24 Hearts

Chapter 68

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Requiem, the boss of the black wolf

Serenia Castle, the house of Judah

There were people that you can dislike just by simply looking at them. In life, you can often meet such people.

First impressions were the worst. Either the words coming out of their mouth didn’t match the way they looked, or would find that the other person was much better than you, or the complete opposite where they can’t do anything right at all. Aside from those, of reasons why someone would repulse another person.

To be honest, Judah hated Kain. When he was a child, learning how to use the sword under Kaseun’s supervision, he felt no such thing as dislike for the boy. But now, he can’t say the same.

If asked how much he hated him, he could only answer vaguely. He didn’t hate him enough to find the desire to kill him, but he hated him enough to stay away from him. But there was the strong urge to battle the boy right then and there.

Had Kaseun appeared a little later at that time, or if Kain continued to stare at him silently after the battle with Requiem, his irritation might grow unbearable for him, and soon his sword could go swinging at him.

And he wished he did just that.

Judah stared blankly at the sky, biting his mouth absentmindedly. Since Kaseun’s appeared, things had been a breeze. He was scolded heavily for chasing after the wolves on his own, but he was praised for defeating Requiem.

Unfortunately, all of the loot of Requiem was confiscated. Kaseun turned it over to the Lord, and he said that he would return it, but Judah didn’t know if he would ever see it again.

‘But Kaseun can’t lie, so I’ll get it back.’

If Kaseun said he would return it, he would return it at any cost. Kaseun was a man who stayed true to his words. Nothing much happened after that. He had no memory of anything else. He fell into a deep sleep and refused to wake up even after the sun rose.

He woke up to the sound of giggling around him, and the first thing he saw was Tia’s back. Before her was Jeanne, and beside her were a few alumni guards. Judah blinked at them as he grasped the situation. He didn’t know when and how he moved, but seeing that they arrived at the castle shortly after, he felt like he slept for quite a while. As soon as they got home, Judah came to the second floor to sleep in his bed a little more.

“Sigh…”

He took a deep and long sigh. When he entered the house, the fatigue he felt outside disappeared. Somehow growing restless, Judah flipped on the bed and brought up the system log. Immediately after subduing Requiem, an additional message came to the system besides completing the quest.

[Bastard Sword’s durability has reached its limit.]

[You won a duel against Requiem, the boss of the Black Wolf. Stamina and agility increase by 1.]

[The title -Black Wolf Slayer- has been changed to -Black Wolf Weaver-.]

-Black Wolf Slayer-

It is a title given to those who have hunted hundreds of black wolves.

-When hitting a black wolf, additional damage is reduced by 3%, the wolf’s howling effect and duration are reduced by 20%.

-When hunting all kinds of wolves, you emit an aura of intimidation. However, the boss is not affected.

└Passive: Movement speed and attack speed decreased by 5%.

↓ ↓ ↓

-Black Wolf’s Weaver-

This is the title achieved upon defeating the Black Wolf boss in a one on one duel.

The wolves will instinctively feel intimidated the moment they see you.

-When slaying all wolves, additional damage is reduced by 5%, wolves’ howling effect and duration are reduced by 40%.

-When hunting all kinds of wolves, you emit an aura of intimidation. However, the boss is not affected

└Passive: Movement speed and attack speed decrease by 6%, attack power decrease by 3%.

└Passive: Preemptive attack probability decreases by 20%.

[The level has risen.]

[You have earned two gold coins.]

Finally, Judah leveled up, and he jumped three levels at once. He nodded in glory, looking back at how much he struggled to increase his level. Two gold coins were okay, and he was content with how his stats had increased by two. And while his title changed into something better, it was centered around wolves, which was something he wouldn’t need in the long run when he’s bound to meet other enemies on the road.

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「Status Window」

[Name: Judah Arche]

[Title: Black Wolf’s Weaver (1)]

[Level: 23]

[Job: Black Claw _ Shadow Magic Swordsman (Hidden_A)]

[Number of resurrections: 2]

[Strength: 41(C) / Potential A]

[Health: 41(C) / Potential S]

[Agility: 43(C) / Potential SS]

[Magic Power: 43(C) / Potential B]

[Magic Resistance: 52(C) / Potential S]

[Knowledge: 17(F) / Potential B] ◀ Special

[Good Luck: 84(A) / Potential S] ◀ Special

[Remaining points: 8]

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Judah chuckled as he studied his stats.

‘I’ve grown quite a bit too.’

This was his most significant milestone ever since he came to this world. But this was just the beginning, and he couldn’t be satisfied with just this.

It was easy because Requiem was too gentle for him, but the enemies he will meet in the future were not. Some would attack cowardly, some who used poison, and some with different powers. There wasn’t one easy opponent with his current skills.

‘I have to get back Requiem’s skin and leave quickly.’

Initially, he was planning to leave as soon as he got Jeanne after his coming-of-age ceremony, but it was too late. Judah closed his eyes, vowing that he would take back the leather and that he would finally leave the place.

It was after three days that Requiem’s leather was returned to him. Meanwhile, gloom befell on the castle and its inhabitants. Although there were few things the soldiers did in the subjugation battle, there were still casualties in the two surprise attacks they endured. The Lord prepared a funeral for the fallen soldiers, rewarding the bereaved families with what the castle could provide. The Lord posted a lengthy message on the bulletin board to enlighten the castle, which reiterated the report he heard from Kaseun.

「… It is reported that Judah, resentful at the death of the soldier who fought alongside him, defeated the black wolves and chased after those who dared to flee. When the soldiers arrived after him, Requiem was already dead, and Judah was holding a broken sword in his grasp. The black wolves who lost the head of their pack ran away, with our soldiers tracking and wiping them all out… 」

One surprising thing is that the soldiers could have announced they had taken it down, but they didn’t. Maybe Cassewoon ran alone and knocked Requiem down, but he said it honestly. Afterward, Judah, who was invited to eat again at the Lord’s Castle, was given back the spoils that had been confiscated, and he received a title that was not very useless.

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-Little Hero of Serenia Castle-

You have protected the Eastern Forest from the black wolves, the cause of fear within the castle’s citizens.

The residents, including the Lord, applaud your outstanding achievements.

-Increased favorability of those living in Serenia Castle +10.

-Get a discount or get a bonus when purchasing an item.

-A stone statue of you was built at the entrance of the east gate.

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Judah choked upon reading about the stone statue. Still, he was very proud of the fact that he left a trace in the castle. Later, Judah went to a clothing store and asked for a long coat out of Requiem’s leather. The leather was so big that he received three pieces out of it.

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[Name: Leader of the group “Long coat made of Requiem’s leather”]

[Rating: Unique _ Luxury]

[Equipment: Coat]

[Durability: 50/50]

[Defense: 70]

[effect]

Physical Defense +15%, Magic RES +10%, Movement Speed +3%

Charisma+3

[Explanation]

A long coat made from the leather of “Requiem,” the leader of the black wolf. As a result of the weaver’s dedication to the young hero of Serenia, a high-quality luxury product was born. In particular, the buttons made from the mane hair and toenails around the neck raises its dignity even further.

-Physical Resistance (Passive): Part of the damage is reduced when hit by a slash, stabbing, or hitting type of attack.

-Magic resistance (Passive): Part of the damage when hit by magic attacks decreases.

-Previous maintenance (Passive): Foreign matter (blood, fat) does not adhere well, and durability decrease rate is low.

-Passive: You can feel the dignity that only a group of bosses can have through this outfit. Others do not easily ignore you.

-Passive of the moonlight: On the night the moon rises, you receive a bonus of movement speed and improve your awareness of your surroundings.

-Code Previous: Leader of the group

└Acquisition of Charisma, Charisma +10

└Compression-Receives correction of charisma stats and pressures the opponent with an intangible energy. This is more effective for targets at a lower level than you and less effective for higher-level targets.

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The product was indeed worth the wait. Judah could not hide his satisfaction after receiving the goods, so he gave the clothing store owner one more gold coin, which was several times the advance payment. Judah gave his coat the code he had obtained from Requiem, and then he gave the other two of his coats to Tia and Jeanne. As a gift to Kaseun, Judah gave him the remaining claws of the buttons, and the remaining skin from Requiem’s head was presented to the Lord.

After returning home after his day off, Judah wandered around the market to buy the extra items he needed before leaving Serenia. Whether it was the effect of his title -Little Hero of the Serenia Castle-, he found the townsfolk very friendly to him.

Their favor was overwhelming. Unbeknownst to them, Judah did not slay Requiem for them. At that time, he was only looking to vent out his frustrations at Kain and impulsively took it out on Requiem. Other than that, he killed Requiem for his loot. His desires were selfish, but the townsfolk thought otherwise. He decided to go with it. Judah laughed and gratefully accepted their favor, which allowed him to buy many things at a much lower price than he thought.

He thought it was a pleasant day, but on his way back home, his luck had dropped. In the square, he ran into Kain. Kain was next to Riel, who waved her hand, greeting him with a gleeful smile.

“Judah! Hi! Are you on your way to the grocery store?”

Judah glanced at Kain and nodded with a bitter smile, “Yes. Where are you going?”

Riel shook her head, still smiling at him brightly, “Actually, Kain said he had something to say to you? So we went looking for you. You’re a celebrity now, so we thought we could easily find you. What happened when you went around?”

“I just went to buy some things. But Kain, you’re looking for me? Ah, are you going to tell me what you were supposed to say a few days ago?”

Judah responded to Riel softly, and then his smile fell when he turned to Kain. Surprisingly, unlike the last time, Kain did not avoid his gaze and did not hesitate to speak up.

“Yes, I have something I want to ask.”

“What? Tell me.”

Riel watched as the two boys talked, her eyebrows furrowing at the heavy tension between them. She was hoping either of them would fill her in, but no one did.

“I saw it.”

“What?”

“That day, the spear you summoned when you defeated the black wolf. I couldn’t see well because of the faint moonlight, but it must have been Ea’s, right?”

Judah, as if surprised, widened his eyes in response. But he wasn’t surprised. He knew Kain would be suspicious, and he can tell exactly what the other boy was thinking. A smirk curled up on Judah’s lips.

In the past, he would be riddled with anxiety at the possibility of Kain being suspicious of him, but now he found it amusing.

“So? Tell me what you’re thinking. I’ll answer you.”

“…How do you have Ea’s weapon?”

Judah took a step toward Kain, closing the distance between them.

“How? You know.”

Hearing his response sent shivers down Kain’s body.

After seeing Judah with her spear, Kain consulted with the guards about Ea’s whereabouts. Many people recognized her, especially her beauty and particular title as a Flying Fighter, just by looking at her identity card. After the day she broke up with Kain, she never returned to the castle again. But there Judah was, holding her spear. Did he witness her death and picked up her weapon? if not…

As Kain thought of the answers for himself, Judah whispered to him as if he could hear his thoughts, “Yes, I killed her. And I got her spear. Why, do you want her to be alive?”

“What? Wait. Judah!”

“I think this is the end of your question? I think you want an explanation, but I don’t want to tell you. You can think of it however you like.”

Kain’s face stiffened, and next to him, Riel grew even more confused. They fell silent before Judah broke the silence with his laughter.

“If you have nothing more to say, would you move away?”

Judah walked ahead, shoving Kain’s shoulder aside. He passed by, not even looking back to see what shock he left them with. He sighed and looked up at the sky. It was clear and blue.

‘I have to leave this place tomorrow.’

He was all done with everything. He gave his farewell to Kaseun and the Lord, bought the supplies he needed, hired Jeanne as his companion, and then defeated Requiem. There was nothing more to see in this castle.

* * *

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「Status Window」

[Name: Judah Arche]

[Title: Little Hero of Serenia Castle (2)]

[Level: 23]

[Job: Black Claw _ Shadow Magic Swordsman (Hidden_A)]

[Number of resurrections: 2]

[Strength: 41(C) / Potential A]

[Health: 41(C) / Potential S]

[Agility: 43(C) / Potential SS]

[Magic Power: 43(C) / Potential B]