My Reflector Is Invincible

49. Just Compensation

[The Knight King]

His unparalleled honor and spirit of sacrifice were famous tales.

They were even recorded in the autobiography of heroes.

＜[The Knight King] gave up the position of Captain of the Royal Knights at the mere word of a man with nothing and went on a journey.＞

＜Later, he traveled all over the continent with a single sword with the hero, spending his whole life fighting evil, helping the weak, and doing good.＞

＜After the hero’s death, he intentionally received a territory on the border to protect the continent.＞

＜He devoted himself solely to his training and did not pursue wealth.＞

He was truly the epitome of a perfect knight.

Even now, he was no different.

As the guardian deity protecting the cold northern territory, he willingly took on the role of a breakwater protecting the continent.

[Duke Edmer of the North]

[The Wall of the North]

[The First and Last Guardian]

These were not titles given in vain.

They were a tribute to his faith and sacrifice.

A man who risked his life for his beliefs and duties as a knight.

The Knight King had never been ashamed of what he had done so far.

However, he doubted his ears at the words he had just heard.

…What did I just hear?

It was because of what Joo-youn said.

Reward?

It sounded like a mere merchant, not a hero.

As expected, Joo-youn spoke again with a smile.

“Oh, even if you become my subordinate, you won’t work for free. If you put your name on my teacher, you’ll only receive rewarding work in the future.”

Albert’s mouth hung open.

‘Hero, hero…!’

Is it because he came from a slave camp?

He even thought that he was not a hero, but a mercenary who was a merchant!

Soon, the Knight King put his hand to his forehead.

“Joo-youn… [Hero] shouldn’t be like that. A hero is a noble being who believes in honor and sacrifice.”

“That’s right! The Edmer family, who were the hero’s companions, are also sacrificing themselves to protect the North. As a [Hero] for honor…”

However, Joo-youn only turned a deaf ear.

“No, honor doesn’t feed you. I hate working with people who talk about honor first in my work.”

The army is enough for that.

At the same time, Joo-youn looked at the Knight King, who was talking about the spirit of sacrifice.

Yeah, in order to join hands with Edmer for the time being, we need to fix these guys’ dangerous mindset.

“In the first place, did everyone in the Duke of Edmer agree to ‘Edmer’s’ sacrifice?”

“Yes? Of course…”

“No, right? It’s natural for [The Knight King] to protect the North, but there’s no reason for the people below him to sacrifice themselves, right?”

“……”

Honestly, Joo-Yeon could understand the deposed Duke to some extent.

The Edmer dukedom was expected to sacrifice itself for the north and the continent.

Since it was a family of heroes, the people also thought it was natural.

As the head of such a family, there must have been many times when he had to make a choice that would result in damage.

‘But the credit always went to the honorable [Knight King]. He must have hated the situation where his family only made sacrifices.’

As the head of Edmer, he would have wanted to break that chain of misfortune.

Of course, Joo-Yeon had no intention of defending the deposed Duke. After all, he was a traitor who tried to sell out his family.

However, there was a dangerous element in the Edmer family’s mindset that took sacrifice for granted.

‘No one’s sacrifice should ever be taken for granted.’

If this did not change, a cunning bastard like Count Sanderson might come after the Edmer family again.

The Edmer family had a high status, and there were plenty of people who wanted to exploit that.

Wouldn’t that make all his efforts to save them meaningless?

“Now, in that sense, the deposit and the price.”

“…….”

At Joo-Yeon’s cheerful smile, both Albert and the Knight King were speechless.

No……. No matter how you looked at it, this seemed like plain self-interest?

“I don’t need anything. There must be a lot of people who want to be my guardian.”

“……!”

His words were true.

It was the position of the hero’s teacher, after all.

Everyone’s attention was bound to be focused on it.

‘Of course it would be. It’s a chance to put your name above the hero’s without doing anything.’

[Hero]. A name that was considered the greatest among the heroes who defeated the Demon King.

A chance to put their names above such a hero.

Who among those who used the names of heroes and kings would refuse?

Joo-Yeon was sure of it.

‘If they could get that position with just a word, they would offer not just money, but a huge fortune and price.’

If he played it well, the honor and merit that Joo-Yeon had earned this time would also become theirs.

Of course, there was another reason why Joo-Yeon was talking about being a guardian.

It was also to change the [Knight King].

From Noble mtl dot com

‘Actually, there’s a place that only opens when the bigwigs move.’

There was also the fact that he had become the [Hero] for this purpose. This way, he would be able to move them for sure.

So, to be honest, he had no intention of getting a guardian or a teacher, but there was no reason to tell them that.

Soon, Joo-Yeon laughed.

“Maybe even the popes of the priests who came here would want it?”

At those words, Albert flinched.

Ordinary priests would not be swayed by such a vain and empty name.

However, not all priests were like that.

‘Popes.’

The representatives of God who commanded the temple’s paladins and priests, and the ultimate decision-makers.

So far, there hadn’t been any major issues.

‘Usually, the Saintess is placed above the Pope.’

It was because Joo-yeon had often made the Saintess his companion rather than the Pope.

And unlike the Popes, the Saintesses were pacifists.

They also played a role in preventing the Popes from crossing the line.

That’s why Joo-yeon had no choice but to laugh bitterly.

‘It can’t be helped. Those Pope guys are too proud to do as they’re told.’

The problem was the number of temples on this continent.

There were as many as 8 gods.

＜8 Great Temples＞

The temples cooperated with each other, but they were basically in a competitive relationship.

Each of them thought that the god they served was the supreme god.

‘Thanks to the past Saintesses, the Temple of the Sea is a bit more famous…….’

The Temple of the Sea was a religious group specializing in healing.

Unlike other temples, it didn’t actively expand its power.

However, the other temples were different.

What if they had a chance to become the hero’s master?

If the hero supported their religious group?

It was a chance to get ahead of the other temples.

It was also a chance to become the temple that served the only god on the continent.

That’s why they would get greedy.

“Especially the Sun Temple, which is aggressively expanding its power, and the Pope of the Great Earth Temple, the oldest of all, will be thrilled.”

“……?!”

Wait, the Sun and Earth Temples?

The knights of the Edmer family turned pale.

Of all places, they were the ones who had a close relationship with the Edmer family.

And if Joo-yeon, who had inherited the power of the Sword King, went to them…….

‘The family’s vision could fall into the hands of another!’

But Joo-yeon didn’t stop there.

“Or maybe I should go to the Assassination Guild or the elves’ World Tree. Oh, the trolls would be fine too.”

Not there either!

The hero there was the lord’s old comrade, but he was someone the lord hated the most.

But Joo-yeon sighed and turned around, not knowing or caring about that.

“Whew. I have to find a teacher quickly before the rumors spread.”

Just as Albert was about to get angry, the Sword King sighed.

“I understand.”

“……!”

“I’ll give you the money you want.”

“My lord!”

“However, as a member of Edmer, you must also be taught about the noble spirit of [Heroism].”

However, Joo-Yeon turned her head with a shake.

“Sigh. Where could our Master be.”

* * *

The continent was in an uproar.

“The Knight King has apparently vanquished the Demons.”

“He joined forces with the Hero and struck them down?”

“Who cares who vanquished them. It’s a great thing if the Demons are wiped out.”

The Demons were the Demons, but everyone’s attention was actually elsewhere.

“Who will become the Hero’s companion this time?”

“I wonder who will be the next [Knight King].”

The interests of the leaders of each faction were similar.

The only difference was that they were calculating how to maximize the benefits they would gain from the Hero.

That was why they sent out their Messengers.

“Become as close to the Hero as possible……”

“If you become the Hero’s companion, you may obtain a power as strong as the Knight King. Somehow attract his attention.”

“Give the Hero anything he wants. Bring me the position of companion!”

Demons or whatever, they were nothing compared to the honor and fortune that being the Hero’s companion would bring.

That was the pervasive mood.

However, that was only at first.

The events at Geumji began to spread throughout the continent.

“What? The Demon King’s heart? He was still alive?”

“The previous Hero, who we thought was dead, was blocking the heart’s power?”

“They destroyed the heart, but the Demon King’s remnants burst out?”

“Hundreds died just from its appearance, and even Knights with their Orders were felled in a single blow?”

The power left behind by the Demon King was stronger than they had thought.

“The Demons, and the Demon King we thought was dead. The atmosphere is strange.”

What was more shocking than anything else was Count Sanderson.

“Count Sanderson…… was a Demon’s lackey?”

“The Count’s family is ruined.”

“Wasn’t that guy a big shot in the North? Are you saying that even a guy like that was a servant of the Demons?”

“It’s more suspicious that he wasn’t caught until now. There must be other guys like him.”

The unimaginable power of the Demons.

And the betrayal of the Count, who was practically a big shot in the North.

The continent was bound to be shaken.

Of course, it was Joo-Yeon who pinned all the blame on Count Sanderson. She made sure that the rumor of Duke Edmer targeting Joo-Yeon did not spread.

It was the utmost consideration for the Knight King.

Anyway, this was the important part.

“There must be followers of the Demons among us! Find them without fail!”

“Don’t let a single one of them live!”

The movements of each faction, which had come to their senses, became chaotic.

The temples were just as flustered.

“The Knight King has requested the high priests.”

“He says that the place where the Demon King died needs to be purified.”

“The purification of the ruins that became the Demon King’s heart…”

Light detests darkness.

The demons were the temples’ sworn enemies.

The temples would have moved even without the Knight King’s request.

But they were more impatient than any other faction.

The problem was the item that Joo-yeon had brought back with the hero’s remains.

“What? The Holy Sword? It was there?”

“Assemble the priests at once! The Holy Sword must be kept in our temple!”

Proof that God still loved humans.

A quarrel broke out among themselves as they tried to choose a temple to take charge of the Holy Sword.

They tried to enshrine the Holy Sword in their own temples.

“Of course, the Temple of the Earth should manage the Holy Sword…”

“What nonsense! Who dares to take the Holy Sword that was bestowed by the Sun God! We shall manage it!”

“What are you talking about! It was made by the Gods together! Let’s all bless it together instead…”

“Get lost! How dare you, a lowly temple that can’t even compare to our faith…”

“Are you defying our God now! Do you wish to burn in hellfire?!”

As they tried to take the glory for themselves, friction arose.

The only one concerned about purification was the Temple of the Sea, which had the previous Saintess.

It was the only place that truly fulfilled the role of priests.

But even they couldn’t help but jump into the fray.

“Wh… what is this.”

“Gu… guards! Where are the guards!”

On an ordinary morning.

A letter was placed by the pillows of the high priests and influential figures of the temples.

[The hero says that he had help from his teacher this time. And that teacher has yet to be decided.]

The hero’s teacher?

Not yet decided?

At first, they didn’t understand what this meant.

But then each faction’s intelligence organizations went to work.

“It’s true. He’ll give the title of teacher to the one who gives him the greatest reward…”

“They say he’ll say that he won thanks to the power he received from his teacher.”

Everyone from the upper echelons of each faction to the popes became anxious.

The hero’s teacher?

He’ll share the credit for taking care of the Demon King’s heart?

No, it’s not just sharing. He’ll practically spoon-feed it to them.

It was a golden opportunity to raise the status of their faction.

It was also a chance to get close to the new hero, who, unlike the previous heroes, seemed likely to share the benefits.

“Move now! Send a messenger to the Duke of Edmer! No! I’ll go myself!”

The entire continent was beginning to stir because of a single main character.