Chapter 304: The King Hasn’t Shown Up? I’ll Just Make One Myself!
Lately, in the Strange Tale World, Zhang Yangqing only kills things that either aren’t mentioned in the rules, or are mentioned but can be confirmed as killable. He does this to avoid making serious mistakes that could get him stuck inside the instance.
For this stage, he felt the palace was like an expanded version of the villa—complex relationships demanding more intricate solutions and plenty of intel-gathering. Because if he killed too many people here, it could destabilize the Strange Tale World and break the instance.
But the loli girl’s arrival provided the perfect fix. Anyone he killed, she could replace.
This wasn’t some wild idea that popped into his head on a whim—it was one of over a dozen plans he’d already mapped out, and the most reckless one happened to be perfectly executable now.
His original approach was simpler: to avoid accidentally killing the real king, he’d need to mingle with guests like the other Chosen Ones, “mark” suspicious individuals, and observe them acting out of character to deduce who the king was. Under normal circumstances—if they weren’t blind—this would’ve been relatively easy. But this stage’s blindness made things tricky and prone to errors. The Chosen Ones had to tread carefully, balancing boldness with caution at every step.
Because they couldn’t see, they were forced to rely on demons, even spending their own lifespans to summon them. Younger Chosen Ones had a clear advantage here, choosing survival over longevity. Older ones, with fewer years left, didn’t dare take such risks.
That was the standard strategy for clearing this stage—complex, but manageable as long as you didn’t slip up. So far, only the Magician had proven to be a trap; other pitfalls hadn’t yet been discovered.
Zhang Yangqing had originally planned to play it that way too. With more manpower than any other Chosen One, he could easily identify the king and then focus on fulfilling the king’s conditions to earn the territory.
But now, he’d changed his mind.
Finding the king is too much trouble. Why not just make one myself?
Because anyone who’d been gathering intel knew one crucial piece of information:
[No one has ever seen the king, and no one knows what he looks like.]
Zhang Yangqing had noticed this from the start, but there was a catch. If the real king produced proof of his identity, the guards and others might revolt, throwing the plot into chaos. Zhang Yangqing didn’t yet know the guards’ special abilities or whether any hidden anomalies lurked among them. These were uncontrollable variables he couldn’t resolve.
But once he learned the loli girl had tens of thousands of years of lifespan? What was there to fear?
He’d kill everyone, and she’d use the guards’ corpses as sacrifices to summon demons. Since nobody knew the king’s face, once they secured the royal regalia, replaced all the guards, and presented the king’s “true face” to the guests for their recognition, she would be the king.
Besides, this loli girl had been growing increasingly ambitious along the way. Given this opportunity, would she really refuse?
During their nighttime journey, Zhang Yangqing had heard her complain endlessly about how incompetent the king was—even expressing a desire to learn his skills and use them against the monarch. Now he was handing her the throne. If she didn’t want it, there was always a backup candidate. Heck, he could even make his guide dog the king if it came to that.
Based on Zhang Yangqing’s understanding of the Strange Tale World, the king probably wouldn’t show up early or be easy to find. If he was blending in among the crowd, he’d likely enter from outside—otherwise, if anyone spotted him emerging from the main building or appearing too early, suspicion would arise. If the king had been hiding among them from the start, some lucky Chosen One might’ve cleared the stage before the evening banquet even began.
That was exactly why Zhang Yangqing decided to raid the king’s stronghold. He wondered how the king would feel upon returning to find all his guards replaced.
So, while the other Chosen Ones were gathering intel, Zhang Yangqing would be on a killing spree.
He briefly explained his plan to the group. The two S-rank demons and the noblewoman understood and agreed to cooperate. After all, with his power, they didn’t really have a choice.
The loli girl, whose intellect seemed a bit lacking, tilted her head and asked, “Wait, what do you mean? You want me to impersonate the king? What if I slip up?”
Zhang Yangqing sighed. “Don’t overthink it. Just follow my lead.”
Even the guide dog understood, and it couldn’t fathom why the loli girl didn’t get it. My master is making you the real king—who said anything about impersonating?
But since the dog couldn’t speak to her, it simply guided Zhang Yangqing toward the wing.
And then, on Zhang Yangqing’s screen, things got truly terrifying.
The audience’s eyes widened as they watched—his approach was completely different from the other Chosen Ones, pure unadulterated violence.
The wing served as a connecting corridor between the main building and the annex. There were practically no guests here—just guards.
In a gilded hallway stood twelve guards. Their shining armor glinted under the light, adorned with complex, mysterious patterns. The crossed-swords emblem on their chests symbolized the majesty of the royal army. Their faces were hidden behind helmets, from which came deep, rhythmic breathing—like the growls of abyssal beasts. They held heavy weapons that gleamed with cold menace, making passing visitors avert their eyes.
These guards were formidable—each one stronger than a Fierce Specter, enough to make any Chosen One think twice. They were exactly the kind of enforcers mentioned in the rules—not just strong, but terrifyingly so.
Spotting someone approaching, a guard stepped forward to block the way. “This area—”
Before he could finish, a golden flash of nightmare erupted.
Clang!
A sharp, cleaving sound echoed through the corridor. Sparks flew as a blade severed the necks of all twelve guards in one stroke.
Blood sprayed from their necks, and heads thudded to the floor. Even their sturdy armor was sliced through like air.
Zhang Yangqing moved so fast that the eyes visible through the fallen helmets’ visors were frozen in sheer terror. They couldn’t fathom who—or what—could cut them down in an instant.
As the headless armored bodies collapsed, a wave of bloodlust washed over the onlookers. They swallowed hard, trying to steady their racing hearts. Even the noblewoman, seeing Zhang Yangqing fight for the second time, and the loli girl, who’d witnessed it many times before, took deep breaths. If not for the coppery scent of blood hitting them, they might’ve thought they were dreaming.
In some people’s eyes, these two women were already fearsome beings. But standing before him, they felt that “fragile” was the only word to describe them.
Staring at the corpses as she used her lifespan to summon demons, the loli girl marveled, “I can’t believe this level of combat is coming from a blind person.”
The noblewoman blinked. “Wait… he’s blind?”
“Wait, you didn’t know?”
“You never said! I really had no idea he was blind!”
The noblewoman was dumbfounded. She’d been with Zhang Yangqing for quite a while now, and she’d never once realized he couldn’t see.
The guide dog turned back and gave her a look that said, And what exactly do you think I’m here for?
The noblewoman rolled her eyes, as if to reply, And you call yourself a guide dog?
The dog had no comeback. Touché. It had been slacking off all this time.
Other guide dogs fought tooth and nail for their masters, killing countless natives. Zhang Yangqing’s dog, on the other hand, had only one assist—and that was just finishing off a nearly dead enemy. Not because it didn’t want to help, but because its owner was too strong!
Zhang Yangqing could pinpoint the guards’ positions just by listening to their breathing. And where there was breathing, there was a neck—a perfect target. Before this, he’d told the loli girl to keep quiet. The reason? “If you don’t want to get caught in the crossfire, don’t make a sound.”
The right wing had three floors. Thirty-three guards, plus a formidable captain—all slain.
Now, the demons the loli girl had summoned wore the guards’ armor, standing at their posts and keeping others out—since these demon guards followed her orders.
After clearing that section, they quickly made their way to the main building. It was even more dangerous than the rest, with “open doors” to avoid and patrolling guards. Any Chosen One trying to infiltrate this area would have to move like an assassin, avoiding the guards’ field of view. If spotted, it would trigger a chain reaction.
That’s why Zhang Yangqing went for the heads—to stop them from shouting.
For the first time, the audience saw a real-life Assassin’s Creed approach: if you kill every enemy that breathes, nobody sees you infiltrate.
“Slow down!” the loli girl urged as Zhang Yangqing butchered another patrol. “I can’t summon them fast enough!”
These patrols seemed even stronger than the regular guards—better armor, more intimidating auras. They’d make anyone think twice. But in front of Zhang Yangqing? One slash, one pile of bodies.
Around the main building, pretty much every guard that could breathe was now headless.
“Alright, take your time summoning. Once we’re done here, we’ll search for the dungeon. But if any of you see a guard in a red cloak, tell me immediately.”
Zhang Yangqing sat on the king’s sofa, resting while the loli girl replaced everyone. This island-style castle was easy enough to clear—at most two to three hundred guards. If it were a massive palace from another country, with tens of thousands of guards, it wouldn’t be so simple.
For other Chosen Ones, merely sneaking in and finding something was already a monumental task. Zhang Yangqing was mowing through enemies without breaking a sweat.
His screen was filled with the sound of blades severing heads.
After fifty minutes of cleansing, the two wings and the main building’s 153 guards were all dead. The loli girl had spent who knows how many years of lifespan replacing them all with her own demons.
From then on, although the palace still looked dangerous, it was effectively under Zhang Yangqing’s control.
Next step: find the hidden dungeon. Since there was no sign of the red-cloaked guard above ground, he was likely down there.
Zhang Yangqing had missed the intel that could’ve come from currying favor with other guests—specifically, that this guard had angered the king. But he didn’t need it; he’d find him himself.
The rules stated this guard would help the Chosen Ones, meaning he probably held a grudge against the king. That’s why Rule 10 said not everyone liked the king—and neither did you. It subtly hinted that the guard mentioned in Rule 11 shared that sentiment.
For other Chosen Ones, reaching this point required a long, convoluted process. First, they’d need to extract dungeon-related info from key figures, learning the red-cloaked guard’s identity. Then, they’d trade with merchants for special items to infiltrate the main building at a “specific time”—and that timing had to be precise. They’d rely on guide dogs to locate the dungeon entrance and obtain keys. Having an S-rank demon made things much easier; without one, they’d have to go themselves.
Once they found the red-cloaked guard, they could get crucial intel on the king. Smart Chosen Ones would then offer him big promises to help complete the hidden mission.
Zhang Yangqing, however, had it easy. The entire palace backyard was now staffed by his own people. No sneaking around required—just a single command.
As he lounged on the sofa, an S-rank demon summoned by the loli girl discovered the dungeon entrance. The demon even had the keys taken from slain guards. And sure enough, the red-cloaked guard was locked inside.
Zhang Yangqing rose and strolled through the palace like it was his own backyard, heading to the dungeon entrance.
It was damp down there, with the sound of crashing waves echoing off the walls. The dungeon was perched near a cliff, offering glimpses of the outside through tiny windows. Led by armored guards, Zhang Yangqing walked through the dungeon like a sovereign.
According to the demons, most prisoners here were missing limbs. The floors had been washed, but the stench of blood still lingered. Clearly, the king was a sadist who delighted in torture—especially the prisoners’ screams.
Zhang Yangqing felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
Hearing footsteps approaching, the prisoners huddled in their cells, trembling, terrified of being dragged out for torment.
Soon, Zhang Yangqing followed the eager S-rank demon to the cell holding the red-cloaked guard. This guard wasn’t low-ranking—he’d been locked up because a prisoner escaped under his watch, and he’d taken their place. His face was ashen; he knew the fate awaiting him.
Zhang Yangqing’s arrival offered a sliver of hope. That’s why the rules said he’d do his utmost to help any Chosen One—he was a critical source of intel.
According to him, the king had contracted with multiple powerful beings, granting him a wide array of abilities. In this world, the king’s strength was unquestionable. He also knew a secret few others did: the king had contracted a deep-sea jellyfish. Jellyfish could change shape at will, which explained why no one had ever seen the king’s true form. And under high temperatures, the king couldn’t control this shape-shifting—a detail the guard had accidentally discovered long ago.
Other Chosen Ones, upon learning this, would know what to do. Since the king was a jellyfish, heat would cause him to lose moisture. So the Skeleton Knight, whose body temperature was high, couldn’t possibly be the king. In fact, the knight might be the key to forcing the king to reveal himself. By having suspicious “marked” individuals interact with the Skeleton Knight, the king would be exposed.
To clear the stage, you just needed to find the king and the royal coin. To complete the hidden mission, you’d need to identify who wanted to kill the king and help him eliminate the threats. The red-cloaked guard, familiar with the palace layout, could assist in locating the coin.
But Zhang Yangqing didn’t need him. For him, finding anything was just a matter of giving an order.
Time was closing in on 8 PM. The horn sounded once more. The final Lord had arrived, signaling that the king’s birthday banquet was about to begin.
After finishing his questioning, Zhang Yangqing told the red-cloaked guard to wait a few days—he’d set him free. Whether the guard believed him or not, Zhang Yangqing walked away.
By then, the loli girl had changed into the king’s robe, crown, and scepter. She looked awkward, but she was trying to mimic the king’s posture. Funny how it works—before putting on the outfit, she was nervous and afraid of being exposed. But once she wore it, she felt a surge of confidence, almost as if she were the supreme ruler of the realm.
Every guard in the palace was now one of her loyal demon minions, and she had several S-rank demons by her side. Her demon army was strong enough to ease her worries. And with her “god-tier” leg—Zhang Yangqing—standing by, she had nothing to fear.
With the noblewoman’s guidance, she began practicing her royal bearing. She was starting to look the part—a convincing queen.
But the moment Zhang Yangqing appeared, she reverted to her silly loli self, twirling in front of him and asking if she looked good.
Zhang Yangqing was speechless. My role in this stage is a blind person—could you at least respect that?
Still, since he was supposed to be blind, he could get away with vague, dismissive compliments. And even those offhand remarks made the loli girl giddy—she felt acknowledged by him.
Seeing her childlike behavior gave the noblewoman a headache. She just hoped the girl wouldn’t blow their cover.
If this succeeded, the loli girl would have usurped the throne.
But in her own clever, naive way, the loli girl understood something: no matter how powerful she became as the new king, as long as she acted foolish and harmless around Zhang Yangqing, she wouldn’t provoke him. Smart.
Following Zhang Yangqing’s orders, she handed him a royal coin she’d found. But the completion conditions didn’t trigger.
Zhang Yangqing wasn’t surprised.
“To fully switch identities and gain permission for this role, recognition is necessary—about 20% approval from each of the five guest factions, I’d guess. Looks like she still needs to take a tour around the palace to become the real king.”
He knew that in this world, transforming your identity and acquiring its authority required recognition. That was a well-known rule of the Strange Tale World by now.
Time flew. When 8 PM struck and the other Chosen Ones filed into the banquet hall as guests for a dangerous and thrilling feast, Zhang Yangqing had already arranged a dangerous and thrilling feast of his own—for the guests!
