“

Kiyaaaaak!

”

‘Okay! Good!’

Grid felt bliss as he watched the mermen suffering every time he wielded his sword. It was because he felt stronger. 

[The Best Gauntlets’ option effect is activated, causing you to attack the target twice.]

[The Ideal Dagger’s option effect is activated, instantaneously killing the target.]

One of the six mermen was killed due to the Ideal Dagger’s option activating. Grid was immediately attacked by the remaining five mermen. However, he was using a dagger as a weapon, while their weapons were 2m long tridents. They needed a certain distance to attack Grid properly.

“

Grrr!

”

In the end, the mermen gave up on the immediate counterattack. They moved a certain distance away and glared at Grid wildly. Grid followed and attacked one of them relentlessly.

Bam bam bam!

“

Kiik!

”

The merman were monsters famous for having a strong camaraderie. The mermen didn’t know what to do as Grid stuck to their companion like a leech and stabbed. They wanted to help, but were afraid they would end up being stabbed. Indeed, they were stupid bastards.

‘Mermen... these damn guys!’

As a warrior, Grid fought mermen at Lake Fabian. The mermen at Lake Fabian were very low level, unlike the mermen here, but they were very strong opponents at the same time. In the end, Grid was killed by them.

‘Revenge for back then!’

Puok!

“

Kkuk!

”

The merman received Grid’s dagger with no mercy and eventually died. The watching mermen shed tears of blood and started a violent onslaught.

[You have suffered 2,900 damage.]

[You have suffered 2,830 damage.]

Indeed, the mermen had powerful attacks. Grid lost more than half of his health just from two of their attacks.

‘A fearsome strength! I am armed with the Frostlight Orc Chief’s Helmet and Khan's Masterpiece, but I still received this much damage!’

But there was no need to be afraid. The cooldown time of Grid’s mana potion was up.

“

Gulp.

”

Grid used a new skill straight away after verifying his mana gauge.

“Pagma's Sword Dance, Wave!”

Grid’s body was like Loran Falls behind him, but the calm stream started to move. Then waves of energy shot in every direction.

Pepepepeng!

“

Kiyaaaaak!

”

The four mermen were hit simultaneously and screamed in pain. They tried to counterattack but due to the influence of Wave, their movement speed and attack speed were slowed by almost two times. It wasn’t difficult to deal the final blow.

“Wind Blast!”

“

Kyaaak!

”

In the end, all six mermen died and Grid confirmed the money, loot, and experience that dropped.

[Your level has risen.]

“Invest 10 points in intelligence.”

[You have invested 10 points in intelligence. Is this correct?]

“Yes.”

After investing 10 points in intelligence, Grid’s mana rose to exactly 600. There was still a long way to go, but Grid felt very proud.

‘If I make an item, my stats will rise. Someday, I will have enough mana to use Pagma's Sword Dance freely. Still, I don’t know when that will be...’

By the time Grid paid back the debt, would he have thousands of mana? As he imagined it and prepared to leave, a man appeared before him. It was a man with a scraggly beard. He was also wearing odd clothing. At a glance...

‘A beggar.’

What? This beggar?

‘Don’t tell me he wants money?’

Grid was concerned that he would beg him for money, so Grid hurriedly tried to leave this place. But then the beggar called out to Grid, “I have a favor to ask of you.”

“... 

Ah

, damn.”

Of course this beggar would be asking him for money.

‘He found the wrong person.’

Grid wasn’t proud of it, but he never once put 10 won in the Salvation Army donation box during his 26 years of living. Therefore, he had no intention of helping a beggar in the game.

‘How can I help when I am trying to stay alive in the first place?’

Grid turned around calmly as the beggar placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Can’t you hear me?”

“I heard you.”

“Then why aren’t you answering?”

“Why would I reply to a beggar?”

The man’s face distorted. “What? Beggar? I am a beggar?”

“You aren’t? You look exactly like a beggar.”

“

Kuk! Kuhahahaha!

”

Was this beggar insane? Why was he laughing all of a sudden?

“Hey, Mister, would you mind being quiet? This place smells of mermen blood and other mermen might appear, so it will be dangerous to make loud noises.”

Gurgle gurgle!

As they were talking, a huge foam started to rise from the bottom of the waterfall. In the end, new mermen emerged. Grid guessed that more than six would appear, so he had wanted to leave this place as quickly as possible.

‘I don’t think I could fight more than seven.’

“Hey.”

Grid was hurrying away when the beggar called out to him again, but he responded without stopping, “Hey, beggar, if you don’t want to die, then just leave. Well, I don’t care if you die or not. Then I’m going...”

Peeng!

Peeng!

Peeng!

... Damn. Grid was delayed too much because of the beggar. 11 mermen popped out of the water, surrounding him and the beggar.

“Who…? Someone murdered our kin!”

“I will kill you... Kill him and chew up his heart!”

Grid screamed toward the mermen, “I witnessed with my own eyes that this man killed your brethren!”

Grid’s finger pointed toward the beggar. This wasn’t an intentional act, it was instinctive. It was his nature to sacrifice other people for himself!

“You...! It was you!”

The mermen believed Grid’s words immediately and turned their eyes toward the beggar. Then Grid hurried to escape. However...

Chaeng!

‘...Sword?’

It was clearly the sound of a sword. Grid reflexively looked back and saw the beggar holding a longsword that would’ve been used in the past.

‘That’s clearly a sword! How does a beggar have such a thing?’

Perhaps he wasn’t a beggar? Yes, it was common sense to think that no ordinary beggar would be in Kesan Canyon. An ordinary beggar wouldn’t survive a day here!

‘Then this person...!’

Grid belatedly focused his attention above the beggar’s head. Then he confirmed the name.

‘Piaro.’

Grid didn’t know who he was, but he was clearly an NPC. The fact that the NPC approached Grid first must be related to a quest! The beggar, no, Piaro spoke, “I don’t like fish.”

Sasak!

Sasasasak!

Piaro was in a completely different dimension from Grid. Grid relied on using active skills when dealing with the mermen. However, Piaro didn’t use any active skills. He fought the 11 mermen with just his swordsmanship.

Clink.

His sword flashed a few times before Piaro placed his longsword back in his sheath. Then the mermen coughed up blood simultaneously and disappeared into gray light. Grid was stunned as he witnessed Piaro’s ridiculous display of strength. Then Piaro said with a frown, “You are the type of person who will sacrifice innocents to survive... you are the type of person I hate the most in the world.”

“I-I’m sorry...”

Grid was afraid that he might be killed, so he apologized. Then Piaro shook his head. “There is no need for any pretenses. I don’t want to talk to you for too long, so I will cut to the chase. Help me.”

Ttiring~

There was a familiar sound and the quest notification window popped up.

[The True Traitor of the Red Knights]

[Difficulty: S

The Red Knights were once the strongest knight division on the continent. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that the Saharan Empire could now exist because of the Red Knights.

Asmophel, the vice captain of the Red Knights, had a secret rendezvous with the Empress. Then he framed Piaro, who knew the truth.

Due to Asmophel skillfully borrowing the power of the Empress, Piaro and his men were framed as traitors to the Emperor and were forced to flee.

Piaro couldn’t forgive Asmophel or the imperial family, who drove the lives of his comrades to the brink of ruin.

But it was impossible for Piaro to move directly due to the trackers scattered throughout the continent, who were released by Asmophel.

In the end, Piaro was forced to give up on revenge himself and needed to entrust it to an agent.

Quest Clear Conditions: Punish Asmophel.

Quest Clear Reward: Title ‘Agent of Revenge.’

* Agent of Revenge: The ‘Cruelty’ stat will be opened. 

 Attack Power +100. Skill ‘Murderous Impulse’ will be generated.

Quest Failure: Level -4.]

The Saharan Empire was adjacent to the Eternal Kingdom. However, it was natural to take a long time to go there and back. Furthermore, Grid needed to punish the vice captain of a knight’s division. Even Leo, who was called the Northern Nova, was just a chick in front of Asmophel.

‘I like the reward, but there is no guarantee of success and the distance is too far. It is wiser to create items at the smithy rather than doing this quest.’

Grid made a decision and firmly declined. “I don’t have the time or ability to help you.”

[The quest was refused.]

Piaro clicked his tongue.

“You don’t like the reward?”

“No, I don‘t have the time or ability.”

“I am familiar with people like you. You must be hoping for a bigger reward by taking advantage of my desperate situation.”

“No, that isn’t it. It isn’t about the reward. I really don’t have the time or ability to help you.”

"Bah, I will add my sword as a reward.”

[Piaro has changed the quest reward.]

[Quest Clear Reward: Title ‘Agent of Revenge’ Piaro’s longsword.

* Agent of Revenge: The ‘Cruelty’ stat will be opened. 

Attack Power +100.

Skill ‘Murderous Impulse’ will be generated.

* Piaro’s longsword.

Rating: Unique

Durability: 110/213  Attack Power: 387   Accuracy: +10%

The skill ‘Hatred’ will be generated.

* Stamina -100.

It is somewhat damaged, but that doesn’t change the fact that it is a great sword. But it is cursed because it contains Piaro’s strong grudge. There is some risk involved in using it.

User Restriction: Level 190 or higher. More than 900 strength. 

More than 300 agility. Advanced Sword Mastery.]

It was difficult to talk about the options since Grid didn’t know what skill ‘Hatred’ was, but the attack power was great.

‘It is a one-handed sword, but the attack power exceeded the legendary rated Sword of Self-transcendence... of course, the level limit was 30 levels higher than the Sword of Self-transcendence, but considering the difference in rating, this attack power was really amazing. It is definitely an item that can be sold at an expensive price.’

Grid was greedy. Why did he want to make items? To make money. But even if he made dozens or hundreds of items, there was no guarantee that items with a unique or higher rating would be produced. Perhaps Grid could obtain bigger rewards from this quest than from making items, since the item could be sold for a high price.

‘But I truly don’t have the capabilities.’

Grid was strong. However, it wasn’t enough to face the vice captain of the once strongest knight division on the continent. He needed to calm down. Grid closed his eyes tightly and turned away from Piaro’s longsword.

“I truly don’t have the ability to carry out your request.”

[The quest was refused.]

Piaro bit his lip. He seemed angry.

“You truly are a greedy person. Don’t you know that excessive greed can be a poison?”

Words didn’t work. This vaguely familiar situation made Grid recall someone he had forgotten. Yes, Doran. No matter how much he rejected the quest, Grid somehow ended up doing Doran’s quest. Piaro resembled Doran.

‘I might be dragged into the quest if I don’t show a definite attitude.’

Grid came out strongly. “How many times do I have to say it? When did I say that I don’t like the rewards? I don’t have the ability, the ability! Why are you misunderstanding a person in a strange way?”

“You don’t have the ability? It isn’t easy to kill canyon lizards, lizardmen, spiders, eagles, crocodiles, wolves, and six mermen at the same time.”

“

Heok...

”

W-What was up with this guy? How did he know everything Grid did in Kesan Canyon? This must be...!

“Y-You! Are you a stalker? What do you want from me? Surely not my virginity...! Dirty bastard!”

“Didn’t I already say it? All I want is Asmophel’s death. It seems talking won’t work with you.”

Peok!

Piaro hit Grid’s thigh with his sheath. Then Grid literally fell to his knees.

[You have suffered 7,500 damage.]

[The Apostle of Justice’s bravery is unmatched.]

[The Apostle of Justice is in a crisis. You won’t easily collapse in front of the enemies.]

[All stats will increase by 30%.]

“W-What...?”

Grid’s health fell just from a hit on his thigh from a sheath? Piaro also took care of 11 mermen in an instant. Who was this person? As Grid was feeling appalled, Piaro looked down at him with cold eyes.

“Make sure to answer. Will you accept my request? Or will you die here?”

“...”

Grid was mistaken when he thought Piaro was like Doran. Doran was stubborn, but nice. This man was completely different. He was more like a demon. A selfish demon!

“T-This is ridiculous...! An NPC will kill me if I refuse the quest... What the hell is this…?”

“What are you saying? Answer me.”

“Dammit! I’d rather die! If I fail the quest, I will lose four levels and waste my time, but if I die here, I will just lose experience! 

Hmph.

 I would prefer that! I will be resurrected in Winston so it will save me some time!”

“... Really, you don’t know what a life is worth. Why did God create immortal beings like you, and why are you living among ordinary humans like us? I can’t understand, no matter how I think about it.”

An NPC was questioning the existence of a user. Grid was temporarily speechless at the intelligence of an NPC. Then Piaro glanced at him.

"Get lost.”

“

Huh?

”

“Get out of my sight.”

“Q-Quest. No, weren’t you going to kill me if I refuse your request?”

“

Bah

, I don’t have the hobby of killing innocent people.” Piaro left this place. Just before completely disappearing from Grid’s field of view, he stopped and said, “If you are willing to accept my request later, come here. I’m not forcing you. It’s just hope.”

Thus, Grid’s brief encounter with Piaro ended. Then he returned to Winston. In the process, Grid fought several monsters in the canyon and reached level 95, investing all the stat points into intelligence.

‘Shit, I’m like a magician.’

Investing stat points in intelligence just to increase the amount of mana! It was regrettable, no matter how he thought about it, but Grid got some happy news.

[The skill level of Blacksmith’s Rage has risen.]

[The skill level of Unbreakable Justice has risen.]

[Blacksmith’s Rage Lv. 2]

[Increases attack power by 15% and attack speed by 30% for 30 seconds.

Skill Mana Cost: 40

Skill Cooldown Time: 60 seconds]

[Unbreakable Justice Lv. 2]

[Deals 320% of your attack power.

Skill Mana Cost: 300

Skill Cooldown Time: 90 seconds]

In the case of Wind Blast and Quick Movements, they were skills built into the Ideal Dagger, so the skill level wouldn’t increase no matter how many times Grid used it. However, Blacksmith's Rage and Unbreakable Justice were his own skills and like any ordinary skills, it gained experience and the level rose.

Grid realized he was becoming stronger as he saw the effects of the upgraded skills.

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