Chapter 150 …

Jay Ruddel had never broken a promise he made.

Of course, that didn’t mean he had been like that his entire life.

When he was young, he lied whenever he had the chance and often acted spoiled.

But at least since becoming the lord of the castle, he had never once spoken a lie, nor had he ever broken a promise.

His father, who had been a wise and virtuous ruler, had been the same.

And it was even more so because his uncle, Jin Ruddel, had failed to keep his last promise that he would return soon.

“…Excuse me?”

But that conviction was about to break for the first time.

“You’re… asking for the Moon Bell?”

“Yes.”

“……”

Do-hyun’s gaze did not waver in the slightest.

Seeing that, Jay Ruddel felt the greatest bewilderment he had experienced since becoming the lord.

My goodness…

It wasn’t that he was reluctant.

Do-hyun was the benefactor who had reunited him with his uncle, the hero who saved the city and avenged the soldiers who had sacrificed their lives.

There was nothing he would feel was too precious to give.
If Do-hyun asked for a family heirloom, he could hand it over.

But this… I didn’t expect.

However, the Moon Bell was an exception.

Beyond simply being an heirloom, it was the bell that symbolized the castle.

It was a bell that had been passed down since ancient times and was now treated almost like a divine relic.

Giving something like that away was a completely different matter.

It wasn’t even certain whether such a thing could be decided by the authority of a single generation’s lord.

But why?

And aside from that, he couldn’t understand.

Among all the things available, why a bell?

To them it was precious, but to an outsider like Do-hyun it would only look like a somewhat unusual, gigantic bell.

Did he perhaps have a hobby of collecting valuable items?

No—beyond that, there was a more fundamental question.

“More importantly… how exactly are you planning to take that enormous thing with you?”

Even the subspace bags said to be the apostles’ power couldn’t store something of that size.

Do-hyun thought about it briefly and showed an awkward expression.

“Hmm… good question. How do we carry that thing?”

“…?”

Why are you asking me that?

Jay Ruddel blinked in disbelief, and Do-hyun answered calmly.

“We’ll have to figure that out starting now. For now, I just need it.”

“……”

As Jay stood there dumbfounded, the head butler stepped closer and spoke carefully.

“Why not trust him and leave it to him for now?”

“I’d like to, but isn’t that beyond my authority, Butler?”

“No. We simply refrain from touching it out of respect, but the Moon Bell is still technically property within the castle. And everything within the castle belongs to the lord. In principle, there is no problem.”

Jay Ruddel fell into thought at the butler’s words, but then Jin Ruddel suddenly interrupted.

—Are you really reluctant to give a mere bell to the hero who saved the city, Jay? Ahh, your uncle is very disappointed. In my day, it was only proper to give even your house to someone who saved your life.

“……”

—And it’s not like he’s asking for the castle itself. It’s just a bell that goes clang-clang. You can’t give that? I didn’t raise you like that, Jay. Your father would have gladly given it. Isn’t that right, Butler?

“Well… considering the previous lord’s character, that does seem likely.”

At this point, Jay Ruddel had no choice.

“F-Fine! Both of you, stop it. It’s not like I don’t want to give it!”

“Then may we take it?”

“Yes. Of course. I can’t become the kind of stingy lord who refuses to give even a bell to a hero.”

Finally surrendering completely, Jay gave permission.

Do-hyun clenched his fist in triumph.

Their eyes met, and Jin Ruddel lifted his chin with a “Did I do well?” expression.

It was slightly irritating, but this time Do-hyun nodded willingly.

That talkative old man can actually be useful sometimes.

Given Jay Ruddel’s personality, he probably would have given it eventually anyway, but thanks to him it had been much easier to obtain permission.

—Hmm! Truly an excellent subordinate.

Even Charlie praised him with great satisfaction.

Having secured the opportunity, Do-hyun quickly headed out to the terrace before anyone could change their mind.

[Eye of Truth has activated.]

Even looking at it again, that size is no joke.

The enormous bell still appeared red in Do-hyun’s vision.

It was so massive that it could be seen clearly even from outside the city, radiating overwhelming majesty.

Woooong—

“The bell… it almost seems like it’s reacting to something.”

“Is it recognizing the hero?”

—Wow… it’s like something straight out of a novel.

Unlike before, it was ringing as if reacting to a key.

That was why Jay Ruddel and the others, who had followed him out, were staring in amazement.

Smirking slightly, Do-hyun retrieved the key from Jay Ruddel and combined the two halves.

[The harmony of Yin and Yang is complete.]

Warm yet chilling energy spread as the key became whole.

WOOOOONG—

The bell’s resonance intensified.

It was almost as if it was urging him to present the key immediately.

Without hesitation, Do-hyun held the key toward it.

A dazzling light burst forth.

[The third Fragment of Fate, ‘Bell of Creation’, reacts.]

Light intertwined like the colors of ominous energy and warm energy mixing together, filling the surroundings.

Then a cheerful notification rang out.

[The sleeping will of the Dark King awakens.]
[The will of Har, the Dark King of ancient humanity, manifests.]

And a low voice followed.

[At last… I awaken.]

The coldness in that voice made the skin prickle.

The man who appeared—simply by manifesting—changed the atmosphere of the surrounding air.

He looked identical to the man Do-hyun had seen in the King’s Tomb.

But the aura he gave off was entirely different.

Thud.

“Ah…”

An oppressive pressure forced everyone to their knees.

It wasn’t the mind—it was the body reacting first, telling them not to dare raise their heads.

Har slowly looked over Jay Ruddel, Jin Ruddel, and the butler who obeyed that instinct.

Then his gaze stopped on Do-hyun.

[Oh…?]

While everyone else struggled under the pressure, Do-hyun was still standing.

And he wasn’t the only one.

Jihad and Eliza behind him also stood upright, and Charlie clenched his teeth while struggling to control his trembling body.

[Hero Trait resists the overwhelming presence.]
[The opponent’s level is too high for complete resistance.]
[Guardian ‘Jihad Black’ and ‘Eliza’ possess high innate ranks.]
[They resist the presence.]

This is on a completely different level from the will in the King’s Tomb.

Maybe there was a reason he was called the Dark King.

Even the aura was completely different from the warmer Yang-aligned will.

Then again, if he had been a more straightforward warrior, he would probably have been called the Battle King, not the Dark King.

—Ghk…

Hearing the strained sound, Do-hyun glanced sideways at Charlie.

He was clenching his teeth and struggling to keep his shaking legs steady.

Unlike the other two, who were merely somewhat frightened but fine, Charlie was clearly on the verge of collapse.

Naturally so.

Do-hyun was being helped by his trait, and the others had high racial stats.

But Charlie was enduring purely through mental strength.

[You have quite a decent knight under you.]

Har grinned and released his aura.

The eerie atmosphere vanished instantly, replaced by comfort—like gravity that had been crushing them suddenly disappearing.

—Haa… haa…

Finally able to breathe, Charlie staggered.

—Charlie.

—…Thanks.

Fortunately, Jihad quickly supported him, saving him from embarrassment.

Jay Ruddel, Jin Ruddel, and the butler finally raised their heads to look at the overwhelming being.

Their eyes widened in shock.

“Ah…”

“You couldn’t possibly be…”

—My goodness…

Too shocked to speak properly, the three eventually dropped to one knee and bowed toward Do-hyun and Har.

Why are they suddenly doing that?

Just as Do-hyun was about to say something, the Dark King spoke with satisfaction.

[You know proper etiquette. So—you’re the one who awakened me?]

“Yes.”

[Hmm… You’ve already met Seras and my other personality. And that one seems to be Cheonbyeon… Well, fine. I won’t test you further. If you made it this far, that means you’re qualified.]

After examining Do-hyun as if seeing straight through him, Har added another remark.

[Though for one of our descendants… you’re quite a strange combination.]

“….”

Do-hyun couldn’t argue with that.

After all, he was traveling with a fluffy little spider, a black goblin, and a tutorial NPC.

After delivering that brief but accurate observation, Har flicked Do-hyun’s forehead.

[Your unstable constitution stabilizes.]
[The Poison King Constitution reaches completion.]

Huh?

Do-hyun immediately checked the information.

Poison King Constitution
Rank: Legendary

Har, the Dark King of ancient humanity, also known as the Poison King.

Although he possessed a unique body close to invincibility, he was vulnerable to poison and mental attacks.

Thus he trained by personally experiencing tens of thousands of deadly poisons until he developed complete immunity.

Invulnerability: Immune to poisons below Legendary rank.
Saturation: Continuous damage from the same attack for a certain time is treated as poison.

—Completed by the descent of the true will.

Wow… that’s insane.

The completed Poison King Constitution was essentially a perfect poison-immune body.

A ridiculous ability granting immunity to all poisons below Legendary rank.

Now even the underworld energy that the Outlaw King once emitted would likely be completely blocked.

In other words, poison could no longer kill Do-hyun.

Status ailments don’t work, poison doesn’t work, even damage-over-time doesn’t work…

Somehow, his body was gradually becoming one with almost no weaknesses.

[Don’t go around getting beaten. I don’t acknowledge weaklings.]

“Yes.”

How could he not obey the words of the Dark King who had just given him such a gift?

Do-hyun grinned broadly as he answered, though Jihad shook his head behind him.

He didn’t care.

[The weakest are those who die to poison. Look at that one over there. He’s dying because he couldn’t withstand such trivial poison.]

“That one…?”

[That boy. Don’t tell me that weakling is your companion?]

“He is the lord of this castle.”

[A weakling like that is the lord…? Humanity really has fallen far.]

Har clicked his tongue.

His voice wasn’t quiet enough to hide it from Jay Ruddel.

Seeing Jay lower his head in shame, Har snapped his fingers.

And something astonishing happened.

“Ah…?”

It felt as if blocked meridians suddenly opened.

The poison that had settled deep within his body vanished like smoke.

[The energy of the underworld disappears.]
[Poison is removed.]

The purple tint that had covered his skin was gone.

Jay Ruddel’s complexion became visibly healthier.

“Ah…”

“My goodness.”

The curse that had tormented him for years—one they had given up on curing—had disappeared in an instant.

Jay stared blankly, unable to believe it.

But when he instinctively turned back…

The Dark King was already gone.

[Next is Fratel. Then it must be that woman… It’ll be a little different from before. She’s rather troublesome, so do your best.]

After performing a miracle without even acknowledging it, Har vanished the moment he finished speaking.

Tap.

Neither the Dark King nor the enormous Moon Bell remained.

Only a tiny bell lay where it had been.

[The third Fragment of Fate takes its complete form.]
[You have obtained the third Fragment of Fate: ‘Bell of Creation’.]

Fragment of Fate
Rank: Main Stream

To save Abtartel, the War God Kashiyar sacrificed himself.
Gather the fragments of the vessels he left across the world and complete fate.

Fragments collected: 3 / 10

When all fragments are gathered, the Main Event will open.

So this is what the fragment originally looked like.

Unlike the half-broken Hourglass of Faith, this fragment must have been enlarged for some unknown reason.

For Do-hyun, that was extremely fortunate.

If the original had really been that gigantic, it would have been a huge headache.

That makes three.

Just as he felt a strange sense of accomplishment at reaching one-third of the total—

A message appeared before he could fully enjoy the moment.

[Rank evaluation has been completed.]

At last, the result of the Graduation Quest had been determined.