by Park Saenal
However, their eyes were still the same. The ⌓ ⌓ shaped eyes were still naughty.
‘…I can’t see it.’
It was subtle.
‘Well… it’s fine since they’re cute.’
Grid opened the Overgeared Skeletons’ information.
[Name: Overgeared Skeleton One
Class: Destructive Skeleton Dancing Smith.
Level: 200
Health: 25,824 Mana: 160
Strength: 1,015 Stamina: 450
Agility: 420 Intelligence: 80]
-Class Specific Skills-
[Bone Cracking Lv. 4.]
[There is a low probability of destroying materials made of bone (undead, items, structures, etc.).
Resources Consumed: None.
Skill Cooldown Time: 20 seconds]
[Destroyer Dancer’s Blacksmithing Skill Lv. 1]
[-Learn how to make a weapon that is made of 100% bone material.
While making weapons, the skills ‘Dancing’ and Skeleton’s Patience will always be activated. If a destroyer’s skill is used with this weapon, the probability of Bone Cracking will increase by three times. The time it will take to make an item is 20 minutes.
Skill Resource Consumption: Materials needed to make the item.
Skill Cooldown Time: 30 minutes.
★ Due to the nature of the destroyer, there is a possibility that the item being produced will be destroyed. If the item being produced is destroyed, a wide-area explosion that deals 6 times the item damage specified in the production method will occur.
If the damage range is within 10 meters of Overgeared Skeleton One, Overgeared Skeleton One will also suffer damage.]
[Dancing Lv. 1]
[-Dance to provoke any enemy within 30 meters.
There is a 70% chance of the taunt being successful.
Resources Consumed: None.
Skill Cooldown Time: None.
The time required to activate the skill (time required to get into the rhythm): 5 seconds.]
-Skills Learned-
[Skeleton’s Patience]
[-A conditionally triggered passive.
LA skill learned from the Legendary Blacksmith’s Patience.
Once activated, defense, strength, and health are doubled.
Resources Consumed: None.
Skill Cooldown Time: None.]
[Intermediate Sword Mastery Lv. 7]
[Passive skill.
A skill learned from a master’s swordsmanship.]
[Silver Thread…]
[….
…
Omitted.]
[Name: Overgeared Skeleton Two
Class: Restorer Skeleton Dancing Smith.
Level: 200
Health: 19,000 Mana: 5,000
Strength: 50 Stamina: 650
Agility: 220 Intelligence: 1,045]
-Class Specific Skills-
[Bone Sticking Lv. 4]
[-Restores 20% of a skeleton-based undead’s health. The damaged part of the target will be restored.
Resources Consumed: 1,00 mana.
Skill Cooldown Time: 26 seconds]
[Restorer Dancer’s Blacksmithing Skill Lv. 1]
[-Learn how to make a helmet that is made of 100% bone material.
While making the helmet, the skills ‘Dancing’ and Skeleton’s Patience will always be activated.
The helmet will gain the feature of ‘restoration’, and Overgeared Skeleton Two will show a high survival power if armed with this helmet.
The time it will take to make an item is 20 minutes.
Skill Resource Consumption: Materials needed to make the item.
Skill Cooldown Time: 30 minutes.
★ Due to the nature of the restorer, it may be difficult to make items. It is because the bones used as the material will be intentionally restored and manufacturing processes such as smelting and forging will be reset.
At this point, Overgeared Skeleton Two will have to start producing the item again from the beginning.]
[Dancing Lv. 1]
[Skeleton’s Patience]
[Intermediate Magic Mastery Lv. 7]
[Omitted.]
The Overgeared Skeletons gained six stat points every time they leveled up. Given that level 1 had a basic 10 points for each stat and players gained a 20 point bonus for their first level, the total value of the level 200 Overgeared Skeletons’ stats should be 1,224. However, the Overgeared Skeletons had a stats increase due to the second class advancement bonus, the bone strengthening effect, and the various ‘usable items’ made by Grid.
The total number of stat points was nearly 2,000, which was comparable to that of ordinary level 200 players. It was almost miraculous considering the Overgeared Skeletons were less powerful than players. They literally resembled their master by possessing fraudulent stats. Still, that wasn’t the important issue right now.
“This…”
In fact, Grid had great expectations for the potential of the Overgeared Skeletons until their first class advancement. He had imagined that Overgeared Skeleton One would cause massive explosions to crush the bones of opponents while Overgeared Skeleton Two would use wide-area heals. The result was disappointing because they were terrible, unlike his imagination. The reality was that Overgeared Skeleton One could blow up the item while Overgeared Skeleton Two could reset the process…
‘Something garbage like this…’
Grid was forced to bind all his hopes onto the third advancement. The Overgeared Skeletons would have the modifiers of ‘destroyer (restorer) dancing blacksmith’ skeleton. He could still hope for a combat class for the third advancement. Then Braham’s voice entered the ears of the frustrated Grid, -Maybe it is because you are an idiot, but your imagination is poor. Sharing your thoughts are a pain. If this continues, my soul is likely to burst to death before it can recover.
“…?”
How could he be blamed when Braham was going to die anyway? Grid frowned while Braham scoffed.
-Stupid guy. You should be focusing on the provocation skill, not the blacksmithing. One has a wide-range provocation and damage ability while the other can launch an infinite provocation ability. What the hell are you regretting?
“…Ah!”
The Dancing skill didn’t specify the ‘category’ of the enemy. It was even a wide-area skill.
On the other hand, the Bloody Smell option of Malacus’ Cloak didn’t apply to creatures whose sense of smell had deteriorated like the undead. Additionally, Malacus’ Cloak was very dangerous because Grid himself attracted the aggro. However, the Overgeared Skeletons were summons who didn’t receive a penalty from dying.
‘This isn’t trash.’
Possibilities started to unfold in front of Grid. He anticipated that the Overgeared Skeletons’ third and fourth advancements would come faster than he had thought.
***
“…”
The defense of the evil eyes village had ended.
A month had passed, but Peak Sword’s condition was still the worst. He felt uncomfortable and unmotivated. It was hard for him to concentrate on hunting, so even Vantner was worried about him.
“Are you still thinking about that knight?”
The knight whom Vantner mentioned was the leader of the Blue Flames Knights of the Gauss Kingdom. He was a young knight named Apollo. Peak Sword was traumatised from killing him. It was because Peak Sword saw himself in Apollo’s image of fighting for his kingdom. A lonely struggle was the fate of a weak nation.
To be honest, Peak Sword hadn’t wanted to kill him. However, he had to fight for the sake of the evil eyes. It was a fair fight, and he had to knock down the enemy. The only thing he regretted now was deceiving the other party who had fought to the end for his kingdom.
Yes, Peak Sword knew all of this. Yet he still felt regretful when the face of the young knight came up.
“…He had only one life.”
Satisfy was only a game to players, but it was reality for NPCs
. They couldn’t revive.
“Of course, I will kill him if the same thing happens again. I just regret that I didn’t say a word to him before he died. He was too strong.”
“Then from now on, say goodbye before killing them.”
“…Eh?”
“Say goodbye and kill. Isn’t that enough?”
“…”
“We’re going to be fighting NPCs. It was a planned future from the moment Grid set up his kingdom. Some of the enemies you will encounter will certainly be good people, and you’ll have to kill them. What if you have a mental breakdown every time? Your mind will soon become exhausted. Will you quit the game?”
“Kuk… Yes, my resolve was lacking. I was too short-sighted. I’ll have to greet the enemy in advance before fighting.”
“Good. That’s the right thing to do. Greet and kill them.”
“Hut… Yes.”
“…”
The two men clasped hands. Their conversation content was obviously missing the main point. The listening Overgeared members thought it was so absurd that they clicked their tongues. It was at this moment.
&Zednos: An explosion has occurred in the southern market.
The guild members who were in Reinhardt were talking to each other in the guild chat.
&Ibellin: What happened?
&Zednos: Agnus is visiting. Maybe he is making a commotion.
&Toon: Agnus is here? Why? Isn’t this crazy?
&Jishuka: Yes! He’s a crazy guy~
&Ibellin: (/-_-) I’m nearby, so I’ll be right there.
‘Agnus?’
In the Galgunos Temple, Bullet’s face hardened as he placed pressure on the war god followers with his undead and jiangshi. Agnus was obviously crazy, but he wasn’t a loose cannon. If a crisis that couldn’t be overcome arrived, he would enjoy the situation but always try to avoid the worst situation. Yet he was visiting the capital of the Overgeared Kingdom where they were obviously enemies…? Agnus wouldn’t have intended to cause a disturbance.
‘He seems to be having a hard time these days… Maybe he came here because he wanted to rely on me?’
‘Damn.’ Bullet couldn’t even send Agnus a whisper because Agnus was removed from his friends list. He couldn’t concentrate on the battle. Bullet worried about it before recalling the undead and jiangshi to his side.
“Eh? What happened?” The Overgeared members, who were hunting with him, asked.
Bullet scratched his head. “I’m sorry but I want to take a break. I’ve been hunting for too long.”
“Are you sleeping at that level?”
“…You have dropped from second in the necromancer rankings.”
It took a surprisingly long amount of time to produce the jiangshi, causing him to drop to fourth place. Nevertheless, Bullet was still a high ranker who was far above the average level of the Overgeared members. This was because the necromancer class was optimized for hunting.
“That was the past. You have to restore your ranking.”
“Today isn’t the only day. I’ll work hard next time. Then I’m going.” Bullet didn’t say anything else and used a return scroll.
He left to help his old idol, feeling grateful and sorry toward the Overgeared members who hadn’t done anything but treat him as an old friend. Still, once he gave his heart, he would never betray or easily abandon the person. This was the man called Bullet.
Chapter 986
By the time Bullet arrived at the scene, many people were already present. The Overgeared Shadows and Sticks analyzed the traces of the battle while dozens of soldiers controlled the onlookers. Lauel covered half his face and was in deep thought. ‘This…’
Bullet was able to enter the scene without the soldiers stopping him. His complexion darkened as he looked around the collapsed inn. It was because he saw the traces of Dyulebul’s light ray. Unlike his desperate wish, Agnus was apparently involved in the battle here.
‘However, Agnus didn’t fight because he wanted it,’ Bullet believed this.
Thus, he approached Lauel and insisted, “It is clear that someone attacked Agnus first. He wouldn’t intentionally make a disturbance in the Overgeared Kingdom.”
Bullet hoped that Lauel would release Agnus from jail. Lauel made an interested expression. “What is the basis of your claim? Agnus is an unpredictable madman. Furthermore, as the head of the former Immortal Guild, he must be holding a grudge against the Overgeared Kingdom. It wouldn’t be unusual for him to intentionally cause damage to the Overgeared Kingdom.”
“Agnus isn’t a fool. In addition, he doesn’t feel any regrets about Immortal. In the first place, the one who set up Immortal and chased Agnus was Veradin. Agnus himself doesn’t have much interest in Immortal.”
“You should know the truth first before defending him.”
“…!”
“Aren’t you a member of Overgeared? Why are you acting as Agnus’ advocate?”
“I-I’m sorry!” Bullet realized his mistake and hurriedly bowed his head.
‘I should’ve figured out the truth first.’
It was simple. All he had to do was ask Lauel a single question, but he was worried about Agnus and skipped the most basic procedure. He was just distracted by Agnus’ safety.
‘I’m disappointed.’
Bullet was in a greatly favored position due to Grid. Despite being from Immortal, he had received forgiveness and obtained the Jiangshi Production method. How reprehensible would his behavior be from the standpoint of Grid and his colleagues, who considered Agnus their enemy? Bullet couldn’t lift his head.
Then Lauel’s hard voice was heard, “Please be careful next time.”
“Yes. I will be careful.”
In fact, Lauel wasn’t disappointed or angry with Bullet. He knew from the beginning that Bullet was soft-hearted. Grid liked this tendency of Bullet’s and accepted him as a colleague. It was hard for Bullet to turn away from his old colleagues. Nevertheless, Grid didn’t say this to Bullet because he wanted Bullet to know how to keep a level head.
Lauel spoke to Bullet who was still looking at the ground, “First of all, we have failed to secure Agnus.”
“He got away?”
It couldn’t be. This was the heart of the Overgeared Kingdom. The place was completely guarded, and there were monsters lurking everywhere. It was impossible for Grid to escape with force, let alone Agnus. Lauel shook his head at the incredulous Bullet. “He didn’t run away. He was dragged away.”
“Dragged? No way!” Bullet was reminded that Agnus was wanted by seven kingdoms. “T-This can’t be…”
Bullet was able to grasp the truth of the situation. Agnus had lost a place to go and hid himself in the Overgeared Kingdom, an enemy kingdom. Then the pursuers of the seven kingdoms followed him and attacked him.
“A-Agnus…”
Bullet shouldn’t act like this in front of the Overgeared members, but he was worried about his old idol. When he realized his mistake, he hurriedly shut his mouth. Lauel saw this and smiled bitterly. ‘Agnus has his own charm.’
Looking at the early days of the Overgeared Kingdom, Grid had been publicly known as trash. At the time, Grid was filled with poison and was fierce toward many people. Nevertheless, he received deep trust and affection from his colleagues. Agnus could have a similar aspect. He was a person who couldn’t be understood without actually experiencing it.
“Lauel… Do you know where Agnus was taken?”
“Why?”
“Eh? J-Just…”
“You should give up if you plan to rescue him. He will be guarded by the armies of the seven kingdoms, including some of the best talents.”
As a necromancer and jiangshi maker, Bullet could exert great power in large-scale combat. However, the opponent was the seven kingdoms. It was no different from an ant facing an elephant. Bullet also knew this fact. He never dreamed that he could rescue Agnus. However—
“…I want to help Agnus.”
Bullet wanted to show
Agnus that there were people fighting for him. He might’ve suffered and been betrayed in the past, but it would be different in the future.
“To him… I want to let him know that he isn’t alone.”
Agnus’ lonely appearance caused great pain to others who were just watching him. Bullet couldn’t imagine how much pain Agnus must be suffering. Bullet wanted to heal Agnus, even if it meant sacrificing himself. However, Lauel’s reaction was cold. “It isn’t possible. Did you forget that you belong to the Overgeared Kingdom? If you step forward, the relationship between the seven kingdoms and the Overgeared Kingdom will become irreparable.”
“I’ll leave the guild for a while. I won’t use the jiangshi. I will never expose a connection between myself and the Overgeared Kingdom, and I won’t harm Grid.”
Bullet liked both the Overgeared Guild and Agnus. He was sincerely grateful toward those who were willing to be his colleagues and friends. It meant there were no pretenses in his words. Bullet really intended to fight alone and risk everything by himself. Even so, Lauel’s reaction was cold to the end. “Do you think of the Overgeared Guild as a joke? Do you think you can leave and rejoin as you like?”
“…”
Lauel persuaded Bullet, “I fully understand your feelings. Nevertheless, you have to realize that you are now a member of Overgeared. Do you know why Grid gave you the strong Jiangshi Production recipe? He wants you to grow quickly and become a boon to the Overgeared Guild. Yet you are going to die on your own now? Isn’t that ignoring Grid’s favor?”
“…”
“From the moment you joined the Overgeared Guild and received the Jiangshi Production recipe, you gained the responsibility of being an Overgeared member. Don’t neglect your responsibilities for your personal feelings.”
Lauel also felt regretful. He pitied Agnus and thought it was a waste of Agnus’ power. This didn’t mean he was in a position to go forth for Agnus’ sake. It was impossible, so it was better to throw away these lingering feelings.
Bullet lamented, “It could be resolved if we can clear up Agnus’ false accusations…”
