Chapter 319: Chapter 319: Memory (4)

Just how strong had I become?

It was a question that had been on my mind for the past few months.

I had a general idea based on my stats in the game, but it was difficult to grasp the reality.

This wasn’t just a game.

‘In that sense, he’s a good opponent.’

Even an ordinary ‘knight’ who could use Aura was considered to be on par with a 6th-floor explorer, and even stronger in PvP.

But my specs weren’t bad either.

Although my Spirit Engraving was only at level 6, and my level was low, so I had far fewer essences compared to the strong explorers of this era…

I had three 3rd-grade essences: Ogre, Bion, and Stormgush.

And my essence combination wasn’t a mess, it had synergy.

Most importantly, the biggest reason why tanks were weak against knights was their lack of damage output, but I could cover that with the Demon Crusher.

So, in other words…

‘We’re on equal footing.’

We would both die if we took a direct hit.

“…….”

“…….”

An unexpected silence fell over the dark staircase.

Was he also feeling uneasy because I was acting tough?

‘Did I go too far?’

He was cautiously measuring the distance between us.

But I focused even more.

And just like how the duels of ancient swordsmen were decided in a single breath…

“…….”

“…….”

…the match was decided in an instant.

Swoosh.

He was the first to move.

One step.

The moment he took a step up the stairs to close the distance…

“Ptoo!”

…I spat the acidic blood I had been holding in my mouth at his face.

But he didn’t dodge.

He just thrust his sword forward, his stance unwavering, like a boxer who wouldn’t even flinch if you punched him in the face.

That’s why the Corpse Golem essence is OP.

No one knows about acidic blood.

He probably thought it was just blood and that he could just take the hit…

Sizzle!

The acidic blood hit his face before his sword could reach me.

I heard a sizzling sound, but there was no scream.

But he was still human, he couldn’t completely control his body.

His eyes closed for a moment, and his sword wavered.

I took the opportunity and dodged to the side.

Thud.

The sword grazed my side as I was in midair.

It wasn’t a serious injury.

But did he realize that just from the feel of his sword?

Swoosh.

He raised his shield.

He was going to defend after his first attack failed.

A white aura surrounded the shield, so it seemed like he had a defensive skill.

But that was his second mistake.

This hammer had armor penetration.

Kwaaang!

I slammed my hammer down.

“Keugh!”

He coughed up blood.

His eyes were filled with surprise.

Well, he blocked it with his shield, so he probably didn’t understand why he was injured.

But understanding and accepting are two different things.

Tadat.

He accepted the dangerous situation and retreated down the stairs.

He was trying to buy time to recover.

That was his third mistake.

I had a grab skill.

Whooosh!

I used [Transcendence] and [Eye of the Storm] to pull him back towards me.

And…

“No…!”

No? What do you mean no?

Thwack, thwack, thwack!

I smashed his head with my hammer until it was crushed.

___________________

“Damn, I’m sweating.”

I wiped the sweat off my forehead after confirming his death three times. It had only been a few seconds, but it was mentally exhausting.

Well, the reward was worth it.

‘Wow, his equipment is at least 4th-grade.’

His equipment was pretty good. I couldn’t just leave it behind, so I quickly took it off and put it in my subspace pocket.

I had to take out a few less valuable items because it was full, but that was inevitable.

I suddenly remembered Amelia’s note.

She told me to leave after getting the Fragment of Records?

‘…What do you mean leave? I haven’t even found a place to bury this equipment yet.’

Damn right, I can’t just leave this behind.

And I didn’t even know how to use the Fragment of Records.

‘Anyway, I should get that first.’

I went down the stairs, leaving the naked corpse behind.

Thud.

The stairs were wide, and when I reached the bottom, there was a spacious passage that could easily fit twenty people.

And there was a giant door at the end…

‘It’s slightly open.’

…and there was no one around.

I cautiously approached the door, trying to be as quiet as possible.

There was only one person in the vast chamber beyond the door, which was designed as a shelter.

A balding head.

A protruding belly.

Fancy clothes and double eyelids.

It was definitely the Lord, whom I had seen from afar once before.

“…Sir Omanus?”

He spoke, his voice filled with anxiety, as if sensing my presence.

Hmm, what should I do?

I hesitated for a moment and then revealed myself.

“You’re… Iron Mask?”

The Lord flinched as he saw me.

“Where’s Sir Omanus? You’re the one who went to check what was going on…”

“Omanus is dead.”

“…….”

“Just in case you’re wondering, I killed him.”

“……!”

The Lord’s eyes widened, and he started backing away as I calmly told him the truth.

Geez, that’s useless.

He couldn’t escape.

“Ugh! Let go of me! Insolent! Do you even know who I am?!”

I quickly grabbed him by the neck and lifted him up, and he started struggling, shouting angrily.

He looked pathetic for the ruler of a city.

Damn it, he should have brought more guards, even if it was a secret panic room.

“Wh, what do you want…? St, stop! Let’s talk!”

I patted him down with one hand, searching for his belongings.

And I soon found what I was looking for.

Amelia said he would be carrying it, and she was right.

Although I didn’t expect it to be a necklace.

Snap.

I ripped the necklace off his neck and let him go.

The Lord, who had just lost a family heirloom, started shouting, but he didn’t attack me.

‘Good, I got this…’

I put the Fragment of Records in my subspace pocket, holding it by the string, worried that it might activate if I touched it.

“You bastard…! Do you even know what that is?! Give it back! Give it back to me!”

“You’re being noisy. Want me to pull out your teeth?”

“…….”

I shut him up and then asked calmly,

“Do you know how to use the Fragment of Records?”

“You bastard! You were after this… ugh!”

“Just answer my question. We’re the only ones here.”

“…Do you think I would tell you anything?!”

The Lord was surprisingly stubborn.

He got angry at first, then he said he didn’t know, and then he finally told me what his ancestors had told him after I punched him.

“You’re saying there’s no way to use it?”

“Th, that’s what the records say… It activates when the Chosen One appears…”

It was unexpected information.

Amelia said that even the Lord of Noark didn’t know how to use it, so he just kept it safe.

But he actually knew.

‘So it activates automatically when the conditions are met, not by using it.’

It was a good thing I asked.

“Now that your questions are answered—”

“No, tell me this. How do you return to your original time if you’re the Chosen One?”

“What…? Why are you curious about—”

The Lord’s eyes widened, as if he wasn’t completely stupid.

“You, don’t tell me…!”

Well, he would be an idiot if he didn’t realize it after I practically spelled it out for him.

I just nodded.

“You’re right. So tell me. How do I go back?”

“I, I knew it… I was wondering how you found this place… so that’s why…”

“Stop talking about things I didn’t ask.”

Tsk.

The Lord hurriedly answered, his face pale.

“I, I heard it’s the same as when you arrived. You’ll be summoned back when you finish what you have to do here…”

“This is troublesome.”

“…Can I ask a question?”

The Lord spoke to me as I was contemplating what to do.

“Wh, what kind of person was I in the future?”

His eyes were sparkling, which made me feel uncomfortable. Did he expect to be a hero who left his name in history?

“Why are you asking?”

“Ju, just curious… although that future is gone now that you’re here… I can still be curious, right?”

Right, he really doesn’t know anything.

Well, that’s why he thought there was a treasure that could change history.

“Ah, how did it go today? Did you succeed in driving those Orculus bastards out of the city?”

“You’re that curious about the future?”

The Lord nodded.

“Then close your eyes.”

“…I did.”

“What do you see?”

“Nothing.”

That’s good.

It would have been troublesome if he saw something.

“That’s your future.”

I swung my hammer with all my might.

______________________

Thud.

The Lord’s body collapsed, and a pool of blood started to form.

I looked away, unfazed.

He deserved to die, judging by the things I had seen and heard in this city for the past few months.

‘And besides, he was fated to die today anyway.’

For reference, his death was known to be Orculus’s doing, and Amelia also believed that.

But as I had just revealed…

…I was the real culprit.

‘Well, it’s not surprising anymore.’

Honestly, I hesitated until the last moment.

But I eventually swung my hammer for one reason.

Even if I just left, there was a high chance that the Lord would be killed by someone today, and history would repeat itself.

No, it would definitely happen.

Unless…

…the one I killed was a double.

And the real Lord had escaped to the surface, changed his identity, and deceived the entire world for twenty years.

Unless that ridiculous scenario was true…

…the outcome wouldn’t change—

“Huh…?”

I suddenly stopped.

“Wait a minute.”

I felt like shouting ‘Eureka!’.

“…Deceived the entire world?”

It felt like electricity was coursing through my body.