1.
The hideout where Asha had returned.
Just in case, I maintained the appearance of Ian Red as I organized the things I had obtained.
First, the <Artifact Guaranteed Enhancement Ticket>.
“This one has to be for Iaso’s Ring.”
Even now, Iaso’s Ring helps me survive most situations. If I use the enhancement ticket to raise it to EX rank…
‘Even if the worst happens, at least I’ll be able to survive.’
I had other ideas for how to use it, but I could only be certain after experiencing the effects of the enhancement firsthand.
“For now, let’s check the other rewards that I can confirm quickly.”
Muttering to myself, my next choice was ‘the memories of the <Black Wolf> members.’
【<Black Wolf Mercenary Corps>】
– Alias: Worst Criminal Group, Special-Class Fugitives, Brutal Mass Murderers.
– Estimated Threat Rank: SS
– Members:
◆ Captain: <Nahan – Black Wolf> (In Progress)
◆ Vice-Captain: <Lactea Babylonia – White Blade Ghost> (Access Denied)
◆ No.1: <Peter – Shepherd> (Access Denied)
◆ No.2: < Kassler – Nameless> (Access Denied)
◆ No.3: <Han-Ryang – Tal> (Access Granted)
◆ No.4: <Luna – Persona> (Completed.)
◆ No.5: <Dalan – Monstrous Dragon> (Access Granted)
◆ No.6: <Ruby Red – Red Witch> (Access Granted)
The status window had been updated, removing the previously displayed fake information and registering all the members’ details.
“Nahan is in progress, and Luna is complete… Peter and Kassler? Peter was mentioned a few times. Hmm… I guess since I haven’t met them yet, they’re marked as inaccessible?”
It seemed like a reasonable hypothesis, but…
“Then why Lactea?”
A flaw in the reasoning appeared immediately, suggesting that it wasn’t entirely correct.
There was no point in agonizing over it now since an answer wouldn’t just appear. So, I left it at that and pulled up the next status window.
This one had appeared the moment I cleared the Main Scenario—a red system message.
【Warning.】
【By clearing and accepting the <Main Scenario>, the progression and conclusion of <Babylonia> may differ from the original.】
This was something I had already anticipated.
Since I struggled to survive as the Black Wolf, many things had already deviated from the original.
Some of the information I knew about the original <Babylonia> likely no longer applied.
‘But that’s for the better.’
The ending of the original <Babylonia> was a bad ending where everyone met a tragic fate.
Twisting the original to create a happy ending.
Simultaneously dealing with changes in the original’s information.
I had to ensure that these two factors aligned perfectly, so I could maintain my advantage while still reaching the happy ending.
‘Of the original 15 episodes, only 6 remain?’
And even those were missing key figures like the Sewer Rats and Viscount Gapelt, who were essential to the later core events.
‘So the number of remaining major events is likely 4.’
<The Night of the Fanatics>.
<Heaven, Earth, Darkness, and Light>.
<The Demon Invasion>.
<The All-Out War>.
Lining up the remaining events in order, and considering that the impending bad ending was named <The Fanatics’ Revolt>…
‘The next event is definitely <The Night of the Fanatics>.’
A cliché scenario where a faction within the Church of the Goddess of Light Aria secretly worships something else entirely.
Of course, even if it was a cliché event, it was now my reality. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease.
‘If I don’t want to die, I have to do it.’
With a resigned sigh, I accepted the inevitable.
Anyway.
The last thing left after organizing everything was the Main Quest—Han-Ryang & Celosia.
“I’ll enhance Iaso’s Ring first, then take my time checking everything else.”
With that, I finally let myself collapse onto the shabby bed.
“This is exhausting… seriously…”
I suddenly found myself missing the days when I was just an ignorant mercenary captain.
“But still… it’s better than dying without knowing anything.”
With that small consolation, ‘Ian Red’ slowly closed his eyes.
“…Ah, but…”
What exactly is this contract between the Black Wolf and the Goddess?
Why does she seem to follow and help me?
‘It’s a contract between those two, so why am I involved? And what kind of contract could it be? A contract with a goddess, of all things? Is there anyone I can ask about this?’
I thought about it carefully but couldn’t find an answer. In the end, I opened my eyes again and sat up.
“…I’ll rest later and move first.”
When your mind is a mess, you should at least move your body.
“First…”
Time to enhance Iaso’s Ring.
Click.
I placed the ring on the floor and took out the enhancement ticket in my right hand.
“Do I just hold it up to the ring like this?”
Just in case there were any instructions on the back, I fluttered the ticket.
…Tap.
The golden ticket brushed lightly against Nahan’s left wrist as it flickered.
And in the next moment—
【Contact between the <Enhancement Ticket> and <Artifact> has been confirmed!】
【Using the <Artifact Guaranteed Enhancement Ticket>!】
A brilliant light erupted.
【The <Transcendent> Artifact – <Celestial Barrier (SS-)> has been enhanced to <EX> rank!】
From my left wrist.
“What the f—!! No, wait!!”
I hurriedly tried to tear the ticket away, but it had already vanished. In a panic, I struggled to remove the equipment, but—
【Gardner’s Shield is the strongest in the world!! No force can ever break it!!!】
“Gaaaaah!! What the hell is this!?”
A deafening roar exploded inside my head, and at the same time, something spiritual seemed to merge into me.
– [Gardner’s Shield is the strongest in the world!! No force can ever break it!!!]
“Urgh, shut u—.”
– [Gardner’s Shield is the strongest in the world!! No force can ever break it!!!]
“Aaargh, my, my head is going to burst.”
-[Gardner’s Shield is the strongest in the world!! No force can ever break it!!!]
With a final thunderous shout, reveling in its own glory—
“Ah… this is so unfair….”
Thud.
Nahan collapsed on the spot.
【Congratulations!】
【The <Celestial Barrier (EX)> has acknowledged you as its rightful owner!】
【The soul of the Indomitable Wall – Balak Gardner will now assist you.】
That was when I finally realized—
– [Gardner’s…!!! Ah, was that a chant just now? Let’s see, one, then two, then four… was it three? …Huh? And what is this miserable wretch who looks like a chewed-up tendon?]
“S- shut the hell up….”
– [Tch, if it’s noisy, just ignore it. Your weak body is making your head suffer.]
“You… son of a b—.”
Thunk.
I had gained yet another annoying companion.
2.
Gardner County.
Though it had been devastated by the <Black Wolf>’s attack, it had quickly regained its former grandeur thanks to Hestia’s return.
The expansive land was lined with practical, well-designed buildings and a grand mansion.
At the topmost floor of that mansion—inside the Lord’s office, which only direct descendants of the Gardner family and those personally acknowledged by the head could enter—a meeting was taking place.
The topic of discussion was the banquet to be held tomorrow.
“Rohan. Is there anything else that needs preparation?”
“No, my lord.”
“You’ve done well.”
As they were wrapping things up, Hestia, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.
“We must cancel the banquet.”
Her small but resolute voice cut through the room, reaching the ears of everyone inside.
“Hestia, I understand how you feel, but—”
Vulcan hesitated, glancing at the family head, Tehelan Gardner, before reaching out to hold her hand. However, Tehelan stopped him and asked,
“Why?”
“It’s too dangerous.”
“Go on.”
With no hesitation, Hestia unfolded a large document.
“We have already been attacked twice, and we lost both times. To a group of criminals numbering less than five.”
The document detailed information on the <Black Wolf> and the current state of the Empire.
“Hosting a banquet to restore Gardner’s tarnished image is a reasonable move. However, what if this only gives them another excuse to attack?”
“Do not worry, Hestia! If those scoundrels dare return, this time I will—”
“But you let them escape last time. Even though Father, you, and even the Hero were present.”
Her calm, unwavering brown eyes shone in the dimly lit office.
“T- That was…”
“I’m not here to place blame. I didn’t exactly perform well myself, considering I was kidnapped.”
“O- Oh, well, thank y—.”
“Here, have this. It’s jerky I prepared for you, Brother.”
“Oh! Thank you, Hestia!”
Chew, Chew!
As Vulcan was easily distracted, Hestia turned back to Tehelan.
“I understand. Gardner is the Empire’s greatest shield. If we fail to restore our honor, the demons beyond the frontlines and corrupt nobles alike will think they can trample over us.”
Hestia’s words were precise.
After the first attack, the Gardner family’s reputation had plummeted. After the second, it had practically been buried underground.
Fortunately, they had managed to drive the enemy away, and rumors had slowly begun to repair their damaged honor.
So now—
As Gardner’s honor was quickly being restored, they planned to hold a banquet to put a definitive end to the matter.
– Come and see.
– Gardner still stands strong.
Only by doing so could they continue serving as the Empire’s greatest deterrent.
Only by doing so could they aid Her Majesty the Empress in suppressing those bastards.
Tehelan, still wearing his usual indifferent expression, asked Hestia again.
“And knowing that, why do you oppose it?”
“Because it’s a double-edged sword.”
The story would be that the <Black Wolf> had been subdued by the Hero Party and Gardner, and that Gardner was holding a banquet as if unafraid of them.
If the banquet were to conclude successfully, a new rumor would spread:
– Even the <Black Wolf> fears Gardner.
However, if—
“If the <Black Wolf> takes this banquet as provocation, and they attack again during or after the event…”
“We will lose everything. To a point where recovery becomes impossible.”
Finishing Hestia’s fading sentence, Tehelan smirked and lifted his head.
“The banquet will proceed as planned.”
“My Lord!”
“Tsk. So timid… Enough. I’ll give a direct explanation myself. Everyone except Hestia, leave.”
Yes, my Lord!
With a loud response, Gardner’s warriors left the office, leaving only Tehelan and Hestia behind.
“My Lord!”
“It’s fine. Drop the formalities.”
“No! I will continue to address you this way until you change your mind!”
“Hestia.”
Turning to her, Tehelan asked with a solemn expression.
“Does your foolish father frustrate you?”
“What are you talking about…?!”
“I know it too. The men of the Gardner family have always been foolish. Even after all these years, we remain idiots.”
“My Lord!!”
Swoosh.
Finishing his words, Tehelan ran his hand over the shield beside him—the very shield used by their ancestor.
“But because of that, we’ve never been afraid. Since we only focus on what’s right in front of us, we don’t fear injuries or death.”
If one has a sharp mind, the body is at ease.
If one has a strong body, the mind is at ease.
“Our Gardner family… has always lived with an easy mind. That’s why I wanted to bear the burden alone and protect everyone…”
Click.
“But this time, I must ask for your help, Hestia.”
As Tehelan pressed a button, the fireplace rotated, revealing a hidden space. The moment Hestia saw it, she immediately understood.
“The… Celestial Barrier…”
A relic essential for maintaining the front lines, constantly generating massive amounts of Aura to reinforce the barrier against the Demon Front—
“It disappeared. Right after the <Black Wolf> paid us a visit.”
With just this bit of information, Hestia quickly pieced together the entire situation.
“You intentionally provoked the <Black Wolf>… because we must recover the <Celestial Barrier> at all costs.”
Tehelan nodded.
The Celestial Barrier.
The relic that allowed the Gardner family to serve as an unyielding deterrent.
For now, they were barely sustaining the defenses by mixing the remaining Aura with Tehelan’s own, but within a few days, even that would no longer be possible.
If they failed to recover the Celestial Barrier before the barrier collapsed…
“The war against the demons will reignite. That’s why we must recover it by any means necessary.”
Even if the <Black Wolf> had sunk its vicious fangs into the shield.
“We will cut open its belly and take it back.”
3.
And so, the next day—
“Gardner’s Shield is the strongest in the world!! No force can ever break it!!!”
With Vulcan’s speech (?) the banquet began.
