Hyeonu left Jeras behind and returned to his original position to find a giant orc. It was a familiar appearance. Raccoon also made such a huge orc figure when fighting Luke.
âIt is different from a magic spirit, but... I think it has a similar effect.â
The effect was noticeable even without hearing about it. The free time he had wasnât for nothing.
âCertainly... he isnât pushed when it comes to power. The battle is overwhelming.â
Raccoon was different from Lebron. He pushed Luke. It was in a more overwhelming manner than Luke pushing Lebron.
âIt is different from the guardians, right?â Hyeonu carefully asked Lebron, who was approaching him.
âIt is like fighting with that master.â
Lebron shook his head. The battle with Luke was very difficult. It was even harder to get a familiar feeling.
âThat master?â
Hyeonu didnât know who Lebron was talking about. He didnât know it at all. There were some people he was aware of, but he wasnât certain.
âThe emperor and Duke Blake. It is one of the two.â
It was obvious. There were only two people Lebron would describe as a âmaster.â
âWho else would it be? It is that master in the imperial palace.â
Lebron looked at Hyeonu with an expression asking why he didnât know this.
âHow can I know that?â
âIn any case, he isnât a bad fighter either. To be honest, I can say I can win even if I didnât get pushed in a power battle.â
In the past, he wouldnât have been able to fight like he was now. He was able to exchange blows with Luke like this due to the achievements he gained in the demon world.
âStill, after around 10 years... I can win.â
Additionally, he gained the possibility of development. If he honed the Mixed Sky Demonic Martial Art that Hyeonu was now learning well... He had the ability to stand up to Luke. It was enough. The thing Lebron needed right now was time.
âIs it 10 years?â
Hyeonu was surprised by Lebronâs confident words.
âHe is alone, but Iâm not. I have two people to help me. I should be ashamed that it will take 10 years.â
Lebron clicked his tongue.
The emperor and John Blakeâhe could surpass Luke if he trained with the help of the two of them. It was like the saying, âthe more you work together, the easier a task.â If the three of them put their heads together, there were endless ways to become stronger.
âOf course, when we put our heads together... he probably wonât exist any longer.â
Lebronâs gaze lingered on Luke before turning it to Hyeonu.
***
At a time when Hyeonu was fighting against the god tribe in the East Continent...
Edward was smiling as he recalled the uninvited guest who had come.
âIt wasnât a lie...â
Not long ago, he received sudden news from an adventurer he had accepted.
âI donât have to give the secret arts.â
Of course, he disregarded it at first. He ignored it because it was nonsense. Yet on the promised day, Luke didnât come to visit him. It wasnât until more time passed that he was convinced. Hyeonuâs words were true.
âThe throne of power is complete... I can become strong in an instant.â
There was another piece of good news. The dwarf great chief, Kapa, had come to him last night. The thing he asked for was on the verge of being completed. Now he was given time and he could become strong enough to ignore Lukeâs threats.
âEdward.â Just then, someone in the distance called out to Edward.
âYou came.â Edward calmly greeted the man who appeared as if he was expecting it beforehand.
âI have found out as many things as possible, as I have been commanded.â The man who appeared was Kalen. He received Edwardâs call and returned to the northern iceberg.
âJust tell me the important things. There is no need for meaningless things.â
âI understand.â Kalen nodded cheerfully at Edwardâs abstract demands. Something like this had already happened a few times. He was used to it now.
âThe northern front is still there. Except for the one city that was handed over, the rest are holding up.â
âArenât the adventurers continuing to grow stronger?â
âThis was balanced by the guardians you sent moving a bit earlier.â
âAre you saying it isnât a fundamental solution?â Edward fell into thought after hearing these words. After thinking for a moment, Edward took something out and threw it at Kalen. âGive it to those guys and they will know how to use it.â
The things that Edward threw were small bone fragments. The number of bone fragments was exactly five. It matched the number of guardians.
âI understand, Edward.â Kalen had no doubts. The identity of the bone fragments was something that would be checked separately later.
âNext?â
âInformation about the god tribe in the East Continent.â
âGood. Tell me.â
âAccording to the words of the adventurers participating in the war, the god tribe is being pushed back.â
âPushed? Do you know how much they are being pushed?â
âIt is said that the god tribe are ahead in terms of the war itself, but they are being greatly pushed in the fight between the strong.â
Kalen relayed information to Edward that even the players involved in the battle might not be familiar with. It was obvious. It was Hyeonu who told Kalen this. There was no way the information could be incomplete.
âGreatly pushed?â
âIt is said that the orc great tribe chief is prevailing over the god of the god tribe. Meanwhile, the king of the god tribe is being pushed by not only Duke Lebron of the Yusma Empire, but also the adventurer who is his disciple.â
Kalen revealed in detail the information he had heard from Hyeonu.
âThen the god tribe isnât ahead in the war. It is the other side.â
Edward immediately understood why the god tribe was being pushed back in the first place. It was intentionally dragging out the war into a long war.
âIt is obvious whose head it came from.â
The person who made the war like this must be the same person who told him to start the war. There was no one else who would casually sustain a war.
âWhat else?â Edward burst out laughing and asked Kalen for information again.
âThis is really hard won information...â Kalen dragged out the end of his words. Edward didnât react much and just looked at Kalen with a smile.
âIt is said that there are some adventurers who dream of rebellion,â Kalen whispered in a very small voice.
âRebellion? Rebellion?!â Edward snorted and burst out laughing.
Rebellionâit was the most ridiculous thing he heard in recent years.
Edward laughed for a long time before shouting, âThey dare?!!!â
He mightâve become the chief of the ran tribe and led the undead in the northern part of the continent, but Edward was still the imperial prince. He naturally had to react sensitively to the word rebellion.
âWho would do such a stupid thing?â
However, it was only for a moment. He soon started laughing again. He was reminded of how absurd a rebellion would be.
âThere are four monsters in the empire. Duke Blake, the former commander of the Knights of Keon; Duke Lebron, the empireâs current number one knight; and Duke Suped, the empireâs strongest great magician. Finally, the emperor who rules over all of them, Alexander. All four of them must be brought down for the rebellion to succeed. Who would dare do such a thing?â Edward pointed out reality. It was also to damage Kalen who brought him false information.
âYes, there is such a person.â However, Kalenâs reaction wasnât what Edward expected. He nodded firmly.
âWho can bring all four of them down?â
âIsnât he there?â
Kalen and Edwardâs eyes met.
âHe will end up having an accident.â
Edward let out a sigh. It was sympathy for the ignorant person who was running toward an insurmountable wall.
***
âWill you help me with anything?â Hyeonu asked Gang Junggu with a serious expression.
Gang Junggu looked up and asked, âWhat are you talking about? What is this all of a sudden?â
He heard it with both ears, but it was unbelievable.
âHe isnât the type of person to get into trouble...â
It was the first time Hyeonu had said such a thing since they got to know each other. Thus, he was even more flustered.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âIt is as you have heard, Hyung-nim. I might end up doing something big later. Will you lend your strength at that time?â Hyeonu asked Gang Junggu again.
âI will naturally help. Hyung-nim will probably say that he will help unconditionally. It will be interesting.â
He knew Kim Seokjungâs answer even if he didnât hear it. It was unconditional support. It wasnât due to loyalty or affection. It was just because it was interesting and he would be helping Hyeonu.
âStill... what is going on?â
Something bigâhe wondered what level it would have to be for the words âsomething bigâ to come out of Hyeonuâs mouth.
âLater... after a while... I will challenge the emperorâs position.â
Hyeonu had been struggling ever since he got the quest from Kalui. Should he aim for the throne or give up? At first, he decided to give up. The more he thought about how many things were needed to acquire the throne of the emperor, the more he felt that the position of emperor was far away.
Then as time went on, unfounded confidence soared. After all, it wouldnât be discovered by the emperor if he only shared this face with trusted players. The emperor was an NPC. It was impossible for him to know things in reality.
âThe position of emperor... it is a position that any man dreams of at least once. Still, is it possible?â Gang Junggu asked Hyeonu. Gang Junggu didnât know as much as Hyeonu, but he had received quite a bit of knowledge from Hyeonu. It was why he was well aware of how difficult Hyeonuâs words were.
âI donât think it can happen right now. But... gather more people and as time passes... wouldnât it be possible then?â
Hyeonu smiled brightly enough to show his white teeth.
âDo you have people you can trust?â
âIs there anything else to say, Hyung-nim? It is the members who gather every time. Iâve given them so much in the meantime that wouldnât it be pretty beneficial to get something in return?â
The people Hyeonu thought of were the ones who had always been on quests with him. The Pioneer Guild and the Kowloon Guild. There were also the pro teams if it could be afforded. This alone was a pretty decent lineup.
âIsnât it hard to defeat Lebron even with this?â
Gang Junggu showed a negative reaction. In order to rise to the emperorâs position, it was necessary to first defeat the NPCs who supported the emperor. They couldnât aim for the head at once.
âLebron is my teacher, but... will he want to disturb me?â
Hyeonu was confident enough to persuade Lebron. He was Lebronâs only disciple. He wondered if Lebron could kill him.
âThen Duke Blake?â
âHe probably wonât leave the demon world. Even if he comes here, he wonât go to the capital or the imperial palace.â
Based on what Hyeonu knew, John Blake was immersed in training in the demon world. It was a time to refine and digest new things. It would likely be like this for quite a long time in the future. Naturally, there was no need to consider him.
âSuped?â
âYou donât have to worry too much. There is a way to beat him.â
Suped was a magician, so Hyeonu would be able to make a gap with Tang-Eâs Roar. Hyeonu was confident he could dig into that gap properly.
âIn the end, the problem is the emperor...â
The biggest obstacle to Hyeonuâs dream of becoming the emperor was the emperor.