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...’

would grow to a level of rejecting Fated to Perish.

She must

“Um.”

swallowed down the question of whether Piaro yearned for the empire

“Let’s return to Reinhardt.”

mastermind. But the

‘I’m tired.’

a year. Grid sat on the seat and his eyes moved towards the window. Asmophel entered his gaze.

has gone beyond his heart and imprinted

families couldn’t. As Grid predicted, Asmophel was willing

sad expression only to come up with something. ‘Did all

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

I can give Asmophel a chance to

order to Asmophel, “Asmophel, travel through the continent and find the survivors of the

“Huh? W-What...?”

fear. Asmophel’s face turned grey from the unexpected

stared into his wavering gaze and explained, "I will absorb the previous generation of the Red

the survivors of the old

“Yes.”

the one to find

dare say the

“Piaro forgave you.”

“...”

be the same? They will all feel

“...”

Then

himself. It was also a chance to bring the ‘power of the previous generation’ to the kingdom. It was an example

“Always be happy.”

“...”

wish I received from Khan. Let us

keep

didn’t raise his head

Asmophel on his journey

‘Have strength.’

come back with

***

[Hwan Kingdom’s Resident (1)]

★ Hidden Quest

meet the minimal qualifications to challenge the

go beyond the level of an ordinary

die until

while the quest is ongoing, you will gain a

all the additional stats you have

If you die, the quest clear conditions

number of deaths must be less than 5 until you achieve level 400 (Number

second clear conditions, you will

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 hidden

Veradin was level 290. He tried hard to go over level 300 without dying and

“Maybe...”

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