Rex could not withstand the collective madness.
Ultimately, he decided to enter into a Divine Contract with all the test subjects, including Duke.
Divine Contract.
It was not a temporary contract like those made with mercenaries, but a contract between lord and vassal.
The vassal swears loyalty to the lord, and the lord swears respect to the vassal.
The weight of this magical contract is never light.
It is akin to a promise that, should the contract be broken, chunks of flesh will be torn from the betrayer’s heart.
If the lord abandons the vassal, the lord will have to sacrifice their life span and rank; the same applies in reverse.
Because of the immense responsibility, Divine Contracts are rare in today’s world; verbal agreements are far more common.
This is because most vassals must be ready to betray their lord depending on the situation, and lords must be willing to abandon their vassals at any time.
But Rex had entered into this contract with numerous test subjects.
This was due to Rex’s belief.
“Because I said I’d take responsibility.”
If he can’t take responsibility, he won’t get involved from the start. But if he promised to take responsibility, he will definitely follow through.
He never considered verbal agreements from the beginning. It was because he anticipated the Divine Contract, and thus avoided people due to the burden it carried.
That was before, though.
“I pledge eternal loyalty!”
Many soldiers prostrated themselves before Rex.
After completing hundreds of contracts, Rex turned his head toward Duke due to exhaustion.
“It’s just you left, Mr. Duke.”
Duke nodded and knelt before Rex.
Towards this Duke, Rex offered a slightly more special contract.
“One of my unique abilities relates to contracting…”
“I will gladly accept anything.”
“Let me explain a bit… It’s called an Oath…”
Rex began explaining the Oath as if he were an insurance salesman.
Oath.
An even heavier and more special hero’s contract than the Divine Contract.
Naturally, this was Rex’s unique ability that could differentiate people into the classification of heroes.
According to Rex’s explanation, heroes under the Oath have conditions set by the lord engraved onto their souls.
In other words, they hand over all their beliefs and future to their lord.
However, in return, they manifest a special power through this contract.
As soon as Rex finished his careful explanation, Duke accepted the Oath without hesitation.
“Because it also came up in the original story.”
Since he was already fully aware and intended to accept it anyway, there was no room for doubt.
Thus, the Oath began between Rex and Duke.
Rex placed his hand on his chest and closed his eyes.
“Hero Duke. Do you swear to offer me your loyalty?”
“I swear upon my soul.”
With this pledge as a spell, a chain of the Oath connected between the two.
When their souls were chained together, Rex opened the interface.
“Now I need to add the tags.”
In the game, when implementing an Oath, the ruler could attach set conditions like hashtags to the hero.
This allowed the system to prohibit certain behaviors or tasks, thereby reducing the probabilities of betrayal or rebellion.
However, attaching too many conditions wasn’t a good idea either.
If mishandled, the hero could end up with more restrictions than freedoms and turn into a fool, and the hero’s goodwill would plummet significantly.
Besides, the banned conditions weren’t absolute.
The conditions were merely etched into the soul to make the hero feel they don’t want to do them; it doesn’t mean the hero will be completely helpless.
This was a lesson Rex learned from his early gaming days when he messed with the wife and dog of a hero despite the conditions, leading to the downfall of his nation.
In short, the ability to appropriately manage the conditions of an Oath is a measure of a ruler’s competence.
“But I’m a 30,000-hour veteran!”
The lost-soul player who poured all his sleep and daily life into Hell Online carefully adjusted the conditions with Duke, remembering his identity.
“First, <Betrayal Prohibition> is a basic must.”
“<Independent Judgment Prohibition>… No, applying this to a lone-man-army type of hero would ruin them.”
“<Personal Troop Command Prohibition>… Ah… Even though it’s a pity because his charisma is high, the troops Duke raises would definitely be highly capable.”
“<Rank Promotion Restriction>. This too, no way. I want to take this until the endgame content; it would be wasteful to hold such a person back.”
After considering various options, there weren’t many conditions suitable for Duke.
In the end, the only remaining conditions were <Loyalty Oath>, <Betrayal Prohibition>, <Rebellion Prohibition>, which were broad and offered diminishing effectiveness.
===========
[Summary of Oath Effects]
<Loyalty Oath>, <Betrayal Prohibition>, <Rebellion Prohibition>
[Aggregate]
Betrayal Probability: -5%
Rebellion Probability: -3%
===========
This was a loosely agreed upon Oath equivalent to placing water and praying to the heavens and earthly spirits that there would be no betrayal or rebellion.
“Feels unstable…”
Nevertheless, Rex decided to proceed this way.
He trusted the humanity of Duke as a person.
“This is not a game.”
When Rex pressed the confirm button, the sound of a clear, resonant ‘clang!’ echoed, and the chain of souls disappeared.
It hadn’t vanished but had merely become invisible to the naked eye.
Following the establishment of the Oath, Duke’s status window was renewed.
Now Rex could review the previously concealed abilities of Duke.
With trembling hands, Rex opened Duke’s information.
“Let’s go.”
===========
Name: Duke I. Erwick (<>)
Age: 247
Race: Human
Level: 99
.
.
.
[Tendency]——(NEW!)
– <Loyalty (Inactive)> -> <Loyalty S>
.
.
.
[Karma]——(NEW!)
: +390
==================
Seeing Duke’s abilities, Rex was filled with joy.
The newly updated items in Duke’s status window were gleaming with a golden light, welcoming Rex.
“Wow, karma +390?! How much good karma have you accumulated?”
Karma is the system of karma in this world.
It decreases as you do bad things by the thousands, turning negative, and increases with good actions, becoming more positive.
This game system is designed to prevent exploitation or massacres of conquered territories.
This same system that applies in the game is also effective in this world.
Certainly, a low karma value doesn’t mean lightning will suddenly strike from a clear sky or that divine punishment will be directly delivered.
“No matter what, the more calamities increase.”
Your domains may suffer from poor harvests, be ravaged by locust swarms, or experience a higher failure rate in equipment enhancement and research.
Not only that, but rebellions are more frequent, and supply routes may be accidentally discovered by the enemy.
“Moreover, if the karma turns negative, it even encourages the stronger to hunt the weaker.”
When both karma values are positive, hunting is not encouraged.
For example, if someone with +200 karma kills someone with +100 karma, the +200 karma individual’s karma will decrease.
But in cases where both karma values are negative, if someone with -100 karma kills someone with -200 karma, it is judged as righteous, raising their karma value.
In other words, the system encourages the dirty to hunt each other.
Because of this system, those who accumulate a lot of bad karma may suddenly face confrontation from a much stronger opponent seeking to accumulate good karma by fighting them.
“The people in this world disregard this karma… ”
Though the karma system is widely known, even to the people of this world.
It’s even taught in academy lectures.
It’s just that there’s a prevailing idea that the karmic repercussions can be overshadowed by overwhelming growth.
The moment someone steps onto the path of superhuman development, their artificially prolonged life span quickly catches up to them.
As a result, superhumans frantically seek efficient methods to elevate their level, willingly enduring the karma penalties that come from evil deeds in their pursuit of advancement.
For them, karma is not a measure for accumulating merit but a standard to avoid inefficient evil actions.
“But it’s important to me.”
During his academy days, all other students disregarded karma when formulating strategies, but Rex was different.
Rex neither wanted to suppress impending calamities with level-ups nor become a barbarian.
Thus, Duke’s karma value was extremely heartwarming for him.
“If your virtuous deeds are this significant…”
Hiring Duke would bring enormous good fortune to himself.
The chances of fortifying structures, enhancing equipment, or succeeding in research would drastically increase. There would also be a higher probability of meeting good people.
At +390, simply erecting a Duke statute would guarantee a bountiful year in the primary industry of the city.
“And look at this trust value.”
========
[Trust Value]——-(NEW!)
Loyalty: 140/100
Disobedience to Orders: ???
Betrayal: -250%
Rebellion: -370%
========
A loyalty breaking all limits makes the chances of rebellion or betrayal so low that an underflow might need to be worried about.
In short, Duke was practically a cheat hero designed for easy mode.
“Good decision hiring him…”
At that moment, Rex began noticing strange texts emerging before him.
Lost in the golden glow of the trust value, he had failed to notice other values.
===========
Name: Duke I. Erwick (<>)
Age: 247
Race: Human
Level: 99
[Combat Abilities] —-<
Intellect: 94
Skill: 98
Mind: 109
Strength: 101
===========
"Huh?"
Too surprised to hold back, Rex exclaimed out loud.
First, the stats.
Some stats exceeded 100, which was typically impossible through normal means.
The only one he could understand why the Mind broke 100 was...
"Madness..."
However, when compared to the titles below it, the abilities exceeding 100 were practically irrelevant.
=============
[Titles] ----<
<13 Celestial Overturners - Heavenly Star Great Star Snake Star King (天震大星 蛇星王)>
<Usurper of Dragons (El Usurpador de los Dragones)>
<Fortress Predator (Citadel Predator)>
<Blood River Dragon Mountain (龍山血河)>
<Nightmare that Wanders Hell (Incubus Tartari Errans)>
<Conqueror of the Twelve Labors (Triumphator Duodecim Laborum)>
.
.
.
===========
’13 Celestial Overturners???’
Seeing those words reminded Rex of something he had learned in the history lectures at the Academy.
Thousands of years ago, the great conqueror Yallat Khan waged war and unified the world’s continents, founding his legacy upon which the Empire was built.
The Hexion Empire, which once ruled over 40% of the world, was destroyed 100 years ago, and nobody could have predicted that just 13 monsters would bring it down without a single soldier or army.
Thus, they earned the title 13 Celestial Overturners.
Twelve of them became rulers, but one, the only one who died, was…
“Why are you here????”
Rex’s heart started racing. He realized that the apparently righteous but insane hero was actually a sealed nuclear missile.
Then Rex noticed the (<>) button that appeared next to Duke’s name.
Swallowing hard, Rex pressed the button with trembling hands.
Shuffle.
The sound of paper flipping turned the page.
======
Name: Ophir
======
“Damn, it’s real. Ophir, the snake that devours the land.”
The greatest rebel who destroyed the Empire became Rex’s first vassal.
“Dear heavens…”
Rex’s vision turned dark.
If it’s hard to betray once, wouldn’t it be even harder to do it twice?
‘I’ve become the second father of Lü Bu…’
That wasn’t all the problem.
His vision turned dark just finding out he was Ophir, but the titles further below were alarming.
Rex corrected his assumptions about Duke.
He wasn’t a knight destined to become a Demon King but a retired knight who used to be.
Frightened, Rex’s fingers instinctively moved toward canceling the contract.
Even if canceling it now would cost him life span and rank, it would still be better than risking bigger problems down the line.
But then…
An unavoidable, yet unwanted, guidance sound reached Rex’s ears.
<The Hero's skill due to the Oath has been activated!>
A system where a hero with a certain level and conditions fulfilled through the Oath awakens a unique skill.
The problem was the timing.
“Why now? I haven’t done anything yet???”
Regardless, a bright, energetic guidance sound resounded.
<The Loyalty and Madness characteristics have merged!>
<Congratulations! The Rex Carnifex EX skill has been activated!>
Rex Carnifex?
He’d never heard of that skill.
Rex checked its contents with trembling hands and couldn’t help but think to the guidance.
“Don’t congratulate me, damn it.”
<Duke's Perspective>
Right after establishing the Oath.
Duke nodded satisfactorily as he felt the power of the Oath permeating his soul and body.
“Finally!”
How long had this waiting period been?
As it turned out, Duke hadn’t been a wandering knight for even a hundred years.
Before that, he had gone through countless identity changes, monopolizing all sorts of chances.
During that time, he had raced ahead like someone attempting a perfect time attack, risking his life.
Even by the standards of this world’s people obsessed with chances, he was seen as crazy for his actions, regardless of the means.
Despite all that, he had to keep his wits about him and manage his karma.
He didn’t mess with the opportunities meant for novel characters, consumed all the game-based opportunities available, and still carefully avoided tampering with the flow of the original story.
There were many battlefields where he wanted to run wild, but he restrained himself, worried about the butterfly effect.
Still, the one time he enjoyed was during the Empire’s fall, where, discovering their existence was erased in the novel by the 12 Celestial Overturners, he subtly involved himself as Ophir, subtly cooling the situation off.
‘That was the most fun.’
After that, for the last hundred years, he lived quietly while changing identities.
Since then, his activities as wandering knight Duke mostly involved vigilante roles, avoiding major battlefields he yearned to participate in.
“Not anymore!”
No more need to worry about the butterfly effect, and no need for more chances since he already had enough.
He only had one final role left as the ultimate boss.
“Freedom!”
Spending his entire life for this moment wasn’t an exaggeration.
Is this how people feel when they put all their life savings into Bitcoin and hit the jackpot?
Duke turned his gaze onto Rex, who was trembling before him.
“You’re my lifelong pension.”
His eyes began gleaming with madness, suppressed until they left the research facility.
After all, there was no longer any need to restrain himself.
“I’ll never let you go.”
Even if Rex cried and pleaded not to become an emperor later, it would be fruitless.
Duke was determined to recreate a golden throne if Rex died, crowning him emperor.
“You are my life’s work…”
It wasn’t just about a retirement pension.
Two hundred years of sunk costs.
The plan for future final boss side characters with Duke as the main character.
The subordinates Rex could have had early on.
All of these need Rex to exist.
Duke’s chest became filled with another kind of loyalty.
And it was the synergy between this resolve, Rex’s abilities, and Duke’s potential that resulted in the activation of an EX skill.
================
<Cruel and Beautiful Blade of Loyalty - Rex Carnifex> EX
Description
– The skill granted to someone who has spent a lifetime living solely to meet one lord.
– It is both a vow he made to himself and a curse, blessing, and grace.
– Although described as loyalty, it is indistinguishable from fanaticism.
Effects
– Additional bonuses apply to all action judgments while following the lord’s orders.
– Abilities are halved while acting against the lord’s orders unless it is for the lord’s benefit, in which case additional bonuses apply.
– Immunity to bewitchment, fear, or sleep that goes against the lord’s orders.
Caution!
– If loyalty is not reciprocated, a penalty heavier than betrayal will be imposed on the Lord!
– Likely to lead to outcomes not intended by the Lord!
– High ranks can cause physical and mental degeneration!
– This skill affects the hero’s subordinates as well!
================
Naturally, without a status window, Duke could not perceive the changes happening within his body.
But the person observing these real-time changes couldn’t help but think something absurd.
“What is this, a bug? Why? How???”
Rex hastily withdrew the finger that was moving toward canceling the Oath.
He couldn’t even guess what might happen if he suddenly canceled the Oath with this incomprehensibly mad person.
“Damn, what sort of world line is this?”
Rex, who didn’t follow any religion, suddenly yearned desperately for some sort of deity right now.
Of course, the Jesus of this world didn’t exist, and there was no response waiting for him.
There was nothing Rex could do but curse the unanswered sky.
“Huh…”
Rex was 30 years old.
His journey was just beginning.
