According to Lee Man Bok, he was part of the first hero group that was summoned. He had been a typical company employee in Seoul, South Korea, and when he was summoned, he asked that God give him the ability to use magic. Fortunately, he had a high aptitude for magic, so he was able to win every battle in the Empire.
[That young lady was beautiful. The one whoās in charge of the shopā¦]
āā¦Pleine.ā
Heād thought about it for a bit, but in order for their conversation to progress smoothly, he added more background information. That the wandering knight, Paul Zero, was once a hero (honestly, Shino Rendu and Bisher Moon had guessed the same)!
But here, an unexpected truth was revealed.
[She never told me her name, but it seems like you two are quite close.]
āā¦Is that so?ā
If he had just brought her a bottle of wine, she wouldāve told him her name. Unfortunately, it seemed like he hadnāt been aware of that fact.
[But thanks. Pleineā¦ It fits her, as she had such sparkling eyes. Now that I know, Iām happy.]
āIt seems like you really liked her.ā
[Thereās no way the other heroesĀ couldnātĀ like her. Unlike down here, which was teeming with the undead, the secret shop had her warm smile and was overflowing with life. Above all, she was the only one who could safely give us food.]
āWell, thatās trueā¦ā
Lee Shin Woo couldnāt relate, and Lee Man Bok spoke of Pleine in the past-tense, while he could see her whenever he wanted, so it was really tough to listen to, but with his level 17 Acting skill, he was able to bear with it.
Lee Man Bok was wondering whether he could really trust Lee Shin Woo or not, as he gazed at him. Lee Shin Woo looked completely natural.
[Itās been a long time since I felt like this, but when I think back to that time, I feel happy. Back then, I thought I could do anything. It felt like Iād become the protagonist of a fantasy novel. I thought I was the only one with unique skills, unique equipmentā¦ Everything was exactly as Iād dreamed it to be.]
Thatās right. When summoned to this world, most earthlings would feel that way. They wouldnāt become skeletons like Lee Shin Woo! Lee Shin Woo suddenly recollected the moment heād been sent to the Empire and gritted his teeth.
It was his own fault and it pissed him off that he couldnāt complain about it to anyone!
āSince Godās blessing is supernatural. Itās a power that can easily enable you to overcome a level difference in a specific situation.ā
[Yeah, it was indeed. Youāre right, I put too much faith into her blessingā¦]
Firstly, this was all information that Lee Shin Woo couldnāt have known unless he was a hero. Secondly, Lee Shin Woo looked incredibly reasonable. Therefore, Lee Man Bok was able to trust him. To be honest, Lee Shin Woo was using his Instigate skill here, but Lee Man Bok wasnāt able to figure that out. That was the power of Instigate.
[ā¦Those good times passed by in a flash. I got to level 7, andā¦ despite her, Pleine, telling us not to, we (the heroes) arrogantly challenged the 12 generals. However, the darkness that covered the Empire was truly deep and vastā¦ In the end, we lost to them and became undead.]
āAnd then?ā
Thatās right. This was the important part. After all, wasnāt Lee Shin Woo the one who killed all of the undead heroes? Lee Man Bok saw Lee Shin Wooās goblin fire burn, gravely nodded his head, and spoke.
[Of course, I didnāt regain consciousness immediately. At the beginning, the moment I degenerated into an undead, I instinctively began to hate humansā¦ and wanted to follow the Emperor. Honestly, they welcomed us. To the point that it felt like we had never even fought against each other beforeā¦]
āHooā¦ā
His words caused Lee Shin Woo to automatically recollect the Archmage, Feotane Von Seldin, and shook. As expected, incorporating the heroes into their forces had been going on for a long time.
āAnd then?ā
[Ethan Cruz saved us. No, to be exact, my comrades and Iā¦ he infused his darkness magic into us and returned our sanity.]
Ethan Cruz, who hadnāt spoken, didnāt have a special ability, and was a junior that no one was interested in, possessed such a terrifying ability; Lee Man Bok remembered how surprised he was, and smiled bitterly. It was a feeling Lee Shin Woo could understand, even if he was learning about it after the fact.
[And so, we ran. We ran so hectically with himā¦ But as we ran, we felt it. He was trying to destroy our minds and turn us into his subordinates. Ironically, at that moment, I was able to advance myself as a magician, and punish him for his dirty tricks.]
āWere you not able to kill him?ā
[Unfortunatelyā¦ Once he realized he was at a disadvantage, he used my comrades, who were now under his control, as human shields and retreated. I confronted them and we fought, and I was somehow able to return their minds to them, butā¦ he was already nowhere to be found.]
So it seems like Ethan Cruz wasnāt a monstrous level 8 dozens of years ago. He was inexperienced, so contrary to his intentions, Lee Man Bok had awakened and had regained his sanity. Lee Shin Woo listened to his story, and wondered whether there were traces of Ethan Cruzās darkness magic within Lee Man Bok, but there wasnāt.
[After that, a few things happened, butā¦ Ultimately, I hid here. It was extremely safe, and it was a hidden base. Though I had no idea you would find it.]
āWhy are you just staying here? You donāt want to take revenge on the 12 generals who killed you, or Ethan Cruz, who tried to control you?ā
[Revenge? ā¦Haha.]
Lee Man Bok chuckled at Lee Shin Wooās question. At that moment, Lee Shin Woo knew that heād failed to convince Lee Man Bok. As expected, Lee Man Bok shrugged his shoulders and weakly spoke.
[Surprisinglyā¦ In my last fight, I learned something I really didnāt want to know. At that moment, I lost all my lingering attachments. I had a taste of something that went beyond anger: despondence.]
āā¦ā
[All my lingering attachments from my old world, as a hero, and even those as an undeadā¦ My hate towards Ethan Cruz? Thatās the only thing that still remains, but I donāt want to risk my life for that and go outside again.]
What exactly made him hide in here? In any case, Lee Shin Woo was sure that Lee Man Bok didnāt look at God favorably. It wouldnāt be a good idea to stimulate his mental state. If thatās the case, thenā¦
āEthan Cruz is aiming for our junior heroes again. Iām aware of this, so Iām trying to stop him. Your juniors, who were put into exactly the same state as you were dozens of years ago, are sinless, yetā¦ you have no intention of helping them?ā
[None.]
But his plan, which targeted Lee Man Bokās compassion, didnāt work at all. Lee Man Bokās voice was quite cold.
[Leave them be, so that they can overcome that danger on their own. I donāt know how you were able to remain so sane, but what youāre trying to do wonāt matter. Thereās no reason to follow Godās command and struggle in death. Itāll beā¦ in vain.]
āā¦Iām not trying to follow Godās command.ā
āIs it really ok for me to tell him this,ā Lee Shin Woo thought as the words thoughtlessly came out of his mouth. He had said it on a whim, as he was displeased that someone so strong was just sitting on their ass. āWell, I suppose itās good to say as a Joker,ā he thought, and spoke.
āI just want to become so strong that no one can order me to do anything. So Iāll say it again, Iā¦ just want to be free. What about you?ā
[Freeā¦ Thatād be nice. Much better than living here in hiding.]
Lee Man Bok respected his intent, but didnāt empathize with him.
[However, youāll soon regret it as well. This world is illogical, and in a world like that, thereās absolutely no reason to fight. Whether it be with a living body, an undead bodyā¦ weāll never get what we want. ā¦Iām fine where I am. I donāt want to think about anything else anymore.]
āā¦Is that so?ā
Around that time, Lee Shin Woo gave up on Lee Man Bok, and Lee Man Bok realized that. āWhat fickleness,ā he thought, and asked something he hadnāt intended on asking.
[You said you were going to help your juniors, right?]
āYeah.ā
[If thatās the case, youāll soon realize. How pointless it is.]
Lee Man Bok smiled. He was a skeleton that looked like him, yet when he smiled, he looked this terrifying.
[This world drives everyone insane. The undead hate the living, and the living hate the undead. Itās too late. Our juniors wonāt see us as seniors, theyāll just see us as undead. As undead they have to defeat. As undead that cannot be trusted! Nothing you say can convince them. The longer you live here, the more evidence there is to support itā¦ In the end, you just become part of the darkness, without being able to do anything.]
āI have a rough idea. However, Iām sure I can overcome it.ā
[If youāre going to be that stubborn, let me give you one last piece of advice. ā¦Be careful of Seira Von Retadane.]
Seira Von Retadane? Thatās quite a surprising name to hear here. Lee Shin Woo raised his head and he saw Lee Man Bok gritting his teeth.
[Nothing you say will be able to convince that lunatic, so try not to even cross pathsā¦ Iām telling you to kill her before she takes notice of you.]
āThanks for the advice. Anything else? Iām going to go find others who are in the same situation as us.ā
[The Giantsā domain. My old comrades are there. If you can convince them, theyāll be of great help to you. Though itāll be extremely difficult to find them.]
Aha, he was wondering. Lee Shin Woo naturally nodded his head. There were only two other undead heroes, aside from Lee Man Bok in the level 4 danger zone, yet he was wondering why they were so close to each other. And that place intersected with his memories from the giant.
āIf theyāre the giantsā descendants, then it makes sense.ā
Heād already decided that he would go over there sometime, but what great timing! Lee Shin Woo smiled in satisfaction. Jin shook, but he didnāt let that worry him.
[Are you leaving?]
āI have to.ā
[Bye.]
āYeah. Bye.ā
Lee Shin Woo nodded his head and thrust his Breath of the Thunder God, burrowing his blade within Lee Man Bokās skull. He activated his high speed thrust skill, Shadow Horn, and coupled with the lightning in their surroundings, the strike was so fast that Lee Man Bok couldnāt respond to it!
When he added in his recent Mana Acceleration skill, it looked like there were no signs and it was as if he had lunged at light speed!
[Critical Hit!]
[Keok!?]
A high rank level 7 magician. Unfortunately, one hit of Shadow Horn was enough to penetrate the magic protecting Lee Man Bokās body. One of the emeralds that were embedded in his eyes burst out of its eye socket.
That wasnāt all. The six Breath of the Lightning Gods behind him altogether burrowed into Lee Man Bokās body. Who else could execute such a perfect surprise attack? It was to the point that a top assassin would be shocked at the sight.
[W-Whyā¦!?]
āI found you, so what are the chances that someone else doesnāt? I have no idea when I might face you as an enemy, so when you said āIām going to just hide here and live my lifeā, did you think I would be like, āYes, do you as wishā?ā
[T-Thatāsā¦]
Before Lee Man Bokās staff could even emit light, Lee Shin Woo kicked it away. He had somewhat expected this, but because he hadnāt fought in actual combat, or perhaps because he was rusty, he was incredibly slow. He was prepared to get hit by one spell. How disappointing.
[How could I be beaten so easilyā¦!?]
āWhy didnāt you just show up as an enemy? Iād rather have that than you just incessantly talking about such heavy stuff.ā
Lee Shin Woo exploded all of his Breath of the Lightning Gods at once. The level 6 weapons blew up right before him, but he wasnāt damaged in the least from the resulting explosion. That meant that he could control lightning that naturally.
[Kuā¦gaā¦]
āAt least you were hiding a trick up your sleeve.ā
However, the moment that Lee Man Bokās robe shined, his almost fully broken skull regenerated. At the same time, Lee Shin Woo felt a considerable amount of mana being concentrated into him and nodded his head. He gathered lightning mana that came about due to the explosion in one hand, and used Shadow Horn once more. It would be difficult for a trained magician to recycle mana like he did.
[Kuheuk!]
Contrary to Hansen Von Dortheās technique, Lee Shin Woo created a true āLightning Shadowā and mercilessly pierced through Lee Man Bokās skull, completely destroying it. His attack, which used lightning concentrated to its very limit, as well as shadow, had overcome physics and had sublimated into something else!
[You have acquired 2 secret shop permits, and 45,591,340 Perium.]
[You have given peace to a comrade who walked a path he could not return from. You have partially cleared the quest objectives, and have acquired 1 secret shop permit. The maximum level of the Invisible Heart skill has increased by 1.]
This time, he had completely finished his job. Lee Shin Woo sighed and snatched the robes from the ground. They were definitely a treasure, considering the fact that they retained their shape despite the explosion.
[You have acquired the Lv6 Sageās Regret. Through Bone Reinforcement, it has become the Lv7 Prayer of the Dead!]
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āHoly crap. It turned into a level 7 artifact! Jin, look at this. Itās like bone powder clumped up to make the robes, and the way it sways, itās like what a final boss wearsā¦ Whatās wrong?ā
āā¦I thought you two would be good friends.ā
āNope. It was just an act to make him drop his guard and make it easier for me to launch a surprise attackā¦ā
āGive me back my feelings!ā
Reality is always cruel. Lee Shin Woo had disrespectfully forced a hermit senior to go to his eternal rest!