episode_0054

Flinch

The bodyguard behind him flinched at the sight of his king bowing his head.

However, perhaps to respect the decision that his master had made after much deliberation, he gritted his teeth, appearing to endure the humiliation his master was experiencing.

I watched the scene for a moment before speaking.

“Please raise your head. There’s nothing more to say in the first place. I will assist in the subjugation of the Beastman Alliance of Yeom Country, however insignificant my help may be.”

From the beginning, I was planning to receive help from Yeom Country to defeat the Heavenly Demon here.

But the Yeom Emperor himself asks me to help? This is a very good thing to be able to receive support from Yeom Country legitimately.

While I was thinking that, the Yeom Emperor looked at me as if he was wondering.

“Really?”

“Yes. Rather, I would like to ask you for cooperation even more.”

As I nodded and answered, the Yeom Emperor smiled faintly.

“That’s a relief. To be honest, I was thinking that it wouldn’t be strange if you asked for something in return for your cooperation.”

“From the beginning, the reason I came here isn’t entirely unrelated to the Beastman Alliance.”

“Related to the Beastman Alliance? You, who came from the Western Regions?”

“That is correct.”

I nodded and answered the Yeom Emperor’s question.

And Baekryeon, who heard my answer, tilted her head.

“Huh? Young Master clearly came to get the Great Root Pill…. Ugh?!”

“Haha, Baekryeon seems to be very tired. Judging from the strange things she’s saying already, I should put her to bed quickly.”

“….”

I shut Baekryeon’s bad mouth that was trying to say unnecessary things.

Seriously, there’s a limit to how much you can ruin a done deal.

Of course, Seollin, who had heard the reason I came to Yeom Country while acting with us, looked at me dumbfounded as I shut Baekryeon’s mouth, but she didn’t express it in words. Ignoring these two people’s gazes, I continued speaking.

“As the Yeom Emperor knows, I am called a hero, perhaps excessively, by the people of Yeom Country in the land called the Western Regions. And my goal and duty as a hero is to eliminate the fragments of the demon called the Demon King in this world.”

“I’ve heard that story. Clearly, it’s the three swords to cut down the demon that your god believes in.”

“That is correct. And I heard that one of the fragments of the demon that I am currently chasing is cooperating with the Beastman Alliance, so I came to Yeom Country to check the situation and, if possible, to subjugate the fragment of the demon.”

Wow, even though I said it, it sounds so good. It’s amazing.

As I was praising myself for being able to spin a plausible yarn even though I was just saying whatever came to mind, the Yeom Emperor muttered as if he was thinking deeply about something.

“Indeed, that’s right. The reason why the Beastman Alliance’s movements suddenly became aggressive was because of those demon fragments.”

That’s right, that’s right.

In fact, I don’t know if it’s true or not, but anyway, that’s what it is.

“But considering that, you came alone. Is it fashionable for heroes to act alone?”

“….”

He’s pinpointing it accurately.

When I glanced at the Yeom Emperor, he smiled with his eyes as he looked at me.

I shifted my gaze slightly to the back of the Yeom Emperor, and the two bodyguards slightly drew their swords.

That means don’t lie.

As expected. He must have already investigated me thoroughly.

“Whatever the case, the story that we have to fight the Beastman Alliance is true. The story that they are related to the fragments of the demon is also true.”

“I’m glad that at least that much is true.”

“Haha…, well…”

As I said with an awkward smile, he smiled and said.

“Since you’ve brought up a sincere story, I can bring up this story.”

“?”

“The reason I came to find you this time is not only to get a definite answer about the story of you helping Yeom Country, but also because there is something that needs to be done before declaring war on the Beastman Alliance.”

Something that needs to be done? What is it?

I pondered for a while, but nothing came to mind. I wouldn’t know since I’ve never experienced something like war in the first place.

“There’s something I need to confirm first before that. There’s a story that you…, one of the Seven Demon Kings. You combined with Bokhae Daeseong and survived, but is that true?”

Is it that story?

If it’s about that, a report must have been sent up…., but is it such an unbelievable story that it needs to be confirmed again despite that?

“It’s true.”

“….Then there’s one thing I’d like to request from you.”

“A request?”

“Yes. Looking at it broadly, it’s connected to my first request for you to help Yeom Country, but…, you can refuse if you don’t like it. Because it’s a very dangerous thing.”

Something absolutely necessary.

On top of that, something very dangerous. I can’t imagine what it is.

Well, is he going to make me the vanguard in the war with the Beastman Alliance or something?

If it’s something like that, there’s nothing to worry about.

While I was thinking that, the Yeom Emperor said in a very light tone.

“Please break through Yeom Hyeong-ok with me.”

“Yeom Hyeong-ok?….”

* * *

“Hoo…, now I can finally rest a bit.”

After the Yeom Emperor left, Seollin sighed deeply and lay down on the prepared bedding.

Watching her, I raised the corners of my lips and said.

“Were you scared?”

“Of course! The Yeom Emperor, you know! He’s a very important person! Do you know that? It’s strange that you’re treating him so confidently.”

“I’m not a Yeom Country person, why would I be scared?”

I shrugged and said.

Besides, wasn’t your dad also an important person?

….Well, looking at the characteristics of Yeom Country, it’s certain that the Yeom family is above all the sects and families anyway.

‘….Thinking about it, it’s strange.’

The first story I heard in Yeom Country was that the Yeom family’s influence had weakened compared to the past.

I simply took it as the Yeom family’s military power had weakened or something like that.

But looking at the ability of the bodyguard who is guarding the Yeom Emperor, that wasn’t the case.

His skill was at the level of a quasi-family head. There’s no way they’d be pushed back by military power….

‘…No, maybe it’s just that there are only two people with that level of talent.’

“Hmm. But being able to acknowledge one’s shortcomings, ask for help from others, and bow one’s head is not easy for someone in a high position. In that sense, I think the current king of Yeom Country will definitely become a great person.”

“More than that, what are you going to do about Yeom Hyeong-ok? You said you’d think about it.”

“Do you know about Yeom Hyeong-ok?”

“A little.”

I also know.

A little.

“Yeom Hyeong-ok is a secret palace said to have been created by the first Yeom Emperor. Countless traps and automatically moving soldier dolls. I’ve heard that there have been several attempts to break through that secret palace since the first Yeom Emperor, but they all failed.”

“Hmm….”

Yeom Hyeong-ok.

That is the secret palace that can be reached in the mid-to-late game of The Success Story of the Incompetent Hero.

But you can’t go to the secret palace from the first playthrough.

Yeom Hyeong-ok can only be progressed from the second playthrough after clearing The Success Story of the Incompetent Hero once.

In other words, it’s an element that exists as a perk for multiple playthroughs.

In fact, Yeom Hyeong-ok has no influence on the main story of the game. It’s a dungeon that doesn’t matter whether you go or not.

But the difficulty is quite high.

The traps inside are traps caused by gunpowder that don’t fit in the world of swords and magic, so their power is no joke.

If you prepare sturdy armor and step on the traps as much as possible, it will quickly become tattered.

‘The elite soldier dolls that pop out from there are also troublesome.’

On the other hand, the soldier dolls, which have high physical resistance, are made of soil, but they are sturdier than most steel armor.

‘Leon can attack with both water and magic attributes, but his performance is poor. Baekryeon is specialized in physical attacks, so it’s hard to fight….’

Originally, there are other party members who should have joined before.

A tomboyish elf, a dwarf who wants to learn magic, and a druid who can’t control his power.

The only way to break through Yeom Hyeong-ok is with an elf or druid who can at least deal magic damage.

‘An elf, a dwarf, even a druid…. Thinking about it, I might have come to Yeom Country too early without thinking?….’

I was so blinded by the story of the Great Root Pill that I came to Yeom Country in a hurry….

Thinking about it, it’s no different than leaving several events that will happen in the center unattended in exchange for coming to Yeom Country.

‘….Come to think of it, I think I missed a few important events.’

I pondered for a while, but nothing came to mind.

Well, since nothing comes to mind right now, it’s probably not that important.

The thing about Yeom Hyeong-ok is not particularly dangerous for me at this point in time. So it’s okay to go.

No, it might be more beneficial to go.

Yeom Hyeong-ok is a secret palace with a feeling like a perk for the second playthrough, as I said before.

That’s why the benefits you can get when you break through the secret palace are also great.

“I have to go.”

“Are you going?”

“Yeah. But I’m going alone.”

At the words that I was going alone, Baekryeon and Seollin looked at me with wide eyes.

Were they thinking that I would take them with me, of course?

But…, there are many traps there…, it’s a hassle to protect them…, and in the first place, Baekryeon and Seollin can’t do anything because of the physical resistance…. More than anything, Seollin’s specialty is poison with throwing stars, would that even work on dolls.

“More than anything, I heard that only members of the Yeom family can go there. We can’t just go with a bunch of people for no reason.”

It’s definitely not because I’m greedy for the treasures inside….

The items you get there are all high grade. There might be items that I can use too….