At the moment of death, Maxim's Golden Rule and all the equipment he was wearing flew away, leaving only his body behind.
What should I do with this guy?
Fortunately, he was treated as a raid boss monster, but Maxim was nothing more than a meat shield with high stats.
While pondering how to use him, I stroked my chin.
《You have completed the 'Hidden Trait Quest: Ironblood Overlord.'》
《The hidden trait 'Heart of the Ironblood Overlord' granted by 'Eternal Randolph' evolves into 'Heart of the Eternal Overlord.'》
... The hidden trait 'Heart of the Ironblood Overlord.'
The fact that it evolved into 'Heart of the Eternal Overlord.'
The moment I confirmed the changes brought about by this evolution, I couldn't help but shudder.
Duke Cyien tilted his head.
'Why haven't I heard from Maxim?'
Maxim, who should have returned long ago, has not sent any news.
It was a very easy task to bring Selengeti from Viscount Wiser.
Is he wasting time playing with a woman again?
Has he fallen deeply for Selengeti and gone astray?
"Lord Maxim has arrived!"
"Oh! Yes, let him in quickly!"
As the knights at the door spoke, Duke Cyien called out eagerly.
Soon, Maxim entered his quarters.
"Maxim! My excellent successor. You've come just in time. But where is Selengeti?"
The problem was that Maxim returned empty-handed.
"He, he asked me to deliver this."
Maxim's tone was strange. Was he hurt somewhere?
But Duke Cyien didn't care.
Maxim being strange wasn't a new thing.
Maxim was his successor, one of the Eight Heroes, and a trusted loyalist.
If he couldn't trust Maxim, who could he trust?
Then Maxim approached Duke Cyien and pulled something out from his coat.
The moment Duke Cyien saw it, his eyes widened.
In that instant, the dagger was accurately plunged into Duke Cyien's heart.
"Gah! How could you... to me...!"
He looked at Maxim in disbelief.
"M, Maxim! This bastard!"
Hearing Duke Cyien's gasp, the knights waiting at the door rushed in.
The knights quickly beheaded Maxim, but they couldn't prevent Duke Cyien's death.
... Maxim, one of the Eight Heroes and the official successor to Duke Cyien.
The news that he assassinated Duke Cyien quickly spread across the continent.
Resurrection of Selengeti
The heavy silence that filled the room.
Six people gathered in a circle around the round table, maintaining silence without any significant conversation.
This place was the ancient city of Rundella in Pangeania.
The 'Round Table Conference' held here could only be attended by the Eight Heroes.
And the five currently gathered were all known as the Eight Heroes, unparalleled geniuses.
『Thunder Emperor Darkstar.』
『Nine-Tailed Fox Heuiyo.』
"Gracia, is she absent again?"
After a long silence, Master spoke.
Sword Saint Gracia. She was absent from this 'Round Table Conference' as well.
With Maxim and Wilhelm dead, everyone except Gracia was present.
"She probably wants to act like a proud swan again."
A man with a black band over his eye, Darkstar, sneered.
Gracia's absence from the Round Table Conference wasn't a one-time thing.
She almost always skipped it and acted alone.
Though described as a proud swan, everyone knew who she was modeling herself after.
The pinnacle of solo play, Wilhelm.
Following in the footsteps of his legendary and mythic path in Pangeania.
"Is that rumor true? That Maxim killed Duke Cyien?"
Heuiyo, with her nine tails swaying, asked.
It was hard to understand why Maxim, the official successor, would kill Duke Cyien.
Master nodded, confirming it.
He had verified it himself; it wasn't just a rumor but the truth.
Maxim attacked and killed Duke Cyien.
As a result, the Kingdom of Valan was in turmoil.
Especially since it involved the 'Eight Heroes,' the entire world was in an uproar.
"The Earth's problems are big enough, and now Pangeania is a problem too. Master, didn't you say everything was on the 'board' you created?"
A giant man with long black hair covering his face chuckled.
Lucifer. He openly bared his teeth at Master.
Master's brow furrowed slightly.
Indeed, everything on Earth and Pangeania was on a well-orchestrated 'board.'
But it started to go off track at some point.
Precisely after Wilhelm's death.
'At least the Earth's issues were somehow resolved...'
The first dimensional rift.
Everyone in the world saw the other-dimensional Pangeania in the sky with their own eyes.
After the gate opened, monsters were about to invade, but suddenly the 'King of Dimensional Rifts' died, clearing the quest.
And the one who cleared the main quest was none other than Randolph.
Someone who believed Randolph was a phantom.
He cleared it alone, even before crossing the dimensional rift.
This led to suspicions among Earth's inhabitants.
Was the prophecy, the warnings of the other-dimensional warriors, wrong?
-It's a sign of invasion. The monsters, having seen our strength, fled in fear.
-The invasion from the other dimension is a fact.
-The warriors managed to stop the monsters before they crossed the dimensional rift to Earth.
The warriors began to speak with one voice.
In any case, everyone had seen the other-dimensional 'Continent of Pangeania' with their own eyes, leaving no room for doubt.
Moreover, the heroes gathered here were thoroughly controlling the players, so no information would leak out.
Except for the players, no one knew that 'Randolph' had killed the King of Dimensional Rifts.
So, the players just needed to keep their mouths shut.
However... the problem was Pangeania.
"This is not a problem. We'll announce him as a 'sinner.'"
A possessed person that the reapers are determined to kill.
Everyone here is a possessed person, and according to the reapers' terminology, a 'sinner,' but few people know that the Eight Heroes are sinners.
In fact, most people in Pangeania don't even know what 'sinner' means.
Therefore, if we announce Maxim as a sinner, we must clearly explain what a sinner is and what reapers and possessed people are.
Darkstar's lips trembled slightly.
"Isn't that too risky a gamble?"
"Eventually, it will be revealed. It's better if we take the lead. None of us have a 'reaper' attached, right?"
"We don't know. They might be hiding it."
If a player is targeted by a reaper, they would hide it at all costs.
The same goes for the Eight Heroes.
Perhaps someone here is also targeted by a reaper.
But they don't reveal it because of the reaper's persistence.
Those targeted by a reaper will eventually be killed by them.
And anyone nearby will inevitably be affected, especially 'players,' as reapers might notice when they come to kill someone.
Since everything about reapers was unknown, they had to be cautious.
"Handling reapers could also be a golden opportunity to confirm if the imperial royals are truly reapers."
However, the only group that raises suspicion is the empire.
The empire is the only unknown world that players haven't reached.
Nothing is known about its royals.
Even during the grand expedition, they didn't show up.
They are so closed off that they never appear in public, and all players associated with the empire have been killed.
Thus, it's logical to suspect that the imperial royals handle reapers and the reaper cult.
'Using Maxim's death to our advantage.'
By revealing information about reapers and possessed people, we could bring the empire to the surface.
The continent would fall into chaos, and suspicions about the Eight Heroes would quickly dissipate.
Stirring up this place would be easier than on Earth.
"Phantom's suppression will also be achieved. If we receive information about 'sinners,' reports will flood in from across Pangeania."
Darkstar clapped his hands.
The picture Master painted.
He was essentially saying they would handle the reaper cult's affairs.
The reaper cult, shrouded in mystery, would either fidget or have to act directly.
Moreover, if they reveal information about sinners and receive reports from across the continent, they might finally catch Phantom's tail.
Most importantly, Phantom's reckless actions would be somewhat restrained.
Everyone briefly marveled.
They never imagined Phantom's strong pitch would be countered this way.
Master emphasized, "This is the real fight now. Although he interfered once, there won't be a second time."
The moment Phantom, Randolph, was publicly named at the Round Table Conference.
The Eight Heroes already have no honor.
Even if Wilhelm's name was included, it would be the same.
Pretending to have honor when they don't, it would be better to bury them in the sewer.
《Sin values are purified.》
After reusing Maxim cleanly, I used the pardon to cleanse all sins.
Then I returned to the knight's courtyard and bestowed a blessing on Selengeti.
Hudson swallowed hard, his face showing deep concern.
Bruises all over his face.
This revealed how much Hudson had suffered since Maxim arrived at the estate.
To protect and help Selengeti recover.
His efforts led to Selengeti regenerating her lost lower body completely.
All that remained was for her to wake up due to the blessing.
My holy power had increased after visiting Kramdel, but the Demon King's curse wasn't just any curse.
Moreover, it was a curse used in exchange for half of the Demon World's treasures.
《'Blessing of the Stars' bestowed.》
《All holy power is consumed.》
《Insufficient holy power to remove the Demon King's curse.》
《'Limit Curse' temporarily (56 hours) lifted.》
As expected, completely removing the curse was still far off.
But the time for temporary removal had definitely increased.
If my holy power exceeds 100, complete removal might be possible.
Selengeti opened her eyes again.
Seeing this, Hudson trembled.
Viscount Wiser was the same.
Both had worked hard to protect her.
If I had been a little late, Selengeti and the estate would have been lost.
This was the second time.
In response to her call, Viscount Wiser said,
"If it's difficult, you can call me as you used to."
Viscount Wiser is the lord of the city.
As a noble, he was authoritative and extremely strict in raising his daughter.
He focused solely on training Selengeti as a knight from a young age and never allowed her to call him 'Father.'
Selengeti's eyes wavered.
She didn't expect Viscount Wiser to say such a thing.
Despite a life of training and seeing only swords, with no trace of father-daughter affection.
"Daughter. Are you feeling better?"
Had she ever been called that?
Selengeti slightly furrowed her brow and asked,
"Am I still in a nightmare?"
The Demon King's curse made her have endless nightmares.
It was eating away at her mind.
If this was still a nightmare, she was worried about how the curse would affect her.
Seeing me, Selengeti quickly changed her words.
She knew I was Wilhelm, but there was no need to reveal it to others.
But with my assurance, Selengeti finally looked relieved.
Not the nightmare of the curse, but the real world.
"Many things must have happened while I was asleep. Who...?"
Selengeti couldn't help but feel angry.
And Viscount Wiser's sudden change in attitude.
Someone must have caused them a lot of trouble.
Her murderous intent rose.
Then the objects around her floated.
She was a transcender who had officially consumed a star.
Clearly, she felt very different