6 - 10

Chapter 6

The Heart of Harungel (3)

Seria finished running along with the previous trainees.

"Fourth place, good work."

She sat in a seat off to one side and watched the other trainees run through the vacant lot.

'Redin'

Seria watched him carefully as he ran with a calm expression. He didn't seem to be struggling. Breathing and movement were also concise.

Before she came here.

She'd completed a background check on the trainees in this class. But the only one she had no information on was Redin.

'What's the identity?'

When she first met him, Seria thought he was just a dork. He looked weird talking to himself.

Then that guy dismantled the magic bombs.

Its structure is so complex that it is absolutely impossible to do it unless you are a bomb maker or someone who knows how to dismantle it.

That means…

Redin was either the creator or the one who knew how to dismantle it, which meant he had to be part of the Magnes organization.

It's not even a spherical bomb.

Because it was the latest magic bomb.

'But he defused it…'

Seria thought he was going to be put in solitary confinement for a long time and investigated. She didn't know that he would be released in less than a day.

On top of that, Redin missed the declaration ceremony.

It's clear that Reddin has a powerful backer behind him. That background is probably a high-ranking person who worked with Magnes.

Otherwise, it just doesn't make sense.

'I have to uncover his identity.'

Seria didn't know why he infiltrated Burning Hell Prison.

The moment he does something.

All new trainess will be re-investigated. There's no guarantee that she'll get off scot-free.

'Absolutely not.'

Only one change after ten years. She gritted her teeth and trained and planned to rescue her dad from this prison.

Seria can't let other organizations ruin a cause she've spent a decade working on.

She clenched her fists tightly.

"After breakfast, we'll meet back here by 8:00."

"Yes!"

As the trainees stood up one by one and headed for the cafeteria, Seria rose from her seat.

At the same time, She put on a mask.

The original intention was hidden deep inside. Instead, she brought out a woman his own age, bright, energetic, and innocent.

She stood up belatedly and moved in front of Redin.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Okay. Heather, you go ahead, I'll catch up."

When Redin turned his head again and made eye contact, his expression remained stoic.

Managing facial expressions that are not peer-friendly.

Usually, people get nervous about their appearance, or worse, stutter, but Redin didn't show any of that.

Now that she was sure he was wearing a mask, Seria smiled even wider.

"You weren't at the ceremony yesterday, were you?"

However, Redin looked at Seria without answering.

A frosty look.

An expressionless expression, not knowing what he was thinking, turned to Seria.

'I guess you didn't expect me to be watching? Seeing that he can't even answer.'

Seeing that, Seria's lips curled up even more.

"I want to skip the ceremony too… How can I get away with it?"

At that moment, Redin's expression changed.

A wicked grin appeared on his grim face.

Goosebumps all over her body.

"That's your problem."

"Wha?"

"When I think about it, it is absurd. Shouldn't you apologize to me first?"

"apologize?"

"Forget it. I was wrong to expect an apology from a kid like you in the first place."

"Tsk"

Clicking his tongue, Reddin turned away.

By the time he was completely out of sight, Seria's gaze had turned cold.

'The acting is top-notch.'

That's not possible unless you're highly trained. Instead of being embarrassed, he evaded the question by changing the subject.

And.

The last conversation struck her as odd.

'A kid like me?'

There was something about the way he spoke and the look in his eyes that told me he knew something. Seria realized it would be dangerous to leave him alone.

Her mouth felt dry.

Chances are, he've got some skills. It's worth checking his skills before making a move.

'I'm going to throw a few people at him.'

Last night.

Seria found the right ones.

Two things she can use and throw away.

Blue and blonde hair from the kingdom of Ravino. If she coax them well, they'll move on their own.

'I'm going to use them to see how strong he is.'

"Anyone who gets in my way…"

I'm not going to leave you alone.

* * *

After the afternoon training, Redin had dinner with Heather.

Tonight's dinner is tonkatsu.

Redin dipped the crispy fried pork cutlet into the sauce and took a bite. The crispness and juiciness of the pork cutlet made him swoon.

It's really good.

It is on a different level from the delivery food he ordered and ate before he came here in this world. The menu is the same, but the taste is incomparable.

Obsessed with the pork cutlet, Redin moved his fork around the plate frantically.

"Redin."

"What?"

Redin looked up and saw Heather watching him. When he turned his gaze, two guys from Ravino Kingdom were looking this way.

What are they excited about.

They were chuckling to themselves.

"Let's just ignore them and eat our food."

"Is that okay?"

"What is?"

"I don't think they're going to stay still.."

"Don't worry, they won't have the strength to hurt us once we get to the ceremony."

Because starting today, there will be something extra special.

"Uh… yeah. I see."

Heather turned his head away and ate, and as he did, Redin looked over at Seria.

Eating a meal while chatting with other female trainees.

Then our eyes met, and she winked and smiled.

As if to show off.

It's like a provocation.

As he watch Seria move as he predicted her to, I laugh to myself.

From hanging around all day, to chatting with the guys from the Ravino Kingdom.

Several things started to click for me.

The sense that Seria has determined me to be an enemy and will move to eliminate me.

I popped the remaining cutlet into my mouth.

'Okay, let's go get ready for that.'

"Heather, I'll go ahead first."

"Uh… where are you going?"

"I have to run a quick errand. I'll meet you back at the quarters."

Redin got up from his seat, returned his plate, left the restaurant, and made my way to the giant stone bridge.

The sole entrance to Burning Hell.

Hell's Bridge.

It was wide enough for five carriages to travel at the same time, and in the center of the bridge was a clock tower with the number 6.

The emblem is a white shield and a cross.

It is the flag of the Holy Empire, a nation that believes in the creator god Bertia and is the only one of the six kingdoms to be ruled by a pope rather than a king.

Human life is precious.

Even if they are the sinful ones.

… was one of the official settings of the Bern Chronicle Game, in which the death penalty was abolished.

"Redin?"

Let go and look at the front.

There was Vergo, dressed in his work uniform.

"Senior Vergo."

"Where are you going?"

"I had an errand for Instructor Rohan, so I was on my way to the prison."

"Really?"

Vergo shook his head, sending the other senior by his side first.

"Follow me. I'll show you around."

'Although I know the way to go.'

They'll be suspicious if Redin says he's going alone.

"Okay."

Silently, Redin followed Vergo to Rohan's office in the prison.

"What's up with the instructor?"

"I need to ask him a favor."

"What request?"

He frowned thoughtfully.

Then Vergo shook his head in response.

"Hmmm… there it is. Right there."

"Thanks."

*knock, knock*

"It's Redin."

When Redin knocked and gave his name, He heard Instructor Rohan's voice inside.

"Come in."

Redin opened the door and stepped inside.

A small space with just one desk for working and a small table for entertaining guests.

Even the table is full of piles of papers.

His cold image and personality reflected in the room.

"What is going on?"

Looking at the documents, Rohan asked.

"I'm here to ask for a favor."

"Tell me."

"I'd like to have a sword in my arsenal."

"What did you originally have?"

"The ship blew up and fell into the ocean."

Rohan signed the last of the papers and lifted his face.

"Is that really enough?"

The implication is that even better favors can be granted, but a visit to the armory is a start.

"yes"

"Is anyone out there?"

Just then, Vergo slipped into the room.

"Yes."

"Take him down to the armory and get him a sword. Take this with you and they'll let you through."

"Thank you, sir!"

He took the paper with Rohan's seal. They left the office and walked to the armory.

Not far from my office.

Two prison guards stood guard in front of the armory.

Vergo stepped in front of them.

"Instructor Rohan's orders were to give the new recruit a sword."

"Where's the statement?"

He hands over the paper in his hand.

After confirming this, the guard opens the armory with the key on his pocket.

*squeak*

Upon entering, Redin saw a row of neatly organized swords. He walked past them and headed inside.

That moment.

Arrakis's eyes activated, and his surroundings turned green.

Also.

Redin walked down the long corridor and stood in front of the wall at the end. Just as in the cell, there was writing on it.

Redin put his hand on it.

[You have recovered Harungel's heart 2].

[You realized some of Harungel's insights].

[Swordsmanship's combat theory is imprinted in your head].

Literally.

The ways in which you should fight your opponents.

Places, environments, weapons, and more.

Theories of how to win under various constraints were etched in his head.

The original purpose was accomplished.

He grabs a random sword and heads out.

"Oh?"

In the corner where the unmanaged swords were gathered, there was something glowing green.

A plain sword hilt in an old scabbard.

The moment he picks up the seemingly unremarkable sword.

[You have acquired the famed sword 'Cairo'].

One of the three famous swords possessed by Sword Saint Harungel, the sword Cairo used in his childhood.

In addition.

Unable to bear his growing insanity, he took up the sword to end his own life and stabbed himself in the heart.

That sword was Cairo.

The Sword of the Beginning and the End.

[Ding!]

[You have obtained the first three levels of Harungel's Arcane Swordsmanship].

jackpot

Page 2

Chapter 7

The Heart of Harungel (4)

Sword Saint Harungel's swordsmanship.

Because it belonged to a man of his generation, it was esoteric and difficult, and it required mana to use.

There are 3 symbols left.

Mana discipline, spells, and sword arts theory.

It's unlikely that he'll be able to use proper swordsmanship, at least until he's gotten some mana training and swordsmanship theory.

I'll have to collect them diligently.

"Senior, from today on, I'll just participate in the declaration ceremony."

"You don't want to take it out?"

"yes"

Redin's reason for returning to the training is to improve his physical condition. He haven't yet adapted to the physicality of the second grade.

To get to the next level, Redin needs to adapt to his current body.

starting with power control.

How long he can last in extreme conditions.

If he go to the next step without doing that, It's likely that he'll just go run out of control.

In that sense, it's a very good training exercise.

By pushing his body to the limit, He'll know exactly what his limits are.

Fatigue is easily resolved by opening up the channels.

"Okay, then."

"Let's go up first."

Redin arrived at the accommodations and parted ways with Vergo.

As he walked up the stairs to the top floor, other trainees were chatting in their rooms.

Redin walked past them and stood in front of the room at the end.

Unlike the other rooms, the door was closed. Redin turned the knob and found the door locked.

*Click!*

*Click!*

It's those Ravino bastards.

"Hey kids, let's have some fun today!"

"You have one minute, everyone meet in the clearing."

The door opened with the voices of the seniors echoing from below.

As expected.

The two members of the Ravino Kingdom snickered and walked out of the room. Redin watched them go, tapping him on the shoulder, and then turned his attention back to the room.

Heather stood there, legs trembling.

"Are you okay?"

"uh…"

"We can talk about the details later. Let's get downstairs."

* * *

It's a pitch black night.

The second day of the declaration ceremony arrived.

"Today I have a gift for you all."

The first year officers handed us black handcuffs. They are the same ones you saw the prisoners wearing on the ship.

The difference is that it's only half.

A prisoner-only artifact made of a special material that prevents you from using the mana in your body.

"They're going to be with you for the next week, so treat them well."

"What are you doing. Hurry up and handcuff yourself!"

Handcuffs were placed on the wrists.

He didn't have any mana, so Redin didn't notice much of a difference, but the other trainees didn't look too happy.

"Aren't you going to answer me!"

"Yes...."

"Look at those response?"

"Yes!"

And so it began.

The four-hour drill left Redin exhausted and drained.

"One!"

"Stamina!"

"Two!"

"Let's raise it!"

When we're barely hanging on with our shaky arms.

"That's it for today. I'll see you tonight, kids."

The first-year prison officers returned to their quarters.

"huu…huu….."

Redin had a good idea of where he was at, and after a few more days of feeling better, He was ready to move on to the next step.

With that conclusion, Redin turn to leave.

Two men from the kingdom of Ravino approached.

"Can we talk for a sec?"

The look in their eyes is murderous.

The vibe is that of a hyena with its prey right in front of it, unlikely to back down.

I stood up, dusting myself off.

"Shall we go into the woods? Or here?"

" Look at this fucker's eyes. Can't see anything in his eyes that Instructor Rohan saw?"

One of Seria's specialties.

The ability to use information to manipulate and incite people, which has brought down quite a few criminal organizations.

It would be impossible for them to figure out the truth.

"Is that what you called me for?"

Then the blonde slowly approached me. He opened his mouth to whisper quietly in my ear.

"Shut up and come along."

He walked toward the training grounds.

Beside him, a blue-haired boy nodded and signaled to depart.

Redin followed the blonde to the training grounds.

*Creak*

The blonde opened the door, the blue hair pushed back from behind.

"Get in there, quick."

Stepping inside the training ground.

I was greeted by unfamiliar faces and trainees.

"How do you do, you little spy?"

"Wow, look at that face. It's murderous."

Two from behind.

Two in front.

A total of four people surrounded Redin, and he sensed a faint stirring in the darkness at the far end of the training area.

'I think that's Seria.'

He didn't see any useful objects or tools around. No terrain to utilize.

Seeing that they've completely eliminated any variables.

That's quite the brainstorming.

With a small step backward, he broke out of the encirclement. He looked at the four spread out like a fan and opened his mouth.

"So what are we talking about here?"

It was the blonde who answered my question.

"Let's talk using our bodies."

"Not so much for men."

"Shit."

Four people, including the blonde, pulled something out of their pockets. A vial of red liquid. It's a stamina potion.

It has the effect of restoring stamina.

You won't get your health back all at once, but the difference between drinking and not drinking is huge. Over time, they will regain their strength.

However.

The use of potions is prohibited during training. If you're caught using them, you're immediately kicked out.

In short

There's a motive.

If I fight them, I'm acting in self-defense.

Because they will be expelled for using potions as a group assault.

"You're even using stamina potions just to step on me?"

"If it sucks, use it yourself."

No stamina potions.

Although there are blood channels that increase recovery.

Can't be used in conjunction with combat.

It's a last resort, and even without it, it's worth it to fight those guys. I have skills that get me a modifier.

"Am not fond of the taste of potions."

That was the end of the conversation.

The blond raised a fist with a sneer. Redin rolled onto his side. He was still out of shape, so the fist was still visible.

Redin shoved his arm with his left hand.

The blonde's feet gave way as his center of gravity collapsed. He staggered to his feet.

At the same time, strike the back of his neck.

Bam!

He made a falling sound.

This is not a situation that can be verified in person.

"What the fuck?"

The blue-haired one lunged right at me, crouched low and pushed in like a bull. He grabbed me by the waist.

He tries to untangle his opponent's arms by reaching out with both arms, but his stamina is low.

Eventually the body collapsed.

Fuck.

A heavy jolt shot up Redin's back and spread through his body.

He gritted his teeth and endured the pain. If he let his guard down even for a moment, it would be over.

Things have gone south.

The blue hair climbed over me and locked me in the mount position. The boy grinned and stretched out his fist.

Redin tilted his head.

*Pow!*

The blue haired man screamed as his fist slammed into the pavement.

"Damn!"

That moment.

Twisting the opponent's wrist in his grip, Redin twisted his body to the side. He pushed up on his knees, which were touching the floor.

Bam!

In one fell swoop, the position changed.

Me on top, him on the bottom.

"This…this is…"

Redin slammed his fist into the blue haired's panicked face. The first punch landed with a thud, and the one behind it was unable to block.

*Pow!*

*Pow!*

*Pow!*

After completely stunning him.

Redin quickly jumped to his feet.

"This thing is a total asshole."

"But that's the end of it."

The remaining two pounced simultaneously.

"haaaaa… haa…"

'I'm out of breath.'

Redin thinks to himself.

The sweat that had dried up flowed again, and every part of his body throbbed. It was time to stop, his brain kept telling him.

Redin shook his head.

Redin calmly looked at the situation.

The larger man who approached first drew a small dagger from his waist.

*swish*

Redin pulled his head back.

He dodged the dagger and subdued his opponent's arm. He spun, twisted the arm, and snatched the dagger away.

With that, he slashed his opponent's forearm.

Redin plunged into the panicked man's arms. With the hilt of his dagger, he struck the man in the throat, knocking him unconscious.

"Kuk!"

Using the falling one as a shield, Redin dodged the last one, who came in a beat slower, and plunged the dagger into his shoulder.

*Poof!*

Blood splattered.

"Kaaaahhhh!"

"If you scream, no one will come to your rescue."

The training room is soundproofed.

That's why they chose this place.

Redin drew the dagger.

And then, just like that, he fell to the ground. The floor stained with blood. Four fallen trainees around him.

He swallowed and exhaled.

[Ding!]

[You have satisfied the special condition].

[You have acquired Indomitable (A).]

[Indomitable (A)]

-When fully drained of stamina during combat, Indomitable Will triggers and fully restores the caster's stamina.

-Cooldown: 7 Day.

-No mana cost.

-Passive skill.

[Indomitable is triggered].

As Redin's breathing eased, his screaming muscles relaxed. At the same time, he felt a surge of energy.

He looked up.

And now for the real finale.

Seria hiding in the dark.

The moment Redin looked at her.

The world turned red.

Page 3

Chapter 8

Suspicious Movement (1)

Shrouded in darkness, watching everything, Seria squinted.

Redin's movements were unexpected.

"Thud!"

In one fell swoop, both of them were subdued.

Handcuffed with mana suppression.

On top of that, your stamina is completely depleted.

"Aaaaaah!"

Nevertheless

The four who drank the stamina potion were being outclassed, and the next two pounced, but Redin snatched the dagger from one of them, ending the situation.

'Is that possible?'

Decisive moment.

No hesitation with the dagger.

It was a near-perfect battle.

Perhaps he drank a stamina potion, or has some other special ability.

Otherwise, it was hard to justify.

Persistence beyond one's imagination.

Even breathing seemed difficult.

Looking at Redin now, She can see that he fought with a lot of grit and determination.

'I need to take care of this now.'

Seria calmly evaluated the situation.

If he's completely out of stamina now, she can handle it.

Seria unlocked the cuffs on her hands.

Handcuffs that, once put on, are not easily removed. But with her training, it's not a difficult task for Seria, given the time.

Seria drew on the mana within her body.

'…!'

Something strange ran through her body. Redin's breathing slowed, and he slowly raised his head to look up.

A pair of calm, narrowed eyes.

A deep chill in the air.

Seria held her breath.

She was perfectly concealed, so how did he know where she was?" Seria wondered, and moved quickly.

Choorah!

Dozens of specially crafted small daggers scattered into the air. The mana-filled daggers moved to Seria's will.

To snuff out Redin's life.

Dozens of daggers rained down.

The fearless Redin spoke up.

"Aris."

A voice that echoes in the room.

With that, Seria's body came to a halt.

momentary stillness.

Swallowing hard, Seria gathers her wits and starts to reorient herself.

Redin stepped forward.

"Aris."

Seria's eyes widened at the gentle voice. At first, she thought she'd heard wrong. It didn't sound like something that would come out of Redin's mouth.

Aris.

It was the nickname her dad called Seria as a kid, and it was a nickname only he knew.

But how can…

"You… what… the… hell...."

"I would have preferred to pretend I didn't know, but now that you're trying to kill me, I can't help it."

Redin said while shrugging his shoulders.

"Who are you!"

Redin threw the dagger in his hand to the ground.

A sign of not wanting to fight.

Seria bit her lip hard.

*swish*

She held the dagger in her hand toward Redin's throat.

"How do you know that name?"

"Ian Grace."

Imprisoned with your father.

He was Brassel's¹ second in command, and Seria's uncle.

"He's my father."

"Don't be ridiculous. My uncle never had any children."

"Of course not. I'm a bastard²."

Seria looked into those eyes.

"How can I trust you?"

"A shadow that blooms where there is no light."

It was one of those secret codes that only the top brass at Brassel knew.

An outsider would never know.

"No way…"

"Believe it or not, it's your choice."

Redin raised a finger and pushed Seria's dagger aside.

He turned and walked toward the door.

Watching his back, Seria asked in a shaky voice.

"If it's real… are you here to save Uncle Ian too?"

"Nope."

"Then?"

"I'm here to kill you."

*creak!*

Redin opened the door and turned his head for a moment. He looked at Seria, who was shocked.

"So let's go our separate ways."

*Bam!*

The door closed and silence fell on the training ground.

"…."

Seria's mind was a jumble of Redin's words. From being called Aris to being the illegitimate son of Ian Grace.

'Was everything he said true?'

She bit her lip hard.

As much as she wanted to believe otherwise, Redin knew the organization's secret password. Her head swam with the realization that she had moved too quickly.

'I should have moved more calmly…'

Seria lifted her head and looked toward the door. She sighed deeply at the sight of the closed door.

"Haa...."

Redin was more of an ally than an enemy.

They had different goals, but the same objective: to go underground. If they worked together, they would have a much better chance of achieving their goal.

Seria covered her face with her left hand.

From accusing him of a crime and putting him in jail to trying to kill him today. Her relationship with Redin had already gone awry.

A feeling of regret spread through her body.

But she can't just wallow in despair. She needs Redin's help to save her father, so she must find a way.

"Somehow… I have to get Redin on my side."

* * *

Stepping outside into the cold air woke him up. All the tension was gone, and my legs were shaking.

Redin took a deep breath.

He remembered what had just happened in the training center. When the world turned red, there was no blue path to show him the way.

His first reaction was to panic.

'What?'

The Eye of Arrakis was not all-powerful. As he recalls, it worked at the caster's level, even when he left the ship.

that much.

It must mean that the gap between Seria and him is large. So much so that if she really wanted to kill Redin, he'd end up dead.

Whoo.

Just when Redin thought he was screwed, a cold rush kicked in, clearing his mind of distractions and giving Redin an idea of how to fix the situation.

"Ian Grace…"

He has no illegitimate children.

It wasn't in the in-game settings, Even Seria, one of his closest confidants, told in person that he wasn't there.

There's no risk of getting caught.

Seria's father is the only one alive ten layers underground right now. Ian Grace is already dead.

And now that he'd told Seria Brassel's secret password.

No matter how level-headed Seria is, she won't be easily suspicious anymore.

Instead.

She might want to ask for help.

It's so much more empowering to have a teammate with the same goals than to be alone in an unfamiliar world.

It wasn't exactly what he had planned, but it didn't turn out badly.

"The problem is…."

'It's my skill.', Redin thought to himself.

The first, three steps of a sword test Redin got today.

In particular, the Third Core, which contains the mana discipline.

"Soon…"

This opens the way for the third heart to be obtained.

-Imperial year 104. 10 days after the ship exploded. The Magnes organization attempts to break out all of its members imprisoned in Burning Hell.

That moment when chaos strikes.

That's where the opportunity comes in.

* * *

The other four, with the exception of Seria, were sent packing for using stamina potions and attempted group assaults.

Time passed quickly after that.

Hazing ceremony by night, training by day.

The lack of sleep and increased physical demands led to a number of eliminations.

A week-long hazing ceremony.

There were 29 trainees who made it to the end, including Redin.

"Well done! Trainees."

"You know what, You'll probably going to miss this week."

"You've walked right into hell."

With a rough welcome from the seniors.

The hazing ceremony was over, and we had two days to rest before the real work experience.

Redin dragged himself back to the quarters, exhausted.

After he washed up, the seniors called them to the dining hall.

When Redin got there, there was a table full of food and all sorts of drinks.

"Indulge yourselves for today."

"Thank you, sir!"

Redin took a seat in a corner with Heather.

"Wow… what is this? It's really good."

Heather looks ecstatic over a plate of spicy chicken and a beer. He may not be familiar because he is from the Crane Kingdom.

In the settings of this game.

There are only so many places you can eat chicken, and even then, it's a ways away from the Crane Kingdom.s

Redin picked up a leg and popped it in his mouth. The frying was crispy from freshness, and the sweet and spicy seasoning was amazing.

It even comes with craft beer³.

It's a great feeling to get rid of all that fatigue.

If there's a heaven, it's right now.

"Wow…wow…wow…this is so good. What is this?"

Heather's string of exclamations made Redin feel proud. It's like when a foreigner comes to his country and eats chicken and admires it.

"Chicken."

"chicken?"

"That's the food name."

"I want to eat nothing but chicken every day.."

Chicken wasn't the only food on the menu.

Spaghetti, pizza, etc.

After eating a moderate amount of food, Redin quietly rose from his seat, and Heather asked, him face flushed red.

"Where?"

"Training."

"Ughhhhh… You're such a toxic bastard. Why don't you take the day off and have a beer with me!"

"You're drunk."

"Enjoy."

"Fckn, bast-"

Redin left the dining hall.

He shivered from the alcohol and the chill in the air. It wasn't unbearable, so he started walking toward the training center.

Bam!

With a bright moon in the night sky, the road to the training center wasn't too dark.

He walked down a quiet street at night.

It's been a week since He woke up in the games world. For the first few days, He had a small glimmer of hope.

He wondered if it was a deep lucid dream.

As time went on, even that hope completely faded, but it was still a good time to let off some steam.

I can run with only one eye on the road.

"Status Window"

[Status Window].

Name: Redin

Occupation: New prison guard

Body: First class.

Mana: F

Luck: F

Talent: F

Possessed Skills – Copy (EX), Cold Heart (A), Eye of Arrakis (S), Strong Mind (B), Harungel's Swordplay (S), Indomitable (A), Bloodline (?)

'As I progressed to the next level of physical training, I noticed a big change in his body.', Redin inwardly thought.

The skin has firmed up a bit.

At first, a simple swipe of the blade would make him bleed, but now it takes force to make him bleed. If he continues to improve.

'I might be able to make it through.'

"The problem is…"

When Redin reached First Class, He gained a skill called Bloodline, which is ranked '?' There's no explanation of what it does or how to use it.

Skills he'd never seen in game.

He spent days and days thinking about it, but he didn't figure anything out, just that there was something in Redin's character's background.

Right now, He had no clue about the lineage.

"Whoo."

Because there is plenty of time.

He'll figure it out as he goes.

Redin relaxed by moving lightly. Standing in front of the training ground like that, He felt a presence from behind.

When Redin turned his head, He saw Seria.

She was looking at him with a calm, subdued expression, not the playful one she usually displays.

Since that day.

He didn't say a word to Seria. He didn't approach her, or make eye contact with her in passing.

'Have you finally cleared your mind?', Redin mused.

"What's going on?"

"I have a proposal."

"I thought we talked about that, let's go our separate ways."

"You want to go underground, and so do I. So let's work together."

"I don't need your help."

Seria bit her lip hard.

"I'll make it up to you."

"You know what I'm going to ask for?"

"Anything."

It sounds like she've made up her mind.

'I won't give you what you ask for right away.'

"How to manipulate shadows. Give me that and I'll help you."

The power that allowed Seria's father, Henry Baskervan, to create Brassel and rule the Shadowlands.

Five chances to copy.

This is the skill Redin wanted to get using one of them. Since it's a progression skill, He wanted to use it right away on the completed Henry Baskervan, not the unfinished Seria.

If only he could learn it for free.

He can save his copy skills and use them to gain other skills.

"That's not possible."

Seria narrowed her eyes.

Redin smirked at that and shrugged.

'I thought so.'

"Really?"

He took a slow step to make sure he nailed it. One more step and he'd be face to face.

He looked into Seria's eyes.

Since he's come this far, it's a race against time. Ceria will eventually accept his offer.

"I'm not going to join forces unless it's that, so I want you to think about it until the end of the training session."

***

TL/N:

1. Criminal Organization Brussel changed to Brassel

German: nickname for a glutton from Middle High German brasseln prasseln 'to indulge or feast'.

Reason: Brussel = Capital of Belgium full of Art Deco taverns, unique Flemish art and does not match for a criminal org.

2. A person born of unmarried parents; an illegitimate child.

3. Craft beers are produced with the most premium quality ingredients in small batches by a small or independent brewery. While Draft beers are made like regular canned or bottled beer

Page 4

Chapter 9

Suspicious Movements (2)

Redin had two days of free time.

Rest periods don't mean much to him since he can just stimulate his blood vessels to fight off fatigue, so he can spend most of his time practicing and honing his sword skills.

Harungel's Swordsmanship.

As enlightening as Swordsmanship was, it wasn't easy to master. In the game, it's just a few clicks away, but here he had to learn it by working at it.

Because he didn't get the remaining depth.

It can barely mimic a sword swing. This gives no indication of how powerful it is.

Haa..

'I can't wait to get my hands on it.', Redin thought to himself.

But the other three aren't something Redin can get just because he want to get them, so he have to be patient and wait for the right time.

"Hehe… hehe…"

Heather, who arrived in front of Redin after running hard through the clearing, sprawled out on the ground.

He'd lost more weight than when they first met.

But even that wasn't enough, and if it weren't for the number of eliminations ahead of him, Heather would have been disqualified.

So Redin trained him during this break.

Redin wanted to quickly push him to his physical limits and force him to give up swordsmanship, but he's a pretty tough guy and doesn't give up easily.

Or maybe he just really dislikes magic that much.

"How long is this… going to last?"

Heather gave him a look that said enough is enough.

There was no point in doing more here, so Redin reached over and pulled Heather upright.

"You worked hard today. Let's go back."

"Whoa. I lived...."

"If it's so hard, why not take the easy way out?"

"Easy way?"

"I'm thinking about going into magic."

His complexion instantly darkened.

Redin thought about it, but it's not quite time yet.

"Looking at your expression, there seems to be a story behind it, sorry."

"Oh… no, it's okay."

"Let's go back and eat your favorite chicken."

Gluttony.

Heather's face lit up.

"I'll have two. Hehe."

Heather and him returned to the residence for a quick wash. Back in his room, He changed into my normal clothes and pulled out his notes.

Heather takes a little longer to wash.

So Redin took a few minutes to jot down the information in his head.

Because memory can only take so much.

-The Magnes jailbreak.

-Arrested the head of one of the seven largest criminal organizations.

-The activities of the Demonic Church began.

-The Fall of the Holy Empire.

.

.

.

The things Redin wrote down so far are events that are more likely to happen in the future. Things that are less affected by the butterfly effect he caused.

It doesn't matter if it changes completely.

Since he know the context in which those events happened and what the characters were thinking, he can connect them to the events that follow and infer new events.

"Hmmm…."

The most certain event that will happen is the first Burning Hell Prison Break.

That's guaranteed to happen.

This is because it's the warden, not the head of Magnes, who sets things in motion. Or, more accurately, he is the one that sets it in motion.

-He was a puppet of six kingdoms before he rose to the position of warden, but he cannot afford the future that lies ahead.

-Burning Hell has been corrupted by its long peace. High-ranking officials have taken money from various organizations and catered to criminals.

-They even handed over a bunch of information.

.

.

.

-Burning Hell must change. With my life. I will change it.

This was written in the warden's diary.

According to the Warden's plan, Magnes pulls off the jailbreak, and Burning Hell suffers.

However, a jailbreak leads to the rebirth of the corrupted Burning Hell as an organization that enforces true evil.

Imperfect organization.

If you set it up right, you'll be on your way up faster than anyone else.

This is why the three main NPCs were able to advance so quickly.

Redin's goal in this jailbreak is twofold.

One is to get profit.

The other is to get into the organization of his choice with a small track record in prison break, so that's what Redin is going to aim for a year to build up his strength.

After that,

Redin plans to capture the heads of the 7 major organizations that were caught in the game, but have not been caught now, to solidify his position.

"Redin, let's go get some chicken."

He closed the book and stood up.

"Okay."

* * *

Redin woke up at dawn as usual and changed into his workout clothes. He didn't wake Heather, who was still sleeping. If the training starts today, he won't be able to sleep well.

Breathing in the cool air, Redin headed to the training ground.

*creak!*

The door opened and a redheaded woman walked out. She was sweating profusely and her hair was tangled.

Rebecca

She brushed past him without a word.

Rebecca always came earlier than Redin, and finished training by the time he got there.

For a week.

They saw each other, but never really talked. She never made the first move, and he had no reason to either.

Redin walked into the training center and sat down on the floor.

Because of the experiences he'd had on his ascent to the second level, his first-class body was able to adapt quickly.

Now it was time to reach the pinnacle.

To do this, Redin opened his acupuncture points and quietly closed my eyes. He prepared his mind as usual.

*Whizz!*

A small breeze rose.

But what was supposed to be a huge wind of change quickly died down: nothing happened to his body.

[bleep!]

[Special conditions must be met in order to reach the pinnacle].

Special conditions?

It wasn't something he remembered. He sat down for a moment and thought about it. He wondered what was wrong with him that he couldn't ascend.

There is nothing that comes to mind.

The best Redin can do is guess. Mana training for Swordsmanship. He thought he need it to get to a higher level.

Redin shook off my disappointment and stood up.

He'll be able to get all of them in a few days anyway, so he didn't fret.

After some practice with his wooden sword, I made it back to my quarters in time. After a quick wash and breakfast.

"Everyone, gather in front of your quarters."

The instructor's voice echoed down the hall.

"yes!"

After answering with the other trainees, He followed Heather out the door. The bulletin board, which normally had nothing written on it.

A poster was attached to it.

The instructor standing in front of them looked at the trainees and spoke up.

"Over the next four weeks, you'll be rotating through different parts of the organization. Please check yourselves and come prepared for your respective sections."

"Yes!"

Redin checked the Poster¹.

Security, Arrest, Medical, Welfare, Screening, and so on. His name was listed in the security section, and He even put in a word to Vergo, just in case.

Put me in the security department.

The reason for this is the upcoming Magnes jailbreak in Burning Hell. He need to capitalize on the chaos.

"I'm… under arrest department"

Heather scratched his head.

It's just a taste anyway, so it won't be hard, but when Redin saw his unsure look, He pat him on the shoulder and cheered him on.

"You'll do great."

"Uh… yeah."

Just then, Vergo walked toward the quarters.

"Security and Screening all meet in front of me."

"I'm going."

Five trainees gathered in front of Vergo. Three were new faces, and one was familiar.

Grayish hair and slitted eyes.

The man who always has a smile on his face.

He's a trainee he's been keeping a close eye on because he's not one of the main three NPCs, but he's still ranked high.

Redin has a suspicious feeling about him.

He couldn't check the status window because he didn't have any chance to make contact with the guy, but he wondered if that opportunity would come this time.

"Here we are. Security, as you know, is mostly about guarding the compound, working special facilities, and patrolling."

"Yes!"

"And you're going to be on night patrol duty starting tonight, and you're going to get lost if you just go in there, so I'm going to give you a quick patrol course before you go on duty."

Vergo spun around.

"Oh and keep the heat on. Follow me."

* * *

Burning Hell consists of one floor above ground and 10 floors below.

The top part of the island is the ground floor.

Starting with the warden's office, there is a visiting room, a common room, and other facilities for prison guards and knights.

and on the first basement floor.

Think of it as a place for common criminals. Bad guys from all over the world.

The second floor of the prison houses those sentenced to life imprisonment and is only accessible to guards of a certain rank.

It's basic knowledge for Redin.

The other trainees weren't, so Vergo took the time to explain.

"You understand the structure, right?"

Everyone nodded at Vergo's words.

"We're going to be going into Quadrant A, so everyone keep your eyes open and don't squint."

"YES!"

"If there is someone who pecks at a criminal, I know how to get half of it in my hand."

Vergo grinned wickedly.

Woohoo!

The door to the Quadrant has been opened.

Redin walked down a long hallway.

*thud! thud! thud!*

Aaaaahhhhh!

They started to hear a little bit of screaming and kicking on the floor.

The blockquote in the middle.

With each one, the sound grew louder and louder. After a total of three doors, the prison came into view.

A prison with three floors.

Prisoners in cages.

Dressed in prisoner's uniforms, they gripped the bars and shouted with mocking smiles.

"Waaaaaa!"

"Woo! Woo! Woo!"

"It's a curious looking thing. Come here. Let me touch your hand."

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

"Haha! Haha!"

The crazies are pounding on the bars, it's like a cattle market. The new recruits in front of me could barely walk.

"Shut up, kids!"

Vergo struck the nearby iron bars with his baton to silence the prisoners.

"Keep your eyes open, walk confidently, and like I said before, you fuckers are half going to die today, okay?"

"yes."

The trainee in front of me took a step, and we all walked down the hall together.

Then.

One of the trainees in the middle got nervous and tripped over his own feet, causing the suspicious guy in front of me to step back.

An opportunity was presented.

Redin bumped into him as he walked forward, pretending to be oblivious.

And he used the copy skill.

A status window popped up with his name.

TL/N:

1. Poster was supposed to be Daejabo word, In Korea, daejabo refers to the simple posters that students put up at their schools, speaking out about issues that concern them.

Page 5

Chapter 10

Future Titans (1)

In any game, there are times when it works well and there are times when it does not.

The same was true of the Bern Chronicle.

At its peak, it was very popular, but it also got a lot of flack for a series of patches that made one wonder if it was right.

Season 2, called the Dark Ages.

'The Kingship Patch.'

A patch to allow users to become kings in the high-freedom Bern Chronicle.

The benefits to the king were great.

And so, many have made power and established kingdoms. The more you have, the more you want, and that's human greed.

Players who became King waged wars to expand their territories and consolidate their positions.

For about a year.

Hundreds of kingdoms were born, hundreds of kingdoms fell. And many have left the Bern Chronicle.

The community was on fire every day.

There was a lot of smear campaigning, disinformation, and back-and-forth that rivaled real-world politics.

Afterward.

They removed the kingship patch and continued with a new story that utilized the concept of the six last remaining kingdoms.

Six kingdoms with countless stories to tell.

A fresh patch and a compelling story brought many users back, and Bern Chronicles entered its second golden age.

Memes and buzzwords born along the way.

The developer has left them as Easter eggs throughout the Bern Chronicle.

[Dharman].

Strength: B

Agility: B

Stamina: C

Mana: C

Luck: B

Talent: A

-Possesses: Owl's Eye (C), Mask of Two Faces (A), Hatred (A), Threaded Eye (B), True Wave Bodywork (B), Stone Body (B)....

'Owl's Eye (C)'

When the Bern Continental Flag was in full swing. In the community, there were those who promoted certain games while swearing at the Bern Continental Flag, such as Manggem¹, Ttonggem², etc.

-I'll be damned.

-The ship to the Outer Worlds is departing. All aboard.

In fact, a lot of Bern Chronicle users went over to a game called Outer World.

The mark for that game is an owl.

Half joking, half serious. The game makers have created an owl mark for one of the seven major criminal organizations.

Naturally.

Redin know that organization.

Magnes

They're three of the seven largest organizations, and this owl's eye is a skill you get when you join an organization called Magnes.

In a nutshell.

Dharman is a mole for Magnes.

*Ssik*

Found it

'A sacrifice that will become my performance.', Redin thought while smiling.

* * *

"Are you okay? Get up."

"Th-thanks"

Dharman picked up the fallen trainee. At the same time, the prisoners' laughter rang out again.

"Ha ha ha ha ha!"

"Woo! Woo! Woo!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Stop! Stop!"

Vergo subdued the prisoners and turned to look at the fallen trainee, a murderous grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"I'll see you later."

"Sor- I'm sorry."

"We're moving again, follow me."

The trainees moved down the hallway again.

Redin followed suit.

From Building 1, where model inmates gathered, Until the 4th building where silence flowed, A short break was given after half the rounds.

Redin settled into a corner.

Silently, I closed my eyes and recalled the images of Dharman I had just watched. He was smiling the whole time.

The vibe is laid back.

He was also friendly with the trainees.

'If I hadn't seen the owl, I wouldn't have recognized it either. You'd think it was a good guy.' Redin pondered to himself.

It is only possible because of the two-faced mask.

But.

Redin wouldn't waste his effort racking up a stellar record even when the ship got sunk, even when unexpected variable happen to appear.

This makes sense to some extent.

Conversely, Redin thought about why Dharman was killed off in the original story and shook his head.

What's done is done.

It's a lost cause.

What's important to Redin is that he now has a goal that he can set a reasonable performance for.

"But what are you guys aspiring to?"

Vergo looked around.

The trainees exchanged glances, but none of them answered his question.

"Don't look at me, just tell me, and see if I'll be nice to you."

Let's lighten the mood.

One by one, they began to open their mouths.

"Medical department is good. Not much to do, comfortable, a few quick fixes for the occasional screw-up, And you're from the Holy Empire?"

"I'm a member of parliament."

"Then you're going to have a hell of a time getting promoted. Even if you declare your neutrality, the medical department has a tight grip on the Holy Empire, so if you're not looking for advancement, the medical department is the place to be."

Then the trainee who had fallen earlier raised his hand.

"I want to go to the operations department."

"It's a good job, just keep an eye on the bastards to see if they're doing a good job or not, and if you get to know the inmates, they'll occasionally throw you some money and you'll take it."

"… …"

"I saw a lot of men who went to gaol³ . The one who freaks out at the sight of prisoners in cages, and you want to manage them?"

Another trainee cleared his throat.

"Hmmm… what about the General Department?"

"Hey!. General Department. Once you get in there, you're set for life, but do you know anything?"

"no"

"Then don't even dream about it."

"then… What about the arrest department?"

"It's an arrest division… you get to go out and eat what you want, drink what you want, and if you catch criminals, you get promoted fast."

"Then I'll go to the arresting department."

The corner of Vergo's mouth quirked up at the trainee.

"But there's a fatal flaw."

"yes?"

"Cause the God of Death is out there watching"

*Gulp.*

The trainee swallowed hard and clenched his fists.

"I've been trained in hell, who am I to be afraid of the God of Death?"

"What did the kids say after that?"

"That hell training was when they were most comfortable...."

"Yeah. It's like an appetizer before the real thing. Well, you go if you want to."

Vergo trembled and laughed.

"I'll tell you what, there's nothing like being a security guard. No shifts, no rotation, lots of free time. It's not dangerous."

Working to attract cadets to the security department. Seems like I've already got a couple of them hooked. They're about to get a real taste of hell.

The Security Division is called the worst, along with the Arrest Division.

*Tsk*

Seeing Vergo chattering away, Dharman, who had remained silent, spoke up.

"Then, how about the special task force?"

Burning Hell Task Force.

A special organization that exists in Burning Hell.

A place where not just anyone can get in, and new people are only hired when there are openings in the organization.

also.

It's also the place you have to go to become a captain.

"It's a rumored place. One thing's for sure, only the super-elite go in. There was not a single rider in the ranks." Dharman continued.

"…."

"I'm here in the security department…", Vergo answered back.

"Aha. So we can get in this time?" Dharman answered with half hearted voice.

"I don't know about that. Why would you care? Look. But the security department is the best..", Vergo returned the topic to the Security Department.

"Because it's my dream to catch criminals on the front lines."

"Some guys are like that… well. Catch them. Because even if you don't, if you go somewhere like arrest, they'll do something similar."

"The way you're so insistent on asking questions about the special task force, are you trying to get in there as a spy?", Vergo replied to Dharma

"What? Never mind." Dharman ended the conversation with Vergo

'Because if you reveal your identity, you won't be able to accomplish whatever you want.', Redin who was watching in the corner smirk at Dharman

* * *

Keeping an eye on Dharman is good. But,

The most important thing to do is to gather Harungel's heart.

"Do you mind if I take a quick trip to the restroom?" Redin asked to Vergo

"Okay. Just go there and walk out the door you see over there.", Vergo replied back while turning and pointing at the aforementioned door.

"okay"

With permission from Vergo.

Redin picked myself up and moved to the nearby restroom. He waited outside for a moment to see if anyone was coming.

After making sure that there wasn't anyone going to follow him, He went inside.

Redin could see the inside of a clean restroom with the scent of jasmine. There was a urinal on the right and a toilet on the left.

Five compartments.

There was no need to use Arrakis's eyes. He stepped into the center cubicle and locked the door. He turned and looked down at the toilet.

Redin opened the water tank cover.

Then, letters began to be engraved in the water.

He reached out.

[You have obtained Harungel's heart 4].

[You realized some of Harungel's insights].

[The theory of swordsmanship is imprinted in your head].

In his mind's eye, he saw Harungel's childhood.

A model sword made of wood.

With that, Harungel began to be intrigued by the idea of a sword, and as he held the real thing, He fell in love with it.

Countless battlefields.

The theories of swordsmanship that Harungel had accumulated through thousands and thousands of swings of his own sword. They melded with Harungel's swordplay and melted into his mind.

Harungel's swordsmanship was difficult.

First of 3 Secrets.

The swordsmanship that only he practiced felt familiar, as if he'd invented it himself.

"Now there are two left."

'Heart 5 is easy to get, but I can only get it by getting Heart 3.'

Heart 3's reward is Mana Breathing.

'How much stronger would I be when I have that.', Redin mused.

"I'm looking forward to it."

With Redin's heart pounding in his chest, He left the restroom and headed out through the door to the activity center.

The center of the basement floor.

There was an activity center for the prisoners to enjoy their free time, and the sun was shining in the sky.

Open skies.

Prisoners who came for the first time would think that they could escape through that place, but it was impossible because it was blocked by a magic circle.

also.

Each departmental office on the ground floor has a clear view of the activity on the basement floor, allowing for immediate reaction to incidents.

He lowered his gaze again.

The barbed wire fence in the foreground and the prisoners taking their places in it and enjoying their rest. The trainees watching them from the outside.

The moment Redin is about to take a step.

"You bastard!"

One prisoner grabbed the other prisoner by the collar and punched him.

And soon after.

It escalated into a brawl.

"Aaaaaaaaa!"

"Stop! Get off me now!"

The guards rushed to break up the fight. Vergo, who was leading the trainees, ran, followed by Dharman.

A tangled, intertwined state.

In the natural situation of prison guards stopping prisoners, an awkward figure caught his eye.

Dharman.

Redin could see him handing something to one of the prisoners, his face in front of me.

Nailed it.

Walking over to where the brawl is, I pick up the riot baton on the ground.

Prisoners fighting back and forth.

"Fuck, you're all dead today!"

In Redin's excitement, he hit a prisoner in the stomach with his baton who was blocking his path.

*whack*

*keugh!*

"Get out of my way."

** ** **

TL/N:

1. 망겜(Manggem) This slang phrase combines the words "망" (mang), which means "failure," and "게임" (geim), which means "game."

2. 똥겜(Ttonggem) Slang for shit game

3. A person who is or has been in prison, especially a criminal who has been jailed repeatedly.