Chapter 176 : Notices

There is something called common sense in the world.

Values, understanding, discernment, judgment, etc. shared by members of society…….

In that sense, Yuliana could be seen as quite a sensible person.

She had made judgments by synthesizing facts she had personally seen, heard, or learned so far, and those judgments had never been significantly wrong until now.

Yes, until now.

‘Really…… He completely handled that scale of Demonic energy?’

Although it is said that Insight does not work properly against Vell Blackwood, what Insight can see through is not just the target itself.

The darkish energy lingering around Vell Blackwood.

Unlike other Demonic persons who are always swept away by the Demonic energy they possess, Vell Blackwood was completely controlling his power.

“Do I still look like a Demonic person?”

“How on earth……”

At this point, even Yuliana, who claimed to be a person of common sense, had no choice but to believe.

The fact that Vell Blackwood was really not a Demonic person.

No, beyond simply not being a Demonic person, the resistance against the Demonic that Vell Blackwood possessed was at an incomprehensible level.

“I told you I wasn’t.”

Vell Blackwood laughed lightly.

Vell Blackwood’s condition was neat enough that it was hard to believe he had fought a fierce battle just a little while ago.

Yuliana had no choice but to look at Vell Blackwood with a somewhat fed-up expression.

What kind of monster is that?

‘This isn’t something to just pass over.’

Yuliana felt her head getting complicated as she looked at Vell Blackwood.

The reason Bellerophon had been wary of Fragments until now was because of the inherent danger the Fragments harbored.

But what if there is a human who is not affected by the Demonic energy possessed by the Fragment?

Bellerophon’s policy would also inevitably change a lot.

“Before that, don’t we have something to talk about?”

At Vell Blackwood’s words breaking her train of thought, Yuliana lowered her head.

No matter if there was a justifiable reason, this incident was a huge mistake for Yuliana.

“……I am sorry, sincerely.”

“No. If things ended with just saying sorry in the world, why would there be police and why would there be judges?”

“……There wouldn’t be police or judges in this world.”

“There are many that play similar roles. Should we go to the Imperial Capital’s guard right now and ask them to discern right from wrong?”

“What kind of……”

Yuliana was dumbfounded because she didn’t expect Vell Blackwood to say something like this suddenly.

Guard, what guard?

In the first place, no matter if it was the Imperial Capital’s guard, there was no way they would have the authority to punish the Griffin Knight Commander.

If it were the other way around, maybe.

Of course, Vell Blackwood wouldn’t be saying these silly things without meaning.

“What is it that you want to say?”

“There should be compensation for damages.”

“……It seems rather that our side took the damage?”

As implied, Vell Blackwood didn’t have a single scratch, but the Griffin Knights, although no one died, didn’t have anyone who was unscathed either.

Vell Blackwood had really beaten the Griffin Knight members just enough so they wouldn’t die.

“I was in self-defense.”

“That…… is true.”

In a fight like this, the most important thing, no matter what anyone says, is justification.

Unfortunately, the justification now lay with Vell Blackwood who was attacked first, and regarding that part, Yuliana had nothing to say even if she had ten mouths.

“……What is it that you want?”

“Don’t you already know?”

There was no way Yuliana didn’t know what Vell Blackwood was talking about.

“What……! Now I really don’t have any! What you took is the last Fragment I had!”

“But Bellerophon isn’t.”

“That…… is true, but.”

“You don’t have to give it right now. Put it on the tab. Get some support from the head office later or something.”

“Head office……”

Hearing a term she hadn’t heard in such a long time, Yuliana couldn’t help but feel a strange emotion.

If one stays in a world like this for too long, sometimes even certain words are bound to be forgotten.

“Then, if our business is done, I’m thinking of going now.”

“W-Wait a moment!”

“Is there still something left to say?”

At that, the question Yuliana had to ask was set.

“You…… what on earth are you?”

That question contained many meanings in various ways.

What on earth is Vell Blackwood?

What is he that is possible to cause such nonsensical phenomena?

“Well. I am just me.”

Vell Blackwood’s answer to that was so simple that Yuliana even felt a bit let down somewhere.

“That’s not the kind of question I’m asking.”

“Then what is the question?”

“How is such a thing possible? How on earth…… Can a human endure Demonic energy?”

That was something that completely overturned Yuliana’s common sense.

Until now, no player who absorbed a Fragment beyond Level 6 authority had been safe.

Either die, or become a Demonic person.

Therefore, the stage where one can generally obtain Level 5 authority was considered the Maginot Line for not becoming a Demonic person, but Vell Blackwood absorbed the Fragment’s Demonic energy so lightly as if mocking such common sense.

Vell Blackwood, the protagonist of such a miracle, laughed lightly.

“Because that is my right and responsibility.”

“Yes?”

“That is all.”

It was a completely incomprehensible statement, but Yuliana could tell that Vell Blackwood did not want to talk about it anymore.

“……I understand.”

“Ah, I hope you prepare the damage compensation money so it’s not too late.”

“I will keep it in mind.”

For a moment, she thought maybe that too was a characteristic of a Demonic person showing obsession over Fragments, but soon Yuliana shook her head.

She decided to acknowledge the fact that Vell Blackwood was an existence completely different from general players.

“You said you would stay in the Imperial Capital, right?”

“Yeah. Do I need to tell you the name of the inn I’m staying at separately?”

“You don’t need to do that, since as long as you are in the Imperial Capital, you cannot avoid the eyes of the Griffin Knights.”

“That is truly fortunate.”

“Then I will get going first.”

Yuliana felt that it was about time to return.

Anyway, there was nothing more to do by remaining here, and she felt that the work she had to do had increased significantly because of Vell Blackwood.

“Okay.”

When Yuliana sent a hand signal, the Griffin Knight members, who had been unable to hide their tension until just a moment ago, began to withdraw.

Yuliana also turned her steps, and not long after, Royer, who had been far away, ran over with busy steps.

“Commander, what on earth happened? Is it okay to just go back like this?”

“Yeah.”

“What is it, exactly?”

“Well. I don’t know what is what. But still, I guess we have to watch for now.”

“……What kind of nonsense is that?”

“Frustrating, isn’t it?”

“Huh?”

“That’s how I feel right now.”

Yuliana said that and moved her steps quickly.

Royer, who unintentionally became a target for venting, stared blankly at the back of Yuliana’s head and scratched his head vigorously.

“What is going on?”

Royer could not understand.

***

After Yuliana and the Griffin Knights left, I remained alone in the mountain.

Although there was a minor scuffle, as a result, I safely absorbed the Ascension Stone Fragment and was even able to receive appropriate damage compensation, so it wasn’t too bad for me either.

And above all, the data from the battle that took place this time was quite meaningful to me.

‘Control over Demonic energy has increased to a level incomparable to before. To be able to stand against the Griffin Knights despite not summoning firearms……’

My current level is Level 6.

On the other hand, the Griffin Knights are composed of members who are each Level 6 or higher, and in the case of the Commander, Yuliana, she is a powerhouse of a whopping Level 8.

Nevertheless, I had no great difficulty facing the Griffin Knights using only basic armament and Demonic energy without using the Weapon Summon trait.

It was because as I absorbed the Ascension Stone Fragment this time, the power of the Demonic energy itself and the control over the Demonic energy rose surprisingly.

‘As the Demonic energy gets stronger, the Spirit Magic I can use also increases.’

Demonic Spirit Lion has become an entity subordinate to me due to the contract with me.

Therefore, it was natural in a way that the more I became stronger, the more magic I could use.

‘Of course, I shouldn’t let my guard down just because I gained the upper hand in this fight.’

If a Level 8 player like Yuliana did not possess Demonic energy, the story would have been different.

The reason I can stand against a player who is 2 levels ahead of me is because of the absolute compatibility advantage created by the power of the Postponer of Ruin.

However, considering that even Yuliana, who belongs to Bellerophon, absorbed an Ascension Stone Fragment, it was not difficult to deduce the fact that players who absorbed Ascension Stone Fragments would be the majority compared to those who didn’t.

No matter how much Bellerophon says they are wary of the existence of Ascension Stone Fragments, it was true that many players were craving Ascension Stone Fragments anyway.

‘Reviewing the battle can be done later…… for now, I should check what needs to be checked.’

What I gained by absorbing the Ascension Stone Fragment this time could be seen as largely three things.

The first is the Level 6 Bulletin Board authority.

The second is the strengthened Demonic energy.

The third is the newly added weapon and Weapon Mastery ability.

From now on, I intend to examine them one by one.

‘First, it would be right to check the Notices.’

Since the finally revealed Level 6 Bulletin Board authority was unusual from its name alone, there was a need to check it in various ways.

[Accessing the Notices Bulletin Board.]

As soon as I entered the Notices Bulletin Board, a single post caught my eye first.

-Welcome to the World of Justice.

What should I say…….

The moment I saw that all too familiar phrase, I could feel the sentiment I felt a long time ago once again.

──────────────

Do you want a fair contract made of The Golden Rule? Welcome to the World of Justice.

In the World of Justice, you can obtain everything you wish to obtain.

However, provided there is a fitting price.

I wish for your fair luck.

Though some luck will be especially fairer to someone.

──────────────

The content of the post was not largely different from the content of the notice I saw on the World of Justice in-game bulletin board a long time ago.

Did I expect too much?

Or does that content itself hold some meaning?

Naturally, I could not know.

‘……I haven’t checked everything yet.’

I soon moved my gaze to another post on the Notices Bulletin Board.

-The time of choice has approached.

That post had been updated relatively recently.

Yes, I mean that day when the Supreme King opened the sky.

Since it seemed I had heard words similar to that quite often recently, I immediately opened that post.

──────────────

The time of choice has approached.

Now choose.

Will you open the door, or will you close it?

Now decide.

Will you return to where you came from, paying whatever sacrifice?

Will you remain here lonely?

Please, I hope you make a choice without regrets.

Whatever choice that may be.

──────────────

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