, his lifelong close friend. He had given comfort to his friend, who was his painful scar and lifelong regret.

As an honorable knight to the core, the Knight King had no choice but to accept.

The Knight King nodded coolly.

“Very well. If that name will be of any help to you, feel free to use it whenever you need it.”

Albert looked at the Knight King in surprise.

“Are you sure about this?”

[That guy], [Hero], but I heard he was a slave in a slave camp.

“What is his true nature…”

On the contrary, he might end up tarnishing the Knight King’s honor.

However, the Knight King didn’t seem to care.

He already knew that Jooyeon wasn’t a bad person because he had saved Ryujin.

Soon, Jooyeon spoke.

“Ah, by the way, just to let you know, this isn’t free.”

At those words, the Knight King laughed as if to ask why he would say that.

“We’re already greatly indebted to you. There’s no need to give us anything more…”

“No. The opposite.”

…What?

Jooyeon laughed as if to say don’t misunderstand.

“If you become my guardian, the Edmer family will also gain enormous benefits and fame. This is a kind of contract.”

“A c-contract?”

Jooyeon smiled innocently.

“How much do you think the contract fee should be?”

“……?!”

When Jooyeon drew a circle with his finger, the Knight King’s and Albert’s mouths fell open wider than they could have ever imagined.

What the heck?!

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