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Chapter 03
Academy entrance was in three days.
Until then, I had to be careful not to let the Reaper guys discover my true identity.
‘I need to watch what I say.’
Everything I knew was only what had been shown in the game.
I knew absolutely nothing beyond that.
If I carelessly said something strange, my identity might be exposed.
I needed to be cautious—extremely cautious.
Knock, knock.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
Judging by the absence of footsteps, was it Reaper?
“Come in.”
“Excuse me.”
As expected, the visitor was Reaper.
In his right hand was an elixir glowing with a clear blue light.
An elixir shape I had seen dozens, hundreds of times in the game.
“Here is Breath of Eternity, which you instructed us to prepare.”
[Breath of Eternity]
[S-Rank]
[An elixir refined from the breaths of spirits who live eternally.]
[Has the effect of increasing all stats.]
[Cannot be used multiple times, and after consumption, other elixirs cannot be taken for 30 days.]
I almost gasped out loud from shock.
But my Mental stat was EX-rank.
Recovering my composure was faster than reacting.
“You’ve done well.”
Considering Jairaon’s personality, saying good work here would be natural.
And judging by Reaper’s personality, after handing over the elixir he’d probably say call me anytime if you need anything and disappear.
“If you require anything, please summon me at any time.”
Reaper said exactly what I expected, slightly bowed his head, and left the room.
Now alone, I considered the possibility of hidden surveillance and maintained my act while gripping the potion.
‘Holy shit… I get to drink this this early?’
Needless to say, S-rank elixirs were rare.
And among them, elixirs that increased all stats were even rarer.
This was an item obtainable only after clearing extremely difficult conditions in the Spirit’s Rest, an area unlocked after level 60.
And I had it now…
Internally celebrating while outwardly maintaining a solemn expression—
I opened the bottle.
‘Need to drink it immediately.’
Then I downed it in one shot.
‘Urgh…’
Did healthy things always taste bitter?
A bitterness beyond imagination assaulted my tongue.
‘Endure. I have to endure.’
Fortunately, enduring wasn’t difficult.
[Mental EX-Rank calms confusion.]
Whenever my mind felt close to collapsing, Mental EX naturally stabilized me.
‘This tastes disgustingly bitter.’
About a minute after drinking it, when the bitterness filling my mouth finally began to fade—
[All stats have increased.]
A system message appeared announcing my stats had risen.
The suffering from the bitter taste seemed to melt away instantly.
‘How much did my stats increase?’
No—more importantly.
What were my stats right now?
Come to think of it, I hadn’t checked my level or stats at all.
‘How do I check them?’
If system messages were appearing, then a status window obviously existed.
But how did I open it?
Don’t tell me I had to literally shout Status Window out loud?
‘I can’t do that right now.’
Someone might be watching.
Shouting was impossible.
‘Maybe thinking it works? Status Window!’
I called out internally with faint hope.
[Status Window]
[Name: Jian]
[Race: ???]
[Level: 11]
‘It worked?’
The status window actually appeared.
Thankfully, thinking it was enough.
[Stats]
[Strength: C]
[Agility: C-]
[Stamina: D]
[Mental: EX]
[Mana: C+]
…What the hell?
Why are my stats so high?
‘At level 11, E+ should already be considered high.’
Excluding Mental, every stat averaged around C-rank.
That was roughly level 30–40 territory.
‘Even assuming Breath of Eternity raised everything by one rank… that means my average was D beforehand.’
Whatever the reason, these stats were absurd for level 11.
Had this body taken elixirs before?
If Jairaon intended to steal this body someday, maybe he’d raised it in advance.
That would explain things.
[Consumed Elixir List]
- [Breath of Eternity]
‘This is the first elixir?’
Only Breath of Eternity appeared in the consumption log.
Meaning this body hadn’t taken anything before.
Then were these just innate stats?
‘Why?’
The answer came quickly.
Under the Innate Constitution section.
[Peerless Talent]
[Possesses talent in every field.]
[All classes become “compatible classes.”]
[Born with an Iron Body]
[Naturally possesses a powerful physique.]
[Starts with enhanced physical stats.]
[Beloved by Mana]
[Exceptional ability in handling mana.]
[Starts with enhanced mana stats.]
‘W-What the hell is this…?’
Born with an Iron Body.
Beloved by Mana.
Each one alone would be broken.
And he had both?
‘And Peerless Talent too?!’
I was speechless.
‘This is just a ridiculously overpowered character.’
No wonder.
What kind of monster body was this?
Then again…
‘Maybe it makes sense.’
This was the body Jairaon wanted badly enough to abandon all his current power.
There was no way it lacked talent.
‘With this much talent, giving up current power is worth it.’
I’d switch too.
Anyone who wouldn’t was an idiot.
And Jairaon, whose lifespan was nearly over, had even less reason to refuse.
‘With this talent… surpassing Reaper within three years might not be impossible…’
* * *
Three days passed quickly.
Nothing unusual happened during that time.
‘Finally getting out of this bed of thorns.’
The constant thought that someone could be watching kept me tense every second.
Without Mental EX-rank, I might’ve already died from stress.
“Master. Please be careful.”
While reflecting on the past three days—
Yodalla, who came to see me off, suddenly hugged me.
“I’ll miss you.”
At the same time, pink energy flowed from her body.
[Resisting ‘Aura of Enchantment’.]
The energy was repelled by my EX-rank mental defenses.
“Yodalla.”
Reaper called her coldly, seemingly realizing what she’d attempted.
“Why?”
Still hugging me, Yodalla glared back.
“Your intentions are impure.”
“Impure? Which part of my actions seem impure?”
She released me and laughed incredulously.
“I merely expressed my feelings to Master. It was a confession of love.”
…That’s what it was?
“Since when has hypnotic enchantment become a love confession?”
“Ordinarily, it wouldn’t. But the other person is Master.”
Yodalla smiled seductively at me.
“Whether Master accepts my hypnosis or not depends entirely on his will. In other words, whether he accepts my love depends entirely on him.”
What was she talking about?
“I see.”
Reaper’s eyes lit up.
“Accepting an aura that may harm oneself… That is proof of trust. Thus, another expression of love.”
“Exactly.”
I was dumbfounded.
Yodalla’s nonsense was one thing—
But Reaper agreeing with it was worse.
How did shooting hypnotic energy at someone become a love language?
“Master. If youthful desires ever overwhelm you… call me. My heart is always open to you.”
Strange.
I’d never seen Yodalla show affection toward Jairaon in the game.
Why was she acting like this?
“Ah… Seriously. The more I look, the cuter you are. No—cute yet handsome. Handsome yet lovable.”
Her pink eyes burned with desire.
‘Come to think of it, all of Yodalla’s subordinates were handsome men…’
Then…
Was she attracted to my face?
“Ah… I can’t stand it anymore. Master, let’s go together. I’ll escort you instead of Reaper—”
Her face drew closer.
As if she’d kiss me any second.
“Yodalla. Master is uncomfortable.”
Reaper stopped her.
“And escorting Master is the duty of me, his right hand. I cannot yield it.”
“Your opinion doesn’t matter. Master’s will does.”
Reaper frowned while looking at me.
As if imagining rejection alone would break his heart.
“If Master prefers Yodalla over me… then I will step aside…”
“Master, choose me. Honestly, isn’t going with me better than traveling alone with this gloomy guy?”
Personally, I’d prefer neither of them come.
But they’d never accept that.
I had to choose.
And if I had to choose…
“I’ll leave the escort to Reaper. As originally planned.”
Reaper was safer than Yodalla.
With Yodalla alone… who knew what she’d do.
“Master!”
Reaper cried out emotionally.
“…Tch.”
Yodalla reluctantly let go.
“Can’t be helped. I’ll retreat for now.”
Licking her lips, she smiled seductively.
“Thinking about it, you haven’t occupied that body long. Your desires probably aren’t strong yet. It’s not time.”
I suddenly felt like a hamster standing before a snake.
* * *
Afterward—
Reaper and I left Yodalla behind and headed to the academy.
We traveled by carriage prepared in advance.
‘How far left?’
Thankfully, Reaper sat in the driver’s seat.
That eased my nerves a little.
“Master.”
Just as I relaxed—
Reaper suddenly spoke.
“Mana from the targeted royal group has been detected one kilometer ahead.”
Royalty?
Which kingdom?
What royal family?
“As expected, the knight commander is absent.”
Expected?
What did that mean?
“Then I will proceed with the plan as intended.”
No, what plan?!
I was pondering those words when—
SKREEEEEECH!
A monster’s cry rang above the carriage.
‘That sound…’
I knew it well from the game.
Pack-type monsters.
Usually groups of ten or more.
In this world, rulers of the skies—
Monsters ranked from A to S.
‘Wyverns!’
Through the window I saw an entire flock.
At least forty.
‘Don’t tell me… the plan is to wipe out the royals with wyverns?’
That meant the royal ahead was important enough for Jairaon himself to target.
Who was it?
Then—
“Master. Excuse me for a moment.”
Reaper grabbed me and injected mana.
[Mental EX-Rank resists Puppet Technique.]
My body instinctively rejected it.
‘I don’t know what’s happening, but resisting seems bad! Accept it!’
[Accepting Puppet Technique according to user intent.]
Thankfully, the system obeyed me.
‘Phew… thank go—Ugh?!’
The next moment—
I was launched from the carriage into the sky.
‘WHAT IS THIS FOR?!’
Did he discover I was fake and decide to kill me?
‘I’m slowing down…’
Apparently not.
Eventually I stopped beside an extravagant carriage.
‘Is that the royal carriage?’
Then the wyverns appeared behind me.
SKREEEECH!
“W-Wyvern swarm!”
“And the commander is absent now of all times!”
“All troops prepare for battle! Protect them no matter what!”
Chaos erupted instantly.
Watching the guards fight—
I wondered.
…Why did Reaper send me here?
The answer came soon.
—Security is weaker than expected. No need to observe further.
Reaper’s voice echoed directly in my head.
And my body flew again.
‘I can’t see!’
Everything moved too fast.
Then—
STAB!
Something pierced flesh.
A wyvern screamed.
My body landed.
Vision returned.
‘What… is happening?’
My head spun.
Then a guard stared at me warily.
“W-Who are you…?”
I looked around.
I stood directly in front of the royal carriage.
Then a wyvern crashed down.
“You killed a wyvern in one strike…?”
“Who in the world are you?”
At that moment—
I understood Jairaon’s “plan.”
‘This is… create danger and then save them?’
Intentionally put the royals in danger.
Then have Jairaon rescue them.
That was the scheme.
‘If so, the royal inside this carriage must also be this year’s academy entrant…’
Before finishing the thought—
My body moved against my will again.
‘Dizzy…’
The scenery blurred.
Suddenly a sword was in my hand.
Slash!
Again, the world spun.
When I realized—
My sword was drenched in wyvern blood.
“What…?”
Then vision returned once more.
Thousands of shattered wyvern wing fragments drifted like flower petals.
And dozens of enormous wyverns—
Fell from the sky, spraying blood.a
