I Became the Guild Leader in Exile

100 – 5# Stormy Eve (3)

The all-out war between Gideon and the Law Kingdom had become an undeniable fact.

Thanks to this, each individual in Gideon began to take action. Among them, there were a few heroes who chose to leave Gideon, but they were only a minority. Most of them prepared for battle.

Just as the Law Kingdom looked down on Gideon, Gideon also didn’t particularly like the Law Kingdom. In fact, Gideon took an even more disdainful attitude towards the Law Kingdom.

The Golden Stag and the Night King, Nokx, also began to move actively. As Nokx was originally a hidden power that had been living in Gideon’s shadows, it naturally sided with Gideon.

On the other hand, the Golden Stag completely defected to the Law Kingdom’s side. The reason was due to the Law Kingdom’s immense influence. The Law Kingdom had expanded its territory through conquests.

Among them, there were countries that had surrendered to the Law Kingdom, and some that had submitted to Gideon. However, there were no countries that submitted to Gideon. Amazones was also a temporary ally.

Countries that were under Gideon’s protection began to leave one by one and join the Law Kingdom. This was because the Law Kingdom promised almost free protection and demon subjugation.

[In reality, Gideon was extorting money to a level that was almost robbery.]

[Well, if you want to renegotiate, I can listen to your story.]

“You b*stards. Trash like you.”

Zig expressed his hostility towards the countries that had betrayed them. If it were the old days when the Hades Guild was in power, the Master would have operated more reasonably.

The Hades Guild had greatly reduced the protection fees it demanded, and even offered further discounts if countries cooperated or implemented the same policies.

Of course, someone might say, “If you’re a real hero, shouldn’t you protect them for free?” That’s true. However, you need money to survive and eat.

Moreover, many heroes lost their lives while fighting demons. The Master paid condolences to their families and even provided continuous pensions.

[Here, the pensions couldn’t be increased anymore.]

[Unfortunately, that’s true. To do so, the protection fees would have to be increased…]

[That’s right, I’m sorry.]

The Master wasn’t a simple idealist. He knew how the world worked and what was needed. But that didn’t mean he gave up on his ideals.

He gradually moved towards his ideal, ensuring that there were as few victims as possible. That was the Master’s way.

However, the traitors treated the Master’s will as trash. Naturally, Zig was furious. But Isaac calmed him down.

“Calm down, Zig.”

“But, Master!”

“A true friend is someone who stands by your side in difficult times.”

“……That’s true, but…”

“Besides, don’t we have many friends too?”

Isaac’s words made Zig nod. Some people might take this opportunity to gain the upper hand or leave without hesitation, but others would stay until the end.

The Lion King was one example, and so was Elise. Amazones also remained as an ally. Other countries that had received favors from Gideon chose to stay until the end.

Although they were at a disadvantage in terms of overall power, they wouldn’t give up easily. Moreover, Loki and the others had joined the battle. Isaac tried to stop them, but…

“We’ll take back our freedom ourselves.”

Loki didn’t back down either. In reality, if Gideon lost the war against the Law Kingdom, Loki would never be able to gain the upper hand against the Law Kingdom again. That was unavoidable.

At least for now, the Law Kingdom was aware of Gideon’s presence, so Odin couldn’t go wild. But if Gideon disappeared? Then the influence of the gods on this side would also weaken.

Naturally, Loki alone couldn’t protect his children from the Law Kingdom. So, at the very least, he would take sides when there was a relatively equal power balance and defeat his enemies.

“Besides, Odin, I have a debt to repay to that guy.”

Loki wasn’t a god with a good personality, especially when it came to those who touched his children. He made a vow that day, gritting his teeth.

To those monsters who touched my children…

I’ll make them taste bitter despair someday.

At that time, when they were preparing for war.

Zic had stuck to Isaac’s side, unwilling to let go. It was already like that, but after revealing his femininity, there was no way to distance himself. Thanks to that, Isaac was at his wit’s end.

It would be better if he didn’t know anything. Once he became aware, he couldn’t help but think about it. Isaac closed his eyes and shook off the many worries that kept surfacing in his mind.

In a different situation, he could have taken his time to think and come to a conclusion. But now, with the war preparations, everyone was busy. At least until this task was over, he wanted to focus on the present.

“Zic.”

“Yes, Master.”

“No, it’s nothing.”

But it wasn’t like he could just leave Zic alone and not say anything. Thanks to that, Isaac was stuck in a dilemma.

‘I’m glad. At least Master is still aware.’

He thought it was strange that he didn’t feel anything, but it seemed that was just an illusion. Zic no longer wanted to maintain a father-daughter-like relationship. Someday, by Master’s side, he…

Zic didn’t say a word and just gazed at Isaac’s hand. He wanted to grab that empty hand of Isaac’s. He wanted to hold it and be together. That impulse arose at that moment.

“What are you doing right now?”

For a brief moment, everyone except one person didn’t react. The first to notice something strange was Isaac. He quickly made a fist and swung it with all his might.

Wham!!

The sound of fist meeting fist echoed. The opponent had countered Isaac’s movement. However, Isaac withstood it, but the opponent was pushed back instead.

“What the hell are they?!”

“Where did they come from?!”

“Do we have time to be surprised?!”

“This is crazy!!”

Wham! Bang!!

Of course, the other guild members also tried to counterattack immediately. If it weren’t for the falling lightning bolts from the sky, that is. Sasha and Yulina quickly came forward to defend against the lightning bolts.

“Huh?!”

“Yulina, are you okay?!”

“Sasha!!”

However, even the defense of the two, who were at the pinnacle of white magic, couldn’t completely block it. Cain was shocked by the sight. There was only one person he remembered who could do that.

“Can someone who can break through Yulina and Sasha’s white magic right now be already dead?!”

“What, that’s right. Now, I’ve been revived thanks to the blessing.”

Unlike before, she had pure white hair and eyes, and a smile on her face, but not a laughing expression. Veronica, who could create magic that could pierce through Isaac’s authority and deal damage, was above them.

Veronica.

The strongest witch who could create magic that could pierce through Isaac’s authority and deal damage on her own. Although her reputation had greatly fallen as the master of the Hydra Guild.

Her strength was enough to take on an entire army alone. Isaac clicked his tongue. He never dreamed that he could revive a hero whose corpse couldn’t even be found.

“Ah, Berge?”

And, surprisingly, the one who appeared in front of Zic was Zic’s father. This was something that didn’t exist in the original story. It was only the enemies that had appeared so far.

The family members who had already died in the past had never appeared. Isaac clicked his tongue and looked up. In front of Zic stood a man with black hair, proudly standing tall.

“What’s your name?”

“Zigfried.”

“……Zigfried, the legendary hero known as the Dragon Slayer.”

The legend of Zigfried was just a story passed down through oral tradition. Even in the original story, it was only mentioned in passing. But to think that he was the father of the main character, Zic…

‘From the beginning, Zic’s parents in the original story were just plot devices and never resolved.’

The thought that something had gone terribly wrong flashed through Isaac’s mind. Until now, the overall framework had not deviated much from the original story. But right now, right here, it had taken a turn.

“But what’s the point of all this?”

However, the confusion didn’t last long. Isaac’s body was already charging forward, and Siegfried responded accordingly. Their fists clashed.

“To be honest, I don’t have good feelings towards you, Siegfried.”

The fact that Siegfried was his father was acknowledged, but his actions were far from commendable. He had forced his own goals onto Isaac, suppressing his freedom and eventually abandoning him.

And what’s more…

Isaac had already made up his mind.

He was walking his own path, one that was not predetermined.

Soon, Siegfried and Isaac’s fists began to clash even more fiercely.