The Game Difficulty
Is Insane
Chapter 22
The Journey to the Capital, Istirenne
For the long journey to the capital, Istirenne, Glen chose Gray Wolf Knight Hawkney and Tasha Pelebin as his companions.
There were surely many people in Wordsworth who were far stronger, yet the reason he chose these two was simple.
‘Because they’re trustworthy.’
In fact, the two of them had once saved Glen’s life through feats only they could accomplish during a Lunatic Trial.
Hawkney had risked his life to help Glen fight the 7-star boss monster, the Ancient Rune Golem, in the secret dungeon Medlerus’s Garden.
Even though his entire body was badly burned at the time, Hawkney created an opening so Glen could land a decisive blow on the Ancient Rune Golem.
And that wasn’t all. Even after that, he used Tyrant’s Wrath and tried to carry the immobilized Glen out of the dungeon.
Of course, any Gray Wolf Knight would likely have done the same.
—Gray Wolves!
—Never abandon a member of the pack!
But Hawkney continued moving with near-mad obsession, his eyes rolled back as he lost consciousness.
That determination was more than enough to move Glen’s heart.
‘The only possible problem is that he’s a monster born from pure regulations…’
Aside from being a little inflexible, Hawkney—with his solid 5-star combat power—would be a reliable ally.
‘Tasha’s the same.’
They had trained together since the Wordsworth estate’s training grounds, and she had played a major role when Glen encountered the demon skirmish unit at the Ronian Monastery.
Even after being shot in the shoulder with an arrow infused with demonic energy, she carried out Glen’s order to release the specters in the basement.
Thanks to those freed specters, Glen was able to defeat a demon unit he had no chance of beating otherwise.
Of course, Tasha was still weak.
Compared to Hawkney, a 5-star Holy Knight bordering on 6-star, she had only three rings of holiness.
Still, Glen trusted the unique latent ability sleeping within Tasha—Cruel Vanguard.
Cruel Vanguard.
No matter the situation, the user learns a way to complete the mission, and gains additional stats while carrying it out.
That was why it was a popular latent ability even among original players.
‘It even grants bonus stats to allies who follow the user.’
Of course, sometimes the “method” involved sacrificing one’s own life—or the lives of allies.
But for now, even if she was weak, once she grew enough, she would execute any given mission more perfectly than anyone else here.
If Glen had even a little spare room, he wanted to help Tasha grow.
‘Even if they’re not party members, the more strong and reliable allies I have—like Sister Triss—the better.’
He had no intention of raising Hawkney or Tasha as party members like Romina.
Unlike Romina—one of the strongest beings in the original story aside from gods—Hawkney and Tasha had clear limits.
Honestly, the reason he brought them this time was largely to carry out his plans in Istirenne.
To deal with the multiple events happening simultaneously in the capital, he needed trustworthy allies.
‘And those two are more reliable than anyone.’
While their tendency to disregard their own lives for missions could become a problem, there was no doubt they would be a great help in Istirenne.
Clop clop clop—
Looking at Tasha and Hawkney riding behind him, Glen believed that firmly.
Three days after leaving the estate.
At the eastern edge of the Wordsworth territory, near the road bordering the Langlois territory, Glen’s group set up camp.
Crackle—crackle—
Camping out on the roadside this close to December would normally be insane, but there was little risk of freezing to death here.
Glen. Tasha. Hawkney.
These three could strengthen their bodies with holy power, so as long as the campfire stayed lit, their body temperature wouldn’t drop too fast.
Romina was the same.
The Demon Lands—home of the demons—were colder on average than the Papal State, so this level of cold was nothing to her.
‘She already runs hot anyway.’
On top of that, Hawkney handed his blanket to Romina, setting a fine example of knightly conduct.
The real problem was the last person.
“Are you okay?”
“I-I’m fine… achoo!”
Wrapped tightly in Glen’s cloak and shivering in front of the fire was Felix.
Felix the blacksmith.
The son of Gotrell, the blacksmith who forged the legendary artifact Einheria, and the finest craftsman in Wordsworth who created the epic artifact Impeus.
“You should go back—”
“I’m fine! I’ll melt this pathetic cold with my passion for masterpieces!”
“You don’t look fine at all… Do whatever you want. I’m not taking extra care of you.”
“Yes! Thank you, milord!”
Glen never planned to bring Felix.
But when Felix heard that Tasha and Hawkney had been summoned, he hurriedly packed his tools and followed them to the estate.
—No matter how well-made a sword is, it must be maintained!
—I’ll follow you and take care of your blade, milord!
Of course, Glen already knew his true goal—to observe Einheria and someday forge a sword that surpassed it.
‘That’s why he quit the Haven forge in the first place.’
Still, Glen eventually allowed Felix to come along.
An extra companion wasn’t much of a burden, and having a blacksmith he could trust in the capital wasn’t a bad thing.
‘He said he’d find a workshop himself anyway.’
Though compared to his grand ambitions, the current Felix would freeze to death without help.
“I warmed some milk.”
“Ah, thank you. Kind-hearted, just like your looks.”
Romina, who was officially a maid, was at least taking some care of him, so there was no real need to worry.
“With all due respect, you complain too much, Felix. Can you really call yourself a man?”
“A-A blacksmith isn’t weak to cold! I’m just lonely away from my forge…”
“That excuse is pathetic.”
“Ugh…”
Romina’s gaze toward Felix wasn’t warm at all.
It was the look of someone who had found the perfect toy after being stuck among nobles she couldn’t mess with.
‘He’ll manage.’
Ignoring the utterly blasphemous sight of a high-ranking demon bullying a powerless human in front of three Holy Knights, Glen shrugged.
Clang—clang!
Crackle—
Tasha and Hawkney sparring with real swords at a distance.
