《1-Second Invincible Player in the Game》 Chapter 1 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 1 1. Prologue An unbelievable event has urred. Where should I begin the story? Yes. It¡¯s best to start with the cause. Let¡¯s talk about my school days first. Like other boys at that time, I too enjoyed gaming. It was a topic ripe for discussion, subtly stirring up apetitive spirit, naturally drawing us in. Most of the joy during my school days came from gaming, and it wouldn¡¯t be an understatement. Indeed, we were enchanted by it. As time passed, games continued to be released, following trends and naturally drifting away like seasons. The games we cleared kept piling up. Except for one. There was one game that stood in the way of us, who were confident in our gaming skills. The name of this notoriously difficult game was this: ¡®Asares Chronicles.¡¯ The genre is a medieval fantasy, set against a backdrop of nobles, monsters, swords, and magic. The main content involves selecting one of the more than 100 yable characters, forming a party with a few others, andpleting the main scenario. Each character is assigned an independent scenario, and those not chosen by the yer are automatically progressed by AI. As the characters clear stages, the goal points gradually converge, sharing amon scenario. Growing and converging to one point, the party¡¯s identity can be said to be clearing the final scenario together. Such was the epic narrative of the vast characters, the graphics that were called high-quality at the time. And the excellent musical production once received the spotlight, but the enthusiasm soon cooled. The reason is simple. The most malicious element, of course, is that if you die, the save data disappears. Ironically, this also made it easier to y other characters. It was such a diabolical act that it even erased the attachment we had cultivated. Thanks to this, we conquered all the characters in the hope of finding one that was easier to break, but the result was the same. Game over before even getting a clue about the final boss. Because of this feature, my friends ced bets. Recalling the game titles I had cleared, I epted the challenge out of pride. So, did anyone ever beat this wickedly difficult game? No. Months of staying up all night, yet the game remained unbeaten. Like many of my peers at the time, fortunately, the bet just fizzled out. That¡¯s a slice of my school days¡¯ memories. Let¡¯s talk about something more recent. Eight yearster, I found myself working in IT, handling information security. The sry was decent, but job satisfaction wascking. Not to mention the frequent overtime. And the constant nagging. It was far from my dream. Since childhood, I loved games and wanted to create one, which led me to learn coding. But by then, the South Korean package game market had already copsed. This job was a shelter I settled for, apromise with reality halfway through my journey. Leaving behind the dreams I once cherished, I knew satisfaction would elude me for life. What can you do? Such is the plight of adulthood, the natural order of things, and I had grown numb to it. The silentmute and the lonely footsteps had be all too familiar, all too mundane. As it is for most people. Then one day, amidst this monotonous routine, a message arrived. A casual notice about a ss reunion. And suddenly, I remembered the bet we made back then. A good idea struck me. What if I cleared Asares before the reunion, a month away? ¡®The long-forgotten bet. It would be perfect for reminiscing, a great topic over drinks, right?¡¯ A week had passed since I threw myself into Asares. I died at the halfway point. Another week went by. I died just before the final scenario. With no progress, I had no choice but topromise. I decided to hack it, using my major. So, did it go well? Turns out, it¡¯s harder than I thought. Despite being a game that¡¯s been out for over a decade, cracking its security was no easy feat. Driven by stubbornness, I secretly wrote code on my personalptop at work, and even at home, I¡¯d snatch bits of sleep as I continued to work on it. At the end of all that effort, I created a code engine that could even breach the most robust defenses. Not that it allowed me to manipte the game like a god. Due to my limited skills, there was only one thing I could alter. That was the invincible state. As befits a game with over a hundred characters, there exists a wide variety of unique traits. These could be seen as a kind of skill or personality, but none rted to invincibility. In other words, I alone possessed an unofficial trait that didn¡¯t exist in Asares. I nned to use this to aim for a clear. Of course, I had no intention of lying about beating it with skill at the reunion. Just, do you remember the bet we made back then? That¡¯s how the game¡¯s scenario ended. I was just preparing a bundle of stories that would make for good gossip. With high hopes, I entered thest scenario with my invincible character. That¡¯s as far as the story goes. Well¡­ as you can see, this is the result. Here I am, inside the game. When I opened my eyes, I had be a tall, blonde, handsome guy. Judging from the circumstances, it seems I¡¯ve been punished by some unknown entity for hacking the game. No, I¡¯m certain of it. If you ask how I can be so sure, The trait window reflected in my retina will exin it. ¡óNoble Remnant of Blood¡ó Elevates dignity in front of others. Exudes a lofty charisma in the presence of others. Ah, my mistake. That was a trivial trait originally possessed by the owner of this body. What I meant to show you was this. ¡óInvincible for 1 Second¡ó It nullifies any threat for 1 second. Cooldown: 60 seconds. Just a mere second without a single offensive trait. On the flip side, it¡¯s like saying survive 59 seconds of danger without any offensive abilities. I¡¯ve asked myself over and over why I¡¯m faced with such an absurd situation, but there¡¯s only one answer thates to mind. ¡®Because I¡¯m a cheater who used an invincibility hack.¡¯ Therefore, the trait of being invincible for 1 second is a fitting punishment for my crime. The malicious intent is palpable, the corrtion is clear. Anyway, the situation is certainly not good. But somehow, it¡¯ll work out¡­ After all, the body I¡¯ve possessed belongs to the eldest son of a grand noble family. ¡°What danger could there possibly be for the young master of a wealthy house?¡± Chapter 2 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 2 2. The Immortal for 1 Second (1) I woke up to the lingering scent of aromas. The incense had melted away long before the night was over. Yet, the smell was unfamiliar to me. Because my room usually wafted with the scent of Downy. ¡®They say it has a calming effect. Not bad¡­¡¯ I flipped aside the nket, so smooth it seemed a fly would slip and fall off it. Then, I approached the mirror to check my face. A towering height, with hair of soft golden locks and a handsome Western visage with striking features. This is me. Upon opening my eyes, I had be this blond, handsome guy. It wasn¡¯t particrly shocking since I saw it yesterday too, and only sincere exmations of admiration circled in my head. ¡®Damn, I¡¯m good-looking.¡¯ Is this really me? It¡¯s surprising enough to have entered into a game, but look at this sculpted face and the proportions of this body. If I were born with this physique in reality, I¡¯d start as a child model and end as a blossoming senior. I am the owner of this body. And that¡¯s not all. Luxurious furniture and ornaments filled the room. For a mere personal chamber, it rivals the opulence of a luxury hotel suite. Of course, I¡¯m the master of this room too. ¡°Damn, it¡¯s a rich house.¡± So, what is the identity of this character who seems to have it all? Truthfully, even I don¡¯t know well. However, I could check at least the name through the status window. [Hersel Ben Tenest] ¡ñBlessings -None- ¡ñTraits ¡óNoble Blood¡¯s Last Ember¡ó ¡ó1 Second Invincibility¡ó Not a single blessing. It¡¯s so ridiculous that I can¡¯t evenugh. That¡¯s because a blessing is a talent. Not just the main characters, but even among the supporting roles, there are some with cheat-level talents. At the very least, it¡¯s normal to have a knack for knitting or farming as a basic skill. In this way, Hersel is a powerless person with nothing to his name¡­ But the surname attached to his namepensates for all the disadvantages. Tenest is a name belonging to a rather famous noble family within the Asares worldview. ording to the chatter outside the door by the servants yesterday, Hersel is the eldest son of the family. ¡°Talk about striking it lucky beyond one¡¯s station.¡± That¡¯s why it¡¯s also strange. I should know him since he¡¯s from a famous family, but the name Hersel feels unfamiliar to me. After all, the Tenests are rted to several of the hundred or so main characters. Maybe it¡¯s because there¡¯s too little information. Or maybe. ¡°It¡¯s possible that he¡¯s a newly added character¡­¡± He could be a hastily created character for someone to possess in the game. If there¡¯s something that bothers me, it¡¯s that the name sounds somewhat familiar. But since nothing¡¯s certain, gathering information is the priority. Having decided on a direction, my stomach growled loudly. Come to think of it, I haven¡¯t eaten anything since yesterday, have I? Just then, a knock sounds at the perfect moment. ¡°Young master. Are you alright? You¡¯ve been holed up in your room all day. How will you take your meal?¡± This voice belonged to the audacious little maid I saw yesterday. The mention of a meal while fasting made my salivary nds work overtime. I rang the bell on the table. It was a signal that she could enter. Tinkle- With the clear sound of the bell, the door opens. A little one, half the size of the door, blinked in her maid¡¯s attire. I remember asking for her name yesterday, her eyes wide as she pleaded for me to moderate my drinking. It was surely Selly, wasn¡¯t it? Then, with a warm smile, Selly spoke up. ¡°Is there something you wish for?¡± ¡°Bring me something to eat.¡± The condescension came naturally. I find this dignified baritone voice unfamiliar. It¡¯s different from my usual tone, adding to the sense of dissonance. I know the reason, though. It¡¯s because of ¡®The Noble Blood¡¯s Afterglow,¡¯ one of the auxiliary traits a few out of a hundred characters possess. ¡óThe Noble Blood¡¯s Afterglow¡ó Elevates dignity in front of others. Exudes a lofty charisma in front of others. A trait that¡¯s always activated in the presence of others. My speech and intonation change on their own ord. Thanks to this, even though the contents have changed, the people around me seem to feel no significant dissonance. ¡°Yes, young master. I will have it prepared immediately.¡± The little one disappeared, and quite some time passed. Once again, a knock and the door opened. This time, it was a maid I hadn¡¯t seen before. She approached, pushing a cartden with silver lids, and transferred the tes onto therge table. ¡°The main dish is veal steak. In addition, we have fresh vegetables brought in today and the wine you favor.¡± Her face was smiling, but her tone was decidedly businesslike. As she lifted the lid, the fragrance of the food hit my nose. But for some reason, I didn¡¯t feel like eating. Was it because I had been fasting all day? Suddenly, the idea of greasy meat was a bit much¡­ I¡¯d like something easier to digest. I feel a bit sorry to say this. Can I change it? ¡°I made a mistake. I should have told you what I wanted to eat in advance.¡± ¡°Is it not to your liking?¡± ¡°My stomach feels ufortable, do you have something like soup?¡± I looked at her with a hint of guilt, lowering my eyebrows. In that moment, the maid¡¯s eyes widened slightly before she responded with a gentle smile. She seemed to be professional in her service, but I guess it¡¯s still a hassle all the same. Just as I was about to eat, the maid moved the tes back onto the cart. ¡°I apologize for not being attentive. I will prepare it right away.¡± That would be nice for me. ¡°Something simple is fine. Anything that doesn¡¯t take too much effort. As long as my stomach feels better.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do. You must be hungry, so I will prepare a quick meal. Of course, it will be a dish befitting your stature.¡± ¡­There¡¯s no need for that. The maid crossed the threshold with the cart, not losing her smile. How kind. Time passed again. The soup was ced on the table. It seemed to take a while this time, but for someone whoined about the side dishes, I was grateful for this much. I scooped up the mysterious soup with a silver spoon and brought it to my lips. A peculiar taste. Yet, not an unpleasant deep vor. Even though I was used to instant foods, it wasn¡¯t too stimting and was nicely bnced. I leisurely moved the silver spoon around. As the te began to show its bottom, the maid carefully picked up a wine bottle. ¡°No wine for me. It¡¯s daytime, and it doesn¡¯t seem right to drink alcohol now.¡± Besides, wine with soup? I¡¯m a Korean who only drank soju with pork belly, so I¡¯m not sure, but does that even go together? ¡°¡­Yes, my lord. If your stomach is upset, then I have made a thoughtless mistake. I apologize. Please forgive me.¡± ¡°People can make mistakes. I¡¯m done eating, so you can go and rest now.¡± The maid left the room. Having satisfied my hunger, I decided to get up and look around the mansion. As I stepped into the hallway, I came across Selly waiting by the door. The tiny little maid, who had been waiting for orders, greeted me with a bright smile, having done her job well. ¡°Where are you heading, young master?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to take a look at the family tree. Could you guide me?¡± Every noble house has a family tree. It starts with the ancestors and shows the rtionships of all family members to date. But was it out of the blue to ask to see it? Selly seemed slightly suspicious, tilting her head momentarily. ¡°Yes, I understand. Let¡¯s see¡­ I should choose a good route for your convenience. Hmm.¡± ¡°Is it that far?¡± ¡°No? Not really. It¡¯s just that, to have a good day, it seems necessary.¡± Her answer was somewhat meaningful, but what of it? I followed Selly, walking behind her. As we passed through the corridors, the mansion¡¯s servants greeted me with bright smiles. ¡°Good morning, young master.¡± ¡°Is everything alright?¡± ¡°How about a stroll in the garden on such a fine day?¡± From noble mtl dote I responded to them with a simple wave of my hand. The mansion¡¯s interior was filled with a very harmonious atmosphere. Of course, it was hospitality for me, a noble, but the liveliness was so infectious that I felt uplifted too. ¡®Living like this wouldn¡¯t be so bad.¡¯ A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. Of course, I couldn¡¯t continue living this way forever. The game¡¯s scenario involved preventing world destruction, and it was uncertain whether a game without yers would clear itself. But ording to the world¡¯s rules, most of the outside was a demonic realm, and with my defenseless body, staying here seemed the safest option for now. First, I need to adapt to my status and situation. Checking the scenario can wait. Besides, being the eldest son of the Tenest family is akin to being the son of a conglomerate chairman. Perhaps it wouldn¡¯t hurt to enjoy this for a while. When else would I get to live like the heir to a conglomerate? * * * Once I stepped outside, I realized the mansion was not alone. It turned out that the ce I had been was a residence solely for me, a Hursel. Beyond the garden path, there was another grand mansion where the head of the Tenest family resided. Guided by Selly, I walked through the grounds, which were as vast as a park, and arrived at a special room where the family tree was carefully enshrined. Portraits of ancestors hung on the walls. I sat in a chair, familiarizing myself with their faces and the family tree, feeling a sense of longing as I reached the era of Hursel. [Lysian Ben Tenest. 767-09-11~ 789-08-17] Beside a woman¡¯s name, numbers denoting the start and end of life were written. This signified that Hersel¡¯s mother had passed away at a young age. And the name engraved right next to it. [Ahille Ben Tenest.] This was the name of Hersel¡¯s stepmother, and listed below in a row were the names of his half-siblings. This is not good¡­ A sense of foreboding made my fingertips tremble. Even in modern times, stepmothers and half-siblings are often not exactly in good rtions. Especially in a noble family where various political dramas unfold, the existence of half-brothers seemed all the more ominous. ¡®As the eldest son, am I not the primarypetitor¡­?¡¯ Realizing the reality, I gazed pensively at Selly, who was beside me. Could it be that earlier, her intention to n our movements was to avoid encountering my half-brothers? Since I had to leave my private residence toe here, my guess is probably correct. That means, Selly can be considered on my side, right? After all, the fact that Hersel, the primary heir to the session, has survived until now is evidence that even the servants at the residence can be trusted. As I looked at Selly endlessly, this little girl approached me and examined my face. ¡°Young master. You looked unwell yesterday and today as well. Are you feeling ill?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. It must be because I¡¯ve been cooped up in my room.¡± ¡°Then, how about getting some fresh air outside? I know a ce with a beautiful view.¡± ¡°A view? Are you talking about outside the mansion?¡± ¡°Yes. Don¡¯t worry. Trustworthy guards will apany us. And if any danger arises, I, Selly, will protect you with my life.¡± Selly stood with her fist pressed to her chest, her eyes shining. She was bold, if that¡¯s the word for it. With this little girl speaking so, it was hard to refuse. In truth, I also wanted to take a look outside. To catch a breeze and to satisfy my curiosity about whether the world of Asales, which I had only seen in games, was properly realized. ¡°Is it close?¡± ¡°Of course. It¡¯s just a few minutes away once we leave the mansion.¡± * * * Hersel¡¯s untouched steak and wine. The maid pushing the cart with precise movements, delivering the food. As she strolled down the corridor to dispose of the food on the tes, the familiar voice of the house steward pierced her ears. ¡°Rats in the storeroom?¡± ¡°Yes. Recently, there have been holes in the flour sacks. It¡¯s so filthy, I was holding my breath trying to stay quiet, but then I heard the sound of rats squealing, you know?¡± ¡°Oh dear¡­ We should have managed it better.¡± ¡°What should we do? There¡¯s food in there for the employers to eat¡­¡± ¡°Well, now that I know, carry on with your work. As I¡¯ve said time and again, thedy¡¯s tasks alwayse first. I¡¯ll assign this matter to the other maids.¡± The maid pushing the cart, a serene smile on her lips, approached the two women who looked troubled. Following the house steward¡¯s orders, another maid had already turned her back and left. ¡°Good day, Mr. Steward. I didn¡¯t mean to overhear, but there are rats in the storeroom?¡± ¡°Huh? Oh, it¡¯s you, Mirei. I was just about to call you. Could you tell the other girls toe to the storeroom?¡± ¡°Do you really need to do that? Everyone¡¯s busy, you know. I¡¯ll take care of this myself.¡± ¡°You? By yourself?¡± Mirei, noticing the steward¡¯s wide-eyed reaction, parted her lips with a profound gaze. ¡°I happen to have some good rat poison.¡± Her gentle touch caressed the lid of the te. The steward looked at Mirei with a twinkle in his eye. ¡°You¡¯ve started quickly, Mirei.¡± ¡°As you can see, I¡¯ve failed. Now it¡¯s Selly¡¯s turn, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Ah, Selly? Speaking of which, I heard the young master went out with her. I wonder if it will all be over as soon as it started today. That would be a shame.¡± ¡°Well, I wonder if it will be that easy¡­¡± Mirei trailed off, lost in thought. The young master¡¯s face when he refused the veal steak was vivid in her mind. His eyebrows lowered, the furrow in his brow ¨C what did that expression mean? If he knew all along that there was poison. If that¡¯s why he chose the soup that required a silver spoon, it was clear it wouldn¡¯t be easy. ¡°This festival mightst longer than I thought.¡± ¡°Really? We shall see.¡± The steward chuckled and looked around. Joining his gaze, Mirei also spotted something amusing to watch. Across the mansion, a maid practiced how to drop a flowerpot from the high windows to make it look like an ident, while a butler hurriedly packed glittering des and wires into a box in front of the iing supply cart. Amidst the bustle of the mansion, a young butler approached, carrying a small box in his hand. ¡°Housekeeper, Miss Mirei. Hello?¡± ¡°Ha, what¡¯s in that tiny box?¡± ¡°Oh, it contains a venomous spider. Don¡¯t worry. It will be used just once and then promptly disposed of.¡± The three of them smiled subtly. A smile that was both innocent andced with malice. And they were not alone. The thrill of hunting down a single prey kept theughter going throughout the mansion. The housekeeper sped his hands together as if in prayer, his voice gentle as if telling a story to his grandson. ¡°Let¡¯s give thanks to thedy of the house for hosting this festival.¡± Chapter 3 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 3 3. The Immortal of One Second (2) People looked as small as fingernails. Despite the distance, one could still make out the details. It was the time of sunset. Judging by the sheets being spread out, it seemed they were collecting theundry before it got dark. I marveled at a viger from atop the cliff. Isn¡¯t this fascinating? When ying the game, such distances wouldn¡¯t even be marked. Amon trick used by game developers to save on PC resources. This felt no different from reality. Even if I, as the observer, was unaware, someone else was living out their time simultaneously. After a brief observation, I savored the pleasant breeze and the warm sunlight. This ce truly purifies the soul. ¡°Nice.¡± As I indulged in the view, Celly beside me gave a slight chuckle. ¡°Isn¡¯t it just? This has been a secret spot where I often came with my mother.¡± ¡°Your mother?¡± ¡°Yes, you might not remember, but my mother has worked in this mansion since long ago. She discovered this ce around the time the young master was born and would alwayse here when she needed peace of mind.¡± ¡°I see, it certainly is soothing.¡± The little girl¡¯s story melted my heart. Perhaps this is a sense of kinship. Both she and I, each reminiscing about our mothers. For a few seconds, I stood silently. A cool breeze was blowing. I shivered slightly at the chill. Was it the wind, or was it because Selly¡¯s voice sounded a bit behind this time? ¡°But young master.¡± It sounded decidedly cold. The sun was setting, making it a bit chilly. Did you feel the cold? ¡°Have you decided on your will?¡± Ah, the will. The thing you write before you die. It¡¯s not unusual to think about it at least once in life. It¡¯s a bit vague and not clearly defined, but let¡¯s see. I had thought about it roughly ¨C never open that folder on the hard drive- Wait. What is she saying¡­? I turned my head and stared at Selly. ¡°Why that look? Don¡¯t you understand why I¡¯m doing this?¡± I flinched for a moment. When our eyes met, it felt like chills ran through my entire body. The sunset was so bright, yet the child¡¯s retinas were filled with shadows, not a speck of light. ¡°My mother dedicated her life to the Tenest family. Then she fell ill and retired.¡± ¡°¡­What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard a lot about how kind Lady Lisean was to you. But you, young master, you never treated me that way. Do you understand now?¡± A sparkle shed in the girl¡¯s eyes. Unknowingly, I clenched my fist defensively. Why do I, a bulky man, feel intimidated by a little kid who barely reaches my chest? It must be because of this. The cliff behind me, as a background setting, maximizes the fear. Surely it¡¯s not what I¡¯m thinking? Brought here for revenge, to be pushed and killed. But then, what would I do? The opponent is just a tiny kid. If I grab her cheeks, I can subdue her. A scolding would be enough to stop such pranks. ¡°¡­¡­¡± That¡¯s what I thought. Until a dagger sprang from the girl¡¯s embrace. ¡®Ah, a knife is cheating!¡¯ My spine tingled. You might think it¡¯s easy to overpower a small girl¡¯s dagger, but I know from videos I¡¯ve seen on NewTube. Even a pro fighter with a significant weight advantage got marked with countless sword wounds when facing an ordinary person with a painted fake sword. And I¡¯ve never been in a fight, a model student. On the other hand, she was ying with the dagger as if it were a fidget spinner. Instinct warns me. If I attack, I¡¯ll be stabbed to death! I swallowed hard. The little one licks the side of the knife like a crazed murderer. The small monster in front of me seems well aware as it firmly grips the dagger, approaching me. Let¡¯s try to resolve this with a conversation while keeping calm. ¡°¡­I asked before. What is it that you want to say to me?¡± I asked again with aposed posture, but inadvertently, my haughty attitude slipped out due to the trait ¡®Noble Blood¡¯s Last Ember¡¯. Even amidst this, it was Celie who let out a scornfulugh, perhaps finding my pretentiousness absurd. ¡°Ha! You still don¡¯t get it? Well, to someone who looked down on me like a bug, it¡¯s understandable.¡± I¡¯m not sure what sin the girl in front of me hasmitted to deserve death, but she¡¯s got the wrong person. That¡¯s the karma of Hersel, not mine. You¡¯re trying to kill an innocent, good person! ¡°¡­That day, when I had an urgent matter and needed to go home. I begged on my knees, crying that I must go home¡­¡± Just don¡¯te. It wasn¡¯t me! ¡°Wait. Stop right there.¡± ¡°My mother, who was unwell, passed away that day. It was supposed to be ourst moment together. I wanted to hold her hand before she left, but because of you¡­¡± The girl¡¯s nose was twisted in anger, her teeth clenched tightly enough to crack, and her eyes were filled with murderous intent. In this critical situation, I blurted out whatever came to mind. ¡°It seems there¡¯s some misunderstanding-¡° ¡°Was sending me on that trivial errand more important than my mother¡¯s dying moments?¡± I was wrong. There¡¯s no sign of dialogue being established. It makes sense. It seems like she missed her mother¡¯sst moments because of Hersel. This is beyond crossing the line; it¡¯s like a long jumper who¡¯s leaped too far. Not even an animal trainer could soothe this. So what do I do now? There must be some way¡­ That¡¯s right, I have two bodyguards. I need to order them to give this little one a good thump. But as I looked at the guards keeping watch nearby, I blinked at their unbelievable antics. I could see the reflection of metal among the bushes. Even in this dire crisis, they were just silently watching, holding their breath. And they did so with their white teeth neatly exposed¡­ As my head went nk for a moment, Celie responded with a sneer. ¡°Idiot. You still don¡¯t get it?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°It was allmissioned by thedy of the house. I just thought it was a good opportunity to join in. Thanks to that, I even got paid¡ªnice, right?¡± Thedy of the house? Money? It seems my stepmother has put a bounty on my head. Judging by their squabbling, they must have agreed to split it. Rage boils within me. Regardless of the reason, I refuse to die for someone else¡¯s pleasure. Now that it¡¯se to this, I must resist with all my might. Even if I die, I won¡¯t die alone¡ªI¡¯m prepared to take them with me to the grave- ¡°It¡¯s not just thedy of the house. Everyone in the mansion wishes for your death.¡± I should have thought faster. Before I could even steel my resolve, Selly¡¯s hand was already moving. The dagger was a fake. My attention was so focused on it that I allowed her empty hand to approach. That damned brat, looking so pleased with herself, as if she¡¯s fulfilled a lifelong ambition, smiles with a liberated expression. ¡°Well then, farewell, you trash.¡± Thump- I feel the palm of her hand against my chest. Like a small domino toppling arger one, my body is pushed by that small hand and falls off the cliff. As I feel the cold sweat drop from my cheek and rise upwards, I obsessively think about the being named Hershel. I wonder how I¡¯ve lived my life so recklessly to end up like this. Maybe I don¡¯t know. Perhaps he¡¯s someone I¡¯ve forgotten. ¡®The eldest son of the Tenest family.¡¯ ¡®Trash.¡¯ ¡®A man who dies by hatred.¡¯ In the grip of extreme fear, I wrack my brain. The lines of a hundred yer characters sh by in an instant. I fixate on a few of their dialogue logs like photographs. -Hershel? I know him well. Had to get engaged against my will because of the family¡¯s position. I really hated it. A woman should wear a dress, not armor, they said. -Is that all? Always reeking of alcohol. No manners, no effort. Always snapping at the servants. There was this one time during a meal. He threw his te out the window because he didn¡¯t like the food, said to feed it to the pigeons. It was unbelievable. -I went to that guy¡¯s funeral once, and it was just as expected. The servants of the mansion were snickering in hidden corners. Oh, and of course, Iughed along. That¡¯s why I went. At a ball once, he called me a country bumpkin with a short stature and poured alcohol on my head. It¡¯s all karma, karma. Hershel was never a hastily created character. He was an NPC that had always existed. But he was a character that had died even before the game scenario began. It¡¯s only natural that I had forgotten. What¡¯s important is that the body I¡¯ve possessed is known among the yable characters and NPCs as a ruffian and a scoundrel. Realizing the gravity of the situation, my heart sinks. Yet, due to some outer characteristic, there¡¯s no ugly contortion of my facial muscles. I just narrowed my brows and watched as Selly walked away. As the distance grew, the ¡®noble remnant of blood¡¯ was lifted, and my face contorted with honesty. ¡°Damn it.¡± It¡¯s indeed a trash ability that¡¯s utterly useless. What should I do now? There is one thing I can rely on, the 1-second invincibility, but I¡¯ve never used it even once. It also means I don¡¯t know how to use it. ¡°aaah©¤©¤!¡± From my throat, not as Hersel, but a pure scream of my own burst out. The barrier of airshes against my skin. The height of the cliff feels longer than what my eyes had estimated. My brain floundered for survival in the time that seemed extended beyond expectation. ¡ó1-Second Invincibility¡ó It nullifies any threat for 1 second. Cooldown: 60 seconds. A trait that keeps you from dying for just 1 second. Then, I must use it at the moment I¡¯m about to hit the ground. There¡¯s no keyboard here, and even if I wanted to know the activation condition, I couldn¡¯t. Do I have to shout out the skill name like the protagonist of a childish animation? Embarrassing as it is, I have no other choice! I swallowed hard, my eyes wide open as I faced the ground. Now is not the time. The cooldown for 1-second invincibility is 60 seconds. Even a slight miss could mean instant death. It has to be at the critical moment. Finally, the height I had been contemting arrived. I trembled with tension and parted my lips. From noble mtl dote ¡°O, one sec-¡° Boom©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤! * * * The main gate of the Tenest family. The duty today fell to two soldiers escorting Hersel. It was a task they didn¡¯t originally need to take on, but they volunteered to exchange their vile ns in private. They stood in front of the main gate, discussing the day¡¯s events. ¡°Uncle Jack, doesn¡¯t this feel a bit wrong? If we report it like that, he¡¯s as good as dead.¡± ¡°Oh,e on, what¡¯s there to feel sorry about? That little brat was nning to hog eighty percent of the prize money all to himself.¡± Hershel¡¯s death was recorded not as an idental fall, but as a murder. The report was to be sent to thedy of the house as soon as dawn broke. The young soldier felt a twinge of guilt and a vague fear as he double-checked. ¡°But are you absolutely sure?¡± ¡°Did I not inquire with mydy? I asked her, ¡®If the person who killed him dies, who gets the prize money?¡¯ And she said, ¡®It goes to the other contributors.¡¯ So, all that money will be ours.¡± ¡°But still¡­ What if we suffer repercussions for failing to protect him?¡± It was a festival hosted by thedy, but it involved the murder of a noble. And not just any noble, but the eldest son of the Tenest family. Even if it¡¯smonce for nobles to kill each other over inheritance disputes, it should have been an ordinary family. The public¡¯s attention was bound to turn their way. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Thedy might actually be pleased with this.¡± Even if thedy who organized this event uses her power to cover up the truth, an official cause of death is still needed. An ident. A suicide. Something that implies no foul y. That¡¯s why Celly conspired with them to stage the fall. But if the report is written as a murder out of vengeance, the story changes. Once the report reaches the chief justice, Celly will be sentenced to death. The fact that it was a homicide isn¡¯t the issue. Hershel was the worst kind of scoundrel, hated by everyone in the mansion. And considering thedy¡¯s temperament, she would likely wee this turn of events. Eliminating the perpetrator would reduce future troubles, and the apparent motive was perfect. The scenario that the worst scoundrel, despised by everyone in the mansion, was killed by the hatred of his closest servant, was more than satisfactory. ¡°The dead can¡¯t speak. Even if he ims thedy ordered it before his execution, it¡¯ll be ignored. We just need to look out for our own futures.¡± ¡°I just hope it all works out.¡± At worst, they¡¯d be dismissed for negligence. With their pockets full of money. ¡°But Uncle Jack, you know the deal, right? Fifty-fifty.¡± ¡°Fifty-fifty¡­¡± The young soldier¡¯s face, which had been joyful moments before, suddenly turned ashen. Because it wasn¡¯t the voice of middle-aged Uncle Jack beside him. It was a familiar voice. But it was the voice of a dead man that should not be heard. As he turned his head, Jack¡¯s face, drenched in cold sweat, passed by, and the tall man with disheveled hair and dust-covered clothes came into focus. Despite their disheveled appearance, an air of dignity oozed from them, and the two men trembled with disbelief in their voices. ¡°How on earth did you¡­¡± The cliff was clearly smooth, without a single protruding branch to grasp. Not a thing to hold onto, nor a jagged edge to briefly support one¡¯s body. And what about the ground? It seemed so far away as to be blurry. The reality of having fallen from such a ce and returned alive sent shivers down their spines and made their hearts plummet. While his mind was paralyzed, his lips quivered. ¡°Which one of you is number 5?¡± Chapter 4 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 4 4. The Immortal of One Second (3) Even as he fell from the cliff, he thought he was dead. The terror of the fall had disrupted his rhythm, making him half a beat toote. Yet, the reason he survived was incredibly simple. ¡®Eh, one second©¤ rgh!¡¯ Boom©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤! [Impact detected.] [One-second invincibility activated.] [One-second invincibility cooldown: 59 seconds] ¡°Seriously¡­ if it¡¯s a passive, at least write it down as one.¡± Anyway, disliking the gloomy thicket, he barely managed to find his way up. His destination was that house swarming with people who wanted him dead. Walking into such a ce on his own ord might seem insane, but he had no choice. Could the dangers of the mansion evenpare to those outside? With this body, he wouldn¡¯tst long before starving to death or being sold into very, and a mere one second of invincibility wouldn¡¯t provide a livelihood. Even if he were to learn swordsmanship and take up mercenary work or explore the demonic realms, he¡¯d likely die quickly. Moreover, if his survival was discovered, the mistress would capture and kill him. As long as he didn¡¯t die, his right of session wouldn¡¯t disappear. Therefore, returning to the mansion was the act most likely to reduce the variables of death. With the information gained from conquering one-second invincibility and a hundred characters, wouldn¡¯t he somehow make it? With these thoughts, he only arrived at the front gate in the middle of the night. What¡¯s this now? ¡°The dead can¡¯t speak. Even if you im the mistress ordered it before the execution, it¡¯ll all be ignored. We just need to look out for our own futures.¡± ¡°I just hope it all turns out well.¡± Were those despicable ones who only watched when I was pushed off the cliff now guarding the gate? ¡°But, Uncle Jack. You know, right? Fifty-fifty.¡± The mention of fifty-fifty along with what I had heard earlier set off my intuition. They must be plotting to betray that kid and swallow the money whole. Thud- Click- Click- I trudged forward. Just then, the ¡®Noble Blood¡¯s Last Ember¡¯ activated, straightening my back gradually, transforming my stride into that of a noble¡¯s. ¡°Fifty-fifty¡­¡± As I arrogantly lifted my chin and prattled on, the faces of the two men looking this way turned as pale as if they had seen a ghost. ¡°Which one of you is the five?¡± I asked the two unsavory men with an irritable demeanor. The young man remained stiff, unable to utter a sound as if he had swallowed honey, but the middle-aged man was different. Hisplexion cleared as if nothing had happened, and he exuded a murderous intent. His hand resting on the long sword at his waist. ¡®Crazy¡­ Yeah, they wouldn¡¯t want to keep me alive.¡¯ This is the front of the mansion. A scream would bring out a swarm of servants, so naturally, they couldn¡¯t kill me here. That¡¯s why the middle-aged man was in a hurry to take my life. If he did it quickly, no sound would leak out. Ping©¤! While I was assessing the situation, a light shed. In an instant, his sword touched my neck. ng©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤! [A physical attack has been detected.] [An attribute has been activated.] [1-second invincibility: Cooldown: 59 seconds] Of course, my passive activated, and I wasn¡¯t hurt. Instead, my body was so sturdy that it could break his sword. As his strike turned futile, the middle-aged man¡¯s face was filled with horror. ¡°What in the world¡­¡± I stretched out my chest as if it was nothing. Despite the calm exterior, my heart was pounding. Wow, that really scared me. Even with a second of invincibility, who wouldn¡¯t be terrified with a knife flying at their neck? And this man, he¡¯s frightening. No matter how much of a flea Hassel is, to not even see the sword being drawn¡­ It must mean he¡¯s not just anyone if he was chosen as a guard for the Tenest family. But now¡¯s not the time to be frozen in shock. I need to do something fast, or the next blow wille. I blurted out a bluff I had hastily concocted on the spot. ¡°Drawing your sword without a word¡­¡± Now is the time when it¡¯s necessary to bristle with thorns so that no one dares to touch. As I casually approached, his eyebrows twitched. I prayed inwardly that he wouldn¡¯t attack. Click-ck, click-ck, thud- When I stopped right in front of him, the middle-aged man¡¯s shoulders jerked. He seemed utterly petrified. Surviving a cliff and even breaking a sword, anyone would be scared if such a person approached leisurely. Seizing the moment, I stoked the ¡®noble embers of blood¡¯ to their peak and said, ¡°You still have half a sword left. Why not swing it again?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°From the cliff. And here. I¡¯ve already given you two chances. You must be prepared for the third.¡± He dropped the broken sword and seemed to have no intention of attacking anymore, just staring nkly at the ground. The flow is good. Even now, the letters reflected in my retina signal a crisis. [1-second invincibility: Cooldown: 32 seconds] Anyway, it¡¯s a good thing I talk a lot. I¡¯m anxious about what to do if he attacks again during the cooldown. Now, the only one left is that young man, shocked and sprawled on the ground. Even though one sword is broken, his is still intact. I desperately hoped that he would remain silent, and I red with wide-open eyes. ¡°What will you do now?¡± ¡°Hee, heek!¡± He staggered back in fright. As I pressed on and red, he ced his sword on the ground and prostrated himself quickly, bowing his head. ¡°I¡¯vemitted a sin worthy of death! My lord!¡± Good. It seems this one has no will to fight either. I shifted my gaze from him andid a hand on the middle-aged man¡¯s shoulder as if he were my subordinate. ¡°?!¡± He flinched slightly, then stiffened like a wooden puppet. I twisted my mouth into a sneer. It was only now, after the initial surprise, that I could say what I hadn¡¯t yet said. ¡°Do you know why I arrivedte at night? I could have easily chased you down.¡± ¡°What do you wish to say, sir?¡± ¡°I was just passing through the vige.¡± Of course, that¡¯s a bluff. I sweated buckets getting here, and on top of that, how could I, who don¡¯t even know the way, have gone there and back? Though it was a lie, the middle-aged man¡¯s face was clearly contorted with fear. ¡°Surely¡­ You didn¡¯t report our deed, did you?¡± The middle-aged man¡¯splexion turned ashen, as if he were on the brink of death. It was enough to scare him. Aristocratic murder is a capital offense. So isplicity. If this fact leaks out, it will go to the chief prosecutor who carries out thew, and there will be no escaping the death penalty. ¡°Do you understand if I say it¡¯s a will?¡± Just saying this much should make it clear. I stopped by the vige and wrote about today¡¯s events in my will. But it hasn¡¯t been made public yet. Only at the moment of my death will it be revealed. That¡¯s what a will is for. And the moment it¡¯s revealed, we all die together. You and me. Him and Selly too. Of course, it¡¯s all bluster. ¡°Do you expect me to believe that?¡± ¡°Well¡­ What do you think?¡± The middle-aged soldier¡¯s expression grew troubled. I stared at him, feigning a meaningful smile, as if I had a powerful backer. As if I had plotted some scheme in the vige. The soldiers¡¯ expressions becameplicated. All sorts of fantasies must be unfolding in their minds. But let me say it again, it¡¯s all bluster. ¡°I¡¯ll leave it at that. If something happens to me again, next time your lives won¡¯t be spared.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± As I drove the point home, the middle-aged soldier let out a heavy sigh. With this, the threat of assassination from these guys was lessened. Instead, I¡¯ve nted the idea of a shared fate, which might prove helpful in the future. ¡°So¡­ You¡¯re sparing us for now?¡± I¡¯d like to give them a taste of hell if I could. But spare them, I shall. And then¡­ Even if they fought me with one hand tied behind their backs, they¡¯d be wiped out. Wow, look at those forearms. They could crush a watermelon with a headlock¡­ I imagined my head caught between those forearms. My temples throbbed. I hurriedly walked towards the dim garden path, not looking back, and said, ¡°Was your life ever worth taking by my own hands?¡± With that, the crisis was averted. As the ¡®Noble Blood¡¯s Last Ember¡¯ subsided, a sigh of relief washed over me, followed by a wave of embarrassment that left me writhing for a while. Look at that dialogue. Ah, my limbs¡­ Jack sat down on the floor, pondering the unknown phenomenon. He had checked the bottom of the cliff beforehand. It was the kind of cliff that was too smooth to have any branches to grab or footholds to step on. Before he could even think about how he survived, he had swiftly executed a footwork technique, but the question was soon answered. It must have been back in his youth, one day after finishing a mercenary job, he entered a tavern. An old soldier, seasoned with experience, who had taught him much, as always, poured strong liquor and spun tales while drunk. ¡°There is a realm called the extreme limit. The realm of ¡®One Sword Split All¡¯ where even the hardest metal known to man can be cut, and the realm of ¡®Indestructible as Diamond¡¯ where all attacks can be blocked with the bare body. A swordsman of ¡®One Sword Split All¡¯ could cleave the great sea, and a warrior of ¡®Indestructible as Diamond¡¯ wouldn¡¯t bleed a drop even if a rain of arrows fell from the sky or spears flooded like waves.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s what it was¡­¡± Jack had to admit it. It was a mistake to consider him just amon ruffian. Hershel, who seemed to have spent his time in debauchery, must have been secretly training behind the scenes. Jack clicked his tongue at the unfairness of the world. The one who had realized the coveted realm spent two-thirds of his day on liquor and sleep. And the rest tormenting the people of the mansion, a madman indeed. ¡°Indeed, that guy must have inherited the talent.¡± The quality must be different. What others would achieve with a hundred hours of effort, he could aplish in just one hour. Even a ruffian who wasted most of his life could reach the realm of ¡®Indestructible as Diamond.¡¯ And when the will was mentioned, he wondered if that was the same empty-headed guy he knew. History showed that even those called the strongest of their time often died from poison or disease. Hershel knew this and had preemptively blocked any attempts at assassination through various means with his will. ¡°All this time, he had hidden such skills¡­¡± Who would be the first to take down Hershel and im the reward? That was the only important thing in this simple game, he thought. But not anymore. A terrifying upheaval was urring in what was thought to be a smooth-sailing festival. * * * It¡¯s terrifying. As I pass through the garden path, the night guards keep ncing over. Surely they¡¯re not nning to kill me like that middle-aged man earlier? I try to keep myposure as I head towards my lodging. I¡¯m getting closer to the familiar building. It was then, as I was passing by the first-floor windows. ¡°There, that!¡± I stopped in front of one of the windows, which wasn¡¯t even curtained. Thanks to my height, I could see the face of the damn brat sleeping soundly on the bed. Thump- My grip on the window left a fingerprint, indicating the force I put into it. The sight of him hugging arge doll in his sleep was that of a mere child, but it was all pretense. No matter the grudge, who would push someone off a cliff? How can he sleep so soundly after what he¡¯s done? ¡°Doesn¡¯t it bother him? He must be a psychopath too¡­¡± I¡¯m seething with anger. I want to storm in and give him a piece of my mind, but now is not the time. When he¡¯s basking in the glory of his newfound wealth tomorrow, that¡¯s when I want to appear. I want to see his face twist in agony as he¡¯s dragged down to the depths of hell. Rice is best when it¡¯s been properly steamed after all. And right now, I just want to quench my thirst and take a shower. My back is drenched in sweat from the journey here, and it feels disgustingly sticky. I quietly enter the building and approach the night-shift maid. ¡°I need a bath immediately. Prepare the water. Oh, and bring me something to drink.¡± ¡°Gasp!¡± Her eyes widen in shock. Perhaps it¡¯s my disheveled appearance, or maybe that brat Selly has been boasting about killing me. ¡°Why that look? You look as if you¡¯ve seen a ghost.¡± ¡°My apologies. I¡¯ll prepare your bath right away. Would you like your usual drink, sir?¡± Alcohol? I don¡¯t usually drink, but today has been a dog¡¯s day. I guess it¡¯s fine for today. I nod in agreement. ¡°Hold on. One more thing.¡± ¡°Yes? Oh, yes. What is it, sir?¡± I raise my index finger to my lips. With a calm smile, I signal to her. ¡°Shh¡ªkeep my arrival a secret from Selly.¡± ¡°Yes, sir. I¡¯ll take it to the grave.¡± I¡¯m trying to cultivate a gentler image, so why is she trembling? Maybe it¡¯s the chilly night air. I continue through the mansion, repeating the same smile and the same words to every night worker I encounter. But behind their astonished reactions, they tremble as if frozen in fear. Then, in front of a window reflecting the bright moonlight, I realize. The smile I¡¯m wearing, it¡¯s like that of a devilishly handsome viin. One with enough dignity to be a boss¡­ ¡°They say your face bes a reflection of your life.¡± I should stop smiling like this for a while. It looks too suspicious. Chapter 5 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 5 5. The Immortal for a Second (4) As soon as I submerged myself in the bath, a sigh escaped me. The scene from that time was as vivid as if it were reflected on the water¡¯s surface, and Selly¡¯s words before being pushed off the cliff were crystal clear in my ears. ¡°It was allmissioned by thedy of the house. I just thought it was a good opportunity and joined in. Thanks to that, I even got paid, so it worked out well, didn¡¯t it?¡± It seems the stepmother has put a bounty on my head. I¡¯d like to report her to the guards, but I don¡¯t have any backing¡­ Even if I did, someone with the power of thedy of the Tenest family could easily dismiss the facts. From noble mtl dote ¡°It¡¯s not just thedy. Everyone in the mansion wishes for the young master¡¯s death.¡± What bothers me the most is the matured hatred towards Hersel that¡¯s spread throughout the mansion. Mary motives and karma. It was only natural that there were more than one or two who wished for my death. Reminded of that fact, chills ran down my skin. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Without realizing it, my gaze drifted to the bathroom door. I scanned the surroundings, wondering if there was some danger I hadn¡¯t detected. There will probably be more assassination attempts like this in the future. ¡°Twice just today¡­¡± I didn¡¯t even have time to think about the game scenario for the survival of the world. First, I need to deal with the imminent death that¡¯s close at hand. All I have are the pathetic traits of ¡®One Second Invincibility¡¯ and ¡®Noble Blood¡¯s Last Embers,¡¯ but I have to make the best use of them. ¡°The first thing I need to do is¡­¡± As soon as day breaks, I must use Selly of her misdeeds to thedy of the house. I want to resolve it immediately, but the night is deep. The middle of the night in the mansion was so quiet that the sound of crickets was loud. I¡¯d prefer to disguise it as an ident, but at this time, there are few people awake, so if I show myself, they might try to quietly take care of me in the dead of night. In fact, those guards tried to take my life earlier. Moreover, not punishing me themselves and entering the tiger¡¯s den is a kind of warning. A warning that I know the identity of the one who¡¯s after my life. Even if adding the will doesn¡¯t have much effect, it will prevent them from acting openly. Maybe it will even buy me some more time. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Maybe it¡¯s because I have a lot on my mind, or maybe it¡¯s the hot steam from the bath, but my head feels tight. I finished my bath and left for my quarters. After a rough towel dry, I relished the pleasant chill when suddenly, a bottle of liquor on the table caught my eye. It seemed to be the very drink the servant had mentioned preparing earlier. Dew formed by condensation rolled down the bottle, just like in themercials I¡¯d seen on TV. One ss should be fine, right? Especially after a day that felt like actual hell. * * * Early morning. Selly set out to pay a visit to thedy of the house. Herplexion wasn¡¯t great, tinged with unease. Was it something she saw in her half-awake state, or did she really glimpse Hursel, covered in dirt, shing his eyes through the window? Suspicious, she immediately checked the window upon rising and, indeed, there were deeply etched fingerprints. ¡°That wretched creature. Be it a ghost or whatever, let ite if it dares.¡± I¡¯ll douse it with holy water if I must. Shaking off the unease, Selly arrived at the mansion where thedy resided. The house steward personally opened the door for her. ¡°Seeing you here, the rumors must be true.¡± ¡°Has word spread already?¡± ¡°In a ce filled with gossipy maids, what else would you expect?¡± ¡­I only hinted to one or two. Who could have bbed? ¡°But tell me, Selly.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Steward.¡± ¡°Is it really certain?¡± ¡°Of course-?!¡± The steward¡¯s words brought back a sudden memory. The apparition she thought she saw in her sleep. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s certain. The cliff there is so high.¡± ¡°Ho ho. If Selly says so, then it must be. What was I worried about? Old age brings worries as it does wrinkles.¡± Selly brushed aside her difort. As she was ascending the lobby stairs with the steward¡¯s guidance, a man blocked her path. A young face, just past adolescence, with sharp eyes. It was Erusel, the third son of the Tenest family. ¡°Good day, Lord Erusel.¡± Despite Selly¡¯s greeting, there was no response. Erusel simply tilted his head, looking at the steward. ¡°Is it this wench? The one spreading nonsense around?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± As the answer ended, a stinging sound was heard. p- After the sound faded, blood trickled down from the corner of Selly¡¯s mouth. It was Eruzel¡¯s palm that had struck Selly¡¯s cheek. Selly blinked her round eyes once and looked at the house steward. The steward¡¯s face was only calm. Feeling the ominous atmosphere, Selly quickly bowed her head. ¡°Er, Lord Eruzel. I¡¯m sorry, but why are you doing this¡­?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even think about making excuses. I heard quite clearly that you¡¯ve been going around saying your brother fell and died.¡± Was it a problem that she had spoken lightly? Or was she being reprimanded for not reporting immediately? What was certain was that the only way to survive was to prostrate and tell the truth. ¡°Yes, yes. That¡¯s correct. Lord Hursel definitely fell from the cliff¡­¡± ¡°Are you saying the dead man drank? I heard it clearly from the head servant. He even emptied several bottles of that strong liquor yesterday.¡± Hursel is alive? Something was wrong. Selly trembled with confusion. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you were thinking, spreading such nonsense. It¡¯s a lie that¡¯s bound to be exposed.¡± ¡°No, Lord Eruzel! Lord Hursel fell from the cliff! I was just following thedy¡¯s orders!¡± ¡°¡­Orders?¡± Oh no. Selly realized she had misspoken. The festival hosted by thedy was a public fact but also an implicit secret. Eruzel¡¯s murderous intent grew even thicker. ¡°You will be summarily executed. The charge is deception and insult to the nobility.¡± Shing- Eruzel¡¯s eyes gleamed as he drew the sword from his waist. Selly thought as she saw Eruzel raising the sword. There¡¯s no way Hursel could be alive. He came back in good health and emptied the liquor as usual? As death approached every moment, Selly trembled violently. It was then that Eruzel was about to strike with his sword. Bang©¤©¤! A loud noise came from behind. Selly reflexively turned her head without realizing it. Click-ck- Click-ck- The person who opened the door was flushed red, and even from a distance, the smell of alcohol wafted. Still not sober, he staggered towards this side. As he approached, her legs gave out, and eventually, Selly copsed to the floor. An unwee presence dared to step into this ce. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing to my servant, Eruzel?¡± A deep voice echoed through the hall. It was Hersel. * * * ¡°Ah¡­ my head.¡± I clutched my throbbing head as I rose from the bed. The floor was littered with bottles of alcohol. I had forgotten Hersel¡¯s notorious alcoholism. My vision spun the moment I took a sip. Never again will I drink. It wasn¡¯t toote, so I straightened my clothes and headed to thedy¡¯s mansion. But what did I find upon arrival? There was Selly, one cheek flushed red, blood trickling from her mouth. And standing before her, sword in hand, was undoubtedly the third son from the portrait, Eruzel ben Tenest. It was not a pleasant situation. I had intended to report them before Selly and thedy could devise a n. But what about these people? No manners at all, always quick to draw their swords at the slightest provocation. I asked to assess the situation first. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing to my servant, Eruzel?¡± ¡°Hersel¡­¡± ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± I demanded. ¡°It¡¯s a summary execution. Your damned servant girl dared to deceive and insult a noble, so she must die.¡± But why is he speaking informally¡­? He¡¯s of lower rank than me and yet has no sense of decorum. ¡°You¡¯re quite terse.¡± As I pointed it out, a spasm crossed Eruzel¡¯s face. It was more fear than disgust. He seemed slightly intimidated¡­ Well, if there¡¯s ever a time for atmosphere, it¡¯s now. I walked towards Eruzel, igniting the ¡®noble embers of blood¡¯ within me. Click-ck, click-ck¡ª As the sound of my footsteps approached and the distance closed, Eruzel began to sweat profusely and stepped back. That reaction¡­ He¡¯s definitely afraid of me. Do I have a trauma from childhood? Well, it¡¯s unlikely that this notorious scoundrel would have left a good punching bag like a half-sibling alone. Now, if we fought, I¡¯d probably lose, but it seems I was thoroughly beaten up from an early age as part of my ¡®early education.¡¯ ¡°But, deception, did you say? What kind of deception are you talking about?¡± ¡°That, well, it¡¯s like. No, you blurted out that you were dead-¡° What are you saying? Choose either informal or formal speech¡­ Anyway, I¡¯ve roughly grasped the situation. The assassination failed, so they¡¯re trying to cut their losses. Selly is a discarded pawn thrown by the opponent. I can¡¯t forgive them for targeting my life, but at this moment, she¡¯s the only one who could be my ally. Should I use her? I looked at Selly, blinking in confusion, and then gave Erusel a sly smile. Deliberately, like a boss¡¯s smile full of schemes. ¡°I ordered it.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Are you deaf? I told you to do it. Spread the rumor that I¡¯m dead.¡± A look of panic spread across Erusel¡¯s face. ¡°¡­Why would you do such a thing?¡± ¡°Why? Weren¡¯t you pleased? I heard many would be happy to hear of my death.¡± He flinched. He must be ufortable knowing about the assassination attempts by my stepmother. I narrowed my eyes and, with a feigned nonchnce, shed a grin at Erusel, whose eyes were trembling. ¡°Judging by your expression, you don¡¯t seem too pleased. But then, which brother would be happy to hear of his sibling¡¯s death? Right?¡± I approached Erusel. The sword got closer, but I didn¡¯t care. If necessary, I have a second of invincibility. I patted the stiff shoulder of Erusel, concluding the situation. ¡°Please forgive the childish spite of a brother who loves to y pranks. Erusel.¡± It¡¯s wrapped up as a joke, so he won¡¯t say more. The servant was just following orders. The fault is all mine. If they want to me someone, let them. But can they really punish someone of higher rank than themselves? ¡°Tch¡­¡± Eruselpletely lowered the sword he was holding. Whether it was out of fear, or because of the uncharacteristguage, I don¡¯t know. I left Erusel, who had be mute as if he had eaten honey, and turned to look at Selly. ¡°Let¡¯s stop here. Selly.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ Yes! Master Hershel.¡± Startled, Selly¡¯s eyes widened as she abruptly stood up. She seemed to catch on quickly, moving in ordance with my intentions. Click-ck, click-ck. Leaving Eruhsel behind and exiting the mansion, Selly asked, ¡°¡­What are you going to do with me?¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you start with an apology or gratitude?¡± An apology for pushing me off the cliff. Gratitude for saving me from Eruhsel. I didn¡¯t borate, but Selly seemed to understand. ¡°I¡¯m thankful for what just happened, but the apology shoulde from you, young master¡­¡± Selly¡¯s eyes were filled with resentment as she turned back to me. It seemed she no longer intended to hide it. Such a definitive grudge. How can oneck the flexibility to be even-tempered? I sighed deeply and said, ¡°There¡¯s something I need to tell you first.¡± I stopped walking and turned to face Selly. ¡°The grudge you hold¡­ about your mother¡¯s incident, it¡¯s tragic, but I feel neither guilt nor remorse for it.¡± Selly looked at me with a sneer, as if to say, ¡®I thought as much.¡¯ Just listen to me till the end. ¡°It wasn¡¯t my doing.¡± Now, Selly¡¯s expression turned to confusion. I decided to drive the point home. ¡°I am not Hershel.¡± Chapter 6 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 6 6. The Immortal for a Second (5) ¡°I am not Hershel.¡± Can this really be happening? In games or web novels, the moment someone talks about regression or possession, the fourth wall appears, filtering out such statements, not allowing them to be spoken. ¡°I can¡¯t exin in detail, but¡­ I¡¯m originally someone else. Somehow, I ended up in this body.¡± ¡°So¡­ you¡¯re saying someone else is inside the young master¡¯s body right now?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ I see. But why bring this up all of a sudden?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple. I wish you would cooperate.¡± At this moment, the scenario hasn¡¯t even started. Not knowing the world before the game is frustrating enough, but the humans in the mansion are all so twisted they try to kill me. Dropped in the middle of a dark forest without a singlentern, I desperately needed even the smallest light of a firefly to illuminate my surroundings. ¡°Cooperate?¡± So, with the intention of improving rtions, I grasped at straws and spoke. As half-expected, Selly¡¯s gaze turned icy, and the corners of her mouth drooped, her entireplexion withering. ¡°How much have you had to drink?¡± Just as I thought. If I were in their shoes, I¡¯d think it was the ramblings of a madman. Damn it, was the very fact that such a statement was allowed indicative of having no one to trust, telling me to spout whatever I wanted¡­ ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t matter. You don¡¯t have to believe me. You¡¯ll end up helping me on your own.¡± ¡°¡­Do you think I would do that?¡± ¡°Just keep serving me. It¡¯s all a matter of time anyway.¡± Selly chewed on her lower lip. Her eyes, ring with suspicion, couldn¡¯t seem to grasp my intentions. ¡°Not driving me away, not punishing me. Just telling me to peacefully continue serving? Even though you might try to kill me again?¡± ¡°So, have I died?¡± Selly showed her astonishment. Then, like a buyer meticulously inspecting a second-hand item for any scratches at a direct trade, she scrutinized my body from head to toe. ¡°How can you not have a single scratch? You clearly fell off a cliff¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s a trick to it. The secret to not dying.¡± For just a second. ¡°What kind of nonsense is that?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve said all I wanted to say. If you have no other business, you can leave.¡± ¡°I was about to do that anyway.¡± ¡°Oh, wait. Before you go.¡± ¡°Why?¡± You¡¯re going to push me off a cliff and just leave? If youmit a crime, you should be punished. I smacked Selly¡¯s head with all my might. ¡°aaagh!¡± Selly clutched her head as tears trickled down. Seeing her like that, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. Ah, refreshing. ¡°That¡¯s enough. You can go.¡± Selly turned her head and stomped away. I smirked at her retreating figure. The rest would be taken care of by time; all that was left was to wait. * * * Two days had passed. Selly couldn¡¯t shake off the tension from the changed atmosphere of the past two days. ¡°Myundry¡¯s gone missing? And you call this an exnation?¡± ¡°Yeah. What can I do about it, Selly?¡± The maid replied with a straight back and an expressionless face, not a hint of apology in her demeanor. It was not the mistake but her brazen attitude that was unforgivable, yet Selly found herself at a loss for words. ¡°¡­¡­¡± And for good reason, as the passing servants had stopped in their tracks, watching the scene unfold. Not a single emotion could be felt from their faces. They all stood there, consistently expressionless. From noble mtl dote ¡®Why, exactly¡­?¡¯ Something had been off since yesterday. The mansion was bustling as usual, but no one gave her any particr tasks. Those who used to exchange warm greetings now passed her by without a word. Faces that once beamed with bright smiles now looked as lifeless as the remains of a scorched field. ¡°Selly?¡± Suddenly, a voice called out for her, and reflexively, Selly turned her head. ¡°The housekeeper?¡± ¡°Are you busy right now?¡± ¡°No, not at all. What¡¯s the matter, housekeeper?¡± ¡°Thedy of the house wishes to see you.¡± Selly¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. It was rare for the mistress to call upon a servant other than her direct reports. She wanted to ask why, but the expressionless gazes around her sealed her lips. In the end, Selly followed the head servant without a word. Click-ck, click-ck. They arrived at a terrace bathed in bright sunlight. There, ady sat with a wide-brimmed hat pressed deeply down, sipping tea with elegant grace. ¡°Madam, I have brought Selly as requested.¡± ¡°Well done, Elma.¡± A high-pitched yet dignified voice added to the tension. As the head servant left with precise movements, Selly gathered her wits and greeted politely. ¡°Selly Dailden. I am honored to meet you, Madam.¡± Ahille Ben Tenest. The woman before her was the power behind the throne. With the Duke away, she reigned as the absolute ruler of the mansion and the one who had inaugurated the festival known as the Hursel Hunt. Summoned by such a person, Selly couldn¡¯t help but feel tense. ¡®What could it be for?¡¯ She wanted to guess from the expression, but the wide brim of the hat hid it from view. All that was visible was the pinkish hue of her lipstick on the teacup. The mistress took a dignified sip of her tea silently, then spoke. ¡°I¡¯ve heard you¡¯ve been working in the mansion for a long time. I thought it proper to see your face at least once.¡± Proper? Selly questioned with her expression, but the mistress waved her hand as if there was nothing more to say. ¡°You¡¯ve done well, you may go now.¡± Though taken aback by the situation, Selly decided to take her leave with a bow. ¡°It was an honor to meet you, Madam. I shall take my leave now.¡± Click-ck, click-ck. Selly and the head servant walked away from the terrace. Just as she was about to speak, the head servant spoke first. ¡°Selly, I always thought you were clever. But why, why did you make such a choice?¡± ¡°Excuse me¡­?¡± With wide eyes and a stunned expression, she raised her hand to the steward¡¯s outstretched palm. p- After the sound faded, Selly¡¯s neck turned slightly. The bandaged cheek burst open again, and like the day before, blood trickled down the corner of her mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t deny it. There¡¯s rampant talk that you¡¯ve sided with the prey!¡± The steward¡¯s loud voice snapped her back to reality. Sided with Hershel? Selly guessed why the steward would say such a thing. ¡®Could it be¡­ because of that incident with Eruzel?¡¯ She regretted it instantly. In the confrontation with Eruzel, Hershel had dered his own actions and defended her. Though she had indeed pushed Hershel off the cliff, how did it appear to others? It was obvious. Despite it being an order, the act of falsely reporting Hershel¡¯s death was an insult to the mistress. Yet, by following Hershel¡¯s orders, which were akin to a suicide mission, she must have appeared as a loyal dog in the eyes of others. ¡°Just, wait-¡° Selly tried to speak up in her defense, but the steward was already leaving. She reached out her hand to clear the misunderstanding, but it was toote. Even if she ran to exin now, would they believe her? The unbelievable story that she had pushed Hershel off the cliff, yet he didn¡¯t die and instead saved her. ¡®It¡¯s unbelievable¡­ I can¡¯t even believe it myself¡­¡¯ As she fully faced the hopeless situation, Selly¡¯s face turned pale. The changed attitudes of the people were the least of her problems. Her life was in immediate danger. Given the mistress¡¯s temperament, she wouldn¡¯t leave Selly alone if she thought she had sided with Hershel. ¡°You¡¯ve done well, you may go now.¡± The mistress¡¯sst words sent shivers down her spine. Could it have been a farewell? Could she, a mere maid, survive the mistress¡¯s wrath? The color drained from Selly¡¯s face. Then, suddenly, the man¡¯s words shed through her mind. ¡°Well, it¡¯s fine. You don¡¯t have to believe me. You¡¯ll end up helping me on your own.¡± With the curtains drawn, I was reading by the light of a single candle. The book in my hand was an ancient tale filled with preposterous words. ¡°Splitting mountains? Even lies should have their limits.¡± I was astounded by the endless exaggeration in the story. Who would believe such nonsense that a single sword strike could create ins? Even with a character¡¯s stats maxed out, it would be impossible. As I was about to turn the page to another tale, the door suddenly opened. ¡°Young master.¡± Selly entered without knocking, causing me to put down the book. I was annoyed by the rudeness, but upon seeing Selly¡¯s face, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to say anything. ¡°Why don¡¯t you wipe the blood from your mouth?¡± I handed over a handkerchief. Even this kindness was met with a meaningful look as Selly snatched it away. ¡°Why is the room so dark? And a candle in broad daylight?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a reason for it.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been really strangetely.¡± ¡°Can we get to the point?¡± Selly hesitated, then cautiously began to speak. ¡°¡­Did you know it woulde to this?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± It was all part of the n. It was as good as dering myself an ally openly, so how could they see me favorably? In the end, I was the only option left. ¡°So. What do you want?¡± ¡°Well, that is¡­ What I mean is¡­¡± Selly clenched her fists tightly and looked down diagonally. Then, as if squeezing the words out, she said, ¡°The offer you mentioned. I ept. I, I ept it¡­¡± Was it so hard to say that¡­? Indeed, even in death, that would be undesirable. It would be no different than asking her to join hands with a devil, her sworn enemy. Yet, this is an issue that must be clearly addressed. ¡°Speak clearly, will you? If not, don¡¯t waste my time and just leave.¡± Finally, with her eyes tightly shut, Selly cried out. ¡°Ugh¡­! I ept your proposal, young master!¡± She should have done so sooner. ¡°Really? But what to do now. I¡¯ve already changed my mind.¡± As I spoke mockingly, Selly¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Why, why would you do that?¡± ¡°Upon reflection, you haven¡¯t even thanked me, let alone apologized.¡± I pointed to the floor and continued in a calm voice. ¡°I¡¯ll give you onest chance. Kneel and apologize properly. Then, I¡¯ll ept it.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Selly¡¯s eyes trembled. The mere request must have been humiliating, and this was something she absolutely did not want to do. But what can she do? To survive, one must sometimes bend even theirst shred of pride. ¡°Or go out and die.¡± I pressed on mercilessly. And then, Selly¡¯s stiff neck slowly began to lower. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for pushing you off the cliff. It won¡¯t happen again. Please, generously forgive me just this once, young master¡­¡­¡± Eventually, Selly¡¯s forehead touched the ground. As I contemted giving her another figurative p, I heard her sobbing. I continued reading my book, waiting for her to calm down. ¡°Hoo.¡± 10 minutester. It seemed she had regained herposure somewhat, so I put the book down. Then I asked the now calmer Selly. ¡°Alright. First, I need information. You said everyone in the mansion wishes for my death, right?¡± Selly wiped her swollen eyes with a handkerchief and replied. ¡°Yes. He¡¯s incurred quite a lot of grudges.¡± If that were the reason, he would have died long ago. ¡°The bounty the mistress has put on my head. Is everyone going crazy over it now?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. That¡¯s the decisive factor. The mistress promised a huge reward for assassinating Sir Hursel, in front of everyone in the mansion.¡± To dare to announce the assassination of the eldest son of a great noble family? Either she¡¯s mad, or she¡¯s a more powerful figure than one would think, someone who wouldn¡¯t lose anything by doing such a thing. In this case, it would naturally be thetter, and the situation is certainly more insane than expected. ¡°Disguise it as an ident. Is that correct?¡± ¡°As much as possible. If you use a conspicuous method, we can¡¯t guarantee what happens afterward. Killing a noble is a grave crime.¡± So there¡¯s no dancing with knives in front of everyone. It was a grim situation, but this fact alone was a great help. The worst-case scenario would be a series of assassination attempts that couldn¡¯t be dealt with by a single second of invincibility. ¡°What do you think? Do you think I can survive?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a high probability you¡¯ll die¡­¡± Even borrowing the perspective of others, the answer was still bleak. Selly must havee here deciding that a one percent chance of hope was better than certain death. That¡¯s what I thought. ¡°But if you can hold out until the Duke returns, it¡¯s possible. The deadline the mistress set is until then.¡± My ears perked up. The Duke refers to Hursel¡¯s father, Aol Ben Tenest. It seems the mistress is taking advantage of the real owner of the mansion being away to stir up trouble. ¡°When will Father return?¡± ¡°Since he¡¯s participating in the demon subjugation, considering the distance, it will take at least a little over two months.¡± Subjugation¡­ Anyway, if he returns, this damned situation will also end. ¡°I have one condition for helping you until the Duke returns.¡± ¡°A condition?¡± ¡°When you leave, take me with you.¡± Where is that, exactly? ¡°If I¡¯m left alone in the mansion, I can¡¯t guarantee my life, so if you can¡¯t ept this, let¡¯s pretend this conversation never happened.¡± ¡°Take you? Where are you talking about?¡± When I asked bluntly, Selly narrowed her eyes. ¡°¡­¡­You promised the Duke you would go. To the Academy.¡± I¡¯m going to the Academy? Suddenly, my head began to throb with pain. The Academy is a stage where the narratives of about thirty yable characters unfold, naturally, it¡¯s a perilous ce. ¡®I¡¯m going crazy.¡¯ I don¡¯t even know anymore. Let¡¯s put this thought aside forter. ¡°Juste with me.¡± Selly¡¯s brows remained furrowed, seemingly unsatisfied with the uncertain response. ¡°You have a n to survive until we get to the Academy, right?¡± ¡°Of course, I do.¡± As I was about to reveal the method, the candle reached the end of its life. Since it was the only source of light in the room, darkness enveloped us. I had no choice but to approach the window and flung the curtains wide open. Swoosh! Light flooded in, and the view beyond the massive window unfolded. A maid cleaning windows in the opposite mansion. A gardener pruning trees. A butler striding across the estate. All their gazes were clearly fixed on this room. Though they quickly averted their eyes. ¡°¡­¡­So that¡¯s why you had the curtains drawn.¡± ¡°The attention is quite scorching.¡± I spoke nonchntly and presented a book with an illustrated page to Selly. ¡°What¡¯s this? The arrogant immortal? It¡¯s a myth. Is this what you¡¯ve been reading?¡± This was the reason I endured the dreadfully boring ancient myth. What I found was the story of a demigod who wouldn¡¯t die even if killed, fitting perfectly with ¡®1-second invincibility.¡¯ The worldview of Asares is pervaded by religion, with a firm belief in divine retribution and the unknown, like myths. That¡¯s why I n to don the mask of a character from the myth. ¡°I am the reincarnation of the arrogant immortal.¡± Mixed with the ¡®noble remnants of blood,¡¯ my voice took on a gravely serious tone. Selly, as always, sent me fervent support. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤Looks like I¡¯m going to die alongside a madman.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Chapter 7 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 7 7. The Fake Immortal (1) It¡¯s been two days since the young master hid himself away in his room. The servants of the mansion, itching for action, thought to themselves. Selly, who had sided with him, must have told him everything about the festival. Therefore, there¡¯s no way Hershel woulde out unless he¡¯s gone mad. For those who had been preparing for the festival, this was a truly troublesome situation. But just when there was talk of changing the n to a locked-room murder, something no one expected happened. He had stepped out of his fortress on his own two feet. ¡°Is everyone ready?¡± A maid asked in the main hall, three stories high, usually reserved for entertaining VIPs. The butler mopping the floor and the maids sweeping all nodded in unison. ¡°He¡¯ll be here soon.¡± By now, they would have thrown the bait at Hershel, and he would have bitten it instantly. Of course, that bait was the exquisite liquor brought into the main hall. And Hershel was a drunkard so infamous that even the three-year-old children of the domain knew him. ¡°But will he reallye? Considering he¡¯s been holed up in his room until now, he might have sensed something¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°A sparrow wouldn¡¯t just pass by the mill, would it?¡± No more voices of denial emerged. They recalled the madness of the alcoholic whenever he was involved with liquor, shaking their heads, but the servants¡¯ lips were blooming with smiles. As if on cue, they all looked up at the ceiling. It was the chandelier, sparkling with crystals. ¡°We¡¯ve agreed to split the prize money, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Fair and square.¡± Theirughter didn¡¯tst long, for the door opened just then. ¡°Shh. Here hees. Act normal.¡± Creak- The sound of neat footsteps echoed. The maid approached the man exuding noble dignity with a bright smile. ¡°Master. What brings you to the main hall?¡± As expected. From noble mtl dote Despite his dignity, his remarks were as light as air. ¡°Have you heard that Bm¡¯s liquor has arrived?¡± ¡°Yes, it just came inst evening.¡± ¡°Then bring it over, will you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll bring it right away. Please wait a moment, Master.¡± The maid turned her back and blinked one eye. The butler, receiving the signal, approached Hershel with a chair reserved for VIPs. ¡°Master. Please, take a seat here.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± The butler felt a slight daze at the unfamiliar gratitudeing from his lips. ¡°What? Oh, yes¡­ You¡¯re wee.¡± Hershel sat down in the chair without any suspicion. The butler quickly regained hisposure and, fearing he might be noticed, changed the subject with his characteristic eloquence. ¡°How do you find it? Even without a theater, there¡¯s much to see, isn¡¯t there?¡± The butler¡¯s hand pointed towards the famous sculptor¡¯s statues on disy in the main hall and the paintings of great artists hanging on the walls, guiding Hershel¡¯s gaze. Hershel followed his gesture with his eyes. ¡°Indeed?¡± Suddenly, Hershel looked up. ¡°Especially that chandelier, it¡¯s truly beautiful.¡± At his pointed remark, the servants swallowed their saliva in a chain reaction. Worried they might have been discovered, but Hershel soon lowered his gaze to look only at the paintings. The butler entertaining in front had a feigned smile as he began to subtly back away. ¡°Ha-ha. There are many new pieces I¡¯d like to exin, but unfortunately, I have a task entrusted to me by thedy of the house.¡± This was the signal. The maid, who had been repeatedly cleaning the already spotless third-floor railing, nced down furtively. As the butler moved to a safe distance, she tightly pulled on a thin, thin thread. Click- The metallic sound of thetch from the ceiling faded, and the chandelier hanging from the ceiling began to fall. The densely packed crystals made it seem as though a shower was pouring down only where Hershel was. With a diameter of 5 meters. Weighing as much as two sacks of flour. The ceiling alone was higher than three stories. Beneath that siege weapon-like monstrosity, even a bull would be reduced to mush. And for a mere, insignificant human, their form wouldn¡¯t even be recognizable. Bang! A heavy boom resonated. ordingly, dust rose in a haze, not a drop of blood in sight. But one thing was certain. Hershel had been looking at the painting, oblivious to the chandelier falling. Without reaction, nor the chance to dodge, he would have burst and died. But then, an unexpected anomaly reached his ears. Click-ck, click-ck¡ª The sound of footsteps and a restrained cough that shouldn¡¯t be there. ¡°Ahem!¡± The servants doubted their ears, rubbing their eyes as if they had seen a ghost. The man emerged through the dust, as if nomotion had happened at all, brushing off the fragments on his body as he walked. He arrived in front of a maid trembling as if she would copse at any moment, holding the silk to be sprinkled over the corpse for the festival¡¯s finale. ¡°But you know,¡± As Hershel snatched the drink, the servants snapped back to reality with a shiver. The unbelievable was not over yet. ¡°I¡¯ve recently quit drinking, you see.¡± The drink, which should have smoothly gone down the throat, only dripped drop by drop, staining the floor until it was soaked. ¡°What am I to do if you talk to me about alcohol? Not even offering help.¡± The empty bottle rolled on the ground. Only then did Hershel begin to survey the faces of the servants in the hall. ¡°Why such long faces?¡± Hershel smirked, a lightugh to him but to others, it might recall the visage of a demon king. ¡°Why. Is there aw that forbids me from abstaining?¡± With that yful remark, Hershel left his seat. The servants, gripped by an unknown fear and an impossible anomaly, remained silent for a while. After a few seconds, only the maid¡¯s soft muttering wandered the silent hall. ¡°How could this possibly¡­¡± * * * The middle-aged man escorted Hershel to the riding ground. His position was that of a horse trainer. The bait that had lured Hershel was a warhorse that no man could refuse. And not just any warhorse, but one of the famous steeds from the north. A treasure too precious for even the sons of wealthy families to ride recklessly, yet Hershel¡¯s reaction was one of dissatisfaction, prompting the trainer to scratch his head. ¡®A warhorse used to make him jump for joy, what¡¯s with that expression?¡¯ Regardless. The momentarily puzzled trainer fixed his gaze forward and smiled slyly. ¡®Well, he¡¯s going to die soon anyway, so it hardly matters.¡¯ The moment he put his foot in the stirrup, he trained the warhorse to go wild. Moreover, he repeated the process so that its muscr hind legs could strike as high as the chest. True to its fine breed, a single kick was powerful enough to dent even armor. Eventually, the two men arrived at the riding ground, and the trainer brought out the muscr horse, stopping it in front of Hershel. ¡°Go ahead, take it for a ride. Its stamina may becking, but its burst of speed is truly tremendous.¡± ¡°Hmm, will you give me a demonstration?¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°I seem to have forgotten how to ride.¡± A predicament had arisen. Had he noticed something? In the trainer¡¯s memory, Hershel was skilled enough to ride even when drunk to oblivion. ¡°Ha, what a funny joke. Please, go ahead and mount. If you have any difficulties, I¡¯ll be right beside you to offer advice.¡± The trainer deftly avoided the crisis with his eloquence. Hershel, watching him, opened his lips with a meaningful expression. ¡°Well, since you¡¯re prepared, it would only be polite to take a look.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Pretending you don¡¯t know.¡± The trainer broke into a cold sweat at the chilling thought, but Hershel ignored it and ced his foot in the stirrup. In that instant, the warhorse snorted loudly and lifted its front hooves. Before he could mount, Hershel was thrown to the ground. The warhorse¡¯s front hooves struck the ground, followed by its muscr hind legs. Even the walls seemed like they would crumble from the force of the two powerful kicks that struck Hershel¡¯s chest. Crack-! The trainer smiled triumphantly at the crisp sound of breaking bones. Surely, the broken ribs must have pierced the lungs. That¡¯s what he thought. ¡°Puhahaha!¡± ¡°What, what on earth is this!¡± Hershel, whom everyone thought would die, was perfectly fine. Instead, it was the warhorse, screaming in pain with its hind leg bent at an odd angle. As the trainer shuddered at the bizarre urrence, Hershel dusted himself off and rose. ¡°Why? Did you think I¡¯d die from just this?¡± Having grasped the situation, the trainer quickly prostrated himself on the ground. Even if he couldn¡¯t be implicated in an attempted murder, there would be no forgiveness from the reckless Hershel. He would surely take his head, using the excuse of improper training. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my lord! It was my mistake, I didn¡¯t train the horse properly! Please, spare my life!¡± Knowing full well it wouldn¡¯t work, the trainer wept, hoping for a sliver of a miracle. Internally, he had already resigned himself to the coffin. As expected, a chilling statement came from Hershel¡¯s lips. ¡°The leg is broken, should I put it down?¡± The trainer knew all too well the kind of people nobles were, speaking in circles. Hershel, who loved to stir up trouble, took pleasure in tormenting others, and this was no exception. So, the mention of euthanasia was undoubtedly a veiled reference to his own life. ¡°No, no, it can be saved with treatment. Please, anything but euthanasia¡­¡± As he begged for his life, promising to change, his trembling palms rubbed together. It was then that Hershel, ncing at the horse, uttered something unbelievable. ¡°It¡¯s pitiful to see. If it can be saved, then treat it well.¡± There was a god after all. That day, the trainer tasted a miracle. * * * He opened the notebook he carried. The contents were information based on rumors of those who had been preparing for assassination since long ago. The chandelier was said to have fallen, and the horse trainer had been preparing to kill me for some time. ¡°It¡¯s helpful to have it around.¡± Information provider Celly, in the same boat as me, meant no more recent updates withmunication cut off, but for now, there shouldn¡¯t be any trouble. Suddenly, my body began to feel heavy. This act is quite tiring. It was when I stepped into the mansion for a brief rest. As if someone had buttered the floor, my foot slipped out from under me. ¡°Huh?¡± The ceiling came into view, and from the back of my head, I felt my hair touch the ground. Normally, you¡¯d expect to hear the sound of a skull shattering, but not for me. What I heard was the crushing sound of stone on the floor. Thud-! [Impact detected.] [1-second invincibility cooldown: 59 seconds] ¡°¡­What are these?¡± But how should I take this? It¡¯s definitely dangerous, but it¡¯s a bit ambiguous for an assassination attempt. After all, there are quite a few cases of death by slipping in a bathtub. I struggled to regain my bnce and stood up. Just then, a maid carrying a duster came to clean the nearby window. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± ¡°Yes, yes?¡± ¡°Could you straighten out my clothes?¡± The maid hesitated, then approached me. But her path was unnatural. She took extra steps to avoid the spot where I had slipped. Clearly, she was the culprit. Look at that. Her hands are even trembling. ¡°The floor is slippery.¡± ¡°Yes, yes? What do you mean by that¡­?¡± I narrowed my eyes at her feigned ignorance. Startled, the maid stepped on the slippery floor and fell. As expected, she knew, managing only to bruise her buttocks. ¡°Right?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, young master! Please, just spare my life!¡± ¡­Look at them jumping to conclusions. Anyone would think I¡¯m about to devour them. I had no such intentions. They huddle together like frightened mice, inting their imaginations, which ultimately ys right into my hands. That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t punish the previous attempts. ¡°Just make sure no one else gets hurt and clean up well.¡± With those words, I left the ce behind. Click-ck- I walked down the corridor without a particr destination in mind, simply waiting for the next assassination attempt, reminding myself that this is how it should be done. Even if I fell off a sheer cliff, Even if a sharp de slit my throat, Even if I was crushed under a chandelier from three stories high, Even if I was kicked by the hind legs of a horse that seemed to weigh over a ton, Even if I slipped on the road¡­ Ah, is that a bit too mundane? Nevertheless, I did not die through all those attempts. Once or twice might be dismissed as coincidence. But what if it continues like this? Will they understand me, who does not die no matter how many times I¡¯m killed, this situation? Humans fear what they cannotprehend. It¡¯s a well-known tale that ancient people regarded thunder, now known to be a natural phenomenon, as the wrath of the gods. Surviving assassination attempts right before their eyes, bing a legend, and eventually making them give up on the attempts altogether. That was the survival strategy I chose. Click- It was about when I reached the end of the staircase. A neat-looking butler seemed to have been waiting and greeted me. ¡°You don¡¯t look well. I have some skill in medicine; may I have the opportunity to serve you?¡± I smiled at him. Their attempts will be my sustenance, and I will tear them apart, breaking free from the ropes that bind me. ¡°Very well.¡± There was no reason to refuse. Chapter 8 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 8 8. The False Immortal (2) ¡°Have you heard? The butler over there failed too.¡± The candle me flickered. A few servants whispered in the dimly lit lounge. They had gathered to discuss why their methods hadn¡¯t worked, talking about the failed assassination. The ones who had dropped the chandelier were the first to express their doubts. ¡°Could it have missed?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. There¡¯s no other exnation.¡± ¡°Indeed? Lucky b*stard.¡± The animal trainer interjected with a disgusted look. ¡°Really now? To say it was just luck seems a bit off.¡± ¡°Why? Do you have a clue?¡± ¡°Maybe there¡¯s something we don¡¯t know. He took a horse¡¯s kick straight to the chest and didn¡¯t flinch.¡± ¡°Ah, I thought so. It wasn¡¯t a young donkey, was it?¡± The maid¡¯sughter, mistaking it for a joke, was met with a frustrated frown from the trainer. ¡°Good grief, it was a warhorse, you know? And that¡¯s not all. It wasn¡¯t Hershel¡¯s ribs that broke, but the horse¡¯s leg. If you can¡¯t believe it,e to the stable. I¡¯ll show you myself.¡± The listeners¡¯ eyes widened. It was an unbelievable story, but his serious expression strangely seemed filled with conviction. ¡°Maybe he was hit by the chandelier¡­ or it seems like he was. Could he have used some trick?¡± ¡°Like he hid a thick steel te inside his clothes?¡± ¡°Would that be enough? Even armored, he would have been crushed.¡± ¡°Right. A warhorse¡¯s kick can¡¯t be stopped by mere armor. There must be something else.¡± They would never discover what that something was. The only usible thought was that Hershel was a knight of such caliber that he transcended humanity. Such spection was the most natural line of thought. It was absurd. The butler shook his head. To think that he was strong just because he was respected by all and carried the bloodline of Aol was baseless. Hershel, who had done nothing but drink andze around instead of training. In fact, he had such an unimpressive physique that he seemed like he could be easily knocked down by any soldier. ¡°And that¡¯s not all. There¡¯s something strange going on. Lately, that swine has been doing things he never used to do. Haven¡¯t you all felt the same?¡± Everyone nodded in agreement at the butler¡¯s words. ¡°Right. Even if the prohibition is revived, humans who binge drink won¡¯t suddenly stop drinking¡­¡± ¡°There were no incidents of throwing dishes either.¡± ¡°It might be out of courtesy, but thank you notes did spring from that guy¡¯s mouth.¡± Even among the nobility, there were many who adhered to the basics. They drank in moderation, and unless it was something terribly wrong, they didn¡¯t smash dishes or furniture. And expressing gratitude to the servants, even to those below them, was quitemon. But the fact that Hershel had followed these ¡®basics¡¯ was something that couldn¡¯t be overlooked. ¡°Perhaps, he¡¯s had a change of heart?¡± As the maid voiced her thoughts, the cheeks of those listening puffed out with a ¡®pfft¡¯ sound. ¡°No way, right?¡± ¡°Must¡¯ve eaten something wrong. Or maybe he¡¯s trying to make a good impression before he dies.¡± ¡°That must be it, right?¡± From noble mtl dote ¡°Enough with the nonsense. So, who¡¯s going to try next?¡± After a few more exchanges, the lounge was left empty. As silence fell, the door of the lower shelf was cautiously opened. The one who opened the door was Selly, who had forced her small body into a bend to barely fit inside. ¡°Ah, my back¡­¡± There was a sad story behind hiding in the shelf. Hershel was aware of the poison. As he said, the safest food was only what the servants could also eat. Selly hade to get it, but when the servants suddenly burst in, she ended up in this state. ¡°But really, did he do that?¡± Selly, who had been marked by the mistress and cut off frommunicating with others, hadn¡¯t even heard the rumors. The conversation she had inadvertently overheard made her head spin. The sight of Hershel walking unscathed through the mansion in the midst of life-threatening danger made her wonder. The words he had once boasted about might not have been delusions of grandeur after all. ¡°I am the reincarnation of the arrogant immortal.¡± The words they had just bantered about might have been a misunderstanding, But hadn¡¯t she seen it herself? Hershel, who had fallen from a sheer cliff, returning alive and well. The story of ¡®immortal¡¯ that Hershel imed seemed to be gaining a bit of credibility. Wandering the mansion to survive assassination attempts had left me exhausted. Theyers of fatigue piled up, and I sumbed to sleep in an instant. But soon, I had to open my eyes. [Physical attack detected.] [1-second invincibility trait activated.] [1-second invincibility cooldown: 59 seconds] What¡¯s this? I hurriedly lit a candle. Leaping out of bed, I threw off the covers. I couldn¡¯t believe my eyes. Two spiders, each the size of an adult male¡¯s palm, were crawling around. Their ominous purple color was a clear sign of venom. ¡°Insane¡­¡± One seemed to have broken its fangs from a previous bite, its appearance iplete. The other, unable to hide its aggressive instincts, kept advancing towards me. A chill ran down my spine, and cold sweat followed. The original me would have been terrified of spiders, almost to the point of a phobia. So much so that during overtime, when a tiny spider climbed onto my shoulder, I whined like a scared puppy to a female colleague to get it off ¨C a dark history indeed. Stay calm. There¡¯s no Miran here to catch cockroaches barehanded. Looking around for a potential weapon, I spotted a gleaming metal. I quickly snatched the bell from the desk and rang it with all my might. Then, I swiftly hid myself in the wardrobe. The spiders were huge, almost exaggeratedly crab-like, but they wouldn¡¯t fit through the cracks, right? Just in case, I took off my pajama top and stuffed it into the gaps. After a short while, I heard the sound of angry footsteps. The sound of the door opening was nothing but rough. ¡°Why on earth are you ringing the bell in the middle of the night?¡± The sharp, high-pitched voice, devoid of manners and filled with irritation, rang in my ears, but I wasn¡¯t angry. Miran would soone to put an end to this situation. ¡°What, what¡¯s going on. Where are you?¡± ¡°Over here.¡± I swiftly opened the door just a crack to reveal myself. Hiding in a closet, even I had to admit it was a pathetic sight. The ¡®noble embers of blood¡¯ refused to acknowledge their disgrace, whether out of pride or awareness of others¡¯ gazes, but regardless of my will, they began to re up. ¡°There are two bugs in this room. It¡¯s only right that you, the lower one, should deal with them.¡± The voice was unnecessarily dignified and baritone, making it feel all the more idiotic. Sure enough, hiding inside and trying to look tough, my appearance must have seemed foolish to Selly, whose eyes were nothing but cold. That crazy look, as if watching a madman, wasn¡¯t new to me, and such things hardly mattered anymore. ¡°One on the floor. One on the bed.¡± Sighing deeply, Selly watched the two spiders I pointed out and grabbed a pair of pens from the desk. The fountain pen soon became a dagger, piercing through the spider¡¯s body. One stuck to the floor, and the other to the white bed, from which a viscous liquid began to ooze from the spider¡¯s abdomen. ¡°The sheets were just washed¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s your fault. Clean it up and bring a new nket.¡± Selly¡¯s fists trembled with rage. It was enough to make anyone angry, the workload piling up in the middle of the night. To an outsider, it might seem like a scene ready to explode into violence, but in a world where rank is everything, all I could do was re daggers and mutter under my breath. ¡°Can¡¯t even catch a spider, and you call yourself an immortal? Ridiculous.¡± ¡°I¡¯m tired, so hurry up.¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± While Selly went to fetch a new nket, I was lost in thought, staring at the disgusting spider carcass. ¡°A venomous spider¡­ What if it had bitten me?¡± No, such a hypothesis was invalid. The venom itself was the damage. Abandoning proper food, my curiosity, which I had suppressed, began to resurface. What would happen if I came into contact with the poison, whether through ingestion or otherwise? ¡®One-second invincibility¡¯ is, to put it simply, the ability to nullify any threat for a single second. Though unintended, it has been proven in practice that it can invalidate even single-strike attacks like a cliff fall or a sword strike. Let¡¯s think a step further. How would it handle persistent, effective damage? I pulled out a notebook filled with various assassination ns and began to read. Poisonings were bing rmingly frequent. I had intended to avoid that route as much as possible, but it seemed the limit would soon be reached. Consequently, I hadn¡¯t had a proper meal in days. Surviving on crumbs of snacks was now painful enough to kill me with stress. ¡°How does one react to poison¡­ Shall we find out?¡± With resolve, I tore a sheet from the notebook on the shelf, recalling memories tucked away in a corner of my mind, and began to list the necessary items. Time passed, and the paper was filled with characters like a cheat sheet. Now, all that remained was to procure the items listed here. But the person who should receive the order waste. I red at the innocent clock and tapped my foot impatiently. When will they arrive? ¡°Are they crafting a nket or something?¡± * * * A woman bustled about in the kitchen. The young master, who had been skipping meals, sensing something fishy, had ordered a special meal. A steak dripping with oil was a given, along with a variety of her confident dishes. But no wine. The menu wasbor-intensive. Yet, Mirei¡¯s mood was slightly buoyant. A pinch of powder between thumb and forefinger, ready to cast its spell. A colorless, odorless powder poison. Tasteless as well. Sprinkled lightly over the main dish, the steak, it induced a heart attack upon consumption. Nobles dying of heart attacks wasn¡¯t a rare urrence. It would easily be overlooked. The hostess seemed to be on guard only against tant murder, so there would be no problem. Mirei meticulouslypleted the ting inspection, then closed the lid of the dish. She wheeled the cart to Hursel¡¯s room. ¡°Your meal is ready, young master.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± After a brief greeting, Mirei ced the te on the table without a hint of disturbance. Hursel¡¯s expression didn¡¯t betray hunger, but his gaze, fixed on the meat, hinted at craving. If only he knew what was in the meat. ¡°I feel a bit queasy¡­ Perhaps it¡¯s best to start with something refreshing rather than the meat.¡± Hursel grasped the fork. The first dish he chose was the sd. Next are the fried dishes and seafood. Among the appetizers that filled the table, she didn¡¯t touch the meat, the main dish. As if she was avoiding it on purpose. Mirei sneakily nced at Hershel¡¯s strange behavior. Their eyes met¡ªhis were blue. ¡®Could it be¡­ Did he notice?¡¯ But as if to mock her thoughts, Hershel grasped the knife and sliced the steak as smoothly as cake. Mirei wiped the cold sweat within. As a suitable chunk of meat entered his mouth, her gaze fixed on Hershel¡¯s throat. ¡°Hmm.¡± He chewed thoughtfully, then seemed to clear his throat with a drink. Mirei observed Hershel¡¯s reaction closely, but strangely, he only seemed calm. The same was true as time passed. ¡®This can¡¯t be right. Shouldn¡¯t he be copsing in pain from his stomach burning up by now¡­?¡¯ The only odd thing was that he took about a minute break between bites, eating slowly. In the end, only a bite-sized piece of steak remained. ¡°It melts in the mouth¡ªexcellent. How long does it take to make something like this?¡± His sinister eye corners were chilling, but Mirei didn¡¯t let her agitation show. ¡°¡­The aging period is 14 days. We¡¯ve prepared plenty of extras, so you can have it anytime.¡± ¡°Delicious. Especially this tangy acidity¡ªit¡¯s superb. Did you add some secret seasoning?¡± His meaningful statement made even Mirei¡¯s shoulders flinch. Hershel nced sideways and deliberately put thest piece into his mouth. [Poison detected. (Type: Tulip Poison)] [1-second invincibility activated.] ¡®1-second invincibility¡¯ For 1 second, any threat is nullified. To test the extent of ¡®threat,¡¯ Hershel, based on the knowledge gained from games, procured various weakly toxic nts. He tested by consuming persistent and effective poisonous nts, but there was no problem. Thus, he realized. The trait ¡®1-second invincibility¡¯ also removes ongoing status abnormalities and damage¡ªit¡¯s true invincibility. ¡®After all, there aren¡¯t many games where invincibility is activated and dot damage or debuffs remain.¡¯ Of course, it only nullifies damage that targets one¡¯s own body, not continuous external damage like area-of-effect attacks, which it can only block for one second. It was a conclusion reached while burning fingers on a candle. ¡®Just one second without the heat.¡¯ Yet, even this was enough to change the uing situation significantly. There were various tests lined up to confirm the utility of the one-second invincibility, but those were postponed forter. For now, Hershel wanted to savor Mirei¡¯s astonished face as long as possible. Chapter 9 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 9 9. The Landy (1) Is it said that humans are creatures of adaptation? The repeated assassinations were starting to feel like part of the daily routine. I stepped into thendy¡¯s mansion. If you ask why I¡¯m doing such a crazy thing. No matter how much you hear about what kind of person the enemy is, it¡¯s just an inferencebined with others¡¯ evaluations. It was necessary to see for myself. ¡°Yo, young master. May I inquire what brings you here today?¡± The butler, opening the door, was startled and bowed his head. His severe trembling affected his voice. ¡°I thought I¡¯de for mealtime. Why, is it so strange to have a family meal?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The original Hershel would have been holed up in his room, eating alone. It¡¯s hard to imagine him as a family man, dining merrily, and besides, even someone as clueless as him would know that thendy and his half-siblings disliked him. That guy suddenly showed up, ranting about a family meal. No wonder the butler was surprised. ¡°Is there a problem? There should be enough time to set an extra ce.¡± ¡°That, that¡¯s true¡­¡± The reactions of the other servants were the same. Those I encountered as I walked whispered behind covered mouths. They were clearly agitated. This was good for me. It would be difficult for them to decide whether to attempt an assassination here and now. A sudden, surprise action¡ªdid they expect that? It¡¯s only natural they¡¯re unprepared. Of course, thoroughly prepared people are an exception. ¡°How do you do, young master. Your ce is always prepared.¡± She was the housekeeper. ¡°Let¡¯s start with grooming before the meal.¡± The housekeeper nced at a nearby maid. The maid approached with a neat gait and greeted me. The housekeeper left the scene gracefully, as if it wasn¡¯t her concern. ¡°Pleasee this way. I¡¯ll guide you to the bath.¡± It¡¯s clear what you¡¯re nning to do, but maybe I¡¯ll y hard to get. ¡°Do I really need to dress up? I¡¯ve already done all that beforeing here.¡± ¡°This is thedy¡¯s mansion. You must adhere to the rules. Not just Mr. Hershel, but all other family members follow them as well.¡± The maid showed no signs of leaving. Of course, thedy and even my half-siblings insist on bathing before the meal, but what else could I say? ¡°¡­I¡¯ll bathe alone. Don¡¯t even think about apanying me.¡± Nothing happened until I submerged myself in the bath. But it was surprising. As I walked down the corridor, I saw many doors. Judging by the soap scent wafting through the gaps, there seemed to be more than one or two bathrooms. With a carefree attitude, I finished my bath and moved on. Dressing was impossible to do alone. The order of putting on clothes, the position of the buttons, none of it was familiar. ¡°Is it too tight?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± The maid finished with the belt and then brought a moderately-sized box. Opening the lid revealed simple cosmetics. I knew this was just the beginning. ¡°This toner is excellent for moisturization.¡± ¡°No need to exin every item.¡± As I felt the damp cotton pad, a system window popped up. [Poison detected. Type: Killer Frog¡¯s deadly poison] [1-second invincibility trait activated.] It was just as Selly had warned. The toner was clearlyced with poison. An assassination attempt right at the first gate. This was why I had hesitated to step foot here. ¡°It feels great, doesn¡¯t it? My skin feels revitalized.¡± ¡°¡­Is that so?¡± As I feigned calm, the maid¡¯s eyes flickered. A mischievous impulse struck me, and I spoke while wiping my face with a towel. ¡°Would you like to try it on yourself?¡± It¡¯s just a woman who tried to kill someone; this much should be fine. ¡°I appreciate the offer, but this is a luxury item. It¡¯s not suited for someone as lowly as me.¡± ¡°Your skin is too lovely to be called lowly. Shall I apply it for you My gaze fell upon the mirror. In the dressing room mirror, my reflection looked like a ruffian teasing a powerless woman, no matter who saw it. It was this woman who had done wrong, yet why did I feel like the viin? The maid who should be guiding the way was weeping incessantly. If we continued together like this, I would undoubtedly appear to be a real scoundrel. Reluctantly, I had no choice but to offer her a handkerchief. ¡°¡­Don¡¯t cry. It was just a joke.¡± But perhaps confused by the white color, identical to that of a makeup pad, and even more so by her pallor, she let out a final cry and eventually fainted. Her tears must have blurred her vision so much that she couldn¡¯t distinguish anything. ¡°¡­¡­¡± From beyond the door, I could hear whispering voices. ¡°Did you hear a scream just now from inside? What on earth happened?¡± ¡°Why hasn¡¯t Emile out? They went in together.¡± ¡°Could it be¡­?¡± It seemed I had garnered some absurd misunderstanding. An exnation was desperately needed. I opened the door and, with a worried look, casually remarked as if nothing was amiss. ¡°She just copsed, didn¡¯t she? She must be unwell; someone should take her to the infirmary, right?¡± Seeing their shocked faces, I realized my mistake. Indeed, it made sense. Could this scoundrel really manage to look genuinely concerned? ¡°¡­I didn¡¯ty a finger on her.¡± ¡°Yes, yes¡­ Of course. We believe your words, young master.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Emil has always been a delicate child. Yes, indeed¡­¡± But why are you all avoiding eye contact? ¡°I see, I understand.¡± ¡°You understand?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just¡­ I meant to agree with the young master, but I got flustered and misspoke.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The more I tried to exin, the more tangled the situation seemed to be. Once the maid woke up, things would surely quiet down. As I pondered who to ask to guide me instead of the fallen maid, the door at the end of the corridor to the dressing room opened. I saw the back of a man with silver hair. A maid was whispering something in his ear. His shoulders shivered, and his shout echoed resoundingly. ¡°He dared to barge in? And to harass as well? Is he dering war on our mother now?!¡± I stealthily crept up behind him. The maid, who noticed me halfway, stepped back in surprise, but Erusel, seemingly furious, just fumed. From noble mtl dote ¡°A vile creature seems to have entered. Who could it be? I¡¯ll help too.¡± ¡°Of course¡ª¡± He turned his back. As our eyes met, he began to gape like a goldfish. I savored the vibration as I ced my hand on Erusel¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Good timing. I was in need of someone to show me the way, and my brother is just perfect for the job.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m actually quite busy right now¡­¡± Trying to run away? ¡°I know you¡¯re off to eat. I thought I might join the family for a cozy meal together after so long, shall we go together?¡± He stepped back, trying to escape. With each step he took, mine began to advance in rhythm. Erusel sweated coldly, his eyes trembling as if an earthquake had struck. ¡°Do you want to converse with your brother while walking backward? I¡¯m ttered, but be careful not to fall. Unless you have eyes on the back of your head.¡± I can¡¯t let him slip away. Before me now is a free pass ticket that skips over the uing assassination and leads straight to the dining hall. * * * As expected. There were all sorts of things, like venomous stings or statues crumbling, but the servants hesitated, perhaps fearing that Erusel, who clung close in front of me, would take the hit instead. Thanks to that, the process of sitting down at the dining table was nothing butfortable. ¡°¡­Why have youe here?¡± Erusel, seated opposite me, asked. ¡°I came to eat, didn¡¯t I answer that?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not it¡­ You must have some ulterior motive foring, tell me your true intentions.¡± I wanted to see for myself what kind of person he was. It was quite an inappropriate response to say out loud. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, hasn¡¯t it? I thought I might forget the faces of my family, so I came to see.¡± I looked at Erusel¡¯s face as if I were an artist about to paint a portrait. Annoyed by my brazen attitude, he gritted his teeth and muttered. ¡°You expect me to believe that? People should have a conscience¡­¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Oh, nothing at all.¡± I pursed my lips as I looked across the wide dining table. The time hade, yet only Eruzel and I were seated. ¡°Runningte. How impolite.¡± ¡°Well, I came early to knock you down a peg.¡± ¡°What was that?¡± ¡°Nothing at all.¡± With nothing more to say, and as I kept silent, an awkward stillness filled the air. It was Eruzel who broke the prolonged silence first. ¡°But if you were to be released, shouldn¡¯t it be at your brother¡¯s mansion? Why here? No matter the servant, you belong to our mother. Is this some kind of deration of war?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± It was unjust, but exining would be futile. The more I would, the deeper the servants¡¯ misunderstandings would be, as clear as day. ¡°You¡¯ll find out eventually.¡± At my curt reply, Eruzel¡¯s brows furrowed. But I could no longer afford him any attention. Because the closed door had opened. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, big brother.¡± He was a man with an intellectual appearance and a rather handsome impression. His hair was silver, and while his overall foundation was quite simr to Eruzel¡¯s, his voice carried a sense of superiority,pletely devoid of any tension. If the portraits and the family tree were to be believed, his name was undoubtedly Dacel. ¡°Dinner is runningte.¡± ¡°I always arrive at the set time. It will be soon, so please wait.¡± ¡°Is that so? But why haven¡¯t the other siblings arrived yet?¡± ¡°They have schedules and are out. It¡¯s a pity, considering you¡¯vee for a rare family meal.¡± His demeanor was utterly devoid of emotion, as if he were a well-sealed perfume bottle that wouldn¡¯t reveal its fragrance until opened. A sense of wariness, iparable to that with Eruzel, arose. ¡°The ce feels empty. Actually, upon hearing that you wereing, I prepared a bit of entertainment. What do you think?¡± ¡°Entertainment?¡± ¡°Do you remember? The game we used to y with father when we were young.¡± With a snap of his fingers, the butler carefully brought over a cushion with a single marble ced on it. There was no need to ask what this marble was; I knew all too well. The Eye of the Abyss. It¡¯s a bead that measures the power of the one who touches it. Among the guilds that take on monster hunting as their trade, only the mega guilds owned such an item, as it was incredibly expensive. To use such a thing as a toy. Indeed, it¡¯s a wealthy family¡¯s lineage. ¡°Let¡¯s relive some memories and have fun for old times¡¯ sake. Shall Eruzel join us too?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s alright¡­ You brothers have your fun.¡± I shifted my gaze from Eruzel, who was shaking his head, and watched Daysel closely. His intentions were crystal clear. To find out why I, who had not died up to this point, was still alive. I came to know them, and our purposes aligned. It was, in fact, an expected development. The swine-bodied me, why haven¡¯t I died? He must have been dying to solve that mystery. He probably spected that the reason wasn¡¯t my physical enhancement. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll go first.¡± Daysel ced his hand on the bead. A mysterious swirl of five colors enveloped it. There are five colors that represent the scale of strength. Among them, Daysel produced the second strongest, a golden hue. ¡°As expected, I¡¯m still far from being like my father.¡± The highest level is the unmeasurable ck. A status that one might or might not reach in the middle totter part of the scenario. Despite my young age, I could feel Daysel¡¯s power just from the fact that he produced the golden light, just one step below. ¡°It¡¯s the eldest brother¡¯s turn.¡± If it were the untrained swine Hersel¡¯s body, it would naturally produce the lowest grade, brown. I couldn¡¯t help but smile. The weaker I appear, the more they¡¯ll let their guard down. Then the assassination attempts will continue to be as easy as they are now. Besides, even if I showed them how pathetic I am, there¡¯s no way these guys would understand the concept of ¡®1-second invincibility.¡¯ I have nothing to lose. ¡°Let¡¯s do it.¡± I ced my hand on the bead. But damn it, a system window popped up. Could it be that even this kind of power measurement is considered a ¡®threat¡¯¡­? [Magical detection confirmed. (Type: Insight)] [1-second invincibility trait activated.] It was Eruzel who spoke the result, nearly tumbling from his chair. ¡°Th-that¡¯s ck¡­¡± Suddenly, hard mode was unlocked. This is definitely a failed game. A crappy game. Chapter 10 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 10 10. The Landy (2) The hardcore difficulty is also quite an enjoyable content. After all, if you get a game over, you just restart from the save point. But this is reality. If one chooses a perilous path where life hangs in the bnce, they¡¯re simply insane. He quickly ced his hand on the orb again. With ¡®1-second invincibility¡¯ on cooldown, a proper assessment should be possible. ¡°Shall we check once more?¡± Fortunately, the orb now showed the lowest grade, a brown hue. ¡°No, it¡¯s like this now, but just a moment ago¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s easy to get the colors mixed up. ck and brown are somewhat simr.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He cut off Eruzel¡¯s retort with shameless logic. Doubt lingered on his face, but it quickly faded. It was far more usible than the ridiculous im that Hersel, who was always drowning in alcohol, was actually an immeasurable powerhouse. Daysel seemed to agree, nodding slightly as if the recent mishap was nothing significant. ¡°Sometimes, the angle or intensity of the light can make colors appear different. Or maybe you saw it wrong because of your condition that day.¡± He added some extra exnation to the excuses I had spun. It would have been better if he had stopped there. ¡°But such a coincidence is quite surprising. In fact, like Eruzel, I too saw ck for a brief moment, you know?¡± He was looking at the situation quite critically. A slight tension arose. It was a moment of headache, wondering if I was about to be hit with a bnce patch. Daisel ced the bead on the cushion held by the butler. ¡°It seems the bead malfunctioned for a moment.¡± A sense of relief washed over me. Butcency was dangerous. If I die, the man before me stands to gain the most. I always needed to maintain a sense of tension. Daisel Ben Tenest, second in line for session. From what I¡¯ve heard from Selly, he¡¯s well-regarded within the mansion, and rumors say he¡¯s shown exceptional talent inbat, having received heir training surreptitiously. Since childhood, he¡¯s been trained and educated in image management. Despite all his efforts, my death was essential for him to reap the position of family head. I must resist to prevent such an event from happening. Click-ck¡ª Just then, the sound of shoes made me flinch. It came from outside the door. It was undoubtedly thedy of the house making her entrance. Daisel and Eruzel, as if trained, rose from their seats and watched the door open. She was a superior in the hierarchy. I, too, stood up. A woman appeared, dressed neither mboyantly nor inly. As my gaze shifted to her face, I doubted my eyes. Thedy, whom I expected to have a few wrinkles, retained the visage of her portrait. Even in a world where having children early ismon, she only has two grown sons. Her appearance was not that of a middle-aged woman who had given birth to four children. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Hersel. Have you been well?¡± Thedy greeted me. But I couldn¡¯t think of a proper title to address her. ording to Selly, even the rascal Hersel wouldn¡¯t dare call her an ¡®olddy¡¯ or a ¡®thieving cat¡¯ to her face¡­ ¡°I¡¯ve been well, without any issues.¡± That was all I could respond with. ¡°I¡¯m truly d you came to visit. Family should see each other often, and you look well, which is a relief.¡± Her voice and demeanor were as kind as if she were hosting an esteemed guest. If others had seen her, they would never have thought she was a woman trying to kill me. I felt a slight chill from her pretense that didn¡¯t seem pretentious at all. If asked who is good and who is evil, It seemed as though the world would take her side. The woman before me was a nobledy known for her kindness and grace, yet I was called a rascal, Hershel. Thud- In the meantime, dishes were being stacked on the table one after another. But a dish that was particrly made with care was ced in front of me alone. The meat was of an exceptional color. The hostess smiled and gestured for me to eat quickly. ¡°I asked the chef to take extra care when I heard Hershel wasing.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± I wondered if it was poisoned, but no system window popped up. A slight sense of emptiness was filled only with the high-quality ingredients¡¯ natural vors and the tanginess of the tomato in the sauce. The hostess seemed so pleased to see me chewing the meat, she even smiled with her eyes. ¡°Does it suit your taste? It¡¯s quite difficult to get fresh here since we can¡¯t breed this variety.¡± I felt a thorn in the words she spat out. She referred to me as a breed, and the current time before the festival ends as the fresh period ¨C a thorn of metaphor. I decided to y along. I, too, looked at her face instead of the meat and replied. ¡°It does taste different from other meats.¡± ¡°Is that so? I¡¯m d. It would have been better if the Duke were here too¡­¡± A lie. When Aol returns, the festival ends. Unlike that liar, I spoke the truth. ¡°I also wish my father woulde soon. So we can enjoy a cozy meal as a family.¡± It seemed like a nerve-wracking exchange with just that. There was no point in provoking them, but I couldn¡¯t just sit still either. It was right to act like the boorish Hershel they knew. So I had to behave like a bratty young master. ¡°But I wonder if that day will evere. Lately, I¡¯ve seen flocks of crows trying to feast on corpses. It¡¯s an unpleasant omen, so if my fatheres, I¡¯ll suggest he bring hunters.¡± Those people, the servants. = The flock of crows. ¡°Was it so? I haven¡¯t seen a single birdtely,¡± she remarked. The hostess¡¯s friendly manner of speaking was so shameless and cunning that it almost concealed her slyness. Standing over a sprawled corpse, holding a knife, covered in blood, she could say ¡®I didn¡¯t do it¡¯ with such calmness that you¡¯d believe her for three seconds. A me flickered gently in my chest for a moment. Ah, this boiling sensation of blood. This insolent jawline, trying to suppress everything, trying to rise on its own. The trait ¡®Noble Ember of Blood¡¯ seemed to recognize the hostess¡¯s mockery as fuel. I let go of the reins I had been holding tightly with willpower to appear moreposed. Then, a haughty yet dignified rascal burst forth. ¡°Why not speak freely when only those unconcerned are present?¡± My condescension was explosive enough to end the warm family y in an instant. Erusel, as if recalling an ingrained fear, broke out in a cold sweat, but soon contorted his face fiercely. Daisel, who had been quietly dining beside us, shot me a murderous look that he had never shown before. With a single gesture, the hostess calmed her two sons, who seemed ready to pounce at any moment. After a few seconds, the hostess¡¯s lips quivered. ¡°You seem to want to open up, would you like an answer like this?¡± Her following words were quite shocking. ¡°No one would mourn if you died. No one loves you, so please give up your seat and die. How about that for an answer?¡± There was no sign of excitement. Her expression was unreadable, and her tone was exceedingly graceful. This woman, she¡¯s not ordinary, is she? ¡°What else does Hersel want to hear? I can¡¯t think of anything more, would you care to tell me directly?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Mother is asking, Hersel. What else do you want to hear?¡± As the hostess looked into my eyes, the atmosphere seemed to change. The source of this dreadful fear was the hostess¡¯s eyes, which seemed to look deep within. Yet, I had to keep looking into the eyes of a hawk eyeing a rabbit. Because my instinct had picked up on a signal. This woman. She looks like nothing much, but she seems like she could tear my throat out right this instant. And she looks like she could do it anytime she wants. ¡°Have there always been opportunities to kill me?¡± Upon reflection, it seems so. Opportunities must have been plentiful, not just now but far back in the past. Yet the fact that they didn¡¯t twist the neck of a young Hershel, vulnerable during his childhood years. Supported the notion that it was this woman¡¯s amusement. The hostess smiled gently at my question. My guess was right, as always. ¡°Since I married the Archduke. And even now.¡± A chill ran down my spine. To not die here, my senses screamed that I must keep this woman¡¯s interest in me alive. Of course, that interest is not something easily maintained. ¡°Did you say you wanted to hear something¡­? I can¡¯t let you hear it now.¡± I smiled slyly to survive. And then I stood up. ¡°The plea for forgiveness from those lips willeter.¡± From noble mtl dote My heart was pounding to death. It¡¯s time to make a run for it. * * * The hostess let Hershel go. He must have had the confidence to leave on his own, havinge this far by himself. And she didn¡¯t particrly want to do otherwise. ¡®Interesting.¡¯ She sat in her office chair, enjoying her lemon tea. ¡®He wasn¡¯t cowed even in front of Daysel.¡¯ The hostess felt a strangeness in this. How could Hershel, who had been stripped to the soul by Daysel since childhood under the guise of swordsmanship practice, manage this? Not only had he been forced toy down his sword early, breaking his spirit, but he had also been firmly imprinted as a figure of terror by the second son. How could he have done that? There were many other questions. It was the same when Hershel ate meat. ¡®Why didn¡¯t he grimace, not even once?¡¯ The hostess had fed Hershel a special dish at today¡¯s meal, a sauce based on tomatoes. Yet he ate it as if it were delicious. Hershel, who despised tomatoes enough to spit them out even in front of the head of the family, saying they didn¡¯t suit his taste. ¡°Elma.¡± Thedy of the house called for the steward. ¡°Are you still keeping records of what he ate?¡± ¡°Yes, mydy. Mirei haspleted the report. I will bring it to you right away.¡± There were no tomatoes listed in the documents the steward handed over. It was a stretch to think his tastes had changed after so much time had passed. The proven facts slowly gathered, leading to one thought. The notion that what was inside the egg was not the chick we knew, but something else entirely, was absurd. On the outside, everything seemed the same, but the core hadpletely changed¡­ ¡®Has he acquired some sort of mystery? If so, it would make sense that he has survived this long without dying.¡¯ Thedy of the house carefully stored this suspicion in her heart. Then, setting down her teacup, she looked at the steward. He remained in ce as if he had something he wanted to say. ¡°Do you have something on your mind?¡± ¡°Is it really alright for them to take action? They are people with many issues regarding their status. I worry that it might lead to some problem.¡± To the steward¡¯s worried voice, thedy responded with a faint smile. ¡°You know the saying, ¡®A long tail gets stepped on¡¯?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ I do.¡± ¡°But their tails were far too long. If it weren¡¯t for one stroke of bad luck revealing them, who knows how much longer they could have kept it hidden.¡± With thoseforting words, the steward had no more to add. Seeing her faint smile, he knew. Thedy herself would not be harmed, even if things went awry. * * * Noble families have often seen such events unfold. A perfectly sane person bes mad in a short time, falls into severe depression andmits suicide, or disappears. These were the tragic events thatmonly urred in human affairs. However, among them were those who made it appear so. They were now filling the old mansion¡¯s warehouse with their presence. Inside the abandoned building, which was no different from a ruin, dust rose every time poker cards hit the table. Dust fluttered about, stirred by the conversation between a woman in a maid¡¯s outfit and a middle-aged man in butler¡¯s attire. ¡°I was just starting to enjoy this life¡­ Is it really over now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a shame. There were many kind people. Had I grown up in such an environment, perhaps I would have led a righteous life.¡± ¡°Maybe so? But what does it matter. Once the job is done, we get paid, and our life on the run ends. Yes! I won this time!¡± The maid¡¯s face was filled with ecstasy as she looked at her cards. But the middle-aged man revealed a straight flush. A hand higher than the maid¡¯s. ¡°Looks like I win again.¡± His hand swept the moneyid out on the table towards him. The maid, whose entire month¡¯s sry had just crossed over to the other side, fiddled with her fingers and pouted her lips. ¡°But even after the job is over¡­ How about we ckmail the mistress with this job as leverage to extort more money? If we hint at spilling the beans, she¡¯ll pay whatever we ask.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t been here long enough to know her. She¡¯s not someone to be trifled with. Provoke her even slightly, and you¡¯ll disappear without a trace.¡± The maid snorted at his serious words. To her ears, they sounded like a meaningless joke. ¡°What? Assassins? That we¡¯d fall victim to our own game? Stop talking nonsense. If we kill, we kill; we don¡¯t get killed.¡± ¡°Then try it if you dare. It¡¯s a pity, though, your share of the money will decrease.¡± The maid¡¯s confident smile faded slightly at his consistent demeanor. Because his expression was no joke. The man standing next to them, shaving in front of a mirror, felt the same. Why did the man, who had killed countless nobles with his blood-scented dagger, treat the mistress so specially? There must be a reason. Having sorted her thoughts, the maid blinked and asked. ¡°So, who¡¯s going to start? Who¡¯s going to kill that b*stard?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± The one who spoke was the man with the now neatly-trimmed jawline. ¡°I fancy ying with someone for a change.¡± Chapter 11 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 11 11. The Mistress (3) As I walked down the corridor, I could faintly hear the servants¡¯ murmuring. When I nced their way, they quickly averted their gaze and pretended to be indifferent. It¡¯s something that has been happening more frequently these days. As more lines are drawn through the pages of the notebook listing assassination methods, the number of eyes trembling in fear also began to increase. Conversely, the number of assassination attempts had decreased by that much. It was both a good sign and, at the same time, a bad omen. If the usual methods didn¡¯t work, it was only natural to change strategies and approach. ¡°Anything new?¡± I asked Celie, assuming a writing posture. The response was a sleepy gaze and a curt answer. ¡°There¡¯s nothing¡­ When people see me, they just shut up. What can I do?¡± I asked just in case, but the expected answer popped out. Thus, as long as Celie was isted, the new assassination method would not be updated. ¡°Your value is starting to drop.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± While Celie grumbled with a sour face, I sighed and cooled my burning insides. Ever since I learned that thendy was a formidable woman at ourst meeting, my guard was up. And the thought of an unknown threating made my anxiety worse. If the momentes when I have to improvise on the spot. In a crisis that came so suddenly that it didn¡¯t even allow for prior practice, if I were to fail even once, would I be able to survive? I put away my notebook and stood up. I didn¡¯t want to sit still and do nothing. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°I just want to take a walk.¡± With those simple words, I left my seat. As I closed the door, I overheard Celie cracking pumpkin seeds. ¡°Go ahead and live on your own once the sweetness is gone. I might just push you off a cliff again.¡± ¡­That spiteful girl. When you read web novels, even the worst rascals have at least one loyal maid, but mine has lost her taste. ¡°How are you, young master?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± I stopped at the sudden male voice. ¡°I¡¯vee at your call. You wanted to get some fresh air, didn¡¯t you?¡± It was the faces of familiar men. The two men who had left me to fall off a cliff under the pretense of escorting me. The man who had put a knife to my throat, as Celly had told me, was named Jack, and the towering figure was Rodell, I believe. It was Jack who was speaking to me now. But he said I called for him? I did no such thing¡­ I quickly realized why they were engaging in this strange charade. He was only rolling his eyes, scanning the servants milling about. Clearly, he was watching out for others. As if he had something to say in a ce devoid of people. ¡°You¡¯rete. Shouldn¡¯t you havee earlier and waited?¡± I responded as naturally as possible and walked past Jack¡¯s back. These two men were safe to follow. I¡¯ve long bluffed that if I die, a will detailing the day¡¯s atrocities would be revealed. If they truly believed that, they would prioritize my safety, not trap me. It was only after we passed the main gate and reached a spot a bit away from the mansion grounds that Jack spoke up. ¡°Indeed¡­ Did you foresee the current situation, young master?¡± The ¡®current situation¡¯ obviously meant the festival. But foresee it? Dumbfounded, I kept silent, and Jack¡¯s eyes crinkled as if to say, ¡®What more are you hiding?¡¯ ¡°It¡¯s alright, young master. You showed us that day, didn¡¯t you? The ws you had been hiding.¡± ¡°ws?¡± I thought I had trimmed them well. ¡°To be honest, I was somewhat skeptical. That day¡­ ahem, I mean, the day of the unfortunate incident. I wondered if it was all an illusion, but we have ears to hear. Hearing the rumors about you, young master, I became certain.¡± Rodell chimed in with augh. ¡°Indeed, how amusing it was every time those who knew neither their ce nor your abilities fell t. Those insolent fools, even if they tried, could they ever harm your noble self?¡± His tone was as if he considered himself a master swordsman. It seems I¡¯ve been caught in a ridiculous misunderstanding. Of course, I was the one who caused it. When his sword broke against my neck, I must have said something like this¡­ -Still got half a sword left. Why not swing it again, eh? To prevent a follow-up attack, I probably blurted out¡­ -From the cliff. And now here. I¡¯ve already given you two chances. You¡¯d better be prepared for the third. And the final line I spat out to make my stance clear¡­ -Are your lives even worth reaping by my hand? No doubt, my bravado that day had a lethal effect. Rumors of surviving dozens of assassination attempts must have given them great confidence. I could see how it was enough to cause a misunderstanding. But what now? What if they find out the truth behind the sparrow that yed phoenix, that it was all a deception? I nodded, looking at the forearms of the two men, strong enough to crush a watermelon with a headlock. ¡°Exactly. The mistress would have expected this.¡± Showing weakness would only reveal a gap. They might even concoct a scheme to counter the will¡¯s threats. I couldn¡¯t even give them a chance to think that way. ¡°And look at this mess now. Sending mere servants? It¡¯s like sharpening a de all for the sake of cutting paper. Isn¡¯t itughable?¡± Bluster flowed from my lips like a babbling brook. It seems I¡¯ve be quite ustomed to this act, not even flinching. Jack and Rodel incessantly marveled at my more polished pretense. ¡°Was it all an act, the mask of that damned scoundrel you wore!¡± ¡°I knew something was off, Uncle Jack. How could someone of your stature constantly be drunk, picking fights over nothing,ughing at the innocent being whipped, or peeping at a woman drawing water, lifting her skirt? I just couldn¡¯t understand it. Regardless of one¡¯s background, that¡¯s not how a person should behave, right?¡± So that was it. Impressive, Hassel. I just listened quietly to the endless stream of words. Rodel, thinking he had been rude, began to make amends in a voice as faint as an ant¡¯s. ¡°Ahem, but now I understand. You had no choice but to survive¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± So why have these fools brought me here to sweet-talk me? The reason is probably what I¡¯m thinking. They see the potential for me to be the head of the family, hoping to pick up crumbs from the table. I turned my back as if to leave immediately, to provoke their main point. ¡°I didn¡¯te here just to hear such nonsense. I¡¯m leaving.¡± Jack¡¯s pleading followed me. ¡°Sir, may we sincerely serve you?¡± As expected. I asked curtly, intending to rebuff them. ¡°Do you think you¡¯re worth that?¡± Predictably, Jack rattled off his appeal like a job applicant. ¡°Yes, indeed. We are now mixed with the people of the mansion. On the surface, we will continue to act hostile towards you. Wouldn¡¯t that make this possible? To secretly convey to you all the rumors and schemes happening inside.¡± ¡°You mean to y the spy¡­¡± It was quite a tempting offer. It had its value in the role of an informant, and when enemies invaded, it was just a matter of brushing them off with a ¡®deal with it yourself¡¯ attitude. ¡°I won¡¯t be of much help, but well, it¡¯s better than nothing.¡± As I casually agreed, Jack¡¯s face lit up with color. ¡°Really? Even after such rudeness before, you¡¯re really taking us in?¡± Yep. As interns on the road to hell. * * * The desk was cluttered with empty cans. All were energy drinks bought cheaply at the convenience store on a 1+1 deal. The mascot for this product was an elephant wearing sunsses. The drink I had been consuming was quickly discontinued and reced several times, but the keyboard and monitor I was tapping on remained the same despite requests for an upgrade. ¡°There¡¯s a new one out.¡± Miran, who was also working overtime, showed interest in the new product. I offered her a can, dark circles under my eyes not concealed by makeup. ¡°Want one?¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯d love to.¡± Chick- The sound of a can opening came from beside me. I watched Miran gulp down the fizzy drink, then refocused my gaze on the monitor screen. ¡°But sir, are you sure that¡¯s okay?¡± ¡°What is.¡± ¡°Our job is security, you know. The things you¡¯ve been doingtely, don¡¯t they go against professional ethics?¡± Miran knew too. That I was cracking Asares¡¯ security design on my personalptop during every break. She was chiding me for my duplicity, as a security software writer, in hacking into someone else¡¯s security. ¡°It¡¯s an old single-yer game. It¡¯s not harming anyone.¡± ¡°Still¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re not expecting a raise, are you?¡± Iughed it off as if it wasn¡¯t a big deal. Deciding that the conversation was pointless, I refocused on my work. But today, Miran was unusually talkative. ¡°You seem to be unaware, sir.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± I flinched. Her hand had reached over my desk. Her outstretched index finger was pointing directly at the power button on myputer tower. After endless nights of overtime, I wondered if my mind had finally snapped. I should talk to the boss, maybe get a few days off. ¡°Miran, you seem to be in poor shapetely? Don¡¯t worry about work, I¡¯ll handle it. You can take a few days off if you need-¡° ¡°Look at yourself right now, Assistant Manager.¡± Click- As her finger touched the button, the cooler halted and the monitor was shrouded in darkness. A tremor went through my eyes reflected on the screen. The distinct features of that figure were definitely not my own face. ¡°You¡¯re still being punished as we speak.¡± ¡­ ¡­ Was it all just a dream? The conversation with Miran just now, getting sucked into Asares, all of it¡­? No, that wasn¡¯t it. Letters were still visible on my retina. They served as indicators, distinguishing precisely what was a dream and what was reality. [Physical attack detected.] [Ability activated.] [1-second invincibility cooldown: 59 seconds] Instead of a morning call, the sound of metal shattering reverberated in my ears. Crash©¤©¤! Opening my eyes, I saw the silhouette of a person holding a broken dagger. Yes, this was Asares. I was fated to survive in this damned mansion. Bang-! From noble mtl dote I kicked off the covers and rolled out of bed, backing into a corner against the wall. ¡°It¡¯s true! I wondered if it was just a rumor.¡± A butler¡¯s attire with slicked-back hair. An uncle who seemed like a wild beast neatly dressed as a gentleman eximed in awe. I was bothered by the teeth gleaming at the corners of his mouth. To have failed an assassination yet remain so nonchnt. Dressed as a butler, his aura was distinctly different from the other servants. ¡°¡­¡­¡± I nced sideways at the door. The string connecting the doorknob to the desk, with the bell for summoning still hanging, was intact. It was a rudimentary security measure for safe sleep, yet it hadn¡¯t rung. The door seemed to be locked as usual. Even if it were a venomous spider, it could have slipped through the gap under the door, but how did someone of his size get in? As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I spotted the pieces of the dagger that had been knocked away earlier. Thinking it could serve as a weapon, I pretended to rise and secretly picked them up. Next, I attempted to buy some cooldown time with conversation. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it supposed to be treated as an idental death?¡± I was curious. The act just now tantly contradicted the method the mansion¡¯s servants had been determined to dress up as an idental death. They would have abhorred my death being seen as anything but an ident, so why? ¡°There are ways around that.¡± He dismissed it with a meaningful phrase and flung the broken dagger to the floor. Empty-handed, but he didn¡¯t seem to have any intention of backing down. ¡°Pity. If your throat had been slit, it would have been a somewhat sweet death.¡± The assassin was blocking the path to the door. I moved slowly towards the window, feigning nonchnce as naturally as possible. ¡°A sweet death¡­ that sounds nice.¡± I muttered anything, checking the cooldown. [1-second invincibility cooldown: 21 seconds] ¡°Too bad, but such things won¡¯t happen. Even if you beckon me, I¡¯ll only run away.¡± I had kept it in mind, just in case. In case an assassin came directly to my room for a standoff. I had already thought of a way to deal with it. My quarters were on the fifth floor. A fall from here would leave an ordinary person unable to collect their bones. But not me. I have a skill that saved me from a fall from an even steeper cliff. If I jump now, I can put distance between us and get to the guards who are on my side, thus saving my life. Fortunately, the assassin seemed merely interested in observing my reaction. [1-second invincibility cooldown: 1 second] After an agonizing wait, the cooldown was almost over. The distance between us was sufficient. My hand reached out to fling open the window when¡ª Ping! [1-second invincibility: avable] Bang! [A physical attack has been detected.] [Invincibility is activated for 1 second.] [1-second invincibility cooldown: 60 seconds] Something flew at me with incredible speed, nearly piercing my forehead. Or rather, it almost did. The object that hit my head and sent me tumbling to the ground was¡­ a small object, smaller than an arrow. A bolt, perhaps? When I looked up, the assassin already had a crossbow in hand. ¡°Quite impressive. You aimed right for the forehead.¡± ¡­Damn it. I hadn¡¯t anticipated that he would have hidden a crossbow within his cloak. And to think he managed to draw it in that fleeting moment and aim so precisely, he was no ordinary foe. ¡°So neither swords nor bows work on you? Are you really an immortal, as the servants have been gossiping?¡± He kept bbering, but regardless, I needed to buy time to survive. I stoked the ¡®Noble Blood¡¯s Last Ember¡¯ to its maximum and bluffed. ¡°This is thest time I¡¯ll tolerate such insolence. I¡¯m giving you a chance to back off now.¡± It seemed my bluff worked. He threw the crossbow to the ground. ¡°You talk big, but you seem quite deted, don¡¯t you?¡± But his retort almost made me choke. He sneered and pulled something else from his cloak. A sphere shaped like a skull, about the size of a billiard ball. My eyes widened. It was an object I knew all too well. [The Cursed Giant¡¯s Skull] ¡ñ Attribute: Curse. Objects shrink when exposed to light. Shrunken objects return to normal size when exposed to light again. ¡°Let¡¯s see if this works on you, to verify if you truly are an immortal.¡± I tried to dodge reflexively, but it was impossible to avoid the red light pouring from the skull¡¯s eye sockets. In an instant, I shrank to the size of a fist, and his hand swept the floor like a w. ¡°As expected, even an immortal can¡¯t escape this.¡± His grip caught my body precisely. I tried to muster strength in my captured form, but I couldn¡¯t move an inch. So this was how he entered without opening the door, and the secret to making it look like not a murder. With this, he could¡¯ve shrunk and slipped through the door cracks, and easily disposed of my body as well. ¡°I was going to make it look like a disappearance, but now, you seem like a more amusing toy. How about it? Fancy a fight with an ant?¡± The grip tightened progressively. It wasn¡¯t enough to kill me on the spot, but it was sufficient to let out a groan. ¡°Urgh¡­¡± I found myself in a desperate situation, no different from a bug that had been collected, but even as I grimaced in pain, my gaze was fixed on one thing. [1-Second Invincibility Cooldown: 18 seconds] Whether he sneered with a face full of malice or not, I was counting down the cooldown. My grip tightened around the shard of the dagger. Chapter 12 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 12 12. The Cursed Sword (1) It must have been when I had procured various items for clinical trials from Selly. I had intentionally be poisoned while in a cooldown state. Thanks to that, I learned how the ¡®1-Second Invincibility¡¯ judged the debuffs that had been previously applied. The stomach pain was killing me, but that¡¯s beside the point. [1-Second Invincibility Cooldown: 17 seconds] [Status Ailment: Poison] ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ [1-Second Invincibility: Avable] [Poison detected. Type: Sariri Poison] [1-Second Invincibility trait activated.] The result was that once the cooldown ended, the 1-Second Invincibility would reactivate, erasing persistent status ailments and continuous damage. ¡°Kuhuk¡­¡± I tensed my entire body. My body had shrunk to the size of a toy and was now in the grasp of an assassin. The damp touch was unpleasant, but it would only be for a moment. If only the ¡®1-Second Invincibility¡¯ cooldown would run its course, the curse of miniaturization would also be lifted. [1-Second Invincibility Cooldown: 14 seconds] The grip that was constricting me grew increasingly strong. I bit down hard and pushed with all the strength in my body against the fingers. ¡°Suck!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Fighting with ants is rather clich¨¦. I¡¯ve done it before¡­ On rare asions, I wonder what else might be better? Ah, that¡¯s right. I¡¯ve been curious about what humans taste like.¡± [1-Second Invincibility Cooldown: 5 seconds] ¡°Besides, you don¡¯t die easily, do you? It might even be good for your health.¡± He opened his mouth wide. I clutched the broken de of the dagger firmly. Blood flowed from my hand, but I had to endure such trivial pain. ¡°Aah~¡± In the moment when a head was about to enter between the teeth, I stabbed the fingers that were clutching me with all their might. A groan escaped from his mouth. It seems I inflicted pain akin to a bee sting. ¡°Ouch!¡± I felt his grip weaken. The range in which I could move my arm expanded. Clutching the dagger I had nted firmly, I shed his fingers with a swish¡ªslicing them. Wherever the dagger passed, blood spurted. With it, his screams grew louder. ¡°aaagh!¡± At best, it was a cut like a paper slice. But there were countless wounds. The fingers that had been clutching me bloomed open like flower buds. ¡°You, you damned wretch!¡± With a grimace, he spread his empty left hand. He took a stance like he was about to smash a mosquito with a volleyball spike. ¡°Just die!¡± ¡°Is that even possible?¡± The cooldown was about to end. [1-second invincibility cooldown: 1 second] ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ [1-second invincibility: avable] [A threat has been detected. Type: Curse of Diminution] [1-second invincibility activated.] As the system rm sounded, my body grew massive. The assassin wore a bewildered expression at my sudden growth. Not missing this golden opportunity, I thrust the dagger, weighted with my body, straight into his neck. Thud©¤©¤! My hand felt warm and damp. It was the blood flowing from the assassin¡¯s neck. ¡°How, how did your body¡­ grow, gurgle¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤. The, the knife?¡± His dumbfounded face twisted in pain. He let out a scream and clutched at his own neck. It all happened in an instant. Even the assassin was caught off guard, unable to react properly. And I, too, was so fast that I didn¡¯t even realize that what I had just done was murder. ¡°Sa, save me¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤. Now, even now, a do¡­doctor¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± A hoarse voice close to a scream. Blood that hadn¡¯t lost its warmth. Twitching veins and bloodshot eyes. The sight of the man¡¯s life fading away seemed to prove all too clearly that this ce I had possessed was not a mere game, but reality. Yet, I felt no guilt. Only a sense of relief and an inexplicable feeling of aplishment. ¡°Please, I beg you¡­ Take me to a doctor now¡­ Then, maybe I could live¡­¡± I looked down at the man, growing colder by the moment, and said in a tone devoid of emotion, ¡°Do you know?¡± ¡°Heugh¡­ Heugh¡­¡­¡± ¡°I am someone who, if it¡¯s for my own survival, knows how to kill.¡± Was this temperament inherent to me, or was it due to the mental attribute ¡®Noble Blood¡¯s Last Ember¡¯? Either way, it seemed a joyous asion, so I allowed myself a quietugh. For I had ovee a trial that I would have eventually faced. The mercilessness required to survive in the world of Asares, where thew of the jungle prevails. ¡°Especially towards someone like you, without hesitation.¡± Snap! I pulled the sword from the man¡¯s neck. The pool of blood on the floor spread even wider. * * * Despite having ordered the night-shift butler to dispose of the body yesterday, the mansion was eerily silent. The butler¡¯s startled exmation upon seeing the corpse¡¯s face, ¡°Se-Sevan sir?¡± suggested that the intruder was not from outside. This meant that the assassin had been employed as a servant, and it was likely that thedy of the house, fearing public exposure, had covered it up. ¡°Hmm.¡± I gripped the dagger firmly then opened and closed the hand that had been cut. After applying the ointment and sleeping, the flesh had adhered and the scar had faded to be less noticeable than a wrinkle. As expected of a potion made by a renowned magician, its efficacy was iparably faster than anything from the world I came from. I was fortunate that it ended with just a minor wound. Sitting in a chair, I touched the spot on my forehead where I had been hit by a crossbow bolt with one second left on the cooldown. Had there been even a 0.1-second discrepancy¡­ The thud! sound ringing in my ears as an auditory hallucination was something I didn¡¯t even want to imagine. ¡°I almost grew a horn¡­¡± Still, there was a material gain. I erased the image of a human unicorn from my mind and took out the spoils I had acquired yesterday. [Cursed Giant¡¯s Skull] ¡ñ Attribute: Curse. Those struck by the light shrink in stature. Once shrunken, shining light upon them restores their normal size. Among users, it was ssified as a C-grade item, nothing particrly remarkable. Just hearing the description, one might think, ¡°Can¡¯t you just shrink some overpowered boss and squash them like an ant?¡± But if that were possible, I wouldn¡¯t have had to create a cheat code. Even targets who have reached a certain level of skill are immune, and since it wasn¡¯t designed forbat, I agree with its C-grade ssification. Moreover, it¡¯s currently like a chicken rib ¨C valuable but useless, so even C-grade is generous. [Unavable: Requires magical power.] ¡°¡­¡­¡± Magical power, essential for mages and magic swordsmen, isn¡¯t something you¡¯re born with unless you¡¯re a silver spoon; it¡¯s acquired through a grueling process of training from the ground up. Of course, Hershel has no talent, and his wasted years hold no history of effort. Had he even a speck of magical power, I would have reassessed him. ¡°Why on earth did I have to possess such a worthless guy¡­¡± Damn it. The more I think about it, the more it hurts my head, so I might as well ept it. ¡°I got the ticket quite quickly.¡± I¡¯ll save the skeleton for a future scenario and carefully store it in the box. Thump©¤ I rose from the chair. Having been lucky yesterday, I survived, but from my perspective, it was a close call without exaggeration, a sobering event. With professional assassins possibly breaking in at any time, I too had to be fully prepared. ¡°Ah¡­ I wish I had a machine gun. Just to shoot everything down.¡± My next stop was the armory. * * * The top-tier weapons were all in the treasure house. Only the head of the house could enter there, so my only option was the armory. But it wasn¡¯t to be underestimated; there was a separate high-grade armory just for the children, not the knights or soldiers. Amidst the metallic stench, I gazed at the disyed armors and weapons, my eyes gleaming. The roughly 120-centimeter-long swords boasted their sharpness, and the spears taller than me and the massive axes capable of felling a giant tree exuded an intimidating presence, as if they could part the seas on the battlefield. True to a rich family, they were hard toe by. But there was no machine gun. First, I avoided the axes and spears, and in line with my modest specs, I grasped a longsword. But it felt as if my shoulder would dislocate from its weight. It would be fortunate if I didn¡¯t throw it while swinging, but it seemed impossible to use as a weapon, so I put it back in its ce. ¡°Phew¡­ The weight of this lump of iron is no joke.¡± With each new sword I tried, I ended up choosing something shorter and lighter. The heaviness when swinging remained the same. Finally, setting aside my crumbled pride, I moved my hand to a medium sword about 60 centimeters long. Suddenly, my skin tingled as if shocked by static electricity. ¡®Watching you is just pitiful¡­¡¯ A voice? No, is it right to call it a voice? It felt as if it was transmitted through my skin. ¡°¡­¡­¡± I looked around. There was no one else in the armory but me. It was probably a hallucination, but still, I asked. Embarrassing, but what does it matter if no one¡¯s listening. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡®Wait¡­ Can you actually hear my voice?¡¯ The voice was as startled as my tingling skin. ¡°So, it wasn¡¯t a hallucination¡­¡± Normally, I would have run away from such a suspicious voice, not followed it. But it was different because it was in the armory. I was intrigued because it was a voice without a single mouse in sight. If one hears human speech in such a ce without another soul around, there¡¯s no other exnation. ¡®I asked you¡­ Can you hear¡­ my voice?¡¯ ¡°I asked because I can hear you, didn¡¯t I?¡± Ego, one of the top-tier options. Even the most insignificant item bes precious if it possesses ¡®self-awareness,¡¯ rated three grades higher for that alone. It was clear that it was the best item among all the weapons here. ¡®That you can hear my voice¡­ It¡¯s been tens of thousands of years.¡¯ It seemed that others couldn¡¯t hear its voice. That bothered me a bit, but it didn¡¯t really matter. ¡°Really?¡± I responded nonchntly on purpose. An ownerless ego item speaking up means one thing for sure: it¡¯s a stray cat¡¯s choice. It made sense, given they spend their lives cooped up in dusty ces for a long time. They must want to enjoy some freedom and breathe the outside air. ¡°It was a pleasure meeting you. Wait for the next connection.¡± From noble mtl dote I toyed with another weapon I couldn¡¯t even wield, just to tease a little longer. ¡°Hmm¡­ There¡¯s nothing particrly useful here. Looks like I won¡¯t being back.¡± As expected, the interview began. ¡®Wait, hold on! Don¡¯t go! My name is Donatan. I once served the world¡¯s strongest swordsman as my master and was the incarnation of the thunder god. Many good things wille from being with me! So please, take me out!¡¯ Incarnation? Must have been a spirit. They always exaggerate when they talk. Is it in their nature? ¡°Skill¡­ For that, it looks like a pretty ordinary sword.¡± ¡®What you¡¯re holding is not the main body. I am©¤¡¯ Creak©¤ The sound of a door opening interrupted our conversation. I shifted my gaze from the sword and looked towards the entrance. A man with an intellectual demeanor, Daysel, approached me with his silver hair flowing and spoke coldly. ¡°What brings you here?¡± His indifferent tone and the sharp look in his eyes were a far cry from the polite demeanor I saw at thest family dinner, but it wasn¡¯t particrly surprising. After all, I had alreadyid bare my heart to the mistress, and my rtionship with him wasn¡¯t exactly cordial. It was understandable that he¡¯d show his true colors in a ce without prying eyes. I looked back at the sword to avoid the petty squabble, especially since I couldn¡¯t think of anything to say about his rtionship with Hersel. But Daysel seemed unwilling to leave me alone, narrowing his eyes as he observed my actions. ¡°Are you considering learning swordsmanship now¡­ Have you already forgotten how badly you were beaten?¡± It seems Hersel had been beaten to dust by this guy on a rainy day in the past. Annoyed by this insolent man, I responded carelessly. ¡°Peoplee here wearing swords, so if I¡¯m to join in, I should have one too, right?¡± ¡°Your life is already forfeit, such futile resistance. More importantly, these things here are not yours. Put them down and get out.¡± His remarks were increasingly crossing the line. Watching him act as if everything here belonged to him, I ignited the ¡®noble blood¡¯sst ember.¡¯ ¡°Such petty rivalry, as if a thieving cat trembles in unease?¡± Thieving cat = the hostess. Only then could I see his fiercely twisted expression once more. The same expression he had when I probed the hostess¡¯s intentions at the dinner table. ¡°Hershel¡­ watch your mouth. Unless you want your limbs broken like old times!¡± Was it the confidence from defeating the assassin? Or the certainty that he could do nothing in this moment? I had no fear. One thing was certain: I couldn¡¯t be underestimated here, nor did I want to appear so. I provoked him with a sneering taunt. ¡°Go on, try it now.¡± Daysel¡¯s expression calmed as he stepped back. The relief was brief. I regretted my choice as I saw him grip a rusty dagger from the disy case. Could it be¡­ he¡¯s really going to try? ¡°Soon enough, but not just yet.¡± Then why not put the knife down and say so? Ping! A sharp sound pierced my ears. The dagger grazed only my hair and thudded into the wall. ¡°Did you say you needed a weapon? Such trash might befit your level, only good for slicing meat. You can take that.¡± Daysel wiped his hands with a handkerchief, his face venomous. I said nothing before the intense malice emanating from his eyes. The disparity between us was clear; I couldn¡¯t even see the motion of him throwing the dagger. ¡°Well then, big brother, let¡¯s see how well you do.¡± With those words, he left. I calmed my tense heart and summoned the ego item I had seen earlier. ¡°The uninvited guest has left. So, Donatan, was it? Where¡¯s your real body?¡± ¡®That, that is¡­¡¯ ¡°Out with it, or should I just leave?¡± ¡®Now! Right now, the one stuck in the wall is me!¡¯ Huh? In disbelief, I pulled the dagger from the wall. This was hardly a dagger, more like a knife one might use to slice steak. Moreover, its teeth were all but gone, and it was rusted to the core. It had no ce in an armory. ¡°Really, this is your true form?¡± ¡®The, the shell doesn¡¯t matter¡­¡¯ That¡¯s true. It¡¯s an ego sword, after all. I stared nkly at the spot where Dacel had left. His words from earlier echoed in my ears. ¨C Did you say you needed a weapon? For someone of your caliber, only trash that might be able to slice meat would suit you. You can take that. ¡°¡­¡­¡± My worth = Ego sword? That b*stard. Is he actually a good guy? Chapter 13 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 13 13. The Cursed Sword (2) ¡°It¡¯s filthy.¡± Sitting on a chair, I looked at the ego sword and grasped a clean cloth. As I wiped the rusted dagger, it crumbled like fragments of iron left out in the rain for a decade. ¡®A bit more oil, and it will shine in no time.¡¯ ¡°Just wait.¡± I rang the bell, summoning Celie who had been waiting outside the door. The little one with a displeased expression came in and asked in a businesslike manner. ¡°Did you call for me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to service the sword, bring me the tools for oiling.¡± Celie turned to fetch the items. Donatan, still having demands, cried out in an urgent voice. ¡®Wait, wait! Doesn¡¯t this body deserve a proper sheath as well?¡¯ ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤You¡¯re asking for too much. Be thankful I¡¯m even cleaning you.¡± Celie stopped in her tracks and spun around©¤ it seemed she felt an unpleasant chill. It must have been because she overheard what I said to Donatan. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Yes?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t talking to you.¡± ¡°Then, who are you speaking to?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Just go ande back quickly.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± With her characteristic narrowed eyes that seemed to look at me as if I were crazy, Selly nced at me and quickly disappeared from her seat. ¡®Is it really okay?¡¯ ¡°What is?¡± ¡®Humans value their reputation. Being seen talking to oneself doesn¡¯t usually leave a good impression, does it?¡¯ ¡°I don¡¯t care. She¡¯s always seen me as a lunatic anyway.¡± ¡®Hmm¡­ But it¡¯s not the same in front of others, is it?¡¯ Where does he get off? I red at Donatan, whose intentions were all too clear. He spoke as if worried, but his persistence had a reason behind it. ¡°¡­¡­¡± As I remained silent, as expected, he revealed his true intention. ¡®Make a contract with me. You won¡¯t even have to move your lips tomunicate.¡¯ He was trying to tie a bond that couldn¡¯t be broken, fearing he might be discarded. ¡°A soul contract, you mean¡­¡± It was a kind of contract with a spirit, one that could only be broken by the death of one party. After a moment of thought, I carefully uttered my response. ¡°Isn¡¯t it too early for that?¡± No matter how much of an ego sword he may be, if he¡¯s useless or doesn¡¯t help me, he¡¯d be nothing more than a noisy nuisance following me around. ¡°First, I need to assess your qualities, don¡¯t I?¡± ¡®Detestable creature¡­ How dare you, assess my worth©¤!¡¯ ¡°That¡¯s a poor attitude. Should I discard you then?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The creature that had roared in anger finally lowered its tail. I took out paper and a pen from the cab and looked down at Donatan with a businesslike tone. ¡°Let¡¯s start the interview now. If you score over 80 points, you pass, so I hope you answer sincerely.¡± ¡®¡­There¡¯s a limit to arrogance. No more shall the name ¡®Incarnation of Thunderous Wrath¡¯ be sullied©¤¡¯ ¡°It seems the dust that fell when I was cleaning earlier was the courtesy you once had. Poor attitude, minus 20 points.¡± The pen in my hand precisely wrote a horizontal line and the number 20. While he stuttered like a newbie with a dumbfounded voice, I channeled the image of a meticulous interviewer and posed a question. ¡°What¡¯s your reason for applying to thispany?¡± ¡°Why would you choose toe to me, of all people?¡± ¡°The ones who could hear my voice¡­ have long since perished.¡± ¡°Does that mean you have no one but me to rely on¡­?¡± Perfect for a power trip, plus 20 points. Next question. ¡°What was your role in your previous job?¡± ¡°Tell me about the work you did when you had a master. Any achievements?¡± ¡°That, that is¡­¡± ¡°Hesitation isn¡¯t good. Minus 20 points.¡± ¡°Wait a moment! Naturally, I¡¯ve been protecting my master. This body was the sword that guarded the flesh of the mightiest swordsman!¡± More bluster. If he was such a figure, he could easily acquire a fine ego sword, so why carry around such an old de? ¡°Lying, minus 20 points.¡± Feeling the sting of my ruthless scoring, Donatan spoke almost deliriously. ¡°Another 20 points? This is wrong¡­ Yes, it¡¯s wrong. If I¡¯ve been docked 60 points, doesn¡¯t that mean I¡¯ve already failed?¡± ¡°There are bonus points too, so don¡¯t give up yet. I¡¯m about to ask thest question, seize the opportunity.¡± So far, there wasn¡¯t much about him that impressed me. I pondered where I could sell this as I delivered the most important question of the interview, the crux of this encounter. ¡°What skills and capabilities do you possess? For example, any certifications.¡± ¡°Show me some skill. If it¡¯s useful, you¡¯ll get 100 points.¡± Spurred on by the challenge, he raised his voice confidently. ¡°There¡¯s no need to say it, I¡¯ve passed! The true value of this body cannot even bepared to the tricks of ordinary swords!¡± ¡°That¡¯s somewhat intriguing. Exin well.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve said it several times. My master was called the Sword Saint. Together, we vanquished numerous formidable foes in the bloody battlefields, and I learned from observing his near-perfect swordsmanship.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°I will make you the same. Though you may not reach the Sword Saint, you¡¯ll at least make a name across the continent.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a bit tempting, but how?¡± ¡°First, I must see your physique. Hurry, grasp me.¡± As Jonathan suggested, I picked up the sword. I could feel a faint current sweeping through my body. ¡°Bone density is excellent, but¡­ there¡¯s no muscle to speak of. What have you been doing all these years?¡± Bone density? Muscle? It¡¯s not like I¡¯m a bodyposition analyzer. ¡°Next, let¡¯s check your aura. As expected, it¡¯s a narrow vein, tsk tsk.¡± This time, the current felt like it was flowing only through my veins. It wasn¡¯t particrly painful, just a tingling sensation that was bearable. A minute passed, and he eximed, ¡°Huh!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Why so silent?¡± After stalling for time, he answered in a grave tone. ¡°The vein your aura flows through is severed. This isn¡¯t¡­ a scar from battle. It¡¯s more like it¡¯s rotted and crumbled away. What on earth did you do to your body to damage it so?¡± That¡¯s what I¡¯d like to know. Well, I have one suspicion. ¡°Could it be the alcohol? I¡¯ve heard he¡¯s been drowning in vicious liquor every single day for a long time.¡± Not me, but Hershel. ¡°Foolish boy. To steep his body in such poison without any training¡­ Look at yourself now. A wreck of a body, fit to be called a cripple. Even learning the heart method would be futile.¡± I slumped my shoulders at the grim news. To survive as a swordsman in Asares, aura is essential, but I guess I¡¯ll have to give up that profession, what can I do. ¡°So. Is this ability of no use to me, then?¡± Iposed myself from the disappointment and was about to mark down the deduction when I set down the sword. Static electricity crackled¡ªrising up, and strength clenched tight! in my loosened grip. ¡°Wait, hold on!¡± I furrowed my brow at his sudden action. ¡°¡­How did you do that?¡± ¡°I sent an electrical signal to your hand muscles. This body will teach you swordsmanship in this manner quickly¡ª¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use if I can¡¯t wield aura? With such a sluggish body, even if I learn, could I properly dodge? Even if I swing, what could I possibly cut?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Without aura, no matter how good the swordsmanship, it¡¯s akin to a dance. Unable to refute the logic, Jonathan spoke in a calm voice, as if he had let go of everything. ¡°You¡¯re right. We¡¯re not a match for each other. Perhaps it was all just a fleeting connection¡­¡± It seemed the recruitment was falling through. Feeling a bit sorry for him, I decided to give him onest chance before putting him back in the box. ¡°If you have no other talents, that¡¯s how it will be. Anything is fine, tell me everything you¡¯ve got.¡± But he spent this precious time grumbling like a drunkard. ¡°¡­The truth is, as a sword, I wasn¡¯t particrly remarkable. Compared to the other Ego Swords my master owned, I was nothing but shabby. The only abilities I had were sensing someone nearby and serving my master¡¯s sleep.¡± Huh? ¡°Do you know what the other swords called me? Sleepsword, that¡¯s right, Sleepsword. A watchdog guarding a sleeping master. That¡¯s all the worth this body had.¡± Wait, what did you say? ¡°Pfft,ugh all you want if that¡¯s what you wish. After all©¤¡± ¡°That¡¯s great, though?¡± ¡°That, that is¡­ What do you mean by that?¡± I stood up and pped. ¡°Congrattions, you scored 100 points.¡± ¡°What¡­ What did you say?¡± * * * Selly, who was bringing the items Hersel requested in a cart, was shocked at the door. After conversing with a possibly recyble, rotten dagger, now she saw him standing up, chuckling and pping in madness. ¡°Congrattions, you scored 100 points.¡± Today, the young master was crazy again. But how could he be so refreshingly mad? Honestly, it¡¯s scary now. Day by day, his soaring madness presented a new and almost unknown terror. ¡°¡­Eek, it gives me the chills.¡± Selly calmed her trembling shoulders and smoothly pushed the cart towards Hersel. Then she quietly closed the door, hiding her contemtive face. Thud©¤ * * * A delicate hand reached for the vase on the office desk. Thedy of the house gently caressed the petals with her thumb. ¡°We had something simr at home too. Except it walked on two legs¡­¡­¡± The hostess thought of Hershel as a flower with branches so thin that even a child¡¯s touch could snap them. Yet, filled with poisonced fertilizer at its base, and despite the gardener¡¯s shears cutting away, the stem would not sever, and the leaves maintained their freshness. The crucial thing was that even the pests named assassins, gnawing at its roots, had been exterminated. ¡°But why, I wonder¡­¡± It should be annoying, yet why does the corner of my mouth rise slightly? It felt like the sensation of finding something stimting amidst the boredom. The more I thought there was a true nature hidden within what seemed so insignificant, the more impressive it became. ¡®It feels like I¡¯m climbing the stairs. Towards the same level as me¡­¡¯ The hostess plucked a petal she had been stroking, as if harvesting a crop that hade into season. It was an unconscious expression of the desire to no longer be just an organizer, but to be an active participant. ¡®¡­No, it¡¯s too early for that.¡¯ Regaining her rationality, she rxed her grip. If she were to step forward and end it all in vain, it would be ackluster conclusion, unfit for the name of a festival. Moreover, she had to give a fair chance to the remaining assassins lurking in the storage. The hostess decided to watch a little longer and looked at the mark carved on the calendar. ¡®Now that I think about it, isn¡¯t it about time for him to leave to receive his punishment?¡¯ The day after tomorrow. Hershel will embark on a perilous journey, one where a person could disappear quietly and be deemed a natural death. I can¡¯t picture him surviving in my head. From noble mtl dote Not just because it¡¯s the perfect stage, but also because the character to be sent this time is different from the usual. * * * The sweets were sugary, and the tea brewed from the leaves had a bitter taste. Life, I thought, was both sweet and bitter. ¡°Do I really have to go?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a severe punishment decreed by the Grand Duke; you must go.¡± Even without saying ¡®absolutely,¡¯ that seemed to be conveyed in Selly¡¯s stern expression. It¡¯s truly unfair. Why should I have to take this damn punishment? Sitting at a desk, only typing away, now I have to go work at a mine in the Tenerest direct jurisdiction. It¡¯s supposed to be once a month, and that¡¯s tomorrow. It was an unwee situation. The stage would be nice, as it was clear the hostess was up to her usual tricks again. ¡°But what kind of trouble did you cause for father to punish you?¡± ¡°Do you not remember?¡± Selly looked at me incredulously, as if my ignorance was unfathomable. She sighed deeply and began to speak. It seemed my face said it all; I truly had no recollection. ¡°Oh dear, you were so drunk that you osted the visitingdy of high standing¡­ ¡®Did father call for a prostitute? It wouldn¡¯t be so bad to abandon that thieving cat and be my new stepmother,¡¯ you said. Do you know how furious the Duke was? Even I, working far away, felt my skin prickle.¡± I nearly spat out my tea at Hursel¡¯s shocking misdeed. Had it not been for the ¡®noble blood¡¯s dying embers,¡¯ I surely would have. Good heavens. Such a guest would hold no insignificant rank, and yet, to call her a prostitute upon first meeting, no matter how drunk¡­ The rudenessmitted was a bargainpared to the hardbor in the mines. ¡°¡­He really was a madman.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Selly looked shocked. ¡°You were aware¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Nothing¡­¡± Chapter 14 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 14 14. The Mine (1) The carriage began to move away from the residential area. Hursel, lying back in the rear seat, was dressed in an old robe, as if he were a monk. If one is punished, they must dress the part. Such was the tradition of the Tenest family. As Hursel¡¯s eyelids fluttered shut, Selly, sitting opposite him, half-opened her eyes and asked, ¡°But why are you taking me with you?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°You usually only bring a couple of guards.¡± Selly was puzzled. Hursel usually visited the mine with only the bare minimum of guards, insisting on going alone despite the servants¡¯ protests, which sparked suspicious whispers around the mansion. At Selly¡¯s question, Hursel seemed to ponder for a moment before responding indifferently. ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, get off.¡± ¡°¡­No. I¡¯d rather not be left alone there, so I¡¯lle along.¡± After a brief exchange, a silence ensued. Hursel, in a drowsy voice, murmured, ¡°I¡¯m a bit sleepy¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± With those words, Hershel fell into a deep sleep, and Selly shook her head in disbelief. She felt pitifully alone, realizing that this man was the only one she could trust. Even though Hershel had be somewhatx after returning from the armory, a ce where one needed to be on high alert. Still, there was no particr element of danger. The road to the mine was well-maintained and safe, with rare appearances of monsters. After all, they were apanied by guards. Clip-clop, clip-clop¡ª Jack, who had been scouting ahead, appeared from the front, kicking up a light cloud of dust. He walked his horse alongside the carriage and let out a heartyugh. ¡°Ahahaha, there were bandits hiding up ahead. They saw the armor and ran away in fear!¡± Jack pped the chest of his armor, emzoned with the crest of Tenest. It made sense. The Tenest family was one of the most renowned in the empire, and this territory was directly under their control. Rodel, who was riding at the back of the carriage, giggled. ¡°Such fools. How many were there?¡± ¡°About a dozen or so? It¡¯s a shame they weren¡¯t clueless enough. It would have been quite a spectacle.¡± ¡°Indeed. I wanted to see the young master¡¯s skills.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a pity. Not just the spectacle, but if he handled it himself, the rumors would spread, and the people¡¯s morale would surely rise.¡± ¡°Then, when the young master bes the head of the family, theints will lessen, right?¡± ¡°Yep~ We¡¯ll have our ce too, and the more the townspeople like us, the better.¡± Although Hershel had personally selected these ¡®trustworthy guards,¡¯ Selly was dumbfounded by their conversation. Hershel, who couldn¡¯t even catch a single spider, showing off his skills against a dozen bandits? She could only imagine his pretty face getting mashed. No doubt he had chosen these chatans who were good at empty ttery. Not wanting to be part of their sham faith contest, Selly looked for someone else to talk to and moved towards the coachman¡¯s seat. ¡°Um¡­ So, your name was Rendal, right? It¡¯s our first time working together.¡± Selly, who had barely squeezed into the coachman¡¯s seat, spoke to the middle-aged coachman holding the reins, but he remained silent. She found this silence quite ufortable. Although they had only seen each other a few times, she knew well enough that Rendal was a man of few words. However, Hershel had insisted on bringing the most experienced coachman from the estate for this journey. ¡°Here, take this.¡± Selly took some snacks out of her bag and offered them to the coachman, trying to break the silence. But the coachman didn¡¯t even turn his head, only ncing sideways at the jerky Selly offered. It was at that moment she wondered if he too was avoiding her because of that incident. ¡°Thank you.¡± One of the hands holding the reins reached out for the jerky. Just as Selly¡¯s face was about to brighten. ¡°Can we go a bit slower, please? The shaking is making it hard to sleep¡­¡± Hershel suddenly popped his face towards the coachman¡¯s seat. With his appearance, the coachman¡¯s hand awkwardly paused in mid-air, and Hershel¡¯s eyes intently watched the scene. After a moment of awkward silence, Hershel spoke up. ¡°¡­Got nothing to say? Bring that over here.¡± At Hershel¡¯s arrogant demeanor, Selly snorted through her nose and handed the rest of the jerky to Rendal before crossing back to her seat. As she rummaged through her bag to check for any damage, Hershel asked, ¡°That coachman, he¡¯s an old servant, isn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Huh? Oh yes. He¡¯s been here since I first came to the mansion. Back then, I heard he had been with Tenest for over 20 years¡­¡± From then on, Hershel never once tried to sleep. And so, the carriage slowly made its way towards the mine. * * * While there were buildings like dormitories or annexes for the workers outside, this ce was not the type where work was done on the outskirts of a stone quarry. One had to enter the cave like a mole. Thud, thud©¤ The sensation of uneven stones pressing against the soles of one¡¯s feet. The fragments of ore were jagged, as if one would bleed if barefoot. As the group entered the mine, a choking dust rose up. Why was the temperature so high, and the unpleasant humidity immediately clung to the skin? Holding one¡¯s breath against the stuffy air, and looking around, several smaller caves branched off within the cave. What am I supposed to do in a ce like this? I¡¯ve never done manualbor before. Just as the temples of my head began to throb, Jack grinned mischievously. ¡°Well, we¡¯ll just stay clueless as usual and leave when it¡¯s time. Rodel, the young master is busy. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Ha, looks like I¡¯ll get to drink my fill after a long time.¡± Huh? What does he mean by staying clueless? And what¡¯s this about drinking his fill? Selly, standing beside me, looked at me with suspicious eyes. ¡°What are those men talking about?¡± ¡°¡­I have no idea.¡± I was anxious to ask Jack, but my words were cut off by a middle-aged man rushing towards us. He forced a strained smile. ¡°Heh heh¡­ Young master, I¡¯ve been waiting for you. Have you been well?¡± I responded with a simple bow and nudged Selly, who was standing beside me, prodding her shoulder as I whispered. ¡°Who is that?¡± ¡°Judging by the attire, seems like the person in charge here.¡± Evenpared to the workers, the neat clothing made it seem so. It looked like he was about to give me some work, and just as I was about to ask for something easy, he blurted out something unexpected. ¡°We¡¯ve prepared plenty of alcohol at the lodging for the guards. Drink until you forget everything, so don¡¯t worry.¡± As expected¡­ I had doubted it, but those two guards really had left to go on a drinking spree. ¡°Young master, this way, please. I was considering bringing someone to pour your drinks again, but it¡¯s been quite difficult to find anyone willing toe this far¡­¡± And, a drink pourer? My mind went nk for a moment as I stared at him. The person in charge fidgeted as if he had made some mistake, gauging my reaction. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m sorry, young master. But we¡¯ve prepared some exquisite alcohol, so please don¡¯t be angry.¡± That damn Hassel, he came here to be punished but instead of showing any remorse, he seemed to have enjoyed himself with entertainment. The person in charge was ttering me, even going as far as to keep silent about the entertainment. Selly, who had been listening, looked at me as if I were something disgusting. ¡°No wonder there were strange rumors going around. Was this the reason you¡¯ve been going alone all this time?¡± Truly, the more you dig, the more scandalse out. With no room for excuses, I decided to change the subject and said to the person in charge. ¡°Enough with the alcohol. If I¡¯m here to be punished, I should ept it gracefully. Don¡¯t waste time, tell me what I need to do now.¡± ¡°Do you wish to start with the work?¡± The person in charge¡¯s face brightened up for a moment as if surprised. ¡°You arrived early and have been waiting. Thedy also said she wanted to finish the work quickly, so this is perfect.¡± What is he talking about? Thedy? Selly let out a disgusted sigh. ¡°Hmm~ Thedy, huh¡­ Hmm.¡± Hey, should we just leave her here after the work is done? * * * The ce the person in charge led me to was an annex outside the mine I had seen before entering. ¡°Please, this way.¡± As we entered the annex and walked down the creaking corridor, I saw a man leaning casually against the wall in front of a door. A man with distinctive long ck hair that fell to his waist¡­ ¡°Hmm?¡± No, it must be someone who just looks simr. What are the chances that he would be here? Though I doubted it internally, the more I walked, the clearer his figure became, and my certainty that I hadn¡¯t seen wrong only grew stronger. He looked at me with dull eyes. As he turned his head, his hair fluttered, revealing his pale face. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, young master. Thedy is inside.¡± The man¡¯szy-looking face shattered my denial, sending a slight shiver down my spine. The long hair that reached his waist was not for style. It was simply the result of neglect, left uncut out of sheerziness. This man, marked by extreme indolence, was undoubtedly a yable character. The ashen Delerger. A character of the fourth difficulty level out of five, with a narrative of ¡®Very Hard.¡¯ He was strong enough to always maintain a high ranking on the character performance tier list created by users in the Asaresmunity. But, did he just say it¡¯s been a while? Did he have a connection with Hershel¡­ Although the starting times for the yable characters¡¯ scenarios varied, Hershel was already dead before all scenarios, so it¡¯s not surprising I didn¡¯t know. Anyway, if Delerger is here, then the dy¡¯ inside must be certain. Creak©¤©¤ As I opened the door and entered, a woman was sitting in a chair across the table. Her light-colored blonde hair tied behind her back shimmered. ¡°What a curious day? I thought you¡¯de after having a few drinks.¡± Looking at her rather refined appearance and jade-colored eyes, I realized she was the person I had guessed earlier. One of the main NPCs of Asares and the daughter of the target, ¡®Aria del Orve.¡¯ Since Delerger was supposed to serve her, I had guessed as much even before opening the door. Yet, the feeling of astonishment didn¡¯t fade. Why was this woman waiting for Hershel as if they had an appointment? Ah, now that I think about it¡­ Hershel¡¯s name dide up at least once in the conversation logs between Delerger and Aria. It must have been when Aria bought Delerger a sword. -You¡¯ve prepared all this. You must be quite wealthy, miss. -Just bought it with the money I made from hoarding before the announcement, that¡¯s all. -All thanks to that young master. -Right. Hershel, we did beat that fool quite a bit. Is itmendable to remember even now? It was strange to take interest in that name, which held no significance as a user. ¡°Mr. Hershel, is there a problem?¡± Aria asked, noticing I hadn¡¯t said a word while organizing my thoughts. How should I answer this? Despite being a merchant looked down upon in this era, Orve is a noble family. They became nobles after providing substantial funds to the emperor when the nation¡¯s finances were in dire straits long ago. Thanks to marrying into the imperial familyter on, their descendants now carry the crazy lineage of the imperial blood. Their status isparable to mine, and it¡¯s a world deeply rooted in the dies first¡¯ ideology. To follow proper etiquette, I too should speak formally. But I¡¯m a mess. ¡°There¡¯s nothing in particr.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s good then. The work will end quickly too.¡± Her casual response seemed to suggest that was the right answer. Aria replied with a smile in her eyes, handing over a document. ¡°The terms remain the same.¡± It turned out to be a contract. The content was simple. Orve Trading Company would purchase the by-products mined from the quarry. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Considering Hershel¡¯s kind of exile, his involvement in such a contract was one thing. It wasn¡¯t anything important, just a contract for handling by-products. Since the contract stated that the payment to Orve Trading Company was not to Hershel but to the Tenest residence, it wasn¡¯t a unteral decision. But something felt suspicious. I, unaware of the market price or value of the by-products, had no way to tell if this deal was fair. The Aria I know wouldn¡¯t engage in such a junk dealer-like transaction. And it didn¡¯t seem like Hershel, the good-for-nothing, would make a legitimate deal. ¡°Right. Hershel, that fool has been hit hard.¡± And the recalled dialogue log turned that into certainty. I decided to probe Aria to grasp the truth of this contract. ¡°The content iscking.¡± I pushed away the contract. Aria, slightly flustered, said, ¡°What do you mean? The contents of the contract should be no different fromst month, right?¡± ¡°The contract itself is fine. It¡¯s the ¡®between the lines¡¯ I want to talk about.¡± The nk spaces between the lines of the paragraph. In the game, Aria referred to the covert deals hidden behind the contract, not meant for public knowledge, as ¡®between the lines.¡¯ Aria flinched for a moment, then let out a deep sigh. ¡°It¡¯s an extension of our previous conversation. As I¡¯ve said before, due to the end of the war between Antore and Sidiril, the value of iron ore is dropping. Recently, there¡¯s been a view that a new mineral found in the Southern Continent willpletely rece iron ore. I can¡¯t offer you more than this.¡± Iron ore, out of nowhere, while discussing by-products. Okay, noted one thing. Now, what should I talk about? Maybe just blurt out whateveres to mind. ¡°Still, this deal, how should I put it¡­ seems like a losing business, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°If you need money, increasing the transaction volume is the only way. But that would be risky for you too, wouldn¡¯t it, Hershel?¡± The contract listed all by-products. ¡®Transaction¡¯ volume doesn¡¯t seem fitting. And ¡®risk¡¯? What risk could there be in trading by-products? Things were bing clearer. Hershel and Aria had been trading ¡®iron ore,¡¯ not by-products. But Hershel had no authority to sell the ore, and Aria¡¯s contract mentioned nothing about buying ore. A truly ndestine deal beneath the surface. That¡¯s where the ¡®risk¡¯es in. Should I delve deeper into what kind of deal they had? ¡°What. Scared of a little risk in doing business? Let¡¯s increase the transaction volume.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll need additional personnel to transport the ore, besides the manager.¡± ¡°So what? Just hire more people.¡± ¡°The more ears around, the more mouths you have to shut.¡± ¡­So that was it. That¡¯s how I came to understand the true nature of the contract between Hershel and Aria. Hershel colluded with the manager to siphon off a certain portion of the ore as by-products. And Aria bought the iron ore disguised as by-products at a bargain price. Afterward, Hershel must have taken a rebate from Aria. It felt like my head was going numb. To think that I had been embezzling the family¡¯s wealth in the ce I was exiled to for my crimes. From noble mtl dote Ah, really¡­ Hershel¡­ ¡°This damn dog¡­¡± ¡°Excuse me? Dog?¡± ¡°This calction is rather poor.¡± I let out a long sigh and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to stop ying around. About the deal, I¡¯ve changed my mind. Let¡¯s pretend this deal never happened.¡± ¡°What? Oh, no, what do you mean¡­¡± Continuing such a deal would eventually get exposed, and even after the assassination attempts end, my life would be in danger. It would give a good reason to the forces trying to ostracize me. Aria, who had been squinting her eyes to gauge my intentions, reluctantly opened her mouth. ¡°Fine. I can¡¯t agree to increase the volume of the deal, but instead, I¡¯ll increase your share, Hershel. However¡­¡± ¡°You seem to be under some misconception, but as I just said, this deal is as if it never happened. And it will stay that way.¡± Realizing my determination, Aria¡¯s face turned nk. Then, suddenly, she changed her expression and wore a meaningful smile. ¡°Hmm, it seems you¡¯re trying to back out now. But you¡¯re not the one in control of this deal. It¡¯s me.¡± As if trying to appear nonchnt, Aria continued while looking at her nails. ¡°Ah¡­ What should I do about this? The Duke will be furious if he finds out, and it will sour the mood of the lord¡¯s subjects, maybe even push back the session rights?¡± The sudden threat felt somewhat amusing. If I don¡¯t do it, I don¡¯t do it, it¡¯sughable to be treated like a fool to the very end. I twisted the corner of my mouth. ¡°Let¡¯s see you try.¡± Let¡¯s see what happens when you mess with someone who knows too much. Chapter 15 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 15 15. The Mine (2) ¡°Let¡¯s see you try.¡± As I spoke mockingly, Aria blinked. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°I said try it, didn¡¯t I? I¡¯m curious to see what will happen.¡± ¡°No, but¡­ I just told you. The Duke won¡¯t leave you alone. You¡¯ll be pushed back in the line of session. Don¡¯t you understand?¡± ¡°I wonder if you can even say that?¡± Aria closed her mouth as if challenging me to say more. ¡°Your family¡¯s secret might leak out.¡± Although the current time is invisible to users, I was aware of Aria¡¯s weakness. Why was she engaging in dangerous trades with a scoundrel like Hershel, secretly buying up iron ore? Hadn¡¯t there been such a statement in Aria¡¯s dialogue log before? ¨C Bought a lot with the money earned from hoarding before the announcement, what else. ¡°You¡¯re not hiding it, are you? The Dungeon Tower.¡± The Dungeon Tower, which is said to create a market area as soon as it¡¯s discovered. Looking at the timeline, it¡¯s set to be announced to the public a year from now. Dellergo¡¯s narrative began in the bustling Dungeon Tower, like an amusement park that has just opened, so it¡¯s certain. Currently, they were hiding the existence of the Dungeon Tower found in the barrennds of their domain. The moment it¡¯s announced, adventurers will flock, and the demand for weapons and armor will skyrocket, causing iron ore prices to surge several times over. Orbe, with her keen sense of money, wouldn¡¯t just sit idly by. It was an opportunity to make a solid profit. Stockpiling iron ore at its fair price before the announcement, and selling it at a high price after the announcement a yearter, would surely yield an enormous profit. ¡°If I were to bber, wouldn¡¯t itplicate hoarding?¡± If it were revealed that a nobledy like Aria from a major faction was secretly buying iron ore, would the leeches who caught the scent really stay quiet? This was why Aria had chosen an easy-to-handle fool like Hershel and was secretly hoarding arge amount of iron ore. I looked into Aria¡¯s eyes and burned ¡®thest embers of noble blood¡¯ to their maximum. ¡°Go ahead, say it. It might be fun to die together.¡± Aria was in a bind too. If the secret leaked, her standing within the family would be greatly shaken. ¡°Or shall I speak on your behalf?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Aria chewed on her lip. * * * Just as he said, the family was hoarding iron ore. Quietly gathering it under the water, aiming for the time when demand would surge, how much profit would be generated if sold at the right time? Especially if the demand was generated by the Dungeon Tower, its mary value would be immeasurable. ¡®How did he know? Was there a clue in the words I uttered?¡¯ It might just be a simple guess. He attached a usible reason for the unnatural purchase of iron ore, and it just happened to fit. But for that drunken fool toe up with such a conjecture, even if it¡¯s a wild guess. It was like the shock of discovering the vige idiot who was mocked turned out to be a genius, and it was all an act. That¡¯s exactly how Aria felt. ¡°Your spection is too far-fetched. How can you hide something as massive as a dungeon tower? Is that even usible?¡± She countered Hershel¡¯s guess with realistic evidence, but his smirk didn¡¯t fade. ¡°It¡¯s possible in a wastnd. Surely there¡¯s a deserted mountain range in the southwestern territory of Orve?¡± Aria¡¯s gaze wavered. Just as Hershel said, a dungeon tower had risen in the worthless mountain range, where no valuable resources were found, and which was often shrouded in thick fog, deterring visitors. She had to admit that the man before her knew it all. ¡®Was it not mere spection¡­ The location is precise. Where did the informatione from¡­?¡¯ The question was forter. What mattered was that the opposition had taken the high ground. Even if Hershel¡¯s secret was exposed, he might lose his ce in the session line, but he would retain his noble status. But Aria herself would lose everything. She had her ownplex circumstances. ¡°Just so you know, I have no intention of gaining an upper hand in negotiations or extorting anything. What I really want is to end this deal.¡± With a groan of resignation, Aria let out a sigh as if she had given up. ¡°It seems you¡¯ve gathered all the money you needed. Fine. This deal is over now.¡± Insisting on gold of small volume but high value clearly meant it was intended for stockpiling. It was a logical inference and response, but Hershel seemed lost in thought upon hearing it. After a while, Hershel spoke up. ¡°Aria. How long do you n to stay here?¡± ¡°Well, I was thinking of leaving as soon as the deal is done¡­¡± ¡°It would be a shame to leave empty-handed, wouldn¡¯t it? Wait until tomorrow morning. Let¡¯s make another deal.¡± Scrape. The sound of a chair being pushed back apanied Hershel as he stood up. ¡°Wait a minute. You have to answer about the dungeon tower! Where are you going!?¡± Aria called out to Hershel as he left the room, but he only left her with a brief remark. ¡°Off to treasure hunt.¡± * * * I immediately went to find the person in charge. The dormitory¡¯s dining hall where the workers stayed. The person in charge was alone at the table, leisurely sipping his drink, perhaps because it was the peak of work hours. As I approached, the person in charge greeted me with a flushed face. ¡°Have you arrived, young master? Did the deal go smoothly?¡± ¡°Where is it?¡± Thrown off by my blunt question, the person in charge looked bewildered, but I didn¡¯t care. ¡°The ce where I¡¯ve hidden the slush fund. You must know.¡± ¡°Yes, yes? Oh, my goodness, young master. What are you talking about? I am content with my share!¡± It was a simple question, but the person in charge kept bowing his head, flustered. He must have thought I was using him of coveting my slush fund. But he¡¯s not denying it. Maybe I should press the atmosphere a bit more? I grimaced fiercely, letting the embers of my anger re unchecked. I felt a bit sorry, but I grabbed the person in charge by the cor. ¡°Stop beating around the bush and tell me. Do you think it makes sense that you, the person in charge here, wouldn¡¯t know?¡± ¡°Oh no, not at all! I knew you were frequenting the abandoned mine at night, but I never harbored such thoughts!¡± ¡°Abandoned mine?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve warned the miners not to go near it because of the risk of copse! I swear it¡¯s true!¡± So Hershel had indeed hidden the slush fund in the abandoned mine here. It would have been impossible to bring the stashed money to the mansion¡­ But why would a wealthy young master who has plenty of money gather funds? He seemed to have taken care of women and alcohol with family money, but what was his purpose? It was bound to be a malicious intent, but for now, it was something I couldn¡¯t figure out. I let go of the person in charge¡¯s cor and brushed my face to shake off the stray thoughts. Documents can be discarded, but the more tangible evidence of slush funds is like a time bomb that could go off at any moment. Yes¡­ A time bomb that could blow me up. I can¡¯t calm down. What am I supposed to do with this? Just in time, there¡¯s Aria, the bomb disposal expert. I have to find her quickly and use her efficiently for profitable endeavors. As a truly upright citizen, I really don¡¯t want to use something like slush funds, but I¡¯m in a situation where I have no choice. ¡°¡­Did something good happen?¡± Suddenly, Selly appeared with a disgusted look and asked me. Ah, was I smiling without realizing it? ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I think I need to look around the mine, but where are the guards?¡± ¡°Those two? They¡¯re already drunk and staggering around.¡± They¡­ It hasn¡¯t been long since they left their post, and already? My head started to throb. ¡°¡­What about the coachman?¡± ¡°He must be tired; he went straight to the lodging. But when I went to deliver some snacks earlier, he wasn¡¯t there.¡± This is not good. I don¡¯t know what kind of danger might ur while exploring the abandoned mine, and the two guards are drunk and staggering. And I can¡¯t just take this little kid into such a gloomy ce¡­ What should I do? ¡°Is the treasure hunt over?¡± Then, from behind, I heard Aria¡¯s voice. She must have been looking for me, as her forehead was sweaty. ¡°Isn¡¯t this more like a game of tag than a treasure hunt¡­¡± Dellerga muttered in annoyance. Suddenly, Aria grabbed my sleeve tightly. ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s a deal or what, but I¡¯m not letting go until you tell me!¡± Huh? Is that so? * * * Inside the tunnel, there was no proper lighting, but since everyone hadmps, there was no problem moving forward. Amidst the silence broken only by the footsteps of the four of us, Aria grumbled. ¡°Why did wee in here? There was a ¡®No Entry¡¯ sign earlier¡­¡± ¡°You were the one who said you¡¯d follow.¡± ¡°I said I would go if you just answered how you knew.¡± That¡¯s not possible. Of course, you wouldn¡¯t believe it, but it would be troublesome if you saw everything and left. This is more about Dellerga than Aria. ¡°Sir, thedy¡¯s stubbornness is no joke. It would be better for both of us if you just answer quickly.¡± Dellorger yawnednguidly as he spoke. His expression was not one of loyalty, but one for his own convenience. I knew what kind of person he was, but facing him in reality rather than through text or graphics felt strangely surreal. [Dellorger Radis] ¡ñBlessing ¡ôThe Patronage of Atape, King of Sloth¡ô ¦¸ If you finish quickly, you can rest more, right? Stats grow at twice the speed. Always spend at least 10 hours a day in a lethargic state. ¡ñTraits ¡óCrescent Moon sh¡ó ¡óCat¡¯s Footsteps¡ó ¡óKilling Intent Detection¡ó There are blessings that give mercy without a price, but there are also bizarre blessings from twisted beings like Atape. Dellorger, whose personality was even affected, was a prime victim of such a blessing. Not just the blessing, but his unique upbringing meant he started the scenario with a fully formed base character. He was a character I personally didn¡¯t prefer in the game due to many behavioral restrictions, but at this moment, there was no better ally than him. ¡°Hmm¡­?¡± It was when we passed arge cave and came to a fork in the road. Among the piled materials, I saw a wooden box. Could it be? But it seemed too conspicuous to be just lying there¡­ Approaching the box, I opened it to find something wrapped in paper. Peeling back the paper revealed several fist-sized spherical objects. Aria, squatting behind me, came closer and said, ¡°Looks like sting explosives. What are these for?¡± Explosives? Are these used for expanding the tunnels? They weren¡¯t the embezzled funds I was looking for, but suddenly I had an idea and asked, ¡°How do we set these off?¡± Aria picked up a fuse from inside the box. ¡°Just connect it here and light it up, and it¡¯ll explode, right?¡± ¡°¡­You didn¡¯t bring me here to suit your strange hobbies, did you, sir?¡± ¡­To be treated like a mad bomber, unbelievable. It wasn¡¯t the first time Selly had been treated this way, so she brushed it off lightly and stood up. Suddenly, turning to look at Delluger, I noticed he had turned his head to gaze back at the entrance we hade through. The path we had taken was dark, revealing nothing, but Delluger¡¯s dark eyes were quietly fixated on something. He muttered softly, ¡°A treasure hunt, they said.¡± It seemed something had triggered his sense of danger. Without another word, I hurried my steps, and Delluger followed, whispering into my ear, ¡°Just so you don¡¯t get your hopes up, don¡¯t think of using me. I don¡¯t like troublesome matters.¡± His voice was chilling, befitting someone from ¡®Ashen¡¯ origins, sending a shiver down my spine. But it didn¡¯t matter. Delluger¡¯s mere presence was pressure enough. Besides, if push came to shove, I could always use this cker as my personal bodyguard sword. I simply shrugged my shoulders in response. We chose our path, encountered dead ends, returned to the crossroads, and took different turns several times. Leading the way, Selly said, ¡°Sir, this way is blocked.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± This time, instead of a dead end, we found a tunnel blocked by nks. It looked like a cave that had been blocked for a good reason. Approaching the blocked cave, I peeked inside. The narrow cave was empty, but a nket spread out on the floor looked suspicious to anyone¡¯s eyes. Hershel, you¡¯ve hidden it in such a shabby ce. Now, what to do? I couldn¡¯t let the mistress find out about the slush fund, and there was no sign of the leech that must be somewhere around here, especially with Delluger on guard. Well, I¡¯ll have to take some risks. Fortunately, I have a trump card I can use right now. I turned to mypanions and said, ¡°Let¡¯s return to the lodging.¡± ¡°What? After dragging us all the way here-¡° ¡°I¡¯ll give you a clean exnation about the source of the information tomorrow morning, so let¡¯s head back now.¡± Aria clicked her tongue in displeasure but turned away, knowing that throwing a tantrum would be futile. ¡°Delluger.¡± I called out to Delluger, who was about to walk with me, and whispered something into his ear. ¡°What are you, exactly?¡± At that, the alwaysnguid Delluger¡¯s eyes widened asrge asnterns. He opened his eyes, which were now as dark as the abyss, burying any trace of his usual lethargy. ¡°I hope this is no jest, young master.¡± . . . . Late evening. Back at the abandoned mine, work is underway. Using a rope, I slowly tied the explosives. I attached the detonator, shaped like a giant nail, into the hollowed-out wall and inserted the explosives into the crevice. ¡®Slowly. Carefully.¡¯ As I muttered to myself like a hypnotic chant, Donatan asked, ¡°What have you been doing all this time, Hershel?¡± It seems I inadvertently spoke to him without thinking. After the contract, I can now divide my words into those I wish to convey through practice and the soliloquies I want to rant alone¡­ But I¡¯m still not used to it, so I asionally make such blunders. ¡°Setting up a trap. Why? Will you help?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even think of sullying my honor with such menial tasks fit only for underlings.¡± And yet he¡¯s nosy. Even though he has no way to help. It wasn¡¯t a particrlybor-intensive task, but in my haste to finish, sweat formed on my forehead. Afterpletion, I wonder how long I waited. Thud©¤ Thud©¤ The sound of ratherrge footsteps, presumably of an adult male, could be heard. When I directed themp forward, a familiar middle-aged man was slowly walking towards me. ¡°So you¡¯re finally alone.¡± ¡°What, I chose to be alone on purpose.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t seem too surprised.¡± The coachman chewed on a piece of jerky he pulled from his pocket. It looked quite natural. As if he was simply snacking during a break from menial work. ¡°I saw it when you took that thing earlier. Your hands are too clean for someone who handles reins.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ It seems my disguise was a bit wed. I¡¯ll take note for next time.¡± He brought his hand under his chin and peeled off the skin of his face. Another face was revealed underneath. I wasn¡¯t surprised, as I had expected it. ¡°I wonder if there will be a next time?¡± I gripped themp in my hand with force. Chapter 16 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 16 16. The Mine (3) As the assassin turned towards me, I hurled themp and sprinted backwards. From noble mtl dote Themp, struck by an explosive, scattered fragments and sparked mes. Having drenched the surroundings with themp¡¯s oil in advance, the fire swiftly transferred to the explosives, and a booming rupture echoed throughout the cave. BOOM©¤©¤©¤©¤ The explosion engulfed the assassin. There were still two more explosives nted. Naturally, they were close enough to the first to trigger a chain explosion. Even if caught in the st, I had calcted that I would be fine. [1 Second Invincibility: Avable] Perhaps it was because I retreated just in case. There was no need to activate the ¡®1 Second Invincibility.¡¯ But then, there was one oversight. Thud©¤©¤ The assassin, who should have been a ghost by now, was approaching me, staff raised high. ¡°A sorcerer, huh¡­¡± The barrier unfolded around him. The rock fragments that had piled on top of it slid off. My heart shrank at the arrival of this formidable foe. The minimum requirement to defeat a sorcerer was an aura capable of cutting through magic. Isn¡¯t this a bit much? There should be a usible sequence, the second assassin to appear should only be about 40 percent stronger at most. If he had the skill to survive the explosion, opportunities should have been plentiful from the start. Yet, here he was, attacking now, which was strange. ¡°With that level of skill, you could have attacked on the carriage, couldn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°The mine is a ce with many advantages.¡± The tip of his staff turned into a pen nib, drawing geometric figures in the air. ¡°I have made thorough preparations to kill the young master known as the Immortal.¡± RUMBLE©¤ The cave began to rumble as if an earthquake had struck. I wondered if he intended to bury me alive, but that wasn¡¯t it. The floating spell in the air was pulling the rocks together as if it were a ma. Boom©¤©¤! The clusters of rock slowly took on the shape of a human figure, as if sculpted from y. It was a golem. Not a simple summoning spell, but one of the higher magics of the creation series. Did you think I would just stand by and watch? He¡¯s currently focused on creating the golem, so he won¡¯t be able to cast another spell at the same time. Now was my chance. I pulled out the dagger that had been sleeping in my pocket and addressed Donatan. ¡°Is the swordsmanship of your former master really reliable?¡± ¡°He could cut a rock with a roadside weed.¡± But this guy¡¯s bluffing is so severe that it¡¯s actually making me nervous¡­ It¡¯s my first real fight; I wonder if it¡¯ll be okay. Crackle©¤ The current stimted my muscles. As I rxed, my hands and limbs took shape independently of my will. Thanks to Donatan¡¯s guidance, a usible stance waspleted. As I thrust the dagger forward, the assassin narrowed his eyes and said, ¡°I understand you¡¯ve never learned swordsmanship, but that¡¯s a no-frills stance you¡¯ve got there.¡± I charged, aiming for the magician¡¯s greatest weakness: closebat. Once within his reach, I unfolded Donatan¡¯s officially precise and lethal dagger technique. ng©¤! It was blocked by the swift swing of his staff. The second attack aimed at the neck, and the third trying to stab the spine from behind, were all thwarted just the same. Each time the dagger was deflected, my wrist throbbed painfully. ¡°¡­¡­¡± I wondered if I was doing well. As far as swordsmanship goes, I¡¯ve only ever seen the motions wielded by characters in games. I¡¯mpletely ignorant about swords. Even to me, the dagger technique I¡¯m disying now seems¡­ well¡­ Does it look usible only because it seems so? Of course, it¡¯s better than my pure skill, but look at the results. Even though he¡¯s a magician, not a master of swordsmanship, it¡¯s not working at all. Indeed, Donatan¡¯s former master must have been a fake sword saint. I took a step back, retreating with a backstep. He remarked as if something was off. ¡°Even by your movements, one can glimpse your achievement¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Why do you not wield your aura?¡± It¡¯s irritating. It¡¯s not like anyone¡¯s unting it. * * * Chills ran down the magician¡¯s back, a result of the desperate dagger techniques he had fended off. ¡®It¡¯s as if the swordsmanship is half a beat ahead, reading the moves¡­¡¯ Precise yet fluid, the movements were devoid of any superfluous actions. Even after the dagger was thrust, the trajectory twisted mid-flight, creating unexpected variables that repeatedly struck vulnerabilities. Such altered attacks were so precise in targeting vital points that it almost felt like being sliced. Had it not been for the experience of assassinating knights. Had protective magic not been cast on the staff, even that would have been impossible to block. The magician found this fact even more terrifying. ¡®If he had released even a hint of his aura, my neck would be¡­ But why didn¡¯t he use his aura?¡¯ For a moment, he doubted whether the other was incapable of using it, but it was a foolish question. Whether it¡¯s swordsmanship or magic, honing one leads to the growth of the other. Someone capable of such swordsmanship couldn¡¯t possibly have failed to master their aura. ¡®Could it be, this was merely amusement before battling the golem¡­¡¯ If he intended to kill, he would have done so already. If he was nonchntly engaging in closebat, it could only be seen as a pastime until the golem wasplete. The magician, who had prepared a strong insurance from the start, swallowed hard. ¡®I was uncertain at first¡­ but surviving in the mansion until now, it must have been for that reason.¡¯ Clutching his staff tightly, the magician dered, ¡°I will attack with all my might. So that even when you close your eyes, you will be satisfied!¡± Whether his sincerity was conveyed, Hershel red fiercely. * * * I stared at him, dumbfounded. All this, just with a single staff, what now? He was undoubtedly a ruthless, mad sorcerer. I nced at the golem. It was about the size of a child now. The golem¡¯s formation was still in progress. It seemed it would take some time. But what now¡­ The sorcerer crafted a giant spear from rock. It hurtled towards me with ferocity. Ping©¤©¤ Donatan cried out a warning. I had no time to react. ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there, move, Hershel!¡± Kwaang©¤©¤©¤! A thunderous roar as if the cave itself was bellowing. The stone arrow shattered into fragments, scattering into the void. [Physical attack detected.] [Invincibility for 1 second activated.] [Invincibility cooldown: 58 seconds] Dust enveloped everything. Donatan wailed. I listened in silence. ¡°Damn it all! Am I to spend the rest of my life trapped here? To die in such a ce, by the hands of this swine!¡± It¡¯s getting noisy. ¡°Who¡¯s dying?¡± ¡°Huh? You, you¡­ How are you still alive?¡± I didn¡¯t answer Donatan. Because light was seeping through the rubble that the explosion had blocked. Screech©¤©¤ The afterimage created each time the aura-wrapped sword sliced through the stone. It was the ¡®Crescent Moon sh¡¯ effect I had seen countless times while ying Dellerger. This damned cker. Finally, you¡¯ve arrived. The sorcerer¡¯s brow furrowed at the appearance of Dellerger. ¡°You¡­ came to interfere?¡± The sorcerer swung his staff, creating another giant spear. It wasunched like an arrow towards Dellerger, but it was merely sliced through by the aura-wrapped sword strike. Click©¤ ¡°It depends on your answer, young master.¡± After Delger said this to the magician, he swiftly sheathed his sword. Sensing the magician¡¯s formidable skill, heid down his staff. It seemed he thought it better to observe than to provoke a fight. I stared at Delger, dumbfounded. ¡°I thought about it, and I figured I should hear it first.¡± ¡°Hear what?¡± ¡°You never know. After all this work, what if the young master doesn¡¯t tell me? Or maybe that¡¯s all you know.¡± I understood such doubts. The information I had whispered earlier was deliberately limited to provoke him. -Don¡¯t you need a clue about those who destroyed the Ashen? If you hear an explosion,e back here. It was good that Delger hade this far as intended, but it seemed he had no intention of moving at my whim. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to talk, shall I just leave? After all, this is overtime.¡± Delger feigned anguid expression. But I knew it was a facade. I snapped irritably. ¡°If everything is too bothersome, then just give up on revenge. The traitors are living well, eating well. If you stay quiet, everyone else will be happy, won¡¯t they?¡± Delger red at me as if he wanted to kill me. It was a natural reaction. What I had done was roughly tear at the painful memories he harbored. ¡°¡­What do you know?¡± ¡°I know it all. The one who deceived Redenick and dragged him to his death. The one who poisoned Redenick¡¯s cup. The one who plunged a knife into Redenick¡¯s corpse. All of them who made the Ashen Knights what they are!¡± The Ashen Knights. They were a mercenary groupposed of knights from a fallen empire. Redenick, the leader of the mercenaries, had picked up Delger when he was an abandoned infant, raising him like a father. As Delger reached adulthood, Redenick met a gruesome death at the hands of traitors bribed by those who feared the Ashen Knights. With their focal point gone, the mercenaries scattered and disintegrated, and Delger, having lost his family and home, vowed to find the fleeing traitors and punish them severely. And the only one who knew of Delger¡¯s background, having agreed to help him in his revenge, was Aria. It was bound to be so, thus Delger¡¯s eyes were filled with confusion. ¡°¡­Who are you, exactly?¡± ¡°Let me tell you one thing. If you don¡¯t hear anything from me now, one of them will meet a peaceful death before your sword can even touch him.¡± I issued a veiled threat, and Delger¡¯s pupils wavered. ¡°Choose wisely. I could easily deal with such a man, but I¡¯m giving you a chance out of pity.¡± Delger narrowed his eyes, trying to gauge me, and watched me for a moment. ¡°¡­Redenick.¡± And as if trying to gather his resolve, he closed his eyes and murmured the name like a sigh. When he opened his eyes again, they were cold and detached. Swoosh¡ª Dellorger roughly drew his sword. As the magician narrowed his eyes at the approaching figure, Dellorger¡¯s de sang through the air. ¡°¡­A foolish choice. If you insist on meddling, you¡¯ll pay the price.¡± The mention of a ¡®price¡¯ almost made meugh. The magician¡¯s skills are strong by my standards, but could he even inflict a scratch on him? Dellorger, among the yable characters, ranks near the top. Born into a harsh world, he grasped a sword early on. This meant that from the start of the scenario, his basics were already somewhat developed. The magician fired spells rapidly with his staff. Boulders flew towards Dellorger from the front. Tatatuk¡ª Instead of dodging, Dellorger created countless afterimages as he charged forward. The magician¡¯s attack only managed to cut through the ¡®cat¡¯s footsteps¡¯ afterimages in vain. As if firing a machine gun, the magician conjured a massive spear of rock with his empty left hand. That same attack that almost pierced my abdomen earlier. Sheeek! The floating rock spear shot towards Dellorger with a sonic boom, but he simply tilted his head while running and dodged the spear effortlessly. Dellorger¡¯s long ck hair fluttered in the path of the spear. ¡°Kuh¡­¡± As Dellorger closed in, the magician hastily raised his staff like a shield, a bluish aura clinging to it. My dagger was treated like a toy, a fine defensive tool, but it was insufficient before Dellorger. He swung his sword, cutting the magician down with the staff still in hand. The ¡®crescent moon sh¡¯ wrapped in aura drew a red line across the magician¡¯s neck faster than sound. Swoosh¡ª It was almost anticlimactic how easily Dellorger dispatched the magician. So far, everything had gone ording to n, but now what? I had boasted confidently, but giving away too much information couldplicate the narrative. And if I feigned ignorance, that sword might swing my way next. But why does it suddenly seem darker? ¡°Young master! Above!¡± At Dellorger¡¯s urgent shout, I looked up. It felt as if the ceiling was crashing down on my head. More precisely, a golem¡¯s giant fist was plummeting towards me. Had the golem beenpleted while my mind wandered? It was toote to dodge. [1-second invincibility: avable] ¡­Well, it doesn¡¯t matter. ¡°Shall I show you something interesting?¡± Chapter 17 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 17 17. The Mine (4) ¡°Young master!¡± It was a clear mistake. I was so focused on dealing with the sorcerer that I failed to notice thepletion of the golem-summoning ritual. Although obscured by dust, it was obvious that he must have been crushed to death. The blow was so powerful it could have caused an earthquake, and even if he had been surrounded by an aura, it was doubtful he could have withstood it. Especially since the reckless young master, who didn¡¯t feel any energy, was unlikely to survive such an attack. Then, a strange noise pierced Dellerger¡¯s ears. Crrrrack©¤©¤ The sound of rock splitting. It came from the golem¡¯s fist, where a crack had formed and spread up the arm to the chest like tree roots. From the gaping chest of the golem, a faint light emanated. The light, which seemed alive and moving, was undoubtedly thetent magic within the torso. In the reflected light amidst the dusty haze, the silhouette of a man standing upright was revealed. Dellerger rubbed his eyes. He wasn¡¯t seeing things. The deep voice that resonated was unmistakably his. ¡°This is troublesome¡­ I¡¯ll be shedding stone fragments when I wash my hair.¡± Dellerger twitched as if electrocuted by the casual remark. In his pale, shocked mind, Hersel¡¯s words vividly resurfaced. ¨CChoose wisely. I could easily deal with such a scoundrel, but I¡¯m giving you a chance out of pity. Perhaps, the words he had spoken were sincere. Surviving unscathed from that fist without emitting an aura meant he had reached a profound level. ¡®The mastery of aura is different.¡¯ It was a story from when Ashen Commander Redenick once challenged a man to a duel. Redenick, a knight renowned for his unparalleled skills in his era, was brutally defeated by that man. The monster who had defeated him left these words, speaking of a reward for amusement. ¨CAura is not something to be released, but to be contained. He even demonstrated a profound lesson by piercing his own skin with a real sword, causing the de to break. ¨CThe more you umte andpress, the harder it bes, even more than steel. True to his words, there was indeed something peculiar about him. Whether he really didn¡¯t emit even a trace of aura, he appeared to be just a robust ordinary person. Like father, like son, one might say, just like the man before me. ¡®Yes, his father was like that. Blood doesn¡¯t lie, does it?¡¯ But why had he asked for help? Dellerger was troubled by this thought, but he could infer the answer from Hersel¡¯s next words. ¡°I wanted to avoid getting dirtier, you see.¡± It seemed he was given this menial task just for the sake of it, as there was nothing else that came to mind. Thud©¤ The golem, having lost one arm, began to stir once again, and its gaze met Hershel¡¯s. An unreadable expression. Der thought about helping, but hesitated, fearing it might be rude to intervene uninvited. The golem¡¯s weakness is the magic form. It¡¯s like having a heart exposed outside the body for humans, and tampering with it would be akin to snatching prey that someone else had already caught. And, it was bothersome. Whir©¤©¤ The golem¡¯s remaining arm swung in an arc, slicing through the air. Simultaneously, the dagger in Hershel¡¯s hand flew like a throwing knife, plunging deep into the exposed end of the magic form on the chest. Crack©¤ At a distance barely enough to fit a hand. The golem¡¯s fist, ultimately, did not reach Hershel, and its body crumbled like a tower of cards. * * * From noble mtl dote Stones hit the ground. It felt like when a stone pagoda at a historical site seen during a school trip copsed. Nheless, the shock didn¡¯t settle down. When the golem¡¯s fist came close, I truly thought I was a goner. [1-second invincibility cooldown: 43 seconds] It was a narrow escape, breaking through the tight space and destroying the magic form. If I hadn¡¯t thrown the dagger precisely as Donatan had tuned it, I would have certainly bid farewell to this world. The previous owner of the thing was a fake sword saint, which had me worried, but it seems his throwing skills were as good as an acrobat hitting an apple on his head with a knife. But that damned guy. He even gave me a hint, but did nothing and just watched? I almost let out a curse due to Der¡¯s dereliction of duty. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤?¡± But where is that guy looking now? Der was intently observing the wall. I, too, became curious and picked up themp rolling on the floor, approaching him. A wall made of nks buried among the stones became visible. It was revealed by the rocks torn away by the golem. It was undoubtedly the boarded-up tunnel I had seen during the preliminary survey. ¡°Clear this away, please.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± Dellorger shed through the nks with his sword as if to shatter them. Stepping inside, he swept away the nket on the floor, revealing arge hole filled with neatly crafted gold bars, stacked as high as a double bed. The amount far exceeded expectations, causing cold sweat to trickle down. At the same time, he felt a quiver at the corners of his mouth. Even Dellorger¡¯s dark pupils seemed to be tinged with gold. Shielding his eyes with his hand, he said, ¡°This is¡­ the same as what we gave you. But then, why did youe here earlier today?¡± ¡°I forgot where I put it.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Dellorger tilted his head, but what could he do? It was the truth. Trying to read my mind, Dellorger pondered for a moment before muttering, ¡°Alcoholic amnesia, perhaps.¡± Then he addressed me, ¡°It doesn¡¯t really matter, but I do hope you haven¡¯t forgotten the information you¡¯re supposed to share.¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± What remained was to deal with the slush fund. Before these beautiful things departed, I gazed intently at the gold. Curious about the texture of pure gold, I sniffed its scent and felt its touch as I ran my hand over it. It¡¯s real gold. And disgustingly abundant. It felt like getting the best reward from a random box, making my grip tighten. With this much gold¡­ Laughter burst forth without my noticing. ¡°Hehehe.¡± Now, I¡¯m about to cast a spell. A spell to turn this time bomb into a top prize. * * * After themotion had subsided, inside the annex. Aria¡¯s gesture caused the negotiation table to wobble slightly. Her eyes as wide asnterns, she began with an unsatisfied tone, ¡°¡­Are you saying you want to buy that?¡± Given that it was no ordinary item, such a reaction wasn¡¯t unreasonable. ¡°My letter of rmendation?¡± If one were a child of Orve, they would always carry that letter from their father like a talisman. It had enough value that even when caught by thieves, merely possessing it ensured preferential treatment and release. Moreover, whenever stepping into the territories of other prominent families, the heads would grovel, begging to have even one of their children¡¯s names added to the letter, ensuring VIP treatment. That was why I was willing to trade all these gold bars for just that piece of paper, the rmendation letter. ¡°Do you not realize the treatment you receive from the noble houses?¡± I didn¡¯t bother to answer. What would the gaze be like if the most cherished daughter of the Orve family were to raise the name ¡®Hershel¡¯? ¡°Even if I were to raise the name, do you think it would be epted? You know what kind of person my father is.¡± Normally, one would throw away the rmendation letter upon seeing the name. No, it would be fortunate if it wasn¡¯t torn to pieces. The ¡®Edel Cryse¡¯ club, called the nobility above nobility. Bing a member is notoriously difficult, so disposing of rmendation letters is amon urrence. The members are from the royal family. Heads of prestigious families. Or those who have achieved such great deeds that their stories are heard everywhere. Nowadays, it¡¯s fortunate if dogs and cows applying don¡¯t get salt thrown at them. A rascal like that would be cut off right at the entrance by the head of the Orve family who reviews the membership permissions¡­ But, there¡¯s always a way. I¡¯m the one who managed to get two-thirds of the yable characters into Edel Cryse. That¡¯s to say, I¡¯ve tried with all characters except those the gamepany has made impossible to enter. In the game, I had to meet the child of Orve who would write the rmendation letter, and showing sincerity and building a certain level of trust was the basic condition. Having achieved the two conditions of meeting and sincerity (money), I was brimming with a smile. ¡°Your rmendation letter would be different, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but¡­ don¡¯t smile like that. It makes you look like you¡¯re going to stab me in the back.¡± Looking in the mirror on the wall, I realized once again that Hershel¡¯s smile was filled with schemes, just like a boss¡¯s smile. A damn face not good for trust-building. I smoothed my face back to its original expression. Then Aria coughed and shot me a sharp look. ¡°Let¡¯s get this straight. I¡¯m here to question how you found out the secrets of the dungeon tower, not to talk about rmendation letters.¡± A faint anxiety could be felt in Aria¡¯s voice. If the business were to fail, the head of the Orve family would not stay quiet. ¡°There must be others who know this fact, right? You couldn¡¯t have possibly set foot on thatnd and searched it yourself.¡± To ease her mood, I put on the mask of a rascal. ¡°Of course, there were. Not anymore, though.¡± ¡°¡­Not anymore?¡± ¡°The fewer who know, the more the benefits be mine, right?¡± Adding Hershel¡¯s signature evil smile, Aria swallowed a gulp of air. She seemed to be imagining things as I intended. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve properly sealed all the mouths that needed to be sealed. It would be troublesome for me too if this deal went wrong. It¡¯s something I¡¯ve been nning for a long time.¡± With that, I gestured towards the gold bars. Aria¡¯s eyes widened as she understood my intention. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve been dealing with me from the start to buy the rmendation letter?¡± The dust was thick on the gold bars at the very bottom, and judging by the amount paid and the duration of the deal, it was clear that the rebate had been diligently umted without missing a penny. Of course, I still don¡¯t know what Hershel is nning to do with such money, but what does it matter? Thanks to you, I¡¯ve be a viin full of schemes, and such a viin saying ¡®everything is going ording to my n¡¯ lent credibility to Aria¡¯s belief in my previous statements. ¡°Somehow¡­ even for a notorious foolhardy young master known for being clueless about the ways of the world, it was strange that he took such a beating without a word¡­ It seems the trap was set for us after all.¡± And the extra spoonful is just a bonus. Aria, who had been ring at me as if indignant, sighed. ¡°Well, fine. Let¡¯s have a serious talk about the letter of rmendation.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± ¡°As Mr. Hersel said, with my rmendation, you¡¯ll likely be a member.¡± She says it so nonchntly. Others might see it as arrogant, but I share her confidence. Currently, the most cherished child of the Orve family head is this woman. Orve is a family that strictly adheres to meritocracy. Regardless of hierarchy or session order, the head of the family has dered that the next head will be the offspring who brings in the most wealth. And Aria, at this point, is the legitimate daughter who stands above herpetitive half-siblings. ¡°That means, if you can persuade me, you¡¯re in¡­¡± Aria continued, eyeing the gold bar again. ¡°Doesn¡¯t this seem a bit insufficient? No matter how strong my say is, even if my father permits it, the moment you raise Mr. Hersel¡¯s name, my father¡¯s trust in my judgment will waver. It might even be recorded as a blemish.¡± Aria¡¯s outstretched fingers touched each other¡¯s fingerprints. It was a gesture she showed whenever she was expecting something. She seemed quite intrigued by the situation. ¡°Will you provide something more for the credit I stand to lose?¡± ¡°Value¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious to know how much you think my credit is worth, Mr. Hersel.¡± When the moment I had been waiting for arrived, I gazed deeply into Aria¡¯s eyes. Her pupils slowly dted with the gesture of certainty. ¡°I do have a tempting offer. Not necessarily you, but an offer that could persuade your father, even if it were your siblings.¡± I should have exined earlier. The creator didn¡¯t outright block it, so I tried making all yable characters members of Edel Cryse. It was possible because they all had cheat-like secrets. ¡°Aren¡¯t you looking for it? The ledger that our ancestors have been recording.¡± Aria¡¯s eyebrows twitched. It¡¯s surprising. Having revealed the secrets of the dungeon tower, could it be taken lightly? Even if the lost heirloom that the descendants of Orve had so desperately sought came from the mouth of an outsider like me. Her voice became quite urgent. ¡°Please be precise. Is this ledger the one left by my family¡¯s ancestors?¡± The Ancestor¡¯s Ledger. Originally, it was an item that could only be found by grinding through a maze that changed with each ythrough, essible only through a hidden quest under certain conditions. But this is reality. A ce wherenguage and freedom of choice abound. Thus, simply revealing its location is as good as handing it over. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you the ce if you put my name up there. What do you think? This should raise your standing more than lower it, right?¡± Aria¡¯s smile reached her ears. Chapter 18 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 18 18. The Mine (5) Birds join the race as soon as they break out of their eggs. They thrust their beaks forward and cry out loudly to receive food from the small pouch of the mother bird. There is no sharing. The brutal truth of survival of the fittest pushes aside even the thought of defying nature¡¯sws in the pursuit to fill their bellies. If there are two siblings, theypete even harder. If three, they push each other aside. If four, they peck at each other. If five, they knock each other to the ground. Thepetition among siblings continues until their feathers are fully grown. And so, while there is an end to it¡­ Humans, as creatures, do not graduate from thepetition of fledglings even when they be full-grown adults. Because people leave behind wealth even in death. Hershel was like that, and so was Aria. The difference, however, is that Aria had at least nine half-siblings, and it was her father who would pass down the assets ording to their worth. I looked at Aria, the most greedy among the fledglings and the most beloved among the siblings. ¡°¡­¡­¡± She waved her hand and climbed into the carriage. I simply nodded in response, concluding our meeting. The deal was sessfully made. -Really¡­ You¡¯re going to tell me where the ¡®Ancestor¡¯s Ledger¡¯ is buried? -If you don¡¯t like it, forget it. -Ah¡­ No, who said I didn¡¯t like it? Aria struggled to feign indifference with a forced cough, but she couldn¡¯t manage her expression till the end. Even if you gave the lost heirloom ¡®Ancestor¡¯s Ledger¡¯ to any child of Orve, the reaction would be the same. For it was rare to find an item with such a ripple effect to catch a mother bird¡¯s attention. The risk of nominating the name Hersel on the rmendation list was a price worth paying. After all, this secured my membership as a foregone conclusion. And then, Edel Cryse. Truth be told, I wasn¡¯t keen on joining. As a gathering of the uppermost elite, the age group was rtively high, giving off the vibe of a young person entering a discotheque¡­ As a modern person, the thought of stepping into the elegant social circles of nobility I¡¯d only seen in movies was off-putting. Yet, I coveted the membership for the benefits that far surpassed any card or tel discounts. Above all, I desired the entry rights to the VIP auction house owned by the Orve family. A ce where relics iparable to anything sold in the market were offered. Topensate for my inadequate credentials, I needed to snag something useful before someone else did. And to Dellerger, as promised, I gifted a clue to the traitor. I had to be careful not to influence the main narrative with the information I provided, so I chose those that seemed least impactful. ¡°Sires is in the eastern part of Edelly, in the maritime vige.¡± ¡°Nonsense. That man already died by my hand.¡± ¡°Well, delusions are free.¡± ¡°Delusions?¡± The traitor Sires, of little significance to the narrative. He was one of those who pushed Ashen into a corner, driven only by money, but he was merely an errand boy. The central figures were elsewhere. He was nothing more than a prop to show what kind of narrative Dellerger had, and with what feelings he wanted to execute the traitor. ¡°By now, it should bepleted. If you investigate the recently opened orphanage as a clue, you¡¯ll find it easily.¡± After the betrayal, a considerable time had passed running the orphanage, so the location should be urate at this point. Of course, it was a fake orphanage created for human trafficking or moneyundering. Belonging to worthless scum, when ying Dellerger, you¡¯d get the choice to kill or just maim them. Whichever choice you made, it would only result in a few cutscenes with no real impact. It wouldn¡¯t matter if they died early on. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Dellerger seemed to catch on quickly, nodding in agreement. The Sires he remembered always said that orphanages were the best forundering money, which added credibility. Back then, I didn¡¯t realize his true nature from what sounded like a joke. And the assassin¡¯s body was neatly taken care of by Dellerger. I don¡¯t know exactly how it was done. ¡­It seemed so revolting, I didn¡¯t watch. Next was an exnation about the disturbance at the mine. The explosion heard at night was skillfully exined away by the supervisor as a necessary operation to remove a rockfall. -¡°The young master himself did this for your safety. Please honor his kind intentions and continue to be careful to prevent any idents in the future.¡± Still, the murmuring wouldn¡¯t subside. It was natural not to believe Hursel had done it. However, the supervisor¡¯s next words brought everyone together. -¡°If you desire a more precise exnation, write a request, and I will deliver it to the young master. He has promised to review it personally, so please, feel free to submit it without any hesitation. McDowell, you there. You had the loudest voice, why not make a suggestion right now?¡± -¡°Me¡­? No, not me! I have a sore throat, can¡¯t raise my voice, you see? Ahem. Ah. Ah. Ah. My throat is still¡­¡± The workers, pale-faced and trembling like aspen leaves, quickly ended the situation. Afterward, the supervisor was called aside to discuss the ndestine deals they had been conducting. As an aplice, he had to ensure tight lips and inform of the deal¡¯s termination. -¡°There will be no more sales mixed with by-products in the future.¡± The supervisor epted this without difficulty. He was quite a conscientious and simple man. -¡°I have a family to feed¡­ I need to buynd, look after horses, and I¡¯ve even looked into a five-story house¡­ If you say such things all of a sudden, what do you expect me to do?¡± The conscience button protruding from his belly was sorge it could easily be pressed with a finger. -¡°You¡¯ve gorged so much, your belly has swelled.¡± -¡°Gasp!¡± With a simple heart, he sumbed to the threat at once. -¡°If you don¡¯t want to spit out what you¡¯ve gobbled up, do as I say.¡± Finally, Jack and Rodel were. ¡°Your knees are touching the ground. Straighten up.¡± Hands sped behind their backs, heads bowed to the ground. They were being punished for dereliction of duty, having gotten drunk instead of guarding me. This wasn¡¯t satisfying enough for me. Feeling something was missing, I looked over at Selly, giggling beside me. ¡°You, climb up there.¡± ¡°Climb up? There?¡± ¡°Sometimes you too should breathe the high air.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Selly, thrilled, jumped high and nted one foot on each of Jack and Rodel¡¯s backs. Being about 40 centimeters taller seemed so delightful, her smile was unending. ¡°Guys, raise your backs a bit more.¡± When they didn¡¯t move, Selly started hopping on the spot. Thump! Thump! ¡°Argh! Stop! Stop it!¡± ¡°Aack! My back¡¯s gonna break, dude!¡± Ah, now that I think about it, those two. When I fell off the cliff, that little brat tried to smack me on the back of the head and swallow all the money. Selly, who hadn¡¯t heard about this, would never dream that she¡¯s partly avenging me right now. It seems that if youmit a sin, you¡¯re bound to be punished in some way. That¡¯s the way of the world. ¡°Ugh¡­ Sir¡­ We, we didn¡¯t always do such things.¡± Jack spoke through clenched teeth, as if squeezing out the words. ¡°What are you saying? Kneel down and say it again. Rodel, take a break. Youe down now.¡± Selly, seemingly reluctant, lowered her eyelids and hopped down to the ground. Rodel trembled as if paralyzed by the shock, and Jack, with a reddened forehead, dabbed at his eyes with tears welling up. ¡°Sir, we weren¡¯t just ying around¡­¡± It¡¯s quite ufortable to hear a grown man sob like that. Of course, any flicker of sympathy quickly fades. It must be the lingering drunkenness making me sentimental. ¡°The smell of alcohol is strong, yet you say you weren¡¯t ying¡­ You sure have a way with nonsense.¡± ¡°We weren¡¯t exactly ying¡­ Pfft!¡± Jack pulled out a handkerchief and blew his nose. Ugh, disgusting. ¡°¡­Alright, let¡¯s hear it then. Just know if it¡¯s nothing important, you¡¯re going back to your ce.¡± As I frowned, Jack quickly put on a serious look, as if to show off his experience. ¡°Actually, we were exchanging drinks with the locals here, gathering bits and pieces of information. That¡¯s important work, isn¡¯t it? Especially for someone high up like you, sir.¡± He wasn¡¯t wrong. As the heir to the family, it was crucial to understand the sentiments of the territory and the international mood. I kept silent, encouraging him to go on. ¡°And then I heard all sorts of ominous rumors.¡± ¡°Rumors?¡± ¡°Yes, rumors. Recently, the Grand Duke had some friction with another family over territorial disputes, and there were talks that it might lead to war.¡± A dispute between families? Was there such an incident in Tenest? From noble mtl dote Even though it¡¯s a past event, I¡¯ve yed every character and never heard of such an incident, so it probably wasn¡¯t a big deal. But with rumors like this circting, is it really okay for the lord to be away? ¡°Going hunting in the bordends during these times¡­ must be something they¡¯re counting on, right?¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m not quite sure myself.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve heard enough.¡± I gestured to Jack and Rodel with my chin. They just stared nkly, doing nothing. ¡°What are you doing? Not burying your heads in the ground, are you?¡± ¡°Bu-but, my lord¡­ Isn¡¯t this information quite beneficial?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± It¡¯s none of my concern anyway. If I, a user, am unaware, it means it either fizzled out for some reason or it was as insignificant as catching a single fly. Well, there¡¯s a chance things could change because of me. But that¡¯s just an adolescent delusion of grandeur, isn¡¯t it? If something does happen, I¡¯ll think about it then. That¡¯s all there is to it. For now, I can barely take care of myself. Whooosh©¤ A cool breeze blew. I tried to close the open window but my hand lost strength. The view below the hignds of the mine was breathtaking enough to see without a pane of ss. The verdant foliage and theke, tinged with the hues of sunset, made me sigh. Andscape I had passed by in haste without truly seeing. It felt like a reward for finishing my work here. I picked up the telescope near the window. A swan, calm and graceful, floated in the middle of theke. Contrary to what was visible, I imagined it frantically paddling beneath the surface, and I unwittingly empathized. It¡¯s almostughable how I must appear to others. Desperately paddling beneath the surface to survive. Ah. It caught a big fish. * * * As the hostess stirred with her spoon, a typhoon whirled in the teacup. Seeing the slightly tilted picture frame, the maids hurried to level it. The news was still in limbo. Considering the assassin¡¯s method sent to the mines, it¡¯s safe to conclude it was a failure. As the festival days began to dwindle one by one, Thedy of the house grasped the letter thaty on her desk. The wax seal bore the eagle crest of the Schweik family, recently embroiled in a territorial dispute. With each word she read, her grip tightened. The steward, who had been watching silently, remained motionless in the chilling atmosphere until she spoke. ¡°He¡¯s really gone too far, leaving such matters unresolved¡­¡± The delegation of duties. It wasn¡¯t particrly difficult to resolve, and as it concerned the family¡¯s welfare, she was more than willing to address it. The regret was having to abandon her resolve to personally deal with Hershel. Thedy¡¯s irritation was clear; she could see right through Aiol¡¯s intentions. It was deliberate, timed just so. There was no doubt he had interfered to prevent direct involvement. With eyes dimmed by rage, she burned the letter. ¡°There¡¯s not much time left until the festival, and at this rate, I won¡¯t have time to participate.¡± The steward swallowed hard, his expression nd. But it revived at the sight of the circled dates on the calendar. The twin siblings sent to their maternal home were due back soon. ¡°Mirsel and Niasel must have started their journey by now, haven¡¯t they?¡± The steward swallowed a sigh of relief and responded naturally. ¡°Yes, mydy. There was a request to let them stay a few more days, but I politely declined.¡± ¡°Father really¡­ He promised to keep to the dates.¡± ¡°Of course, who would want to let go of young master Mirsel¡¯s talent?¡± A mother¡¯s genuine smile spread across her lips. The steward felt fortunate for Mirsel¡¯s presence. To thedy, her youngest son was like a sedative that quickly calmed any anger. She slowly shook her head. ¡°Oh dear¡­ I too. It¡¯s not easy to love the children equally¡­¡± The steward affirmed with silence. ¡°Why do I get so ted at the thought of Mirsel alone¡­ I wonder if he feels the same?¡± * * * At this hour, in the deep territories of the northeast bordends. Beneath the sheer cliff, the airden with deadly toxins spread through the valley. Creak- Within the thick purple haze, a muscr man twisted the sword he had plunged in. ¡°Less impressive than I thought¡­¡± A calm voice, deep as a cavern. The knights who had only been watching swallowed hard. What he was standing on was the head of a giant lizard, as big as a three-story building. This monstrous creature, which even a selected group of strong men couldn¡¯t capture, nowy dead in silence at this very ce. ¡°Alone, he did that¡­¡± ¡°Even though he¡¯s a Grand Duke, I had my doubts¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m ashamed of my own words, trying to dissuade him, thinking it was too dangerous.¡± A gaunt old man, d only in light armor, made his way through the frozen crowd. With a small leap, he quickly reached the man who was sheathing his sword in the mist. The old man chuckled, opening his wrinkled mouth. ¡°By now, young master Mircel should have returned, but time is cruel. If only he had grown up enough to join us.¡± ¡°If you live long enough, that will happen.¡± ¡°I feel like I might die soon, Grand Duke, I envy you.¡± The man smirked, and the old man, stepping on the lizard, spoke of his other beloved son. ¡°Seems like you were in a hurry, Grand Duke?¡± ¡°¡­It was so trivial that I finished it quickly.¡± ¡°Tsk, you¡¯re never honest.¡± The old man swallowed the words ¡®You were worried about the bet with thedy of the house.¡¯ In private, maybe, but not in front of the knights. Still, with just that much said, the man in front of him, who had been with him for a long time, would have caught on. And as the old man predicted, the man spoke. ¡°If he dies, it means his life was only worth that much. If he can¡¯t even prove his worth to that extent, he doesn¡¯t deserve my seat.¡± ¡°Ha, ¡®only that much,¡¯ you say. It might be ¡®only that much¡¯ for the Grand Duke who always deals with thedy, but not for the young master. Isn¡¯t that why you left such a task for thedy?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°If you hadn¡¯t hurried, thedy might have started solving the piled-up tasks and gone out to y.¡± At the softly whispered words, the man¡¯s eyebrows twitched. The old man, with his years of wisdom, calmed the sharp look in his eyes. ¡°Ah, my back¡­ Suddenly my back¡­ Actually, Grand Duke, I think I¡¯m about to die, so I wanted to return quickly after saying something foolish. Now that this nuisance has been dealt with, may we return?¡± ¡°¡­I guess there¡¯s no helping it.¡± As he turned his back swiftly, the old man swallowed the yful words ¡®I was talking about going back alone.¡¯ ¡®If I say it, he¡¯ll really get angry, won¡¯t he?¡¯ While the old man was soothing his regret inwardly, the young man stepped off the lizard he had been standing on andmanded the knights. ¡°Let¡¯s head back. To the mansion.¡± Chapter 19 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 19 19. Mircelle (1) It was more jetg than fatigue frombor, having rested thoroughly. It didn¡¯t take long to regain my energy. Enough to sit leisurely at the garden table, enjoying the view and the fragrant, well-textured snacks. As much as I hate to admit it, thedy of the house has done a fine job with the garden. The well-arranged stone floor and thebination of flowers blended so well, I wondered if it would be a tourist attraction if it were brought to the present day? It would probably cause a stir on social media. ¡°Lately, there¡¯s been a lot of talk. Is everything alright?¡± As I put sugar in my cup, I could hear the maids¡¯ chatter from afar. I caught the eye of one of them. ¡°Well¡­ it seems there will be a meeting with the Schweik family, and if it goes well, then yes.¡± My ears perked up. It seemed to be a continuation of the story Jack had told me at the mine. There appeared to be a cold war situation with the Schweik family, and a meeting was being arranged to resolve it. Wanting to hear more, I waited for the maids to chatter further. Then our eyes met. ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°Ahem¡­ Let¡¯s go another way¡­¡± The maids, sweating profusely, turned their backs swiftly and disappeared with quick steps. In the past, they awkwardly approached me for assassination attempts, but after a person died in my quarters and I was exiled to the mines, their visits ceased once I returned unscathed. Instead of greetings, they would run away as if they had seen a ghost upon seeing me. Thanks to that, I¡¯ve be safe enough to enjoy tea leisurely in the garden¡­ but why does my heart feel sore? After all, who would approach me? It¡¯s only natural for them to be scared after I¡¯ve built up such an image of terror. But there was one. A girl, looking about ten years old. * * * The girl, with a bundle of papers tucked under her arm, limped towards me. It wasn¡¯t the first time I had seen her. It must have been around the time I returned to the mansion yesterday. During my time away at the mines, I heard that the twins who had gone to their maternal home had returned. A girl with soft beige hair and lime-green eyes. I could see the youngest daughter of this house waving from a distance. How did I receive that? I dismissed it as a greeting meant for the nearby servants. After all, she was the daughter of the mistress of the house, and I never thought she would bother greeting a ruffian like me. But now¡­ She¡¯s walking towards me. However, her gait seemed off. One leg didn¡¯t seem to be carrying strength properly, clearly dragging it along. Her name was Niasel. Barely reaching in front of me, Niasel pointed to the cookies on the te. Without even a slight movement of her lips, she expressed her desire solely through gestures. I responded with a smirk. ¡°Go ahead and eat.¡± Then Niasel took out a pen and began writing on the paper she brought. Scratch-scratch©¤ [Thank you.] I hesitated for a moment, not sure how to react, when Donatan¡¯s voice reached my ears. ¡®This young one can¡¯t speak, it seems. And a limp to boot¡­¡¯ ¡®Ah? Hmm. I see.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s fortunate she was born into such a family. Had she been born into amon household, she wouldn¡¯t have received human treatment. She must have been showered with affection, being so unblemished.¡¯ Well, about that¡­ Even if she was the daughter of a prestigious family, how could she have grown up receiving only affection despite her physical disability? In a highly advanced, civilized modern society, discrimination against those who are different still persists. Not to mention in a ce with medieval notions. Anyway, I don¡¯t quite understand why Niasel approached me so freely. I can hardly imagine Hersel getting along well with such a little one. Scratch-scratch©¤ But the question I harbored vanished quickly as Niasel wrote something new. [Big brother, teach me again that thing from thest ball. That thing.] ¡°Hmm?¡± [You know, when there¡¯s a handsome man, you said to drink a little and flirt. Was it like this?] Niasel rxed her hand, extending only her pinky finger slightly. Then she softly acted out a delicate woman intoxicated by alcohol. [Oh, my¡­ It seems alcohol doesn¡¯t suit me well. What was next?] ¡°Huh?¡± [Ah, that¡¯s right. I was told to rest my head on the chest of a handsome man. Ady should do so at a ball.] ¡­Suddenly, I felt like Hassel was trash. Hassel, who had been a part of this body, was no ordinary rake. Wasn¡¯t he said to have a natural talent for ruining people¡¯s lives? Half-blooded half-siblings, and even the daughter of a disliked mistress, she¡¯s still just a child. A pure and innocent girl who should only see and learn good things at her age. To think he was poisoning such a girl¡¯s pure heart like this¡­ He must have been ying the serpent¡¯s tongue, intent on ruining the child¡¯s life. Having grown up in a country with a low birth rate, I knew the value of a child and had to step in to rectify the situation. No, I absolutely must. That¡¯s what a proper adult should do!! ¡°It was all a joke, so don¡¯t do such things. Just forget everything I said.¡± Niasel¡¯s eyelids drooped as if bored. To her, Hassel¡¯s presence must have been like cheap yet strangely stimting junk food. ¡°If you¡¯re bored, why don¡¯t you ask your real brothers to y with you? There are plenty of snacks in the mansion.¡± After all, she is the mistress¡¯s child. As I showed my difort, her expression fell. Well, it¡¯s not the child¡¯s fault¡­ ¡°Never mind, just do as you wish. It¡¯s too much for me to eat alone anyway.¡± Color returned to Niasel¡¯s face. Crunch, crunch. There was no conversation as she ate the snacks. But she sure eats well. She might choke on it. I poured tea into the empty cup. Niasel seemed to want it too, hastily pressing the cup to her lips and gulping it down. Then, she thumped her head on the table. For a moment, I suspected poisoning, but the tea came from the same pot. That couldn¡¯t be it. ¡°¡­What are you doing?¡± [Pretending to be drunk after drinking.] Ah, she¡¯spletely contaminated. By the poison named Hassel. * * * As soon as Daysel sat on the living room sofa, he wiped his thighs with a handkerchief. The pants were spotless, but he felt as if they were tainted with filth. ¡°Darn it¡­¡± I was walking through the corridor to get here. It was then, limping along, that I encountered my half-penny sister. Dacell tried to pass by without giving her a nce, treating her as if she didn¡¯t exist. But then, Niacell stumbled and bumped her knee. I could have caught her, but I didn¡¯t out of displeasure. No, I actually put more force into my knee and knocked her down. Making sure it wasn¡¯t noticeable to the onlookers¡­ Dacell helped the struggling Niacell to her feet, whispering to release some of his anger. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better if you couldn¡¯t use your other leg as well? Then you wouldn¡¯t bump into things again.¡± After reminiscing, Dacell looked at the hand that had grabbed Niacell¡¯s arm. This time, he took out a new handkerchief and furiously wiped it, frowning. ¡®I cannot acknowledge it. Such a stain does not belong in our noble bloodline¡­¡¯ ¡°What, did something dirty rub off on you, Dacell?¡± Dacell turned his head at the voice from behind. A boy who looked strikingly like Niacell, save for his short hair, was ring at him from behind. It was Mircell, Niacell¡¯s fraternal twin brother. Dacell feigned a smile, attempting to greet Mircell. ¡°It¡¯s been a while. Have a seat©¤¡± ¡°Did you do that to Niacell on purpose?¡± However, his face, which had been feigningposure in the face of his much younger sibling¡¯s disrespect, contorted. Dacell retorted sharply. ¡°Haven¡¯t I made it clear that you should show respect to your elders?¡± ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure I made it clear too. If you keep tormenting Niacell, I won¡¯t let it slide.¡± Thud. Mircell stepped forward. At the same time, Dacell felt a tingling sensation as if needles were pricking his entire body. It was an intimidating aura, so fierce that it made his body tingle. He realized anew that this little brat, who should be ying with neighborhood kids, was a monster beyond imagination. It was a murderous intent so strong it was hard to speak, but Dacell managed to say. ¡°Stop it¡­ This is a reunion between brothers, after all. Mother would be sad to see us like this.¡± ¡°Oh? To think you care so much about mother. I¡¯m touched, Dacell.¡± At least their mother was there to prevent it from turning into a knife fight. She stood behind Mircell, smiling warmly at them both. ¡°Have you two settled your differences? Then, Mircell. Come here. I want to hug you, it¡¯s been so long.¡± ¡°Ah, Mom¡­ I¡¯m 10 years old now. I¡¯m in the double digits.¡± Mircell grumbled childishly for his age, and Dacell quietly clenched his teeth. I dare say, Mirsel¡¯s casual banter with Mother, even she wouldn¡¯t dare, fills me with loathing. Sometimes, I even resent Mother for indulging such a brat¡¯s whims to this day. Mirsel, born with a natural talent for swordsmanship that could surpass Father. Will my position remain secure when hees of age to take over as the n leader? This anxiety has been with me for a long time. Perhaps the position of n leader is meant for Mirsel after all. Such doubts, that I¡¯m merely a ceholder, seem evident in Mother¡¯s favoritism. Leaving behind the picture-perfect reunion between mother and son, Dacel took his leave. * * * Having finally escaped Mother¡¯s clutches, Mirsel cooled his anger while strolling through the corridors. From noble mtl dote Dacel, who has always been cold to him as if wanting to freeze him to death. His foolish second brother, Erucel, who follows Dacel. Despite the disdain, they are brothers, sharing the same blood. He could tolerate the contempt. But he couldn¡¯t bear the cruel treatment towards Niacel. And Mother, to some extent, felt the same. ¡°You must walk on your own two feet, Niacel. If you can¡¯t even do that, you¡¯ll always remain stuck in the same ce.¡± I understand the intent to raise him strong, but couldn¡¯t she pay a little more attention? Indeed, whenever faced with injustice, Niacel bravely stands up. But Mirsel knew all too well that it was all an act ofposure. ¡®Whining alone every night, it¡¯s quite noisy for me in the next room¡­¡¯ Yet, unlike himself, Niacel¡¯s heart is deep with consideration and respect for others. Such thoughts lead to wonder. During the time in the womb together, did his own nasty nature cause something wrong with Niacel? With this throbbing thought, Mirsel searched for Niacel. Outside the window, a blond head could be seen. It was Hersel. Every time he walked down the garden path, Niacel ufortably followed him. ¡°That, that¡¯s¡­ I told him not to get close to that guy¡­¡± Grinding his teeth, Mirsel narrowed his eyes. ¡®Yes, there was another. A serpent-like creature that only teaches vile things.¡¯ Just then, a butler passed by. Mirsel called out to him. ¡°Hey, you. Bring me two wooden swords.¡± ¡°Wooden sword, you say?¡± ¡°Yes, a sturdy one.¡± ¡°I shall bring it to you forthwith, young master!¡± The butler¡¯s eyes shone with pride as if it were an honor. As he hastened away, Mirsel voiced a question. ¡°But why is that thing still alive?¡± Wasn¡¯t there supposed to be a festival or something? Mirsel tilted his head, puzzled by the sudden recollection. ¡°Well, no matter. Shall I lend a hand to mother then?¡± Chapter 20 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 20 20. Mirsel (2) In RPG games, there are always significant NPCs who apany the yer through the main narrative, performing feats or, alternatively, giving them a series of troublesome tasks. Like Diarx¡¯s Tixel, Mabixgi¡¯s Nar, or Dunx¡¯s Kir. In Asares, there were a few NPCs who yed a simr role, one of them being Mirsel Tenest. Known as the Sword Saint, he was instrumental in making yers recognize the Tenest family. Of course, the part where Mirsel shined was in thetter half of the game when he was a young man, which was quite different from the game illustrations I knew. ¡°Brother. Your cute little sister is asking. y with me just this once, okay?¡± He never spoke with such an adorably cheeky tone. Anyway, I had thought that I would eventually meet him when I looked at the family tree, but I didn¡¯t expect such a request so suddenly, and it caught me off guard. ying sword fight with a little kid might not seem like a big deal, but that kid was a monster in disguise. [Mirsel ben Tenest] ¡ñ Blessing ¡ôSword Saint Evil Spirit Acluras¡¯s Legacy¡ô ¦Á There is only one thing I cannot cut. It means I can cut down everything else. Can learn all swordsmanship except for bloodline session traits. ¡ñ Traits ¡óGodly Physique¡ó ¡óDeadly Orbit¡ó ¡óSenses Beyond Comprehension¡ó Blessings are usually something one is born with, so undoubtedly, this little one possesses all these things I remember. What¡¯s the current situation like¡­ an average adult facing the world junior boxing champion? It would be a stroke of luck not to get pummeled like a punching bag the moment we sh. As Mirsel held out the wooden sword, lost in thought, he could hear Donatan¡¯sughter echoing in his mind. ¡°Muahahaha! Hershel! You¡¯re not scared of that little brat, are you?¡± ¡°To be so blind¡­ Your master must indeed be a sham Sword Saint.¡± ¡°How dare you! If I were to face that kid, I could cut him down in a second!¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t count on that¡­ but maybe you could buy us some time?¡± With my decision made, I grasped the wooden sword Mircel extended to me. ¡°Alright. Maybe it¡¯s time to y the big brother role after all?¡± Mircel wore a strange expression, seemingly not expecting me to ept so readily. Normally, I¡¯d run without looking back, but if winning isn¡¯t a condition, then Donatan might be quite useful. And if this monster¡¯s reputation is already buzzing around the mansion, it¡¯ll be a great help in building the image I want. Even if he¡¯s called a future Sword Saint, right now, he¡¯s just a kid. And it¡¯s just a wooden sword, what could go wrong? But Mircel¡¯s words to Niasel were oddly unsettling. ¡°Niasel, stay here.¡± [Why? Can¡¯t Ie along?] ¡°No. There might be a lot of blood.¡± ¡­Did I make a mistake? * * * And so, the two of us arrived at the training ground. It would have been better if there were more spectators, but only a few soldiers engrossed in training and some passing servants were present. Of course, as the unusual pair took to the field, all eyes were fully focused on us. Mircel and I faced off on the training ground. Mircel, standing at a distance, held his sword with both hands, readying his stance, while I pondered how to look more convincing before simply letting my hand holding the wooden sword hang loose. ¡°I¡¯ll let you make the first move.¡± I said it with ease, but inside, I was clenching my jaw. ¡®Are you ready, Donatan?¡¯ ¡®I give my all against any opponent, even if it¡¯s just a 10-year-old kid.¡¯ Yeah, right¡­ Is that something to be proud of? But please, just this once, let it be true. ¡°Here Ie, brother.¡± Thump! Mircel stomped on the ground forcefully, and in that instant, he vanished from my sight. By the time my eyes followed to where he disappeared, Mircel¡¯s wooden sword was already upon me. ck©¤©¤! The wooden swords collided right before my nose, making a dull sound. Even as Donatan fluidly executed the moves, a tingling sensation lingered in his wrists. But there was no time for relief. Mircel¡¯s downward strike was already hurtling towards my crown. Whoosh©¤©¤! Barely twisting my body, I dodged, and Mircel¡¯s wooden sword cut through the air with a terrifying whoosh. Mircel¡¯s onught continued relentlessly. Fortunately, Donatan narrowly evaded or deflected every attack, but to stand by, unable to do anything, was a horrifying experience. ¡®Argh! Fight properly, will you? What kind of sword saint are you? A fake sword saint!¡¯ ¡®Yikes! It must be because of your rotten carcass!¡¯ ¡®Up! Up!¡¯ Our silent cries echoed in my head. * * * Mircel was disoriented by the sense of alienation. ¡®What on earth is this person¡­?¡¯ Neither his arms nor hands were fast. There were openings due to the speed difference, yet at the same time, there weren¡¯t. It was because Hursel¡¯s sword was already there, waiting at every spot I aimed to strike. Snap©¤! It was almost as if he was anticipating it. It was unbelievable. I had heard he was aplete novice with no knowledge of swordsmanship. Gritting his teeth, Mircel swung his sword again. Thud©¤©¤! Was it because the swing was driven by emotion that it was unreadable? This time, Mircel¡¯s attack hit its mark on Hursel. ¡®That¡¯s enough!¡¯ Hursel managed to block with his wooden sword, but couldn¡¯t deflect it as before. A heavy blow that left a sensation of impact at the fingertips. Mircel inwardly smiled, gauging Hursel¡¯s reaction. But Hursel didn¡¯t flinch. His expression was so eerily impassive that it sent shivers down my spine. As I pondered whether to continue the attack, Hursel yawned widely. Snap! Taken aback by his opponent¡¯s entric behavior, Mircel instinctively leaped back. ¡°Yawn¡­ How dull.¡± But it was just a yawn. Hursel, holding the wooden sword in one hand, covered his mouth with the other, yawningzily. Crack©¤ It felt as though the veins in his forehead might burst. Mirsel was trying to calm his boiling emotions when Hersel¡¯s mouth opened again. ¡°There¡¯s no need to drag this out any longer.¡± Clunk¡ª The wooden sword tumbled to the ground. Then, pointing his finger at the bewildered Mirsel, Hersel said, ¡°Just one hit. I¡¯ll take the technique you¡¯re most confident in, head-on.¡± Hersel, standing still without any defensive stance, looked utterly vulnerable. Tall but gaunt and unimpressive in physique. It was clear that a powerful technique could kill him if he wasn¡¯t wearing any armor. ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter. No one would care if this guy died.¡¯ idents during duels aremon. Even if it wasn¡¯t a festival, it would end as a tragic ident between brothers. A different kind of murderous intent flickered in Mirsel¡¯s eyes. Retrieving the wooden sword to his waist, he lowered his stance and said, ¡°Don¡¯t regret this. Brother.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the weather just wonderful?¡± Hersel looked up at the sky, and Mirsel followed suit, tilting his head back. It was indeed a clear and sunny day, but what did that have to do with anything? ¡°It¡¯s too nice a day for two men to be sweating and ying with swords. There could have been more entertaining things to do.¡± Hersel took a deep breath, as if to savor the natural ambiance, and it seemed like he was counting something in his head. Finally, Hersel straightened his gaze and said, ¡°That¡¯s enough. Come at me now.¡± Mirsel was momentarily puzzled by Hersel¡¯s inexplicable behavior but then refocused. For Niasel. To lend a hand to his mother. No, those were just excuses. He realized that he couldn¡¯t win against an opponent he wasn¡¯t prepared to kill. Tap-tap¡ª Mirsel charged at Hersel. With each step, his speed elerated. In an instant, Mirsel¡¯s form became like a sh of lightning, shooting straight forward. In the blink of an eye, as Mirsel reached Hersel, static electricity sparked from his hand. The static traveled along the wooden sword, sharing sensations as if the weapon and arm were one. The most powerful technique Mirsel could unleash, ¡®Lightning Draw,¡¯ was thrust towards Hersel. Ping©¤©¤©¤! A horizontal sh aimed at the neck. A silver streak drawn in the air was about to reach Hersel¡¯s neck when. ¡°!¡± Mirsel saw it. Eyes unwavering, showing not a hint of disturbance or tremor. A chilling sensation caused a faint halt in my wrist. A strong warning signal spread throughout my body, enough to make even my hair stand on end. And as the wooden sword¡¯s surface touched Hersel¡¯s downy hair, Mircel was certain. I must drop the sword! Boom©¤©¤©¤! The wooden sword didn¡¯t just break; it exploded, scattering in all directions. Mircel gasped for air against the backflow of aura. ¡°Heave¡­ Heugh¡­¡± The aura that flowed through his arm was handled so urgently that it overloaded his veins. It was fortunate that it ended with just this; had he continued to hold the sword, his wrist would have broken along with the wooden sword. But the immediate problem was the clear intent to kill that had been revealed. Surely, he must have noticed that Mircel had swung the sword with a lethal stance. Hersel approached the sitting Mircel, who could only tightly shut his eyes. Tap! The sensation of his hair being gently pressed down. Slowly lifting his eyelids, he saw twinkling blue eyes within a shadowy figure. A gaze so haughty it was chilling. ¡°See. It¡¯s not that interesting, is it?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°If you want to y, I¡¯ll y with you anytime. But let¡¯s keep it age-appropriate.¡± Mircel, with his skin drenched, didn¡¯t even bother to wipe himself off as he nkly watched the disappearing figure. ¡®y? Everything I did¡­ looked like y to him?¡¯ He wanted to dismiss it as a fluke, but the throbbing pain in his wrist wouldn¡¯t allow it. His pride was deeply wounded, but soon Mircel epted the oue. Moreover, he could now understand why he was still alive and not dead. ¡®¡­There¡¯s no way the servants could have killed such a monster.¡¯ And as one question was resolved, another took its ce. ¡®But, why did Dacel scorn me as worthless trash¡­?¡¯ Were all the behaviors he had shown just a deception? What could be the reason for hiding such skill and acting like a mere ruffian? If the intentions were malicious, it could endanger not just Niacel, but everyone. Especially if he bes the head of the family¡­ Mircel swallowed hard. -If you want to y, I¡¯ll y with you anytime. But let¡¯s keep it age-appropriate. y with me? Feeling the gap between them, Mircel realized a different approach was needed. ¡®I need to find out what he¡¯s plotting in his head.¡¯ Mircel thought to feign innocence like a child and spy on him. Chapter 21 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 21 21. Mirecel (3) The next morning, on the garden path¡¯s ground. A sizable moth is being devoured by a swarm of ants. As I watch silently, I can¡¯t help but feel even more pitiable. The moth¡¯s wings, disguised with the fierce eyes of a predator, seemed to be a metaphor for myself. Yesterday, I was nothing but a moth, pretending to be strong, yet flustered by a mere child. But at least I¡¯m not dead, which is something. Had I failed, I would have ended up just like that. Resolving to live not short and thick, but long and thin, my mood improves considerably. ¡°What¡¯s with that pathetic look on your face, Hersel?¡± ¡°Quiet, chatan.¡± At my sharp retort, the defeated Donatan lets out a pained grunt. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± ¡°Donatan, all mouth and no action, must be tasting death right now. It¡¯s only natural to feel ashamed after boasting about easily winning against a child, only to be crushed miserably.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°It was a mistake. I was just talking to myself.¡± ¡°You¡­ you little! ¡­Hup!¡± Grinding his teeth, Donatan suddenly gasps for air. ¡°Hersel¡­ Be on guard, quickly! That damned kid is back again!¡± It seems he¡¯s developed a trauma from the defeat. Anyway, a shadow falls over the moth, now devoid of life, surrounded by ants. Click©¤ Has hee for revenge? Perhaps, he¡¯s noticed that I¡¯m not worth much attention¡­ Narrowing my eyes, I ask, ¡°What do you want?¡± But Mirecel¡¯s reaction is somewhat unexpected. His eyes gleam, and the corners of his mouth lift, unmistakably like that of a young child. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Big brother said he¡¯d y with me anytime. Have you forgotten already?¡± ¡­It seems like I might have said those words just to naturally escape. Considering he takes everything he hears at face value, perhaps even with monstrous talent, a child is still a child. So, what do I do with this? Should I really entertain him¡­? While conflicted, Mirsel blinked. ¡°Come to think of it, this is the first time I¡¯ve ever yed with a sibling.¡± It was just like them. They must have been irked by this guy, who shone with a talent as brilliant as a pearl. ¡°They must be mama¡¯s boys, wanting to y with their mom.¡± ¡°Mama¡¯s boy? What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°It means a fool who¡¯s grown up but not mentally mature, still looking for mother¡¯s milk.¡± ¡°Pfft. Anyway, I¡¯m looking forward to it. Rumor has it that the eldest brother is the only one who knows how to y properly.¡± Not someone who knows how to y properly, but someone who ys all the time, perhaps? Anyway, Mirsel seems to take it for granted that I will y with him. Well, I don¡¯t particrly mind, do I? I¡¯m curious to see what expression the mistress will have. But what shall we y? While digging through the warehouse of childhood memories, Niasel approached with heavy steps. Like yesterday, he had a bundle of papers tucked under his arm, but today was different; he also had a book with him. ¡°The fairy tale book you gave me. Read it to me. The maids won¡¯t read it even if I ask.¡± ¡°A book?¡± ¡°Yeah. The book you lent me before going to my grandparents¡¯ house.¡± Niasel handed me the book as if passing the buck. ¡°You can read it yourself.¡± ¡°There are too many difficult words; I can¡¯t read it.¡± A fairy tale book with difficult words? Curiosity piqued, I opened the book. From noble mtl dote ¡°This, this is¡­¡± I immediately closed the book. I had only read the first page, but the sentences were vivid in my mind. [Blushing] [As tempting as a peach] [Her waist bent like a bow.] Such sentences were tantly written from the first page. It was a book meant only for adults, with a prostitute as the protagonist. No wonder the maids wouldn¡¯t read it. To give such a thing to a child¡­ Hersel, you crazy b*stard. ¡°Bro, you¡¯re not going to read it?¡± ¡°Such things should be saved for when you grow up.¡± Swoosh©¤ As I tuck the book into my chest, the little ones be a nuisance. ¡°What¡¯s so special about it?¡± [What¡¯s so special?] It seems like I need to throw them some proper toys to quiet them down. But considering I¡¯ve only yed games since childhood, how would I know children¡¯s y? Ah, there was a time when I did y something other than games, something that involved moving around. A sad time when I joined a club called the ¡®Retro Gaming Club¡¯, hoping to y with 8-bit and 16-bit consoles, only to end up ying traditional games like spinning tops and kicking shuttlecocks after school. ¡°Why not teach them a fun game instead of such a boring book?¡± Indeed, no experience is ever useless. * * * I chose kite flying. It¡¯s been a while, and I wanted to try it again. As I had the servants gather materials to make a stingray-shaped kite, Mirsel looked at it skeptically. ¡°The ones used in the military don¡¯t look like this¡­¡± Kites existed here as well. They were used in Roman times for weather forecasting and identifying military positions. The only difference was that ours were in the Korean style. But then, the problem¡­ ¡°Hey, what¡¯s this! It won¡¯t fly!¡± [Big brother tricked us!] ¡°It¡¯s because there¡¯s no wind. The weather here is too calm.¡± With no other choice, we decided to move to a different spot. I crouched down and assumed a piggyback stance. ¡°Climb on.¡± It would be a long walk, and it would be hard on her sore legs. Niasel hesitantly climbed onto my back. As I lifted her, Mirsel looked at me with a strange expression. ¡°You walk on your own four feet.¡± ¡°¡­No, it¡¯s not that.¡± Since we were outside the mansion, I also took Jack and Rodel with us. The ce I¡¯ve arrived at is a bit of a painfulndmark for me. The sunset is exquisite, and with the cool breeze blowing and the houses in view, this is the cliff where that psychopath Selly tried to push me off to my death. ¡°Keep a close eye out. As you well know, it¡¯s quite a dangerous spot.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± ¡°Would there be any objections, young master!¡± I have no intention of going near the cliff, but the two kids are different. Perhaps thinking I was mocking them about a past incident, Jack and Rodel nodded with stiff faces. I released the kite into the wind¡¯s embrace. As the string unwound and it soared into the air, four mouths gaped open. ¡°Is it, is it really flying?¡± [Mine still hasn¡¯t taken off.] I alsounched Niasel¡¯s into the sky and handed over the string. Mirsel, stubborn as ever, kept throwing his kite off the cliff. Each time he reeled in the string, it felt like the genre of the game had changed. ¡°Is this some kind of fishing?¡± ¡°Be, be quiet.¡± He handles a sword so well, but is he hopeless at this? No, if he had good senses, that wouldn¡¯t be the case, right? He should easily feel the wind¡¯s flow. Watching Mirsel closely out of curiosity, I noticed his hands were trembling. It seems his wrist hasn¡¯t recovered from when he tried to strike at my neckst time. I wanted to help, but seeing his face, sweating and working so hard, I just ended up watching. ¡°Oops.¡± This time, the kite lifted slightly. Mirsel¡¯s lips quivered faintly. Having tasted the joy, he began to immerse himself even more. After a few more attempts at gauging the wind and adjusting, Mirsel¡¯s kite soared the highest among the three. Jack and Rodel watching also cheered. ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°It looks odd but flies well!¡± However, I couldn¡¯t calmly appreciate it. The others were too focused on their kites to notice, but Niasel had moved closer to the cliff. ¡°Oh no¡­¡± He must have moved while engrossed in kite flying. His uneasy legs kept wobbling, indicating a precarious situation. I approached slowly, worried something might go wrong. But just as I was about to reach him, Niasel fell. At the same time, my steps turned into a run. I grabbed Niasel¡¯s cor and pulled him back to solid ground. However, due to inertia, my body kept lurching forward. ¡°Huh, brother?¡± ¡°Young, young master¡­?¡± Finally noticing themotion, Mirsel and the guards turned their eyes wide open towards us. I red fiercely at Jack and Rodel. ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡± That was thest I saw of them, nodding with resigned faces. Ah, this sight of hair rising like seaweed. Falling off a cliff for the second time. * * * ¡°You guys, are you really going to be so smug in this situation?¡± Mirselle crouched down, incredulous at the trembling Jack and Rodel. But their response was even more ridiculous. ¡°Hershel, sir, will be fine¡­ He¡¯ll be back soon.¡± ¡°Fine?¡± He fell off a sheer cliff; how could he be unharmed? Mirselle wondered if the guards had lost their minds. They sounded like they were crouching down, ready to die like a mouse¡¯s daughter-inw. ¡°Last time, it was 3 hours, right?¡± ¡°Rodel, you better beg for forgiveness when the young master returns. He might even cut you some ck by 30 minutes.¡± Eventually, Mirselle decided to take action. ¡°Tch, you just watch Niaselle. I¡¯ll go check on him myself.¡± Mirselle ran up the steep slope, then hesitated. ¡®But why do I have to check if that guy is alive?¡¯ It was strange when you thought about it. Wouldn¡¯t it be fortunate if he were dead? Hershel was a snake that had cunningly infiltrated Niaselle¡¯s gaps. -Regardless of who bes the head, the treatment will be the same, right? -Even if Dayselle bes the young master, it would probably be the same. -After all, who would care? At best, we¡¯re just baggage, likely to be locked away in some basement. That¡¯s what nobles actually do. They can¡¯t kill their own flesh and blood, but it¡¯s embarrassing to show them off. A few months ago, Mirselle overheard such gossip by chance. She wanted to scold the maids, but Niaselle¡¯s intervention stopped her. However, it was different for a third party. -So noisy, chattering away. What¡¯s wrong with being mute? A woman only needs to know how to lie in bed, right? -Hershel, sir¡­ -Maybe the quiet would be preferable¡­ Hmm, vocal cords can be damaged postnatally, right? -I¡¯m sorry. It won¡¯t happen again¡­ It was clear to anyone that it wasn¡¯t protection but mere irritation. Yet, whether it was perceived as kindness, Niaselle began to subtly follow him around after that day. Despite continuous warnings to stay away, Niaselle wouldn¡¯t listen, and Mirselle had no choice but to warn Hershel directly. -Hmph, ignorant as a young one can be. -What? -Do you think there¡¯s a man who would take away a half-penny? Maybe, who knows. If she knew how to flirt even a little, some deficient guy might take her away. A burden like that, you sell it if you can. Surely, after hearing that verbal abuse, one would be convinced. This guy is irredeemable trash. But the actions of Hershel up close werepletely different from the harsh words he spat out. He dly made time to y with her, And willingly picked up Niashel, who everyone avoided touching because she was said to be cursed. It seemed he always treated Niashel well. Though I don¡¯t know which book, they say he even read her a fairy tale. Crucially, without a thought for his own safety, he threw himself off a cliff for Niashel. That made me think. The intimidation of the maids back then was because he was angry about his sister being insulted. The malicious talk that day was because he felt embarrassed about his true feelings being discovered. Maybe he¡¯s just someone who¡¯s extremely clumsy at expressing himself. Tap-tap©¤ Once again, her steps quickened. Mirshel was running, gaining speed. In the distance, she saw a carriage. It was a supply carriage heading to the mansion. Mirshel intended to pass by without a care. But then, a familiar voice from behind stopped her in her tracks. ¡°Wait, stop the carriage.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°My little brother hase to meet me.¡± Creak©¤ The carriage came to a halt. Hershel was sitting in the open back of the carriage. ¡°What are you doing? Not getting on.¡± ¡°Uh¡­?¡± Mirshel examined hisplexion. Though covered in dust, there wasn¡¯t a scratch on his skin. ¡°Are you going to walk?¡± Hershel tapped the seat next to him. Mirshel, somewhat dazed, sat down beside him. Indeed, up close, there were no injuries. ¡°Brother¡­ Are you hurt anywhere?¡± ¡°Well, nothing like that, but it¡¯s unpleasant. It¡¯s the second time, but I just can¡¯t get used to it.¡± ¡°Second time? Oh. Has this happened before?¡± Hershel nodded. Mirshel finally understood why Jack and Rodel had been saying such things. ¡®It¡¯s natural that I couldn¡¯t bend him¡­ He¡¯s too sturdy to be bent.¡¯ Cloppity-ck©¤ Cloppity-ck©¤ The carriage moves. For a while, only the sounds of hooves and rolling wheels fill the air. Yet, the atmosphere wasn¡¯t bleak. Sitting in the luggagepartment, I gazed vacantly at the scenery, savoring the sensation of my skin prickling in the cool breeze. ¡°The weather¡¯s quite nice.¡± At Hershel¡¯s remark, I looked up at the sky. It was sunset. The warmth of the amber glow seeped into my skin, making my chest feel warm. Mirsel blinked against the intense scarlet of the sunset. ¡°Brother, will you y with me again?¡± ¡°Not today. It¡¯ste.¡± ¡°How about tomorrow then? Oh, but let¡¯s skip kite flying since it¡¯s dangerous.¡± It was the kind of trivial conversation brothers might have. I had hoped for such exchanges to continue, but Hershel suddenly crossed his arms and furrowed his brow. Soon, Hershel spoke up. ¡°Let¡¯s y with tops instead.¡± A smile spread across Mirsel¡¯s face. * * * The faint tter of dishes echoed. In the silent ambiance of the dining table, the hostess scanned her children and spoke up. ¡°Is it because it¡¯s been a month and a half, or is it just awkwardness between you two? It¡¯s too quiet.¡± Daysel paused with his fork and cleared his throat. ¡°I¡¯ve been lost in thought, hence the silence.¡± ¡°Thoughts?¡± ¡°You must be aware, Mother.¡± Daysel shot a sharp nce at Mirsel. Mirsel quickly chewed and swallowed the meat in his mouth. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± ¡°Why have you been tailing that guy all day?¡± ¡°Just curious why he¡¯s still alive, that¡¯s all. Wanted to do a bit of snooping.¡± ¡°Snooping?¡± Mirsel tapped his throat with the side of his hand. ¡°But now I get it. I tried to break his neck with all my might, but it was the wooden sword that broke. If I had kept holding on, my wrist would¡¯ve flown off.¡± Daysel¡¯s eyelids twitched. Erusel, emitting a flustered air, asked in return. ¡°The sword broke? Did you use aura? Did you use it?¡± ¡°I said I used all my power, don¡¯t make people¡¯s mouths hurt.¡± Daisel was at a loss for words. It was unbelievable. That damned little brat was only ten years old, yet he possessed the martial prowess to contend with the knights of the empire. Even he, who had manifested a golden aura, couldn¡¯t be certain of matching such a skilled person. And to think that Mircel had been defeated? Suddenly, looking at the caviar on the te, he briefly recalled the moment Hersel had produced a ck hue from the bead. ¡°¡­No, that can¡¯t be. The kid immediately showed a brown color.¡± A prodigy in swordsmanship, but still just a child. It¡¯s the age of tall tales. Surely, he must have swung incorrectly and shattered something by mistake, iming it as such. With that thought, Daisel forced away his unease. Mircel put thest piece of meat into his mouth and showed the te to his mother. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve finished everything cleanly, can I go now?¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯ve eaten very neatly.¡± ¡°Niasel, you¡¯re done too? Let¡¯s go together.¡± Niasel nodded as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. As Mircel was about to pass by, the hostess caught him with a somewhat chilly voice. ¡°But Mircel, did you say you followed because of your curiosity?¡± A slightly stinging tone. Mircel nodded nonchntly. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°So¡­ I told you, I was curious why big brother didn¡¯t die.¡± ¡°Big brother?¡± Since he usually referred to him as ¡®that thing¡¯, Mircel covered his mouth with his palm, realizing his slip. ¡°¡­¡­¡± The hostess erased her expression. Mircel too, gradually lost his flustered look and met her gaze with equally cold eyes. The atmosphere turned icy. Niasel and Erusel broke out in cold sweat, while Daisel watched the situation with keen interest. ¡°What this mother wants to know isn¡¯t that. I want to hear what you think of him, having seen him up close.¡± ¡°Well, I still can¡¯t quite grasp it?¡± Mircel replied brusquely, and the hostess raised her hand. In the breathless silence, the children¡¯s attention focused on where her hand was directed. It was towards Mircel¡¯s face. Pop She gently stroked Mircel¡¯s soft cheek and smiled warmly. Mircel too, brightened his eyes, returning to the expression of an innocent child. ¡°Alright, go on in. You need to sleep early to grow tall.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Mircel took Niasel and disappeared. The tension deted in an instant. The hostess, with a displeased look, surveyed her two sons and said, ¡°You might not like that I let him go without pressing further. I do have my favorites, it¡¯s true. But know that my worry is greater.¡± With a voice tinged with emotion, Dacel expressed his intention. ¡°If you show resistance, I will not stand idly by.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got it wrong, Dacel.¡± After scolding him, the hostess cast a profound gaze towards her two sons. ¡°The worries I spoke of were not about Mircel.¡± Dacel silently swallowed his saliva. ¡°Mircel is not someone to be pushed away with hostility, but a child to be embraced. Remember that, Dacel.¡± The hostess continued her meal as if she had no more to say. Maintain a harmonious rtionship rather than an adversarial one. It was only natural, considering Mircel¡¯s talent, as per the mother¡¯s wishes. ¡®The more he grows, the more my position is at risk.¡¯ Dacel had no intention of leaving the rival threatening his position unattended. * * * Piles of letters stacked on the desk. The hostess picked up thest unopened letter. The wax seal on the envelope bore an eagle emblem. She wanted to check the contents immediately, but the words chosen by Mircel echoed in her ears, dying the opening. ¡®Big brother¡­ such a difficult child to control, how did he manage to influence him?¡¯ It was indeed a troublesome matter. In time, Dacel would inevitably have to embrace Mircel. He didn¡¯t actively seek to improve their rtionship, even though the situation would eventually make it so. ¡®This is not good¡­¡¯ There was nothing more troublesome than a person who could attract others. Nevertheless, putting that aside forter, the hostess opened the letter. It was from the Schweik family, with whom they had recently had friction over territorial issues. The letter contained various formalities, along with the location and time for a meeting. It was a unteral notification with no mutual consultation, so the hostess scoffed. ¡°Elma.¡± At the ring of the bell, the steward approached with tense steps and bowed his head. He certainly noticed the hostess¡¯s foul mood. ¡°¡­Did you call for me?¡± ¡°Tomorrow, we go out. Prepare for it.¡± The foremost priority was to protect the family¡¯s welfare. The Hursel matter had to be set aside. That was the adult¡¯s responsibility. * * * I wonder why the chirping of the birds feels so weing. Perhaps it¡¯s because it¡¯s usually not so audible. No doubt, they sensed the peace and came as soon as the wicked, mischievous thief cat left the spot. I clutched the spinning top I was carving. Selly stood beside me, holding a toolbox. ¡°Number 2 hammer.¡± ¡°¡­What is this?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you see? It¡¯s for making tops.¡± ¡°But why¡­ are you only embedding a metal core in the master¡¯s?¡± From noble mtl dote Selly looked at me disapprovingly. I ignored her and hammered into the center of the top. ¡°Sometimes, even a child must taste the bitterness of life.¡± It had been a while since I made one, and time had passed. The listless light piercing through the window signaled that evening was approaching. I nced outside the window and my eyes lit up. A carriage was parked at the main gate. Observing it closely with the telescope on the desk, I could make out the scales symbol of the Orve family. Has it finally arrived? But why did Daysel go out to meet it? ¡°Did that guy also apply for membership to Edel Kraiss?¡± ¡°Daysel? Of course. I believe he applied a year ago, why do you ask?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± As the carriage door opened and a man stepped out, Daysel¡¯s face split into a pleased grin. Naturally, a smile bloomed on my lips as well. ¡°That guy, he¡¯ll soon feel the sting.¡± Chapter 22 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 22 22. Membership ¡°A guest from the Orve family is expected to visit.¡± At the butler¡¯s report, a spark of excitement lit up in Daysel¡¯s eyes. The meaning of a message from Orve was clear¡ªit could only be one thing. Daysel concealed his blooming joy inside and calmly took a sip of tea. ¡®I thought it would take a long time because of the queue, but it¡¯s faster than I expected¡­¡¯ Being a leading candidate for the next head of the family and having built a respectable career, he was more than qualified. However, the review process was prolonged due to the number of unworthy applicants. And yet, to think that the noble of nobles, ¡®Edel Kraiss,¡¯ would issue a membership in just one year. It was only natural for his butler to be excited. ¡°The time is 6 PM.¡± ¡°6 PM¡­¡± ¡°It must have been urgent to send someone so quickly. It seems they hold Daysel in special regard.¡± Daysel left the butler¡¯s ttery behind and checked the clock. There wasn¡¯t much time left. * * * The air was quite chilly. It was the time when the sunset was fading. Upon hearing the news of the carriage¡¯s arrival, Daysel hastened his steps to the main gate. The door of the carriage opened, and a neatly dressed middle-aged man stepped onto the ground. Thud©¤ A badge with a scale motif, forged from metal, hung on his chest. He offered a greeting along with a brief introduction. ¡°Good evening? I am Alkai from Orve.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Daysel Ben Tenest. A pleasure to meet you, Sir Alkai.¡± The man looked around the estate grounds and expressed his admiration. ¡°Ho-ho¡­ As I¡¯ve heard, it is indeed a beautiful mansion.¡± ¡°Thank you for thepliment. However¡­¡± Daysel showed a hint of regret with a bitter smile. ¡°If you had informed us a bit earlier, we could have prepared properly. I apologize for such a modest reception.¡± ¡°Ha-ha, your words alone are appreciated. Nevertheless, there¡¯s no need for Daysel to worry. Actually, we need to deliver the membership and leave posthaste.¡± The man smiled kindly. Then he took out an elegant box and looked around. Soon, his eyebrows slightly furrowed with confusion. ¡°Hmm¡­ But where is Mr. Hersel?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Taken aback by the unexpected name, Daysel blinked. The man bowed his head apologetically and said, ¡°Actually, he needs to receive it personally. It¡¯s truly appreciated that you came out, Daysel, but proxy collection is against the rules¡­¡± ¡®What does that mean¡­¡¯ Just then, the man¡¯s eyes sparkled as he gazed into the distance. The sound of footsteps followed. Daysel joined in looking where the man was staring. Click-ck©¤ The arrogantly tilted chin and the disdainful blue eyes. Watching the dignified stride, Daysel felt as if all warmth was draining from his body. Thump©¤ Hersel put a hand on his shoulder with a crescent-moon-like smile. ¡°Thanks foring out to meet me, Daysel.¡± After tapping his shoulder twice, Hersel¡¯s hand left. A shiver ran down Daysel¡¯s skin. ¡®Could it be¡­¡¯ His suspicion was correct. As Hersel approached, the man bowed deeply in greeting. ¡°Good day, Mr. Hersel. Congrattions on bing a member of the illustrious Edel Kr?iss.¡± ¡°Pleased to meet you. But isn¡¯t thister than expected?¡± ¡°What? Oh, no¡­ This was actually issued quite exceptionally fast¡­¡± The man holding the box was visibly trembling. Hersel looked at him and snorted with leisure. ¡°Hmph, all that talk about time being money?¡± ¡°Ye-yes, of course, it¡¯s money. But this¡­ there was a lot of talk about it internally¡­¡± ¡°Why? Did my name cause a stir or something?¡± ¡°Cough, um. Hardly. That would be¡­¡± ¡°Enough teasing. Is that mine?¡± Hersel snatched the box. A faint red glow leaked from the seams of the box. Click©¤ A single card, crafted from metal. Daycel¡¯s eyes gradually widened. It was unmistakably the ¡®Edel Kr?iss¡¯ membership card he had only seen with his father and mother. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s even more radiant in person. You¡¯ve done well, off you go.¡± As if he had finished his business, Hersel waved his hand dismissively. The man, still in a daze, offered his thanks and climbed into the carriage. Hersel passed by Daycel without giving him a nce. But Daycel grabbed Hersel¡¯s shoulder. ¡°What trick did you pull¡­ How could someone like you get into Edel Kr?iss!?¡± As if he couldn¡¯tprehend it, Daycel furrowed his brow, and Hersel smirked. ¡°Who knows? Think about it on your own.¡± Watching his retreating back, Daycel ground his teeth audibly. He felt an indescribable sense of humiliation at the fact that a being he once considered no more than a bug had surpassed him. ¡°There you are! Brother! Over here!¡± And then another infuriating figure appeared. Another loathsome target, Mirsel ran towards Hersel and looked this way. ¡°Brother, that guy is ring as if he wants to kill you.¡± ¡°Mirsel, in times like these, it¡¯s best to ignore.¡± ¡°Why? What happened?¡± ¡°He¡¯s too pitiful to even speak of.¡± Daycel watched the two, who were grating on his nerves, and bottled up something deep inside. A deadly intent that felt like it would leak out the moment he let his guard down. Thwack©¤©¤! As a top spun out of the mortar, Mirsel grumbled in frustration. ¡°It¡¯s strange, why is it only yours that doesn¡¯t get pushed out?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a trick to it, a trick.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we swap and try this time?¡± ¡°Who was it that said we shouldpete with our own creations?¡± Mirsel, seemingly convinced of his hopeless situation, let out a deep sigh as if wishing the ground would swallow him up. Feeling it might be time to let him in on the secret, I handed over my top. ¡°Try holding it.¡± With a dumbfounded expression, Mirsel held his self-made top in his empty hand,paring its weight I wish I could take even one of them lightly¡­ A test of courage? My mood suddenly sank. It was because something came to mind. ¡°Surely¡­ you¡¯re not talking about that ce?¡± ¡°Yes, where the monsters caught by dad are kept.¡± Mirsell smirked annoyingly. It seems this little one harbored a grudge for being toyed with a spinning top. This must be revenge, no doubt. ¡°It¡¯s better to be nervous, you know? There¡¯s still something alive and moving in there.¡± ¡°¡­I refuse.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be like that, let¡¯s go, okay?¡± [Let¡¯s go together.] Without a second nce, I walked on as Mirsell and Niasell grabbed my cor. How could such little kids be so strong? I couldn¡¯t shake them off even if I wanted to. Stop it. You¡¯ll stretch out the clothes¡­ ¡°Ha¡­¡± Suddenly, I remembered my uncle and let out a sigh. Come to think of it, I¡­ As a child, I used to follow my uncle around during the holidays, annoying him. I would press the power button on theputer and run away. I would execute the figures he treasured by cing their heads on the desk. I even proudly disyed the CDs hidden under the bed, calling them my uncle¡¯s treasure in front of the whole family. ¡­Damn it. I really was a terrible child. Maybe I¡¯m receiving punishment now for treating my uncle like a toy back then. ¡°Lead the way.¡± A life full of sins. Today, I will atone for the sins of that day. * * * The londs emit a foul smell. The moistureden bricks exude the feeling of a basement. As I descended the stairs, the heat from themps hanging on the wall brushed against my cheeks. The trembling of Niasell on my back conveyed the eerie atmosphere. Groooan©¤©¤©¤ Even the wails of the grotesque creatures added to the atmosphere, making it feel as if we were entering the maw of a dungeon. Amidst this, Mirsel wasughing, seemingly enjoying the situation. ¡°How is it? The ambiance is chilling, right? Niasel, it¡¯s time for you toe down from your brother.¡± Niasel shook his head with all his might. Yet, I put the terrified little one down on the ground. Niasel red at me with resentful eyes. ¡­Understand. If he peed, my back would get wet. Niasel reached out his hand. There was no paper, but the words [Then at least your hand] seemed to hover in the air. ¡°Do as you like.¡± Our hands sped. Niasel¡¯s expression softened a bit. But, what¡¯s this? Mirsel¡¯s nce over his shoulder was oddly disconcerting. ¡°Why? Do you want me to hold your hand too?¡± ¡°¡­No, what am I, a child?¡± Mirsel turned away petntly. I followed his lead down the corridor. nk©¤©¤ Niasel¡¯s strength went into his hand. It was because of a sudden metallic sound from ahead. ¡°Gasp¡­ Lord Hersel, what brings you here?¡± It was Jack and Rodel. The sound we heard earlier seemed toe from their armor. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Well, we¡­ It¡¯s our turn for guard duty today, so we were standing watch here.¡± Just like thest time they were gatekeepers, and since Aol took many knights to the border, it seems they were struggling with a shortage of manpower. Mirsel pointed at the entrance door of the exhibition hall. ¡°Open that for us, will you?¡± Jack and Rodel scratched their heads, looking troubled. ¡°No¡­ well, you see. Young Master Mirsel, that¡¯s a bit difficult.¡± ¡°If thedy of the house finds out, she¡¯ll scold us severely¡­¡± Mirsel pouted and asked. ¡°Why not? You let us in easilyst time, why not now?¡± ¡°That was because the Duke was with us. You know how dangerous it is beyond that door¡­¡± Jack spoke as if to soothe. For some reason, I was beginning to like these two men. It would be good for me if we just turned back now. In this ce, a troublesome demon rted to the scenario is sealed away. Of course, there¡¯s no chance the seal would break just yet, but there¡¯s nothing to gain from stirring things up, right? ¡­It¡¯s also quite frightening. But then, Mircel looks at me with eyes full of expectation. ¡°What¡¯s there to fear when your big bro is here with you?¡± Damn it¡­ I fervently pray that Jack and Rodel adhere to the rules as I open my eyes sharply. However, these clueless fools just purse their lips and nod. ¡°Oh, if that¡¯s the case, there¡¯s nothing to worry about if you¡¯re apanied by Lord Hursel.¡± ¡°As long as you keep it a secret from thedy of the house¡­¡± Click¡ª Thinking they¡¯ve done well, they chatter away as they unlock the door with a key. Mircel takes the lead, holding amp. Holding Niasel¡¯s hand, I re at Jack and Rodel as we step into the exhibition hall. ¡°Rodel¡­ did we make some kind of mistake?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m not sure¡­¡± Those useless fools. * * * After Orve¡¯s carriage left, the mansion was thrown into amotion. ¡°Are you serious¡­ It wasn¡¯t Daycel but that rascal?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what I¡¯m saying. The gentleman from Orve was very polite, you know?¡± ¡°I saw him hand over the card clearly!¡± The servants couldn¡¯t hide their astonishment that Hursel had obtained membership to ¡®Edel Cryse¡¯. It was only natural for such a sensational rumor to spread like wildfire. ¡°Ahem, but what do you mean by rascal? You should say Lord Hursel. Ahem.¡± ¡°This guy? Already lining up, are you?¡± ¡°Oh my, what if thedy of the house hears about this?¡± In the midst of their chatter, the butler quickly turned his head. The other groups whispering about Hursel did the same. ¡°¡­Quiet down. The steward is passing by.¡± With the atmosphere of the mansion as it was, the steward let out a heavy sigh. ¡®Thedy of the house will be here soon, how should I exin this¡­¡¯ There was an important meetinging up. To reveal such a fact before a crucial moment was a dilemma. It couldn¡¯t be hidden either. While fretting internally, a carriage arrived at the front gate. The steward bowed his head and weed the returningdy of the house. ¡°How was your outing? Any good news?¡± ¡°It went well. But I¡¯m tired, it¡¯s been a while. Meeting people is quite the task.¡± Thedy of the house strolled through the garden path. The steward followed her. The chattering servants bowed respectfully, as if reminded anew of who truly ruled the estate. ¡°Elma, will you tell the children toe to the next meeting?¡± ¡°The young masters, you mean?¡± ¡°Yes, I thought they might learn something. Opportunities like this are rare.¡± The steward flinched. ¡°You don¡¯t mean¡­¡± ¡°Exactly, the head of the family wille in person.¡± ¡°?!¡± The steward struggled to calm his surprise. It was natural for a servant to worry upon hearing that Heinrich, the head of a rival family, woulde as the representative. They reached the front of the main house. Gossip from the maids leaked through the still-closed doors. ¡°Hershel, that man is really going to Edel Kreis?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. A carriage from Orve arrived just earlier¡­¡± Eventually, the maids¡¯ chatter reached thedy¡¯s ears. She asked gently, ¡°Elma. Can you tell me more about what those children are discussing?¡± ¡°Well, that is¡­¡± The steward exined the situation as carefully as possible. ¡°Really? That¡¯s interesting news. It¡¯s not a ce just anyone can enter.¡± ¡°Could it be with the money siphoned from the mines you mentioned before¡­¡± Thedy had long known that Hershel had been smuggling goods from the mines and that he had been conducting suspicious transactions with Orve¡¯s daughter. ¡°Well. I doubt Orve would be swayed by that amount of money¡­ It seems our eldest son has some talents I haven¡¯t noticed. It wouldn¡¯t be bad to take a look.¡± ¡°A look?¡± With a deep interest in her eyes, thedy smiled faintly. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of having him attend the meeting. Not just as an observer, but as a representative.¡± Chapter 23 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 23 23. The Meeting (1) Click-ck, click-ck©¤ As soon as we entered the trophy room of Aol, we were greeted by the split face of a monster. Heads of various monsters were mounted and disyed on wooden ques. It was a stark reminder of the peculiar hobbies of the wealthy. ¡°Brother, let¡¯s go to the end of that corridor. I¡¯ve never been that far myself.¡± Mirsel spoke with an excited voice, while Niasel¡¯s face was stricken with fear. Following the leading Mirsel, we walked down the corridor. The deeper we went, the more the stuffed monsters seemed to re or flick their tongues. Click, click, click! ¡°Ah, you startled me! What is this thing supposed to be?¡± Mirsel stumbled backward as a giant snake skull in front of us clicked its teeth. ¡°Is that a Grommar? Judging by the bones, it must have been burned to death.¡± ¡°Oh, you know quite a lot, don¡¯t you?¡± From noble mtl dote I muttered to myself, recognizing the monster from the setting book, and Mirsel looked at me with admiration. Meanwhile, Niasel¡¯s trembling intensified, clinging to me like glue. I used this as an excuse to ask Mirsel. ¡°Should we head back?¡± Realizing my concern, Mirsel chided Niasel. ¡°What¡¯s there to be scared of? It¡¯s almost over, just a little further!¡± Niasel shook his head, indicating he couldn¡¯t go any further. ¡°Hmph! Then wait here. Brother, let¡¯s go on without him.¡± Despite his confident tone, Mirsel¡¯s steps were cautious. Eager to finish quickly, I also took a step forward. Then, my coat was tugged. Tug©¤ ¡°¡­¡­¡± Seeing his trembling, tearful face made my heart soften. After all, it seemed cruel to leave the kid here alone¡­ ¡°¡­Then hop on.¡± Hoping that the misfortune I feared wouldn¡¯t ur, I carried Niasel on my back. As we passed between the necks of the monsters, suddenly, three gleaming eyes shed from the dark end of the corridor. ¡°?!¡± Every hair on my body stood on end. A chilling sensation seemed to seep into my very guts¡­ Mirsel stopped in his tracks, his shoulders trembling slightly. The sound of him swallowing his saliva was audible, a clear sign of extreme caution. Yet, it seemed impossible to suppress human¡¯s primal curiosity. Clutching themp handle tightly, Mirsel cautiously approached. Then, a bizarre scream that seemed to blend the cries of various animals echoed through the basement. Keeeeeaaahhh©¤©¤©¤! ck feathers, three eyes, and fangs revealed every time it opened its beak. Despite only its neck remaining, it was surrounded by chains and locks ¨C it was undoubtedly the ¡®ck Swan of Resentment.¡¯ The creature shrieked, struggling as if trying to break free from the decorative wooden panel. Keeaaak©¤ aaah©¤©¤ Crash! Mirsel swiftly hid behind me like a wild animal. I had sensed his tension mounting for a while now. Perhaps his keen senses had alerted him before I noticed. ¡°Brother¡­ can you really not feel this¡­?¡± No, it wasn¡¯t that I couldn¡¯t feel it. The ¡®noble embers of blood¡¯ prevented me from showing fear outwardly. Inside, my mind was screaming to flee. I knew all too well the disaster that would ensue if those chains were ever released. The ck Swan of Grudge A demonic beast sealed long ago within the Tenest family, destined to be unleashed by the covert machinations of secret societies wishing for world destruction. It¡¯s a boss monster that appears in the scenario where the yable character, having arrived at a mansion turned into a portrait of hell, must join forces with Aol to reseal it. The difficulty level of the subjugation is extreme. Copsed buildings and raging mes. Puddles of blood that seemed to overflow and the numerous corpses strewn upon them. And I¡¯ve seen countless yable characters torn to shreds in the jaws of the monstrous bird. ¡°Do you know, brother? They say this monster has killed thousands.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a lot. Wasn¡¯t it subdued in the demon realm?¡± I had only seen it in the scenario where the seal was broken, not knowing the circumstances of its sealing. ¡°Yeah. It wreaked havoc in Melbra Vige, and I heard it was dealt with by the Schweik family.¡± Determination not to lose shone in Mirsel¡¯s eyes, beading with cold sweat. ¡°¡­It was a fierce battle thatsted two nights. Many of the subjugation team died or were crippled, and even a high-ranking Schweik was gravely injured. In the end, my father decapitated it, and now it hangs here.¡± Kieeeeeeeeh! As if recalling that moment, the monster let out a more ferocious cry, and Mirsel, startled, hid even more tightly behind me. ¡°¡­Let¡¯s go back.¡± Mirsel didn¡¯t insist any longer. Instead, he grabbed my hand with a face pale with fear. Having such a monster beneath the mansion I stayed in was disconcerting, but the secret societies would only break the seal with a counterfeit key instead of the real one Aol possessed, an event that urs mid-scenario. Until then, I was determined to escape this cursed mansion, and with heavy steps, I moved on. Kieeeeeeeeh! Though I was moving away, the monster¡¯s cries seemed to grow clearer and clearer. * * * I calmed my startled heart and was on my way back from sending off the twins. When I arrived in front of my building, I saw someone sitting at the garden table. Ady wearing a wide-brimmed hat pulled down low and several attendants serving her. It was thedy of the house. ¡°Where are you going, Hersel, aftering all this way?¡± I naturally turned to leave, but the hostess caught me. I sighed inwardly and walked towards the table. It¡¯s broad daylight in the middle of the garden; I can¡¯t do anything rash. Running away won¡¯t solve anything. ¡°What brings you here?¡± ¡°I have something to discuss, so please sit down.¡± At the hostess¡¯s gesture, a servant pulled out the chair opposite me. ¡°I have nothing to discuss on my end.¡± ¡°Just sit. It¡¯s not bad news.¡± There was a strange persuasiveness in the hostess¡¯s smiling eyes. She¡¯s a woman who¡¯s honest enough to threaten me to my face, so I don¡¯t think she¡¯s hiding any ulterior motives. As I sat down, the servant poured tea. The hostess gestured for me to drink as I stared at the tea. I took a sip of the tea. And the system window that popped up was¡­ nonexistent. I didn¡¯t expect such a shallow trick at this point. ¡°How is it? I prepared it especially for you.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s fine.¡± My guard slightly lowered, I spoke amiably, and the hostess smiled. ¡°You¡¯ve changed a lot, Hersel. You used to react to chamomile.¡± My hand twitched holding the teacup. It was a moment of realization that sitting here was no different from being in a tiger¡¯s den. The hostess leisurely sipped her tea and continued. ¡°People say individuals don¡¯t change, but I don¡¯t believe that. Especially men, they say, can change so much in just three days that it¡¯s remarkable. Compared to that, acquiring a taste for tomatoes you couldn¡¯t eat before, or a change in tea preference, is just a minor change.¡± It seems the hostess believes that a series of events have caused some change in me. Of course, she wouldn¡¯t be able to grasp the essence of what that change is. ¡°It¡¯s not that it¡¯s minor; I¡¯m just not interested in such changes. My position as the first in line for session remains unchanged.¡± Despite my pointed words, the hostess just grinned and changed the subject. ¡°Have you heard the news? The talks with the Schweik family.¡± ¡°If you intended to keep it quiet, you should have told your servants to be more discreet.¡± ¡°Haha. That¡¯s not what I meant. Anyway, a public meeting over territorial disputes is scheduled in two days. The location is Arzel.¡± Arzel is halfway between Tenest and Schweik. ¡°The empire will only provide the venue for the meeting; the discussion and results will be coordinated between the two families. But the problem is that it¡¯s a public meeting.¡± Chirp chirp. The servant refilled the empty cup, and the hostess watched the falling yellow tea and continued. ¡°At the public meeting, families with vested interests or subordinate families are allowed to attend. Of course, they have no voting or speaking rights, but surely the Schweik family will bring all their subordinate families with them.¡± ¡°Since we can¡¯t stop the loose talk, they¡¯ll likely engage in a public opinion campaign,¡± he surmised. ¡°Yes. It would be ideal to rally the vassal families to our side, but with the Grand Duke absent, we can¡¯t mobilize them. That¡¯s why this mother is finding herself a bit overwhelmed,¡± she admitted. ¡°Your preamble is lengthy. Get to the point, will you?¡± ¡°Attend the conference, Hershel. As a representative of the Tenest family.¡± Was this an offer to borrow my influence, or to size me up? Either way, it was an unwee proposal, so I narrowed my eyes in response. ¡°You must have said it would be good for me too, right?¡± ¡°Oh my, what could be better than an opportunity to dedicate oneself and serve the family?¡± tter! I rose from my chair with feigned irritation, intending to leave at once, but the hostess¡¯s words stopped me. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll grant one of Hershel¡¯s requests, within what I can offer.¡± Within what she could offer. Surely she wasn¡¯t suggesting I drown myself in that tea or beg to be spared as a good son. As I pondered what I could extract from this cunning woman, an idea finally came to mind. ¡°I have something I¡¯d like to ask rather than request.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go with that. What is it?¡± ¡°How long until Aoal, no, my father returns?¡± Checking when this farce would end was what I needed most right now. Knowing when this extreme situation would conclude could significantly impact survival. The hostess seemed to ponder for a moment before speaking. ¡°Not too long ago, a courier arrived. They reported that the target demon had been subdued. There was also a date listed for their expected return to the mansion.¡± ¡°Just an expected date, though,¡± she added, pulling a letter sealed with the Tenest crest from her bosom and cing it on the table. As I reached out for it, she pulled it back towards herself. ¡°I¡¯ll hand over this letter once you arrive in Arzel. How about that?¡± ¡­As expected, she wasn¡¯t going to be easy. * * * The next day. At the public conference hall in Arzel. The stage was divided into conference seats for both factions, and above them were spectator seats that could amodate around two hundred people. Soon, the doors to the conference hall opened, and the observers began to enter. The spectator seats were, as the name suggests, for observation, so unlike the conference seats, they weren¡¯t divided by faction. However, the visiting observers naturally gravitated towards seats closer to their affiliated side. As the opening approached, the seats on the Schweit side were packed with close to a hundred dignitaries and heads of vassal families, yet, the seats on the Tenest side appeared almost empty, upied only by a few nobles concerned with territorial rights or in search of gossip. ¡°Without the Archduke, there¡¯s not much to see on that side.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve never had the numbers to begin with.¡± ¡°The prestige of Tenest has hit rock bottom.¡± Such murmurs were only to be expected. As time passed, the scribe took his ce, and the empire¡¯s mediator stood in the center, looking up at the observers. The atmosphere turned solemn, and the conference seats began to fill. The first to appear was a middle-aged man with neatly groomed beard and sharp eyes, Heinrich von Schweit. He sat down at the table with his ministers. The observers swallowed hard, waiting for the Tenest family representatives to follow. When the hostess, Ahilea, made her appearance from the opposite side, the observers couldn¡¯t help but snicker. Not only had a womane forth, but she was apanied by two young men and a little tyke. ¡°Huh! Does Tenest have no one else?¡± ¡°Chuckle. What¡¯s with that kid? Do they think this conference is a joke?¡± ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that the mad dog of Tenest¡­¡± Bang! Bang! As theughter grew louder, the mediator, with an embarrassed expression, banged the gavel. Even as the signal for silence spread, the snickers hardly subsided, until Heinrich scanned the crowd. Quiet came swiftly. ¡°Ahem. My apologies for the rudeness.¡± His voice, thick as mud, echoed through the hall. ¡°We didn¡¯t request a public conference to mock you.¡± Heinrich¡¯s gaze swept over the faces of the Tenest representatives. ¡°But you must understand. One looks decent enough, but did you bring that little brat here to nurse? And that scoundrel, what¡¯s he for? nning to cause a scene?¡± asional giggles erupted from the crowd. Yet, the hostess, without a change in expression, greeted him gracefully. ¡°How do you do, Count Heinrich. How have you been?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Though it seemed a simple inquiry, for some reason, Count Heinrich grimaced and sat down without a word. Bang! Bang! Bang! Once both parties were seated, the mediator dered the opening with the gavel and began the opening speech. Amidst the quiet echo of the mediator¡¯s voice, Hersel nced at Ahilea seated next to him. Then, Ahilea pulled out a small envelope from her bosom and handed it to Hersel. It wasn¡¯t a particrly noticeable action. Those who witnessed the scene also passed it off as rted to the conference documents and showed little reaction. Herselman was the only one who, after opening the envelope and checking its contents, curled up one corner of his mouth. ¡°¡­Then let¡¯s start with the Schweit side. Please briefly exin your ims before the conference.¡± As the mediator finished the opening remarks, Heinrich raised his voice. ¡°What the Schweit family ims is as follows. ording to the empire¡¯s solemn and mercifulws, it iswful that Grandel belongs to our family!¡± p, p, p. Apuse poured out from the conference seats, and since it was not fitting for a dispute conference hall, the mediator once again banged the gavel to intervene. ¡°Next, please speak on behalf of the Tenest side.¡± ¡°Hersel.¡± As it became Tenest¡¯s turn, the hostess softly called his name. Then Hersel whispered in a voice only the hostess could hear. ¡°You¡¯ve made a mistake.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°One should never let go of the reins of speech until it¡¯s time to lower them.¡± Bang! Feet went up on the table with a loud noise. Hersel, almost lying down, spoke in a raised bass voice. ¡°Solemn my foot, what¡¯s with all theints? If you¡¯re so upset, stop whining and try fighting me.¡± The hall fell silent as a mouse. Hersel looked around at the audience, who were at a loss for words. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to apud for me?¡± The unleashed rascal¡¯s rampage had begun. Chapter 24 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 24 24. Conference (2) The first to break the silence was Dacel. ¡°To think you would behave like a beast even here, big brother, you need to relearn your manners.¡± There was a sneer in his sharp voice. He must be satisfied with the current situation. The words I had uttered in front of Tenest¡¯s vassals tantly exposed my immature behavior. But, did I have any image left to tarnish? I looked down at Dacel and chided him. ¡°Your kin are insulted right in front of you, and you just stand there. Is that what you call manners? It¡¯s pitiful.¡± He was silent as if he had eaten honey. He had red at me as if he wanted to kill me just because I had slighted the hostess, and now he was quiet. It wasughable. Seeminglying to their senses, a loud voice came from the spectator seats. ¡°How dare you, in a public setting like this!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors, but I never imagined it would be to this extent!¡± ¡°Is there really such a scoundrel?¡± The outburst of anger reminded me of a bustling marketce. Amidst the mor, one of the ministers from Schweik shouted at me. ¡°Even if you are the son of the Archduke, such rudeness is unforgivable. Apologize at once!¡± I opened my eyeszily and retorted nonchntly. ¡°Calling me a brat and a scoundrel, wasn¡¯t it you who was rude first?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not our position, it¡¯s what the observers are saying¡­!¡± ¡°How amusing. To bring them all here and then¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± The shouting died down a bit. They must not have expected a madman to point out the obvious after bringing in the rabble. ncing around, I noticed Daycel¡¯s face was contorted with anger, and Mircel was covering his smirk with his hand. And the hostess¡­ She turned her head and gave a slight, albeit weak, shrug of her shoulders. Surprisingly, she seemed to be holding backughter. Bang©¤©¤©¤! Suddenly, a dull thud echoed. Heinrich had mmed his heavy fist onto the table. ¡°¡­Such an arrogant fellow. You¡¯re exactly like your father.¡± His voice was calm yet tinged with anger. Heinrich looked at me with a weighty gaze. I lifted my chin arrogantly and said, ¡°Sorry, but this isn¡¯t a family trait; it¡¯s my natural disposition. That¡¯s why my family doesn¡¯t like me much.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think the prestige of being the Archduke¡¯s son will carry any weight outside your mansion, young man.¡± ¡°The Count should stop acting superior when his father is not around. My prestige is right here.¡± Heinrich¡¯s face, previously rxed, now twisted with rage. After simmering down for a moment, he leaned back in his chair as if he no longer wished to speak. Then the hostess, with a gentle smile, said to me, ¡°Hershel? It might be best to start behaving properly.¡± ¡­It was quite fun, but I guess this is where it ends. As the mediator incessantly pounded the gavel and themotion subsided, I brought up the main point. ¡°Our stance is firm. We cannot hand over Grandel.¡± The crux of the negotiations, as far as I could gather, was roughly this: The region called Grandel is geographically within the territory of Tenest, but strictly speaking, it is not Tenest¡¯s domain. Long ago, an ancestor of Tenest granted the Grandel family thend. But the current owner suddenly died of a heart attack, leaving behind a substantial debt to the Schweik family. ¡°Hmph, since he died owing me a debt, the ownership of Grandel belongs to Schweik.¡± There were no descendants to inherit the debt, nor any other assets to repay it, so Schweik¡¯s im to take thend seemed somewhat reasonable at first nce. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a good enough deal to pay back the principal with interest?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no reason for Tenest to take on that debt. Who knows, they might just change their ter. The Grand Duke is known for flipping his stance as easily as one turns over a hand.¡± The problem is that thend was originally granted by Tenest, and despite our side offering to repay it, they stubbornly insist on taking thend. Land that could be ruined without bringing them any benefit at all. ¡°The moment it falls into your hands, it might be worthless, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Ho, let¡¯s hear what you have to say.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not our territory, so it¡¯s only natural to impose trade fees and tariffs. Who knows, maybe the tariffs for Grandel will be raised specifically.¡± Murmurs of ¡°Hmm?¡± rippled through the spectator seats, but I paid them no mind and continued. ¡°There might be droughts or floods. The reservoir is on our side, after all. Of course, it¡¯s not intentional, but the drainage of ournd will be adjusted ording to the farming season.¡± As the veiled threats ended, murmursced with disapproval came from the spectator seats. ¡°He¡¯s not as foolish as the rumors suggested.¡± ¡°Did thate from his own head? That woman must have made him memorize it all.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Why do they make such a fuss over what I said? It seems that outside, I¡¯m perceived as nothing more than a monkey capable of human speech. Nevertheless, I thought poking at such a blind spot might change the tide, but Heinrich merely scoffed. ¡°Hmph, truly a cunning thought worthy of the Grand Duke¡¯s son. But do you know this? A person is defined by their adherence to rules. Those who seek to conquer everything through force are no better than beasts.¡± So, thew is on their side, he implies. Heinrich scanned the spectator seats. ¡°I have the right to choose. I have ample authority to reject the conditions proposed by Tenest.¡± His mouth continued to spew verbose speeches. There was no need to listen closely. From noble mtl dote In summary, the gathering here was to show the irrationality, that there¡¯s responsibility in being a bystander, and that one must raise their voice against the tyranny of power¡ªit was nothing more than incitement. Yes, these are provocations. Their arguments are valid, but those present here have also climbed to their positions by imposing irrationality on others. How fitting for those who are only generous to themselves. The empty discourse continued. No matter what was said, they would draw a line of refusal. Even if we raised the level of ourpensation proposal, they wouldn¡¯t even pretend to listen. ¡°¡­¡­My will is firm. Even if wealth is piled up like mountains, I will not bow down to the Grand Duke¡¯s oppression and tyranny! For that is the greater cause©¤!¡± p, p, p! As the audience apuded Heinrich¡¯s speech, I half-listened and muttered to myself. ¡°That man, he¡¯s been bringing up his father at every turn¡ªcould it be personal feelings?¡± I didn¡¯t expect a response, but the hostess answered. ¡°It¡¯s an old connection. The count once joined the archduke in subduing the ck Swan of vengeance. During that time, the count suffered a severe injury and has since med the archduke, harboring resentment to this day.¡± Now that I think about it, Mirsel mentioned something simr. Who would have thought it was that gentleman? Perhaps he¡¯s set on this course out of sheer spite¡­ But for such a reason alone, I can¡¯tprehend how he¡¯s garnered the support of his close associates. Why would the head of a family, driven by personal feelings, forsake immediate gains? What does it have to do with them? It seems excessive just to show loyalty. Frustrated, I asked the hostess amidst the ongoingmotion. ¡°What do you want from me?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t a matter that can be settled by agreement. I don¡¯t have the right to offer more in negotiations, and even if I did, they¡¯re not willing to listen.¡± I pointed at Heinrich, who was taking turns speaking with the delegates, only saying what he needed to. It¡¯s not like he¡¯s filibustering¡­ ¡°Well, I don¡¯t recall ever saying that you shoulde to an agreement.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t put me forward just to be made a fool of, did you?¡± When I red sharply, the hostess gave a sly smile. ¡°Think about it. There must be something Hursel can do.¡± Something I can do? I racked my brain over this sudden riddle. ¡°¡­¡± First, what does Schweik want? Grandel is nothing more than ordinary farnd. It would be beneficial to simply take the money and step back. Yet, there must be a hidden agenda behind their desire for it. So, what will they do if we refuse to give it up? In an era where territorial ims mean nothing without effective control, Grandel lies within Tenest¡¯s territory, and to upy it, they would have to invade ournds. Ultimately, this could only lead to confrontation¡­ Suddenly, an idea came to me, and I blurted it out. ¡°¡­Does Schweik want war?¡± The room fell into a hushed silence. With newfound certainty, I red at Heinrich. ¡°Requesting Grandel is a pretext for war. You¡¯re after dominion.¡± ¡°That¡¯s spection. We value this mediation provided by the empire and wish for both families to reach a harmonious agreement.¡± Heinrich spoke indifferently, then suddenly let out a scornfulugh. ¡°But if Tenest continues to be uncooperative, we won¡¯t shy away from war.¡± There was no significant reaction from the Schweik observers, as if this was already a shared understanding. Only then did I grasp what the hostess meant. Schweik had other intentions, making negotiation impossible. The meeting was doomed to fail from the start. Then, the thing I could do that she mentioned earlier¡­ Ah, so that was the sound. ¡°Heh.¡± I let out a sneer. As if it was so ridiculous, I couldn¡¯t bear it. The silence of the conference room made myughter spread in all directions. ¡°In the absence of a tiger, the fox bes king,¡± they say. It¡¯s just like that. ¡°What?¡± ¡°It seems you tried to y the part of a ruler while the father was away, but too bad for you.¡± I kicked my chair back and stood up. Then, I took out the letter I had received from the hostess earlier and tucked away. ¡°If it¡¯s war, you¡¯d better hurry. There are only 7 days left.¡± The observers¡¯ eyes were fixed on the letter. Seeing their curious faces, I decided to answer them myself. ¡°Oh, this? It¡¯s a letter saying that father will return after finishing the subjugation. So, if you¡¯re going to do something, do it quickly, okay? Let¡¯s see, if you give horses to all your troops and march through the night for 7 days, maybe it¡¯s possible?¡± It would take at least 10 days for them to lead their forces here. Of course, this also assumes the ridiculous premise that they would have to capture all the horses in the country and supply them to the soldiers. I grinned as I scrutinized the faces of those who had been ndering me as a ruffian. ¡°The guy with the mustache. The one with the slit eyes. The one with the quadruple chin. You were all talking big just a moment ago, weren¡¯t you? And there, the one with the big head¡­¡± Each time I pinpointed their features, they all bowed their heads, either covering their embarrassed faces or hiding behind the person in front of them. The person in front was shaking their upper body continuously, betraying those hiding behind them. Finally, a voice trembling like ripples on the water¡¯s surface spread throughout the hall. ¡°How could he be back from the capital so soon¡­?¡± ¡°The, the duke ising back this quickly? I hadn¡¯t heard. We only thought war was feasible because that man was absent. I¡¯m out of here.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s pretend this conversation never happened.¡± As the news of the tiger¡¯s return spread, the rabbits began to rise from their seats one by one. Counting the marked men, I let out a deep sigh. ¡°Phew, there are so many, it¡¯s hard to remember them all. It¡¯s better to just hold everyone ountable. I should be able to ess the list of attendees today, right?¡± I said this while looking at the mediator. The observers who were trying to flee stopped in their tracks, their eyes wide as they looked at me. ¡°What¡¯s with those faces? Why? Should I erase some names from the list I¡¯ll give to father?¡± Many nodded as if they had seen a lifeline from heaven. They kept ncing back and forth between Heinrich and me. ¡°Don¡¯t look so stern. I was just asking.¡± I spoke casually, and the observers wiped the sweat from their foreheads as if they had aged ten years. Perhaps they appreciated that I hadn¡¯t pushed too hard. The hostess, who had been watching, offered her praise. ¡°You¡¯ve exceeded expectations, Hershel.¡± From the beginning, the hostess¡¯s goal was the dissolution of the vassals bound by Heinrich like chains. Even if they showed hostility, it wasn¡¯t something that could be dealt with harshly. So, I struck and withdrew appropriately, leaving room for reconsideration. If I really became the tyrant they imed, then Tenerest would be isted. However, if they still chose to rebel despite being given a chance, then the story would be different. It would give our side a reason to execute them. I sneered at the hostess. ¡°Hmph, it seems you¡¯ve tried to test me. Are you satisfied now?¡± ¡°Why would you think that, Hershel? It was just a call for help.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb. You would have managed fine without me, whatever your methods.¡± The hostess¡¯s eyes gradually widened. Was she surprised that I had caught on to her having some trick up her sleeve? Yet, the corners of her mouth were slightly raised in satisfaction. ¡°So, entering Edel Christ wasn¡¯t just a stroke of luck? You seem to have quite the eye for things.¡± In truth, it wasn¡¯t anything remarkable. Hershel would have been dead, and there would have been no war, something I was well aware of. Knowing the predetermined future, it was natural for me to realize that the hostess would have managed well without me. It was irksome, nheless. Perhaps she had heard of my entry into Edel Christ and that had piqued her curiosity? ¡°I¡¯m pulling out now. I have no intention of being yed by you any longer. The rest is up to you.¡± ¡°Fine, you¡¯ve already done more than enough of what I had hoped for.¡± At the end of the conversation, the hostess rxed her indifferent expression and looked at Heinrich. His face was quite stiff, as if he hadn¡¯t anticipated this situation. She shrugged her shoulders and stood up, saying, ¡°Well then, it seems our negotiation has broken down. We shall take our leave, Count Heinrich.¡± ¡°¡­¡­We¡¯ll meet again soon.¡± ¡°Perhaps sooner than you think, Count.¡± With a polite farewell from the hostess, we turned our backs and left the conference room. * * * Swoosh©¤©¤©¤ The carriage wheels cut through the rain. The drizzle that had started when we set out to return to the pce after the conference had turned into a downpour by dawn. The thick mist made it impossible to see anything clearly, but Heinrich sighed damply as he looked out the carriage window. The inquiries to withdraw the promised reinforcements flooded in. The cause was that rascal who had dared to cross his archenemy. -Where there¡¯s no tiger, the fox is king, indeed. That arrogant tone and haughty expression. There was nothing that didn¡¯t remind him of him. ¡­¡­Still, for all hiswlessness and shamelessness, he had a mind and knew how to handle his innate spirit. In that regard, he wished his son would take after him¡­¡­ ¡°Ugh!¡± Suddenly gripped by pain, Heinrich clutched his lower abdomen. The long-destroyed core seemed to beshing him, reminding him of whose son that rascal was. ¡°Aiol¡­ Yes, that detestable man¡¯s bloodline¡­ Soon, he will meet the same fate as his father.¡± Heinrich ground his teeth in anger. The image of a man looking down on him was still vivid in his eyes. Years ago, when the vige of Melbra was attacked by the ck swan of vengeance. A punitive force centered around the Schwabek and Tenest families was formed to stop that disaster-like monster. The matter was urgent, and since the Schwabek family was nearby, it was decided that their forces would lead the charge. However, Tenest did not appear. Even as the twilight fled from the resounding cheers, and the moonlight bathed the warriors¡¯ red blood, the g of Tenest was nowhere to be seen. It was only at dawn, when annihtion was imminent, that he appeared. Aiol and his troops coldly passed through the rubble of Schwabek, easily beheading the weary ck swan. Theter offered no excuses. He simply looked down with indifferent eyes at his own ridiculous figure sprawled on the ground. Surely, he must have been trying to check the power of the neighboring Schwabek. Though he could no longer wield a sword, Heinrich had been sharpening the de of revenge since that day. And the right time hade. Aiol had left his domain empty due to the demon subjugation. To create a pretext, he tricked the lord of Grandel into debt and disguised it as a sudden death. He gathered forces in secret and issued a mobilization order to his vassals. ¡°In seven days¡­ No, it¡¯s past midnight, so six days now.¡± There were setbacks in the war preparations, but it didn¡¯t matter. The ¡®key¡¯ to turning Aiol¡¯s domain into ruins would soon arrive before Aiol could return. ¡°He will be holding the corpses of his family, weeping. Aiol¡­¡± Before long, the carriage passed the outer castle and arrived in front of the inner gate. Heinrich shook off the rainwater from his coat and approached, and as always, the door began to open from the inside. As the vertical gap in the door widened, Heinrich¡¯s shoulder twitched. It was because of the familiar crimson eyes that shed inside. ¡°You, you are¡­¡± Heinrich¡¯s mind was filled with questions, and he stepped back without realizing it. Why was this woman here? How did she arrive before him, and why did his subjects not stop her and let her in? He could not solve any of these questions. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you?¡± A quiet and seductive voice. Thedy of Tenest, Ahille Ben Tenest, smiled. ¡°You might see me sooner than you think.¡± Chapter 25 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 25 25. The Key (1) Ssshhh¡­ The rain showed no signs of stopping even at dawn. I sipped my tea while watching the rain streaks on the window. ¡°¡­Brother. Why aren¡¯t you sleeping?¡± Mircel approached, rubbing his sleepy eyes. I had only turned on onemp, hoping not to wake him, but it seemed to have been in vain. What can I do? It¡¯s your fault for deciding to stay here instead of going home. I answered indifferently. ¡°Thoughts.¡± ¡°What thoughts?¡± ¡°Just this and that.¡± After the meeting ended and a drizzle began to fall, the Empire provided amodations, suggesting the journey might be difficult due to the rain. The hostess and Dacel had left for other matters, riding away in a carriage, and since this was imperial territory, I reckoned no mischief could be done and readily epted. 7 days. No, it¡¯s past midnight, so 6 days now. It¡¯s only gaining a day, but don¡¯t they say to even be wary of falling leaves in one¡¯s twilight years? I shook my head to dispel the loosening tension. Mirsel chuckled at my gesture, perhaps misunderstanding something. ¡°It seems even a brother can be a concern.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried? That count looked ready to kill you on the spot.¡± I dismissed Mirsel¡¯s concern nonchntly. ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry about that.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± He¡¯ll be dead soon enough. I swallowed the rest of my words. Though not as prominent as Tenest, the name Schweik is also frequently heard in the game. In all the timelines I¡¯ve yed, there was never a Lord Schweik named Heinrich. A weak leader who took the seat at a young age after losing his father early. That¡¯s the background of Lord Schweik I remember, so there¡¯s no chance he¡¯ll be a long-standing adversary to torment me. Likewise, as I¡¯ve rambled on before, there will be no war. I¡¯ve never heard any tales of strife between the two families. But as I gathered my thoughts, a suspicion struck me. Could Heinrich¡¯s death be deeply connected to the hostess¡­? * * * ¡°Pleasee inside, Count.¡± Ahile led the way through the castle corridors as if it were his own home. Courtiers, servants, and soldiers lined the path, resembling a weing procession for the returning master. Heinrich stood tall, following with a troubled heart, yet his eyes busily scanned the surroundings. ¡®Not having entered with an army, how could this be?¡¯ There wasn¡¯t a single drop of blood on the floor, and there were no signs of battle on the soldiers. Persuasion seemed the only exnation as Ahile stepped back and said to Heinrich. ¡°You should sit, Count, especially in your condition.¡± As if the words were a signal, a burning pain surged through his sr plexus. Heinrich copsed weakly onto the throne. ¡°What in the world is happening? Someone answer me!¡± He shouted across the audience chamber, but no one responded. All bowed their heads as if ashamed. The answer leaked from Ahile¡¯s lips. ¡°Surprised, are you? It seems no one here heeds the Count¡¯s words.¡± ¡°Ha!¡± With a hollowugh, Heinrich bellowed once more towards the vassals lined up beneath the throne. ¡°Who is it! Who fell for the honeyed words of this fox-like wench and offered up Schweik? Who instigated this rebellion! The chancellor! Is it you?! The head of the knights! Is it you?!¡± When no answer came, Ahilea spoke with a feigned look of pity. ¡°That¡¯s not it, Count. Everyone here is helping me as an individual.¡± ¡°Nonsense! What in the world did you offer them!¡± At Heinrich¡¯s question, Ahilea brought her index finger to her lips. ¡°I promised to keep their secrets, one for each.¡± Heinrich, failing to grasp her meaning, widened his eyes, and Ahilea continued. ¡°Shameful pasts they wish to wash away. Deeds that would bring scorn if known. Crimes that should face the judgment ofw. Unrequited love for someone they cannot have. Secrets that must never be revealed.¡± Heinrich twisted his face in disbelief. ¡°Sophistry. Are you saying everyone here is rotten?¡± ¡°In this world, there may be individuals who are pure, but now says their surroundings must be too. Take, for example, a husband or parents, children, siblings. Thus, humans are sad creatures, unable to escape the shackles of rtionships.¡± Everyone has their sore spots. Yet, Heinrich, whomanded many, could not ept this. ¡°Merely with threats? Hmph, you¡¯re saying they betrayed me without any cause or grand purpose, without even the promise of riches or glory?¡± Ahilea shook her head at Heinrich¡¯s incredulous response. ¡°It¡¯s not just that. Everyone has at least one secret they¡¯d do anything to hide. Isn¡¯t that true for you as well, Count?¡± ¡°What¡­?¡± ¡°When you quelled the ck Swan of Vengeance. You¡¯ve been going around saying the Duke waste, but that wasn¡¯t really the case, was it?¡± Heinrich¡¯s eyes shook, but Ahilea, undeterred, continued in a calm tone. ¡°The truth is, the Duke and his forces were supposed to arrive before sunset. But you, newly in charge, wanted to im the glory of the beast¡¯s subjugation for Schweik alone in your youthful folly.¡± Heinrich wanted to rise and silence her then and there, but a pain near his sr plexus made him writhe instead. ¡°You sent a messenger to Tenestros before the expedition. You said the beast had been subdued and that they shoulde with supplies for repairs around noon the next day.¡± ¡°Enough¡­¡± ¡°The Duke wasn¡¯tte. In fact, he was early. Sensing something amiss, he brought his forces before dawn. Your reckless decision led your kin to death. The fact that you can no longer wield a sword because your dantian was destroyed¡ªit¡¯s all your responsibility¡ª¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you shut your mouth!¡± ¡°Why would you turn your de on the one who saved your life? To hide your shame? Afraid of being pointed at if the truthes out?¡± ¡°¡­¡± With eyes that seemed to see right through him, Ahilea curled the corners of her mouth, ready to spill the truth she had held back. ¡°Kekeke¡­ Is that what you¡¯re so curious about? Fine, there¡¯s no point in hiding it now.¡± It didn¡¯t matter to the subjugated vassals; everything was already out in the open. ¡°Why do I resent him, you ask? Because he said nothing at all. He neither scolded my foolish decisions nor questioned my sins. He just looked down on me with those indifferent eyes, as if I were an insect!¡± Henrich, having vented his inner turmoil, took a moment to catch his breath before continuing. ¡°That¡¯s why I thought he had to die. Before that secret ever passed his lips.¡± ¡°Right? That¡¯s the thing about secrets you truly wish to hide.¡± Achille¡¯s expression was devoid of any emotion regarding his own disgrace. Seeing his calm demeanor after stirring up people¡¯s hearts, Henrich taunted him. ¡°Where did you hear that story? From the Grand Duke? Seems he¡¯s just another man swayed by a woman¡¯s whim.¡± ¡°You know as well as I do that the Grand Duke is not such a man. I heard it from one of your loyal subordinates who knows the secret.¡± Henrich red, and one of the lined-up vassals bowed their head even deeper. Achille spoke soothingly to the grinding Henrich. ¡°Even a lord who swore loyalty to protect his own secret can betray. What¡¯s spilling a secret or two of the master¡¯s?¡± Only then did he realize. The secrets spilled this way weren¡¯t just his own. ¡°Kekeke¡­ Indeed, is that how you¡¯ve strung them all along? Truly a witch¡­ A witch that devours people.¡± Henrich, adept in intrigue and schemes as the head of a high-ranking count¡¯s family, had never heard or experienced such pressure on so many people. ¡®Is she determined to hide it to the end? This damned woman. I underestimated her as just a woman, but I can¡¯t even begin to guess where or when she started preparing.¡¯ No matter what he tried, he could only sense that he couldn¡¯t escape her grasp. Henrich asked weakly. ¡°So, what are you nning to do now?¡± ¡°It was a warning, originally.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± At Henrich¡¯s twitching brow, Achille¡¯s smile abruptly stopped. ¡°I intended to end it with a warning at first.¡± The indifferent woman gestured, and a servant stepped forward from the ranks, holding a box. ¡°The Count has been plotting quite an interesting event. Something that can¡¯t simply be overlooked.¡± The servant approached the throne and opened the box, revealing a sharp dagger gleaming amidst a foul stench of blood. ¡°What is this?!¡± Henrich¡¯s face turned pale. Inside the box was the head of an old man, still bearing the expression of hisst moments, and a sharp dagger. ¡°Doesn¡¯t he look familiar? I thought you might have met him at least once. Since you ordered this to be made.¡± Achille continued, pulling out a gleaming metal from his robe. At first, I wondered why the Earl was so brimming with confidence. So I looked into it, and sure enough, he was plotting such a scandalous act. In her hand was a counterfeit key, the very thing that could unleash the ¡®ck Swan of Resentment¡¯ hidden beneath the Tenest Mansion, and the crucial weapon that would lead the war to victory. From noble mtl dote A cry of horror almost escaped Heinrich¡¯s lips. ¡®How does this wench know the secret only my son and I are privy to!¡¯ If he let his anger get the better of him, the public¡¯s censure would be severe. That¡¯s why Heinrich had kept it a secret even from those he thought loyal, entrusting the task of creating the counterfeit to his only blood rtive, his son. Unable to hide his dismay, Achille turned the key this way and that, saying, ¡°It¡¯s a bit different from what he has, but the pattern engraved on the de is truly identical, isn¡¯t it? Even though I eliminated the maker of the key long ago, it seems someone else has managed to create this fake, probably leaving behind the blueprints before dying.¡± This woman knew everything. She knew about the monster sealed in the Tenest Mansion, intended to be released to cause terror. She knew about the n to use the chaos to lead the war to victory. And even the whereabouts of his son, hidden in preparation for the war. ¡®The key is in this woman¡¯s hands¡­¡¯ Revenge against Aiol was no longer important. Heinrich, sweating coldly, gripped the dagger inside the box. He was ready to slit the throat of the woman standing before him without a hint of caution, depending on her answer. ¡°Where is Adero, what happened to Adero?¡± Heinrich asked in a desperate voice, unable topose himself. Achille¡¯s expression softened like a mother recalling her child. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I too am a mother with a child. There are lines I do not wish to cross.¡± Achille nced at the dagger in her hand. Heinrich, catching the implication immediately, let out a chuckle. ¡°Hahaha, are you telling me to take my own life with this dagger, right here, right now? For a son whose fate is uncertain?¡± Achille stepped closer, making it easier to stab him. Heinrich, with a look of innocence, gripped the dagger firmly as if to say he was meless. ¡°How dare you look down upon me, such an arrogant woman.¡± With an outstretched arm, the dagger could pierce the heart. Although he couldn¡¯t use his aura due to a damaged energy center, the opponent was just a mere woman. The conditions to kill were more than met. Then, a beam of light squeezed through the half-open door of the inner chamber, approaching the throne like a sharp spear. Thud! A short sound of flesh being pierced, and blood dropped to the floor. The tip of the sword was pointed at Heinrich¡¯s abdomen. ¡°Argh¡­ Hmph!¡± Heinrich grimaced in pain, pushing the sword deeper into himself with his own hands. As his subordinates witnessed the blood spurting in all directions, they bowed their heads in despair, but Achille alone watched his end straight on. ¡°It will be alright, Earl. Your son may resent and miss his father for his drastic choice, but he will surely seed you as the Lord of Schweik. Unaware of the dishonorable past of his father.¡± As darkness filled his vision, Heinrich¡¯s face, twisted in pain and resentment, rxed. Cursed be, the words that clung to my ears sounded like sweet whispers. * * * At the main gate, Dacel greeted his mother who had finished her work. ¡°So, if you bring this key, our son¡¯s task will be done.¡± Dacel fiddled with the key his mother handed him. Even if it was a counterfeit, it was made of a special material that couldn¡¯t be discarded by just anyone, fitting for a key used to seal the ck Swan of grudge. But there was someone who could. He was Aol, the original keeper of the key. ¡°I received a letter saying he would pass through the Atera fortress. The n is to join there, so go ahead.¡± Atera wasn¡¯t far from here. ¡°I¡¯ll stay here as I have things to do, so I¡¯m counting on you for the rest.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ Leave it to me, mother.¡± ¡°It must be nice to see your father after such a long time, Dacel.¡± Ahile moved to sort out the affairs following Heinrich¡¯s death. Dacel, as if he still had something to say, stopped his mother. ¡°There¡¯s not much time left to kill him. But if father returns, I¡¯m not sure¡­ if it¡¯s possible.¡± It was a roundabout way of saying that something should be done at this moment. Ahile parted her lips as she looked at her son. ¡°There won¡¯t be a chance for Hersel to be the head. Even if he¡¯s around, there are still many opportunities left.¡± Her voice was emotionless, t. Dacel dropped his gaze, hearing the uncertainty in her tone. Mother is hesitating now. The fact that Hersel is still alive, despite having had the chance to kill him at any time, was proof of that. ¡®Why¡­¡¯ The same went for father. He didn¡¯t think Hersel was fit for the head¡¯s position. Mother had only nned it specifically, but it was father who had first suggested the bet. Of course, it was to neutralize mother¡¯s murderous intent, a preemptive move. There was no doubt about it. He had even tantly said it was to spare Hersel¡¯s life. -There was no one to catch that guy. It¡¯s my fault as a father. That¡¯s why I want to give him one more chance. If hees to his senses from this incident, watch over him a little longer. That¡¯s what family should do. A son, rotten to the core, who could turn the domain into hell. To think of handing over such power to that kind of person, just because of sentiment. ¡°Dacel.¡± At his mother¡¯s call, Dacel lifted his head. ¡°Judging by your expression, my answer must not have been satisfactory. I wish I could exin more clearly, but there¡¯s no time, hmm.¡± Ahile let out a sigh, and then smiled faintly as if she had thought of something. ¡°Do you remember when you turned four? It just came to mind, the time you wanted to take over your father¡¯s ce right after your birthday. You were such a bright child, even at a young age.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°What did your mother say then? Won¡¯t you tell me once?¡± Daysel smiled faintly, recalling his childhood. A slightly rxed voice leaked from his lips. ¡°She promised to seat me in my rightful ce.¡± ¡°Yes, so don¡¯t worry. Mother only makes promises she can keep.¡± Ahille looked at him with a profound gaze, then left the room. Daysel took his eyes off his mother¡¯s back and let go of the forced smile. ¡°¡­¡­I¡¯m not sure if her words are still sincere.¡± He had subtly noticed his mother¡¯s growing interest in Hersel. If Hersel, supported by his father, were to gain his mother¡¯s favor as well, who knows what might happen. Daysel felt a twist in his gut at the thought of Hersel taking the head¡¯s seat. ¡°Cough¡­¡­¡± Uneptable. That a being less than dust dared to be a member of Edel Cryss before him. Nor could he ept the confident strides shown during the negotiations. Above all, he couldn¡¯t ept that such a wretch had caused a rift in him due to the inferiority he felt. ¡®Wasn¡¯t it a rotten fence that blocked my path? A rotten fence that would easily break if kicked!¡¯ Daysel felt everything approaching him with unease. The cause wasn¡¯t just Hersel. Mircel, rising from below, was also a target to be checked. ¡®¡­¡­Mother might just think of me as a rusty nail to be pulled out.¡¯ The suspicion grew as he saw her waiting only for Mircel¡¯s growth. Each time, Daysel thought his time on the throne was brief. A ce temporarily held for Mircel. For him, who had always run towards his goal since childhood, the current situation was unbearable. ¡°I¡¯m the one who has put in the most desperate effort until now. Not those damned two.¡± A small yet heavy sigh dropped blood to the floor. The de of the key he was holding cut him because his hand was too tense. Daysel stared nkly at the key with swollen eyes for a long time, feeling a sweet droplet seep into his parched spirit. The anxiety that had been constricting him could be resolved by himself. Then there would be no need to guard against the rising Mircel. At the same time, the misery felt due to Hersel¡¯s existence would also disappear. The key in his hand was what would make that possible. * * * Chirp chirp chirp- A bird cried in the middle of the night. Aol waited on the walls of Atera for his son toe. But without a single soul approaching, only the moon tilted. As the dawn light began to rise, Cowulo said, ¡°Young master Daysel is noting.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Originally, I had nned to rest for a couple of days before leaving, but it seemed necessary to move up the schedule. ¡°In one hour, tell the knights to prepare to depart.¡± * * * While riding the carriage back to the mansion, a murder of crows cried out. Mircel, who had been yawning next to me, asked out of boredom. ¡°By the way, brother.¡± ¡°What now.¡± ¡°About that crow at our house. Can you beat it?¡± What a nonsensical question. Still, since the monstrous bird won¡¯t be resurrecting, a vague answer should suffice. Might as well keep up appearances. ¡°If ites to it, one of us would surely die.¡± ¡®Tsk.¡¯ Donatan clicked his tongue. ¡®You¡¯re nothing but a handful, Hersel.¡¯ His mocking tonepelled me to respond confidently. It was an excessive belittlement. ¡®Oh? More like two handfuls?¡¯ I have a ¡®1-second invincibility¡¯ after all; naturally, it would take two hits. ¡®¡­It¡¯s a boast.¡¯ Chapter 26 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 26 26. The Key (2) Thedy of the house had not yet returned. Only Hersel hade. It was a night with little time left before the festival. The dpidated warehouse had been eerie for a long time. After the two assassins disappeared, Piren, left alone, repeatedly opened and closed the lid of a box. It was because it wasn¡¯t easy to handle. Acting rashly could mean vanishing without a trace, just like the two men before. Even though the night guards and servants of the annex saw Phiren, who was not the maid in charge, they were only murmuring in surprise that there were still attempts on assassination. ¡°Hmm? Isn¡¯t she the maid in charge of the dormitoryundry? What¡¯s she doing in the annex?¡± ¡°Could it be ast-ditch challenge? The deadline is approaching, after all.¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk, seems like she hasn¡¯t been dealt with harshly yet.¡± ¡°Hmph, as if those nobodies have ever killed someone properly.¡± Phiren snorted at the servants¡¯ murmurs as she walked. But the servants of the annex seemed to want a spectacle, as they started to follow her at a distance. The crowd grew, with servants just woken up, yawning in their pajamas, joining in. ¡°Yawn, what¡¯s all thismotion that woke us up?¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on that¡¯s gathered such a crowd?¡± ¡°Look over there. Thatdy is taking on the challenge. Maybe this is thest time.¡± Phiren was taken aback by the people¡¯s stares. ¡®¡­Goodness, I¡¯ve never been so openly brazen in this act before.¡¯ It was as if she had be a hero from a novel, setting out to y an evil dragon. This was enjoyable in its own way. When else would an assassin receive such treatment? Phiren, feeling empowered, pulled out the magical key hidden in the pocket under her skirt. The people gasped in awe, like primitive humans discovering fire for the first time. ¡°Wow, that key shimmering with blue light seems quite mysterious.¡± ¡°Indeed. Normally, one would struggle with a wire to pick a lock¡­¡± ¡°She must be well-prepared. That¡¯s the level of her resolve, I suppose?¡± Click! The door opened. As soon as Phiren entered the dragon¡¯sir, she pulled out her wand, cast a silence spell, and mmed the door with all her might. Not even the sound of an ant breathing could be heard. ¡®As expected, my skills are intact. Alright, shall I quickly finish the job and leave?¡¯ Hersel was blissfully unaware, sleepingfortably. Phiren carefully ced one of the potion bottles hanging from her thigh strap on the floor and swung her wand to cast a telekinesis spell. The lid opened, and a green liquid began to move like a living snake. The contents were a corrosive poison extracted from a Viper Silurus. ¡®Just need to m this into the windpipe, and even an imperial knight would drop dead in an instant.¡¯ After preparing, Phiren looked up, her eyes widening. There was no one on the bed. That¡¯s when she noticed the shadow on the floor wasrger than her own. ¡®Gasp!¡¯ Phiren instantly turned around, trying to swing her wand. But before she couldplete the arc, Hersel¡¯s hand grabbed and twisted her wrist. Thud! The wand dropped, and the silence spell broke. The force on the back of her head pushed her face to the ground. ¡°Ouch!¡± A dull pain in the wrist and cheekbone. As I realized things had gone awry, I looked at Hershel. With his eyes closed, he said nothing, only putting more weight on me. Even as the twist in my wrist worsened, my attention was elsewhere. The smell of burning was thick in the air. A corrosive poison had soaked into the sleeve of my shoulder. ¡°Eek!¡± The fabric absorbed the poison like cotton. It would soon touch my skin. Pyren¡¯s eyes widened, and with cold sweat dripping, he whimpered. ¡°Just, just a moment. Oh, no¡­ This can¡¯t touch my skin!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Instead of words, Hershel responded by ripping the sleeve¡ªshhht. With the immediate danger averted, Pyren sighed in relief, considering it a golden opportunity, and smiled triumphantly. He waspletely defenseless while throwing the poisoned cloth. After all, he already had a dagger drawn from his pocket in hand. ¡°Die!¡± Pyren twisted his body and swung at Hershel¡¯s neck. But the feel in his wrist was heavy, like hitting a solid rock with an iron rod. Crack! ¡°Huh?¡± With a tingling pain of fracture, the dagger cracked. Pyren flung the broken dagger away, clutching his wrist and screaming in a sharp voice. ¡°aaagh! It hurts! It¡¯s painful!¡± He rolled on the ground but had to endure. Hershel was looking down with fierce eyes. * * * [A physical attack has been detected.] [A trait has been activated.] [1-second invincibility cooldown: 57 seconds] I opened my eyes to the system window. At my feet, a familiar yet unfamiliar maid clutched her wrist, rolling on the ground, tears streaming down her face. ¡°What are you?¡± As the maid¡¯s face turned pale and she barely moved her lips, Donatan answered for her. ¡®She tried to kill you.¡¯ ¡®Ah.¡¯ That was enough to understand the situation. Donatan was once called the ¡®sleeping sword¡¯ among the previous owner¡¯s cursed des. The enemy, who was spread out everywhere, entrusted his night guard to Donatan when he slept, and Donatan learned his skills for the sake of his master¡¯sfortable sleep. This was the biggest merit I had apuded myself for when signing the contract. So, the current situation is that Donatan protected my body from assassins while I was asleep. ¡®The sleep guard did his job properly.¡¯ ¡®¡­That¡¯s a statement that dishonors me. You damned fool.¡¯ So, what about this woman? Judging by her appearance, she¡¯s different from the servants I¡¯ve spared before. There were magic wands and strangely scented potion bottles scattered on the floor. It was clear she was an assassin. ¡°So, how should you be punished? Since all the assassins so far have been killed, it would only be fair to sentence you to death, right?¡± As I narrowed my eyes, the assassin shivered. Donatan spoke with excitement. ¡®This is a good opportunity, Hershel. There¡¯s a crowd outside. If you hold this woman¡¯s neck and show your dignity, it would serve as a good example.¡¯ ¡®Hmm, that¡¯s true, but¡­¡¯ Seeing her face buried in the floor, her cheeks pressed down, and her eye makeup smeared with tears, my desire to do so faded. Should I say she looks somewhat foolish? She seems weak, and maybe she could be usefulter. Moreover, creating too much fear is also a problem. If the infamy is too high, justice-driven yable characters might beat you up. Since the festival ising to an end, it was necessary to adjust appropriately. Now it¡¯s time to shed the monstrous image and return to my original self. To the diligent and sincere me, who was well-regarded by those around me. Weighing the pros and cons, I rxed the intensity in my eyes. ¡°I won¡¯t kill you, so there¡¯s no need to tremble.¡± ¡°¡­Is that really true?¡± With that calction in mind, I helped the assassin to her feet. The promise of sparing her life had somewhat calmed her eyes. But I couldn¡¯t just let her go empty-handed. ¡°Of course. But you have to agree to one condition.¡± If you tried to take a life, you must pay a price. That¡¯s the way of the world. I said with a sly smile. ¡°Hand over everything you have.¡± I wonder what wille out? Thest assassin was a beggar with nothing but a staff. And to make matters worse, the staff was useless because the thief who took it had his neck cut along with it. So, I had high expectations. At the word ¡®forgiveness,¡¯ the assassin flinched and then looked puzzled. ¡°What? Everything I have¡­ I don¡¯t have anything significant that you would want, sir.¡± ¡°Why not? It¡¯s right there under your skirt.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I was pointing at the pocket hanging on her thigh. But the assassin, perhaps having an absurd imagination, blushed and pulled her skirt down tightly. Look at this guy. ¡°¡­Who are you calling a pervert?¡± I wrapped my head with my hands in response to the unpleasant misunderstanding. ¡°It¡¯s suffocating. Put down what you¡¯ve strapped to your thigh.¡± Only then did the assassin realize his mistake, exhaling a sigh of relief as he offered up his pockets and vials. ¡°Is it true that if I hand over just this, you¡¯ll spare my life?¡± To settle for just this? At the absurd suggestion, I snorted and shook my head. ¡°I wonder if you¡¯re naive. You tried to kill someone; naturally, you should give everything before you leave, that¡¯s only right.¡± This time, I was referring to the wand scattered on the floor. Even a low-grade magic wand was considered a valuable item. The assassin¡¯s face turned pale as if drained of blood. ¡°Please, anything but this.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my only precious tool. If you take this too, I¡¯ll be¡­¡± The assassin trailed off, then muttered softly. ¡°I¡¯ll bepletely destitute. Without it, I can¡¯t even work. I beg you, please spare the wand¡­¡± Isn¡¯t that a good thing? An opportunity to take up a more honorable profession. I wasn¡¯t so depraved as to ignore the chance to rehabilitate someone. So, this wasn¡¯t extortion; it was doing the right thing. ¡°Don¡¯t want to?¡± Snatch! ¡°Sob¡­¡± Roughly seizing the wand, the assassin made a crying face and wept. Regardless, I swept up all the seemingly useless tools. Oh, Viper Silus¡¯s poison and a timer seal too? From noble mtl dote Might as well take them; never know when they¡¯lle in handy. Thinking it was all over, the assassin wiped his tears with a handkerchief and bowed his head. ¡°¡­My apologies. I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡± Trying to run away? I hadn¡¯t finished with her yet, so I stopped her in her tracks. ¡°Hold on. Shake that spot where you¡¯re standing.¡± ¡°Sh-shake it?¡± ¡°Up and down.¡± He added hand gestures as he spoke. ¡°Up-up and down. Keep repeating.¡± Understanding themand, the assassin grimaced, squeezed his eyes shut, and began to hop up and down like skipping rope. His figure was that of a man doomed to be stripped of everyst coin. Jingle- In truth, coins mean little to a wealthy young master like me. Yet, I had to take them all. As long as the festival¡¯s deadline remained, I had to ensure he couldn¡¯t buy any weapons. Let me say it once more, there¡¯s a profound reason for this, it¡¯s not just extortion. ¡°I knew it woulde to this. Can you hear the coins? Take those out too.¡± ¡°¡­Excuse me, but this is a silver coin, isn¡¯t it meaningless to a young master like you? So, please¡­ I beg of you, spare me this much. It¡¯s my living expenses, hehe.¡± The assassin pleaded with a foolish smile, seeking sympathy. My heart softened as I gazed deeply at the coin. And then, I took it. Her hand now empty, she gaped like a goldfish. ¡°Who told you to ck off? Hand over everything you have. If you don¡¯t want to die, keep shaking without rest.¡± The assassin¡¯s expression turned from a re as if to say ¡®go pluck a flea¡¯s liver¡¯ to a pout, suggesting ¡®this really isn¡¯t right,¡¯ as he continued to hop in ce. I sat on a chair, one leg crossed over the other, hand gestures included, ears perked up. ¡°Haah¡­ Huff huff. How long do I have to do this? I¡¯m already out of breath.¡± ¡°Shut your mouth. You¡¯re losing focus.¡± I made him continue until the sound of coinspletely disappeared. If he tried to hop lightly to keep his possessions hidden, I scolded him, and only then could I ¡®confiscate¡¯ everything the assassin had. I felt proud, having guided a person onto the right path. If there were one more person like me, the world would be at peace. * * * As soon as Piren stepped outside the door, tears of sorrow began to flow. The assassin had been stripped of his tools, his weapons. All the valuable items he had saved for today were gone. And as if that wasn¡¯t enough, even thest remaining silver coin was taken. He rummaged through his pockets hoping to find something left, but all he felt was lint. Having always been the one to extort, never the one extorted, he felt an unprecedented sense of shame and emptiness. ¡°Sob¡­¡± His shoulders shook, and a whimpering cry leaked out. Passersby draped a nket over him with pitying looks. Piren was too shocked to hear their murmurs. ¡°Oh my, that person¡­ his clothes¡­¡± ¡°Cough, let¡¯s be quiet. Show some consideration.¡± Someone even handed him a handkerchief. As he wiped his tears, his makeup smeared like someone half out of their mind. The more disheveled he became, the deeper the sympathy from the onlookers grew. ¡°My goodness, he must be in shock.¡± ¡°I heard they told him to shake up and down¡­ such cruel words.¡± ¡°They even took his money!¡± ¡°Oh, what a scoundrel!¡± As Piren left his seat, the murmurs of the attendants grew louder. The door opened with the sound filling the hallway. The attendants looked at Hersel with bated breath, their faces stricken with fear. ¡°Quite a crowd today.¡± His voice, a deep baritone, spread through the silence. He scanned the room with a menacing smile. ¡°Good. I was thinking of having a chat with you all anyway.¡± The attendants whispered among themselves, their faces pale. Then, one by one, they hurriedly covered their faces and left their spots, and soon, everyone followed suit. They didn¡¯t look back. Those at the very end of the group even ran, fearing they might be the target. Unaware of their escape, Hersel closed his eyes and spoke in a soulless voice. ¡°Even as the head of the family, I will not hold you ountable for your sins. The act of sparing the woman was a mercy to demonstrate this. I am generous to you all¡­ Huh?¡± Feeling the silence oddly devoid of even breath, Hersel opened his eyes. Regrettably, the corridor was deste. ¡°Damn it.¡± * * * Morning broke. Piren, who had stayed up all night, couldn¡¯t close his eyelids. An unexpected visitor hade to the shabby warehouse. ¡°Really, is this document enough to erase all my past sins?¡± At Piren¡¯s question, Daysel, who had just arrived at the mansion, nodded. ¡°It¡¯s a document stamped with the seal. It¡¯s yours now.¡± The single piece of paper he ced on the desk. The long-desired amnesty was within reach, and Piren¡¯s eyes trembled. But he couldn¡¯t touch it rashly. A nobleman is no volunteer, and to promise freedom withoutpleting the mission? Such cases alwayse with a price. As expected, a situation he often faced during his active days ensued. ¡°However, I can¡¯t just give it to you without onest errand.¡± Thump! Daysel ced a small box on the desk, and Piren, puzzled, checked its contents. The subtle glow of geometric shapes engraved on the saw de. It was aplex device, among the highest grade of keys. ¡°¡­This isn¡¯t something used for ordinary tasks, what do you want me to do with this?¡± Daysel opened his mouth with a grave expression. ¡°Release the monster that sleeps underground. That¡¯s all I ask.¡± ¡°A monster¡­ you say?¡± A bead of sweat trickled down Phiren¡¯s forehead, the sound surpassing the bounds of imagination. Many monsters slumber underground. Yet, only one warrants sealing with such a key. The great demon beast ¡®ck Swan of Resentment¡¯ that erased Melbra vige from the map. What this man now demands is to unleash a vicious cmity in the heart of a mansion teeming with people. The goal may be to kill Hersel, but should it really be done? Utter madness. Yet, Phiren snatched the pardon with a venomous look. ¡°I¡¯ll do it. By today.¡± The girl, who grew up in harsh conditions from a young age, knew all too well that nothing filled her with satisfaction quite like feeding on someone. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take your word for it.¡± ¡°Yes, take care.¡± After the ndestine deal, Dacell rose from his seat and left the warehouse. Under the sunlight, the servants bustled about. A passing maid bowed her head in greeting. Dacell, hiding his true feelings as usual, responded with a calm nod. Once the maid was gone, his expression darkened. ¡®To achieve what I desire, a price must be paid, even if it¡¯s the blood of the innocent¡­¡¯ But that thought was fleeting. The moment he spotted Mircel heading to Hersel¡¯s annex since morning, a sharp murderous intent filled his eyes. Chapter 27 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 27 27. Monstrous Bird (1) The underground reeked of a foul beast. A single me blossomed in the darkness. Phiren flinched as the monsters¡¯ fangs glinted. ¡°Ah, you startled me.¡± Checking if they posed no threat, he examined the monsters¡¯ condition with amp. Their necks were properly fixed. It would be fine as long as he didn¡¯t get too close. Walking towards the end of the corridor, Phiren stopped in front of a woman¡¯s face asrge as a statue with moth eyes. ¡°Y-youurana?¡± Uttering the name of the monster often featured in childhood ghost sstories, he once again realized the kind of person the owner of this ce was. ¡®Crazy¡­ I thought it was just a story made up to scare children, but it was real? And he caught this thing alone?¡¯ Standing before the reality of the monster he had dismissed as nonsense as an adult, Phiren swallowed hard. If it was like this at the entrance, then at the end of the corridor was sealed the most dangerous creature captured by that man. Among all the monsters here, the one most detached from reality, the great demon beast etched into modern history as a true tale of woe, ¡®ck Swan of Resentment¡¯¡­ Click-ck©¤ As they neared their destination, three red crescents formed a circle. With each step, a dark magic seemed to stain the air ck, pricking the skin like needles. ¡°Disgusting¡­ Urgh.¡± For a mage who senses the mana in the air, there¡¯s nothing more nauseating than an unfamiliar dark magic. Phiren swallowed his nausea and pulled out a piece of paper with a key and a long arrow drawn on it. It was the item Hershel called a timer seal. [Rotational Magic Talisman] The attached object rotates. It can be torn for use, and the timing can be adjusted ording to the paper¡¯s area. However, it¡¯s limited to light objects. ¡®Damn that guy, I barely managed to get this one, but well, this should be enough. Let¡¯s see, would 6 hours do? That should give me plenty of time to escape.¡¯ Phiren tore off a piece of paper enough for 6 hours and attached it to the key. Then, he carefully inserted it into the lock hanging around the monster¡¯s neck. But then, the key started turning on its own. ¡°Eh?¡± Fssst¡ª As if the dark magic was alive, it was rotting the paper attached to the key. Realizing something had gone terribly wrong, Phiren threw aside themp he had set down and ran with all his might. ¡®Ah, my legs. Run faster! If I don¡¯t get out of here now, I¡¯m done for!¡¯ Three minutester, the sound of the lock unlocking echoed through the basement. Click©¤©¤! * * * The sky was a thick shade of purple. The servants were running towards the main gate with faces stricken with fear. Watching through the window, I almost believed I had been in aa for the past few years and had just woken up. It was as if the future I had envisioned was unfolding before my eyes. Is this for real? ¡°Ah.¡± I pinched my cheek to see if it was a dream, but it only hurt. So, I asked myself once more. The familiar scene of being trapped in a purple barrier like livestock. The ¡®ck Swan of Grudge¡¯ preview scene I had seen countless times while ying game over and retry, is this really happening? ¡°Hehehe.¡± I let out a mad chuckle, buried myself in the back of the chair, and told Donatan to end this childish hidden camera prank. ¡®Enough with the jokes.¡¯ ¡®Jokes?¡¯ ¡°You might as well be honest with me now. How long was I out of it?¡± ¡°What kind of bizarre thing are you talking about?¡± ¡°Hmph, if you want to keep lying, go ahead. I won¡¯t fall for it.¡± ¡°Sometimes, you really do seem like a madman.¡± Logically, there¡¯s no way events that are supposed to happen yearster could ur before the scenario even starts. So, rest assured. The strengthened yable characters will gather during the period I was asleep and take care of everything. All I need to do is watch it unfold like a movie. Isn¡¯t this a great opportunity? It would be perfect with popcorn and c. Just as I was considering enjoying a cup of tea and some snacks as a substitute, I heard a noise from behind. ¡°Brother¡­¡± Mirsell approached me with a face pale with terror. It seems he appeared while I was grinning foolishly. Wait a minute. But why is he still the same height? I wanted to believe it was because his growth tes had closed, but that was clearly a denial of reality. ¡°Wasn¡¯t I in aa?¡± ¡°You¡¯re beating your own drum and ying your own janggu.¡± ¡°So, really¡­¡± ¡°It was fun while itsted, Hersel. Hopefully, you¡¯ll meet your new owner soon.¡± I¡¯m not sure why the monster awoke, but it¡¯s probably because of me. No, that¡¯s not what¡¯s important right now. In a life-threatening situation, it¡¯s not the process that matters, but finding a way to survive. While I was racking my brain, Mirsell¡¯s expression softened. ¡°You¡¯re amazing,ughing in a situation like this.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Are you excited? I wonder how you¡¯ll take it down.¡± Take it down? Me? The child¡¯s pure admiration made me think of the ssic ¡®ck Swan of Vengeance¡¯ scenario. This is the northeastern region where only the advantages of the seasons intersect. In summer, the northern wind brings coolness, and in winter, the easternnd is so mild that even sprouts bloom. It¡¯s a great environment for people to live in, with plenty ofnd and arge poption. The distribution of yable characters is the same. As befits those with their own sagas, incidents aremonce in the vicinity. Should I say it¡¯s typical of the protagonists? They take on the tasks at hand and, before long, the dayes when their achievements are rewarded, and naturally, the one tomend them is the lord of thend. But it¡¯s not just one or two. Busy Aol couldn¡¯t take care of each one individually, so a banquet was prepared tomend their hard work all at once, and that¡¯s where the incident urs. Where there is light, there are shadows. The more dazzling the performance, the more victims emerge. Those called the guardians of the shadows, even before the yable characters became a bigger thorn in their side, wished to eliminate them all. Then, a perfect opportunity arises with the banquet, and they release the ck swan of vengeance, causing a terror. Though the exnation is lengthy, the point is that the protagonists, extraordinary beyond the ordinary, must collectively face a boss battle so challenging it demands a group takedown. Moreover, to y the monstrous bird, one must acquire the ¡®Sword of Sanctity,¡¯ a special weapon. Hence, the pure expectations of the youngster only bring about difort. Indeed, how can one deal with such a monster? I, weaker than an extra and without even the Sword of Sanctity¡­ ¡°It¡¯s impossible to defeat it.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a monster that even my father couldn¡¯t kill, only managing to seal it.¡± ¡°¡­So, we¡¯re all going to die?¡± I ced my hand on the head of Mirsel, who was barely holding back her shock with trembling eyes. ¡°No, we can survive. If only you help.¡± 99 percent is likely to be false, but there¡¯s about 1 percent truth. Conquering the monstrous bird isn¡¯t just about defeating it. This is a strategy for when the ¡®Sword of Sanctity¡¯ cannot be obtained; to end the boss battle, one only needs to break the outer barrier to be recognized as clearing it. There are a total of five barriers. The method to break them is to remove the five feathers of bondage hidden throughout the mansion. If this is aplished, Aol, caught up in the scheme and outside, will appear to strike and seal the monstrous bird¡¯s neck, and the cutscene will y, ending the scenario. Of course, the situation is different, so he won¡¯t just pop up, but at least we can make a run for it outside. So, we can survive. If this talented youngster and I y our parts, it will be so. ¡°Mirsel, prepare the sword immediately. And roam the mansion. You¡¯ll likely find a feather as tall as you.¡± ¡°Huh? Do I just cut it?¡± ¡°No. Don¡¯t cut it right away.¡± The feathers¡¯ locations are random, and it takes quite some time to find them. However, thanks to the monologue of a yable character with sensitive senses, I know a tip to shorten the time. ¡°A strange energy will flow from the feather. Master that first. It will make finding the next feather easier. Cuttingester.¡± In a critical second, if Mirsel even once tastes the sensation, the search time will be shortened. And what I must do is¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll buy you time, so focus on the feather, not the monster. Got it?¡± Sadly, it meant bing bait for the monstrous bird. Somehow, it will work out. After all, I have ¡®One Second Invincibility.¡¯ ¡°Got it. Be careful too, brother.¡± Mirsel gave a warning and left the spot. I approached the dresser, rummaging for anything that might be of help. No need for the cursed giant¡¯s skull or staff since I can¡¯t use magic right now. This recent acquisition might prove useful. [Viper Silus¡¯s Venom] A corrosive poison with pration finer than mercury. [rm-Enabled Talisman] Used to turn doorknobs automatically. The length of the thread allows for timer adjustment. It was the moment I was putting the tools in my pocket when suddenly, the door burst open, and in came Jack, Rodel, and Selly. ¡°Rodel, I told you to hurry! Ahem, are you alright, young master?¡± ¡°Haah¡­ It¡¯s because I brought the sword. Anyway, I rushed here swiftly as your escort. Hehe, did well, didn¡¯t I?¡± Jack and Rodel wiped the sweat from their foreheads, grinning foolishly. Selly, as usual, grumbled and dropped her bundle on the floor. ¡°I followed because I was told to, but doesing here change anything?¡± I felt a strong emotion looking at the three who had grown dear to me. I didn¡¯t want to leave them to be killed by the monstrous bird. ¡°Stop lying, will you? You were the ones who dashed swiftly to the main gate, leaving me behind.¡± Because, I have to kill them with my own hands. ¡°Young master, we¡­ we were just assessing the situation¡­¡± ¡°I saw everything. Clinging onto every piece of luggage and sprinting full force. Not even a nce towards my window.¡± The audacity toe here when there¡¯s nowhere else to turn. * * * The water jets of the fountain in the center intensified. Swoosh©¤ The ground trembled in session. Cracks formed in the fountain, and a ck liquid seeped from the crevices. It soon coalesced into a single form. Skin stered with ck feathers. The body resembled a potbellied man spouting nonsense at a tavern, and the head was that of a crow with three eyes. Sssshh¡ª Hoooh¡ª Savoring the outside air for the first time in ages, the bizarre creature gazed at the sky. Half-concealed by a purple veil, the sun still held its ce above. With a sense of newfound freedom, the creature closed its eyes to the dazzling sunlight. Minutes passed. Soldiers armed with swords and spears were rushing in. Amanding officer shouted as a representative. ¡°Do not retreat! Our duty is to protect this ce!¡± From noble mtl dote No one dared to step forward rashly. They surrounded the creature like a, keeping their distance. The creature remained still, eyes closed, taking no action. Then, a young soldier behind it snickered. ¡®No matter how you look at it, it seems weak. Is this really the monster of the rumors? It¡¯s just a lump dressed in a feather coat.¡¯ Despite being a fearsome monster, it only seemed to be the size of a human, which made it appear less intimidating. The young soldier, thinking rumors are often exaggerated and eyeing a chance for advancement, thrust his sword into the back of the creature¡¯s head. Thud! It struck true. The soldiers¡¯ faces brightened with color. They continued to jab at the still-standing creature, seeing the defenseless moment as an opportunity for some reason. ¡°Incredible, even the rookie¡¯s sword can pierce it.¡± ¡°Has it rusted from being buried underground for so long?¡± ¡°Step aside. I¡¯ll have to cut off its head entirely.¡± Themanding officer took a stance, aura zing. At that moment, the creature stretched out its arm and lightly tapped the officer¡¯s helmet with its index finger. ¡°Huh?¡± One secondter. His head exploded. Boom! As the headless body of the officer thudded to the ground, the creature¡¯s eyes snapped open. The soldiers, sttered with brain matter and blood, were frozen in shock. ¡°What the¡ª What¡¯s happening! This!¡± While one person cried out in a trembling voice, the young soldier who had first stabbed the creature began to back away stealthily. Once he felt he was out of the creature¡¯s reach, he threw down his sword and bolted. ¡®Damn it, damn it. Damn it! I must be insane. I should¡¯ve just stayed hidden!¡¯ Even as a short death cry echoed behind him, he didn¡¯t look back and sprinted with all his might. By the time he reached a barn that seemed a good ce to hide, the young soldier¡¯s gaze turned skyward. ¡°Huh?¡± There was no feeling in his legs. No, rather, his legs were nowhere to be seen. Where could his legs have gone? As he pondered, his upper body slumped to the ground. Chomp, chomp¡ª Startled by a noise, the young soldier turned his head. His gaze met that of a monstrous bird, voraciously tearing into a long strip of meat. ¡°What the¡ª Is that¡­ my leg?¡± The creature¡¯s brutish hand seized the man¡¯s hair, dragging him across the ground. The soldier thrashed, watching his own thick blood etch a straight line on the floor. ¡°Let go! Release me! aaagh!¡± Scratching, pinching, and hitting the creature¡¯s hand was futile. Just as his nails were about to give, the creature stopped. They had reached a shattered fountain. The young soldier, seeing others like him moaning in pain without their legs, muttered to himself in disbelief. ¡°Why¡­ just why?¡± His question didn¡¯tst long. As the creature gripped a living soldier and tore a chunk with its beak, the young soldier realized. Crunch¡ª It had simply gathered its prey. To chew on fresh, living humans. ¡°¡­¡± Meanwhile, a maid watched the scene from afar, holding her breath. Crouched in the nearby bushes, she shifted her gaze to the mansion. An old butler inside signaled her through the window. He gestured slowly, beckoning her toe closer. The maid moved stealthily, her breath still. But then, she stepped on a twig. The snapping sound caught the creature¡¯s attention. It poised to leap from the ground. The maid, stiff with fear of being hunted like the soldiers, clenched her eyes shut. ¡°At this distance, it¡¯s easy to dodge, what are you doing?¡± At the sound of the voice, the maid opened her eyes. Hassel had appeared out of nowhere, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and pulling her back. In that instant, a heavy, dark figure shed past where she stood. Swoosh©¤©¤©¤ The heavy wind created by the creature blew the cold sweat from the maid¡¯s forehead. Had she remained, she would have been burst open. While the maid calmed her startled heart, Hassel chuckled and said, ¡°Why? Does it feel bad to have your life at stake like me?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Whatever. I¡¯ll give the signal. If you want to live, run to the mansion or do as you please.¡± Hassel withdrew his gaze from the maid and looked at the creature mmed against the wall. Then, he stepped back, walking towards the broken fountain. And the creature charged at him like an arrow. Chapter 28 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 28 28. Monstrous Bird (2) As the monstrous bird came to life before him, a scene from the boss battle¡¯s introduction illustration shed in his mind. ¡¾Phase I: The Glutton¡¿ The whimsical drawing of the monstrous bird, sticking out its tongue from its beak, ready to carve into a human with a fork and knife in hand. Personally, he found the drawing quite revolting, but that was nothingpared to reality. ¡°Ughhh¡­¡± ¡°Please, I don¡¯t want to die. Save me. Save me.¡± My mind was filled not with thoughts of reviving the dying soldiers but with the fear of ending up like them. ¡°Hershel, he¡¯s taken his stance. Be ready.¡± ¡°Right.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll say it again, your body is slow. Don¡¯t even think about dodging his attack at close range.¡± ¡°I know.¡± There¡¯s a reason I deliberately came to the broken fountain. It was because the area was open for 200 meters ahead, allowing him to be thrown far away by inertia the moment I dodged. As I prepared to evade his charge, I repeated to myself: ¡°Rx the strength, keep the feet light.¡± ¡°Good, that¡¯s the right stance.¡± Donatan and I focused all our nerves on our legs and feet. To move our bodies as fast as possible, there was nothing more efficient than visualizing the same movements in our minds. ¡°He¡¯sing!¡± At Donatan¡¯s signal, I gestured to the maid watching from afar to run. Boom! The sound of the wall crashing echoed in my ears as the monster¡¯s beak appeared before me. Having moved my body in advance, I barely managed to step aside, avoiding the beak aimed at my legs. Swoosh©¤©¤©¤ My feet, lifted by the wind pressure,nded on the ground. I had been uncertain, but now a conviction that it was worth a try surged through me, and strength filled my hands. ¡°I wish I could react a bit faster?¡± ¡°Instinct is acquired and umted through experience. You¡¯ll be able to dodge the next attack even faster.¡± The monster¡¯s second charge came. Then the third. I managed to dodge with a bit more ease. The monster, seemingly annoyed by my evasion, narrowed its three eyes. Seeing this, I sensed that this would be thest charge. From experience, I knew that a change in its gaze meant a change in its attack pattern. It meant that my time at the fountain was up. ¡°Then it¡¯s time to take a hit.¡± ¡°Did I hear that wrong? What did you just say?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t dodge this time. You¡¯ve seen it, haven¡¯t you? How I was fine even after taking a punch from a golem.¡± Donatan asked incredulously. ¡°Huh, yes, that¡¯s true. I¡¯ll give you that. But that was just a lump of stone. Do you think you¡¯re on the same level as that monster?¡± ¡°Just watch quietly this time.¡± I slipped my hand into my pocket and strutted arrogantly towards the grotesque creature. ¡°Do you even deserve to be called a great demon? To me, you look nothing more than an overweight pigeon.¡± Not that a birdbrain like you would understand human speech¡­ or would it? The creature¡¯s feathers bristled with rage. I had spoken with such bravado to Donatan, but truth be told, I was scared out of my wits. Even with ¡®1-second invincibility,¡¯ it takes a lot of courage to face a freight truck barreling towards you at racing car speeds with a clear mind. ¡°Hoo-e at me.¡± Boom©¤©¤©¤©¤! No sooner had I spoken than the creature¡¯s body dissolved into liquid and scattered. It crashed into me and then exploded. Donatan, seemingly unable to believe the situation unfolding, eximed in a stunned voice. ¡°How can this be¡­?¡± ¡°See, I¡¯m fine, right?¡± Just 1 second, but ¡®invincibility¡¯ is an unchanging rule. No matter what, I¡¯ve proven countless times that I won¡¯t die for that one second. ¡°Did you kill it? Did you y this monster?¡± ¡°I wish that were the case.¡± This thing¡¯s only weakness is the ¡®Sword of Sanctity,¡¯ a monster among monsters. It wouldn¡¯t die from something like this. That¡¯s why I took out a vial from my pocket. ¡°Viper Silurus¡¯s Venom¡± A corrosive poison with pration deeper than fine particles of mercury. I sprinkled the venom, said to seep even into rocks, onto the squishy fragments of the creature. Drip! It wouldn¡¯t die from mere poison, but it would at least feel pain and buy me some time. ¡°Well, time to run away.¡± The next ce to buy time was the grand mansion. But here, I had a premonition that something had gone awry. I had clearly instructed that trio to lead the mansion¡¯s people to safety while I bought time, but I hadn¡¯t seen a soul. ¡°Donatan, did you see anyone leave the mansion?¡± ¡°I was too focused on that thing to notice. But judging by the noise inside, it seems your guess is right.¡± As expected. It wasn¡¯t really a surprise. It was just as I had anticipated, and all I could do was sigh. * * * ¡°Why should I follow that order?¡± ¡°Well¡­ Sir Steward, given the current situation, shouldn¡¯t we listen to the young master if we want to survive?¡± In the hall of the grand mansion, Jack pleaded with sweat dripping down his face. But the steward, as if the words were not worth listening to, wore a cold expression. ¡°Look here, Jack. I¡¯ve heard rumors that you¡¯ve been mingling with that persontely. Seems those rumors were true. Enough nonsense, if you¡¯re not nning to hide here, then just leave.¡± Persuading the steward was no easy task, especially since she had valid reasons on her side. Jack gritted his teeth as he saw the old butler behind him, wearing an apologetic expression. ¡®Darn it, this is all because of that old man.¡¯ The old man was one of the few survivors from the Melbra vige massacre by the monster. The steward had sought advice from the experienced survivor, and his response that he had merely hidden and survived by luck with outside help had led to this situation. They were now nning to lie low here until someone came to their aid. As Jack pondered over how to fulfill Hershel¡¯s orders, Selly stepped forward in front of the steward. ¡°With the situation as it is, let¡¯s put an end to these foolish political fights, shall we?¡± ¡°What?¡± At the steward¡¯s incredulous response, Selly pointed to the barricade the old butler had erected at the door and said, ¡°Honestly, you know it too, Mr. Harden. He just got lucky to survive. How many vigers of Melbra are there, and you¡¯re saying some didn¡¯t hide and danced in front of the monster instead? That¡¯s why there were so many casualties? That doesn¡¯t make sense. The people who died must have also desperately prayed, hiding behind doors, waiting for the disaster to pass. Right, Mr. Harden?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no denying it¡­¡± ¡°Look. Everyone here probably thinks it¡¯s a stupid idea to stay, right? Unless they¡¯re a fool.¡± Despite the sharp nces from the people, Selly looked up at the steward unfazed. The steward¡¯s brow furrowed. Selly¡¯sst remark had crossed a line, prompting the steward¡¯s hand to fly towards Selly¡¯s cheek. Smack! But Selly caught the steward¡¯s wrist mid-air. ¡°You think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re up to? I know everything. You¡¯re risking people¡¯s lives here just to look good in front of thedy of the house! Is this really the sane thing to do?¡± The steward ignored Selly¡¯s shouts, insteadmanding the soldiers around him, ¡°What are you waiting for? Escort them out, even if it takes force.¡± The three were surrounded by a group of soldiers at that moment. Bang! A rough noise made everyone¡¯s eyes shrink. ¡°They¡¯reing.¡± ¡°The cmity¡­¡± ¡°We were all wrong. So wrong!¡± Bang! After two dull thuds, the main gate opened. A tall man with blue eyes looked down at the table blocking the entrance and grumbled, ¡°What¡¯s this? Such a nuisance.¡± Jack¡¯s eyes trembled. ¡°Sir, sir. I was indeed trying to follow the order, but it-¡° ¡°Ah, no need for exnations. It¡¯s clear as day. That old hag is just loafing around, isn¡¯t she?¡± Click-ck. Hershel stopped in front of the steward. The steward stood his ground, head held high as if he had no intention of backing down. ¡°You must have heard my order from Jack. Are you refusing it?¡± The steward gulped under Hershel¡¯s fierce and arrogant gaze. ¡°Are you of a higher rank than me?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤Not exactly, but managing the servants is within my jurisdiction.¡± ¡°Is that so? Then you¡¯re saying you can take responsibility for their lives instead? Good. Go out there and try to hold back that monster by yourself. Or better yet, kill it if you can.¡± The steward hesitated, unable to utter a word. ¡°Why? Can¡¯t do it? But you know what? I can. At least I can buy some time, unlike you who can do nothing but sit here and hide. Everyone knows that from experience, right?¡± Hershel continued with a chilling smile towards those around him. ¡°No matter how much they pray for death, they just won¡¯t die.¡± The people nodded weakly as if they were mute from eating honey. ¡°Then, take it that you all understand and follow Jack and Rodel to the designated ce. Selly, take good care of Niasel.¡± With a loud p that echoed through the hall, Hershel signaled them to move. p! ¡°Come on, don¡¯t dawdle. Move it, move it!¡± At his cue, the old butler hesitated before starting to move, and the others began to gather around Jack and Rodel. The steward followed with a resigned expression. Just then, a soldier peeking through the curtains urgently cried out. ¡°The, the monster is looking this way!¡± Realizing the dy, Hershel sighed. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Hold on. Let¡¯s adjust the n.¡± Things in this world seldom go as nned. * * * He sprinted up the mansion¡¯s stairs at full speed. Already short of breath due to his poor stamina, perhaps it was the urgency of the situation that pushed him beyond his limits. He felt like he could copse at any moment, but he managed to reach the top floor. ¡°Heave! Heave!¡± It felt like his lungs were about to burst. ¡°Tsk tsk, how can your stamina be worse than that of a mere soldier?¡± ¡°Ugh. Shut up, dude.¡± ¡°Hmph, so what are you nning to do this time?¡± ¡°What else? The thing I do best.¡± To achieve what I had in mind, I needed some preparations. I dashed to Aol¡¯s room and rummaged through the wardrobe. ¡°What do you need that outfit for?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡± His sense of smell was extraordinarily developed. The ¡®grudge¡¯ in his title came from a tale of vengeance, chasing his target to the ends of the continent to kill them, and the secret to his tracking was precisely that scent. And now, the greatest object of his hatred was naturally Aol, who had struck him down and sealed him in this ce. Carrying his clothes was enough to attract the creature¡¯s attention. Indeed, among yable characters, equipping a tank with it had an excellent aggro effect, which proved quite useful. I guess it¡¯s time to pack it up and get moving. I opened the window and fluttered a coat of Aol¡¯s. The creature¡¯s eyes bulged, and after sniffing around, it contorted its face. ¡°What are you going to do by ring at me? Can that body of yours even fly?¡± Whoosh! It flew diagonally. More precisely, it leaped with a jump. I stepped back, making it crash its head into the ceiling, then I threw myself towards the window. Thud! [Physical attack detected.] [Special ability activated.] [1-second invincibility cooldown: 60 seconds] As soon as Inded, I shouted to everyone in the first-floor hall. ¡°Now¡¯s the time! Run!¡± Jack and Rodel took the lead, guiding the people. Selly followed closely behind a soldier carrying Niasel on his back, and people began pouring out from the main gate. ¡°We¡¯ll split into two lines. Half follow Rodel. The rest follow me!¡± ¡°Young master, I wish you good luck.¡± ¡°Jack, and Rodel. We¡¯ll finish the story of you leaving me behind and running away after all this is over.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Jack and Rodel pretended not to hear and ran off in a hurry. They¡¯re so annoying. I made my way through the divided crowd towards the main hall on the first floor. By now, the creature must have smashed Aol¡¯s room to bits, and it would soone down. As I watched, your battle tactics seemed quite intriguing. What¡¯s your next move? Well, the original n was to roam around the mansion, but with my current stamina, that would be impractical. I need to rest a bit. I rummaged through my pocket. Five bottles of poison remained. It would be best to use them all. I need to buy a lot of time for the next phase. The next location to stall is a bit far off. ¡°I guess it¡¯s time for a proper bout of food poisoning.¡± Boom! As soon as I finished speaking, the monster burst through the ceiling andnded in the main hall. Hidden by the rising dust, I threw a set of Aiol¡¯s clothes on the floor. Realizing that its bullet-like attacks were ineffective against me, the creature charged at me this time, pounding the ground with its feet. And then, mercilessly, it smashed its fist down onto the floor where Aiol¡¯s clothesy. Crunch! Unaware that five bottles of poison were hidden in the pockets of the clothes. Screech! Now, I might as well take a leisurely walk to the next location and replenish my strength. Breathing evenly, I left the mansion. The purple hue in the sky had faded, and the saturation dropped once again. The speed was astonishing. Even with a speedrun, at this point, I would have barely cleared one chapter. And that¡¯s if I was lucky. But to have already eliminated two chapters? ¡°¡­¡± It was a moment to truly appreciate the top-ss talent that the kid possessed. Chapter 29 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 29 29. Monster (3) Swoosh! A feather, shimmering with iridescent colors, was sliced from top to bottom. Mirsell bristled at the sight of the second feather disintegrating into dust. From noble mtl dote Honestly, I was skeptical at first, but as Hersel said, the feather was there. And there was even a faint, swirling sensation. ¡°At first, the energy felt shallow, but now I¡¯m starting to get a feel for it.¡± Mirsell closed his eyes and concentrated aura in his right hand. Then he recalled his conversation with Aiol. -In the Demon Realm, monsters ambush you at any time. Dad, have you ever been in danger? -Not really. There¡¯s a series of processes before entering. Like this. Mirsell pped his aura-filled palm onto the ground, just as Aiol had shown him. ¡°The magical energy is faint, but it reacts to aura and has the property of seeping into the ground,¡± he had said. He heightened his senses until he could feel a single grain of dust settling on the back of his hand. Then, from his palm, he felt the sensation of three thin threads. It felt exactly the same as the feather. ¡°Let¡¯s see, if the boss said there were five in total and I¡¯ve dealt with two, that leaves three. Fits perfectly, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Mirsell surveyed the areas where the lines had extended. One to the annex, two to the training grounds. And then, to the direction pointed by the thinnest thread of all. ¡®It¡¯s the farthest from here, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯ll deal with thatst. Time to go.¡¯ That ce was the servants¡¯ quarters, tucked away in a corner. * * * With so many people, it seems to take some time for the servants to evacuate. Still, there should be enough leeway, and once I reach the servants¡¯ quarters, there shouldn¡¯t be any danger. As I¡¯ve experienced in the game, it¡¯s a secluded spot, the furthest from any battle with the monster. And Mirsell, this admirable little one, who would have thought he¡¯d do so well? My once faint hopes have changed. ¡®¡­Oh no. Get ready, Hersel. It has started moving.¡¯ ¡°Already?¡± In urgency, I turned my head to keep watch over the mansion. Seeing the building gradually cracking, I realized how futile my recent relief was. I couldn¡¯t see the creature behind the wall, but the sound of the crumbling building let me guess it had somehow recovered. Boom©¤©¤©¤! How could it still be so vigorous after I¡¯ve drained all its venom¡­? Behind the fluttering curtain, the monster¡¯s red eyes glinted. It red at me murderously as it approached. ¡®The distance is close¡­ And your strength hasn¡¯t recovered yet. Do something, now!¡¯ I wish I could. But right now, without the strength to dodge, what proper move could there be¡­? Grrrr©¤ The monster growled like a beast as it charged. With its superhuman speed, all I could do was watch its fist swing at full force. Bang©¤©¤©¤! [A physical attack has been detected.] [A trait has been activated.] [1-second invincibility cooldown: 59 seconds] x That¡¯s it. Even if its right arm exploded into liquid, it hardly mattered. Because the left fist, already cocked for a follow-up blow, remained! Grrrrk! ¡°Hmm?¡± What¡¯s that sound? It seemed to be a voice tinged with agony¡­ But why is my head still stuck to my body? When I opened my tightly shut eyes, I was greeted by an astonishing sight. The brute who had tried to blow me up was clutching his portly belly with his left fist. Gagging¡­ He crumpled to the floor on his knees, his eyes contorted in pain. Then, from his mouth, he spewed a torrent of poison like a waterfall. Fortunately, it seemed the poison had finally taken effect, albeit btedly. Wary of the poison sshing, I stepped back, looking down at him. ¡­Anyway, did I manage to survive? * * * ¡°Look over there for a moment, please.¡± At the end of the group following Jack and Rodel, a butler pointed shakily in the direction where Gwejo and Hershel were. The crowd halted and murmured. Then, Jack and Rodel, who were at the front, walked back to the end to assess the situation. ¡°Why have we stopped all of a sudden? Why aren¡¯t you hurrying?¡± ¡°No, look over there.¡± ¡°Oh, really. What on earth is going on?¡± Jack¡¯s eyes, which had been squinting into the distance, widened in shock. ¡°Gasp!¡± The monster that had once terrorized the world was now on its knees, writhing in pain, spewing blood from its mouth. And there stood Hershel, looking down coldly at the creature, taking a step back. It was the perfect opportunity, given the monster¡¯s defenseless state, yet Jack¡¯s mouth hung open at Hershel¡¯s leisurely demeanor. ¡°Did the young master do this?¡± ¡°Ah, surely not¡­¡± Overhearing the men¡¯s conversation, Jack felt his head spinning. They were unaware of Hershel¡¯s strength. If he could raise Hershel¡¯s reputation now, it might benefit those who had bet on him. Having finished his calctions, Jack stroked his face with his hand and adopted a serious expression. ¡°Huh, so that was it. Yes, it wouldn¡¯t have been visible to the ordinary eye.¡± ¡°What? What do you mean? Invisible, what is?¡± ¡°If it were me, I would have seen it. The young master¡¯s lightning-fast punch.¡± At Jack¡¯s confident tone, the people around exchanged looks of disbelief. ¡°Talk sense. What kind of skill does the young master have?¡± At the butler¡¯s words, many nodded in agreement. Jack shrugged his shoulders at their unresponsive reaction. Then, Celly, who had been just watching, sighed with a reluctant expression and said, ¡°You¡¯ve all seen plenty of tricks. Even trying to kill him doesn¡¯t leave a scratch.¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°He was fine even after taking a kick from a warhorse.¡± ¡°And a stab wound.¡± The flow returned. Jack seized the momentum and drove the point home. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it! That¡¯s the proof of strength! It means the young master has reached the realm of indestructibility!¡± With bulging eyes, Jack pointed at the still bleeding monster and passionately eximed, ¡°Can¡¯t you see? Do you think the monster has some chronic illness? Even the drunks at the tavern wouldn¡¯t spout such nonsense! If you had anymon sense, you¡¯d think it¡¯s because of a powerful blow that he ended up like this!¡± One by one, people began to agree. The monster, once called a disaster, couldn¡¯t possibly have a stomach ache. ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s true.¡± ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for a heavy hit, that situation would be unexinable.¡± Jack smiled with satisfaction. However, the atmosphere he wanted didn¡¯tst long. The old butler shook with fear and chimed in. ¡°Now is not the time to be at ease¡­ We must move quickly. You haven¡¯t truly experienced his terror yet.¡± ¡°Mr. Harden, why again¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s not his true form. He just hasn¡¯t shown his ferocious teeth yet. So hurry up. Before the disaster strikes!¡± At the old butler¡¯s frightened words, people turned pale. The mood, which had been rising in favor of Hershel, suddenly deted. Jack, feeling it was blown, turned his back and spoke sharply. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go. Move it, move. Yes, we should listen to the one with experience.¡± Jack was nothing but annoying to the old butler. * * * I had taken a sufficient break. Arriving at the third location to buy time, I had just finished preparing. This ce was an arboretum filled with flowering trees. The precious tree flowers that should have been shown to the guests were crushed under the clothes of Aol that I had hung. Having ruined the flowers that were hard to see even for a price, I hoped the timer seal attached to the fabric would work well. [Rotational Magic Talisman] The attached object rotates. It can be torn and used, and the timing can be adjusted ording to the area of the paper. However, it is limited to light objects. It was an item that suppressed the action of force until the set time, then activated. ¡°Here ites.¡± ¡°Perfect timing, huh?¡± Hidden behind a rock, I shed a triumphant smile. I might just be able to end it here. Especially since the third barrier has just been erased. I shifted my gaze from the now fainter purple sky and focused on the monstrous bird. The third feather had vanished. The next phase was about to begin, as the conditions had been met. Gurgle- The scattered liquid gathered, forming a slender body this time. Arms transformed into wings, and it became aplete bird. ¡¾Phase II: The Nest Guardian¡¿ One must be wary here; if the aggro breaks even once, Mirsel will die. Now that more than half of the barriers are gone, a pattern to protect the feathers has been added. The creature no longer overlooks the presence of a saboteur trying to unlock the fence. I used to hand over the aggro to a tank character and get surprised by a game over every time I searched for the feathers. But now, it was different. This ce was stered with the scent of Aol, which it so desperately wanted to kill, and I was hidden behind a rock, invisible to the naked eye. Moreover, luckily, the timer seal was about to activate. With these conditions, Phase 2 was practically a giveaway. As I waited leisurely, one of the timer seals activated. Whirr! As a set of Aol¡¯s clothes spun in mid-air, the monstrous bird soared up with a p of its wings and pierced through with its sharp beak. Next, the clothes I had thrown into the bushes spun around, rustling. With a single wingbeat, the creature shot out sharp feathers. Whoosh whoosh whoosh! They were powerful enough to prate trees but not thick enough to pierce through the rock. Aol¡¯s clothes, scattered here and there, drew the creature¡¯s attention like a flying squirrel moving from branch to branch, shaking the twigs and bushes. Everything was going smoothly. The clothes were torn to shreds by its feathers, but the fourth barrier had just been erased, leaving only one more. And then, the creature¡¯s final form. ¡¾Phase III: The Diving Crow¡¿ The creature¡¯s body bubbled and boiled. Its sinews began to wriggle, its size grew, and its bulging muscles boasted their form. Havingpleted its transformation, it exerted so much force that its eyes bulged, and it let out a roar. Keeeeeaaah©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤! The eerie scream resonated to the bone. The final form boasted a power unlike any before, so much so that even wielding the ¡®Holy Sword¡¯ and controlling it wouldn¡¯t be enough to capture it. In front of this monster, seemingly created just to be fled from, my only option was to hold my breath and run away. But it wasn¡¯t always easy. The one consumed by rage seemed to have his intelligence heightened along with his fury, as the sharp wind pressure from his kicks alone was enough to sh all the trees here, shshsh! Even the rock I was leaning on. Shshshsh! As the wooded shelter turned into an open space in an instant, Donatan gasped in horror. ¡°¡­With that kind of force, he must have yed the role of andowner in the demon realm.¡± The monster loosened its neck with a breath. Crack! With my whole body exposed, I sprinted towards the monster. It too, with steps angry enough to cause an earthquake, charged at me with a menacing gait. Be it a punch or a kick, it didn¡¯t matter. I would burst its torso with a body m and then move to the next ce to buy time. Soon, thest barrier would disappear. If I could just squeeze out the recovered stamina and flee outside, it would be clear. Finally, the end was in sight. ¡°¡­¡­¡± But there was something strange about its eyes. The fierce gaze that seemed determined to tear me apart now appeared calm. Was it just my imagination? No, it wasn¡¯t a mistake. Thump! Instead of striking, it snatched my ankle and threw me into the sky with all its might. Whoosh! It had definitely learned. That it couldn¡¯t kill me with the usual methods. That¡¯s why it had used its head. ¡°Ah¡­¡­¡± As I pierced through the airyers and reached the peak altitude, the monster passed by me. Using the ceiling of the barrier as a fulcrum, it kicked off and then drove its feet, charged with recoil, into my stomach. Thud! In the blink of an eye, my body was mmed into the ground. Boom! [A physical attack has been detected.] [A trait has been activated.] [1-second invincibility cooldown: 59 seconds] I had to escape as quickly as possible and quickly got up. But as I realized where I hadnded, my mind went nk, and I couldn¡¯t move a step. Because I had fallen in front of the servants¡¯ dormitory. And it was also the ce where thest floating feather was. It had gathered everything it needed to protect, to kill, and to eat in one ce. Even I, who had retried countless times, had never experienced such an anomaly, and it sent shivers down my spine. ¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤Somehow, I felt that everything in my fate was going smoothly. Chapter 30 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 30 30. The Monstrous Bird (4) The monstrous bird that descended from the sky furrowed its red eyes and growled. ¡°Ah, ah¡­¡± The old butler clutched his head with both hands, recalling the most dreadful moment of his life. The day when the pitch-dark night turned as white as day. The pure white firestorm struck, and even the cathedral, said to be sturdily built, crumbled likeva. Those nearby began to melt from their flesh, soon even their bones dissolving. And there, in the center of the square, the monstrous bird chewed on the heads of people, young and old, indiscriminately, and I thought: There¡¯s no use hoping for mercy. It¡¯s a disaster without a concept of good or evil. There¡¯s no use hoping for help. For there¡¯s no human who could deal with such a thing in this world. ¡°¡­You¡¯vee, the demon of destruction, to im the life you couldn¡¯t take that day.¡± ¡°Oh, there goes that old man again.¡± Jack was just about to move the old butler by the arm. Thud! The monstrous bird, with a hand asrge as a pot lid, grabbed Hursel¡¯s ankle and flung him away. As his body flew and hit the ground, it rolled continuously like a pencil. Swish©¤©¤©¤ When he stopped amidst a cloud of dust, hey motionless as if dead. Blood even flowed from his forehead. Jack¡¯s eyes widened as he shouted. ¡°Young master!¡± Meanwhile, the monstrous bird raised its head and sucked in the air around it. Seeing this, the old butler spoke in a resigned voice. ¡°It¡¯s all over now. The firestorm will strike. A hellfire that will melt everything!¡± Whoosh! ck magic flickered around the monstrous bird. After a quick lunch at thepany cafeteria, I tapped away at myptop. It was a moment important enough to connect the gaming mouse and keyboard I brought from home. ¡°¡­Sir, you¡¯ve even brought those now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m about to take on a boss battle.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°If I die, I lose the save file and have to start all over. Gotta y seriously.¡± The scenario was at its midpoint. The characters¡¯ stats were at their current maximum. Truth be told, I was no novice, and advancing chapters wasn¡¯t particrly difficult. Yet, I was this tense, deploying my familiar gear for one challenge. ¡¾Phase III: The Diving Crow¡¿ Could I really beat this creature, designed by the creators to be unkible, with pure control? I wanted to prove it. Ratatatatata¡ª Click-click! ¡°Wow¡­ your hands are really fast.¡± The monster¡¯s punches, kicks, grabs. Even memorizing the patterns required reflexive responses that were challenging. What I did went beyond blocking¡ªit wasplete evasion. Aargh! Ah, I died. ¡°Oh my!¡± Despite showcasing possessed control, it was game over. Miranda, with a puzzled expression, asked, ¡°You were at full health, and you died from just oneser beam?¡± ¡°Thatst one was practically an instant death hit.¡± ¡°But you didn¡¯t get hit. You clearly dodged it properly? What kind of game is this?¡± Just as Miranda said, not a single pixel was hit. It was so obviously a bug that numerous yers hadined to the developers, but all that came back were absurd responses. [Breath is a superheated attack that melts everything around it. Even if you avoid a direct hit, being judged as dead is an intended feature, not a bug at all.] In simpler terms, it means this. [It¡¯s not made to kill you. It¡¯s made to kill you.] But still, setting the death judgment to a 180-degree radius? These people are insane¡­ ¡°What do you expect from a game made so sloppily?¡± From noble mtl dote He mmed theptop shut. Another failure. He was tidying up the area with a drained hand when a strange noise came from theptop speakers. ¡°Hershel!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°What are you doing? Snap out of it! Get up!¡± Startled, he blinked. [1-second invincibility cooldown: 39 seconds] When he opened his eyes, a system window popped up. Right, I¡¯ve be Hershel. Just before, I was smacked down by a monster during the cooldown. So, that just now was a shback¡­ no, more precisely, a fleeting illusion. ¡°Ah¡­ my head hurts. I thought I was dead, but I¡¯m alive?¡± ¡°You¡¯re alive thanks to rolling on the floor. But the shock was no joke.¡± His right eye was searing red. He wiped the blood from the corner of his eye and pushed himself up, his body aching all over. Even in such times, the trait ¡®Noble Blood¡¯s Last Ember¡¯ made him want to maintain a poised form, keeping his back straight. Which only made it more painful. ¡°Ugh! Even my ankle is gone.¡± ¡°Now¡¯s not the time to be whining, Hershel! Look over there!¡± At Donathan¡¯s warning, he looked at the monster. The air shimmered around it, and its swollen chest was a sight all too familiar. Crazy¡­ it was preparing to unleash its Breath. I¡¯m going crazy. With a chest that swollen, a breath attack will be imminent. My heart shrank as I alternated nces between the monster and the system window. [1-second invincibility cooldown: 29 seconds] Given the state, it¡¯ll fire in about 20 seconds. There¡¯s not enough time for the invincibility to reactivate. ¡®But what about Mircelle? I thought she¡¯d be here by now.¡¯ ¡®Look up at 7 o¡¯clock.¡¯ I looked past the monster at the dormitory for the performers. Mircelle was perched on the top window frame, ready to leap at any moment. Thest feather floated about 15 meters high, necessitating the need to climb. Snap! I pointed at the monster. Then at myself. Next, Mircelle. And finally, the feather. It was the hand signal I sent ¨C after the breath is fired, sh the feather and run. Mircelle seemed to understand, nodding with aplex expression. [1-second invincibility cooldown: 15 seconds] ¡°Huff-¡° I sighed while looking at the monster, its mouth brimming with magical energy. What can I do to buy time right now? There has to be something¡­ As I wracked my brain, a metallic object suddenly flew, shing as it cut through the air. ng! It was a helmet. The helmet struck the monster¡¯s head and bounced off. ¡°Hey, you senile old fool! I¡¯m not nning to die doing nothing like you! Got it? I¡¯m going to make my own luck before I go!¡± It was Jack¡¯s voice. He threw his steel gauntlet at the monster and yelled loudly towards the dormitory. ¡°Is everyone just going to stand around like this useless old man? Toiling away to earn money here, only to never spend it? You don¡¯t like that either, do you? Then throw something, anything! Who knows? You might end up blinding someone in the eye!¡± ¡°¡­¡­Do you have some sort of grudge against me?¡± ¡°Quiet!¡± Perhaps Jack¡¯s words had some effect. ¡°It¡¯s not that! Do you know how much money I¡¯ve saved up!¡± Led by the furious face of Selly, everything from knives and shields to ss bottles and dolls rained down like a shower from the dormitory windows towards the monster. ¡°Ouch!¡± Someone threw a shoe at my head. It felt intentional, but I¡¯ll let it slide just this once. Thanks to that, I earned another turn. [1-second invincibility cooldown: 1 second] ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ [1-second invincibility cooldown: avable] The monster, ring at the dormitory, opened its mouth wide. Inside its beak, apleted orb of white light boasted its heat. It was ready to fire its breath. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re pointing that snout?¡± I taunted the monster with a sneer, my coat draped over my shoulders as it looked towards the dormitory. ¡°Wasn¡¯t that prepared just for me?¡± The monster red this way, its eyes wide open, and with a roar, it unleashed the light. Kiiiiiiiiiiing©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Wasn¡¯t white light the color of mes at their hottest? As the foreground turned white, Mircel cut thest feather. That was all I saw. Then, a light hot enough to melt even steelpletely engulfed my vision. [A physical attack has been detected.] [A trait has been activated.] [Invincible for 1 Second: 59 Seconds Remaining] Whoosh! After the inferno passed, I emerged from the dense smoke, my clothes melted away, covering my bare body with the coat that had clung to my back. As I casually fastened the buttons, my hand slipped. It was because of the blood that had smeared while wiping my forehead. ¡®¡­How peculiar. I thought I¡¯d get hurt even from a mere p, but to be unscathed by a truly dangerous strike.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s not omnipotent, after all.¡¯ Anyway, it¡¯s a situation where I¡¯ve used up the extra life I received as a bonus. The barrier is down, and all that¡¯s left is to escape outside, but I wonder if that¡¯s really possible. ording to the original n, I was supposed to take them to the next ce to buy time and look for an opportunity to escape. ¡°Hmm.¡± At least one positive aspect is that I¡¯ve instilled in the monster the belief that neither brute force nor its most powerful finishing move, the Breath, have any effect on me. What will it do now? I¡¯ve heard that wild beasts tend to ignore creatures they can¡¯t hunt, like tough armadillos, and simply pass them by. It would be nice if it acted that way in this situation¡­ Unfortunately, it was a vain hope. Snap! The monster approached me without hesitation, drooling. Its gaze, like that of a predator eyeing its prey, filled me with unease. I tried to appear calm, hiding the turmoil inside as I ignited the ¡®Noble Blood¡¯s Last Ember.¡¯ ¡°Why? Do I look that tasty to you? Go on, take a big bite. If you want to break your beak, that is.¡± Was my bluffpletely ineffective? The monster seemed to find me amusing, letting out a bizarreugh. Kekekeke! A chill ran down my spine, and cold sweat broke out. The crescent shape of its eyes seemed to say, ¡®You¡¯re edible, aren¡¯t you?¡¯ At that moment, a single streak of bright red rain reflected in my right retina. Drip! The sound of droplets hitting the ground made me cautiously roll my eyes. Countless red dots began to appear on the floor. The blood that flowed from the wound I got when I rolled on the ground earlier was mine. ¡­To bleed in front of that thing? Before the monster, I, who had seemed invincible, ended up showing my bleeding self. The implications were significant. The creature might not know about the ¡®1-second invincibility,¡¯ but like a wild beast, its sense to discern an enemy¡¯s weakness must be exceptionally developed. By now, it must have thought of me as meat ready to be tenderized. And my fleeing after taking a hit must have looked suspicious too. My heart pounded, leaving me breathless. [1-second invincibility cooldown: 23 seconds] While I was looking at the system window, the monster opened its beak wide. Even then, knowing I couldn¡¯t escape, I moved my trembling legs. It followed me with a slow stride, its beak still agape, as if to mock me. Kee-ah-ah-keh-keh! As I stumbled backward, dizziness clouded my mind, and consciousness began to fade. Was it anemia? Yet, why did the pain in my ankle feel so vivid? ¡­Honestly, I just want some relief now. It¡¯s a miracle I¡¯vested this long in the body of a sunfish. But my pride wouldn¡¯t allow me to just drift away, so I clenched my fist. I thought, since I¡¯m going to die anyway, I might as well not go down pathetically to a monster I¡¯ve killed countless times. ¡°Huff!¡± It was the moment I tried to punch its beak. The surroundings were engulfed in a white light. The light lingered only for a blink of an eye. Boom! Then, as if thunder cracked in a clear sky, it roared. My half-closed eyes gradually widened, and soon, I opened them in shock. Before me now stood a man, who knows when he appeared, holding the monster by the neck, standing tall. Kee-ek! ¡°You¡¯ve really wrecked the ce, haven¡¯t you?¡± At the sound of a voice that seemed familiar, I realized that the recent thunder was certainly not a mere natural phenomenon. It might be hard to believe, but the man before me could make it possible. He was a man who had stepped into a realm of powerparable to nature itself, with extreme speed, strength, and skill all fused into one. ¡°¡­¡­¡± He turned his head, and though it was slight, he revealed his neat upper teeth as he looked my way. ¡°Hershel, I¡¯ve seen you again.¡± Aplex charisma emanated from his voice. In an atmosphere that was overwhelming yetforting, I closed my tired eyes with a reverent heart. The man among the strongest in the Asares worldview. Aol Ben Tenest. With his return to the mansion, there was nothing more for me to do. Chapter 31 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 31 31. The Finale (1) ¡°Your, Your Grace¡­?¡± Jack uttered the title of his master in a low voice, surprised, while the servants stood frozen, not blinking an eye. At that moment, a gaunt old man yanked Jack¡¯s ear. ¡°Ouch! What, what is this!¡± ¡°Ugh, you rascal. What has be of the mansion? Half of it is gone!¡± ¡°Gasp! Sir Coulro.¡± Coulro, themander of the Tenest family¡¯s knights. As he red disapprovingly, Jack flinched as if seeing a ghost, then dabbed at his tears and rubbed his hands together pleadingly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sir Coulro. Ah, my ear will really be torn off. Please, just this once, forgive me, yes?¡± ¡°Hmm, should I tear it offpletely? Lately, the soldiers have be toozy. Taking an ear might serve as a lesson.¡± ¡°Eek!¡± Coulro chuckled as if satisfied and let go of the ear. ¡°Just joking. I didn¡¯t expect much, really. There¡¯s no way you could handle such a monster. It¡¯s a miracle that you¡¯ve survived this much, and that half the mansion is still standing.¡± It was indeed close to a miracle. As soon as I set foot in the domain, I saw the circr violet barrier that enveloped the mansion, and by the time I hurriedly arrived, it had just crumbled. ¡®It would have been a perilous situation if I had been even a bitte. But this is strange. Who could have broken the barrier?¡¯ I was pondering the events when I harbored this doubt. Then, something fell to the ground with a thud, and dust rose up. Ssssssh! Coulro twitched his eyebrows as he watched the grotesque creature Aoal had thrown onto the floor. ¡®The fact that this monster has revealed its true form means that the seal has been broken for quite some time¡­¡¯ A hungry monster wouldn¡¯t have just sat idly by after being released. Then, someone must have confronted it; there¡¯s no other exnation. ¡®Could it be that a powerful guest had stayed at the mansion?¡¯ Considering the barrier was undone, it wasn¡¯t just any ordinary human. Coulro looked around, searching for anyone who might have faced off against the grotesque creature. The only one near the creature was Hersel, who had copsed midway. ¡®¡­It seems he fainted at the mere sight of the grotesque creature.¡¯ Of course, that trashy young master couldn¡¯t have been the one. There was one person that came to mind, but the little master was far too young. Then, who could it have been? ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re here?¡± Mirsel greeted him with a wave, limping along. ¡°Oh, little master. But what happened to your leg?¡± ¡°Just, you know, it hurts after jumping from a high ce.¡± Coulro sighed deeply, reminded of thedy of the house. Managing the soldiers was ultimately the responsibility of the Knight Commander. Though he had been away in the demon realm for a while, with Mirsel injured, she wouldn¡¯t let it slide easily. ¡°Ah, looks like I¡¯ll have to reprimand the soldiers again. Anyway, good you¡¯re here. Come, take a seat. We¡¯re about to watch something interesting, might as well view it from the best spot.¡± The grotesque creature bristled its feathers, shedding tears of blood filled with resentment towards Aoal. The hatred for the seal was so intense, the magical energy was palpable, sending shivers down one¡¯s skin. In the meantime, Mirsel, who had plopped down next to Coulro, asked with a puzzled look. ¡°Grandpa, don¡¯t you need to help?¡± ¡°Eh? Help?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t just Dad who sealed it, right? You and the knights did it together.¡± Coulro chuckled at the needless worry. If he was like an unrefined gemstone during the first subjugation, now he was akin to a finished master sword. Meanwhile, the grotesque creature¡¯s time had remained frozen in ce since that day. ¡°When I first fought that thing, the duke was about 22 years old, wasn¡¯t he? If someone who has lived more than twice as long since then thinks the past is the same, they¡¯re greatly mistaken.¡± Aol lightly fiddled with the sword handle hanging at his waist. Kowlo narrowed his eyes, focusing on his hand. ¡°Pay close attention from now on. That¡¯s the sword the young master so dearly wanted to keep.¡± ¡°¡­That stance, it¡¯s the lightning quick draw. I could do that too, you know?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be arrogant, just watch carefully. Realbat is nothing like what you¡¯ve been shown for teaching.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± It was the moment Mirsel watched Aol¡¯s hand with a sullen face. Click- As the metallic sound rang out clearly, the monster¡¯s head slid off at an angle. It didn¡¯t even realize its neck had been severed, its body still charging towards Aol. Swoosh- The monster¡¯s limp body tumbled down, sweeping across the ground. In light of the situation, Kowlo wore a pleased expression. Despite the bewildered look on Mirsel¡¯s face, his pupils were dted. ¡°How about it? Did the young master see it?¡± ¡°I only saw the sword being drawn and sheathed. It was as if there was no middle process¡­¡± Kowlo¡¯s lips curled up at the honest answer given with a bruised ego. ¡°Yes, but you saw that much at least.¡± ¡°No, but the sword wasn¡¯t even within striking distance. How did you cut its neck from there?¡± From noble mtl dote ¡°Well, that¡¯s for you to ponder on your own. You¡¯ll only improve by thinking and struggling with it yourself.¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s so petty.¡± Kowlo pouted his lips, grumbling as he left Mirsel behind and stood up. Aol was holding the monster¡¯s head, heading towards the basement. He had the key, so he would seal it away himself. ¡°Hmm, that should settle things for now.¡± Then suddenly, a forgotten question crossed Kowlo¡¯s mind. ¡°Ah, right. Young master, has there been any elusive guest staying here? Perhaps a renowned swordsman?¡± ¡°A guest? A swordsman?¡± ¡°There must have been someone who fought that monster. Given the damage to the barrier, it wasn¡¯t just any ordinary person.¡± Mirsel pointed at himself with a finger. ¡°Was it me who broke the barrier?¡± Cowulo¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°What, what do you mean?¡± ¡°I just cut the feather because Big Bro said the barrier would disappear. It was Big Bro who fought the monster.¡± ¡°Tch! Even if you¡¯re a young master, it¡¯s no good to fool an old man!¡± ¡°Ah, whatever.¡± With a mix of annoyance, Mirsel turned his back. Cowulo, standing at attention, turned to Jack with one eye rounded in question. ¡°You answer instead.¡± Jack flinched and stuttered. ¡°Mi, Mirsel Young Master¡¯s words are all true.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Cowulo¡¯s expression turned grave. Only a soldier wishing for death would dare lie in front of the Knight Commander. Jack, who was crazy about dreams of wealth and glory, certainly didn¡¯t fit the bill. ¡°Excuse me, Sir Cowulo. But shouldn¡¯t we be taking care of Young Master Hursel right now?¡± Jack spoke cautiously. Following his trailing words, Cowulo doubted his ears. ¡°He¡¯s in critical condition after taking a direct hit from the Breath¡­¡± He took a Breath¡­ and survived? Cowulo stared into the distance, far beyond the half-destroyed estate. Originally, behind the Tenest, arge mountain stood proudly. But now, it was as if the sun had taken a huge bite out of it, withva bubbling and thend ttened, the mountain was too devastated to even be called one. ¡®That rascal survived that¡­ something even a duke would die from?¡¯ Faced with the absurd, Cowulo gaped in disbelief. * * * The smell of disinfectant stung his nose. His body was covered in a white fabric that allowed for venttion. These were the first things he noticed as he opened his eyes in bed. ¡°Are you awake?¡± Selly, who had been sitting in the chair, greeted and closed the book. ¡°How long have I been asleep?¡± ¡°A full day and a half.¡± ¡°Really? Well, at least I¡¯m alive.¡± I should have been happy for this unexpected fortune, but I felt dazed. I never imagined that Aol, who was supposed to arrive in two days, woulde so soon. If reality is too disconnected, it seems to numb the mind. Who would have thought it woulde to this? To think that a scene I¡¯ve only seen in game cutscenes would y out before my eyes¡­ Putting my sentiments aside, I looked at the clock. 9 o¡¯clock. It was ate morning. ¡°I should get up now.¡± ¡°Wait, just a moment. Your ankle is still¡ª¡± ¡°Ah!¡± I copsed back down as if my ankle had been struck by a hammer. This was bad; it was dangerous to be like this. Today was thest day of the festival, the most dangerous time, what should I do? ¡°Don¡¯t worry and rest well, young master. Uncle Jack and Rodel are keeping watch outside. Besides, the Grand Duke himself is right here in the house, who would dare to do anything foolish?¡± ¡°Ah, right. That was the case.¡± The festival was supposed to end when Aol returned, not at a set time. So, is the festival really ending like this? For the past two and a half months, I have¡­ ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel real.¡± ¡°Actually, I feel the same way. I never thought you would hold out, young master.¡± ¡°Selly.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard too.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Selly twirled around. Was she trying to hide her expression? Well, this little one must have had her share of hardships where I couldn¡¯t see. ¡°What is it?¡± Just then, the curtain fluttered. Selly closed the window against the iing smell of gunpowder. ¡°More importantly, there¡¯s been a rather surprising event that I feel I must tell you about.¡± What could be more surprising here? I rxed and nodded my head. ¡°Well¡­¡± The story Selly was telling would certainly be quite the gossip among the servants. Last night, thedy of the house returned. Daysel and Erusel followed a bitter. But as Daysel was greeting thedy at the front gate, there¡­ ¡°Thedy pped Master Daysel¡¯s cheek. The sound was so loud, even the maids far away looked over.¡± It was a trivial matterpared to the grotesque, but it was no ordinary event. Daysel has been persistently eyeing the position of the next family head. And thedy has been supporting such a son. Yet, she pped Daysel. Overtly, in front of the onlookers. ¡°So, where is he now?¡± ¡°Well¡­ He just left with his cheek all red.¡± Running away from home, is it? A bted teenage rebellion? ¡°Oh, and just a moment.¡± Selly, remembering something she had forgotten, made a face and quickly stepped outside. When she returned, she wasden with baskets hanging from her arms. Not just once, but several times. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°People wanted me to pass these on to you. They said it¡¯s a token of gratitude?¡± Inside the basket, there was an assortment from food to books that smelled of newness. ¡°Surely it¡¯s not poisoned? Or perhaps the book is cursed?¡± ¡°Hardly. As I mentioned before, the Grand Duke is also present.¡± Is that so? They¡¯re serious about this? ¡°Those who once struggled to kill are now impressively changing their stance. Trying to look good now that Daycell seems to be losing power? Despicable lot.¡± My mood soured as I spoke, and Selly narrowed her eyes in disdain. ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°You think you ended up like this because of your attitude?¡± ¡°Not at all. Why would you think that?¡± Her feigned ignorance was irritating. I covered myself with the nket and shook my hands dismissively. ¡°Enough. My head is throbbing, so please leave.¡± ¡°Get well soon.¡± After Selly left, I closed my eyes and sank into thought. It was time to recall the issues I had pushed aside until now. Having been desperate just to survive, I now ask myself. ¡°What should I do from now on?¡± ¡°Learn swordsmanship with this body.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± ¡­That¡¯s right, I was supposed to go to the academy. Not a bad starting line. The ce was like an incubator for yable characters with narratives about bing stronger. The academy existed because there were those like Dellerger who were high-spec from the start, and those who were not. You know the type. Heroes who take their first step in learning to be knights or wizards. ¡°Indeed, there¡¯s no better ce than there to turn a sunfish into a person.¡± ¡°I was aware of that.¡± ¡°Quiet. I¡¯m going to sleep now, so don¡¯t disturb me.¡± Of course, my favorite part was this. The narrative difficulty was rtively easy, so it was safe. If it were anywhere but that ce among the five academies. * * * ¡°Ah, no¡­ Ah.¡± ¡°Ahem, good evening, Madam. What brings you here at thiste hour?¡± I was awakened by the noise outside the door. It was still the middle of the night. I said to Jack and Rodel as if it was nothing, ¡°Tell them toe in.¡± It was timely. I had something I wanted to ask thendy anyway. And it was about time to sort out that damned bad luck. Chapter 32 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 32 32. The Curtain Falls (2) The first thing I saw when the door opened was a bouquet of flowers. ¡°Out of ce as it is, have youe for a sick visit?¡± Thendy smiled faintly and approached the empty bottle to ce the bouquet. ¡°Unfortunately, it¡¯s not a get-well bouquet.¡± I could have just given it without a word, but I frowned at the thorny words. Because the expression of regret sounded only like ament for a wreath not meant for condolences. In the midst of my fierce re, thendy parted her lips. ¡°Congrattions, Hershel. You¡¯ve won.¡± ¡­Was the bouquet a wreath? It was all the same, a unt of victory, so I didn¡¯t soften my expression. ¡°I didn¡¯t let you in to receive congrattions from you. First, take a seat?¡± As thendy sat down, I recalled the things I had been pondering alone. Topics that had been put on the back burner while surviving the disaster. I wanted to hear a clear answer about who had released the monster and where the key hade from. The usible guesses were over, and while it was highly likely, I needed to ask to confirm. ¡°The ck Swan of Grudge. Who released that monster?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Thendy silently met my gaze. That alone was a sufficient answer, and I uttered the name of the culprit who caused this situation. ¡°Daisell, I presume.¡± ¡°Why do you think so?¡± ¡°The only ones who could pull off such a feat are you or Daisell, and the twins were here. It couldn¡¯t have been you, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Silence again. This woman is not answering because there¡¯s nothing beneficial for her son in this. She must have disposed of all the evidence while I was down. ¡°Well, never mind that. What I¡¯m curious about is how the monster was released. Where did the keye from? You seem like you would know. Am I wrong?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s about that.¡± The hostess lifted her head, and the source of the key she revealed was somewhat unexpected. ¡°It¡¯s from the Schweik family. Something about their overconfidence seemed suspicious, so after some investigation, I managed to get my hands on it.¡± Naturally, I had assumed the source of the key to be the ¡®Guardians of the Shadows,¡¯ the enemies of the yer characters. After all, the key used by the Guardians of the Shadows was a duplicate, so it wouldn¡¯t be strange if there was another counterfeit. ¡°The pieces are falling into ce. Originally, it was meant to be discarded. But then various things happened, and the key ended up in Daisell¡¯s hands¡­¡­¡± As I spoke, I realized with a shiver that I had obtained the key from Heinrich. He was prepared for war; he wouldn¡¯t have handed it over so easily. I don¡¯t know what means he used. But the process must have involved exceptional skill, and it certainly wasn¡¯t ordinary. Eager to sever ties with this woman as soon as possible, I brought up the words I had prepared in a calm tone. ¡°Let¡¯s stop the questioning here. How about we propose a good agreement to each other now, what do you say?¡± ¡°An agreement¡­¡­?¡± The hostess chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s why I find Hassel amusing. There¡¯s always something interestingly different about your reactions.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re going to mock me, then don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Mock you? Surely not. Alright, let¡¯s hear it then.¡± As the hostess leaned in, I took a deep breath and said, ¡°I have no intention of taking the head¡¯s seat. Let your brilliant son have it or do whatever he wants with it.¡± For a moment, the hostess¡¯s eyes flickered. It must have been an unexpected deration. Before I entered this body, it was clear that Hershel would have been desperate for the position of n leader. Suddenly, he wants to step down? Even I would be momentarily brain-dead at such news. ¡°Why do you say such things so easily?¡± ¡°Well.¡± Hershel had survived under this woman since his childhood. This lends credibility to the assumption that the reason for the assassination wasn¡¯t personal vendetta. It¡¯s simply to remove any obstacles in his son¡¯s path from now on. If so, taking away my motive to target him would suffice. ¡°Let¡¯s be honest. You could have killed me by now, couldn¡¯t you? Yet you didn¡¯t. Seeing how rxed you are, it seems you¡¯ll continue to be a nuisance. Right? But I don¡¯t want to deal with each and every one personally.¡± And because sitting in that position would be useless for survival in the future. ¡°There are many reasons. In fact, I wanted that position to gain the power to punish you. But as I grew older, I realized it¡¯s impossible.¡± I had a vague suspicion before, but now I¡¯m certain. I can¡¯t imagine executing a woman who can toy with even Schweik at will. ¡°Even if it were possible, I wouldn¡¯t want to. I don¡¯t want to see the twins whining about not having a mother. It would be too noisy.¡± The resentment of the little ones was too much to bear. ¡°So it¡¯s just a bothersome affair. I never wanted that position just to take on menial tasks.¡± Asares is not some estate cultivation game. In my position, needing to ensure the scenario flows well, the position of n leader is merely a shackle that ties me to one ce. ¡°To put it briefly, it¡¯s meaningless, so I¡¯ll step down.¡± There might have been some embellishment, but those words were sincere. However, the situation is so sudden that this woman will find it hard to believe. From now on, my task is to add credibility to my im. ¡°It sounds usible, but it¡¯s a bit hard to believe.¡± ¡°You would think so. But do you know? Words are fascinating. Depending on the timing, their weight changes.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The hostess blinked, perhaps understanding my meaning. Had I said this before, it would have been dismissed as ttery, mere nonsense. But now, after the festival, it sounds different. ¡°Think of it simply. I¡¯m stepping off the racehorse, right at the finish line. Of course, I don¡¯t n to hand it over just like that.¡± I didn¡¯t stop there; to drive the point home, I grabbed the paper and pen on the desk. And so, with a flourish, I boldly wrote down the number. It wasn¡¯t out of selfish greed, but rather to add credibility to my argument. Certainly not out of any dark desire. With pure sincerity. Staking my endlessly clear soul. ¡°Hmm.¡± Judging by the expression, it seems eptable. From noble mtl dote Let¡¯s add just one more zero. ¡°The inheritance should be about this much. You can give it when your oh-so-great son takes his ce.¡± ¡°Hershel.¡± ¡­Was ten times too much? At the sharp call, I almost erased a number, but then thedy of the house looked into my eyes as if peering deep within. ¡°What on earth happened to you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± It¡¯s disconcerting to be asked so abruptly. Especially since this woman seemed to faintly sense that the essence within this body wasn¡¯t truly Hershel. Yet, I smirked, using the words I¡¯d heard in the past as an excuse. -They say people don¡¯t change, but I don¡¯t believe that. Especially men, who can change so much in just three days that it¡¯s remarkable. Compared to that, acquiring a taste for tomatoes you never liked or changing your preference in tea are just minor changes. ¡°You said I¡¯ve changed. As you can see.¡± With that, a flicker of intrigue crossed thedy¡¯s housekeeper¡¯s eyes. ¡°But you¡¯re still greedy for money. It would have been nice if that had changed too¡­¡± ¡­Is it just me, or did that sound like she¡¯s calling me Hershel? * * * The doctor said my leg would fully heal within a week. Two dayster, able to walk, I limped out of the annex. I had only wanted to get some fresh air, but the smell of gunpowder was so strong it made me cough. ¡°Cough!¡± Where the st had swept through, the mes had melted everything into a in. The grand mansion, and even the art gallery thedy of the house cherished, were all reduced to mere ashes. Still, my own residence was unharmed, so I suppose I was lucky. Or was I, really? For the time being, Aol, who had nowhere to go, and thendy decided to stay in the annex where I was staying, along with her children. ¡°Young master.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°You nned this, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°What are you talking about.¡± ¡°The annex is perfectly fine.¡± I shook my head at Selly¡¯s baseless usation. In reality, my private annex was thest ce I had bought time. To think they dared to see me, who was prepared to sacrifice it all, as such a petty person. ¡°Quiet. We¡¯re short on hands as it is, why don¡¯t you go and help out?¡± ¡°I was just about to, considering the looks I was getting.¡± Rolling up her sleeves, Selly ran towards the group of servants clearing the debris. I aimlessly wandered the pitifully ruined grounds and then sat down on a suitable rock. And once again, I went over the things that had been settled. The agreement with thendy went smoothly. Except for one demand she insisted on, nothing else had changed. The added use was that if I changed my word midway, everything would revert to as if it never happened. It was a wait-and-see approach. Still, I said it was smooth because my decision would not change. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ve secured the retirement funds.¡± What¡¯s left is to prepare for the academy. It didn¡¯t take long to decide whether to focus on the sword or magic for my career path. ¡°¡­After all, magic is the only thing I need to learn.¡± Preferences and whatnot, there was no inclination or choice. The core of my being is in a broken state. There was never a choice to begin with. It wasn¡¯t a decision, but apulsion, yet Donatan seemed displeased with the vision I had painted. ¡®It¡¯s hard to ept. You are the incarnation of the Wall Thunder, and you¡¯ve made a pact with me, who served the Sword Saint. And yet, you intend to learn mere trifles?¡¯ ¡®If you¡¯re dissatisfied, why don¡¯t you fix the core?¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s an impossibility.¡¯ Tired of hearing such talk without an alternative, I decided to ignore it, but Donatan persisted annoyingly. ¡°So, how about grooming your physique? Even if bing an Aura Knight is too much, you could wipe out all those beneath. I¡¯ll make sure of it.¡± ¡°Are you suggesting I be a worm¡¯s head?¡± ¡°At least aim to be a snake¡¯s head.¡± Enough, let¡¯s not talk anymore. I stopped the meaningless conversation and looked up at the sky. While admiring the moment of sunset, I turned my head towards the sound of footsteps. Mirsel and Niasel were limping towards me. ¡°Brother, what are you doing there? Dad¡¯s looking for you.¡± ¡°Looking for me? What for?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know the details. Anyway, let¡¯s go back together.¡± Somehow, I felt uneasy. No, ¡®ufortable¡¯ would be the more urate term. Suddenly finding myself possessed by this body. Even knowing who Aol is, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to call someone I have no memories of raising me ¡®father¡¯. That was also the reason I wandered around with a body not yet healed. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go back together.¡± Once again, without a choice, I led Mirsel and Niasel back to the annex. The servants working in between looked at us and whispered. It seems the sight of all three of us limping was quite a spectacle. * * * ¡°Eruzel. Carry me.¡± In front of the annex stairs. It was to the passing mythical steed, Eruzel, that I had spoken. ¡°Brother, please climb up yourself. What kind of unbing behavior for a noble are you suggesting?¡± He defended himself as if the idea was preposterous. I, who had initiated the challenge, attacked him point by point. ¡°My ankle hurts. So, carry me up.¡± ¡°No!¡± Eruzel resisted once again. But with just a bit more pressure, it seems it would crumble. ¡°Just squatting in my house and you can¡¯t even do that, you¡¯re truly useless.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, the soldiers¡­¡± ¡°The soldiers are outside breaking their backs clearing debris, and you think they should keep you fed while you do nothing?¡± Erusel twitched his facial muscles and sweated. I ignited the mental attack ¡®Noble Remnant of Blood¡¯ and looked down on him like trash. He soon sighed and raised the white g. ¡°Ah, stop talking. Just carry me.¡± ¡°The destination is the reception room where my father is said to be.¡± ¡°Ugh, it¡¯s the top floor. You beast¡­¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything.¡± I mounted the noble steed Erusel and headed towards the new gateway. Chapter 33 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 33 33. The End (3) Dealing with a family that appeared out of nowhere is no easy task. Fortunately, the fact that thedy of the house was a stepmother meant I could bare my teeth and be done with it, and the siblings were not too difficult to deal with, as I could treat them with the affection one would a niece or nephew. ¡°Heck¡­ Heck¡­ I was just resting from training, I feel like I¡¯m going to die. I¡¯ll support you if you need, so pleasee down.¡± ¡°Stay strong, Erusel. We¡¯re not far from the top floor.¡± But the existence called ¡®father¡¯ is different, isn¡¯t it? I had a real father, and calling aplete stranger ¡®father¡¯ felt sinful. It would have been easier if he had been as harsh as thedy of the house, but he wasn¡¯t detestable enough to be a bystander at the festival, let alone a stepfather. ¡°Hmm.¡± If it had been reincarnation, there would have been a time to adapt and ept. But I, who had not been reborn, was not yet ready in my heart, so the steps I climbed felt heavy. Yet, I had my own business to attend to, and I couldn¡¯t avoid this ufortable encounter forever. As I gathered my thoughts and resolved firmly, I arrived at the top floor. ¡°Phew, it was quite tough getting here¡­¡± ¡°Heave¡­ Heave¡­ It was really tough.¡± ¡°Not you, me.¡± As Erusel copsed in the corridor, an aged voice was heard. ¡°Tsk, tsk, still tormenting your younger sibling, I see.¡± To denigrate brotherly affection in such a manner. Annoyed, I furrowed my brow. But the moment I saw the gaunt old man before me, my anger was tempered, returning to an expressionless state. Knight Commander Kowlo. The next strongest in the world after Aol. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Not knowing how to deal with such a man, I kept silent for the moment. However, since he initiated the conversation, I couldn¡¯t stay quiet forever. For now, I wisely observed Erusel, biding my time. ¡°Ugh, my lord, I feel like I¡¯m dying. Sir Kowlo¡­¡­¡± ¡°Tsk, you think I¡¯m taking your side? As always, the third young master is too much of a drama queen. Ah, get up already!¡± Kowlo kicked Erusel¡¯s behind lightly. Indeed, even if one is part of the family, he is still the Knight Commander. And a terribly strong human at that, so even if it were Hersel, he would have been treated with some respect. Then, I too should y along appropriately. ¡°You look robust, Sir Kowlo. You¡¯ll live a long life.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Was my greeting, mixed with well-wishes, too forward? His eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Ah, ah¡­ Well, yes. The first young master seems to have recovered quite a bit from his injuries.¡± ¡°Then, I have matters to attend to, so I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± Worried about making more blunders, I tried to continue on my way. But Kowlo narrowed his eyes and cautioned me. ¡°Be careful, the Duke is in a very bad mood right now, so don¡¯t rub him the wrong way. Don¡¯t make a mistake.¡± ¡°Did something unpleasant happen to my father?¡± ¡°Hmm, the second young master has left home, so it¡¯s natural for him to be upset. Plus, there¡¯s the matter of the treasures in the basement. Seems like the beast devoured them all, adding insult to injury, he¡¯s quite furious.¡± Damn, that¡¯s not good news. Feeling the tension rise, I pretended to be in more pain and walked away slowly. * * * With a puzzled face, Kowulo watched Hersel¡¯s retreating back and then turned to Eruzel with a question. ¡°Have I grown so old that I¡¯m going deaf? That insolent fellow¡¯s words, surely I must have heard wrong?¡± ¡°Just as you heard,¡± Eruzel replied. ¡°What, what did you say?¡± Eruzel didn¡¯t seem to be lying. Kowulo, shocked by the turn of events, stepped back without realizing it. ¡®Polite words from that brazen mouth?¡¯ Suchpliments were theplete opposite of what he was used to hearing. Hersel usually called him ¡®a blustering old man, a frothy elder,¡¯ so it was no wonder Kowulo was surprised. ¡°To see something this bizarre in my lifetime. What on earth has been happening?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not quite sure of the details, but it seems his mind has been rather unsettledtely,¡± Eruzel said, massaging his trembling legs. ¡°But don¡¯t let your guard down, Sir Kowulo. His vile nature remains unchanged. He¡¯s still a dark-hearted scoundrel. I will certainly¡­¡± Kowulo nodded at Eruzel¡¯s words, filled with distant anger. There was no other way to exin the situation except that the man had gone mad. ¡®Yes, that must be it. I thought I had missed a gem, but there¡¯s no reward for waiting¡­¡¯ He had stayed put until Hersel arrived to assess his discretion as a knight. And yet, it seemed his personality had changed a bit. But the essence appeared to be the same as ever. ¡°Well, this has its own way of being amusing,¡± Kowulo mused. He smirked as he watched Hersel enter the reception room. Indeed, if he entered the academy in such a state, it would be interesting to see what would unfold. * * * Upon entering the reception room, the first thing that caught his eye was the two sses and a bottle of liquor on the table. Aol, seated at the head of the table, looked at the cab full of liquor bottles and began to speak. ¡°Not much has changed since my time.¡± This ce was originally the annex where Aol had lived before bing the head of the family. Now, he was expressing his nostalgia out loud. I greeted him first. ¡°Did you call for me, Father?¡± While I inwardly hesitated to call him ¡®father,¡¯ voicing it out loud proved to be surprisingly easy, perhaps due to the ¡®noble remnants of blood¡¯ within me. ¡°Take a seat.¡± Aiol pointed to the spot where the ss was ced. The atmosphere suggested a drink together. For someone who had resolved to quit, it was an unwee situation. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m abstaining from alcohol.¡± To my honest reply, Aiol blinked. ¡°That¡¯s indeed a good thing.¡± He seemed subtly pleased as he poured himself another drink. Chink-chink¡ª One ss, then two. He kept drinking alone. Until the bottle was empty¡­ Pop! That was when he uncorked the second bottle. Watching him drink in silence, I wondered if I had made some mistake. His mouth, which felt so heavy, finally opened. ¡°Do you resent me?¡± His voice was calm and deep. The ambiguous question from the start made my head spin. Was he talking about a friction I was unaware of, or about the fact that I had turned a blind eye to the hostess¡¯s massacre? ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you mean.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to say it¡¯s something trivial. But what I¡¯m asking about is the time I gambled with your life.¡± I didn¡¯t know how to respond, so I remained silent. Aiol interpreted my silence in his own way and emptied another ss. ¡°To be honest, you and I have always had a love-hate rtionship. If you were to die, I thought that must be your fate.¡± ¡­Wasn¡¯t that a bit harsh? ¡°Perhaps I should call it a sore spot. Resenting you was also resenting myself. I too had a period of wandering, so I had no right to be strict, and being the first child, I didn¡¯t know how to raise you. Despite that, I¡¯ve always been disappointed in you, even though I had no right to be¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± As I listened to the continuing words, I felt awkward. It seemed like he was trying to convey his apologies with the courage from alcohol, but I could only think that there must have been such circumstances rather than resentment. Hershel must have really troubled him. ¡°Now that I¡¯ve said it out loud, there¡¯s no excuse.¡± Aol said with a bitter smile, pouring another drink. ¡°But it seems I was wrong. Maybe I never even tried to understand you.¡± At this point, I felt I should respond, so I finally opened my mouth that had been shut. ¡°I don¡¯t dwell on the past.¡± It was an honest feeling. It was unfair to be possessed by such a character, but that wasn¡¯t Aol¡¯s fault. I had just been harshly rejected and driven away. In truth, his reaction was within the realm of what I had anticipated. ¨C ¡°The Tenest family is built on swordsmanship. But what should I say when you, the eldest son, want to learn magic?¡± As the saying goes, beans sprout where beans are nted, and red beans where red beans are. In a world where families are established on either swordsmanship or magic, diverging paths are not permitted. ¨C ¡°I don¡¯t mean to belittle magic, but it doesn¡¯t suit our bloodline.¡± I had thought that Mirsel could one day bring glory to the Tenest name, and I could overlook a good-for-nothing if he had no expectations. But it seems that the bizarre incident has burst that bubble. ¨C ¡°I have high hopes for you. Didn¡¯t you also contribute to capturing the monster? So stop the nonsense and devote yourself to the sword.¡± For me, whose core has been damaged, this is a bitter reality. Thus, ironically, I¡¯vee to genuinely want to learn the magic I was forced to study. From noble mtl dote Above all, the biggest motivation was Aoal¡¯s pitiable reaction. ¨C ¡°And Hersel, it¡¯s awkward to say this, but magic¡­ well, you need to be smart for that, ahem. No, it¡¯s nothing. You may leave now.¡± Dare topare my intelligence to someone like Hersel? I¡¯ve never been so wounded in my pride. To bepared to a barbarian who does nothing but read smut and get drunk, as if my modern intellect is on the same level, means my life is worthless. That¡¯s why I must prove it. That I can be a magician. * * * ¡°What do you think about him learning magic?¡± Aria asked, twirling her pen, and Dellerger, buried in the sofa, scratched his head and replied. ¡°Well, he¡¯s be strong enough, so maybe he¡¯s looking for something different?¡± Aria asked with a skeptical look. ¡°¡­I still don¡¯t get it. Is Hersel really stronger than you?¡± She had heard about the incident in the mines from Dellerger, but it was still hard to believe. However, Dellerger¡¯s immediate response came without a hint of hesitation. ¡°Yes. Iparably so.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Aria was at a loss for words at his firm answer. Dellerger, noticing her reaction, added an exnation. ¡°Miss, you¡¯ve heard too, haven¡¯t you? The tale of someone surviving the monster¡¯s breath.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t believe that. Isn¡¯t it just an exaggerated rumor?¡± ¡°Exaggerated? The townsfolk saw the mountain melt. Plus, there are continuous eyewitness ounts.¡± Aria rested her chin on her hand and closed her mouth. There was nothing to say with the evidence so clear. ¡°But I wonder if it¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°What is?¡± ¡°The request to send a magician. That house is known for its swordsmanship; the Grand Duke would never allow it.¡± That was a headache in its own right. No matter how many entrics there are among magicians, there aren¡¯t many crazy enough to teach the son of the Grand Duke, known as the conqueror of the east and north. But then again, what can¡¯t be done with money in this world? Aria chuckled. ¡°Just teach in secret. I¡¯ve figured out a way.¡± ¡°In secret? Even so, would any magician be crazy enough to do such a thing?¡± ¡°Yes, and one of the best in this field.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t mean a magician from the Tower, do you? That would cost a fortune.¡± As Dellerger blinked in surprise, Aria pulled out an old book that had been carefully stored in the drawer. It was the ¡®Ancestral Ledger¡¯ she had found thanks to Hershel. ¡°If we¡¯ve received something, we should give a grand gift in return, shouldn¡¯t we?¡± Chapter 34 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 34 34. Magic (1) If you ask a bird how to fly, it would answer ¡®just like that.¡¯ Of course, this assumes the bird can understand and speak humannguage, but anyway. It was the same for magicians. A born genius does it as naturally as breathing, they say, and that¡¯s the origin of magic. But as the title of ¡®genius¡¯ implies a minority, their numbers were as rare as precious gems, and those who envied them were as numerous as grains of sand. Humans are creatures of curiosity and often of envy. Unable to just watch, themoners questioned how the geniuses wielded magic, deconstructed it, and established principles. After much toil and the passage of time, themoners¡¯ madness achieved it. If geniuses spread magic with their senses, they created a blueprint called a form and inserted numbers for calction. If geniuses were born with a sensitivity to mana, they developed unique training methods to acquire it postnatally. Given the nature of this background, modern magic could be said to be an imitation following the innate geniuses. Of course, this too is a field heavily reliant on talent¡­ * * * I was sitting outside, enjoying a drink and reading. ¡°Oh, my. Look at that.¡± ¡°In broad daylight?¡± Passing maids blushed at the sight of the risqu¨¦ phrases on the cover. Yet, they didn¡¯t seem too shocked. It must have been typical of Hershel to do so. ¡°Back to his old ways¡­¡± ¡°I thought he was acting a bit too normaltely.¡± The passing servants generally reacted this way. Nevertheless, I turned the page with confidence. After all, what I was actually reading was a magic tome hidden within the pages of an erotic novel. ¡°¡­The lines of the spell are broadly divided into parallel and series.¡± I didn¡¯t want to boast about understanding just the basic theory, but it wasn¡¯t too difficult to grasp. If in games, acquiring a skill was as simple as a click of the mouse, here, one had to learn everything from the principles to the process of drawing the spells. Despite being apletely unfamiliar territory, the fact that I understood it might be proof that my mind hadn¡¯t rusted. ¡®I could probably self-study up to the basic theory at this rate.¡¯ It was at that moment, as I turned the page. A heavy shadow with a presence so tangible it felt weighted, burst in. ¡°Ah, Father¡­¡± ¡°What are you looking at?¡± ¡°¡­I was reading literature deep with the love of men and women.¡± ¡°Good. Better you read such things.¡± His hard, muscr fingers picked up the magic tome hidden within the book. ¡°Quit such useless magic.¡± Then, he crumpled the book with both hands and rolled what used to be a book across the table. Looking at the book, now twisted like a piece of candy, I thought. If my body were to be crumpled by those hands, how much could it possibly shrink ¡°I¡¯ll let this one slide as a warning. Don¡¯t let me see you like this again.¡± Aeol shot a fierce nce before turning his back. My heart shrank as I watched him disappear, trembling at the corners of my eyes. ¡®Hershel, if you want to live, give up now.¡¯ ¡®¡­Do you think I¡¯d sumb to such threats?¡¯ ¡®Then die.¡¯ ¡®b*stard.¡¯ Now that I think about it, it¡¯s all because of him. The thought that I have to risk my life just to learn a spell made me grind my teeth in anger, recalling the cause of all this trouble. Dacel. The root of all evil, who even unleashed a monster, causing unnecessary misunderstandings. On top of that, his running away made Aeol even more irritable. Because of him, I couldn¡¯t even bring myself to talk about giving up my position as the head of the family. ¡°Because of that damned guy, I have a long way to go.¡± Only about six months left until the academy entrance. To survive among the yable characters teeming with monsters, I needed to be at least average, so I couldn¡¯t just stand still. I can¡¯t afford to waste even a little time. I stood up and looked at the clock. It was about time for the magician sent by Aria to arrive. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s time to go.¡± I was curious to see what kind of person it would be. * * * The ce was an ordinary mansion in a residential area. This secret ssroom, rented by Aria, was arranged to avoid Aeol¡¯s watchful eyes. I met the magician with anticipation, but my enthusiasm quickly faded. ¡°Charles¡¯s body is in danger of being torn apart by three goblins. Watching this, Erhee says, ¡®Oh, Charles weighed 21 kilograms. So, how many grams each should they take to divide it equally?¡¯ Erhee seems troubled.¡± Charles and Erhee. In our country, they would be like Cheolsu and Younghee, often used in textbooks. But isn¡¯t Charles the one in real trouble? ¡°So, young master, would you care to solve Erhee¡¯s curiosity?¡± I gazed nkly at the man iming to be a magician. His name was Carmelo, notable for his sses and sharp gaze. ording to Aria¡¯s letter, he was briefly described as a skilled magician¡­ ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hmm. It seems the problem was too difficult for your educational level, young master. Then, let me exin it to you step by step in an easier way.¡± Thinking I was at a loss for words due to not understanding, he began to jot down forms with the pen in his hand. ¡°If you divide the number 21 by 3, like this-¡° ¡°You.¡± ¡°Ah, perhaps that was too fast. Shall I go slower?¡± ¡°A con artist, aren¡¯t you?¡± At my direct question, Carmelo¡¯s face went nk. Then, clearing his throat, he spoke with a slight annoyance. ¡°May I ask why you think so?¡± ¡°It¡¯s suspicious, presenting such nonsense as a problem.¡± ¡°Hmm, I admit the problem is very easy. Surely, you wouldn¡¯t have thought that the young master had learned basic mathematics.¡± His condescending gaze looked down on me. I¡¯m not sure what he¡¯s heard about me, but he seems to have the prejudice that a rascal is ignorant. As I pondered how to correct his bad temper, Carmelo narrowed his eyes and turned the atmosphere sharp. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m a con artist, though.¡± He spoke in a stiff tone, swinging the staff beside him. Swish! With the sound of curtains closing, the brightness in the room dropped sharply. As the wick of the candle on the table ignited, Carmelo adjusted his sses as if to say, ¡°See?¡± ¡°Does this answer your question?¡± ¡°¡­So you are a real magician.¡± ¡°Well then, it¡¯s time for you to prove yourself, young master.¡± He smirked, rummaging through his briefcase and pulling out a piece of paper. ¡°This is the basic form for wind-type magic. To kindle mes and manipte water, you must control the wind flow. Today, instead of a lesson, we¡¯ll assess the extent of your abilities.¡± His voice carried a tone of ¡®what could you possibly know.¡¯ It seems my question about him being a con artist struck a nerve, wounding his pride among the entric magicians. But, a form that maniptes the wind? It sounds difficult to hear, but judging by the eagerness to strike from the get-go, it seems I¡¯ve really gotten under their skin. Well, at least I thought I could escape division and grabbed my pen. ¡°¡­Right, that might be better.¡± Swallowing nervously, I scanned the problem. Then, my grip loosened, and the pen I held rolled away. Is this for real? ¡°Do you need an abacus?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± I alternated my gaze between Carmelo, who looked at me smugly as if to say, ¡®See, you can¡¯t solve it, can you?¡¯ and the problem sheet. And then, ¡°I¡¯m done.¡± I solved it in less than a minute. ¡°Indeed, this must be too difficult for you¡­ You solved it?¡± Carmelo¡¯s nodding head jerked up, his eyes wide. I nodded my head instead of speaking. ¡°Hmm¡­ The solution looks a bit bizarre, but the answer is correct.¡± The problem I had just solved was elementary school level, something a sixth-grader could do. If he wasn¡¯t joking and was serious about unting such a trivial problem, he might indeed be a con artist. No, he did prove it with magic, so he is a magician¡­ Let¡¯s trust him for now. ¡°Is this also too low-level for my eyes? Try raising the difficulty.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Had my words, spat out in reluctance to waste time, be a provocation? Carmelo frowned and began to rummage through his bag. ¡°Well then, try solving this one.¡± What followed was a repetition of the same task. A problem sheet was presented, and I solved it, over and over. Of course, the difficulty gradually increased, and it took more time to work through the solutions, but it was still within the level of grade progression, so I could continue writing the answers. However, as the relentless march of problems began to slow, a suddenly much harder problem, seemingly ten levels higher, came crashing in. ¡°Has the level suddenly risen too much, or is it just me?¡± The lines of the spell were not one-dimensional, butyered in a 3D stereoscopic manner. It was a problem about the wind, but this time, it required a detailed solution that involved not just the volume of the wind but also the angle. Some even required the application of calculus and vector calctions¡­ Is this a problem befitting the worldview of this ce? Indeed, it must be a world where magic is the origin. When I think about it, it makes sense. If spells demand mathematics, then efficiency is naturally much higher than where I used to live. That means there must have been far more magicians who delved into research with fiery passion than mathematicians. Perhaps the level of mathematics here is close to, or even surpasses, the modern era. If they¡¯re presenting such difficult problems just to gauge the level of aplete novice like me, that says it all. ¡°Why do you ask? Can¡¯t you solve it?¡± Camelo smirked annoyingly. ¡°You¡¯ve been hoping I wouldn¡¯t be able to solve it, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Cough, I wouldn¡¯t dream of it.¡± Annoyed by Camelo¡¯s shameless response, I gripped my pen again. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s try solving this one too.¡± As soon as I looked at the problem, my head began to ache. Fortunately, the solution form provided some hints. But it was still difficult, and by the time I had solved it, night had already fallen outside. I briefly greeted Camelo and dragged my exhausted body back to the mansion. ¡­Magic is not to be taken lightly. * * * Originally, a magician of the magic tower would not stoop to teaching the son of a noble family. It was a matter of elite pride. Even more so, the insane task of teaching the son of a duke. Only when one reached a certain level could they even think of escaping, for an ordinary magician would face death the moment they were caught. And it wasn¡¯t as if safety was guaranteed, so no one in the magic tower had epted this job. Even Camelo himself would have refused if he hadn¡¯t been in urgent need of research funds. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Carmelo was lost in thought as he organized the answer sheets Hershel had spread out. ¡®He survived the breath of a monster, they say. I¡¯m curious, but never mind that. Is he really that famous blockhead yboy?¡¯ He began to doubt the rumors. Typically, those of this ilk couldn¡¯t even do simple addition or subtraction. But the calction theories he solved were of an intermediate level or higher, something taught at the academy. ¡®A rich young master, so it¡¯s not strange he had high-level tutors attached to him. Still, it¡¯s annoying.¡¯ Pretending to be a genius, acting as if he knew nothing in front of a new educator, after having received extensive tutoring, all for show. Walking the path of demonology, one would often see such inted egos, and Carmelo, believing Hershel belonged to that category, tore the answer sheet with an irritated face. Then, as his hand reached for the paper filled with iprehensible symbols that Hershel had solvedst, a snort escaped him. ¡°Hmph, pretentiousness has taken over his brain.¡± This was beyond advanced theory. It was a high-level theory that even the researchers at the Tower of Magic struggled with, which Carmelo had brought for his own amusement. ¡°Quite the impressive scribble. But dare to mimic, you monkey.¡± He had nned to teach casually and kill time here, but the educational workbook had already been solved by that guy. To think he¡¯d pretend to solve what he¡¯d pulled out because there was nothing left. Carmelo was about to crumple the answer sheet, having fallen right into the trap he hadid. But then, suddenly, curiosity got the better of him, and he rxed his grip. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± He hadn¡¯t solved it himself yet, so even Carmelo didn¡¯t know the correct answer. Of course, it couldn¡¯t possibly be the correct answer. With nothing better to do, he took a pen with the intention of just passing the time and began to solve the problem himself. It was meant to be a mere pastime, to be discardedter. ¡°¡­¡± Carmelo¡¯s fingertips trembled as he repeatedly checked the answer sheet held by Hershel. From noble mtl dote The answers matched. The solution to a problem that many in the Tower of Magic couldn¡¯t solve was precisely the same as the yboy¡¯s¡­ ¡®It couldn¡¯t be solved just by some tutoring¡­ Could the tutor have been one of the researchers from the Tower?¡¯ He shook his head, dismissing the thought. If the person who taught him math had been a schr from the Tower, he would have known long ago. That left only one possibility. It seems you have a natural talent for this. I thought I¡¯d only be teaching you forms for a couple of months and that would be the end of it, but it turns out you¡¯re quite enjoyable to teach.¡± Carmelo chuckled as he burned the worksheet. Chapter 35 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 35 35. Magic (2) There are ranks in magic as well. The lower rank (¼‰) and the higher position (λ). The rank is divided into lower, middle, and upper. The position is divided into initial and advanced. Beyond that is the realm only Archmages can enter, the ultra-advanced position. Carmelo, who had just be an advanced mage, organized the research journals he nned to study here and pulled out a nk sheet of paper. ¡®With his level of calction, he would pass the academy with flying colors, so let¡¯s skip that¡­¡¯ What he was writing now was a lecture curriculum. And it was an elerated course, faster than the standard level. Just learning the forms alone usually takes three years to reach the academy¡¯s admission criteria. But by omitting just that, the time was naturally shortened significantly. ¡®All that¡¯s left is theory and practice. If we focus only on that, it should be sufficient.¡¯ And so, the time it took for Hershel to be a mage was astonishingly¡­ ¡°My goodness, to think it only takes this much to be a mage.¡± It was four years. * * * I was nervous about being given another difficult problem to solve. But, was there some incident? Carmelo said we¡¯re done with forms, let¡¯s move on to theory lessons. I didn¡¯t ask why. I didn¡¯t want to mention it and be given another mind-blowing problem like yesterday. Well, it must mean I barely made it, so it¡¯s okay to move on from math. ¡°Normally, the textbooks say you can¡¯tbine opposing elements in a single spell, but I¡¯d like to tell you it depends on the situation,¡± Carmelo exined as he drew the spell with his wand. Intrigued by the theory lesson that considered practicality, I naturally asked a question. ¡°Because in practice, you can¡¯t always draw the spell perfectly, right?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct. Sometimes when using fire magic, if you fail to control the firepower, you might add a water series spell to adjust the power. Ideally, you should erase it and redraw it, but when the enemy is right in front of you, making such adjustments is the right decision.¡± As he swung his wand, mes burst forth, soon followed by a surge of steam. Hiss! I couldn¡¯t help but gape as the torch-like ze transformed into a candle of just the right size. It was then I truly felt I was learning magic. ¡°Though I¡¯m reluctant to say, this rubbish textbook is the standard for the academy¡¯s entrance exam. Write the answers as they are written here, and feel free to tear it up once you¡¯re admitted.¡± It was clear why Aria had described Carmelo as a magician of exceptional skill in her letter. The lessons he taught were more detailed and broader than the information described in the textbooks. In addition, I learned efficient structuring of goodwill, along with minor tips on the manifestation andbination of elements. On the fifth day, During our casual conversations, I realized Carmelo was no ordinary magician. ¡°¡­You¡¯re affiliated with the Mage Tower?¡± ¡°It¡¯s surprising, isn¡¯t it? To think you saw me as nothing more than a lowly street magician.¡± ¡°Who would have imagined a mage from the Tower woulde here to tutor? Even you must find it odd, right?¡± ¡°Hmph, research requires a significant amount of money. I have to earn it myself to secure the insufficient funds. If it weren¡¯t for that, I wouldn¡¯t havee here.¡± After that conversation, his expression was marred by displeasure for days. The lessons continued in a prickly tone, but he made sure to fulfill his duties,pleting the intermediate theory sses required for academy admission. It only took three weeks, which was unsettlingly fast¡­ ¡°Is the pace too fast for you? Worried you might have missed something or need to learn more?¡± ¡°Are you bragging about your calctions?¡± ¡°Hmm? Speak up. I can¡¯t quite hear your mumbling.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve told you every time I taught you the theory, you understood it right there, so it¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°Seems like you said less than that?¡± ¡°¡­¡± And then came the long-awaited lesson. ¡®Practical Application of Magic¡¯ ¨C this was thest subject. If the previous sses were only about listening to forms and theories, this one was about creating a body capable of casting magic. As I managed to calm my excited heart, Carmelo cleared his throat. It was the beginning of a formal lecture. ¡°Do you remember the five senses of mana sensitivity well?¡± ¡°Of course, I do.¡± Mana sensitivity refers to the perception of mana through the five senses: touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste. If even one of these senses awakens, one bes a bona fide magician. ¡°Do you also remember the five talents of magic?¡± ¡°No. You glossed over that today, saying you¡¯d exin it properly.¡± From what I¡¯ve heard briefly, there are five categories of magic, and each person has a different aptitude for each category. That¡¯s what they call talent. ¡°Ah, that seems right. We put off discussing it because there¡¯s a connection between talent and mana sensitivity.¡± ¡°Connection?¡± When I asked out of curiosity, Carmelo chuckled. ¡°Yes. Interestingly, the first sense to awaken is determined by one¡¯s talent.¡± Thump! Carmelo ced five books on the table. ¡°Let¡¯s then exin the corrtion between the five talents and mana sensitivity.¡± Without even opening the books, Carmelo pointed to one with his finger. It was a tome of elemental magic. ¡°For the elemental category, which deals with wind, fire, lightning, and water, those whose touch awakens first are naturally suited. The proportion of magicians in this category is overwhelmingly high, and the developed techniques are the most extensive.¡± In short, it seems like a versatile talent. Common, but perhaps because of itsmonality, the number of developed spells is the greatest. Next, Carmelo pointed to the book of the shaping category. ¡°The shaping category is the talent of those whose sight awakens first. Illusionary magic ismonly developed, but with mastery, one can create tangible objects or even artificial life. Like this.¡± With a wave of his wand, a butterfly emerged from thin air and settled on the book. Watching the butterfly flutter its wings as if truly alive, I thought it would be nice if sight were the first to awaken. Could this create gold¡­? ¡°The next category is curses. This is the talent of those whose hearing awakens first. It¡¯s rare, urring in about one in a hundred, but in a world brimming with hatred, even those not naturally suited are pioneering it. Often criminals.¡± With another wave of his wand, the butterfly rotted away. It seemed to have died from a curse. ¡°The next is the dispelling category. This is the talent of those whose smell awakens first. Among the five, it¡¯s the most valuable talent.¡± ¡­I¡¯d bet all the money in my pocket that this man¡¯s smell was the first to awaken. ¡°In terms of rarity, it¡¯s about one in a thousand. The greatest proportion of recorded great magicians were those whose smell awakened first. It¡¯s such a useful talent that it shines in other professions as well.¡± It seems like an innate understanding of dispelling magic. There¡¯s a saying that knowledge is power. ording to Carmelo¡¯s lengthy exnation, it seemed he was close to being an all-rounder, affecting talents beyond just magic. No wonder there were particrly gifted characters among the yable magicians, ones who excelled in various fields¡­ such was this category. ¡°Take, for example, a magic swordsman who nullifies magic, killing the spell itself.¡± Carmelo¡¯s eyes sparkled as he performed psychokinesis. Another wand sprang from his bag, drawing spells on its own without an owner. Judging by the flickering air and the spell¡¯s geometric patterns, it was elemental, a me magic. Whoosh! mes surged towards Carmelo like a water cannon. But with a single flick of his wand, Carmelo made the mes disappear as if they had never existed. The finesse to observe magic more closely allowed him to revert the spell to nothingness safely, like defusing a time bomb without any bacsh. This was just one of the many true values of nullification. ¡°Other examples include schrs of the Magic Tower who have made groundbreaking research, alchemists who imbue magic into tools to create magical artifacts, or those who preemptively find and eliminate trap spells in dungeons¡ª¡± ¡°Enough bragging. Shall we move on?¡± Cutting off his self-praise, Carmelo frowned displeasedly. Indeed, this guy must have developed his sense of smell first. ¡°Ahem,stly, the unique series. The first sense to awaken is taste. This category is a collection of magical concepts that cannot be categorized, briefly including psychokinesis. Others include healing, or making objects lighter¡­¡± Certainly, the psychokinesis and healing magic Carmelo cited as examples did not belong to any of the previously exined categories. ¡°The rarity is even scarcer than the nullification series, but ironically, it¡¯s currently the least valued talent.¡± Carmelo pointed to the thinnest book. I understood the meaning he wanted to convey immediately. ¡°Because there are so few, there¡¯s hardly any developed magic?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. The nullification series is also a minority, but thanks to geniuses continuously pioneering the field, there¡¯s a vast amount of data. However, the unique series is different. The concepts are vague, making research tricky. So far, the only verified practical uses are psychokinesis for convenience and healing magic.¡± In short, it was a field akin to undiscovered treasure, yet to shine due to its unexplored nature. ¡°Research is still thriving, but to truly show its worth, it might take at least until the next century.¡± ¡­I sincerely hope it¡¯s not my talent. Thirsty, Carmelo drained a cup of water and asked me. ¡°That¡¯s the overview. But sir, when do you n to enroll in the academy?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t I mentioned it yet?¡± ¡°Well¡­ Given your pace, I thought you might reach your decision sooner than expected.¡± ¡°Of course, it would be next year, not the year after that. To align with the narrative of the yable characters, I had to enroll next year. ¡°In six months.¡± ¡°¡­Six, six months?¡± Did I do something wrong? Camelo¡¯s face twisted in horror before he adjusted his sses and his eyes shed sharply. ¡°Young master. Do you think a wizard is like bread thates straight out of the bakery?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it¡­?¡± As I asked in bewilderment, Camelo mmed his hand on the desk and bellowed. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting when you¡¯ve just entered the threshold!¡± Geez, that startled me. ¡°Even if we set aside the time for calctions and theory acquisition, it takes at least four years toplete the first bloom. And even more time for the following ones. That¡¯s the normal pace. But six months? It seems your pride is soaring to the skies just because you learn a bit faster!¡± Was magic supposed to take that long? The yable characters seemed to get in just fine¡­ ¡°If you¡¯re really set on enrolling next year, you might as well find a wizard to take the proxy exam for you!¡± ¡°Ah.¡± They were the ones brimming with talent, the genius types, so they were the exception. But not me, damn it. And so, the situation grew bleak. If I missed this year¡¯s academy enrollment, I wouldn¡¯t be able to match the timeline of the yable characters. If I learned magic now and enrolledte, the world would have already ended. I waited for Camelo to calm down, then spoke cautiously, grasping at straws. ¡°¡­You¡¯re a wizard of the magic tower. Anything will do. Make me an intermediate wizard in six months.¡± It was a situation where I only needed to achieve one more subject, but this was too regrettable. But then Camelo shook his head as if there was nothing to say, then let out a significant statement. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not that there¡¯s no way¡­ But still, this is a bit¡­ Hmm.¡± ¡°What way? Tell me.¡± ¡°Actually, there¡¯s an old hypothesis called shock therapy, which forcibly awakens the senses. I¡¯ve been researching it recently, but the subjects¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t beat around the bush, just tell me.¡± ¡°¡­They all died.¡± Human experimentation, you say? That¡¯s a twisted sense of ethics. Still, the thought that this might be a miraculous chance for revival crossed my mind, so I decided to ask. ¡°How did it happen?¡± ¡°Shock death. Imagine forcibly tattooing 70 magical forms inside the body; the flesh simply couldn¡¯t cope. Hmm, the longest a subject survived was up to 37, wasn¡¯t it¡­? But even then, he eventually became one with nature, turning into nourishment¡­ Let¡¯s leave such pointless stories aside.¡± Wait, shock death? ¡°Try it.¡± I said nonchntly, and Carmelo¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°Do it. The forced inscription of lines. If that seeds, it leads to sensory awakening, right?¡± ¡°Are you suggesting we use the eldest son of the Tenest family as the subject?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°¡­If it fails, I too shall perish by the Duke¡¯s sword.¡± As he raised an eyebrow in a gesture of refusal, I chuckled and exined why it was worth the risk. ¡°Even if you die, I¡¯m the only one who knows you¡¯re here. And you know what? I¡¯m the one who survived the breath of a monster. My body, unlike those who perished, is different. How about it? Worth experimenting on, don¡¯t you think?¡± Carmelo¡¯s eyes rounded for a moment before he let out a chillingugh. There were many entrics among magicians. The Tower of Magic was home to the selected extremes among them. For a magician of the Tower, consumed by the thirst for knowledge, eptance was natural. ¡°Heh, that¡¯s true. But don¡¯t you need time to prepare the surroundings?¡± ¡°Is there a need?¡± Just for a shock death. Compared to what I¡¯ve endured, it¡¯s aughably trivial cause of death. ¡°I won¡¯t die.¡± Somehow, it will work out. After all, I have ¡®1 second of invincibility.¡¯ * * * It was already evening twilight. The experiment was set to start tomorrow, and I was on my way back to the mansion. ¡®¡­Isn¡¯t it suspicious that they¡¯re not nagging me to learn swordsmanshiptely?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ve decided not to say anything more. Your fervent desire to learn magic is so intense, how could I possibly stand in your way?¡¯ When Donatan spoke nonchntly, it only made me feel more uneasy. All day, he had dismissed magic as mere trickery, yet now he was oddly quiet¡­ I suspected he had an ulterior motive, but with no way to find out, I kept silent. By the time we reached the main gate, my legs were throbbing, forcing me to stop in my tracks. ¡®I don¡¯t know why I¡¯ve been feeling so tiredtely. I even seem to have some muscle pain.¡¯ ¡®¡­¡¯ ¡®Does going back and forth count as exercise?¡¯ ¡®Ahem, yes. Your stamina is so low, it must be.¡¯ It was at that suspicious moment that I squinted my eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve been going out a lottely, Hershel.¡± Aiol approached me with a doubtful look. I conjured up the kind of exemry answer Hershel would give and replied casually. ¡°I¡¯ve been to the red-light district, father.¡± Aiol¡¯s skeptical gaze softened, and one eyebrow twitched. It seemed my exnation was convincing enough. ¡®¡­Ahem, you¡¯re so forthright, I¡¯m at a loss for words. Well, good. Once you enter the academy, you¡¯ll have to lead a life of abstinence, so enjoy yourself while you can.¡¯ ¡°Then I won¡¯t refuse. I¡¯d like to go gambling tomorrow, could you give me some pocket money?¡± ¡®¡­¡¯ If only I had this cheat-like alibi that convinces without proof, I might never be caught for secretly learning magic. The important thing was how shameless I could be. Chapter 36 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 36 36. Magic (3) ¡°I did well to bring this.¡± Camelo spread out his research materials, his expression sobering. This was a venerable study on mana sensitivity. ¡®Hmm¡­¡¯ Camelo, who had awakened all five senses, was a high-ranking magician. Yet, he was not satisfied. It was a realm achievable only with innate genius talent, but in the face of a single talent, it was nothing but a faded shell. ¡®Had I been born in the era when magic was discovered, I would have been just an ordinary talent.¡¯ Even recognized in the Mage Tower, he was merely an acquired genius following in the footsteps of natural-born geniuses. Even without learning, their innate ability to awaken their senses pales inparison to those who do so naturally. ¡°From birth, there are babies who can see mana. That alone might be considered a natural talent, but among them, there are those who, before even turning ten, have awakened as many as five senses.¡± Especially those who have awakened five senses on their own are of a different caliber. The moment they be interested in magic, like a caterpir instinctively bing a butterfly, it is their destiny to awaken thest, nearly transcendent sixth sense. These are the noble beings known as grand sorcerers, recorded in history. Carmelo, obsessed with magic, knew it was impossible to reach that point, yet he harbored a strange sense of anticipation as hebed through ancient documents. ¡°Indeed, the geniuses born thousands of years ago were all the same. You must have wanted to awaken the sixth sense, just like me.¡± From noble mtl dote Perhaps there have always been simr people throughout the ages. In the past, there were those who conducted experiments to forcibly awaken the sixth sense in living humans by inscribing rituals into their bodies. It was the dream of geniuses, regardless of the era. And perhaps, Carmelo thought with a thrill and a sly smile, the hypothesis that had been mere theory for nearly a thousand years might be proven. ¡°Hehe, this is exciting. If he survived the Breath, he¡¯ll be an experimental subject iparable to mere prisoners.¡± He meticulously reviewed the research journals, eagerly awaiting the next day. * * * ording to Carmelo, it takes about a month and a few weeks to hammer seventy lines into the body. Half that time has already passed. Only fifteen cooldown windows. I have avoided death a total of fifteen times. ¡°The thirty-seventh¡­ This has always been the critical point, but you, young master, are handling it exceptionally well.¡± I felt like ab rat, but since I was the one who agreed to it, I couldn¡¯tin. So I enjoyed it. ¡°A new record?¡± ¡°It would seem so.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good news.¡± ¡­Let¡¯s give up. I pity myself for this mental victory. ¡°But isn¡¯t it strange? If we¡¯re halfway done, shouldn¡¯t I feel some significant change? But everything¡¯s the same.¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s natural. The sixty-nine rituals are performed independently of each other. It¡¯s normal to feel no different until the seventieth ritual connects everything, so rest assured.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± It was at that moment, as I was parched and reached for a cup of water. My arm trembled weakly, and a droplet sshed onto the back of my hand. It had happened oftentely, so it wasn¡¯t a big deal, but just in case, I asked Carmelo. ¡°Could there be any side effects from the experiment? I don¡¯t know why, but the fatigue doesn¡¯t seem to lift. And my body feels a bit heavy.¡± Carmelo¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Side effects? Could you describe your symptoms a bit more specifically?¡± ¡°Well, is it lethargy I¡¯m feeling? I get sleepy early, and I¡¯ve been eating a lot more.¡± It¡¯s strange. No sooner do I lie down in bed than I fall asleep, or I eat twice as much as usual because what I normally eat doesn¡¯t satisfy me. Especially, I¡¯ve been craving meat a lot. I voiced my concerns, yet Carmelo snorted as if he was amused. ¡°What are you talking about? That must be some new influence on your lifestyle habits, sir. I won¡¯t bother with tales unrted to magic.¡± ¡°Take this seriously. What if it¡¯s something that could damage my body?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± With an annoyed expression, Carmelo waved his wand. The curtains were drawn back, and outside the window, leaves were fluttering in the wind. ¡°It¡¯s autumn now. Does that answer your question?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Autumn is the season when the body feels sluggish and cravings increase, after all. * * * It was the moment Iy down in bed after finishing the day¡¯s work. Thinking about it, there¡¯s something I don¡¯t understand. Let¡¯s say the sudden increase in appetite is due to autumn, as Carmelo suggests. But isn¡¯t my body also unusually tired? Could it be that I¡¯ve caught some kind of illness? In the midst of my unease, the InBody machine spoke to me. ¡°Hershel, your body is currently fatigued. You should rest.¡± Yes, I should ask it. ¡°I was going to sleep anyway. But before that, check my body. I don¡¯t like how I¡¯ve been eating twice as much, sleeping early, and waking uptetely. Is there something wrong with my health?¡± ¡°¡­¡­Hmm, your condition is actually better than before. So don¡¯t worry and get some sleep.¡± Donatan¡¯s words were somewhat reassuring. Then I got up, struck by the obvious thought that this thing isn¡¯t a doctor. ¡°Whoosh!¡± Stripped to the waist, I stood in front of the full-length mirror to check my condition. As expected, I hadn¡¯t gained any weight. But it seemed like I could faintly see muscles that weren¡¯t there before. Well, considering they¡¯re hardly noticeable, it¡¯s probably just my imagination. ¡°Perhaps, it¡¯s a side effect of the experiment.¡± As I said this, Donatan eximed with apparent joy. ¡°Yes, yes. It must be a side effect. Sorcery is full of all sorts of bizarre things. Have you heard of Sadomagics? It¡¯s a hodgepodge pursued by those without expertise. Even if he belongs to the Mage Tower, an unproven experiment is nothing more than pseudoscience.¡± His reaction was suspicious, but it didn¡¯t sound incorrect. When I yed Asares, I never heard such oundish theories. Indeed, I should see a professional doctor tomorrow for a proper check-up. With that decision, Iy back down on the bed. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m too tired to think. I¡¯m going to sleep now, so don¡¯t talk to me.¡± ¡°Alright, sleep well, Hersel. Have a peaceful rest.¡± Donatan murmured like a luby, and sleep poured over me as I closed my eyes. * * * It had been three months and some days since Donatan made a contract with Hersel. Enough time to fully grasp the neural circuits entwined with the flesh. After much effort, he had learned how to move with electric currents while Hersel was asleep. ¡°Huff!¡± In the dead of night. Donatan was engrossed in doing push-ups, Hersel¡¯s eyes closed. After about ten minutes. As sweat droplets fell to the floor, he took a brief respite. ¡°Let¡¯s stop the arm exercises here. He¡¯s starting to notice¡­¡± Next, he hung Hersel¡¯s body upside down from the curtain rod and repeated abdominal crunches. Then, recalling the breathlessness from a recent battle with a monster, he muttered in annoyance. ¡°Worse lung capacity than a sick man in a cubbyhole. I¡¯ll fix it for you.¡± And to think he was on the brink of death just from being thrown once. The thought of such a feeble body, worse than a flounder, fueled his strength even more. ¡®This wretched fool. To think he¡¯s only immersed in magic?¡¯ Uneptable. Even if his core is shattered, for the master to not wield his sword is to deny his very existence. Seeing Hershel so lost in magic, oblivious to this, just turns my stomach. A spark of resentment made the current jump a bit stronger. Crackle©¤ ¡®Just as you can¡¯t give up on magic, I can¡¯t give up on the sword.¡¯ As the attempts piled up, a knocking sound echoed. Knock knock! To manipte Hershel¡¯s vocal cords now would surely awaken him. Donatan remained silent. Then, with an irritated knocking, an angry voice was heard. Knock knock knock knock knock! ¡°Young master! What on earth are you doing in the middle of the night? The vibrations are felt all the way downstairs!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t answer, I¡¯ll take it as permission to enter!¡± Donatan¡¯s gaze turned to the lock hanging on the door. ¡®Oh no, damn it. Did I forget to lock it?¡¯ His heart sank in that moment. He prayed fervently for her to leave, but to his dismay, the door was flung open roughly. Bang! ¡°Young mas¡­ huh?¡± The anger on Celly¡¯s face, who seemed to havee to scold, was reced by confusion. Then she shook her head and let out a deep sigh. ¡°No surprise there, I guess¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°I thought my heart would stop. Why on earth are you hanging from the curtain rod in the middle of the night?¡± Celly¡¯s expression was one of seeing a madman. It was a look she often had when dealing with Hershel. This time too, that perception seemed to make her dismiss it as nothing unusual. ¡°Indeed, this little one always treated him like a madman. I can get through this somehow.¡± Donatan thought it was a blessing in disguise as he descended from the curtain rod. Thud! Celly approached with cautious movements and asked with wide eyes, ¡°Huh? Why are your eyes closed?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°My lord?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Excuse me. Are, are you alright?¡± At that moment, Donatan flipped onto his back, manipted his limbs, and scurried forward like a spider. As he approached eerily, shaking Hershel¡¯s neck loosely, Celly screamed in horror and fled. ¡°aaah!¡± Watching Celly¡¯s pale face flee without looking back, Donatan locked thetch and smiled contentedly. Click! ¡°This should be fine. I¡¯ll just think of him as a bit more insane.¡± Now I can rest easy. The mere thought of being caught by Hershel was terrifying. [Subordinate (B) Donatan shall not do anything against the wishes of Superior (A) Hershel. If B vites this, a use withpulsory effect will be added, to be decided upon A¡¯s proposal.] The most serious unfair trade use. So meticulous that if not epted, one could be threatened to be thrown into the river. Donatan shuddered as he recalled everything up to this day. ¡°Come to think of it, have I ever encountered such a venomous person in my life?¡± It was the same in the mines. The look in the eyes of the man searching for money was that of a lynx stalking its prey. When the assassin appeared, he was no different from a local thug extorting even the children¡¯s pocket money, and when an opportunity arose to make a big score from thendy, he squeezed out everyst drop of oil. Each time, Donatan, who had felt Hershel¡¯s twitching facial muscles barely contained, found himself trembling involuntarily. ¡°Besides, he cherishes his own body terribly. I can¡¯t even guess what kind of dog¡¯s abuse I¡¯d suffer if caught by that vicious man¡­¡± Hershel held the knife, so Donatan trained with caution. As he moved his body to the brink of exhaustion, dawn broke. Just as he was about to return to his ce and lie down on the bed, Hershel opened his eyes. ¡®Oops.¡¯ Was I caught? ¡°Yawn, no matter how much I sleep, I¡¯m still sleepy¡­ I should sleep more.¡± ¡®Yes, go ahead and sleep, Hershel. You need a good rest to recover from fatigue.¡¯ My muscles were trained to the point of tearing, so pain was expected. But thanks to Donatan¡¯s nerve maniption, Hershel couldn¡¯t even feel the muscle pain. * * * ording to the medical examination, the doctor said there was nothing wrong. He even advised me to continue the unprecedented body management I was doing. Considering my exercise was nothing more than walking back and forth to learn magic, I couldn¡¯t help but feel skeptical. Yet, I didn¡¯t take it too seriously since I seemed to be feeling a bit bettertely. Three weeks had already passed since I stopped worrying about one thing. Camelo took a deep breath with a tense face. Even after gulping down water, his voice was still trembling with excitement. ¡°¡­Finally, today is the day. Who would have thought the day to inscribe thest, 70th spell woulde?¡± ¡°If I aplish this, will I be a bona fide intermediate magician?¡± I asked, sharing in the joy, but Camelo quickly averted his gaze. ¡°Ahem, yes. Well, that¡¯s right. You will have met the requirements of an intermediate magician.¡± His reaction was a bit suspicious. From what I¡¯ve seen, he wasn¡¯t one to get flustered easily. I thought something might be wrong, but I dismissed it as nerves. After all, there hadn¡¯t been any problems so far. ¡°Then let¡¯s begin.¡± ¡°By the way, is it just me, or have you been changing your clothes more frequentlytely?¡± ¡°Oh, this? The old clothes didn¡¯t fit well, so I changed them all for new ones.¡± I could still wear the old ones, but they were a bit tight. If I moved too much, the threads woulde undone, so my wardrobe was now filled with the newly tailored clothes. ¡°Hmm, you seem to have gained a better figure than before.¡± ¡°Side effects of the experiment.¡± I said, half-opening my eyes. Carmelo raised his veins on his forehead and shouted. ¡°How many times do I have to tell you no!¡± ¡°Ah, why the temper? That¡¯s the only thing that makes me suspicious.¡± ¡°I clearly presented the data and exined it to you. There was never such a symptom among the test subjects. Are you even aware of how many times you¡¯ve repeated that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s only been 37 times.¡± So sensitive. I better take good care of my health considering the amount of money I¡¯ll get from the hostesster. Chapter 37 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 37 37. Admission Preparation (1) With trembling hands, Carmelo set down his cane and asked me. ¡°¡­How do you feel?¡± His voice was fraught with tension. It was understandable, as he had just finished thest procedure. ¡°I don¡¯t feel any different than usual, but let me wait a moment.¡± I clenched and unclenched my hand, probing the sensation to the tips of my body. It felt as if the blood flowing through my veins was reaching out to every hair follicle. My eyes widened as if my whole body had be an antenna. ¡°¡­This is quite a strange sensation.¡± The stark difference between when the 69th line was etched and when the 70th was, was as significant aspleting thest piece of a puzzle. ¡°Has the room always been this cool?¡± My skin felt as cold as if it had been touched by rainwater. It seems like my sense of touch has blossomed first. Proudly disying my bristled hair, Carmelo approached the window. ¡°Ah, I didn¡¯t close the window. How about now?¡± ¡°¡­Wait again.¡± Once more, I closed my eyes and heightened my senses. And surprisingly¡­ ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Oh, do you feel the mana?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± It was as ordinary as ever. ¡°Ah, I can¡¯t feel anything.¡± Carmelo wore a dazed expression as if struck by shock. Then, with a voice tinged with desperation, as if in denial of reality, he asked, ¡°How about your hearing? Do you hear anything at all?¡± ¡°Only your voice¡­¡± ¡°Do you see anything blurry around you?¡± ¡°Just this messy room.¡± ¡°And your sense of smell?¡± ¡°The musty scent of an old closet.¡± With each honest answer, the hope in Carmelo¡¯s eyes slowly died. Reluctantly, he slumped his shoulders and posed onest question. ¡°¡­And taste?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± He opened his mouth wide and licked the air. But the taste was so peculiar that his eyes widened in surprise. A bizarre mix of grape and banana. ¡°¡­I do taste something.¡± It was hard to be pleased. The first sense to awaken being taste was like winning a terrible lottery against all odds. ¡°A strange fruit-like taste¡­¡± Carmelo blinked in astonishment. ¡°Goodness, to witness someone whose taste buds awaken first, right before my eyes.¡± From noble mtl dote My talent is of a peculiar kind. Cursed with the ability to learn many spells¡ªhexes, elements, disruption, morphing¡ªI learn them allter than anyone else, and with less power. The only advantage is the few spells I can actually use. Suddenly overwhelmed, I muttered a memory of being praised as a ¡®versatile genius.¡¯ ¡°¡­They called me a versatile genius.¡± If that were true, at least my sense of touch should have awakened first. That¡¯s the average, the middle ground. But seeing what Carmelo was doing, I couldn¡¯t help but keep my mouth shut. ¡°Those damned primitives! What is this ¡®awakening of the sixth sense¡¯ nonsense!¡± Carmelo was screaming like a madman, tearing up the papers in his bag. ¡°Presumptuous chickens, harboring such vain hopes, wasting my precious time! I¡¯ll find your graves and curse you! I¡¯ll erase all your names inscribed in the tower, you b*stards!¡± ¡°Why, why are you doing this? Calm down, please.¡± His bloodshot eyes gave me the chills. I stepped back from his rage-filled madness and offered some positive words. ¡°But you did seed, didn¡¯t you? The hypothesis didn¡¯t fail. So put those papers back in the bag. Don¡¯t regret itter. You can read them again if you glue them back together¡­¡± Carmelo stopped his frenzy, opened his weary eyes, and approached. ¡°Sess? To think this was merely an experiment designed to awaken a single sense, how surprising.¡± Hadn¡¯t he clearly told me otherwise? He must have been hiding something from me. ¡°You said it was just an experiment to awaken a single sense.¡± ¡°Hmph, the purpose of this experiment is to awaken the sixth sense. But now, it¡¯s proven to be a futile effort.¡± Anger furrowed my brow. This insane magician¡­ I entrusted him with an appendectomy, and he performs a circumcision? ¡°You b*stard¡­ You should have exined that from the start!¡± ¡°Oh, should I? Then, let me exin now! The awakening of the five senses is merely a sideshow. The true value of the theory is whether it can transcend the boundaries of mana! And for that, only the sixth sense is needed! Are you satisfied now?¡± His outburst left me drained of energy. ¡°Sigh, forget it.¡± There¡¯s no use getting angry at a madman obsessed with magic; it only saps my strength. Anyway, I¡¯ve met the admission requirements, so I should be content with that. With that thought, I sat down and waited for Carmelo to calm down. ¡°Heave, heave¡­¡± After he turned all the papers to ash, he caught his breath. I calmly waited and blurted out the questions swirling in my head. ¡°So, it¡¯s a failure, then? There won¡¯t be any side effectster, right? Like, say, blocking the path to bing a senior magician?¡± Exhausted, Carmelo calmed down and parted his lips. ¡°I can¡¯t give a definite answer since there are no sessful subjects, but it shouldn¡¯t be an obstacle to your growth. The spells etched inside you are just pictures if they don¡¯t function.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°I swear on mana.¡± Are you saying that, aside from the lines of the ritual that awakened the taste, everything else is just scribbles¡­ ¡°Really? Then that¡¯s settled. We¡¯ll take responsibility if something goes wrong.¡± If there are no side effects, then we¡¯ve achieved our goal. It¡¯s unsettling, but isn¡¯t it fine as long as we¡¯ve obtained a satisfactory result? After all, it¡¯s a task that took four years,pleted in just three months. * * * Carmelo filled the remaining two weeks of his course and then left. During that time, he mastered everything from how to hold a wand, to wrist snaps and power control. He also received numerous tips on how to utilize senses and draw intricate rituals. In short, it was practical training for magic implementation. These days truly flew by, and on thest day, Carmelo had this conversation: ¡°Before I leave, let me be honest with you. Your theoretical understanding and calction skills are useful, but your innate talent is, at best, mediocre.¡± ¡°Are you just going to leave like that?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t intend to. It¡¯s just that I was suddenly curious. After all, I¡¯ve never seen a mediocre talent achieve such growth in such a short time, regardless of the process.¡± Carmelo¡¯s gaze, which had always seemed sharp, now appeared a bit more benign. Despite the ups and downs, it seems this man also felt a bit of affection. ¡°At least, having proven the theory wrong, I¡¯m not leaving empty-handed.¡± Carmelo¡¯s face looked somewhat relieved as he said this. That was thest I saw of his back. Three monthster. The mansion¡¯s renovations were nearlyplete. The main estate, which was the priority, had been perfectly restored, and the original residents, Aol and thedy of the house, had moved in with their twins. I thought these peaceful days would continue, but the end came. Dacel. The runaway had returned. ¡°What¡¯s your scheme?¡± ¡°Are you deaf? I said there¡¯s no need to frown since you¡¯ve given up the head of the family position.¡± I thought I should at least notify him, so I called him to the backyard to exin the deal with thedy of the house. But he didn¡¯t believe me. ¡°You expect me to believe that?¡± ¡°The discussion with thedy of the house is already over. I¡¯ve decided to exin it slowly to father. You just need to keep patting yourself on the back and chattering away.¡± Dacel scrunched up his face in arrogance and red as if he wanted to kill. I looked down calmly at his murderous eyes and said, ¡°Why such a face? Wasn¡¯t it the position you so desperately wanted, enough to trade the lives of the people here for it?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Then you should smile. It¡¯s tough trying to keep up with a younger sibling¡¯s rhythm, whether you give this or that.¡± He clenched his fist as if he was about to strike any moment and gritted his teeth fiercely. ¡°How dare you, a mere worm, keep babbling on. It seems you still don¡¯t understand. What I desire is not just the position of the head of the family, but your neck included.¡± With that, I could confirm that the hatred he harbored was not mere jealousy over the position of the head. He simply hated me and wanted me dead. Perhaps, given another chance, he would repeat the same deed. Feeling the need to suppress his energy so he could never do such a thing again, I took a step forward. ¡°Really? Then, try me.¡± Donatan showed an expression of disbelief. ¡®Hersel, what are you doing? You¡¯re not an opponent to be beaten just because you¡¯ve learned some magic. Retreat now.¡¯ ¡®Fight? Am I mad?¡¯ ¡®Then why such a reckless act?¡¯ ¡®Just watch. I have a n.¡¯ While Dacel watched my eyes, I drew a faint spell with my right index finger. It was not as precise as a wand, so I could only do something very simple, but it was enough. ¡°But, do you pretend not to know, even though you do? No, perhaps ¡®deceiving yourself¡¯ is a more fitting expression, Dacel.¡± I called his name and approached leisurely. When I got close enough, I red up the ¡®noble blood¡¯sst ember¡¯ to its maximum and lowered my voice. ¡°You can¡¯t kill me.¡± At the same time, I unleashed the telekic magic I had drawn with my finger. Squeezing out all my strength, I pulled down all the maple leaves hanging from the trees around us at random. Swish As the leaves poured down and became fallen leaves, cold sweat ran down Dacel¡¯s forehead. I passed by the frozen man as if I had no further business with him. Then I stopped and spoke in a calm voice. ¡°This has gone beyond a mere joke. I never intended to show any killing intent.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Then, with a light tap on the guy¡¯s shoulder, he gracefully made his exit. I knew it would work. My body now, unlike before when it was all skin and bones, had a decent amount of muscle. Plus, I¡¯m the one who survived the monster¡¯s breath. In this state, a little bit of acting was all it took to make the opponent scared. ¡®¡­¡­You didn¡¯t learn magic just to put on such a bluff, did you?¡¯ ¡®Of course not. I learned magic because I had no other choice.¡¯ It¡¯s not like I had options. The magic was forced upon me, so it wasn¡¯t intentional. But deep down, I always thought magic was better for a performance than swordsmanship. ¡®Still, I can¡¯t say I didn¡¯t have that in mind at all.¡¯ Besides ¡®One Second Invincibility,¡¯ I also had the trait ¡®Noble Blood¡¯s Last Ember.¡¯ This too, I had experienced, could be a great shield if used well. With so few traits to my name, I n to make good use of it. * * * Frost formed on the windowpane. Without much thought, I drew the number 6 with my index finger. Perhaps it was a realization that time had slipped away meaninglessly. Thest six months, I was so engrossed in magic that I lost track of time. That¡¯s why the festival period, when I was treading on thin ice, felt like it happened just yesterday. Of course, now they¡¯re nothing but things of the past. Then, those things can be considered memories. ¡°I¡¯ve grown a bit too.¡± It was while I was immersed in the sentimentality of sorting through the past days. Could it be thatte rain wasing? Suddenly, dark clouds began to gather, and the door opened. ¡°Young master! A letter has arrived from the academy!¡± In Celly¡¯s hand was a bundle of letters. Come to think of it, today was the day the eptance letters were supposed to arrive. I snatched the letters that Celly had hurriedly brought and opened each one. ¡°Why are there so many letters?¡± ¡°Well, I did apply to four ces. I¡¯m going to read them now, so please be quiet.¡± My heart raced as I searched for the word ¡®epted.¡¯ But all I saw were a few formal lines. [While we recognize your academic achievements and various experiences, the current admissionspetition is extremely fierce. We regret to inform you that we cannot offer you admission at this time.] It was the same with the others. [Delivering news of admission denial is always difficult.] [We appreciate your interest, however.] [After reviewing your application, we regret to inform you of the unfortunate news.] ¡°Oh my¡­¡± I was rejected from every ce I applied to. Of course, I had suspected that admission would be difficult. The four academies that rejected me were prestigious institutions where graduation guaranteed a significant position in any empire or kingdom. It was normal for them to be selective. They must have hesitated to ept a haughty scoundrel who does nothing but drink and flirt with women. Still, the reason I tried everywhere was that I believed at least one would ept me. Because I am the eldest son of the noble Tenest family, capable of crushing even such evaluations. Damn it all. I thought at least one would ept me based on my family¡¯s name. ¡°How did it go? You must have been epted to at least one, right?¡± ¡°I was rejected.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I said, I was rejected.¡± Celly¡¯s face turned pale. Then, pointing to an unopened letter, her eyes filled with hope. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to open that one? There¡¯s still one left.¡± ¡°This one¡­¡± This too was a letter from an academy. But I didn¡¯t apply here. There was only one reason. ¡°It¡¯s obvious without looking. It¡¯s an admission invitation.¡± The name of this ce, which I hadn¡¯t even considered, was Frost Heart. Located near the demon-infested snowy mountains close to the border, frequent monster attacks and the biting cold gnaw at one¡¯s flesh. Moreover, the school is built atop a dungeon, so unreal events keep unfolding, leaving no dayfortable or ordinary. But what can I do? If this is where I¡¯m epted, as always, I must grin and bear it. Hiding my true feelings, I turned to Celly, who would be attending the academy with me, and said gently, ¡°It¡¯s a good thing. To be epted into the best ce.¡± ¡°Really? Then, the living space I¡¯ll be staying in must be nice too. I heard the academy treats even the servants to all sorts of things.¡± They even provide a cool private room and winter clothes. ¡°But I¡¯m still worried. I hope I can get along with the people there.¡± Huddling together in the cold, you¡¯ll share warmth and be friends quickly. ¡°Ah, what should I do? Should I buy some cosmetics to be more grown-up¡­ I need to start taking care of my skin from now on.¡± There¡¯s no need. You¡¯ll maintain freshness like a mackerel in a freezer. ¡°Do you like it that much?¡± ¡°Of course. If I¡¯m a servant following to the academy, it means the family recognizes me. It¡¯s a huge boost for my career.¡± I was happy because Celly was happy. ¡°Ah, but young master. There¡¯s more paper here, don¡¯t you need to read it?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± There were two more documents stuck behind the admission invitation. Application forms for the Department of Magic and the Department of Knights. I crumpled up the one for the knights and checked the one for the Department of Magic. At the very bottom, beneath the fine print, was arge square space. A ce for a guardian¡¯s signature. A person immediately came to mind, and my expression darkened. ¡°The Department of Magic?¡± ¡°Well, yes.¡± ¡°My goodness, the young master is magical¡­ No, more importantly, the Duke is watching with such sharp eyes, he would never allow it.¡± In the case of noble students, the family seal must be stamped. Still, there was no particr cause for worry. Because the guardian was not just one person, but Aoal. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Besides father, there¡¯s another person who can stamp it, right?¡± I moved to meet the hostess. Chapter 38 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 38 38. Admission Preparation (2) ¡°¡­Day by day, his frame is swelling.¡± Aoalid out his sword as he watched Hersel pass by from a distance. Cowlo scratched his head with the end of the wooden sword¡¯s handle and replied, ¡°Indeed. His forearms seem to have almost doubled in size.¡± ¡°Did you perhaps train him?¡± ¡°Never. Hmm, but his physique is no ordinary one.¡± As he looked closely with focused eyes, an exmation slipped out. ¡°Hooh¡­¡± The way his muscles were growing evenly in each area, fitting into his clothes, was apparent. It was far from a foolish body built just for size. It seemed strategically crafted, bncing mobility and strength. ¡®Without someone skilled leading him, he couldn¡¯t have be like this¡­¡¯ Then, this man must have noticed as well. Cowlo squinted one eye and casually probed Aoal. ¡°Recently, he¡¯s been wandering outside often, as if he¡¯s been training under someone else. The Duke must be feeling unwell?¡± The son, who always mentioned his father when discussing the strongest swordsman, had sought instruction elsewhere. Disappointing as it might be, the corners of Aoal¡¯s mouth faintly lifted. ¡°¡­He¡¯s always been ufortable around me. I¡¯m not particrly sad.¡± ¡°Eh, such a nd reaction.¡± Cowlo shook his head and scratched his chin. After all, it made sense. Praising him was inevitable since he had secretly been training his body while pretending to indulge in frivolous activities outside. ¡°Well, the great young master I knew was a man who left everything unfinished, but this is quite unexpected.¡± ¡°He must be taking his enrollment seriously.¡± Although not entirely convinced, Coulro nodded, as no other thoughts came to mind. ¡°Hmm, I wonder what kind of knight he will be after graduation. It¡¯s quite exciting.¡± ¡°By then, I won¡¯t have much to worry about even if I hand over my position.¡± From noble mtl dote * * * It was a path traversed while avoiding the juvenile gazes of two monsters who had poured their lives into their swords. Arriving in front of the mistress¡¯s office, I twitched my eyebrows at the sight of the door already open before I could even knock. As the maid who opened the door tactfully made herself scarce, I shot the mistress a look and asked. ¡°Did you know I wasing?¡± ¡°Just as I was looking out the window, I saw Hershel entering through the main gate.¡± It was far from wee. In a mansion thisrge, with more than a handful of people, the fact that she knew I woulde here was unsettling. ¡°I could have been here to see the twins.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t quite fit the situation, does it?¡± ¡°The situation?¡± As I asked in surprise, the mistress answered in a gentle voice. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s because the entrance notification arrived just in time, or maybe because you¡¯ve been secretly learning magic. Or could it be that you entered here when the Duke was away?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The journey to meet Carmelo was long because it truly involved passing through brothels and gambling dens, perhaps even shaking off any potential pursuit. And yet, with Donatan acting as eyes on the back of my head, how did she notice? ¡°How did you know I was learning magic?¡± The mistress, seemingly uninterested in answering, changed the subject while holding a seal in her hand. ¡°Is that really what¡¯s important right now? You¡¯re here for the guardian¡¯s consent form, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± I decided not to pry any further since I needed the seal. Though I was reluctant, there was no point in ruffling feathers. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Hershel and magic¡­ That¡¯s quite a prejudice to ovee, hmm.¡± The mistress murmured as she scanned the documents. From now on, my task was to exin and convince the other party that there was also an advantage for them. But it seems there was no need for that. Thud! The seal was stamped without a moment¡¯s hesitation. ¡°That was stamped too easily.¡± ¡°Obviously, from Hershel¡¯s mouth, if you enter the Ministry of Magic, you¡¯ll fall out of favor with your father, and won¡¯t you drift away from the position of head of the family?¡± ¡­Was there ever such a thing as a trait rted to mind-reading? ¡°But still, are you trying to get in with a donation?¡± The hostess asked with a slight smile. Indeed, ¡®Frost Heart¡¯ does have a system for admission by donation. ¡°Or is it a proxy exam? Either way, you have a son who costs a lot of money.¡± ¡°Why do you only think in that direction?¡± ¡°Well, Hershel often shows unexpected sides, but even so, that¡¯s it. To learn magic within six months¡­¡± The hostess trailed off, then suddenly opened her eyes wide in surprise. As she watched intently, I spread the mes of elemental fire magic with my index finger, a talent I supposedlycked. Whoosh! A me no bigger than a matchstick. The hostess chuckled. ¡°How did you manage that? You¡¯re quite the enigma.¡± Having finished what I came for, I no longer wanted to talk and picked up the documents. There had been many crises before, and somehow I had managed to escape them, but the most chilling moment must have been when I faced this woman. It wasn¡¯t much different now. ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± As I was about to leave the office, a sudden question stopped me in my tracks. ¡°Come to think of it, I haven¡¯t asked yet.¡± Now that the festival was over, I had no choice but to ask the person involved to find out the answer. There had been assassinations before, but the servants had participated voluntarily; the hostess had never stepped in directly, and the friction with the Schweik family had eliminated any chance to confirm. So I was curious. ¡°How were you nning to kill me?¡± ¡°Oh, that?¡± I watched the trajectory of the hostess¡¯s lips carefully as I faintly ignited the ¡®noble blood¡¯s lingering me¡¯. She wanted to hide her trembling insides. The method this woman had conceived was indeed a ¡®one-second invincibility¡¯ that could not be dealt with, a dead end. ¡°¡­was what I thought. I mayck imaginationpared to others, but somehow, I felt that might not be the answer.¡± Even if they became neutral, she would probably continue to dislike this woman all the same. * * * Daysel handed over a pen with a serious look in his eyes. ¡°I have no one to ask but you, Eruzel.¡± Eruzel broke out in a cold sweat in the awkward situation. The document in front of him was an admission form for Frost Heart Academy. It was the most obscure academy with little information avable, and he knew it was far from a path to sess, so his reluctance was natural. ¡°I was nning to enroll next year, but this isn¡¯t a ce I want to go to, and it¡¯s a bit¡­ premature.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s excessive too. But you¡¯re the only one I can trust, brother.¡± ¡°Big brother, no¡­ Didn¡¯t that man give up his position as head of the family? I wonder if there¡¯s really a need for this. Mother must have given a firm answer too.¡± Daysel¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Do you believe that b*stard¡¯s words? You seem to have forgotten what kind of man he was.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Eruzel closed his mouth. Looking back, ever since they were young, that man never kept a single promise he made. He was a despicable man who would promise to stop tormenting him in exchange for a favor, only toter mock him for believing such promises. ¡°But still¡­¡± Of course, Eruzel understood Daysel¡¯s intentions. Graduating from the academy was half-essential to be the head of the family. Preventing the entrance exam or expelling him would lead to a more certain conclusion. ¡®But to follow that guy into the academy just because of that¡­¡¯ No matter how he thought about it, it didn¡¯t seem right, and he was about to express his refusal when Daysel whispered sweet words. ¡°Eruzel, trust me. I¡¯m different from that trash. I promise to secure your position as soon as I be the head of the family.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to stay at the academy for long. As soon as that guy fails the entrance exam, you cane right back.¡± Eruzel¡¯s eyes trembled at the tempting offer. Realistically, it would be wise to ept Dacel¡¯s offer. I¡¯m not outstanding in swordsmanship like Mircel, and I¡¯m third in line for session. Someday, when one of my brothers bes the head of the family, I¡¯ll have to leave the house; that¡¯s the reality. ¡®Yes¡­ It¡¯s only right to take something with me if that¡¯s the case.¡¯ After much thought, I picked up the pen. Then, Erucel suddenly voiced a question that hade to mind. ¡°By the way, is it really the Knight¡¯s Academy that I should be entering?¡± Dacel sighed wearily. ¡°¡­You ask such unnecessary questions, Erucel. Our family is renowned for its swordsmanship.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just that¡­ I¡¯ve often heard that father tore up the magic book he was reading, so I just wondered.¡± ¡°Even if he¡¯s a fool, he¡¯s not stupid enough to defy father¡¯s words.¡± Erucel nodded immediately. ¡°Ah, that¡¯s certainly true.¡± It would be no different frommitting suicide. Besides, there¡¯s no way he could have learned magic in such a short time. In the end, Erucel, convinced by Dacel¡¯s words, filled out the Knight¡¯s Academy admission papers. * * * The day I had to leave the mansion. I couldn¡¯t step out rashly. Because a pair of tiny hands were clutching my pants, refusing to let go. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± I patted Niacel¡¯s shoulder, who had buried his face in my thigh. ¡°Anyone would think you¡¯re going off to die. Lift your head, will you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Just leave a portrait behind. Let¡¯s see how you¡¯ve grown.¡± As I ruffled his hair, Niacel managed a forced smile and pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket. On it was written a brief sentence: [Have a safe trip]. ¡°I¡¯m proud, really. Maybe I should buy you a gift next time? Well then, hmm¡­¡± Was it because we had grown quite close? I felt an unnecessary worry, and my steps wouldn¡¯t easily move forward. With Aol¡¯s return, that Daycel guy won¡¯t dare to act rashly¡­ Looking at myself, harboring such thoughts, I wonder if I¡¯m just looking for excuses not to go. I steeled my heart and took a step forward. ¡°I¡¯ll be back. Take care.¡± Passing through the annex¡¯s main gate, traces of winter still lingered on the garden path. From a distance, Mircel, wrapped in a scarf, approached, crunching the snow underfoot. ¡°Leaving already?¡± ¡°I have a long journey ahead, so I must hurry.¡± Mircel pouted, seemingly reluctant. ¡°¡­It¡¯ll be boring without you.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll send you letters. There¡¯ll be all sorts of things happening there, so it won¡¯t be boring.¡± Somewhatforted, Mircel smiled faintly and waved. ¡°Really? That sounds much better. Take care and keep in touch.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯ll be a while before we see each other again. Stay healthy.¡± Mircel murmured softly, looking at the snow. ¡°Who knows? Maybe when the seasons change, it¡¯ll be over.¡± It was an awkward response, but I didn¡¯t take it seriously. Maybe if I graduate early, it could be summer. With that, I waved back at Mircel and stopped in my tracks in front of the main gate again. Aol and the hostess seemed to be waiting to see me off. Aol patted my shoulder lightly and said, ¡°Frost Heart will be quite interesting.¡± ¡­ Now that I think about it, this gentleman was also from there. With so many achievements to his name, his portrait and name were well-known at the academy. ¡°¡­I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see. Life in the Knight¡¯s Division there will be an unforgettable memory.¡± My conscience pricked, and I fell silent. It¡¯s something that will be discovered eventually, but it doesn¡¯t have to be now. As I pondered a natural response, the hostess extended a wrapped box towards me. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a gift for your admission. Please open it inside the carriage.¡± The hostess winked one eye. Although I was suspicious, I embraced the gift and bid farewell to the two, then stepped into the carriage. Following me, Selly also bowed deeply to Aol and the hostess before climbing aboard. Click! As the coachman shook the reins, the carriage began to move forward. Listening to the ttering sound, I wiped the fogged window with a handkerchief. The hostess was still waving her hand until she became a dot in the distance. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Perhaps my sunken feelings were showing on my face. Selly asked. ¡°Sir, are you feeling unwell?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing to worry about. But, you know¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious? How the hostess tried to kill me.¡± Selly pursed her lips, then nodded her head. ¡°Well, I am curious. It must be something different from what the servants did.¡± I recalled the conversation I had with the hostess on the day I went to get the guardian¡¯s signature. -How did you n to kill me? -Oh, that? It was ¡®drowning.¡¯ Lacking imaginationpared to others, but somehow, I thought that might be the answer. ¡°Drowning.¡± It was something not even the ¡®One Second Invincibility¡¯ that could counter a stabbing knife, poison, or even a breath could handle. Unaware of my inner turmoil, Selly spoke nonchntly, as if it was somewhat unexpected. ¡°I thought you would do something more shy and meticulous¡­ It seems a bit ordinary?¡± It wasn¡¯t an iprehensible reaction. Out of many methods, to choose something so modest. It must have been a n based on intuition, but knowing it was the right answer made me shiver to the core. If Heinrich had not dered war on Tenest¡­ ¡­Well, never mind. It¡¯s all in the past, and if you¡¯ve lived, that¡¯s enough. ¡°But, aren¡¯t you going to open that box?¡± ¡°Hmm? Oh, right, I was just about to open it.¡± As the lid of the box, crafted from a thinyer of exquisite metal, was lifted, a pair of gloves came into view. [Gloves Blessed with Mana] ¡ñ Attribute Series: Blessing. Master-crafted gloves by artisan Horutu and enchanted by alchemist Hailey. Increases mana capacity by 10 percent. Enhances the precision of spells by 10 percent. Significantly improves the durability of the item held. Allows for spells to be inscribed on the gloves. ¡°Wow¡­¡± He swallowed hard, recognizing the true value of the item. The options of increased mana capacity and spell precision were impressive enough, but the significant boost in durability meant that even a magic wand would hardly break. And the most crucial feature: the option to inscribe spells on the gloves. This was a game-changing option, allowing one to permanently load a spell without the need for a wand. ¡°This must have cost a fortune.¡± ¡°Why? Is it expensive?¡± ¡°Well, enough to buy a mansion?¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Was it an amount too detached from reality? Selly seemed skeptical. After all, even high-end shops wouldn¡¯t have items this costly; it wasn¡¯t unreasonable. ¡°But, young master, what¡¯s that paper underneath?¡± ¡°Paper?¡± Beneath the glovesy a note. [Please take good care of Erusel, Hersel.] I pointed to the carriage following us and asked Selly, ¡°So, why is that one following us?¡± ¡°Young master Erusel? He said he¡¯s enrolling in the Knight¡¯s Division. Haven¡¯t you heard?¡± I had a vague understanding. It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve been so focused on studying magic that I haven¡¯t paid much attention. ¡°No, it¡¯s obvious that Dacel paid you to ruin my entrance exam. Why would you even enroll in the Knight¡¯s Department?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Well.¡± As if recalling the time she was pped, Selly murmured with her hand on her cheek. ¡°That detestable person does have a bit of a foolish streak.¡± ¡°A response that makes many things clear.¡± Chapter 39 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 39 39. Entrance Exam (1) The white castle, Frost Heart, hidden in the unfrozen snow-capped mountains. The scarcity of information spread among the public could be due to the fact that there were as many as five academies, but it¡¯s also likely because of its geographically remote location. Moreover, the school itself preferred not to disclose details about its daily life, making it nearly impossible to obtain credible information in an era without TV or social media. However, having yed Asares countless times, I knew very well. This ce was an institution that specialized solely in training demon boundary scouts, far removed from academic achievements like those of a mage tower, or the official positions of the empire¡¯s knights, and it was the academy where the highest number of students and graduates died. If this fact were to be exposed, no one woulde, so it had been hushed up in cooperation with the empire. After all, it was a job that someone had to do. ¡°The winter I felt outside was like spring¡­¡± Havinge to take the test, I clutched the thick robe that covered me from head to toe at the prepared entrance examination site at the foot of the mountain. ¡°It¡¯s c-cold, young master.¡± From noble mtl dote ¡°At least you¡¯re warm thanks to me. Just look at them. Aren¡¯t we the lucky ones?¡± I pointed to the group huddled together in the harsh cold, warming themselves by the bonfire. Their proximity to the mes was such that they looked pitiful, as if their flesh might cook. Selly frowned, wrapping her face with the hood of her robe. ¡°But, young master. What you said earlier seems quite different, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°What¡¯s that.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s a prestigious academy, why are we taking the entrance exam in such a cold ce?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s winter, so it¡¯s cold everywhere. I told you to dress warmly.¡± Brushing it off, Selly chattered her teeth in the cold but still voiced her doubts. ¡°So, what about them? Who are those people over there?¡± Selly pointed to a group of unsavory characters, blowing bugles and puffing on pipe tobo. At a nce, they were clearly unruly scions who seemed to never listen to a word said. I shook my head as I watched them loudly making lewdments about the passing women or picking fights with some of the weaker-looking men. ¡°Life¡¯s the same everywhere. Wherever you go, if there are good people, there are also those filled with malice.¡± Celly seemed to agree, nodding her head as she looked up at me. ¡°That¡¯s true¡­¡± ¡°Not me.¡± ¡°Ahem, anyway, it¡¯s not just one or two of them. Look over there. It¡¯s like a third of the whole ce is filled with simr types.¡± The gang of ruffians wasrge enough to create grey clouds with their cigarette smoke. When the stench of alcohol mixed with the smoke wafted over on the breeze, it became hard to breathe. ¡°Cough! Ack! Wasn¡¯t the Academy supposed to be a ce for the cultured offspring of noble families?¡± Well, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to tell the truth just this once. ¡°Cough. They¡¯re all donation admissions. All of them. Ugh, such a foul stench.¡± I was about to exin further when someone tapped me on the shoulder. Turning around, it was Erusel. Shivering in the cold, Erusel spoke in a voice close to begging. ¡°Brother, if you have any more clothes, please lend me some. I¡¯m freezing to death here.¡± ¡°As if I would lend you anything¡­¡± I was about to reflexively refuse but then sighed deeply. ¡°No, that¡¯s not right. Fine, I¡¯ll give you a set.¡± ¡°Eh? You¡¯re lending it to me?¡± While Erusel¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, Celly grimaced and handed over a thick coat she had taken out of her bag. She seemed reluctant, but eager to get rid of us quickly. ¡°Ahem, thank you.¡± He nodded his head slightly in gratitude. Such a pitiful fellow, almost enough to bring tears to one¡¯s eyes. He must have nned to just pop in, finish his business, and leave right away. Unaware of what was toe. Crack! Click! Just then, figures d in thick coats adorned with crow feathers approached, drawing everyone¡¯s attention. Adorned with sheaths and staffs fastened to their belts, they were the faculty of Frost Heart, here to oversee the entrance examination. Even the rowdy troublemakers fell silent, subdued by the elegant aura of the ck-d crowd amidst the snow-covered white. At the forefront, a man with wavy ck hair parted his lips. ¡°Attention.¡± His voice was rough yet resonant. His name was Rockefeller. He was one of the influential professors of magic at Frost Heart. ¡°Those here for the donation-based admission, follow this way.¡± At Rockefeller¡¯smand, the unruly crowd hesitantly gathered in one ce. Several professors roamed around them, repeating the same question. ¡°Is there anyone among you wishing to apply for the entrance exam?¡± Why bother with the hassle of an exam after making such a hefty donation? Most scoffed, but a few raised their hands. I smirked at them. They either knew about this or were quick-witted. ¡°Those aspiring to join the knight division, this way.¡± Now, it was the turn of the knight division hopefuls. ¡°It¡¯s our turn. Let¡¯s go, brother.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ You go ahead.¡± As I waved my hand dismissively, Erusel looked at me with a skeptical eye. I gazed back at him with a profound look and said, ¡°Erusel.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Good luck.¡± ¡°?¡± Confused, Erusel had no choice but to follow the procession as the professor began to lead. And after Erusel disappeared, I walked towards the magic department¡¯s examination hall. * * * I was handing over my entrance examination documents at the reception. But the professor in charge of registration stared at the papers before cautiously ncing at another professor nearby. ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± ¡°Are you really Hershel Ben Tenest?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Hmm, it seems you¡¯ve taken a wrong turn. Follow me, I¡¯ll show you the way.¡± He rose from his seat and spoke to the professor beside him. ¡°I¡¯ll take him to the Knight¡¯s Department for a moment, you carry on with your work.¡± It seemed there was a misunderstanding due to his family background. ¡°I wish to join the Magic Department. Is there aw against Knight families applying?¡± As he made his intentions clear, the admissions professor blinked in confusion. ¡°The Magic Department?¡± ¡°Yes, the Magic Department.¡± Scratching his head, the professor then narrowed his eyes sharply. ¡°Present your identification. And take off your robe.¡± ¡°Well, if you insist.¡± Even afterplying with the request, the professor¡¯s suspicion did not wane. ¡°This is peculiar, the features match and the ID isn¡¯t fake¡­ Something¡¯s definitely off here.¡± ¡°Off? How so?¡± ¡°Lately, there have been quite a few cases of people taking exams on behalf of others.¡± The situation was turning out to be quite a headache from the start. Was this the prejudice thendy had spoken of? -Hershel and magic¡­ The bias is not to be underestimated, hmm. He was lost in thought about how to handle this. But surprisingly, his identity was proven without much fuss. ¡°Wait, that person over there.¡± ¡°Huh, Hershel¡­ Why is he here?¡± The surrounding examinees murmured among themselves. The whispers were all about the wrongs they had suffered at his hands, and the tales of his misdeeds were the main topic of conversation. ¡­It was a familiar situation by now. The fact that he was such a global troublemaker was, in some sense, quite remarkable. ¡°This should suffice as proof, shouldn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Sure, you may enter.¡± After saying that, the professor furrowed his brow and hurriedly walked somewhere. I was curious about his reaction, but I didn¡¯t dwell on it and headed towards the written exam hall. ¡°Hmm.¡± The ce I arrived at looked like a lecture hall made of marble. There, I sat alone, isted like a petal in the middle of a pond, surrounded by people. ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that the guy who was making noise outside?¡± ¡°Definitely. The scoundrel from the Tenest family.¡± ¡°Why is he here? His family is known for knights, not this.¡± The chatter became so loud that I put on my robe¡¯s hood, and Donatan began to rant. ¡®The looks you¡¯re getting are a mix of fear and disgust. It¡¯s as if they¡¯re looking at a gue.¡¯ ¡®Let them keep staring.¡¯ Suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching, and when I looked up, a man was walking towards me with a broad smile. He was a young lord, evidently of some standing. ¡°It¡¯s really Lord Hershel himself. To see Lord Hershel here, what a pleasant surprise.¡± He seemed to know Hershel. Not sure how to react and feeling awkward, I watched as the professor entered the written exam hall. ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll greet you properlyter. Anyway, do make sure to pass, hehe.¡± Heughed slyly and returned to his seat. But that guy, I feel like I¡¯ve seen him somewhere. If he were a yable character, I would know, but I dismissed it as a feeling and paid attention to the professor¡¯s words. ¡°The exam is divided into three stages. The first is the written test. The second is to demonstrate the given magic to prove you¡¯re a mage. And the third is a practical test with the knight division¡¯s passers.¡± After the exnation, the professor waved his wand, and the test papers flew through the air,nding at each seated person. ¡°The difficulty of the exam is random. Everyone gets a different test paper. So, don¡¯t even think about copying from your neighbor.¡± The test paper thatnded in front of me seemed to be of the lowest difficulty. I smirked, thinking I could solve it quickly. But then, the school gates opened suddenly, and five professors entered and took the stage. Among the group was the esteemed Professor Rockefeller, who scanned the examinees and then spoke. ¡°I am Rockefeller Den Harman, and I will be monitoring the exam. There have been many cases of cheating recently, using various methods. For example.¡± As Rockefeller waved his wand, my eyelids twitched. A single note flew towards his hand. It was an item that hade out of another student¡¯s pocket. ¡°Ah, a note with the solutions written on it.¡± The culprit was a stern one, but when he swung his wand, I wondered why he had red at me. I had sensed the professors¡¯ animosity from the start, and there must have been something I didn¡¯t know. ¡°Hmm.¡± The people around seemed to think that the man who was about to cheat on the exam would naturally fail, as they looked at Professor Rockefeller and swallowed hard. But he smiled gently and said nonchntly, ¡°Having lost your means, you won¡¯t be able to do any more mischief. Now, try to solve it earnestly.¡± ¡°Does that mean¡­ I can take the exam?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± A few of the examinees sent sharp nces, but the majority heaved a sigh of relief. They must have thought he had a more amiable personality than his prickly appearance suggested. Well, they would soon find out that it was all a facade after the exam¡­ It was the moment I was about to grasp the pen and start solving the problems. I lifted my head at the cast shadow and asked, ¡°Professor, have I made some mistake?¡± ¡°No, nothing of the sort. Just focus on your work.¡± Professor Rockefeller watched the exam paper intently, as if he was solely dedicated to me, without so much as a twitch. ¡­How am I supposed to solve it with him staring so tantly? Shh-shh. Still, I quickly figured it out. Because the problem was too easy. ¡°Hmm, I can¡¯t quite understand the symbols, but it seems you got the answer right.¡± ¡°If I¡¯ve passed, then please step aside. I need to catch some z¡¯s.¡± ¡°The written exam is fine. Very good, but there¡¯s still one more hurdle, isn¡¯t there?¡± It was obvious without exnation. ¡°How will you handle the implementation of magic? From what I¡¯ve heard, you have no experience in that area.¡± My patience reached its limit, and I lowered my voice. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it, so don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Rockefeller whispered into my ear. ¡°Join the Knights¡¯ Order now. This is no ce for you. If you do, I guarantee you¡¯ll pass, on my honor.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but let out a hollowugh upon hearing his true intentions. This man wants to send me away because I¡¯m a child of Aiol and survived the breath of a monster. It¡¯s not just about having the qualities of a knight, of course. ¡°So, my professor doesn¡¯t want to acknowledge me as a magician?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Frankly, your mere presence here is irritating. So, I¡¯d appreciate it if you¡¯d leave quickly.¡± Magicians are indeed a peculiar breed. His continuous provocation was enough to stir my anger, and I decided to be a bit reckless. ¡°Then, let¡¯s have the second exam right here and now.¡± Rockefeller looked at me nkly before curling his lips into a smirk. ¡°Do you want to be humiliated in front of everyone? Fine. I¡¯ll make sure you understand your ce.¡± He stopped whispering and, with a gentle smile, addressed the examinees. ¡°Attention. We¡¯ll pause the written exam for a moment. Don¡¯t worry; you¡¯ll have plenty of time.¡± The examinees put down their pens. ¡°The truth is, there¡¯s someone here who wishes to take the second exam on the spot. And they¡¯ve asked me to personally supervise it.¡± All eyes in the lecture hall turned to me. Amidst the snickers and whispers, I felt like a true outsider here. They must be expecting me to fall, given my past deeds. And to them, it must beughable that someone once called an illiterate could prove their magic in such a short time. But they should know this. Even if it was only for six months, I¡¯ve bled through my nose night after night reading books, learned even though I knew I¡¯d be half-dead if caught, and swung my wand until blisters turned to calluses. So, I will prove it. That I am a magician, right here, right now. ¡°What¡¯s the subject of the second exam?¡± ¡°Light a different colored me on each of the five fingers. That¡¯s the challenge of this test, the proof.¡± I pulled out the magic wand I had taken from an assassin. Chapter 40 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 40 40. Entrance Examination (2) For me, lighting five mes is a difficult task. Especially if they¡¯re all different colors. However, I had learned the art of staff handling from Carmelo, and on my hands were the ¡°Gloves of Mana¡¯s Blessing¡± gifted by thendy. The precision of the spellcraft,pounded consecutively, meant it was entirely possible. Whoosh! At the tips of my left fingers, mes of five colors blossomed. Rockefeller¡¯s eyes widened as if taken aback, and the onlookers remained silent and still. Then, a burst ofughter erupted. ¡°Pfft!¡± ¡°Keuk, what, what is that?¡± Well, perhaps it¡¯s understandable. The mes hanging from my fingertips were as tiny as ants. But I didn¡¯t care. As I¡¯ve said time and again, one must be shameless. ¡°I¡¯ve met the conditions, so I¡¯ve passed. Now, if you could just keep an eye on the other contestants.¡± ¡°Yes, a pass is a pass. You¡¯ve done quite well, so here¡¯s a reward.¡± Rockefeller wore a feigned smile. What he extended was a consent form with three uses, only given to those who passed the second test. The content was briefly as follows: This academy does not expel students. Nor does it recognize students¡¯ withdrawals. In case of death during enrollment, the academy bears no responsibility. uses filled with ominous undertones. One might think, ¡®It¡¯s just an academy, like a university, what could happen?¡¯ But I knew why these uses existed. ¡°I would appreciate it if you could refrain fromughing. Hershel has passed the test. I hope you all will follow his example and work hard.¡± Rockefeller moved away, hiding his true feelings. Just as he was about to exit through the school gates, he cast a meaningful nce over his shoulder at me. I had a feeling he wasn¡¯t going to give up just like that, which left me feeling uneasy. * * * Rockefeller walked down the corridor, irritably ruffling his hair. ¡®What on earth happened?¡¯ He had been certain that I would apply for the Knight Department exam and had let his guard down. However, in the midst of it all, the professor in charge of the Magic Department¡¯s paperwork came to express his concerns, reporting that he had arrived here. ¡°Could you have taken the wrong path, or are you perhaps a proxy test-taker?¡± he asked again, but the answer was always the same. ¡°I have indeed applied to the Magic Department, Professor Rockefeller. Moreover, my identity has been thoroughly verified. With no grounds left to question, I was allowed to take the written exam.¡± The situation had be thoroughly tangled. From noble mtl dote Therefore, Rockefeller personally went to the written exam hall where Hershel was, to see if he was cheating, watching him like a hawk. ¡®Up until that moment, I was certain. That he would fail.¡¯ Just in case, I even directed the professor to give him the hardest problems for the calction test. That should have been enough under normal circumstances. Yet, he didn¡¯t get a single question wrong and even passed the second exam, which I thought impossible. ¡®But him¡­ This is inconceivable.¡¯ From the moment the principal took an interest in him, I had been keeping track of everything from his evaluations to the smallest rumors. He was known to be a troublemaker with a temper, the son of Aiol, and there were credible rumors that he had survived the breath of a monster. There was not a single story about magic in that ce. Naturally, it was assumed that he would apply to the Knight Department without any need for intervention. ¡°Damn it, I wascent. I should have sent the invitation to the Knight Department from the start.¡± asionally, there were mistakes where only the Magic Department¡¯s invitation was sent to a student of the Knight Department, so sending both notifications for administrative convenience had led to this blunder. Rockefeller, having taken a shortcut, stood in front of the principal¡¯s office in the main academy building, calming his tense heart with a deep breath. ¡°Principal Arkandric, I havee on an errand.¡± ¡°Oh, is that you, Rockefeller? Come in.¡± As soon as I entered the principal¡¯s office, I could faintly hear a dying sound from beyond the window. ¡°Groooan.¡± Rockefeller, looking at the student crucified in the middle of the training ground, asked, ¡°Is he a deserter?¡± An old man with muscles and a scar over one eye clicked his tongue. ¡°Tsk, calling a student who tried to leave the school grounds a deserter. You¡¯ve been in the military too long and still haven¡¯t adapted.¡± ¡°I apologize, Principal. It was a slip of the tongue.¡± As Rockefeller bowed his head, Arkandric smiled contentedly, stroking his white beard. ¡°That¡¯s right. This is a ce of education where we teach with love. Other academies might give demerits and expel students when they umte, but we don¡¯t end with simple punishment. Never giving up on a student is the spirit of a true educator. You must never forget that spirit. Now, what brings you here?¡± Rockefeller cautiously began after gauging his reaction. ¡°Actually, Hershel Ben Tenest has enrolled in the Magic Department. He passed the baseline, so for now, he¡¯s been epted¡­¡± Akandrik clenched his teeth and let out a menacing voice. ¡°Let me ask you something, just in case. Was the Grand Duke the type to permit that guy to learn magic?¡± ¡°The Grand Duke is a knight of deep and pure lineage. He would never allow it.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what I thought. Just as the rumors say, he knows how to get under people¡¯s skin.¡± The decision to admit Hersel to the magic department would have infuriated him, regardless of any malice. Especially since he went through all sorts of trouble to get the guy into the knight department. ¡°But you know, Rockefeller, don¡¯t you? As soon as the news spread that he survived the monster¡¯s breath, other academies were eyeing him greedily.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m aware.¡± ¡°So, what did I do?¡± ¡°¡­I dare not say it myself.¡± Bang! Akandrik¡¯s fist, as big as a pot lid, split the desk in two. ¡°I even bowed down to those unlucky principals. Was that all? I even touched the school¡¯s operating funds to bribe them. But what¡¯s the result? Huh? Answer me. You were in charge of admissions, weren¡¯t you?¡± With eyes bulging as if they might pop out, Rockefeller calmly brushed his face with one hand and said, ¡°I won¡¯t make excuses. However, I will continue to try to get him into the knight department.¡± ¡°Hmm, right. People can make mistakes. What¡¯s important is the attitude to correct them. But the method must be clean.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand. I will pressure him under the allowed regtions.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right. You know I trust you, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Under Akandrik¡¯s pressure, Rockefeller felt like dying. Of course, it¡¯s not iprehensible. Talented guys all go to good academies, so the quality of students here has severely fallen behind. The principal had be aughingstock among other principals every time, so he must be furious. In such a situation, he was desperate to recruit talent, and the promising guy he had his hopes on went astray. Rockefeller sighed in relief at the principal¡¯s disy of extreme patience. * * * After finishing the second exam, he approached Cellie, who was waiting in the lounge. ¡°How did it go?¡± ¡°Well, of course, I passed.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± With a soft sigh from Selly, I squinted my eyes and asked, ¡°Do you wish you had failed and gone home?¡± ¡°No? Not at all. I was relieved that you passed.¡± I can¡¯t tell who she¡¯s taking after with such brazenness. ¡°But don¡¯t worry too much. Depending on the final third exam, you could lead a pretty decent life.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Privileges do exist here, more clearly than in other academies. To receive good privileges, one must score top marks in the third exam. ¡°Bring your luggage. It¡¯s time to start moving.¡± ¡°What? Already? Others are still resting.¡± Well, getting a head start is important. ¡°Stop dawdling and move. Don¡¯t you want to live in a good dorm?¡± ¡°Of course, I do.¡± I was moving ces with Selly when a dashing young master blocked our path at the exam site. ¡°Mr. Hershel. I was truly surprised. When did you learn magic?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤Did you pass too?¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯ve been learning for a long time. But earlier, it was really cool. When those foolsughed at you, the moment you sparked a me on your finger! I felt chills, you know?¡± It¡¯s a bit awkward, but he¡¯s showing kindness. Then I should respond with courtesy. ¡°Don¡¯t make a fuss. We¡¯ll be learning together at the Department of Magic, let¡¯s get along.¡± The guy once again showed an almost exaggeratedly touched expression. ¡°Are you serious? That you want to get along with me?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I look forward to it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m moved¡­ Though I¡¯mcking, I hope to get along well with you too.¡± There¡¯s a busy ce I need to be, so the conversation ends here. I was about to tell Selly to move on, but something seemed off. What is it? She looks unusually tense. ¡°Wow, Celly. Long time no see? Still taking good care of the young master?¡± ¡°¡­Yes, that¡¯s right. Master Rendel.¡± ¡°Come to think of it, our maid was quite indebted to us back then.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry for that time.¡± ¡°No, no. Being a maid to Master Hersel, that¡¯s the least you could do.¡± Their conversation sounded strangely off. One side seemed to be speaking warmly, but Celly appeared somewhat frightened. ¡°Hold on, did you say Rendel? Step aside for a moment. I have something to discuss with her alone.¡± ¡°Ah, sure. Have a good talk. I¡¯ll wait here.¡± Once he stepped away, I asked Celly. ¡°Who is that guy?¡± ¡°¡­You know who he is. Why ask all of a sudden?¡± ¡°I told you before. I¡¯m not Hersel. I¡¯m someone else who¡¯s possessed this body. So exin it to me like you would to a madman, as usual.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Celly hesitated before answering. ¡°He¡¯s a member of the club the young master created.¡± ¡°Club?¡± ¡°You know, the one you made by calling your friends over.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that about?¡± ¡°The Lethe of Oblivion.¡± For a moment, time seemed to freeze. I knew what the Lethe club was. And realizing that Hersel was the founder was a shock that wouldn¡¯t fade. Rendel, oblivious to my feelings, thought the conversation was over and approached with a silly grin. ¡°So, Celly dragged out her answer again, huh? Well then, Master Hersel. How have you been? That creative game you made.¡± ¡°¡­Game?¡± ¡°Yes, you know. The one where the maids fight and bet money. Nothing¡¯s more entertaining than a catfight. That¡¯s why I brought a girl who¡¯s quite good at fighting this time.¡± I flicked my index finger, gesturing for him toe closer. ¡°Ah, yes. Do you have something to say?¡± ¡°Did you say Rendel?¡± ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s an honor to have you call my name.¡± ¡°You¡¯re cut off.¡± After saying that, I expanded my muscles and drove my clenched fist into the guy¡¯s face. Thump! Without exaggeration, Rendel¡¯s body spun a full circle in the air. With a magician¡¯s physique, he was no match for my muscr punch. ¡°Gah¡­ My, my teeth. My teeth!¡± As Rendel, who had fallen to the ground, picked up his white teeth like scattered corn kernels, I announced in a lowered voice, ¡°Make sure to tell the others. I¡¯m done with such childish games.¡± ¡°Are, are you serious?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make me say it twice. But hey, if you want another punch, I¡¯ll oblige.¡± Rendel, with a bewildered expression, huffed and puffed, then his eyes filled with murderous intent. Ignoring such a guy, I said to Selly, ¡°What are you doing? We need to hurry.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Yes.¡± Was it that surprising? Even as Selly walked silently, she blinked and kept looking at my face. ¡°Why.¡± ¡°No, just wondering if it¡¯s really okay. They¡¯re your friends, after all, and connections are important for life at the academy.¡± ¡°Forget it. Associating with those losers is a loss.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Tch.¡± Selly snickered and walked ahead. Whatever she was thinking, there was not a shred of falsehood in my words. And for good reason, the origin of the name ¡®Lethe of Oblivion¡¯ was from drinking until memories flew away. Those who join such a group are all rascals. In the academy, their worth is this: Indispensable third-rate viins, the spice of fun. Walking gues destined to be beaten by yable characters until graduation. If you don¡¯t want to be one, you cut ties from the start. The ce we arrived at was a in covered in snow. Thus, in the middle, a long marble table and a single professor stood out conspicuously. The professor, seeing Selly, pointed to a building on the side and said, ¡°Servants should head that way.¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± As Selly picked up her luggage and left, the professor, without further exnation, pointed to the marble table. On it, wooden tags numbered from 1 to 70 were neatlyid out. ¡°Choose one of these.¡± I chose number 7. Because this would be the ticket to the best starting position for the third trial that was about to unfold. What we had to do now was a joint examination with the knights¡¯ division qualifiers. It was to escape from the dungeon. Chapter 41 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 41 41. Third Trial (1) The joint examination was conducted by forming teams of three. Only the first 70 who passed the previous test early could choose a tag, and the person with a tag became the leader. Of course, those who didn¡¯t make it into the 70 teams were out. With about 300 qualifiers for the second trial in my memory, it meant more than 90 people would be eliminated without even a chance to try. Having secured a tag, I leisurely checked the time. 40 minutes remained until the start of the third trial. A few candidates began to arrive, among them was Eruzel. Eruzel grumbled abruptly. ¡°Even after washing my eyes, I couldn¡¯t find you. You should¡¯ve waited at the second trial site if it was over. You just stood there nkly!¡± He still seemed unaware that I belonged to the magic division. Well, with so many candidates, it¡¯s likely that the knights¡¯ division also split up the personnel for the tests. ¡°Quit the chatter and pick up a tag.¡± ¡°A tag? What is this?¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± As Eruzel grasped a tag, I faintly curled up the corners of my mouth. With this, he became the leader of another team. Since we¡¯re not on the same team, I guess there¡¯s no chance for any real mischief. ¡°The show is about to start soon.¡± I was vigntly watching the peopleing in when I locked eyes with a woman who was ring fiercely at me. ¡°¡­¡± Feeling the difort, I kept my mouth shut, and she turned her head swiftly and disappeared. Erucel, who was next to me, blurted out without a clue. ¡°Oh, now that I think about it, we met by chance during the test. Your brother¡¯s-¡° ¡°Shut up and focus on the exam.¡± As time passed, all the examinees filled the examination hall. When everyone was waiting with puzzled faces, Professor Rockefeller appeared and surveyed the crowd. ¡°Is everyone here?¡± His gaze was still sharp as he forced a smile. The examinees, mistaking his demeanor for friendliness, showered him with moderate praise. Little did they know they would soon be unmasking themselves. ¡°Those who arrived earlier have received a badge numbered from 1 to 70. Congrattions. You¡¯ve earned the right to form a unit. Each team will have three members. Those with badges may recruit two members and are then permitted to take the third exam.¡± More than half of the examinees began to murmur among themselves. Their expressions clearly showed they didn¡¯t understand what was being said. A female examinee raised her hand and asked Rockefeller a question. ¡°What about those who didn¡¯t get a badge?¡± ¡°Find someone with a badge and beg if you must. That¡¯s the only way for someone empty-handed like you to take the third exam.¡± ¡°But, there are only 70 teams, right? And with only three members per team, can we really amodate everyone here?¡± Rockefeller sighed deeply, as if in disdain, and answered. ¡°323 passed the second round. Only 210 will take the third exam. The 113 not chosen by a leader will simply be eliminated.¡± Then a male examinee raised his hand and began to protest to Rockefeller. ¡°Wait a minute, Professor! Is it really fair to give such an advantage just for arriving first?¡± Rockefeller¡¯s previously gentle eyes began to sharpen at the bold question. ¡°Is there a problem with that?¡± ¡°Of course, there is. No one waste, and everyone arrived right on time. This isn¡¯t fair!¡± His expression thenpletely transformed into that of a fierce fox. ¡°I¡¯m sick and tired of answering such idiotic questions.¡± Was it the irritable expression and voice that had given such a shock? Those who mistook him for a congenial professor wore perplexed expressions. ¡°Yes, yes?¡± ¡°Right, good. As teaching is my profession, I¡¯ll kindly exin. But first, let me ask. Do you arrive at the battlefield, where life and death intertwine, utterly unprepared and just in time?¡± Rockefeller created a chair with conjuration magic and sank into the backrest. ¡°Of course, a soldier might. All that¡¯s needed is a head to ept orders and a body to carry out the mission. That¡¯s sufficient. But you¡¯re not a leader.¡± Rockefeller continued his exnation. ¡°A leader should investigate and prepare in advance what lies ahead at the destination, whether there are any dangers, and devise a strategy. Those who hold the cards have shown their worth by arriving before the likes of you.¡± ¡°But, if you had given me a hint in advance, I too would have held a card¡­¡± ¡°Really? If this doesn¡¯t answer your question, then let me ask.¡± Rockefeller red at the examinee menacingly and spoke sarcastically. ¡°You don¡¯t think that now, by holding a card, you¡¯ll do well, do you? While they were getting their cards, you were probably chattering away inside a warm building and barely crawled out in time, didn¡¯t you?¡± The examinee flinched as if struck by conscience. ¡°I wonder if there are any subordinates who would follow a superior whozily crawls out onto a life-threatening battlefield without a n. No, rather, I wouldn¡¯t want someone like you as a subordinate. A typical whiner like you, who onlyins to others, only serves to ruin the mood.¡± Those holding the cards cast cold nces at the questioned examinee. Watching the scene, I thought Rockefeller was incredibly cruel. Rockefeller had just dered, in front of many people, that the one who opposed him wascking not only as a leader but even as a soldier. After going this far, there would be no leader who would want to team up with that examinee. In the midst of this, Erusel spoke to me. ¡°Brother, I¡¯m going to throw away this card, so will you ept me?¡± ¡°Why should I?¡± From noble mtl dote ¡°No, isn¡¯t it right for brothers to take the test together?¡± I scoffed at the transparent man. ¡°Why? So you can follow me around and cause me to fail too?¡± ¡°¡­¡± He wore an expression as if his world had crumbled. It must have been a shock. Whether it was the first or second round, he must have nned to sabotage and induce failure, but now, even thest chance he thought he had, the third exam, had turned out like this. ¡°Did you think I wouldn¡¯t know? You really are a fool.¡± I turned my gaze away from my floundering younger brother, who was gasping like a goldfish, and listened more closely to what Rockefeller had to say. ¡°Then, from now on, you have 1 hour and 40 minutes to form a team. Once the team isplete, request guidance from the professor and follow.¡± As soon as the announcement ended, examinees began to gather around those who held the cards. However, even after 30 minutes, no one had gathered in front of me. Those who showed a brief interest either made disgusted faces or avoided eye contact with a look of fear. Still, I was confident. As time passed, the seats would fill up, and eventually, those desperate for hope would turn to me. I only needed to find one useful person among them. The remaining spot would be filled by him, the one I had subtly marked. With that n in mind, an hour passed. ¡®¡­Why can¡¯t I see even a single ant?¡¯ ¡®It seems they¡¯d rather fail than join you.¡¯ Only 5 minutes remained. Anxious, I started to scout for team members myself. Reluctantly, because there was someone I had thought of. He was a yable character, one I had avoided recruiting for fear of ruining the narrative. ¡°Hmm.¡± There should be no problem. If the user didn¡¯t y or choose him, he would drop out on his own. Even if he died, it wouldn¡¯t matter much to the main scenario. ¡°Still, I really don¡¯t want to meet him. Should I give up?¡± Tick-tock- Cruelly, the second hand of the pocket watch sounded unusually loud. * * * The guy I was looking for was a short fellow named Limberton. Finding him wasn¡¯t difficult. Sure enough, there he was, sleazily hovering around a woman. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re both out of the third exam. How about joining me for a cup of tea instead?¡± ¡°¡­I have a boyfriend.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a lie women often use to y hard to get. I¡¯m not falling for it anymore.¡± The woman made a face that was close to disgust. Suddenly, a man approached and kicked Limberton in the head. He seemed to be a lover, perhaps. ¡°Can hear that disgusting noise all the way from here.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know, it¡¯s revolting. Let¡¯s just ignore it and go.¡± After they left, I approached Limberton. ¡°Get up.¡± ¡°Huh!¡± ¡°Are you conscious?¡± ¡°Argh! My head!¡± I reached out to the guy clutching his head in pain and spoke gently. ¡°Let me help you up.¡± But then he spat out something so vile that it made me want to retract my hand. ¡°Only 73 women left to hit on.¡± I tried to be merciful, to serve with a benevolent heart,ying the bait personally for the despicable one. It was because he had not too shabby skills in the third test. ¡°It¡¯s a pity. Actually, I have some expensive information I bought; the better your score in the third test, the nicer the dormitory you get to stay in, right? There will be many beautiful women too. Especially this time, a lot of capable women applied.¡± I justid the groundwork subtly and turned my back. True to his woman-crazed nature, Limberton bit the bait hard. ¡°Cough, given the situation, I have no choice but to dislike it. Hassel, I¡¯ll ept your offer. If that¡¯s the only way to pass the test.¡± He tried to look serious, yet his lips twitched as he continued. ¡°But remember one thing. I still can¡¯t forgive you. I¡¯ll only tolerate you for a short while. Got it?¡± Reaching the limits of my patience, I narrowed my eyes and shot back. ¡°How dare you say you¡¯re tolerating me?¡± This one is hopeless. I moved to look for someone else, leaving him behind. Then Limberton came running after me, buzzing like a fly. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be so harsh just because I tried to show off a little.¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± ¡°Alright. I admit I was presumptuous, so just let it slide this time, Hassel!¡± ¡°This is yourst chance. If you make another remark that gets on my nerves, you¡¯re out. Understand?¡± Limberton clenched his mouth shut and nodded vigorously. Still, he was an easy one to handle, which was a plus. ¡°Fine, just follow me for now.¡± ¡°¡­But are we the only two?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. I¡¯m about to head to the guy I¡¯ve got my eye on.¡± I took Limberton with me and approached arge man standing alone in the corner, cloaked in a full-length robe. * * * Recruiting thest person wasn¡¯t too difficult. When I showed him the badge, he nodded in agreement. Having formed the team, I followed the professor¡¯s lead to a steel door marked with the number 7. ¡°Go on in.¡± As we crossed the threshold, the steel door shut firmly behind us. Bang! Trapped in a darkness devoid of light, Limberton¡¯s voice squeezed out, tinged with fear. ¡°Uh, Hersel? I can¡¯t see anything here?¡± ¡°Stay quiet.¡± At that moment, Professor Rockefeller¡¯s voice echoed from all around. -You¡¯ve kept me waiting for quite some time. Squad 7, you guys are deadst. Ugh, was there a need to point that out so specifically? -Well, that doesn¡¯t matter. I will exin the third test only once, so listen carefully. Even though they knew it well, they listened intently to awaken their vignce. -What you guys need to do from now on is to escape from this ce within three days. And, during that process, collect the hidden coins. The speed of your escape will also be added to your score. Of course, the number of coins collected will count as well. Because the ce I was in was. -Then, I wish you good luck. Survive without dying in the dungeon. It was a real ¡®dungeon¡¯ where one could die from monster attacks and traps if not careful. Whoosh! mes burst forth from the torches on every wall. Simultaneously, a high-pitched scream reverberated off the walls. Chapter 42 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 42 42. The Third Test (2) ¡°No, no way? A dungeon? This is all just stage props, right? Wow, the academy is really something.¡± Limberton trembled, lost in denial of reality. To snap such a fool back to his senses, I shook out a box of items ced on the floor. The contents were weapons like swords and shields, arrows, and dried rations for three days. ¡°Limberton, this sword is real. It¡¯s not a y. If monsters appear, you¡¯ll have to defend yourself with this.¡± After donning light armor, I picked up arge shield and handed it to a man wrapped in a full-body robe. He nodded again, epting the shield. Next, I picked up a bow and a quiver of arrows and handed them to Limberton, who frowned. ¡°Eh? What¡¯s with the uncool arrows? I¡¯m supposed to be a knight, give me a sword instead.¡± His reaction wasn¡¯t surprising. In this world, knights do not favor arrows and are often looked down upon as hunters if they carry them. They¡¯re easily blocked by aura, and some even slice or deflect them before they can touch. Nevertheless, the path Limberton must walk was that of an archer alone. [Limberton Bell Delsi] ¡ñBlessing ¡ôHermit of the Wind¡¯s Blessing¡ô ¦Ç Do not ask about me. I am but a nobody. One receives an uracy correction by the tailwind. ¡ñTraits ¡óSharpshooter¡ó ¡óEagle Eye¡ó The blessing and traits are deliberately tailored for an archer¡ªhow could one possiblypete? His fate has already been decided. ¡°How foolish. In a life-or-death matter, one should use what they¡¯re ustomed to.¡± ¡°¡­What, what? How do you know I shoot arrows?¡± ¡°Cut the chatter and listen.¡± It was fortunate to have picked the mostfortable number 7. These guys would perform above averagepared to ordinary people, easily passing the third trial in first ce. ¡°But why is that big guy only holding a shield? Doesn¡¯t he need a weapon too?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± As I offered a sword, the robed figure shook their head. ¡°He says he¡¯s fine.¡± I strapped a longsword to my waist. I handed Limberton three backpacks filled with necessary supplies. ¡°Can you carry all of this?¡± ¡°This is surprisingly heavy. You want me to carry all this alone?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, hand one over to that man.¡± ¡°And you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll light the way at the front. Mobility is crucial, so I must keep as light as possible. That man will take the rear. You¡¯ll assist with the front and back from the center, so there¡¯s no need for you to move quickly.¡± Limberton nodded with a slightly puzzled expression. I picked up a torch hanging on the wall and stepped into the dark path ahead. As a thin, translucent thread reflected off my shin, I stopped. Ping! ¡°Hold on, stop.¡± Touch it, and spears would pour out from both walls¡ªa trap. ¡°Rimbutton. You saw it too, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Huh? Oh. Yes, I saw it.¡± ¡°This is a trap. Since you have good eyesight, report anything even slightly suspicious. Now, everyone, don¡¯t touch anything and pass by carefully.¡± But for some reason, I squinted uneasily. Was there originally a trap made of threads right from the entrance? It was the moment I thought nothing of it and moved forward. Rimbutton, who was behind, suddenly shouted. ¡°Wait! There¡¯s a woman copsed over there!¡± ¡­Quite the guy. Only the shoulder part of the fallen one¡¯s armor was illuminated, yet he identified the gender correctly. It must have been the effect of the ¡®Eagle Eye¡¯ trait. But a woman? ¡°Rimber¡­¡± I was about to speak about the woman¡¯s identity that came to mind, but then I closed my mouth. It seemed better to instill a proper sense of caution this time. Rimbutton took his eyes off me and began to approach cautiously. I followed quietly, sticking close behind him. The woman was unconscious, bleeding from her head. ¡°Excuse me, miss. Are you alright?¡± Just as Rimbutton reached out his hand, the woman¡¯s mouth tore crosswise, oozing sticky saliva. Ssssh. I grabbed Rimbutton by the nape and yanked him back. Thump! He fell to the ground, and I pointed at the monster with a cross-shaped torn mouth full of fangs. Its name was Mirror Ghoul, amon monster in dungeons. It mimicked human appearance to deceive, then devoured its prey when they let their guard down. ¡°Does that still look like ady to you?¡± ¡°Hi, hiik!¡± Tatatatatuck! The mirror specter lunged forward. Following Donatan¡¯s lead, I thrust my longsword into its mouth. Thud! As the sword pierced through to the top of the mirror specter¡¯s head, an indistinguishable fluid of blood and brain matter slid down the de. The creature¡¯s feeble struggles transmitted to my fingertips, subsiding with a short scream. ¡°Limberton. Be wary of the people you meet here.¡± ¡°Should I? There might be monsters like this one¡­¡± ¡°No, even if they are real people, doubt them, be on guard, and be careful.¡± Limberton blinked in confusion. I went to where the mirror specter had originally been and picked up a blue coin from the ground. ¡°You know that these coins are points, right?¡± ¡°¡­Of course, I do.¡± ¡°Then, do you think the professors will count the coins they¡¯ve taken as points?¡± Limberton¡¯s eyes widened as he grasped the intended meaning. ¡°But, isn¡¯t that a bit unfair? If that¡¯s allowed, there could be fights over a single coin. That can¡¯t be permitted in the exam.¡± ¡°The professor only said that coins would be counted as points. He didn¡¯t care about where they came from.¡± Soon, the other teams would realize this too. By now, they would have dealt with the monsters and traps set on their stages and would have had time to secure their first coins. Just as I thought this, Rockefeller¡¯s voice boomed out. -Ah, there¡¯s something I forgot to mention. It¡¯s about the reward. Those with high scores are expected to spend their academy life in the top dormitories. And don¡¯t think of the coins merely as points to earn. That was the reason why we had to take the third exam. -It¡¯s the only currency epted within the academy. Whether it¡¯s food or clothes, no other currency will be recognized. And if you don¡¯t want to start empty-handed, you must secure your capital here. -Lastly, the coins don¡¯t have names engraved on them. I believe this should be enough motivation. That is all. Rockefeller tantly imprinted the notion that the source of the acquired coins didn¡¯t matter, thereby increasing the dungeon¡¯s difficulty before concluding his speech. That detestable human¡­ No, I¡¯d rather he stopped at that. Because from the start, the appearance of the mirror specter meant this was definitely not the 7th start, but the much harder 44th. It was almost certain that rotten guy had switched the maps. After all, the overall exam coordinator had the authority to do so. ¡°Damn it all.¡± Ever since the second test, his attitude towards me has been off-putting, and though I don¡¯t know why, it seems I¡¯ve been marked. He probably hopes to see me grovel, no matter the hardship, but that¡¯s wishful thinking. I¡¯ll show him. How well I can live and thrive in the dungeon. * * * The dungeon was a sentient being. It could be tamed ormunicated with. All it needed was a regr supply of food, and in return, it offered rewards. Rockefeller extended a marble reflecting the corpse of a deceased examinee to the professor beside him. ¡°I¡¯d like to see the status of the donation-based admissions.¡± ¡°Yes, sir¡­¡± The professor, trembling, presented the marble filled with the tragedy. Rockefeller smiled as he observed the plight of the donation-based entrants. ¡°Hmm, I wonder if they¡¯re overindulging?¡± Most of the unruly ones were blood-soaked, their lives fading away. In contrast, some of the survivors gritted their teeth, plucking out the eyes of monsters with their bare hands, fighting to the end. One even strangled a monster with his forearm, tearing its ear off with venomous teeth. ¡°Those five will survive.¡± From noble mtl dote The ones dragged in unarmed were food provided to the dungeon. The reward Rockefeller received was swapping the paths of the easiest number 7 and the hardest number 44. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Rockefeller sneered at the marble for path number 7 he had kept closest. ¡®You may have chosen the best number, but in your hands, it¡¯s meaningless.¡¯ Besides cultivating the dungeon, taming disobedient soldiers was also his delightful hobby. ¡°¡­¡± Unexpectedly, the scene Rockefeller wanted to see did not appear in marble number 7. Instead, it only aggravated the onlooker. While other teams struggled and became disheveled, the skin of Hershel¡¯s group remained spotless, as if untouched by dust, appearing leisurely. Or rather, it seemed they were enjoying themselves. ¡°Do they think the dungeon is a yground?¡± ¡°¡­Using the monsters that were ced as traps to kill them?¡± Rockefeller stopped himself just as he was about to m his fist down on the desk. Enjoy it while you can, for the hellish path that awaits won¡¯t go anywhere. * * * A minotaur charged towards us. Imanded Limberton. ¡°See that thread we left untouched over there? Cut it with your arrow.¡± ¡°Ah, why is it always me?¡± Ping! As the arrow hit its mark and the thread snapped, spears poured out from both walls. Grrrargh! The minotaur met a screaming demise. Thanks to our knowledge of the 44th terrain, encounters with monsters became rare. At most, we¡¯d wrap a poison insect trap in a backpack, throw it at a monster, and run. Or hide and push them down a slippery slope into a thorny pit. When bored, we¡¯d leave a piece of jerky and watch the monsters fight over it from afar. Perhaps it was because we kept walking without rest. Limberton gasped for air andined. ¡°Heave! Heave! So much for being the lead and mobility, what a load of crap. I¡¯m the one doing most of the work.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. The fact that we¡¯re getting through without any trouble means we¡¯re all doing our jobs.¡± I looked at Limberton, whose pace had slowed, and pointed ahead. ¡°There¡¯s a safe zone up ahead. We¡¯ll rest there, so hang in there a bit longer.¡± Even in the dungeon, there were blind spots. ces untouched by the influence of any living creature. ¡°Why do you know the way so well? And how you know where the monsters are.¡± ¡°¡­Let¡¯s just say I have a hunch.¡± Limberton gave me a suspicious nce, then whispered in my ear. ¡°But why has that big guy been silent this whole time? Can¡¯t he speak?¡± ¡°Seems so,¡± I murmured. I nced at the man wrapped in a full-length robe. He was still silently following us. As we walked further, we arrived at a ce covered with moss and flowers. ¡°¡­Is this the safe zone?¡± ¡°You know the dungeon is alive, right? This is its stomach. It devours intruders like us and rebirths them as monsters to kill other intruders. That¡¯s how it feeds.¡± Rimbutton¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as if hearing it for the first time, and he nodded. ¡°So, the fact that this moss is left even though it digests human bones means this is an area its stomach doesn¡¯t reach. Got it?¡± ¡°This is quite shocking. I didn¡¯t know you knew so much¡­¡± It¡¯s strange that he doesn¡¯t know. If he had joined the Knight Corps, he should know. It was a topic on the Knight Corps¡¯ written exam; how did he ever pass¡­ ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s eat here.¡± I emptied one of my backpacks, shaking out all the dried food, water, and bread. Rimbutton¡¯s eyes rounded in dismay. ¡°Wait, we¡¯re supposed to spread this out over three days. Are you nning to eat it all now?¡± Well, I did want to show Rockefeller what a pic looked like. And since the difficulty was about to get disgustingly harder, we were bound to exert ourselves to death soon. Swallowing my words, Izily opened my eyes and shamelessly replied. ¡°Somehow, I have a hunch that it¡¯s better to fully replenish our strength now. It feels like we¡¯ll encounter many unavoidable enemies ahead.¡± ¡°Are you some kind of prophet?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the leader¡¯s decision. Stopining and eat.¡± Though he seemed a bit squeamish, Rimbutton soon took a big bite of the bread. The man in the robe, apparently not liking the bread, chewed on a mouthful of jerky from a distance. Thanks to everyone¡¯s surprisingly good appetite, the day¡¯s ration was gone in no time. ¡°Wow, I¡¯m so full I don¡¯t know if I can move properly.¡± An hour had passed since we finished eating. The sounds of battle and screams asionally echoed from the dungeon, but I paid no mind and concentrated on my reading. Unable to bear it any longer, Rimbutton spoke up. ¡°Hey, resting is fine, but aren¡¯t you too rxed? We barely have any coins. Others must already have a bunch by now. We need to do something.¡± At this moment, we were living the high life, having sucked the honey of fortune dry. A seasoned yable character would be out there, eyes aze, hunting down monsters to ughter. But for us, taking Route 44, conserving our energy was essential. ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry about that.¡± Of course, we¡¯d pocketed our share of coins. ¡°Rimbutton, you know what?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Life¡¯s all about that one big shot.¡± I checked my pocket watch. As the time approached, I stood up from my seat. ¡°It¡¯ll take about 15 minutes, so wait here.¡± ¡°What? Where are you going alone?¡± To Rimbutton¡¯s question, I flicked a coin from my pocket and answered. ¡°Just going to multiply this little guy.¡± * * * Each team entered their assigned gates, advancing towards the exit. As they progressed, the paths would narrow, eventually leading them to cross paths with others, a prime geographical spot for those of ill-repute. It was perfect for picking the pockets of those fatigued from battle. I strolled down the clean corridor, cleared of traps and monsters by the group ahead. Then, suddenly, thugs blocking the way appeared. ¡°Got some nerve, walking around alone, huh?¡± ¡°Guess your teammates are all dead.¡± ¡°Well, good. Hand over your coins if you want to live.¡± Three in front. Two behind. Five in total. ¡°Not much to take, you might as well extract a flea¡¯s liver.¡± I gripped the handle of my staff and sword, crossing them in my hands. Then I blinked, recognizing a face. He, too, seemed to recognize me, his face contorting in disdain. ¡°Hershel¡­¡± His nose was wrapped in bandages, and his tightly shut mouth was missing a few teeth, making it look hollow. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you again, Rendell.¡± Ah, that¡¯s right. The standard scenario here was to meet the Lethe members trying to extort the yers. I had thought he looked familiar from the first time I saw him; it must have been from seeing him here a few times before. The gang of Lethe started to panic upon hearing my name. ¡°Wait, Hershel is¡­¡± ¡°Our president, isn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°You idiots! Didn¡¯t I tell you? This guy left the group!¡± The situation started to get interesting, and I shook my head. ¡°No? I never left.¡± Then Rendell yelled irritably. ¡°After what you did to my nose, what are you talking about? What are you all doing? He¡¯s an outsider now, so finish him off!¡± ¡°But wasn¡¯t it you who fell and hurt yourself?¡± The four men nced at each other. Now was the time to drive the point home. I ignited ¡®The Last Ember of Noble Blood¡¯ to its maximum and spoke in a solemn voice. ¡°Beat him up.¡± ¡°Whose, whose words are right?¡± As one of the group hesitated, I opened my eyes menacingly and approached. ¡°Whom will you believe? This guy, or me, your president? Decide.¡± Then one of the men grabbed Rendell by the scruff. ¡°Of course, our president wouldn¡¯t do such a thing!¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not true! You fool! I told you I left!¡± ¡°Stop joking, Rendell. I thought it was nonsense the first time I heard such rubbish. Clench your mrs tight!¡± Following the lead of one man¡¯s fist, the rest joined in and stomped on Rendell. Thump, thump, thump! Even as Rendell was being hit, he red back with resentful eyes brimming with tears, and Donatan said in a horrified voice. ¡°Surely, there must be a devil among your ancestors.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all strategy, strategy. Thanks to that, I subdued one without even breaking his nose.¡± Rendel foamed at the mouth, unconscious. Four men approached, bowing and scraping, perhaps in hopes of some unforeseen reward. I smirked, drawing my staff and sword. Then I let out the truth. ¡°The fact is, I did quit.¡± Chapter 43 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 43 43. The Third Test (3) It was never about extorting money. The coins in the third-rate viin¡¯s wallet weren¡¯t just currency; they were filled with the powerlessness and despair of their original owners, who had been robbed by these scoundrels. That¡¯s why, in their eyes, it would be better for their belongings to fall into the hands of someone else rather than these wretched thieves. Thus, what I was doing was a noble service, fulfilling the long-held wishes of the victims. ¡°Empty your pockets. If anythinges out, you¡¯ll get a hit for each coin.¡± The piggy banks began to murmur amongst themselves. One, not fully grasping the situation, scowled after realizing he¡¯d been duped, and then pointed his knife at me. ¡°What are you doing, you fools! If it¡¯s not Lethe, there¡¯s no harm in killing!¡± One after another, the others raised their great swords, axes, and staves, surrounding me. I wasn¡¯t scared. Compared to the enemies I¡¯d faced before, these guys seemed utterly insignificant. ¡®You know how to fight against many, don¡¯t you?¡¯ ¡®For these novices who can¡¯t even handle aura properly, one hand with a sword is more than enough.¡¯ Trusting in Donatan¡¯s bold ims, I dashed towards the man armed with an axe and a staff. Thwack! ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going!¡± The man swung his axe down vertically. I easily stepped aside, dodging it. As the ground splintered, I stabbed his neck with my staff, preloaded with an electric spell. Crackle! The man stiffened for a moment and dropped his axe. I smoothly brought down my longsword on his instep. As he bent over, I smacked the back of his head with the hilt of my sword. Thud! Then, with the staff in my left hand, I struck the wizard¡¯s staff sharply. His wind arrow shot aimlessly towards the ceiling. I plunged my longsword into the back of his hand, making him drop his staff. ¡°aaagh! My hand!¡± While he fussed over his perforated hand, I pressed my sword against his neck from behind. ¡°Hey you two, drop the sword before I slit his throat.¡± ¡°Wait, just a moment. I¡¯ve been caught. Let¡¯s just do what he says for now¡­¡± True to their nature, having discarded their humanity, they had no concern for theirrades. The one wielding the greatsword took a stance for arge diagonal sh and charged. I loaded my staff with telekic magic and met the heavy attack that was meant to cut down both men at once. ng! [A physical attack has been detected.] [Your trait has been activated.] [1-second invincibility cooldown: 59 seconds] The greatsword that touched my shoulder broke neatly in two. And, having exerted all his strength, the man¡¯s wrist dangled grotesquely. ¡°aaargh!¡± With the telekic magic I had loaded, I lifted fist-sized rocks from the debris created by the axe of the man who had fainted earlier. It was my specialty magic, but perhaps due to ack of magical power. It seemed I had used up all my magic just byunching it. Swoosh! The rock hurtled towards the man¡¯s face. But it began to descend slowly in an arc, and then, the tragedy unfolded. All of us, except for the fainted man, let out a gasp. Smack! ¡°Could it be, did you do that on purpose?¡± ¡°No way, that¡¯s impossible.¡± The man, even with a broken wrist, clutched at his groin and copsed. The one I had taken hostage shook his shoulder even more violently, and the man with the greatsword cringed in horror. ¡°That was an ident. It was definitely not intentional.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯te any closer!¡± He looked at me as if I were a monster devoid of empathy, threw his weapon, and ran off. As I pondered what to do with the now useless hostage, the mage spoke in a trembling voice. ¡°Are you¡­ Could the rumors be true?¡± ¡°What rumors?¡± ¡°Br, braving the breath and still surviving, that rumor¡­¡± ¡°What good does it do to know.¡± With a fist clenched around the staff, I thwacked the back of his head. Thump, thump, thump! That makes four unconscious. Leisurely rifling through the wallet, a multitude of coins spilled out. Clink! This was money imbued with the grievances of the innocent. Coins oppressed by vile hands regained their freedom and piled up in thefortable abode of my backpack. Donatan, unable toprehend my peaceful actions, asked with a hint of suspicion. ¡°Those scoundrels targeted your life. And yet, you think to spare them?¡± ¡°What do you take me for? Of course, I have to spare them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s unexpectedly¡­ kind of you.¡± Only so I can fleece them again next time. I gazed at the spot where the runaway piggy bank had been. No need to rush; the escape route was obvious. It was just a bit of an inconvenience nned ahead. ¡°Keke, Hershel. You¡¯re finished.¡± Rendel, who had been the first to faint, seemed to havee to, sneering with blood at the corner of his mouth. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be wise to beg for your life now?¡± ¡°Why should I?¡± ¡°Do you know how many members of Lethe are here?¡± ¡°37.¡± Rendel¡¯s eyes widened as if surprised by my knowledge. ¡°Cough, you¡¯re a dead man now. That guy who just ran away will gather the members to execute you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m well aware.¡± The one who fled was of captain rank, so it was inevitable that the others would swarm in. He had the means to do so. How could these fools, who barely know their way around the dungeon, have already regrouped? The answer was simple. ¡°Because you lot have a way tomunicate.¡± With a smirk, I punched Rendel¡¯s face again as he tried to act tough. ¡°Kuhuk!¡± ¡°Then, shall we go catch the one that got away?¡± As I walked down the corridor, I started to see a room without a door on the side. From inside, I could hear faint whispers. From noble mtl dote ¡°¡­Rendel was telling the truth, you idiots!¡± I slowly crept up on the guy. Oblivious to my presence, he kept talking to a small bead. That was a magical device usually carried into dungeons tomunicate with team members who had fallen behind. **¡±Communication Bead with Magic Stone¡±** It resonates sound from afar. In an emergency, it can send out a coordinate signal. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll send the signal, so gather immediately!¡± -Wait, I see that dimwit Limberton near the safe zone. Wasn¡¯t he the president? No, wasn¡¯t he on the same team as Hershel? Instead of the guy, I answered the bead. ¡°That¡¯s right. He¡¯s on my team.¡± ¡°Eek!¡± Startled, he dropped the bead. I didn¡¯t care and thrust my sword deep into his thigh. He started rolling on the ground, screaming into the bead. ¡°aaack! Then kill those b*stards first! Kill them right now!¡± -¡­Okay, got it. I kicked him until he stopped thrashing and rifled through his wallet. ¡°As expected, your pockets are the deepest.¡± ¡°Kuh¡­ You¡¯ll regret this¡­ The beasts will tear you to shreds and feast on you¡­¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Whack! I had to hit him one more time before he finally passed out. I chuckled, recalling what he had said. Because I had no doubt that the man beside Limberton would never lose. ¡°Rip him to shreds?¡± The figure wrapped in a full-body robe was a stalwart ally to yers, just like Mirsel. And a hidden supporting character that could only be recruited from Frost Heart. [Ashley Tortamaktura] ¡ñ Blessing ¡ôBlessing of the Earth Giant¡ô ¦Ä Is there anyone stronger than me? No. I¡¯ve crushed them all with these hands. Exerts superhuman strength beyond human capabilities. ¡ñ Traits ¡óBetter than average¡ó It¡¯s a relief if it doesn¡¯t get torn apart. * * * ¡°Oh, don¡¯te any closer. One more step and I¡¯ll shoot?¡± Limberton alternated aiming his bow at the Lethe horde blocking his path. As the one d in full-mate armor nked closer, Limberton, with trembling hands, aimed for the neck and fired an arrow. ng! But the arrow was futilely deflected by the raised shield. ¡°You¡¯re still a fool.¡± The one in full-mate armor let out a sneer, promptingughter from the onlookers. ¡°What, you know this guy?¡± ¡°Ah, Limberton is quite famous for being half-baked in everything he does, making him just right for toying with.¡± Limberton let the arrow he was fumbling to load droop down. Just as they said, arrows were indeed useless against knights. They couldn¡¯t contain aura, and were nothing more than toys bouncing off steel armor. ¡®Why did they make me carry this thing¡­¡¯ As he slumped his shoulders, the giant hand of the man in the robe lifted the drooping bow for him. ¡°Hey, big guy. Even if you¡¯re good at fighting, we¡¯re outnumbered. Just put down your weapon and surrender, okay? That¡¯s probably a better chance to live, right?¡± Ignoring him, the man nted his muchrger triangr shield into the ground. ¡°Besides, you¡¯ve only got one shield!¡± Limberton wanted to say more, but he couldn¡¯t. They were charging in my direction. ¡°Damn it, I don¡¯t know anymore!¡± Rimbutton fired arrows at the ones rushing towards him. But they either bounced off swords or slid off the smooth armor. ¡°It¡¯s tickling, you fool!¡± As the leader in front swung his sword down vertically, Rimbutton clenched his eyes shut. ¡®Argh! Please let me die without pain!¡¯ At that moment, a rough wind blew as if to scorch the skin on his left side. Rimbutton slowly opened his eyes and his mouth gaped wide open. Muscr legs burst through the robe. At the end, a thumb and forefinger had caught the descending de. ¡°My, my goodness¡­¡± Had he been barefoot all this time? No, that wasn¡¯t what was important. The man flicked the sword held between his toes up to the ceiling, embedding it there. ng! ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. Let¡¯s all rush in!¡± The man¡¯s brutish hand grabbed the pir of the morning staring down. The foe struggled, but to no avail. The man, with his bare hands, crushed the foe¡¯s helmet like an apple. ¡°aaagh!¡± As consecutive attacks came in, the man twisted the swordsman¡¯s wrist, who was trying to sh diagonally, like a twig. Another one saw an opportunity and approached Rimbutton. The man swiftly grabbed the approaching foe¡¯s ankle and mmed him to the ground. Boom! Rimbutton swallowed hard at the raw, primal force. But the number of those surrounding them was too great, and in the narrow passageway, it was impossible for therge man to dodge every attack. Rimbutton focused all his nerves and shot an arrow at the shoulder of a knight who was trying to stab the man in the back with a spear. Thud! He also hit the thigh of another one trying to cast magic from afar, and with each hit, the man¡¯s attacks grew fiercer. Like an ogre massacring a horde of goblins, he grabbed limbs and crushed bones, mmed them to the ground, or struck down with sped hands hard enough to dent the armor. ¡°Retreat, retreat.¡± ¡°What about them?¡± ¡°Does that matter? Stop babbling and run for it!¡± In an instant, the crowd that had surrounded them turned half-witted, and the rest didn¡¯t look back as they fled. It was only when the man looked behind that Limberton understood why they had run away. It was because of the two eyes shining through the robe, revealing a ferocity like that of a wild wolf. ¡°Wow, those eyes are really fierce.¡± Even being on the same team, the intimidation was enough to make one¡¯s legs give out and copse. The man extended his hand, perhaps intending to help him up. Limberton, with an embarrassed smile, offered his praise. ¡°Ah, thanks. But that big guy, he¡¯s really strong. Was there even a need to carry a weapon from the start?¡± At that moment, mes erupted from the man¡¯s back. ¡°What?¡± As the man twisted his body, Limberton realized it was the work of the mage sitting on the ground. Just as Limberton was about to join hands, anky blond ruffian stomped down hard on the back of the mage¡¯s head. ¡°Tsk tsk, you¡¯ve got to finish things properly.¡± ¡°Ah, that startled me. Hassel, what have you been doing while we¡¯ve been ving away?¡± ¡°I would have said I was called away.¡± Hassel proudly presented a hefty bag of money. ¡°But, this guy¡­¡± At Hassel¡¯s words, Limberton looked up. And before he knew it, he let out a gasp. ¡®That outfit¡­¡¯ The man¡¯s ck hair was tied back in a bridge style, and his attire was such that his upper body was fully exposed, draped in a wolf¡¯s pelt. He was unmistakably a barbarian. Limberton didn¡¯t care how he had entered the Academy, which was only essible to nobles. After all, he was the benefactor who had saved his life. The problem was Hassel, the noble supremacist. It wasn¡¯t just Hassel; among the nobility, it was a widespread belief to call those who lived in the wild ¡®beasts,¡¯ not justmoners. That barbarian had been wrapped in a full-length robe and hadn¡¯t uttered a word, probably to avoid discrimination. As Hassel approached the barbarian, Limberton, with a heart full of anxiety, decided to soothe him. ¡°Just a moment, Hassel. Even so¡­¡± ¡°What good is it if the only robe I have gets burned?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± He extended his hand to the barbarian, who seemed even more tense and evident in his nervousness. The barbarian, with a puzzled face, uttered an unknownnguage. ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to shake hands? Now that your status is revealed, you should at least introduce yourself. I am Hersel Ben Tenest.¡± As Hersel called out his name again and pointed to himself, the barbarian friend seemed to understand that it was an introduction and responded with his name while epting the handshake. ¡°Ashley Tortamactura.¡± Limberton asked cautiously. ¡°Wait, you¡¯re shaking hands with a barbarian? Why?¡± To which Hersel replied with a frown, as if looking at trash. ¡°Limberton. What¡¯s a barbarian to a foreign friend? Embrace diversity.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°That guy is Limberton Bell Delsi. As you can see, a nasty aristocratic supremacist.¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t make meugh!¡± Limberton rushed over and extended his hand to Ashley. Then Ashley blinked in surprise again and soon smiled gently. * * * They also finished plundering the fallen ones¡¯ coin purses. After stealing enough food to fill their bellies, Limberton pointed at Ashley. ¡°But that barbari-¡° ¡°Ssh!¡± ¡°No, the foreign friend. His identity has been revealed, but is it really okay to take the exam like this?¡± ¡°Everyone has their circumstances. The academy probably knows everything and let him in anyway.¡± ¡°Really? But how did he pass the written exam?¡± ¡°Who knows? I¡¯m even surprised that you passed.¡± They let it slide, knowing the truth. ¡óBetter Than Average¡ó The hit rate is fixed at 60%. Ashley¡¯s ¡®Better Than Average¡¯ is a characteristic that fixes the probability of hitting something at 60% in any situation. It¡¯s a maddening trait, whether the target is an attack or a test question. ¡°Of course, I passed with flying colors, what do you expect? I even scored 63 points!¡± ¡°The passing standard is way too low¡­¡± Because of this, Ashley resorts to grappling, a 100 percent guaranteed attack, instead of using weapons or fists. If it weren¡¯t for that cursed trait, just arming those hands would be enough to beat them all down. It¡¯s frustrating, so frustrating. Licking his lips, he walked towards the next stage. ¡°If we¡¯ve rested enough, let¡¯s move on.¡± How long had they walked? He was in the middle of listening to Limberton¡¯s nonsensical chatter. ¡°With this many coins collected, the future looks bright, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Hope?¡± ¡°Well, a man with money is popr everywhere, isn¡¯t he? You too¡­ Wait, hold on. Hush.¡± Suddenly, he stopped talking, his eyes trembling as he stared ahead. Footsteps in the distance and a woman¡¯s voice murmuring softly. He squinted at the silhouette dragging something closer. ¡°I give up, let me out. I give up, let me out¡­¡± I spoke quietly to the woman, who was frantically talking to herself, so as not to startle her. ¡°Let go. He¡¯s already dead.¡± She looked down at what she had been dragging by hand. The woman turned pale at the sight of the cold corpse of a man, his lower half severed, and covered her face with her bloodied hands. She looked like she might burst into tears any moment, so I covered her mouth. ¡°It seems we¡¯ve taken a wrong turn on our intended path.¡± So that the sleeping monster beyond wouldn¡¯t hear. ¡°Everyone, be on alert. The road ahead will drain all the stamina we¡¯ve saved, and I can¡¯t guarantee we¡¯ll survive.¡± If this was just the beginning, whaty ahead was the reason why Route 44 was the most difficult. Because in the middle of Route 44y the hunting grounds of the ¡®Sentinel,¡¯ an entity that could be called the dungeon¡¯s alter ego. Chapter 44 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 44 44. Sentinel (1) A dungeon is akin to a sophisticated organism. Its insides are like a stomach, consuming corpses and using lost souls as ingredients to spawn new life. ¡°The dungeon not only devours corpses but also precious metals and equipment, transforming them into exquisite tools, like treasures that lure humans.¡± The treasures were not just gold but varied. There were peculiar magical artifacts that humanity couldn¡¯t create, and ornamental jewels made solely for their beauty, devoid of function. ¡°He¡¯s an excellent hunter. Even knowing the danger, he makes it irresistible.¡± ¡°Hershel, don¡¯t scare me too much. It¡¯s disheartening¡­¡± Thus, the dungeon was an intelligent life form that knew how to exploit human psychology. Well, this dungeon, thanks to Rockefeller, was satiated and no longer produced treasures. Nevertheless, the dungeon wasn¡¯t content with just the schrship entrants; it began to use the guardians, who should have only protected the treasures, more aggressively to capture the nutritious third-stage examiners. ¡°Limberton, I don¡¯t give needless fear. It means the guardian ahead is that dangerous.¡± ¡°Then, can¡¯t we take another path?¡± ¡°If only it were that simple.¡± I stopped mid-sentence and waited nkly. -Is it the second day? Those who step into the middle zone from the entrance are starting to appear. Those are Rockefeller¡¯s unfortunate words. -This is thest announcement. All squads should not n to escape through the same exit. There are also 70 exits. You can only escape through the exit number written on your number tag. If you have tag number 7, you must escape through exit 7. In my case, since the path changed to 44, I¡¯m not sure if the exit number has changed as well. -In the middle zone, keys necessary for escape are hidden, so be sure to find them. Unfortunately, the location where the key for 44 is hidden is the corridor with the ¡®guardian¡¯. Seeing how Rockefeller went out of his way to screw me over, it¡¯s highly likely that only the key from the corridor has been rigged to open the exit I¡¯ve been assigned. He would probably enjoy seeing me struggle against the guardian. -And, even if a team member dies, do not give up. The test ends once you have the key and open the door that matches your squad¡¯s number, regardless of the leader¡¯s life or death. That is all. ¡°Did you hear that?¡± Limberton nodded. Then, with a slump in his shoulders and a voice of defeat, he said, His gaze fixed on the first corpse he saw here. ¡°¡­But, is it really okay to do this for just a test?¡± Limberton was clearly afraid. He gripped his arms trying not to show it, but even the hands he clenched were trembling. He must be thinking all sorts of thoughts. Especially since almost all the examinees are nobles¡¯ children, isn¡¯t it frightening to treat them so harshly? What grand purpose requires such actions to this extent. But there was a valid reason for it. The Empire had granted permission for tangled reasons, and those who knew of this fact had reasons enough to maintain silence. ¡°If I had known it would be like this, I should have listened to my mother and taken over the family business¡­¡± That¡¯s something you¡¯ll find out eventually, so I didn¡¯t bother saying it now. All I could answer was just this much. ¡°There are those who apply knowing full well.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Do you think the history of Frost Heart is so short that such a test could bepletely and perfectly concealed?¡± No matter how much the Empire and the Academy focused on security, it was nearly impossible to silence every mouth. And yet, peoplee searching year after year¡­ ¡°The moment you graduate from here, privileges iparable to any of the other four academies are guaranteed. Some families reveal this to their children for certain benefits and train them professionally. Many, like you, applied without knowing, but there are also those who gathered to test their own limits.¡± I ced my hand on Limberton¡¯s shoulder and asked. ¡°Now you know too, Limberton. Which side are you on? Will you still say you wouldn¡¯t havee if you knew, and sulk, doing nothing?¡± Limberton wore a contemtive expression as if deep in thought. I then shifted my gaze to the somewhat calmed woman. ¡°Which unit are you from?¡± ¡°¡­31st.¡± From noble mtl dote ¡°Then go straight from here to the right, and turn at the left corner. The key is there. From there, just walk as ites and you¡¯ll see the exit.¡± The woman¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I won¡¯t do it. I¡¯m not going¡­¡± With a heavy heart, I spoke while looking at the corpse of a man whose lower half had been severed. ¡°Really? Well, do as you please. But just know this. If you stay here, you¡¯ll regret it. In many ways.¡± The woman seemed about to say something but then closed her mouth. It¡¯s up to her to ept the advice I¡¯ve given. Imanded Limberton and Ashley. ¡°We¡¯ve dragged this on too long. Let¡¯s go.¡± At that, the woman shouted with a voice filled with anger. ¡°You¡¯ve been acting like you know everything, but do you even know what¡¯s in front of you? You¡¯ll probably die within minutes. Don¡¯t you regret it¡ª¡± ¡°The thing in front of us, it¡¯s a lizard made of bones, right?¡± With a sly smile, she cut off his words, and a look of bewilderment spread across the woman¡¯s face. ¡°Does my story seem a bit more credible now?¡± With those words, I stepped into the domain where the sentinels were stationed. * * * Upon reaching the middle ground, the corridor-like path was no more, and an open arcade came into view. To get there, one had to cross a stone bridgeid over a dizzying abyss, and Limberton, sensing danger, swallowed hard and asked, ¡°What if we¡¯re attacked here? We¡¯d die without being able to do anything, right?¡± There is a way, of course. The method to cross the bridge safely, without being ambushed by the sentinels, was simple. It was to hide in the dark shroud of the ckout. ¡°Limberton, I¡¯m going to turn off the lights now. Let me know once your eyes have adjusted to the dark.¡± I extinguished the torch and tied the team members in a line with a rope pulled from my backpack, like a train. Limberton, of course, was at the lead. ¡°Ah, why do I have to be in front¡­¡± ¡°You have good night vision, don¡¯t you?¡± Limberton, whose eyes had gradually adapted, began to move forward with courage. The trembling fear was so intense that it seemed to travel along the rope. As we crossed the bridge, he whispered in a voice as faint as ants crawling, ¡°There¡¯s something ahead¡­ Ugh, it¡¯s feasting on a corpse. Ugh!¡± ¡°Then quietly move to the right. See the entrances there, lined up like ant holes? It¡¯s the fifth one.¡± We walked, silencing even the sound of our footsteps. asionally, we heard the sound of something being chewed, but we paid it no mind and stepped into the fifth burrow. ¡°Limberton, do you see a small box anywhere?¡± ¡°Yeah, there¡¯s one on the altar. But how do we¡ªnever mind, you¡¯ll probably say it¡¯s intuition or something.¡± ¡°You know it well.¡± Limberton handed over the box. Upon opening the lid, we acquired the 44th key, encased in the 7th shell. ¡°We¡¯ve found it. Limberton, you keep it safe.¡± ¡°Am I just a porter now?¡± At that moment, as Limberton carefully held the key, blue mes flickered from the torches mounted on the walls. Whoosh! There was no doubt that his meal had ended. I hurriedly untied the ropes, reached for my weapon, and shouted. ¡°Prepare for battle immediately!¡± Then I called out Ashleigh¡¯s name and pointed ahead. ¡°Ashleigh.¡± ¡°¡ö ¡ö¡ö.¡± I couldn¡¯t understand what he was saying, but seeing him take up his shield and advance, it seemed he understood my intent. Following him, I exited the cave where the key had been hidden, along with Limberton. As soon as we emerged, a long tail made of bone struck Ashleigh¡¯s shield. ng! Sparks flew as if metal were being torn apart. The impact was enough to push back Ashleigh, sturdy as a rock. Limberton gasped in horror as the skeleton, shaped like a lizard with blue eyes, ignited. ¡°Eek!¡± Despite lying t, it was a massive skeleton, three meters tall. A ck heart throbbed within its ribcage. It resembled a dragon made of bones, though smaller than the real thing. It was merely a replica of the Bone Dragon, one of the top-tier monsters created by the dungeon. ¡°A, a dragon?¡± ¡°No need to be that scared. It doesn¡¯t even have wings, does it? It¡¯s just a shoddy fake.¡± But its power was on par with a taste of the real Bone Dragon. At this point, it was a monster that yable characters in the Academy couldn¡¯t defeat. Ah, there was one guy who could, but our team numbers had been switched¡­ ¡°Hershel, wha, what do we do now?¡± ng! As Limberton asked, I watched Ashleigh¡¯s shield tear away like paper and answered. ¡°What else? We run.¡± I patted Ashleigh¡¯s back with my palm and pointed towards the exit. He seemed to understand, nodding his head. Just as the sentinel held a blue me to his lips, he shouted loudly, ¡°Now¡¯s the time! Run for it!¡± Ashley and Limberton hurriedly dashed away. Yet, I stood still, solemnly fiddling with the gloves the hostess had gifted me. [Gloves Blessed with Mana] ¡ñ Attribute Series: Blessing. A masterpiece glove crafted by the artisan Horutu and enchanted by the alchemist Hailey. Increases mana capacity by 10 percent. Increases the uracy of spells by 10 percent. Significantly enhances the durability of the object held. Spells can be inscribed onto the gloves. ¡°Hey, Hershel! What are you doing noting?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy us some time, so run with all your might.¡± Though I spoke with confidence, my heart was tight with fear. His attack wasn¡¯t like theser breath of a monstrous bird, but more akin to a me thrower¡¯s area damage. With just ¡®1 second of invincibility,¡¯ I¡¯d burn to death in the blue mes. But now, that¡¯s all in the past. I aimed at the sentinel, illuminating the spell inscribed on my gloves. Then, I recalled the conversation I had with Carmelo. ¡°If telekinesis and healing magic are established, why leave out weight reduction magic? Isn¡¯t that developed too?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a magic invented by mere chance. We need to study further what the principle is and what effects it has.¡± ¡°Hmm, seems like it simply makes things lighter, what more is there to research?¡± Then, Carmelo proved it by inscribing a me magic spell onto a levitated staff with telekinesis. ¡°Let me show you one of the phenomena. If you make the me elements gathered around the fire lighter like this.¡± As he cast the weight reduction magic towards the levitated staff, mes enough to fill the room burst forth instantly. ¡°It ignites immediately, burning up. The duration of the me shortens, but it burns stronger than its original power.¡± Whether the weight reduction magic amplifies vtility is not precisely known. However, I thought it a good strategy to ovee one of the weaknesses of ¡®1 second of invincibility,¡¯ the area damage of mes, so I inscribed it onto the gloves. I cast the weight reduction magic towards the me elements gathered at the sentinel¡¯s lips. Fwoosh! Blue mes fiercely zed up, engulfing his head. Without a second nce, I sprinted towards Limberton and Ashley, who were crossing the stone bridge. They were about two-thirds of the way across when it happened. A streak of blue meteor shower reflected in my retina made my heart sink. Shooosh©¤©¤ With fire on his lips, he descended from the sky, crashing his entire body towards the stone bridge. Boom! With a dull roar, the bridge snapped. The sentinel fell into the abyss, not dead, but merely vanished from sight. Ashley and Limberton on the other side stopped and turned to look at me. ¡°Hershel¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Nothing surprises me anymore. The situation was always irregr, and somehow, I overcame it. So, this time will be no different. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m the one who survived the monster. So go ahead.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°And, guard the coin with your life.¡± I shifted my gaze from Limberton and peered into the abyss that was like the deep sea. Sure enough, those shining blue eyes. Whether he climbs the wall or not, I had faith, and I smirked. ¡°Huh.¡± Was there really a need to cross that broken bridge? There were many paths to the exit. I had the key; now, all I had to do was to turn back across the bridge I came from, circle around this ce, and that was it. ¡°Goodbye? Take care, I¡¯m off.¡± But fate had other ns, and it came knocking twice. I thought he was climbing up, but instead, he leapt into the sky and hurled himself towards the opposite bridge. Dazed, I stopped in my tracks, helplessly watching myst hope crumble. Boom! As thest bridge snapped, a sigh involuntarily escaped my lips. ¡°Ah.¡± Life, damn it. * * * Limberton clenched his teeth and ran. ¡®That foolish guy. I don¡¯t believe in such rumors.¡¯ Some believed he had survived the mythical creature¡¯s breath, but Limberton wasn¡¯t one of them. Wasn¡¯t he the weakling who relied on power, harassing women and throwing vile jokes around? ¡°Huff! Huff!¡± Limberton stopped in front of the 70 branching holes, resembling an anthill. Judging by the numbers people were shouting, they were definitely exits. ¡°This is exit 27. Does anyone know where the entrance to room 3 is?¡± ¡°Room 3 is over here.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie. I¡¯ve already checked that way.¡± ¡°What? Exit 27? Don¡¯t try to scam me.¡± There were many eyes watching, so stealing coins was not an option, but thepetition continued until the end. The faster the escape, the higher the score? Teams were engaging in subtle mind games to dy each other¡¯s escape time. ¡®¡­This is crazy. No one in their right mind would help him in this atmosphere.¡¯ Especially not that Hassel. Limberton was deep in thought when his eyes suddenly sparkled. He grabbed a bag full of coins and signaled to Ashley with his eyes. He nodded. ¡°Whoop!¡± Limberton inted his lungs with air and shouted loudly enough to echo through the caves. It was a pity to lose the coins, but that was the least of his worries. It wasn¡¯t that he liked Hassel. He just hated owing anything to that scoundrel. ¡°It¡¯s a job offer! The reward will be generous, so gather around if you¡¯re interested!¡± At Limberton¡¯s call, people began to gather. Among them was a man holding the number 44 badge. Chapter 45 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 45 45. The Sentinel (2) The crowd gathered swiftly. It was because the coin purse Limberton held was too bulky to pass by without notice. However, as the name Hersel was mentioned, the reaction turned cold. ¡°Are you talking about your leader, Hersel? That scoundrel from the Tenest family?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°Ugh, who would bother saving that wretch even if they saved everyone else in the world? Oh, look, here¡¯s one. This fool.¡± Each time the men scoffed, Ashleigh red murderously, crushing their spirit, and Limberton continued to exin the situation. ¡°It was like a dragon made of bones. Because it destroyed the stone bridge, Hersel got isted, you see? We must hurry to help, or it¡¯ll be dangerous.¡± Just the mention of the broken bridge was enough for the apprentices to guess there was trouble, and they didn¡¯t approach easily. If a monster had that kind of power, what else could it be but ¡®The Sentinel¡¯? Money is money, but lifees first. As people began to leave one by one, someone approached. ¡°Limberton, is that story true?¡± Recognizing the familiar face, Limberton greeted him with a flush of excitement. ¡°Erusel? Wow, this is great. Your brother is in danger right now. Come with us.¡± There should be some affection since they were half-brothers; naturally, he would help. But contrary to expectations, Erusel asked with a look of disbelief. ¡°Me? Why?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Ask a hundred times if you must. Even if you gave away all the coins, who would bother helping such trash?¡± ¡°But he seems quite changed. It seems like he¡¯s changed a lot¡­¡± Erusel shook his head in disbelief, then bulged his eyes and shouted loudly. ¡°Get a grip! He must¡¯ve spoken sweetly just to use you. Changed, what nonsense¡­ Tsk.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Limberton couldn¡¯t say anything and just drooped his shoulders. He knew all too well that he was nothing more than a stopgap brought in because the team was iplete. ¡°Isn¡¯t it better this way? Take his share too and just cross the door, and that¡¯s it.¡± As Eruselughed slyly, the people around began to join in. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°If it were me, I¡¯d just ditch him and go. Honestly, who wants to attend the academy with that guy?¡± ¡°Right, you clueless fool. Instead of muddying the waters, just fill your own belly. If it pricks your conscience, go make a donation or something.¡± It was a tempting proposition. After all, considering what I¡¯ve been through, why should I show loyalty just because I saw a brief change in him? I¡¯d only get more k for bringing in a deadbeat who¡¯s bound to self-destruct. ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, then say so. Erucel, why is your brother such a nuisance?¡± But the words that came out were contrary to the conclusion of reason. Because something suddenly came to mind. He had offered a handshake to a barbarian, and at a critical moment, he volunteered as bait and was left alone. ¡°In my view, he¡¯s definitely changed. If it were the old him, he would¡¯ve thrown one of us as bait and fled.¡± It wasn¡¯t for Hersel¡¯s sake. I just didn¡¯t like the idea of being indebted. ¡°Hmph, that guy did? Stop lying already.¡± ¡°How do you know if that¡¯s true? Our foreign friend here saw it too.¡± ¡°A foreigner? As if a barbarian is any different from a beast¡­¡± Faced with such discriminatory reactions, Limberton was convinced his decision was not wrong. I¡¯m not sure how it was before, but at this moment, there are more despicable people than him. ¡°And, you know what?¡± Limberton, scanning the crowd of fellow examinees who were busy deceiving each other, fixed his gaze on a familiar female face and continued. ¡°He helped people in trouble, even if they weren¡¯t on the same team. Not like you guys, who¡¯ve been at each other¡¯s throats since earlier, but that so-called deadbeat.¡± Then the woman who had received help nodded in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s right. His words are true. Thanks to him, I was able to get here.¡± As a witness stepped forward, Erucel flinched and turned away. ¡°Ah, I don¡¯t know. There¡¯s no one to help anyway, so stay here and get eliminated if you want.¡± He said his piece and disappeared. Even after the troublemaker was gone, the examinees wasted time and showed no further interest. When only one man, carrying a great sword on his back, remained, Limberton grasped his head, wondering what to do. At that moment, a hoarse voice pierced his ears. ¡°Limberton, was it? Why are you taking the side of that notorious deadbeat?¡± A gaunt man with hollow eyes was staring at him. From noble mtl dote He was the only man left standing alone. The murky ink-colored eyes within his pale face gave off an unsettling difort, causing Limberton to step back unknowingly. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Curiosity is piqued, I see. With that amount of coins, you could score high. Why not just keep your mouths shut and take it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already said. I¡¯ll use it as a fee to save that guy.¡± The man twisted his dry lips into a faint smile. ¡°Do you know that? Coins are currency only usable within the Academy. I¡¯m not sure what you desire, but you can have anything that money can buy.¡± ¡°You think I¡¯m doing this without knowing that? If you¡¯re not taking the request, then just buzz off, will you?¡± The man, seemingly enjoying the situation, lingered without leaving. ¡°Really, are those words sincere? Humans, after all, end up only looking out for themselves. Aren¡¯t you the same? Even now, feeling a sense of moral superiority, praising yourself inwardly, thinking you¡¯re so great¡ªdo you think I don¡¯t know?¡± Irritated, Limberton shot the man a sharp look and said to Ashley, ¡°Let¡¯s go, Ashley. People will leave because of such a lunatic.¡± But the man¡¯s clingy voice showed no sign of letting go. ¡°So, shall we test if my words are wrong? I¡¯ll take your request. In exchange, hand over all your coins. Every single one, without missing a dime.¡± It was obvious he had no colleagues; what kind of request was he nning to take on? Limberton tried to ignore him and leave. ¡°Of course, you would. Limberton, you too are a human who¡¯s helpless before desire. Nothing more than a pretentious sort, intoxicated with a false sense of nobility.¡± ¡°What? Such people exist?¡± Then Ashley grabbed his shoulder and shook his head seriously. ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö.¡± ¡°Eh? What. You can¡¯t be serious, entrusting it to that guy?¡± As he pointed at the man, Ashley nodded. Reluctantly, Limberton, unable to find a better person at the moment, approached the man with a pouch full of coins. ¡°Here, take it. You seem like a weirdo, but it¡¯s better than nothing¡­¡± Then the man opened his eyes wide in surprise and tilted his head. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Why? Got scared when ites to actually epting?¡± The man asked with a bewildered expression. ¡°¡­¡­Perhaps, does that Hessle guy have even more coins?¡± ¡°Really? Since I¡¯m the porter, he must be broke, right?¡± ¡°But why? Are you an idiot?¡± As the man asked as if he truly didn¡¯t understand, Limbutton sighed deeply. ¡°Haah¡­ Stop being a pain. Haven¡¯t I been saying? I¡¯ll use it as a fee to save that guy. I don¡¯t have time, so shall we go?¡± The man seemed lost in thought for a moment, then, stroking his chin, he narrowed his eyes. ¡°Hmm, you guys aren¡¯t needed, so that¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll go alone. Instead, find an exit here.¡± ¡°Eh? An exit?¡± ¡°It¡¯s exit number 44.¡± Leaving just those words behind, the man turned his back. Limbutton gazed aimlessly at his retreating figure, then muttered softly. ¡°What, what the heck? That guy is¡­¡± The coin purse he had been holding had disappeared without a trace. * * * Both legs, which were supposed to be escape routes, werepletely severed. Even if I failed the third trial, I¡¯d have to endure a whole day here before they¡¯d let me out. It was far too long to cohabitate with the guard in the corridor. ¡®Hershel! He¡¯sing!¡¯ ¡°Ah, seriously!¡± When the lizard tried to strike with its tail, I ducked or jumped high like skipping rope. It was so good at dodging that it would fall off the cliff, then suddenly pop out in an unexpected direction, startling me, And every time a moment of crisis came, I¡¯d survive ¡®1 second of invincibility¡¯ to buy a little more time. But now I¡¯m at my limit. ¡®Do something about it! Isn¡¯t your stamina already running out?¡¯ ¡°Heck! Heck!¡± How am I supposed to do something about it? This isn¡¯t my house filled with supplies, all there is are stone floors and ant hills hiding keys. It was already an achievement to havested this long. ¡°You, you try to do something about it¡­ Huff! Huff!¡± ¡®Even though your stamina has increased, it¡¯s still useless as ever!¡¯ ¡®What? You little¡­!¡¯ I bickered with Donatan as we entered the ant hill. This wasn¡¯t a dead-end space, so there was a way out even if he followed us in. Buying some time to catch my breath, I wracked my brain for a strategy to take down the sentinel. To survive, I had to kill him without fail. His weakness was a ck heart hidden behind his ribs. Normal attacks were useless. It required a definitive attack capable of holding aura, like the one the 44th yable character, Liamon, should have used. Or perhaps a magical feat, umting damage one point at a time with extreme control finesse. Thud! He forced his head into the entrance of the ant hill, kicking up dust. As he snapped his teeth as if ready to devour me at any moment, I drew the most basic and mana-efficient water attribute spell. ¡°Die!¡± St¡ª A stream of water shot past his snout, aiming for the ck heart. ¡­A water gun might have been more effective. ¡°Hmph, the magic I¡¯ve learned is weaker than a stream of pee.¡± ¡°Quiet¡­ It must have caused some damage.¡± About minus one? Crack! As the lizard thrashed, cracks began to form inside the ant hill. I hurried through the connected passageway and escaped into the corridor. He was floundering under the debris. Now was my chance to attack. I drew the water gun spell again, aiming for the ck heart. St¡ª Once more! St¡ª Despite the grave fight, Donatan was busy setting the mood. ¡°How much longer do you n to y these silly games?¡± ¡°Just hit it 5,371 more times. Don¡¯t interfere.¡± ¡°Was it sincere? Good heavens¡­¡± I was in the midst of inscribing a spell, believing I couldunch another attack. Someone called out my name with a hoarse voice, and I lost my focus. ¡°Are you Hassel Ben Tenest?¡± A man with a gaunt physique and a mummified face. He was undoubtedly the strongest yable character among the Frost Heart aspirants. [Liamon Sel Rebectura] ¡ñBlessing ¡ôBlessing of the Fallen Hermit Swordsman¡ô ¦Ë No longer shall I be deceived by falsehoods. A critical hit will activate on the tenth attack. ¡ñTraits ¡óBnce of the Swallow¡ó ¡óThe Soft-bodied Human¡ó He spun a dagger tied to a rope over the copsed bridge, then threw it towards the corridor¡¯s stone bridge. Thud! As the dagger stuck, he nted another dagger in ce and climbed onto the taut rope. He began to rush towards me, reminiscent of an acrobat¡¯s antics. I couldn¡¯t fully witness the scene. A sentinel had executed a body m on my back. Crack! [A physical attack has been detected.] [Trait has been activated.] [1-second invincibility cooldown: 59 seconds] I don¡¯t know why that guy is here. Frankly, the reason didn¡¯t matter. It seemed he might help, and what¡¯s important is getting out alive. But why do I feel like my stomach is turning? ¡°Seeing it up close, it¡¯s quite nauseating¡­¡± Instead, anger surged, and I gritted my teeth. The sentinel was originally not my responsibility, but that guy¡¯s. * * * Liamon tilted his head, scratching his cheek. Wasn¡¯t the Tenest family known for their swordsmanship? Yet here they are, wielding a staff instead of a sword, shooting streams of water. ¡®Is there some meaning to this?¡¯ It was somewhat bothersome, but businesses first. Deciding to think about itter, Liamon dragged his greatsword towards the sentinel. Then Hersel furrowed his brows and asked, ¡°What brings you here?¡± ¡°Sent by Limberton.¡± ¡°For free¡­?¡± ¡°No, we agreed on coins.¡± ¡°Hmph, I knew it¡­¡± He grumbled angrily as he passed by. ¡°I¡¯ve been feeling hostility since earlier. Did I do something wrong?¡± ¡°Forget it. It¡¯s not that, just earn your keep. I¡¯ll be over there watching.¡± As Hersel settled down to sit, Liamon looked at the now-alert sentinel. Just as Limberton had described, it felt different from ordinary monsters. But he had just seen it. Even with all his weight thrown into the attack, he couldn¡¯t inflict a scratch on Hersel. ¡®So, despite its appearance, it must be weak.¡¯ With the thought of finishing the job more easily than expected, Liamon approached the sentinel without any particr defensive stance. He concentrated all his aura into the greatsword, aiming to pierce the sentinel¡¯s ck heart, which seemed to be its weakness. ng©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤! The greatsword broke with one swing of the sentinel¡¯s tail. A look of dismay began to frost over Liamon¡¯s face. ¡°Huh?¡± Chapter 46 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 46 46. The Sentinel (3) Liamon watched the tremor in his numb wrist and broke into a cold sweat. ¡°The greatsword imbued with aura has been split in two¡­?¡± Had I not held the greatsword loosely, my wrist would have surely snapped. With such power, even a graze could sever my body. The thought of possibly dying made Liamon tense up and instantly leap backwards to create distance. Snap! The sentinel harbored blue mes at the corner of his mouth. ¡°Tch, a breath attack.¡± There¡¯s no dodging an attack of that range. The greatsword, now only as big as a face, was hopelessly inadequate to block the mes. As I rolled my eyes around, searching for a new n¡­ Whoosh! Suddenly, the sentinel¡¯s head was engulfed in blue mes. As the creature thrashed wildly to extinguish the fire, Liamon twitched his brows in bafflement. ¡°What in the world is happening¡­?¡± The answer came quickly. Hershel, who had been sitting at a distance, took aim at the sentinel and said, ¡°I¡¯ll handle the mes. You take care of the rest.¡± Swallowing hard, Liamon red at Hershel. ¡°What kind of person is he?¡± At first nce, he seemed to yfully shoot streams of water. He took a strike that could break a greatsword imbued with aura and still walked away unscathed. It was all so iprehensible, but one thing was certain. ¡°That guy is strong. The amount and quality of his aura are beyond my grasp¡­ But why didn¡¯t he finish it off in one go?¡± He certainly had the power to spare. In that moment, Hershel threw a longsword, and Liamon caught it with a start. ¡°Catch.¡± ¡°Whoa.¡± Liamon¡¯s eyes widened. Hershel chewed on his jerky, watching leisurely with a rxed posture. In front of a monster that could end the world with a mere touch, suchposure is astonishing. ¡®So that¡¯s what it was¡­ I¡¯m starting to get a sense of what kind of person he is.¡¯ To him, this is merely a pastime. It¡¯s like a well-fed cat ying with a mouse until it¡¯s hungry enough to eat it, that must have been the logic behind his yful antics earlier. It makes sense why Squad 7 has so many coins. ¡®¡­But, that guy. Who is he to help anyone?¡¯ Riamon thought Limbutton was a fool for not knowing how to judge people and giving away all his coins. * * * He opened his eyes nkly, a bit taken aback. He approached the sentinel unarmed and without using his greatest asset, his special trait, ending up in that sorry state¡­ After breaking his greatsword in vain, he looked at me as if asking to borrow a longsword, even giving me a hint with his eyes. ¡°Take it.¡± Although I was a bit skeptical, he¡¯s been a skilled swordsman capable of infusing his de with aura since the academy entrance. Thinking he would do it right this time, I threw him the longsword. ¡°Oops.¡± Then, regretting the coins I had paid, I decided to leisurely watch, chewing on jerky as a substitute for popcorn. At that, he opened his eyes wide in surprise and started nodding his head on his own ord. ¡°¡­¡± I don¡¯t know what he¡¯s thinking, but I didn¡¯t have the leisure to care. Because I had to extinguish the fire on the sentinel¡¯s head and shine my blue eyes. Even if I couldn¡¯t use the greatsword that was supposed to block the breath, with a little help from me, a sentinel should be easy to¡­ ¡­Hmm, easy to take down, right? Tatatat! The sentinel crawled on the ground, advancing towards Riamon. Riamon, unlike before, raised his longsword high and took a stance, waiting. Whoosh. The swishing of the creature¡¯s tail. Riamon dodged the sentinel¡¯s tail swipe with a jump and lightly tapped the passing tail with his longsword. The sentinel swung its sharp ws wildly. Riamon leaped in ce, lying horizontally in the air like a pole-vaulter. Pop! Liamon gracefully leaped through the gaps in the sentinel¡¯s arm bones, as a dolphin glides through hoops. Even mid-air, he could perfectly control his posture, a skillbining the traits ¡®Swallow¡¯s Center of Gravity¡¯ and ¡®Invertebrate Flexibility,¡¯ making him as pliable as a spineless creature. Not just a wide attack, but with abination of traits that brought his evasion rate close to max level, Liamon could dodge stabs from swords in all directions¡ªhis most prominent strength. Tap. Once again, Liamon lightly tapped the sentinel¡¯s bones twice with his longsword. Then, as the sentinel was about to take a breath, I set its head aze with a weight-reduction spell. Whoosh! Now was the perfect opportunity to fulfill the conditions it was striving to achieve. Liamon quickly tapped the sentinel¡¯s bones with his longsword, and finally, he was able toplete the ninth attack. His sword was now primed with the blessing ¡®Hermit¡¯s Favor of the Fallen,¡¯ ensuring a critical hit on the tenth strike. As air currents swirled around Liamon¡¯s sword, I dusted myself off and rose from my spot. The end was near. The sentinel raised its foreleg and began to bring it down on Liamon. From noble mtl dote Liamon, fluid as water, swayed left and right to dodge the attack and thrust his sword between the ribs of the sentinel. Thud! The well-aimed de caused the heart to burst with a bang! Dark blood, like sewage, sttered in all directions, drenching Liamon. Thump. As the sentinel copsed lifelessly, Liamon shook off the blood and emerged from between the bones. I waited on the broken stone bridge, connected by ropes, andmanded the approaching figure. ¡°Carry me.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°You expect me to cross on my own? If you¡¯ve been paid, you should at least offer that service.¡± He looked dumbfounded, alternating his gaze between the rope and my face. Then, as ifing to some understanding, he chuckled and assumed a piggyback stance. ¡°It seems you want to appear ordinary.¡± ¡°Ordinary?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you here to have some fun, to experience what it¡¯s like to be a regr person?¡± He wasn¡¯t wrong. If I could just reach the level of ordinary, I¡¯d be able to pull my own weight. Then, it would naturally be fun and joyful. But is that really the right thing to say in this context? He¡¯s got such an unpredictable way of thinking, I just nodded along, thinking, ¡°Well, that¡¯s true.¡± Liamon hoisted me up and stepped onto the rope. About halfway across, he annoyingly asked again, ¡°How¡¯s the view looking down from that height?¡± All I see is just a pitch-ck abyss. It was another out-of-the-blue question, considering we were crossing together. But since I was riding on his back, I decided to y along. ¡°It¡¯s profound. Unless you go down yourself, you won¡¯t see anything at all.¡± He paused for a moment, then turned his head towards me, ¡°Yeah, it must be quite boring to be up there all alone. That desire to go down to the profound depths, I can somewhat understand that feeling.¡± What is he talking about? Who would want to go down there? This guy, he wouldn¡¯t be thinking of dropping me here, would he¡­? With that thought, I ignited the ¡®Noble me of Blood¡¯ and warned him in a cold voice, ¡°Don¡¯t get any weird ideas. If you don¡¯t want a short life.¡± Even if we fall, we¡¯ll fall together like Nongae. At that, he flinched and replied in a slightly flustered voice, ¡°Ahem, understood. Don¡¯t worry. You can live your academy life as you wish.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s how it should be.¡± After that, he didn¡¯t speak anymore. Crossing the bridge, I managed to reach the exit without any trouble. * * * I narrowed my eyes and looked at Limbutton waving from a distance. ¡°Hershel!¡± As I approached him, I rxed my furrowed brows. He may have been the enemy who nibbled away at the coin I was supposed to protect with my life, but thanks to him, I was saved. Actually, considering he didn¡¯t run off with the coin, he had fulfilled his duty of loyalty. ¡°Found exit number 7?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯ve found it.¡± Limberton said this and pointed to another anthill entrance while looking at Liamon. ¡°Exit 44 is over there. You should head that way.¡± ¡°¡­Limberton, you¡¯re such an idiot.¡± ¡°Why are you picking a fight all of a sudden?¡± Liamon said his piece and crawled into exit number 44. I too entered exit number 7, inserted the key, and opened the door. Beyond it was a snowy field. At the end, the white castle of Frost Heart boasted its majesty. On the wide staircase, the ck-d faculty looked down at the third exam¡¯s passers. By rough estimate, there seemed to be close to 150 who had passed so far. There probably wouldn¡¯t be any more. The clock on the castle was about to strike 12, and then the bell would ring. Dong©¤©¤©¤ When the time came, Rockefeller spoke up. ¡°The third exam is now concluded. We have been keeping track of the number of coins each of you holds, so there¡¯s no need to show them.¡± He unfolded a long scroll and began announcing the rankings. ¡°Squad 44. Is Liamon Sel Rebecktura the sole survivor? You¡¯re in first ce.¡± Suddenly, anxiety overwhelmed me. To think that the guy who escaped around the same time as us is in first ce. That means he must have scored a tremendous number of coins. I felt the blood drain from my face as I looked at Limberton. ¡°You didn¡¯t, by any chance, give away all those coins, did you¡­?¡± ¡°Well, I did?¡± ¡°¡­Limberton, you really are an idiot.¡± ¡°But life is more important than coins, you know. Don¡¯t hold it against me too much.¡± But to give away so much, not just a part! As I imagined a future walking a thorny path in rags, my blood pressure seemed to soar to near-death levels. What angered me more than anything was that I had no right toin, as it was a choice made to save my life. While I was inwardly disheartened, Rockefeller spoke. ¡°The first ten squads called will be assigned to the top dormitory, Adel Hall.¡± ¡¤ ¡¤ ¡¤ ¡°¡­Squad 39. The thirty squads called thus far will be assigned to Burger Hall.¡± Not once did he mention Squad 7 from his lips. ¡°The rest, to spare my mouth, will be omitted. Your dormitory is over there.¡± The building Rockefeller pointed to was so solitary and dark that it looked sinister at a nce. Not inside the fortress, but an annex situated outside. The worst dormitory, Scfe Hall. A ce so harsh that suicides by hanging were rampant inside, and bizarre events were an everyday urrence. Rockefeller red at me, singling me out, with a sneer curling at his lips. ¡°But if we must announce the lowest rank, it¡¯s Squad 7. You are thest.¡± And then it hit me. Rightly, my anger should have been directed at that man. I red back at Rockefeller, clenching my fists. ¡°¡­¡­..¡± With a snort, Rockefeller turned his back and disappeared. Then, the remaining professors began to lead us, now students. ¡°The entrance ceremony will begin, so everyone gather at the fortress.¡± As the students slowly started to move, Limbutton asked with a pale face. ¡°Are we, are we doomed? Beingst means the worst treatment¡­¡± Iposed my expression seriously and voiced the new goal set by the academy. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Limbutton. No matter who interferes, we will make our way into Adel Hall.¡± I stepped into the fortress, determined to make it so. During this, the third-round exam passers stopped in their tracks with surprise. Because the second-round exam passers, thought to have failed, were gathered on one side, waiting. And at the very end, five men sat in chairs, covered in frozen blood, their clothes in tatters. They were the survivors among the donation-based entrants. ¡°Everyone, follow me.¡± The crowd followed the professor¡¯s instructions with puzzled faces. They arrived at a spacious auditorium that could amodate 300 people. On the stage stood a muscr old man with a scar over one eye, who began to speak with an intrigued expression. ¡°This year, we have many talented freshmen.¡± From the significance of Frost Heart¡¯s existence to what this ce is all about. Soon, it will alle from the mouth of the old man known as the Frost Swordmaster. Chapter 47 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 47 47. Frost Heart The auditorium floor was covered with a red carpet. While the third exam passers nced at the group on the other side, I was endlessly watching the floor. Limberton scratched his head and asked, ¡°¡­Weren¡¯t they eliminated?¡± I looked up from the floor and replied, ¡°They will be going to the same dormitory as us.¡± In reality, you¡¯re admitted the moment you pass the second exam. Indeed, among the three uses written in small print on the consent form received at the time of passing the second exam, there was also this phrase: [We do not take responsibility for deaths during enrollment.] And they didn¡¯t care whether there were casualties during the third exam or not. It was an implication that you were admitted the moment you signed the consent form. ¡°So, what about those guys? Where did all those many go, and why are only five left? And why do they look like that?¡± Limberton pointed to the donation-based admissions, but I couldn¡¯t answer. Because the old man on the stage had pped his hands to draw attention. Bang! A sound heavy enough to ring in the ears. The murmuring quickly subsided. The imposing presence of the muscr old man with a scar by his eye made him seem like a predator even from a distance. ¡°My name is Arkandric Al Odman, the principal. This year, we have a total of 250 passers. I¡¯m very pleased to see so many capable individuals gathered here.¡± As his name was mentioned, gasps of ¡®gasp!¡¯ erupted here and there. They must be from the north. It was only natural to be surprised that the old man before them had earned the title of Frost Swordmaster for his deeds in repelling demon invasions near the northern border with the Demon Realm. ¡°Many must have been taken aback. There are those who know little of Frost Heart, and the academy entrance exam was far from what they had expected.¡± As many nodded in agreement, Arkandric continued his exnation. The first topic was the direction and founding purpose of Frost Heart. ¡°While other academies focus on producing officials, our Frost Heart is dedicated to training demon-ying brigades. The test you all took was to gauge your basic aptitude for survival in the demon realm. But, didn¡¯t you find it strange? Why is there a dungeon below, and an academy built above it? It¡¯s symbolic. The founder wanted to pass down the noble spirit of pioneering to future generations¡ª¡± ¡°Hold on a moment.¡± Just then, some reckless individuals raised their hands, interrupting Arkandric. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me the graduates here are sent to the demon realm?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, there¡¯s no need to graduate from the academy, right?¡± ¡°Exactly. Whether it¡¯s adventurers or whatever, everyone goes there. If you want to go, you just go, what¡¯s the¡ª¡± Arkandric red at the three chatterboxes with a serious expression. ¡°Do you really think the ces they go to are the true demon realms? Just trampled and passed throughnds? Hah, what a joke. Such ces are nothing more than well-trodden paths.¡± A voice as resonant as a cave echoed, and the sound of people swallowing nervously could be heard around. ¡°The demon realms you know will soon be mere footholds. It¡¯s safe to say the conquest is nearlyplete. But do you know? What our academy produces is not such trivialities¡­¡± Arkandric narrowed his eyes and raised his voice. ¡°Pioneers who will tread on unchartednds, Pathfinders!¡± The venerable imperial institution, Pathfinder. There might be those among you who know, but due to the empire¡¯s secrecy, most were unaware. There was a reason for this. ¡°Let me show you.¡± With a gesture from Arkandric, the professors conjured a massive map in the air with illusion magic. Thergest area was the sea. Next was a continent painted pitch ck, and the smallest was thebined territories of all the countries in the world, barely making up a tenth of the total area. ¡°The territory of humanity is significantly smallerpared to the demon realm. As we enter an unprecedented era of prosperity, the friction overnd will only intensify. The mission of the Pathfinders is to conquer the demon realm for the prosperity of mankind.¡± The empire and the few who knew this fact had kept it hushed because revealing ambitions of continental conquest would leave a bad international impression. ¡°Moreover, the value of stepping into the demon realm is boundless. Artifacts containing the technology of ancient civilizations, hidden grimoires of secrets, elixirs that extend life, herbs that cure all diseases. And beyond that, countless treasures lie hidden in the demon realm.¡± And if the information about the immense resources hidden there were to leak, it was obvious that internalpetition would be overheated. In the end, the reason security had been maintained so far was due to unity based on human greed. The fewer who know, therger the share one can have. ¡°Excuse me!¡± At that moment, ady from a well-to-do noble family, true to her upbringing, appeared, already looking to make her exit. ¡°Where do I begin the withdrawal process?¡± Even now, in the midst of Makyung, where deaths aremonce, venturing deeper is tantamount to suicide. It was only natural for the majority to react with refusal. At the audacious woman¡¯s question, Arkandric clenched his fist, seemingly filled with rage. ¡°¡­It¡¯s the second time. You dare interrupt the principal¡¯s speech.¡± His voice, spoken through gritted teeth, was murderously fierce. In an instant, the counters lowered their hands and swallowed their words. ¡°Since it¡¯s your first time, remember I let it pass thinking you¡¯re not ustomed to this.¡± After his final warning, they all fell silent, and he rxed his expression. ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s time to exin the graduation benefits. Students of Frost Heart will receive generous support from the empire upon graduation, and they¡¯ll also gain ess to the maps recorded by the ancestral Pathfinders.¡± A few began to shine with anticipation. Arkandric surveyed their demeanor and smiled faintly. ¡°Those with keen insight will understand at once that the benefits I just mentioned are invaluable, beyond any mary worth.¡± The benefits meant ess to information that could lead to undiscovered treasures. And the maps recorded by the Pathfinders held hints to that. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Indeed, I pondered whether this was truly a benefit to me, who had almost memorized the map. One of the donation-based enrollees, with eyes wide open, stepped onto the stage. Ah, it begins. ¡°Rimbutton, were you curious why the donation-based enrollee did that just now?¡± ¡°Uh, yeah, I was.¡± ¡°Watch closely.¡± The man approached Arkandric and spoke. ¡°Hey, senile old man. You dared to throw us into the dungeon without weapons? Are you joking right now? Do you know how much money our family has donated here?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°If you have a mouth, then speak. Huh? What kind of confidence do you have to treat me like this? Can you even handle the consequences of offending our family?¡± Arkandric, who had been listening silently, looked at the man with a serious gaze. ¡°It seems you still haven¡¯t grasped the situation. You lot are nothing but trash, discarded by your families for a few coins.¡± That was the answer he intended to give Rimbutton. Many of the donation-based enrollees were indeed nuisances their families wanted to discard. Among them were those like that man, whose conduct was not upright, and there were illegitimate children of nobles, or firstborns disposed of by their stepmothers. ¡°The principal himself surveys the entire empire to sniff out nuisances like you. And then he sends a notice. Saying that it can be resolved here.¡± Of course, the academy also makes money. ¡°But let me tell you this. You are by no means trash. I shall bestow upon you a reward that splendidly proves it. Let me stroke your hair.¡± Arkandric approached the man. The man stepped back, but was caught by the shoulder with his hand as big as a pot lid. In the end, his pomade-slicked head was forcibly stroked. ¡°Argh! What are you doing! Stop it! You old geezer!¡± ¡°Ha ha, such a shy child.¡± The man, having his hair stroked in front of many, seemed so ashamed that he scrunched up his face and iled at Arkandric with hands and feet. But Arkandric didn¡¯t even flinch, as if a fly hadnded on him. ¡°However, despite the warning, interrupting the principal¡¯s words is inexcusable. It seems you need a lesson in love.¡± Arkandric grabbed the man¡¯s head with one hand and threw it whole. Bang! His upper body was stuck against the wall. He must have survived, having passed through donation-based admission, but to others, he looked nothing more than a dead body. ¡°Ah¡­¡± The students, terrified by his brutal violence, fell into chaos. What good is a reward if one is dead? Especially when they were nothing but pampered offspring of noble families. ¡°That crazy old man. I just want to go home.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t push me!¡± As the students scattered in panic, Arkandric spoke to the faculty. ¡°Begin.¡± The professors aimed their wands at the red carpet. Then, a giant magical sigil emitted light from the auditorium floor and swallowed the students standing on it. At the same time, a system window popped up in my retina. [Threat detected. Type: Curse of Control] [Ability activated.] [1-second invincibility cooldown: 59 seconds] The curse they¡¯ve cast is one of control. Soon, a demonstrator wille forth to show us what kind of curse this is. I quietly waited for the first victim who would try to escape the auditorium. From noble mtl dote But it was a bit unexpected that Erusel took on that role. Rockfeller approached him and blocked his path with his body. ¡°It seems there¡¯s been some misunderstanding. I never intended to pass this ce in the first ce.¡± ¡°Return to your ce.¡± ¡°Oh, if it¡¯s about the expulsion process, I¡¯ll go through with it, so don¡¯t worry. But I¡¯d be grateful if you could tell me where the office in charge is.¡± ¡°I told you to go back.¡± Erusel scratched his head furiously and frowned. Watching the scene, I thought to myself, ¡®He really is a fool.¡¯ ¡°Dare youmand me, a descendant of the Tenest bloodline? Aren¡¯t you afraid of my father?¡± ¡°The warning ends after the second time.¡± Rockfeller spoke menacingly and then snapped his fingers with a flick! At that, Erusel¡¯s eyes widened, and he fell to the ground with a bizarre cry. ¡°Ughhh.¡± He convulsed as if electrocuted, even foaming at the mouth. This is the curse of control, the Oath of Command. As the students watching were filled with horror, Akandrik kindly left some advice. ¡°It would be wise to follow the professor¡¯s instructions. The curse you¡¯re under is a relic left by the great archmage who was the founder of Frost Heart.¡± The engraved ritual on the floor was just that. ¡°The only way to break the curse is to be a magicianparable to the faculty, to graduate, or to die.¡± ¡­I wasn¡¯t affected, though. I was nning to graduate anyway, so it didn¡¯t really matter to me. But then Rockfeller came over, sneering with a bitter smile, and started picking a fight that made no sense. ¡°Are you so dissatisfied with what happened to your brother, Hersel van Tenest?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± ¡°For someone who¡¯s not, your eyes seem to be full of defiance. Release it immediately.¡± These are the eyes I was born with. No matter how kindly I smile, it looks like the grin of a viin. What do you expect me to do about it? ¡°When you see a master, show some respect.¡± ¡°¡­Respect?¡± ¡°This is your second warning. At least try to crack a smile.¡± Rockefeller chuckled. Out of sheer frustration, I spoke honestly, setting aside my animosity towards him. ¡°¡­My face is too stiff to do that. What would you have me do?¡± ¡°The warnings are over.¡± Rockefeller snapped his fingers with a click! Cursed to be unaffected, I decided to pretend to be hit. It was, after all, a matter of courtesy. ¡°Ouch.¡± My back straight as a rod. My eyes without a flicker of movement. I feigned pain. I couldn¡¯t possibly mimic the disgraceful sight of that fool sprawled on the floor. I did hope it would get under his skin. * * * ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s end the greetings here. Everyone should head to their assigned dormitories and rest for the day. sses start immediately tomorrow.¡± As Arkandric finished speaking, Hershel left the auditorium. Rockefeller watched his retreating figure, feeling a vein throb on his forehead. ¡®How does this guy endure even the pain thates from within?¡¯ I know he survived the breath of the monster. He was hit by the guardian¡¯s strike through the bead and came out unscathed, I¡¯ve confirmed that much. But that¡¯s only for external threats. The pain that seems to tear through the nerves deep within is a different story. I snapped my fingers gleefully, hoping to see him copse in an ugly heap. -Ouch. Such a pitiful response, it would have been better to be pricked by thorns¡­ Then suddenly, I remembered a simr case I heard from Arkandric and furrowed my brows. Ah, of course, I had cursed that man too. But you know what¡¯s funny? Despite the excruciating pain it should have caused, that man just said, ¡®It tickles,¡¯ and calmly ignored it to the end. Rockefeller stared nkly at the spot where Hershel had vanished. ¡°¡­Is this what they call bloodline?¡± At that moment, my heart shrank under Arcandric¡¯s piercing re. Rockefeller, feeling ashamed, avoided eye contact and looked at the ground instead. He had boldly promised to enlist him in the Order of Knights, but with no results yet, it was understandable to be angry. ¡°Damn, I¡¯m going to get an earful again. This is all because of that damned guy¡­ I¡¯ll make sure he regrets this.¡± The method to enlist him in the Order would be anything but gentle. Rockefeller grinded his teeth, pondering over ways to make Hershel suffer as much as possible. * * * As I was leaving the auditorium, a tingling sensation struck the back of my head. Come to think of it, I¡¯ve been feeling a strange gaze bothering me¡­ ¡®Could someone be watching me?¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s a woman in armor.¡¯ I gestured to Limberton and Ashleigh, who were beside me, to go ahead. ¡°Go ahead and take a shower or something.¡± ¡°Huh? You¡¯re noting¡­ Oh, I see, I¡¯ll see youter.¡± Limberton nced back and tactfully made his exit. As Ashleigh followed with a bewildered expression, the woman behind me spoke up. ¡°What brings you here?¡± Turning around, I saw a familiar woman with red hair and brown eyes looking at me impassively, as if she were looking at a passing stone. Yet, I could sense a calm anger dwelling within her. I sighed deeply, wishing the ground would swallow me up. ¡­She has arrived. The inevitable moment. ¡°You¡¯rete with your question. You could have asked before the third exam.¡± ¡°Well, I thought you¡¯d fail.¡± The woman¡¯s eyes slightly distorted. Regardless, I was desperate to leave this ce. Because this woman was, after all, the most yable character who hated Hershel in the world. And for me, it was an ufortable rtionship as well. -Hersel? I know him well. Because of the family¡¯s position, I was forced into an engagement I didn¡¯t want. I really hated it. ¡°A woman should act like a woman and wear dresses, not armor,¡± they said. Chapter 48 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 48 48. The Beggar and the Noble (1) There was a time when wielding a sword was permitted. Parents who watched with joy as I improved day by day. Discovering the joy of the sword myself. Naturally, the girl¡¯s path led her to be a knight. Leana thought that if it weren¡¯t for that man on her 15th birthday, her parents would have dly supported her. -¡°Don¡¯t strut around with a sword, you¡¯re just a girl.¡± Leana recalled that voice, which remained vivid in her mind, and asked coldly with an indifferent face. ¡°So, what brings you here?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°If you won¡¯t answer, I¡¯ll just assume what I want.¡± Leana turned away, thinking it wasn¡¯t worth speaking. Then, suddenly remembering a lingering question, she spoke again. ¡°But what did I do wrong?¡± She had always wondered. Hersel, who had visited their house as a guest that day, hadn¡¯t been wronged in any way. She hadn¡¯t even tried to meet him, swinging her sword where no one could see. Even though he suddenly approached and picked a fight¡­ -¡°If it displeases you, I¡¯ll do it elsewhere.¡± -¡°You¡¯re wrong. That¡¯s not what I want. I want you to not pick up the sword at all. Oh, and it¡¯s no use saying you¡¯ll give it up now. You¡¯ll just pick up the sword again where I can¡¯t see. Right?¡± Thinking they would never see each other again, she didn¡¯t bother to respond. -¡°It seems you want to be a knight, shall we make a bet? Whether you can continue to hold the sword or not.¡± Until she found out what method he had thought of¡­ ¡°Why did you go through with the engagement without my consent? Why?¡± The Derevian family was nothing more than amon noblepared to Tenest. There was nothing to gain. But for her own family, the strategic marriage with the great noble Tenest was an opportunity they couldn¡¯t refuse. ¡°I¡¯ve been opposed by my family because of you. Forced into bride lessons that don¡¯t suit me. Now, I¡¯ve even broken off rtions with them.¡± My path was blocked, and the only one who had allowed it, my mother, was chased away to her parents¡¯ home the moment she secretly stamped the consent form for my admission, behind my father¡¯s back. I must admit, my stubbornness yed a big part in that, but the man before me was the cause. ¡°It wasn¡¯t just because of a bet, was it?¡± Could such a petty reason be the sole cause for such actions? No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°¡­Don¡¯t just stay silent, say something.¡± A hint of emotion crept into my voice. Then, Hershel¡¯s lips, which seemed sealed forever, parted. ¡°Shall I answer honestly?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember anything.¡± Strength flowed into Leana¡¯s hands. And then, it ebbed away just as quickly. Whether this man interfered or not, as always, I would silently continue to do what I had to do. ¡°It seems you have no intention of letting me go until the end. Do as you like. It won¡¯t go the way you want it to¡­¡­¡± Leana turned her back. Then Hershel called out to her. ¡°Leana.¡± ¡°¡­What is it?¡± ¡°I could let everything else slide, but I can¡¯t ignore what you just said. You must have a princess disease. You should get that treated.¡± Hershel tried to leave first, as if to take the lead. ¡®Princess disease?¡¯ As Leana mulled over his words, her mind went nk. Then, from a distance, Selly approached with a greeting. ¡°How did the young master¡¯s exam go¡­ Oh my. Miss Leana, hello? I¡¯m Selly Dailden.¡± Selly lifted her hand lightly, which had been pinching her skirt. Hershel, whether he cared or not, went on his way. ¡°But, did our young master make any mistakes?¡± Leana answered with her eyes. Selly seemed to catch on immediately, whispering an apology with a remorseful expression. ¡°Please, forgive me. The truth is, the young master sometimes bes delirious due to his madness¡­¡± ¡°Madness?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been about 8 months already.¡± As Hershel disappeared, Leana blinked her eyes. -I can¡¯t remember anything. Perhaps, what Selly said could be true. * * * At first, I had no choice but to listen silently. If it were the narrative I knew, my mother wouldn¡¯t have been chased away. It must be because this wretch died, losing his value as a pawn in a political marriage, that father allowed it. I could only see it as my being alive having some influence. That¡¯s what I was sorting out in my head. I nned to draw a line at an opportune moment, but an overly harsh remark slipped out. It was because I was upset at being treated like a stalker. The more I hear of this scoundrel¡¯s misdeeds, the more astonishing and fresh they seem, but it¡¯s not my fault. ¡°Hmm.¡± Perhaps it¡¯s for the best. My affection would have waned anyway, and they would naturally avoid me. Then, the forced connection should naturally fade away. With that reassurance, I stepped into the Scf¨¦ mansion. The first floor resembled a hotel lobby. The walls and floor were all made of dull-colored marble. It had an antique feel, but the cracks and roughly hewn parts revealed it was just an old building. ¡°¡­¡± People were lined up, waiting. At the front, the dormitory supervisors were checking the identities of the new students, handing out rules and keys. It seemed it would take a while for my turn, so I quietly observed the first-floor lobby. The chandelier hanging from the ceiling flickered. It was the wax, half-melted, catching fire and then extinguishing repeatedly. On the desk, there was a pot containing a bizarre-looking nt, and all the furniture was made of solid wood, engraved with eerie patterns that seemed to scream like ghosts. Among them, the most captivating was a tall grandfather clock as tall as me. Inside the clock, a ck cat trapped swung a pendulum back and forth, strikingly touching it. Ah. As soon as our eyes met, it vanished into smoke¡­ ¡°Hershel Ben Tenest.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hershel Ben Tenest!¡± Oh dear, is it already my turn? A middle-aged man in a skinny suit with a monocle handed over a set of rules made of mirrors and a key, his expression bristly. ¡°Room 303 in Building 3. Your luggage has been ced in the dormitory. If you wish to shower, refer to the map in the hallway.¡± As my face reflected in the mirror, the rules were listed. These phrases change daily, but today they read: [When passing the stairwell, even if you see a woman crouching in the corner, do not give her any attention. Building 3 strictly prohibits women¡¯s entry, as it is a male dormitory.] [At 11:37 PM, lock your door without fail and do note out. If you hear the lock disengage, lock it again. This process needs to be done only once.] [The dormitory supervisors have colored bands tied around their right arms. They never wear red bands. Even if there is a small red stain, do not approach them. If you happen to witness this, be sure to report it in the morning.] This was the biggest downside of the Scfe Dorm. A dormitory where anomalies were daily due to its location atop a dungeon. With the warnings changing every day without time to adapt, the stress was more than trivial. It was a suffocating environment, but what could I do? If it bothers me, I should go to the safer Adel Dorm inside the fortress or the Burger Dorm where anomalies are less frequent¡­ * * * After showering, I looked around the assigned room. It was only as big as the dressing room in a mansion. All there was, was a worn-out desk and chair, along with a bed and a wardrobe. Rummaging through the drawers, I found an old piece of paper. It was a pamphlet with a rough map drawn on it. Below it, items avable for purchase and basic expenses were listed. Heating cost 10 coins per month. Dormitory maintenance fee 5 coins per month. The monthly allowance given to students of Scfe Dorm was 30 coins. To live here, one must work like a ve, it also implied. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Suddenly, reality hit me hard. I, who lived well as a rich man¡¯s son, had returned to the painful days of a social newbie. Back to the times when I agonized over living expenses¡­ No, this is no time toment my fate. I reminded myself of the n I had set when I entered the academy. The goal is to clear the scenario and survive by all means. The mainstay, of course, are the yable characters. ¡­But there¡¯s a thorny issue here. Because of the random elements, some guys die, and their narratives get twisted, leading them to ordinary lives. I must increase the survival rate of the yable characters as much as possible until thetter half. That¡¯s how the probability of clearing increases. Click. I opened the curtain and stared nkly at the castle beyond the window. Leaning on the window frame, I thought of the Adel Manor, where arge number of yable characters were gathered. From noble mtl dote And then I gritted my teeth. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for that b*stard¡­¡± The original n was to enter Adel Manor right from the start. There was nothing better than living in the same building to monitor how their narratives unfolded. But, due to Rockefeller¡¯s interference, I was pushed back a step behind schedule. I clenched my fist, feeding off the boiling anger within me. Whether he interferes or not, I¡¯ll make a grand entrance into Adel Manor. Definitely. * * * The facilities of Adel Manor were generallyvish. The clean carpets, the porcin, and the framed pictures on the walls all shone brilliantly. And there were various convenience facilities as well. Liamon walked aimlessly until he arrived at a spacious area. Sofas and bookshelves were scattered around. At the counter, a middle-aged woman was brewing tea, while the freshmen I glimpsed earlier took their trays and sat down. As I turned to leave, a maid sent from the family approached me. ¡°Oh, Lord Liamon, I¡¯ve been looking for you.¡± Liamon furrowed his brow. ¡°¡­So you¡¯ve followed me all the way here. Why not just stay in the same room then?¡± ¡°How could I, a woman, enter there? Instead,e over here and mingle with the others.¡± I don¡¯t have many fond memories of socializing with people. As I tried to ignore her and walk away, the maid called out softly. ¡°Lord? The head of the family wishes for you to graduate with excellent grades. To achieve that, it¡¯s essential to foster connections with capable people.¡± Liamon stopped in his tracks and sighed deeply. Just then, a short-haired woman who seemed interested came over. ¡°Hello? You¡¯re Liamon, the one who topped the entrance exam, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Silent, I stood still, and the maid red sharply at me. With no choice, Liamon nodded and replied. ¡°Well, let¡¯s just say I was lucky.¡± ¡°Ah, don¡¯t stand around here,e join us. We were just introducing ourselves.¡± Looking at the table the woman pointed to, Liamon¡¯s typically gloomy thoughts kicked in. ¡®Pretentious lot. They gather around because it¡¯s mutually beneficial. Had I not ranked first, they wouldn¡¯t have bothered with me.¡¯ With a gentle push from the maid, Liamon joined the table of about a dozen people, feeling bewildered. ¡°Pleased to meet you. I am Liamon of the Rebectura family. Thank you for the invitation.¡± I feigned politeness with a gesture almost forced upon me, and conversations ensued. Starting with simple questions, they moved on to trivial topics about the exam. To Liamon, these were uninteresting matters, so he responded briefly, and soon no one paid him any more attention. Gradually bing isted from the group, they whispered among themselves. A name that piqued my interest popped out of the mouth of a man wearing sses. ¡°But why did that guy Hersel enroll here?¡± Liamon nced momentarily at the red-haired woman who had twitched her eyebrows. The others¡¯ gazes were fixed on her too. Her name was Leana, wasn¡¯t it? ¡°Leana, can you tell me what happened? You seem like you might know.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m not sure myself. We weren¡¯t exactly pen pals.¡± The atmosphere dipped with her emotionless voice. The bespectacled man seemed to decide it was worth mentioning after all, clearing his throat and fixing a serious gaze. ¡°You all must have heard. Six months ago, the rumor that he survived the mythical beast¡¯s breath.¡± Riamon tilted his head in wonder. Was that man the subject of the outdated rumor? ¡®Somehow.¡¯ As she was convincing herself, the short-haired woman asked with a puzzled face. ¡°Oh, that? I heard about it too¡­ Wasn¡¯t it a lie?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe it either. But he did pass the third trial. Knowing his usual stamina, I can¡¯t dismiss the rumor as entirely false.¡± ¡°Really? But he still came inst. I think I barely made it thanks to that hulking barbarian. That guy probably just held everyone back, right?¡± Riamon blinked at the short-haired woman¡¯s confident statement. That guy held them back¡­? He was so astonished that he had to speak up. ¡°You.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°¡­¡± But then Riamon swallowed his words. He remembered the conversation they had while walking over the cliff, stepping on the rope with the guy on his back. -How does the view look from that height? Curious about his true strength, he had asked honestly, and the guy had replied¡­ -It¡¯s dizzyingly high. You can¡¯t see anything unless you go down yourself. He had probed nonchntly¡­ -Yeah, it must be lonely and boring standing high up there alone. I can somewhat understand the desire to go down to those dizzying depths. To which the guy had threatened, almost as if telling him to shut up¡­ -Don¡¯t get any strange ideas. If you don¡¯t want a short life. He had often heard that the strong find daily life boring. He came to the academy probably to alleviate that boredom, having no one to match his level. And realizing there was no worthy opponent, the guy seemed to have found new amusement by hiding his true worth and blending in with the ordinary folks. ¡°Hey, Liamon? Do you have something you want to say to me?¡± If he interferes with this act, it¡¯s a death wish from him. Liamon swallowed hard and stuttered. ¡°¡­Ah, no. I just wanted to say that I think you¡¯re right.¡± Then Leana said, ¡°Even so, you¡¯ve gotten much more robust than before. Your walk is well-bnced too. For a moment, I mistook you for someone else¡­¡± The man with sses asked Liamon, ¡°Speaking of which, Liamon, you escaped around the same time as Hershel, didn¡¯t you? Do you have any leads?¡± It was just when he was trying toe up with a proper response. ¡°I can¡¯t help but interfere since I¡¯ve been hearing that person¡¯s name all this time.¡± The silver-haired man who came to Limberton and constantly interfered with everything. Surely his brother¡¯s name was Eruzel, wasn¡¯t it? The man with sses pointed to an empty seat. ¡°You¡¯vee at the right time, Eruzel. Take a seat. You would know since you lived together. Is it true that he survived the monster¡¯s attack?¡± Eruzel puffed his cheeks with a ¡®Pfft!¡¯ sound. ¡°Do you still believe such absurd rumors? I know him well from seeing him over the years, and I¡¯m certain he threatened the servants to make up that story. He loves to act superior.¡± No matter what anyone says, they are family living under one roof. As many seemed to agree, Liamon looked at Eruzel. If they¡¯re family, he would naturally know what kind of person his brother is. ¡®¡­Was all the belittling just to protect his brother¡¯s secrets?¡¯ Upon realizing the truth, his perception of them as estranged brothers began to change. But the acting was just too real. Chapter 49 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 49 49. The Beggar and the Noble (2) Meeting Limberton and Ashley wasn¡¯t too difficult. The same building, the same floor. As I walked down the dormitory corridor, a rumbling sound came from Limberton¡¯s stomach. ¡°¡­I¡¯m hungry. After subsisting on bread and jerky in the dungeon, I crave a warm meal. When do we get to eat?¡± I gestured for Ashley and Limberton to follow me. It was good timing since I had something I wanted to show them. ¡°Come with me.¡± The ce they arrived at was a restaurant. Seeing the seniors devouring greasy food with gusto, Limbutton and Ashley¡¯s mouths watered. Of course, a proper meal was but a pipe dream. ¡°Do you guys have any coins?¡± ¡°Where would we get coins from¡­¡± ¡°I thought as much.¡± Even the cheapest meal costs a coin. Having given all we had to Liamon, we were penniless. Limbutton¡¯s eyes widened in shock at the prices on the menu, then he deted. ¡°What the heck, are we supposed to buy this with money? Doesn¡¯t the academy provide meals¡­¡± Ashley seemed to catch on as well, showing a simr reaction. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s not free. But don¡¯t worry about it now.¡± I had seven coins in my pocket. While walking towards the exit with Liamon, I had snatched some from a member of Lethe who had been robbed. ¡°Hand over the coins.¡± ¡°I-I will give them to you.¡± Indeed, there¡¯s nothing more foolish than cutting open the goose thatys the golden eggs. I decided to invest the coins I had taken in these guys. ¡°Choose something. Under two coins.¡± As I spread two fingers, Ashley and Limbutton gulped down their saliva and picked from the menu. The moment their meal arrived, they devoured it desperately. As I was about to swallow thest piece of meat, I asked Limbutton. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to make sure you have three square meals like this from now on?¡± ¡°What kind of question is that? Of course, everyone wants to eat like that.¡± ¡°But you know, the people from Shphe House are grateful to have even one meal a day. Do you know why?¡± Limbutton shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s because they only get 30 coins a month.¡± ¡°The guys from Vuerger House get 150 coins every month, and the ones living in the best ce, Adel House, get 300.¡± ¡°Just 30?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Half of it goes just for dorm heating and other stuff. The seniors from Shphe House barely manage to get by with cheap, bulk dried goods from the canteen.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Limbutton licked the remaining sauce off the te he picked up. ¡°So, I was thinking of making you guys an offer.¡± Securing living expenses was an urgent matter to get to the Adel district. And I had thought of a little trick for that. A method that could be used only once, on this first day of enrollment. ¡°Well, now that we¡¯re fed, shall we go? I¡¯ll exin on the way.¡± It might seem a bit harsh depending on the view, but hey, that¡¯s none of my business. * * * The ce we arrived at was a bulletin board stered with papers. Limbutton looked at the pinned request and said with a puzzled face. ¡°What, what¡¯s this¡­ 5 coins for a foot massage?¡± The requests were filled with various tasks, from collecting research materials to organizing documents. ¡°Wait, this one just has a person¡¯s name on it?¡± ¡°Not only professors post requests. The snooty bourgeois types do too.¡± ¡°Whoa, this one says 50 coins for just having dinner together. Geez, it¡¯s only for women.¡± ¡°Hmm, looks like there are seniors like you too.¡± Limbutton stopped smacking his lips and narrowed his eyes. ¡°So, the method you thought of is to take on requests here and earn some money?¡± Not at all. Squeak©¤©¤ I tore off one request after another, from foot massages to various odd jobs. ¡°You, you can¡¯t be serious¡­ A noble like you would stoop to this?¡± ¡°Quit your yapping and start tearing.¡± I handed Limbutton a handful of requests. Then I tore off all the high-difficulty, well-paying requests, except for one, which I handed to Ashley. ¡°What in the world are you nning to do¡­¡± The rest, of ambiguous difficulty, were mine. ¡°What, what are you going to do with all those?¡± ¡°If you want to make money, follow me.¡± My gaze settled on the nearby reception desk. As Iid out the request forms in front of the professor in charge, he opened his eyes wide in surprise, then narrowed them. ¡°¡­If this is a joke, go put them back where you found them.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take all the requests here.¡± ¡°What?¡± As I maintained a serious expression, the professor looked at me as if I were some oddity. Still, there were no issues with the regtions, so he stamped each one. I checked my pocket watch. It was almost time. Until the end of ss. ¡°I¡¯m heading back to the bulletin board right now.¡± People began to swarm into the previously empty space. Their eyes aze, they sprinted with all their might, resembling hungry beasts frantically searching for prey. I taught Limberton, who wore a dumbfounded expression, what these creatures were. ¡°Limberton, take a good look. Those slobs are our proud seniors from the Scfe dormitory.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°Soon, the freshmen will end up just like them.¡± The people of Scfe are all untouchables. Born nobles grovel at the feet over a single coin, massaging stinking feet, and sometimes bing jesters before nobles of lesser houses. It¡¯s the environment here that shapes people this way. ¡°I can¡¯t for the life of me understand what you¡¯re thinking¡­ Wait. It¡¯s not what I think it is, is it?¡± Limberton broke out in a cold sweat, trembling around the eyes. I smirked and replied. ¡°Probably so?¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°Start getting ready.¡± The second-year seniors saw the empty bulletin board and their faces turned ashen. As I approached, hugging the request forms, their eyes lit up. I let the ¡®noble blood¡¯sst embers¡¯ flicker faintly as I spoke. ¡°Single-coin tasks go to this little guy here. Five-coin ones to me. Ten-coin tasks to the big foreign friend. If you need a request fulfilled, get in line.¡± As expected, the seniors¡¯ reaction was explosive. ¡°Is that a new face? Are you a freshman?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let your cheeky tone slide just this once. Stop fooling around and hand it over¡­¡± ¡°Huh, has he lost his mind? I¡¯ve seen all sorts of things, but this¡­¡± As they approached with menacing expressions, Limbutton almost whimpered. ¡°Hey, you out of your mind! Why on earth are you doing something that¡¯ll get you marked by the seniors!¡± ¡°Limbutton, don¡¯t even think of sympathizing. They would have done the same if they knew such tricks from their first day.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I¡¯m talking about!¡± I looked at Ashley and pointed to the bulletin board. ¡°Start, Ashley.¡± With a hefty hand, Ashley effortlessly plucked the bulletin board out. Then, swinging it around like a club a few times, the approaching guys¡¯ eyes bulged as they fell t on their backs. ¡°Gasp!¡± ¡°Put that down, junior.¡± ¡°No, rather, why is this barbarian¡­¡± I red with intensity. How dare these extras, who don¡¯t even have yable characters, think they can? ¡°I¡¯m warning you just once. If you raise a hand against me again, I¡¯ll double the fee.¡± Intimidated, they changed their tune. Their chosen method, true to their lowly nature, was to abandon their worn-out dignity and appeal to emotions. ¡°But still, how can you extort fees like this¡­ If I don¡¯t work today, I¡¯ll starve for three days¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, please consider my situation. If I don¡¯t get any requests, I¡¯m really in trouble. I have debts to pay today.¡± ¡°Come on¡­ You¡¯re still a senior, so please cooperate with your junior, right?¡± Their pleas and attempts to evoke pity were endless. Their pitiful attitude infuriated me. ¡°Quiet, you vermin!¡± I couldn¡¯t help but shout at these pathetic creatures. ¡°You are losers. Vermin who have failed inpetition and remain in the trash heap even after all these years. Are you now stooping so low as to sell your pride to a junior like me?¡± Their way of thinking was already tamed to the level of ves. From noble mtl dote ¡°And you call yourselves nobles? The world ising to an end. I¡¯m really looking forward to the future of the empire. To think that those who merely serve here are the future.¡± And yet, they failed to escape from very despite having the means to do so. ¡°I simply cannot understand your way of thinking. Why didn¡¯t you spend your money wisely? If you had known when to save and invested in the future, you wouldn¡¯t be in such an ugly state now, would you?¡± Frost Heart operates on a free market economy. Students are even allowed to manufacture and sell their own goods. These activities are usually led by clubs, and it¡¯s fair to consider them as a sort of business enterprise. ¡°Earning money throughmissions is outdated. You shouldn¡¯t be doing things fit only for first-years, right? There are plenty of stable ways to make money besides that.¡± If you have money, if you use it well, even if your academic grades aren¡¯t high, you could have bought a position like a Burger Manager. But they just couldn¡¯t do this simple thing. They just lied to themselves, saying it was impossible, making excuses about how hard it was, and turned a blind eye to reality. A little more hardship now would mean an easier future, but still. ¡°After all the fun, when you¡¯re suddenly out of money, you slink back. How long do you n to repeat this pathetic cycle?¡± ¡°You, did you really have to say it like that? Do you think we live like this because we want to?¡± ¡°What? Is what I said wrong? But look at yourself. Even a freshman like me has been shaken down formissions. You¡¯ve been exploited again today. But don¡¯t hold onto it. You¡¯ll be exploited tomorrow and the day after anyway, so you¡¯ll forget soon enough.¡± He was speechless, with a vacant expression on his face. Around him, the ves quietly muttered and vented their anger in hushed tones. Tired of the argument, I conjured a me on my fingertip and brought it close to themission papers. ¡°Huh, Hersel. You¡¯re a magician?¡± ¡°It¡¯s surprising you¡¯re only realizing that now¡­¡± Come to think of it, I had never shown magic in front of these guys. ¡°Don¡¯t make it hard on a cold day. If you don¡¯t want to takemissions, then get lost. I¡¯ll use this as kindling.¡± As I brought the me closer, a murmur of ¡®uh-oh¡¯ leaked from the crowd. Eventually, a few caught on and started to line up, and the ves became animated as themission papers sold out in an instant. ¡°Hmph, easy to handle.¡± I pulled out coins from the bag and distributed them between the two. ¡°120 for me. 90 each for you. Good work, Limberton. Ashleigh. You two take the remaining two coins.¡± Ashleigh silently took the bag of money. But Limberton seemed to feel a pang of conscience and couldn¡¯t do the same. ¡°¡­No matter how I think about it, this doesn¡¯t seem right.¡± ¡°Limberton, if you keep thinking that way, you¡¯ll live as a ve for the rest of your life.¡± ¡°No, but still. Shouldn¡¯t seniors give advice to their juniors? Especially since we live in the same dorm, we should get along well.¡± I felt the need to trample the naive ideology of this flower-headed fool as I recited the lessons life had taught me. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about mingling with them. Unless you¡¯re a loner, you¡¯ll end up being assimted.¡± They are a swamp that drags each other down. Every time I see someone trying to do what needs to be done, they interrupt with ¡®You can do thatter!¡¯ and insist on resting even when it¡¯s not the time, wasting precious moments, dragging down even the lives of others, finding sce in not being alone. And then they forget. They forget that this is not how one should live. Because everyone around lives like this, they think that¡¯s just how life is¡­ ¡°Those guys are just lingering to be used. If you don¡¯t draw the line, you¡¯ll be exploited too.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Seeing the still hesitant expression on his face, I drove the final nail with sweet words. ¡°And you know what? Women like men who are just bad enough and have a lot of money.¡± ¡°Is, is that so¡­?¡± ¡°Of course. Even if you go to the Burger Joint, the Scffe girls would be dying to have a cup of tea with you.¡± Though in reality, they¡¯re just looking to take advantage. ¡°But imagine going to the Adel District. Then, the girls from the Burger Joint would be the same.¡± Limberton¡¯s lips curled into a smile. ¡°Hehehe.¡± Such a simpleton. Then, even after deducting living expenses, there would be a surplus left, only the task of increasing it remains. Before that, I pulled out a 100-coinmission slip I had tucked away. [Item Requested: Merrily Root.] [Reward: 100 Coins.] [Requester: Rockefeller Den Harman.] Starting tomorrow, there¡¯s a magic ss, and if it¡¯s that subject, I should be able to gather the herbs listed here. * * * Rockefeller enjoyed a steaming cup of tea while looking out the window at the morning. He had been thoroughly scolded by the principal yesterday, but somehow, he managed to talk his way out of it. ¡°¡­That one will not adapt to life in the Scffe District. A starving beast is easier to tame, after all. I will offer an irresistible condition when the timees.¡± For someone who has lived a life of quality, it¡¯s difficult to start from the bottom. The thirty coins I received today will probably be squandered in a day, unable to break old habits. No, even that won¡¯t be enough, and there¡¯s a high chance I¡¯ll end up in debt. If only I could entice him to join the Knight¡¯s Division then¡­ ¡°¡­Adel Manor. I loathe to offer such terms to that detestable man, but do I have a choice?¡± Rockefeller stood up and stretched himself out. In about three days, they¡¯ll be begging for their lives like the ves of Scfe Manor. I can¡¯t wait for the day toe, to see them grovel and lick my boots in gratitude. * * * The first lesson was in pharmacology. The location was outdoors, covered in white snow. The female professor showed us a herb and said, ¡°Memorize this well. You only need to collect one root. But don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve chosen the easily obtainable Merrily root especially for those of you who are still unustomed.¡± ¡­That swindler. Merrily roots are expensive herbs. Of course,rgely because they¡¯re hard to find. ¡°But don¡¯t let your guard down. Monsters appear near the snowy mountain regions, so be careful.¡± I knew the location, though. But I n to only hand over the thinnest roots to that brash neer or the woman trying to swindle me, and sell the rest myself. ¡°Well then, shall we go find the herbs with your assigned partners?¡± A woman with a gloomy face slowly approached me. She looked as if she had been offered as a sacrifice, so scared¡­ I had no choice but to smile gently and greet her. ¡°I¡¯m Hershel Ben Tenest. Nice to meet you.¡± ¡°Gasp¡­¡± Ah, right. My face looks even more unpleasant when I smile. Chapter 50 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 50 50. Magical Department Students (1) We only have a few joint sses for theoretical subjects. Most are taken separately by each dormitory. For herb collection, it was a subject exclusive to the Scfe Manor¡¯s magical department. And among those Scfe guys¡­ ¡°Hmph, after ripping everything off from us, this is where you end up?¡± The Lethe friends who had devotedly gifted coins were scattered about. I just stared at the indifferent floor. Because I felt a sting for not living up to expectations. ¡°Damn it, how shameful. Despite all the help you guys provided¡­¡± Expressing regret, Rendel, still swollen, gritted his teeth. Fortunately, it seemed he had carefully preserved and reimnted the teeth that had been knocked out. ¡°Don¡¯t make meugh! Who, ouch!¡± Looks like the toothache remained. ¡°Ugh¡­ You better brace yourself, Hershel! I¡¯ll show you hell throughout our academy life!!¡± ¡°This is already hell, Rendel. After spending a day here, even you should have a feel for what it¡¯s like, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Seemingly at a loss for words, Rendel scanned the members of Lethe behind him. As I red back, those still sporting bruises on their faces shrank back, hurriedly avoiding eye contact. They all seemed cautious, having been through something, but Rendel, daring to be defiant on his own, felt impressively bold in a way. ¡°Tch.¡± Watching the guy leading his pack away, I smacked my lips. It¡¯s not an exam or ss, so I can¡¯t rip off their harvest like during the coin days. ¡°Um, over there¡­¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re done talking, maybe we should start too.¡± I looked at the girl who had be my partner. She kept her distance as if frightened. Her name was¡­ I definitely heard it, but it¡¯s slipping my mind. ¡°What was your name again?¡± ¡°Cl, ve Don Gravel.¡± Ah, it was ve. Truth be told, her face was familiar, but names tend to slip away easily. Well, it¡¯s probably because of her timid nature that shecked presence. Even being an acquaintance of a yable character from the Schfe Department of Magic, that¡¯s saying something. ¡°Hey, everyone else is moving now, you know?¡± I looked at the man with his hair tied in a ponytail. The man scanned ve and me with a wary gaze. ¡°Yeah, we should start moving too.¡± First-year Schfe students weren¡¯tpletely hopeless like the second and third years. The condition for the third exam was to be within the top 70 teams, so it was just a matter of not having proven their abilities yet. About one-fifth are expected to go to the Burger Department next semester, but this man is set to rise directly to the Adel Department. If this woman is that guy¡¯s friend, then I need to make a good impression. ¡°You¡¯re quite pretty, aren¡¯t you?¡± The expression seems too vague to say for sure. ¡°¡­¡­¡± ve flinched and stepped back. Was that apliment, or something a brash person would say¡­ ¡°Ahem, no. It¡¯s nothing. Follow me. I have a rough idea where the Merilly roots are.¡± As I took out the prepared rope, ve¡¯splexion turned pale. * * * Rendel frowned as he looked at the three people. ¡°Are you that scared of him?¡± They are pitifully pathetic. If they were treated that badly, they should think of revenge. ¡°Rendel, you were unconscious then, remember? You didn¡¯t see how cruel that guy is¡­¡± One of them clenched his legs. The other two hadn¡¯t even been hit by him. ¡°Ugh, just thinking about that barbarian still makes me shiver.¡± ¡°Rendel, if you had seen the helmet getting crushed at that moment, you¡¯d never want to get involved with those guys again, right?¡± Rendel spat out in disbelief. ¡®Foolish guys. Just dealing with that b*stard would make me an officer.¡¯ There were ranks among the Lethe members. When I exined to the first-ss officers what Hersel had done, they gave permission to deal with it and even a firm promise to promote to the officer ranks if I seeded. They knew the truth as well. ¡°Have you already forgotten the perks of bing an executive? You can build connections with the royal family! Do you have any idea how significant that is?¡± All nobles harbored a longing for the royal court. Even if one were to be cast out from their family, having those connections guaranteed sess. And Lethe made it possible. ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, leave. I¡¯ll handle him myself if I have to.¡± Rendel followed the snow footprints left by Hersel with angry strides. The others, unable to resist the temptation, stealthily followed behind. * * * The tip of my nose stung in the frosty wind. As I exhaled, I neared the area abundant with Merrily roots. ¡®Hersel, that woman has been aiming her staff at your back since earlier.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ve noticed.¡¯ True to the mountain, cliffsy everywhere. I stopped at the edge of a precipice, a fall waiting to happen. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived.¡± I took out a rope and observed ve¡¯splexion. As she attempted to draw a spell with a pale face, I furrowed my brow. ¡°So, you were nning to do this here after all¡­ The roots were a lie, weren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Stop your nonsense and keep watch.¡± Leaving the deluded ve behind, I hammered arge nail with a ring into the ground. After thoroughly stomping on it to ensure it was secure, I threw the rope over the cliff. Below was a fairly spacious area, the entrance to a cave. Thud. I gripped the rope and descended the cliff. Acrophobia was a thing of the past for me, having fallen off cliffs twice before. Almost sliding down, I looked towards the cave, expected to be full of Merrily roots. At that moment, ve¡¯s scream erupted from above. ¡°Wait, what are you trying to do now¡­ aaahh!¡± ve was scattering tears as she fell. As I was about to hit the ground, I swiftly cast a weight-reduction spell from my gloves. In an instant, ve¡¯s body became as light as a feather, and I wrapped her gently in my arms. ¡°I told you to be prepared, Hersel.¡± Looking up, I saw Rendel, arrogantly jutting out his chin. The crowd following him murmured, seemingly not in on the agreement. ¡°Re, Rendel¡­ It¡¯s one thing with Hersel, but what if you mess with that girl too?¡± ¡°Scared? It¡¯ll be treated as an ident, no worries.¡± Rendel, the scoundrel, proudly ignited a me at the tip of his wand and brought it close to the rope. I drew my wand, annoyed by every move of his detestable face. Oh, magic. Please, grant me the power to drag this man to hell. After using the weight-reduction spell, my mana was nearly depleted. But thanks to my specialty in magic, I could still activate the spell with little mana, weakly pulling at Rendel¡¯s ankle. The man on the icy path slipped and fell. ¡°Whoops!¡± Rendel began to slide down the cliff as if on a slide. In the midst of it all, he grabbed the rope, and the me at the end of his wand¡­ Whoosh! ¡°aaagh!¡± Halfway down, Rendel screamed, clutching the rope as if it were a lifebuoy. The rope, singed by the me, couldn¡¯t bear his weight and snapped! Thud! I approached the man buried in the snow. Rendel lifted his head, seemingly not too injured. Then, with a grave expression, he said, ¡°I have one request as a prisoner.¡± A prisoner, huh. He¡¯s foolish in his actions but seems aware of his predicament. ¡°Shall I listen?¡± ¡°¡­Just don¡¯t hit my face.¡± ¡°That¡¯s easy.¡± I trampled on Rendel again and again, and gave him a good knock on the head. As the beating became rampant, he curled up like a mouse and began to sob. Feeling utterly refreshed, I shouted to the ones above. ¡°If you want to save Rendel, bring me a rope now!¡± ¡°Is, isn¡¯t he already dead?¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ he, he¡¯s still alive.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Alright, I got it. I¡¯ll bring it right away.¡± Well then, shall I go gather some roots while they¡¯reing. ¡°ve, this way. Help out since you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Huh? Oh¡­ Ah, okay.¡± ve, seemingly more terrified, began to follow with slow steps. Upon entering the cave, the sound of a beast snoring reached us. From noble mtl dote Purr-r-r-rumble. A giant white-furred fox was hibernating. I stopped ve, who was aiming at the fox with his staff. ¡°ve, there¡¯s no need to provoke it unnecessarily.¡± ¡°But, just in case¡­¡± ¡°It won¡¯t wake up even if you¡¯re loud. Just don¡¯t touch it.¡± Whether there was a sound of footsteps or not, we walkedfortably, and ve, seemingly reassured, exhaled and followed. The deeper we dug into the cave, the darker it became. Just as I was about to take out the prepared torch from my bag, ve swung his staff, and I felt sheepish. Whoosh- The size of the me was no joke¡­ ¡°Huh? It really exists? The bud that the professor showed us. It looked like this, right?¡± ve¡¯s eyes lit up at the sight of a single sky-blue flower. To be this happy over something so trivial. ¡°Bring the fire a little closer.¡± Perhaps a bit of the wariness had faded. The hesitation had significantly decreased. After taking five steps, ve¡¯s mouth fell open in astonishment. ¡°Wow¡­ Could it be, this is everything?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s the Merrily flowers.¡± Flowers hidden here and there. All together, there must be at least fifteen blossoms. Considering the bounty was a hundred coins, these are worth fifteen hundred coins. The worst one will be sacrificed for credits, and another will be given to ve as a reward for hisbor. ¡°You just light up the surroundings there.¡± ¡°Uh, okay¡­¡± He carefully packed the diligently dug-up roots into the gathering bag. Just as he was about to collect everything and leave, a static noise filled the cave. Crackle-crackle©¤ Looking towards the entrance, my mouth opened wide without realizing it. Rendel was crawling on the ground, a staff clenched in his mouth. Wrapped around his belly was a rope, its origin unknown. ¡®That guy¡­ his persistence is remarkable.¡¯ ¡®¡­That Rendel is as stubborn as you are.¡¯ As if drawn by a drunken spell, the electric orb crashed into an unintended target. But perhaps the static had traveled along the ground, for the sleeping giant fox awoke. ¡°It¡¯s awake! What do we do now¡­¡± While ve stomped his feet in panic, Rendel smirked mischievously. ¡°Giggle, I¡¯ll exin to the professor that you were done in by a magical beast. Farewell, then.¡± As if being pulled up by someone above, Rendel¡¯s body began to rise. I didn¡¯t miss the timing and picked up a stone from inside the cave to throw. Thwack! ¡°Hurry and pull¡­ Urgh!¡± It hit him right in the crotch. Rendel was hoisted up like a lifeless body,pletely disappearing from view. ¡®You rascal¡­¡¯ ¡®It was a mistake, a mistake.¡¯ And what about that yawning fox? The creature that seemed only drowsy sniffed around, then scrunched up its face and growled. That bipedal beast, three meters tall, is no mere punching bag like Lethe, but a true monster. To me, who had only ever had others deal with monsters, it was quite a nerve-wracking situation. ¡°Hmm.¡± With a hopeful nce, I peeked at ve. ¡°What should we do¡­¡± I could only sit on the ground, on the verge of tears. ¡­Don¡¯t expect anything. I have no choice but to try something with my magic. * * * The servants swept the garden paths. I watched the season fade away, consoling myself during the lonely times. Thedy of the house set down her teacup on the saucer with a clink, having sipped it on the terrace. ¡°It feels somewhat empty without it.¡± At thedy¡¯s words, Aol revealed his upper teeth with a slight smile in response. ¡°The absence feels more significant now that they¡¯re gone.¡± ¡°I wonder if they¡¯re doing well¡­¡± ¡°Erusel is a child taught by Sir Coulro. Hersel, well, even if isted, will manage on his own.¡± Thedy of the house smiled faintly. ¡°That¡¯s true. There¡¯s nothing more dangerous there than a mythical beast.¡± Aol blinked slowly, reassured by thedy¡¯s seemingly calm demeanor. ¡°So, as Mirsel wishes-¡° ¡°I¡¯ve told you, they¡¯re still too young.¡± Thedy¡¯s response was icy cold. ¡°¡­¡± Seeing no sign ofpromise, Aol rose from his seat and left the terrace. Mirsel, who had been clinging to the wall, waiting for the oue, shone with anticipation. As Aol shook his head, Mirsel¡¯s face fell with disappointment. Then, thedy¡¯s voice startlingly pierced the air. ¡°Mirsell? How many times do I have to tell you, it¡¯s still too early to go to the academy,¡± his mother said. Aol patted the gloomy Mirsell on the back. Chapter 51 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 51 51. The Magic Department Students (2) As always, he scanned the surroundings out of habit. Inside the cave, there were no means to use the dungeon-like traps in reverse. Yet, even in front of the sentry, the creature was nothing to boast about, so there was a chance of victory. I raised the only weapon I had, a staff. The giant fox¡¯s forepaw came flying in. Dodging with minimal movement, I followed Donatan¡¯s lead and ducked. Seeing an opening, I extended my arm and stabbed the creature¡¯s neck with the end of my staff. Boom! ¡­As expected, a beast was still a beast. To pierce that thick hide, a sword might have worked, but it was too much to ask of a staff. Still, it seemed to have caused pain, as it made the creature squint its eyes. Gnash. The fox lunged its teeth as if to bite. I stepped back and, like fencing, stabbed the staff into its forehead. This time, the stab was filled with a bean-sized orb of electricity. Boom! Crackling. If I keep dealing cumtive damage like this, it might eventually die¡­? Growl. ¡­The deeper grimace on its face seemed to indicate I had only angered it more. The fox wed wildly, as if it couldn¡¯t see anything. I used all my strength to dodge by a hair¡¯s breadth, stepping out of the way to avoid getting hit. ¡°Hmm, Hersel.¡± ¡°I¡¯m busy dying here, why?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you feel a prick of conscience calling yourself a wizard?¡± ¡°I did use magic, didn¡¯t I? Focus more!¡± Was it because it had just woken up from hibernation andcked energy? After dodging sweatily several times, the creature¡¯s movements began to slow down. Cough. Cough¡­ At the very moment he gasped for breath, a sudden exmation from behind made him flinch. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Turning his head, ve had her mouth wide open as if she had seen some trick. ¡­She really has a faint presence. So much so, that she¡¯s easily forgotten even after a bit of focus in battle. ¡°Uh, uhuhuh? Over there¡­¡± ¡°Why.¡± ¡°No, I mean. Over there.¡± ve pointed somewhere with her finger. The giant fox, having caught its breath to some extent, was scaling the wall on all fours. Its target was not me, but ve. Tatatat! The giant fox lunged at ve, swinging its arm widely. True to her timid and faint-hearted nature, ve just clenched her eyes shut, whether the beast approached or not. Having dashed out earlier, I blocked the creature¡¯s ws with my back. ng! [A physical attack has been detected.] [A trait has been activated.] [1-second invincibility cooldown: 59 seconds] The sharp ws fell to the ground with a sound of tearing flesh. Krrrgh! The giant fox let out a scream and then cautiously distanced itself from me. It seems the pain from losing its ws was not insignificant. Empowered, I took a step forward, igniting the ¡®Noble Blood¡¯s Last Ember.¡¯ ¡°This is no longer amusing. I¡¯ll spare you, so get lost.¡± I had intended to use the ¡®1-second invincibility¡¯ only as ast resort. Since it was a demon, not a human, I wasn¡¯t sure if my bluff would work. But as expected, the demon I encountered this time, true to its instinctual nature, showed no signs of backing down. ¡°If that¡¯s the case¡­¡± Finishing Move. It was time to execute the fall off the cliff with ve after the cooldown. At that moment, ve squeezed out a voice. ¡°Move, step aside.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ncing back, I saw ve drawing a spell with his staff. It was one of the moreplex magics demonstrated by Carmelo. A mixed magic that simultaneously employed elemental and morphing series. Whoosh! A dove wrapped in mes darted and pecked at the fox. Not just one, but five. In astonishment, I looked at ve, his eyes wide open. If his previous impression was monochrome, now it was as vivid as a fresh fruit photograph. ¡°Have you been casting magic on yourself all this time?¡± Among the morphing magics, there was one that used surrounding mana to faintly diminish presence. ording to Carmelo, it wasn¡¯t hypnotic, but rather a camouge. It seems the camouge magic had worn off while casting the fire dove magic. ¡°Uh, yes¡­¡± I had wondered why his presence felt unnaturally absent¡­ ¡°¡­Why?¡± ve turned his head swiftly and muttered softly. ¡°Because I didn¡¯t want to be marked by you¡­¡± What does he take me for? Creak! The giant fox, repeatedly attacked by the me dove, finally copsed to the ground. I blinked at the neatly roasted fox. ¡­He was quite a formidable magician too. After all, even acquaintances of yable characters tend to be stronger than ordinary people. It was just that ve, a friend of a yable character, had no chance to show his true worth as the story quickly ascended him to the Adel rank. ¡°¡­More importantly, Hershel. Are you okay from the fox¡¯s scratch?¡± ve, with a worried expression, rushed over with a handkerchief in hand. ¡°Let me see your back for a sec¡­¡± As I showed him the tattered coat, ve opened his eyes wide in shock and wiped away non-existent blood. Then, seeing the still clean handkerchief, he wore a dumbfounded look. ¡°My goodness¡­ How can there be not a single scratch?¡± ¡°Now¡¯s not the time to be amazed. We need to find a way out first.¡± ve, looking up at the steep cliff, spoke with a hint of trouble. ¡°But what do we do? There¡¯s no rope¡­¡± The rope had, of course, vanished. ¡°Can¡¯t you do something with shape-shifting magic?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not particrly skilled in that area.¡± Was his innate talent in the elemental series? Then, we¡¯d have to consider other options. ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry, really.¡± ¡°What? You know how to use shape-shifting magic?¡± ¡°¡­I know a better way.¡± I picked up the w that the fox had dropped. With a thickness that fit nicely in the hand, and a tip as sharp as a needle, it might be possible to climb the wall by driving it in. ¡°You¡¯re not thinking of climbing the wall with that, are you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the n.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Will you hang on my back? Or would you rather stay here until I bring a rope?¡± At that moment, as ve fidgeted with his fingers in hesitation, the surroundings lit up brightly. The light gradually morphed into a long shape, and what waspleted was adder made of wood. ¡°¡­Come up, ve.¡± Looking up, there was a man with a ponytail holding a staff. ¡°Rix?¡± yable character, Rix Don Orian. He had created thedder with shape-shifting magic. ve gestured for me to go up first. ¡°Isn¡¯t itdies first at times like this?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤You don¡¯t understand a woman¡¯s heart.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Oh, nothing. It¡¯s nothing.¡± As I climbed up thedder, I saw the fallen Rendel gang. It seems Rix was watching ve from a distance by the looks of it. His cold gaze swept over me, then fixed on the Merrily roots filling my herb bag. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± His eyes grew meaningful. ve had just climbed up, and though he turned back with a sharp expression. ¡°ve, you shouldn¡¯t have followed me here.¡± Rix spoke sharply and began to move away. ve¡¯s shoulders slumped in defeat. I pulled out the worst-conditioned root from my herb bag and threw it. ¡°Catch.¡± Rix caught the root deftly and stared at me intently. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Why are you giving this to me?¡± ¡°Think of it as payment for thedder.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Unable to resist the temptation, he silently put the root in his herb bag. As Rix left, ve and I walked towards where the professor was. There was no conversation. Probably because of a timid nature that got hurt. ¡°Does what that guy said bother you?¡± ¡°A, a little¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± From noble mtl dote It was understandable. ve, an acquaintance, had followed Rix here, but what was the reason¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤? ¡°Ahem, following him. Did you enroll here because of that guy?¡± ¡°Well, he¡¯s a friend, and I wanted to attend the same academy.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like this was the only ce you got into, right?¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s not it. I was epted to another ce too.¡± ¡°Oh, the tuition is expensive at the other ce. Considering you still kept it in mind, your family must be quite well-off.¡± I began to understand. He has no friends. ¡°It¡¯s still too much. Aftering here, he changedpletely.¡± Except for the popr Rix from the days when he took care of everyone. ¡°Isn¡¯t that just your personality?¡± ¡°What, what?¡± ¡°There¡¯s something about you that¡¯s just infuriating.¡± Rix, who wasn¡¯t born into a particrly wealthy family, tried to enroll here for a bargain, and ve, born into a good family, must have followed on his own ord. Rix would have naturally opposed it, but ve would have been stubborn about it. And if I know Rix, the moment he learned about the environment here, he must have felt a sense of responsibility and thought he shouldn¡¯t indulge in any more childishness. If ve remains timid without any progress, he won¡¯t be able to adapt here. ¡°But you don¡¯t need to take his words to heart. He might seem cold on the outside, but he¡¯s probably here because he¡¯s worried about you.¡± He may put up a prickly front, but inside, he¡¯s quite deep and sensitive. That¡¯s the secret to his poprity. It¡¯s also why his friends followed him and enrolled here. ¡°And you know what? Aren¡¯t there others who followed him here besides you?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± I stopped walking and gave ve, who was sulking, someforting words. ¡°Out of all his friends, he cares enough about you toe and help. You should be grateful.¡± ve¡¯s eyes widened in emotion. ¡°¡­You, ¡®cares about you¡¯? Hershel, do you realize how harsh you¡¯re being?¡± ¡°Hmm, talking back to me so directly, you¡¯ve grown up a lot.¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t even seen each other for 40 minutes¡­¡± ¡°In those 40 minutes, you¡¯ve grown. Be proud of that.¡± As we chatted about this and that, we arrived in front of the professor. ¡°Hershel, Miss ve. You¡¯re the first ones to arrive?¡± ve blinked in surprise. ¡°What? Rix hasn¡¯te yet? I thought he would have arrived first¡­¡± ¡°Ah, if you¡¯re looking for Rix, he¡¯s not here yet.¡± ording to the professor, Rix asked his partner to wait a moment before he left to search for the root again. True to his loyal and steadfast nature, he¡¯s likely taking care of his partner¡¯s share as well. ¡°But, Hershel, you have quite a lot of roots in your bag. Could you possibly give them all to this professor?¡± The female professor asked with a smirk ying on her lips. I quickly hid the bag of medicinal roots behind me. ¡°You clearly stated that collecting just one root would suffice.¡± ¡°Oh, no. Then, perhaps just the best quality root from there¡­¡± ¡°Do you think I would give it to you?¡± I tly refused, prompting the professor to make a tempting offer. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be like that. Give me just one more. I¡¯ll make sure you get an A+ in the next ss too.¡± ¡°I suppose I have no choice. If you insist, Professor.¡± I red at ve. ¡°You know what I mean, right?¡± ¡°Miss ve, this is a secret from the other students.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t tell, I promise.¡± With that, I was left with ten roots. I whispered to the professor that I would set aside one root for amission and sell the remaining nine at wholesale prices. ¡°800 coins. It¡¯s a good deal, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°That is tempting, but don¡¯t you n to sell thest root as well?¡± ¡°Ah, that one has a different owner¡­¡± As I showed the professor themission paper from my pocket, his eyes widened in shock. ¡°Gasp, was it Professor Rockefeller¡¯s? Forget I heard anything.¡± It seems he wasn¡¯t confident enough to handle something belonging to the top-ranked professor. * * * The violin strings sang a sweet song under the friction of the bow. Rockefeller didn¡¯t stop there; he yed the keys of a small organ with psychokinesis while blowing into a bassoon. ¡®Ah, this is indeed the way to regainposure.¡¯ Feeling the stress from the principal¡¯s scolding disappear, Rockefeller yed the most crucial part of the piece with all his might. And there was another reason to be joyful besides this. The ve from Shulrape had taken on the task of gathering Merrily roots, known for their restorative properties. Soon, they might be ready to be consumed. ?- At that moment, when majestic music filled the professor¡¯s office, the abrupt opening of the door shattered the flow. Bang! ¡°How rude. Knocking is basic, isn¡¯t it¡­ Huh?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not responding to knocking, I figured I might as welle in. Is that alright?¡± Rockefeller scowled. He didn¡¯t like his sweet time being interrupted, but guessing the reason for the visit, he found it tolerable. ¡°Ah, yes. Hershel Ben Tenest. What brings you here?¡± ¡°I wanted to talk about the matter with the Knights Division.¡± A sardonic smile spread across Rockefeller¡¯s lips. ¡°Have youe to join the Knights Division now?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Even so, I didn¡¯t expect you to show such an unsightly state in just one day. I thought you¡¯dst at least three days or something.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°But what to do? There might not be any vacancies left, given the number of sessful candidates. The carriage has already departed.¡± Rockefeller continued speaking, feigning disinterest as he inspected his nails. ¡°Still, with my influence, creating a spot is quite an easy task. Initially, I considered the Adel Division for you, but that might be difficult. Yes, let¡¯s go with the Burger Division.¡± Hershel¡¯s eyes widened with apparent joy. ¡°Is that true? The Burger Division?¡± Rockefeller curled his lips into a smirk, fixing his gaze downward. What he was looking at was the shoe he had extended in front of him. ¡°In exchange, you¡¯ll have to show some sincerity, won¡¯t you? Start by bowing that arrogant head of yours and licking the shoe.¡± The ves of the Shulrape Division would bow their heads, even if it was more humiliating than any punishment, for such an opportunity. Hershel, still retaining some pride, did not budge. ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Why? Can¡¯t do it? If you don¡¯t want to, you don¡¯t have to. Just remember, this is yourst chance.¡± By now, one would expect a surrender. As expected, Hershel slightly bowed his head, and Rockefeller¡¯s smile turned triumphant. But then, catching sight of the defiant blue eyes, the smile abruptly faded. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the Knight¡¯s Department, you¡¯ve been making strange remarks since earlier. I¡¯m not asking to transfer, I¡¯m asking why you¡¯re so obsessed. But looking at your condition, Professor, a normal conversation seems impossible.¡± ¡°What, what?¡± ¡°Ah, of course, the answer remains the same. I¡¯m not joining the Knight¡¯s Department. By the way, you don¡¯t look so well, Professor. You should take this.¡± He had slightly bowed his head to pull out a piece of paper. A paper with his familiar handwriting on it. ¡°Why are you so surprised? Meryli root. You must have requested it, Professor.¡± Hersel pushed forward the thick Meryli root. Rockefeller swallowed his saliva but scowled arrogantly. ¡°You, you dare¡­ Dare to toy with me!!¡± ¡°Ah, if you don¡¯t want to pay, just say so. Why the strange talk again? I can only indulge you so many times. Stop wasting my time. I¡¯m busy as it is.¡± Hersel put the root back into his bag. Rockefeller felt a vein burst in his forehead as he threw a pouch containing 100 coins at Hersel. ¡°Just take it and get lost!¡± ¡°Thank you, Professor.¡± He¡¯ll probably get an earful from the principal again. Better to replenish his energy than deal with that. Rockefeller roughly tore into the root after Hersel had left. ¡®How did that damned guy get something even third-years can¡¯t find easily¡­¡¯ Always contrary to his wishes, just an annoying brat that keeps rubbing people the wrong way. He chewed the root furiously, filled with anger. As his depleted energy surged back, Rockefeller stroked his face. ¡°¡­Indeed. I mustmend you for your talent in turning people inside out, Hersel Ben Tenest.¡± Rockefeller, with weary eyes, picked up a bead from the desk. ¡°Hamendal, were you the duty professor tonight? At 3 AM, release the outer barrier.¡± ¡°Ro, Rockefeller Professor. You want me to release the barrier?¡± ¡°It¡¯s training close to realbat. Don¡¯t give the Scfey Ward guys any hints.¡± ¡°No, but¡­ The freshmen have only been here for a day. Are you serious?¡± Rockefeller smiled deeply enough to dimple his cheeks. ¡°Yes, quite. This time we have that talented student who seems to live so splendidly.¡± Dawn at 3 AM. The invasion of the monsters was scheduled to ur. Chapter 52 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 52 52. The Magic Department Students (3) The number of coins gathered in just one day after entering the Schlepe Manor. 1,150. Of which, approximately 800 were spent. ¡°Young master, this way.¡± In the first-floor lobby, Selly waved her hand, having stacked the items she had ordered behind her. ¡°Did you buy everything as instructed?¡± Since Frost Heart operated on a free economy, it wasn¡¯t too difficult to purchase all sorts of items from the well-established market. ¡°Of course. But why do you need a longsword if you¡¯ve joined the Magic Department?¡± ¡°¡­I just thought it might be necessary.¡± After all, a wand couldn¡¯t pierce through the hide of a monster. Swoosh¡ª As the sword was drawn from its sheath, the de gleamed. Despite some rust on the cross-guard, it seemed like a fine piece. ¡°But about these potions¡­ I bought them from the Alchemy Department as you asked, but I¡¯m not sure if I got the right ones since I don¡¯t know much about them.¡± ¡°Did you show them the order?¡± ¡°I did. It was hard to pronounce.¡± Selly checked the sack she had brought. The potions were correct, and the count was exact. ¡°Hmm, they didn¡¯t try to cheat you, I see.¡± ¡°What exactly are these for?¡± At Schlepe Manor, mock drills akin to the military¡¯s five-minute standby for monster invasions were conducted. There¡¯s no need to worry for now, as the new semester has just started, but one can never be too sure. Especially since that guy had a history of tampering with the third exam¡­ ¡°Well, consider it an early preparation. But wasn¡¯t there something else you were supposed to get?¡± Selly¡¯s face soured as she unwrapped something encased in paper. A fishy smell wafted from the squishy object. ¡°¡­I¡¯ve removed each bone by hand. But why do you need this? If you wanted fish, you could have just gone to a restaurant.¡± ¡°Cooking is all about the care you put into it.¡± Selly sniffed her hands and grumbled. ¡°Ugh, this fishy smell. Even scrubbing with soap doesn¡¯t get rid of it¡­¡± Soap? She couldn¡¯t possibly have coins, did she get it for free? Suddenly, I became curious about the lives of the servants here. Selly¡¯s expression looked unexpectedly content. ¡°Do they give you soap?¡± ¡°Huh? Oh, yes¡­ Well, they take care of us quite well.¡± Everything here has to be bought with money. ¡°What about food?¡± ¡°Of course. The meals are quite good. I was worried at first, but there¡¯s a bed and the room is warm. People are kind too.¡± That¡¯s somewhat surprising. I thought the servants were treated poorly, no different than the rest. Here, the nobles are surrounded by humans starving from cold and hunger¡­ ¡°¡­You¡¯re living better than some nobles.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Nothing, it¡¯s nothing. Go rest now.¡± After sending Selly off, I gathered my things. Then I took out the mirror with today¡¯s rules written on it. [Do not use the stairs at the end of the right corridor, only use the left corridor. If you happen to hear otherwise, climbing the stairs will only repeat the same floor. Do not panic, stay calm and wait there. Someone wille to rescue you tomorrow morning.] ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡­I guess I shouldn¡¯t use the right corridor today. * * * After arriving at Room 303 in Building 3, I unpacked and finished showering. I wonder if the knight¡¯s ss will take much longer. The showers and the corridors were eerily quiet. Back in my room, I ced the fish Selly had prepared on a te and set it by the door. Then, lying on the bed, I recalled the events of today¡¯s ss. ¡°¡­¡± The first day¡¯s ss was only in pharmacology. The professor intended to test the new students with a herb gathering task thatsted a whopping 5 hours. Only ve and I received an A+. Rix shared the roots with his partner and submitted them for an A, while the rest all received Bs. From the start, it was an excessive assignment for the freshmen, so it seems the grades were generously given. Yet, it still caused dissatisfaction among the peers. -¡°It must be hard to wait, but please deliver this to Professor Rockefeller immediately, Hersel.¡± During ss, I had visited Rockefeller and on my way back, I overheard the magic department guys gossiping about the professor from afar. -¡°Did he favor you because of the Tenest family?¡± -¡°Exactly, others have been searching for hours and found nothing; it¡¯s too suspicious.¡± It was obvious that the Lethe guys, smirking from a distance, had stirred up the mood. This left the professor in an awkward position. -¡°Didn¡¯t Rix find one too?¡± -¡°Rix said Hersel gave it to him, right?¡± -¡°Why only him? Did the professor give you a hint or something?¡± Rix¡¯s expression was tinged with confusion. It was as if he was ming himself for a mistake. But knowing him, he couldn¡¯t acknowledge his own merit and had to reveal the source proudly. -¡°Right, ve.¡± And naturally, the me shifted to ve, my easygoing partner. -¡°Tell us the truth. You were with him, weren¡¯t you?¡± -¡°No, that¡¯s not¡­ ¡° -¡°Why are you hesitating? Just spit it out.¡± -¡°Oh, so you¡¯re in on it too? Aren¡¯t you?¡± At that point, unable to watch any longer, Rix intervened. -¡°Even if there are bad rumors about Hersel, stop with the baseless spections. It¡¯s possible he found it by chance. There¡¯s no harm in bringing evidenceter.¡± Of course, the Lethe guys had been snickering within their group. -¡°Didn¡¯t he get a root from that guy too?¡± -¡°Isn¡¯t it suspicious? With the mood like this, he¡¯s busy defending him alone.¡± But thanks to Rix¡¯s poprity, their words didn¡¯t have any effect. -¡°Rix isn¡¯t that kind of person.¡± -Yeah, I¡¯ve known this guy since we were kids, so I know him well. You guys really misjudged him. -Some of you know him, right? You, when your hands were freezing, didn¡¯t he lend you his gloves? And when he fell over halfway, he even carried you here. When public opinion sided with Rix, it seemed like the situation was resolved. But the doubts didn¡¯t stop, and ve and I continued to be the topic of conversation. Back then, I approached those guys and said this. -If you¡¯re going to chew someone out, don¡¯t do it behind their back where you look pathetic. Why not do it boldly in front of me? When I actually confronted them, they were sweating bullets and busy avoiding eye contact. From noble mtl dote I mocked them, as if they were pitiful. -Keep going if you want. After all, most of the guys here will be stuck in the Schlepp coffin for the next three years. That¡¯s probably the only joy you¡¯ll have, right? Gnashing your teeth and soothing your jealousy behind someone¡¯s back. The guys looked at me fiercely as if they had lost their minds. Regardless, I finished with a spiteful smile. -I have a conscience too, you know. I¡¯d feel too sorry to take that away from you. Go ahead, chew all you want. Otherwise, you might go crazy. -Huh, Hursel¡­ -Don¡¯t pretend to know, ve. You¡¯ve been acting like baggage the whole time we¡¯ve been together, and it¡¯s the same this time. Surprisingly, the timid ve wasn¡¯t downhearted. He just looked on with a nk expression, together with Rix. That¡¯s what happened in today¡¯s ss. ¡®Hursel.¡¯ ¡®What.¡¯ ¡®Have you started to find pleasure in making enemies?¡¯ ¡®Is there such a pleasure?¡¯ ¡®¡­Even if you do a good deed, don¡¯t expect others to recognize it.¡¯ At Donatan¡¯s words, I couldn¡¯t help butugh. He must think he¡¯s simply provoked the students and then ousted ve to turn their anger towards me, but in reality, it was a calcted move. ¡°If I, who loves to show off, did a good deed, there¡¯s always a reason for it.¡± I¡¯m the guy who¡¯s always been cursed since being possessed. Now, I¡¯m indifferent to others¡¯ criticism. To receive the necessary rewards in exchange for just a bit of scolding, how could I refuse that? [Rix Don Orian] ¡ñBlessing ¡ôThe Devoted Sage¡¯s Blessing¡ô ¦Ð Knowledge belongs to no one. It is everyone¡¯s. The more favor a possessor bestows, the more potent the magic bes. When vanquishing demons, it slightly increases the mana of those favored. ¡ñTraits ¡óMana Recovery¡ó ¡óGentle Charisma¡ó ¡®The Devoted Sage¡¯s Blessing¡¯ was indeed the boon I needed most. Even a slight increase in mana was permanent, so if I could enjoy the benefits, I would be able to cast more spells than now. I had onlyid the groundwork with Rix for this purpose. * * * Having just finished showering, my hair was still not dry. Rix, with the string he usually used to tie his ponytail now wrapped around his wrist, descended to the first-floor lobby. There, ve was seated on a long bench. ¡°Rix. Here, over here.¡± ¡°I kept you waiting.¡± ¡°No, I just got here too. But more importantly, did you want to ask me something?¡± Rix nodded and inquired in detail about how ve hade to acquire the Merilly root. Then he heard some decidedly suspicious details. ¡°You had the rope ready from the start?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± That meant he must have known about the cave beneath the cliff beforehand. ¡°But you never got any hints from the professor, right? At that time, Hershel and the others, what should I call them? They were picking fights over every little thing, so there was no time for that.¡± If not from the professor, then there was a possibility he had gotten the information elsewhere. Suddenly, Rix felt foolish about what he was doing. The very notion of considering this as cheating wasughable in the first ce. After all, weren¡¯t the freshmen who had entered here full of those who had sought advice from their seniors? ¡®Someone even paid up to 5 coins for information on the subject of pharmacology. It turned out to be a scam, though¡­¡¯ Looking at it, it was as if the majority had cheated. And the professor seemed to know about it but chose to ignore it. When someone asked the senior for help, the professor listening from afar simply walked past. ¡°Sorry for wasting your time, ve.¡± ¡°Wait, just a moment.¡± ¡°Something else you want to say?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just¡­ Everyone talks badly about Hershel. But from what I see, he¡¯s not as bad as the rumors. He¡¯s helped out in dangerous situations too.¡± Rix blinked. It was rare for ve, who was always on the outskirts of the group due to his timid nature, to assert himself. ¡°And the harsh words in front of the others, that was to protect me from harm.¡± ¡°It seemed that way at a nce. But that guy¡­¡± The rumors about him were all acts of malice that Rix couldn¡¯tprehend. Which only made him more suspicious. Perhaps the kindness ve saw was nothing more than a facade to win favor¡­ ¡°Maybe that¡¯s his tactic, so be careful, ve. He has a bad reputation with women.¡± Rix couldn¡¯t trust that man at all. * * * It was a night deep in slumber. The sound of horns and bells rang noisily in my ears. As soon as I opened my eyes, these words burst forth. ¡°Can this be real?¡± Just two days after the new students arrived, and there¡¯s already a monster defense battle? It was obviously Rockefeller¡¯s retaliation. He had the authority to initiate it, and I had provoked him enough yesterday. But still, to think he¡¯d make untrained freshmen do something like this was unimaginable. ¡°¡­This despicable person must have a heart too small to even hold a needle.¡± Burning with hatred towards him, I moved quickly. While strapping on the backpack full of items I had bought for Selly, I caught sight of a ck cat eating a fish by the door. Our eyes met, and just like that, it vanished into smoke¡­ ¡®Was the fish prepared for that creature?¡¯ ¡®Well, there¡¯s a superstition that befriending them brings good luck.¡¯ But that wasn¡¯t important right now, so I kicked open the door and rushed out. In the hallway, Ashleigh yawned with her mouth wide open, while Limberton looked on with an anxious expression. Just then, the urgent sound of footsteps and voices burst from the stairs, making a racket. ¡°Are you crazy? Weren¡¯t we supposed to be worry-free for a while?¡± ¡°Ah, that lunatic Rockefeller. How long have the freshmen been here, and he¡¯s already starting with the training!¡± ¡°Hey, wait a minute. What was today¡¯s rule again?¡± From their conversation, they were unmistakably sophomores or juniors. ¡°Ugh, is it like a war has broken out or what!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t panic, Limberton. You¡¯ll get used to it soon enough.¡± ¡°What in the world is going on?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Just then, Rockefeller¡¯s voice echoed throughout the dormitory. ¨C The swarm of monsters has invaded. Students of Scfe Hall, arm yourselves immediately. The current situation is both a drill and actualbat. Frost Heart is known forunching such events without notice. The official reason might be to develop skills to counter monster attacks in the heart of the magic realm, but this time, it was nothing more than petty revenge. ¨C The type of monster is the Ice Bull. The number is 300. Good luck. As the announcement ended, Limberton let out a sigh of relief. ¡°What, it was just training?¡± ¡°It¡¯s training that¡¯s as good as realbat. Just like the third exam. It means we could actually die.¡± ¡°Of course, that figures. I don¡¯t even have the energy to be surprised anymore. But, Hershel, seeing how you¡¯ve packed your bag, you must have prepared something proper for this time too?¡± Limberton squinted his eyes and raised an eyebrow. At that, I couldn¡¯t help but give a wry smile. ¡°It seems you¡¯ve gotten used to it already.¡± The current situation wasn¡¯t too bad for me. The invasion was originally scheduled for two weekster, but perhaps because the time difference wasn¡¯t that significant. The monsters were the same. And, of course, I had already prepared a response. ¡°Then, shall we go make another score?¡± To double the 800 coins I¡¯ve invested. Chapter 53 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 53 53. Comrades of the Magic Department (4) It¡¯s good to be prepared, but it¡¯s a pity it had to be so soon. If possible, I wanted to participate in the defense battle while enjoying the benefits of Rix¡¯s blessing, ¡®The Sage¡¯s Devotion¡¯. It was a perfect opportunity to permanently increase my mana, yet at this point, our rtionship was nothing more than groundworkid. Without having built a rapport, all I could do was look forward to the next chance¡­ ¡°Before we start, let¡¯s check your gear.¡± Ashley¡¯s only equipment was arge shield strapped to his back. It wasn¡¯t likely bought with money. If you¡¯re from the Knight¡¯s Division, you¡¯d have a sword or armor, and from the Magic Division, a staff or a few tools on loan. ¡°Ashley¡¯s checked.¡± And Limberton was in light armor with a broadsword. The peculiarity was the bow on his back, which was smaller than usual. ¡°Does the Knight¡¯s Division have such small bows?¡± When I asked, Limberton spread three fingers and boasted an arrow that looked slightlyrger than a crossbow bolt. ¡°I bought it for 30 coins, how is it?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you going to stick with swords?¡± ¡°It¡¯s good to have something familiar in hand.¡± ¡°Well done.¡± Ashley seemed to want to boast as well, pulling out a thick book. Then he pointed at me and spoke in a clumsy ent. ¡°The one who gives money. Boss.¡± The book was an Imperialnguage dictionary. ¡°Boss.¡± I felt a slight twinge at the tip of my nose. Proud of them. I thought they would waste their coins, but they invested in themselves¡­ ¡°Yes, call me boss, Ashley.¡± As the bell rang longer, the hallway became busier. I led Ashley and Limberton through the chaos of ssmates and headed to the first-floor lobby. Walking down the stairs, I heard the foolish chatter of seniors from the floor where the second-year students stayed. ¡°Hey, where are you going? Going to die with those chicks?¡± A man in pajamas with a pillow asked, and the man in armor blinked. ¡°Huh? Why are you dressed like that?¡± ¡°Ugh, you durd. Didn¡¯t you read today¡¯s rules?¡± A man in pajamas thrust a rule mirror at him. The armed man just grinned foolishly. ¡°Wow¡­ Even these crappy rules can sometimes be helpful, huh?¡± Today¡¯s rules were as follows: [Do not use the stairs at the end of the right corridor, and only use the left corridor. If you happen to hear this wrong and go up the stairs, you will find yourself on the same floor repeated. Do not panic, stay calm and wait there. Someone wille to rescue you tomorrow morning.] Pathetic fools. They¡¯re willing to step into a ce where strange phenomena ur just to skip out on duties. ¡°¡­What, what¡¯s with the seniors? They shouldn¡¯t be entering the left staircase today.¡± ¡°They know, but they¡¯re doing it anyway. They¡¯re nning to pretend they got stuck until someonees to rescue them in the morning.¡± As usual, they¡¯re experts at sucking the honey. ¡°That¡¯s why I don¡¯t treat them like people.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always felt it, but you talk like someone who¡¯s graduated from here?¡± ¡°Ahem, that¡¯s because I have a good sense and noticed it. You can tell with those guys. Just by looking.¡± If he wanted, he could interfere and prevent such tricks. He had the necessary item in his backpack. [Anti-Demon Potion] It restores phenomena caused by magic to their original state. But it seemed a waste to use it on such scoundrels, so he went on his way. The lobby on the first floor was a mess five minutes ago. A woman in pajamas with armor thrown over, a man properly armored but with an empty scabbard, and people who hadn¡¯t prepared anything at all. Half of them were cowering in fear, and the rest seemed oblivious to the situation, yawning with dull faces. They all looked like faces he had seen somewhere before. ¡°Hershel, they all look like freshmen?¡± ¡°¡­You noticed too?¡± ¡°I memorized the girls¡¯ faces a long time ago.¡± ¡°¡­¡­..¡± Ignoring Limberton¡¯s nonsense, he counted the number of people. Roughly a total of 250. With about 170 freshmen at Schule, thebined number of sophomores and juniors was barely 80. It was fewer than expected, an rmingly low number. For an Ice Bison, it¡¯s 50 coins each, and for taking down a warlord¡¯s leader, which effectively ends the situation, the bounty is a whopping 1,000 coins. Still, the low participation rate among the upperssmen was probably because they didn¡¯t want to deal with the newbies¡­ While gazing nkly at the freshmen, the dormitory supervisor cleared his throat. ¡°Ahem, attention.¡± His face was marked with embarrassment. Despite his experience, it was a situation without precedent, and he was understandably flustered. ¡°Let me ask just in case. Have any of the freshmenpleted their defense training?¡± As many shook their heads, the supervisor sighed deeply. The sophomores and juniors looked on with expressions of sheer horror. ¡°To put it simply, it¡¯s training to defend against monster invasions. You just need to prevent them from entering the fortress outskirts, and you¡¯ll be rewarded for any monsters you subdue. For an Ice Bison, since it has two horns, you¡¯ll receive 25 coins per horn. So¡­¡± With a look of guilt, the supervisor pleaded with the upperssmen. ¡°Please, I implore the seniors of Schule to generously guide these juniors who are still unaware.¡± The seniors¡¯ response was fervent. ¡°Are you joking, sir? Teach them in the midst of battle, with these numbers?¡± ¡°Call Rockefeller out right now! This is all his doing!!¡± Ashamed of his own pathetic pleas, the supervisor closed his eyes tightly. Poor man. He was just there to pass on additional notices¡­ ¡°Hmm.¡± Regardless, I watched the scene unfold with detached amusement. After all, my target was only the warlord¡¯s leader. I never considered the sophomores and juniors as part of my force, nor did I need them. One advantage of fighting the warlord was that once the leader was taken down, the remaining forces would scatter in disarray. And I had a way to get to the leader at the heart of the force. ¡°No, I won¡¯t do it. I thought I¡¯d make some money for once, but what is this.¡± ¡°I¡¯m out too. Trust my life to them? Am I insane? I don¡¯t want to do it just for some coins.¡± As the pitiful supervisor remained silent, the few sophomores and juniors began to leave one by one. Ignoring them, I spread a piece of paper on the ground. ¡°Ashley, Limberton. Pay attention to what I¡¯m about to exin.¡± As they bowed their heads, I began to sketch out the nned boss raid strategy with a pen. In the midst of this, I saw a man hurrying towards the seniors and stopped my hand. It was Rix. * * * The Orian family is known among the residents for their kindness. Their famees from the time of poor harvests when they shared food with the residents until their granary was empty. They did the same during major civil engineering projects for public facilities like clock towers and cathedrals. Construction projects that everyone discouraged as impossible. Though it cost a fortune, whenpleted, everyone hailed it as a miracle. It was the belief of the head of the Orian family to do his best to improve the residents¡¯ quality of life, and he always created miracles this way. Although they couldn¡¯t live in abundance, Rix¡¯s heart was always full, having grown up watching such a father. The residents, in turn, would voluntarily donate and eagerly participate in construction, and the sense of unity they felt when the clock tower waspleted remains to this day. ¡°I should go to the stairs and get some sleep.¡± ¡°I saw earlier, they were swarming like bees, not sure if there¡¯s any space left?¡± As the seniors walked towards the left staircase, Rix quickly approached and blocked their path. ¡°Please wait a moment, seniors.¡± The seniors frowned at Rix¡¯s sudden action. ¡°Never seen you before, are you a freshman?¡± From noble mtl dote ¡°Yes, I am Rix Don Orian. Please, I beg of you, help us. We freshmen know nothing. But we¡¯re well aware that without the seniors¡¯ help, we¡¯re in big trouble. Please guide us.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± As he bowed deeply, some looked on with pity and gently chided. ¡°Well, we understand your predicament¡­ But honestly, it¡¯s unreasonable. To expect us to sync up with you who haven¡¯t even trained.¡± ¡°I was nning to earn a good sum this opportunity too. But it¡¯s unfortunate with so many missing. It¡¯s regrettable.¡± A senior patted Rix¡¯s shoulder and tried to move past. ¡°¡­Still. If we all work together, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s impossible. I hesitate to say this, but I¡¯m confident in magic. I won¡¯t hold you back. And there are capable friends too-¡° ¡°Capable?¡± At that moment, the senior cut off Rix¡¯s words. Rix flinched at the suddenly cold gaze of theirs. ¡®What? Why has the mood suddenly¡­¡¯ ¡°Sure, that would be great. If you¡¯re talented enough, you might even make it to the Burger Crown.¡± ¡°Is he bragging right now?¡± ¡°Ah, there¡¯s always one every year. Those who make it obvious they¡¯re just passing through.¡± The seniors shoved Rix¡¯s shoulder as they passed by. ¡°Move.¡± ¡°Take care of it with your friends.¡± Rix let his shoulders droop as he watched them leave. But with the arrival of his friends, he had no choice but to lift his head as if nothing had happened. ¡°Rix, why did you follow the seniors? We were worried when you suddenly ran off.¡± ¡°I just tried to persuade them. As you can see, it didn¡¯t go well¡­¡± ve said hesitantly, with a look of concern. ¡°¡­The atmosphere seemed tense earlier, you didn¡¯t get into any trouble, did you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, ve. Can you wait for me in the lobby? I think I need to try persuading them again.¡± As he followed the seniors, ve¡¯s voice, tight with worry, reached him. ¡°Rix!¡± All eyes among the friends turned to her at once. It was a move that, to her, seemed quite courageous. ¡°What if it doesn¡¯t go well? Maybe you should ask for Hassel¡¯s help?¡± ¡°¡­If it¡¯s that story again, I don¡¯t have time to listen, ve.¡± ¡°But, but, you looked really strong then.¡± What she meant was the same old story about how he came out unscathed from the giant fox¡¯s attack. When she brought up the unbelievable and absurd tale of how the fox¡¯s ws nearly fell out, the friends sighed deeply. ¡°I¡¯ll go check.¡± Rix averted his gaze from ve. The friends chided her. ¡°That story again? We know you want attention, but let¡¯s keep it moderate.¡± ¡°Right, someone like him couldn¡¯t possiblyest in the third trial, ve.¡± Rix nced at the disheartened ve with a look of pity. ¡®He wasn¡¯t one to lie¡­¡¯ Upon reaching the left staircase, he found the seniors crowded together. It was indeed curious to see someone attempting to enter against today¡¯s rules, but Rix faintly realized what was happening. ¡®Could it be, they¡¯re nning to hold out there until the rescueres in the morning?¡¯ At that moment, the left staircase, which had seemed empty, began to swirl like a whirlpool mixed with various paints. Secondster, a dense crowd too packed to even step on the stairs revealed themselves behind a translucent curtain. It seemed like the seniors who had secured their spots were already there. ¡°Ah, there¡¯s no room.¡± ¡°Thest one toe in should leave. We¡¯re over capacity.¡± ¡°The Staircase Spirit is full.¡± Comints went back and forth among those who couldn¡¯t get in. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m going crazy¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s all because of that horsehair-head brat that we¡¯rete.¡± ¡°Huh? Wait. Did he follow us all the way here?¡± A senior with a scowling face approached Rix and grabbed him by the cor. ¡°You little rascal, how are you going to take responsibility for this!¡± ¡°I beg you again, seniors. Please, guide us.¡± ¡°What?¡± The seniors inside the staircase and those right in front of him sneered. Yet, Rix believed they would surely help and pleaded with everyone. ¡°I implore the seniors inside as well. Please participate in the defense.¡± ¡°Wow, has this guy lost his mind?¡± The senior holding the cor gritted his teeth and raised his hand as if to strike. Just as his palm was about to trace its path, a deep voice resonated clearly. ¡°Wow, what a bunch of trash.¡± Blond skull with long legs. It was Hershel. ¡°Ashley, they say those are trash. Try saying it. Trash.¡± Behind him stood a bulky barbarian and a short man. ¡°Trash.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t provoke the seniors¡­ Ashley, you too.¡± The senior who had been holding the cor seemed to recognize them, released his grip, and stepped back. And then, with a bewildered expression, he broke out in a cold sweat. ¡°You, you are¡­¡± The others had simr reactions. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the guy? The one who was peddling the request forms.¡± ¡°Yeah. I clearly remember the faces of those three. It¡¯s definitely them.¡± The senior who had grabbed him by the cor asked Hershel. ¡°What brings you here, you rascal?¡± Hershel, with a sharply pointed smile, fumbled in his backpack and pulled something out. ¡°I¡¯m here to rescue the seniors.¡± As the ss bottle he held sparkled, the seniors hiding on the stairs cried out in horror. ¡°Gasp! The potion of counter-charm.¡± ¡°Wait, just calm down for a moment. First, put that down, junior.¡± What was it about that potion that elicited such reactions? Just when I was wondering, Hershel called out a name. ¡°Rix. In this world, there are fools who can¡¯t understand unless you speak harshly.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°For such fools, a whip is the perfect answer. Like this.¡± He threw the uncapped potion down the stairs. Soon after, a sound akin to a whale¡¯s wail echoed through the dormitory. ooohhh©¤©¤ And then, the translucent barrier between the stairs and the corridor vanished without a trace. As the seniors on the stairs turned pale, Hershel disyed a lofty aura. ¡°Unless it¡¯s an ident, you know it¡¯s mandatory participation, right? If you don¡¯t want to fall behind the professors, gather in the lobby quickly.¡± The seniors moved hastily, grinding their teeth. Along the way, there were plenty of curses like ¡°Let¡¯s see about that,¡± or ¡°That crazy b*stard.¡± When the stairs were finally empty, Hershel turned his back. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Rix, without realizing it, called out to him urgently. ¡°I have something to ask you.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Do you think my way is wrong¡­?¡± As I hung my head, Hershel instead asked me. ¡°Let me ask you first. Is this your first time seeing such types of people?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Indeed. Coming from a prestigious family, you must have only met those who are kind to you. With no rough edges to your character, only those with good morals would flock to you. This must be your first time dealing with such hopeless cases, right?¡± Rix felt as if his heart was being carved out under Hershel¡¯s gaze, which seemed to read people like an open book. It was as if Hershel had known him from the start, his words not missing the mark at all. ¡°¡­I can¡¯t deny it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. The ones at fault are those people.¡± Rix lifted his head. Hershel continued with a serene smile. ¡°You did what you could, and I did what I could. Maybe next time, your way will be the right answer.¡± With those words, Rix felt as if his narrow-mindedness was broadening. And he realized that his judgment of this man had been prejudiced. Ironically, he had clearly seen how Hershel hurt others for their sake. He was prepared to be hated for it. In a way, it was akin to a sacrifice. Perhaps the bad rumors about him stemmed from this very aspect. ¡®¡­Wasn¡¯t the way he cared for ve genuine, not an act?¡¯ Remembering the events that urred during the ve incident, Rix was certain his guess was not wrong. ¡®I might understand a bit now. A man who doesn¡¯t shy away from hatred for the sake of others¡­¡¯ With that thought, Rix found himself wanting to take Hershel¡¯s side when someone spoke ill of him. ¡°Come along, Rix. If we don¡¯t hurry, the walls will crumble.¡± ¡°Right. Oh, and I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t greet you properly when we first met. I also didn¡¯t get to thank you for the root. Thanks to you, I got an A.¡± With a sense of human curiosity, Rix followed Hershel to the lobby. * * * The vibration from the ground. On the ins, herds of white cattle were rushing in. At the forefront, a senior girl in full armor drew her sword, finding its bnce. She had introduced herself earlier as the representative of the Scfe Guild. ¡°The Shield Squad will block at the front. When the Ice Beasts stick to the shields, the swordsmen will stab wildly through the gaps. The mages prepare their spells from behind. Oh, and first-year Shield Squad members. I don¡¯t expect much from you, so just hold your shields properly if you don¡¯t want to die. Got it?¡± One of Rix¡¯s friends holding a shield at the front shouted a loud ¡®Yes!¡¯ ¡°Remember this. All we can do under these conditions is defend. If we keep taking out the front-runners, they¡¯ll think it¡¯s futile and retreat, right? So let¡¯s muster our strength.¡± Rix gripped her staff tightly, absorbing each of her words deeply. ¡°Ah, even if they retreat, don¡¯t think about chasing them. An Ice Beast requires three people to take down. Those that stick close and move are hard to catch. There¡¯s no opening to attack. So, I¡¯d rather you not risk your lives for coins.¡± In the midst of this, a senior girl¡¯s eyes widened. She had spotted three people wandering around the outskirts of the long, unbroken formation. ¡°You, what are you doing? Are you crazy? Why aren¡¯t you joining the formation?¡± It was Hershel and hispanions. Unfazed by the senior girl¡¯s shouting, Hershel calmly ignored her and spoke his mind. ¡°I¡¯m going to hunt the boss now. Anyone want toe? It¡¯s a chance to earn some coins.¡± ¡°The boss? You, a freshman?¡± Naturally, no one stepped forward. ¡°Well, if you don¡¯t like it, never mind.¡± ¡°Hey! Are you insane? Can¡¯t you hear me?¡± ¡°Then, good luck to you.¡± ¡°Hey!!¡± He ignored the senior girl to the end and went his own way. Then ve quietly suggested. ¡°A chance to earn coins, huh? Wouldn¡¯t it be good to follow?¡± The friends¡¯ reactions were negative. ¡°Hey, you again¡­¡± ¡°I hate to say this, but please, just shut up.¡± ¡°¡­Sorry.¡± Rix chuckled at ve¡¯s suggestion. ¡°I think it¡¯s a good offer, you know? Feels like we could really rake in some coins.¡± ¡°What? Rix, are you serious?¡± ¡°It¡¯d be nice to earn, but trust Hershel? That¡¯s a bit much.¡± In front of his worried friends, Rix moved his feet. ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, never mind. Then let¡¯s go together, ve.¡± ¡°Huh? Yes!¡± Following that, friends also began to follow, emitting an air of awkwardness. ¡°Ah, let¡¯s go together!¡± ¡°That guy, really! Hey, Rix. I¡¯m going to follow too!¡± The senior girl shook her head sideways as she watched the procession of additional deserters. ¡°¡­There sure are a lot of crazy kids among the freshmen this year.¡± * * * A smile spread across the system window that appeared on the retina. [You are under the influence of a blessing.] [The protection of a devoted sage.] [An additional effect is activated.] [When those who harbor goodwill defeat monsters together, the amount of mana slightly increases.] At best, enough mana to cast magic only twice. How much will it increase this time! ¡°Hershel, but does this method really work?¡± As a herd of ice bulls the size of oxen advanced, Limberton asked with a voice mixed with concern. I answered by throwing a ss bottle I took out of my pocket towards the herd. ¡°Limberton, whether it works or not, you¡¯ll know once you hit that with an arrow.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Wait a moment.¡± Limberton aimed at the falling ss bottle with his bow, drawing a parab. Theunched arrow shattered the ss bottle. Red powder scattered and fell widely. As the powder settled on the bodies of the ice bulls, the sound of horns shing erupted. Click, click, click! The herd that got hit with the powder began fighting amongst themselves. With this, the formation of the herd that was surging like a wave partially copsed. Limberton¡¯s eyes shone as he saw the new ss bottle I took out. ¡°Wow, what exactly is that powder?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a drug that makes monsters fight each other.¡± [The Powder of Madness] The monsters that are inhaled be extremely aggressive. However, it doesn¡¯t work on some monsters. ¡°I¡¯ll throw everything I have, Limberton. You keep hitting the mark.¡± ¡°Uh, uh¡­¡± While Limberton was busily pulling back his bowstring, I patted Ashley¡¯s back. ¡°Ashley, get ready.¡± Ashley gripped his shield tightly and began to advance. ¡°Limberton, you just need to hit the eyeballs of those charging at the shield while advancing. Confident?¡± ¡°Advance like this? Wait, just a moment. What if we¡¯re attacked from behind?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. The ice bulls don¡¯t care about the enemies they¡¯ve passed.¡± Of course, there are exceptions. That exception came upon us about 100 meters into our advance. One ice bull, its eyes bloodshot red, snorted steam in my direction. It seemed to be intoxicated with powder medicine. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Just then, Ashley was busy blocking the herd with his shield, and Limberton was preupied with shooting his bow only forward. While I was watching them, the drugged ice bull charged at me. I extended my arm towards such a creature. After all, these guys only charge straight, which is quite convenient. Boom! [A physical attack has been detected.] [A trait has been activated.] [1-second invincibility cooldown: 59 seconds] As if it had rammed its head into a firmly fixed spike, the ice bull was instantly killed by my index finger. I decided to collect the hornster and as I lifted my head, a gasp of ¡®Huh!¡¯ burst out from afar. ¡°See, I was right, Rix.¡± ¡°Sorry for doubting you, ve¡­¡± ¡°One finger took it down?¡± ¡°ve¡¯s words were true. Unbelievable.¡± They were Rix¡¯spanions. From noble mtl dote ¡¤¡¤¡¤So there were actually some who followed when told to. Chapter 54 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 54 54. The Magic Department Students (5) The ground was a white expanse of snow being wildly disturbed. Rockefeller, wand in hand, looked down upon this scene from atop the wall. The ice bulls, with horns sparkling like crystals, charged like waves. The students of Schulepfe Tower prepared their defense with the wall at their backs. ¡°Hmm.¡± The postures of the second and third years were skilled. The first years were clumsy as expected, but not bad considering they hadn¡¯t even been trained. ¡®After doing it, I felt this might have been a mistake¡­¡¯ With this, even if a conquest is too much, we should be able to defend without significant harm. If we kill about forty of the leaders, the ice bulls will probably retreat. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤It doesn¡¯t seem like help will be needed.¡± The dawn air was cold. Rockefeller moved towards the warmth of a hearth-lit haven. Then, a woman¡¯s shrill scream made him turn back. ¡°You, what are you doing? Are you mad? Join the formation right now!¡± Atra, the representative of Schulepfe Tower, a third-year knight. She was yelling at three men who were leaving the formation. ¡°Who wants toe hunt the leader with me? It¡¯s a chance to earn some coins.¡± ¡°The leader? You, a freshman?¡± ¡°Well, if you don¡¯t like it, never mind.¡± ¡°Hey! You lunatic! Can¡¯t you hear me? Stop messing around and join the formation!¡± ¡°Then, good luck to you.¡± ¡°Hey!!¡± Rockefeller, even from atop the wall, saw a golden skull shining brightly and his eyes turned fierce. ¡°Hershel Ben Tenest¡­¡± He called the name as if it were an enemy, veins throbbing on his forehead as if in spasm. Rockefeller, creating even a chair with shape-shifting magic, sat down and gritted his teeth. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see just how great you are.¡± Even after taking a hit from the sentinel, he was unscathed¡ªa fact confirmed through the orb. His skills were such that he could easily dispatch a leader, but this time, I was curious about what kind of mischief he would stir up to get on people¡¯s nerves. ¡­Surely he wouldn¡¯t be shooting streams of water likest time? * * * Rix ran across the snowfield. His friends followed his footsteps, their faces stricken with fear, yet they urged him on. ¡°Hey! Rix! It¡¯s not toote. Let¡¯s turn back now!¡± ¡°What? Didn¡¯t youe for the coins?¡± ¡°Coins? We came to catch you, dude!¡± If things seemed off, it wouldn¡¯t be toote to retreat then. Rix grinned at his friends. Just then, ve, who was running beside him, stopped in his tracks. ¡°Whoa! There¡¯s red smoke up there.¡± ¡°Smoke?¡± Just as ve had said, there was red smoke in the sky. The smoke began to settle quietly, thennded over the herd of ice buffaloes. The leading ice buffaloes stopped and started butting heads with each other. ¡®What¡¯s going on? They¡¯re fighting amongst themselves.¡¯ But perhaps this was an opportunity to attack. The current herd of ice buffaloes was revealing such vulnerabilities. ¡®If yed right¡­¡¯ His friends, following behind, opened their eyes wide in surprise. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°Well, but¡­ If we do this right, we might catch them?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Look. Their formation has copsed.¡± Rix opened his mouth with a satisfied smile. ¡°Just like Felik said. If we surround them one by one and attack, it won¡¯t be too difficult.¡± Rix said this while watching the ice buffaloes¡¯ sporadic charges. The terrifying thing about them was their advance, dense like a wall, leaving no gaps. From the opponent¡¯s perspective, they had no choice but to take the frontal attack, burdened with the weight of the ice bull¡ªa disadvantageous structure. It would have been the case originally, but now it was different. Avoiding the frontal attack and surrounding to strike at the belly was all that was needed. ¡®Hussel¡¯s words weren¡¯t a lie¡­¡¯ It was indeed a good environment to earn coins. Rix yfully said to his friends, ¡°Did you say you came to catch me? Then, shall we head back now?¡± His friends shook their heads in panic. ¡°No, no. I meant to say I came to earn coins and catch you. Yeah.¡± ¡°Ahem, your judgment was indeed correct. Thank you.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re thankful, thank him.¡± As he ran, Rix finally spotted Hussel throwing a bottle ahead. When a small man shot the thrown bottle with an arrow, red smoke spread out again. ¡®Indeed, it was his doing.¡¯ He was about to greet him when it happened. An ice bull charged at Hussel, breathing rough breaths. But he didn¡¯t even think to draw a weapon, just extending his arm barehanded. Thump! The ice bull copsed to the ground without even a scream. From the hole in its head, brain-mixed blood trickled out. And Hussel nonchntly shook off the bloodied index finger as if it were nothing. Watching the series of events, Rix felt chills all over his body. ¡®He made a hole in its head with just his index finger?¡¯ Was such a thing even possible? He had never heard of such magic. Considering there was no mana in sight, it must have been a feat shown purely by physical prowess. While Rix¡¯s mind was in turmoil, ve said, ¡°See, I was right, Rix.¡± In the end, ve¡¯s words hade true. Rix apologized with a face that couldn¡¯t hide his shame. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for doubting you, ve¡­¡± The others seemed to have witnessed the scene too, their eyes wide with surprise. ¡°With just a finger, he did that?¡± ¡°Wow, ve¡¯s words were true. Unbelievable.¡± At that moment, Hershel watched us closely. We all froze in ce. I had a feeling this moment would be a lifelong story to tell¡­ * * * Limberton spoke up. ¡°Ah, I smell the scent of a woman. Hershel, are there girls behind us?¡± ¡°¡­No, there aren¡¯t. It¡¯s all guys, so don¡¯t turn around, just focus.¡± Despite saying that, he seemed eager to show off, as his arrow shooting sped up. At first nce, it looked like a mess, and I was about to scold him. But each shotnded precisely in the eyes of the ice buffalo. He was hitting the mark incredibly well¡­ While the two were concentrating, I approached Rick¡¯s group. But they all seemed to be stiffened up somehow. ¡°Weren¡¯t you here to earn coins? If that¡¯s the case, you shouldn¡¯t be standing still like this.¡± ¡°Uh, yeah¡­¡± ve stammered in response, and Rick suddenly snapped to attention. ¡°Cough, I¡¯m sorry if it seemed like we were clinging unnecessarily.¡± He smiled, but there was a noticeable hint of embarrassment. ¡°Not at all. Hunt without worry.¡± After all, that would help my mana recover faster. [The Sage¡¯s Devoted Blessing.] When those with goodwill defeat monsters together, their mana increases slightly. ¡°Ah, and one more thing. When you catch an ice buffalo, retrieve its horns immediately. Whatever is left on the ground after it¡¯s over is all ours. Got it?¡± Rick took out his staff with a serious look in his eyes. ¡°Just doing that is enough. I appreciate your consideration.¡± From then on, Rick¡¯s group began to methodically ughter the scattered ice buffaloes. Using shields to block the advance, while swords and magic repeatedly stab from the side. As nine of us split into three groups to hunt, joyful rms kept popping up in my retina. [Your mana slightly increases.] [Your mana slightly increases.] [Your mana slightly increases.] If it had been only the third test, Rix would have led us straight to the Adel Vault, just like the promising ones. Well then, shall we start moving too? ¡°Ashley.¡± Upon calling, Ashley thrust her shield into the ground, leaving only half of it visible. The size was just enough to cover Limberton¡¯s entire body. ¡°Limberton, don¡¯t forget to back up Ashley from behind the shield.¡± ¡°¡­Hussel, are you really going to do it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m the one who said I would. I have to set an example.¡± Of course, it was also to monopolize the 1,000 coins awarded exclusively to the one who defeats the leader. I passed by Limberton, who was shooting arrows, and Ashley, who was pinning down an ice bull with her monstrous strength. The ice bulls in front were too busy fighting each other to advance on me. As I walked, the corpses of ice bulls that had fallen and been trampled in their own fights began to increase. Since they were all money, I advanced through the gaps in the camp with a happy heart. Only then did I spot the leader, a male standing tall in the open space. He was bigger than the others, with thick horns, and his neck was covered with white fur like a lion¡¯s mane. The leader stood alone in the open space, exhaling rough breaths. Purrrrr! Around us, the ice bulls formed a circle. It was a scene often seen in warlord battles. And for good reason, as the leader had to prove his strength. If the enemy came alone, the leader would also defeat the enemy alone to show off his presence. That¡¯s why he was treated with respect by those below him. In this world, it was called a ¡®Boss Battle.¡¯ ¡°Ho, even inter generations, there are monsters who know tradition.¡± ¡°Was there such a thing in the old days?¡± ¡°Some things remained undone. However, those who form factions usually do not engage in a full-on battle.¡± As I listened to Donatan¡¯s history lecture, I approached the leader. The creature scraped the ground with one of its front paws. Just as I had previously killed with a jab of my index finger, I intended to do the same this time. Pop! The creature charged with its hefty weight. I thrust my finger towards the creature¡¯s head. But an unexpected pattern emerged. Whirr! The leader easily twisted its neck to dodge my finger and struck my body with its massive horn. Crack! [Physical attack detected.] [Ability activated.] [1-second invincibility cooldown: 59 seconds] Naturally, one of the creature¡¯s horns broke. Yet, as befitting a leader, it seemed to ignore the pain and began to lift its other horn to strike me. Ah, I¡¯m done for. In a desperate struggle to survive, I hastily jumped and stepped on the creature¡¯s horn. Then, feeling my weight shift upwards, I jumped. As my body soared higher, the ice bulls began to look like a swarm of ants. ¡°Eh, for now, I¡¯ve matched your actions. But what exactly are you thinking?¡± To Donatan, who seemed perplexed, I responded with a smile. ¡°Donatan, have you already forgotten that I¡¯m a sorcerer?¡± As I reached the peak of my ascent, I drew my wand. Then, tracing a spell, I checked the rms I had ignored. [Mana slightly increased.] [Mana slightly increased.] ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ [Your mana has slightly increased.] ¡ª The mana, which was almost non-existent, now felt more substantial. Now, I could use it. The other magic of the peculiar series that I couldn¡¯t use due to theck of mana. It was a magic that only a very few could perform. -¡°Healing magic can only be used by the peculiar series?¡± When asked, Camelo answered like this: -¡°Even if you draw the form precisely, there are inherent magics that cannot be performed. For the elemental series that have blossomed from the senses, spirit magic is typical. The peculiar series is the same. If we talk about your original magic, sir, it would be the healing magic.¡± Before that, I quickly drew the telekic magic and aimed thending point of the body towards the leader¡¯s head. Then, with the wand in my mouth, I drew my longsword. Positioning the tip of the sword downwards to pierce through the head of the scoundrel, I firmly grasped the handle with both hands. Gradually, my body began to elerate downwards. As the ground started to approach, I precisely stabbed the longsword into the forehead of the leader who was looking up. Thud! The longsword, weighted with the fall from a high ce. No matter how hard the skull, it was natural for it to be pierced. In addition, one of the options attached to the glove, ¡®the durability of the object in hand greatly increases,¡¯ made the longsword incredibly sturdy. And before my feet even touched the ground, I unfolded the weight reduction magic engraved on the glove to halve the impact of the fall. Still, the pain was severe enough to crack both ankles. ¡°Ugh!¡± Eager to heal as quickly as possible, I swiftly drew the healing magic. A warm warmth seeped into my ankles, and in the blink of an eye, the pain disappeared. Of course, the mana consumption was so great that the mana was quickly depleted¡­ ¡°See that, Donatan? This is magic.¡± ¡°Ha, don¡¯t make meugh! You killed him with the sword in the end!¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s magic.¡± If the first process and the finish were magic, then it¡¯s magic. The longsword was just a side note. Then, this attack was akin to magic, and it could also be called a magical attack. ¡°No matter the process, the hunt was a sess.¡± I pulled the longsword that was embedded in the head of the leader sprawled on the ground. As hey there, tongue lolling out without a twitch, the onlooking ice wolves began to hastily retreat. Amidst this, voices called out from afar. ¡°Boss!¡± ¡°Hershel! Are you alive?¡± It was Ashleigh and Lumberton. I gestured towards the leader¡¯s corpse to indicate I was fine. ¡°What in the world happened? You suddenly flew up into the air, gave us quite the scare!¡± ¡°That was magic. I used magic to kill him.¡± ¡°Good heavens, there¡¯s magic for flying too¡­?¡± ¡°More importantly, did you enjoy the hunt?¡± From noble mtl dote Lumberton hesitated, then pointed back the way we came. Bodies were strewn about, some crushed, others with arrows in their eyes. While I was calcting how much we¡¯d earn, Rix¡¯s group approached, examining the fallen leader and my condition with shock. ¡°Hershel, there was a woman there¡­¡± ¡°Lumberton? I always think of you as a cool guy. You may show a pathetic side, but when it counts, you do what¡¯s needed.¡± ¡°Oh, stop it with the embarrassingpliments.¡± ¡°But when ites to women, all your charm just drops away.¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± While Lumberton tactfully kept quiet, I approached Rix. ¡°Did you take care of the horns?¡± He wiped the stunned look off his face and gave a wry smile. ¡°Thanks to you.¡± ¡°Well then, now that it¡¯s all over, shall we head back?¡± I took a rope out of my backpack and tied up the leader¡¯s corpse. ¡°Boss.¡± Ashleigh shook his head as if to say there was no need, then casually hoisted it onto his shoulder. And so, the hunt concluded, and we, with our collected horns, walked towards the Scfe Manor. * * * Meanwhile, Atra, the representative third-year knight of the Schleife Academy, was staring at the ice bison with a dumbfounded expression. ¡°What, what¡¯s this¡­ Why are there so many?¡± There were a total of neen ice bison that had arrived. And on one eye of each, arrows were lodged, causing them to stagger. Would the impoverished students have just left them alone? It was less of a defense battle and more of a one-sided massacre. As thest one fell powerlessly, Atra realized what this phenomenon meant. ¡°Could it really be that blond guy who took down the leader?¡± Just then, the group that had broken off from the formation was returning. The leader¡¯s corpse was slung over the back of a burly barbarian, but he looked on at the back of the blond man with eyes full of admiration. When she pricked up her ears, she could hear them talking. ¡°Wow, I didn¡¯t think he¡¯d actually do it alone.¡± ¡°Limberton, Ashleigh. This is my share. Remember that.¡± He caught it alone too? ¡°What in the world is that guy¡¯s identity¡­¡± She hadn¡¯t expected an answer, but someone said, ¡°Oh, that¡¯s Hersel Ben Tenestra. Heard he¡¯s the eldest son of the Tenestra family?¡± Atra¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Could it be, he survived that monstrous creature?¡± ¡°Yes, there are such rumors.¡± She hadn¡¯t believed it at first, but now, who knows. He was a freshman and had taken down the leader. Without realizing it, Atra burst into a smile. ¡°With him here, we might just tten the noses of those damned b*stards.¡± It had been a while since something worthwhile hade to Schleife Academy. Perhaps they could win. The duo that would soon bring disaster. Chapter 55 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 55 55. The Duo (1) [The Rtionship Between Aura and Mana] Written on the ckboard. True to its name, this ss was a joint session between the Knight and Magic departments. Seated at the very back, I surveyed the interior of the circr hall. The building¡¯s structure, with lower elevations towards the front, reminded me of a concert hall, so packed that it could fill both the B¨¹rger and Adel halls. The old professor on the podium adjusted his sses and cleared his throat. ¡°Ahem. It seems I¡¯ve brought the wrong textbook. My eyesight isn¡¯t what it used to be. Just wait a moment.¡± While the professor went to fetch his book, I felt a strangely prickly stare. It wasn¡¯t too difficult to locate its source. While others were busy chatting face-to-face with friends, a few were looking up in my direction. ¡°Hershel, seems like things aren¡¯t going well with your fianc¨¦e?¡± Limberton asked, ncing at Leana. ¡°Good or bad, what¡¯s there to say.¡± She¡¯s practically a stranger to me. ¡°But why has Liamon been staring at you this whole time?¡± Just as Limberton said, Liamon was also watching me closely. Our eyes met. He gave a slight nod. ¡°¡­¡± Why is he acting like that? Ah, that must be it. Before entering the ssroom, I had bumped into him by chance, and he had said something to me. -Enjoying yourself, I see. If he means enjoying, he¡¯s probably talking about the boss I caught and the fortune I made. ¡°Must¡¯ve heard some rumors about the defense battle, maybe he¡¯s just curious?¡± The coins I earned totaled about 3,000. A thousand was prize money, and the rest came from selling the boss monster¡¯s corpse. Boss monsters are different from the regr ones; they have high-quality materials or structurally unique organs that are in high demand. Their hides fetched a high price from the Sewing department, and their innards were bought up by the Alchemy department. On top of that, I received a share of the money that Ashleigh and Limberton earned, making it 3,000. They each made a thousand coins, and Rix¡¯s group, who joinedte due to their numbers, seemed to have pocketed about 300 coins each. ¡°Anyway, be careful with Liamon, Limberton. He might be eyeing our coins, ready to snatch them away.¡± Limberton frowned. ¡°I¡¯m already on it. That guy seems to have a twisted personality.¡± Rix, who was sitting next to him, joined the conversation. ¡°Are you talking about Liamon, the one who topped the entrance exam alone?¡± ¡°Yes, you be careful too.¡± ¡°No way, I didn¡¯t expect the top student of the grade to be such a person. Well, I¡¯ll be cautious.¡± Just then, the professor returned with a book in hand. The gazes that were on me gradually faded until they almost disappearedpletely. Except for one persistent stare¡­ Sitting at the center of the schrship students was a man with ck hair tinged with a shallow red. Our eyes met, and he smiled gently with his eyes. ¡°¡­¡± It was not pleasant. The man¡¯s identity was the first act boss of Frost Heart, and the current president of Lethe. He was the one who should have taken over immediately after Hershel¡¯s death. This formidable guy is smiling at me? No, let¡¯s think positively. The current scene is the result of me untangling the twisted narrative by leaving Lethe, putting it back on its proper course. Given that I was the founder and the former president, it¡¯s possible that our paths may cross in the future, but there¡¯s no need for major concern. The schrship students live under strict supervision in the special ward. Even now, a professor in a ck robe was monitoring them nearby. When the timees, they are destined to retire by the hands of the main actors of Adel Ward, so as long as I don¡¯t approach them, it¡¯s safe. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m quitete. Let¡¯s proceed with the lesson quickly.¡± I turned my gaze away from him at the sound of the professor¡¯s voice. ¡°To start with the basics of the rtionship between Aura and Mana, the source of Aura is ultimately Mana. The human dantian has a special function; it assimtes the Mana spread in nature and transforms it into a new power. That¡¯s why sometimes, during the use of Aura, strange magical phenomena ur. Some mistake it for mysticism¡­¡± It was all familiar content, and my eyelids began to feel heavy. ¡°Aura, as it is trained, can be as hard as armor, but because Mana is its source, it has a vulnerability to magic. To put it simply, to remain unscathed from a level 5 magic attack, one¡¯s Aura needs to be at least level 10. How this principle works is¡­¡± As the boring exnations continued, the students of Scfe Ward began to close their eyes one by one. Well, they must be tired from the defensive battle early this morning. The professor sighed deeply as he red at the sleeping students and then etchedrge letters on the ckboard with telekic magic. ¡°An aura¡­¡± It seemed like they were willing to let it slide this time, given the special circumstances. Maybe I should take advantage of the situation too. And with that thought, I fell asleep to the luby of chalk sounds. * * * It was after ss, as I was leaving the lecture hall. ¡°Would you reconsider?¡± Atra was annoyingly persistent. Originally from the Beurger n and now representing the Shulrape n for a fee, she¡¯s a woman who¡¯s been tainted by those Shulrape guys. No need to treat her nicely. ¡°I believe I already said no?¡± So, what she was asking me to do was¡­ ¡°Look, those troublesome Ee-injo guys. If you don¡¯t deal with them, you¡¯ll end up getting hurt too.¡± It was a request for a hit job. ¡°¡­Do I look like a thug to you?¡± ¡°Honestly, a little¡­ No, a lot?¡± This woman? ¡°If you don¡¯t want to hear harsh words, why don¡¯t you leave? Besides, you¡¯re a senior. Shouldn¡¯t you be doing something other than hanging around here?¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Atra¡¯s expression after being scolded by me was quite a sight. Even I would have felt ashamed, being lectured on propriety by someone she marked as a thug. ¡°Ah! So you¡¯re really not going to do it?¡± ¡°Stop making me repeat myself.¡± ¡°Well, just so you know. Those Ee-injo guys are getting out today. You might not have to worry, but what about your friends? There¡¯s a rampant rumor that they¡¯ve made a fortune in coins.¡± With a snort, Atra left. She must have thought that I couldn¡¯t avoid shing with those guys. Living in the Shulrape n does mean dealing with troublesome people. Ee-injo, Makdal, and Bidon. Those who lived in the third-year Adel n, caused trouble, and were then expelled to the Shulrape n. They were the enemies one would face when starting as a yable character in the Shulrape n. It was quite a notorious name, so disgustingly strong. Even if Rix and his friends ganged up, they¡¯d be smeared. Of course, that¡¯s a story from the early days, and those guys were destined to be vanquished by theter grown yable characters. But to expect me to take them down just two days after enrollment? ¡°Better to just pay the protection money they demand.¡± Just a mere 10 coins a month. For someone who¡¯s saved up 3,000 coins, it¡¯s just a few pennies to pay off the guards. After all, as trashy as those guys are, they do their job well enough to keep the thugs from the burger joint from messing with us, so it wasn¡¯t a waste. ¡®Disappointment, Hershel.¡¯ Here he goes again. ¡®What is it this time?¡¯ ¡®I thought you had grown a bit, watching you thrash those lowly ruffians. But to refuse even the plea of ady asking for help, what a disgraceful act?¡¯ As Donatan showed his disappointment, I replied with a sly smile. ¡°I only fight those I can beat.¡± The exception being those who dare cross the line and try to take what¡¯s mine. Then I¡¯ll bite with my teeth to protect it. * * * The underground detention center, the Punishment Wing, beneath the fortress. A ce of correction for those who can¡¯te to their senses even after the professors lovingly cast their controlling curses. Rendel, dragged here for the crime of pushing ve off a cliff, managed to barely stand up, his body wrapped in bandages except for his face. ¡®Ugh, a prison underground. This insane academy.¡¯ Cursing Frost Heart inwardly and grinding his teeth, hunger panged him. Rendel gulped down the cold soup and even licked the te clean. Meanwhile, chattering voices leaked from the next cell. ¡°Ah, still five minutes left.¡± ¡°Ay, I can¡¯t wait to lick the new student¡¯s nape.¡± ¡°There must be some cute ones among this year¡¯s new students, right?¡± ¡°I hope some handsome guys came too. Heh.¡± The crazed ones had awakened. Apart from sleeping hours, they do nothing but spout lewd talk. Rendel, with a particrly delicate voice, was bothered by a guy who only talked about the blues, so he mped his mouth shut as if a mouse had died. ¡°¡­If they see my handsome face, I feel like it might be dangerous.¡± It was when he was slowly putting down his te that Rendel¡¯s ears perked up. Because a detestable name had been mentioned. ¡°By the way, Makdal. Did you hear the news? The president has moved into our Scfe coffin.¡± ¡°Ah, are you talking about Hershel, who drove us out? Keke, looks like an opportunity to get even.¡± ¡°Oh no, you shouldn¡¯t. The vice president came in too, didn¡¯t he? Looking to get thrashed again?¡± Wait, Makdal? Rendel realized their identities. Makdal and Bidon, former executives of Lethe. The reason for their expulsion must have been clear. ¡°That Bidon guy. Isn¡¯t he the one who got kicked out trying to take down Hershel?¡± Makdal was also expelled for contributing to that incident, wasn¡¯t he? Of course, they were stopped by the vice president who had foreseen the situation and were terribly beaten¡­ Listening to their conversation, Rendel had a bright idea. Could this be used to my advantage? ¡°Excuse me, seniors? If it¡¯s about that, you don¡¯t have to worry.¡± ¡°What? Weren¡¯t you mute?¡± ¡°Oh my, why have you been hiding such a lovely voice?¡± Because of you. ¡°No, ahem, that¡¯s not what¡¯s important. I wanted to let you know that Hershel is no longer the president. He left on his own ord, you see? Not only that, but he beat up our members so badly that even the executives are after him now.¡± Were they so delighted by this fact? The two men¡¯s voices grew louder. ¡°What? Is that true?¡± ¡°Really? Oh, how wonderful.¡± The excited response was short-lived. Bidon¡¯s tone suddenly turned menacing. ¡°But you know, I have a feeling we shouldn¡¯t mess with him. The vice president, Ruon, was his loyal dog after all.¡± ¡°Right. Definitely different from those who came just to gain some advantage.¡± ¡°What should I call it¡­ Admiration?¡± ¡°Indeed, whenever I saw that guy, he always had that look in his eyes.¡± Rendel shed his dimples. Now the chairman, Luon, was also silent about this situation. With the first-ss executives targeting Hershel, it was a role he couldn¡¯t step into. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry about that. The executives have already promised a reward for taking him down. So, isn¡¯t it as good as the chairman¡¯s tacit approval? Haha.¡± Magdal and Bidonughed heartily. Then, the professor walked past the bars. ¡°Magdal, Bidon. You¡¯re being released. Don¡¯t even think about causing trouble again.¡± ¡°Sure, we¡¯ll be new men, professor.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The iron gate opened, and the two men walked past. The burly Magdal ignored it and went his way, but Bidon, with his face caked in makeup and bristly chin beard, stopped in his tracks. He scrutinized Rendel¡¯s face closely. ¡°Hmm, the voice is not bad¡­¡± Bidon spat on Rendel¡¯s face. ¡°You look like an octopus.¡± Bidon left with a look of lost interest. Rendel felt ashamed, but at this moment, he thought it was rather fortunate. Even after being released, he wouldn¡¯t be targeted by that pervert. * * * The lobby of the Scfe building I saw on the way looked like a refuge. The seniors were all making a fuss about theming, and the freshmen looked on with uprehending eyes. But for me, it was a positive thing. Thezy seniors would work harder because of their presence. Then the economy of the Scfe building would improve, the country would be wealthier, and ultimately the people would live well. Besides, the people of the Scfe building had low grades and worked like ves every day, so the guys from the B¨¹rger building would tantly call them beggars and torment them. From noble mtl dote Lee Injo would fully y the role of a soldier protecting the residents of the Scfe building from such guys if paid. So, it was a necessary evil. Then, a horrified sound came from the corridor, and someone knocked on my door. It was undoubtedly them. Knock, knock! I rose from my chair and grasped the 10 coins I had prepared on the desk. It was the tax meant to contribute to the national defense. As I opened the door, as expected, Makdal and Bidon were standing there. ¡°Here, take these 10 coins.¡± As I offered the coins, Bidon uttered something meaningful. ¡°Oh my, they really existed. Hello? Mr. President. Oh, that¡¯s right, you¡¯re not the president anymore, and I¡¯m not Lethe either, am I?¡± Was this guy from Lethe? Well, it¡¯s all in the past if we both withdrew. It shouldn¡¯t be a big deal. The bulky Makdal grabbed Bidon by the shoulder. ¡°Hold on, Bidon. Remember, it¡¯s because of you that I broke. So this time, I¡¯ll do as I please.¡± ¡°I know, I know. So, let¡¯s just say hello for today.¡± Bidon winked. I wanted to kill him but restrained myself. ¡°My arm¡¯s going to fall off. Hurry up and take the coins.¡± The bulky Makdal looked at what was in my hand with wide eyes. ¡°Huh? Just 10 coins?¡± ¡°Is there a problem? Everyone else pays about that much.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a different case. I heard on my way here that you have roughly over 3,000?¡± Makdal sneered uncleanly. ¡°You¡¯re quite skilled. So, you owe 1,000 coins a month.¡± It seemed impossible. I might as well bite these guys to death. I called out the name of the secret weapon staying in the next room. ¡°Ashley.¡± There was a rough sound of a door opening from the next room. Chapter 56 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 56 56. Lee In-jo (2) If the starting point is the Scfe Hall, hell unfolds. The seniors swindle the freshmen, and without even trying, they block the juniors¡¯ paths ahead. Yes, I can bear it up to there. If it doesn¡¯t happen, that¡¯s the end of it. But these b*stards, no matter how much I try to endure, they provoke the limits of my patience. The tyrant of the Scfe Manor. Makdal, the hulking figure obsessed with money, ¡°Shall we take an advance payment first?¡± Bidon, the frail pervert who only shines in the presence of men. ¡­Especially this one, he¡¯s the most dangerous. ¡°Oh my, Makdal. That¡¯s a bit too harsh.¡± Even the most talented yable character is still an unbloomed flower. In front of Lee In-jo, a third-year from Adel Manor, it¡¯s destined to be a meekmb enduring the years of suffering. However, I¡¯ve decided to resist their tyranny. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t the rich pay more taxes? Come on, hurry up and hand it over. 1,000 coins.¡± I have a deeppassion that cannot stand by and watch the oppressed, and a spirit of chivalry always resides in my heart. And, having a friend who knows the meaning of loyalty, my heart is endlessly fortified. ¡°Huh? Why is a shadow suddenly being cast?¡± ¡°Look behind you, Bidon. It¡¯s the first time seeing someone bigger than me, isn¡¯t it?¡± Ashley looked down at them with a murderous glint in his eyes. Limberton, clearly intimidated, was with him. ¡°Look at those sculpted muscles. Such a wild charm in that brother.¡± ¡°The little guy next to him is just the right size to be used as a cup table.¡± The moment Makdal reached out to touch Limberton¡¯s head, Ashley grabbed Makdal¡¯s wrist. Crack! ¡°Heh, you do have some strength, as you look. Hah!¡± The tendons in Makdal¡¯s arm stood out sharply. However, Ashley wasn¡¯t using his full strength, as he slowly began to tighten his grip. ¡°Uh¡­ Argh¡­¡± As Ashley slowly twisted his arm, sweat dripped down Makdal¡¯s forehead. ¡°Bi-Bidon. This, this guy seems like someone you need to deal with!¡± ¡°Oh dear, that¡¯s why you don¡¯t brag about strength as a magician.¡± At that moment, Limberton opened his eyes wide in surprise and asked, ¡°A wizard? That big guy?¡± ¡°Kid, you shouldn¡¯t judge people just by their appearance. Even if someone looks rough on the outside, they might be tender-hearted, and someone who appears elegant might harbor a beast within.¡± Bidon said this as he spread his fingers in a familiar gesture. My eyebrows twitched at the familiar gesture. ¡°¡­¡­¡± I hurriedly ignited the ¡®Noble Blood¡¯s Last Ember.¡¯ ¡°Let¡¯s stop here.¡± It wasn¡¯t Bidon I was addressing, but Ashleigh. ¡°Ashleigh, that¡¯s enough.¡± When Ashleigh released Makdal¡¯s wrist, Bidon squinted his eyes and smirked. ¡°Heh. Seems like you¡¯ve undergone quite a change in my absence? You¡¯ve be an even more splendid man, haven¡¯t you?¡± That confirmed it for me. Ashleigh might be able to beat Makdal, but Bidon was out of his league¡­ ¡°Well, fine. I just came to say hello today, so I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡± It made sense, considering the scissor gesture was his unique habit. A deration of victory shown only to an opponent he was certain he could beat. From experience, I had never won a fight after seeing that gesture. Bidon patted Makdal on the back. ¡°Really, Makdal, you¡¯ve gone too far with the pranks. A hundred times too far.¡± ¡°¡­Wait, Bidon. Wasn¡¯t it supposed to go my way this time?¡± Makdal looked at Bidon with a whiny expression. Then, Bidon¡¯s demeanor turned decidedly menacing. ¡°Makdal.¡± ¡°Ah, got it. Yes, it was a prank.¡± Just by calling his name, Makdal backed down immediately. In truth, though they call him the second emperor, Bidon was actually one step above Makdal. ¡°Hmm, but tell me. That wild-looking brother over there, is he clumsy with aura maniption? It¡¯s too raw.¡± Bidon said this and walked past Ashleigh. When Lee Injo disappeared, Ashleigh approached me with a puzzled look on his face. His expression seemed to ask why it had withered. ¡°Ashley.¡± Pointing at his arm, Ashley¡¯s eyes widened. There was a hollow indentation on his forearm. It must have been from when Bidon poked him with a finger earlier. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Ashley grabbed his left arm with his right hand, but as soon as he let go, it fell limp. It seemed his left arm was paralyzed. Soon, cold sweat trickled down his forehead. ¡°Now you understand, right? If we fight, you lose.¡± ¡°¡­¡± But then, Ashley suddenly looked at me, sending an ufortable gaze. A look filled with anticipation. Ever since I took down the leader, he asionally did this. Don¡¯t tell me this guy thinks I can win? Even the main characters need at least three months of training to beat that Bidon¡­ ¡°¡­We should head to the infirmary first.¡± It seems like you¡¯ve hurt your head too, I hope they can treat that as well. * * * It¡¯s only been a day since I left the punishment room. The fresh air outside never seemed to tire. Makdal and Bidon wandered aimlessly inside the academy. ¡°But, Bidon. Why did you back down?¡± ¡°Huh? Oh, that? I¡¯ve be more interested than before.¡± ¡°Are you talking about Hershel?¡± ¡°Yeah, as soon as I showed my intent to kill, he stopped me. Has he been training while I wasn¡¯t watching? He seemed to know what the oue would be.¡± ¡°So you backed down because of that¡­¡± ¡°Well, not like he¡¯d be a match for me anyway.¡± Makdal scratched his cheek with his index finger, looking puzzled. ¡°Then you could have just crushed him on the spot.¡± ¡°Oh my, what harsh words. Why would I ruin that handsome face?¡± Makdal let out an ¡®ah¡¯ and nodded. ¡°Indeed, Bidon. You¡¯ve always wanted to have him.¡± ¡°Right, so I was thinking. Maybe we should take it slow this time. You¡¯ll help me, won¡¯t you?¡± Makdal snickered. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll be careful not to touch.¡± Just then, abusivenguage began to be heard from the vicinity of the Burger joint. ¡°You think I don¡¯t know? Pretending to earn money while flirting with men!¡± ¡°If you live in a stinky ce, you should know your ce.¡± Two women were surrounding another with menacing faces. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s a misunderstanding¡­ I just came here to do some tailoring.¡± ¡°This is the end!¡± A drink was poured over the head of the woman being attacked. The assants giggled andughed. ¡°Tastes good?¡± ¡°What are you doing? Have a sip. When else would a beggar like you get a taste?¡± The victim was a second-year student at Schuraffe Hall. ¡°Are you going to step in, Bidon?¡± ¡°If you¡¯ve taken the tax, shouldn¡¯t you work? Of course, you should also create a pretext.¡± ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s true.¡± Bidon started walking with a silent tread. At that, the two women gasped and trembled. ¡°Bi, Bidon.¡± ¡°Was today your release day?¡± Bidon narrowed his eyes and grabbed both women by the head. ¡°aaack!¡± The two women screamed in agony. Bidon said softly, ¡°What should ady do when she behaves so vulgarly?¡± ¡°I¡¯m, I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°But, but¡­ that girl¡­¡± ¡°And if you spill such a sticky drink on the floor, it will attract bugs.¡± As Bidon flexed his arm, the two girls¡¯ faces turned towards the wet floor. ¡°You know I detest bugs, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Please, forgive me just this once¡­¡± ¡°I promise I won¡¯t do it again, please¡­¡± Bidon helped the two girls to their feet and chased them out. After themotion had settled, a sophomore junior approached with a stiff face to express her gratitude. ¡°Th-thank you, senior.¡± ¡°What senior? Call me ¡®sister¡¯. But you, you must have had a hard time while this sister was in the punishment room. Such a delicate thing. This won¡¯t do.¡± Bidon¡¯s eyes shone as he smiled slyly. The junior¡¯s face turned pale with fright, and she broke out in a cold sweat. ¡°Tell everyone to gather at 6 PM tonight. You know what it means to be a sophomore, right?¡± The junior nodded, her body trembling as if recalling a terrible memory. 6 PM. Not just the freshmen, but even the seniors gathered in front of the dormitory for what was disguised as training but was actually a hazing ritual. Of course, these were nothing more than torture for the satisfaction of Lee Injo. * * * Tyrant Lee Injo is quite the schemer. Externally, there¡¯s the Burger Administration, and then there¡¯s the Scfly Administration, a blind spot due to its perennialst-ce ranking and thus less attention from the professors. It was the perfect condition for them to openly extort protection money under the guise of ¡®protection fees¡¯, and tomit character assassination and assault. Their justification wasn¡¯t entirely wrong within the closed environment. First, they eliminate friction with external forces by asserting themselves as a necessary evil, thus silencing those with grievances. And if you look at it positively, the hazing is also a form of training. They crush spirits with brute force and then spread their own logic: if you haveints, get stronger. And the ones with the most favorable view of this were the professors themselves. ¡°To the professors, we¡¯re just training the perpetual losers of the dorm. Unless we push hard evidence in their faces, they¡¯ll just keep turning a blind eye, won¡¯t they?¡± That¡¯s what he said to Rix, still swollen-faced atop the ramparts. True to his decent nature, he had resisted their injustice yesterday and ended up thoroughly beaten. And hisrades who fought alongside him werepletely shaken down¡­ As expected, they have that stubborn streak. Then, Bidon¡¯s loud voice echoed all the way here. ¡°A magician should never neglect physical enhancement. What will you do if I approach like this?¡± Bidon yelled furiously, pping the cheek of a female student. Makdal was grinning, watching a male student tied to a stake getting hit by a line of students. Wasn¡¯t the man being hit the one who had sent Lee Injo to the punishment room? Hell was unfolding on the ground. Unable to bear it any longer, Atra, who had been stripped of his royal authority, said, ¡°I can¡¯t keep sneaking you guys out with my power for much longer.¡± Thanks to Atra, the representative of the Shulrape n, I, Ashley, and the group with Rix were able to skip training. Officially, we were drafted for the job of repairing the city walls. They take a third of the daily wage as a fee, so they turn a blind eye to working outside. It¡¯s because they can earn more money that way. ¡°But remember, the only reason I¡¯m looking after you is because I promised to drive those guys out.¡± Such a show-off. I had nned to survive in a simr way from the start. It doesn¡¯t matter if the refuge isn¡¯t here. ¡°And that short guy, what was his name, Limbutton? If you make weird noises like that brat, know you¡¯ll be kicked out immediately!¡± Poor Limbutton was scorned by Atra just for making disgusting noises. -Your muscles seem really tense, mind if I take off your armor? I¡¯ll give you a massage. Of course, by then you¡¯ll end up taking off the rest on your own. And now, with a water cup on his head, Makdal had be a walking cup table. Rix, despite being shaken down, hadn¡¯t lost his spirit and clenched his fist, saying, ¡°But why do the seniors only endure? If we alle together and tell the professors, we could go back to the punishment room¡­¡± Atra sighed as if exining was too bothersome, so I answered instead. ¡°Those guys are smart enough not to get caught red-handed.¡± When they hit under the guise of sparring, they target areas like the stomach or thighs where it won¡¯t show. When they use excessive violence, they frame it as students fighting among themselves and slip away like eels. ¡°Of course, some might have a piece of evidence or two. But the scariest thing is that they are Lee Injo. If one goes to the punishment room, they won¡¯t leave the whistleblower alone. Even if they send both, they¡¯ll keep their mouths shut for fear of retaliation like the guy tied to the stake over there.¡± Because of such an atmosphere, no student dared to stand up against them. Rix dropped his shoulders and said, ¡°So, we have no choice but to stop them with force.¡± At that, everyone stared at me with eyes full of anticipation. ¡°¡­¡­¡± I¡¯ve felt it before, but after taking down the leader, they really seem to believe I can topple Vidon. Probably the rumors of surviving the monster yed a part. I looked at Limberton, who had be a walking cup table. ¡­To be honest, I¡¯d be chased out right now too, wouldn¡¯t I? Let¡¯s just beat around the bush for now. ¡°Ahem, even if I trample them, it¡¯s a problem. They¡¯ll just hide in unseen ces and continue such acts. It¡¯ll only make them harder to catch, right?¡± From noble mtl dote Rix nodded as if he understood immediately. ¡°That, that makes sense. Even if we take them down, they¡¯ll continue to stay in the Scfe coffin¡­¡± Atra agreed as well. ¡°Hmm, there¡¯s some merit to what Hersel is saying? Touching things ambiguously might backfire. Let¡¯s start by gathering solid evidence on our side. And, we have a way to send them to the Punishment Hall and convince the victims.¡± It would have been better if he had stopped there. ¡°And if Hersel beats them up enough to hospitalize them, won¡¯t their prestige fall to the ground? Then the victims who¡¯ve been enduring will no longer be afraid. They¡¯lle forward and expose their misdeeds, right?¡± Rix eximed in admiration, making a swallowing sound. ¡°Definitely¡­ If there¡¯s someone to prevent their retaliation, unity will be achieved.¡± ¡°Right. But they won¡¯t believe it just by words. We have to show them that there¡¯s someone who has taken them down.¡± ¡°If the entire Scfe coffin rises up, then the time Lee Injo will be confined in the Punishment Hall will increase¡­ Hersel, this is a brilliant n, isn¡¯t it? So, you¡¯ll wait until the evidence is gathered.¡± Ha, not so fast, you devils. You¡¯ve endured and trained for three months, now it¡¯s time to discipline you with numbers. That¡¯s the proper method. Rix asked Atra, looking at him. ¡°Senior, but how do we gather evidence? I don¡¯t think the victims will just hand it over willingly. It would be nice if there was physical evidence.¡± ¡°Physical evidence? There¡¯s a ledger in their room forpiling a list of those who haven¡¯t paid taxes.¡± ¡°Getting it out would be akin to suicide¡­¡± But somehow, the more I hear, the more it seems my evasive words are expanding? ¡°¡­Exactly. It¡¯s blocked from the start.¡± In truth, if I beat those two to the point they can¡¯t even hold a spoon, the victims will bring in the evidence themselves. They¡¯re just too scared to report, but if safety is assured, they¡¯re the ones who want to kill them the most. Then a thorough investigation would ensue, and their ledger¡­ Ah¡­, was it disguised as a book with somewhat risqu¨¦ illustrations? Discovering even that, they¡¯d rot in the punishment cell for at least six months. But then, they started devising strategies that went round and round in orthodox methods. ¡°Ah! I¡¯ve got a great idea.¡± Atra scanned the men with innocent eyes. ¡°One of you should approach Bidon pretending to be interested, let yourself be taken advantage of on purpose. Then gather evidence and report it.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Excluding Ashleigh, who didn¡¯t catch on, and myself, the men grimaced. It was, in fact, a pretty good n. s*xual harassment issues are dealt with quite strictly, so not even the faculty would ignore it. With that, we could definitely get rid of that guy Bidon. After giving Madal, who even Ashleigh could beat, a good thrashing, we¡¯d just have to collect evidence from the secured victims and send it off. Then naturally, Bidon¡¯s sentence would increase. This is better than I thought, isn¡¯t it? ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll nominate Hershel. Bidon seems to have a particr fondness for him.¡± However, that was the wrong approach. ¡°Peace achieved through sacrifice is fake.¡± As I said that, everyone became solemn. After a few seconds of silence, Rix spoke up. ¡°I¡¯ll give that matter some deep thought, senior. And Hershel, just wait a bit. I¡¯ll find a way to get the evidence, no matter what.¡± This ce must be a madhouse. Was it five dayster that the professor announced the tree-nting work? I resolved to hold out here just until then, and then move to another refuge. * * * In the middle of the night, Limberton was also serving as a cup table in Madal¡¯s room. ¡°I¡¯m thirsty.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Yes.¡± Madal, lying in bed, gulped down the water. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s a bit lukewarm, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Will ite to mind again?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s enough. You can leave for today.¡± At Makdal¡¯s gesture, Limbutton tried to gracefully exit the room. But then, the illustration in the notebook on his desk caught his eye. A drawing of a woman changing clothes. ¡®Hmm, I worked without getting paid, so maybe I could borrow just one book?¡¯ Besides, the bookshelf was overflowing with simr items. Thinking it wouldn¡¯t be noticed, Limbutton secretly slipped it into his coat. Not knowing it was the tax ledger¡­ Chapter 57 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 57 57. Lee In-jo (3) Today, I realized there¡¯s not a single sane person around me. The very thought that I could overthrow Bidon isughable. And evidence? With their tyrant resumes, would they really be that careless? It¡¯s something I¡¯ll never find, no matter how long I search. The meaningless struggle is slightly bothersome, but I¡¯m not too worried. After all, in three months, Rick¡¯s party will have grown stronger, and with a little influence, I can guide them to defeat Lee In-jo. That will solve everything. So, what I need to do is keep Atra and Rick¡¯s party at a distance, letting them handle things on their own. For now, I¡¯ll just endure the asylum-like fortress repairs for exactly five days. After that, a new project led by the professor will start, and that will be perfect. If I just go around doing odd jobs here and there for three months, peace wille to the Shulrape Manor even without me. * * * Limbutton left Makdal¡¯s room and headed towards the freshman dormitory. As he descended the stairs, he ran into Ashley and Rick¡¯s party around the corner. ¡°You guys¡­ Did you enjoy having me expelled?¡± ¡°Ahem, sorry about that.¡± ¡°But still, why would you throw such an usation¡­¡± As Rick¡¯s party avoided his gaze, Rick spoke with an apologetic expression. ¡°Don¡¯t hold it against us too much. We¡¯ve been worried and waiting here for you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Limbutton frowned, noticing someone was missing. ¡°But what about Hershel, that guy?¡± ¡°¡­He said he was tired and went to bed early.¡± ¡°Heartless jerk.¡± Perhaps because I¡¯ve had a cup of water on my head for over three hours, my neck feels stiff. As I massage the back of my neck, Rix asks, ¡°Looks like you had a rough time, are you okay?¡± ¡°Huh? Oh, I¡¯m fine. Compared to those who rolled around in the yard, I was rather lucky, you know¡­¡± Limberton¡¯s shoulders slumped as he recalled his ssmates and seniors who had suffered terribly. Violence disguised as training. Especially those who hadn¡¯t paid their taxes were forced to duel until one of them fainted. What was most chilling was that even the passing professors didn¡¯t take the situation seriously and just went on their way. ¡®¡­This ce seems to be going mad.¡¯ The thought that it would only get worse made Limberton shiver. He wished this tyranny would end soon. And the one to end it would probably be that guy. He always acted as if he knew everything and had solved everything, so he would do the same this time. ¡°But what does Hershel say about this incident?¡± Rix grinned reassuringly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. Just gather the evidence, and leave the rest to him.¡± ¡°I knew it, he must have a n.¡± Limberton sighed in relief and stroked his chest with his hand. Then, a book hidden inside his shirt fell to the floor. It was a book with a picture of a woman changing clothes, taken from Magdal¡¯s room. ¡°Oh no. I need to put it backter; I hope it¡¯s not crumpled.¡± As he carefully checked the condition of the pages, Rix blinked. ¡°But what¡¯s with that book?¡± ¡°Oh, this? I ¡®borrowed¡¯ it without asking because Magdal was such a pain, not even paying me. Huh? But what¡¯s this content. It¡¯s just names and numbers¡­¡± At that moment, Rix snatched the book with a surprised look. ¡°You like this kind of stuff too? Well, it¡¯s a basic interest for a man. But it¡¯s a pity the content you want isn¡¯t there.¡± But as he turned the pages, Rix¡¯s eyes gradually widened. Here are the names of the defaulters recorded. The ledger is certainly correct¡­¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Rix let out a single drop of sweat as he smiled. ¡°With this, we can drive them out. Limberton, you¡¯ve done something great.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± ¡°This is no time to be idle. Let¡¯s go to Hersel right now.¡± ¡°Uh, uh¡­¡± Limberton followed Rix and his party. Somehow, seeing everyone in a good mood, it seems like things are going well. And so, they arrived in front of Hersel¡¯s door. Knock, knock! Despite Rix¡¯s knocking, there was no response. ¡°Is he already asleep?¡± Limberton perked up his ears. ¡°No? I hear something. It sounds like the creaking of the floorboards. Just wait a moment.¡± Limberton raised his voice at the door. ¡°Hersel, you¡¯re not sleeping now, are you? Can wee in?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°No answer means we can enter?¡± The door was not locked. As they carefully opened the door, Limberton blinked. On the other hand, Rix let out an exmation in a surprised voice. Hersel, whom they thought was asleep, was doing push-ups with his eyes closed. ¡®Has he been training like this in secret even at night¡­¡¯ He looks frozen like a block of ice now, but the floor is drenched with sweat, indicating he¡¯s been training for quite some time. Rix smiled bitterly and carefully closed the door. ¡°It seems he¡¯s been training to drive out that duo. We shouldn¡¯t disturb him, should we?¡± Then, picking up the ledger, he changed direction. ¡°For now, I¡¯ll go and hand this over to Senior Atra.¡± Limberton, with a puzzled look, scratched his head vigorously. ¡°Is itte?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just tell the dorm supervisor, and they¡¯ll let me out right away. You guys go ahead and get some sleep. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± With that, Rix headed to the first-floor lobby. * * * Atra¡¯s arrival in the lobby was swift. Rix¡¯s face brightened at her reaction to receiving the ledger. ¡°I¡¯ve seen this illustration before. It¡¯s definitely the ledger those guys were working on.¡± ¡°Then, we should report this to Hershel in the morning.¡± Rix was ted at the thought of expelling the duo so quickly. But Atra shook her head. ¡°No, let¡¯s hold off on that. I have a feeling we shouldn¡¯t tell him just yet.¡± ¡°¡­Why not?¡± ¡°He¡¯s the one who said he¡¯d take down the boss alone. Remember the confidence he showed on the ramparts? Hershel definitely said it¡¯d be a problem to ¡®trample them.¡¯¡± It seemed Hershel had indeed said something like that. -Cough, ¡®Even if I trample them,¡¯ it¡¯s a problem. They¡¯re bound tomit such acts in hiding. It¡¯ll only make them harder to catch. Chills ran down Rix¡¯s spine as he recalled those words. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me, Hershel ns to take on those two alone?¡± ¡°That¡¯s probably right. He¡¯s also said he doesn¡¯t want any sacrifices.¡± When Atra mentioned the sacrificialmb, Hershel had insisted just like that. -¡®Peace¡¯ built on sacrifices is fake. He does not want sacrifices. That lends credibility to Atra¡¯s argument. In the end, if either Makdal or Bidon fights in Hershel¡¯s ce, they¡¯re bound to get seriously hurt. Rix had experienced it himself, being beaten up like a dog on a hot day with his friends. And he had seen Hershel¡¯s fighting spirit during his midnight training. ¡°Definitely, if it¡¯s Hershel, it seems like he would do just that.¡± ¡°Rix, I think this might be ourst chance. That¡¯s why I¡¯d prefer not to tell him about this.¡± Stunned by Atra¡¯s absurd suggestion, Rix asked with a dumbfounded look. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll lose if he faces Lee Injo alone. But you never know. For a sure victory, it¡¯s best to fight one-on-one. I can manipte the situation easily enough, so it¡¯s a viable strategy.¡± Atra¡¯s words had a point. That reason was convincing enough. Rix, with his cheeks puffed from blowing, nodded as he touched them. ¡°¡­I sympathize. Above all, I hate to burden him with everything. It¡¯s only right that we deal with the remaining one amongst ourselves.¡± ¡°Yes, even if we lose, we¡¯ll fight one-on-one again and defeat him.¡± Rix asked Atra with a determined face. ¡°Who will you have fight Hershel first?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Bidon. He¡¯s stronger than Makdal. If we take him down first, Makdal¡¯s morale will surely break, right? Besides, luring Bidon out has a much higher chance of sess.¡± ¡°Then, I understand. I¡¯ll make sure to tell the friends to keep a tight lip.¡± Rix immediately ran to the dormitory and announced to everyone except Hershel. * * * 6 PM. While the Shulrape officials were being tortured, I moved to repair the fortress walls. But then Atra, taking Ashlei and Rix¡¯s group, told me to go ahead and rest well, saying they would go get the materials. I felt a bit uneasy, but dly epted. I¡¯ve been feeling unwelltely, waking up exhausted every morning. ¡®I should ask to lower the dormitory¡¯s boiler temperature. Seems like I¡¯ve been sweating a lot in my sleep.¡¯ ¡®Hmm. Yes, the temperature has been a bit high.¡¯ I climbed up the wall and found afortable spot to sit. Watching the stair entrance, wondering when they woulde. After a few minutes, footsteps clicked closer. ¡°You¡¯ve arrived earlier than I thought.¡± ¡°Well, you called, so I had toe right away, didn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°?!¡± At the frail voice, I doubted my ears. I stared hard at the stair entrance, hoping it was just an auditory hallucination. But reality, as always, was only cruel to me. ¡°Hello? Darling.¡± Bidon, that guy, appeared with a perverted smile, holding a letter in his hand¡­ ¡°Surprised, aren¡¯t you? I was nning to approach you slowly, but I never expected you to call out to me so eagerly.¡± ¡­I called you? At that moment, I witnessed it. Atra and the group of Rix, hiding at the entrance of the stairs, watching this way. These b*stards! They¡¯ve sold me out!! I want to kill them right now, but the resentment towards them can wait. First and foremost, I need to get out of this situation. As always, I decided to tackle the situation with quick thinking and ignited the ¡®Noble Blood¡¯s Last Ember¡¯. ¡°What are you talking about? Calling you? Me?¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be shy. You¡¯re the one who sent this letter.¡± ¡°It must be someone¡¯s prank. I¡¯ve never sent such a thing. But, I have a hunch who the culprit might be. Take a look behind.¡± Bidon turned his head. And just like that, those annoying guys vanished in an instant. ¡°Nothing there? Ah, I see. You must have prepared some sort of game, right?¡± Bidon smirked and started walking towards me. ¡®¡­Hussel, you know that guy is no ordinary person, right?¡¯ ¡®Uh¡­¡¯ ¡®Is there any way to avoid this situation?¡¯ ¡®Don¡¯t talk. I¡¯m thinking¡­¡¯ As he got closer, I blurted out the first thing that came to mind. ¡°I would¡¯ve said it was a joke. I didn¡¯t send that letter.¡± ¡°Twice is a bit tiresome, isn¡¯t it? Ah, you¡¯re embarrassed. That¡¯s why you keep dodging the issue.¡± From noble mtl dote ¡°Don¡¯t make meugh. I¡¯m not interested in you, not even a fingernail¡¯s worth! So just buzz off!¡± Then, a shadow fell over Bidon¡¯s eyes. ¡°¡­You¡¯re serious, you b*stard.¡± Suddenly, he startedughing maniacally, as if he¡¯d lost his mind. ¡°But it doesn¡¯t really matter. Right now, it¡¯s just you and me here. That¡¯s all that matters at this moment. So, shall we do what we couldn¡¯t do before?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re nning, but if you don¡¯t want to die, it¡¯s best not to pull any foolish stunts.¡± ¡°Heh, I think it¡¯s worth the risk.¡± Oh, do note. In desperation, I pulled out my wand and loaded the spell. Yet, as he approached nonchntly, I found myself stepping back involuntarily. When Bidon¡¯s chin, peppered with stubble, came into clear view, I thrust the electric wand, wrought from all my mana, into his neck. Crackle and fizz! The professor must have exined that to perfectly block a magical attack with aura, at least twice the amount is needed. Moreover, it was a surprise attack before he could properly wrap himself in his aura. Whether it worked or not, smoke began to rise from Bidon¡¯s body. But with his eyes shing wildly, he spat out vile words. ¡°Ah, ying tag is fun. Then, as soon as the paralysis wears off, I¡¯lle to catch you. Now, I¡¯ll give you time to run.¡± A chill ran down my spine as he began to count. ¡°3.¡± Running away from him? ¡°2.¡± That¡¯s impossible. ¡°1.¡± Then what should I do¡­ ¡°Ding!¡± Bidon spread his arms to embrace me. Panicked, I stumbled backward, and then my foot stepped into thin air. It seems I had stepped into an unfinished section. ¡°Uh?¡± Isn¡¯t it instinct to grab onto something when falling? I reached out and grabbed Bidon¡¯s cor. But it seemed his paralysis hadn¡¯t fully worn off either, as his body easily leaned towards me. ¡°Wait, just a moment. Below is a cliff¡­¡± Losing our bnce, Bidon and I began to fall from the 10-story high castle wall. Chapter 58 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 58 58. Lee In-Jo (4) It goes without saying, but falling is not scary. It¡¯s now like bungee jumping, a sort of recreational activity. Despite my fear, it was Bidon¡¯s obsession to embrace me even as we fell that caused it. ¡°aaah!¡± I resisted the beast trying to grab me with a high-pitched scream. Thankfully, my long limbs were an advantage. As I stretched out the hand that grabbed his cor, his arms, meant to hug, grasped nothing but air. Yet, Bidon did not give up and thrashed even more violently. ¡°You vile creature, just give up already!¡± ¡°Even if I die, I will not!¡± As he iled like a live fish, our centers of gravity entangled. Suddenly, Bidon with the ground against his back and I, holding his cor from above. The ground was already close. The rtive heights did not change anymore. As Bidon¡¯s back hit the ground, a loud noise spread with the dust. Boom©¤©¤! [Impact detected.] [Ability activated.] [1-second invincibility cooldown: 59 seconds] * * * Hershel had grabbed Bidon¡¯s cor and they both fell below the ramparts. Atra, Ashley, and the group with Rix watched, their eyes wide and mouths agape. ¡°Is this¡­ a joint suicide¡­?¡± Atra spoke in a dazed voice, while Rix broke out in a cold sweat. ¡°We can¡¯t just stand here! We need to check if they¡¯re alright!!¡± Rix moved his feet quickly as if running on a hot grill. The others, realizing the urgency, hurriedly followed him. Below the ramparts, only dust lingered. Just then, a wind blew. Atra rubbed his eyes at the unbelievable sight. Bidon, unconscious, was embedded in the ground. And above him, Hershel pressing down on his neck, still holding the cor. To anyone watching, it was clear who the victor and the loser were, as Atra¡¯s eyes twitched at the sight. ¡°¡­Did he grab his cor and throw him down just to m him into the ground?¡± He dusted himself off withposure, rising as if nothing had happened. Swallowing hard, Atra admired his dignified and lofty demeanor. Others seemed to share the sentiment, expressing their disbelief in session. ¡°How can he be unscathed?¡± ¡°More than that, to resort to such a brute method¡­¡± In that moment, Hershel looked up. As everyone swallowed hard, he shouted fiercely. ¡°Make it clear when the investigationes! This was self-defense! Testify properly about the ident that urred! Got it?¡± Atra felt a chill. If that man had been beating up Ee In-Jo unterally from the start, it could have been against the school rules. Perhaps he was waiting for them to attack him first. To get away with murder without any trouble¡­ ¡®I really need to be careful around him.¡¯ While marking him as a person of interest, Rix¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°Is he, is he dead?¡± Bidon writhed in pain, signaling he was still alive. Hershel replied in an indifferent tone. ¡°Still alive, isn¡¯t he?¡± Typical of a third-year from Adel Kwan. Thanks to being enveloped in aura to the max, he seems to have survived. Though it looks like his bones might be shattered¡­ Realizing his mistake, Rix quickly changed direction. ¡°Senior, this isn¡¯t the time to be doing this. We need to go finish off the remaining guy ourselves.¡± ¡°Huh? Oh¡­¡± Atra took the lead, rushing to subdue Makdal. * * * Dragging Bidon along carelessly, I was on my way back from leaving him by the roadside where the professors would pass. Cutting through the bushes, I headed towards Shulrape Kwan, hiding my body upon hearing Makdal¡¯s nagging. In Adel¡¯s realm, every day is apetition. ck off even for a single day, and you¡¯re left behind. It¡¯s the same for magicians, you know. No matter how skilled you are in magic, without basic physical strength, you¡¯ll find yourself in a tight spot often.¡± The words are quite educational. If it weren¡¯t for the leering grin, as he watched the female student soaked in sweat from push-ups, her clothes clinging to her body, one might have felt a hint of sincerity. ¡­But then, there¡¯s Limberton, that guy, also grinning foolishly. Just then, Atra, Ashley, and Rix¡¯s group passed by me. I called out softly to Ashley, gesturing him toe over to the bushes. ¡°Ashley.¡± He quietly broke away from the group. Even amidst this, the fools were so distracted by Makdal that they didn¡¯t notice Ashley¡¯s absence. ¡°Boss.¡± ¡°We¡¯re just here to watch.¡± Let me be clear, this is not revenge for being betrayed. It¡¯s not that I spared Ashley because he¡¯s innocent, unable to fully understand the imperialnguage. It¡¯s just that if this guy joined in, the oue would be all too predictable. The existence of a duo like us is a mechanism to grow yable characters who choose the Scfey realm. They are the ones who give yable characters a reason to grind and train for more than three months. And they¡¯re the grateful ones who allow you to gain experience through battle. Wouldn¡¯t it be a shame to send them off without even getting a taste of the action? Therefore, this is not a petty revenge, but a dedication for those guys. ¡°¡­What are you lot doing?¡± Makdal raised his staff. As expected, Atra and Rix¡¯s group got a magical beating from Makdal. ¡°Wait, hold on! Where did that big brute go?¡± Atra¡¯s expression upon realizing Ashley¡¯s disappearance was priceless. ¡°Senior! Now¡¯s not the time to lose focus! Argh!¡± Rix, struck in the abdomen by a pumpkin-sized water orb, looked just as pitiful. ve and the others were getting electrocuted by a mix of elemental and curse-type lightning rod magic. I cheered for Makdal in my heart as I watched them. They say even a lion pushes its cubs off a cliff to make them stronger. That¡¯s how I feel. They will train diligently until they bleed and lose all unnecessary fat, all thanks to Makdal¡¯s presence. It¡¯s a bitter pill to swallow, but it¡¯s inevitable. For the sake of clearing the scenario, I had to be a heartless human being. ¡°¡­Even as yourrade suffers, you smile as if delighted.¡± ¡°My heart is crying.¡± Nevertheless, it¡¯s too regrettable to dismiss Makdal like this. They need to be pushed to grow, and it would fill my belly too. Licking my lips, I racked my brain and snapped my fingers at a brilliant idea. Hmm, if yed right, could this be quite the windfall? * * * Before I knew it, a week had passed. To summarize the events, rumors had spread that I had taken out Bidon. And then there¡¯s the treatment of Lee Injo. As expected, the incapacitated Bidon, injured to the point of immobility, is now imprisoned in the Punishment Hall due to the onught of reporters. On the other hand, Makdal was decided to stay after a secret discussion with Atra, the representative of Shulrape Management. ¡°What are you nning to do next? Are you going to take out Makdal as well?¡± ¡°Ahem, no. I¡¯ll leave Makdal to the care of Rix¡¯s group.¡± ¡°What? You¡¯re entrusting them? Have you forgotten how badly we were beaten even with me there?¡± There was some opposition, but when I mentioned my reasons, we reached a sort of agreement. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of training them. Makdal will make a suitable opponent. But I¡¯ll set a condition. If Makdal loses within a set time frame, it¡¯s fine to send him to the Punishment Hall.¡± Originally, Bidon should have been the sacrifice for growth, but that¡¯s a bit regrettable, though unavoidable. Makdal will have to y the role of two people by himself. It might as well be hell, enough to beg to be sent to the Punishment Hall¡­ And, I was able toe to a smooth agreement with Makdal himself. After hearing the rumors that I had taken out Bidon, his attitude changed 180 degrees. He became, somehow, much more humble. ¡°Hehe, are you talking about the coins I¡¯ve collected?¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking for just 10,000 aspensation for mental distress. It¡¯s not a bad deal, right? Considering I¡¯ve negotiated this far instead of sending you straight to the Punishment Hall.¡± Lee Injo had umted about 60,000 coins. The moment that righteous Rix wins, the coins will return to their rightful owner. But before that, I should secure my share. -But still, the full bloom is a bit¡­ -If you don¡¯t like it, too bad. Ah, there are quite a few guys gunning for you. You¡¯ll rot in the punishment cell with Veedon, penniless. Makdal seemed moved by my generosity and dly paid 10,000 coins. -But you, you¡¯ve lost a lot of weight recently? -¡­It¡¯s no wonder, with a guy named Rix and his gang constantly attacking me. So, Mr. Hersel, could you please talk to them? I might not live long at this rate¡­ -This is the training you were talking about, training. Anyway, do your best. The attacks from Rix and his group didn¡¯t stop after that. Sometimes he¡¯d barge into the third-year showers and swing his stick around, right? His upright character and steadfast nature are surely the driving force that allows for endless challenges until sess. ¡­To me, it seems like an obsession close to madness, but as long as he grows well, that¡¯s all that matters. And now. I continued to write down the entries on the documentsid out on my desk. The pen was of pretty good quality, so the writing felt different. ¡°Indeed, expensive things have their reasons.¡± What I was writing was the application form for the after-school sses, now open to first-year students as well. These were not mandatory subjects but sses that students could choose to learn as they wished. The variety of subjects was quite diverse; for the Knight Department, there were unconventional sses like martial arts and crossbow. Or, as a supplementary concept, the acquisition and refinement through the method of Aura. For the Magic Department, there were options like mana cultivation meditation or unconventional magic. Especially since I was far from conventional magic, with Limberton being good only with the bow and Ashleigh only with grappling attacks. In a way, these were more essential than thepulsory subjects. Moreover, with a supplementary ss temperament, it was an excellent opportunity for me, who had a short learning period. * * * The next day. I was on my way to the registration office with the after-school ss application form in hand. The elective subjects were, of course, unconventional magic and mana meditation. Unconventional magic was the heretic magic that Donatan would often spout about. It included irregr magic not systematically organized, and there might be magicpatible with my unique series, so it was worth applying for. And mana meditation was to increase my already low mana, even if just a little. After all, it¡¯s not every day that a defensive battle urs, and even Rix¡¯s blessing has its limits. A long line stretched out in front of the reception desk. The familiar faces from Schule Agency were nowhere to be found, even after a thorough search. It seemed like most were from Burger Agency, and a few from Adel Agency. I felt utterly out of ce. ¡°Hmm.¡± Perhaps the first-year knights of Schule Agency haven¡¯t finished their sses yet. Ashley and Limberton, whom I was supposed to meet here, were nowhere to be seen. With nothing else to do, I decided to sign up first and started to walk towards the line. But then, someone blocked my path. ¡°A new face, huh? Where are you from?¡± Three shy individuals approached me. I responded curtly under their scrutinizing gaze. ¡°Schule Agency.¡± The one who seemed to be the leader, with a 2:8 parted hairstyle, let out a smirk. ¡°¡­If you were a second or third-year, I¡¯d know you. A freshman, then?¡± He shrugged his shoulders and nced back at the others. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, you might not know the rules, right?¡± ¡°Hadal, since it¡¯s his first time, let¡¯s just exin briefly and let it slide.¡± ¡°Yeah. He¡¯s someone we¡¯ll make use of soon enough, no need to enforce discipline just yet.¡± They pretended to be considerate, but there was a sneer on their lips. Hadal, the one addressed, scrunched up his nose and spoke in an annoying tone. ¡°Ugh, smells like a washed rag. To think we have to share not only joint sses but additional ones with these ragamuffins¡­ Sorry, my stomach can¡¯t handle it.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± I remained silent, and Hadal gestured dismissively. ¡°If you understand, then would you mind getting lost?¡± Now I was curious. Was he from Adel Agency, perhaps? ¡°And where are you from?¡± Hadal blinked, as if he misheard. ¡°You¡¯re a bit short on words?¡± The two behind him chuckled as if they found something amusing. ¡°Are you acting tough because of Lee In-jo?¡± ¡°Vidon, that pervert got beaten by a freshman and was sent to the punishment hall, right? Makdal looks like he¡¯s caught a deadly disease, all pale and weak.¡± The moment came. These guys are from the Burger n. With the breakwater called Lee In-jo gone, creatures like these are spreading their wings. Anyway, they¡¯re not worth responding to. From noble mtl dote ¡°If you¡¯re done, could you step aside?¡± Despite the polite request, they just stood there with mischievous smiles. I was about to avoid the filth when suddenly, A kick flew in from somewhere and lodged itself in Hadal¡¯s abdomen. Thump! ¡°Ugh!¡± Hadal clutched his stomach and knelt on the ground. Turning around, a man with ck hair tinged with red looked down at him with a cold gaze. Behind him stood a professor in a ck robe, his eyes wide with disapproval. ¡°Lu, Luon Al Banas! What on earth are you doing?¡± The man didn¡¯t respond to the professor¡¯s call, just looked at me and smiled serenely. ¡°How have you been, Hershel?¡± This guy is a donation-based enrollee. And the current president of Lethe, as well as the first act boss of Frost Heart. The epithet that best describes him is this: The Mad Prince, Luon. Chapter 59 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 59 59. Daily Life (1) Luon Al Banas. It wasn¡¯t easy to decide how to deal with this man. Me, having left Lethe. And Luon, the current president. For my own safety, I should cut ties with Hershel¡¯s remnants, yet he¡¯s also a formidable enemy not worth crossing. Even if Lethe is nothing but a third-rate viinous mercenarypany, its top-tier members are certainly formidable. In the case of Frost Heart, there are three first-ss officers who are donation-based enrollees and Luon at the apex, and I¡¯ve juste face to face with the most dangerous of the specially managed ones. He smiled and asked how I was doing, so I suppose a nomittal attitude was in order. ¡°I¡¯ve been fine, Ruon.¡± Ruon blinked slowly. As someone often described as a prince, even his smallest gestures seemed refined. ¡°That¡¯s a relief. But about what you said, leaving Lethe. Were you serious?¡± ¡­I have no choice but to draw the line here. If I get involved, I¡¯ll end up getting burned too. ¡°That¡¯s right. My decision stands even now.¡± I expected Ruon to show some hostility here. But his face remained unchanged, as if such a thing were possible. ¡°If you change your mind, feel free toe back anytime. I¡¯ll take care of the issues with Rendel on my end.¡± His friendly demeanor made me doubt if he was the same person I remembered. He usually maintains his dignity, but just a moment ago, he kicked someone in front of the professor. The subtle madness hidden behind his handsome facade is like the surface of water. Touch it, and it erupts like a ssh. My decision to leave should have been enough to provoke him, yet only pure goodwill shone in his eyes. Then a nomittal answer would be best. ¡°Well, I might consider it.¡± Ruon smiled gently and nodded. Then the professor aimed his staff at Ruon¡¯s neck. ¡°If you¡¯re done talking, follow me. We¡¯ll discuss the consequences of your actions this evening.¡± ¡°Then I shall take my leave. Hope to see you again.¡± With those words, Ruon left. Watching his retreating figure, I felt a twinge of sympathy. The living conditions for schrship students are said to be better than Shphe¡¯s, but being under such scrutiny by the professor must be ufortable. But what can you do? They are the ones branded for disposal by their own families. I¡¯ve heard that the special ward was created because some express their betrayal with extreme anger or even resort to suicide¡­ But if they endure without trouble for a year, they¡¯ll be released from surveince. However, Ruon will never enjoy that freedom. Like most bosses, he too is destined to be vanquished by the protagonists. I tore my gaze away from Ruon and recalled what I had to do. Right, I was about to line up for ss registration. As I turned around, something caught my foot, and I looked down. ¡°Eek!¡± A guy with a side-parted hairstyle was sitting on the floor, looking up at me with a terrified face. The reactions of the two behind him were simr. Ah, right. There were guys picking a fight. ¡°Huh, if it isn¡¯t Hersel¡­ The freshman who pinned that Bidon guy to the top of the wall, right?¡± ¡°And the eldest son of the Tenest family. If you don¡¯t want to get hurt, better scram quietly.¡± The two left the side-parted guy behind and disappeared quietly. I asked the one left behind bluntly. ¡°Did you have a problem with me trying to register for sses?¡± ¡°No, nothing¡­¡± ¡°Hmm, I remember there being a problem. Are you implying I¡¯m going senile?¡± ¡°Just, just a joke. A joke.¡± Suddenly feeling bored, I feigned a kick, making my knee twitch slightly. At that, the side-parted guy spread his palms as if to shield himself, letting out a whimper. ¡°Eek!¡± This act was somewhat amusing. * * * The special ward is located right below the principal¡¯s office. asionally, Principal Akandrices down to check on things, bringing snacks and whatnot, but those who rebel receive a merciless hammering. Behind each picture hanging on the walls, their traces were hidden. ¡°Ruon Al Banas. You dared tomit assault right under the watchful eyes of a professor?¡± As the principal gripped Ruon¡¯s head, the students in the special ward thought another frame would be added to the collection. ¡°That¡¯s right. Kicked right in the sr plexus.¡± Ruon¡¯s tone was as nonchnt as if he were having an everyday conversation, which made veins pop on Akandric¡¯s forehead. ¡°¡­It¡¯s good that you admit it, but it seems you need a lesson in love.¡± With that, Akandric hurled Ruon against the wall, body and all. Bang! Luon was mmed against the wall like a nail. Soon after, he extricated himself and, with a nonchnt gesture, dusted off the debris from his hair and shoulders. Akandrik, with a smirk of satisfaction, grabbed therge basket that was ced at his feet. ¡°Leave today¡¯s snacks here.¡± Arge basket was ced on the table. Inside, it was packed with a variety of snacks, from cookies to bread. ¡°And Luon, make sure you¡¯re notte for today¡¯s training.¡± Akandrik, who always dragged him into training, deeming him worthy of learning his swordsmanship. Despite his sternness, Luon shook his head. ¡°I told you I would go when I feel like it.¡± ¡°Tsk. Everyone else begs to be taught, but you¡¯re just nonchnt.¡± Akandrik clicked his tongue and left the special hall. Only the students remained in the special hall. Apart from one isted person, three approached Luon. The isted man nced at those who approached Luon, then slipped away. ¡°Are you okay, Luon?¡± ¡°Just a bit of a headache, nothing serious.¡± ¡°Ugh, that ignorant old man. He¡¯s really out to kill someone.¡± The man, as if recalling the time he was mmed during the entrance ceremony, tightly wrapped his head. Luon diverted his gaze from him and looked at the basket full of food. ¡®The rod of love¡­¡¯ He could faintly sense the deep affection in Akandrik¡¯s violence. Indeed, having seen him bend steel during training, mming against the wall was nothing more than tossing a mischievous child onto the bed. Luon picked up a piece of bread from the basket with a warm gaze. ¡°Akandrik is serious. He wants us to be reformed.¡± The bread still retained its warmth. Savoring the warmth transferred to his hand, Luon drew a straight arc with his eyes. But his gaze was only murky. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t suit our temperament.¡± ¡°I sympathize, Ruon. I don¡¯t want to spend a year here.¡± ¡°The surveince is so intense, it¡¯s making me itch. So, what¡¯s your n?¡± To the men¡¯s questions, Ruon simply replied while taking a bite of his bread. ¡°For now, it¡¯s wise to curry favor with the old man. He does teach quite useful swordsmanship, after all.¡± Ruon swallowed his bread in one gulp and continued. ¡°Besides, at our level, we can¡¯t even scratch the old man. Unless we have some special means, it¡¯s better to quietly wait for an opportunity.¡± ¡°Means?¡± ¡°There must be something. Thisnd is truly strange. Just the stories I¡¯ve overheard are bizarre enough. Tales of graduates leaving behind peculiar tools, secret spaces, and students asionally disappearing.¡± Some even bbered that the academy had hidden cursed tools created by the dungeon. Though it sounds far-fetched, we are above a dungeon. And sometimes, warnings to be cautious of something appear on the rule mirror, so it¡¯s worth checking if the rumors are true. ¡°First, we need to investigate ways to neutralize the old man. Until then, keep sharpening your de. This ce is littered with whetstones. There¡¯s no better ce to be stronger.¡± This academy is a hall of learning, determined to elevate even the students who dislike it. There was knowledge hard toe by outside, and plenty of time to dedicate to training all day long. The two men nodded in agreement. However, one man, who had been silently listening, asked with an uneasy voice. ¡°I understand your n. But why leave Hersel alone? Or are you seriously considering putting him back in the chairman¡¯s seat?¡± The two men also agreed on this point. ¡°I think so too. Even if we overlook his withdrawal, Hersel has meddled with the underlings. If we leave it as is, the system won¡¯t hold.¡± ¡°Right, Ruon. You said we¡¯d handle that ourselves. But stepping in like this is problematic.¡± Ruon rxed his eyes as he answered. ¡°He has a unique charisma. Even with insignificant power, he has the talent to captivate people. Moreover, he¡¯s now strong enough to easily take down Vidon. The rumor that he survived the monster might even be true.¡± The man who initially opposed narrowed his brows. ¡°¡­I admit that, but in reality, you¡¯re the one who raised Lethe to this point. It¡¯s been running fine even without Hersel¡¯s contact for nearly a year. I oppose his return.¡± Ruon looked at him with cold eyes. The man flinched and closed his mouth. ¡°Whether he returns or not is still uncertain. It¡¯s too early to talk about it. If he epts the offer, then we¡¯ll discuss it again. For now, let¡¯s not touch on this.¡± The three men quietly nodded. Ruon may have his own thoughts, but I can only hope it¡¯s not out of a shred of sentimentality. * * * It must have been just two weeks since I enrolled. Exhausted by the series of events that unfolded one after another without a moment to adapt, I decided to clear my head for a while. Yet, thoughts burst forth uncontrobly. From the entrance exam, getting marked by Rockefeller, being sent to the Schlepp coffin, and then, barely two dayster, the defense battle came crashing in, and we eliminated Bidon. And now, having caught the eye of that guy Ruon, thinking I could easily rid myself of worries was near impossible. ¡°I¡¯m already missing the mansion.¡± Back then, it was only tough for two and a half months, but after the festival ended, it was peaceful. I need a stress-free, tranquil daily life. Fortunately, I had in my hand a piece of paper that would let me taste such a life, if only for a moment. It was a letter from Mircel and Niasel. ¡°¡­Proud of those guys.¡± I guess there¡¯s a reward for treating them well. It seems that the letter I wrote managed to get through the strict censorship of Frost Heart, who¡¯s always harping on about security. With a tingling nose, I decided to cast aside all my troubles for the moment and unfolded Niasel¡¯s letter first. But the hallway was insanely noisy. ¡°Found him! Found Madal! Over here, Rix!!¡± ¡°aaargh! Leave me alone, you crazies!!¡± Hold on. It¡¯ll pass soon. ¡°Sir Hersel! Sir Hersel!! Please open the door!!!¡± Madal was pounding on my door. At the peak of my stress, I ced the letter on the desk, opened the door, and shouted loudly. ¡°Quiet!!¡± ¡°So, sorry. But there¡¯s a reason for all this. Please let me in for a moment. I have something urgent to tell you¡­¡± Madal pleaded with teary eyes, begging with his hands. What was more concerning was the dark circles clearly blooming under his eyes and his cheeks, which had be even more hollow. ¡°¡­You seem to be in worse shape?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even mention it. Now they barge in even at dawn, making my life miserable.¡± At that moment, Rix and his gang crowded in front of my door. Their condition didn¡¯t look great, with bruises around their eyes or cheeks swollen to the point of puffiness. Yet, the sparkle in his eyes was as persistent as that of a chatan who believed in his own truth, steadily rising. I had no choice but to coax Rix gently. ¡°¡­Let¡¯s call it a day for now.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? Hershel. You¡¯re the one who said to get stronger by fighting him. Once I set the goal to definitely take him down, I started training every day. I can feel the progress. I can¡¯t afford to waste even a single day.¡± The guys behind him also defended Rix. ¡°Right, we¡¯vee up with a new strategy this time.¡± ¡°I have a good feeling about this. I think we can win.¡± ¡°Makdal, you rascal. Stop hiding ande out!¡± These crazy fools. I had to side with Makdal, thinking that the power enhancer could break down like this. ¡°Are you guys trying to kill Makdal with exhaustion, not by skill?¡± Rix looked at the ground with a face of shame. ¡°Well, that¡¯s¡­ We¡¯ve attacked so often, it¡¯s no wonder he¡¯s tired. Maybe we were mistaken about getting stronger.¡± I encouraged Rix just enough not to break his spirit. ¡°No, you guys are getting stronger. Just look at this guy, he¡¯s run all the way here. Isn¡¯t that proof enough?¡± Then I gave Makdal a knowing look. ¡°¡­Yes, yes. Right, you guys. I thought I was going to get hit today!¡± Rix and his gang lifted their drooping heads. Then they smirked and red at Makdal, and that look was truly chilling. I felt pity for Makdal, who was experiencing hell alone without any money. ¡°Take a break for today, Rix. Tell the others the same.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s back off for today then.¡± As Rix led his gang away, Makdal confided in me. ¡°Those guys, they¡¯re not your ordinary crazies. Especially that Rix, he¡¯s definitely aplete nutcase. No matter how much we beat him, he just doesn¡¯t give up, really¡­¡± Rix had a stubborn side to him. That meant he was diligent enough to turn even the tasks others hated into a daily routine if necessary. And he had a trait that stimted hispanions¡¯ motivation, a ¡®gentle charisma.¡¯ ¡°Just rx and rest in your room for now. It¡¯s a holiday today, after all.¡± ¡°Excuse me, but may I ask you for one more favor?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Please, Mr. Hershel, could you persuade those guys to stop bothering me¡ª¡± ¡°No way. Go back. Just disappear.¡± This guy thinks he can neglect his duties just because he took my side once. ¡°Then, at least, would you please join me for a meal at the cafeteria?¡± ¡°The cafeteria?¡± ¡°Yes, yes. Actually, I haven¡¯t been able to even lift a spoon because those guys barge in all the time.¡± ¡­So that¡¯s why he lost weight. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what Rix said? He won¡¯t bother you today.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t trust those b*stards. I just want to have a peaceful meal for once.¡± His suspicion seems to have reached a point of neurosis. With no other choice, I took him to the cafeteria and bought him whatever he wanted to eat. Makdal cried like a child, thanking me over and over again. Having regained peace, I returned to my dorm room and read the letter Niasel had written. The first page was a drawing that seemed like it was done by a child. No, considering the next page was also a drawing, it seems to be a picture diary. ¡°Oh, did you start raising a parrot?¡± Next was a depiction of Niasel learning magic. I clicked my tongue as I observed the drawing closely. From noble mtl dote ¡°Seriously, someone secretly enrolled in the Department of Magic and they just let it slide because it¡¯s a girl.¡± Still, a smile spread across my lips without me realizing it. Just hearing about these trivial daily happenings feels purifying. It¡¯s as if my mind, steeped in the bleakness of this ce, is also bing clearer. ¡°Tsk.¡± Unfortunately, the picture diary ended there. Well, let¡¯s see what Mircel has written in his letter. ¡°¡­¡­¡± As soon as I opened the letter, my expression fell. There was only one sheet of paper. And on it, just onerge sentence. But, the sentence this guy wrote seems quite ominous? ¡°Bro, you¡¯ve been well, right? I¡¯m dying of boredom here. I want to go there too.¡± You want toe here? Chapter 60 1-Second Invincible yer In The Game 60 60. Daily Life (2) As I was puzzled over Mircel¡¯s letter, the outside became noisy. Must be those rascals from Makdal and Rix again. I frowned deeply and opened the door. The cause of themotion, contrary to my expectations, was Limbutton and Rockefeller, who was yelling at him. ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve, Limbutton Bell Delsi. To think of sending such a letter to Lady Rullen.¡± Rockefeller read aloud what was presumed to be Limbutton¡¯s letter in a dry, monotone voice as if reading a book in the hallway. ¡°Mom. This ce is insane. Take me away right now. The professors don¡¯t care even if students die. I¡¯m digging a tunnel, so please send me even a single word, Limbutton.¡± People who came out to the hallway at themotion puffed their cheeks and snickered. ¡°Oh, there are teardrop stains here. Did you cry while writing this?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not it¡­ Professor.¡± ¡°I must have warned you. Everything about the Academy is subject to censorship.¡± ¡°Just look at it once, please¡­¡± Limbutton rubbed his hands together pleadingly. Rockefeller, as if it was out of the question, pulled out more letters from his pocket and read them. This time, he addedments as well¡­ ¡°Hmm, ¡®It¡¯s too cold here. I need the scarf Mom knitted for me. I should have stayed home just like Mom said. Why did Ie to this cursed Academy.¡¯ Well, this one¡¯s intent on spilling the beans.¡± With his raised cane, Rockefeller cast ¡®the curse of control¡¯ on Limbutton. ¡°aaargh!¡± Limbutton foamed at the mouth and copsed to the floor. Watching Rockefeller, I deduced the real reason he hade here. It was absurd to think that the top-ranked professor woulde just to punish someone for breaking censorship. There could only be one purpose. ¡°Have you been well? Hassel Ben Tenest.¡± He must havee to pick a fight with me. ¡°What business do you have with me?¡± I asked sharply, and Rockefeller approached with a smirk. His lifted corners of the mouth trembled as if they were heavy, and his forehead was lined with veins. The forced smile was tantly obvious. Why is this person acting like this? Could it be¡­ ¡°Ah, it¡¯s nothing. I wanted to talk about Mirsel Ben Tenest¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested.¡± I cut him off and mmed the door shut. Bang! My bad feeling was right on the mark. It seems the professors have read Mirsel¡¯s letter through their censorship. And then they must have urgently informed Rockefeller. Just because Mirsel said he wanted toe, we¡¯re now in a state of emergency. It¡¯s no wonder the professors are going crazy; he¡¯s the top recruit that even the royal academies and the pce are eyeing. ¡°No matter how talented the kid is, to think of bringing such a young child, still with baby fat on his face, to a ce like this, these insane people¡­¡± I decided to block my ears and try to sleep until Rockefeller, who kept knocking, would tire himself out. Knock, knock, knock! ¡°Hersel Ben Tenest! I have something to talk to you about!¡± Keep trying, do you think I¡¯ll open up? After an hour of Rockefeller pounding on the door, I managed to protect Mirsel from those child abusers. But what in the world is thedy of the house doing while the child is causing such trouble? * * * ¡°You were told no, weren¡¯t you?¡± Nowadays, refusales out as soon as I open my mouth. Ahol sighed deeply as he looked at Ahile. ¡°That kid¡¯s stubbornness is just like yours. And he¡¯s like me too. You know he¡¯s the type to do more when told not to, right?¡± Ahol was stuck in the middle, a headache for sure. The wife may be cold, buttely, Mirsel has been so down, barely putting effort into training. Sometimes he res with a cat-like face from both sides. To find peace, apromise had to be reached somehow. ¡°Besides, even if he¡¯s still a child, having two brothers means there¡¯s less to worry about.¡± ¡°We have parents here, so there¡¯s even less to worry about.¡± ¡°If we keep refusing, things might go awry.¡± ¡°Hershel also went astray because the Duke raised him too indulgently.¡± ¡°That guy was a bit strange from his childhood.¡± Such fruitless arguments continued. Ahille, tired of the meaningless conversation, slumped her shoulders. In truth, she must have been exhausted too. She had tried to appease Mircelle¡¯s mood time and again, but all that returned was a sullen response. ¡°If this goes on, our rtionship with Mircelle might be ruined for life. Think carefully.¡± Eventually, as if she had surrendered, she let out a deep sigh. ¡°¡­they say no parent can win against their child. I never dreamed it woulde to this.¡± At the positive response, Aol smiled inwardly. ¡°But, there¡¯s a condition.¡± ¡°A condition?¡± ¡°If Mircelle wants toe home, please make arrangements so she cane immediately. That should be easy for you, right?¡± Aol nodded. There might be no expulsion process at Frost Heart, but if the student is Mircelle, it¡¯s a different story. If they refuse the demands we propose, we can just pretend it never happened. If they change their word after admission, we¡¯ll lead the knights, and the necks of Acanthric and the professors will be trophies in the basement. ¡®It¡¯s been empty since the monster ate everything anyway.¡¯ But Ahille¡¯s demands didn¡¯t end there. ¡°Make sure Mircellees home to y once a month, send a personal maid too¡­ Oh, and it seems Erucele might need a maid as well.¡± ¡°Ahem, Erucele said herself she doesn¡¯t need one.¡± ¡°Right, it¡¯s a bit much to force it on a child who¡¯s against it.¡± At that moment, as if the hostess had a brilliant idea, her eyes widened. ¡°Oh, and please, stop keeping such disgusting things in the basement. I¡¯ve been dissatisfied with living above such things underfoot. It doesn¡¯t look good to the guests either.¡± Asking to stop collecting trophies¡­? Just as Aol was about to speak, Ahille cut in first. ¡°Mircelle? I know you¡¯re eavesdropping from there. Come here.¡± ¡°Okay, Mom.¡± Mircelle, who had been hiding behind the wall, peeked out and ran into Ahille¡¯s embrace. Achille stroked Mirsel¡¯s head and looked at Aol. ¡°Father gave up his precious hobby for you. What did he say to say at times like this?¡± ¡°Thank you, Dad.¡± Mirsel looked up with expectant eyes. Eventually, under the pressure, Aol squeezed out a reluctant voice. ¡°¡­Alright. Let¡¯s do that.¡± Aol narrowed his eyes at Achille and Mirsel, his eyebrows twitching. ¡°?!¡± As they exchanged such understanding nces, for some reason, he felt betrayed. At that moment, he wondered if these two had been in cahoots from the start. Perhaps Achille had long intended to give in to Mirsel¡¯s stubbornness and take advantage of this opportunity to reap all the benefits. And Mirsel had some sort of agreement that he would let him go if he met the conditions, which probably wasn¡¯t about giving up collecting trophies. ¡­Surely, it couldn¡¯t really be that? * * * I was a bit restlessst night because of the knock from the ck devil. Still, Mirsel is still young, so there¡¯s no way he woulde here. With that reassurance, I went down to the first-floor lobby to attend ss. While walking and chatting with the two knights, Limbutton asked. ¡°A club? Is there one you want to join?¡± ¡°Not really thinking of joining. Just looking to invest from a business perspective.¡± ¡°Investment?¡± There are all sorts of clubs, from alchemy to clothing production, and while some have pure intentions, many are groups aimed at making profits from students. Given the nature of business, the development and production of goods can be costly, and even if products areunched, failures are numerous. For such folks, investment is something to wee with open arms. ¡°If you put in money, you get dividends. It¡¯s much better than just keeping the coins collected.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ That¡¯s kind of interesting.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re interested, follow me after school. The quality of the goods is decent enough to be worth a look.¡± The quality of the goods made by the students isn¡¯t too bad. They inherit the know-how umted by the seniors like a tradition in each club, and thanks to the wisdom imparted by the professors. Ashley also seemed interested, opening up an imperialnguage dictionary. His finger pointed to the word ¡®Investment¡¯. ¡°Investment means earning.¡± ¡°Right, investment. It means you put in money to get more back.¡± Then he pointed to the word ¡®Loss¡¯. ¡°Loss is losing something.¡± ¡°Exactly. If you¡¯re not careful, you could end up blowing your money away. You have to be cautious when choosing where to invest.¡± Ashley nodded as if she understood. I felt a bit of pride at that sight. Such amendable fellow. Really diligent in studying the imperialnguage. * * * The club building was situated within the fortress. The academy had even dedicated two whole floors to club activities, and the scale was almost like a marketce. As soon as we entered the first floor, Limberton scanned the lined-up signs and expressed his doubt. ¡°I¡¯ve been here before, but why are there so many clubs selling clothes?¡± ¡°There must be at least seven garment-making clubs?¡± ¡°Not just one but seven? Is that even allowed?¡± ¡°Even if the themes ovep, the academy allows it. Especially for clubs like garment-making where you don¡¯t need many members.¡± The minimum number of members to start a club was three. Food-rted clubs were probably the next most numerous after garment-making. ¡°Ah, I want to get a suit tailored, but I don¡¯t know which one to go into¡­¡± As Limberton said this, the people from the garment-making clubs¡¯ eyes shone. They red at each other sharply like predators fighting over prey. And then they desperately appealed to us with their eyes to please get our clothes tailored from them. Limberton approached the stall with the most girls. ¡°Oh my, you three there. New faces, are you freshmen?¡± ¡°Wow, look at the leg length on that blonde junior. The clothes will hang well on you, can we take your measurements?¡± As two girls approached him, Limberton winked and let out a sleazyugh. ¡°How about you measure my size instead of this guy¡¯s? Oh, of course, I¡¯m not talking about that size. Hahaha!¡± In an instant, the two women backed away with faces as if they had seen a cockroach. Eventually, he was reced by a male member, and Limberton let out a deep sigh. ¡°I¡¯ll take the measurements for that short guy over there.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± Since we¡¯re here to buy clothes, maybe I should get Ashleigh one too. ¡­I can¡¯t let him wear animal skins forever. ¡°Ashleigh, you should get fitted for a suit too. If the environment changes, you need the appropriate attire.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Ashleigh nodded and took the tape measure. The unfamiliar sensation made him twitch, and the women measuring him chuckled as if they found it cute. ¡°Wow, look at those muscles.¡± ¡°Hey, hey, you¡¯re touching too much, girl.¡± Watching the scene, Limberton¡¯s eyes reddened. While the two were getting their custom clothes, I guess I should go look for a club room to invest in. ¡°I have some business on the second floor, so I¡¯ll be back in a bit.¡± With that, he went up the stairs. The attire of the people roaming the second floor looked expensive just from the fabric. The counters were also more sophisticated than those on the first floor, adorned with polished wood and signs as if they were from a specialty store, dazzling to the eye. Thus, the second floor was a ce only for those with money, a ce the poor of the Shulrape n couldn¡¯t even dream of. But in my possession, I have over 13,000 coins. So many that I could exchange them for ck coins, each worth 1,000, making me the richest freshman. I¡¯ve long since left Riamon in the dust. So, shall I make an investment? ¡­Let¡¯s see, I¡¯ve thought about it roughly. The Alchemy Club? It¡¯s good that it has the lowest risk, but the dividends are the least, which is a drawback. Still, it¡¯s the best option. Food is too high return, high risk. Trends change too often, and one sanitation issue can ruin everything. The club that makes school supplies or fancy goods is at a moderate level. There¡¯s always a steady demand, after all. Anyway, with so many clubs around, I sometimes get a bit confused about where I¡¯ve invested whenever I start at Frost Heart. The names are all so simr that I needed to check for myself. As I read the signs one by one and walked, I asionally felt piercing stares. Passersby snickered at my outfit, and the vendors seemed to hope I wouldn¡¯te over, firmly nted in their seats. Their reactions weren¡¯t entirely iprehensible. It¡¯s been less than three weeks since the new students arrived, so my face would be unfamiliar, and it¡¯s natural to assume I¡¯m a freshman. They must be thinking, ¡°A freshman here, without money?¡± Well, except for those Adele Hall guys. They¡¯re the future big shots, so the club members must have memorized their faces. They are them, and I am me. On my way, I stopped in my tracks at the sight of a notable hide. [Nile¡¯s Alchemy Workshop] Not just a stall, but a shop with windows. It belonged to a rather expensive spot. To think that the hide of the alpha ice bull I caught was hanging there, it was quite surprising. ¡­Why is that in the alchemy club? I heard from Selly that it was sold to the sewing club. As I gazed intently, a woman who was sitting jumped out. ¡°Wee.¡± My eyes widened at the familiar face. This is definitely the alchemy club I always invested in whenever I started at Frost Heart. Among the alchemy clubs, it was the most stable and had the best dividends. ¡°Hmm? A freshman?¡± She examined my appearance and her eyebrows twitched. I nodded in response. Then she asked me again. ¡°Which dormitory are you from?¡± ¡°Scf¨¦.¡± I answered honestly, and she beamed with a smile. Then she uttered words contrary to her expression. ¡°Get lost.¡± From noble mtl dote ¡°¡­¡­¡± This woman seems to think I¡¯m no better than those trash from the Schleife dorm. She doesn¡¯t even know how much I have in my wallet. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!