Overgeared

The Overgeared Kingdom was the strongest player force in the game and a threat to anyone. It was a basic thing to target them. There were countless people trying to keep the Overgeared Kingdom in check. But Grid wasn’t aware of this fact. He overlooked the fate of the strong. He didn’t properly defend his kingdom during the National Competition and allowed the enemy to enter.

Grid thought that Khan’s sad end was the result of his own stupidity. Khan was the victim of his ignorance.

After Khan’s death, Grid became obsessed with wisdom. If he had been a bit wiser, Khan’s end wouldn’t have been so lonely. Therefore, Grid challenged being reborn as a wise man. The accumulation of knowledge was slow because of his innate intelligence, but Grid believed that by repeatedly thinking 'infinite' times, he could use his own merits and patience to become a wise man. No, he decided not to believe, but to put it in action.

This was the result. Grid was thinking nonstop. He lacked intelligence compared to others, so he had to think many times more than others. He continued and continued to think whenever facing a situation. His head was constantly working.

Why did he summon only Piaro when he was attacked by the Red Knights and Immortal? It was because Agnus couldn’t be seen. As a result, Grid thought that the Red Knights and Immortal members attacking him might be bait. If he caught the bait and summoned all his knights, his kingdom would be weakened and the empty house could be destroyed. That’s why he first summoned Piaro.

It was this same context that Grid used to judge that Mercedes’ aide should be handled. The reason why Grid was concerned about the aide wasn’t because he was smart, but because he was thinking.

Grid was exhausted. It was different from when he chose without worrying, acted emotionally, and depended on others. The energy consumption of this mindset was enormous.

Sururuk.

Kasim disappeared into the darkness.

“Sigh.”

Grid leaned his exhausted body against the carriage. It was like he had just raided a powerful boss monster. Piaro measured his condition and bowed deeply.

"You went through a lot of trouble.”

Piaro was proud of Grid. Rather than being frustrated by Khan’s death, Grid honored Khan by looking at himself. Grid had done well when facing the emperor. Piaro had this type of belief.

Grid asked the smiling Piaro, “Was I right to handle the aide?”

Grid had witnessed the discipline of the Red Knights. They were shaken by Piaro’s appearance, but immediately executed Mercedes’ orders. They doubted Asmophel’s story, but didn’t resist Mercedes’ judgment. Grid believed that the Red Knights in this place wouldn’t talk about Piaro and Asmophel. But the aide was unknown. It was difficult to judge what type of person the aide was when he protected the horses in the distance. That’s why Grid ordered Kasim to handle him.

Piaro nodded. “Mercedes will decide on her own. She will sort out the trustworthy and untrustworthy knights and aides.”

"You trust her.”

“She’s an incredibly smart girl.”

That’s why she was his seed.

"And she grew to my expectations. She will later become a new pillar of the empire.”

In fact, Piaro was very surprised when he was called by Grid and met Mercedes. He hadn’t thought she was alive. It was natural. Didn’t the brainwashed Asmophel destroy all of the Red Knights in the past? Asmophel wouldn’t leave anyone to hit him in the back. It was difficult to expect that Mercedes, a seed of Piaro, would’ve survived.

But Asmophel saved Mercedes. The reason...

‘In his subconscious, he was afraid for the empire.’

Asmophel was reluctant to kill talent even in his brainwashed days. That was Mercedes. Piaro looked up at the night sky.

"I have become greedier because of your words.” Grid declared, “I’m going to make Mercedes mine.”

Grid faced an unprecedented pressure when competing with Mercedes. He felt like she was reading all his actions. At first, he thought it was just her excellent skills, but looking back, it wasn’t. It was clear that she ‘predicted’ his behavior.

‘A scam.’ Grid asserted.

Mercedes was in the same class as Piaro. A wall that normal players could never cross. A transcendent named NPC. Grid wanted to make her his own person. Piaro thought the same. When he exchanged blows with Mercedes, he thought the only way to overthrow her was Fated to Perish.

‘Once more time passes...’

to a level of rejecting Fated to

must be

“Um.”

He swallowed down the question of whether Piaro yearned for the empire

“Let’s return to Reinhardt.”

was highly unlikely the empire was behind this raid. It was highly likely the empress was the mastermind. But the issue was too big to judge for himself. He had

‘I’m tired.’

the empire was like a year. Grid sat on the seat and his eyes moved towards the window. Asmophel entered his gaze. Asmophel was walking on the right side of the carriage

guilt has gone beyond his heart

Red Knights and their families couldn’t. As Grid predicted, Asmophel was willing to end his life

sad expression only to come up with something.

that ‘most’ of the Red Knights were executed. Yes, most of them. It wasn’t all of them. Some were still

I can give Asmophel

didn’t delay. He immediately gave an order to Asmophel, “Asmophel, travel through the continent and

“Huh? W-What...?”

Asmophel’s face turned grey from

into his wavering gaze and explained, "I will absorb the previous generation of the Red Knights. It isn’t impossible to absorb

gather the survivors of

“Yes.”

appropriate for me to be the one to find them? Why are you leaving it to me

but he didn’t dare say the word ‘atonement.’ He bowed

“Piaro forgave you.”

“...”

be the same? They will all feel

“...”

Then

could only think that the command to ‘find the old Red Knights’ was purely out of concern for himself. It was also a chance to bring the ‘power of the previous generation’ to the kingdom. It was an example that showed Grid’s mindset of thinking about his precious

“Always be happy.”

“...”

dying wish I received from Khan.

will keep that in

his head until the carriage

cheered for Asmophel on his

‘Have strength.’

back with old

***

[Hwan Kingdom’s Resident (1)]

★ Hidden Quest

have to meet the minimal qualifications to challenge the Chiyou

the level of an ordinary

Clear Condition (1): Don’t die until you reach level

without dying while the quest

lose all the additional stats you have acquired. The lost stats can’t be

the quest clear conditions will change to number

be less than 5

you fail to complete the second clear

East Continent and completely focused on the yangbans of the Hwan Kingdom. He anticipated that he could benefit from the greatest power on the East Continent. As a result, he was the first player to visit the Hwan Kingdom and received the

that time, Veradin was level 290. He tried hard to go over level 300 without dying and secured a tremendous amount of stats as a result. But it was all blown away. He touched the Overgeared Kingdom

“Maybe...”

a pale complexion. Grid’s words ‘the first time’ constantly revolved in his head. Grid