CH 231

Loyna was loved by most men in the world, and she was even popular with the women, thanks to her cool and chic personality. There were hardly anyone who disliked her, and some even went so far as to hail her as a girl’s crush. That was why everyone fell in despair as they watched her imminent death.

However, the Frying Pan Killer suddenly appeared! The sword that he held suddenly burst out with a bright light.

[It…it’s the Saint’s Sword!]

[The player that pulled out the Saint’s Sword in the Athenae Temple must have been Player Minhyuk!]

The media and the people all over the world were agitated. However, just in time, the world’s rankers began to speak one by one.

[The Frying Pan Killer made a grand entrance. Unfortunately, there’s a high chance that the Frying Pan Killer will not be able to protect Loyna.]

[Carn just defeated the Commander of the Paladins, Corr, earlier with only a few moves.]

[So what if he is the Frying Pan Killer, there are only a handful of players who can defeat the Paladin Corr.]

[What’s worse is that Paladin Corr told everyone that no one can use skills related to Holy Power inside the barrier.]

That was just how people are. Once they were overcome with jealousy and envy, they would try to deny everything in front of them as they watched. Especially the rankers, did they even think that Minhyuk would be someone awesome? No, hence, they spat those words out, almost as if they looked forward to his mistakes and downfall, and wanted to laugh at his expense.

However, at that time, one man asked…

[But… what if he wins?]

[Well then, we’ll have to rethink our views of the Frying Pan Killer.]

Everyone was in the midst of denial.

Meanwhile, Minhyuk was conflicted for a split second. His Pandora’s Helmet had the God’s Targeted Praise, which could double the Holy Power of his target. His choice was between Loyna and Corr.

Loyna had no combat abilities, but she had tremendous buffs and healing abilities. On the other hand, Paladin Corr was a powerful man. Even though he had been knocked down by Carn, he was someone who could never be ignored anywhere else. It was just a split second of conflict, but his decision was also made quickly.

“God’s Targeted Praise!” 

[Is he trying to use skills? I think it’s a Holy Power related skill.]

[They clearly can’t use any Holy Power related skill…]

Flash!

However, something surprising happened. A bright light surrounded Corr’s body, breaking everyone’s expectations. Corr felt a great amount of Holy Power seeping into his body. He knew that his Holy Power was becoming more powerful than usual. Unfortunately, no matter how strong his Holy Power was, he still fell to the ground, gasping.

“…How were you able to use Holy Power in this area?” Carn questioned him as his brows furrowed in thought.

Carn could feel the tremendous amount of Holy Power dwelling inside the man’s body. The Saint’s Sword was also in the man’s hands. He thought, ‘So, he was the man that pulled out the Saint’s Sword?’

However, Carn, a person originally named as one of the Pinnacle Strong Men, was strengthened and reinforced by Verus. He chuckled darkly, confident that he would be able to stop whatever attack came his way, thanks to the increase in his demonic energy. Even his sword’s attack and defense had increased along with it. Carn was sure that Paladin Corr would not be able to survive after a few hits from his sword.

In addition, he had also received other things from Verus. It was none other than the ‘Verus’ Frightening Musical Instruments’. Just like Gorac, one of the three great demons, who had created a variety of disaster artifacts, Verus had also created his own artifacts.

Without any hesitation, Carn took out the first artifact. It was a violin. The power of the violin prevented Corr from ever making contact with Carn’s body. Not long after, Carn played the violin. Along with the terrible melody that could scratch and make everyone’s ears bleed, a pile of sword lights poured down from the violin. It was at that moment when the notifications rang.

[You have listened to the Violin of Slowness.]

[Your AGI will be reduced by 30%.]

[You have an invincible body that can ignore and resist all abnormal states.]

[You have resisted an abnormal state.]

“Like the Wind.” 

Like the Wind was a skill that could allow Minhyuk to move three meters at once, or a distance of one meter thrice. Minhyuk quickly used Rampant Sword, as sword lights ran amok and clashed against his opponent.

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!

“Hooooo…” 

Carn grinned darkly. It seemed like this man was much more powerful than what he had initially thought. Paladin Corr was devastated by his blows because he could not use any of his Holy Power-related skills. However, this man was different.

‘Then, what about this?’ 

He switched out the Violin of Slowness with a kayageum[1]. Carn sat in front of the kayageum, as he began to pluck at its strings and play.

Ting—

At that moment…

Boom!

…an explosion happened right in front of Minhyuk. Carn had no intention to stop so he continued to play as explosions happened one after another.

Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!

Every time he plucked the strings of the kayageum, a fierce explosion would occur, followed by a black demonic energy rising above the site of the explosion.

“It’s over.”

“…What the hell. Is it over already?”

“It turns out that the Frying Pan Killer is not that big of a deal…”

“Loyna…!”

The players all fell in despair. However, Minhyuk suddenly popped out of the black demonic energy.

Dash!

Then, he started running.

“Wh…what the hell!” Carn shouted, his beady eyes widening in shock.

There was not a single scratch on Minhyuk’s body. No, to be exact, there was a baby piggy that appeared on his shoulder. It was because Absolute Defense, the skill attached to Hepas’ Silver Pot Lid, was triggered.

Dash—

Carn played the kayageum again and sent attacks to the approaching Minhyuk.

Boom, boom, boom!

However, Minhyuk used Like the Wind to evade all of the explosions.

‘Then, let’s aim for a big shot.’

Black demonic energy began to condense in the kayageum. As soon as a huge amount of demonic energy was collected in the kayageum…

Boooooooooom!

…a series of explosions happened within a five-meter radius, raining down upon Minhyuk’s figure.

‘This time, for sure…’

It should definitely be over. After all, Carn had used a considerable amount of his MP just for that single attack. However, a voice came through the smoke.

“Blooming Sword.”

“…!”

Carn keenly felt a strong sense of danger as the ground shook wildly. He rapidly minimized the kayageum until it became small enough to be held in one of his hands, and turned into a different instrument. It was none other than a pair of castanets.

Tak, tak!

As soon as the castanets clacked together, black demonic energy wrapped around his body. Clacking the castanets together would double Carn’s defenses temporarily. It was because of this that he believed that Minhyuk’s attacks and swords sticking out of the ground would not deal much damage to him. He believed that those puny swords would not be able to pierce his skin at all. Alas, at that moment…

Stab, stab, stab, stab, stab, stab, stab—

…the sword blades that rose from the ground stabbed and penetrated all over his body. 

“Keuaaaaaaack!” Carn shrieked in disbelief.

‘How?’

Carn was unaware of this, but Minhyuk’s Saint’s Sword had the same effect as the Intangible Sword against beings with demonic energy and would always have a 60% chance of ignoring their defenses. Even his attack and defense against the undead and the demonic beings had doubled, thanks to his Holy Power.

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!

Then, powerful explosions appeared one after the other. The swords that penetrated through Carrn’s body blasted one by one. However, it did not end there, Minhyuk still used his Splitting Sword, as two red, fiery sword lights flew out in a cross.

Slash—

Slash—

Suddenly, the sound of something being cut down was heard. 

“Hmph! You’re messing with me, huh?!” Minhyuk said, as he wiped his nose with his thumb, just like what Bruce Lee did before he started his fights.

“…Is…is it a one shot kill?” 

“Is…is it over?” 

“He’s a Pinnacle Strong Man, right?” 

The players outside of the barrier were all astounded. They saw him fire the Splitting Sword but they did not expect that Carn, who knocked down the Paladin Corr, would easily collapse with that attack.

[…]

[…]

[…]

The talkative rankers all over the world that had been boasting about their predictions earlier, all fell silent.

[Rankers, why aren’t you saying something? Ah. Oh dear~ Where was the one that said that go was played with two people!!!]

[Pfft. Snort… Keuhahahaha. Keuheop…! Keuhehehehehe! Kehuhuhuhuheop! Lol, lol, lol, lol! Kyahahahaha! Kikikikikiki! Keuheuk. Ah sorry. I shouldn’t laugh… Pfft!! Keuhahahahahaha! Keuhehehehehehe!]

The regular players began to clap back at the arrogant rankers from before, who were all left speechless.

Meanwhile, Minhyuk approached Corr hurriedly. The barrier had not gone away yet. Minhyuk analyzed the current situation. He could tell that things were not yet over, so before things went south once again, he needed to save Corr, who was on the brink of death.

Although Minhyuk was doing this because he desperately wanted to eat the rice cake dumpling soup, he also moved because Loyna and Corr were important people to him. After all, Corr was one of the faithful ‘fanatics’ that worshiped him?

“M…Minhyuk…” 

“I’ll treat you.” 

“M…Minhyuk will…?” 

What Minhyuk took out to treat Corr was none other than his bandages.

“Y…you’re going to treat a serious injury with just those bandages?”

[Huh. T…to be honest, that doesn’t help at all, right?!!]

[Healing such an injury with just that bandage thing, what an idiot!!]

The rankers that ate some big shit earlier were starting to squeeze back in again. At that moment…

“Bandage!”

[The bandage has been wrapped perfectly.]

[You have received an additional 5% injury recovery.]

[The recovery time has become extremely fast.] 

“Bandage!”

[The bandage has been wrapped perfectly.]

[You have received an additional 5% injury recovery.]

[The recovery time has become extremely fast.] 

Minhyuk began to wrap bandages all over Corr’s body. The red blood that was seeping out of Corr’s wounds had stopped immediately. Most of Corr’s injuries were caused by plenty of slashes and cuts, but those cuts had begun to heal at a speed that was visible to the naked eye!

[…I…isn’t this a bug or something?]

[Th…this is a bug!]

[Rankers, will you shut up?]

[…]

[…]

As for Corr, who was personally involved and directly experienced Minhyuk’s bandaging skills, he felt even more absurd. He thought, ‘What kind of ability is this? It’s comparable to the Athenae Priests’ recovery skill…’

Was Minhyuk going to heal him with bandages alone?

“Can you move?”

“Yes,” Corr answered as he stood up. He could feel some pain here and there, but otherwise, he was well enough to fight. However, at that moment…

[Carn’s attack and defense has increased by 1.6 times.]

[Carn’s demonic energy has been amplified by 1.5 times.]

[Demon Worshipper Carn has turned into a Demonic Human.]

Carn’s body reappeared as the thick cloud of dust waned,but he looked vastly different from earlier. His skin was darkened and there were two curved horns on his head. He had literally become a demonic human.

“F*ck...” 

“Corr, what do you mean by f*ck? As a Paladin you should have said ‘Oh, I’m in big trouble!’.” 

For a moment, Corr forgot his position, and he uttered words that he usually would not say. This was all because of the terrifying pressure that was coming from Carn.

“That’s right. Ah! We’re in big trouble!” Corr recited in a monotonous voice, a solemn expression on his face.

The 1.6x increase in both attack and defense was an enormous addition to anyone’s strength. In other words, Carn had become even stronger, and now seemed undefeatable.

“…But, there’s a way.”

“A way? What is it?”

“Ah, but I don’t like this way. And Corr can’t possibly do that.”

“…Yes?” Corr asked in confusion. Minhyuk just shook his head hard, as if he did not like the method at all. 

However, Corr still urged him to tell him. He said, “What is your way? It’s better than just uselessly dying here.”

“But… I’d rather be forced to log out…” Minhyuk said, only hesitating at the thought of not being able to eat rice cake dumpling soup once Loyna died after he logged out.

In the end, Minhyuk relented and said, “Do you know about the ‘Saint’s Protection’ in the Saint’s Sword? If I designate my party member or guild member as a target, then their physical attack and defense, as well as magical attack and defense will increase by 20% of their Holy Power stat. But…”

“…”

Corr knew what that meant. NPCs could not be party members or guild members, so there was only one way for that to be possible.

“I should be a vassal for it to work, right?”

“Yes. I told you it’s not possible, right? Ahaha. Actually, I think it’s better that we don’t do it either. Never! Never! I’d rather we not do it at all!”

Corr turned to look back at Loyna. He could see Loyna nodding at him. The Paladin Corr was completely obedient to Loyna’s orders. Seeing her nod, he said, “Then, I will become your vassal.”

From today on, Corr could easily spit out ♥s every day.

[Corr vows his eternal loyalty to you.]

Minhyuk’s expression suddenly became twisted.

1. (가야금) a traditional KR plucked zither with 12 strings. It can have 18, 21 or 25 strings. Most well-known traditional KR instrument. ☜