Chapter 3_ The Real Start

In Satisfy, humans could become transcendent beings or even gods if they accumulated massive feats and met the necessary requirements. However, the chances of achieving this were practically nonexistent due to the difficulty of the trials involved. Hearing Lexus's remark, Madra smiled smugly.

「 If I haven't been tied up for my responsibility as a king, I might have become a god. Perhaps I might even be a dragon slayer but I had no interest in that. 」

Hearing him, Lexus did not react much in disagreement as he had known if it was him, it might be possible. Maybe if he had not been tied, he might have even become an absolute that greatly surpassed myths and legends. Looking at the skill panel, Lexus lamented.

'The mana consumption is really high, but as a level 1, activating the skills is impossible. Also, I don't have the resource called sword energy.'

Closing his eyes, Lexus recalled the details of sword energy in the novel. Sword energy is a unique resource for swordsmen who have earned the title of great swordsman.

"In conclusion, sword energy is a resource that opens up only after reaching a certain level when one becomes a great swordsman. A great swordsman is a title that can only be obtained by having a swordsman-type class, which I now possess. In other words, although I do not currently have access to sword energy, it will become available in the future."

Lexus concluded optimistically and wasn't disheartened at all; he chose to face the reality. That was because, he had already gained a great thing today and had no reason to be greedy for something he couldn't have today.

Impressed by his mindset and mentality, Madra was even more impressed upon hearing his new successor's words. His appreciation for him grew as this should be the mentality of the victor. Then, he was glad to hear what the white-haired prince had said, lying down on the soft seat of the carriage.

"The legacy you left... I'm going to use it for the rest of my life."

For hundreds of years, he had been waiting for a qualified successor to appear; he hadn't thought that today would be the day his ego had been waiting for. Not just anyone could inherit the power of a legend.

"The greatness of the Undefeated King, I will announce it to the world."

The original swordsmanship of the Undefeated King was a natural step for the descendant of the Undefeated King. However, the protagonist of the novel was only able to maintain the Undefeated King's will with the degraded version of it.

"Now, all that's left was to plan what I had to do."

In the world inside the novel, Lexus had many things to do but he also knew the dangers that were secretly hidden. But first, he had to think from the beginning. To settle his confusion of his identity. Lexus himself had all the memories from his previous life intact. (#A/N: Consider this as his new life even though, he didn't die.)

It was a rather jumbled explanation, but the conclusion was this.

He had no idea how it happened, but apparently he woke up in the body of an NPC, a royal prince. Lexus had been living his life just fine when, one day, all of a sudden, the memories of some sort of past life were awakened. Fortunately, there was no fusion of souls or anything of the sort.

He had his memories as Lexus and his memories as the NPC one, but that was it. It was more accurate to say that the memories of Lexus had been awakened by his NPC self. He was able to recognize that both identities were him. The NPC Lexus grew up as the stereotypical spoiled prince of the royal palace. He received the education of a royalty and at the age of thirteen, he was admitted to the kingdom's academy. Then he went through the training of a knight, which was the standard.

The instructors evaluated Lexus as having quite the talent for swordsmanship. It was a shame Lexus had no desire for it. For a young prince of the royal family, the rights of a knight could be compared to a driver's license in the 21st century. Anyone could easily obtain it without much effort.

He was a prince of a kingdom. There was no way he would have any strong desires since his future was as good as decided already. Thinking he just had to complete his time at the academy, he neglected, no, he lived a prodigal life in the capital. As a prince whose existence was hidden, Lexus didn't have much responsibility compared to his brothers, so he viewed his life as being on easy mode.

'More than anything, there's not much work. All the minor work is taken care of by my brothers and people under me.'

Lexus couldn't help smiling when he thought that way. He had taken everything for granted because he didn't know any better, but now that he had awakened the memories of a previous life as Lexus who lived on the modern world of the 21st century, he realized how blessed he was in his current life.

"In other words, I can go on a journey and adventure without being shackled by the royal family."

Thinking that with Madra's teaching and his unique skill, Great Sage, he could grow unhindered.

"I am going inside, young highness."

After knocking on the door, a lovely voice was heard from outside the carriage that had stopped. Lexus looked up at the maid that entered the carriage.

"Oh."

She had large amber eyes, a small, delicate nose, and a small cherry mouth. Her soft black hair was tied into two bundles, and the ends of her hair were dark red. She wore a cute maid uniform, and her breasts were plump. She wore snow-white silk stockings on her fair and tender thighs. Between the short skirt and the silk stockings, there was an absolute sense of youthful seduction.

If this were in his previous life, she was unparalleled in beauty. She would be an extremely beautiful girl who didn't need to put on makeup for cosplay photo shoots! Though his NPC self had seen her already, Lexus was impressed. However, he wasn't impressed by her being a maid. Just like the items in the carriage, the maid seemed real despite being a 2D character in his eyes.

This was a new world with different elements from his previous life; the most obvious aspect being the 2D elements, unlike in his previous life where he knew there were many beautiful girls and handsome men with great figures. Furthermore, the colors of their hair and eyes were all very fantastical!

'This is almost…no, isn't it completely diligent?'

He would have believed it was real if it weren't for the mini map and various menu buttons in the corner of his vision.

"Is there something strange in me, your highness?"

She anxiously asked with a slight blush on her cheeks as she was tense due to the handsome face of the white-haired teenage boy in front of her; Lexus replied nonchalantly.

"No, the graphics are cool."

"Graphics?"

The cute maid tilted her head and asked. Lexus once again felt admiration.

'Wah, we can really exchange conversations?'

Despite knowing about this from the novel, the development of virtual reality and artificial intelligence were in completely different areas. It was possible to implement realistic graphics through diligence but it was difficult for realistic artificial intelligence to be created with modern technology.

Therefore, he couldn't actively have conversations with the NPCs that appeared in video games – only pre-determined questions were asked in accordance to certain keywords. Yet the maid before him had responded to the word 'graphics'. She might have been designed to react like that to all unspecified keywords but that was still great.

'Hey, this doesn't really matter.'

Lexus decided to enjoy the game of the novel he liked. The game was as great as expected, so he would just enjoy playing it even though he was supposedly an NPC. This wasn't just a simple game for him but reality. Just like a light novel or comic book, he had entered the game world or a game-like world. It really sounded crazy. Yet, there was a reason for him to believe it.

It is too real.

The surrounding sights could only be described as reality. Also, he didn't dislike it at all and was feeling blessed at the moment.

'Yes, at least I'm not a monster character like an orc or ogre.'

Even if he was referred to as an NPC, he was still a prince. Someone born with a golden spoon.

"You can proceed with what you have to do...Thank you for your hard work. I'll take my leave so I won't be disturbing you."

Lexus said softly, patting the maid on the shoulder, before stepping out of the carriage. The maid was speechless, feeling his soft hands as she hadn't expected him to act in such a manner.

This was the first time she had spoken to him and didn't expect him to be this kind; she thought young nobles acted rashly, as if they were ruling everything, but Lexus didn't act like that.

She was lost for words as he hadn't really talked to her or anyone else before...But after a while, she shook the thought off and proceeded with her duties. Meanwhile, Lexus had been walking around the moment he stepped outside.

'It is real.'

Touch, vision, smell, hearing and even taste, everything around him was shouting that it was real. He wasn't able to appreciate this before as he wasn't in his right state of mind.

"Now to grow stronger, what should I do next?"

While he was still traveling to the Eternal Kingdom, his actions were limited. After thinking for a while, there was only one choice left. Lexus started to jog lightly; it wasn't a bad choice since he needed time to sort out his thoughts.

"Your highness?"

As he was currently riding a royal carriage, he was being escorted by several knights from the Eternal Kingdom. Seeing his figure who was jogging around the place they stopped, the knights noticed him. Then, a man who was about 190cm tall approached him.

"Your highness. Are you interested in training?"

Lexus halted and turned back. He thought it would also be good to have a sparring session with the knights to test their abilities and learn how to fight. As they were serving him at this moment, they had a master-subordinate relationship, which made him feel no hesitation in asking them.

"Sure. I'm bored so don't mind me if I'll tag along."

The knight smiled and exhaled in relief that he hadn't made Lexus irritated by talking to him. Not wanting to make him wait any longer, he looked Lexus up and down and decided on a course. A simple training course circled the vacant lot where the tents were set up. The knight glanced at Lexus and shook his head.

'His highness seems a little strange but more energetic than before.'

He turned and guided Lexus to an open space. That was how the training started. Spectators gathered around, wanting to watch what was about to happen.

"I heard that your highness can use a sword. Can you please show me?"

He was given a wooden sword.

"Uh…you want to see my swordsmanship?"

"Just swing it a few times. I want to know what level you are at."

It was quite a rude demand, but he didn't seem to be insulting him. The knight's intention was clear; he wanted to train him. Lexus nodded and grasped the wooden sword in a neutral position, taking a deep breath. With the knowledge he had gained from the Great Sage, his body moved as if it were used to it, but not completely.

[You have learnt Basic Sword Mastery Lv1.]

There were no physical changes. However, Lexus recognized it instinctively. He had never swung a sword in his previous life, but with the memories of his NPC self and the knowledge from his unique skill, "Great Sage," information on how to utilize the sword was fluidly flowing in his mind.

'I have changed. No, I've learnt.'

He changed the way he held the sword. He increased the gap between his legs and for the first time, made a clear trajectory with the sword.

"Hmm?"

The knight made a sound. Lexus was enjoying it a little bit and asked,

"What is it?"

"Honestly, I didn't expected that your movements are so good."

So, he tilted his head to the side. His face seemed like he had witnessed something incomprehensible.

'Obviously, I had cheats with me.'

Lexus couldn't help grinning happily at his reaction.

'Okay, I really can do it.'

He could become stronger. He would move forward faster than anyone else.