Finally, it was the day to conquer Todeum.
Mapan was anxiously waiting for the timing.
“No matter what, the quest needs to be successful.”
Since the Merchant would not participate in combat, he was very desperate.
He brought a wagon full of goods from Versailles continent on this quest!
If they fail to conquer Todeum, then the investment would come to naught.
Until now, while hunting, he bought loots to refill his pocket, but that was pale in comparison to the good he traded and planned to sell.
“I can’t believe that last town didn’t take tax.”
On Versailles continent, at every town, he had to pay a toll and taxes on the trades.
Even at Morata, he had to pay income tax and various taxes placed with each of his earning.
Furthermore, larger metropolitan area had addition taxes.
Among them was the village of the Orcs, where the growth of the society was based around taxes.
But the Vampire was a race exempt from taxation.
Mapan trembled with excitement.
“No matter how much of a profit I’ll make, there’s no tax on them.”
Even in Economic class, the most interesting subject to him was the laws of taxation.
For instance, here’s an interview for a company based around knowledge.
Nowadays, many people have several skills.
“A Master in English.”
It is rare to find people without 1~2 foreign languages.
“An excellent computer literate.”
Knowledge in computers at the modest should be around those of a middle schooler.
Have to have corporate internship, volunteering activities, winning awards in competitions, or strength are crucial for the interviewee.
“What do you think is the most crucial?”
When asked by the interviewer on what is the most crucial aspect of an employee that stands above all of this!
“Tax evasion. Need to be an expert on tax evasion!”
“HA?!”
“Up until now, I’ve successfully never having to pay my tax once.”
This was indeed the best talent for any company!
***
Hwaryeong pulled out the red dress to wear.
Along with the exposure of her body, there were luxurious jewels dangling from the gown.
She turned about with her body and nodded.
“With this, it’s not bad.”
Saying ‘it’s not bad’ wasn’t enough. It was a powerful magic to seduce men!
No men could have enough will power to pry their eyes from that.
“Laa. Lalalaa.”
Hwaryeong hummed and danced along to her own tunes.
She was dancing her seductive dance under the moonlight.
The mysterious and alluring spectacle of expressing herself was a good view to behold, for there was a simple reason behind her dancing.
“I’ve enjoyed being with Weed nim in a large-scale battle before. This time as well!”
It was for Weed that she danced in the moonlight.
A slight habit of hers before any large battle.
It was something that can easily wipe out the bad atmosphere.
***
In the middle of the night, the three moons rose over Todeum, Weed went on one of the small hills.
“Finally, it’s time for the showdown.”
He had on the light absorbing Talroke’s black armor, the Noble Grace black helmet, Vampire’s cape and black boots.
Dark Knight.
The complete knight outfit.
Weed raised one of his legs and placed it on a rock, gripped his fist as he set his elbow on his thigh, and gazed down the hill.
Overlooking the Kingdom of Vampires, Todeum.
The appearance of dozens of old castles connected to one another was a very quaint spectacle.
As dawn approaches, the three moons: Pallun, Gorun, and Seirun were descending below the horizon.
In fact, since the sun did not appear, Todeum’s night and day had no distinction from one another.
At certain times where the three moons reached their peaks, it then plainly resembled that of day.
Since then, the morning began.
The light of Seirun shone on the hill Weed placed himself.
Hwiyiing!
And the wind blew exquisitely.
This was the moment Weed waited for!
In this great scene with such fine atmosphere, while the wind softly flow its path.
‘I gotta quickly take advantage of this moment.’
Weed, in his most elegant way, splendidly took off his helmet.
“Huu.”
Weed formed a light smile.
His hair caressed by the wind, while the cape flapped to its will.
With the guaranteed of a tough battle ahead; he mimicked the elegance of a champion: alone in solitude, and enjoyment!
‘Gotta relish this!’
He held this form for a long time while still gazing down the hill. Then suddenly, he drew his sword with his right hand.
The Cold Lott Sword.
Within it contained the spirit of ice, a sword of ice.
With this in hand, his damage output could be very high incorporated along with Weed’s level; the blade shone sharply from the daily grind.
‘This isn’t all.’
On Weed’s left hand was the Ancient Shield.
A shield forged by the best blacksmiths of the Dwarves.
A shield made from mithril and bones of unknown monsters.
The original beautiful patterns carved were unrecognizable due to the effect of time.
The lackluster shield was impossible to repair.
Nevertheless, it was a high class Unique item.
In order to fully utilize the shield, he needed to increase his stats and level to take advantage of it; but thanks to his Intermediate Blacksmith skill that he was able to use it.
Also, he also had on one the treasure of Nippleheim Empire, Baharan’s Bracelet. (when I sounded this out, it sounded like Val Hallen, the Viking God of Rock in Dexter’s laboratory. But keeping baharan for consistency for my fail last vol.)
But because it was a valuable item and he wanted to pamper it, along with the fact that his arm gotten cold, he removed it.
The added glamour of the finely crafted jewels on the bracelet didn’t fit his overall image.
“This is for the best.”
Weed with one sword in a hand while a shield in the other, stood as the wind reintroduced itself to him.
He deliberately didn’t wear the white gloves because it didn’t match this particular image.
He wanted to keep up the charismatic image and went barehanded!
Weed opened his mouth.
The created armor
The timeless armor
In the sun and the moon
Through the wind and the rain
Let’s make an imperishable armor
Through the beatings
Rumbling bang bang bang
Appearing for just a moment
Only to be sold expensively
Up to where can this go?
Three gold?
No, no, no…
Now much will it cost…
Must be at least seven gold
In this trade, it only comes to a deficit of I go along with the first customer
He slipped away from the three moons as morning emerges.
Weed descended from the hill to where his party members gathered.
Their eyes were bloodshot red; it seemed as if they lack the necessary amount of rest.
Weed asked curiously.
“Did something happen?”
“N…no. It’s not a big deal.”
Hwaryeong shook her head, but she really did have a nightmare at dawn.
Pale, Maylon, and Irene all connected earlier than the promised time due to the building tension.
Since before dawn, some gathered their thoughts, while the others were warming up to get into forms.
Then in the midst of their growing optimism, Weed sang!
‘Worse tone deaf ever!’
‘What kind of lyrics are those?’
Weed’s singing was like a splinter stabbing at their minds.
But that wasn’t even the end of it.
He sang four songs in total!
They vaguely remembered the lyrics of the first two.
Shortly after that, they were in stupor, and could not recall anything afterward.
I’m going to make the cape in the wind
Flapping like a flag flapping
I can sleep at night with this covering me
Should never wash it after usage
Because when you try to use to avoid enemies
Sniff sniff
They will smell
The strange odor of the cape
“But…that really did happen to me.”
“……”
At the end of that, the party firmly kept their mouth shut.
Since, it was almost time to barge into Todeum, they didn’t see the point of increase the already existing pressure with such triviality.
Then the Geomchis connected one after another.
Most of them connected simultaneously because it was reaching the appointed time.
“You’ve come, Master, Sahyeongs.”
“Yes.”
Geomchi took a relaxed stroll and greeted the members.
Pale and Mapan eyes widened.
‘It’s just Geomchi nim, the others will be filled with tension.’
‘Maybe he’s a little uncommon, but the others will beg to differ just a bit.’
As usual, Geomchi2 retained his trustworthy countenance; Geomchi3 and Geomchi4 were seemed somewhat excited.
“This will be on TV?”
“That’ll make it a bit harder to fight.”
“We’ll just show them our usual things.”
“Also, find good angles too.”
The broadcast of ‘Weed’!
The show’s ratings started low, but having it as a regular program on KMC Media was a very encouraging fact.
The Geomchis were enjoying the situation.
However, Zephyr looked around Weed with a relatively flustered face.
“By the way, Weed nim, I don’t see Yurin nim.”
Everybody else came, only Yurin was the sole absentee. So the question was thrown.
Weed knowingly nodded unconcern.
“Yurin won’t come.”
“Hm?”
“She’s spending a nice time at home today.”
“……”
The party’s anxiety jumped.
‘So you hid your sister from this!’
‘If it’s the usual Weed nim then he wouldn’t have done this.’
In fact, their thoughts weren’t misunderstandings.
Weed expected that this battle will actually be very hard.
‘Assembled here are those why survived.’
Weed thought.
When they first arrived to the Land of the Vampires, the Geomchis alone was at 505 people.
Together with their companions such as Weed and Pale, totaled to 516 personnel.
But throughout each of the numerous battles, their group declined by almost a third.
The Geomchis without considering their companions, dropped to 353.
And the other colleague’s safety could not be guaranteed.
Since Seechwi and Mapan lacked the attacking power in the first place, they would face all kinds of risks.
With the imminent battle in mind, the silence crept on since nobody was talking.
“Please trust me. I’ll see to it many of us will come out alive.”
Facing Weed’s grim determination, Maylon and Se