Level 4 Human in a Ruined World

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 723: The Great Path (1)

Let everyone know your name...

Yeongwoo stared blankly at the transcendent characters floating in the air before scratching his cheek.

“What's that supposed to mean? That I should beat up everyone I run into?”

The Harmonizer answered briefly.

≡ If that is your path, then it could certainly be one way.

“Ohh.”

So it meant exactly what it said.

Take Dogo of the Hundred Thousand Sword Mountain, for example.

Everyone knew his name.

And the reason everyone knew it was because of Chairman Dogo's distinctive resolve and countless achievements.

In particular, the fact that he never avoided a fight and had still remained among the strong until now must have made his name even more famous.

On the other hand, King Teroph of Shelbir and Poachi, the Sword That Saves Lives, were both practitioners of virtuous deeds, yet their fame had spread far and wide.

So violence wasn't necessarily required to make everyone know your name.

“So it means I need to have my own uniqueness, and make those who still don't know me learn who I am. Whether that's by beating them up or some other way.”

When Yeongwoo muttered that, this time 'Evil' explained.

≡ Your name has risen to the very first line of the register, so those who walk the Great Path will see your name.

“Right. I was wondering what that meant.”

≡ They will know only your name and your location, but not your significance. So when you meet them, show them clearly who you are.

“Wait, does that mean the others will see my name on the register and come looking for me? Where is this register anyway? Let me see it too.”

As Yeongwoo spoke and looked toward the blue space beyond the ceiling, the Harmonizer waved a hand and began wrapping things up.

≡ We've used more time than expected.

Swaaaat!

The blue light spread across the floor of the trading hall vanished all at once, and seeing that, Yeongwoo instinctively realized the Heralds of Great Achievement were clocking out.

“W-Wait! Where do I see this nameplate or register? If I'm at the very top of it right now, shouldn't I be able to see it too?”

At that, 'Good,' whose gaze met Yeongwoo's first, looked as though it was about to say something before turning its head away.

Whip.

“No way, that bastard?”

At the very least, 'Good' still refused to acknowledge Yeongwoo as someone worthy of walking the Great Path.

So 'Evil' answered in its place.

≡ Your name now stands at the highest point among the Ashen Nameplates. Therefore, you must prove yourself.

“Prove... myself?”

≡ Brave challengers will seek to defeat you. The fastest way to reach the end of the Great Path is to bring down the one standing at its end.

“So I'm the one standing at the end now... and that's why I can't see this nameplate or whatever? But everyone else can?”

≡ The strong do not look downward.

“Oh, come on, damn it. How do you even know I'm the strongest among Grade Fives? Maybe this whole mess happened because you scooped up ashes with both hands in the first place. So at least do something before you leave!”

As Yeongwoo shamelessly argued with 'Evil,' the Harmonizer looked up at the ceiling and spoke quietly.

≡ Prove your worth. And prove that our decision was not wrong.

Then it transformed into a single streak of blue light and was drawn into the interior of the Tombstone Ship, whose entrance had opened wide.

Swaaaaat!

“You're seriously just leaving like this?”

While Yeongwoo wore a dumbfounded expression, the other two Heralds, Good and Evil, likewise transformed into blue streaks of light and boarded the ship heading home.

“W-Wait! I was joking earlier! Tell me at least one more thing before you go!”

Yeongwoo dashed toward the Tombstone Ship as though chasing after the Chairman's vessel, but as if it were hurrying to escape, the ship's entrance rapidly shut.

Kuuung!

Then the hull of the Tombstone Ship began rising into the blue subspace.

“No...!”

Growing desperate, Yeongwoo reached out his arm, and Bastard, which had been embedded in the floor, flew into his hand.

As expected, once the Heralds left, the unarmed status had ended as well.

“Wait!”

The moment he confirmed it, Yeongwoo hurled Bastard straight at the Tombstone Ship, and the result was...

Swaeaaaaat!

“...Huh?”

Yeongwoo's eyes widened as he watched Bastard come within inches of the ship's surface, but he could only end up disappointed.

Piiiiing!

The instant Bastard entered the subspace in pursuit of the ship, it suddenly lost all momentum and plunged straight to the ground.

Meanwhile, the ship in question had already pulled its entire body into the subspace, and soon the enormous rift closed, erasing every trace of the Heralds without a hint.

Swaat!

-...Huh.

Yenta Varangkula, who had held his breath the entire time, finally exhaled, looking as though he had just woken from a dream.

And he wasn't the only one.

Even Eroom's thirteen personal guards still stared blankly at the ceiling, unable to bring themselves to grip their swords again, while Sevio had finally slumped to the floor as though he could at last breathe easy.

Only Yeongwoo, Eroom, and Mushio—the lifelong navigator who had served a Great One for countless years—remained perfectly composed after the incident.

-So, in the end, you truly shall walk the Great Path.

Mushio finally tore his gaze away from where the subspace had been and looked at Yeongwoo.

From his perspective, he had just found his rightful next master.

The Planetary Ship Lord before him was not yet one of the Great Ones, but he had just stepped onto the road leading there.

-I may be insignificant, but I shall aid you on your journey, my lord.

“You're still overflowing with confidence.”

-At the very least, there is nothing lacking in my abilities. I will surely be of use.

“Well, true enough. No one could argue with your credentials.”

After nodding, Yeongwoo shifted his gaze toward Eroom Salzeo, who was lying on the ground.

“Hey. You're not dead yet, are you?”

-I became your sacrifice. My situation is worse than death.

“Then I suppose I can expect the rest of our deal to go smoothly.”

With that, Yeongwoo fastened the Slime Core onto Eroom's wrist before placing the Unique Sword, Unfair Trade, into his hand.

「Unfair Trade」 - Unique One-Handed Sword

【When it wounds an enemy, the wielder's recovery speed increases.】

-...?

After reading the sword's tooltip, Eroom looked bewildered.

Before he could even ask a question, Yeongwoo grabbed the sword in Eroom's hand and drove it into his own forearm.

Kwaaat!

-W-What, you insane bastard!

Startled, Eroom tried to let go of the sword, but instead Yeongwoo wrapped his hand around Eroom's, forcing him to keep holding it.

“Can't you read? You have to keep holding it for the recovery boost to work.”

-What exactly goes through your head every day?

“Making money. Beating up bastards like you. And thinking about the Chairman at all times.”

The Heralds of Great Achievement had definitely said that Grade Five nameplates were ashen.

Then what color were the Grade Three nameplates?

And where among them would the Chairman's nameplate be?

“Just stay still over there. I'll reattach your legs.”

Then Yeongwoo walked over and retrieved Eroom's severed lower body from the distance.

Watching this, Eroom looked utterly fed up.

-This is all for your own safety in the end, isn't it?

“My safety? Of course. Once this trade is over, you're going outside to fight the enraged Mechanical Inspector. But.”

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Yeongwoo slowly raised one finger.

Then he pressed Eroom's upper and lower body back together.

Puuuk!

“You've also become someone who bears Goodwill toward me now, haven't you? So naturally, I'm showing you goodwill too.”

-...One day, in the name of my family, I will repay this humiliation.

As Eroom Salzeo ground his teeth, Yeongwoo lightly patted him on the shoulder.

“Use your own name while you're at it. But you know, right? I have an Eroom voucher now. So whenever I call on you someday, you'll have to come help me.”

Since the thought had occurred to him, Yeongwoo extended his hand to seal the covenant.

“Let's make the voucher before you change your mind. As one human to another, I'll only ask for a one-time voucher. Honestly, I think I'll be stronger than you in just a few days anyway.”

As Yeongwoo crooked his fingers with a wicked grin, Eroom soon opened his palm and formed the covenant.

-With this, this filthy transaction finally comes to an end.

“Ah, right. It only ends after you hand over the cash and the swords.”

At those words, Eroom Salzeo looked toward his younger brother standing in the distance.

-Do not forget that this is a transaction.

“Yeah, of course.”

As Yeongwoo looked behind him, Dots Salzeo immediately ran over as though he had been waiting for this moment.

-Brother...!

-Dots!

At last, the Salzeo brothers were reunited.

Although Eroom Salzeo was still lying on the ground, the merchandise itself had been delivered safely, and in response, Eroom's personal guards brought over a crate containing a full hundred blades.

“Excellent.”

Yeongwoo smiled in satisfaction at the massive pile of weapons.

-The cash is over here.

At last, Eroom Salzeo extended a hand glowing white.

The moment Yeongwoo grabbed it, 8.5 billion in cash was transferred immediately.

Eroom had been holding the payment all this time.

“What the... So the mountain of cash was already right in front of me.”

-Had you happened to cut off my head, you would never have recovered this money. I alone am connected to my vault.

“I never intended to kill you in the first place. After all, the real reason I came all the way here was to put an end to the kidnapping.”

Finally, after Yeongwoo received all one hundred and one swords, the Trade buttons floating above both sides disappeared.

No stone toss had taken place, but since both sides had exchanged their goods, the system judged the transaction complete.

「All transactions have been completed successfully.」

「An exit gate has been created in the center. Please have a safe trip.」

Along with the trading system's announcement, a portal really did appear in the center of the trading hall.

Right beside Yeongwoo and Eroom Salzeo.

-So this insane outing is finally over.

Seeing the exit gate, Eroom finally let out a relieved sigh.

Then Yeongwoo picked up his whip.

“What are you talking about? As soon as your body's healed, I'm sending you straight into the battlefield against Mohir. By the way, can you actually beat him?”

Eroom tilted his head.

-Mohir? You mean the Hunter?

“You even know his name...?”

-He has already defeated countless powerful opponents. He is probably among the leaders of the Great Path as well.

In other words, Mohir's name would be written somewhere near the top of the Fourth Register.

“So, can you beat him? You only need to be able to match him. I just need enough time to run away.”

As Yeongwoo rested a worried hand on his waist, Eroom looked down at his rapidly recovering lower body.

-If I were given enough time to recover, fighting him would be manageable... but I lack firepower.

“Firepower?”

-You took the family sword that had been entrusted to me.

“Oh, right. You don't even have a proper sword anymore, do you?”

-Then lend me my sword, if only for the duration of my clash with him. And...

“And...?”

-Your sword as well.

At those words, Yeongwoo instinctively moved Bastard farther away from Eroom.

“You bastard, aren't you planning to run off with my Myth-grade weapon while you've got the chance?”

Eroom let out an exasperated sigh.

-Not that sword.

“...Then?”

-Lend me your Legendary sword.

What Eroom pointed at was the Fragment of Great Achievement that Yeongwoo was holding in his arms.

The stone tablet forged from the ashes the Heralds had thrown.

“Huh? Why's this a sword?”

-It seems you haven't properly examined the stone tablet yet. You can use it to forge a single piece of equipment.

“What?”

-Your name now occupies the highest position on the Ashen Nameplate... so you should be able to grant it the greatest effect permitted to a Legendary-grade item. Therefore, forge a sword.

Then Eroom mimed gripping a sword and continued.

-Let me become the first to demonstrate your Legend.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

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