Chapter 42: Five Guardian Stars (3)

Faction Scenario ‘Great Warband’.

This scenario is established when the player personally declares their intention to found a new faction, and a powerful NPC agrees to support it.

“In other words, it’s a scenario I’ve summoned myself.”

[Do you accept?]

There was no need to hesitate.

I immediately spoke.

“Accept.”

Then the system message flashed.

[Faction Scenario ‘Great Warband’ has been activated.]

‘Wow, they opened this right here!’

I quietly cheered to myself.

The Great Warband scenario was especially crucial to me at this moment.

Among dozens of scenarios, this was the only one that proceeded without belonging to any particular faction.

It was also one of the few scenarios that allowed me to operate freely across all three major factions.

‘This fits perfectly with my plan to utilize the entire continent. It’s versatile in many ways.’

Once the scenario is activated, a series of linked quests is assigned to the player.

[Scenario Quest: Formation of the Expedition has been given.]

The start of the ‘Great Warband’ scenario.

That meant forming the warband with my own hands.

[Quest] Recruit two companions to find and block the seeds of war.

Special: Can be completed solo.

Expected rewards: Massive experience for all expedition members plus two other types.

The members were obviously Karls and Tirvaen.

‘Once I declare quest completion myself, it’s done.’

Simple as that.

This was on a whole different level from the messy Succession Scenario where you start with shady moves!

‘Yeah, this is how a proper scenario should be!’

I rejoiced inwardly as I reviewed the system messages.

In fact, the ‘Great Warband’ was a somewhat loose-starting scenario even in the original game.

‘Sometimes it starts suddenly while drinking in a tavern on a frontier town.’

It was simply because the scenario began once the player declared their intent to create a faction and a powerful NPC backed it.

However, if pursued diligently, the scenario gradually thickened and led to involvement in major continental events.

As I pondered the story ahead, one realization dawned on me.

‘Now that it’s initiated, I’ll soon have to return to Kertion.’

The imperial capital of the Empire where the psychopathic Vareshan Emperor awaited.

That day would come soon enough.

But for now, I’d focus on warband quests solely within the Revolutionary Army camp.

There’s no need to crawl back and suffer unnecessarily when not invited.

For now, I’d fully take advantage of Aurax North, a newbie’s haven.

‘And after gathering dragons from the Nest of the Four Dragons,’

‘Then I can steadily move forward.’

“Bale Shan, the Vareshan Emperor’s third son, Gilloshian Elodie Vald.”

A voice calling my name echoed through a dense radiance.

Five Guardian Stars united as a single shadow were watching me.

—We, the Last Guardians of Everlast, intend to appoint you as our Proxy to carry out our will on this world.

That was about the title ‘Proxy’ bestowed upon me.

—You will represent our will and perform our rites.

—However, you may refuse our orders and even join forces with our enemies.

—At the same time, you may remain forever silent about us.

But you will forever remain our Proxy.

…

In other words, benefits without obligations.

‘Ha, these are on a whole different level compared to those slackers holed up in that temple!’

Of course, compared to the gods on the surface, there were drawbacks.

‘No sacred grounds to grant extra buffs, no believers to call on as allies in emergencies.’

But that was fine.

These were elements I could live with or without.

—Now, Gilloshian. Will you become our Proxy?

…It was odd to ask after already giving me the title.

More interestingly, I strangely felt each of the five Guardian Stars, though united, looked at me with distinct emotions.

Saint of Dog and Wolf showed curiosity.

Saint of Spear and Sword, unease.

Saint of Bow and Wheel, trust.

Saint of Shield and Flame, regret.

And the Saint of Light and Darkness, who had argued with me all along, showed…

‘satisfaction and relief.’

Without a doubt.

He regarded me with a gentle smile through the radiant glow.

At that moment, a chilling thought suddenly hit me.

‘Could it be… the Succession Scenario I dismissed earlier was a bait?’

In the original work, the Saint of Light and Darkness was the leader of the five Guardian Stars and portrayed as a ruthless tactician.

So it was reasonable to speculate:

If I had blindly accepted that scenario…

‘The situation might have turned out quite differently.’

How exactly, I didn’t know.

But what was certain was that the Saint of Light and Darkness now regarded me with satisfaction and relief.

It was time to choose one Guardian Star to receive their blessing.

What kind of benefits would I be granted?

Swallowing dry saliva, I spoke.

“I, Gilloshian Vald, will become the Proxy representing the will of the Last Guardians of Everlast.”

Then the white radiance began to glow with brilliant colors.

—Welcome, Proxy.

Now it was time to choose exactly one of the Guardian Stars.

But that part was skipped.

[Blessing of Saint of Dog and Wolf has been granted!]

[Blessing of Saint of Spear and Sword has been granted!]

[Blessing of Saint of Bow and Wheel has been granted!]

[Blessing of Saint of Shield and Flame has been granted!]

“…Huh? Wha—?”

Without me even choosing, the blessings of all the Guardian Stars poured out at once!

I was genuinely flustered.

“Hey! Mister!”

If I remembered correctly, only one blessing could be obtained.

I was sure of that…

“Giving me all five?”

Is this even allowed?

Is something wrong here?

I glanced at the Saint of Light and Darkness in bewilderment.

—Why? What? Complaints?

He chuckled mischievously at me.

But contrary to his playful gaze, this was no joke.

“Wow…”

[Blessing of Saint of Light and Darkness has been granted!]

After finally bestowing his blessing on me, the Saint of Light and Darkness withdrew the radiance.

The dungeon fell back into a calm silence as if nothing had happened.

But I was still stunned.

“Are you seriously saying this is allowed?”

[All five Guardian Stars’ blessings have been acquired.]

[The combined blessings are collectively called ‘Ancient Guardians’ Blessing’.]

I checked the effect of this newly named blessing.

And I became even more shocked.

“Th-this is a bit too…?”

“Too much?”

“…Isn’t this outright broken?”

If I had any conscience, it would have been aching.

[Restriction: Up to Level 30]

• Howl of Dog and Wolf: Powerful enhancement to summoning and taming skills
• Refinement of Spear and Sword: Strong boost to melee physical attack
• Call of the Bow and Wheel: Significant increase to ranged physical attack and movement speed
• Song of the Shield and Flame: Considerable increase to all physical defense and elemental resistances
• Essence of Light and Darkness: Substantial enhancement to all magic
• Additional Effect: Currently sealed

All the Guardian Stars’ blessings were simply summed up…

‘And there’s even an extra effect?’

It was an inactive effect not yet revealed, but once certain conditions were met, it would activate immediately.

What could that be?

Since I had never experienced this in the original, I couldn’t even guess the additional effect’s nature.

But one thing was clear…

‘Usually in cases like this, some monster-level effect appears way beyond average.’

Now that all five blessings were granted to me, my anticipation for the extra effect only grew.

“Do you like our gift?”

The Saint of Light and Darkness looked at me with the same cold smile as when he first appeared.

But now, his meaning for me had changed 180 degrees.

“May I call you ‘brother’?”

“You just called me an old fart a moment ago.”

“I don’t care, I love you.”

“You were cheeky earlier… now you’re just gross.”

I was happy no matter what he said, so I grinned, and he smirked quietly.

“By the way, what’s the release condition for this hidden effect? Can you give me a hint?”

He answered simply.

“You will naturally obtain it as you carry out your duties as Proxy.”

“…Ah.”

I immediately understood and nodded.

“Right, that makes sense.”

If I properly commit to ‘Restoration of Everlast’, the additional effect would unlock naturally.

In other words, it was like a safety mechanism in case I slacked off on my Proxy duties.

‘I wonder what they think of me.’

I definitely intended to keep my promises and do my best.

‘Then I can just wait and see.’

After confirming this unexpected comprehensive gift set, I briefly calculated in my head.

This was a tally of what I was to receive in this dungeon.

Because several rewards overlapped, it was a little confusing.

“Saint of Light and Darkness, the blessing you just gave me is for appointing me as your Proxy, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then how about our accounting…?”

“Two more remain.”

The rewards for completing the dungeon’s general and special objectives.

Those were still outstanding.

‘Wow, I’m going to be so full, it’s ridiculous!’

Just as I happily shouted inside, a new idea occurred to me.

‘General objective rewards let me choose one B-rank equipment.’

And special objective rewards let me pick one blessing from the five Guardian Stars.

‘But I already got that, didn’t I?’

Having just received the Proxy title, I was given the ‘Ancient Guardians’ Blessing’, equivalent to five blessings at once.

In other words, a duplicate.

If so…?

“Damn.”

‘You can’t receive duplicate blessings from the Guardian Stars, so normally that would be swapped for other rewards.’

But there was a method.

Since my affinity with these NPCs soared as their Proxy, it was possible.

I carefully spoke to the transcendent being.

“Saint of Light and Darkness, about that…”

“…?”

I briefly explained my idea.

“Hahaha!”

The Saint of Light and Darkness burst into hearty laughter, clearly amused.

And he said to me quite approvingly.

“Looking at you, I feel like I’m seeing my old self again. It brings me great joy.”

His old self?

“Huh? To me, you seem way better than your old master.”

“Shut up, you brat.”

The Saint of Dog and Wolf, who had slyly butted in, got rebuked by the Saint of Light and Darkness.

After thinking for a moment, he stroked his chin and nodded.

“Alright, this sounds interesting. I’ll allow it.”

At those words, I clenched my fist.

“As expected of my brother!”

“Gross talk!”

What I requested was this.

[General objective and special objective rewards will be combined!]

[B-rank equipment on the reward list has been upgraded to A-rank!]

[One additional function will be granted to the reward equipment!]

It was a small customization added to the reward equipment.

I was going to create the exact piece of gear I wanted in an instant.