812
[Resentment and Deprivation]
2nd rank monster Maegu.
The historically strongest monster in this country was subjugated.
The names of the people who led the subjugation were well known to the world.
Among them, there was one name that people mentioned the most.
<Cardinal > Noh Eun-ha.
The strongest player in history without precedent, and probably never again.
Noh Eun-ha's value rose even higher.
When he was attending the academy, many people doubted his skills.
And when he appeared in the world after 6 years, and when he proved his skills in the Seoul Disaster and the Anti-Soul Festival terror.
Only then did people believe in his skills without doubt.
And when he demonstrated his skills again, no, showed power that could be called divine rank, and defeated Maegu.
People's thoughts changed again.
"If you ask who are the great players worthy of leaving their names in this country's history, what immediately comes to mind are living legends like <Iron Fortress>, <Divine Spear>, <King of Darkness>."
"Then who comes next? <Index >? Or the Twelve Seats?"
"It might have been like that in the old days. But now there's <Cardinal > Noh Eun-ha."
""""<Cardinal > for monarch!!""""
""""Eun-ha god, long live! Long live! Long, long live!!""""
Three living legends.
Those who rebuilt the destroyed world could be said to be beings that people absolutely cannot disparage.
Below them were people who achieved astonishing feats.
But their rankings changed depending on the times.
However, with what Noh Eun-ha accomplished this time, he created a fixed position right below the living legends.
"Noh Eun-ha is really... amazing. I just can't express it in words. Is that person really human? I would believe it even if you said he's a monster."
"Rather say he's a god. I heard the epithet <Crimson God> that only Eun-ha believers knew has settled now because of this incident."
"Did only <Crimson God> settle? How many epithets did he gain from this incident? <Sword Emperor>, <Sword God>, <Hegemon >, <The One>, <Braver >.... And also <Paladin >, <One Man Army>.... I gave up counting while looking it up out of curiosity."
"This epithet was quite well-received too, you know?"
"What? Which one?"
"It's <Universe Poo..."< p>
"No. That name is an epithet created by Dangun Daily to lower <Cardinal >'s true value."
"I think it suits him well.... How good is it to be so intuitive?"
"Are you perhaps a Dangun Daily person?"
"Hey, you're treating me like a weird person just because I said one epithet wrong."
As people were chattering.
Various media including the top 10 central comprehensive daily newspapers poured out countless epithets for Noh Eun-ha.
As a result, with various epithets mixed, the spectacle of each media outlet attaching different epithets next to Noh Eun-ha's name occurred.
It was because Pandora Clan didn't confirm Noh Eun-ha's epithet.
This situation happened just 3 days after defeating Maegu.
"Anyway, Noh Eun-ha did a Noh Eun-ha."
"That saying has been going around a lot lately too. What does it mean exactly?"
"I don't know either. Everyone was using it?"
"He turns around the situation and achieves victory even in a fight with no chance of winning. Eun-ha god believers were saying that?"
"Ah, such a deep meaning."
As Noh Eun-ha's prestige resounded.
The living legends faded.
Players of the same generation as Noh Eun-ha became widely known.
Among them, Noh Eun-ha was treated as an absolutely inviolable domain by people, just as the previous living legends were.
If anyone tried to tarnish his status, people responded without leaving them alone.
Some even called him and his clan members 'Pandora's Legend'.
Of course, the person in charge of the first chapter of the legend was <Cardinal > Noh Eun-ha.
"Should I join Eun-ha god's religion too?"
"Why?"
"Just, it looks fun, doesn't it?"
"Go and become single and die."
"Don't you know Eun-ha god's other epithet? The epithet Harem King. If you join, you might be able to date a lot receiving the Harem King's blessing."
"Don't you know another epithet?"
"What epithet?"
"The king who is most exemplary."
"..."
"Still, it might be worth joining. I heard various groups support it so the finances are really solid? They help with employment, provide meals, educate, and even cultivate personality. Not bad."
3 days after Noh Eun-ha's achievements became known.
In just 3 days, people's inquiries about joining Eun-ha god's religion increased explosively.
The religion that was implicitly treated as a pseudo-religion finally established itself as a popular religion in the world that had risen from destruction.
A day passed from then─.
"─<Cardinal > has returned!!"
Players who went to subjugate Maegu returned from Uijeongbu.
Despite the Mana Management Organization's control, people waiting in front of the barrier soon saw Noh Eun-ha and became excited.
They gave a round of applause.
Noh Eun-ha sitting in a wheelchair pulled by Jung Ha-yang made an embarrassed expression.
"─Thank you. It feels worthwhile to have returned alive with such a celebration. It's all thanks to your support. I'll continue to fight my best to repay your support."
The words Eun-ha uttered towards the gathered crowd that day were talked about for a long time.
It's said the following words were included in Eun-ha god's religion's bible.
『The Lord said.
I am the one who brings glory to this land. I merely swing my sword, so all this glory is not mine but yours.
So we must continue to live doing our best in our roles from now on. We must never forget the spirit of struggle to live life.
Then people who realized the Lord's words said as follows.
"Oh, Crimson God. You are the only god I will serve for my whole life until I die. You are my fire, light, hope, and lastly my glory."
The saint says.
May the Lord's glory be with all people living in this land.』
☆
He could restore the arm he lost by killing Maegu.
Fortunately, the elixir wasn't used.
Moreover, the elixir obtained for this battle could be used on severely injured clan members.
On the other hand─.
"─My body has no strength..."
"Beep beep..."
"Kang..."
Even though the arm was restored.
The backlash couldn't be helped.
It was bound to be like that after using <Amplification >'s power and receiving magic with severe backlash from Priscis Memory several times.
Didn't he use consciousness magic too?
Moreover, he didn't just use <Heroic >, but <Brave > too....
Above all, the gift burden was serious.
Originally, fatigue would come after using gifts, but this time was especially worse.
From <Heroic > to <Brave >.
It seemed like it had newly activated just with the gift changing once.
As a result, Eun-ha couldn't even use magic properly even after 3 days passed.
He had to be fed by others.
And he had to move around in a wheelchair when moving.
"Beep beep..."
"Kang..."
"Alright. We could win thanks to your help too. Don't be upset that I didn't mention you in the interview."
But was it just Noh Eun-ha?
Clan members also received considerable backlash knowingly or unknowingly.
Spirit beasts were even more so.
Buldak and Kang sitting on his shoulders and knees were especially lifeless.
They were feeling fatigue and couldn't move either.
So they couldn't exert their powers properly in this situation.
What on earth was that?
I still don't know even thinking about it now.
Meanwhile, Eun-ha's thoughts occasionally turned to his gift.
It was revealed through this incident.
That his gift was the same as On Tae-yang's.
<Heroic >, <Brave >.
The common effects were endlessly getting stronger while consuming mana and having resistance to brainwashing.
That's probably the essence.
And he could think that something became an activation condition and the effects subtly changed.
<Heroic > had the power to see the future.
<Brave > had the power to freely use comrades' gifts.
They just had such differences.
That means─.
─Perhaps <Berserk > had a high probability of being the same gift as those too.
<Berserk > with the power to learn.
Not just the two gifts.
The gift <Berserk > Eun-ha used in his previous life had the same essence too.
Eun-ha could be certain now.
I'm not sure what kind of gift it is, but I can change the gift's effect to three types depending on the trigger.
Maybe there are other hidden effects that haven't been revealed.
Then what becomes the trigger?
If I could just know the activation conditions.
Then I could choose gifts according to the situation.
Eun-ha couldn't contain his excitement for several days with such thoughts.
He wanted to activate his gift right away.
But since his body wouldn't cooperate, he couldn't move from the wheelchair.
Moreover, people around him would look at him with sharp eyes whenever he just tried to grab a sword.
It was the same now.
"You're thinking about testing your gift again, aren't you?"
"...No I'm not."
"You're lying. You think I wouldn't know?"
While riding in a car prepared by the Fairy Government on the way to meet Fairy Lim Ga-eul.
Jung Ha-yang who was responsible for Eun-ha's nursing followed him.
She who was sticking close to Eun-ha's side noticed his thoughts and gave such warnings.
In the end, Eun-ha had to give up even thinking.
It had been 4 years since marrying Jung Ha-yang.
She knew what he was thinking.
"Ah, we've almost arrived. Eun-ha, let's get ready to get off now. Did you bring what you need to bring?"
"It's here."
Shortly after, the car slowed down.
Jung Ha-yang who raised her head and looked ahead told Eun-ha.
Eun-ha nodded.
The only thing to bring was the spoils placed on his knees.
Mana stone and skill stone.
They came from Maegu.
According to regulations, Zenith Clan who was in charge of representing the recapture team should have kept the spoils.
But Zenith Clan Lord Ji Yong-hyeon entrusted the authority to Eun-ha.
It's understandable.
Our clan contributed more than other clans contributed.
Pandora Clan also had the next highest command authority in the recapture team.
The merits of Eun-ha and Pandora Clan members were considerable.
If Ji Yong-hyeon or someone else had Maegu's spoils during the interview just before, a riot might have broken out.
"What do you think the Fairy will say?"
"Hmm, she'll say good job first. And then ask what we want in return for achieving merits?"
"Then we should think about what to receive."
Eventually the car stopped.
They arrived at the Blue House.
Jung Ha-yang discussed her thoughts and was about to open the door.
At that moment, security guards waiting in front of the entrance opened the door.
It was a knife-like movement.
"─I am the head of Blue House security. I heard you achieved great merits this time. We welcome <Cardinal > and <Operator > like this."
""...."""
Including the head of Blue House security.
People greeted them with courtesy.
As Eun-ha defeated Maegu, the Fairy Government could no longer ignore Eun-ha's status even more.
☆
Blue House main building, Fairy's office.
A refreshing aura was swirling.
The concentration of mana dissolved in the air was very refreshing.
Eun-ha wasn't unaware of the reason.
It's <White Silver>'s power.
Mana is usually ubiquitous.
But mana with <White Silver>'s properties disperses mana.
It's probably because this is the space where the Fairy lives the longest, so mana she unconsciously leaks seems to be spread everywhere.
"Welcome. Do you know how much people in the world are revering you now?"
The head of security personally pulled the wheelchair and guided Eun-ha to Lim Ga-eul.
Eun-ha who was looking around the Blue House interior soon met Lim Ga-eul.
She congratulated him happily as if it was her own business as soon as she saw Eun-ha.
Along with Eun-ha's reputation rising, the Fairy Government's prestige that ordered the Maegu subjugation also rose.
Moreover, the northern Gyeonggi attack operation was progressing smoothly too.
"No. I'm not sure since I'm coming to meet the Fairy right after returning from Uijeongbu."
"Ask your clan's administrator later. Honestly, it's not a very welcome situation for me."
"Yet you welcome me like this?"
"Then? Should I threaten you? Even if you might become a potential enemy, there are still endless areas to cooperate, so that shouldn't be done. And there's no guarantee yet that you'll become my enemy."
"It's not that there's no guarantee yet, there probably won't be such a thing for my whole life."
"Yeah, I hope so too."
After the 2nd Uijeongbu Recapture War.
Eun-ha and Lim Ga-eul's relationship had now become equal.
Lim Ga-eul could no longer treat Eun-ha rashly like before.
Nevertheless, they didn't fight.
Though they would keep each other in check, the relationship between the two was relatively good.
The reason Lim Ga-eul called Eun-ha was not unrelated to that.
The two who became equal now became a relationship of giving and receiving what they want.
"So that's the skill stone and mana stone that came from Maegu."
"Yes, that's right."
"What effect does the skill stone have?"
"We haven't been able to identify anything since we didn't have the conditions to investigate in detail."
Eun-ha placed Maegu's spoils on Lim Ga-eul's desk.
Lim Ga-eul showed curiosity.
Especially, her eyes shone at the 2nd rank monster's skill stone.
Who wouldn't?
Until Maegu existed, the most dangerous monster in Korea was 3rd rank overrank.
Maegu was the highest rank monster in Korea.
So it was understandable to be curious.
I'm not sure about this either.
Though I know On Tae-yang absorbed it, I never confirmed what effect this has.
Actually, Eun-ha didn't know what principle Maegu's skill stone contained.
He hadn't heard what On Tae-yang did with the skill stone in his previous life.
On Tae-yang was very sparing with words, and nothing special came out in his battles.
Some even said On Tae-yang didn't know how to use it even if he absorbed it.
Tok
Soon Eun-ha touched the skill stone.
He manifested a very small amount of mana.
It felt like his mana circuits were burning.
Eun-ha made the skill stone flash while enduring the stinging pain.
It was a very short time but.
The skill stone recognized him as its owner.
"Hmm, it seems to suit you."
"Yes, so I'm going to take it."
"The other clans allowed it?"
"Tempest Clan seemed dissatisfied, but they didn't say much because of lending the elixir last time."
Eun-ha took the skill stone.
She didn't seem to mind much.
The purpose was separate anyway.
And as if reading her inner thoughts─.
"─I'll give this to the Fairy."
"Okay, thank you. I can use it as material for the cocoon to install in northern Gyeonggi."
Eun-ha held out Maegu's mana stone.
Lim Ga-eul was satisfied.
It was a shame to lose the mana stone, but it couldn't be helped.
The people who subjugated Maegu also had to receive appropriate compensation.
But the mana stone couldn't be divided, so it was better to sell the mana stone and distribute the money to people.
So Eun-ha decided to sell the mana stone to the Fairy Government.
"Please give a high price."
"Of course. As it's a 2nd rank mana stone, I'll repay you with a high price."
With this, the distribution of spoils was finished.
However, there was no way the Fairy called Eun-ha just to distribute spoils.
Sure enough.
Lim Ga-eul's tone changed.
"Now then, we need to give a reward commensurate with your contributions at the government level..."
"..."
"You received one last year too, but should I give an Eulji grade medal? Your name will go down in history books as someone who received Eulji grade not once, but 3 times."
Originally, high-ranking officials and commanders who participated in the recapture war should have been called for a meeting.
But because Eun-ha's status had risen.
Lim Ga-eul couldn't decide unilaterally unlike before.
So she called him to ask for his opinion.
"According to regulations, you can only receive an Eulji grade medal if you were directly involved in subjugating a 2nd rank monster. Or subjugate 2 or more 3rd rank monsters."
Lim Ga-eul listed the basis for judgment.
Eun-ha knew this too.
He could predict he would receive an Eulji grade medal.
"Hmm.... You don't look particularly pleased."
"I've already received treasures twice, so the treasure luck must be running out. So while it's good, my clan members would probably be happier than me."
"I can only award Eulji grade medals to those directly involved in the subjugation. So when the official document goes out later, list names moderately. Don't try to give it to all clan members."
"Yes, I know. But Fairy, how do you receive a Taegeuk grade treasure?"
"Your eyes have become really high after receiving Eulji grade twice, huh? If you really want to receive a Taegeuk grade medal, kill a 1st rank monster or kill 2 or more 2nd rank monsters. Or go conquer that black dungeon in Cheorwon over there."
"So you're saying don't even dream of receiving a Taegeuk grade medal."
"Treasures reflecting the nation's history can't be given out carelessly."
"Then..."
"Yes?"
Eun-ha dragged out his words.
Lim Ga-eul was right.
At this moment, Eun-ha became greedy.
Getting another Eulji grade treasure wasn't so bad.
There were a few treasures he was drawn to.
But he could aim even higher after defeating Maegu.
He wanted to obtain a Taegeuk grade treasure that no one had obtained in his previous life.
"─Please keep my merits."
"What? Is this some bar? Keeping leftover alcohol?"
Honor and desire for growth.
Eun-ha wanted to become even stronger.
He wanted to walk a path no one had tread yet and pioneer a new path.
So after thinking, he came to a conclusion.
In a few years, Ma will appear and run rampant.
If I stop them, I should be able to receive a Taegeuk grade medal.
Above all, Eun-ha was certain he could receive a Taegeuk grade treasure.
He knew the future.
So he would add the merits achieved this time and receive a Taegeuk grade treasure while resolving the disaster that would happen in a few years.
It was a grand dream in a way.
"Really... You're such an eccentric."
Seeing Eun-ha like that.
Lim Ga-eul clicked her tongue.
He was truly eccentric.
No one else would say they'd postpone their merits until achieving the next merit after achieving merits.
She sighed.
"Okay, if that's what you want to do, do it that way. I have no justification or power to stop you."
"Thank you."
"But what are you planning to do with your clan members? Will you postpone theirs too?"
"I'd get beaten by the kids if I did that. Please reward them properly."
And so Eun-ha received the skill stone and postponed his merits.
It was another achievement of leaving his name in history books.
Of course, Eun-ha's intentions will be packaged purely for the public.
As a hero with pure intentions truly thinking of the country's future.
It's said that as this became officially known, people came to praise his name even more highly.
☆
Eun-ha's popularity continues to soar.
<Crimson Monarch>.
Now even such an epithet was floating around.
In that situation─.
"─Did you hear? That Noh Eun-ha bastard has become a body that can't even use mana properly now?"
"It seems it will take quite some time to fully recover his body. Well, there's no way he'd be fine. He defeated a 2nd rank monster after all."
"What about other Pandora Clan members?"
"They're all similar, it seems? So they're reducing clan work for the time being and focusing on treating clan members."
"In that situation, Noh Eun-ha is still attending meetings continuously? Because northern Gyeonggi hasn't been completely conquered yet."
"With that body?"
"Yeah."
Is that so?
The more admired a figure is.
The more jealousy and envy follow.
Moreover, what kind of person is Noh Eun-ha?
Wasn't he an arrogant person?
Over the past few years.
People who suffered from his tyranny were secretly sharpening their knives.
Therefore─.
"─This is the only chance to kill Noh Eun-ha."