Medieval Gacha Lord-Chapter 69 - 5-Star Hans
Chapter 69: 5-Star Hans
Chapter 69: 5-Star Hans
’Would I?’
Lothar subconsciously glanced at Fringilla, who was watching him with an unreadable expression. In his eyes, Fringilla was a somewhat tsundere, nonsense-spouting, occasionally foul-mouthed, and a bit of a bratty kid, yet sometimes very obedient.
But what if the restraints were removed? Fringilla would be a bloodsucking demon who took lives at will, reveled in fresh blood, and treated human life as grass.
In her settings, if she were to completely unleash herself—that is, to use her still-locked ability "Tyrant Transformation"—she would transform into a terrifying demonic monstrosity capable of extending countless fleshy tentacles to pierce enemies and draw blood, undying and indestructible as long as blood did not run dry.
How many would die at her hands? How many cities would be left as silent tombs?
"Have you thought it through?" Baldwin IV’s voice remained gentle. Though a face cloth separated them, Lothar felt as if he could see the gentle, knowing smile on the King’s face.
Lothar sighed lightly. "Your Majesty, you are not many years my senior, yet I feel as if I am conversing with a wise elder."
"Perhaps it’s because I am about to die," Baldwin IV quipped lightly, a hint of dry humor in his tone. "When a man is about to die, he always gains some new insights. Lothar, you may leave. I wish to finish this book today. Besides, you still have someone to deal with; he is quite dissatisfied with my appointment for you."
"You mean the one from the Welf family?"
Baldwin IV nodded slightly. Then, he looked towards Banu and Fringilla. "Ladies, thank you for your help. If you don’t mind, you are welcome to visit again when you have the time."
Banu nodded slightly. For this human king, she couldn’t help but feel a trace of respect. As Hell’s gatekeeper, she had grown accustomed to the ugly, grasping state of humans before death. Baldwin was a stark exception.
Fringilla also strongly agreed with Baldwin IV’s words; those filthy, ugly, barbaric, and crude werewolves were indeed "things" one wouldn’t want to become, even if it meant dying.
"We shall take our leave, Your Majesty."
Walking down the dim, cool stone corridor, Lothar felt somewhat melancholic.
Baldwin IV was right. A king, or rather, a leader, could not afford to become a beastly monster, even if the transformation only occurred once a month, because no one could control them. In other words, one’s position dictates one’s thoughts.
A lot of people, once they ascended to the elite class, seemed to transform into a different species altogether, no longer speaking for the lower classes, but instead finding new ways to oppress them alongside the upper class.
Even more so! They wished they could remove the ladder for the lower classes to climb, to make the class divide permanent.
Who could guarantee that Baldwin IV, once his very species had changed, would still be that magnanimous and benevolent monarch who treated all his subjects, even infidels, with impartiality?
But that, after all, was a chance to survive. Lothar turned back, looking at the end of the dark corridor, at the large, heavy door slowly being closed by an attendant, shutting away the lamplight. He whispered, "How could he refuse so decisively? Does he not wish to live?"
***
He hadn’t been in the inner court for long. When he came out, the sky had already darkened considerably. A thick layer of dark, heavy-bellied clouds was slowly drifting over from the distance, blotting out the last vestiges of twilight. The air carried the faint, fragrant scent of earth that precedes a downpour, a tangible feeling of suspense.
Lothar returned to the Royal Knights’ headquarters. He surveyed the Winged Hussars, each standing proudly with the Royal Knights’ emblem branded onto the chest of their armor. Finally, his gaze shifted to the front, to Hans, who had changed into a brand-new red and white surcoat.
"Hans, come with me."
"Yes, Milord."
He led Hans into the main hall of the rest area, a spacious room now lit by flickering torches, and said to Banu, "You and Fringilla stay here. Don’t let anyone in."
The main doors were shut tight, the heavy thud echoing in the sudden quiet.
"Take off your surcoat. Sit." Lothar gestured for Hans to sit on the chair opposite him.
Hans looked at Lothar weirdly, his obedience warring with his fear. He asked with some apprehension, "Milord, do you have some secret mission to entrust to me?"
"No." Lothar looked at Hans, this retainer who had followed him for the longest time after Banu, always bearing hardship without complaint, steadfast and capable. His affection had also risen rapidly. Apart from his quality being too low, which had led Lothar, after weighing the pros and cons, to never upgrade his level, he could almost be rated as a model worker. A loyal soul deserving of a reward.
"Hans, your good luck has arrived. Do you want to be promoted to 4-star?"
Hans replied without thinking, his face lighting up, "I do! Of course, I do!"
"Even if the price is becoming a werewolf?"
"A... a werewolf?" Hans paused, the initial excitement draining from his face. His expression grew somewhat complex. He whispered, "Milord, you know I am a devout believer. I grew up in a monastery since childhood."
"So, you are refusing?" Lothar asked, his voice neutral. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
Hans lifted his head. Beneath his golden hair, his eyes, surprisingly, held a hint of a wry smile. "No, Milord. That is why I know very well that those self-proclaimed holy ones are, in fact, not very holy at all."
"Just becoming a werewolf—such a price, I can accept. Besides, with you watching over me, Milord, I surely won’t turn into a beast that only knows how to eat human flesh." He knelt on one knee, extending his hands in a gesture of supplication. "I am willing to accept your grace."
Lothar placed the crystal vial in his palm. "This is no grace, but my reward for your continuous service to me."
"Milord, how should I use this? Drink it directly?" Seeing Lothar nod, Hans didn’t hesitate in the slightest, uncorked the small wooden stopper, and drank down the liquid within.
Lothar reminded him, "If it hurts, endure it. Don’t cry out."
Hans shook his head. "Milord, I don’t feel any pain. It’s just warm in my stomach, like drinking a bottle of strong liquor."
’It seems the effects haven’t kicked in yet. ’ Lothar scrutinized Hans from top to bottom. Suddenly, his gaze fixed on Hans’s eyes. Due to the darkness of the room, Hans’s amber eyes appeared exceptionally bright.
The next moment, tufts of silver-grey fur, like steel needles, pierced through his skin, spreading out like thickets. Hans let out a suppressed, low growl.
Crisp cracking sounds came from within his body as his joints expanded violently. His height shot up by a large margin, and the linen shirt on his body was directly torn apart, revealing the bulging muscles beneath. His jaw elongated; his muzzle sharpened. A mouthful of sharp fangs, like a steel saw, extended from the corners of his lips.
The system’s notification sound chimed at this moment.
[Your 1-star retainer, Hans, has been promoted. Due to his extremely high compatibility with the Werewolf Bloodline Enhancement Potion, his quality will be elevated to 5-star.]
Following that was the updated character status.
[5-Star Retainer: Hans von Sego.]
He even has a surname now, from the fief Lothar had nominally granted him, though Hans had never even been there personally, nor collected a single copper of tax.
[Quality: Epic (5-Star)
Level: 1
Affection: Trust
Strength: 25
Agility: 16
Constitution: 15
Endurance: 14
Spirit: 10]
[Talents:
Beast Intuition: As an inheritor of the werewolf bloodline, Hans possesses beast-like intuition, enabling him to instinctively choose more advantageous options even without thinking. However, this may also be exploited by enemies, leading to misjudgments on certain matters.
Werewolf Transformation: Unleash his true form, transforming into a terrifying werewolf. All attributes except Spirit will receive an all-around enhancement, with the maximum increase not exceeding fifty percent.]
[Skills:
Sword & Lance Specialization: Hans is proficient in using sword-type and lance-type weapons.
Undying Body: (Locked)
Howling Moon Werewolf: (Locked)]
[Profile: Hans, formerly a reserve knight trained in the State of the Teutonic Order, underwent rigorous knightly training from childhood and staunchly believed in the Church’s tenets. Until he met his lord, Lothar von Habsburg.
In serving his lord, Hans learned much knowledge, and the beliefs and cognitions he once firmly held were dismantled layer by layer. This led him to take the first step towards being lured into depravity.
Until one day, his devil-like evil lord asked him in a tempting tone, "Do you want power?"
The devout knight, already blinded by power, agreed without hesitation. The bloodline of an unknown, extinct werewolf family from the Two Sicilies was injected into Hans’s body.
From then on, a devout, kind, upright, and reliable knight vanished, replaced by a minion of the evil lord Lothar, a claw of the devil, consumed by bestial nature.]
Looking at the profile, which had been completely and utterly distorted, Lothar was utterly dumbfounded.
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