Minor Lord of the Chasers (4)

To conclude.

First of all, Zitri, unsurprisingly, didn't believe me.

She may know that I'm not a wrecking ball, but she's also convinced that I'm not pure in my intentions.

That stare is proof.

Look at that questioning, improbable expression.

Is that what a maid who believes and trusts her master should look like?

I crinkle my brow in mild displeasure.

"Zitri. You're being a bit selfish."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

Zitri ducked her head, looking quite apologetic this time.

When it was just the two of us, or even just my units, it wasn't a good look to be out there suspicious of your master.

Anyway.

Regardless of her gaze, my intentions remained unchanged.

'Kill all the demons in the area. Especially the strong ones.'

I have less than ten days left to live, and I've been chipping away at it relentlessly.

Originally, I planned to reach the Chasers a little faster and take my time, but the Black Sword's teachings have slowed me down.

I can't help it.

It has increased my power and strengthened my hand.

If you gain something, you lose something in your sleep.

Trouble is, it's my life.

F*ck.

(Xbal)

"I see, so you're here to make sure the people who rule this place know who you are."

Christopher stared at the big man, impressed.

He nodded as if he understood, but what the misunderstanding was, he dared not even guess now.

Grine wipes the bridge of his nose.

He looks like my brother… or something.

I'm the one doing the hard work and taking the risks.

Why are you guys showing such a proud reaction...?

I don't understand it at all.

In the meantime, Rona asks, a little worried.

"Young Master, is this something you have to do yourself?"

"Yes."

I answer, leaving no room for doubt. What kind of game is Inner Lunatic?

Isn't it a game where the units have too much personality and the trolls spew out of them like fireworks, making the player's blood run upside down?

'It's best to move solo as much as possible. Don't trust anybody else.'

Friend or foe, it didn't matter.

It would be best for me to do the job safely and securely, which is why I've created the Great Demon Slaying Unit.

"Let's go, then."

I say, trotting ahead. It's time to start organizing a full-scale operation to extend my lifespan once again.

And a kingdom far from the Chasers' jurisdiction. There are also ruins and items hidden in Taharin that need to be scavenged.

It's time for Gamer Yoochan to shine again!

* * *

When Nox leads the way and dreams of extending his life by hunting down the demons of the Chasers region.

Behind him, a gaze of admiration and respect fell upon the back of his head.

The owner was none other than Christopher, who had recently begun to follow Nox.

He was one of the elite Knights of the House.

Currently, Christopher was admiring his newest little master.

Nox von Reinhafer.

The youngest of the family, a disgrace to the house, but now beginning to make his mark. The genius that was beginning to emerge from the egg's shell was enough to make a man's heart skip a beat.

A genius.

How many people have been fooled by that word?

The vassals knew it, but Christopher knew it best. His own talents were quite extraordinary.

But as far as he was concerned, Knox's talent was real.

It didn't belong to other fakes or manufactured people.

Something innate, instinctive, like the movements of a predator.

Christopher is the first half of Pado's Black Sword 1 Herbivore. 'I can't tell you how many times I've watched Knox use [Black Doylesome] and not been impressed.

'That overwhelming dominance you displayed during recruitment. His footwork and subsequent swordsmanship were almost impossible to follow. You don't even look his age. If I could have seen your childhood with my own eyes… I dare not even begin to imagine."

It was shocking.

Christopher was a genius in his own right, living fiercely in the frozen north. No, the term wouldn't apply to him now, but it had once.

Even in the frigid mountains, his blackness was never lost, and he was finally admitted to Elidane, and eventually, through merit alone, he became a member of House Reinharbour.

It was a testament to his stature that he was treated as a knight of the house, even though he shared no blood.

What's more, he didn't just follow Theo's orders to travel with Nox.

He briefly recalled a conversation he'd had with Theo just before he left.

["Why would a knight of your caliber choose to follow the youngest member of the family? I'm sure you're treated well enough here. There is no reason for you to leave.]

Theo had asked, when he had offered to follow Knox first.

Christopher said without hesitation.

[Because I see a talent worthy of the name of genius, Young master Nox, in you. And I want to be there to see it in person, to fulfill my wish and my purpose].

A wish, and a purpose.

It was the completion of a sword of his own, something Christopher had dreamed of for so long. To cut through enemies with the icy cold of the North.

It is as if he aims to complete the season of the year in which he realizes the snow-centeredness of his sword. A knight would want his sword to leave a mark on future generations.

It was also one of Christopher's longtime desires.

[You mean to say that the youngest… Knox, has seen the light to complete your sword?]

[Yes. You already know that better than I. What Master Knox possesses… is an indescribable gift of genius. If I could see it from the sidelines, if I could help him even a little. I think I'd get to where I want to be faster.

Also… if I could personally see your growth from the sidelines, I would love to do the same. If you'll allow me, I'd like nothing more, Christopher].

[...Okay, I'll allow it].

And so, Christopher followed Nox.

Technically, he hadn't graduated from Eldain yet, so he'd be stationed in the Chasers area, and the intention was to go hunting together like this during vacations and other fluctuations in his academic schedule.

Still, he was stubborn.

Several of his coworkers dissuaded him from following him, but Christopher chose to believe in Knox's talent when he saw it with his own eyes.

The result is this.

The beautiful, understated black sword now unfolding before him.

'Your sharpness is already comparable to the second, third, and fourth masters.'

He knew it wasn't polite, but he couldn't help but compare.

To Theo's other sons, and finally to Garen, the eldest and the family's greatest genius.

'Master Garen… he did not show such talent as a child. There is no comparison. This is....'

A shiver ran down Christopher's spine as the collar shifted.

'I'm afraid you're going to be the next in the line of succession.'

Well, he wouldn't say anything like this to Nox, but....

I'm sure he has a hunch.

That on top of the undue pressure that's been placed on him, Garen, the firstborn, has already begun to take an interest in him.

And that only by overcoming that will he be able to reach the pinnacle.

There was only one way to overcome all of that, and that was with the Reinhafer family.

The place of Theo von Reinhafer, father, swordsman of three. To ascend to the throne. Along the way, however, Nox would find that his father's shadow would haunt him more than he realized.

'No matter how much of a genius you are, Lord Theo is a seven-pointed star, a three-pointed sword, and you don't get to sit there on talent alone.'

If he can overcome these obstacles, he will become an immortal knight and carve his name in history. It was to witness this for himself that Christopher decided to follow Knox.

Together.

"…And so it is. I was going to make you the best knight I could, but what is this spectacle? Do you know anything about it?"

Christopher looked puzzled and turned to the maid who always accompanied Nox. He looked at Zitri and gave her a dumbfounded look. Zitri replied with a similarly dumbfounded expression.

"Well… you've been interested in magic lately, but you'd already given up most of it before entering Eldain… and I never thought you'd grow to that level...!"

Zitri said in a cheerful voice, but the end of it was trembling.

What the hell?

The reason for their panic was, of course, the shocking sight of Nox in front of them.

Dozens of black magic spears floating in the sky.

They were shooting indiscriminately at the clustered demonic beasts [gnolls].

Boom, boom, boom, boom!

(kwang! kwang! kwang! kwang!)

Not a single one of them missed, just like a mage at an extraordinary level would do. Each and every one of them pierced through the gnolls as if by some kind of judo spell.

Not a single one missed!

Is this really possible?

For this to happen, you'd have to have a precise trajectory for the magic to shoot from, and it would have to be unwavering. It's easy enough to do in theory, but to do it in real life would be absurd.

But....

Nox was doing it.

'I don't understand....'

Christopher knew, of course, that Nox manipulated magic, and he had a wild and crazy idea that he might be talented enough to rise to the position of swordmaster.

But he thought he'd be a great swordsman and rise to that position... but he never thought he'd be this good with magic.

What the hell is going on?

A warlock is being created in House Reinhafer...?

"Perhaps the youngest master has some sort of birth secret...."

"...? Christopher, I'm sorry, but where does that come from?! I'm curious too!"

Rona said, flushed with color.

Vigorous curiosity.

But it was Christopher who couldn't bring himself to say that the source of her suspicions was him.

Mei and Elena stared at Nox in amazement.

"What do you mean… you've gotten stronger in the last few months…?"

"Seobang-nim...."

Elena's eyes had already formed a giant heart, and she clasped her hands together, never taking her gaze off Nox.

Of course, to everyone's bewilderment, Nox only looked dumbfounded and somewhat displeased.

'...F*ck, it's not like it's any different than before, a two-hour lifespan? I'm not going to survive the Academy with this!'

(Xbal)

* * *

[The player's remaining lifespan is 14 days].

Let me rephrase, how the hell did I get into this mess?

I was patrolling the Chasers' territory a little while ago. I happened to come across a pack of dog-like gnolls on the road.

Monsters that would make a great mid-tier health potion.

Naturally, when I encountered them, I thought, 'What the hell?' and started to grind away at them with my skills....

My health never went back up after each kill.

'Weren't the gnolls quite clever and strong, so they must have been judged as intermediate in the game…?'

I thought for a moment.

The conclusion came quickly.

'... That's how strong I've become, dammit.'

I couldn't help but feel sad.

I didn't know whether to cry or laugh.

Once again, an artifact that I use to extend my lifespan.

I recalled the settings for the [Black Brimstone Ring], namely.

[Proportional to your current strength, you gain more life when you kill a stronger being].

In other words, the current gnolls were no match for me, and their experience points were insignificant. Proof that I'd reached intermediate or higher.

Good.

Good, but… bad.

Defeating dozens of them and only getting four days of life…?

This completely ruins my future plans at the Academy. My original goal was to recover for at least 100 days while beating the beasts here… ....

"We need to do something."

I muttered in a rusty tone.

"Wow… It's Young Master after all. You think that the new residents shouldn't be in such a vulnerable area… and that's why you're taking countermeasures!"

Christopher was impressed. I feel dizzy.

Why did I become so strong so quickly?

I thought that even though I'm growing by eating Hidden Pieces, I'd still be able to get eight hours of life from killing enough demons to play with....

Sighing heavily, it took me 10 minutes to kill dozens of gnolls.

It was fortunate that [Dark Spear] could be used like an AOE skill, so the time required to hunt was less than before. Wasn't lifespan negative?

But no.

Another problem awaited me. When I turned around after defeating the monster, I noticed that the gazes of my companions were filled with a strange heat.

What was that?

That was the moment I realized.

"Seobang-nim!!! You look amazing!!!"

Elena exclaimed, hugging me. The smell of lilac dreadlocks was infectious. At the same time, I finally realize what I've done wrong.

Oh, come to think of it, they don't know I'm good with magic…?