Surviving as a Knigh Chapter 79 : Chapter 79

Chapter 79

During his ti here listening to various stories, Karl hadn't heard anything about the third disciple being interested in the rcenary King struggle or having done anything related to it.

People naturally excluded the third disciple, Verpin, from the list of rcenary King candidates.

"Why does no one talk about the third disciple?"

"Well, because Sir Verpin is soone without ambition."

"Isn't it impossible to know what's truly inside a person?"

"Ah, of course, it's true that you can't know what's inside a person, but Sir Verpin is different."

No matter where or from whom he heard it, people's stories were largely the sa.

While the other two disciples focused on power struggles, Verpin always spent ti with the people of Ulstein.

He ca out to the market every day, went to taverns to drink, and chatted cheerfully with all the rcenaries.

Even among the rcenaries who followed the first and second disciples, it was rare to find soone who disliked Verpin.

On top of that, Verpin was a Master-level expert.

Quests undertaken with him were safe, proportional to Verpin's strength, and the rcenaries liked such a Verpin.

However, despite possessing all these conditions, he lacked ambition.

That was what Karl had heard about Verpin.

Having thought that far, Karl looked at Anne, who was smiling slyly in front of him.

"How long do you plan to stay here this ti?"

"Well? Maybe not for very long?"

She seed to believe Tarantula was also exerting influence within the rcenary Guild.

With Verpin sitting beside them, the conversation known only to the two concluded there.

The three sat down and talked for quite a while.

Verpin, in particular, had many questions for Karl.

Even though he was older, he chattered towards Karl like a boy who had t his hero.

"The more we talk, the more I like you, Sir Karl."

He was a strange person.

And it beca increasingly certain.

The man before him genuinely had no ambition for the position of rcenary King.

He could clearly feel why people said the third disciple lacked such ambition.

"By the way, it seems the Master invited you?"

"What makes you think so?"

"Isn't it too strange for such a high-profile figure to co at a ti like this, especially to Ulstein, which is already unsettled? Especially soone who was busy resolving the Alcantara Knights' affairs until recently."

His mind seems to work well enough.

His swordsmanship skill was also said to be second only to the rcenary King.

His personality seed agreeable too.

Above all, everyone here liked him.

What if such a third disciple beca the rcenary King? It painted a not-so-bad picture.

'But he himself says he doesn't want it....'

The position of leader couldn't be forced upon soone.

No matter how outstanding the ability, it wouldn't work without voluntary will.

"I will visit often. You'll be staying here for the ti being?"

"I will be staying here, but I hope you don't co often."

"Haha, I'll see you again!"

Verpin bowed politely, ignoring Karl's latter words.

After Verpin disappeared like that, Karl lay down to rest.

Staring at the ceiling, Karl checked his progress rate for the first ti in a while.

[Progress Rate 20%]

It had risen quite a bit.

After coming to the West Continent, the quest that started unexpectedly in Seymour now continued all the way to Ulstein.

And his connections had increased just as much.

He, who thought he couldn't mix with this world like oil and water, had sohow lted into it.

"What a ridiculous thing."

When he was dragged here, swung a sword he had never wielded in his life, and cut off a person's head for the first ti.

He repeated endlessly that this wasn't reality.

That was why he could sever countless lives without going mad.

So, what about now?

Karl closed his eyes.

He had been cutting people down almost chanically.

If so, had he reaped all these lives in reality?

Naturally. The answer was yes.

'I've already co too far.'

Karl knew well that he couldn't turn back the path he had walked.

And he felt that even if his current self returned to Korea from his previous life, he wouldn't be able to live normally.

He had beco too accustod to killing people.

Such thoughts, surfacing occasionally, sotis subrged Karl to the bottom.

And at those tis, Karl chose flight over confrontation.

He cleared his thoughts as much as possible and raised his sword in his mind.

He endlessly swung the sword in his mind.

What was initially a blurry image beca clear through repeated thought and concentration, and complex thoughts were soon replaced by the image of himself swinging the sword.

And he erased all thoughts by endlessly repeating the sword swings.

After swinging the sword like that for a long ti, Karl looked up at the sky and saw two moons.

Under the night sky where a single moon now felt strange, Karl quietly closed his eyes.

***

Three days passed since the Succession War was announced, but nothing particular happened.

It was unknown what machinations were underway beneath the surface, but outwardly, it was quiet, perhaps due to the presence of the rcenary King Bahamut.

During those three days of the calm before the storm, Verpin truly visited Karl every single day without fail.

And he talked incessantly.

"...Do you happen to have no other friends?"

"Of course not, everyone here is my friend."

"Then why do you co here every day like this?"

"Well... it's obvious, but isn't it because I like you, Sir Karl?"

"Do you not respect the other person's opinion?"

"If you disliked it, wouldn't you have left? The fact that you haven't left here yet, doesn't that an you don't dislike it?"

"...."

It was miraculous logic.

For a mont, Karl considered abandoning the quest, the rcenary King's request, everything, and just leaving this place.

"How do you think Kavar and Seonil will move?"

"Well... both of them are very ambitious people."

"Can you rest assured?"

"Well, unless they're fools, why would they turn

into an enemy? Both of them know I have no desire for the position."

"Well, people's hearts can change anyti, can't they?"

"Sir Karl, are you testing

too? As you already know, I am a Master-level swordsman. To take

down, a hole would form in both their forces. Would they take such a loss when they're busy dealing with each other? If they really wanted to do sothing about , they'd have to do it after becoming the rcenary King."

As expected, Verpin, who seed sowhat frivolous and talkative, was not without a brain.

"Not every situation flows as desired. Besides, by now, the first and second disciples must have realized my identity. They must have also heard the story that you've been associating with

frequently."

"...!"

Verpin's mind raced rapidly.

Co to think of it, why did Bahamut summon Karl here in the first place?

Why wouldn't Karl leave Ulstein, even eting with him during such a dangerous ti?

Thoughts and suspicions, once started, continued in a chain reaction.

"There's no need to overthink it. I didn't co with ill intentions. It will be helpful to you guys in so way."

A strange sense of trust and power emanated from Karl's voice.

"Is that so.... Ah, by the way, there's a modest banquet at my ho this evening. I would appreciate it if you could stop by if you have ti."

"A banquet?"

"Yes, I often enjoy light parties with close friends. Anyone can freely visit. Co to think of it, about half the attendees are city market rchants."

He was certainly no ordinary fellow.

In a world like this, figures who possessed power yet mingled with people regardless of status were uncommon.

Even if one grew up as a war orphan in their youth, once they acquired power and strength, they tended to beco intoxicated by its taste and change, but the Verpin before him showed no such signs.

"I'll stop by if I have ti."

"You absolutely must! Co!"

Verpin excitedly headed out the door like that.

"Are you really going? Weren't you annoyed?"

Anne, who had approached like a shadow before he knew it, stuck close behind Karl and spoke.

"I didn't say it earlier, but if it were , I'd eliminate everyone in this opportunity."

"Euhm...?"

Anne's expression changed subtly.

"Isn't that dangerous? Then?"

"Who would dare do sothing foolish in a place with two Masters?"

Karl, showing an indifferent expression, downed the cup of alcohol on the table and rose to his feet.

***

The ho of Verpin, a Master-level rcenary and the rcenary King's third disciple, was a large mansion.

The spacious garden, devoid of particular decorations or embellishnts, was filled with tables and chairs, and in the center, a whole pig was being roasted on a spit.

People brought their own alcohol or drank what Verpin provided, talking and laughing freely.

There was no trace of darkness on any of their faces.

Everyone felt comfortable, as if they were in their own hos.

'This isn't an event held just once or twice.'

From their atmosphere, Karl could tell that this gathering arranged by Verpin had beco a place for people's interaction and a space for relaxation.

"Sir Karl...!"

It was Verpin, waving his hand from afar and running over.

"I didn't know you'd really co!"

"Where should I sit?"

"Anywhere!"

Verpin, looking excited, personally brought various foods to Karl.

It was a mont when everything seed peaceful, and smiles never left people's faces.

Karl noticed that several of those seated seed unnatural.

'Their mouths are smiling, but their eyes are not.'

They might think everything was perfect, but assassins, who usually had little expression, were weak at genuinely smiling with their eyes, no matter how hard they practiced smiling.

Karl did not miss that very subtle difference.

One, two, three, four, five... twenty....

There seed to be at least 20 such individuals visible in the seats.

Attacking a Master ant that wasn't the only number of personnel involved.

The utterly peaceful atmosphere of the banquet transford into one atop thin ice.

Of course, all that change was only felt by Karl.

After a little more ti passed like that, Verpin too sensed sothing was amiss.

"Everyone! Today's banquet will conclude here! It's regrettable, but please return ho for today!"

"Ending a bit early today, huh?"

"There must be a reason. Haven't we eaten enough? Co now, let's get up."

"Ate well and had fun!"

"Thank you!"

When Verpin shouted, people expressed their dissatisfaction with disappointnt but rose to their feet according to the host's words.

Just as people stood up to return ho.

Daggers flying from various directions began to fly towards Verpin.

Peopeopeopeong! (Sound of multiple explosions)

Simultaneously, along with explosions, thick gray smoke filled the surroundings.

"Keok...!"

A significant number of people trying to exit were caught in the smoke, vomited blood, and collapsed on the spot.

Many people started screaming and fleeing the area, and the surrounding visibility was obscured by smoke, creating utter chaos.

"Move... Get out of the way!"

Scattering people got entangled and fell, while others running to jump over the fence collided and tumbled.

Amidst that chaotic ss, assassins stealthily approached Verpin, targeting him.

Kwaaaaaang! (Sound of massive explosion/impact)

Just as the poisonous mist began to clear slightly, a blue light burst out from one spot, and a deafening roar echoed around.

"How dare you do this to my guests, in this place!"

And there stood Verpin, having slamd his greatsword into the ground, appearing like a different person.

Around him, about ten assassins already lay dead and scattered.

'His condition isn't good.'

Although he radiated a strong aura, Karl noticed blood flowing from Verpin's side.

Furthermore, his breathing was unstable. It ant he was poisoned.

Being a Master didn't an being invincible.

He didn't know where these assassins ca from, but they didn't seem to be Tarantula.

Having clashed with them several tis, Karl could sense the unique presence possessed by Tarantula's minions.

rcenaries loyal to Verpin responded, but the number of assassins engulfing the manor was greater than expected.

"Help Sir Ver- Keok!"

A dagger embedded itself into the side of a rcenary who stepped forward to protect Verpin.

Seeing that directly, Verpin's eyes beca bloodshot. However, due to the nurous enemies surrounding him, he couldn't move easily.

The situation was flowing towards desperation.

'What kind of madman would do this in Ulstein, where Lord Bahamut resides!'

It was confusing.

Were Kavar and Seonil, no matter how crazy, capable of such a mad act?

His vision blurred due to the poison spreading through his body.

Watching his close comrades fall one by one to blades, Verpin swung his sword even as he vomited blood.

The mont the word 'despair' ca to mind, a brilliant golden light pierced through the gray poisonous mist enveloping all directions, illuminating the surroundings.

And a sudden gust of wind cleared the smoke, restoring visibility.

Kwaaaaaaaang! (Sound of imnse explosion/impact)

Along with a trendous roar, the assassins' formation was shattered.