Chapter 29
A pitch-black night.
Beneath a sky where a crimson moon hung ominously,
stood a round table in the middle of a parched wasteland, cracked so deeply that not a single blade of grass could grow.
Tap… tap…
A silver-haired man occupied one of the twelve thrones surrounding the table.
Two massive horns sprouted from his head, and narrowing his golden eyes, he tapped the armrest with his fingers.
“…It’s time.”
He glanced around the table, his expression darkening as he noticed that more than half of the thrones remained empty, despite the appointed hour having passed.
“Surely, I told everyone to gather since the plan was delayed.”
“Well… it’s not like it’s the first time our proud folks have skipped the table. No need to make a fuss.”
A woman beside him, resting her chin on her hand, spoke in a languid voice.
“Everyone’s busy preparing for that plan these days. I barely managed to make time to come myself.”
“Exactly! Didn’t we call you because there was a problem with that very plan?”
Unlike him, her horns curled downward at the tips. As she idly fiddled with her snow-white hair, the man raised his voice, frustrated.
BANG—!
RUMBLE—
The sky flashed, summoning a storm as his fist slammed onto the table.
Unfazed, the woman cast a tired glance at him, then pointed across the table at a small, trembling man who cowered from the almost-striking lightning.
“And it’s not like the grand plan falls apart over this. We’ve already sown seeds here and there just in case something like this happened.”
Although the events in the Nibosus Mountains had fallen through, it was only one of the many carefully crafted strategies.
Having prepared on multiple fronts for the grand plan, one setback wouldn’t destroy the framework.
Just because a single eel stirs the water doesn’t mean the deep river becomes muddy.
“…A plan must be flawless. Even the mightiest embankment can collapse from a single ant hole.”
“Of course, Your Majesty. When the Great Dragon King says so, powerless herbivores like me can do nothing but obey.”
She sneered at him, unwilling to let go of her complaints. The Dragon King frowned and remained silent.
“And you, sir? Do you share the same rigid mindset as this inflexible lizard?”
The woman turned to the remaining figure, her horizontally slit eyes sparkling as she inquired.
Hohoho…
Amid the arguments, an elderly man remained seated silently.
“How can we hold back what’s already spilled? Regretful as it may be, we must let the past flow and nurture whatever seeds remain to sprout.”
His face surrounded by thick fur, he stretched his hunched back with a long tail and spoke.
“Ah, speaking of which… it seems the goddess’s dogs have appointed a new young hero.”
The elder pondered for a moment, then spoke of rumors recently circulating from the empire.
“Let’s see… so the name is…”
“Enough.”
He paused, struggling to recall.
“What about your side?”
The Dragon King shook his head at the prolonged silence and finally returned to the main reason he had called them together.
“The Demon Monkey King.”
The elder, who had been staring blankly at him, responded with a confident smile.
“…If that’s the case, there’s nothing to worry about.”
Unlike the failed attempt in the Nibosus Mountains, this plan was proceeding smoothly.
“The big fish has taken the bait.”
“Heh… Hah… Ugh….”
Late at night, Eric and Liliane remained in the training grounds, empty after everyone else had left.
Eric sank into a corner, exhausted from the increasingly intense sparring sessions, while Liliane lay face-down on the ground, gasping for breath. He shook his head with pity.
He wasn’t in a position to complain himself.
Thanks to his Indomitable trait, his stamina depletion was reduced, and he could see his stats increasing through the system messages. Liliane, on the other hand, had no way to track her growth and had to continue these grueling sessions blindly.
‘Still… the harder it is, the faster her stats should increase. Soon she’ll notice the effects herself. And thanks to this, I’ve gotten quite a bit stronger too.’
Eric Ather
Level: -99
Strength [7] → [8]
Agility [6] → [7]
Stamina [8] → [9]
Mana [3]
Traits: <Indomitable>, <Neurotoxin>, <Frost Walk>
Eric stared blankly at Liliane before opening his status window to check the results of the training, smiling with satisfaction.
Strength, agility, and stamina had each increased by one point. Considering he had gained 6 points from clearing the named monsters in the Nibosus Mountains, this training alone had produced half that growth.
Of course, it came with nightly cries of pain from sore muscles.
“Already this late, huh?”
“Th-then… let’s stop here for today…”
“Let’s rest a bit, then continue. I’ll be back shortly, so just relax until then.”
Eric forced a brief smile, knowing more muscle pain awaited him overnight. When Leona stepped away briefly, he turned to see Liliane sulking as she looked at him with pleading eyes.
“Master, can you please stop Leona? She makes us run from dawn in the training grounds, climb the hill and use magic until we faint, and then, once we recover, we train late into the night! I’m going to collapse!”
The girl’s frustration was evident, and she seemed ready to cling to him for comfort.
“…Magic users need stamina, too. Even if it’s tough now, gradually increasing your endurance will let you stand strong even after casting spells. Just today, you climbed the hill without stopping once, even though you used to gasp for air halfway.”
Eric encouraged her, nodding. He too wanted to stop this brutal training, but had no authority to intervene. Leona had been personally invited by the duke to serve as his sword instructor. Moreover, the accelerated stat gains made it all the more unnecessary to stop.
“Th-though… still…”
Liliane’s response was reluctant, and she hung her head like a forlorn puppy. Eric averted his gaze, focusing on more pressing matters, such as the paranoid priest staring intently from the entrance.
“Priest.”
After days of withering stares, Eric trudged forward, exhausted, to approach Malefica.
“Don’t be so formal. Just call me Malefica, Master. We’ll be seeing each other more than once or twice.”
Eric smiled awkwardly, inwardly sighing. She kept staring without hesitation.
“…Lady Malefica.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Isn’t it tiring to watch over us this late every night? The priests rise early for morning prayers, right?”
Unable to contain himself, Eric spoke indirectly to the expressionless Malefica, whose eyes remained downcast.
In the game, she had responsibilities as a priest, so her gaze wasn’t this oppressive. But lately, she hovered near him even during meals, almost suffocating him.
“Oh, are you concerned for me? How kind. But I’m fine. As I mentioned, my duty is to support the new young hero, carrying out the goddess’s teachings. So I don’t need to attend morning prayers for now.”
She smiled faintly, reassuring him. Eric let out a short, exasperated sigh.
“Rather… I worry more about you, Master.”
“Huh?”
“You always finish sparring covered in bruises. I heard you’d never held a sword before.”
Eric’s face hardened as he processed her words.
“I wondered if you’ve been pushing yourself because of being betrayed by your trusted guard or nearly dying during your duel with your sibling.”
Even though rumors about his duel with Ivan had spread, it would be odd for Malefica to know about the assassination attempt by the guardsman.
‘If not the knights, then who told her? Family disputes? Or…’
“Master! Eric Master!”
Perhaps the old men from the back room had started moving. Eric, momentarily distracted, turned toward the voice calling him from outside the training grounds.
“Ah, you’re still here.”
“Sir Ulfric?”
Ulfric Osgaard, middle-aged captain of the knights, strong and imposing.
He had noticed Malefica, bowed briefly, then approached Eric.
“The Duke summons you.”
“…Now?”
Eric tilted his head, puzzled. Had the duke needed him for something lately? And why send Ulfric at this hour instead of the steward?
“Master.”
As he walked toward the mansion with a lingering unease, Eric was stopped again by Ulfric’s words.
“You’ve changed greatly recently, Master. I trust you won’t falter.”
“Please, this is an important guest. Do not make mistakes.”
Eric blinked in surprise at the unexpected word.
“…Guest?”
