This is the place.

What?

Grid didnt know exactly what type of treatment Piaro was receiving. He vaguely thought that Piaro would be well respected and comfortable because he was so talented. But it turned out he was mistaken.

I never thought he would live in a place like this.

[Farmers House]

A large-scale accommodation where widowers or single farmers lived together.

A great swordsman was staying in a shabby place like this? Grid was baffled.

Isnt Reidan wide? Why is it so hard to give him a house?

A great swordsman who was soon to become a sword saint. Wasnt he a good mentor to everyone? Lauel explained to Grid, who was looking at them with rebuke in his eyes. Piaro himself didnt want to stay anywhere else. He said that he doesnt deserve to live a comfortable life.

Grids expression became dark.

Its because of guilt.

He felt guilty for the family members and colleagues who died because he was falsely accused. Maybe Piaro hadnt slept well for a single day in the last few years.

On the surface, he acts brightly.

Recently, Grid thought Piaro had overcome most of the wounds in his heart, but that was a misunderstanding.

Duke Grid came

Thats okay. Grid restrained Lauel from shouting loudly and asked Asmophel. Are you ready?

Asmophel, who had been silent since arriving in Reidan, opened his mouth for the first time. I have been prepared to die for a long time.

Dont talk about dying so easily.

The reward of the hidden quest Hidden Story was that Asmophels affinity would rise to the maximum along with Piaro. Grid hoped that the named NPC, Asmophel, wouldnt die. But the problem was that his survival depended on Piaro, not Grid.

I am shaking.

Grid took a deep breath and entered the house. Among the farmers who were exhausted by deep labor, the mediating Piaro was sitting alone. The moment that Piaros eyes opened and made contact with him, Grid instinctively realized.

He has become stronger.

Piaro was originally strong. However, Grid fought against Piaro and was confident of winning. Their skill with the sword might be different, but Grid believed he could defeat Piaro if he summoned Noe and Randy.

But he was wrong. Grids high insight warned that Piaro was a monster that couldnt be predicted. He was completely different from five years ago.

Its more than Hell Gaos presence

Surely he didnt achieve the status of sword saint while Grid was gone?

Duguen! Duguen! Duguen!

Grids heart started to thump wildly. He imagined Piaro becoming a sword saint and his excitement heightened.

You have become stronger, Duke Grid.

Piaro stood up and faced Grid. His eyes gazed deeply into Grid.

I want to fight.

Grid wanted to test his skills against the current Piaro. Grid was filled with an extreme fighting spirit. But now wasnt the time. The quest came first.

Did you kill Asmophel?

Piaros eyes filled with deep emotions. It was a glimpse of his hatred towards Asmophel.

Grid replied.

I didnt kill him.

You didnt? He wasnt that weak, was he? What does this mean?

Piaro made a confused expression and Grid pointed to the doorway.

I brought him to see you.

What?

The culprit of everything! If that guy came here, Piaro would tear off his limbs and grind up his bones! Piaro rushed out of the room right away. His face looked like a scary demon as he saw his enemy. Damian and all of the Overgeared members, except for Grid, were overpowered by his pressure.

Asmophel!

Piaro.

A street where darkness descended. The two friends who hadnt reunited in three years, the distance between them was quickly narrowed down.

Kwack!

Piaros hand grabbed Asmophels neck. Asmophels pale face twisted. But it wasnt due to physical pain. It was because all his emotions burst out when he saw Piaro and he wanted to cry. Piaro, who had pulled out his sword, paused when he saw Asmophels face.

You..! Why is a shameful person like you shedding tears?

Imsorry

Despite his constricted neck, Asmophel succeeded in spitting out the words that he had cried many times over the years. At that moment, Piaros heart thumped. He sensed something.. Maybe the atrocities committed by Asmophel were against his will.

However, that wasnt an important issue right now. No matter the hidden story, Asmophels sin couldnt be rationalized.

You!

Piaro shook off his curiosity and tightened his grip around Asmophels neck. Asmophel didnt resist at all. He just repeated his apologies while being suffocated. He had long been determined to atone with his death.

Kill me. Brutally tear me apart, burn my body and drop my filthy soul into hell. It doesnt matter as long as your grudge is resolved.

Piaro read Asmophels heart through his eyes. He had been friends with Asmophel for 25 years. This meant that Piaro could read his mind through his eyes. Thats why the sense of betrayal was more prevalent.

This awful bastard!

The sword flew towards Asmophels neck. Grid saw this and turned his head away.

I failed to get Asmophel.

Asmophel would die like this. Unfortunately, it wasnt a situation he could intervene in. Grid judged this and was about to retreat.

Shit! Piaro cursed. Grid turned his head again to see that the sword was stopped underneath Asmophels jaws. Dammit!

Piaro threw Asmophel away. Then he sat down. His noble friend, Asmophel. A great man and friend until the day of betrayal. Piaro was the person who knew him better than anyone.

Let me hear your story.

He wasnt about to forgive Asmophel. He had just been curious since a long time ago. Why their relationship ended in such a catastrophic manner, Piaro wanted to know it.

Asmophel didnt say anything. He knew there was no excuse for what he did. Piaro roughly grabbed his collar. Say something!

He had lost everything. Ironically, the only friend left was this enemy. He was sorry to his dead family and colleagues, but he wanted to hear the story. Asmophel read Piaros feelings and painfully managed to open his mouth. He spoke the truth that he had buried in his heart for as long as he could.

Piaros murderous expression became distressed as he heard the story. The biggest victim of this story was Asmophel. Asmophel didnt try to justify himself. He described himself as weak and the worst trash. But it wasnt a position accepted by the listeners at all.

Asmophel tried to speak as calmly as possible. He constantly listed why he should die. He kept emphasizing his sins. However, Piaros hatred towards Asmophel lessened.

Dammit!

He slammed his fist into the ground after losing the target of his anger. Tears flowed down from Piaros eyes. He was confused after knowing the whole truth. Piaro couldnt kill Asmophel. But it was right to kill Asmophel in order to appease the souls of Piaros family and colleagues.

As he was wondering what to do, Grid approached him. I know that it is hard to forgive. However, now that you have learned the truth, isnt it foolish to kill him?

Isnt there a separate target for revenge?

Empress Marie. The woman who took away the happiness of countless people due to her greed.

Kill her.

Grid said bluntly. Lauel had a headache.

Couldnt you phrase it in a nicer way?

Become my person. Increase my strength with your abilities and become a weapon against the empress. I will be your sword and strike down your true enemy etc etc.

Werent they great lines? As Lauel was filled with regret, Piaro was forgiving Asmophel.

I can no longer resent you after finding out that you were used in Maries wicked schemes.

Asmophel wept. He could only repeat his apologies. It was the end Grid wanted. He smiled as he watched them.

[The hidden quest Hidden Story has been completed.]

[The relationship between Piaro and Asmophel has improved.]

[The affinity with the two people has risen to the maximum.]

[If you recruit Piaro, there will be a 20% increase in the effect of the barracks and a 100% increase in the chance of getting a good harvest. In addition, you can create a knights division.]

[If you recruit Asmophel, the effect of the techniques research institutes will increase by 20%. In addition, you can create a knights division.]

[Knights Division]

You can have a group of knights.

The buff effect will depend on the person appointed as the captain.

[Barracks Effect]

Affects the training speed of the soldiers.

The soldiers will gain new tactics as their level and abilities increase, and the number of weapons that can be used will increase as well.

[Techniques Research Institute Effect]

Affects the speed at which soldiers and people gain skill experience.

The higher the skill level, the greater the variety of skills available to soldiers and also increases the power of the skill.

The reward of the hidden quest was more than Grid imagined.

Amazing.

It was a big hit. This was an exorbitant level that couldnt be easily expressed. Grid felt like he owned the world. He clenched his fists tightly as he felt a thrill.

Then

Now he had a question.

What is the 100% increase in the chance of a good harvest?

What relationship did that have with a sword saint? Grid was puzzled until he suddenly recalled the notification window that appeared when he was in Titan.

[A legendary farmer has been born!]

Perhaps No. It couldnt be. It cant be.

He tried to shake off his sinister imagination.