BCST 48

Before coming to Butterfall, I’d made a promise to Mia.

If necessary, I would make Kin stronger—by force if I had to—and bring him along on this mission.

The first time I ever saw Kin was during the tutorial arc, The Picky Vampire.

At the time, his power level was in the lower ranks of Second Grade.

And now…

After all that effort, he’d climbed to the upper ranks of Second Grade, standing before me now, saying he still wanted to become stronger.

I could feel his sincerity and his sense of necessity clearly.

But—

“Before that, there’s something I want to hear.”

“…What is it?”

Clink.

I dropped a few ice cubes into the glass in front of Kin and spoke evenly.

“Why do you want to become stronger?”

A question so common it bordered on cliché.

But still, it was something I had to confirm before agreeing to his request.

Even if I already suspected the answer—words carry weight and responsibility once they’re spoken aloud.

Clatter.

While I poured Logan’s leftover trash-tier liquor into Kin’s glass, he stared off, lost in thought.

This guy…

Did he forget he’s supposed to be pretending to be drunk?

But Kin was clearly taking my question seriously.

“The reason, huh…”

After a moment of silence, he finally spoke.

“Just because I want to. Isn’t that enough?”

Hmm.

That’s not quite up to my standards.

But contrary to my expectations, he went on, swirling the glass in front of him.

“I was probably the first person in our office to meet you.”

That was true.

But why bring that up?

“When I first saw you, I could tell right away that you were skilled. So I just thought, ‘Oh, another amazing guy I didn’t know about,’ you know? Like always.”

He took a sip before continuing.

“But… you weren’t just another amazing guy. You were someone who was becoming amazing. Every time you came back from a mission, you were noticeably stronger—almost unbelievably so. I didn’t even think people could grow that fast, like in leaps and bounds.”

“…That’s because…”

That’s mostly the system and my traits at work.

But now I understood what he was getting at.

While I’d been desperately adapting to this bizarre world and my unique situation, trying to survive, I’d been undergoing an abnormal process of growth.

But how must that have looked to others who didn’t know my circumstances?

What Kin was describing was how that looked from the outside.

“I always thought those Seventh or Eighth Grade monsters were just born that way. I never even considered trying to become like them. But watching you grow… made me wonder if maybe even those monsters started out like this once.”

“…”

“And the world those monsters see—it’s totally different from the one we live in.”

In the world of COC, the lower ranks—Grades 1 through 3—were at least somewhat close to ordinary humans.

But the higher one climbed, the further they drifted from normality, their power alienating them from the mundane.

It was basic common sense in this world.

“But, Wizard… watching you grow—and realizing that I can still understand you to some extent—I started wanting to grow stronger too. Before you go so far ahead that I can’t even recognize who you’ve become.”

Gulp.

Kin tossed back the rest of his drink and ended his answer.

“That’s my answer to your question, Wizard. Satisfied?”

I nodded slowly.

“Good.”

So in short, seeing my progress had lit a fire under him.

The high-level world that had once seemed untouchable now felt visible through my growth, and he wanted to chase after it.

There was plenty of emotion in it, but I could tell—he had both the motivation and the capability to seize his chance.

Besides, I’d already promised Mia I’d train him anyway.

Now that the guy himself was this eager, I could expect a much better outcome from the training.

Naturally, it made me want to put in a bit more effort myself.

I hid a satisfied smile behind my glass and took a sip.

Clink.

“I’ll make sure you get stronger while we’re in Butterfall.”

Kin clenched his fist and muttered excitedly,

“Nice!”

But I wasn’t finished yet.

“But that thing…”

“Huh?”

I pointed at his right arm—the one Logan had been fussing about nonstop.

If he wanted to get stronger, that was something we couldn’t ignore.

“Isn’t that the easiest shortcut to power? Feed it a few high-grade components, and you’d get stronger instantly.”

“You… how do you—?! No, wait.”

Kin looked stunned that I knew how the Requiem series’ right arm evolved.

“Well… you would know, I guess…”

He seemed to find a way to rationalize it, quickly settling into an expression of reluctant understanding.

Then he spoke carefully.

“I don’t know how you learned that much about it, Wizard, but you’re right.”

He looked down at his right arm with a conflicted face.

“The other Requiem models… I wouldn’t even need them. Just feeding this thing a few good parts would make it stronger fast.”

Then he looked up at me.

“But I refuse to grow stronger that way. I want myself to become stronger, Wizard.”

“I see.”

I’d suspected as much, but it was still worth confirming.

Since I’d be training him closely, pretending not to understand that cyberware’s special features would just make me look incompetent.

“Then we’ll focus on improving your own abilities and synchronizing with that arm. Unless you object?”

“No objections there.”

Good. At least he wasn’t stubborn about that part.

I nodded.

“Then training starts tomorrow. It’s already too late tonight.”

“Got it, Wizard! Sounds great!”

Grinning, he raised his glass.

Clink.

We toasted lightly and downed the last of our drinks.

This mission was turning out to be quite fruitful already.

Or so I thought—

“Um… hey…”

John, who’d gone to the restroom, staggered back looking pale.

“Oh! Got it all out? Then let’s really start drinking now!”

Kin was in high spirits.

But John’s face turned from blue to ghostly white.

“N-no, I’m fine… I-I think I’ll rest…”

“What are you saying? We’re just getting started!”

I raised a hand to stop Kin.

“No. That’s enough for tonight.”

“Eh? Why?!”

Kin looked genuinely heartbroken.

But it was the right call.

Kin and I were problem-solvers—a Second and a Third Grade.

Our stamina meant we could handle today’s activities just fine.

But John was different.

He was a pure civilian.

Living with the constant fear of death… being hunted by unknown enemies… trapped in a strange place like Butterfall—

Even without much physical exertion, the guy had every reason to be exhausted.

Frankly, it was impressive he’d managed to keep up this long.

Besides—

“You need to keep your condition in shape if you’re training tomorrow too, right?”

“Urgh…”

Kin groaned, finally realizing.

He glanced at John, noticing his state, and sighed.

“Fine… just one last drink, then.”

“Hmm.”

One last round couldn’t hurt.

Just one.

It’s not like I’d get drunk easily anymore anyway.

I lifted my glass, already mentally drafting tomorrow’s training plan.

Just one more, and then bed.

Clink.

With Me — a restaurant in the center of Butterfall.

Logan Redfield sat by the window, watching the morning sun rise as his With Breakfast Set was served.

Clatter.

Espresso, vodka, and a cigarette—neatly arranged on a plate.

The most popular breakfast on the menu.

The air inside was thick with cigarette smoke from the other patrons.

Snap.

Logan broke the cigarette, packed the dried leaves into his father’s old pipe, and lit it.

Click.

He inhaled, letting the smoke that cleared his blood fill his lungs.

Ah, that’s it.

“Phew…”

Adding his own smoke to the ceiling haze, Logan recalled the events of yesterday.

‘Quite the peculiar bunch, they were.’

A gunman wearing the legendary cyberware known as Requiem.

Pathetic skill, yet somehow still alive with that artifact attached—astonishing.

Of course, the guy had done a good job concealing it. Without Logan’s sharp eye, no one would’ve seen through the disguise.

That must be why he’s still alive.

Logan smirked, remembering the encounter like one might recall meeting a celebrity by chance. He lifted his espresso.

‘The Requiem was one thing, but…’

There was another one who had caught his attention in a different way.

The wizard—that gunman’s companion.

His aura was different from the other mages Logan had met while wandering as a Nomad. A dark mage, most likely.

‘That one’s got something about him.’

As Butterfall’s self-proclaimed top engineer, Logan prided himself on his ability to see through people and things.

And the moment he saw that dark mage, he’d felt something off.

An inexplicable pressure.

A sense that there was something far more dangerous beneath the surface.

His instincts—the same ones that had saved him countless times—warned him that something unseen was lurking within that man.

Only once before, in all his years as a Nomad, had he felt something so unexplainable.

‘It was…’

Throb.

“Ghk!”

Even trying to remember it gave him a headache.

He gave up on recalling and grabbed his vodka instead.

Well, whatever. Just from that brief exchange of auras yesterday, he could tell—the guy was strong.

If such a promising individual wanted him to craft something, he’d gladly oblige.

Having his craftsmanship displayed on someone like that would be fantastic publicity.

Clack.

Just as Logan downed his vodka—

“…The hell? You’re walking around like that?”

“Don’t question the boss’s decision.”

“No, I mean…”

Voices drifted from outside the window.

Logan caught the faint scent of blood on the air.

‘…Those kinds of people, here in Butterfall?’

Better remember their faces, just in case.

He turned to glance at them—

And froze.

“What are you looking at?”

Four-white eyes.

The man’s pupils were completely surrounded by white, both eerie and unnatural.

“—!”

And the casual tone had been a lie.

All three of them—pretending to chat as they walked—had already turned their heads toward him.

They’d all been watching him, waiting for him to look.

A cold sweat broke down Logan’s back.

“…Who are you people?”

His eyes trembled slightly as he sized them up.

The one with the four-white eyes—Third Grade.

The simple-looking one carrying a long gun case—also Third Grade.

And…

The one in the metallic helmet—Fourth Grade.

‘If I fight, I won’t survive…’

His quick analysis told him all he needed to know.

One Third Grade he could handle.

But three working together? Not a chance.

Not that he had any reason to fight them anyway.

But Logan knew—

The world was full of lunatics, especially the kind who reeked of blood.

And sure enough—

“I asked what you’re staring at. Wanna die, huh? Think I’m a joke?”

The four-white-eyed man stepped forward, bloodlust flaring.

Hissss—

Even with the wall between them, it felt paper-thin before that killing intent.

The instant that bloodlust peaked, the attack would come.

“…Damn it.”

Logan started to rise, too late—

“Don’t cause a scene.”

Whoosh.

The voice came from the man in the helmet—and instantly, the killing intent vanished.

“Yes, boss. Sorry. Just thought he might’ve been one of his hired men.”

The helmeted man replied in a mechanical tone,

“I smell dust… A Nomad.”

In other words—not the target.

The four-white-eyed man nodded.

“Then let’s keep moving.”

“…”

The trio passed by and disappeared.

Logan stayed tense until they were completely gone.

Only then did he slump back into his seat.

Click. Click.

He lit his pipe again and exhaled slowly.

“…Dangerous people have come to Butterfall.”

From their scent and words, it was clear—they were here for something violent.

And their strength, their look…

“Celebrix’s hounds.”

He’d heard rumors of assassins working for the company, tasked with recovering corporate assets at any cost.

It must’ve been them.

Apparently, they were hunting someone who’d hired problem-solvers.

Whoever that poor soul was, they were as good as dead.

Once they were done, they’d leave Butterfall.

That, at least, was a relief.

At least those monsters wouldn’t be staying long.

Then, as Logan recalled their target’s description, his face stiffened.

“…Hmm.”

He thought of the people he’d met yesterday.

No… that was impossible.

Butterfall was a big city.

No way.

Logan chuckled at his own imagination and called over the waiter.

If he wanted to work properly later, he needed to eat now.