Record of a Thousand Lives

All of the demons eventually died, but that came at a cost—the lives of three of the five heroes.

“You and I are the only ones who survived,” the Grand Alchemist, Minerva said as she held onto her bloodied arm.

“I see,” Sirian replied. He, on the other hand, did not seem to have received any damage at all.

Minerva took a deep breath as she leaned on a rock. However, as she was collecting her breath while slumped against the rock; she suddenly felt a burning sensation in her chest. She looked down at her chest, and to her surprise, she saw a spear tip protruding from it.

“Keheok…!” Minerva barely managed to stand up, as she was about to collapse. She looked at Sirian with eyes full of anger and said, “As I expected… It was you… You were the one trying to open the doors of Pandemonium…”

“You’re right. You’re too sharp, Minerva. You should’ve just died to the demons just like the others. Now I have to kill you with my own hands,” Sirian said.

“What are you trying to achieve…? Why?! Why did you betray us…?!” Minerva asked, barely hanging on to life.

Sirian twisted the spear that penetrated Minerva’s heart, and she threw up blood before collapsing. Sirian flicked his spear to rid it of her blood and said, “Don’t worry, the doors of Pandemonium won’t open—yet. There are still many things that have to be prepared to summon the Demon Lord over to this side.”

The recording ended. It ended when people were most curious about what happened next.

Shaneth could not close her mouth, in disbelief at what she had just seen. The Sirian who had been shown in the final parts of the video was especially shocking. Sirian, the king of all things, was known to always be a righteous and just leader; however, that Sirian had betrayed the heroes and tried to open the doors of Pandemonium?

It was not only Shaneth who was shocked beyond belief. Everyone else in the tent, except for Kang Yoon-Soo, felt the same way. Ramax was the first one to snap out of his shock. He said, “Everyone, write down what you’ve seen just now.”

The people in the tent took out notebooks, parchment, ink, and pens, then proceeded to write down what they had seen. Some of them wrote down the events that had transpired in the video, others made sketches of the Ancient Heroes, and still, others wrote down the speech patterns and mannerisms of the Ancient Heroes.

“What will you do with that?” Shaneth asked.

“We have to record it as a part of history, because I don’t think we can see that vision ever again. We’ll submit this to the royal historian, to request that it be recorded as part of history,” Ramax answered.

“But will people believe it? Will they believe that the greatest of the Ancient Heroes betrayed humanity?” Shaneth asked, concerned.

“Although that’s the truth, nobody will be willing to believe scholars like us. What the people want is a hero to look up to,” Ramax said. He then continued, “History must never lie, no matter how embarrassing and shameful it is. Don’t you agree?”

Ramax’s words that day would linger in Shaneth’s mind for a very long time.

***

“Hiya! Haap!” Numerous youngsters were training hard at the military training center.

Henrick watched the yelling and grunting trainees from a distance. He looked at them with eyes full of pity as he thought, ‘What a waste of time.’

He was buried in a pile of trash, as usual. He did not choose to be buried in trash because he liked it; rather, he always happened to find himself in that situation after sobering up.

“I guess they call it homing instinct[1], just as a bird returns to the land it was born,” Henrick grumbled as he stood up.

Just then, a man and a woman appeared in front of Henrick. “What do you want?” he asked.

“I’ve brought the Ancient Stone,” the man replied.

“What?” Henrick tilted his head and added, “I don’t think I’m still drunk, though…?”

Kang Yoon-Soo quietly took out the Ancient Stone from his backpack. The stone appeared to be unwieldy, as it was large and difficult to carry with one hand.

Henrick was surprised upon seeing the stone, and he immediately proceeded to inspect it. “Look at this punk. You really managed to bring the real thing,” he said as he looked at Kang Yoon-Soo questioningly. “Can you refine it?” he asked.

“Yes,” Kang Yoon-Soo replied.

“Do it then,” Henrick said as he took out a sculpting knife and gave it to Kang Yoon-Soo. It looked like an old sculpting knife on the outside, but the engravings on its blade and hilt gave it a mysterious sense of elegance.

Kang Yoon-Soo received the sculpting knife, holding it the way one would wield a short sword.

“Ah… Stop, stop,” Henrick suddenly said, waving his hand as he scratched his cheek. He added, “It's top-tier material, after all… We can do better than a dumpster, don’t you agree? I know a place; follow me.”

Henrick brought the two to a rather unique pub. The pub’s interior decoration was very luxurious, and its patrons were quite laid back as they drank; however, none of them seemed to be bothered by the fact that Henrick looked like a homeless beggar. That was how often Henrick came to the pub.

An elf wearing a low-cut dress walked toward them as they entered the pub, saying in an elegant tone, “Henrick, pay your tab.”

“Geez… Sister Latensha, is that all our relationship is worth?” Henrick answered in a dramatic voice.

“Is there anything else more important than money?” the elf replied, raising an eyebrow.

“Well, if we think about how so many friendships disappeared like snowflakes under the sun when I asked them to be the guarantors for my tab, then I guess you’re right,” Henrick replied. Latensha lightly flicked his forehead, and he giggled like a madman before going up to her ears and whispering something in secret.

Shaneth was warily looking at the man as she muttered under her breath, “I noticed it from the start… But he is a strange one…”

Latensha nodded after listening to Henrick’s whispered words. Henrick then walked toward the stage that was usually used by bands or bards. He placed the Ancient Stone in the center of the stage as he shouted loudly, “May I have your attention, please? I’ve brought you something amazing today!”

Henrick clapped his hands as he shouted, drawing the attention of the bar patrons. He then stepped down from the stage as he pointed toward the Ancient Stone, saying to Kang Yoon-Soo, “Sculpt it over there. Just keep in mind that if your skill ends up being pathetic, you’re not the only one who’ll look like a fool.”

Kang Yoon-Soo slowly stepped onto the stage, and the bar patrons started to get rowdy.

“Boo! What the hell is that greenhorn doing?”

“Henrick, you son of a…! Do it yourself if you want us to watch a sculpting show!”

However, Kang Yoon-Soo started to sculpt the Ancient Stone with Henrick’s sculpting knife. His movements were precise and quick, and the unwieldy stone slowly started to transform into a glowing gem.

The bar patrons started to quiet down as he busily moved his hands; they were left speechless and in awe by the time the stone started to turn into a jewel.

“Hey! That punk is better than he looks!”

“Henrick! Is he your disciple by any chance?”

“I think he’s better than Henrick. Haha!”

Kang Yoon-Soo sculpted the gem on the spot, and the Ancient Stone of Requiem, which had been nothing more than a large, unwieldy stone moments before, started to exude a bright purple light.

[Supreme Gem of Requiem]

A magic gem made by carving an Ancient Stone. An intense power of death resides in it, and the power it holds will be immediately released once the gem is broken. In addition, the user will turn into an undead being if they consume the gem by swallowing it. However, they will not be able to revert back to their previous form.

[You have gained an achievement through your handiwork.]

[A new skill, ‘Artisan Crafting’, has been created.]

[Artisan Crafting]

Skill Level: Lvl1 (00.00%)

You may create various artisanal items by crafting materials.

[You have sculpted the ‘Supreme Gem of Requiem’.]

[You have gained a great achievement.]

[Your ‘Artisan Crafting’ skill level has greatly increased.]

[Your ‘Artisan Crafting’ skill has leveled up.]

[Your hand speed during crafting has increased.]

[Your ‘Artisan Crafting’ skill has leveled up.]

[The success rate of crafting has increased.]

[Your ‘Artisan Crafting’ skill has leveled up.]

[The success rate of sculpting gems has increased.]

[Your ‘Artisan Crafting’ skill has leveled up.]

[Necklaces, rings, bracelets, trinkets, and other accessories you craft may be bestowed with additional stats and attributes.]

[Your ‘Artisan Crafting’ skill has leveled up.]

[You may use your ‘Artisan Crafting’ skill in conjunction with other crafting skills.]

[Your ‘Artisan Crafting’ skill has leveled up.]

[You have gained the ability to appraise hidden options in artisanal goods.]

Kang Yoon-Soo’s ‘Artisan Crafting’ skill had increased by seven levels. It was only possible because he had been able to sculpt the Ancient Stone without even having the basic crafting skill. He slowly stepped down from the stage.

Latensha seductively walked toward him. “You have amazing talent. I would say you’re the best artisan I’ve ever seen in my life. Would you be willing to make something for me?” she asked. She sounded as if she were about to give out a secret quest just for Kang Yoon-Soo.

However, Shaneth walked toward the elf and said with a bright smile, “No, we have a long way to go in our travels, and we already have a quest on top of that.”

“Oh dear, that’s a shame,” Latensha replied as she stroked her soft cheek.

Henrick was seated at a corner table; the two walked toward him and sat across from him. He looked at Kang Yoon-Soo with a strange gaze, saying, “There’s no doubt I have to acknowledge your skills. I was skeptical, but who knew you would really be a skilled Artisan?”

“I don’t have a class,” Kang Yoon-Soo said.

“You don’t have the Artisan class with those skills? Kids these days have a thing for wasting talent, eh? Which fool taught you, for you to still be jobless even with those skills?”

Kang Yoon-Soo gazed intently at Henrick, lost in memory, before saying, “You.”

“What?” Henrick asked, perplexed.

“Nothing,” Kang Yoon-Soo said. Henrick looked back at Kang Yoon-Soo strangely as he raised his mug. Kang Yoon-Soo ordered strong alcohol as well, and began drinking quietly.

Shaneth broke the ice, as the men were only wasting their time drinking quietly. “So, when do you plan to hand the heirloom over to us?”

“I should give it to you since you fulfilled the quest, but there is one tiny problem…” Henrick began.

“What is it?” Shaneth asked.

“Where are you guys headed?” Henrick asked.

“The capital of the empire, Deferon,” Kang Yoon-Soo answered.

“Good; take me with you,” Henrick replied.

“Sure,” Kang Yoon-Soo answered.

“Really? Then have another swig! But why are you speaking so informally to me?” Henrick frowned and asked.

“Because you’re now a party member,” Kang Yoon-Soo answered as he took another sip of alcohol.

“Hmm… Not that it matters,” Henrick muttered.

The men quietly shared drinks, and only Shaneth was left perplexed by the recent developments. “Hold on! You want to come with us?!” she protested heavily.

“Why? Are you two lovers or something?” Henrick asked teasingly.

“No!” Shaneth jumped up and heavily denied it.

“Then let’s go together. It’s good to have an old man along on your travels, right?” Henrick remarked. He then added, “My family’s heirloom is in the capital anyway, and you’ll definitely need my help to find it.

“Besides, I was planning on going to the capital anyway. It’s boring to travel alone, and I won’t have to worry about getting lost after getting drunk if I have traveling companions,” he concluded.

“You want to travel with us for that reason…?” Shaneth asked, stunned as if she had been hit on the head with a hammer.

“Do we need any grand reason to travel around? Then what about you guys? Are you traveling to save the world or something?” Henrick asked.

“Yes,” Kang Yoon-Soo replied.

“What bullshit are you spouting?” Henrick exclaimed.

“It’s nothing…” Shaneth sighed as she shook her head in defeat.

Had this been Kang Yoon-Soo’s plan all along? She was not really against Henrick joining them, but she wondered what kind of role Henrick, who was an Artisan, would play in their journey. They were not out and about on a normal journey; rather, they were on it to fulfill a legendary quest.

Then again, they were not short on combatants, and Henrick would be the one feeling like an outcast in the end, anyway.

1. The term refers to ‘the ability to return home from a great distance’ (Merriam-Webster); it’s mainly used to describe animals’ instinctive ability to find their way home, but it’s used in Korea to describe how a drunk person manages to find their way back home, barely conscious and without any recollection the next day. ☜