The Grand Duelist

BOOM!

A thunderous roar rang out along with a fierce explosion that thoroughly decimated everything around the area.

The Great Wandering Bard had the ability to control sound. But his true strength lied in manipulating the laws of nature.

When he saw that Joseph calmly received his attack. He noticed that something was wrong and he hurriedly erected a barrier made out of earth to protect him from any unexpected attack.

The barrier that he made in his current form was out of this world. It possessed enough strength on resisting against any attacks from any enemy no matter how strong they were, but...

He never expected that the incoming attack would be his own attack.

That's right...

The ball of lightning that he conjured from the divinity that he possessed as a devout believer of the Grand Duelist was now flying towards him.

He knew that his enemy had the ability of deflecting attacks towards where it originated. But he didn't expect that it would be this atrocious.

Divinity from the Grand Duelist possessed extreme capabilities when it comes to dealing damage and penetrating objects. It could even penetrate the strongest mineral in this world.

Because of that, how could mere earth stop the onslaught of the lightning made out of that same divinity that was now coming towards him?

He hurriedly strung his ukulele, but the sound waves he unleashed disappeared like a stone dropped into an ocean when it struck the incoming lightning.

In the end, the lightning penetrated the barrier that he made and it struck him squarely on the chest as a fierce explosion occurred with him in the center which destroyed everything in the area.

Boom!

[You dealt 10,231,301 damage!]

[This is the first time that a player dealt 8 digits in damages in just a single attack! As a commemoration to this achievement. The title, [ My Power? It's over 9999! ] has been awarded. ]

Joseph didn't have the time to look deeply into the title that he acquired for he was still dumbfounded about the sheer amount of damage that he dealt with just a single Parry...

"That lightning dealt that much damage against that Great Wandering Bard? Holy..."

A shiver ran down his spine upon this realization. But his shock quickly turned to glee when he realized that he parried and deflected such a strong attack. In that case, wouldn't the quest be over right now?

He thought to himself before opening up the quest logs.

[Quest: The Grand Duelist's Vestige has been completed!]

[The mysterious veil that coats the village has disappeared.]

[You have successfully completed the Grand Duelist's Vestige's quest perfectly, without suffering any damages! You will receive rewards that are far greater than the default!]

[Before the distribution of rewards, please complete the cutscene!]

'Cutscene?' Joseph mumbled in confusion.

But he soon got his answer since the Great Wandering Bard who got hit by his own attack, slowly stood up amidst the dust.

The Great Wandering Bard still looked quite handsome despite the dust that decorated his clothes and face.

But what was more notable was that the Great Wandering Bard's face now expressed an emotion that he had never expressed before back when they were fighting.

And that emotion was admiration!

'This guy... think he finally believes who I am...' Joseph wryly smiled, while Kayn and his brothers shivered in fear.

Without any context, anyone would think differently when they saw the Great Wandering Bard's current expression. For Joseph, he displayed admiration.

But for others who didn't know more about the Great Wandering Bard, they would see nothing but excitement!

But what kind of excitement?

Well...

From the fight that happened today. Kayn and his brothers only had a single answer.

The Great Wandering Bard was excited to find someone whose strength could compare to him and so, he was excited about fighting him once again!

'Shit! Finish him! You need to finish him before he gets to move!'

Kayn and his brothers screamed in their hearts as they saw the Great Wandering Bard leaping into the air and pouncing at Joseph to do a...

"Eh?" Kayn and his brothers were dumbfounded.

The Great Wandering Bard leaped into the air and pounced at Joseph, before performing a magnificent dogeza...?

'What in the fuck is going on?!' Their eyes bulged out of their sockets once when they saw what was happening.

But Joseph who knew what was going on, felt calmer than them as the Great Wandering Bard said.

"I apologize..."

His words rang as clear as fireworks in a silent night. Kayn and his brothers felt weak in their knees, while Joseph frowned when he heard what the Great Wandering Bard had said.

"That's it? Do you really think that everything can be solved with only apologies? If everything can be solved by just saying sorry, then do we even need the police?" Joseph coldly replied to the Great Wandering Bard's apologies.

"If you want me to accept your apologies, then you need to do something. In other words, compensation! You must compensate those you harmed!"

Joseph continued and the world turned silent.

Even the Great Wandering Bard who expected a harsh punishment from the powerful Grand Duelist right in front of him couldn't help but feel confused.

'Compensation? What kind of compensation?'

Joseph raised an eyebrow and explained.

"I can't really blame you for acting like what you did against me since you're a devout lover of the Grand Duelist. So, I won't blame you for that, but you must compensate those guys!" Joseph pointed at Kayn and his brothers and they all trembled.

Even though they felt somewhat glad about the prospects of compensation. Thinking about how a monstrous demon would "compensate" them...

They couldn't help but shiver in fear.

"Ah, It's okay... We will be okay without receiving any compensation..."  One of them spoke.

"Ah, yes sir! We will be okay without any compensation as long as we can live, hahaha. Yeah right, Kayn? We're okay without any compensation, right? Right?!" One of Kayn's brother repeatedly winked at Kayn as a signal that they shouldn't ask for any compensation.

But Joseph shook his head when he heard what they said...

"That cannot be... This guy must compensate all of you properly. He doesn't really have any grudge against all of you... So what he did was completely unacceptable. All of you must be compensated by him!"

"You guys were just caught up in his anger and in the end. He used you guys so that he could lure me out from hiding..." Joseph explained to them and they finally understood why Joseph wanted to give them compensation.

"In that case, then... If that's really the truth. Then, if we asked for compensation. He wouldn't pursue us in the future to take revenge?" One of Kayn's brothers carefully asked...

If they asked for compensation today, but they'd still die in the future.

Wouldn't receiving compensation a stupid choice?

After all, one must be alive to enjoy their riches.

Everything would be useless if they're dead.

"Yes, I can promise you that he will never pursue all of you for revenge." Joseph stared right into their eyes and everyone was finally convinced about Joseph's words.

The Great Wandering Bard was currently submissive to him due to the fact that the former felt guilty about accusing him as a fake Grand Duelist.

There was a really high chance that the Great Wandering Bard would do everything that he wanted for the sake of making amends with the mistakes that he made against Joseph.

Joseph glanced at the Great Wandering Bard and the mighty Great Wandering Bard who now looked like a docile child that was currently being scolded by his mother nodded his head and said: "Yes, just as master said. I will never pursue all of you in the future for the sake of revenge."

His tone of voice felt completely sincere and Kayn's brothers were finally convinced of the truth and they couldn't help but scream out loud.

Kayn wasn't the only one confused about the sudden change of atmosphere.

Wasn't the Great Wandering Bard their enemy?

Why was his indicator, colored with green now instead of red?

And why was he so subservient towards Joseph who was his enemy?

Not only that, he's planning on giving us compensation? What the hell is going on?

Kayn's comrades felt his hesitation and they couldn't help but snicker when they saw the confusion on Kayn's face.

"Don't be so conflicted, Kayn. Now that the monster is under the control of that kind sir right there, I think that we can do something so that we can turn this tragedy into a stroke of luck."

When Kayn heard the words of one of his brothers.

His figure trembled and he couldn't help but suck a mouthful of cold air.

Looking at the Great Wandering Bard. He didn't look like a homeless vagrant anymore.

Instead, he looked like he was a member of that particular nobility since he had those pointy ears and a majestic air around him.

But right now, that so-called member of that particular nobility was currently kneeling on the ground and was even offering them some compensation for what happened today.

Even though Kayn was a player and a human. He was still a bandit within the world of Victory.

And what skills were bandits good at? Well, it was taking everything that they could from anyone.

Taking advantage was one of the specialties of bandits...

Kayn wasn't an exception to that trait.

So, now...

He finally stopped hesitating as he moved forward and said.

"Give us money..."

His words rang loud and clear.

When the Great Wandering Bard heard it.

He couldn't help but tremble as he inwardly mocked them...

'Money, money, money! Money really makes the world go around for these humans, but I just don't understand. Why are they so desperate for money when it can be earned so easily?'

Even though he mocked them inside, he didn't dare to display it outside for fear of being scolded by the Grand Duelist whom he thoroughly admired.

He waved his hand and a bunch of heavy pouches appeared in mid-air and struck the ground.

Kayn and his brothers paused when they heard the sound of gold coins within those pouches, and then...

"We..."

"WE'RE RICH!!!"

"AAAAAW YEEAAAAH!"

… A scream followed

Even Kayn who could normally maintain his calm and composed expression now had a crooked smile on his face. But the most shocked of them all was Joseph.

His eyes almost bulged out of his sockets as he stared at the Great Wandering Bard who continued waving his hand in the air.

Peng! Peng! Peng!

Several heavy-looking pouches filled with gold materialized in the air and dropped heavily on the ground.

The Great Wandering Bard stared at them before saying: "Is this... Ah, no- would this be enough as compensation, sirs?" He almost expressed his anger and contempt against these greedy humans.

Thankfully he suppressed them, or else...

Who knows what would happen if the Grand Duelist moved against him once again?

If that happened then, could he still even keep his life?

The nervous Great Wandering Bard couldn't help but glance at Joseph, and when he saw Joseph's current expression that had his eyes bulging out of his sockets. He couldn't help but shiver in fear.

'Why is Master looking like that...? Could it be that this amount of compensation is not enough? Is he angry that I am only giving them gold coins as compensation? In that case, I have no choice! I must appease master's anger!'

He gulped his pride and shame as he started stripping right in front of everyone.

"???"

Joseph's expression changed when he saw all of these happening.

But before he could speak.

The Great Wandering Bard handed over his clothes at the bandits before explaining.

"All of my clothes are made out of the finest fiber in my homeland, they are resistant to anything with the exception of divine energy. I think that should be enough as compensation, right? Fine sirs."

He glanced at Joseph once again.

But when saw Joseph's incredulous expression...

"Yeeet!"

He inwardly shrieked in fear as he hurriedly threw his shoes at the bandits then, kneeled right in front of Joseph.

"Forgive me, master! Those are the only items that I have! At least, let me keep my dignity and this underwear!" The Great Wandering Bard cried out loud.

Joseph's confusion deepened even further and this was shown through his expression so, the Great Wandering Bard thought that he was still angry.

"I really don't have anything! I really don't have anything anymore, master! All were given to them as compensation!" He cried out once again and Kayn along with his brothers couldn't help but feel pity towards the Great Wandering Bard.

"Yeah, this is enough. My friend, thank you for everything that you did for us. Not only did you save my brothers' life, but you also gave us such a lucky break." Kayn went forward and sincerely thanked Joseph on behalf of his brothers.

"Once our business at the capital of Nether is over, I will surely serve you for as long as I live. That is the only way that I can think of so I can compensate you for saving our lives." Kayn said, he glanced at the Great Wandering Bard, complex emotions flashed on his face.

"What the hell are you saying, Kayn? Are you abandoning us? We have nothing in the first place and we only have us brothers to think about. But you are leaving us? That cannot be! Wherever you go, we shall follow!"

One of Kayn's brothers stepped forward and kneeled: "When our business at the capital ends, good sir! We shall follow you along with Kayn!"

Joseph swept his gaze at them and found that they were incredibly determined: "Judging from your expressions, it looks like that business is already long overdue."

Kayn's figure trembled for a moment. He glanced at Joseph along with the Great Wandering Bard and thought: 'What if I asked for their help? If I did that, then... This mission of ours would be so easy... After all, he's a top-ranker and that NPC is literally a monster...'

But in the end, Kayn shook his head and dispelled those ideas:

'No, I cannot do that. What they gave us was already enough so that we could start our operations as soon as possible...'

'We cannot use the fact that they almost for the sake of recruiting them for our cause... I may be a bandit, but I still know shame...'

'I must do this mission with me and my brothers alone!'

Kayn reaffirmed his resolve before replying: "Yes, it has been long overdue already, good sir. But thanks to your grace, I think that we can finally do what we must do as soon as possible. Everything is thanks to you, really..." Kayn deeply bowed before saying: "May I know your name, sir?"

Joseph was taken aback by the sudden change of Kayn's tone. He felt weird about being called "sir" but he still replied with a smile on his face: "My name is Joseph, player ID 4269."

Kayn nodded his head and hurriedly saved Joseph's name in his friends list.

Afterward, both parties finally separated from each other. Joseph was left with the Great Wandering Bard who only had his shoes and underwear as his clothes.

The shoes that he was wearing now was given to him by Kayn due to fear that the Great Wandering Bard may take revenge against them due to the humiliation and shame.

"You did well suppressing your anger at them from the humiliation earlier." Joseph praised the Great Wandering Bard's mentality.

The Great Wandering Bard who received praise from the first time from the one whom he deeply admired couldn't help but shiver in joy when he heard what Joseph had said.

"Aaah... Did I really... do well?" The Great Wandering Bard replied in a muffled voice.

Joseph frowned when he saw the squirming Great Wandering Bard, but in the end.

He continued on asking: "In that case, can you give me my quest rewards now?"

The Great Wandering Bard stopped moving and turned to look at Joseph in confusion.

"Pardon me, master. But what are Quest rewards?"

Joseph facepalmed...

Of course, NPCs wouldn't know anything about quest rewards.

He must think of another way in expressing what he wanted so that it could be understood by the Great Wandering Bard.

After a short moment, Joseph asked once again:

"I am asking you to give me those that belong to me in the first place."

Joseph changed his wording and the Great Wandering Bard finally understood what he was saying.

But when he understood what Joseph meant, his expression turned weird as if he was hesitating.

Joseph frowned once again before asking: "What's wrong? Why are you not giving me what I need and deserve in the first place?" Joseph found it incredulous that an NPC was hesitating on giving out the rewards that he deserved from that ridiculously difficult quest.

He suddenly remembered Fausto for some reason and a bad premonition appeared in his mind.

"Ermmm... It's not like I don't want to give them to master, but the thing is... I gave all the materials and gold out to those bandits earlier as compensation..." The Great Wandering Bard averted his eyes from Joseph's gaze as anger, filled Joseph's heart.

"Come again?"

"Like... Like... I said, since master said that I must compensate them, then I gave them all the materials and gold that belongs to master to them as compensation... So right now, I don't have anything to give to master except these shoes and my..." He looked really hesitant to continue.

"What did you say? You gave everything to them?! YOU GAVE EVERYTHING TO THEM?! HOLY SHIT, BRO! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!" Joseph's anger exploded and he rushed towards the alleyway where the battle occurred earlier only to find nothing...

Kayn and his brothers had already disappeared.

He swiftly opened his friends list only to find nothing again for he never asked for Kayn's name, nor his player ID.

"..."

Joseph stood at the dark alleyway, looking quite lonely and sad.

The Great Wandering Bard felt guilty about what happened and he couldn't help but look up to Joseph and speak out: "In that case. If Master, really wants compensation. I can give master a different compensation but of equal value to what was lost..."

Joseph's expression changed into that of excitement. He hurriedly turned around and was astonished when he found the Great Wandering Bard hesitatingly lowering his underwear before saying: "I can only give master my chocolate starfish..."

"YAWA, What the fuck are you doing bro?!" Joseph instantly arrived at the Great Wandering Bard's side through the use of [ Dash ] and hurriedly stopped him from taking off his pants.

"I'll make this clear to you, I am straight! I don't swing that way!" Joseph scolded the Great Wandering Bard who also nodded his head and replied: "I am also straight, master. But apart from my chocolate starfish, I don't have anything of value that I can give to you..."

"Fuck off!" Joseph cursed once again before an idea suddenly came to his mind.

"If you don't have any valuables to give me... How about you give me some information that is equal in value to the rewards that I should've received if you didn't give them out to those bandits?"

Joseph still felt angry about what happened, but since it was useless crying over spilled milk. It was not good brooding over it.

The Great Wandering Bard finally stopped stripping as he thought for a moment before saying...

"How about this master? I know about the location of a Legendary Blacksmith that can create incredibly valuable and strong equipment. That guy is a true monster when it comes to that. But sadly. There are also a lot of monsters in the Kingdom of Nether and he was captured to be their blacksmith slave..."

"Of course, that guy didn't want to be a slave. But because of his unwillingness. He is imprisoned for an indefinite amount of time as far as I know..."

"I don't know anything about the prisons of the Kingdom of Nether, but I am sure that he's in the Underground Penitentiary. I mean, that's the only place where they imprison those that committed extremely heinous crimes such as patricide, and so on..."

Joseph gulped a mouthful of saliva.

He suddenly remembered the recommendation letter that Fausto gave to him. He thought that with that letter in tow. He could easily enter the Underground Penitentiary as a Jail Janitor or something, and later on...

Approach that Legendary Blacksmith.

But what a coincidence... Could a coincidence this good still be considered as a coincidence?

Joseph thought to himself, but then he suddenly shook his head as he said.

"What's the name of that so-called legendary blacksmith? What you're saying is really such a good coincidence. I have the recommendation letter of a Great Inquisitor. I could easily go in and out of the Penitentiary." Joseph was exaggerating here, but the Great Wandering Bard took it seriously.

"Really? As expected of the mighty Grand Duelist of the myths! Ah! If I only had a fraction of your power, then I wouldn't have any trouble usurping that bastard's throne in the first place!" The Great Wandering Bard suddenly spouted some things that made Joseph frown before he asked.

"What do you mean usurping thrones? You're planning a coup d'etat?" Joseph asked in a careful manner and the Great Wandering Bard merely laughed and brushed it off: "Hahaha, I'm just joking master. Me, planning a coup d'etat? That would be tantamount to courting death!"

"Yeah, right." Joseph nodded his head in agreement. Even though the Great Wandering Bard was a strong NPC that could be considered as a monster in the current phase of the game.

He wasn't the only monster in this world. Joseph was sure that there were a lot of monsters that were stronger than him.

One of them was the King of the Kingdom of Nether.

Joseph was certain that he's at least ten times stronger than the Great Wandering Bard.

"Now then, how about you tell me the name of the Legendary Blacksmith?" Joseph asked.

It was necessary for him to acquire the name of the blacksmith so that his investigations would be easier and faster.

The Great Wandering Bard thought for a moment before replying with a name that shocked Joseph: "His name? Let me think for a moment... Hmmm, what was his name again? Ah! I know!"

"His name is Krid!"

"K-K-Krid?"

"Yeah, the Legendary Blacksmith Krid!"

The Great Wandering Bard even emphasized the name of the blacksmith.

[A Hidden Quest has been generated!]

[The cutscene has ended.]

Two system notifications appeared before his eyes, but he couldn't even be bothered to read it for he was deeply thinking about something as he mumbled to himself.

"Krid, that name... Hopefully, I won't get into some copyright issues, right?" Joseph chuckled before shaking his head.

"Copyright issues? What are you saying, Master?"

"Nothing... I think we should go now..."

Joseph chuckled once more before he cleared his mind, and the two finally moved towards their next destination...

The Underground Penitentiary of the Kingdom of Nether.