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The competition between the former tower masters and the new tower masters was spread through the various broadcasting stations, personal BJ broadcasts, and Know-it-all Dictionary, a BJ affiliated with Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. The people that watched the broadcast were all shocked.
[No matter how great the Five Stars are, they should not have been able to beat the former tower masters that easily, right? Is that really possible?]
[It’s possible. The Five Stars are the greatest masters of DEX in the entire continent. Even though they are all legends, they’re probably on different levels.]
[Shit. I also want to go there and learn painting…!]
[I’m a player who moved out of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom before and migrated back. The moment I migrated, I received a 15% buff increase in my DEX and DEX-related skills. It seems like it’s because of the appearance of the Five Stars.]
[Did you just say that you received a 15% buff increase in DEX? OMG…]
Those that left the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom felt their hearts and bodies shake as they watched the competition between the former tower masters and new tower masters. On top of that, they were informed that they would immediately receive a 15% buff increase in DEX the moment they moved to Beyond the Heavens Kingdom?
Furthermore, with the exception of Fisherman Eck, the tower masters that left before and their disciples all decided to swear their loyalty to Minhyuk.
[I’ll go back to Beyond the Heavens Kingdom again.]
[I think I may have to go to Beyond the Heavens Kingdom…? After all, moving to Beyond the Heavens Kingdom would definitely allow us to improve on our production skills more quickly than our current state. There’s no way I won’t go.]
And the most important factor…
[Did you see how Gorfido fished? Shake, shake~]
[Kyaa! If Gorfido views me in a good light, then I’ll be able to eat dragon fishes, right?]
[Gorfido’s power is out of this world, right? Maybe we’ll be able to get some hidden quest that will make us stronger if we can get close to him?]
…the ones that left the tower once hailed as Barras Kingdom’s representative tower, the fishermen, had started to come back to Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. The Beyond the Heavens Kingdom was definitely a budding country. However, even after knowing that, the benefits and merits that they could gain from the kingdom far outweighed that. That was why they moved back again.
In just a few days, a large number of production class players began to migrate to Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. Just like that, the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom grew rapidly.
***
Mercenary King Brod was an existence that had traveled through all of the continents. He was a legend among all of the mercenaries.
The twinkling stars in the dark skies illuminated the bitter smile on Brod’s face as he walked through the territory.
‘They would definitely not let His Majesty go,’ Brod thought, his fists clenching tightly to a fist. Minhyuk was very active as he moved forward with his plans. That was why Brod felt both terror and desire, a desire to protect him, rise in his heart.
That meant that it was time for him to leave for a while.
“Oinky, you should remember to eat well. You too, Cluck-cluck.”
“Hwiiiiik!”
“Cluck, cluck!”
Brod greeted the livestock that he trained and raised before walking once again. Then, he stopped in front of a large mansion whose lights in the mansion’s attic were still on. That was the place where Best Selling Author Aruvel created his works. He then looked at the farm teeming with cats that was littered with various instruments and tools to maintain the ‘scent of coffee’ in them. There, he saw Ghost Spear Ben training, despite it being late in the night.
‘I’ll leave His Majesty to you.’
Although Ghost Spear Ben’s black hair was a source of laughter, he was the most fashionable out of everyone in the territory. He was also a warrior that would give his everything to protect His Majesty. This time, Brod passed by Conir’s Ramyeon Handcart Shop and the central plaza where Paladin Corr gave his speech and teachings. After walking like that, he sat next to Elpis, who was humming on one of the benches with his earphones on.
Elpis took off his earphones and asked, “You’re leaving?”
Brod smiled as he nodded in answer.
“Don’t worry. I’ll protect His Majesty while you’re away,” Elpis said. His words that usually stuttered and stopped at awkward moments had already improved by a lot.
Brod believed that Elpis would be able to protect His Majesty. He also felt that it was fortunate that Gorfido, the new tower master of the Fisherman’s Tower, appeared just recently. Before he left, Brod handed three old parchments to Elpis.
[You have acquired three Demigod Training Parchments.]
Elpis looked at Brod in doubt as Brod clarified, “Give that to those that wish to become stronger in our territory. However, make sure that they are careful. Using that means that they’re prepared to face death. After all, there’s a high chance of dying the moment that parchment is used.”
Truth be told, Elpis could feel the danger emitting from the items in his hands. However, there were still people in the territory that would willingly risk their lives just to get stronger. The biggest example was Ghost Spear Ben, who was training instead of sleeping at this late hour. This was Brod’s gift to them.
“Where did you get this?”
“I picked it up somewhere.”
“You stole again?”
“Cough!”
This was Brod’s bad habit! After all, he was someone that stealthily stole the Dragon Lord’s egg, and even extorted and took away the summoner’s summons during the war with Barras Kingdom! It seemed like Elpis knew Brod well. This was because the item was something that Brod had stolen from the world above them. Just when Brod stood up from the bench to leave Valencia capital…
“Have a safe trip, Brod.”
Brod, with his lonely departing back, suddenly stopped in his tracks. When he turned around, he saw the sweaty Ghost Spear Ben, who he thought was training up until now. There was also Sword Saint Conir, who was rubbing his eyes to stay awake and stave off his fatigue.
Grrrrrrr—
There was also Cerberus, who had a stronger love and hoped for his happiness, crying out for him. Right next to them was Aruvel, the author that vowed to create a wild and steamy story about the Mercenary King, and Corr that forced him to believe in Talmor by saying that he lacked hair on his head.
And in the middle of them all, stood one person. The one and only ‘king’ and ‘friend’ that he swore his loyalty to: Minhyuk.
Brod immediately knelt down, “Your Majesty! This vassal of yours, Brod, will definitely come back one day, to be by your side!!!”
“That’s more than enough for me,” Minhyuk said, smiling softly. He knew that it was a promise, Brod’s promise, that he would come back alive to them. In the first place, Brod was a man that had dreams. He was meant for greater things. When Queen Iris asked Minhyuk to take care of Brod, he already guessed that Brod would leave one day. It was not the time for them to hold him back. It was the time for them to set him free and let him soar. After kneeling for a long time, Brod finally stood up and turned around.
But what Minhyuk did not know was that Brod was leaving not for him, but for others.
‘I will protect you, Your Majesty.’
As he left the capital, his memories with Minhyuk surfaced in Brod’s mind.
‘Brod, can’t I just have one of the Oinkys?’
‘You can’t! They’re my precious Oinkys…!’
‘Then, let’s just eat chicken with the Cluck-clucks! How about half-fried and half-seasoned?!’
‘How, how can you say something so barbaric…?!’
‘Brod, you’re so mean!’
‘Brod, I feel so safe and secure with you here!’
‘Our Beyond the Heavens Kingdom’s Sword, Brod!’
‘Brod?!’
Find the original at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.
‘Brod!!!’
During Brod’s short stay here, he was able to gain precious memories and Minhyuk’s trust and faith in him. And that was how Brod left to protect Minhyuk.
***
The kings of Asgan Continent had once again gathered together. However, they were all grimacing after hearing the reports of their diplomats.
“The number of people migrating to Beyond the Heavens Kingdom is increasing.”
“Our people started this and stood at the center of the disturbance so there’s no way we could stop those foreigners from migrating.”
“The fishermen from all over the continent had started to migrate to Beyond the Heavens Kingdom the moment Legendary Fisherman Eck lost his fishing abilities to the Shackles of Control.”
“If things continued at this rate, Beyond the Heavens Kingdom would continue to grow rapidly.”
Beyond the Heavens Kingdom was a nation founded by foreigners. The kings present had shown the world that they did not recognize the Beyond the Heavens kingdom, by refusing to engage in diplomatic discussions. They even sent the former tower masters and their own diplomats to take them down this time. However, the plan that they thought was perfect collapsed easily in front of that king.
There were even the words that the diplomats relayed, ‘We will destroy all of the enemies that try to go against us.’
Hearing this, the kings had no choice but to clench their fists in anger.
“I can’t stand this! We should face Beyond the Heavens Kingdom!”
“You want to have a confrontation with Beyond the Heavens Kingdom? Did you not see the Sword God, Saintess Loyna and Eivelis Empire and Collodis Empire’s emperors that attended their founding ceremony?!”
“I’m not implying that we will go to war. We don’t have a justification for that. However, we can’t just ignore those insults and take them lying down.”
They were actually in denial. They were people that did not care whether the empires rebuked them or not. All they cared about was how they could flock like starving hyenas to bite the injured, just like how they planned to do to Barras Kingdom.
Then, one of the kings said, “Lumae Kingdom’s Prince Votto, why aren’t you speaking up?”
Everyone’s gaze focused on one place at the king’s words. Lumae Kingdom was the kingdom with the smallest population and territory among them. However, none of the kingdoms could ignore the Lumae Kingdom. This was because they were the ‘Warrior’s Land’.
They might have the smallest population and territory, but all of their citizens were far stronger than any of the soldiers that their kingdoms housed. Their kingdom was even teeming with talents! Baroque Kingdom might have a population and territory that was five times higher than that of Lumae Kingdom, but this small kingdom would not lose any ground against them.
However, Votto, the first prince of the kingdom, just shook his head, “Sorry.”
“What a pity.”
“Where did the Lumae Kingdom, the kingdom that all the other kingdoms and empires in the past feared, go?”
“As expected, they truly need King Raldo.”
The Warrior’s Nation’s King Raldo was comparable to Sword Emperor Ellie in strength during the time when he was leading the warriors.
But what was happening with him now?
He was stuck in his bed in a deep sleep. Knowing this, the kings tried to take advantage of the prince’s clouded judgment to take advantage of their kingdom, but it all amounted to nothing.
Prince Votto, who was riding in his carriage on his way back to his kingdom, thought, ‘God damn! If only my father is hale and hearty…!’
Votto’s father was struck with a strange disease that made him fall into deep sleep. Because of this, his father could not continue to train which made him weaker and weaker. And he could tell that the kings intended to shake the Lumae Kingdom’s foundation at this very moment.
‘If I can do it, then I want to present Beyond the Heavens Kingdom to my father for him to recognize me.’ Compared to his father, Votto’s reputation was at rock bottom. No, it was just that his father’s reputation was just too high. But then, at that moment…
“Bastard!”
“What, what the hell?!”
“Keheoook! I can’t move!”
Screams began to ring from outside the carriage. Votto immediately pulled out his sword and went out. However, the scene that greeted him brought him into a shock. The more than a thousand knights that accompanied him were all in a stunned state.
‘This, this is crazy! This AOE magic attack is ridiculous…!’
However, his shock grew further after seeing the presence in front of him. It was because it was none other than a dragon. On top of this dragon was a man covered in a black robe, wearing a skull mask and holding a scythe in his hands. The man slowly descended from atop the dragon’s head and said, “I have seen Lumae Kingdom’s Prince Votto.”
Votto gulped dryly as he watched the man slowly lower his head in front of him. Someone that had a dragon under him was bowing down his head to him?
“I must apologize, I used the dragon’s power so we can avoid having a huge conflict between us. It would be convenient if you would listen to my explanation in detail,” The man said as he glanced at Votto through the skull mask, “Don’t you want to grab Beyond the Heavens Kingdom with your own hands?”
“…?!”
Did he want to grab Beyond the Heavens Kingdom with his own power? Of course. What would happen if he absorbed this newly established and weak country with a rapid growth rate? Then, Prince Votto’s reputation and position would grow. And that was not all.
“Do you want to take the kingdoms of this continent under your command?”
“What…?”
It had to be a dream. Votto believed it to be a vain and impulsive dream. But suddenly, a white and brilliant staff appeared in front of the man. Prince Votto looked at the white staff and the eyes of the man beneath his skull mask alternately in suspicion. It seemed like he was confirming something with the man’s gaze.
“Ho, how…?!”
After confirming, Prince Votto fell on his back in disbelief. The man’s staff was none other than a ‘God Artifact’. That was right. There was another person that had achieved something that had almost reached God other than Minhyuk.
This man was none other than Crazy Tyrant Akhan.
Akhan carefully led Votto to a woody and secluded forest. Inside this forest stood countless people. No. They were not exactly people.
‘D, Dragon…?’
There were countless dragons inside the forest. Then, Crazy Tyrant Akhan asked, “Will you join us?”
Prince Votto did not hesitate to answer that question, “I will join you.”