He had judged that the Pyramid, Light Tower, and the Goddess Statue were sculptures made as a hobby!
“Ohh, isn't that amazing?”
“Sculpting was a side job? Yikes! I was completely in awe after seeing a sculpture made by him.”
Bardray's teammates all said a few words each.
“Come to think of it, if it's Weed, we could even call him our junior.”
“Ah, in the Continent of Magic?”
“Since he became the best about 6 months after we left, y'know.”
“We were once the best in the Continent of Magic. And for quite a long time, too.”
The Elite Guard conversed gladly. They had known each other since the Continent of Magic. They had been noble lords ruling over famous castles in the Continent of Magic! Bardray had also been the best lord in the Continent of Magic.
“I do miss those times.”
“Well. I don't really wanna go back; I don't want to lose the merit of this Versailles Continent's clear air and being able to fight while directly moving your body.”
“I don't want to go back either, but… they were still really fun times.”
The castle lords who gone through thick and thin with small wars and dispute heard of the creation of Royal Road and gathered in one spot. The popularity of Continent of Magic had passed its peak and was obviously in decline. As rulers of one region, they felt that very distinctly. An enormous amount of items and gold actually funneled to the castle lords. They earned sums that normal employees wouldn't even be able to imagine. Most of the lords were Dark Gamers who were raising their profits while maintaining their organization. They came to a conclusion through a meeting.
They would move to Royal Road.
The lords took their forces directly into Royal Road. That was the inside story of the birth of Hermes Guild.
“Weed became extremely famous after we left.”
“He conquered quests and dungeons that even we gave up on, right? You don't know how surprised I was after hearing the news that he'd even gotten through Ivan Porte Island's labyrinth.”
“He's a truly incredible player. Though of course, if Bardray had stayed in the Continent of Magic, he wouldn't have given up his spot so easily.”
Bardray only smiled as he listened to the conversation of the Elite Guard.
The system of command that accompanied Hermes Guild's pecking order was strict, but it didn't apply to the Elite Guard. Bardray and the former castle lords, the Elite Guard, were the founding members of the Hermes Guild. Through their agreement, they decided that the very strongest among them would be the leader and govern the others. Their law was that if someone among the Elite Guard became stronger than Bardray at any time, they would then become the leader.
As such, the leader of Hermes Guild had changed a few times in the early stages of Royal Road. For both Bardray and the Elite Guard, it became an opportunity to become stronger faster through well-intentioned competition. Of course, there were also castle lords who completely fell behind during the competition. In Royal Road, you must directly move your body and possess very fast judgement and keen senses. The lords who became stragglers maintained the influence of the guild through deputies.
Hermes Guild was the best guild that originated from the Continent of Magic. They were also acquiring information about Weed through various pathways.
“The Continent of Magic and Weed…”
Bardray's face became lost in thought. Such an expression could not be found on him often.
“Steer.”
“Yes, Leader-nim.”
“Continue keeping an eye on the North.”
“Understood.”
“But there is no need to make it a bigger deal than necessary.”
“That means—?” Steer's head jerked up.
Hermes Guild normally gruesomely crushed any opponents who showed even a little speck of defiance. They dispatched assassins to either kill or bribe the key people. They also didn't hesitate to commit cruel acts, like sending out the battle forces and setting a village or castle on fire.
“There's no need. Even before we step forward, he'll be caught and eaten by hyenas seeking prey first.”
Surtr thought for a moment and nodded. “You're right, Leader-nim. The Resurrection Army led by Daymond will also go North soon.”
The Resurrection Army's force was greatly weakened. They weren't able to take Odin Fortress in the end and decided to retreat; their territory in the Central Continent was rapidly shrinking. The Resurrection Army wasn't able to hold out in the Central Continent any longer. There was no strong kingdom in the North yet, so they were were withdrawing to aim for there instead. They also had a hostile relationship with Weed, because through the quest of the Matallost Church, it was he who achieved the great service that stopped the Resurrection Army.
Bardray said, “Weed is indeed famous. However, once he suffers a defeat, his fame will disappear as quickly as it came. Ruin takes but a moment.”
The increase in skill and level through hunting, as well as power expansion! Bardray thought of those as the only things that should be shown in quests and broadcast appearances. That was because a high level and power made other players fearful and submissive to his commands.
After finishing the hunt with the Elite Guard, Bardray became deep in thought about the subject during his break time.
“The Continent of Magic, hm.”
He had left the Continent of Magic with the lords who were of the same mind as him. They had to make their characters and prepare in advance while acquiring information about Royal Road early on. However, sometimes he secretly logged into the Continent of Magic as a pastime. It wasn't hard, since his character was still right there.
The Continent of Magic was the game that he had dedicated his youth to. It was on the decline, but he was deeply fond of it, so he couldn't quit. Then he encountered rumors about Weed in the game, a rumor that he had ascended to the position of the strongest after Bardray left.
“The God of War Weed. That Weed is currently the best on the Continent of Magic.”
“Is he just having an easy time 'cause Bardray isn't logging in?”
“It's the opposite. We've got to see him as being way more outstanding than Bardray. Not only did he single-handledly catch a dragon that Bardray couldn't hunt, but he also explores dungeons alone.”
“You mean by himself without anyone's help?”
“It's something Bardray could never have done.”
Bardray's pride was wounded. He let it pass since he wasn't one to just believe a rumor, but it still felt nasty. And then, not long afterwards, he met Weed while hunting alone in a dungeon, like a joke of fate. When Bardray saw his equipment and name, he had a hunch that it was the Weed of the rumors.
In the Continent of Magic, speaking had to be done by typing on a keyboard.
“Are you We—”
Even before Bardray finished typing his question of whether he was Weed or not, his opponent activated an attack skill. Because it was Weed, who attacked ruthlessly if he met someone in a dungeon!
Bardray had to hastily use defensive skills and flee. He was barely able to escape with only about 300 Health left.
That was a day of shame that could absolutely never be washed away for Bardray, who had reigned as the strongest.
After fully recovering his Health and Mana and even cleaning his best equipment, Bardray challenged Weed again.
“I am Bardray. Weed, I shall cut your throat.”
He quickly inserted the speech he had typed up beforehand, but there was no reaction from his opponent. That was because he didn't know who Bardray was, nor did he even care.
Weed just activated an attack skill, as per usual.
In the fight that started in that manner, Bardray felt a wall he couldn't put into words. It felt like facing a fortress that was so tall and thick that the current him would never be able to defeat.