The Grand Duelist

The Great Wandering Bard completed his speech and a system notification appeared right before Joseph's eyes.

[A certain someone has talked of your glorious past to the masses!]

[Your Reputation has increased by +100!]

"Wow, the guy just exaggerated my experiences and he managed to make me even stronger than before? I must meet him! He could be a great nest egg for my future." Since the Great Wandering Bard admired him, the myth whom he talked about in his epic.

Joseph now had a plan in his mind...

When everything was done and over.

The Great Wandering Bard walked towards the back of the restaurant, causing panic to Joseph who obviously didn't know where the backdoor of the restaurant led.

"Shit, I'll go and ask!" He inwardly cursed before standing up and approaching a stranger within the restaurant.

"Ah, sir. Can I ask about something?" Joseph politely said.

The stranger who looked to be a farmer in the Village turned to look at Joseph and smiled when he realized Joseph's identity: "Ah, you must be the respected person that helped us drive those pesky wolves away! What a coincidence, to think that I'd have the grace to meet someone as respected as you here!"

The NPC suddenly talked about a bunch of unrelated topics that irritated Joseph to no end. However, since he knew that his reputation may be further ruined if he snapped at the NPC.

He kept his amiable facade before asking once again.

"I don't deserve your praise, sir..." He clasped his hands together and bowed before saying: "I want to ask you sir about where can I enter the restaurant from the backdoor? Is it directly opposite from the entrance or are there some secrets about it which someone couldn't possibly know?"

The NPC who looked to be a middle-aged man laughed out loud and said: "Of course it's directly opposite from the main entrance!"

"This is just a small restaurant and bar, why would they construct a maze leading to the exit of their backdoor. That just doesn't make sense! You're a good joker, respected one!"

He even patted the shoulder of the irritated Joseph who realized that he was just being cautious. But could you really blame him about this? The Great Wandering Bard was called Great for he had indescribable value to the world of Victory.

How could he be alone? No- how could a weak bard be alone?

Wait, a weak bard?

Why am I assuming that he's weak just because he's a bard?!

Joseph jolted out of his seat as he rushed towards the exit.

The Great Wandering Bard, just from his title alone. It makes sense for me to assume that he's always alone and without an abode. In that case, would he really hire escorts for the long-term?

But since he's confidently travelling alone in the troubled waters of the Kingdom...

He must be strong!

Joseph's excitement bubbled. He knew that the Great Wandering Bard admired him, and so...

He had the idea of making that Great Wandering Bard as his subordinate.

Having such a powerful NPC as his subordinate, wouldn't that be great?

His excitement reached the peak and when he finally reached the opposite side of the restaurant. He found the Great Wandering Bard walking along a quiet alley.

The alley looked dark and a putrid stench was coming out of it. But the Great Wandering Bard didn't look particularly bothered about it. In fact, he was calmly walking inside the dark alley where dangers lurked within even in broad daylight.

"Oh? There's someone willingly courting death?"

"Wait, bro. He entered this place willingly. I think it's safer to assume that he's someone strong."

"Don't use logic here my friend, we're just mere side characters in this novel that wouldn't probably be mentioned once again."

"???"

"Oh, here he comes!"

A bunch of floating reddened eyes suddenly appeared amidst the darkness.

Joseph's expression changed, but instead of rushing to help the old man...

He just stood behind and observed what was about to happen.

...

Kayn was just an average player. He played Victory for the sake of fun, and because of it. He never took any NPC seriously. In fact, he frequently harassed female NPCs to the extent that his reputation degraded to minus values.

So what?

Kayn never cared about it. He just wanted to have fun. But now that his name was infamous throughout the entire Kingdom due to his mischiefs. The fun that he had previously, was now snuffed out.

It was because a Duke of the Kingdom released a Kill Order against him.

As a result, not only the NPCs wanted his head.

Even stronger players that wanted to snuggle up to a powerful noble took that quest and hunted Kayn for his head.

But of course, the Kayn that wanted to have fun didn't let himself be trampled upon by a bunch of players.

In fact, his powerful second class made it so that his enemies had a hard time killing him. But unfortunately, in the end...

He was still just a single person, and no man was an island.

Kayn was eventually cornered and repeatedly killed until he was back at Level 1.

Fortunately, when he was demoted back to Level 1 from being above Level 100.

The Kill Order disappeared with the reasoning that he wasn't a threat to the Duke anymore.

The disappearance of the Kill Order gave a sense of relief to Kayn, but at the same time. He felt humiliated.

Now back at square one, he made an oath that he would definitely take his revenge at that noble and kill every player that damaged even a speck of his hair back when he was still a fugitive.

But sadly, even though the Kill Order was retracted. The effects of his Reputation which was at minus values still remained.

He found it hard to enter any Village due to the fact that every NPC within those Villages suspected him of being a criminal.

He couldn't even get a quest from any NPC.

Kayn repeatedly emailed the game company behind Victory to ask for help but to no avail.

They only said that everything was his fault so, he must suffer the consequences of his actions.

And right now, Kayn became someone in Victory that lived only in the dark.

It was because whenever he revealed himself to the masses. Every NPC that found him would shout that he was a despicable criminal, and every time that happened.

Kayn would die since the Guards of those Villages would hunt him down.

In the end, Kayn found solace within the darkness and he lived with bandits who were surprisingly good-natured. Opposite of Kayn's expectations...

He expected brutality and ferocity from the fellow criminals whom he sought solace with, but what he got in return were kindness and understanding.

At that point in time, Kayn made another oath to himself.

"I must cleanse the crimes of my brothers so that they can finally escape the darkness and live in daylight!"

That oath happened a year ago, but even now. Kayn was still in the process of pursuing his promises.

But of course, Kayn never gave up, even once. He knew that if he gave up. He'd become the trash that he was back at the outside world here in the world of Victory.

If he also became trash in the world of Victory whom he considered as his second world and solace from the darkness that surrounded him in reality. Could he still really say that he should live? Wouldn't he be just a waste of oxygen?

Kayn hardened his resolve and looked at the incoming NPC. The NPC had a ukulele on his shoulder and the NPCs expression looked indifferent as if he was drunk and senseless.

Kayn found it hard to harm those that couldn't fight, but for the sake of his brothers.

He must fight and steal so that they could live.

Kayn was a player so, even if he died. He could just resurrect. But his brothers were different. This was the reason why almost everything that Kayn acquired from his stealing.

He always surrendered them to his brothers so that they could eat decent meals.

"I'm sorry, sir!"

Kayn jumped out of the darkness and aimed at the NPC's kneecap.

He aimed to incapacitate not to kill.

After all, he only needed the money...

Not the life of the NPC.

His body moved like he was a fish in waters whenever he's in the darkness. He quickly reached the side of the NPC and sent a stab towards the NPC's kneecap.

But when he realized it, he found that the NPC had disappeared.

'Wait, where did he go?' Kayn panicked, the NPC was stronger than he expected. But he quickly recovered from his shock.

His mentality that endured countless humiliation and disgrace wouldn't break so easily against an unknown enemy.

He raised his head and found that the NPC that had a ukulele on his shoulder now had that ukulele on his torso. The NPC didn't say anything, he ran his fingers across the strings of the ukulele and an imperceptible power spread out.

"Ughhh..."

"What is this?"

"My strength..."

The other bandits that hid within the darkness suddenly crumbled on the ground. Strange sounds continuously rang within their ears and it made them weak.

"Is it strange, right? This is the power of sound. If you can manipulate the power of sound, none could possibly stand in front of you."

The NPC with a ukulele in his hands spoke in an eerily gentle manner. Kayn gritted his teeth, he tried standing up but he was shocked for he was also affected by the strange sound.

[You feel weak under a strange power. This is a natural phenomenon and cannot be resisted by your passive skill: "Shadow Domain"!]

"Natural Phenomenon? What he's doing isn't caused by magic but by sound?" Kayn found it hard to believe that his passive skill which neutralized most debuffs in their first application while he was within the darkness couldn't resist the strange sound coming out from the NPC's ukulele.

"He's a monster..." Kayn gulped a mouthful of saliva and stared helplessly at the NPC who now had a smile on his face.

"Since all of you dared to attack me with such malicious intent. Then all of you must be ready to die, right?" The NPC said in a cold and distant manner.

Kayn's eyes widened in shock.

He glanced at his brothers as he cried out: "Sir! If you're going to kill someone, just kill me! I'm the one that attacked you first! My brothers are innocent! You can take my life and I'll surrender it for you, just don't kill my brothers!"

Kayn who was a battle-hardened man couldn't help but shed tears amidst his desperation.

He knew that the NPC right in front of him possessed power far stronger than what they had.

That was why instead of fighting, Kayn chose to give up.

"What am I doing? Am I really someone that easily gives up? I am not like this back then." Kayn thought to himself. He couldn't help but think that what was happening was ridiculous. But it really was the truth, he wanted to give up.

But why?

It was because of his brothers.

Back when he was still alone, he'd fight his way until he died even though he knew that he had no chance of winning.

For him, back then...

A man could be defeated but never humiliated.

Giving up was the biggest humiliation for Kayn...

But now that he had brothers that could only live once unlike him who could resurrect from death.

He chose to sacrifice his life in their stead.

Even though he'd suffer triple the penalty upon death due to his minus Reputation values.

Nothing was more valuable than the lives of his brothers.

"What are you saying, brother? Why are you giving up! We aren't even giving up, yet!" One of the men who laid on the ground and couldn't move cried out in a desperate manner.

"That's right, we ain't giving up! Even if we die, as long as we died fighting then we can cross the yellow springs without any regrets!"

"Don't give up, Kayn! Fight!"

All of Kayn's brothers encouraged him. But he faced them with tears in his eyes. Even though he stayed with them for so long already.

He still couldn't understand the mindset of his brothers.

Why would they fight without valuing their life when they could only live once?

Kayn could fight recklessly for he knew that he could just resurrect, but his brothers?

No!

Once they died, then that would be the end!

Kayn gritted his teeth. He endured humiliation as he slowly raised his head and stared right at the NPC before saying: "You can kill me sir, but please. Spare my brothers." His voice sounded heavy, and one could feel the helplessness and desperation within his tone of voice.

The NPC who held a ukulele in his hand looked like he was contemplating something. But, his expression never changed.

After a short while, the NPC suddenly nodded his head and replied in a cheerful manner.

"Nah, all of you shall suffer the death sentence."

His cold voice rang clearly within the darkness and Kayn's eyes reddened. He forced his body to stand up and his dagger streaked through the dark, aiming at the NPC's heart.

Since the monster decided that they would die today. Further begging was pointless and only garnered humiliation. If the NPC really didn't care about what he proposed. Then, at least. He must buy his brothers some time so that they could escape.

"What a futile struggle."

The NPC coldly snorted and another sound wave was unleashed from his ukulele.

[You suffered tremendous damage! Your body is in a state of shock!]

[You will be Stiffened for three seconds.]

[This is a natural phenomenon and cannot be resisted by your passive skill: "Shadow Domain".]

Kayn flew backward and struck a wall. He coughed a mouthful of blood before his body slowly crumbled on the ground. In an instant, he suffered enough damage that he was now on the brink of death.

"Interesting, you're still alive after that? You really are tenacious. As expected of a bandit that only lives within the darkness. If not for that mental fortitude and that strong body of yours. How could someone maintain their sanity while living in such conditions?"

The NPC said in a sarcastic manner before raising his ukulele.

He readied a stance whilst holding his ukulele.

Kayn and his brothers felt cold and hopeless.

Their intestines turned green in regret as they stared at the NPC who was now in the process of executing them all.

Kayn's brothers stared at Kayn whose back was on the wall and all of them had the same thought...

In fact, one of them who had the least injury even cried out: "Kayn! If there's a second life, I hope that we'll be sworn brothers once again! I'll see you in my next life!"

As he shouted, tears streamed down his cheeks.

When Kayn and his other brothers heard what that man said. Each and every one of them cried like children. Everything happened so fast and it felt surreal for them.

In the face of death, these battle-hardened men couldn't endure the grief and had to cry out just so they could express their desperation.

"A bunch of men crying like babies? What a tearjerker..."

The NPC coldly mocked them in a sarcastic manner before his raised hands descended on his ukulele.

"Sound Wave Art: Relentless Sou-"

Bang!

Before the NPC could finish his attack. A figure suddenly appeared at his side and attacked. The NPC's ukulele exploded into wooden fragments as the NPC leaped backward with a serious expression on his face.

"You finally couldn't hold yourself back?"

The NPC asked in a strange manner at the person who just interrupted and destroyed his ukulele.