Chapter 158

[Karma Eater(SSR) Lv.45]

- Category: Longsword

- Attack Power: 30-40

- Durability: 20/20

- Strength+10 Intelligence+10

- A sword for those who pursue the middle path. It devours any extreme state of light and darkness, chaos and order, converting it into power.

- It generates sword energy by consuming 'Affinity Points.' The sword energy deals double the weapon's attack power as magic damage. It cannot be used when the relevant affinity points reach 0.

"Holy crap!"

He startled and grabbed the sword. No way! The Karma Eater dropped here!

This weapon has a horrifying concept of increasing damage by feeding it affinity points.

One could think it's a hassle to use because you have to constantly feed it affinity points to unleash its power, but think about it from another perspective?

You can reset wrongly invested affinity points with this weapon!

Such as a paladin who accidentally took a negative trait and ended up with dark affinity, or a necromancer who mistakenly received a blessing and got filled with light... these ruined characters inevitably come up when playing the game.

If you can't find a way to reset them, you have to reluctantly abandon them, tears in your eyes.

But if you have the Karma Eater? Easily solved!

That's why it's more often given as a relief to characters who messed up during development, rather than used as a weapon in the game.

'Of course, if you keep feeding it affinity points to maintain the sword energy, it can deal tremendous damage. But constantly supplying the points is easier said than done...'

Wait a second.

I expanded the list of affinity points the [Karma Eater] could consume. And soon enough, I found it.

[Beast ↔ Holy]

It's there.

The humanity affinity traits [Beast Transformation] and [Holiness].

To put it simply, if you abandon humanity and walk the path of the beast, the beast transformation points increase, and if you excessively acquire humanity, you gain divinity and ascend.

'Either way, it's a path of abandoning humanity...'

When the beast transformation points increase, bonus stats are added to physical attack and defense, and you acquire the exclusive passive, 'Carnality.'

However, if the points go too high, you become a bloodthirsty beast that knows nothing but battle.

When the holiness points increase, bonus stats are added to magic attack and defense, and you acquire the exclusive passive, 'Revelation.'

However, if the points go too high, your self melts into the divine, and you become a puppet of a higher deity.

It can be considered a forbidden trait that eventually leaves the player's control, even though it gives an immediate power-up to the character's basic performance.

Most characters don't even get the chance to see this trait.

Abandoning or adding humanity is not as easy as it sounds, it's typically a difficult concept to even understand.

'How on earth did Lucas awaken the beast transformation on his own...'

I recalled the beast transformation Lucas had used in the last defense battle. The way my knight swayed like a lone wolf.

I was already planning to strictly advise him against using it ever again.

'...But if we have the Karma Eater?'

Use beast transformation to raise the beast affinity points→Feed the increased affinity points to the Karma Eater and convert it to sword energy→Use beast transformation to raise the beast affinity points again... Isn't this an infinite cycle?

"Hmm."

I pondered and shook my head.

If we risk messing with the affinity and walk the tightrope, and if something goes wrong, our protagonist Lucas could cross an irreversible river.

After feeding the Karma Eater and emptying the raised beast transformation points, we should never use it again.

"Phew."

I organized the items I had gained today.

I don't know how the future battle line will develop, but they will all be helpful.

'Use them wisely.'

Remembering the lives that fell in the last defense battle, I bowed my head.

I won't waste the spoils gained from your lives.

'...Although I'm a bit upset that they split my exclusive equipment into five pieces.'

Damn, that was crossing the line, honestly!

***

I decided not to explore freely until the next defense battle.

The wounds from the last battle haven't even healed yet.

The same goes for the damaged equipment, which hasn't been repaired either. I decided it would be too much to explore freely during the remaining time.

I had taken a break to rest my party members, repair broken equipment, order new ones, and restore the walls and artifacts...

Three days later.

I visited the temple.

"Your Highness."

Lucas, who had been assigned the task of searching inside the temple, was waiting at the entrance. I nodded at him.

"Lucas. How did it go?"

"I thoroughly searched inside the temple, but besides the statue of the Goddess we found earlier, there were no items used for spying."

"I see. What about Margarita?"

"Since that day, she's been locked in the priest's quarters. We've been closely monitoring her, but she hasn't done anything suspicious. However..."

"However?"

Lucas, who had been hesitant, scratched the back of his neck.

"She's been constantly drinking."

"Drinking...?"

"Yes. She's been saying things like 'Why do I have to live like this' while..."

"..."

"She's, uh, also... smoking..."

Cold sweat ran down my back. A saintess drinking and even smoking? I needed to see her and talk soon.

"You did a good job investigating, Lucas. Now, this is a gift."

"I simply did what I had to do. But, a gift?"

Surprised, I handed over [Karma Eater] to Lucas, hilt-first.

Taken aback, Lucas cautiously accepted it, then soon gave a bright smile.

"Thank you very much, Your Highness. After the Holy Sword, you have bestowed another famous sword upon me... I will cherish it."

Smiling back, I pointed at Karma Eater.

"This is a sword that can calm down your 'Beastification.'"

Upon mentioning 'Beastification,' Lucas's shoulders stiffened slightly. I patted his shoulder gently.

"Lucas. I don't know why you chose to wield such a power, but don't use it from now on."

"..."

"You're strong enough without borrowing such a power."

Lucas slowly lowered his head.

"No, Your Highness, I... I am weak."

"What?"

"Even against Celendion this time, I may have had a brief advantage, but ultimately, I was overwhelmed by him. I reached out to a dangerous power myself, but the monsters are still stronger than me."

Lucas's hand, holding the sword hilt, tightened.

"I need to become stronger. To protect you, I need to be much, much stronger..."

"Lucas."

I soothed him gently.

"There are many ways to become stronger. But I want you to follow the righteous path. Even if it's slower, steadily, little by little, I want you to advance forward properly."

"..."

"I appreciate you trying so hard for me. But don't sacrifice yourself for my sake. Remember this."

Lucas quietly lowered his head.

"I'll take it to heart, Your Highness."

Whether he truly accepted my words, or merely pretended to while still planning to borrow powers like Beastification, I didn't know.

At least, with a safety device like Karma Eater, I could be a bit relieved.

"Ah, Your Highness! You're here!"

Then, Damien came running out from inside the temple. Lucas nodded at Damien.

"Damien has been helping me the last three days. Thanks to him, the search was smooth."

"I wanted to show you that this temple is a diligent and good place."

Damien spoke carefully, watching my reactions.

"I regret what happened with the Saintess... but the other priests are merely focusing on treating the wounded soldiers. I hoped that you would recognize this..."

"I see, I get it. I get it."

I chuckled and pulled out the [Covert Dawn] set from my bag, handing it to Damien.

"Here, Damien. I brought your gift too."

Somehow, spreading gifts to good kids, I felt like Santa Claus.

"This is equipment that allows you to hide every time you harm an enemy. Use it well."

"Huh! Can, can I really use something this good?!"

What are you talking about, you cheat character? You should have the best among us.

Damien, who was holding the set, let out a 'Wow!' noise. If I had known he would be this happy, I would've suited him up sooner.

In the meantime, I strictly warned Damien.

From now on, only three more shots of Black Queen, and no more after that.

"I understand! Three shots! I'll remember!"

Even as he nodded, Damien's eyes were fixed on his new gear. I should have equipped him with armor sooner if I knew he would be this happy.

With Lucas's help, while Damien was donning his new armor, I turned my head inward towards the temple.

"Well, I guess I should go and console Saintess Margarita?"

***

Inside the priest's office. 

Saintess Margarita, seated in a corner, was slumped over the table with a scowling expression, a bottle of alcohol pressed against her lips, and a wisp of smoke rising from the tip.

Several empty bottles of alcohol and a full ashtray were visible on the table. Oh dear.

"..."

Seeing her dreadful state, I pressed my forehead.

In the game, Margarita was always my main healer.

As long as one frequented the temple, there was a sure chance of hiring her. While she lacked other utilities or damage skills, her healing and shielding performance was outstanding, making her easy to use.

She had been a regular member who had performed till the end in the Hell Ironman clears.

All this time in Crossroad, she had always healed patients with a stern and straightforward face... It was truly an image befitting of a 'saintess'. How on earth did she end up like this?

"I just wanted to heal the injured people, purely..."

Margarita mumbled with a hiccuping voice, inebriated.

"That's because I believed that was the reason the Goddess bestowed me with healing abilities. Hic!"

"..."

"And then, instead, in the embassy, they ruthlessly promote me to the priest's office... They send me to Crossroad... I still came here to treat people, but they suddenly make me do spy activities, and Your Highness makes me fight monsters by lifting me up the city walls..."

"Um, Saintess."

"Then I got exposed during the espionage... Everyone looks at me with suspicious eyes... Damn it, really, I told them so many times that I can't do this... Damn those central bastards..."

"Saintess, first, calm down."

"I don't know anymore, just... Send me home. Hic. Forget about being a saintess and let me retire..."

"..."

Seeing Margarita starting to thud her forehead against the table, I cautiously sat next to her on the chair.

"Saintess. Calm down and listen to me. Anyway, now we need to help each other."

"You're going to put me on the city walls... I don't want to, monsters are scary... I refuse..."

"Let's put the monster issue aside for now, and think, Saintess. You've been exposed as a spy. Even your espionage methods have been discovered."

Margarita rolled her eyes and looked at me. I gave a sly smile.

"Although I don't know, I'm sure both the embassy and the secret agency must be in chaos right now. The entire continent's priest spy network must have gone into full inspection. Maybe they are even overhauling the entire spy system that the secret agency had been building."

"...!"

"And all this happened because you got caught by me. The secret agency won't let you off the hook, will they?"

With her face turning pale, Margarita asked in a trembling voice.

"So, what happens to me now...?"

"In the worst-case scenario, you'll be removed without anyone knowing."

"Huuk."

"So, we're in the same boat."

I leaned in close and whispered softly.

"Now that it's come to this, join my side completely, Saintess. Not central, not the embassy, but join the force of the Third Prince Ash. I'll protect you safely."

"..."

"I may not know about other things, but I take good care of my people."

I will put her on the city walls, but that's another matter.

Facing monsters or humans, it was time to choose the lesser of the two evils.

"What do you think?"

At my proposal, Margarita mumbled with a gloomy face.

"...Anyway, I have no other way, Your Highness..."

I smiled broadly.

You've always been my main healer in the game, Margarita. There were things that happened, but let's do well together this time as well.

***

Having somewhat resolved the internal strife, we kept preparing for the defensive battle.

Time passed like a shot, and three days later.

The morning of the day of the defensive battle dawned.

We had prepared hard for the past week, but time was short.

The heroes were still injured, the equipment we had ordered was not fully made, and the repairs of the city walls were incomplete.

But the monsters didn't care about the situation of the humans and revealed themselves.

"They're coming-!"

The scout yelled at the top of his lungs.

I hoisted up my telescope and peered into the southern sky.

Breaking through the cloudy sky, hundreds of wyverns appeared, their wings spread wide.

The monstrous formation blotted out the sun's light, plunging the area into darkness.

Shit. There were so fucking many.

Although I didn't like it, I turned to Lucas standing next to me and asked.

"Any reinforcements from the Empire?"

Lucas, careful as if he didn't like it either, responded.

"...We've received no news yet."

'No news' meant none of the scouts we had sent north had seen any signs of incoming reinforcements.

Regardless of the size of the reinforcements, if they were coming by land, there's no way my scouts wouldn't have noticed.

But there was still radio silence.

I ground my teeth in frustration.

Those damn central bastards...! That damn second brother!

'Were the reinforcements a lie? Are they screwing me over like this?'

Even as these thoughts raced through my mind, the wyvern legion was closing in on the Crossroad at a terrifying speed.

They were nearly upon us.