CLANG, CLANG, CLANG!
Fabio silently hammered the steel.
“An absolute weapon, nearly perfect armor; only with such works will a Blacksmith be able to stand at the center of the Versailles Continent.”
Since other Blacksmiths on the Versailles Continent were hard at work, even at this very moment, he could not rest.
On the extensive Versailles Continent, Fabio was a great figure who was restraining and concealing his true self.
The Crimson Mercenary Guild.
A guild proudly showing off its force on the Versailles Continent. Only Mercenaries over level 280 were permitted to join. They operated Mercenary guild branches in every kingdom, and the entirety of the wealthy Nemere Lakeside basin area was under their control. They were the rulers of a vast region, possessing 5 castles and 28 villages.
The Crimson Mercenary Guild was meeting in Haryun Castle, the closest castle to the Nemere Lakeside.
“It's Wargod Weed.”
“Guild master, shouldn't we subjugate him?
The Crimson Mercenary Guild's chief, Maren, nodded.
“There's plenty of reasons to subjugate Weed.”
The glory of fighting the Wargod Weed and winning!
For the Crimson Mercenary Guild, which sought dominance over the entire Versailles Continent, it was something to be desired.
However, there were some Mercenaries who opposed it while shaking their heads.
“Since the Continent of Magic, he is an idol-like figure for Mercenaries. It's too much for us, the representatives of Mercenaries, to subjugate him.”
“There needs to be a justification. If we attack him with no reason at all, how is it any different from thieves who steals from another?”
“How is a justification important? Think about the fame! It's a chance to gain the fame of having won a fight against the Wargod Weed.”
“Only time will tell if it'll become fame or dishonor.”
20 top ranking Mercenaries were arguing, without budging an inch from their opinions.
Maren, the Chief of the Mercenary guild, had been greedily considering subjugating Weed at first. But, after hearing the opposing viewpoints, he was a little hesitant.
There was glory in it. The title of being the player who had killed the Wargod Weed was very charismatic. On the other hand, they would earn the hostility of the players who revered Weed.
Even former Continent of Magic players didn't dislike Weed. His fame on Royal Road was reaching a peak among general players. As far as fame went, Weed had risen to the ranks of Bardray, whose Hermes Guild was officially the strongest. There was no knowing if striking Weed, who succeeded in impossible quests and was becoming an idol for players, would be profitable for their guild or not.
Naphgel, one of the top Mercenaries, said, “How in the world can you say that bringing out our whole guild and trampling Weed is a chance to gain fame? Is there anyone among us who is confident they can win a one on one fight against Weed?”
“…”
At that, the entire gathering fell silent. Even Maren couldn't say anything in response to that.
Weed had never publicized his level or skills before.
“It'll be tough if we assume he's a normal Sculptor. Who can fight like Weed in the Palrangka battle?”
“…”
No matter how you looked at it, his ability to swing his sword in a battle, with only a meager chance of success, was due to his mental fortitude. Regular players revered Weed because of his courage to throw down everything and take up the challenge.
“Just considering his fighting ability, there aren't many people here who are confident they can win against him. And his real profession may not be a Sculptor.”
“Naphgel, you mean…?”
“We can't be off-guard just because he's a Sculptor. With his use of Necromancer magic and the physical fighting prowess he's shown, there's really no telling what his profession is.”
Maren was also a ranker within the top 50 of all of Royal Road, but he didn't know his opponents' abilities at all. Considering the fighting ability Weed had shown when fighting the Bone Dragon and the quests he had completed, it was, honestly, daunting.
'We fight as a guild. But honestly… I have no confidence in being able to do a quest alone like that. And, apart from level, his battle sense is at least several times greater than mine.'
There wasn't much information known about Weed.
Being defeated in a one on one fight with many variables would be very damaging. If a ranker of Maren's level died, it would be extremely difficult to regain the lost level and proficiency. He could even be culled from the breathlessly tight competition between rankers. Moreover, a fight with Weed would definitely be put on broadcast, and videos would be posted as well. If he was defeated in such a fight, he had to bear the knowledge that he could also lose his fame.
The image was being drawn in Maren's head!
'He'd tear our guild members apart like tissue paper, and the Ice Dragon, Phoenix, Wyvern… and if he used that uber rare Necromancer magic too, it'd be a big pain in the ass.'
The might of Necromancer magic was publicly acknowledged. There were fierce complaints from the people who actually tried raising a Necromancer about how the class's Stamina was low and that they were hard to raise, but because of the terrifying sight Weed had shown in the broadcast, it was a profession many people aspired to be.
'A Necromancer's magic… his fighting ability is truly nothing short of being called a God of War.'
Weed, laughing brutally and slicing Maren's throat apart in the public eye…
“Ahem.”
Maren couldn't take action recklessly.
“I've no thought of losing, but it's a difficult issue, since we can't ignore the 'what if' either.”
“And, if we send an expedition all the way to the North, we could be giving the other guilds, who are waiting to pounce on us, a good opportunity.”
As powerful as the Crimson Mercenary Guild was, they had as many enemies. They were in a position where they couldn't send out their main force indefinitely.
“Are you saying our guild could be attacked while trying to catch Weed?”
“It's a definite possibility. Our territory will inevitably become vulnerable while our attack force is all the way in the North. From the viewpoint of other guilds, don't you think it's more reasonable to aim for our large, profitable territory than the fame of catching Weed?”
They had many Mercenary guild competitors, and there was no law preventing them from joining forces to attack.
It was an issue with all sorts of worries for the Crimson Mercenary Guild.
Weed was left with just a few things after he disposed of all the japtem. He planned to find owners for the Sophia's Greatspear, Large Crystal Gemstone, Jorudia's Signet, the diamonds, and Isuren's Magic Weapon elsewhere.
“It'll be good to sell off the Large Crystal Gemstone to nobles after I process it with sculpting and make it a large ornament… it wouldn't be bad to use it when I'm Light Sculpting, either. I'll have to sell the other items through the auction site or the Dark Gamer's Union.”
A dresser and dining table made with the large crystal! They would be hard to sell in the North, but they were luxury goods he could sell at extremely high prices in a Central Continent kingdom.
After selling the miscellaneous items, Weed walked along the streets of Morata with Yellowy.
The residents recognized him and greeted him first.
“Welcome, my Lord.”
“My Lord, they say you have successfully completed an impressive request once again… Please be sure to tell us the story later. My son says he wants to be just like you when he grows up.”
“Count of Morata, I am a Merchant from Rintle Kingdom. It is an honor to meet such a famous man.”
Because of the enormous Fame he had accumulated in the River of Lamentations, even NPCs from the Central Continent responded to him warmly.
“The apples have ripened beautifully in our front-yard. We've saved the most delicious apples for you, my Lord, so please be sure to try them.”
A woman handed him apples by the basketful! It was a fruit basket she had taken out to sell to the market, but when she saw the Lord, she had given it to him on the spot.
Weed received the fruit basket and took a big bite out of a ripe, red apple.
“Yellowy, you eat one too.”
He threw Yellowy a worm-eaten apple. The bull stuck out his tongue to lick it, then opened his mouth wide and crunched into it.
Weed solemnly proceeded to give it a lesson.
“Yellowy, the way people are, they help each other when times are tough. Don't you think things like these are all because of our daily actions?”
Yellowy didn't believe him at all, but he just nodded; he was busy eating the apples in the basket.
Morata had become very different from the last time he had come. Mystical figures were sculpted on the sturdy bridge on the crossway to the Lord's castle. Sculptors, Artists, and Painters had come to Morata and were enriching the city.
“We're building a shopping district!”
“I'm a Painter, please take me with you.”
“A Sculptor is participating, leave the ceiling to me!”
When a construction quest appeared, all the artists joined in to construct a beautiful building.
With its crystal clear river and lake, Morata's attractions continued to increase.
There was even a sizeable ornament hanging from Morata's spire, visible from the square.
Adventurer Spenson's hair ornament of Ankia!