Level 0 Master

"I know it is hard to believe… but His Majesty was… a caring father in his way."

He was not a caring king towards his people, but he was also not a tyrant. He simply held many suspicions and, after injuring his head due to a rebellion, began going mad. Despite this, he had always cared about his children.

"I see."

Sungjin finally understood and nodded.

According to the information he received, there were times when Eustasia's advice towards Seyzo II teetered on the edge. If it were any other servant, it would have crossed an irrevocable line.

But strangely, the king was benevolent towards Eustasia. He accepted her requests. She was, after all, his only child left.

However, according to history, royal families often showed unstable relationships between parent and child.

In the end, Seyzo II, the mad king, had been a human who was gentle towards his own daughter. Despite the risks, he had raised his child. Sungjin thought that perhaps the king saw a part of himself in the girl born out of wedlock; the mad king had been human once before. However, now he had tried to kill her too.

"I acknowledge your valid reason."

She lowered her gaze.

A warrior had to use their sword in righteousness. Protecting the mad king, even after revealing he was her father, did not give her a proper argument.

"I will not resent you for killing my father."

"But…"

"Still…I cannot participate in that fight." Her voice started to waver.

She was not ignorant as to what was right and wrong, but with a dilemma she could not resolve, her confidence shrank.

"Okay. I will not talk further about this issue."

Sungjin resolutely closed the conversation.

"Won't you blame me for not being able to keep my emotions separate from war?"

"Even if it may be for the greater purpose, it's not my practice to pit a child against their parents." He grinned.

He did not bring out any Socratic reasons or ethical arguments. He simply closed the conversation with a word of his practice.

It seems like I really can't do anything about this.

Even if she was a rule-abiding warrior who found great importance in loyalty in a world where such actions were praised, beneath that was a heart for the country, therefore, a heart for the people that composed the country. He had predicted she would be with him in the last battle.

But his predictions were out of line.

Against Seyzo II, he had no choice but to fight with just himself and his teammates.

"I'm sorry I brought forth this situation that prevents you from going further."

She respectfully grasped the edges of her skirt and lowered her head.

It could be…that my situation…

She had argued it was for the best, but perhaps it was arrogance; maybe she just wanted to correct her father and the country in the name of justice. She had lost her confidence.

"Don't apologize. It's only the conditions and team members that have changed. Just because your emotions were entangled does not mean you have spoken falsely."

Sungjin did not ask anything further. He simply reassured her.

"You think so?"

"There's more than one justice in the world, and if it's about personal emotions…"

Sungjin pointed towards himself with his thumb.

"Mine is greater."

His motivations were truly the thirst for victory and conquering after all.

Eustasia had no choice but to smile. She could not walk the same path as this man. She could not serve under a man who had killed her father. She would not hate him but would relocate to a place where his power did not reach in the plains.

"But…"

"I'll tell you...one thing."

"What is it?"

"The power that my father has grasped is evil but strong. You can feel the difference almost immediately. He possesses a cheat item; it allows the wearer to have strength outside of his level's domain.

"It's different from the devil sword of the Blood Ruler. That was a complete conquering weapon within the rules of the Devil's attribute. But this is an abnormal power that is forbidden."

"Don't worry. I've already faced it once before during the Blood Ruler's time. I'm not so weak as to fail by underestimating a cheat item the other threatens me with."

"If that's so, it's fine."

At Eustasia's words, Sungjin refrained from saying one last thing: preparations didn't guarantee victory. He would simply use everything in his power to win.

The day of the war came.

In the waiting room, Seyzo II muttered while winding black substances around his arms and legs.

"Kill every last one. Eat every last one. I will punish by eating and ripping and shredding everyone."

In the same waiting room, the other two kings, who remained standing, shivered in disgust, exhaustion, and fear.

Are we truly doing the right thing by allying with this bastard?

They had thoughts about abandoning this entire mission simply due to the instinctive otherworldly revolt. But they knew these feelings were based on emotion, and once they thought about it rationally, they knew this was a great chance.

Let's just hold our tongues. We will take back our lost lands and win this fight to protect the ones we currently have.

If they chose to fight alone, they knew it would only result in defeat, one by one. Therefore, the kings agreed with whatever mad ideas Seyzo II conjured up. Afterwards, they would reclaim their lands and deal with everything else.

It might even turn out to be a good thing.

After the victory, they may be able to conquer the Kingdom of Sevrantina. When Seyzo II is consumed by his own power, his land would be free for all without a ruler. If they ate all of that, they would have lands twice the size they currently had.

If all went as planned, by extorting the other kings' weaknesses, they would be able to achieve the great feat of uniting the four kingdoms.

Even if we may not like this bastard now, we will use him.

Even a mad person had his uses, and it was befitting a king's plan to use such characters. They decided as such. Their desires had turned into revolting greed.

The camps of both sides were three to three.

It was the result of accepting Sungjin's proposal to fight with only the elites, leaving behind all the weaker beings.

Sungjin's grounds finished their preparations.

The participating members were Sungjin, Ereka, and Jenna.

He looked at the two and said, "We'll fight according to plan."

"Yes, Sungjin."

"Yes, Sungjin oppa."

"If…"

Sungjin paused to take a breath.

"If a skill that you cannot account for appears, simply retreat."

He would have been able to guarantee his victory if it were the old Seyzo II, but the ring of Forbidden Evil had too many unknown variables. They had planned according to the original breadth of knowledge but would have to play by hand after understanding the true depth of the unknown power.

"Yes, Sungjin."

"I won't push myself, Sungjin oppa."

You will enter in three seconds. 3… 2… 1… 0.

The battle began with the Valkyrie's announcement.

If observed critically, it was not a formation where Sungjin could win. The enemies were three, level seven kings, and with the Forbidden Evil, Seyzo II had powers beyond this level.

On the other side, Sungjin only had Ereka to contest King Ilkandi at level seven. Jenna, at level six, was below level seven King Leoric. At level zero, Sungjin, was obviously bound to fail in a matter of seconds against Seyzo II, even if he had the Sword of Heaven's Will.

But Sungjin informed all of the heroes of the four kingdoms quite confidently to come.

It is a moment of history. I hope you all come and watch.

Threatened he would watch the level of 'loyalty' of the heroes in attendance, the kings of the three kingdoms immediately called for everyone to assemble to watch the 'traitors' be punished; nearly all citizens of the four kingdoms were there.

And the atmosphere…

That extra bastard…no, he might win?

Of course, he was disadvantaged. But it wasn't once or twice Sungjin had thrown things completely off their hinges.

Once was a trick. Twice was a miracle. But a third time? For the people gathered, their opinions were divided in half. Half saying this was reckless. The other half saying Sungjin was confident and would display something unimaginable; therefore, they should not judge so early on.

Does he have some sort of otherworldly power to manipulate the opponent's mind, his level being a hoax?

I heard that he had the power to foresee the future.

I heard that he had the power to manipulate fate.

Because no one could believe the defeat at a 'real' extra's hands, they exchanged conspiracy theories that seemed to make sense of Sungjin's summoned background. Although all the rumors were wrong, it also meant the heroes had a new perspective of him.

The mood of the extras was also different from the past. They worried whether Sungjin could really win.

"Still…won't he be able to win like he always did?"

"Right? Even if we may not be able to see it, they would be able to see some path to victory, right?"

It was not to the point of "faith." But there was a level of "expectation."

Lute grasped his hands together while talking.

"Sister. Let's pray for Master Sungjin's victory again."

"Yes, let's do that."

Nania smiled, suppressing her anxiousness.

Sungjin had protected them several times, their dreams and wishes on his shoulders. He won against everyone who tried to step on it. Every time it had felt like a miracle. So let's not say there's nothing like impossible any longer. Let's believe and believe and become his strength.

Their strength, composed of prayers, would not have amounted to much, but they would still encourage him.

That's what she decided.

Eustasia, blending in with the other onlookers, watched the fight.

So many are wishing for his victory and praying for it.

She did not know whether justice existed within Sungjin. She also knew there was no room left to take a step back and correct mistakes one at a time. She did not wish for her father's victory at this point.

Father…

She was simply pitying him.

Where did it all go wrong?

She had thought many times as to whether there was a path to save her father. But there was no other path.

I don't even know what to pray for.

The arena the three players entered was composed of a large tunnel, both above and below, and in the middle was a forest. As expected, there were mid-level mobs within the forests, so it was an area that could not be ignored.

"As planned, Ereka the North, Jenna the South, and I will take care of the forest."

"Yes."

"Yes."

"Most likely, North will have a magician, King Leoric, as the enemy, and a knight, King Ilkandi, down South. Seyzo II would probably go after me."

Sungjin predicted they would position themselves as thus.

"After that, according to plan."

"Yes, Sungjin."

"Yes."

"If you do as we've trained, you can win. Don't worry."

"I trust you."

"I'll do my best!"

Sungjin's initial predictions went as planned.

At the North was King Leoric, the South, King Ilkandi, and Seyzo II graced the forest.

His observance, which had a one-sixth chance of succeeding, was truly special.

It's not as if the victors have been decided but, as expected, there is no weakness.

This was the evaluation of the heroes.

They were the same class, but if Jenna had gone against King Leoric, she would have been oppressed on all sides. Similarly, if Ereka, who had the same level but lack of experience, went against King Ilkandi in a knight fight, everyone predicted Sungjin would have lost quite quickly.

But his perceptiveness, which gave some leeway by setting the different classes against each other, was truly remarkable. However, the fact that his prediction was right on the first try did not guarantee his victory. If they could not overcome the difference in strength, it would be the same as predicting they were walking to their deaths into a burning building.

But who knows what else he has planned.

But the people did not dare open their mouths rashly. The risk of discussing a certain victor prematurely was too large.