How to Live as a Knight After the Ending - Chapter 16
Only Noblemtl
Episode 16. Fallen Knight
[The Fall of the Knight]
It was a very provocative and interesting phrase for Ossian.
Although it was only a job in the game, Ossian was the knight mentioned in this passage.
Now that the game has become reality, being a knight has become a huge part of Ossian’s identity.
It is said that such an article was lost in the long period of time between the ending of the game and the arrival of the current world.
As for Ossian, he couldn’t help but feel both annoyance and curiosity at the same time.
‘I never thought the article would disappear.’
If you think about it, it was only natural.
With the invention of gunpowder and the appearance of guns and cannons, the existence of knights lost its meaning.
Haven’t knights fallen like that throughout Earth’s history?
Of course, the game’s articles were very different from real-life articles.
This was because each job in the game had a [skill].
A knight with [Skill] can basically defend against firearms.
At least the ‘Wandering Knight’ that Ossian knows is not easily defeated by a bullet.
It is partly because of the physical influence of the knights, but it is also because I analyzed it from an objective perspective as a veteran who has played the game.
In fact, all of the knight NPCs you encounter in the game boast incredible military power.
Is a gun really enough to defeat a monster that even a group of mercenaries can’t defeat?
‘But that’s only true for existing knights. Those who became knights later couldn’t do that.’
The book had a clear reason written in it.
There was only one reason why the article disappeared.
Because there were no people who would become knights in later generations.
The knights of that time would have survived and demonstrated their skills even with the invention of guns.
It was different for later knights who wielded swords anew.
Not all strong people are strong from the start.
The knights didn’t have that kind of skill from the beginning.
Naturally, they became stronger through training and effort.
But what if the effort is pointless?
No matter how hard you swing your sword, a fight with a gun ends with one pull of the trigger.
Moreover, guns and cannons have developed further over time.
The reload speed has been increased, the power has been increased, and the range has been extended.
In such a changing world, where would one find someone who would wield a sword and walk the path of a knight?
‘This isn’t just a problem for knights. It’s the same for the barbarian profession, which should have existed originally.’
Ossian turned the next page and squinted his eyes at the illustrations inside.
The black and white illustration showed a knight lying on the ground, bleeding.
Beneath it was written [Demilion’s Death].
Demilion Balzac.
A knight and a quasi-noble, he was described as the most talented knight of his time.
At that time, due to the development of firearms, the existence of knights was pushed to the edge of history.
In that situation, Demillion’s presence was the knight’s only hope.
Some even speculated that he might be able to revive the fallen knight.
That was until he was suddenly murdered one day.
The one who killed him was neither a knight of high rank nor a wizard with a vast circle.
bandit.
That was a bandit with a gun.
Demillion, who was considered to have the greatest talent, was shot and killed while chasing down defeated soldiers who had become bandits.
‘This is true.’
When Ossian saw what was written in the book, he couldn’t help but sigh.
Demillion, who was at the forefront of the punitive expedition at the time, did not even wear a helmet properly because he was careless, thinking that he was dealing with mere bandits.
Even the bandit who shot and killed Demillion did not aim for Demillion.
I was just shooting recklessly in a panic, paralyzed by fear.
The problem is that the bullet pierced Demillion’s forehead.
Carelessness. Carelessness. Accident.
All of this mixed together resulted in the death of the knight who was considered the best in the world.
The knight’s hope was shot and killed.
This incident had a huge impact on society at the time.
Now, after so many years.
In this world, the very existence of swordsmen who handle the sword beyond knights has disappeared.
‘Wait a minute. So I’m the last knight left in this world?’
I could understand a little why people looked at me like I was some kind of weirdo.
If there’s a guy on the battlefield who’s fighting alone with a knife while everyone else is shooting guns, it’s bound to attract attention, right?
‘Now that I think about it, he really is crazy.’
But what can I do?
I’m living as that knight now.
Although he understood it in his head, this knight’s body clearly showed his displeasure at the downfall of the same profession.
My body keeps aching and throbbing, to the point where I can’t feel satisfied unless I hold the sword.
The only fortunate thing is that he doesn’t explode in anger.
Ossian looked out the window.
As the sun was setting and night had come, the gas lamps on the street were casting a crimson glow.
The sky I looked up at was black and dark.
Even in the game, day and night existed.
At that time, wherever you went, the night sky was filled with dazzling stars.
Ossian still couldn’t forget the sight of the night sky shining with the aurora over the cold snowy fields of the north.
Even if it is just a landscape implemented with computer graphics and displayed on a monitor.
But now the starlight was not visible in the world.
Pure white steam and factory smoke, murky air.
As the light on the ground grew stronger, the sky hid its light as if it were disappointed in it.
Ossian, who was looking at the scene with a gaze filled with sorrow, muttered softly.
“I should have raised a wizard.”
*
“A request to capture the escaped warlock?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
This was the reply I got the next morning when I arrived at Violet Fox early to ask if they had any requests.
“A black magician.”
I stroked my smooth chin.
As the name suggests, black magicians are wizards who use dangerous magic.
If ordinary wizards show various magic based on elements.
Warlocks use black magic to manipulate corpses and deal with negative forces such as curses and corruption.
‘There was one among the professions that the player could choose.’
The Warlock was a profession with considerably stronger powers compared to other professions.
In terms of pure offensive ability, it’s probably ranked 1st or 2nd among all professions.
Additionally, warlocks could summon undead creatures, including skeletons.
Because of this, it has tremendous stability and has contributed greatly to greatly reducing the difficulty of this vicious game.
It’s such an attractive job.
But even so, there weren’t that many users who chose the Warlock.
There is only one reason.
‘If you choose a warlock, you will become hostile to all NPCs.’
In this game, there is a kind of reputation that exists even against NPCs and large forces.
There are various benefits to maximizing your reputation, such as discounts on items or increased quest rewards.
However, if you choose the Warlock profession, this reputation will be at its lowest from the start.
Not just zero, but literally minus.
Wherever you go, you will be attacked and killed without fail.
‘That’s why the black magic users couldn’t enter towns or cities and had to live in hiding.’
The only places I could go were lawless zones or neutral zones, but even there, I would often get attacked.
As they were granted overwhelming stability in battles with monsters, warlocks were a profession that suffered all sorts of penalties in other areas.
‘But who would have thought that there would still be warlocks left?’
But the content of the request was quite unexpected.
Capture? It’s not even killing, it’s capture.
‘In the past, black magicians would have been targets of unconditional slaughter.’
In this day and age, isn’t it true that we don’t just kill people?
That could have been easily guessed just by looking at the contents of the request.
“The company is trying to catch a black magician.”
If you look at the contents of the request Ronan gave you, the situation was quite interesting.
The client was a medium-sized company.
Blossom Tear Pharmaceutical Company.
It was literally a company that made potions, cosmetics, and medicine.
“Do you know why I’m telling you to catch it?”
“Probably because we work together.”
“You’re working? A pharmaceutical company that practices black magic?”
“Yes. Originally, pharmaceutical companies would hire alchemists to create potions. However, I heard that one of the alchemists in this Blossom Tier retired.”
“I see.”
There was a job similar to an alchemist within the game.
Because if a wizard goes up the skill tree to the crafting line, he can achieve the same performance as an alchemist.
However, it was a trait that was not in the spotlight because the cost of making potions was high and the combat power was too low.
But things seem very different these days.
“Alchemists are highly skilled workers. In addition to making simple potions, they can also create high-quality cosmetics and perfumes used by noble ladies.”
Ronan’s explanation was as follows.
The alchemist’s retirement left a huge hole in the pharmaceutical company.
We had to somehow bring in another alchemist, but since it was such a popular job, there were no people.
Companies that have to pay for drugs immediately end up taking extraordinary measures.
I made a contract with a black magician.
‘If you look at it, it doesn’t seem like they brought him here for dangerous reasons like human experiments or anything, but rather as a literal replacement for an alchemist.’
A black magician who is treated well by corporations.
I guess after so many years, the world has become a very good place for warlocks to live.
If I had known this would happen, I should have raised him as a warlock.
“So why do you want me to catch that warlock?”
“They said it popped out.”
“You ran away?”
“Yes. It seems that he even ran away with several important company items. He was charged with breach of contract and theft.”
I couldn’t contain my curiosity.
“Wasn’t it a mistake to trust the warlocks in the first place?”
I don’t know because I haven’t raised a warlock, but at least all the warlock NPCs I’ve met in the game were crooks, crazy people, and idiots.
In any case, human sacrifice and demon summoning are basic examples, and they account for a significant proportion of the hidden boss monster positions.
“It must have been unfair to the company. The warlock in question had some credibility in the industry. He was a member of the warlock labor union.”
Warlock Union?
Now all kinds of words are popping out.
I thought he was just living a moderately recognized life, but he was actually out in the open and active.
“So, did the company look into that union?”
“Yes. They recommended it to me, but they asked what happened. The problem is that the labor union also said that they were deceived and that it was unfair.”
“Hmm.”
From the company’s perspective, it must have been difficult for them to get angry at the Black Magician’s Union when they acted like that.
Normally, we would have had to go to court here.
If the potion wasn’t supplied immediately, the company would have been in danger of suffering huge losses.
“So, since it’s urgent, you asked the problem solver to help you?”
“Yes, that’s what it is.”
“But even if we capture him, what can we do about the potion supply that already has a hole in it?”
“Blossom Tier will probably try to negotiate a new deal with the union.”
“Are you going to take the captured warlock hostage?”
“That’s what it’s like. They’re going to extort the alimony and use that money to hire a new alchemist.”
“We can’t find a replacement right away, but we can fill the sales hole. There are plenty of reasons to hold on to him.”
Things have really gotten complicated.
“So, what do you think about this request?”
In response to my question, Ronan opened his mouth with his usual inscrutable smile.
“I personally oppose this request.”