Chapter 9

Chapter 9: [Knight Soul] Is This... a Human Being? (1)

“It is our first meeting. Ones who reclaim the light... My name is Grandis. I am the Saintess of the Moon, belonging to the Order of the Star.”

The Saintess of the Moon, Grandis. Looking at the radiant platinum-blonde beauty who had removed her gray hood... Ju Seo-jin had only one thought.

‘After fighting Trinex... having to fight a new enemy without my ability is a little burdensome...? This is troublesome.’

It was whether or not it would be possible to kill Grandis, the Saintess of the Moon standing before him.

‘Well... even so, it is only a matter of time. The Power of Foresight will recover soon. I can feel it. I will ask Seo-yoon and decide whether to kill her or not.’

Whether to kill her or let her live.

If he had to choose between the two, then it would be right to ask Ju Seo-yoon, who had done prior research on [Knight Soul].

Keeping his gaze fixed on Grandis in case of an unexpected surprise attack, he was just about to ask Ju Seo-yoon a question.

BEEEEEP-!

「TIP」

━This game, [Knight Soul], has the A.I. Character System applied. Words and actions that deviate from the game story and role-playing are only possible through the “Player Chat” function.

*Instead, words and actions that do not deviate from the game story and role-playing are guaranteed a high level of freedom.

In that instant, a hologram window appeared and displayed a warning message, and then his voice implementation was blocked. 

There were restrictions regarding gameplay.

‘As long as it is judged to fit the game story or the role of the player character... I can talk freely as much as I want... Is that it? Fascinating.’

He once again realized just how high a level of realism virtual reality games provided.

It meant that as long as he did not step outside the game story and the player character’s settings, he could play freely however he wanted.

It was an interesting matter, but he felt nothing beyond that. 

After all, they were only NPCs who acted according to the game story.

Something else was more important.

= Seo-yoon. 

Can I kill her? 

If she is something like a boss monster, I feel like it should be fine... right?

For him, who lacked a certain degree of gamer sensibility, there was only one most important standard when responding to unexpected situations.

= She looks somewhat important at a glance... Can I receive a Mission for this?

...It was the matter of whether or not it would make money.

***

Meanwhile.

Most of the viewers who heard Ju Seo-jin’s sudden statement filled the chat with question marks or showed reactions of utter disbelief.

[Knight Soul]. 

It was the moment when, after obtaining the title of Trinex’s first-encounter killer in “Nightmare” Mode, he had even opened a Hidden Route.

The sight of him obsessing over donations even at this point was more than enough to shock the viewers.

-??

-Madman..

-Wow hahahahahahahahahahaha This guy is a real madman hahahahaha

-Fuck, you cannot do that, you bastard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is a Hidden Route!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-?? Someone donate to this insane money demon and shut his mouth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And...

= ...What? W-Wait a moment. What did you say? Oppa, are you really insane? Y-You want to receive a Mission? Here?

Ju Seo-yoon was the same. 

No, rather, she was even more excited than the viewers. 

It was only natural.

To her, [Knight Soul] had now been reborn as overwhelmingly successful content.

A skill-based broadcast. 

On top of that, it was a legendary moment in which the first world record had been achieved. 

It was irreplaceable legendary content itself.

If she uploaded an edited version of the stream to WeTube, it might attract attention not only domestically but overseas as well. 

It was enormous content.

And yet... when a branch point for a Hidden Route had opened, he was going to suddenly display hostility toward the NPC and refuse to progress the game story?

It was obvious that everything would turn into chaos.

= Never! Ab-so-lute-ly not───! Th-This is a Hidden Route! A-And instead of receiving a Mission, progressing the game story properly later and uploading the video will earn more money!

= Hmm...

= Oppa... please, I am begging you- okay? Please try not to do anything sudden. Do you want to see me go insane? Let us progress the game story normally, please!

= Well... if that is what you say, what can I say? I should do that.

When Ju Seo-jin obediently withdrew his hostile intent, the chat window was also immersed in relief.

-God Bangwool

-Myangbangwool — her instincts are still alive hahahahahahaha

-For real, I was seriously shocked because I thought he was going to refuse to progress the story right after opening a Hidden Route..

-New fact) Ju Seo-jin — this person was not acting out a money demon concept; he was actually a money demon gone mad all the way to the top of his head.. Do not provoke him..

-I feel like if you say you will give Oppa money, he will say he will play every boss fight in [Knight Soul] without getting hit even once??; Seriously?

And... in the meantime, Ju Seo-yoon quickly gave Ju Seo-jin instructions through the Player Chat function.

= Oppa. Since you do not know much about [Knight Soul], you may have many questions... but for now, do not ask me. Try talking to her.

= Why?

= Do not ask. Just do that. From now on, even if something happens, restrain yourself from acting impulsively... and do not depend on me. This stream is going to proceed with you at the center, Oppa.

= Ah... you want me to progress the game story? Well, all right. I will try.

= Okay! I am glad it seems like you understood. Then, sortie! Go! Go talk to her!

= …….

Ju Seo-jin thought she was being slightly, subtly rude, but he did not say it aloud. 

It felt awkward to point out her behavior in front of his younger sister, who was bringing him unexpected income through streaming.

Well. 

In the first place, she was not behaving badly enough to make him feel offended, and it was something he could let pass as affection. 

And... there was something more important than that.

Ju Seo-jin stared silently at Grandis, then opened his mouth and spoke.

“I do not understand what is going on. Saintess of the Moon... What is this Order? And how did you know about me and come here?”

“The ‘Order of the Star’ is an opposing sect that follows the cold dream of dawn, in opposition to the Creator, the Sun God. The Saintess of the Moon performs the same role as the ‘Saintess of the Sun’ who exists in the ‘Order of the Sun.’”

The Sun God. 

In other words, they were heretics who did not serve the Creator of [Knight Soul], who had appeared in the game’s intro video, and at the same time, the culprit who had brought about this Age of Chaos.

The “Saintess of the Sun” or the “Saintess of the Moon” was likely a being who belonged to a high position within a massive religious group. 

That guess was not wrong.

“In order to reclaim the light in the forgotten land, we heard a prophecy that a being who would gather the Knight’s Souls and bring back the Primordial Ember would appear... that one who reclaims the light would appear here. That is why I was waiting. I am the saintess who assists the one who reclaims the light, raised by the Order of the Star.”

An NPC who assisted the player character of [Knight Soul] and told them what they had to do going forward. That was the Saintess of the Sun, and the Saintess of the Moon.

“That is strange. If you heard a prophecy and were waiting here in advance, why did you not appear earlier? I could have died.”

“Because I could not know whether you would be able to recover the Primordial Ember. I was merely preparing in case you were not the ‘one who reclaims the light’ spoken of in the prophecy.”

“That means- you wanted to judge whether we had the ability to reclaim the Knight’s Soul... and if not, you were going to abandon us.”

“That is correct.”

“Interesting.”

Even if this was a game, it was not a pleasant thing. 

It meant that the value of his life had been weighed according to whether he could be used.

Ju Seo-jin tilted his head crookedly and continued speaking in a voice tinged with irritation.

“It cannot be easy to openly say that you tested people’s lives.”

“If that displeased you, I apologize. ...Even so, making a deal with me would not be bad. Ones who reclaim the light, your memories must not be whole.”

“Memories?”

“Yes... You know that you have no memories of this world at all, do you not? When you came to this world, you must have forgotten everything. You likely remember only the mission that you must reclaim the Knight’s Souls.”

“Ah... I suppose so. Naturally.”

Because it was a game. 

When progressing through a game story, a world setting suited to the gamer was absolutely essential. 

He understood that.

“...You said it was a deal. Tell me what you want to exchange with me. I will listen, then judge whether it is reasonable.”

“It is simple. You need only receive from me every blessing, baptism, ritual, and the like that should originally have been handled by the Saintess of the Sun. In exchange... I will give you everything you desire. If necessary... even myself.”

-Gaaaaaasp!!

-??????????????

-Legend hahahahahaha

-Info) [Knight Soul] is an adult game.. You know what that means, right??

-Heueung.. Noona... Sob sob sob sob sob I am dyingggggggggggggg

It was a suggestive line. 

A few vulgar remarks appeared in the chat window, but they were quickly censored. 

Ju Seo-jin also replied without paying them any attention.

“I do not need that. In exchange for not receiving blessings, baptisms, rituals, and the like from the Saintess of the Sun... make it clearer what you can give me.”

“We will recover the Primordial Ember that originated from the Sun God... the Creator, and open an age of mankind. We will correct this world, which is being swayed according to the will of a god.”

“Do you think that is what I want?”

“I will ask you in return. Then what is it you desire? Knight’s Souls... As one who reclaims the light, do you wish to possess wealth, honor, and power? I do not think so. Considering that you refused me, even more so.”

“You think too highly of yourself.”

“…….”

When Ju Seo-jin replied as if sneering, Grandis also fell silent with a strange expression.

“So. Other than that? Is there nothing else? At least tell me what makes you different.”

“...Mm. Unlike the Saintess of the Sun, I can perform all blessings, baptisms, rituals, and the like without any defects.”

“Details.”

“When the Saintess of the Sun performs a blessing, baptism, or ritual, a ‘Brand of the Sun’ appears, and in states or situations that do not meet the conditions, the power you possess is reduced by half. I, on the other hand, am not like that.”

“…….”

“Even if the blessing you desire is not as powerful as one from the Saintess of the Sun, it has no defects at any time, and when purifying a Knight’s Soul through baptism, no cursed brand remains. The same applies to rituals.”

“So instead of the advantages not being strong, the disadvantages are not large either.”

“That is correct.”

He roughly understood.

Perhaps the “saintess” played a systematic role that was central to the growth of the “one who reclaims the light,” in other words, the player character.

Whether learning skills in-game or receiving special effects, it seemed that everything had to be done through a saintess... and if there were no defects in that process, it seemed rather good.

‘I do not know exactly what it is, but if there are no disadvantages in exchange for the advantages not being large, then it should not be bad.’

Well... even if that were not the case, Ju Seo-yoon had repeatedly begged him not to do anything sudden. 

In this situation, it was probably right to accept the deal as much as possible.

‘Nothing serious should happen.’

Even if, by some chance, something went wrong, he would be able to respond immediately as soon as he could activate the Power of Foresight.

Soon... he had a feeling his eyes would also become usable normally again, so there was probably no need to worry. Ju Seo-jin nodded and answered.

“I accept.”

“...Pardon?”

“I said I will do as you proposed.”

“How unexpected.... I thought you would not accept my proposal...... I am surprised. Even so, if that is your decision, then there is no reason for me to refuse either.”

SLIDE-

The next instant.

FLASH-!

After hearing Ju Seo-jin’s answer, Grandis pointed her fingertips toward the air and pulled in the red energy floating above the place where Trinex had died.

Then. Grandis, who had taken the Knight’s Soul dropped by Trinex, quietly let it seep into her body and moved her lips.

“One who reclaims the light. Since you have accepted my proposal, I will not disappoint you. I will tell you the deeper details after we move elsewhere.”

SWISH.

“Beyond this place, protect and guide me until we reach the Temple of Twilight. If you do so, I will grant you one blessing along with a baptism.”

***

At the same time.

[ has donated ‘10,000 won.’]

*{ Video }

━Black Moon hahahaha Look at this hahahahahaha [Knight Soul] Hidden Route opened hahahahahahaha This is legendary haha

[ has donated ‘10,000 won.’]

*{ Video }

━He is a total newbie who connected to Full Dive for the first time today, but he is opening a Knight Soul Hidden Route; Looks like he opened the first Knight Soul Hidden Route in the world?

[ has donated ‘10,000 won.’]

*{ Video }

━Sword Empress hahahaha Did you not see this hahahahahaha Even a newbie playing Knight Soul for the first time today is opening a Hidden Route, so why are you still playing over there?? haha

Space Stream. 

As video donations began bursting out all across the Personal Broadcast platform, Ju Seo-jin’s appearance began to be transmitted.

Because sending video donations made from short clips was allowed, people began sending Ju Seo-jin’s highlight videos mainly to streamers who played [Knight Soul].

Myangbangwool. 

There was not even a single mention of Ju Seo-yoon, who had originally been the owner of the stream. 

Only Ju Seo-jin stood at the center of the topic.

Beyond the first-encounter killer of Trinex, he had even gained the title of the first opener of a Hidden Route. 

At this point, the stories about Ju Seo-jin did not end as temporary interest.

No, rather─── it was the opposite.

DING-

[Seven Net]

*Post Title: wtf?????? Who is this guy? Where is this streamer broadcasting from?

━How did this crazy guy get in via a hidden route??? WHAT HAPPENED????????????????

...Before anyone knew it, stories about Ju Seo-jin had even begun appearing on overseas sites, and a massive storm was about to rise.