Record of a Thousand Lives

All of the demonseventually died, butthatcame at a cost—the lives of three of the five heroes.

“You and I are the only ones who survived,”the Grand Alchemist, Minerva said as she held onto her bloodied arm.

“I see,”Sirian replied.He, on the other hand, did not seem to have taken any damage at all.

Minerva took a deep breath as she leaned on a rock. However, asshe was collecting her breath while slumped against the rock; she suddenly felt a burning sensationin her chest. She looked down at her chest, and to her surprise,she saw a spear tip protrudingfromit.

“Keheok…!”Minervabarely managed to stand up, as she was about to collapse. She looked at Sirian with eyes full of anger and said,“AsI expected…It was you…You were the one trying to open the doors of Pandemonium…”

“You’re right. You’re too sharp, Minerva. You should’ve just died to the demons, just like theothers. Now I have to kill youwith myown hands,”Siriansaid.

“What are you trying to achieve…? Why?! Why did you betray us…?!”Minerva asked,barely hanging on to life.

Sirian twisted the spearthat penetrated Minerva’sheart, and she threw up blood before collapsing. Sirianflickedhis spear to rid it of her blood and said,“Don’t worry, the doors of Pandemonium won’t open—yet. There are still many things that have to be prepared to summon the Demon Lord over to this side.”

Therecordingended. It endedwhen people were mostcuriousaboutwhat happened next.

Shaneth could not close her mouth, in disbeliefatwhat she had just seen. The Sirianwho had beenshown in the final parts of the video was especially shocking. Sirian, the king of all things, was known to always be a righteous and just leader; however,that Sirian had betrayed the heroes and tried to open the doors of Pandemonium?

It was not only Shaneth who was shocked beyond belief. Everyone else in the tent, except for Kang Yoon-Soo, felt the same way.Ramax was the first one to snap out of his shock. He said,“Everyone, write down what you’ve seen just now.”

The people in the tent took outnotebooks, parchment, ink, and pens,then proceeded to write down what theyhadseen. Some of them wrote down the events that had transpired in the video,othersmadesketches of theAncientHeroes, andstill, otherswrote down thespeech patternsand mannerisms of theAncientHeroes.

“What will you do with that?” Shaneth asked.

“We have to record it as a part of history, because I don’t think we can see that vision ever again. We’ll submit this to the royal historian, to requestthat it berecorded as part of history,” Ramax answered.

“But will people believe it? Will they believe that the greatestof the Ancient Heroesbetrayed humanity?” Shaneth asked, concerned.

“Although that’s the truth, nobody will be willing to believe scholars like us. What the people want is a hero to look up to,”Ramax said. He then continued,“However, History must never lie, no matter how embarrassing and shameful it is. Don’t you agree?”

Ramax’s words that day wouldlinger inShaneth’smind for a very long time.

***

“Hiya! Haap!”Numerous youngsters were training hard at the military training center.

Henrick watchedthe yelling and grunting trainees from a distance. Helookedat them with eyes full of pity as he thought,‘What a waste of time.’

Hewas buriedin a pile of trash, as usual.He did not choose to be buried intrashbecause he liked it;rather, he always happened to find himselfin that situationafter sobering up.

“I guess they call it homing instinct[1], justasa bird returns to the land it was born,” Henrick grumbled as he stood up.

Just then, a man and a woman appeared in front ofHenrick.“What do you want?” he asked.

“I’ve brought theAncientStone,” the man replied.

“What?” Henrick tilted his head and added, “I don’t think I’m still drunk, though…?”

Kang Yoon-Soo quietly took out theAncientStone from his backpack. The stoneappeared to be unwieldy, as it waslarge and difficult to carry with one hand.

Henrick was surpriseduponseeing the stone, and he immediately proceeded to inspect it.“Look at this punk.You really managed to bring the real thing,” he said as he looked at Kang Yoon-Sooquestioningly.“Can you refine it?” he asked.

“Yes,” Kang Yoon-Soo replied.

“Do it then,”Henricksaid as he took out a sculpting knife and gave it to Kang Yoon-Soo.It looked like an old sculpting knife on the outside, but the engravings onits blade and hiltgave it a mysterioussenseof elegance.

Kang Yoon-Soo receivedthe sculpting knife, holding it the way one would wield a short sword.

“Ah… Stop, stop,” Henrick suddenly said, wavinghis hand as he scratched his cheek. Headded,“It's top-tiermaterial, after all… We can do better than a dumpster, don’t you agree? I know a place;follow me.”

Henrick brought the two to a rather unique pub. Thepub’s interior decorationwas very luxurious, and its patrons were quite laid back as they drank; however,none of them seemed to be bothered by the fact that Henrick looked like a homeless beggar. That was how often Henrick came to thepub.

An elfwearingalow-cutdress walked toward them as they entered the pub,sayingin an elegant tone, “Henrick, pay your tab.”

“Geez… SisterLatensha, is that all our relationshipis worth?”Henrickanswered in a dramatic voice.

“Is there anything else more important than money?”the elfreplied, raisingan eyebrow.

“Well, if we think about how so many friendships disappeared like snowflakes under the sun when I asked them to be the guarantors formy tab, then I guess you’re right,” Henrick replied.Latensha lightly flicked his forehead, and he giggled like amadmanbefore going up to her ears and whispering something in secret.

Shaneth was warily looking at the man as she muttered under her breath, “I noticed it from the start…But he is a strange one…”

Latensha nodded after listening to Henrick’s whispered words. Henrick thenwalked toward the stage that was usually used by bands or bards. He placed theAncientStone in the center of the stage as he shouted loudly, “May I have your attention,please?I’ve brought you something amazing today!”

Henrick clapped his hands as he shouted, drawingthe attention of the bar patrons. He thensteppeddown from the stage as he pointed toward theAncientStone, saying to Kang Yoon-Soo,“Cut it over there. Just keep in mind that if your skill ends up being pathetic, you’re not the only onewho’ll look like a fool.”

KangYoon-Sooslowlystepped ontothe stage, and the bar patrons started to get rowdy.

“Boo! What the hell is that greenhorn doing?”

“Henrick, you son of a…! Do it yourself if you want us to watch an artisan show!”

However,Kang Yoon-Soo started to cut theAncientStone with Henrick’s sculpting knife. His movements were precise and quick, and theunwieldystoneslowlystarted totransforminto a glowing gem.

The bar patrons started to quiet down as he busily moved his hands;they were left speechless and in awe by the time the stone started to turn into a jewel.

“Hey! That punk is better than he looks!”

“Henrick! Is he your disciple by any chance?”

“I think he’s better than Henrick. Haha!”

Kang Yoon-Soo cut the gem on the spot, and the Ancient Stone of Requiem, whichhad beennothing more than a large, unwieldystonemoments before,started to exude a bright purple light.

[Supreme Gem of Requiem]

A magic gem made by carving anAncientStone. An intense power of death resides in it, and the power it holds will be immediately released once the gem is broken. In addition, the user will turn into an undead being if they consume the gem by swallowing it. However, they will not be able to revert back to theirpreviousform.

[You have gained an achievement through your handiwork.]

[A new skill, ‘Artisan Crafting’, has been created.]

[Artisan Crafting]

Skill Level: 1 (00.00%)

You may create various artisanal items by crafting materials.

[You have cut the ‘Supreme Gem of Requiem’.]

[You have gained a great achievement.]

[Your ‘Artisan Crafting’ skill level has greatly increased.]

[Your ‘Artisan Crafting’ skill has leveled up.]

[Your hand speed during crafting has increased.]

[Your ‘Artisan Crafting’ skill has leveled up.]

[The success rate of crafting has increased.]

[Your ‘Artisan Crafting’ skill has leveled up.]

[The success rate of sculpting gems has increased.]

[Your ‘Artisan Crafting’ skill has leveled up.]

[Necklaces, rings, bracelets, trinkets, and other accessories you craft may be bestowed with additional stats and attributes.]

[Your ‘Artisan Crafting’ skill has leveled up.]

[You may use your ‘Artisan Crafting’ skill in conjunction with other crafting skills.]

[Your ‘Artisan Crafting’ skill has leveled up.]

[You have gained the ability to appraise hidden options in artisanal goods.]

Kang Yoon-Soo’s‘Artisan Crafting’ skill had increased by seven levels. It was only possible because hehad beenable to cut theAncientStone without even having the basic crafting skill.Heslowlystepped down fromthe stage.

Latensha seductively walked toward him.“Youhave amazingtalent. I would say you’re the best artisan I’ve ever seen in my life. Would you be willing to make something for me?” she asked.She sounded as if she wereabout to give out a secret quest just for Kang Yoon-Soo.

However, Shaneth walked toward the elfand saidwith a bright smile, “No, we have a long way to go in our travels, and we already have a quest on top of that.”

“Oh dear, that’s a shame,” Latensha replied as she stroked her soft cheek.

Henrick was seated at a corner table;the two walked towardhimand sat across from him. He looked at Kang Yoon-Soo with a strange gaze, saying,“There’s no doubt I have to acknowledge your skills. I was skeptical, but who knew you would really be a skilled Artisan?”

“I don’t have a class,” Kang Yoon-Soo said.

“Youdon’t have theArtisan class with those skills? Kids these days have a thing for wasting talent, eh? Which fool taught you, for you to still bejobless even with those skills?”

Kang Yoon-Soo gazedintentlyat Henrick, lost in memory,before saying,“You.”

“What?” Henrick asked, perplexed.

“Nothing,” Kang Yoon-Soo said.Henrick looked back atKang Yoon-Soo strangely as heraised his mug. Kang Yoon-Soo ordered strong alcohol as well, and began drinking quietly.

Shaneth broke the ice, as the men were only wasting their time drinkingquietly.“So, when do you plan to hand the heirloomoverto us?”

“I should give it to you since you fulfilled the quest, but there is one tiny problem…” Henrick began.

“What is it?” Shaneth asked.

“Where are you guys headed?” Henrick asked.

“The capital of the empire, Deferon,” Kang Yoon-Soo answered.

“Good;take me with you,” Henrick replied.

“Sure,”Kang Yoon-Sooanswered.

“Really? Then have another swig! But why are you speaking so informally to me?” Henrick frowned and asked.

“Because you’re now a party member,”Kang Yoon-Sooanswered as he took another sip of alcohol.

“Hmm…Not that it matters,” Henrick muttered.

The men quietly shared drinks, and only Shaneth wasleftperplexedby therecent developments.“Hold on! You want to come with us?!”sheprotested heavily.

“Why? Are you two lovers or something?” Henrick askedteasingly.

“No!”Shanethjumped up and heavily denied it.

“Then let’s go together. It’s good to have an old man alongon yourtravels, right?”Henrick remarked. He then added,“My family’s heirloom isinthe capital anyway, and you’ll definitely need my help to find it.

“Besides, I was planning on going to the capital anyway. It’s boring to travel alone, and I won’t have to worry about getting lost after getting drunk if I havetravelingcompanions,” he concluded.

“You want to travel with us for that reason…?”Shanethasked, stunned as if she had beenhit on the head with a hammer.

“Do we need any grand reason to travel around? Then what about you guys? Are youtravelingto save the world or something?” Henrick asked.

“Yes,” Kang Yoon-Soo replied.

“What bullshit are youspouting?” Henrick exclaimed.

“It’s nothing…”Shaneth sighed as she shook her head in defeat.

Had this beenKang Yoon-Soo’s plan all along? She was not really against Henrick joining them, but she wondered what kind of role Henrick, who was an Artisan, would play in their journey.They were not out and about on a normaljourney; rather,they were on it to fulfill a legendary quest.

Then again,they were not short on combatants, and Henrickwouldbe the one feeling like an outcastinthe end, anyway.

1.The term refers to ‘the ability to return home from a great distance’(Merriam-Webster); it’s mainly used to describe animals’ instinctive ability to find their way home, but it’sused in Korea to describe how a drunk person manages to find their way back home, barely conscious and without any recollection the next day.👈